tg.wizardfirstrule-第124部分

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traw　covered　the　wet　floor；　and　smelled　of　decay。　Near　the　end　she　slowed　to　a　walk　and　approached　an　iron　door　with　a　grille　in　it。　Eyes　peered　out　at　them　when　she　stopped。
　
　Zedd　leaned　around　her。　〃The　Mother　Confessor；　here　to　see　the　prisoners；〃　he　growled。　〃Open　the　door。〃
　
　Richard　could　hear　the　echo　of　a　key　turning　in　the　lock。　A　squat　man　in　a　filthy　uniform　pulled　the　door　inward。　An　axe　hung　from　his　belt　next　to　the　keys。　He　bowed　to　Kahlan；　but　looked　to　be　annoyed　by　it。　Without　a　word；　he　led　them　through　the　little　room　just　inside　the　door；　where　he　had　been　sitting　at　a　table；　eating；　and　down　another　dark　hall　to　another　iron　door。　He　pounded　on　it　with　his　fist。　The　two　guards　inside　bowed　in　surprise。　The　three　guards　took　torches　from　iron　stanchions　and　led　them　down　a　short　hall　and　through　a　third　iron　door　that　they　all　had　to　duck　through。
　
　Flickering　torchlight　pierced　the　darkness。　Behind　cross…　hatched；　flat　iron　bars　to　each　side；　men　pushed　themselves　back　into　the　corners；　shielding　their　eyes　with　their　hands　from　the　sudden　light。　Kahlan　spoke　Zedd's　name　quietly；　indicating　that　she　wanted　something。　He　seemed　to　understand；　and　took　a　torch　from　one　of　the　guards　and　held　it　up　in　front　of　Kahlan　so　all　the　men　in　the　cells　could　see　her。
　
　There　were　gasps　from　the　darkness　when　they　recognized　who　she　was。
　
　Kahlan　addressed　one　of　the　guards。　〃How　many　of　these　men　are　sentenced　to　die？〃
　
　He　stroked　his　round；　unshaven　jaw。　〃Why；　all　of　them。〃
　
　〃All　of　them；〃　she　repeated。
　
　He　nodded。　〃Crimes　against　the　Crown。〃
　
　She　pulled　her　gaze　away　from　him　after　a　moment；　turning　to　the　prisoners。　〃Have　all　you　men　mitted　capital　offenses？〃
　
　After　a　moment　of　silence；　a　hollow…faced　man　came　and　gripped　the　bars。　He　spat　at　her。　Kahlan　swept　her　hand　back　to　stop　Richard　before　he　had　a　chance　to　move。
　
　〃e　to　do　the　Queen's　dirty　work；　Confessor？　I　spit　on　you　and　your　filthy　queen。〃
　
　〃I　do　not　e　here　on　behalf　of　the　Queen。　I　e　here　on　behalf　of　the　truth。〃
　
　〃The　truth！　The　truth　is　none　of　us　has　done　a　thing！　Except　maybe　speaking　up　against　the　new　laws。　And　since　when　is　speaking　up　against　your　family　starving；　or　freezing　to　death；　a　capital　crime？　The　Queen's　tax　collectors　came　and　took　most　of　my　crops；　they　barely　left　enough　to　feed　my　family。　When　I　sold　the　precious　little　I　could　spare；　they　said　I　was　overcharging　people。　The　prices　of　everything　are　going　wild。　I'm　doing　nothing　more　than　trying　to　survive。　Yet　I　am　to　be　beheaded　for　price　gouging。　These　men　in　here　with　me　are　all　innocent　farmers；　or　tradesmen；　or　merchants。　We　are　all　to　die　for　trying　to　earn　a　living　from　our　work。〃
　
　Kahlan　looked　to　the　men　in　the　corner。　〃Do　any　of　you　wish　to　make　a　confession　to　prove　your　innocence？〃
　
　There　were　hushed　whispers。　A　gaunt　man　in　the　darkness　stood　and　came　forward。　His　frightened　eyes　looked　out　at　them　from　the　gloom。　〃I　do。　I　have　done　nothing；　yet　I　am　to　be　beheaded；　my　wife　and　children　left　to　fend　for　themselves。　I　will　give　a　confession。〃　He　pushed　his　arm　through　the　bars；　reaching　for　her。　〃Please；　Mother　Confessor；　take　my　confession。〃
　
　More　men　stood；　ing　forward；　all　asking　to　give　a　confession。　Soon；　they　were　all　at　the　bars；　begging　to　give　a　confession。　Kahlan　and　Zedd　exchanged　a　grim　look。
　
　〃In　my　whole　life　I　have　seen　only　three　men　ask　to　give　a　confession；〃　she　whispered　to　the　wizard。
　
　〃Kahlan？〃　The　familiar　voice　came　from　the　cell　on　the　other　side；　from　the　darkness。
　
　Kahlan　gripped　the　bars　with　spread　fingers。　〃Siddin？　Siddin！〃　She　spun　to　the　guards。　〃These　men　have　all　given　the　Mother　Confessor　their　confessions；　I　find　them　all　to　be　innocent。　Open　the　bars！〃
　
　〃Now；　hold　on。　I　can't　be　letting　all　these　men　out。〃
　
　Richard　drew　the　sword　in　an　arc　as　he　spun。　The　sword　crashed　a　swath　through　the　iron　bars；　and　shards　of　hot　steel　and　sparks　filled　the　air。　He　spun　around　and　kicked　the　iron　door　shut　behind　the　startled　guards。　He　had　the　sword　at　their　faces　before　a　single　one　of　them　managed　to　clear　an　axe　from　his　belt。
　
　〃Open　the　bars　or　I　will　slice　you　in　half　and　take　the　keys　from　your　belt　that　way！〃
　
　The　shaking　guard　with　the　keys　jumped　to　do　as　he　was　told。　The　door　swung　open　and　Kahlan　rushed　in；　going　back　into　the　darkness。　She　came　back　holding　a　frightened　Siddin　in　her　arms；　holding　his　head　against　her　shoulder。　She　whispered　in　his　ear；　calming　him。　Siddin　jabbered　back　in　the　Mud　People　language。　She　smiled　and　told　him　things　he　smiled　back　at。　As　she　came　out；　the　guard　was　opening　the　other　cell　door。　She　held　Siddin　in　one　arm；　and　with　her　free　hand　she　grabbed　the　guard's　shirt　collar。
　
　〃The　Mother　Confessor　finds　all　these　men　innocent。〃　Her　voice　was　as　hard　as　the　iron　around　her。　〃They　are　to　be　released　upon　my　order。　You　three　are　to…　escort　them　to　safety；　outside　the　city。〃　He　was　a　head　shorter　than　she；　she　pulled　his　face　closer　to　hers。　〃If　you　fail　in　any　way；　you　will　answer　to　me。〃
　
　He　nodded　vigorously。　〃Yes；　Mother　Confessor。　I　understand。　It　will　be　done　as　you　say。　On　my　word。〃
　
　〃On　your　life；〃　she　corrected
　
　She　released　him。　The　prisoners　poured　out　of　the　cells；　falling　to　their　knees　around　her；　crying；　taking　the　hem　of　her　dress　in　their　hands；　kissing　it。　She　shooed　them　away。
　
　〃Enough　of　that。　Be　on　your　way；　all　of　you。　Just　remember；　Confessors　serve　no　one。　They　serve　only　the　truth。〃
　
　They　all　swore　they　would　remember；　and　followed　the　guards　out。　Richard　saw　that　many　of　their　shirts　were　shredded；　or　streaked　with　dried　blood；　their　backs　covered　with　welts。
　
　Before　they　entered　the　room　where　the　Queen　waited；　Kahlan　stopped　and　put　Siddin　into　Zedd's　arms。　With　her　hands　she　smoothed　his　hair；　then　her　dress；　and　with　a　deep　breath；　her　face。
　
　〃Just　keep　in　mind　what　we　are　here　for；　Mother　Confessor；〃　the　wizard　said。
　
　She　gave　him　a　nod；　put　her　chin　up；　and　strode　into　the　room　with　the　Queen。　Queen　Milena　waited　where　they　had　left　her；　her　entourage　still　with　her。　The　Queen's　eyes　caught　on　Siddin。
　
　〃I　trust　you　have　found　everything　in　order；　Mother　Confessor？〃
　
　Kahlan's　face　stayed　calm；　but　her　voice　had　a　cold　edge　to　it。　〃Why　is　this　child　in　your　dungeon？〃
　
　The　Queen's　hands　spread　wide。　〃Well；　I'm　not　sure。　I　believe　I　remember　he　was　found　stealing；　and　was　put　there　until　his　parents　could　be　found；　that's　all。　I　can　assure　you；　it　was　nothing　more　than　that。〃
　
　Kahlan　regarded　her　coolly。　〃I　have　found　all　the　prisoners　innocent；　and　ordered　them　released。　I　trust　you　are　pleased　to　find　I　have　saved　you　from　executing　innocent　men；　and　will　see　to　it　that　their　families　are　pensated　for　the　trouble　this　‘error'　has　caused。　If　an　‘error'　such　as　this　is　repeated；　the　next　time　I　return　I　will　not　only　empty　the　prison；　I　will　also　empty　the　throne。〃
　
　Richard　knew　he　wasn't　seeing　Kahlan　putting　on　a　show　to　get　the　box；　he　was　seeing　her　doing　her　job。　This　was　why　the　wizards　created　the　Confessors。　This　was　who　she　was：　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　The　Queen's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃Why　。　。。　yes。　Of　course。　I　have　some　overly　ambitious　army　manders；　and　they　must　have　done　this。　I　had　no　knowledge　of　it。　Thank　you　。　。　。　for　saving　us　from　making　a　grave　mistake。　I　will　personally　see　to　it　that　it　is　taken　care　of；　just　as　you　wish。　Which；　of　course；　is　no　less　than　I　would　have　done　myself　had　I　。　。　。〃
　
　Kahlan　cut　her　off。　〃We　will　be　leaving　now。〃
　
　The　Queen's　face　brightened。　〃Leaving？　Oh；　what　a　shame。　We　were　all　so　looking　forward　to　the　honor　of　your　presence　at　dinner。　I'm　so　sorry　you　must　go。〃
　
　〃I　have　other　pressing　business。　Before　I　go。　I　wish　to　speak　with　my　wizard。〃
　
　〃Your　wizard？〃
　
　〃Giller；〃　she　hissed。
　
　For　the　briefest　of　moments；　the　Queen's　eyes　flicked　toward　the　ceiling。　〃Well　。　。　。　that　would　not　be　。　。　。　possible。〃
　
　Kahlan　leaned　closer　to　her。　〃Make　it　possible。　Right　now。〃
　
　The　color　drained　from　the　Queen's　face。　〃Please　believe　me；　Mother　Confessor；　you　wouldn't　want　to　see　Giller　in　his　present　condition。〃
　
　〃Right　now；〃　Kahlan　repeated。
　
　Richard　loosened　the　sword　in　its　scabbard　just　enough　to　catch　her　attention。
　
　〃Very　well。　He　is　。　。　。　upstairs。〃
　
　〃You　will　wait　here　until　I　am　finished　with　him。〃
　
　The　Queen　looked　at　the　floor。　〃Of　course；　Mother　Confessor。〃　She　turned　to　one　of　the　men　in　the　pantaloons。　〃Show　her　the　way。〃
　
　The　man　led　them　up　the　grand　stairway　to　the　top　floor；　and　down　several　halls；　then　up　a　spiral　stone　stairway　to　the　top　room　in　a　tower；　finally　stopping　with　a　weak　look　at　a　heavy　wooden　door　on　the　landing。　Kahlan　dismissed　him。　He　bowed；　glad　to　leave。　Richard　opened　the　door；　they　entered；　and　he　closed　it　behind　them。
　
　Kahlan　gasped　and　hid　her　face　against　Richard's　shoulder。　Zedd　pressed　Siddin's　face　to　his　robes。
　
　The　room　was　destroyed。　pletely。　The　roof　was　gone；　as　if　it　had　been　blasted　away；　letting　in　the　sunlight　and　sky。　Only　a　few　of　the　exposed　beams　remained。　A　rope　hung　from　one　of　the　beams。
　
　Giller's　naked　body　swung　slightly　as　it　hung；　upside　down；　from　the　end　of　the　rope；　a　meat　hook　driven　through　the　bone　of　his　ankle。　Were　it　not　for　the　open　roof；　the　stench　would　have　driven　them　from　the　room。
　
　Zedd　handed　Siddin　to　Kahlan　and；　ignoring　the　body；　began　walking　slowly　around　the　circular　room；　a　thoughtful　frown　on　his　face。　He　stopped　and　touched　splinters　of　furniture　that　had　been　driven　into　the　walls；　as　if　the　stone　were　made　of　butter。
　
　Richard　stood；　transfixed；　staring　at　Giller's　body。
　
　〃Richard；　e　look　at　this；〃　Zedd　called　to　him。
　
　The　wizard　reached　out　and　ran　a　finger　through　a　gritty　black　area　on　the　wall。　There　were　two　black　areas；　in　fact。　They　stood　next　to　each　other。　Two　blackened　spots；　in　the　shapes　of　men　standing　at　attention；　as　if　the　men　had　gone　and　left　their　shadows　behind。　Just　above　each　elbow；　instead　of　the　black；　was　a　band　of　gold…colored　metal　melted　into　the　stone　of　the　wall。
　
　Zedd　turned；　raising