tg.wizardfirstrule-第134部分

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　In　the　room　with　other　people；　Denna　stopped　as　she　strode　around；　talking　briefly　with　finely　dressed　people。　Richard　kept　his　eyes　on　her　braid。　The　braid　had　obviously　been　done　over　for　the　dinner；　the　vigorous　use　of　the　Agiel　caused　it　to　loosen；　and　freed　stray　wisps　of　hair。　She　must　have　done　it　over　while　she　had　let　him　sleep。
　
　He　found　himself　thinking　about　how　beautiful　her　hair　really　was；　how　much　finer　she　looked　than　any　of　the　other　women　at　the　dinner。　He　knew　people　were　staring　at　him；　at　his　sword；　as　he　was　led　around　the　room　by　his　collar　and　chain。　He　reminded　himself　that　his　pride　was　locked　away　for　the　time　being。　This　was　about　getting　a　chance　to　rest；　to　eat；　and　about　having　her　not　hurt　him　for　a　while。
　
　Richard　bowed　and　stayed　bowed　while　Denna　spoke　to　the　Queen。　The　Queen　and　the　Mord…Sith　gave　only　a　bow　of　the　head　to　each　other。　The　Princess　was　at　the　Queen's　side。　Richard　thought　about　how　Princess　Violet　had　treated　Rachel；　and　had　to　return　his　thoughts　to　Denna's　braid。
　
　As　she　sat　at　the　table；　Denna　snapped　her　fingers　and　pointed　at　the　floor　behind　her　chair。　He　knew　what　she　wanted　and　sat　on　the　floor；　crossing　his　legs。　Denna　sat　to　the　left　of　the　Queen；　to　the　right　of　Princess　Violet；　who　eyed　him　coldly。　Richard　recognized　some　of　the　Queen's　advisors。　He　smiled　to　himself。　The　court　artist　wasn't　among　them。　The　head　table　was　higher　than　the　others；　but　sitting　on　the　floor；　Richard　couldn't　see　many　of　the　gathered　guests。
　
　〃Since　you　don't　eat　meat；〃　the　Queen　said　to　Denna。　〃I　had　the　cooks　prepare　a　special　dinner　I　know　you　will　enjoy。　Some　wonderful　soups　and　vegetables；　and　some　rare　fruits。〃
　
　Denna　smiled　and　thanked　her。　While　she　was　eating；　a　server　brought　her　a　plain　bowl　on　a　tray。
　
　〃For　my　pet；〃　she　told　him；　interrupting　her　conversation　only　briefly。
　
　The　man　took　the　bowl　from　the　tray　and　handed　it　down　to　Richard。　It　was　some　sort　of　gruel；　but　to　Richard；　as　he　held　the　bowl　in　his　trembling　hands；　preparing　to　drink　it　down；　it　looked　like　the　best　meal　he　had　ever　seen。
　
　〃If　he's　your　pet；〃　Princess　Violet　said；　〃why　do　you　allow　him　to　eat　like　that？〃
　
　Denna　looked　over　to　the　Princess。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　〃Well；　if　he's　your　pet〃…the　Princess　smiled…〃he　should　eat　off　the　floor；　without　his　hands。〃
　
　Denna　grinned；　a　glint　in　her　eye。　〃Do　as　she　says。〃
　
　〃Put　it　on　the　floor；〃　Princess　Violet　said；　〃and　eat　it　like　a　dog；　for　us　all　to　see。　Let　everyone　see　that　the　Seeker　is　no　better　than　a　dog。〃
　
　Richard　was　too　hungry　to　do　anything　to　lose　his　meal。　He　concentrated　on　a　mental　image　of　Denna's　braid　and　set　the　bowl　carefully　on　the　floor　as　he　glanced　into　Princess　Violet's　eyes；　to　her　smirk；　and　ate　the　gruel　to　the　sound　of　laughter。　He　licked　the　bowl　clean；　telling　himself　it　was　because　he　needed　the　strength；　in　case　he　ever　got　the　chance　to　use　it。
　
　After　the　Queen　and　her　guests　had　finished　eating；　a　man　in　chains　was　brought　in　and　made　to　stand　in　the　center　of　the　room。　Richard　recognized　him。　He　was　one　of　the　men　Kahlan　had　freed　from　the　dungeon。　They　exchanged　a　brief　look　of　understanding；　despair。
　
　There　was　talk　of　crimes　and　foul　deeds　done。　Richard　did　his　best　to　ignore　it；　he　knew　it　was　merely　a　pretext。　The　Queen　gave　a　short　lecture　on　the　man's　crimes；　then　turned　to　the　Princess
　
　〃Perhaps　the　Princess　would　like　to　pronounce　this　man's　punishment？〃
　
　Princess　Violet　stood；　beaming。　〃For　his　crimes　against　the　Crown；　one　hundred　lashes。　Then；　for　his　crimes　against　the　people；　his　head。〃
　
　A　murmur　of　agreement　swept　the　room。　Richard　felt　sick；　but　at　the　same　time　he　wished　he　could　exchange　places　with　the　man。　The　one　hundred　lashes　would　be　easy；　and　there　would　be　an　axe　at　the　end　of　it。
　
　Princess　Violet　turned　to　Denna　as　she　sat　back　down。　〃Sometime　I　would　enjoy　seeing　how　you　handle　your　punishments。〃
　
　〃Stop　down　anytime　you　wish。〃　Denna　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　〃I'll　let　you　watch。〃
　
　When　they　were　back　in　the　stone　room；　Denna　wasted　no　time　in　getting　his　shirt　off；　and　he　was　soon　hanging　from　the　beam　again。　She　coolly　informed　him　that　his　eyes　had　strayed　too　much　at　dinner。　Richard's　heart　sank。　The　shackles　around　his　wrists　burned　into　his　flesh　once　more。　Denna's　talents　had　him　covered　in　sweat　in　no　time；　gasping　for　air；　crying　out　in　agony。　She　told　him　it　was　still　early　and　she　wanted　to　get　in　a　lot　of　training　before　the　evening　ended。
　
　Richard's　muscles　flexed　and　tightened；　lifting　him　off　the　floor　as　Denna　twisted　the　Agiel　into　his　back。　He　begged　her　to　stop；　but　she　didn't。　When　he　sagged　once　more　in　the　shackles；　he　saw　a　silhouette　in　the　doorway。
　
　〃I　like　the　way　you　can　make　him　beg；〃　Princess　Violet　said。
　
　The　Mord…Sith　smiled　to　her。　〃e　closer；　my　dear；　and　I'll　show　you　more。〃
　
　Denna　hugged　him　with　one　arm；　pressing　herself　into　his　wounds。　She　kissed　his　ear　and　whispered　to　him。　〃Let's　show　the　Princess　how　well　you　can　beg；　shall　we？〃
　
　Richard　vowed　to　himself　he　wouldn't；　but　it　wasn't　long　before　he　broke　his　vow。　Denna　put　on　a　demonstration　for　Princess　Violet；　showing　her　the　different　ways　she　could　hurt　him。　She　seemed　proud　to　show　off　her　talents。
　
　〃Can　I　try？〃　the　Princess　asked。
　
　Denna…looked　down　at　her　a　moment。　〃Why；　of　course；　my　dear。　I'm　sure　my　pet　wouldn't　mind。〃　She　smiled　at　him。　〃Now　would　you？〃　〃Please；　Mistress　Denna；　don't　let　her。　Please。　She's　just　a　little　girl。　I'll　do　anything　you　say；　but　don't　let　her。　Please。〃
　
　〃There；　you　see；　my　dear；　he　doesn't　mind　at　all。〃
　
　Denna　handed　her　the　Agiel。
　
　Princess　Violet　stood　grinning　up　at　him　while　she　fingered　the　Agiel。　Experimentally；　she　poked　it　at　his　thigh　muscle；　happy　at　the　way　it　made　him　flinch　in　pain。　Pleased　with　the　results；　she　walked　around　him；　poking　it　into　his　flesh。
　
　〃It's　easy！〃　she　said。　〃I　never　thought　it　would　be　this　easy　to　make　someone　bleed。〃
　
　Denna　stood　with　her　arms　folded　across　her　breasts；　watching　him　with　a　smile　while　the　Princess　became　bolder。　It　wasn't　long　before　her　cruelty　came　fully　to　the　surface。　She　delighted　in　her　new　game。
　
　〃Remember　what　you　did　to　me？〃　she　asked　him。　She　jabbed　the　Agiel　into　his　side。　〃Remember　how　you　embarrassed　me？　I　guess　you're　getting　what　you　deserve；　don't　you　think？〃　Richard　kept　his　teeth　clenched　tightly　together。　〃Answer　me！　Don't　you　think　this　is　what　you　deserve？〃
　
　Richard　kept　his　eyes　closed　as　he　tried　to　control　his　grip　on　the　pain。
　
　〃Answer　me！　And　then　beg　me　to　stop。　I　want　to　do　it　while　you　beg。〃
　
　〃You　better　answer　her；〃　Denna　said。　〃She　seems　to　learn　fast。〃
　
　〃Please；　Mistress　Denna；　don't　teach　her　this。　What　you　are　doing　to　her　is　worse　than　what　you　are　doing　to　me。　She's　only　a　little　girl。　Please　don't　do　this　to　her。　Don't　let　her　learn　these　things。〃
　
　〃I'll　learn　what　I　please。　You　better　start　begging。　Right　now！〃
　
　Even　though　he　knew　he　was　only　making　it　worse　for　himself；　Richard　waited　'until　he　could　absolutely　bear　it　no　longer　before　he　let　himself　answer。　〃I'm　sorry；　Princess　Violet；〃　he　gasped。　〃Please　forgive　me。　I　was　wrong。〃
　
　Richard　found　that　answering　her　was　a　mistake；　it　only　seemed　to　excite　her。　It　didn't　take　her　long；　though；　before　she　learned　to　make　him　beg；　and　cry；　even　though　he　tried　not　to。　Richard　couldn't　believe　the　absurdity　of　a　little　girl　doing　this。　Much　less　enjoying　it。　This　was　madness
　
　She　held　the　Agiel　against　his　stomach　while　she　leered　up　at　him。　〃But　this　is　less　than　that　Confessor　deserves。　She　will　get　more　than　this　someday。　And　I'm　going　to　be　the　one　to　do　it。　My　mother　said　I　get　to　be　the　one　when　she　es　back。　I　want　you　to　beg　me　to　hurt　her。　Let's　hear　you　beg　me　to　chop　off　the　Mother　Confessor's　head。〃
　
　Richard　had　no　idea　what　it　was；　but　something　inside　him　came　awake。
　
　Princess　Violet　gritted　her　teeth　and　jammed　the　Agiel　into　his　gut　hard　as　she　could；　twisting　it。　〃Beg　me！　Beg　me　to　kill　that　ugly　Kahlan！〃
　
　The　pain　made　Richard　scream　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。；
　
　Denna　stepped　between　them；　snatching　the　Agiel　from　Princess　Violet's　hand。　〃Enough！　You　will　kill　him　if　you　use　the　Agiel　in　that　way。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　panted。　He　felt　a　peculiar　affection　for　her；　at　the　way　she　stepped　to　his　defense。
　
　Princess　Violet　took　a　step　back；　her　face　a　picture　of　bad　temper。　〃I　don't　care　if　I　kill　him！〃
　
　Denna's　voice　was　cool　and　authoritative。　〃Well；　I　do。　He　is　too　valuable　to　waste　in　this　manner。〃　Denna　was　clearly　the　one　in　charge　around　here。　Not　the　Princess；　not　even　the　Queen。　Denna　was　an　agent　of　Darken　Rahl。
　
　Princess　Violet　glared　at　him。　〃My　mother　says　that　Confessor　Kahlan　will　e　back　and　that　we'll　have　a　surprise　for　her　the　next　time　she　es　here。　I　just　want　you　to　know　because　my　mother　said　you'll　be　dead　by　then。　My　mother　says　I　get　to　decide　what　to　do　to　her。　First；　I'm　going　to　cut　off　her　hair。〃　Her　hands　were　in　fists；　her　face　red。　〃Then　I'm　going　to　let　all　the　guards　rape　her；　every　one！　Then　I'm　going　to　put　her　in　the　dungeon　for　a　few　years　so　they'll　have　someone　to　play　with！　Then　when　I　get　tired　of　hurting　her；　I'll　have　her　head　chopped　off　and　put　it　on　a　pole　where　I　can　watch　it　rot！〃
　
　Richard　actually　felt　sorry　for　the　little　Princess。　The　sadness　for　her　came　over　him　in　a　wave。　At　that　feeling；　he　was　surprised　to　feel　the　thing　in　him　that　had　e　awake　rise　up。
　
　Princess　Violet　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　and　stuck　her　tongue　out　far　as　she　could。
　
　It　was　like　a　red　flag
　
　The　strength　of　the　awakened　power　exploded　through　him。
　
　When　his　boot　came　up　under　her　jaw　he　could　feel　it　shatter　like　a　crystal　goblet　on　a　stone　floor。　The　impact　of　the　blow　lifted　the　Princess　into　the　air。　Her　own　teeth　severed　her　tongue　before　they；　too；　shattered。　She　landed　on　her　back；　a　good　distance　away；　trying　to　scream　through　the　gushing　blood。
　
　Denna's　eyes　snapped　to　him。　For　an　instant；　he　saw　fear　pass　across　them。　Richard　had　no　idea　how　he　was　able　to　wh