tg.wizardfirstrule-第158部分

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　As　Zedd　hoisted　Kahlan's　pack　to　his　shoulder；　there　was　an　impact　to　the　air；　thunder　with　no　sound。　They　both　ran　to　the　trail；　ran　for　Kahlan。　They　had　only　gone　a　short　distance　when　they　found　the　last　man；　sprawled　across　the　way　where　he　had　lain　in　wait。　His　own　sword　jutted　from　his　chest。　Both　his　hands　held　the　hilt　in　a　death　grip。
　
　They　both　kept　running　until　they　caught　up　with　her。　She　strode　purposefully　along；　eyes　ahead；　disinterested　in　what　was　about　her。　Her　Confessor's　dress　flowed　and　flapped　behind　her　like　a　flame　in　wind。　Zedd　had　always　thought　Confessors　looked　beautiful　in　their　dresses；　especially　the　white　of　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　But　he　saw　it　now　for　what　it　really　was。　Battle　armor
　
　CHAPTER　48
　WATER　FROM　THE　DRIZZLE　collecting　on　Richard's　face　ran　down　his　nose；　hanging　in　a　drip　at　the　end；　tickling。　He　angrily　wiped　it　off。　He　was　so　tired　that　he　hardly　knew　what　he　was　doing　anymore。　The　only　thing　he　knew　for　sure　was　that　he　couldn't　find　Kahlan；　and　Zedd；　and　Chase。　He　had　searched　relentlessly；　going　down　endless　trails　and　roads；　back　and　forth；　crisscrossing　his　way　toward　the　People's　Palace；　and　had　not　seen　a　sign　of　them。　There　were　trails　and　paths　everywhere；　and　he　knew　he　had　searched　only　a　fraction　of　them。　He　had　stopped　only　for　a　few　hours　at　night；　mostly　to　rest　the　horse；　and　then　he　had　sometimes　searched　on　foot。　Since　he　had　left　his　brother；　the　clouds　had　hung　low　and　thick；　limiting　visibility。　He　was　furious　that　they　had　to　e　now；　when　he　needed　Scarlet　more　than　ever。
　
　He　felt　that　everything　was　conspiring　against　him；　that　the　fates　did　indeed　work　for　Darken　Rahl。　Rahl　would　have　Kahlan　by　now。　It　was　too　late；　she　must　be　in　the　People's　Palace　by　now。
　
　He　urged　the　horse　up　the　mountain　trail；　through　stands　of　big　spruce　that　grew　on　the　steep　ground。　Spongy　moss　muffled　the　passing　of　the　horse's　hooves。　Darkness　hid　nearly　everything。　As　he　rode　higher；　through　the　mist　and　darkness；　the　trees　thinned；　exposing　him　to　the　cold　wind　ing　up　the　slope。　It　flapped　his　cloak　and　moaned　in　his　ears。　Black　patches　of　cloud　and　mist　blew　across　the　trail。　Richard　pulled　his　hood　up　against　the　elements。　Although　he　couldn't　see　anything；　he　knew　he　had　reached　the　top　of　the　mountain　pass　and　was　starting　down　the　opposite　side。
　
　It　was　deep　in　the　night。　The　dawn　would　bring　the　first　day　of　winter。　The　last　day　of　freedom。
　
　Finding　a　small　shelter　of　overhanging　rock；　Richard　decided　to　get　a　few　hours'　sleep　before　the　dawn　that　would　be　his　last。　He　warily　slid　off　the　horse's　wet　back　and　tethered　ii　to　a　nearby　scrub　pine　that　hunched　among　long　grass。　He　didn't　even　take　his　pack　off；　but　simply　rolled　himself　in　his　cloak　under　the　rock　and　tried　to　sleep；　thinking　of　Kahlan；　thinking　of　what　he　would　have　to　do　to　keep　her　out　of　the　hands　of　a　Mord…Sith。　After　he　finished　helping　Darken　Rahl　open　the　box　that　would　give　him　the　power　he　sought；　Rahl　would　kill　him。　Despite　Darken　Rahl's　assurance　that　Richard　Would　be　free　to　go　about　his　life；　what　life　could　he　have　after　he　was　touched　by　Kahlan's　power？
　
　Besides；　he　knew　Rahl　was　lying。　Rahl　intended　to　kill　him。　He　hoped　only　that　his　death　would　be　quick。　He　knew　his　decision　to　help　Darken　Rahl　meant　that　Zedd　would　die；　too；　but　it　meant　that　many　more　would　live。　Live　under　the　brutal　rule　of　Darken　Rahl；　but　live　nonetheless。　Richard　couldn't　bear　the　thought　of　being　responsible　for　everyone　and　everything　dying。　Rahl　had　told　the　truth　about　Richard　being　betrayed；　and　he　probably　was　telling　the　truth　about　knowing　which　box　would　kill　him。　Even　if　he　was　lying；　Richard　couldn't　risk　everyone　on　that　one　chance。　Richard　had　run　out　of　options；　he　had　no　choice　but　to　help　Darken　Rahl。
　
　His　ribs　still　hurt　from　what　Denna　had　done　to　him。　It　was　still　hard　to　lie　down；　and　still　hurt　to　breathe。　His　sleep　brought　the　nightmares　he　had　had　every　night　since　leaving　the　People's　Palace；　the　nightmares　of　the　things　Denna　had　done　to　him；　the　nightmares　he　had　promised　her　he　would　have。　He　dreamed　of　hanging　helpless　while　Denna　hurt　him；　of　being　powerless　to　stop　her；　of　never　being　able　to　escape。　He　dreamed　of　Michael　standing　there；　watching。　He　dreamed　of　seeing　Kahlan　being　tortured；　and　Michael　watching　that；　too。
　
　He　came　awake　drenched　in　sweat；　shaking　with　fear；　heard　himself　whimpering　with　the　terror　of　the　dreams。　Sunlight　was　slanting　sideways　under　the　overhang　of　the　rock。　The　orange　sun　was　just　breaking　above　the　horizon　to　the　east。
　
　Richard　stood　and　stretched　the　cramps　from　his　muscles；　surveying　the　dawn　of　the　first　day　of　winter。　He　was　high　on　a　mountain。　The　surrounding　peaks　thrust　themselves　above　a　blanket　of　clouds　below　that　stretched　off　before　him；　to　the　eastern　horizon；　like　a　sea　of　gray　tinged　in　orange。
　
　The　sea　of　clouds　was　unbroken　except　for　one　thing…the　People's　Palace。　Touched　by　the　sunlight；　in　the　far　distance；　it　rose　proud　on　its　plateau；　standing　above　the　clouds；　waiting　for　him。　A　cold　feeling　ran　through　his　gut；　it　was　a　long　way　off。　He　had　misjudged　how　far　he　was　from　it；　it　was　a　lot　farther　than　he　had　thought。　He　had　no　time　to　waste。　When　the　sun　was　at　its　zenith；　the　boxes　could　be　opened。
　
　As　he　turned；　movement　caught　his　eye。　The　horse　let　out　a　terrified　neigh。　Howls　split　the　morning　silence。　Heart　hounds。
　
　Richard　drew　his　sword　as　they　poured　over　the　rock。　Before　he　could　start　for　the　horse；　the　hounds　took　it　down。　In　a　dead　run；　more　came　for　him。　Frozen　in　shock　for　only　an　instant；　he　leapt　up　onto　the　rock　he　had　slept　under。　The　hounds；　teeth　snapping；　bounded　up　the　rock　toward　him。　He　cut　down　the　first　wave；　then　retreated　farther　up　the　rock　as　more　hounds　came　for　him。　Richard　swung　the　sword；　cutting　through　them　as　they　advanced；　snarling　and　howling。
　
　It　was　like　a　sea　of　tan　fur；　ing　for　him　in　waves。　Frantically；　he　slashed　and　stabbed　at　them；　trying　to　back　away　at　the　same　time。　Hounds　came　over　the　rock　behind。　He　jumped　to　the　side　as　the　two　groups　crashed　together；　tearing　at　each　other　for　the　chance　to　be　the　first　to　get　at　his　heart。
　
　Richard　climbed　higher；　fighting　the　beasts　back；　killing　any　that　got　close　enough。　It　was　a　futile　effort；　he　knew；　there　were　more　than　he　would　be　able　to　hold　back。　He　released　himself　into　the　anger　of　the　sword's　magic；　fighting　with　fury　as　he　advanced　into　their　ranks。　He　couldn't　fail　Kahlan；　not　now。　The　air　seemed　filled　with　yellow　teeth；　all　ing　for　him。　Blood　from　the　killing　was　everywhere。　The　world　turned　to　red。
　
　And　then　it　turned　to　flame。
　
　Fire　erupted　all　about。　Hounds　howled　in　mortal　pain。　The　dragon　roared　in　anger。　Scarlet's　shadow　swept　over　him。　Richard's　sword　cut　through　the　hounds　that　came　close　enough。　The　air　smelled　of　blood　and　burning　fur。
　
　Scarlet's　claw　gripped　him　around　the　middle；　lifting　him　away　from　the　leaping；　snapping　beasts。　Richard　panted　in　exhaustion　from　the　fierce　fight　as　the　dragon　flew　to　a　clearing　on　another　mountain。　She　set　him　gently　on　the　ground　and　landed。
　
　Richard；　nearly　in　tears；　threw　his　arms　against　her　red　scales；　stroking　them；　and　laid　his　head　against　her　〃Thank　you；　my　friend。　You　have　saved　my　life。　You　have　saved　many　lives。　You　are　a　dragon　of　honor。〃
　
　〃I　made　a　bargain；　that　is　all。〃　She　snorted　a　puff　of　smoke。　〃Besides；　someone　has　to　help　you；　you　can't　seem　to　stay　out　of　trouble　on　your　own。〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　〃You　are　the　most　beautiful　beast　I　have　ever　seen。〃　Still　panting　as　he　tried　to　catch　his　breath；　he　pointed　to　the　plateau。　〃Scarlet；　I　need　to　get　to　the　People's　Palace。　Will　you　take　me？　Please？〃
　
　〃You　didn't　find　your　friends？　Your　brother？〃
　
　He　swallowed　the　lump　in　his　throat。　〃My　brother　has　betrayed　me。　Betrayed　me；　and　everyone；　to　Darken　Rahl。　I　wish　people　had　half　the　honor　of　dragons。〃
　
　Scarlet　gave　a　grumble；　vibrating　the　scales　on　her　throat。　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard　Cypher。　Climb　on。　I　will　take　you。〃
　
　The　dragon　made　slow；　steady　strokes　of　her　wings；　lifting　him　above　the　sea　of　clouds　that　covered　the　Azrith　Plains；　carrying　him　to　the　last　place　in　the　world　he　would　wish　to　go；　had　he　a　choice。　The　journey；　which　would　have　taken　him　a　good　part　of　the　day　on　a　horse；　took　less　than　an　hour　on　the　dragon。　She　folded　her　wings　back；　diving　toward　the　plateau。　The　wind　tore　at　his　clothes　as　she　plunged　downward。　From　the　air；　Richard　could　see　how　big　the　People's　Palace　really　was。　It　was　hard　to　believe　it　had　been　made　by　men；　it　seemed　beyond　even　a　dream。　It　was　like　the　biggest　of　cities；　all　melted　together　into　one　plex。
　
　Scarlet　flew　once　around　the　plateau；　past　towers；　walls；　and　roofs。　They　flashed　past　in　endless　variety；　making　him　dizzy。　She　lifted　over　the　outer　wall；　and　swooped　down　into　a　vast　courtyard；　fluttering　her　wings　to　stop　their　descent。　There　were　no　guards；　no　people；　to　be　seen。
　
　Richard　slid　down　her　red　scales；　landing　on　his　feet　with　a　thump。　She　swept　her　head　about；　then　tilted　it　down；　gazing　at　him。　Her　ears　swiveled　forward。
　
　〃Are　you　sure　you　want　me　to　leave　you　here？〃　Richard　nodded；　casting　his　eyes　to　the　ground。　Scarlet　snorted。　〃Then　the　six　days　are　at　an　end。　Our　bargain　is　at　an　end。　The　next　time
　
　I　see　you；　you　will　be　fair　game。〃
　
　Richard　smiled　up　at　her。　〃Fair　enough；　my　friend。　But　you'll　not　get　the　chance。　Today；　I　am　going　to　die。〃
　
　Scarlet　watched　him　with　one　yellow　eye。　〃Try　not　to　let　that　happen；　Richard　Cypher。　I　would　still　like　to　eat　you。〃
　
　Richard's　smile　widened　as　he　rubbed　a　glossy　scale。　〃Take　care　of　your　little　dragon；　when　it　hatches。　I　wish　I　had　had　a　chance　to　see　it。　It　will　be　beautiful　too；　I　know。　I　realize　you　hate　flying　men　about；　because　it's　against　your　will；　but　thanks　for　letting　me　know　the　joy　of　flying。　I　considered　it　a　privilege。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃I　like　flying　too。〃　She　let　out　a　puff　of　smoke。　〃You　are　a　rare　man；　Richard　Cypher。　I　have　never　seen　one　the　match　of　you：〃
　
　〃I　am　the　Seeker。　The　last　Seeker。〃
　
　She　gave　another　nod　of　her　big　head。　〃Ta