tg.wizardfirstrule-第43部分

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　A　lot　of　other　men。
　
　Richard's　grip　tightened　around　the　braided　wire　hilt　until　his　knuckles　were　white。　Kahlan　gave　a　steady　pull　on　the　sleeve　of　his　sword　arm。　She　spoke　his　name　in　a　low　tone；　raising　the　inflection　at　the　end；　the　way　his　mother　did　when　she　was　warning　him　to　stay　out　of　something。　He　stole　a　glance　at　her。　She　gave　a　luscious　smile　to　the　red…haired　man。
　
　〃You　men　have　it　all　wrong；〃　she　said　in　a　throaty　voice。　〃You　see；　this　is　my　day　off。　I'm　the　one　who　hired　him　for　the　night。〃　She　smacked　Richard　on　the　rear。　Hard。　It　surprised　him　so　much　he　froze。　She　licked　her　top　lip　as　she　looked　at　the　red…haired　man。　〃But　if　he　doesn't　give　me　my　money's　worth；　well；　you　will　be　the　first　I　call　to　fill　the　breach。〃　She　smile　lasciviously。
　
　There　was　a　thick　moment　of　silence。　Richard　resisted　mightily　his　need　to　pull　the　sword　free。　He　held　his　breath　as　he　waited　to　see　which　way　it　was　going　to　go。　Kahlan　continued　to　smile　at　the　men　in　a　way　that　only　made　his　anger　deepen。
　
　Life　and　death　measured　each　other　in　the　red…haired　man's　eyes。　No　one　moved。　Then　a　grin　split　his　face　and　he　roared　with　laughter。　Everyone　else　hooted　and　hollered　and　laughed。　The　man　sat　down　and　the　men　started　talking　again；　ignoring　Richard　and　Kahlan。　Richard　breathed　out　in　a　sigh。　The　proprietor　eased　the　two　of　them　back　a　ways。　He　gave　Kahlan　a　smile　of　respect。
　
　〃Thank　you；　ma'am。　I'm　glad　your　head　is　faster　than　your　friend's　hand。　This　place　may　not　seem　much　to　you；　but　it's　mine　and　you　just　kept　it　in　one　piece　for　me。〃
　
　〃You　are　wele；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃Do　you　have　a　room　for　us？〃
　
　The　proprietor　put　the　toothpick　back　in　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　〃There's　one；　upstairs；　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　on　the　right；　that　has　a　bolt　on　the　door。〃
　
　〃We　have　two　friends　outside；〃　Richard　said。　〃I　could　use　some　help　getting　them　up　there。〃
　
　The　man　gave　a　nod　of　his　head　back　at　the　roomful　of　men。　〃It　wouldn't　do　if　that　lot　saw　you　were　burdened　with　injured　panions。　You　two　go　up　to　the　room；　just　like　they　expect。　My　son's　in　the　kitchen。　We'll　bring　your　friends　up　the　back　stairs；　so　no　one　will　see。〃　Richard　didn't　like　the　idea。　〃Have　a　little　faith；　my　friend；〃　the　other　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃or　you　may　be　bringing　harm　to　your　friends。　By　the　way；　my　name's　Bill。〃
　
　Richard　looked　at　Kahlan；　her　face　was　unreadable。　He　looked　back　to　the　proprietor。　The　man　was　tough；　hardened；　but　didn't　appear　to　be　devious。　Still；　it　was　his　friends'　lives　at　stake。　He　tried　to　keep　his　voice　from　sounding　as　threatening　as　he　felt。
　
　〃All　right；　Bill；　we　will　do　as　you　ask。〃
　
　Bill　gave　a　small　smile　and　a　nod　as　he　rolled　the　toothpick　across　his　mouth。
　
　Richard　and　Kahlan　went　up　to　the　room　and　waited。　The　ceiling　was　lower　than　was　fortable。　The　wall　next　to　the　single　bed　was　covered　with　years　of　spit。　In　the　opposite　corner　were　a　three…legged　table　and　short　bench。　A　single　oil　lamp　sat　glowing　weakly　on　the　table。　The　windowless　room　was　otherwise　bare；　and　had　a　naked　feel　to　it。　It　smelled　rank。　Richard　paced　while　Kahlan　sat　on　the　bed；　watching　him；　looking　slightly　unfortable。　Finally；　he　strode　over　to　her。
　
　〃I　can't　believe　what　you　did　down　there。〃
　
　She　stood　up　and　looked　him　in　the　eyes。　〃The　result　is　what　matters；　Richard。　If　I　had　let　you　do　what　you　were　about　to　do；　your　life　would　have　been　at　great　risk。　For　nothing　of　value。〃
　
　〃But　those　men　think　。　。　。〃
　
　〃And　you　care　what　those　men　think？〃
　
　〃No　。　。　。　but　。　。　。〃　He　could　feel　his　face　redden。
　
　〃I　am　sworn　to　protect　the　life　of　the　Seeker　with　my　own。　I　would　do　anything　required　to　protect　you。〃　She　gave　him　a　meaningful　look；　lifting　an　eyebrow。　〃Anything。〃
　
　Frustrated；　he　tried　to　think　how　to　put　into　words　how　angry　he　was　without　making　it　sound　as　if　he　was　angry　with　her。　He　had　been　at　the　brink　of　lethal　mitment。　A　brink　only　one　wrong　word　away。　Pulling　back　was　agonizingly　difficult。　He　could　still　feel　his　blood　pounding　with　the　lust　for　violence。　It　was　difficult　to　understand　the　way　the　anger　twisted　his　own　rationality　with　hot　need；　much　less　explain　it　to　her。　Looking　into　her　green　eyes　was　making　him　relax；　though；　cooling　his　anger
　
　〃Richard；　you　have　。to　keep　your　mind　where　it　belongs。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　〃Darken　Rahl。　That　is　where　your　mind　belongs。　Those　men　downstairs　are　of　no　concern　to　us。　We　must　only　get　past　them；　that's　all。　Nothing　else。　Don't　expend　your　thoughts　on　them。　It's　a　waste。　Put　your　energy　to　our　job。〃
　
　He　let　out　a　breath；　and　nodded。　〃You're　right。　I'm　sorry。　You　did　a　brave　thing　tonight。　As　much　as　I　didn't　like　it。〃
　
　She　put　her　arms　around　him；　her　head　against　his　chest；　and　gave　him　as　slow　hug。　There　was　a　soft　knock　at　the　door。　After　assuring　himself　it　was　Bill；　he　opened　the　door。　The　proprietor　and　his　son　carried　Chase　in　and　laid　him　carefully　on　the　floor。　When　the　son；　a　lanky　young　man；　saw　Kahlan；　he　fell　instantly　and　hopelessly　in　love。　Richard　understood　the　feeling；　nonetheless；　he　didn't　appreciate　it。
　
　Bill　pointed　with　his　thumb。　〃This　is　my　son；　Randy。〃　Randy　was　in　a　trance；　staring　at　Kahlan。　Bill　turned　to　Richard；　wiping　the　rain　off　the　top　of　his　head　with　the　rag　he　kept　over　his　shoulder。　He　still　had　the　toothpick　in　his　mouth。
　
　〃You　didn't　tell　me　your　friend　was　Dell　Brandstone。〃
　
　Richard's　caution　flared。　〃That　a　problem？〃
　
　Bill　smiled。　〃Not　with　me。　The　warden　and　me　have　had　our　disagreements；　but　he's　a　fair　man。　He　gives　me　no　trouble。　He　stays　here　sometimes　when　he's　in　the　area　on　official　business。　But　the　men　downstairs　would　tear　him　apart　if　they　knew　he　was　up　here。〃
　
　〃They　might　try；〃　Richard　corrected。
　
　A　slight　smile　curled　the　corners　of　Bill's　mouth。　〃We'll　get　the　other　one。〃
　
　When　they　left；　Richard　gave　Kahlan　two　silver　coins。　〃When　they　e　back；　give　the　boy　one　of　these　to　take　the　horses　to　the　stables　for　us　and　tend　to　them。　Tell　him　that　if　he　will　spend　the　night　watching　them　and　have　them　ready　for…us　at　sunrise；　you　will　add　the　other。〃
　
　〃What　makes　you　think　he　will　do　it？〃
　
　Richard　gave　a　short　laugh。　〃Don't　worry；　he'll　do　it；　if　you　ask。　Just　smile。〃
　
　Bill　came　back　carrying　Zedd　in　his　husky　arms。　Randy　followed；　carrying　most　of　their　packs。　Bill　gently　laid　the　old　man　on　the　floor　next　to　Chase。　He　gave　Richard　a　look　from　under　his　curly　eyebrows；　then　turned　to　his　son。
　
　〃Randy；　go　get　this　young　lady　a　basin；　and　a　pitcher　of　water。　And　a　towel。　A　clean　towel。　She　might　like　to　clean　up。〃
　
　Randy　backed　out　of　the　room；　smiling　and　tripping　over　his　feet　as　he　went。　Bill　watched　him　go；　then　turned　to　Richard　with　an　intense　look。　He　took　the　toothpick　out　of　his　mouth。
　
　〃These　two　are　in　bad　shape。　I　won't　ask　you　what　happened　to　them　because　a　smart　fellow　wouldn't　tell　me；　and　I　think　you're　a　smart　fellow。　We　don't　have　a　healer　around　here；　but　there's　someone　who　may　be　able　to　help；　a　woman　named　Adie。　They　call　her　the　bone　woman。　Most　people　are　afraid　of　her。　That　bunch　downstairs　won't　go　near　her　place。〃
　
　Richard　remembered　Chase　saying　Adie　was　his　friend。　He　frowned。　〃Why？〃
　
　Bill　glanced　to　Kahlan；　and　back　to　Richard；　narrowing　his　eyes。　〃Because　they're　superstitious。　They　think　she's　bad　luck　of　some　sort；　and　because　she　lives　near　the　boundary。　They　say　that　people　she　doesn't　like　have　a　bad　habit　of　dropping　dead。　Mind　you；　I'm　not　saying　it's　true。　I　don't　believe　it　myself。　I　think　it's　all　made　up　in　their　own　heads。　She's　not　a　healer；　but　I　know　of　folks　she's　helped。　She　may　be　able　to　help　your　friends。　At　least　you　better　hope　she　can；　because　they're　not　going　to　last　much　longer　without　help。〃
　
　Richard　bed　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　〃How　do　we　find　this　bone　woman？〃
　
　〃Turn　left　down　the　trail　in　front　of　the　stables。　It's　about　a　four…hour　ride。〃
　
　〃And　why　are　you　helping　us；〃　Richard　asked。
　
　Bill　smiled　and　folded　his　muscled　arms　across　his　chest。　〃Let's　just　say　I'm　helping　the　warden。　He　keeps　some　of　my　other　customers　at　bay；　and　the　wardens　bring　me　an　ine　from　the　government　with　their　business；　here　and　from　my　dry　goods　store　next　door。　If　he　makes　it；　you　just　be　sure　to　tell　him　it　was　me　that　helped　save　his　life。〃　He　chuckled。　〃That'll　vex　him　good。〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　He　understood　Bill's　meaning。　Chase　hated　to　have　anyone　help　him。　Bill　did　indeed　know　Chase。　〃I　will　be　sure　to　let　him　know　you　saved　。his　life。〃　The　other　looked　pleased。　〃Now；　since　this　bone　woman　lives　by　herself；　way　out　by　the　boundary；　and　I'm　to　ask　for　her　help；　I　think　it　would　be　a　good　idea　if　I　took　her　some　things。　Can　you　get　together　a　load　of　supplies　for　her？〃
　
　〃Sure。　I'm　an　approved　supplier；　I　get　reimbursed　from　Hartland。　Of　course；　that　thieving　council　takes　most　of　it　back　in　taxes。　I　can　put　it　in　my　tally　book　for　the　government　to　pay；　if　this　is　official　business。〃
　
　〃It　is。〃
　
　Randy　came　back　with　the　basin；　water；　and　towels。　Kahlan　put　a　silver　coin　in　his　hand　and　asked　him　about　caring　for　the　horses。　He　looked　to　his　father　for　approval。　Bill　nodded。
　
　〃Just　tell　me　which　horse　is　yours；　and　I'll　take　extra　good　care　of　it；〃　Randy　said　with　a　big　grin。
　
　Kahlan　smiled　back。　〃They　are　all　mine。　Take　care　with　each；　my　life　depends　on　it。〃
　
　Randy's　face　turned　serious。　〃You　can　count　on　me。〃　Unable　to　decide　what　to　do　with　his　hands；　he　finally　jammed　them　in　his　pockets。　〃I　won't　let　anyone　near　them。〃　He　backed　toward　the　door　again；　and　when　all　but　his　head　was　through　it；　added；　〃I　just　want　you　to　know　I　don't　believe　a　word　of　what　those　men　downstairs　are　saying　about　you。　And　I　told　them　so。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　in　spite　of　herself。　〃Thank　you；　but　I　do　not　want　you　to　endanger　yourself　on　my　account。　Please　stay　away　from　those　men。　And　do　not　mention　that　you　talked　to　me；　it　will　only　embolden　them。〃
　
　Randy　grinned　and　nodded　and　left。　Bill　rolled　his　eyes　and　shook　his　head。　He　turned　to　Kahlan　with　a　smile。
　
　〃You　wouldn't　consider　staying　here　and　marrying　the