tg.wizardfirstrule-第5部分

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　Richard　was　startled；　he　had　never　heard　of　anything　like　this。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　trying　to　think。　Dark；　shadowy　thoughts　started　to　swirl　again。　For　some　reason；　he　was　terrified　of　what　she　might　say；　but　had　to　ask。
　
　He　looked　hard　into　her　eyes；　expecting　the　truth　this　time。　〃Kahlan；　where　did　the　quad　e　from？〃
　
　She　studied　his　face　a　moment。　〃They　must　have　tracked　me　out　of　the　Midlands；　and　through　the　boundary。〃
　
　Richard's　skin　went　cold；　and　prickles　bumped　up　along　his　arms　in　a　wave　that　rolled　up　to　the　back　of　his　neck；　making　the　fine　hairs　there　stand　stiffly　out。　An　anger　deep　within　him　awakened　and　his　secrets　stirred。
　
　She　had　to　be　lying。　No　one　could　cross　the　boundary。
　
　No　one。
　
　No　one　could　go　into　or　e　out　of　the　Midlands。　The　boundary　had　sealed　it　away　since　before　he　was　born。
　
　The　Midlands　was　a　land　of　magic
　
　CHAPTER　3
　Michael's　HOUSE　WAS　a　massive　structure　of　white　stone；　set　back　quite　a　distance　from　the　road。　Slate　roofs　in　a　variety　of　angles　and　rakes　came　together　in　plicated　junctures　topped　with　a　leaded…glass　peak　that　let　light　into　the　central　hall。　The　walkway　to　the　house　was　shaded　from　the　bright　afternoon　sun　by　towering　white　oaks　as　it　passed　through　sweeping　stretches　of　lawn　before　ing　to　formal　gardens　laid　in　symmetrical　patterns　to　each　side。　The　gardens　were　in　full　bloom。　Since　it　was　so　late　in　the　year；　Richard　knew　the　flowers　had　to　have　been　raised　in　greenhouses　just　for　the　occasion。
　
　People　in　fine　clothes　strolled　the　lawns　and　gardens；　making　Richard　feel　suddenly　out　of　place。　He　knew　he　must　look　a　mess　in　his　dirty；　sweat…stained　forest　garb；　but　he　hadn't　wanted　to　waste　the　time　going　out　of　his　way　to　his　house　to　get　cleaned　up。　Besides；　he　was　in　a　dark　mood　and　didn't　much　care　how　he　looked。　He　had　more　important　things　on　his　mind。
　
　Kahlan；　on　the　other　hand；　didn't　look　so　out　of　place。　The　unusual　but　striking　dress　she　wore　belied　the　fact　that　she；　too；　had　just　walked　out　of　the　woods。　Considering　how　much　blood　there　
　
　had　been　up　on　Blunt　Cliff；　he　was　surprised　that　she　didn't　have　any　on　her。　She　had　somehow　managed　to　stay　clear　while　the　men　killed　each　other。
　
　When　she　had　seen　how　upset　he　had　bee　when　she　had　told　him　she　had　e　through　the　boundary　from　the　Midlands；　she　had　fallen　silent　on　the　subject。　Richard　needed　time　to　think　about　it；　and　hadn't　pressed。　Instead　she　asked　him　about　Westland；　what　the　people　were　like　and　where　he　lived。　He　told　her　about　his　house　in　the　woods；　how　he　liked　living　away　from　town；　and　that　he　was　a　guide　for　travelers　through　the　Hartland　Woods　on　their　way　to　or　from　the　town　itself。
　
　〃Does　your　house　have　a　fireplace？〃　she　had　asked。
　
　〃It　does。〃
　
　〃Do　you　use　it？〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　cook　on　it　all　the　time；〃　he　had　told　her。　〃Why？〃
　
　She　had　merely　shrugged　as　she　looked　off　to　the　countryside。　〃I　just　miss　sitting　in　front　of　a　fire；　that's　all。〃
　
　As　unsettling　as　the　day's　events　had　been；　on　top　of　his　grief；　it　felt　good　to　have　someone　to　talk　to；　even　if　she　did　dance　around　her　secrets。
　
　〃Invitation；　sir？〃　someone　called　in　a　deep　voice　from　the　shade　beside　the　entry。
　
　Invitation？　Richard　spun　around　to　see　who　had　addressed　him　and　was　met　by　a　mischievous　grin。　Richard　broke　into　a　grin　of　his　own。　It　was　his　friend　Chase。　He　clasped　hands　with　the　boundary　warden　in　a　warm　greeting。
　
　Chase　was　a　big　man；　clean…shaven；　with　a　head　of　light　brown　hair　that　showed　no　sign　of　receding　but　instead　gave　way　to　age　by　going　gray　at　the　sides。　Heavy　brows　shaded　intense　brown　eyes　that　stole　slowly　about；　even　as　he　talked；　and　saw　everything。　This　habit　often　gave　people　the　impression…a　seriously　mistaken　impression…that　he　wasn't　paying　attention。　Despite　his　size；　Chase　was；　Richard　knew；　frighteningly　quick　when　there　was　need。　Chase　wore　a　brace　of　knives　to　one　side　of　his　belt；　and　a　six…bladed　battle　mace　to　the　other。　The　hilt　of　a　short　sword　stood　above　his　right　shoulder；　and　a　crossbow　with　a　full　plement　of　barbed；　steel…tipped　bolts　hung　from　a　leather　strap　on　his　left
　
　Richard　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Looks　like　you　plan　on　getting　your　share　of　the　food。〃
　
　The　grin　left　Chase's　face。　〃Not　here　as　a　guest。〃　His　gaze　settled　on　Kahlan。
　
　Richard　felt　the　awkwardness。　He　took　Kahlan's　arm　and　drew　her　forward。　She　came　easily；　unafraid。
　
　〃Chase；　this　is　my　friend；　Kahlan。〃　He　gave　her　a　smile。　〃This　is　Dell　Brandstone。　Everyone　calls　him　Chase。　He's　an　old　friend　of　mine。　We're　safe　with　him。〃　He　turned　back　to　Chase。　〃You　can　trust　her；　too。〃
　
　She　looked　at　the　big　man　and　gave　him　a　smile　and　nod　of　acknowledgment。
　
　Chase　nodded　once　to　her；　the　matter　settled；　Richard's　word　being　all　the　reassurance　he　needed。　His　eyes　scanned　the　crowd；　lingering　on　various　people；　checking　their　interest　in　the　three　of　them。　He　pulled　them　both　away　from　the　sunlit　openness　of　the　steps　and　into　the　shade　off　to　the　side。
　
　〃Your　brother　called　in　all　the　boundary　wardens。〃　He　paused；　taking　another　look　around。　〃To　be　his　personal　guards。〃
　
　〃What！　That　doesn't　make　any　sense！〃　Richard　was　incredulous。　〃He　has　the　Home　Guard；　and　the　army。　What　does　he　need　a　few　boundary　wardens　for？〃
　
　Chase　rested　his　left　hand　on　one　of　the　knife　handles：　〃What；　indeed。〃　His　face　gave　no　hint　of　emotion。　It　rarely　did。　〃Could　be　he　just　wants　us　around　for　effect。　People　are　afraid　of　the　wardens。　You've　been　away　to　the　woods　since　your　father　was　killed；　not　that　I'm　saying　I　wouldn't　do　the　same　if　I　were　you。　All　I'm　saying　is　you　haven't　been　around。　Strange　things　have　been　going　on；　Richard。　People　ing　and　going　in　the　night。　Michael　calls　them　‘concerned　citizens。'　He's　been　talking　some　nonsense　about　plots　against　the　government。　He　has　the　wardens　all　over　the　grounds。〃
　
　Richard　looked　around；　but　didn't　see　any。　He　knew　that　didn't　mean　anything。　If　a　boundary　warden　didn't　want　to　be　seen；　he　could　be　standing　on　your　foot　and　you　wouldn't　be　able　to　find　him。
　
　Chase　drummed　his　fingers　on　a　knife　handle　as　he　watched　Richard's　eyes　scan　about。　〃My　boys　are　out　there；　take　my　word。〃　〃Well；　how　do　you　know　Michael　isn't　right；　what　with　the　father　of　the　new　First　Councilor　being　murdered　and　all？〃
　
　Chase　gave　his　finest　look　of　disgust。　〃I　know　every　little　slime　in　Westland。　There's　no　plot。　Might　be　a　bit　of　fun　to　be　had　if　there　were；　but　I　think　I'm　just　part　of　the　decoration。　Michael　said　I　should　‘stay　visible。'　〃　His　expression　sharpened。　〃And　about　your　father's　murder；　well；　George　Cypher　and　I　go　way　back；　way　back　to　before　when　you　were　born；　back　to　before　the　boundary。　He　was　a　good　man。　I　was　proud　to　call　him　friend。〃　Anger　heated　in　his　eyes。　〃I've　twisted　a　few　fingers。〃　He　shifted　his　weight；　taking　another　look　around　before　bringing　his　fierce　expression　back　to　Richard。　〃Twisted　hard。　Hard　enough　to　cause　their　owners　to　spit　out　their　own　mother's　name　if　it　had　been　the　right　one。　No　one　knows　a　thing；　and　believe　me；　if　they　did　they　would　have　been　happy　to　have　shortened　our　conversation。　First　time　I've　ever　chased　anyone　and　not　been　able　to　get　even　a　whiff。〃　He　folded　his　arms；　and　his　grin　came　back　as　he　eyed　Richard　up　and　down。　〃Speaking　of　slime；　what　have　you　been　about？　You　look　like　one　of　my　customers。〃
　
　Richard　glanced　to　Kahlan；　and　then　back　to　Chase。　〃We　were　up　in　the　high　Ven。〃　Richard　lowered　his　voice。　〃We　were　attacked　by　four　men。〃
　
　Chase　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Anyone　I　would　know？〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。
　
　Chase　frowned。　〃So　where　did　these　four　fellows　go　after　they　jumped　you？〃
　
　〃You　know　the　trail　across　Blunt　Cliff？〃
　
　〃Of　course。〃
　
　〃They're　on　the　rocks　at　the　bottom。　We're　going　to　have　to　have　a　talk。〃
　
　Chase　unfolded　his　arms　and　stared　at　the　two　of　them。　〃I'll　have　a　look。〃　His　eyebrows　knitted　together。　〃How'd　you　manage　it？〃
　
　Richard　exchanged　a　quick　glance　with　Kahlan　and　looked　back　to　the　boundary　warden。　〃I　think　the　good　spirits　protected　us。〃
　
　Chase　shot　them　each　a　suspicious　glare。　〃That　so？　Well；　better　not　to　tell　Michael　about　this　right　now。　I　don't　think　he　believes　in　good　spirits。〃　He　studied　both　their　faces。　〃And　if　you　think　there's　a　need；　you　two　e　stay　at　my　place。　You'll　be　safe　enough　there。〃
　
　Richard　thought　about　all　of　Chase's　children　and　knew　he　didn't　want　to　endanger　them；　but　he　didn't　want　to　argue　the　point　either；　so　he　just　nodded。
　
　〃We　better　get　in　there。　Michael　is　sure　to　be　missing　me。〃
　
　〃One　more　thing；〃　Chase　said。　〃Zedd　wants　to　see　you。　He's　in　a　big　fret　about　something。　Says　it's　real　important。〃
　
　Richard　looked　up　over　his　shoulder　and　saw　the　same　strange　snakelike　cloud。　〃I　think　I　need　to　see　him；　too。〃　He　turned　and　started　to　leave。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Chase　said　with　a　look　that　would　have　withered　anyone　else；　〃tell　me　what　were　you　doing　in　the　high　Ven。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　shy　away。　〃Same　as　you。　Trying　to　get　a　whiff。〃
　
　Chase's　hard　face　softened；　and　a　hint　of　his　smile　came　back。　〃Get　one？〃
　
　Richard　nodded　as　he　held　up　his　red；　sore　left　hand。　〃And　it　bites。〃　。
　
　The　two　turned　and　melted　into　the　crowd　entering　the　house；　moving　through　the　entry；　across　white　marble　floors；　to　the　elegant　central　meeting　hall。　Marble　walls　and　columns　glowed　with　a　cold　eerie　cast　where　the　sunlight　streaming　in　from　above　touched　them。　Richard　had　always　preferred　the　warmth　of　wood；　but　Michael　had　maintained　that　anyone　could　go　out　and　make　what　they　wanted　from　wood；　but　if　you　wanted　marble；　you　had　to　hire　a　lot　of　people　who　lived　in　wood　houses　to　do　the　work　for　you。　Richard　remembered　a　time　before　their　mother　died；　when　he　and　。　Michael　played　in　the　dirt；　building　houses　and　forts　with　sticks。　Michael　had　helped　him　then。　He　wanted　so　much　for　Michael　to　help　him　now。
　
　People　Richard　recognized　greeted　him；　getting　only　a　wooden　smile　or　quick　handshake。　Since　Kahlan　was　from　a　strange　land；　Richard　was　a　little　surprised　to　see　how　fortable　she　was　around　all　the　important