tg.wizardfirstrule-第6部分

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　was　a　little　surprised　to　see　how　fortable　she　was　around　all　the　important　people。　It　had　already　occurred　to　him　that　she；　too；　must　be　someone　important。　Gangs　of　assassins　didn't　hunt　down　unimportant　people。
　
　Richard　found　it　difficult　to　smile　at　everyone。　If　the　rumors　about　things　ing　out　of　the　boundary　were　true；　then　all　of　Westland　was　in　danger。　Country　people　in　the　outlying　areas　of　the　Hartland　were　already　terrified　to　go　out　at　night　and　had　recounted　stories　to　him　of　people　being　found　partly　eaten。　He　had　told　them　it　was　just　that　they　had　died　of　some　natural　cause；　and　wild　animals　had　found　the　bodies。　Happened　all　the　time。　They　said　it　was　beasts　from　the　sky。　He　had　passed　it　off　as　superstitious　nonsense。
　
　Until　now。
　
　Even　with　all　the　people　around；　Richard　felt　overwhelmingly　lonely。　He　was　confused　and　didn't　know　what　to　do　about　it。　He　didn't　know　who　to　turn　to。　Kahlan　was　the　only　one　who　made　him　feel　better；　but　at　the　same　time　she　frightened　him。　The　encounter　on　the　cliff　frightened　him。　He　wanted　to　take　her　and　leave。
　
　Zedd　might　know　what　to　do。　He　used　to　live　in　the　Midlands　before　the　boundary；　though　he　would　never　talk　about　it。　And　then　there　was　the　unsettling　feeling　he　had　that　all　of　this　had　something　to　do　with　his　father's　death；　and　his　father's　death　had　something　to　do　with　his　own　secrets；　the　secrets　his　father　had　placed　upon　him　and　him　alone。
　
　Kahlan　laid　a　hand　on　his　arm。　〃Richard；　I'm　sorry。　I　didn't　know　。　。　。　about　your　father。　I'm　sorry。〃
　
　With　the　frightening　events　of　the　day　he　had　almost　forgotten　about　it　until　Chase　had　brought　it　up。。　Almost。　He　gave　a　little　shrug。　〃Thanks。〃　He　waited　a　moment　as　a　woman　in　a　blue　silk　dress　with　ruffles　of　white　lace　at　the　neck；　cuffs；　and　down　the　front　walked　past。　He　looked　down　at　the　floor　as　she　moved　by　so　he　wouldn't　have　to　return　her　smile　if　she　gave　him　one。　〃It　was　three　weeks　ago。〃　He　told　Kahlan　a　little　of　what　had　happened。　She　listened　sympathetically。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard。　Perhaps　you　would　rather　be　alone。〃
　
　He　forced　himself　to　smile。　〃No；　it's　all　right。　I've　been　alone　enough。　It　helps　to　have　a　friend　to　talk　to。〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　small　smile　and　a　nod；　and　they　moved　on　through　the　crowd。　Richard　wondered　where　Michael　was。　It　seemed　odd　that　he　wasn't　out　yet。
　
　Even　though　he　had　lost　his　appetite；　he　knew　Kahlan　hadn't　eaten　in　two　days。　With　all　the　tempting　food　around；　he　decided　she　must　have　remarkable　self…control。　The　delicious　smells　were　starting　to　change　his　mind　about　his　appetite。
　
　He　leaned　closer　to　her。　〃Hungry？〃
　
　〃Very。〃
　
　He　guided　her　over　to　a　long　table　with　food　piled　in　tiers。　There　were　large　steaming　platters　of　sausages　and　meats；　boiled　potatoes；　dried　fish　of　several　kinds；　grilled　fish；　chicken；　turkey；　mounds　of　raw　vegetables　sliced　into　strips；　big　tureens　of　cabbage　and　sausage　soup；　onion　soup；　and　spice　soup；　platters　of　breads；　cheeses；　fruits；　pies；　and　cakes；　and　casks　of　wine　and　ale。　Servants　were　constantly　ing　and　going　to　keep　the　platters　full。
　
　Kahlan　scrutinized　them。　〃Some　of　the　serving　girls　have　long　hair。　That　is　allowed？〃
　
　Richard　looked　around；　a　little　bewildered。　〃Yes。　Anyone　can　have　any　'kind　of　hair　they　want。　Look。〃　He　held　his　arm　close　to　his　chest　and　pointed　as　he　leaned　toward　her。　〃Those　women　over　there　are　councilors；　some　have　short　hair；　some　have　long。　Whatever　they　want。〃　He　looked　at　her　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃Do　people　tell　you　to　cut　your　hair？〃
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　〃No。　No　one　has　ever　asked　me　to　cut　my　hair。　It　is　simply　that　where　I　e　from；　the　length　of　a　woman's　hair　has　a　certain　social　significance。〃
　
　〃Does　that　mean　that　you　are　someone　of　considerable　standing？〃　He　took　the　edge　off　the　question　with　a　playful　smile。　〃Seeing　as　how　you　have　such　long；　beautiful　hair；　I　mean。〃
　
　She　gave　him　back　a　small　smile；　devoid　of　joy。　〃Some　think　so。　I　could　only　expect　that　after　this　morning；　the　thought　had　entered　your　mind。　We　all　can　be　only　what　we　are；　nothing　more；　or　less。〃
　
　〃Well；　if　I　ask　anything　a　friend　shouldn't；　just　kick　me。〃
　
　Her　smile　brightened　into　the　same　tight…lipped　one　she　had　given　him　before。　The　smile　of　sharing。　It　made　him　grin。
　
　He　turned　to　the　food　and　found　one　of　his　favorites；　small　ribs　with　a　spice　sauce；　put　a　few　on　a　small　white　plate；　and　handed　it　to　her。
　
　〃Try　these　first。　They're　my　most　treasured。〃
　
　Kahlan　held　the　dish　at　arm's　length；　eyeing　it　suspiciously。　〃What　creature's　meat　is　this？〃　〃It's　pork；〃　he　said；　a　little　surprised。　〃You　know；　from　a　pig。　Try　it；　it's　the　best　thing　here；　I　promise。〃
　
　She　relaxed；　brought　the　plate　close；　and　ate　the　meat。　He　ate　a　half　dozen　himself；　savoring　every　bite。
　
　He　put　some　sausages　on　their　plates。　〃Here；　have　some。　of　these；　too。〃
　
　Her　suspicion　flared　anew。　〃What　are　they　made　of？〃
　
　〃Pork　and　beef；　some　spices；　I　don't　know　what　kinds。　Why？　There　some　kinds　of　things　you　don't　eat？〃
　
　〃Some　kinds；〃　she　said　nonmittally　before　eating　a　sausage。　〃May　I　have　some　spice　soup；　please？〃
　
　He　ladled　the　soup　into　a　fine　white　bowl　with　a　gold　rim　and　traded　it　for　her　plate。　She　took　the　bowl　in　both　hands　and　tried　it。
　
　A　smile　came　to　her　face。　〃It's　good；　just　like　I　make。　I　don't　think　our　two　homelands　are　as　different　as　you　fear。〃
　
　As　she　drank　the　remainder　of　the　soup；　Richard；　feeling　better　about　what　she　said；　picked　up　a　thick　slice　of　bread；　put　strips　of　chicken　meat　on　it；　and；　when　she　finished　the　soup；　exchanged　the　bread　for　her　bowl。　She　took　the　bread　with　chicken　and　started　moving　to　the　side　of　the　room　while　she　ate。　He　set　the　soup　bowl　down　and　followed　behind；　shaking　an　occasional　hand。　Their　owners　cast　a　critical　eye　at　the　way　he　was　dressed。　When　she　reached　a　deserted　spot　near　a　column；　she　turned　to　face　him。
　
　〃Please　get　me　a　piece　of　cheese？〃
　
　〃Sure。　What　kind？〃
　
　She　scanned　the　throng。　〃Any　kind。〃
　
　Richard　worked　his　way　back　through　the　crowd　to　the　food　table　and　picked　up　two　pieces　of　cheese；　eating　one　along　his　way　back　to　Kahlan。　She　took　the　cheese　when　he　handed　it　to　her；　but　instead　of　eating　it；　she　let　her　arm　slip　to　her　side；　and　let　the　cheese　fall　to　the　floor；　as　if　she　had　forgotten　she　was　holding　it。
　
　〃Wrong　kind？〃
　
　Her　tone　was　distant。　〃I　hate　cheese。〃　She　was　staring　past　him　to　a　spot　across　the　room。
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃Then　why　did　you　ask　for　it？〃　There　was　a　hint　of　irritation　in　his　voice
　
　〃Keep　looking　at　me；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　returning　to　his。　〃There　are　two　men　behind　you；　across　the　room。　They　have　been　watching　us。　I　wanted　to　know　if　it　was　me　or　you　they　were　watching。　When　I　sent　you　for　the　food　they　watched　you　go　and　e　back。　They　paid　no　attention　to　me。　It　is　you　they　are　watching。〃
　
　Richard　put　his　hands　on　her　shoulders　and　turned　her　to　see　for　himself。　He　scanned　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd；　to　the　far　side　of　the　room。　〃They're　just　two　of　Michael's　aides。　They　know　me。　They're　probably　wondering　where　I've　been　and　why　I　look　such　a　mess。〃　He　looked　into　her　eyes　and　spoke　softly　so　that　no　one　would　hear。　〃It's　all　right；　Kahlan；　relax。　Those　men　from　this　morning　are　dead。　You're　safe　now。〃
　
　She　shook　her　head。　〃More　will　follow。　I　should　not　be　with　you。　I　do　not　want　to　endanger　your　life　any　more　than　I　already　have。　You　are　my　friend。〃
　
　〃There　is　no　way　another　quad　could　track　you　now；　not　once　you　have　e　here；　to　Hartland。　It's　impossible。〃　He　knew　enough　about　tracking　to　feel　confident　that　he　was　telling　her　the　truth。
　
　Kahlan　hooked　a　finger　in　the　neck　of　his　shirt　and　drew　his　face　close。　There　was　a　flash　of　angry　intolerance　in　her　green　eyes。
　
　Her　voice　came　in　a　slow；　harsh　whisper。　〃When　I　left　my　homeland；　five　wizards　cast　spells　over　my　tracks　so　none　could　know　where　I　went；　or　follow；　and　then　they　killed　themselves　so　they　could　not　be　made　to　talk！〃　Her　teeth　were　gritted　in　anger；　and　her　eyes　were　wet。　She　was　starting　to　tremble。
　
　Wizards！　Richard　went　rigid。　At　last；　he　let　out　his　breath　and　took　her　hand　gently　from　his　shirt；　holding　it　in　both　of　his；　his　voice　barely　audible　over　the　din。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　
　〃Richard；　I　am　scared　to　death！〃　She　was　trembling　more　now。　〃If　you　hadn't　been　there　today；　you　don't　know　what　would　have　happened　to　me。　The　dying　would　have　been　the　best　of　it。　You　don't　know　about　those　men。〃　She　shook　uncontrollably；　giving　herself　over　to　her　fear。
　
　He　felt　goose　bumps　on　his　arms。　He　eased　her　back　behind　the　column　where　they　couldn't　be　observed。　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan。　I　don't　know　what　any　of　this　is　about。　You　know　at　least　some　of　it；　but　I'm　in　the　dark。　I'm　scared；　too。　Today　on　the　cliff　。。。　I've　never　been　that　afraid。　And　I　didn't　really　do　much　of　anything　that　would　have　saved　us。〃　Seeing　her　need　was　giving　him　the　courage　to　reassure　her。
　
　〃What　you　did；〃　she　said　struggling　to　get　the　words　out；　〃was　enough　to　make　a　difference。　It　was　enough　to　save　us。　No　matter　how　little　you　think　it　was；　it　was　enough。　If　you　hadn't　helped　me　。　。　。　I　don't　want　my　being　here　to　bring　you　to　harm。〃
　
　He　squeezed　her　hand　tighter。　〃It　won't。　I　have　a　friend；　Zedd。　He　may　be　able　to　tell　us　what　we　can　do　to　keep　you　safe。　He's　a…little　strange；　but　he's　the　smartest　man　I　know。　If　there's　anyone　who　would　know　what　to　do；　it's　Zedd。　If　you　can　be　tracked　anywhere；　then　there　is　no　place　for　you　to　run；　they　will　find　you。　Let　me　take　you　to　Zedd。　As　soon　as　Michael　gives　his　speech　we　will　go　to　my　house。　You　can　sit　in　front　of　the　fire；　and　in　the　morning　I'll　take　you　to　Zedd。〃　He　smiled；　and　pointed　with　his　chin　to　a　window　near　them。　〃Look　over　there。〃
　
　She　turned　to　see　Chase　outside　a　tall；　round…topped　window。　The　boundary　warden　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder　and　gave　her　a　wink　and　a　heartening　grin　before　resuming　his　scan　of　the　area。
　
　〃To　Chase；　a　quad　would　be　just　a　bit　of　fun。　While　he　was　taking　care　of　them；　he'd　be　telling　you　a　story　about　some　real　trouble。　He's　be