tg.stone of tears-第191部分

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　Richard　felt　a　distant　tingling　of　apprehension；　but　Warren’s　bubbly　confidence　overwhelmed　it。　He　was　caught　up　in　Warren’s　enthusiasm。　He　gave　the　young　man　a　clap　on　the　back。
　
　‘Good　work；　Warren。　Now　I　can　concentrate　on　learning　to　use　my　Han。’
　
　Warren　beamed。　Thank　you；　Richard。　I’m　so　glad　you’ve　been　able　to　help　me。　I’ve　made　more　progress　than　I　ever　thought　I　would　before　I　met　you。’
　
　Still　grinning；　Richard　shook　his　head　in　wonder。　‘Warren；　I’ve　never　met　anyone　that　was　so　smart；　yet　so　young。’
　
　Warren　laughed　as　if　that　was　the　funniest　thing　he　had　ever　heard。
　
　‘What’s　so　funny？’
　
　‘Your　joke；’　Warren　said；　wiping　tears　from　his　eyes。
　
　‘What　joke？’
　
　Warren’s　laughter　slowed　to　a　frowning　chuckle。　‘About　me　being　young。　It　was　funny。’
　
　Richard　held　his　polite　smile。　‘Warren；　why　is　that　funny？’
　
　Warren’s　chuckle　died　down　to　a　grin。　‘Because　I’m　one　hundred　and　fifty…seven　years　old。’
　
　Richard’s　flesh　prickled。　‘Now　you’re　making　a　joke。　That’s　a　joke。　It　is　a　joke；　Warren；　isn’t　it？’
　
　Warren’s　good　humor　evaporated。　He　blinked。　‘Richard　。。。　you　do　know；　don’t　you。　They　must　have　told　you。　I　was　sure　they　would　have　told　you　by　now。　。。。’
　
　Richard’s　arm　swept　the　books　aside。　He　scooted　his　chair　closer。　Told　me　what？　Warren；　don’t　you　say　something　like　that　and　then　go　silent　on　me。　You’re　my　friend；　you　tell　me。’
　
　Warren　cleared　his　throat　and　then　wet　his　lips　with　his　tongue。　He　leaned　in　a　little。　‘Richard；　I’m　sorry。　I　thought　you　knew；　or　I　would　have　told　you　myself　a　long　time　ago。　I　would　have。’
　
　‘Told　me　what！’
　
　‘The　magic。　The　magic　of　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　It　has　Additive　and　Subtractive　elements　to　it　that　are　tied　to　the　other　worlds。　That　makes　time　move　differently　here。’
　
　‘Warren；’　Richard　said　hoarsely；　‘do　you　mean　it　affects　all　of　us？　All　those　wearing　the　collar？’
　
　‘No　。。。　everyone　at　the　palace。　The　Sisters；　too。　This　place　is　spelled。　As　long　as　the　Sisters　live　at　the　palace；　they　age　the　same　as　we　do。　The　spell　makes　us　age　more　slowly；　makes　time　seem　different　to　us。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean；　‘different’？’
　
　The　spell　slows　our　aging　process。　For　every　year　we　age；　those　outside　age　between　ten　and　fifteen　years。’
　
　Richard’s　head　was　spinning。　‘Warren；　that　can’t　be　true。　It　can’t。’　He　tried　desperately　to　think　of　proof。　‘Pasha。　Pasha　could　only　be　。。。’
　
　‘Richard；　I’ve　known　Pasha　for　over　a　hundred　years。’
　
　Richard　slid　the　chair　back　and　stood。　He　raked　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　That　doesn’t　make　any　sense。　It　has　to　be　some　kind　of　。。。　Why　would　it　work　like　that？’
　
　Warren　took　Richard’s　arm　and　sat　him　down。　He　pulled　his　own　chair　close。　He　spoke　in　a　soft；　concerned　voice；　as　one　would　when　breaking　calamitous　news　to　a　someone。
　
　‘It　takes　a　long　time　to　train　a　wizard。　Outside；　in　the　rest　of　the　world；　over　twenty　years　had　gone　by　before　I　was　even　able　to　touch　my　Han。　But　because　I　live　here；　I　had　aged　less　than　two　years。　Twenty　years　had　passed　here；　too；　but　I　aged　only　two。　If　the　palace　did　not　slow　our　aging；　we　would　all　die　of　old　age　before　we　could　even　light　a　lamp　with　our　Han。
　
　‘I　have　never　heard　of　it　taking　less　than　two　hundred　years　to　train　a　wizard。　monly；　it　takes　near　to　three　hundred；　and　sometimes　even　as　much　as　four　hundred。
　
　‘The　wizards　who　created　this　place　knew　that；　and　so　they　tied　the　magic　here　to　the　worlds　beyond；　where　time　is　meaningless。　I　don’t　know　how　it　works；　just　that　it　does。’
　
　Richard’s　hands　shook。　‘But　。。。　I　have　to　get　this　collar　off。　I　have　to　get　to　Kahlan。　I　can’t　wait　that　long。　Warren；　help　me。　I　can’t　wait　that　long。’
　
　Warren　glanced　to　the　floor。　‘I’m　sorry；　Richard。　I　don’t　know　how　to　get　our　collars　off；　and　I　don’t　know　how　to　get　by　the　barrier　that　keeps　us　here。　I　know　how　you　feel；　though。　It　drove　me　into　the　vaults　for　the　last　fifty　years。　Some　of　the　others　don’t　seem　to　care；　and　say　that　it　just　gives　them　more　time　with　women。’
　
　Richard　slowly　rose。　‘I　can’t　believe　it。’
　
　Warren　turned　his　face　up。　‘Richard；　please　forgive　me　for　telling　you。　I’m　sorry　I　was　the　one　to　hurt　you。　You’ve　always　been　。。。’
　
　Richard　put　a　hand　to　Warren’s　shoulder。　‘It’s　not　your　fault。　You　didn’t　do　it。　You　simply　told　me　the　truth。’　His　voice　felt　as　if　it　were　ing　from　the　bottom　of　a　well。　Thank　you　for　the　truth；　my　friend。’
　
　All　he　could　think；　as　his　feet　shuffled　toward　the　door；　was　that　his　dreams　were　all　dying。　If　he　couldn’t　get　the　collar　off；　everything　would　be　lost。
　
　Sisters　Ulicia　and　Finella　both　stood　in　warning　as　he　came　through　the　doors。　They　backed　away；　the　same　as　the　guards　had；　when　they　saw　the　look　on　his　face。　A　sparkling　shield　went　up　before　the　door。　He　went　through　it　without　slowing。　The　door　beyond　burst　open　for　him；　without　him　touching　it；　part　of　the　frame　splintering。　It　somehow　never　occurred　to　him　to　use　the　knob。
　
　The　Prelate　was　sitting　with　her　hands　folded　on　the　heavy　walnut　table。　Her　solemn　eyes　watched　him　e。　Richard　pressed　up　against　the　table；　towering　over　her。
　
　‘I　must　admit；　Richard；’　she　said　in　a　somber　tone；　‘that　I　have　not　been　looking　forward　to　this　visit。’
　
　His　straining　voice　broke。　‘Why　didn’t　Sister　Verna　tell　me？’
　
　‘I　ordered　her　not　to。’
　
　And　why　did　you　not　tell　me？’
　
　‘Because　I　wanted　you　first　to　learn　some　significant　things　about　yourself；　so　you　would　be　better　able　to　understand　your　importance。　The　burden　of　a　wizard；　and　of　a　Prelate；　too。’
　
　Richard　sank　to　his　knees　before　her　desk。　Ann；’　he　whispered；　‘please；　help　me。　I　must　have　the　Rada’Han　off。　I　love　Kahlan。　I　need　her。　I　need　to　get　back　to　her。　I’ve　been　gone　a　long　time。　Please；　Ann；　help　me。　Take　the　collar　off。’
　
　She　closed　her　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　When　they　opened；　they　were　heavy　with　regret。
　
　‘I　spoke　the　truth；　Richard。　We　cannot　get　the　Rada’Han　off　until　you　learn　enough　to　help　us。　That　will　take　time。’
　
　‘Please；　Ann；　help　me。　Isn’t　there　any　other　way？’
　
　Slowly；　her　eyes　staying　on　his；　she　shook　her　head。　‘No；　Richard。　Over　time；　you　will　e　to　accept　it。　They　all　do。　It　is　easier　for　the　rest；　because　they　e　here　as　boys；　not　understanding；　and　grasp　it　only　over　time。　We　have　never　had　to　tell　one　grown；　like　you；　who　could　understand　the　significance。’
　
　Richard　couldn’t　make　himself　think　clearly。　It　felt　as　if　he　were　stumbling　in　a　dark　dream。　‘But；　we’ll　lose　so　much　time　together。　She　will　be　old。　Everyone　I　know　will　be　old。’
　
　Ann　smoothed　her　hair　back　as　she　averted　her　eyes。　‘Richard；　by　the　time　you　are　trained　and　leave　here；　the　great…great…great　grandchildren　of　everyone　you　know　will　have　died　of　old　age　and　been　buried　in　the　ground　for　over　a　hundred　years。’
　
　He　blinked　at　her；　trying　to　prehend　the　math　of　the　generations　involved；　but　it　all　turned　to　mush　in　his　mind。　He　suddenly　remembered　what　Shota　had　warned　him　of　…　a　trap　in　time。　This　was　that　trap。
　
　He　had　been　stripped　of　everything　by　these　people。　Everything　he　loved　was　gone。　He　would　never　see　Zedd　again；　or　Chase；　or　anyone　he　knew。　He　would　never　hold　Kahlan　again。　He　would　never　be　able　to　tell　her　that　he　loved　her；　that　he　understood　the　sacrifice　she　had　made　for　him。
　
　
　CHAPTER　63
　
　Richard　looked　up　from　where　he　sat　on　the　floor　to　see　Warren　in　the　doorway。　He　hadn’t　heard　the　knock。　When　he　said　nothing；　Warren　rushed　over　and　squatted　down　beside　him。
　
　‘Listen；　Richard；　something　you　said　made　me　think。　You　said　that　you　were　going　to　wed　the　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　Richard’s　mind　came　out　of　the　daze　and　his　eyes　suddenly　came　up。　The　prophecy　is　about　her；　isn’t　it。　The　prophecy　you　said　would　e　on　winter　solstice。’
　
　‘I　think　it　might　be。　But　I　don’t　know　enough　about　her；　about　Confessors；　to　tell。　Does　the　Mother　Confessor　wear　white？’
　
　‘Yes。　The　Confessors　are　born　to　find　the　truth。　She　is　the　last　one。’
　
　‘Richard；　I　think　that　is　good　news。　I　think　she　is　to　find　happiness；　and　bring　it　to　her　people；　on　winter　solstice。’
　
　Richard　remembered　the　vision　he　had　had　in　the　Tower　of　Perdition。　He　remembered　the　horror　of　what　he　had　seen。　The　words　Kahlan　had　spoken　were　burned　into　his　memory。　He　quoted　it　to　Warren。
　
　‘Of　all　there　were；　but　a　single　one　born　of　the　magic　to　bring　forth　truth　will　remain　alive　when　the　shadow’s　threat　is　lifted。　Therefore　es　the　greater　darkness　of　the　dead。　For　there　to　be　a　chance　at　life’s　bond；　this　one　in　white　must　be　offered　to　her　people；　to　bring　their　joy　and　good　cheer。’
　
　‘Yes！　That’s　it！　I　believe　that　the　‘greater　darkness’　means　both　the　Keeper；　and　winter　solstice。　I　think　that　means　。。。　Richard；　where　did　you　read　that　prophecy？’
　
　‘I　didn’t　read　it。　It　was　brought　to　me　in　a　vision　of　her。’
　
　Warren’s　eyes　grew　big；　the　way　they　tended　to　do　when　he　was　astonished。　‘You　had　a　vision　of　prophecy？’
　
　‘Yes；　she　brought　me　the　words；　and　also　brought　a　vision　of　what　it　means。’
　
　‘What　does　it　mean？’
　
　Richard　brushed　at　his　pant　leg。　‘I　can’t　tell　you。　She　said　that　I　could　speak　the　words；　but　not　of　the　vision。　I’m　sorry；　Warren；　but　I　dare　not　violate　that　warning　without　knowing　the　consequences。　But　I　can　tell　you　that　the　results　of　this　prophecy　ing　true　would　not　be　joyful　for　her；　or　for　me。’
　
　Warren　considered　a　moment。　‘Yes。　You　are　right。’　He　looked　over　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　‘Richard；　there　is　something　about　prophecy　I　think　I　should　tell　you。　Hardly　anyone　knows　this；　but　the　words　don’t　always　reflect　the　true　intent。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘Well；　a　few　times　when　I　have　read　prophecies；　I’ve　had　a　vision。　The　vision　turns　out　to　be　true；　and　so　does　the　prophecy；　but　not　in　the　way　you　would　think　from　reading　it。　I　believe　that　the　true　way　prophecy　is　meant　to　be　understood　is　through　the　gift；　through　the　visions。’
　
　‘Do　the　Sister