tg.stone of tears-第195部分

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　Richard　pushed　through　the　throng。　‘What’s　going　on？’
　
　The　man　bowed　to　Richard。　‘Caharin。　I　am　Jiaan。　Your　wife；　Du　Chaillu；　has　sent　me　to　give　you　a　message。’
　
　Richard　decided　not　to　contest　the　wife　part。　‘What　is　it？’
　
　‘I　am　to　tell　you　that　she　has　followed　her　husband’s　instructions。　We　have　brought　the　Majendie　to　a　peace　with　us。　We　no　longer　make　war　with　them；　or　the　people　here。’
　
　‘That’s　wonderful　news；　Jiaan。　Tell　her　I　am　proud　of　her；　and　her　people。’
　
　‘Your　people；’　Jiaan　corrected。　‘She　wants　you　to　know　she　has　decided　to　bear　the　child。　And　she　also　sends　message　that　we　are　ready　to　return　to　our　homeland。　She　wishes　to　know　when　you　will　e　to　take　us　there。’
　
　Richard　glanced　around　at　the　people。　Not　only　guards　were　gathered；　but　Sisters；　too。　He　recognized　a　few　of　his　teachers　watching：　Sisters　Tovi；　Nicci；　and　Armina。　Pasha　stood　nearby。　At　the　far　edge　of　the　crowd　he　saw　Sister　Verna。　On　a　balcony　in　the　distance；　beyond　the　walls；　he　saw　the　squat　figure　of　the　Prelate。
　
　Richard　turned　back　to　Jiaan。　Tell　her　to　be　ready；　that　it　will　be　soon。’
　
　Jiaan　bowed。　Thank　you；　Caharin。　We　will　be　ready。’
　
　Richard　spoke　to　the　guards　in　a　circle　around　them。　This　man　has　e　in　peace。　He　is　to　be　left　in　peace。’
　
　Jiaan　strode　away；　unconcerned；　as　if　he　were　alone　on　a　walk；　but　the　ring　of　guards　moved　with　him；　as　Richard　knew　they　would　until　he　was　well　clear　of　the　city。　The　crowd　started　drifting　away。
　
　Richard’s　head　was　pounding。　He　had　brought　his　father　back　from　the　underworld　by　violating　the　Wizard’s　Second　Rule　a　second　time　in　the　spirit　house；　he　had　tried　to　do　the　right　thing　and　instead　had　brought　harm。　Warren　had　told　him　that　the　Keeper　needed　an　agent　to　escape；　and　Richard　had　provided　one。
　
　His　mind　reeled。　He　had　just　found　out　that　Kahlan　loved　him　and　life　seemed　good　again；　only　to　discover　that　he　was　to　be　trapped　here　for　hundreds　of　years；　and　if　he　couldn’t　escape；　Kahlan　would　die　on　winter　solstice。　His　thoughts　went　around　and　around　in　a　desperate　tangle。
　
　He　had　to　do　something。　Time　was　running　out。　He　decided　to　find　the　one　person　who　might　be　able　to　help　him。
　
　
　CHAPTER　64
　
　She　heard　the　voices　in　the　outer　office；　and　hoped　it　was　who　she　thought　it　would　be。　She　was　not　looking　forward　to　this；　but　she　was　running　out　of　time。　Richard　would　have　surely　found　a　way　to　see　Nathan　by　now；　and　Nathan　would　have　done　his　part。　Now　it　was　time　to　do　hers。
　
　She　couldn’t　pletely　trust　Nathan；　but　in　this；　he　would　have　done　what　was　required。　He　knew　the　consequences　of　failure。　His　had　been　a　task　she　didn’t　envy　…adding　the　weight　of　that　snowflake。
　
　With　a　flick　of　her　fingers；　the　door　swung　open。　She　had　had　to　have　the　carpenters　fix　the　doorframe。　Richard　had　shattered　it　with　his　Han；　without　even　being　aware　of　what　he　had　done。　And　that　was　before　he　had　even　gone　to　Nathan。
　
　The　curt　speech　cut　off　as　the　door　opened；　and　the　three　faces　looked　in；　awaiting　instruction。
　
　‘Sister　Ulicia；　Finella；　it’s　late；　why　don’t　you　two　run　along　to　your　offices　and　tend　to　your　paperwork。　I　will　see　her。　Sister　Verna；　please　e　in。’
　
　Ann　stood　as　Sister　Verna　strode　in。　She　liked　Verna。　She　abhorred　what　she　was　going　to　have　to　do　to　her；　but　she　was　running　out　of　time。　Hundreds　of　years　to　prepare；　and　now　time　and　events　were　slipping　through　her　fingers。
　
　The　world　was　at　the　brink。
　
　Verna　bowed。　‘Prelate　Annalina。’
　
　‘Please；　Verna；　sit　down。　It　has　been　so　long。’
　
　Verna　pulled　a　chair　close　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　table。　She　sat　with　her　back　straight　and　her　hands　folded　in　her　lap。　‘How　good　of　you　to　take　your　valuable　time　to　see　me。’
　
　Ann　almost　smiled。　Almost。　Dear　Creator；　thank　you　for　sending　her　to　me　testy；　though　it　won’t　make　my　job　any　less　onerous；　it　will　surely　make　it　easier。
　
　‘I　have　been　busy。’
　
　‘So　have　I；’　Verna　snapped。　‘For　the　last　twenty…odd　years。’
　
　‘Apparently　not　busy　enough。　We　seem　to　be　having　difficulty　with　a　boy　you　collected；　who　you　should　have　taken　to　task　before　he　even　arrived。’
　
　Verna’s　face　turned　scarlet。　‘Had　you　not　forbidden　me　from　doing　my　duty；　using　my　skills；　I　would　have　done　so。’
　
　‘Oh？　Are　you　so　barren　of　resourcefulness；　Verna；　that　you　could　not　function　with　minor　restrictions？　Pasha；　a　mere　novice；　seems　to　be　having　better　success；　and　she　functions　under　the　same　restrictions。’
　
　‘You　think　so？　You　think　he　is　under　control？’
　
　‘He　has　not　killed　anyone　since　Pasha　took　over。’
　
　Verna　stiffened。　‘I　think　I　know　something　of　Richard。　I　would　advise　the　Prelate　caution　in　her　confidence。’
　
　Ann　looked　down；　moving　papers　about；　as　if　devoting　attention　to　words　she　was　not　seeing。　‘I　will　take　your　advice　under　consideration。　Thank　you　for　ing；　Verna。’
　
　‘I’m　not　finished！　I　haven’t　yet　begun！’
　
　Her　eyes　came　slowly　up。　‘If　you　raise　your　voice　to　me　again；　you　will　be；　Verna。’
　
　‘Prelate　Annalina；　please　forgive　my　tone；　but　there　are　matters　of　grave　importance　I　simply　must　raise。’
　
　Ann　sighed；　feigning　impatience。　‘Yes；　yes；　then　please　do　get　to　it。　I　have　much　work　to　do。’　She　folded　her　hands　on　the　desk　and　gave　Verna　a　blank　look。　‘Go　on　then。’
　
　‘Richard　grew　up　with　his　grandfather。　。。。’
　
　‘How　nice　for　him。’
　
　Verna　paused　in　annoyance　at　the　interruption。　‘His　grandfather　is　a　wizard。　A　wizard　of　the　First　Order。　His　grandfather　wanted　to　teach　him。’
　
　‘Well；　we　will　see　to　his　teaching。　Is　that　all？’
　
　Verna’s　eyes　narrowed。　‘I　do　not　need　to　remind　the　Prelate　that　it　is　a　direct　violation　of　the　truce　to　take　a　boy　from　a　wizard　who　would　teach　him。　I　was　told　that　there　were　no　wizards　left　in　the　New　World　to　teach　boys。　I　was　lied　to。　I　was　used。　We　have　been　stealing　boys。　You　made　me　a　part　of　that。’
　
　Ann　smiled　indulgently。　‘Sister；　we　serve　the　Creator；　so　all　may　learn　to　live　in　his　light。　Now；　in　view　of　our　duty　to　the　Creator；　what　is　a　truce　with　heathen　wizards？’
　
　Verna　was　struck　speechless。
　
　Dear　Creator；　I　like　this　woman　so。　Please　give　me　the　strength　to　break　her。　Nathan　had　added　his　snowflake；　she　had　to　add　hers。
　
　‘I　have　been　sent　on　a　twenty…year　chase；　without　knowing　the　reason；　I　have　been　deceived；　my　two　panions　died；　one　at　my　hand；　I　have　been　forbidden　use　of　my　power　to　do　my　job　。。。’
　
　‘Do　you　think　I　forbid　your　use　of　your　power　capriciously？　Is　that　what’s　bothering　you；　Verna？　Very　well　then；　if　you　must　know　the　reason；　it　was　to　save　your　life。’
　
　Verna　stiffened　in　caution。　‘If　I　remember　my　lessons　in　the　vaults；　there　is　only　one　reason　such　restriction　would　save　my　life。’
　
　Inwardly；　Ann　smiled。　Verna　wanted　it　spoken　aloud。　‘Indeed。　Richard　has　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　‘You　knew　that？　You　had　one　with　Subtractive　Magic　collared？　You　would　risk　that？　You　would　have　him　brought　here；　to　the　palace？’　Her　hands　unfolded　and　she　leaned　in　a　bit。　‘Why？’
　
　Ann　held　the　other’s　gaze。　‘Because　there　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace。’
　
　She　didn’t　twitch。　She　knew。　At　least；　she　suspected。　Bless　you；　Verna；　you　are　a　bright　one。　Forgive　me　for　what　I　must　do。
　
　‘Is　this　room　shielded？’　Verna　asked　in　an　even　tone。
　
　‘Of　course。’　She　left　unsaid　that　her　shield　would　not　protect　against　these　Sisters。
　
　‘Do　you　have　proof　of　such　an　accusation；　Prelate？’
　
　‘I　do　not　need　proof；　right　now；　because　this　conversation　is　restricted。　You　will　not　speak　of　it。　Unless　you　plan　to　bring　charges。　If　you　do；　I　of　course　will　deny　it；　and　say　a　bitter　Sister　was　trying　to　accuse　the　Prelate　of　blasphemy　for　personal　gain。　And　then　we　would　have　to　hang　you。　Neither　of　us　wants　that；　now　do　we？’
　
　Verna　sat　stiff　and　still。　‘No；　Prelate。　But　what　does　that　have　to　do　with　bringing　Richard　here？’
　
　‘When　your　house　is　overrun　with　rats；　the　only　thing　you　can　do　is　bring　in　a　cat。’
　
　This　cat　sees　us　all　as　rats。　Maybe　with　good　reason。　Some　might　say　that　perhaps　you　were　not　bringing　in　a　cat　for　your　rats；　but　bait。　Richard　is　a　good　person。　I　would　not　like　to　think　he　is　being　sacrificed。’
　
　‘Do　you　know　why　you　were　selected　to　go　after　Richard？’
　
　‘I　had　thought　it　was　your　vote　of　confidence。’
　
　Ann　shrugged。　‘In　a　way；　it　was。　Although　I’m　not　sure　that　there　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace；　and　I　have　no　idea　who　they　are　if　it’s　true；　I　had　to　assume　that　if　it　is　true；　then　since　Grace　and　Elizabeth　were　at　the　top　of　the　list；　they　would　be　Sisters　of　the　Dark。　I　knew　from　prophecy；　that　only　my　eyes　have　seen；　that　Richard　probably　has　Sub…tractive　Magic；　and　further；　that　he　would　refuse　the　first　two　offers。　I　knew　the　first　two　sisters　would　die。
　
　‘If　the　Nameless　One’s　disciples　knew　any　of　this；　they　would　want　the　third　name　on　the　list　to　be　one　of　theirs；　too。　I　used　my　prerogative　as　Prelate　to　pick　the　third　Sister。’
　
　‘You　chose　me；　because　you　had　faith　that　I　was　not　one　of　them？’
　
　What　Ann　wanted　to　say　was　I　have　known　you　since　you　were　a　child；　Verna。　I　know　your　quick　mind；　your　heart；　and　your　soul。　You；　of　all　the　Sisters；　were　the　one　I　trusted　with　the　fate　of　the　world。　I　knew　Richard　would　be　safe　in　your　hands。
　
　But　she　could　not　say　that。
　
　‘I　chose　you；　Verna；　because　you　were　far　down　on　the　list；　and　because；　all　in　all；　you　are　quite　unremarkable。’
　
　The　room　rang　with　silence　for　a　long　moment。　Verna　swallowed。　‘I　see。’
　
　Ann　affected　dispassionate　objectivity。　Inside；　her　heart　was　breaking。
　
　‘I　doubted　you　were　one　of　them。　You　are　a　person　of　little　note。　I’m　sure　Grace　and　Elizabeth　made　their　way　to　the　top　of　the　list　because　whoever　directs　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark　considered　them　expendable。　I　direct　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。　I　chose　you　for　the　same　reason。
　
　‘There　are　Sisters　who　are　valuable　to　our　cause；　I　could　not　risk　one　of　them　on　such　a　task。　The　boy　may　prove　a　value　to　us；　but　he　is