tg.stone of tears-第44部分

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　She　regarded　him　coolly。　‘Since　you　are　so　loyal　to　the　Creator；　Sam；　I　will　give　you　first　choice。　Do　you　want　to　be　the　one　to　live；　or　to　die　tonight？’
　
　‘Why　him？’　Ranson　demanded。　‘Why　does　he　get　to　choose　first？’
　
　‘Keep　your　tongue　still；　Neville。　You　will　speak　when　spoken　to。’　She　slid　her　gaze　back　to　Weber。　She　lifted　his　chin　with　a　finger。　‘Well；　Sam？　Who　dies；　you　or　your　best　friend？’　She　folded　her　arms　across　her　breasts。
　
　He　looked　up　at　her　with　hollow　eyes。　His　skin　was　ashen。　He　didn’t　look　over　at　his　friend。　His　voice　came　in　a　flat　whisper。
　
　‘Me。　Kill　me。　Let　Neville　live。　I　won’t　give　an　oath　to　the　Keeper。　I　would　rather　die。’
　
　She　looked　back　into　his　empty　eyes　a　moment　and　then　turned　to　Ranson。　‘And　what　have　you　to　say；　Neville？　Who　lives？　Who　dies？　You；　or　your　best　friend　in　the　world。　Who　gives　the　Keeper　their　oath？’
　
　He　glanced　to　Weber；　who　didn’t　look　back。　He　licked　his　lips。　His　dark　eyes　came　back　to　her。
　
　‘You　heard　him。　He　chooses　to　die。　If　he　wants　to　die；　let　him。　I　choose　to　live。　I　will　give　the　Keeper　my　oath。’
　
　‘Your　soul。’
　
　He　nodded　slowly；　his　eyes　flashing　fierce　determination。　‘My　soul。’
　
　‘Well　then’　…　she　smiled　…　‘it　seems　you　two　friends　have　e　to　an　agreement。　Everyone　is　happy。　So　be　it。　I　am　pleased；　Neville；　that　it　is　to　be　you　with　us。　You　have　made　me　proud。’
　
　‘Do　I　have　to　be　here？’　Ranson　asked。　‘Do　I　have　to　see　it？’
　
　‘See　it？’　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　‘You　have　to　do　it。’
　
　He　swallowed；　but　the　hard　look　stayed　in　his　eyes。　She　had　always　known　it　would　be　him。　Oh；　not　that　there　hadn’t　been　doubts；　but　she　had　known。　She　had　taught　him　well。　She　had　spent　a　great　deal　of　time　on　him；　bending　him　to　her　way。
　
　‘May　I　be　granted　one　request？’　Weber　whispered。　‘May　I　have　the　collar　off　before　I　die？’
　
　‘So　that　you　may　make　Wizard’s　Life　Fire　and　take　your　own　life　before　we　have　a　chance　to　take　it　from　you？　Do　you　think　I　am　stupid？　A　stupid；　soft　woman？’　She　shook　her　head。　‘Denied。’
　
　She　released　both　Rada’Han　from　the　wall。　Weber　sank　to　his　knees；　his　head　hanging。　He　was　alone　in　the　room；　and　knew　it。
　
　Ranson　stood　and　straightened　his　shoulders。　He　pointed　at　the　bloody　wound　down　his　chest。　‘What　about　this？’
　
　She　turned　her　gaze　to　Weber。　‘Sam。　Stand　up。’　Weber　stood；　his　eyes　staying　to　the　ground。　‘Your　good　friend　has　an　injury。　Heal　him。’
　
　Without　a　word；　Weber　finally　turned　and　put　his　hands　on　Ranson’s　chest；　and　began　healing。　Ranson　stood　tall；　waiting　for　the　pain　to　be　taken　away。　She　walked　to　the　door　and　leaned　her　back　against　it；　watching　Weber　do　his　work。　His　last　work。
　
　When　he　finished；　he　didn’t　look　at　either　her　or　Ranson；　but　went　to　the　far　wall　and　slid　his　back　down　it　until　he　sat　on　the　floor。　He　buried　his　head　between　his　knees　and　folded　his　arms　around　them。
　
　The　healed　but　still　naked　wizard　strode　up　to　her　and　stopped；　waiting。　‘What　is　it　I　am　to　do？’
　
　She　flicked　her　wrist；　bringing　the　knife　to　her　hand　once　more。　She　gave　it　a　quick；　sharp　toss　in　the　air；　catching　it　by　the　blade。　She　held　the　handle　out　to　him。
　
　‘You　are　to　skin　him。　Alive。’
　
　She　pushed　the　handle　against　him　until　his　hand　came　up　and　took　it。
　
　Ranson’s　eyes　left　her　steady　gaze。　He　stared　at　the　knife　in　his　hand。　‘Alive；’　he　repeated。
　
　She　reached　into　a　pocket　and　pulled　out　the　small　item　she　had　brought：　a　pewter　figure　of　a　man　on　one　knee；　holding　a　crystal　over　his　head。　His　tiny　bearded　face　was　turned　up　to　it　in　wonder。　The　crystal　was　slightly　elongated；　ing　to　faceted　points。　Inclusions　floated　frozen　inside；　like　a　sky　of　constellations。　She　wiped　the　dust　off　it　with　the　corner　of　her　light　cloak　and　held　the　small　statue　out　to　Ranson。
　
　‘This　is　magic；　and　a　receptacle　of　magic。　The　crystal　is　called　quillion。　It　will　absorb　the　magic　as　it　bleeds　from　your　friend；　after　he　is　skinned。　When；　and　only　when；　all　his　magic　has　bled　into　the　quillion；　it　will　give　off　an　orange　glow。　You　will　bring　the　crystal　to　me　to　prove　you　have　done　the　job。’
　
　Ranson　swallowed。　‘Yes；　Sister。’
　
　‘Before　I　leave　tonight；　you　will　give　the　oath。’　She　pushed　the　figure　with　the　crystal　toward　him　until　he　took　it。　‘This　will　be　your　first　task　after　giving　the　oath。　Fail　it；　or　fail　any　of　the　tasks　to　follow；　and　you　will　wish　you　could　trade　places　with　your　friend。　You　will　wish　it　for　all　eternity。’
　
　He　stood　gripping　the　knife　in　one　hand　and　the　small　figure　in　the　other。　‘Yes；　Sister。’　He　stole　a　quick　glance　over　his　shoulder　at　the　man　crouched　on　the　floor　against　the　wall。　He　lowered　his　voice。　‘Sister；　could　you　。。。　could　you　still　his　tongue。　I　don’t　know　if　I　could　bear　him　talking　while　I　do　it。’
　
　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　‘You　have　a　knife；　Neville。　If　his　words　bother　you；　cut　out　his　tongue。’
　
　He　swallowed　and　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment。　They　came　open。　‘What　if　he　dies　before　the　magic　is　all　bled　away？’
　
　‘With　the　quillion　present；　he　will　live　as　long　as　there　is　any　significant　trace　of　it　in　him。　After　it’s　all　in　the　crystal；　it　will　begin　to　glow。　In　that　way　you　will　know　it　is　finished。　After　that；　I　don’t　care　what　you　do　with　him。　If　you　want；　you　may　finish　him　quickly。’
　
　‘What　if　he　tries　to　prevent　what　I　do？’　He　leaned　a　little　closer。　‘With　his　magic。’
　
　She　smiled　indulgently。　‘That　I　will　still；　with　his　collar。　He　will　not　be　able　to　stop　you。　After　he’s　dead；　there　will　be　no　life　force　to　hold　the　Rada’Han　on　him。　It　will　open。　Bring　it　with　you　and　give　it　to　me　when　you　bring　the　crystal。’
　
　‘And　what　about　the　body？’
　
　She　gave　him　a　hard　look。　‘You　know　how　to　wield　the　Subtractive。　I　have　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　teaching　you；　as　have　others。’　She　darted　a　glance　at　Weber。　‘Use　it。　Get　rid　of　the　body　with　Subtractive　Magic。　Every　last　scrap　of　it。　Every　last　drop　of　blood。’
　
　Ranson　straightened　a　little　and　nodded。　‘All　right。’
　
　‘After　you　have　finished　here；　and　before　you　e　to　me　at　dawn；　there　is　one　more　task　you　will　perform　this　night。’
　
　Ranson　took　a　deep　breath；　letting　it　out　slowly。　‘Another　task？　Must　I　do　another　task　this　night？’
　
　She　smiled　and　patted　his　cheek。　This　second　task　you　will　enjoy。　It’s　a　reward　for　doing　a　good　job　with　the　first。　Serving　the　Keeper　well　has　its　rewards；　as　you　will　find　out。　Failing　him　has　its　punishments；　as　I　hope　you　never　discover。’
　
　He　looked　suspicious。　And　what　is　this　second　task？’
　
　‘You　know　a　novice　named　Pasha？’
　
　He　let　out　a　grunt。　There　isn’t　a　man　in　the　palace　who　doesn’t　know　who　Pasha　Maes　is。’
　
　‘And　how　well　do　these　men　‘know’　her？’
　
　Ranson　shrugged。　‘She　likes　to　give　a　kiss　and　a　cuddle　in　a　corner。’
　
　‘Any　more　than　a　‘kiss　and　a　cuddle’？’
　
　‘I　know　a　few　men　who　have　had　their　hand　up　her　skirt。　I’ve　heard　them　talk　about　what　fine　legs　she　has；　how　they　would　give　up　the　gift　just　to　have　those　legs　around　them。　But　I　don’t　think　any　have。　Some　of　the　men　watch　out　for　her；　as　if　she　were　a　defenseless　kitten。　One　in　particular；　young　Warren；　keeps　a　watchful　eye　on　her。’
　
　‘Warren　is　one　of　the　men　she　likes　to　kiss　and　cuddle？’
　
　‘I　don’t　think　she　would　know　him　if　he　was　standing　in　front　of　her。’　He　chuckled　softly。　‘If　he　could　even　work　up　enough　courage　to　take　his　nose　out　of　the　archives　and　look　her　in　the　face。’　He　frowned。　‘So　what　is　the　task？’
　
　‘When　you　are　finished　here；　I　want　you　to　go　to　her　room。　Tell　her　how　you　are　to　be　released　tomorrow；　and　that　when　you　passed　all　your　tests；　the　Creator　came　to　you　in　a　vision。　Tell　her　that　the　Creator　told　you　in　this　vision　that　you　were　to　go　to　her　and　teach　her　how　to　use　the　glorious　gift　of　her　figure　that　He　had　given　her；　how　she　was　meant　to　use　this　gift　to　please　men；　so　that　when　the　special　task　He　has　for　her　is　revealed；　she　will　be　prepared。
　
　Tell　her　the　Creator　said　it　was　to　help　her　deal　with　her　new　one；　as　he　would　be　the　most　difficult　any　novice　has　ever　been　given。　Tell　her　the　Creator　revealed　to　you　that　He　made　this　night　hot；　so　she　would　sweat　between　her　breasts；　over　her　heart；　to　awaken　her　to　His　wishes。’　She　gave　him　a　smooth　smile。　‘Then；　I　want　you　to　teach　her　how　to　please　a　man。’
　
　He　stared　incredulously　at　her。　‘What　makes　you　think　she　will　believe　any　of　this；　or　go　along？’
　
　Her　smile　widened。　‘You　tell　her　what　I　told　you　to　tell　her；　Neville；　and　you　will　have　a　great　deal　more　than　your　hand　up　her　skirt。　She　will　probably　have　her　legs　around　you　before　you　finish　talking。’
　
　He　nodded　dumbly。　All　right。’
　
　She　glanced　deliberately　down　at　him。　‘I’m　glad　to　see　that　you　are　。。。　up　to　the　task。’　She　looked　back　to　his　eyes。　Teach　her　everything　you　can　think　of　to　please　a　man。　At　feast　everything　you　can　teach　her　by　dawn。　Teach　her　well。　I　want　her　to　know　how　to　make　a　man　happy；　and　keep　him　ing　back　for　more。’
　
　He　smiled。　‘Yes；　Sister。’
　
　She　put　the　tip　of　the　rod　under　his　chin；　lifting　it　a　little。　‘You　be　gentle　with　her；　Neville。　I　don’t　want　you　to　hurt　her　in　any　way。　I　want　this　to　be　a　very　pleasant　experience　for　her。　I　want　her　to　enjoy　it。’　She　looked　down　at　him　again。　‘Well；　do　the　best　you　can　with　what　you　have。’
　
　‘I’ve　never　had　any　plaints；’　he　snapped。
　
　‘Idiot。　Women　don’t　plain　about　that　to　men’s　faces；　they　plain　to　the　backs　of　their　heads。　Don’t　you　dare　jump　on　her；　please　yourself；　then　fall　asleep。　You　have　until　dawn。　I　don’t　want　you　sleeping　tonight。　You　make　sure　this　is　an　experience　she　remembers　fondly。　You　teach　her　well。　Everything　you　know。’
　
　She　pushed　up　with　the　rod　a　little　more。　‘This　may　be　a　pleasant　task；　but　it　is　a　task　for　the　Keeper　just　the　same。　Fail　in　this；　as　in　any　other；　and　your　service　will　end　abruptly。　But　your　pain　will　go　on　and　on。　Keep　alert　when　you　are　with　her。　In　the　morning；　I　expect　a　detailed　report　of　everything　you　have　taught　her。　You　will　report　ever