tg.wizardfirstrule-第139章

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o　happy　you're　all　right。　We　have　so　much　to　talk　about。〃
　
　〃Yes；　yes。　Can　we　eat　now？〃
　
　Kahlan　came　and　gave　him　a　hug；　too。　〃We　were　so　worried　about　you。〃
　
　Zedd　longingly　eyed　the　cooking　pot　over　her　shoulder　as　he　hugged　her　back。　〃Yes；　yes。　But　this　would　all　go　better　on　a　full　stomach。〃
　
　〃But　it　isn't　done　yet；〃　she　smiled。
　
　Zedd　gave　a　look　of　disappointment。　〃Not　done？　Are　you　sure？　Perhaps　we　could　check。〃
　
　〃Quite　sure。　We've　only　just　started　it。〃
　
　〃Not　done；〃　he　said　to　himself；　holding　an　elbow　with。　one　hand；　rubbing　his　chin　with　the　other。　〃Well；　we'll　just　see　about　that。　Stand　back；　the　both　of　you。〃
　
　The　wizard　pushed　the　sleeves　of　his　robes　up　his　arms　while　he　eyed　the　fire　as　if　it　were　a　child　who　had　misbehaved。　His　skinny　arms　stretched　out；　fingers　extended。　Blue　light　sizzled　around　his　bony　hands；　seeming　to　gather　momentum。　With　a　hiss；　it　shot　out　in　a　jagged　blue　streak；　striking　the　cooking　pot；　making　it　jump。　The　blue　fire　cradled　the　pot；　twisting　around　it；　caressing　it；　stroking　it。　The　stew　bubbled　with　blue　light；　churned　and　sloshed。　The　wizard　pulled　his　hands　back　and　the　blue　fire　sizzled　out。
　
　Zedd　smiled　in　satisfaction。　〃There；　now　it's　done。　Let's　eat！〃
　
　Kahlan　kneeled；　tasting　the　stew　with　…a　wooden　spoon。　〃He's　right。　It　is　done。〃
　
　〃Well；　don't　just　stand　there　staring；　my　boy。　Get　some　plates！〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head　and　did　as　he　was　told。　Kahlan　dished　up　a　plate　full；　putting　some　dried　biscuits　on　the　side；　and　Rich…　and　handed　it　to　Zedd。　The　old　man　didn't　sit；　but　stood　next　to　them；　by　the　fire；　shoveling　in　the　stew　by　the　forkful。　Kahlan　spooned　stew　on　the　other　two　plates；　and　by　the　time　she　was　done；　Zedd　was　handing　her　his　empty　plate　to　be　refilled。
　
　Having　finished　one　helping；　Zedd　was　able　to　spare　himself　the　time　to　sit。　Richard　sat　on　a　small　outcropping　of　ledge；　Kahlan　sat　next　to　him；　folding　her　legs　under　her；　Zedd　sat　on　the　ground　facing　them。
　
　Richard　waited　until　Zedd　had　swallowed　down　half　the　stew　on　his　plate；　and　finally　allowed　himself　a　pause　before　asking；　〃So；　how　did　you　get　along　with　Adie？　Did　she　take　good　care　of　you？〃
　
　Zedd　looked　up　at　him；　blinking。　Even　in　the　firelight；　Richard　could　have　sworn　Zedd's　face　reddened。　〃Adie？　Well　we。。。〃　He　looked　at　Kahlan's　puzzled　face。　〃Well；　we　。　。　。　we　got　along　。　。　。　fine。〃　He　scowled　at　Richard。　〃What　kind　of　question　is　that　to　ask？〃
　
　Richard　and　Kahlan　glanced　at　each　other。　〃I　didn't　mean　anything　by　it；〃　he　said。　〃It's　just　that　I　couldn't　help　noticing　that　Adie　is　a　handsome　woman。　And　interesting。　I　just　meant　you　would　find　her　interesting。〃　Richard　smiled　a　small　smile　to　himself。
　
　Zedd　put　his　face　back　to　his　plate。　〃She's　a　fine　woman。〃　He　rolled　something　around　his　plate　with　the　end　of　his　fork。　〃What　is　this？　I've　paten　three；　and　I　still　don't　know　what　it　is。〃
　
　〃Tava　root；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃Don't　you　like　it？〃
　
　Zed　grunted。　〃Didn't　say　I　didn't　like　it。　Just　wanted　to　know　what　it　was；　that's　all。〃　He　looked　up　from　his　plate。　〃Adie　told　me　she　gave　you　a　night　stone。　That's　how　I　found　you；　by　the　night　stone。〃　He　shook　his　fork　at　Richard。　〃I　hope　you　are　being　careful　with　that　thing。　Don't　take　it　out　unless　there　is　great　need。　Exceptionally　great　need。　Night　stones　are　extremely　dangerous。　Adie　should　have　warned　you。　And　I　told　her　so！〃　He　stabbed　a　tava　root　with　his　fork。　〃It　would　be　best　to　be　rid　of　it。〃
　
　Richard　pushed　at　a　piece　of　meat。　〃We　know。〃
　
　Richard's　mind；　was　awash　with　questions　he　wanted　to　ask；　he　didn't　know　where　to　start。　Zedd　beat　him　to　it；　asking　first
　
　〃Have　you　two　been　doing　as　I　said？　Have　you　been　staying　out　of　trouble？　What　have　you　been　doing？〃
　
　〃Well；〃　Richard　said；　taking　a　deep　breath；　〃we　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　with　the　Mud　People。〃
　
　〃The　Mud　People？〃　Zedd　mulled　this　over。　〃Good；〃　he　proclaimed　at　last；　holding　a　forkful　of　meat　in　the　air。　〃You　can't　get　in　much　trouble　with　the　Mud　People。〃　He　took　the　meat　off　the　fork　with　his　teeth　and　dipped　it　back　in　his　plate　for　more　stew　and　a　bite　of　dried　biscuit。　He　spoke　and　chewed　at　the　same　time。　〃So；　you　two　had　a　nice　stay　with　the　Mud　People。〃　He　noticed　that　they　weren't　saying　anything；　and　his　eyes　went　from　one　to　the　other。　〃You　can't　get　in　much　trouble　with　the　Mud　People。〃　It　sounded　like　an　order。
　
　Richard　glanced　over　at　Kahlan。　She　dipped　her　biscuit　in　the　stew。　〃I　killed　one　of　the　elders；〃　she　said；　putting　the　biscuit　in　her　mouth　without　looking　up。
　
　Zedd　dropped　his　fork；　then　caught　it　in　midair　just　before　it　hit　the　ground。　〃What！〃　　…
　
　〃It　was　self…defense；〃　Richard　protested　to　her。　〃He　was　trying　to　kill　you。〃
　
　〃What？〃　Zedd　stood　with　his　plate；　then　sat　back　down。　〃Bags！　Why　would　an　elder　dare　to　try　to　kill　a　。　。　。〃　He　snapped　his　mouth　shut；　with　a　glance　to　Richard。
　
　〃Confessor；〃　Richard　finished　for　him。　His　mood　withered。
　
　Zedd　looked　from　one　bowed　head　to　the　other。　〃So。　You　finally　told　him。〃
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　〃A　few　days　ago。〃
　
　〃Just　a　few　days　ago。〃　Zedd　grunted　an　acknowledgment；　then　ate　more　stew　in　silence；　eyeing　them　suspiciously　from　time　to　time。　〃Why　would　an　elder　dare　to　try　to　kill　a　Confessor？〃
　
　〃Well；〃　Richard　said；　〃that　was　when　we　found　out　what　a　night　stone　could　do。　Just　before　they　named　us　as　Mud　People。〃
　
　〃They　named　you　Mud　People？　Why？〃　Zedd's　eyes　widened。　〃You　took　a　wife！〃
　
　〃Well　。　。_。　no。〃　Richard　pulled　the　leather　thong　out　of　his　shirt　and　showed　Zedd　the　Bird　Man's　whistle。　〃They　settled　for　giving　me　this。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　a　cursory　glance　to　the　whistle。　〃Why　would　they　agree　to　you　not　。　。　。　And　why　would　they　name　you　Mud　People？〃
　
　〃Because　we　asked　them。　We　had　to。　It　was　the　only　way　to　get　them　to　call　a　gathering　for　us。〃
　
　〃What！　They　called　a　gathering　for　you？〃
　
　〃Yes。　That　was　just　before　Darken　Rahl　came。〃
　
　〃What！〃　Zedd　yelled　again；　jumping　to　his　feet。　〃Darken　Rahl　was　there！　I。　told　you；　stay　away　from　him！〃
　
　Richard　looked　up。　〃We　didn't　exactly　invite　him。〃
　
　〃He　killed　a　lot　of　them；〃　Kahlan　said　in　a　quiet　voice；　still　looking　down　at　her　plate；　chewing　slowly。
　
　Zedd　stared　at　the　top　of　her　head；　then　slowly　sank　back　down。　〃I'm　…sorry；〃　he　said　softly。　〃So；　what　did　the　ancestors'　spirits　tell　you？〃
　
　Richard　gave　a　shrug。　〃That　we　had　to　go　to　see　a　witch　woman。〃
　
　〃Witch　woman！〃　Zedd's　eyes　narrowed。　〃What　witch　woman？　Where？〃
　
　〃Shota。　In　Agaden　Reach。〃
　
　Zedd　winced；　almost　dropping　his　plate；　the　air　making　a　sound　going　through　his　bared；　gritted　teeth　as　he　drew　a　sharp　breath。　〃Shota！〃　He　looked　around　as　if　someone　might　hear。　He　lowered　his　voice；　directing　a　harsh　whisper　to　Kahlan　as　he　leaned　closer　to　her。　〃Bags！　What　would　possess　you　to　guide　him　into　Agaden　Reach！　You　are　sworn　to　protect　him！〃
　
　〃Believe　me；〃　she　said；　looking　him　in　the　eye；　〃I　did　not　want　to　do　it。〃
　
　〃We　had　to；〃　Richard　said；　ing　to　her　defense。
　
　Zedd　cast　an　eye　to　him。　〃Why？〃
　
　〃To　find　out　where　the　box　is。　And　we　did；　too；　Shota　told　us。〃
　
　〃Shota　told　you；〃　Zedd　mocked；　scowling　at　him。　〃And　what　else　did　she　tell　you？　Shota　tells　you　nothing　you　want　to　know　without　telling　you　something　you　don't。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　Richard　a　sidelong　glance。　He　didn't　return　it。　〃Nothing。　She　told　us　nothing　else。〃　He　held　Zedd's　eyes　without　backing　down。　〃She　told　us　that　Queen　Milena；　in　Tamarang；　has　the　last　box　of　Orden。　She　told　us　because　her　life　too　depends　on　this。〃　Richard　held　Zedd's　glare。　He　doubted　that　his　old　friend　believed　him；　but　he　didn't　want　to　tell　him　what　Shota　had　said。　How　could　he　tell　Zedd　that　one；　or　two；　of　them　might　end　up　being　traitors？　That　Zedd　would　use　wizard's　fire　against　him；　that　Kahlan　would　touch　him　with　her　power？　He　feared　that　maybe　it　would　be　justified；　after　all；　he　was　the　one　who　knew　about　the　book。　They　didn't。
　
　〃Zedd；〃　he　said　softly；　〃you　told　me　you　wanted　me　to　get　us　to　the　Midlands；　and　that　you　had　a　plan　once　we　were　here。　You　were　struck　down　by　t