tg.stone of tears-第100章

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y　a　screeling。　If　I　had　left　it　there　。。。’
　
　Adie　spun　around。　‘A　screeling！　You　be　full　of　good　news；　old　man。’　She　jabbed　a　finger　against　his　chest。　‘That　still　be　no　good　excuse。　You　still　should　not　have　。。。’
　
　‘Not　have　what？　Not　have　picked　it　up？　I　should　have　let　the　screeling　pick　it　up；　instead？’
　
　‘Screelings　be　assassins。　They　not　be　there　to　take　the　Stone。’
　
　Zedd　jabbed　a　finger　right　back　at　her。　‘You　know　that？　Are　you　so　sure？　Would　you　have　been　willing　to　have　risked　everything　on　it？　And　if　you　were　wrong；　let　the　Keeper　have　the　Stone　to　do　with　as　he　would？　Are　you　so　sure；　Adie？’
　
　Her　hand　dropped　to　her　side　as　she　stared　at　his　frown。　‘No。　I　guess　not。　It　could　be　as　you　say。　There　be　a　chance　the　screeling　may　have　taken　it。　Perhaps　you　did　the　only　thing　you　could　do。’　She　shook　the　finger　at　him。　‘But　to　hang　it　around　the　neck　of　a　little　girl　。。。！’
　
　‘And　where　would　you　have　had　me　keep　it？　In　my　pocket？　In　the　pocket　of　a　wizard？　In　the　pocket　of　one　with　the　gift；　where　the　Keeper　is　sure　to　look　first？　Or　perhaps　you　would　have　had　me　hide　it；　in　a　place　only　I　knew；　where；　if　a　baneling　gets　his　hands　on　me　and　somehow　makes　me　talk；　I　could　tell　him　it　would　be；　so　he　could　go　and　collect　it？’
　
　Adie　folded　her　arms　with　a　muttered　curse。　At　last　her　expression　relaxed。　‘Well。。。　perhaps　。。。’
　
　‘Perhaps　nothing。　I　had　no　choice。　It　was　an　act　of　desperation。　I　did　the　only　thing　I　could　do；　given　the　circumstances。’
　
　She　let　out　a　tired　sigh；　then　nodded。　‘You　be　right；　wizard。　You　did　the　best　you　could　have　done。’　She　patted　the　top　of　his　shoulder。　‘Foolish　as　it　be；’　she　added　under　her　breath。　Her　hand　gave　a　gentle　push。　‘Sit。　Let　me　show　you　something。’
　
　Zedd　sat　as　he　watched　her　limp　across　the　room　toward　the　shelves。　‘I　would　rather　have　done　anything　else；　Adie；’　he　said　sorrowfully；　‘than　what　I　had　to　do。’
　
　She　nodded　as　she　walked。　‘I　know。。。。’　She　stopped　and　turned。　A　screeling；　you　say？’　Zedd　nodded。　‘You　be　sure　it　be　a　screeling？’　He　arched　an　eyebrow。　‘Yes；　of　course　you　be　sure。’　Her　brow　creased　in　thought。　‘Screelings　be　the　Keeper’s　assassins。　They　be　singleminded；　and　extremely　dangerous；　but　they　not　be　very　smart。　They　must　have　something　to　show　them　the　one　they　be　after；　a　way　to　find　them。　They　not　be　good　at　searching　in　this　world。　How　could　the　Keeper　know　where　you　be？　How　could　the　screeling　know　to　find　you？　Know　it　be　you　he　be　after？’
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　‘I　don’t　know。　I　was　where　the　boxes　had　been　opened。　But　it　had　been　some　time　since　it　had　happened。　There　would　be　no　way　to　know　I　was　still　there。’
　
　‘And　did　you　destroy　the　screeling？’
　
　‘Yes。’
　
　That　be　good。　The　Keeper　will　not　waste　the　effort　to　send　another；　not　after　you　have　proven　you　be　able　to　defeat　it。’
　
　Zedd　threw　his　hands　up。　‘Oh　yes；　just　wonderful。　Screelings　are　sent　to　eliminate　a　threat　to　the　Keeper。　It　was　probably　sent　to　rid　the　Keeper　of　my　meddling；　just　as　the　Keeper　sent　a　baneling　to　rid　himself　of　your　interference。　You’re　right：　he　will　not　send　another　screeling；　now　that　I’ve　proven　that　I　can　defeat　one。　He　will　send　something　worse。’
　
　‘If　indeed　it　be　sent　for　you。’　She　touched　a　finger　to　her　lower　lip　as　she　mumbled　to　herself。　‘Where　be　the　Stone　when　you　found　it？’
　
　‘Next　to　the　box　that　had　been　opened。’
　
　‘And　where　came　the　screeling？’
　
　‘In　the　same　room　as　the　boxes；　as　the　Stone。’
　
　She　shook　her　head　in　puzzlement。　‘Perhaps　it　could　be　as　you　say；　that　it　came　to　get　the　Stone；　but　it　makes　no　sense　for　a　screeling　to　e　for　the　Stone。　I　wonder　how　he　found　you。’　She　limped　on　toward　the　shelves。　‘Something　had　to　guide　him。’
　
　Balancing　on　her　toes；　she　peered　to　the　back　of　a　shelf；　carefully　pushing　aside　various　objects；　at　last　retrieving　what　she　sought。　Holding　it　in　one　hand；　she　limped　back　and　placed　it　carefully　on　the　table。　It　was　a　little　bigger　than　a　hen’s　egg；　round；　and　age…darkened　with　a　deep　patina　that　was　a　brownish　black　in　the　recesses。　It　was　masterfully　carved　into　the　shape　of　a　vicious　beast；　all　balled　up；　but　glaring　with　eyes　that　seemed　to　watch　you　no　matter　which　way　it　was　held。　It　looked　to　be　bone；　and　very　old。
　
　Zedd　picked　it　up；　testing　its　weight。　It　was　much　heavier　than　he　thought　it　should　have　been。　‘What’s　this？’
　
　A　woman；　a　sorceress；　gave　this　to　me　when　I　went　to　her；　to　learn。　She　be　on　her　deathbed。　She　asked　if　I　knew　of　the　skrin。　I　told　her　what　I　knew。　She　sighed　with　relief；　and　then　said　something　that　made　my　skin　prickle。　She　said　she　had　been　waiting　for　me；　as　the　prophecies　had　told　her　to　do。　She　placed　this　in　my　hand；　saying　it　be　carved　from　the　bone　of　a　skrin。’
　
　Adie　flicked　her　hand　toward　the　walls；　and　then　toward　the　bone　pile。　‘I　have　a　whole　skrin　here；　among　the　bones。　I　did　battle　with　one　once；　in　the　pass。　His　bones　be　here。　His　skull　be　on　the　shelf。　It　be　the　one　that　fell　on　the　floor。’
　
　She　put　a　thin　finger　on　the　carved　bone　sphere　in　Zedd’s　hand　as　she　leaned　toward　him　and　lowered　her　raspy　voice。　‘This；　the　old　one　said；　must　be　guarded；　by　one　who　understands。　She　told　me　it　be　of　ancient　magic；　made　by　wizards　of　old；　possibly　with　their　hand　guided　by　the　Creator　Himself。　Made　because　of　prophecies。
　
　‘She　said　it　may　be　the　most　important　thing　of　magic　I　would　ever　touch。　That　it　be　invested　with　more　power　than　she　or　I　would　ever　understand。　She　said　that　it　be　of　skrin　bone；　and　of　skrin　force；　that　it　be　a　talisman　that　be　of　importance　if　the　veil　ever　be　in　danger。
　
　‘I　asked　how　it　was　to　be　used；　how　the　magic　worked；　and　how　it　had　e　into　her　hands。　She　be　very　exhausted　from　the　excitement　of　my　ing　to　her；　and　said　she　must　rest。　She　told　me　to　e　back　to　her　in　the　morning　and　she　would　tell　me　everything　she　knew。　When　I　returned；　she　had　died。’　Adie　gave　him　a　meaningful　look。　‘Her　death　be　a　little　too　timely　to　suit　me。’
　
　Zedd　had　had　the　same　thought。　‘But　you　have　no　idea　what　it　is；　or　how　it　is　to　be　used？’
　
　‘No。’
　
　Already；　Zedd　was　using　magic　to　lift　it　on　a　cushion　of　air；　floating　it　in　space；　watching　it　slowly　spin。　The　whole　time　the　finely　carved　eyes　of　the　beast　peered　back　as　the　ball　revolved　before　him。　‘Have　you　tried　using　any　magic　on　it？’
　
　‘I　be　afraid　to　try。’
　
　Zedd　held　his　bony　hands　to　each　side　of　the　floating　carving；　probing　gently　with　different　kinds　of　force；　different　sorts　of　magic；　letting　them　shift　and　slide　over　the　round　bone；　testing；　searching　gingerly　for　a　crack；　a　shield；　a　trigger。
　
　It　had　the　oddest　feel　to　it。　The　magic　reflected　back　as　if　it　had　touched　nothing；　as　if　the　thing　weren’t　there　at　all。　Perhaps　it　could　be　a　shield　he　had　never　seen　before。　He　increased　the　force。　It　slipped　against　the　carving　like　new　shoe　leather　on　ice。
　
　Adie　wrung　her　hands。　‘I　do　not　think　you　should　be　。。。’
　
　The　flame　of　the　lamp　puffed　out。　A　thin　thread　of　greasy　smoke　curled　from　the　abruptly　dead　wick。　The　room　was　left　to　the　flickering　shadows　cast　from　the　fire　in　the　hearth。　Zedd　frowned　at　the　dark　lamp。
　
　A　sudden　crash　brought　both　their　heads　jerking　around。　The　skull　rolled　across　the　floor　toward　where　they　sat。　Halfway　there；　it　wobbled　and　rocked　to　a　stop；　right　side　up。　Empty　eye　sockets　stared　up　at　the　two　of　them。　Long　fangs　rested　on　the　wood　floor。
　
　The　carved　bone　ball　thumped　to　the　table；　bouncing　twice；　as　Zedd　and　Adie　came　to　their　feet。
　
　‘What　foolish　thing　did　you　do；　old　man？’
　
　Zedd　stared　at　the　skull。　‘I　didn’t　do　anything。’
　
　More　bones　tumbled　from　the　shelves。　Bones　hanging　on　the　wall　clattered　to　the　floor；　some　bouncing　and　flipping　back　into　the　air　as　they　struck。
　
　Zedd　and　Adie　both　turned　to　a　racket　behind　them。　The　bone　pile　rattled　apart；　bones　toppling　and　spilling　over　one　another　as　the　pile　pulled　itself　apart。　Some　of　the　bones；　as　if　alive；　slid　or　rolled　across　the　floor；　toward　the　skull。　Sliding　along　the　floor；　a　rib　bone　caught　the　leg　of　a