tg.stone of tears-第128章

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as　talking　about　her；　or　himself。
　
　Sister　Verna　gave　a　soft；　private　laugh。　‘Youth。　Youth　holds　much　hope；　but　not　much　wisdom。　I　know　the　ways　of　people。　Of　men。　He　has　been　too　long　from　my　skirts。　He　will　long　ago　have　sought　another。’
　
　Richard　felt　himself　blushing　in　the　heat。　‘Love　has　more　to　it　than　that。’
　
　‘Ah；　so　you　know　so　much　of　love；　yes？　You；　too；　will　soon　be　searching　the　charms　of　a　new　pair　of　pretty　legs。’
　
　Richard　was　about　to　vent　a　rush　of　sudden　anger　when　Sister　Verna　stopped。　She　looked　up。　The　dark　cloud　swirled　in；　closing　in　on　them。
　
　From　somewhere；　Richard　heard　the　faint　sound　of　someone　screaming　his　name。
　
　‘Something　is　wrong；’　Sister　Verna　whispered　to　herself。
　
　‘What　is　it？’
　
　She　ignored　him；　pulling　Jessup　to　the　left。　‘This　way。’
　
　Lightning　lit　the　air　about　them。　A　blinding　bolt　struck　the　ground　ahead；　sending　a　shower　of　the　chalky　earth　skyward。　The　ground　shook　with　the　impact。　Every　muscle　flinched　from　the　nearness　of　the　strike。
　
　When　the　lightning　tore　the　dark　wall　open　for　an　instant；　Richard　saw　Kahlan。　She　was　standing；　watching　him。　And　then　she　was　gone。
　
　‘Kahlan？’
　
　Sister　Verna　reversed　course。　‘This　way。　Now！　Richard；　I　told　you；　it　is　not　real。　Whatever　you　saw；　you　must　ignore　it。’
　
　He　knew　it　was　an　illusion；　but　the　sight　ran　a　sharp　pang　of　longing　through　him。　He　groaned　inwardly。　Why　did　the　magic　have　to　attract　him　with　visions　of　her？　His　own　mind；　Sister　Verna　had　said；　would　bring　forth　the　things　he　feared；　or　those　for　which　he　longed。　Which　was　this；　he　wondered；　fear　or　longing？
　
　‘Is　the　lightning　real？’
　
　‘Real　enough　to　kill　us。　But　it’s　not　lightning　in　the　sense　of　what　you　know。　This　is　a　storm　of　spells　that　are　battling　each　other。　The　lightning　is　a　discharge　of　their　power　as　they　fight　each　other。　At　the　same　time；　it　also　seeks　to　destroy　any　intruder。　Our　way　is　among　the　gaps　in　their　battle。’
　
　Again；　he　heard　the　distant　scream　of　his　name；　but　it　wasn’t　Kahlan’s　voice。　It　was　a　man’s　voice。
　
　Another　lightning　bolt　struck　directly　in　front　of　them。　He　and　the　Sister　both　protectively　threw　an　arm　up　before　their　faces。　The　horses　didn’t　start。　It　must　be　as　the　Sister　said；　horses　would　have　panicked　had　it　been　real　lightning。
　
　As　the　dirt　thrown　up　by　the　lightning　rained　down　around　them；　Sister　Verna　turned　and　snatched　him　by　his　shirtsleeve。
　
　‘Richard；　listen　to　me。　Something　is　wrong。　The　way　is　shifting　too　fast。　I’m　not　able　to　feel　it　as　I　should　be　able　to。’
　
　‘Why　would　that　be？　You’ve　been　through　here　before。　You　were　able　to　do　it　before。’
　
　‘I　don’t　know。　We　don’t　know　a　great　deal　about　this　place。　It’s　tainted　with　magic　we　don’t　entirely　understand。　It　could　be　that　the　magic　has　learned　to　recognize　me；　from　when　I　was　here　before。　Going　through　more　than　twice　is　not　possible。　Going　through　the　second　time　is　said　to　be　more　difficult　than　the　first。　It　could　just　be　that。　But　it　might　be　something　else。’
　
　‘What　something　else？　You　mean　me？’
　
　Her　eyes　glanced　past　him　to　things　she　was　seeing；　but　he　knew　weren’t　there。　She　refocused　her　gaze　on　him。　‘No；　not　you。　If　it　were　you；　I　would　still　be　able　to　feel　the　pass　as　I　did　before；　but　I　can’t。　I　can　only　feel　it　some　of　the　time。　I　think　it’s　because　of　what　happened　with　Sisters　Elizabeth　and　Grace。’
　
　‘What　do　they　have　to　do　with　it？’
　
　The　dark　storm　was　all　about　them　now；　swirling　and　howling。　Their　clothes　flapped　in　the　gusts。　He　had　to　squint　against　the　dust。
　
　‘In　their　death；　they　passed　on　their　gift。　That　is　the　reason　they　gave　their　lives　when　you　refused　the　offer；　to　pass　their　gift　to　the　next；　to　make　her　stronger　so　she　might　succeed　at　the　next　try。’
　
　That　was　why　he　had　felt　the　pull　to　accept　the　collar　more　strongly　each　time　the　offer　had　been　made。　Kahlan　had　said　that　that　might　have　been　the　reason　they　killed　themselves　when　he　refused　…　to　add　to　their　power；　make　them　stronger。
　
　‘You　mean　you　have　the　power；　the　Han；　of　the　other　Sisters？’
　
　She　nodded　as　her　eyes　darted　about。　‘It　gives　me　the　power　of　all　three。’　Her　eyes　came　back　to　his。　‘It　could　be　that　I　have　too　much　power　to　make　it　through。’　She　clutched　his　shirt　tighter　and　pulled　him　closer　to　her　face。　‘If　I　don’t　make　it；　you　must　go　on　alone；　try　to　make　it　on　your　own。’
　
　‘What！　I　don’t　know　how　to　make　it　through。　I　don’t　feel　anything　of　the　spells　about　us。’
　
　‘Don’t　argue　with　me！　You　felt　the　lightning。　You　felt　that　much　of　it。　One　without　the　gift　would　not　feel　it　until　it　was　too　late。　You　must　try。’
　
　‘Sister；　you　will　be　all　right。　You　will　sense　the　way。’
　
　‘But　if　I　don’t；　you　must　try。　Ignore　anything　you　see　that　tempts　you。　Richard；　if　I　die；　you　must　try　to　make　it　through；　to　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。’
　
　‘If　anything　happens　to　you；　I’ll　try　to　make　it　back　to　the　Midlands。　It’s　closer。’
　
　She　gave　a　sharp　tug　on　his　shirt。　‘No！　Must　you　always　challenge　what　I　tell　you？’　She　scowled　at　him　a　moment　before　letting　her　expression　cool。　‘Richard；　if　you　don’t　have　a　Sister　to　teach　you　to　control　the　gift；　you　will　die。　The　collar　alone　will　not　save　you。　You　must　have　a　sister　for　the　Rada’Han　to　be　of　use。　Without　a　Sister；　it　would　be　like　having　lungs；　but　no　air　to　fill　them。　We　are　the　air。　Some　of　us　have　already　given　our　lives　to　help　you。　Don’t　let　them　die　in　vain。’
　
　He　took　her　hand　from　his　shirt　and　gave　it　a　gentle　squeeze。　‘You’re　going　to　make　it。　I　promise　you；　you’ll　make　it。　If　there　is　anything　I　can　do　to　help；　I’ll　try。　Don’t　be　afraid。　Ignore　what　you’re　seeing。　Isn’t　that　what　you　said？’
　
　She　released　an　exasperated　breath　and　then　took　her　hand　back；　turning　away。　‘You　don’t　know　the　things　I　see。’　She　looked　over　her　shoulder；　squinting　at　him。　‘Don’t　test　me；　Richard；　I’m　not　in　the　mood。　You　do　as　you’re　told。’
　
　Richard　heard　the　thunder　of　horse’s　hooves　as　Sister　Verna　quickly　led　them　ahead。　The　darkness　swirled　around　them　as　lightning　crackled　through　it。　He　found　it　difficult　to　accept　the　calmness　of　the　horses。　Could　it　be　that　he　really　was　using　the　gift　to　feel　it？
　
　To　his　left；　the　wall　of　dust　lifted。　Light　beyond　shone　through。　Richard　stared　at　the　sight。　It　was　the　Hartland　Woods；　the　woods　he　knew；　longed　to　return　to。　They　were　here　before　him。　He　had　only　to　step　through。　The　peace　of　the　place　he　stared　at　made　him　ache　with　longing；　as　if　stepping　through　to　them　would　be　his　salvation。
　
　But　he　knew　it　was　an　illusion；　a　spell　of　longing　meant　to　trap　him；　and　let　him　wander　for　all　time　in　ensorcellment。　He　wondered　what　would　be　so　bad　about　that；　even　if　it　wasn’t　real。　If　it　was　a　place　he　loved；　and　he　would　be　happy　there；　what　would　be　so　bad　about　that？
　
　He　heard　his　name　called　again；　again　in　a　scream。　Horses’　hooves　were　almost　upon　him。　He　spun　around；　realizing　it　was　Chase’s　voice　screaming　his　name。
　
　‘Ignore　it；　Richard；’　came　the　Sister’s　growl。　‘Keep　moving。’
　
　Richard　longed　for　his　friend　as　much　as　he　longed　for　the　Hartland　Woods。　He　walked　backward；　watching。
　
　Chase　was　riding　at　a　full　gallop；　his　black　cloak　flying　behind；　his　weapons　glinting　in　the　light　of　the　merciless　sun。　The　horse　was　covered　with　lather。　Someone　else　was　with　him；　in　his　lap。　Richard　squinted；　trying　to　see　better；　and　realized　it　was　Rachel。　That　was　natural；　Rachel　would　be　with　Chase。　Rachel　was　screaming　his　name；　too。　Richard　watched　the　illusion　as　it　bore　down　upon　him。
　
　Something　about　Rachel　riveted　his　attention。　Something　about　her　gave　Richard　the　strong　sense　of　Zedd’s　presence。　His　eyes　were　lured　to　an　amber　stone　hanging　by　a　gold　chain　about　her　neck。　The　sight　of　the　stone　drew　Richard’s　interest　as　if　it　were　Zedd　himself　calling　to　him。
　
　‘Richard！’　Chase　was　screaming。　‘Don’t　go　in　there！　Don’t　go　in　there！　Zedd　needs　you！　The　veil　is　torn！　Richard！’
　
　Chase　suddenly　drew　the　horse　to　a　skidding　stop。　Richard　took　slow；