tg.stone of tears-第204章

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d　with　sweat。　She　fussed　hopelessly　with　the　matted；　tangled　mess　of　her　hair。　The　Sister　must　have　made　Pasha　walk；　as　punishment。　Sister　Maren；　in　her　plain　brown　dress　buttoned　to　her　neck；　looked　cool　and　fortable　atop　the　horse。
　
　‘So；　Richard；’　Sister　Maren　said；　as　she　dismounted；　‘I　am　here；　as　you　requested。　What　is　it　you　want？’
　
　She　knew　very　well　what　he　wanted；　but　Richard　decided　to　restate　it　in　a　pleasant　tone。　‘It’s　quite　simple。　Sister　Verna　is　to　be　restored　to　Sister。　At　once。　And　you　are　also　to　return　her　dacra　to　her。’
　
　She　gestured　dismissively。　‘And　here　I　thought　you　would　want　something　unreasonable。　This　is　simple。　It　is　done。　Verna　is　returned　to　Sister。　It　makes　no　difference　to　me。’
　
　‘And　when　she　asks　why；　I　don’t　want　you　to　tell　her　about　this　business　with　me。　Just　say　you　reconsidered；　or　something；　and　decided　to　reinstate　her。　If　you　want；　you　can　tell　her　you　prayed　for　guidance　from　your　Creator；　and　it　came　to　you　that　she　should　remain　a　Sister。’
　
　She　brushed　some　of　her　fine；　sandy　hair　back　from　her　face。　That　would　suit　me。　Are　you　satisfied？　Is　everything　to　your　liking？’
　
　‘That　would　end　it；　and　keep　our　truce。’
　
　‘Good。　Now　that　the　trifling　matters　are　dispensed　with；　show　me　this　dead　bear。　Pasha　has　half　the　palace　in　an　uproar　with　some　babble　about　you　killing　a　mriswith。’　Pasha　furiously　studied　the　ground　as　Sister　Maren　directed　a　scolding　frown　in　her　direction。　The　foolish　child　never　sets　her　slippered　foot　on　anything　that　hasn’t　been　swept；　scrubbed；　or　polished。　The　only　time　she　sticks　her　head　out…of…doors　is　go　see　the　latest　bolt　of　lace　to　e　to　Tanimura。　She　wouldn’t　know　a　rabbit　from　an　ox；　and　she　certainly　wouldn’t　know　a　。。。　What　is　that　smell？’
　
　‘Bear　guts；’　Richard　said。
　
　He　held　out　his　arm；　showing　her　the　way。　Pasha　deferentially　stepped　aside。　Sister　Maren　straightened　her　dress　at　her　hips　and　marched　toward　the　trees。　Pasha　peeked　up　at　him；　and　when　they　heard　Sister　Maren　gasp；　her　head　came　the　rest　of　the　way　up　and　she　smiled。
　
　When　Sister　Maren　stepped　backward　to　them；　her　face　white　as　bed　sheets；　Pasha　resumed　her　study　of　the　ground。
　
　Sister　Maren’s　trembling　fingers　lifted　Pasha’s　chin。　‘You　have　spoken　the　truth；’　she　whispered。　‘Forgive　me；　child。’
　
　Pasha　curtsied。　‘Of　course；　Sister　Maren。　Thank　you　for　taking　the　time　to　witness　my　report。’
　
　Sister　Maren’s　haughty　attitude　had　vanished；　to　be　replaced　by　sincere　concern。　She　turned　to　Richard。　‘How　did　this　creature　die？’　Richard　lifted　the　sword　clear　of　its　scabbard　a　half　foot　and　then　slid　it　home。　Then　what　Pasha　said　is　true？　You　killed　it？’
　
　Richard　shrugged。　‘I　spend　quite　a　lot　of　my　time　out…of…doors。　I　knew　it　was　no　rabbit。’
　
　Sister　Maren　returned　to　the　creature；　mumbling　to　herself。　‘I　must　study　it。　This　is　an　unprecedented　opportunity。’
　
　Pasha　looked　to　Richard　and　wrinkled　her　nose　in　disgust　as　the　Sister　ran　her　finger　over　the　lipless　slit　of　a　mouth；　touched　the　ear　holes；　and　ran　her　hand　across　the　glossy　black　skin。　She　tugged　at　the　hide　clothes；　pulling　them　this　way　and　that　as　she　inspected　them。
　
　She　rose　to　her　feet；　peering　down　at　the　entrails。　Finally；　she　turned　to　Richard。
　
　‘Where　is　the　cape？　Pasha　said　it　had　a　cape。’
　
　When　the　mriswith　had　lunged；　and　he　had　sliced　it　in　two；　the　cape　had　been　billowed　open　and　so　it　was　undamaged。　While　Richard　had　been　waiting　for　Pasha　to　return　with　the　Sister；　he　had　accidentally　learned　the　astonishing　thing　the　cape　could　do。　After　that；　he　had　washed　it　clean　of　blood；　hung　it　over　branches　to　dry；　and　then　stuffed　it　away　in　his　pack。　He　had　no　intention　of　giving　that　cape　away。
　
　‘It’s　mine。　It　is　a　prize　of　battle。　I’m　keeping　it。’
　
　She　looked　perplexed。　‘But；　the　knives　。。。　don’t　men　fancy　things　like　that　as　prizes　of　battle？　Why　would　you　want　a　cape　instead　of　the　knives？’
　
　Richard　tapped　the　hilt。　‘I　have　my　sword。　Why　would　I　want　knives　that　have　proven　inferior　to　my　sword？　I’ve　always　wanted　a　long　black　cape；　and　it’s　a　fine　one；　so　I’m　keeping　it。’
　
　The　furrows　of　her　scowl　stole　back　onto　her　face。　‘Is　this　another　condition　of　your　truce？’
　
　‘If　need　be。’
　
　The　furrows　softened。　She　sighed。　‘I　guess　it　doesn’t　matter。　It　is　the　creature　that　is　important；　not　its　cape。’　She　turned　back　to　the　reeking　corpse。　‘I　must　study　this。’
　
　While　she　bent　back　to　the　mriswith；　Richard　hooked　his　bow；　quiver　of　arrows；　and　pack　to　the　front　of　the　saddle。　He　put　his　foot　in　the　stirrup　and　sprang　up　onto　Bonnie。
　
　‘Don’t　stay　after　the　sun　goes　down；　Sister　Maren。’
　
　She　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　‘My　horse。　You　can’t　have　my　horse。’
　
　Richard　smiled　apologetically。　‘I　twisted　my　ankle　fighting　the　mriswith。　I’m　sure　you　wouldn’t　want　the　palace’s　newest　pupil　limping　all　the　way　home；　now；　would　you？　I　might　fall　and　crack　my　skull。’
　
　‘But　。。。’
　
　Richard　reached　down　and　gripped　Pasha’s　arm。　She　gasped　in　surprise　as　he　yanked　her　up；　sitting　her　behind　him　on　Bonnie。　‘Please　don’t　let　the　sun　set　on　you　here；　Sister。　I　hear　it’s　dangerous　in　the　Hagen　Woods　after　dark。’
　
　Pasha　hid　her　face　from　the　Sister；　and　he　could　feel　her　giggling　softly　against　his　back。
　
　‘Yes；　yes；’　Sister　Maren　said；　her　eyes　already　lost　to　the　mriswith；　‘all　right。　You　two　go　on　back。　You　have　done　well；　both　of　you。　I　must　study　this　creature　before　the　animals　get　to　it。’
　
　Pasha　held　him　so　tight　that　he　could　hardly　breathe。　It　was　distracting　to　feel　her　firm　breasts　mashed　against　his　back。　Her　fingers　gripped　his　chest；　trying　to　get　a　better　hold　on　him；　as　if　she　was　afraid　she　might　fall　at　any　moment。
　
　When　they　were　clear　of　the　woods；　and　into　the　open　hills；　he　slowed　Bonnie　to　a　walk　and　pried　Pasha’s　hands　off。
　
　She　clamped　them　right　back。　‘Richard！　I　might　fall！’
　
　He　pulled　her　hands　loose　again。　‘You’re　not　going　to　fall。　Just　hold　on　easy；　and　let　your　hips　move　with　the　horse。　Use　your　balance；　you　don’t　need　to　cling　for　dear　life。’
　
　She　gripped　his　sides。　‘Well；　I’ll　try。’
　
　The　sky　was　turning　golden　as　they　descended　the　rounded　hills　toward　the　city。　Richard　swayed　with　Bonnie’s　steps　as　she　went　over　rocks　and　across　shallow　ravines；　and　thought　about　the　mriswith；　and　his　hunger　to　fight　it。　The　craving　to　go　back　into　the　Hagen　Woods　still　burned　in　the　back　of　his　mind。
　
　‘Your　ankle　isn’t　really　twisted；　is　it？’　Pasha　asked　after　a　long　ride　in　silence。
　
　‘No。’
　
　‘You　lied　to　a　Sister。　Richard；　you　must　learn　that　lying　is　wrong。　The　Creator　hates　lies。’
　
　‘So　Sister　Verna　has　told　me。’
　
　He　decided　he　didn’t　want　to　ride　anymore　with　her　holding　on　to　him；　so　he　dismounted　and　lead　Bonnie　by　the　reins。　Pasha　scooted　forward　into　the　saddle。
　
　‘Then　why　did　you　do　it　if　you　know　it’s　wrong？’
　
　‘Because　I　wanted　to　make　Sister　Maren　walk　back。　She　made　you　walk　all　the　way　out　there　again　as　punishment　for　something　that　was　not　your　fault。’
　
　Pasha　slid　off　Bonnie　and　came　up　to　walk　beside　him。　She　raked　her　fingers　through　her　hair；　trying　to　arrange　it　to　her　satisfaction。
　
　‘That　was　very　nice　of　you。’　She　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　‘I　think　we’re　going　to　bee　good　friends。’
　
　Richard　pretended　to　turn　and　look　around　as　he　walked　so　that　her　arm　fell　away。　‘Can　you　get　this　collar　off　me？’
　
　‘The　Rada’Han？　Well；　no。　Only　a　full　Sister　is　able　to　remove　a　Rada’Han。　I　don’t　know　how。’
　
　‘Then　we　are　not　going　to　be　friends。　I　have　no　use　for　you。’
　
　‘You　have　gone　to　great　risk　for　Sister　Verna。　She　must　be　your　friend。　A　person　only　does　such　things　for　friends。　You　went　out　of　your　way　to　see　that　I　had　a　horse　to　ride　back。　You　must　hope　we　can　bee　friends。’
　
　Richard　watched　the　country　ahead　as　he　walked。　‘Sister　Verna　is　not　my　friend。　I　did　as　I　did　only　because　what　was　done　to　her　was　my　fault　and　was　unjust。　That　is　the　only　reason。
　
　‘When　I　decide　to　get　this　collar　off