tg.stone of tears-第211章

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leaving　Richard　and　Warren　in　silence。
　
　Warren　stared　at　the　metal　plate。　‘How　did　you　do　that？　You　are　just　a　beginning　wizard。　You　should　not　be　able　to　effect　a　shield　with　your　Han　for　a　very　long　time　yet。’
　
　Richard　didn’t　have　an　answer　for　the　question；　and　so　he　ignored　it。　Tell　me　what　you　meant　about　knowing　what　the　Sisters　would　do　to　you　if　they　caught　you　telling　that　kind　of　lie。’
　
　Warren’s　hand　went　to　his　collar。　‘Well；　they　would　hurt　me。’
　
　‘You　mean　they　would　use　the　collar’s　magic　to　give　you　pain？’
　
　Warren　nodded　as　he　took　a　knot　of　his　robes　in　his　fists。
　
　‘Do　they　do　that　often？　Give　us　pain　with　the　collar？’
　
　Warren　twisted　the　knot　of　robe。　‘No；　not　often。　But　to　be　a　wizard；　you　must　pass　a　test　of　pain。　They　e　from　time　to　time　and　give　you　pain　with　the　Rada’Han；　to　see　if　you　have　learned　enough　to　pass　the　test　of　pain。’
　
　‘And　how　do　you　pass　the　test？’
　
　‘Well；　I　can　only　imagine　that　when　you　can　endure　the　pain　without　begging　them　to　stop；　you　pass。　They　never　tell　me　what　must　be　done　to　pass。’　His　face　had　gone　ashen。　‘I’ve　never　been　able　to　keep　from　begging　them　to　stop。　Once　you　learn　to　endure　what　they　give；　they　give　more。’
　
　‘I　thought　it　might　be　something　like　that。　Thanks　for　telling　me。’　Richard　stroked　his　beard。　‘Warren；　I　need　your　help。’
　
　Warren　lifted　the　sleeve　of　his　robes　and　wiped　it　at　his　wet　eyes。　‘What　help　can　I　give？’
　
　‘You　said　there　are　prophecies　about　me。　I　want　you　to　study　everything　about　me　you　can　find。　And　about　the　Towers　of　Perdition；　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。　I　also　need　to　know　everything　I　can　about　the　veil。’　Richard　pointed　at　the　book　on　the　table。　There　was　a　drawing　a　few　pages　before　you　stopped　on　the　prophecy。　It　was　a　teardrop　shape。　Do　you　know　what　it　is？’
　
　Warren　went　to　the　book　and　turned　the　pages　back。　This？’
　
　‘Yes。　That’s　it。’　He　remembered　seeing　it　around　Rachel’s　neck；　in　his　vision　of　her　and　Chase　in　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。　An　image　of　Zedd　came　into　Richard’s　mind。　His　heart　thumped　faster。　That　looks　like　the　thing　I　saw。　What　is　it？’
　
　Warren　gave　him　a　puzzled　look。　The　Stone　of　Tears。　What　do　you　mean　you　saw　it？’
　
　‘What　is　the　Stone　of　Tears？’
　
　‘Well；　I’m　not　sure。　I’d　have　to　study　about　it；　but　I　think　it　might　have　something　to　do　with　the　veil；　if　drauka　could　be　interpreted　to　have　something　to　do　with　the　underworld。　What　do　you　mean　you　saw　it？’
　
　Richard　ignored　the　question　for　a　second　time。　‘Warren；　I　also　need　to　know　about　the　Stone　of　Tears；　and　everything　you　can　find　about　the　people　who　used　to　live　in　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。　The　Baka　Ban　Mana。　Their　name　means　‘those　without　masters。’　And　about　one　they　call　the　Caharin。’
　
　Warren　stared　dumbly　at　him。　This　is　all　a　lot　of　work。’
　
　‘Will　you　help　me；　Warren？’
　
　Warren　looked　down；　picking　at　his　robes。　‘On　a　condition。　I　never　get　out　of　this　place。　Not　that　I　don’t　like　working　with　the　prophecies；　you　understand；　but　people　think　that　I　have　no　interest　in　anything　else。　I’d　like　to　see　the　country　around　the　palace　…　the　woods；　the　hills。’
　
　He　twisted　his　fingers　together。　‘I’m　afraid　of　big　places。　The　sky　is　so　big。　That’s　the　other　reason　I　stay　down　here；　because　it　feels　safe　to　me。　But　I’m　sick　of　living　like　a　mole。　I　would　like　to　try　going　outside　and　seeing　it。　Would　you；　well；　show　me　the　countryside？　You　look　to　me　like　someone　familiar　with　the　out…of…doors。　I　think　I　would　feel　safe　if　you　went　with　me。’
　
　Richard　smiled　warmly。　‘You’ve　e　to　the　right　person；　Warren。　I　was　a　woods　guide；　before　all　this　started。　I　don’t　know　all　the　country　around　the　palace　yet；　but　I　surely　intend　to。　I’d　really　enjoy　guiding　you　around。　It　would　be　just　like　old　times。’
　
　Warren’s　expression　brightened。　‘Thank　you；　Richard。　I　look　forward　to　seeing　open　places。　I　need　some　adventure　in　my　life。　I’ll　start　right　away　on　the　things　you　want；　but　the　Sisters　give　me　work；　so　I　must　search　when　I　can　find　the　time。　And　I’m　afraid　that　I　must　be　honest；　it　will　take　a　long　time。　There　are　thousands　of　volumes　here。　It　will　take　months；　just　to　get　a　good　start。’
　
　‘Warren；　this　may　be　the　most　important　thing　you　ever　studied。　You　may　be　able　to　save　time　if　you　start　by　reading　everything　the　Prelate　has　been　reading。’
　
　A　sly　smile　came　to　Warren’s　lips。　‘I　thought　you　said　you　weren’t　good　with　riddles。　That　is　what　I　was　thinking。’　His　smile　turned　to　a　concerned　frown。　‘Why　do　you　want　to　know　these　things？’
　
　Richard　studied　the　other’s　blue　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　‘I　am　fuer　grissa　ost　drauka。　Warren；　I　know　what　it　means。’
　
　Warren　clutched　his　fingers　to　the　sleeve　of　Richard’s　red　coat。　‘You　know？　You　know　which　is　the　correct　translation？’　His　fingers　trembled。　‘Would　you　tell　me？’
　
　‘If　you　promise　not　to　tell　anyone　else；　for　now。’　Warren　nodded　eagerly。　‘No　one　has　been　able　to　figure　out　which　one　of　the　three　is　the　true　translation　because　in　trying　to　justify　one；　they　invalidate　the　whole。’　Warren　frowned。　Richard　leaned　toward　him。　They　are　all　true；　Warren。’
　
　‘What？’　he　whispered。　‘How　can　that　be？’
　
　‘I　have　killed　people　with　this　sword。　I　am　the　bringer　of　death　in　that　sense。　That　is　the　first　meaning　of　drauka。
　
　‘In　order　to　prevail　against　otherwise　impossible　odds；　such　as　defeating　the　mriswith；　I　use　the　sword’s　magic　to　bring　forth　the　spirits　of　those　who　have　used　it　before　me。　I　have　called　the　dead　forth；　called　the　past　into　the　present。　In　that　way；　I　am　the　bringer　of　spirits。　That　is　the　second　meaning　of　drauka。
　
　As　for　the　third　meaning；　bringing　forth　the　underworld；　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　I　may　have　somehow　torn　the　veil。　That　is　the　third　meaning　of　drauka。’
　
　Warren　gasped。
　
　‘It’s　very　important　that　you　find　out　the　information　I　asked　you　about。　I　don’t　think　I　have　a　lot　of　time。’
　
　Warren　nodded。　‘I’ll　try。　But　I　think　you　put　too　much　faith　in　me。’
　
　Richard　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘I　have　faith　in　a　man　able　to　break　Jedidiah’s　leg。’
　
　‘I　did　nothing　to　Jedidiah。　Jedidiah　is　a　powerful　wizard。　I　would　never　dare　to　oppose　one　of　his　powers。’
　
　‘Oh；　e　on；　Warren。　There　are　ashes　of　the　burned　carpet　on　the　shoulder　of　your　robe。’
　
　Warren　brushed　frantically　at　his　shoulder。　There　is　no　ash　there。　I　see　no　ash。’
　
　Richard　waited　for　Warren’s　eyes　to　e　up。　Then　why　are　you　brushing　at　your　robes？’
　
　‘Well；　I　。。。　I　was。。。　I　just　。。。’
　
　Richard　put　a　reassuring　hand　on　Warren’s　back。　‘It’s　all　right；　Warren。　I’m　a　believer　in　justice。　I　think　Jedidiah　got　what　he　deserved。　I　won’t　tell　anyone。　And　you　must　not　tell　anyone　about　any　of　this。’
　
　‘I　must　warn　you；　Richard；　you　did　a　very　dangerous　thing　yesterday　when　you　told　all　the　Sisters　that　you　were　the　bringer　of　death。　That　is　a　well…known；　and　hotly　debated；　prophecy。　There　are　Sisters　who　believe　it　means　you　are　one　who　kills。　They　will　try　to　fort　you。　There　are　others　who　think　it　means　you　will　bring　forth　the　dead；　call　the　spirits。　They　will　want　to　study　you。’　He　leaned　a　little　closer。　There　are　others　who　think　it　means　you　will　tear　the　veil；　and　bring　the　Nameless　One　to　swallow　us　all。　They　might　try　to　kill　you。’
　
　‘I　know；　Warren。’
　
　Then　why　would　you　let　them　know　you　are　the　one　in　the　prophecy？’
　
　‘Because　I　am　fuer　grissa　ost　drauka。　When　the　time　es；　I　will　kill　any　of　them　I　must　in　order　to　get　this　collar　off。　I　had　to　give　them　fair　warning　first；　give　them　the　chance　to　live。’
　
　Warren　touched　his　fingers　to　his　lower　lip。　‘But　you　wouldn’t　hurt　Pasha。　Not　Pasha。’
　
　‘I　hope　to　hurt　no　one；　Warren。　Maybe　with　the　information　you　help　me　with；　I　won’t　have　to　hurt　anyone。　I　hate　being　fuer　grissa　ost　drauka；　but　that　is　who　I　am。’
　
　Warren’s　eyes　teared。　‘Please；　you　wouldn’t　hurt　Pasha。’
　
　‘Warren；　I　like　her。　I　think　she　is　a　lovely　person；　inside；　like　you　said。　I　only　kill　to　protect　my　life；　or　the　lives　of　innocent　peopl