tg.stone of tears-第212章

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　‘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　people。　I　don’t　believe　Pasha　would　ever　give　me　cause；　but　you　must　understand　that　if　I　am　right；　and　the　veil　is　torn；　then　more　is　at　stake　than　any　one　person’s　life。　Mine；　yours；　or　Pasha’s。’
　
　Warren　nodded。　‘I　have　read　the　prophecies。　I　understand。　I　will　search　for　the　things　you　need。’
　
　Richard　tried　to　reassure　him　with　a　warm　smile。　‘It　will　be　all　right；　Warren。　I’m　the　Seeker；　I’ll　do　my　best。　I　don’t　want　to　harm　anyone。’
　
　‘Seeker？　What　is　the　Seeker？’
　
　Richard　slapped　his　hand　to　the　metal　plate。　‘I’ll　tell　you　about　it　later。’
　
　Warren　glanced　down　at　the　plate　as　the　door　slid　opened。　‘How　are　you　able　to　do　that？’
　
　Pasha　was　standing　calmly；　waiting；　her　face　making　a　good　effort　at　not　showing　her　anger。
　
　‘And　just　what　was　that　all　about？’
　
　Richard　stepped　through　the　doorway。　‘Boy　talk。’
　
　Pasha　stopped　him　with　a　hand　to　his　arm。　‘What　do　you　mean；　boy　talk？’
　
　Richard　looked　into　her　warm　brown　eyes。　‘I　was　twisting　Warren’s　arm；　making　him　tell　me　about　the　test　of　pain。　You　failed　to　mention　it；　so　I　had　to　ask　him　about　it。　Or　were　you　planning　on　waiting　until　you　came　to　do　it；　before　you　told　me？’
　
　Pasha　rubbed　her　bare　arms；　as　if　to　warm　them。　‘I　do　not　do　that；　Richard。　I’m　only　a　novice。　Full　Sisters　must　do　it。’
　
　‘Why　didn’t　you　tell　me　about　it？’
　
　Tears　welled　up　in　her　eyes。　‘I　don’t　like　to　see　people　hurt。　I　didn’t　want　to　frighten　you　about　what　may　not　e　for　a　long　time。　Sometimes　the　waiting　can　be　worse　than　the　actual　experience。　I　didn’t　want　you　to　have　to　wait　in　fear。’
　
　‘Oh。’　Richard　let　out　a　long　breath。　‘Well；　I　guess　that’s　a　good　reason。　I　apologize；　Pasha；　for　what　I　was　thinking　of　you。’
　
　She　forced　a　smile。　‘Shall　we　go　start　your　lessons？’
　
　Above　ground　again；　they　passed　down　halls　and　through　several　buildings　until　they　finally　reached　Gillaume　Hall；　where　his　room　was。　The　fabric　of　Pasha’s　dress　made　a　swishing　sound　as　they　climbed　the　wide　marble　stairway。　The　walls　and　columns　were　a　matching　tan；　variegated　marble。
　
　It　was　a　beautiful　place　with　elegant　rooms；　but　it　was　not　as　impressive　as　the　People’s　Palace；　in　D’Hara。　Before　he　had　seen　that　magnificent　edifice；　he　would　have　been　astonished　by　the　opulence　of　this　place。　Now；　he　simply　noted　its　layout　in　reference　to　everything　else。　Upstairs；　as　they　went　down　another　wide；　carpeted　hall；　he　saw　several　other　young　men　wearing　Rada’Han。　At　last　they　reached　his　room。
　
　Richard　caught　her　wrist　as　she　reached　for　the　door　handle。　She　looked　up　in　puzzlement。
　
　There’s　someone　inside；’　he　said。
　
　
　CHAPTER　55
　
　‘It　is　my　job　to　watch　over　you；’　Pasha　said。
　
　She　used　her　Han；　breaking　his　hold　on　her　wrist　and　throwing　him　aside　as　if　with　an　invisible　hand；　and　then　charged　through　the　door。　Richard　rolled；　finishing　on　his　feet；　drew　his　sword；　and　flew　in　after　her。　Only　the　small　flames　from　the　hearth　gave　light　to　the　otherwise　dark　room。　They　both　stumbled　to　a　halt　in　the　near　darkness。
　
　A　voice　came　from　a　chair　beside　the　fire。　‘Expecting　a　mriswith；　Richard？’
　
　‘Sister　Verna！’　Richard　slid　his　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　‘What　are　you　doing　here？’
　
　She　rose　to　her　feet　and　swept　her　hand　in　the　direction　of　a　lamp；　bringing　the　wick　to　flame。　‘I　didn’t　know　if　you　heard。’　Her　face　was　unreadable。　‘I’m　once　again　a　Sister　of　the　Light。’
　
　‘Really？’　Richard　said。　That’s　great　news。’
　
　Sister　Verna　clasped　her　hands　in　a　relaxed　manner。　‘Since　I’m　a　Sister；　again；　I　wanted　to　e　and　speak　privately　to　you　for　a　moment。’　She　glanced　to　Pasha。　‘About　same　unfinished　business　Richard　and　I　have。’
　
　Pasha　looked　from　the　Sister　to　Richard。　‘Well；　I　guess　this　dress　is；　well；　not　the　most　fortable　thing　to　give　lessons　in。　Why　don’t　I　go　change。’　She　curtsied　to　Sister　Verna。　‘Good　night；　Sister。　I’m　so　happy　for　you；　you　should　be　a　Sister。　And　Richard；　thank　you　for　being　such　a　gentleman　tonight。　I　will　return　after　I　change。’
　
　Richard　stood　facing　the　door　once　he　had　closed　it　behind　Pasha。
　
　‘Gentleman；’　Sister　Verna　said。　‘I’m　delighted　to　hear　it；　Richard。　I　would　also　like　to　thank　you；　for　my　being　returned　to　Sister。　Sister　Maren　told　me　what　happened。’
　
　Richard　laughed　as　he　turned　to　her。　‘You’ve　been　around　me　too　long；　Sister。　But　you　need　more　practice　at　telling　lies；　you’re　not　yet　totally　convincing。’
　
　She　couldn’t　keep　a　small　smile　from　ing　to　her　lips。　‘Well；　Sister　Maren　told　me　that　she　had　prayed　for　guidance；　and　decided　I　would　serve　the　Creator　best　if　I　were　a　Sister；　in　view　of　my　experience。’　She　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Poor　Sister　Maren；　lying　seems　to　have　bee　infectious　since　you　arrived　here。’
　
　He　shrugged。　‘Sister　Maren　did　what　was　right。　I　think　your　Creator　would　be　pleased　with　the　oute。’
　
　‘I　heard　that　you　killed　a　mriswith。　News　spreads　through　the　palace　like　a　blaze　through　dry　grass。’
　
　Richard　walked　to　the　hearth。　He　leaned　on　the　dark　granite　mantle　and　stared　into　the　flames。　‘Well；　I　had　no　choice。’
　
　Sister　Verna　stroked　a　hand　tenderly　down　his　hair。　‘Are　you　all　right；　Richard？　How　are　you　doing？’
　
　‘I’m　fine。’　Richard　pulled　the　baldric　over　his　head　and　set　it　and　the　sword　aside。　He　tossed　the　red　coat　on　a　chair。　‘I’d　be　better　if　I　didn’t　have　to　wear　these　silly　clothes。　But　I　guess　it’s　a　small　price　to　pay　for　peace。　For　now。　What　did　you　want　talk　to　me　about；　Sister？’
　
　‘I　don’t　know　what　you　did；　how　you　got　me　returned　to　Sister；　but　thank　you；　Richard。　Does　this　mean　you　would　like　for　us　to　be　friends？’
　
　‘Only　if　you　will　take　this　collar　off　me。’　She　looked　away　from　his　eyes。　‘Someday；　Sister；　you　will　have　to　make　your　choice。　I　hope　when　the　time　es；　you　choose　to　be　on　my　side。　After　all　we’ve　been　through；　I　would　hate　to　have　to　kill　you；　but　you　know　what　I　am　capable　of。　You　knew　what　my　answer　would　be；　surely；　you　came　here　for　more　than　that。’
　
　‘I　have　told　you　before　how　you　are　using　your　Han　without　knowing　what　you　are　doing；　remember？’
　
　‘Yes；　but　I　don’t　think　I’m　using　my　Han。’
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Richard；　you　killed　a　mriswith。　As　far　as　I　know；　that　has　not　been　done　in　the　last　three　thousand　years。　You　had　to　use　your　Han　to　do　that。’
　
　‘No；　Sister；　I　used　the　magic　of　the　sword　to　kill　it。’
　
　‘Richard；　I　have　observed　you；　and　learned　a　little　about　both　you　and　your　sword。　The　reason　no　one　has　ever　been　able　to　kill　a　mriswith　is　because　they　never　knew　it　was　ing。　Even　the　Han　of　Sisters　and　wizards　could　not　sense　its　approach。　Your　sword　may　have　killed　the　mriswith；　but　your　Han　let　you　know　it　was　ing。　You　are　calling　on　your　gift；　but　without　control。’
　
　Richard　was　tired。　He　didn’t　feel　like　arguing；　so　he　didn’t。
　
　He　flopped　into　a　plush　chair。　He　remembered　the　way　he　had　seen　the　mriswith　in　his　mind；　had　seen　it　ing。　‘I　don’t　understand　what　I’m　doing；　Sister。　The　mriswith　came；　and　I　protected　myself。’
　
　She　sat　in　a　chair　opposite。　‘Look　at　it　this　way；　Richard；　you　killed　a　beast　as　deadly　as　anything　walking　the　land；　yet　that　little　girl　with　the　big　brown　eyes；　and　about　as　much　power　pared　to　you　as　a　sparrow　pared　to　a　hawk；　just　used　her　Han　to　throw　you　down　the　hall。　I　hope　you　will　study　hard　so　you　may　learn　to　control　your　Han。　You　need　to　get　it　under　control。’
　
　She　looked　at　him　intently。　‘Why　did　you　go　into　the　Hagen　Woods；　after　I　told　you　that　they　are　dangerous？　The　real　reason。　Not　the　justification；　but　the　deep…down…inside　reason。　Please　tell　me　the　truth；　Richard。’
　
　Richard　stretched　back；　looking　up　at　the　ceiling。　He　finally　conceded　with　a　nod。　‘It　was　like　something　drew　me　in。　It　was　a　need。　A　hunger。　It　was　like　I　needed　to　pound　my　fist　against　a　wall；　and　that　was　the　way　to　do　it。’
　
　He　thought　she　might　launch　into　a　lectu