tg.stone of tears-第213章

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o　it。’
　
　He　thought　she　might　launch　into　a　lecture；　but　she　didn’t。　Her　tone　was　sympathetic。
　
　‘Richard；　I’ve　been　talking　to　a　few　friends　of　mine。　None　of　us　knows　everything　about　the　magic　of　the　palace；　and　especially　the　Hagen　Woods；　but　there　is　reason　to　believe　that　the　Hagen　Woods　were　placed　there　specifically　for　certain　wizards。’
　
　Richard　studied　her　quiet　expression；　the　creases　in　her　face；　the　sincerity　in　her　eyes。　‘Are　you　saying；　Sister；　that　if　I　need　to　pound　my　fist　against　the　wall；　maybe　I　should　do　so？’
　
　She　gave　a　slight　lift　to　her　eyebrows。　The　Creator　gave　us　hunger　so　we　would　eat；　because　eating　is　necessary。’
　
　‘What　would　be　the　purpose　of　a　hunger　like　mine？’
　
　She　shook　her　head。　‘I　don’t　know。　For　a　second　time　in　as　many　days；　the　Prelate　has　declined　to　grant　me　an　audience。
　
　But　I’m　going　to　try　to　find　some　answers。　In　the　meantime；　just　please　don’t　let　the　sun　set　on　you　in　the　Hagen　Woods。’
　
　‘Is　this　what　you　came　to　tell　me；　Sister？’
　
　She　looked　away；　and　paused；　rubbing　her　forehead　with　two　fingers。　She　looked　uncertain。　He　had　never　seen　her　like　this。　‘Richard；　there　are　things　going　on　that　I　don’t　understand；　and　they　are　connected　to　you；　events　are　not　happening　as　they　should。’　She　saw　his　curious　look。　‘I　can’t　talk　about　them　just　yet。’
　
　She　cleared　her　throat。　‘Richard；　I　don’t　want　you　to　trust　every　one　of　the　Sisters。’
　
　Richard　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Sister；　I　trust　none　of　you。’
　
　That　brought　a　short…lived　smile　to　her　face。　‘For　now；　that　would　be　best。　That　was　what　I　wanted　to　tell　you。　I’m　going　to　find　the　answers；　but…for　now；　well；　let’s　just　say　that　I　know　you　will　do　as　you　must　to　stay　safe。’
　
　After　Sister　Verna　left；　Richard　thought　about　what　she　had　said；　and　about　the　things　Warren　had　told　him。　Mostly；　he　thought　about　the　Stone　of　Tears。
　
　It　puzzled　him　that　the　magic　in　the　Valley　of　the　Lost　would　present　him　with　a　vision　of　something　he　had　never　seen　before；　and　put　it　around　Rachel’s　neck。　The　other　visions　seemed　to　have　been　anchored　in　his　longings　and　fears。　Maybe　because　he　missed　seeing　his　friend；　Chase；　he　saw　the　vision　of　Rachel；　too；　she　would　be　with　Chase。　But　why　would　the　vision　put　around　her　neck　something　he　had　never　seen　before；　which　turned　out　to　look　like　a　drawing　in　a　book？
　
　Maybe　they　weren’t　the　same　thing。　He　told　himself　they　couldn’t　be；　but　an　uneasy　feeling　inside　said　otherwise。
　
　As　much　as　he　missed　Chase　and　Rachel；　it　was　the　stone　around　Rachel’s　neck　that　had　captured　his　attention。　It　was　as　if　Rachel　were　bringing　it　to　him　for　Zedd；　and　Zedd　had　been　there　with　him；　urging　him　to　take　the　stone。
　
　Pasha’s　knock　at　the　door　brought　him　out　of　his　brooding。　She　was　wearing　a　plain；　brownish　gray　dress　with　small；　pink　cloth　buttons　up　the　front；　all　the　way　up　to　her　neck。　Though　it　didn’t　show　the　expanse　of　flesh　the　green　dress　had；　it　was　tailored　so　that　it　revealed　nearly　every　detail　of　her　shape。　The　fact　that　it　covered　everything　only　made　what　it　covered　all　that　much　more　intriguing。　The　color　somehow　brought　out　the　softness　of　her　brown　hair。
　
　Pasha　sat　cross…legged　on　the　floor；　on　the　blue　and　yellow　carpet　in　front　of　the　fireplace。　She　draped　her　dress　carefully　over　her　knees　and　then　looked　up。　‘Here。　Sit　like　me；　in　front　of　me。’
　
　Richard　sat　on　the　floor　and　folded　his　legs。　She　motioned　him　to　e　closer　until　their　knees　touched。　She　took　his　hands　and　held　them　lightly　as　they　rested　across　both　their　knees。
　
　‘Sister　Verna　didn’t　do　this　when　I　practiced。’
　
　‘That　was　because　the　Rada’Han　had　to　be　within　the　circle　of　influence　of　the　magic　of　the　palace　before　we　could　practice　in　this　way。　Until　now；　when　you　have　practiced　touching　your　Han；　it　has　been　alone。　Most　of　the　time　from　now　on；　I；　or　a　Sister；　will　use　our　Han　to　assist　you。’　She　smiled。　‘It　will　help　you　progress　faster；　Richard。’
　
　‘All　right。　What　do　you　want　me　to　do？’
　
　‘She　told　you　how　to　try　to　reach　your　Han？　How　to　concentrate　on　finding　that　place　within　yourself？’　Richard　nodded。　That　is　what　I　want　you　to　do。　While　you　search　for　that　place；　I　will　use　my　Han；　through　the　Rada’Han；　to　try　to　guide　you。’
　
　Richard　squirmed　a　little；　getting　more　fortable。　Pasha　took　back　a　hand　and　fanned　her　face。　This　dress　seems　so　warm；　after　wearing　the　other。’　She　unbuttoned　the　top　five　buttons　of　her　dress　and　then　took　his　hand　up　again。　Richard　glanced　at　the　fire；　to　check　the　logs；　so　he　would　know　how　long　it　had　been　when　he　opened　his　eyes　again。　He　could　never　seem　to　judge　the　time　while　he　searched　for　his　Han。　It　always　seemed　like　mere　minutes；　but　it　was　usually　at　least　an　hour。
　
　Richard　closed　his　eyes。　He　brought　forth　the　image　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　on　a　plain　background。　As　the　quiet　settled　over　him；　as　he　sought　the　peace　within；　his　breathing　slowed。　He　took　a　long　breath；　and　then　let　himself　sink　into　the　calm　center。
　
　He　was　aware　of　Pasha’s　hands　holding　his；　of　her　knees　touching　his；　and　of　her　even　breathing　ing　into　harmony　with　his。　It　felt　good　to　have　her　holding　his　hands。　He　didn’t　feel　isolated　the　way　he　had　always　felt　before。　He　didn’t　know　if　she　really　was　using　the　magic　of　his　collar　to　go　with　him；　but　he　felt　himself　spiraling　deeper　than　he　had　before。
　
　He　drifted　in　the　timeless　place　without　thinking；　without　effort　or　worry。　Whatever　his　Han　was；　he　didn’t　see　or　feel　anything　he　hadn’t　seen　or　felt　before。　Other　than　feeling　more　relaxed　than　before；　and　the　forting　feeling　of　having　Pasha　with　him；　it　was　no　different。　He　was　dimly　aware　of　his　body　starting　to　feel　cramped；　and　of　the　warmth　from　the　fire。　The　cold　steel　of　the　sword　seemed　to　be　a　core　of　ice　in　the　heat。
　
　At　last；　he　opened　his　eyes。　Pasha　opened　her　eyes　with　him。　Richard　glanced　to　the　fire。　The　logs　had　been　reduced　to　glowing　coals。　Two　hours；　he　judged。
　
　A　trickle　of　sweat　ran　down　Pasha’s　neck。　‘My；　but　it’s　warm　tonight。’
　
　She　unbuttoned　buttons。　A　lot　of　buttons。　More　of　her　was　showing　than　had　shown　in　the　green　dress。　Richard　made　himself　look　back　up　into　her　soft　eyes。　Pasha　gave　him　a　small；　self…assured　smile。
　
　‘I　didn’t　feel　anything；’　Richard　said。　‘I　didn’t　sense　my　Han。　Although；　I　don’t　know　what　it　is　I’m　supposed　to　sense。’
　
　‘I　didn’t；　either；　and　I　should　have。　Strange。’　She　sighed　to　herself　with　a　puzzled　expression。　Her　face　brightened。　‘But　it　takes　practice。　Did　you　feel　my　Han？　Was　it　any　help？’
　
　‘No；’　he　admitted。　‘I　didn’t　feel　anything。’
　
　She　made　a　little　quirk　with　her　mouth　as　she　frowned。　‘You　didn’t　feel　anything　of　me？’　He　shook　his　head。　‘Well；　close　your　eyes　and　try　again。’
　
　It　was　late；　and　Richard　didn’t　want　to　practice　anymore；　it　was　tiring。　But　he　decided　to　do　as　she　wished。　He　closed　his　eyes。　He　concentrated　on　trying　to　bring　back　the　sword。
　
　Suddenly　he　felt　Pasha’s　full　lips　against　his。　His　eyes　opened　as　she　pressed　against　him。　Her　eyes　were　closed；　her　brow　wrinkled。　She　grasped　his　face　with　her　hands。
　
　Richard　gripped　her　shoulders　and　pushed　her　away。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　licked　her　lips。
　
　She　smiled　coyly。　‘Did　you　feel　that？’
　
　‘I　felt　it。’
　
　She　hooked　an　arm　around　his　neck。　‘Apparently；　not　enough。’
　
　Richard　gently　put　a　hand　against　her　as　she　tried　to　lean　in。　He　didn’t　want　to　embarrass　her；　so　he　tried　to　keep　his　voice　pleasant。　‘Pasha；　don’t。’
　
　She　rubbed　her　free　hand　around　on　his　stomach。　‘It’s　late。　No　one　will　be　around。　If　it　will　make　you　feel　more　fortable；　I’ll　shield　the　door。　You　shouldn’t　worry。’
　
　‘I’m　not　worried。　I　just　。。。　don’t　want　to。’
　
　She　looked　a　bit　hurt。　‘You　do　not　think　I　am　pretty　enough？’
　
　Richard　didn’t　want　to　offend　her；　and　he　didn’t　want　to　make　her　angry。　But　he　didn’t　want　to　encourage　her；　either。
　
　‘It’s　not　that；　Pasha。　You’re　very　attractive。　It’s　just　that　。。。’
　
　She　unbuttoned　another　little　button。　Richard　reached