tg.stone of tears-第219章

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　Warren　nodded；　the　smile　still　on　his　face。　An　exciting　experience。’
　
　Adventure　is　being　scared　to　death；　and　not　knowing　if　you　will　live　or　die；　or　if　the　ones　you　love　will　live　or　die。　Adventure　is　being　in　trouble　you　don’t　know　how　to　get　out　of。’
　
　Warren　fumbled　with　the　braiding　on　his　sleeve。　‘I　never　thought　about　it　like　that。’
　
　‘Well；　you　think　on　it；’　Richard　said；　‘because　I’m　about　to　start　an　adventure。’
　
　‘What　are　you　going　to　do？’
　
　The　less　you　know；　the　less　adventure　you’ll　have　to　worry　about。　You　just　find　out　the　things　I　need　to　know。　If　the　veil　is　torn；　we’re　all　going　to　have　a　never…ending　adventure。’
　
　‘Well；’　Warren　said　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye；　‘I　found　out　at　least　one　thing　of　help；　then。’
　
　The　Stone　of　Tears？’
　
　Warren　nodded　with　a　grin。　‘I　found　out　there　is　no　way　you　could　have　seen　it。　It’s　locked　behind　the　veil。　In　a　way；　it’s　part　of　the　veil。’
　
　‘Are　you　sure？　Are　you　sure　I　couldn’t　have　seen　it？’
　
　‘Positive。　The　Stone　of　Tears　is　the　seal　that　keeps　the　Nameless　One　locked　in　his　prison　of　the　dead；　in　the　underworld。　He　can　rule　the　souls　of　the　dead　there　with　him；　but　he　cannot　e　to　this　world。　The　Stone　of　Tears　seals　him　there。’
　
　‘Good；’　Richard　said　with　a　relieved　sigh。　That’s　great；　Warren。　Good　work。’　He　gently　gripped　Warren’s　robe　and　pulled　him　closer。　‘You’re　sure。　There’s　no　way　the　Stone　of　Tears　could　be　in　this　world。’
　
　Warren　confidently　shook　his　head。　‘None。　It’s　impossible。　The　only　way　for　the　Stone　of　Tears　to　be　in　this　world　would　be　for　it　to　e　through　the　gateway。’
　
　Richard　felt　his　flesh　beginning　to　tingle。　‘Gateway？　What’s　the　gateway？’
　
　‘Well；　the　gateway　is　what　the　name　implies。　A　passage。　In　this　case；　a　passage　between　the　world　of　the　living　and　the　world　of　the　dead。　It’s　magic　of　both　worlds；　a　passage　constructed　of　magic。　The　gateway　can　only　be　opened　with　both　Additive　and　Subtractive　Magic。　The　Nameless　One　has　only　Subtractive；　since　he　is　in　the　underworld；　so　he　can’t　open　the　gateway。　The　same　way　someone　in　this　world　could　not　open　it；　because　we　have　only　Additive　Magic。’
　
　Bumps　were　rising　on　Richard’s　arms。　‘But　someone　in　this　world；　someone　with　both　forms　of　magic；　could　open　the　gateway？’
　
　‘Well；　sure；’　Warren　stammered。　‘If　they　had　the　gateway。　But　it　has　been　lost　for　over　three　thousand　years。　It’s　gone。’　He　gave　Richard　a　self…assured　smile。　‘We’re　safe。’
　
　Richard　wasn’t　smiling。　He　grabbed　Warren’s　robes　in　both　hands　and　yanked　his　face　close。　‘Warren；　tell　me　the　gateway　isn’t　called　the　Magic　of　Orden。　Tell　me　the　gateway　isn’t　the　three　boxes　of　Orden。’
　
　Warren’s　eyes　slowly　expanded　to　the　size　of　gold　pieces。　‘Where　did　you　hear　that　name　for　it？’　he　whispered　in　a　disquieted　tone。　‘I’m　the　only　one　in　the　palace　besides　the　Prelate　and　two　other　Sisters　who　are　permitted　to　read　the　books　that　call　the　gateway　by　its　ancient　name。’
　
　Richard　gritted　his　teeth。　‘What　happens　if　one　of　the　boxes　is　opened？’
　
　They　can’t　be　opened；’　Warren　insisted。　They　can’t。　I　told　you；　it　takes　both　kinds　of　magic；　Additive　and　Subtractive；　to　open　a　box。’
　
　Richard　shook　him。　‘What　happens！’
　
　His　eyes　still　wide；　Warren　swallowed。　Then　the　gateway　between　the　worlds　is　opened。　The　veil　is　breached。　The　seal　is　off　the　Nameless　One。’
　
　And　the　Stone　of　Tears　would　be　in　this　world？’　Warren　nodded　as　Richard　tightened　his　grip　on　the　robes。　‘And　if　the　box　were　to　be　closed；　that　would　close　the　gateway？　Seal　the　breach？’
　
　‘No。　Well；　yes；　but　it　can　only　be　closed　by　one　with　the　gift。　It　takes　the　touch　of　magic　to　close　the　gateway。　But　if　one　with　the　gift　closes　the　box；　the　gateway；　then　it　ruptures　the　balance；　because　he　has　only　Additive　Magic；　and　the　Nameless　One　escapes　the　underworld。　More　correctly；　this　world　would　be　swallowed　into　the　world　of　the　dead。’
　
　Then　how　can　the　box　be　closed　to　keep　the　worlds　separated！’
　
　The　same　way　the　gateway　is　opened。　With　both　Additive　and　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　And　what　about　the　Stone　of　Tears？’
　
　‘I　don’t　know。　I　would　have　to　study。’
　
　Then　you　better　study　fast。’
　
　‘Please；’　Warren　whined；　‘you　don’t　mean　that　you　know　where　the　boxes　are。　You　haven’t　found　them；　have　you？’
　
　‘Found　them？　The　last　time　I　saw　the　boxes；　one　was　opened；　about　to　suck　my　bastard　father　into　the　underworld。’
　
　Warren　fainted。
　
　
　CHAPTER　57
　
　Under　the　impotent　rays　of　the　late…day　sun；　an　old　woman　was　spreading　wood　ash　on　the　ice　covering　the　vast　expanse　of　stairs。　Kahlan　walked　past；　relieved　that　the　old　woman　didn’t　look　up　to　see　that　the　person　in　the　heavy　clothes；　white　fur　mantle；　and　carrying　a　pack　and　bow　was　the　Mother　Confessor　returned　to　Aydindril。
　
　She　was　in　no　mood　for　starting　a　celebration　tonight。　She　was　exhausted。　Already；　before　ing　home　to　the　palace；　she　had　climbed　up　to　the　Wizard’s　Keep　on　the　mountainside；　but　the　Keep　was　stone　cold　and　dark　as　death。　The　shields　were　in　place；　though　a　Confessor　could　enter；　but　no　one　was　inside。
　
　Zedd　was　not　there。
　
　The　Keep　sat　now　as　the　last　time　she　had　seen　it　so　many　months　ago；　when　she　had　left　to　find　the　missing　great　wizard。　She　had　found　him；　and　helped　stop　the　threat　from　Darken　Rahl；　but　now　she　needed　the　great　wizard　again。
　
　Since　leaving　the　Galean　army　nearly　a　month　before；　she　had　been　struggling　to　reach　Aydindril；　and　Zedd。　Storms　had　raged　for　days　at　a　time。　Passes　had　been　rendered　impassable　by　the　weather　and　snow；　forcing　them　to　backtrack　and　find　alternate　routes。　It　had　been　a　frustrating　and　tiring　journey；　but　the　despair　at　reaching　her　goal　and　not　finding　Zedd　was　withering。
　
　Kahlan　had　made　her　way　through　the　side　streets；　avoiding　Kings　Row。　The　palaces　on　Kings　Row　housed　dignitaries；　staffs；　and　guards　of　the　lands　that　were　represented　in　Aydindril。　The　kings　and　queens　and　rulers　of　those　lands　stayed　in　their　palaces　when　they　came　to　address　the　council。　The　palaces　were　a　matter　of　pride　for　each　land；　and　each　was　magnificent；　although　none　could　begin　to　pare　to　the　Confessors’　Palace。
　
　Kahlan　had　avoided　Kings　Row　because　she　would　be　recognized　there；　and　she　didn’t　want　to　be　recognized　right　now；　she　wanted　only　to　find　Zedd　and；　failing　that；　speak　to　the　council；　so　she　headed　toward　the　service　area　to　the　side；　near　the　kitchens。
　
　Chandalen　was　out　in　the　forest。　He　didn’t　want　to　e　into　Aydindril；　the　size　of　the　city　and　the　multitudes　of　people　made　him　uneasy；　though　he　denied　it；　and　claimed　only　to　be　more　fortable　sleeping　outside。　Kahlan　couldn’t　blame　him；　after　being　alone　in　the　mountains　for　so　long；　she；　too；　was　uneasy　going　into　the　city；　even　though　she　had　grown　up　in　this　place　and　knew　its　streets　and　majestic　buildings　as　well　as　Chandalen　knew　the　plains　around　the　Mud　People　village。　The　people　everywhere　made　her　feel　closed　in　as　never　before。
　
　Chandalen　wanted　to　go　home　to　his　people；　now　that　she　was　delivered　safely　to　Aydindril。　She　could　understand　his　desire　to　be　off；　but　asked　him　to　rest　the　night；　and　say　good…bye　to　her　in　the　morning。
　
　She　had　told　Orsk　to　spend　the　night　with　Chandalen。　His　presence　was　wearing；　his　one　eye　following　her　everywhere；　his　jumping　to　help　her　with　everything；　his　constantly　standing　ready　to　do　her　bidding　at　the　slightest　indication。　It　was　like　having　a　dog　continually　at　heel。　She　needed　a　night　away　from　that。　Chandalen　seemed　to　understand。　She　didn’t　know　what　she　was　going　to　do　about　Orsk。
　
　A　stifling　blast　of　warm　air　hit　her　as　she　went　in　through　the　kitchen　entrance。　At　the　sound　of　the　door；　a　thin　woman　in　a　sparkling　white　apron　spun　to　her。
　
　‘What　are　you　doing　in　here！　Get　out；　you　beggar！’
　
　As　the　woman　lifted　her　wooden　spoon　in　a　threatening。　manner；　Kahlan　pushed　back　the　hood　of　her　mantle。　The　woman　gasped。　Kahlan　smiled。
　
　‘Mistress　Sanderholt。　I’m　so　pleased　to　see　you　again。’
　
　‘Mother　Confessor！’