tg.stone of tears-第223章

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　‘Seems　a　long　way　to　go；’　Ruben　said。　‘Why　did　I　want　you　to　take　us　there？’
　
　‘You　said　you　had　to　go　to　the　Wizard’s　Keep。　You　said　that　it　takes　magic　to　get　in；　but　you　don’t　have　any　magic；　now；　so　you　told　me　how　to　get　you　in。　Seems　you　were　a　troublesome　child；　and　had　a　secret　way　to　sneak　in　and　out　of　the　Keep　without　triggering　the　magic。’　Ruben　drew　his　finger　and　thumb　down　his　smooth　jaw。　‘And　you　say　I　told　you　it　was　urgent？’
　
　Ahern　gave　a　grim　nod。
　
　‘Then　we’d　best　be　on　our　way。’
　
　
　Just　as　she　had　been　smiling　to　people　all　evening；　Kahlan　smiled　to　the　woman　in　an　elaborate　dark　blue　gown　before　her。　The　woman　was　relating　how　concerned　everyone　had　been　for　the　Mother　Confessor。　Her　insincerity　was　as　transparent　as　the　hypocrisy　from　everyone　else。　Kahlan　had　spent　her　whole　life　listening　to　duplicitous　people　try　to　mask　their　avaricious　nature　with　words　of　altruism　and　amity。　It　sickened　her。
　
　Kahlan　wished　that　just　once；　one　of　these　people　she　lived　and　worked　with　would　have　the　honesty　to　admit　how　strongly　they　hated　her　and　how　it　infuriated　them　that　she　wouldn’t　allow　them　to　rape　the　Midlands　and　its　people　for　their　own　benefit。　She　admonished　herself　that　they　were　not　all　like　that。
　
　Kahlan　idly　wondered；　as　she　half　listened；　what　this　dignified　wife　of　an　ambassador　would　think　if　instead　of　seeing　the　Mother　Confessor　standing　before　her　in　a　sparkling　white　dress；　wearing　a　choker　of　jewels　worth　half　her　kingdom；　she　were　to　see　her　on　a　horse；　naked；　painted　white　and　drenched　in　blood；　as　she　hacked　with　a　sword　at　the　faces　of　men　trying　to　kill　her。　Kahlan　decided　the　woman　would　probably　faint。
　
　When　the　woman　finally　paused　for　a　breath；　Kahlan　thanked　her　for　her　concern；　and　moved　away。　It　was　getting　late　and　she　was　tired。　She　had　an　early　appointment　with　the　council。　Seeing　herself　as　she　passed　a　mirror；　Kahlan　felt　as　if　she　had　been　dreaming　for　a　very　long　time；　and　had　awakened；　the　same　as　she　was　before；　the　Mother　Confessor；　in　her　white　Confessor’s　dress；　at　the　Confessors’　Palace　in　Aydindril。
　
　But　she　wasn’t　the　same　as　the　last　time　she　had　been　here。　She　felt　a　hundred　years　older。　She　smiled；　at　least　the　bath　had　been　wonderful。　She　couldn’t　remember　finding　a　bath　so　luxurious。　She　had　almost　forgotten　what　it　was　like　to　be　clean。
　
　Near　the　doorway；　another　finely　dressed　lady　approached。　A　twitch　of　a　frown　touched　Kahlan’s　brow。　The　woman’s　sandy　hair　seemed　too　short　…　out　of　character　with　the　other　women’s　hair；　which　brushed　their　shoulders。　But　her　dress　certainly　was　in　character；　it　was　a　costly　looking　black　gown；　letting　her　shoulders；　and　the　sparkling　emerald　necklace；　show。
　
　The　woman　blocked　the　doorway　just　before　Kahlan　stepped　through。　She　dropped　a　hurried　curtsy；　her　blue　eyes　darting　about　as　she　came　up。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　I　must　speak　to　you。　It’s　urgent。’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　but　I’m　afraid　I　don’t　remember　you。’
　
　The　woman’s　blue　eyes　never　looked　up；　they　were　constantly　checking　the　other　people。　‘You　don’t　know　me。　We　have　a　friend　in　mon。　。。。’
　
　When　the　woman　caught　sight　of　a　sour…faced；　older　woman　looking　in　their　direction；　she　put　her　back　to　the　woman。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　did　you　e　to　Aydindril　alone；　or　did　you　bring　someone　with　you？’
　
　‘I　have　a　friend；　Chandalen；　who　came　with　me；　but　he　is　in　the　woods　to　the　south　for　the　night。　Why？’
　
　‘That　is　not　the　name　I　was　hoping　to　hear。’　She　looked　up　into　Kahlan’s　eyes。　‘You　must。。。’
　
　Her　words　trailed　off。　Her　intense　blue　eyes　slowly　opened　wider。　She　stood　as　if　turned　to　stone。
　
　‘What　is　it？’　Kahlan　asked。
　
　The　woman　seemed　to　be　seeing　specters。　‘You　。。。　you　。。。’
　
　The　color　had　drained　from　her　in　a　sickening　rush。　The　woman　staggered　back　a　step。　The　sudden　whiteness　of　her　shoulders　against　the　black　fabric　of　her　gown　made　her　look　like　a　spirit　in　a　dress。　Her　jaw　trembled　as　she　tried　without　success　to　bring　words　forth。　Her　face　was　a　mask　of　terror。
　
　Her　blue　eyes　rolled　back　into　her　head。　Too　late；　Kahlan　reached　out　for　her。　The　woman　crumpled　into　a　heap　on　the　floor。
　
　People　nearby　gasped。　Kahlan；　along　with　others；　bent　to　the　woman。　Men　and　women　crowded　around；　murmuring　to　each　other　about　too　much　wine。
　
　The　sour…faced　woman　elbowed　her　way　through　to　the　front。　‘Jebra！　I　thought　it　was　Jebra！’
　
　Kahlan　looked　up。　‘You　know　this　woman？　And　who　are　you？’
　
　The　woman　abruptly　realized　who　she　was　speaking　to。　She　flashed　a　sudden　smile　and　curtsied　awkwardly。　‘I　am　the　Lady　Ordith　Condatith　de　Dackidvich；　Mother　Confessor。　I’m　so　pleased　to　meet　you；　at　last。　I’ve　been　wanting　to　talk　。。。’
　
　Kahlan　cut　her　off。　‘Who　is　this　woman？　Do　you　know　her？’
　
　‘Know　her？’　Her　sour　expression　returned。　‘She　is　my　body　servant。　Her　name　is　Jebra　Bevinvier。　I’ll　have　the　lazy　wench　thrashed！’
　
　‘Body　servant？’　a　man　said。　‘I　don’t　think　so。　I’ve　had　dinner　with　Lady　Jebra；　and　I　can　assure　you；　she　is　a　lady。’
　
　Lady　Ordith　sniffed。　‘She’s　an　imposter。’
　
　‘Then　you　must　pay　her　well；’　the　man　said　sarcastically。　‘She　stays　in　the　finest　inns；　and　pays　with　gold。’
　
　Lady　Ordith　gave　the　man　another　haughty　sniff　and　snatched　a　guard’s　arm。　‘You！　Take　this　wench　to　my　quarters。　I’m　staying　at　the　Kelton　Palace。　I’ll　get　to　the　bottom　of　this。’
　
　Kahlan　came　to　her　feet　and　gave　the　Lady　Ordith　a　withering　glare。　‘You　will　do　no　such　thing。　Unless　you　are　presuming　to　tell　the　Mother　Confessor　what　to　do　in　her　own　palace？’
　
　Lady　Ordith　stammered　an　apology。　Kahlan　snapped　her　ringers　to　the　side　while　holding　Lady　Ordith’s　gaze。　Guards　jumped　forward。
　
　Kahlan　turned。　‘Take　Lady　Jebra　to　a　guest　room。　Have　a　servant　bring　her　some　ginger　tea；　cold　towels　for　her　head；　and　anything　else　she　wants。　I　do　not　want　her　disturbed　by　anyone；　and　that　includes　the　Lady　Ordith。　I’m　retiring　for　the　night；　and　I　do　not　wish　to　be　disturbed　by　anyone；　either。　I　have　an　early　session　with　the　council。　After　I　meet　with　the　council；　I　want　Lady　Jebra　brought　to　me。’
　
　The　guards　saluted　and　bent　to　Lady　Jebra。
　
　When　Kahlan　reached　her　room；　she　was　brought　out　of　her　troubled　thoughts　by　the　sight　of　two　Keltish　guards；　from　the　Kelton　Palace；　at　the　doors　to　her　room。　When　the　guards　saw　her；　one　of　them　coolly　tapped　on　the　door　with　the　butt　of　his　spear。　Someone　was　in　her　rooms。　Kahlan　glared　at　the　impassive　guards　as　she　stalked　through　the　doors。
　
　No　one　was　in　the　outer　room。　She　stormed　into　the　bedroom。　When　she　saw　him；　she　froze　to　a　halt。　Prince　Fyren　was　standing　on　her　bed；　with　his　back　to　her。
　
　He　gave　her　a　smirk　over　his　shoulder　while　he　urinated　in　the　center　of　her　bed。
　
　When　he　was　finished；　Prince　Fyren　turned　while　he　buttoned　his　trousers。
　
　‘What　in　the　name　of　the　spirits　do　you　think　you　are　doing？’　she　whispered。
　
　He　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　her　as　he　strutted　past。　‘Just　letting　the　Mother　Confessor　know　how　happy　we　all　are　to　have　her　home。’　His　coat　was　open。　He　smoothed　the　ruffles　on　the　front　of　his　white　shirt　as　he　paused　at　the　door。　‘Sleep　well；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　Kahlan　yanked　six　times　on　the　bell　cord。　Six　breathless　maidservants　met　her　as　she　was　charging　down　the　hall。
　
　‘You　wanted　something；　Mother　Confessor？’
　
　Kahlan　gritted　her　teeth。　‘Take　my　mattress　and　bedcovers　outside　to　the　courtyard　and　burn　them。’
　
　The　girl　blinked。　‘Mother　Confessor？’
　
　‘Drag　the　mattress　from　my　bed；　along　with　all　the　bedcovers；　out　into　the　courtyard　below　my　balcony；　and　set　them　on　fire。’　Kahlan　clenched　her　fists。　‘What　part　don’t　you　understand！’
　
　The　six　flinched　back　a　step。　‘Yes；　Mother　Confessor。’　They　stood　trembling；　their　eyes　wide。　‘Now；　Mother　Confessor？’
　
　‘If　I　wanted　it　done　tomorrow；　I　would　have　called　you　tomorrow！’
　
　Kahlan　reached　the　stairs　over　grand　entrance　just　in　time　to　see　Prince　Fyren　joining　the　man　in　plain　robes　waiting　there　for　him。　His　dar