tg.stone of tears-第231章

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　else　out。　You　can’t　think　about　how　afraid　you　are；　or　what　will　happen　if　you　miss。　You　have　to　be　able　to　make　the　shot　under　pressure。
　
　She　remembered　how　he　had　whispered　to　her；　whispered　for　her　to　call　the　target。
　
　With　a　jolt；　the　target　came　to　her；　as　if　the　wizard　were　standing　right　in　front　of　her。　She　could　see　the　flashes　of　liquid　light　jumping　from　his　fingertips。
　
　She　could　see　her　target　…　the　bump　in　his　throat　bobbing　up　and　down　as　he　laughed。　She　let　her　breath　flow　out；　as　Richard　had　taught　her。　The　arrow　found　the　notch　in　the　air。
　
　As　gentle　as　a　baby’s　breath；　the　arrow　left　the　bow。
　
　She　saw　the　feathers　clear　the　bow。　She　saw　the　string　hit　her　wrist。　The　stone　vine　wrapped　around　her　throat。　She　kept　her　eyes　on　the　target。　She　watched　the　feathers　of　the　arrow　as　it　flew。　The　pain　tearing　her　insides　rose　with　his　laughter。
　
　The　wizard’s　laughter　cut　off　abruptly。　Kahlan　heard　the　thunk　of　the　blade　hitting　his　throat。　When　the　stone　vine　suddenly　dropped　away；　she　fell　forward　on　her　hands　and　knees；　tears　dripping　from　her　face；　as　she　waited　for　the　pain　to　melt　away。　It　went　with　merciful　swiftness。
　
　Kahlan　staggered　to　her　feet。　To　the　Keeper　with　you；　too；　Wizard　Neville　Ranson！’
　
　There　was　an　earsplitting　crack；　like　a　lightning　strike；　but　instead　of　a　flash　of　light；　a　ripple　of　total　darkness　swept　across　the　room。　Bumps　rippled　up　her　arms。　The　lamps　flickered　back　on。
　
　Kahlan　knew　…　the　Keeper　had　indeed　taken　Wizard　Neville　Ranson。
　
　She　heard　a　grunt；　and　turned　just　in　time　to　see　a　guard　leaping　down　the　steps　toward　her。　Kahlan　ducked　and　came　up　under　him　as　he　landed。　She　used　his　momentum　to　loft　him　over　the　railing；　into　the　well　below。
　
　He　snatched　at　her　as　he　went　over；　but　his　fingers　caught　only　her　necklace。　It　tore　from　her；　and　went　down　with　him。　Kahlan　bent　over　the　railing；　seeing　him　smack　the　stone　floor；　three　flights　down。　She　saw　the　necklace　tumble　from　his　hand　when　he　hit；　and　slide　across　the　floor。
　
　‘Curse　the　good　spirits；’　she　growled。
　
　Kahlan　started　for　the　stairs　to　retrieve　her　bone　necklace；　but　skidded　to　a　stop　and　looked　up　at　the　sound　of　boots　on　stone。　More　guards　were　ing。　She　hesitated　for　a　moment；　looking　down；　and　then　ran　for　the　hallway　instead。　The　spirits　hadn’t　helped　her；　what　good　was　a　necklace　going　to　do？　It　wasn’t　worth　her　life。
　
　Kahlan　caught　the　others　as　they　made　the　outside　doors。　They　all　sighed　with　relief　to　see　her；　and　to　hear　that　the　wizard　wouldn’t　be　ing　after　them。　Kahlan　led　as　they　ran　out　into　the　night。　The　four　of　them　raced　down　the　expanse　of　steps　to　the　relentless　sound　of　the　alarm　bells　behind。　She　headed　south　…　the　shortest　distance　to　the　woods。
　
　A　breathless　Jebra　caught　her　arm；　dragging　her　to　a　stop。　‘Mother　Confessor　。。。！’
　
　‘I　am　not　the　Mother　Confessor　any　longer。　I　am　Kahlan。’
　
　‘Kahlan　then。　But　you　must　listen　to　me。　You　cannot　run　away。’
　
　Kahlan　turned　back　to　the　path　through　the　courtyard。　‘I’m　through　with　this　place。’
　
　‘Zedd　needs　you。’
　
　Kahlan　spun　back。　‘Zedd？　You　know　Zedd？　Where　is　he？’
　
　Jebra　gulped　air。　‘Zedd　sent　me　to　Aydindril。　The　day　after　you　left　D’Hara。　He　said　he　had　to　go　get　a　woman　named　Adie；　and　then　he　would　e　to　the　Wizard’s　Keep。　He　sent　me　here　to　help　you　and　Richard；　and　have　you　wait。　Zedd　needs　you。’
　
　Kahlan　gripped　Jebra’s　shoulders。　‘I　need　Zedd。　I　need　him　very　badly。’
　
　‘Then　you　must　let　me　help　you。　You　must　not　leave。　They　will　expect　you　to　run；　and　will　search　the　countryside。　They　will　not　expect　you　to　remain　in　Aydindril。’
　
　‘Remain？　Stay　in　Aydindril？’
　
　She　thought　a　moment。　She　was　known　in　Aydindril。　No；　not　exactly。　Her　long　hair　was　known。　People　other　than　councilors；　ambassadors；　staff；　and　nobility　rarely　saw　the　Mother　Confessor　up　close；　and　when　they　did　they　mostly　stared　at　her　long　hair。　She　no　longer　had　that　hair。
　
　The　thought　of　her　loss　made　her　insides　knot　up。　She　hadn’t　known　how　much　her　power；　and　her　long　hair；　meant　to　her　…　until　they　were　gone。
　
　‘It　might　work；　Jebra。　But　where　would　we　hide？’
　
　‘Zedd　gave　me　gold。　No　one　knows　of　my　involvement　in　your　escape。　I　will　rent　rooms　and　hide　you；　all　of　you。’
　
　Kahlan　considered　it　a　moment；　then　smiled。　‘We　could　be　your　servants。　A　lady　like　you　would　have　servants。’
　
　Jebra　shrank　back。　‘Mother　Confessor；　I　could　not　do　that。　I　am　nothing　but　a　servant　myself。　Zedd　made　me　pretend　to　be　a　lady。　But　I　could　not　pretend　that。　You　are　a　true　lady。’
　
　‘Being　a　servant　does　not　make　you　less　than　me。　We　all　can　be　only　who　we　are；　no　more；　no　less。’　Kahlan　started　them　all　off　again；　toward　a　part　of　Aydindril　with　quiet；　secluded；　and　exclusive　inns。　‘And　it　is　startling　to　learn　what　you　can　do　when　you　have　to。　We　will　do　what　we　must。　But　if　you　keep　calling　me　Mother　Confessor；　you　are　going　to　get　us　all　killed。’
　
　‘I　will　do　my　best　。。。　Kahlan。　All　I　know　is　that　we　must　wait　until　Zedd　returns　to　Aydindril。’　She　tugged　insistently　on　Kahlan’s　sleeve。　‘Mother　Confessor；　where　is　Richard！　It　is　vital！’　Her　voice　lowered　with　unease。　‘No　slight　intended；　and　I　pray　none　is　taken；　but　it　is　Richard　that　is　important。　Zedd　needs　Richard。’
　
　‘That　is　why　I　need　Zedd；’　Kahlan　said。
　
　
　CHAPTER　61
　
　Richard　grabbed　an　arm　of　each　boy。　‘Slow　down；’　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　‘I　told　you；　I　have　to　go　first。’
　
　Kipp　and　Hersh　sighed　impatiently。　Richard　checked　around　the　corner；　peeking　down　the　hall；　and　then　pushed　the　two　boys　up　against　the　wall。　Frogs　kicked　in　their　pockets。
　
　This　is　serious。　I　picked　you　two　because　I　know　you’re　the　best。　Now；　you　do　as　I　told　you；　the　way　we　planned　it。　Stay　here；　with　your　backs　to　this　wall；　and　count　to　fifty。　You　don’t　so　much　as　peep　around　the　corner　until　you　get　to　fifty。　I’m　depending　on　you　to　do　it　right。’
　
　They　grinned。　‘We’re　your　men；’　Kipp　said。　‘We’ll　get　them　out　of　there。’
　
　Richard　squatted　and　put　a　finger　close　to　each　face　in　turn。　This　is　serious　business。　This　isn’t　just　some　game。　This　time　you　could　get　in　real　trouble。　Are　you　sure　you　want　to　do　this？’
　
　Kipp　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　feeling　the　frogs。　‘You　came　to　the　right　men。　We　can　do　it。　We　want　to　do　it；　Richard。’
　
　They　were　excited　because　they　had　never　made　it　past　the　guards　before。　This　was　uncharted　territory　for　their　specialty。　Richard　knew　they　didn’t　appreciate　the　danger　involved；　and　he　hated　to　have　to　use　them　in　this　manner；　but　it　was　the　only　thing　he　could　think　of。
　
　‘All　right　then；　start　counting。’
　
　Richard　rounded　the　corner　and　swept　down　the　hall；　his　mriswith　cape　billowing　open。　When　he　reached　the　proper　door；　he　stood　against　the　white　marble　wall　opposite　the　double　doors　and　drew　the　hood　up。　He　pulled　the　cape　closed　and　concentrated　on　the　marble　behind　him。
　
　He　stood　motionless。　The　boys　burst　around　the　corner；　yelling　and　screaming　at　the　top　of　their　lungs　as　they　ran　down　the　hall。　They　stopped　in　front　of　the　double　doors；　looking　both　ways。　They　didn’t　see　him　standing　behind　them；　and　he　knew　they　were　wondering　where　he　was　hiding。
　
　As　they　had　been　instructed；　they　threw　the　doors　open　and；　giggling　with　excitement；　began　pulling　frogs　from　their　pockets　and　pitching　them　into　the　room。　The　two　Sisters　were　frozen　in　surprise　for　only　an　instant。　Richard　watched　as　both　came　flying　around　their　desks；　one　snatching　up　a　rod。　The　boys　heaved　their　last　frogs　with　a　squeal　and　raced　away　in　opposite　directions；　shouting　taunts　of　‘Can’t　catch　us！　Can’t　catch　us！’
　
　Sisters　Ulicia　and　Finella　slid　to　a　stop　on　the　polished　marble　floor　outside　the　doors。　They　almost　slid　right　into　him；　and　were　only　inches　away。　Richard　held　his　breath。
　
　The　Sisters　saw　the　boys　make　the　turns　at　opposite　ends　of　the　hall。　They　threw　their　hands　out。　Pictures　crashed　to　the　floor　as　flashes　of　shimmering　light　knocked　them　from　the　walls　at　the　end；　but　they　missed　the　boys。　Growling　in