tg.stone of tears-第239章

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hem　more　time　with　women。’
　
　Richard　slowly　rose。　‘I　can’t　believe　it。’
　
　Warren　turned　his　face　up。　‘Richard；　please　forgive　me　for　telling　you。　I’m　sorry　I　was　the　one　to　hurt　you。　You’ve　always　been　。。。’
　
　Richard　put　a　hand　to　Warren’s　shoulder。　‘It’s　not　your　fault。　You　didn’t　do　it。　You　simply　told　me　the　truth。’　His　voice　felt　as　if　it　were　ing　from　the　bottom　of　a　well。　Thank　you　for　the　truth；　my　friend。’
　
　All　he　could　think；　as　his　feet　shuffled　toward　the　door；　was　that　his　dreams　were　all　dying。　If　he　couldn’t　get　the　collar　off；　everything　would　be　lost。
　
　Sisters　Ulicia　and　Finella　both　stood　in　warning　as　he　came　through　the　doors。　They　backed　away；　the　same　as　the　guards　had；　when　they　saw　the　look　on　his　face。　A　sparkling　shield　went　up　before　the　door。　He　went　through　it　without　slowing。　The　door　beyond　burst　open　for　him；　without　him　touching　it；　part　of　the　frame　splintering。　It　somehow　never　occurred　to　him　to　use　the　knob。
　
　The　Prelate　was　sitting　with　her　hands　folded　on　the　heavy　walnut　table。　Her　solemn　eyes　watched　him　e。　Richard　pressed　up　against　the　table；　towering　over　her。
　
　‘I　must　admit；　Richard；’　she　said　in　a　somber　tone；　‘that　I　have　not　been　looking　forward　to　this　visit。’
　
　His　straining　voice　broke。　‘Why　didn’t　Sister　Verna　tell　me？’
　
　‘I　ordered　her　not　to。’
　
　And　why　did　you　not　tell　me？’
　
　‘Because　I　wanted　you　first　to　learn　some　significant　things　about　yourself；　so　you　would　be　better　able　to　understand　your　importance。　The　burden　of　a　wizard；　and　of　a　Prelate；　too。’
　
　Richard　sank　to　his　knees　before　her　desk。　Ann；’　he　whispered；　‘please；　help　me。　I　must　have　the　Rada’Han　off。　I　love　Kahlan。　I　need　her。　I　need　to　get　back　to　her。　I’ve　been　gone　a　long　time。　Please；　Ann；　help　me。　Take　the　collar　off。’
　
　She　closed　her　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　When　they　opened；　they　were　heavy　with　regret。
　
　‘I　spoke　the　truth；　Richard。　We　cannot　get　the　Rada’Han　off　until　you　learn　enough　to　help　us。　That　will　take　time。’
　
　‘Please；　Ann；　help　me。　Isn’t　there　any　other　way？’
　
　Slowly；　her　eyes　staying　on　his；　she　shook　her　head。　‘No；　Richard。　Over　time；　you　will　e　to　accept　it。　They　all　do。　It　is　easier　for　the　rest；　because　they　e　here　as　boys；　not　understanding；　and　grasp　it　only　over　time。　We　have　never　had　to　tell　one　grown；　like　you；　who　could　understand　the　significance。’
　
　Richard　couldn’t　make　himself　think　clearly。　It　felt　as　if　he　were　stumbling　in　a　dark　dream。　‘But；　we’ll　lose　so　much　time　together。　She　will　be　old。　Everyone　I　know　will　be　old。’
　
　Ann　smoothed　her　hair　back　as　she　averted　her　eyes。　‘Richard；　by　the　time　you　are　trained　and　leave　here；　the　great…great…great　grandchildren　of　everyone　you　know　will　have　died　of　old　age　and　been　buried　in　the　ground　for　over　a　hundred　years。’
　
　He　blinked　at　her；　trying　to　prehend　the　math　of　the　generations　involved；　but　it　all　turned　to　mush　in　his　mind。　He　suddenly　remembered　what　Shota　had　warned　him　of　…　a　trap　in　time。　This　was　that　trap。
　
　He　had　been　stripped　of　everything　by　these　people。　Everything　he　loved　was　gone。　He　would　never　see　Zedd　again；　or　Chase；　or　anyone　he　knew。　He　would　never　hold　Kahlan　again。　He　would　never　be　able　to　tell　her　that　he　loved　her；　that　he　understood　the　sacrifice　she　had　made　for　him。
　
　
　CHAPTER　63
　
　Richard　looked　up　from　where　he　sat　on　the　floor　to　see　Warren　in　the　doorway。　He　hadn’t　heard　the　knock。　When　he　said　nothing；　Warren　rushed　over　and　squatted　down　beside　him。
　
　‘Listen；　Richard；　something　you　said　made　me　think。　You　said　that　you　were　going　to　wed　the　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　Richard’s　mind　came　out　of　the　daze　and　his　eyes　suddenly　came　up。　The　prophecy　is　about　her；　isn’t　it。　The　prophecy　you　said　would　e　on　winter　solstice。’
　
　‘I　think　it　might　be。　But　I　don’t　know　enough　about　her；　about　Confessors；　to　tell。　Does　the　Mother　Confessor　wear　white？’
　
　‘Yes。　The　Confessors　are　born　to　find　the　truth。　She　is　the　last　one。’
　
　‘Richard；　I　think　that　is　good　news。　I　think　she　is　to　find　happiness；　and　bring　it　to　her　people；　on　winter　solstice。’
　
　Richard　remembered　the　vision　he　had　had　in　the　Tower　of　Perdition。　He　remembered　the　horror　of　what　he　had　seen。　The　words　Kahlan　had　spoken　were　burned　into　his　memory。　He　quoted　it　to　Warren。
　
　‘Of　all　there　were；　but　a　single　one　born　of　the　magic　to　bring　forth　truth　will　remain　alive　when　the　shadow’s　threat　is　lifted。　Therefore　es　the　greater　darkness　of　the　dead。　For　there　to　be　a　chance　at　life’s　bond；　this　one　in　white　must　be　offered　to　her　people；　to　bring　their　joy　and　good　cheer。’
　
　‘Yes！　That’s　it！　I　believe　that　the　‘greater　darkness’　means　both　the　Keeper；　and　winter　solstice。　I　think　that　means　。。。　Richard；　where　did　you　read　that　prophecy？’
　
　‘I　didn’t　read　it。　It　was　brought　to　me　in　a　vision　of　her。’
　
　Warren’s　eyes　grew　big；　the　way　they　tended　to　do　when　he　was　astonished。　‘You　had　a　vision　of　prophecy？’
　
　‘Yes；　she　brought　me　the　words；　and　also　brought　a　vision　of　what　it　means。’
　
　‘What　does　it　mean？’
　
　Richard　brushed　at　his　pant　leg。　‘I　can’t　tell　you。　She　said　that　I　could　speak　the　words；　but　not　of　the　vision。　I’m　sorry；　Warren；　but　I　dare　not　violate　that　warning　without　knowing　the　consequences。　But　I　can　tell　you　that　the　results　of　this　prophecy　ing　true　would　not　be　joyful　for　her；　or　for　me。’
　
　Warren　considered　a　moment。　‘Yes。　You　are　right。’　He　looked　over　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　‘Richard；　there　is　something　about　prophecy　I　think　I　should　tell　you。　Hardly　anyone　knows　this；　but　the　words　don’t　always　reflect　the　true　intent。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘Well；　a　few　times　when　I　have　read　prophecies；　I’ve　had　a　vision。　The　vision　turns　out　to　be　true；　and　so　does　the　prophecy；　but　not　in　the　way　you　would　think　from　reading　it。　I　believe　that　the　true　way　prophecy　is　meant　to　be　understood　is　through　the　gift；　through　the　visions。’
　
　‘Do　the　Sisters　know　this？’
　
　‘No。　I　think　this　is　what　it　means　to　be　a　prophet。　Richard；　if　you　had　this　vision；　and　heard　the　words；　and　saw　the　meaning；　maybe　that　means　you　are　a　prophet。’
　
　According　to　the　Prelate；　I　have　a　different　talent。　If　she　is　right；　then　having　the　vision　might　just　be　part　of　my　ability　for　what　I　truly　am。’
　
　‘Which　is？’
　
　‘The　Prelate　said　I’m　a　war　wizard。’
　
　His　eyes　widened　again。　‘Richard；　war　wizards　have　the　gift　for　both　Magics。　None　with　the　gift　for　Subtractive；　too；　has　been　born　in　。。。　in　thousands　of　years。　Maybe　the　Prelate　is　wrong。’
　
　‘I　hope　she　is；　but　it　would　explain　some　things。　From　what　a　friend　of　mine　told　me；　Additive　Magic　is　using　what　is；　adding　to　it；　multiplying　it；　altering　it；　the　doing　of　things。　Subtractive　Magic　is　the　counter；　the　undoing　of　things。
　
　All　the　shields　are　put　up　by　the　Sisters。　They　have　only　Additive。　Even　those　with　the　gift　cannot　easily　go　through　them；　or　break　them；　because　they　also　have　only　Additive。　Power　against　power。　But　somehow　I’m　able　to　walk　right　through　the　shields　around　here　without　even　trying。
　
　‘Subtractive　Magic　would　explain　that。　Subtractive　would　counter　the　Additive　of　the　shields；　undo　it。’
　
　‘But　you　said　you　tried　to　go　through　the　barrier　that　keeps　us　from　leaving。　That’s　a　shield；　too。　Why　can’t　you　go　through　that　shield；　then；　if　you　really　have　the　Subtractive？’
　
　Richard　lifted　an　eyebrow　and　leaned　in。　‘Warren；　who　put　those　shields　in　place？’
　
　‘Well；　the　ones　who　placed　the　rest　of　the　magic　of　the　palace；　the　wizards　of　old　。。。’
　
　‘Who　you　said　had　Subtractive　Magic。　That　shield　is　the　only　one　placed　by　them。　It’s　the　only　one　I　can’t　go　through。　It’s　the　only　one　my　Subtractive　Magic；　if　I　truly　have　it；　wouldn’t　counter。　See　what　I　mean？’
　
　Warren　sat　back　on　his　heels。　‘Yes　。。。’　He　rubbed　his　chin　as　he　thought。　‘Well；　that　would　make　sense。　It　might　fit　with　some　of　the　prophecies　about　you。　If　you　really　are　a　war　wizard；　and　are　the　one　born　true。’
　
　‘And　do　these