tg.stone of tears-第24章

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　‘So　it　is　you　who　tells　all　the　kings　and　queens；　all　the　lands；　what　to　do？’
　
　She　took　one　of　his　hands　and　held　it。　‘I；　and　most　of　the　Mother　Confessors　before　me；　let　the　Central　Council　decide　for　themselves　what　they　wish；　how　they　want　the　Midlands　ruled。　But　when　they　fail　to　e　to　agreement；　or　to　a　just　agreement；　it　is　to　the　disadvantage　of　those　not　represented。　Only　then　do　I　step　in　and　tell　them　how　it　shall　be。’
　
　‘And　they　always　do　as　you　say？’
　
　‘Always。’
　
　‘Why？’
　
　She　took　a　deep　breath。　‘Well；　they　know　that　if　they　don’t　bow　to　the　Mother　Confessor’s　leadership；　they　will　be　alone　and　vulnerable　to　any　stronger　neighbor　who　craves　power。　There　would　be　war　until　the　strongest　among　them　crushed　all　the　rest；　as　Darken　Rahl’s　father；　Panis　Rahl；　did　in　D’Hara。　They　know　that　ultimately　it　is　in　their　own　interest　to　have　an　independent　council　leader；　who　sides　with　no　land。’
　
　‘But　it’s　not　in　the　best　interest　of　the　strongest。　Something　other　than　a　good　heart　or　mon　sense　must　keep　the　strongest　of　these　lands　in　line。’
　
　She　nodded　with　a　smile。　‘You　understand　the　games　of　power　well。　You　are　right。　They　know　that　if　they　were　bold　enough　to　allow　their　ambitions　a　free　rein；　I；　or　any　of　the　Confessors；　could　take　their　ruler　with　our　magic。　But　there　is　more。　The　wizards　back　the　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘I　thought　wizards　didn’t　want　anything　to　do　with　power。’
　
　‘They　don’t；　exactly。　The　threat　of　their　intervention　makes　it　unnecessary。　Wizards　call　it　the　paradox　of　power：　if　you　have　power；　and　are　ready；　able；　and　willing　to　use　it；　you　don’t　need　to　exercise　your　power。　The　lands　know　that　if　they　don’t　work　together；　and　use　the　impartial　leadership　of　the　Mother　Confessor；　then　the　wizards　are　always　in　the　background；　ready　to　teach　the　disadvantages　of　being　unreasonable　or　greedy。
　
　The　whole　thing　is　a　very　plex；　interwoven　relationship；　but　what　it　all　es　down　to　is　that　I　rule　the　Central　Council；　and　if　I’m　not　there　to　do　so；　the　weak；　the　defenseless；　and　the　peaceful　will　eventually　be　overrun；　and　the　rest　will　be　drawn　into　a　war　until　all　but　the　strongest　are　crushed。’
　
　Richard　sank　back　to　contemplate　this　with　a　slight　frown　on　his　face。　She　watched　the　firelight　play　on　his　features。　She　could　feel　what　he　was　thinking　about：　he　was　remembering　the　way　she　had；　with　only　a　gesture　of　her　hand；　demanded　that　Queen　Milena　fall　to　her　knees；　kiss　the　Mother　Confessor’s　hand；　and　swear　loyalty。　She　wished　she　hadn’t　had　to　show　him　the　power　she　wielded；　and　how　much　she　was　feared；　but　what　she　had　done　had　been　necessary。　Some　deferred　only　to　power。　When　necessary；　a　leader　had　to　show　that　power；　or　be　cut　down。
　
　When　he　looked　up　at　last；　his　face　held　a　serious　cast。　‘There　is　going　to　be　trouble。　The　wizards　are　all　dead；　they　killed　themselves　before　they　sent　you　looking　for　Zedd。　The　threat　backing　the　Mother　Confessor　is　gone。　The　other　Confessors　are　all　dead；　killed　by　Darken　Rahl。　You　are　the　last。　You　have　no　allies。　There　is　no　one　to　take　your　place　if　anything　happens　to　you。　Zedd　told　us　to　meet　him　in　Aydindril；　he　must　know　this　too。
　
　‘From　what　I　have　seen　of　powerful　people；　from　councilors　in　my　homeland；　even　my　own　brother；　to　queens　here；　to　Darken　Rahl；　they　will　view　you　as　a　lone　obstacle　in　their　way。　If　the　Midlands　is　to　be　kept　from　being　torn　apart；　the　Mother　Confessor　must　rule；　and　you　are　going　to　need　help。　You　and　I　both　must　serve　the　truth。　I’m　going　to　help　you。’
　
　A　sly　smile　parted　his　lips。　‘If　those　councilors　were　afraid　to　plot　against　the　Mother　Confessor；　or　give　her　trouble；　because　of　the　wizards；　wait　until　they　meet　the　Seeker。’
　
　Kahlan　touched　her　fingers　to　his　face。　‘You　are　a　rare　person；　Richard　Cypher。　You　are　with　the　most　powerful　person　in　the　Midlands。　Yet　you　make　me　feel　as　if　I　am　riding　your　coattails　to　greatness。’
　
　‘I’m　nothing　more　than　the　one　who　loves　you　with　all　my　heart。　That　is　the　only　greatness　I　wish　to　live　up　to。’　Richard　sighed。　‘It　seemed　a　lot　simpler　when　it　was　just　you　and　me　all　by　ourselves　in　the　woods；　and　I　cooked　you　dinner　on　a　stick　over　an　open　fire。’　He　gave　her　a　sidelong　glance。　‘You　are　still　going　to　let　me　cook　you　dinner；　aren’t　you；　Mother　Confessor？’
　
　‘I　don’t　think　Mistress　Sanderholt　would　like　that。　She　doesn’t　like　anyone　in　her　kitchens。’
　
　‘You　have　a　cook？’
　
　‘Well；　I’ve　never　seen　her　cook　anything；　e　to　think　of　it。　Mostly　she　just　whisks　all　about；　ruling　her　domain　with　a　wooden　spoon　she　wields　like　a　scepter；　tasting　food　and　scolding　cooks；　assistants；　and　scullions。　She　is　the　head　cook。
　
　‘She　frets　something　awful　when　I　e　down　to　the　kitchens　to　cook。　Mistress　Sanderholt　begs　me　to　take　up　another　interest。　She　says　I　scare　her　people。　She　says　they　shake　for　the　rest　of　the　day　whenever　I　e　to　the　kitchens　and　ask　for　pots。　So　I　try　not　to　do　it　too　often。　But　I　do　so　like　to　cook。’
　
　Kahlan　smiled　at　the　memory　of　Mistress　Sanderholt。　It　was　long　months　since　she　had　been　home。
　
　‘Cooks；’　Richard　muttered　to　himself。　‘I’ve　never　had　anyone　cook　for　me。　I　always　cooked　for　myself。’　His　smile　returned。　‘Well；　I　guess　this　Mistress　Sanderholt　will　be　able　to　make　a　little　room　for　me　if　I　want　to　cook　you　something　special。’
　
　‘I　would　wager　that　you　will　soon　have　her　doing　whatever　it　is　you　wish。’
　
　He　squeezed　her　hand。　‘Will　you　promise　me　one　thing？　Promise　me　that　one　day　you　will　let　me　take　you　back　to　Westland　and　show　you　some　of　the　beautiful　places　in　the　Hartland　woods；　places　that　only　I　know　of。　I’ve　dreamed　of　taking　you　to　them。’
　
　‘I　would　like　that；’　Kahlan　whispered。　Richard　leaned　forward　to　kiss　her。　Before　his　lips　touched　hers；　before　his　arms　could　embrace　her；　he　winced　in　pain。　His　head　sagged　forward　against　her　shoulder　as　he　moaned。　Kahlan　clasped　him　to　her　in　fear；　then　laid　him　back　down　as　he　clamped　his　arms　to　his　head；　unable　to　breathe。　Panic　gripped　her。　He　pulled　his　knees　up　to　his　chest　as　he　rolled　onto　his　side。
　
　She　braced　her　hand　on　his　shoulder　as　she　leaned　over　him。　‘I’m　going　to　get　Nissel。　I’ll　go　fast　as　I　can。’
　
　He　could　only　nod　as　he　shook。
　
　Kahlan　ran　to　the　door；　pushing　it　open；　out　into　the　still　night。　She　could　see　her　ragged　breaths　in　the　frigid　air　as　she　pushed　the　door　closed。　Her　eyes　flicked　over　the　short　wall。　Moonlight　washed　the　top　of　it　with　a　silver　cast。
　
　The　chickens　were　gone。
　
　A　dark　shape　hunched；　still；　behind　the　wall。
　
　It　moved　a　little　in　the　moonlight；　and　there　was　a　quick　flash　of　shiny；　golden　eyes。
　
　
　CHAPTER　7
　
　The　dark　thing　rose　up；　claws　rasping　over　the　top　of　the　short　wall。　It　laughed　a　low　cackle　that　sent　goose　bumps　up　her　arms　to　the　base　of　her　neck。　Kahlan　froze。　Breath　caught　in　her　throat。　The　form　was　a　black　void　in　the　pale　moonlight。　After　the　brief　flash；　the　eyes　had　vanished　into　a　pool　of　night。
　
　Her　mind　raced；　trying　to　fit　what　she　knew　with　what　she　was　seeing。　She　wanted　to　run；　but　didn’t　know　which　way。　Toward　Richard；　or　away？
　
　Though　she　couldn’t　see　the　eyes；　she　could　feel　them；　like　cold　death。　The　tiniest　of　sounds　rose　from　her　throat。　With　a　howling　laugh；　the　dark　shape　leaped　to　the　top　of　the　wall。
　
　The　heavy　door　crashed　open　behind　her；　banging　against　the　wall　of　the　spirit　house。　At　the　same　time；　she　heard　the　distinctive　ring　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　being　drawn　in　anger。　The　black　head　snapped　toward　Richard；　the　eyes　flashing　golden　again　in　the　moonlight。　Richard　reached　out；　snatching　her　by　the　arm；　and　tossed　her　back　through　the　doorway。　As　the　door　rebounded　from　hitting　the　wall；　he　kicked　it　shut　behind　himself。
　
　From　beyond　the　door；　Kahlan　heard　a　howling　laugh；　and　then　there　was　a　crash　against　the　door。　She　came　to　her　feet；　pulling　her　knife。　Through　the　door　she　could　hear　the　sword　tip　whistle；　and　bodies　thudding　against　the　wall　of　the　spirit　house。　She　could　hear　the　screaming　howls　of　laughter。
　
　Kahlan　threw　her　should