tg.stone of tears-第240章

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ecies　about　you。　If　you　really　are　a　war　wizard；　and　are　the　one　born　true。’
　
　‘And　do　these　prophecies　say　I　will　prevail？’
　
　Warren　hesitated。　He　glanced　over　at　the　Sword　of　Truth　lying　on　the　floor　nearby。　‘If　I　said　‘white　blade；’　would　that　mean　anything　to　you？’
　
　Richard　let　out　a　heavy　breath　at　the　memory。　‘I　can　turn　the　blade　of　my　sword　white；　through　magic。’
　
　Warren　wiped　his　hand　over　his　face。　Then　I　think　we　might　be　in　trouble。　There　is　a　prophecy　that　says；　‘Should　the　forces　of　forfeit　be　loosed；　the　world　will　be　shadowed　yet　by　darker　lust　through　what　has　been　rent。　Salvations　hope；　then；　will　be　as　slim　as　the　white　blade　of　the　one　born　true。’’
　
　Through　what　has　been　rent。　The　open　gateway；’　Richard　said。
　
　That　would　make　‘the　darker　lust’　be　the　Keeper。’
　
　‘Warren；　I　have　to　do　something　about　the　prophecy。　The　one　about　the　one　in　white。　It’s　important。　Do　you　have　any　ideas？’
　
　Warren　watched　him；　as　if　trying　to　decide　something。　‘I　do。　I　don’t　know　if　it　will　help。’　He　put　weight　on　his　hands　as　he　rubbed　them　on　his　thighs。　They　have　a　prophet　here；　at　the　palace。　I’ve　never　seen　him。　I　want　to；　but　they　won’t　let　me。　They　say　it’s　too　dangerous　for　me　to　talk　to　him　until　I　learn　more。　They　promised　that　when　I　learn　enough；　they　will　let　me　talk　with　him。’
　
　‘Here　in　the　palace？　Where？’
　
　Warren　pulled　a　fold　of　his　robes　from　under　his　knees。　‘I　don’t　know。　It　would　have　to　be　one　of　the　restricted　areas；　but　I　don’t　know　which　one；　and　I　don’t　know　how　we　can　find　out。’
　
　Richard　stood。　‘I　do。’
　
　
　Richard　knew　he　had　gone　to　the　right　guard　when　Swordsman　Kevin　Andellmere　turned　white　as　a　spirit　at　the　mention　of　the　Prophet。　He　was　reluctant；　feigning　ignorance　at　first；　but　when　Richard　gently　reminded　him　of　all　the　favors；　Kevin　whispered　the　location。
　
　The　pound　Kevin　had　divulged　was　one　of　the　most　heavily　guarded。　Richard　knew　where　all　the　guards　were　stationed　because　he　had　gathered　white　roses　there；　and　had　been　up　on　the　wall；　to　‘look　out　at　the　sea。’　He　also　knew　all　the　guards。　They　were　frequent　visitors　to　the　prostitutes　he　provided。
　
　He　didn’t　slow　at　the　outer　gate；　but　simply　gave　a　nod　to　the　wink　the　guards　gave　him。　The　guards　at　the　rampart　were　considerably　more　reticent；　stammering　and　holding　out　a　hand　to　halt　him。　He　shook　the　hand；　pretending　that　he　thought　that　was　what　was　meant　by　it。　They　finally　sighed　and　resumed　their　post　as　he　marched　away；　his　mris…with　cape　billowing　open。
　
　At　the　end　of　the　rampart　was　a　small　colonnade；　and　at　the　end　of　that；　winding　stairs　that　led　down　to　the　Prophet’s　quarters。　The　guards　at　the　door　he　wanted　were　the　two　he　had　had　trouble　winning　over　at　first；　and　the　first　to　receive　his　gift　of　female　pany。　They　stiffened　when　they　saw　him。
　
　Richard　casually　made　for　the　door　between　them。　‘Walsh；　Bollesdun；　how　you　doing？’
　
　They　crossed　their　pikes　over　the　door。　‘Richard；　what　are　you　doing　down　here？　The　roses　grow　up　top。’
　
　‘Look；　Walsh；　I　have　to　go　see　the　Prophet。’
　
　‘Richard；　don’t　put　us　in　this　spot。　You　know　we　can’t　let　you　in。　The　Sisters　would　skin　us　alive。’
　
　Richard　shrugged。　‘I　won’t　tell　them　you　let　me　in。　I’ll　say　I　tricked　you。　If　anyone　finds　out；　which　they　won’t；　just　tell　them　I　snuck　by；　and　you　didn’t　know　until　I　was　on　my　way　out。　I’ll　back　your　story。’
　
　‘Richard；　you’re　really　。。。’
　
　‘Have　I　ever　done　anything　to　cause　trouble？　Have　I　ever　done　anything　but　help　all　you　men？　I　buy　you　drinks；　I　loan　you　money　when　you　need　it；　I　let　you　have　free　access　to　the　girls；　and　it　never　costs　you　a　copper。　Have　I　ever　asked　for　anything　in　return？’
　
　Richard　had　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword。　One　way；　or　another；　he　was　going　through　that　door。
　
　Walsh　pushed　a　stone　chip　with　his　boot。　With　a　heavy　sigh；　first　one；　and　then　the　other；　pulled　their　pikes　up。　‘Bollesdun；　go　make　your　rounds。　I’m　going　to　the　privy　for　a　sit。’
　
　Richard　took　his　hand　from　his　sword　and　gave　the　man　a　pat　on　the　shoulder。　‘Thanks；　Walsh。　I　appreciate　it。’
　
　Halfway　down　the　inner　hall；　Richard　felt　layers　of　resistance；　shields；　like　the　ones　that　were　outside　the　Prelate’s　door；　but　they　only　slowed　him　a　bit。　The　room　inside　was　as　spacious　as　his　own；　but　perhaps　more　elegantly　appointed。　One　wall　held　large　tapestries；　and　another　expansive　bookshelves。　Most　of　the　books；　though；　seemed　to　be　scattered　about　the　room；　on　chairs　and　couches　and　covering　the　blue…and…yellow　carpets　on　the　floor。
　
　Richard　could　see　the　back　of　a　man　in　the　chair　beside　the　cold　hearth。
　
　‘You　must　tell　me　how　you　do　that；’　the　man　said　in　a　deep；　powerful　voice。　‘I　would　be　most　interested　in　learning　the　trick。’
　
　‘Do　what？’　Richard　asked。
　
　‘Walk　through　shields　as　if　they　weren’t　there。　Burns　the　flesh　right　off　me　if　I　try。’
　
　‘If　I　ever　figure　it　out　myself；　I’ll　let　you　know。　My　name　is　Richard。　If　you’re　not　busy；　I　would　like　to　speak　with　you。’
　
　‘Busy！’　The　man’s　shoulders　shook　with　his　hearty　laugh。　When　he　stood；　Richard　was　a　little　surprised　at　how　big　he　was。　His　long　white　hair　had　made　Richard　think　he　might　be　old　and　shriveled。　Old；　he　was；　shriveled　he　was　not。　He　looked　strong　and　full　of　vitality。　His　smile　was　weling　and　threatening　at　the　same　time。　He　wore　a　Rada’Han；　the　same　as　Richard。
　
　‘My　name　is　Nathan；　Richard。　I’ve　been　looking　forward　to　meeting　you。　I　didn’t　expect　you　would　find　your　way　in　alone。’
　
　‘I　wanted　to　e　alone　so　we　could　talk　freely。’
　
　‘And　do　you　know　that　I　am　a　prophet？’
　
　‘I　didn’t　e　here　to　learn　to　bake　bread。’
　
　Nathan’s　smile　widened；　but　he　didn’t　laugh。　His　brows　pulled　together　like　a　hawk’s。　His　voice　took　on　a　hiss。　‘Would　you　like　me　to　tell　you　of　your　death；　Richard？　How　you　are　to　die？’
　
　Richard　flopped　down　on　the　couch　and　plunked　his　feet　up　on　a　table。　He　returned　the　hawklike　glare　and　threatening　smile　in　kind。　‘Sure。　I’d　love　to　hear　all　about　it。　And　then　when　you’re　done；　I　will　tell　you　how　you　are　to　die。’
　
　Nathan　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘And　are　you　a　prophet？’
　
　‘Enough　of　one　to　tell　you　how　you　are　to　die。’
　
　The　frown　turned　curious。　‘Really。　Tell　me　then。’
　
　Richard　took　a　pear　from　a　bowl　on　the　table；　polished　it　on　his　pant　leg；　and　took　a　bite。　He　spoke　as　he　chewed。　‘You　are　going　to　die　right　here；　in　these　rooms；　of　old　age；　without　ever　seeing　the　outside　world　again。’
　
　The　creases　in　Nathan’s　face　deepened　as　his　expression　sagged。　‘Seems　you　are　a　prophet；　my　boy。’
　
　‘Unless　you　help　me。　Maybe　if　you　help　me；　I’ll　be　able　to　e　back　here　and　help　you　get　out；　too。’
　
　‘And　what　is　it　you　want？’
　
　‘I　want　this　collar　off。’
　
　A　sly　grin　spread　on　Nathan’s　face。　‘Seems　we　share　a　mon　interest；　Richard。’
　
　‘But　the　Sisters　say　I　will　die　without　it。’
　
　The　sly　grin　widened。　They　demand　truthfulness　from　others；　but　rarely　inconvenience　themselves　with　it。　The　Sisters　have　their　own　agenda；　Richard。　There　is　more　than　one　path　through　the　woods。’
　
　‘The　Sisters　say　I　must　learn　to　use　my　Han；　in　order　to　get　it　off。　They　don’t　seem　to　be　helping　much　in　that。’
　
　‘It　would　be　easier　to　teach　a　stump　to　sing　than　for　a　mere　Sister　to　teach　you　to　use　your　Han。　You　have　Subtractive　Magic。　They　can’t　help　you。’
　
　‘Can　you　help　me；　Nathan？’
　
　‘Perhaps。’　Nathan　sat　down　in　his　chair；　leaning　forward　intently。　‘Tell　me；　Richard；　have　you　ever　read　The　Adventures　of　Bonnie　Day？’
　
　‘Read　it？　It’s　my　favorite　book。　I　read　it　until　my　eyes　nearly　wore　the　words　off　the　pages。　I’d　love　to　meet　the　person　who　wrote　it；　and　tell　him　how　much　I　liked　the　book。’
　
　A　broad；　childlike　grin　stole　onto　Nathan’s　face。　‘You　just　have；　my　boy。　You　just　have。’
　
　Richard　came　forward　from　the　back　of　the　couch。　‘You！　You　wrote　The　Adventures　of　Bonnie　Day？’
　
　Nathan　quoted　a　few　passages；　to　prove　his　intimate　knowledge。　‘I　gave　the　b