tg.stone of tears-第249章

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　‘Sister　Verna；　what’s　wrong？’　He　took　her　arm　and　led　her　into　his　room。　‘Here；　sit　down。’
　
　She　sank　to　the　edge　of　the　chair。　Richard　knelt　in　front　of　her　and　took　her　hands。
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　what’s　wrong？’
　
　JI’ve　been　waiting　for　you　to　return。’　Her　puffy；　red　eyes　finally　sought　his。　‘Richard；’　she　said　in　a　subdued　voice；　‘I　could　really　use　a　friend　right　now。　You　are　the　only　one　who　came　to　mind。’
　
　Richard　hesitated；　she　knew　his　condition；　though　he　now　knew　she　couldn’t　get　the　collar　off。
　
　‘Richard；　when　Sisters　Grace　and　Elizabeth　died；　they　passed　their　gift　to　me。　I　have　more　power　than　any　Sister　at　the　palace；　any　normal　Sister。　I　know　you　won’t　believe　this；　but　I　doubt　even　that　will　be　enough　to　remove　your　collar。　But　I　wish　to　try。’
　
　Richard　knew　that　she　couldn’t　remove　it。　At　least　he　was　told　that　she　couldn’t。　Maybe　Nathan　was　wrong。
　
　‘All　right。　Try　then。’
　
　‘There　is　pain　involved。　。。。’
　
　Richard’s　brow　drew　together　in　a　suspicious　frown。　‘Why　do　I　not　find　that　surprising？’
　
　‘Not　for　you；　Richard。　For　me。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘I　have　discovered　that　you　have　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　‘What　would　that　have　to　do　with　it？’
　
　‘You　locked　the　Rada’Han　on　yourself。　It　locks　on　by　using　the　magic　of　the　one　it　is　attached　to。　I　have　only　Additive　Magic。　I　don’t　think　that　will　be　sufficient　to　break　the　bond。
　
　‘I　have　no　power　over　your　Subtractive　Magic。　It　will　fight　what　I　try　to　do；　and　that　will　hurt　me。　But　don’t　be　frightened。　It　won’t　hurt　you。’
　
　Richard　didn’t　know　what　to　do；　what　to　believe。　She　put　her　hands　to　his　neck；　at　the　sides　of　his　collar。　Before　she　closed　her　eyes；　he　saw　a　glazed　look　he　recognized。　She　was　touching　her　Han。
　
　Muscles　tense；　with　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword；　he　waited；　prepared　to　react　if　she　tried　to　harm　him。　He　didn’t　want　to　believe　Sister　Verna　would　harm　him；　but　then；　he　hadn’t　thought　Liliana　would　ever　hurt　him　either。
　
　Her　brow　wrinkled。　Richard　felt　only　a　pleasant；　warm　tingle。　The　room　vibrated　with　a　dull　hum。　The　corners　of　carpets　curled　up。　Windows　rattled　in　their　frames。　Sister　Verna　shook　with　effort。
　
　The　standing　mirror　in　the　bedroom　shattered。　Panes　of　glass　in　the　doors　exploded　as　the　doors　to　the　balcony　banged　open。　The　curtains　billowed　outward　as　if　in　a　wind。　Plaster　fell　from　the　ceiling；　and　a　tall　cabinet　toppled　over　with　a　crash。
　
　A　low　moan　of　pain　issued　from　her　throat　as　the　flesh　on　her　face　trembled。
　
　Richard　seized　her　wrists　and　pulled　her　hands　from　his　collar。　She　sagged　forward。
　
　‘Oh；　Richard；’　she　said　in　a　mournful　voice；　I’m　sorry。　I　can’t　do　it。’
　
　Richard　took　her　in　his　arms　and　held　her　tight。　‘It’s　all　right。　I　believe　you；　Sister。　I　know　you　tried。　You　have　found　a　friend。’
　
　She　squeezed　him　tight。　‘Richard；　you　have　to　get　away　from　this　place。’
　
　He　sat　her　back　in　the　chair　as　she　wiped　her　fingers　at　the　lower　lids　of　her　eyes。　Richard　rocked　back　on　his　heels。　Tell　me　what’s　happened。’
　
　There　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace。’
　
　‘Sisters　of　the　Dark？　What　does　that　mean？’
　
　The　Sisters　of　the　Light　work　to　bring　the　light　of　the　Creator’s　glory　to　the　living。　Sisters　of　the　Dark　serve　the　Keeper。　It　has　never　been　proven　that　they　even　exist。　The　accusation；　without　proof；　is　a　crime。　Richard；　I　know　you　aren’t　going　to　believe　me。　I　realize　this　sounds　like　I’m　just　…’
　
　‘I　killed　Sister　Liliana　tonight。　I　believe　you。’
　
　She　blinked　at　him。　‘You　did　what？’
　
　‘She　told　me　she　was　going　to　take　my　collar　off。　She　had　me　meet　her　in　the　Hagen　Woods。　Sister　Verna；　she　tried　to　take　the　gift　from　me；　for　herself。’
　
　‘She　can’t　do　that。　A　female　cannot　take　on　the　gift　of　a　male；　or　the　other　way　around。　It　isn’t　possible。’
　
　‘She　said　she　had　done　it　many　times　before。　It　seemed　possible　to　me　when　she　was　trying。　I　could　feel　her　pulling　the　life；　the　gift；　right　out　of　me。　She　almost　succeeded。　I　came　close　to　death。’
　
　She　brushed　back　her　curly　hair。　‘But　I　don’t　see　how　。。。’
　
　Richard　pulled　out　the　statue。　‘She　was　using　this。　The　crystal　started　glowing　orange　when　she　was　doing　it。　Do　you　know　what　it　is？’
　
　Sister　Verna　shook　her　head。　‘I　think　I’ve　seen　it　before；　somewhere；　but　I　can’t　remember。　It　was　so　long　ago。　Before　I　left　the　palace。　What　happened　then？’
　
　‘When　that　didn’t　work；　because　I　used　my　power　to　stop　her；　she　called　a　sword　from　the　shadows。　She　wanted　to　wound　me。　She　said　she　was　going　to　skin　me　alive；　and　then　steal　my　gift　for　herself。　She　tried　to　cut　off　my　legs。　Somehow；　I　got　her　first。
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　she　had　Subtractive　Magic。　I　saw　her　use　it。　Not　only　that；　but　someone　else　is　trying　to　kill　me。　I　loaned　my　red　coat　to　Perry。　They　just　dragged　his　body　out　of　the　river。　He　had　been　stabbed　in　the　back　with　a　dacra。’
　
　She　grimaced。　‘Oh；　dear　Creator。’　She　twined　her　fingers　together　in　her　lap。　The　palace　knows　you　have　Subtractive　Magic。　They’re　using　you　to　flush　out　the　Keeper’s　disciples。’　She　took　his　hand。　‘Richard；　I’ve　been　a　part　of　this。　I　should　have　long　ago　questioned　things　that　were　wrong；　but　I　didn’t。　I　instead　did　as　I　thought　was　right。’
　
　‘Questioned　what？’
　
　‘Forgive　me；　Richard。　You　should　never　have　had　a　Rada’Han　put　around　your　neck。　It　wasn’t　necessary。　I　was　told　there　were　no　wizards　in　the　New　World　to　help　boys。　I　thought　you　would　die　without　our　help。　Your　friend；　Zedd；　could　have　kept　the　gift　from　harming　you。　The　Prelate　knew　there　were　wizards　to　help　you。　She　let　you　be　stolen　from　your　friends　and　loved　ones　for　her　own　selfish　reasons。　You　didn’t　need　the　Rada’Han　to　save　your　life。’
　
　‘I　know。　I　talked　to　Nathan。　He　told　me。’
　
　‘You　went　to　the　Prophet？　What　else　did　he　say？’
　
　‘That　I　have　more　power　than　any　wizard　born　in　three　thousand　years。　But　I　have　no　idea　how　to　use　it。　And　that　I　have　Subtractive　Magic。　He　said　that　the　Sisters　could　not　remove　the　collar。’
　
　‘I’m　so　sorry　I　brought　this　upon　you；　Richard。’
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　you　were　deceived；　as　was　I。　You’re　a　victim；　too。　They’ve　used　both　of　us。
　
　‘There　is　worse　trouble。　There　is　a　prophecy　that　says　that　on　winter　solstice；　Kahlan　is　going　to　die。　I　must　stop　that　from　happening。　And　Darken　Rahl；　my　father；　an　agent　of　the　Keeper；　is　in　this　world。　You　saw　the　mark　he　burned　on　me。　He　is　an　agent　who　can　tear　the　veil　if　he　has　all　the　elements　in　place；　though　I　doubt　he　does。
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　I　have　to　get　away　from　here。　I　must　get　through　the　barrier。’
　
　‘I’ll　help　you。　Somehow；　I’ll　help　you　get　through　the　barrier。　Your　problem　will　be　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。　I　don’t　think　you　can　get　through　the　valley　again。　Now　that　the　collar　has　helped　your　Subtractive　Magic　grow；　you　will　call　the　spells　to　you。　The　magic　will　find　you；　this　time。’
　
　‘I　might　have　a　way。　I　must　try。’
　
　Sister　Verna　thought　a　moment。　The　Keeper　would　want　to　stop　you；　if　there　is　a　possibility　for　this　prophecy　about　his　agent　to　e　to　pass。　The　Sisters　of　the　Dark　will　work　to　stop　you。　I　am　sure　Liliana　wasn’t　the　only　one。’
　
　‘Who　placed　her　as　my　teacher？’
　
　The　Prelate’s　office　assigns　teachers。　But　the　Prelate　probably　wouldn’t　have　done　it　herself。　Such　matters　are　usually　handled　by　her　administrators。’
　
　‘Her　administrators？’
　
　‘Sisters　Ulicia　and　Finella。’
　
　‘I　thought　they　were　her　guards。’
　
　‘Guards？　No。　Maybe　in　a　bureaucratic　sense。　The　Prelate　has　more　power　than　they。　She　doesn’t　need　guards。　Some　of　the　boys　think　of　them　as　guards；　because　they　are　always　turned　away　from　the　Prelate’s　door　by　the　two　Sisters。　They　do　some　of　their　work　in　the　Prelate’s　office；　and　they　have　their　own　offices　where　they　handle　a　variety　of　administrative　tasks。’
　
　‘Maybe　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark　came　after　me；　decided　they　had　to　act　now；　because　they　had　been　discovered。’
　
　‘No。　The　Prelate　told　me　no　one　but　she　knows。’