tg.stone of tears-第266章

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　suffer。　He　said　to　tell　you　to　be　at　peace；　knowing　all　is　well　between　your　spirits。’
　
　Adie　turned　her　ear　away　and　looked　at　Kahlan　with　her　white　eyes。　Tears　rolled　down　her　cheeks。
　
　‘My　Pell　knows　I　did　not　betray　him？’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　‘Yes；　Adie。　He　knows；　and　loves　you　as　always。’
　
　Adie　pulled　Kahlan　into　her　arms　as　she　wept。　Thank　you　Kahlan。　You　could　never　know　how　much　this　means　to　me。　You　have　given　me　back　everything。　You　have　given　me　back　the　meaning　of　life。’
　
　‘I　know　how　much　it　means；　Adie。’
　
　Adie　stroked　the　back　of　Kahlan’s　head　as　she　held　her　close。　‘Yes；　child；　perhaps　you　do。’
　
　Jebra　and　Chandalen　cooked　breakfast　while　the　rest　of　them　talked　and　planned。　Though　it　would　be　a　grisly　job　clearing　Ebinissia　of　all　the　bodies；　at　least　it　was　still　winter；　and　not　the　task　it　would　be　in　spring。　From　Ebinissia；　they　would　pull　the　Midlands　back　together。
　
　Kahlan　told　them　that　Richard　would　try　to　meet　up　with　them　in　the　Galean　Crown　city；　and　that　he　said　that　then　he　might　need　to　take　Zedd　back　to　Westland；　to　see　about　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark。　But　for　now；　they　were　safely　out　to　sea。
　
　After　a　good　meal；　filled　with　joy　and　happy　conversation　that　had　been　missing　for　so　long；　they　started　packing　up　their　things。　Chandalen；　with　an　uneasy　expression；　pulled　Kahlan　aside。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　I　wish　to　ask　you　something。　I　would　not　ask　you；　except　I　know　no　one　else　to　ask。’
　
　‘What　is　it；　Chandalen？’
　
　‘How　do　you　say　‘breasts’　in　your　tongue？’
　
　‘What？’
　
　‘What　is　the　word　for　breasts？　I　wish　to　tell　Jebra　that　she　has　fine　breasts。’
　
　Kahlan　rolled　her　shoulder　self…consciously。　‘Chandalen；　I’m　sorry；　but　I　meant　to　have　a　talk　with　you　about　that。　I　guess　with　everything　that　happened；　I　never　got　around　to　it。’
　
　‘So　talk　now。　I　wish　to　tell　Jebra　how　much　I　like　her　fine　breasts。’
　
　‘Chandalen；　with　the　Mud　People；　that　is　a　proper　thing　to　say　to　a　woman。　It’s　a　pliment。　But　in　other　places；　it　is　not　taken　as　a　pliment；　but　as　improper。　Very　improper；　until　two　people　know　each　other。’
　
　‘I　know　her　well。’
　
　‘Not　well　enough。　Will　you　trust　me　in　this？　If　you　really　like　her；　then　you　must　not　tell　her　this；　or　she　will　not　like　you。’
　
　‘But；　women　here　do　not　like　to　hear　the　truth？’
　
　‘It’s　not　that　simple。　Would　you　tell　a　woman　in　your　village　you　would　like　to　see　her　with　the　mud　washed　from　her　hair；　even　though　it　is　the　truth？’
　
　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘I　see　what　you　mean。’
　
　‘Do　you　like　other　things　about　her？’
　
　He　nodded　enthusiastically。　‘Yes。　I　like　everything　about　her。’
　
　‘Then　tell　her　you　like　her　smile；　or　her　hair；　or　her　eyes。’
　
　‘How　do　I　know　which　is　the　proper　thing　to　pliment？’
　
　Kahlan　sighed。　‘　Well；　for　now；　just　stick　to　anything　that　isn’t　covered　by　clothes；　and　you　will　be　safe。’
　
　He　nodded　thoughtfully。　‘　You　are　wise；　Mother　Confessor。　I　am　glad　you　have　Richard　back　as　your　mate；　or　you　would　surely　have　chosen　Chandalen。’
　
　Kahlan　laughed　and　gave　him　a　hug。　He　returned　it　warmly。
　
　Outside；　she　saw　to　the　men：　Captain　Ryan；　Lieutenant　Hobson；　Brin　and　Peter；　and　others　she　knew。　They　were　infected　by　her　smile　and　good　cheer。
　
　In　the　stables　she　checked　on　Nick。　Chandalen　had　stolen　him　back　when　they　fled　Aydindril。　The　big　warhorse　neighed　softly　at　her　approach。
　
　Kahlan　rubbed　his　gray　nose　as　he　nudged　his　head　against　her。　‘How　you　doing；　Nick？’　He　nickered。　‘How　would　you　like　to　carry　the　queen　of　Galea　to　the　palace　in　Ebinissia？’
　
　Nick　tossed　his　head　enthusiastically；　anxious　to　be　out　of　the　stables　and　off　into　the　brightening　day。
　
　Water　dripped　from　melting　icicles　at　the　edge　of　the　stable　roof。　Kahlan　looked　out　over　the　hills。　It　was　going　to　be　a　rare；　warm　day　in　the　winter。　But　soon　it　would　be　spring。
　
　
　Mistress　Sanderholt　was　surprised　when　Richard　took　another　bowl　of　soup　and　chunk　of　bread。
　
　‘Mistress　Sanderholt；　you　make　the　best　spice　soup　in　the　world；　after　mine。’
　
　In　the　kitchen　beyond；　the　help　was　busily　going　about　breakfast　preparations。　She　closed　the　door。
　
　‘Richard；　I　am　pleased　you　are　so　much　better。　I　was　worried　you　would　do　something　terrible　last　night；　you　were　grieving　so。　But　this　is　too　much　of　a　change。　Something　must　have　happened　to　make　you　have　such　a　turnaround　in　spirit。’
　
　He　looked　up　at　her　as　he　chewed。　He　swallowed　the　bread。　‘I　will　tell　you　if　you　promise　to　keep　it　a　secret；　for　now。　It　could　cause　serious　trouble　if　you　told　anyone。’
　
　‘I　promise；　then。’
　
　‘Kahlan　is　not　dead。’
　
　She　stared　blankly　at　him。　‘Richard；　you　are　worse　than　I　thought。　I　myself　saw　。。。’
　
　‘I　know　what　you　saw。　The　wizard　you　saw　is　my　grandfather。　He　used　a　spell　to　make　everyone　think　she　was　executed；　so　they　would　not　be　hunted　down；　so　that　they　could　escape。　She　is　safe。’
　
　She　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck。　‘Oh；　dear　spirits　be　praised！’
　
　‘Indeed；’　Richard　said　with　a　grin。
　
　Richard　took　the　bowl　of　soup　outside　to　watch　the　dawn。　He　was　too　exhilarated　to　be　cooped　up　indoors。　He　sat　on　the　vast　steps；　looking　around　at　the　magnificent　palace　soaring　up　all　around　him。　Towers　and　spires　and　sweeping　roofs　loomed　in　the　early　dawn　light。
　
　As　he　ate　his　soup；　he　watched　a　gargoyle　atop　the　edge　of　a　nearby；　enormous　frieze　supported　by　fluted　columns。　The　pink　clouds　were　just　beginning　to　glow　behind　it；　silhouetting　the　grotesque；　hunched　shape。
　
　Richard　had　just　put　a　spoonful　of　spice　soup　in　his　mouth　when　he　thought　he　saw　the　gargoyle　take　a　deep　breath。　Richard　set　the　bowl　down。　He　rose　to　his　feet；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　dark　shape。　It　moved　again；　just　a　little　twitch。
　
　‘Gratch！　Gratch；　is　that　you！’
　
　The　shape　didn’t　move。　Maybe　it　was　just　his　imagination。　Richard　held　his　arms　open　wide。
　
　‘Gratch！　Please；　if　that’s　you；　forgive　me。　Gratch；　I’ve　missed　you！’
　
　It　was　still　a　moment；　and　then　the　wings　stretched　out。　It　leapt　from　the　corner　of　the　building　and　swooped　down　in　a　glide　toward　him。　With　a　flutter　of　wings；　the　huge　gar　landed　on　the　steps　a　short　distance　away。
　
　‘Gratch！　Oh；　Gratch；　I’ve　missed　you！’　The　gar　watched　with　glowing　green　eyes。　‘I　don’t　know　if　you　can　understand；　but　I　didn’t　mean　what　I　said。　I　was　only　trying　to　save　your　life。　Please；　forgive　me？　Richard　loves　Gratch。’
　
　His　wings　fluttered。　A　cloud　of　breath　came　from　between　long　fangs。　His　ears　perked　up。
　
　‘Grrratch　luuug　Raaaach　aaarg。’
　
　The　gar　bounded　into　Richard’s　arms；　knocking　him　to　the　steps。　Richard　hugged　the　furry　beast；　and　Gratch　enfolded　him　in　arms　and　wings。　Each　stroked　the　other’s　back；　and　each　grinned　in　his　own　way。
　
　When　they　finally　sat　up；　Gratch　hunched　down；　staring　curiously　at　Richard’s　face。　With　the　back　of　a　huge　claw；　he　stroked　Richard’s　jaw。
　
　Richard　felt　his　smooth　face　as　he　smiled。　‘It’s　gone。　I’m　not　going　to　have　a　beard　anymore。’
　
　Gratch’s　nose　wrinkled　in　disgust。　He　let　out　a　gurgling　growl　of　displeasure。
　
　Richard　laughed。　‘You’ll　get　used　to　it。’　They　sat　together　in　the　quiet　of　the　dawn。　‘Do　you　know；　Gratch；　that　I’m　a　wizard？’
　
　Gratch　gurgled　a　laugh　and　frowned　dubiously。　Richard　wondered　how　a　gar　could　know　what　a　wizard　was。　Gratch　never　failed　to　astonish　him　with　what　he　knew；　with　what　he　could　grasp。
　
　‘No；　really。　I　am。　Here；　let　me　show　you；　I’ll　make　fire。’
　
　Richard　held　his　palm　out。　He　called　the　power　from　the　calm　center。　Try　as　he　might；　nothing　happened。　He　could　not　make　so　much　as　a　spark。　He　sighed　as　Gratch　howled　in　a　roar　of　laughter；　his　wings　flapping　with　the　joke。
　
　A　sudden　memory　came　to　him　…　something　Denna　had　told　him。　He　had　asked　her　how　he　had　done　all　those　things　with　magic。　She　had　looked　at　him　with　that　all…knowing　smile　of　peace；　and　said；　Be　proud　you　made　the　right　choices；　Richard；　the　choices　that　allowed　to　happen　what　came　about；　but　do　not　call　arrogance　to　yo