tg.stone of tears-第49章

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　Richard　spoke　again　to　the　Bird　Man。　‘Honored　elder；　you　know　my　heart。　You　know　I　would　do　nothing　to　harm　our　people。　I　would　not　ask　this　if　it　were　not　important；　or　if　I　had　any　other　choice。　Please；　may　I　have　a　gathering　so　I　may　ask　our　ancestors’　spirits　how　I　can　stop　this　threat　to　our　people？’
　
　The　Bird　Man　turned　to　the　other　elders。　Each　nodded　in　turn。　Kahlan　knew　they　would；　it　was　only　a　formality。　Sav…idlin　was　their　friend；　and　the　others　had　dealt　with　Richard　before；　there　was　not　one　of　them　who　wanted　to　challenge　him。　The　real　decision　was　the　Bird　Man’s。　He　watched　each　elder　nod；　and　then　turned　back　to　Richard。
　
　‘This　is　bad　business。　I　do　not　like　calling　the　ancestors　to　ask　about　their　world。　It　is　our　world　they　e　to　help　us　with。　They　may　be　displeased。　They　may　be　angered。　They　may　say　no。’　He　watched　Richard　a　moment。　‘But　I　know　your　heart。　I　know　you　are　a　savior　to　our　people；　and　you　would　not　ask　if　you　had　any　other　choice。’　He　laid　a　firm　hand　on　Richard’s　shoulder。　Granted。’
　
　Kahlan　sighed　in　relief。　Richard　nodded　his　thanks。　Kahlan　knew　he　didn’t　look　forward　to　meeting　the　ancestors’　spirits　again。　The　last　time　had　been　devastating　to　him。
　
　Suddenly；　there　was　a　flutter　of　shadow　in　the　air。　Kahlan　threw　her　hands　up　protectively。　Richard　was　knocked　back　a　step　as　something　hit　him　on　the　head。　People　shouted　in　confusion。　A　dark　shape　thumped　to　the　ground　between　Richard　and　the　Bird　Man。　Richard　straightened；　putting　his　fingers　to　his　scalp。　Blood　trickled　down　his　forehead。
　
　The　Bird　Man　squatted　down　over　a　dark　form；　and　then　straightened。　He　was　holding　a　dead　owl　cradled　in　his　hands。　The　head　lolled　to　the　side。　The　wings　fell　open。　The　elders　all　looked　at　one　another。　Chandalen’s　frown　deepened；　but　he　said　nothing。
　
　Richard　inspected　the　blood　on　his　fingers。　‘Why　in　the　world　would　an　owl　hit　me　like　that？　And　what　killed　it？’
　
　The　Bird　Man　gently　smoothed　the　dead　bird’s　feathers。　‘Birds　live　in　the　air；　a　different　level　than　us。　They　live　in　two　levels　…　land　and　air。　They　can　travel　between　their　level　and　ours。　Birds　are　closely　connected　to　the　spirit　world。　To　the　spirits。　Owls　more　than　most　birds。　They　see　in　the　night；　where　we　are　blind；　just　as　we　are　blind　to　the　spirit　world。　I　am　a　spirit　guide　for　our　people。　Only　a　Bird　Man　can　be　a　spirit　guide；　because　he　can　understand　such　things。’
　
　He　held　the　dead　bird　a　little　higher。　‘This　is　a　warning。　I　have　never　witnessed　an　owl　bringing　a　spirit　message　before。　This　bird　gave　its　life　to　warn　you。　Richard；　please　reconsider　your　request　for　a　gathering。　This　warning　means　the　gathering　will　be　dangerous；　dangerous　enough　for　the　spirits　to　send　this　message。’
　
　Richard　looked　from　the　Bird　Man’s　face　to　the　owl。　He　reached　out　and　stroked　its　feathers。　No　one　made　a　sound。　‘Dangerous　for　me；　or　for　the　elders？’
　
　‘For　you。　You　are　the　one　calling　for　the　gathering。　The　owl　brought　the　message　to　you。　The　warning　was　for　you。’　He　glanced　up　at　Richard’s　forehead。　‘A　blood　warning。　One　of　the　worst　kinds。　The　only　thing　worse　than　an　owl；　would　have　been　if　a　raven　had　brought　the　message。　That　would　have　meant　sure　death。’
　
　Richard　took　his　hand　back　and　wiped　his　fingers　on　his　shirt。　He　stared　down　at　the　dead　owl。　‘I　don’t　have　any　choice；’　he　whispered。　‘If　I　don’t　do　something；　the　veil　will　be　torn；　and　the　Keeper　of　the　dead　will　escape。　Our　people；　everyone；　will　be　swallowed　into　the　world　of　the　dead。　I　must　learn　how　to　stop　it。　I　must　try。’
　
　The　Bird　Man　nodded。　‘As　you　wish。　It　will　take　three　days　to　prepare。’　Richard　looked　up。　‘You　did　it　in　two　days　before。　We　can’t　spare　any　time；’
　
　The　elder　took　a　deep　breath　and　sighed。　‘Two　days。’
　
　‘Thank　you；　honored　elder。’　Richard　turned　to　her；　his　eyes　were　filled　with　pain。　‘Kahlan；　please；　find　Nissel；　and　bring　her？　I’m　going　to　the　spirit　house。　Ask　her　to　bring　something　stronger？’
　
　She　squeezed　his　arm。　‘Of　course。　I’ll　hurry。’
　
　Richard　nodded。　He　pulled　his　sword　from　the　ground　and　walked　off　into　the　darkness。
　
　
　CHAPTER　13
　
　Cause　of　death。　She　looked　up　in　thought；　pressing　the　round　end　of　the　plain；　wooden…handled　pen　to　her　lower　lip。　The　small；　modest　room　was　dimly　lit　with　candles　set　among　and　on　top　of　the　disheveled　piles　of　papers　on　her　desk。　Scrolls　were　balanced　precariously　in　stacks　between　fat　books。　The　dark　patina　of　the　desktop　was　only　visible　in　a　small　area　in　front　of　her；　framing　the　waiting　report。
　
　Odd　objects　of　magic　stood　jammed　together　collecting　dust　on　the　shelves　behind　her。　The　ever…present　and　diligent　cleaning　staff　was　not　allowed　to　touch　them；　and　so　the　task　of　dusting　them　was　left　to　her；　but　there　was　never　enough　time；　or　inclination。　Besides；　they　looked　less　important　to　curious　eyes　when　covered　in　a　mask　of　dust。
　
　Heavy　drapes　were　drawn　against　the　night。　The　only　splash　of　color　in　the　room　was　one　of　the　local　blue…and…yellow　carpets　she　had　placed　on　the　other　side　of　the　desk。　Visitors　usually　spent　their　time　in　her　office　staring　down　at　it。
　
　Cause　of　death。　Reports　were　such　a　bother。　She　sighed。　But　a　necessary　bother。　For　now；　anyway。　The　Palace　of　the　Prophets　required　reams　of　reports。　There　were　Sisters　who　spent　their　whole　lives　in　the　libraries；　cataloging　reports；　pampering　them；　keeping　records　of　every　useless　word　they　thought　might　someday　be　important。
　
　Well；　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　think　up　a　suitable　cause　of　death。　The　truth　would　never　do。　Her　Sisters　would　have　to　have　a　satisfactory　explanation　as　to　the　cause　of　death。　They　valued　highly　those　with　the　gift。　Fools。
　
　Training　accident？　She　smiled。　Yes；　a　training　accident。　She　hadn’t　used　that　one　in　many　years。　She　pursed　her　lips　as　she　dipped　the　pen　in　the　ink　bottle　and　began　writing。　The　cause　of　death　was　a　training　accident　with　the　Rada’Han。　A　twig；　as　I　have　often　warned　the　other　Sisters；　no　matter　how　young　and　tender；　will　break　if　bent　too　far。
　
　Who　could　question？　Let　them　wonder　where　among　them　the　fault　lay。　It　would　keep　them　from　digging　too　deeply；　lest　the　blame　fall　on　them。　As　she　blotted　the　paper；　there　was　a　soft　rap　at　the　door。
　
　‘One　moment；　please。’　She　touched　the　corner　of　the　boy’s　letter　to　the　candle　flame　and；　when　it　was　nearly　consumed；　tossed　it　in　the　cold　hearth。　The　broken　seal　melted　into　a　molten　red　puddle。　He　would　be　writing　no　more　letters。　‘e。’
　
　The　heavy；　round…topped　door　opened　enough　to　admit　a　head。
　
　‘Sister；　it’s　me；’　came　a　whisper　from　the　shadow。
　
　‘Don’t　stand　there　like　a　novice；　e　in　and　close　the　door。’
　
　The　woman　entered；　closing　the　door　quietly；　after　putting　her　head　back　out　to　check　the　hall。　She　didn’t　look　down　at　the　carpet。　‘Sister　。。。’
　
　With　a　finger　across　lips；　and　an　angry　scowl；　she　was　silenced。　‘No　names　when　we　are　alone。　I’ve　told　you　before。’
　
　The　other　looked　about　at　the　walls；　as　if　expecting　someone　to　pop　out。　‘But　surely　you’ve　shielded　your　room。’
　
　‘Of　course　it’s　shielded。　But　it　is　always　possible　the　breeze　could　carry　words　to　the　right　ears。　If　that　ever　happened；　we　wouldn’t　want　our　names　carried　with　the　words；　now　would　we。’
　
　The　other’s　eyes　flicked　around　at　the　walls　again。　‘Of　course　not。　Of　course　you　are　right。’　She　scrubbed　her　hands　together。　‘Someday　this　won’t　be　necessary。　I　hate　that　we　must　remain　hidden。　Someday　we　will　be　able　to　。。。’
　
　‘What　have　you　found　out？’
　
　She　watched　as　the　woman　straightened　her　dress　at　the　hips　and　then　put　her　fingers　to　the　desk；　leaning　over　a　little。　Her　eyes　had　a　fierce　intensity。　They　were　strange　eyes；　pale；　pale　blue；　with　dark　violet　flecks。　She　always　found　it　hard　not　to　stare　at　those　eyes。
　
　She　leaned　closer；　and　whispered。　They’ve　found　him。’
　
　‘You　saw　the　book？’
　
　She　nodded　slowly。　‘I　saw　it。　At　dinnertime。　I　waited　until　the　others　were　at　dinner。’　She　gave　an　even　look。　‘He　refused　the　first　offer。’
　
　She　slapped　her　hand　down　on　t