tg.stone of tears-第61章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ise　spirit　guide　would　have　known　this；　perhaps　an　old　fool　would　not。’　Grumbling　broke　out　among　the　men。　‘If　you　persist　in　this；　if　you　disobey　the　Mother　Confessor；　I　will　use　my　magic　to　destroy　you。　I　will　use　terrible　magic　to　burn　the　Bantak’s　land　to　ashes　and　put　a　blight　upon　it　for　all　time。　Each　Bantak　will　die　a　horrible　death；　a　death　by　my　magic。　I　will　kill　every　last　Bantak。　Young；　and　old。’　His　cold　gray　eyes　returned　to　Ma　Ban　Grid。　‘But　I　will　start　with　the　old。’
　
　‘Magic？’　Ma　Ban　Grid　whispered。　‘You　would　kill　us　with　magic？’
　
　Richard　leaned　closer。　‘If　you　disobey　the　Mother　Confessor；　I　will　kill　you　all　with　magic　more　frightful　than　anything　you　can　imagine。’　As　the　men　all　listened　in　rapt　attention　to　her　translation；　Richard　recited　a　litany　of　horrors　he　would　bring　to　them。　Most　of　the　things　she　remembered　Zedd　telling　a　mob　that　had　e　to　kill　him　when　they　thought　he　was　a　witch。　Richard　was　using　the　same　things　now　to　scare　the　Bantak。　The　more　he　spoke；　the　wider　their　eyes　became。
　
　Ma　Ban　Grid’s　gaze　left　the　sword　and　returned　to　Richard’s　face。　He　looked　less　sure　of　himself；　but　wasn’t　entirely　ready　to　concede。　‘The　spirits　told　me　there　was　no　wizard　with　the　Mother　Confessor。　Why　should　I　believe　you　are　a　wizard？’
　
　All　of　the　anger　left　Richard’s　face。　She　had　never　seen　him　hold　the　sword　without　the　fury　of　the　sword’s　magic　in　his　eyes。　There　did　seem　to　be　something　in　his　eyes；　but　it　wasn’t　hate；　or　rage；　he　looked　at　peace。　Somehow；　it　was　more　frightening　than　the　anger。　It　was　the　peace　of　a　man　mitted　to　a　course。
　
　In　the　dim　dawn　light；　the　blade　of　Richard’s　sword　changed。　It　began　to　glow　white。　White　hot　with　magic。　It　brightened　until　no　one　could　miss　seeing　the　bright　white　luminescence。
　
　Richard　was　using　the　only　magic　he　knew　and　could　depend　on。　The　magic　of　the　sword。
　
　It　was　enough。　Fear　swept　the　crowd。　Men　fell　to　their　knees；　dropping　their　weapons；　muttering　for　forgiveness；　beseeching　the　spirits　to　protect　them。　Others　stood　frozen；　not　knowing　what　to　do。
　
　‘Forgive　me；　old　man；’　Richard　whispered；　‘but　I　must　kill　you　to　save　a　great　many　more　lives。　Know　that　I　forgive　you；　and　regret　what　I　must　do。’
　
　As　she　translated；　Kahlan　put　a　hand　on　Richard’s　arm　to　keep　him　from　doing　anything。　‘Richard；　wait。　Please；　give　me　a　chance？’
　
　He　nodded　slightly。　‘One　chance。　Fail；　and　I　kill　him。’
　
　She　knew　he　was　trying　to　scare　the　Bantak；　to　break　the　spell　they　seemed　to　be　under；　but　he　was　scaring　her　too。　He　was　beyond　the　rage　of　the　sword；　to　something　worse。　She　looked　back　to　the　spirit　guide。
　
　‘Ma　Ban　Grid；　Richard　will　kill　you。　He　does　not　lie　about　this。　I　have　asked　him　to　wait；　so　I　may　grant　you　my　forgiveness；　if　you　will　see　the　truth　of　what　we　say。　I　can　ask　him　not　to　kill　you；　and　he　will　do　as　I　ask。　But　only　once。　After　that；　I　will　have　no　control　over　him。　If　you　are　insincere　in　your　change　of　heart；　there　will　be　much　death　and　suffering。　Richard　is　a　man　of　his　word。　He　has　made　a　promise　to　you；　and　if　you　try　to　trick　him　with　your　answer；　he　will　keep　his　promise。
　
　I　give　you　this　one　chance　to　hear　the　truth。　It　is　not　yet　too　late。　The　Mother　Confessor　does　not　want　any　of　her　people　to　die。　Every　life　in　the　Midlands　holds　dear　value　in　my　heart。　But　sometimes；　I　must　let　a　few　lose　their　lives；　so　that　many　more　may　live。　I　will　hear　your　answer。’
　
　The　men　all　stood　stooped　and　still。　They　looked　as　if　they　had　gotten　themselves　into　something　they　no　longer　wanted。　The　Bantak　were　a　peaceful　people　and　they　seemed　to　regret　their　foray；　even　seemed　confused　by　it。　Richard　had　succeeded　in　giving　them　a　bigger　fright　than　whatever　brought　them　to　this。
　
　The　breeze　fluttered　the　dry　grass　and　in　its　passing　pulled　a　stray　wisp　of　hair　across　her　face。　Kahlan　reached　up　and　pulled　it　back　as　she　waited。　With　eyes　that　seemed　to　have　gone　empty　of　passion；　Ma　Ban　Grid　searched　her　face。　The　spell　had　been　broken。
　
　His　voice　came　soft　and　sincere。　‘I　heard　the　spirits　speak。　I　thought　they　were　speaking　the　truth。　It　is　as　he　says。　I　am　an　old　fool。’　He　looked　around　at　his　silent　men。　‘The　Bantak　have　never　before　sought　to　bring　death　to　others。　We　will　not　start　now。’
　
　He　bowed　his　head　and　pulled　his　medallion　over　his　wispy　gray　hair。　He　brought　it　up　in　both　hands；　offering　it　to　her。　‘Please；　Mother　Confessor；　give　this　to　the　Mud　People。　Tell　them　it　is　given　in　peace。　We　will　start　no　war　with　them。’　He　glanced　over。　Richard　returned　the　sword　to　its　scabbard。　Ma　Ban　Grid　looked　back　to　her。　‘Thank　you　for　stopping　us；　far　stopping　me；　from　listening　to　false　spirits　and　doing　a　terrible　thing。’
　
　Kahlan　bowed　her　head　to　the　old　man。　‘I　am　thankful　I　was　able　to　serve　in　time　to　prevent　anyone　from　being　hurt。’
　
　Richard　glanced　to　her。　‘Ask　him　how　the　spirits　convinced　him　to　do　something　against　the　nature　of　his　people。’
　
　‘Ma　Ban　Grid；　how　did　the　spirits　put　the　lust　for　war　in　your　heart？　The　lust　for　killing？’
　
　He　stared　off；　unsure。　‘Their　whispers　came　to　me　in　the　night。　Made　me　feel　the　need。　I　have　felt　an　urge　to　violence　before；　but　never　acted　on　it。　This　time；　it　seemed　I　could　not　hold　it　back。　I　had　never　felt　this　need　so　strongly　before。’
　
　The　veil　to　the　underworld；　the　spirit　world；　is　torn。’　Whispers　spread　back　through　the　men　as　she　told　them　Richard’s　words。　‘False　spirits　may　seek　to　speak　to　you　again。　Be　on　guard　against　them。　I　understand　how　you　were　tricked；　and　will　hold　no　anger　against　you　for　it。　But　I　expect　you　to　be　more　cautious　now　that　you　have　learned　the　truth　and　have　been　warned。’
　
　‘Thank　you；　wizard。’　Ma　Ban　Grid　nodded。　‘I　will　make　it　so。’
　
　‘Did　the　spirits’　voices　tell　you　anything　else？’
　
　The　old　man　frowned　in　thought。　‘I　don’t　really　remember　their　voices　telling　me　what　must　be　done。　It　was　more　of　a　feeling　that　filled　me　with　the　need。　My　son　…　he　looked　up　…’the　one　who　died　。。。　he　was　with　me；　and　heard　them　also。　I　felt　that　the　spirits　spoke　differently　to　him；　somehow。　His　eyes　were　wild　with　hate。　Even　more　than　mine。　He　went　as　soon　as　we　were　visited　by　the　spirits。’　His　gaze　sank　to　the　ground。
　
　Richard　regarded　the　spirit　guide　a　long　moment。　His　voice　came　softly。　‘I　am　sorry；　Ma　Ban　Grid；　that　I　had　to　kill　your　son。　It　wounds　my　heart　to　have　done　so。　Know　that　had　there　been　any　other　path；　I　would　have　taken　it。’
　
　The　old　man　nodded；　but　couldn’t　bring　forth　words。　He　looked　around　at　his　men。　He　seemed　suddenly　ashamed。　‘I　don’t　know　what　we　are　doing　here；’　he　whispered。　‘This　is　not　the　Bantak　way。’
　
　‘It　is　the　fault　of　false　spirits。　I　am　glad　we　were　here　to　help　you　see　the　truth　of　it；’　Richard　said。
　
　He　nodded　again　and　turned　to　his　men；　looking　about　at　them；　and　then　walked　off　toward　their　homeland。　Kahlan　let　out　a　heavy　sigh。　Richard　watched　warily　as　the　Bantak　plodded　off　into　the　sunrise；　dragging　spears　behind。
　
　‘What　do　you　make　of　that？’　she　asked　when　he　turned　to　her　at　last。
　
　He　rested　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword　and　turned　to　watch　the　Bantak。　The　Keeper　is　getting　ahead　of　us。’　He　looked　back　to　her　eyes。　‘He　has　taken　the　effort　to　discredit　you。　To　discredit　the　Mother　Confessor。　He　is　laying　traps　for　us。　He　has　plans；　and　I　don’t　have　the　slightest　idea　what　they　are。’
　
　‘What　are　we　going　to　do？’
　
　‘What　we　planned　to　do。　Tonight　we　have　the　gathering；　and　tomorrow　we　are　married　and　leave　for　Aydindril。’
　
　She　studied　his　face。　‘You　really　are　a　wizard；’　she　said　softly。　‘You　used　magic　to　break　the　Keeper’s　spell。’
　
　His　expression　didn’t　change。　‘No；　I’m　not。　It　was　just　a　little　trick　Zedd　taught　me。　He　said　once　that　people　are　more　afraid　to　die　from　magic　than　anything　else；　as　if　they　would　somehow　be　more　dead。　I　used　that　fear　and　the　Wizard’s　First　Rule　to　make　them　believe　it。　It　was　a　stronger　fear　than　the　one　the　spirits　gave　them。’
　
　‘And　what　of　turning　the　Sword　of　Truth　white？’
　
　He　regarded　her　a　long