tg.stone of tears-第7章

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o　help　you？　You　fear　what　the　touch　might　do　to　me？’
　
　She　nodded　weakly。　‘But　I　find　I　suddenly　care　to　live。’
　
　Zedd　patted　her　shoulder。　That　is　what　I　wanted　to　know；　child。　Worry　not　about　me。　I　am　a　wizard　of　the　First　Order；　not　some　novice。’
　
　‘First　Order？’　she　whispered；　wide…eyed。　‘I　did　not　know　one　was　left。　Please；　sir；　do　not　risk　yourself　on　the　likes　of　me。’
　
　Zedd　smiled。　‘Not　much　of　a　risk；　only　a　little　pain。　And　my　name　is　Zedd。’
　
　She　thought　a　moment；　then　her　free　hand　clutched　his　arm。　‘Zedd　。。。　if　I　am　to　have　a　choice　。。。　I　choose　to　try　for　life。’
　
　Zedd　smiled　a　little　and　stroked　her　cold；　sweaty　forehead。　Then　I　promise　to　give　you　my　most　earnest　effort。’　She　nodded　as　she　gripped　his　arm；　gripped　her　only　chance。　‘Is　there　anything　you　can　do；　Jebra；　to　hold　aside　the　pain　of　the　visions？’
　
　She　bit　her　lower　lip　and　shook　her　head　as　tears　sprang　anew。　‘I’m　sorry；’　she　whispered；　barely　audible。　‘Perhaps　you　shouldn’t　。。。’
　
　‘Hush；　child；’　he　forted。
　
　Zedd　took　a　deep　breath　and　laid　a　hand　over　the　arm　that　held　her　guts　back。　He　put　the　palm　of　his　other　hand　gently　over　her　eyes。　This　was　not　something　he　could　fix　from　the　outside。　Tt　had　to　be　repaired　from　within；　with　her　own　mind’s　aid。　It　could　kill　her。　And　him。
　
　He　braced　himself　and　released　the　barrier　in　his　mind。　The　impact　of　pain　took　the　wind　from　his　lungs。　He　didn’t　dare　to　spare　the　energy　to　draw　a　breath。　He　gritted　his　teeth　and　fought　it　with　muscles　hardened　to　stone　with　the　strain。　And　he　hadn’t　even　touched　the　pain　of　the　wound　yet。　He　had　to　deal　with　the　pain　of　her　visions；　get　past　them；　before　he　could　cope　with　that　problem。
　
　Agony　sucked　his　mind　into　a　river　of　blackness。　Specters　of　her　visions　swirled　past。　He　could　only　guess　at　their　meaning；　but　the　pain　of　their　reality　was　all　too　vivid。　Tears　flooded　from　his　tightly　closed　eyes；　his　whole　body　shook　as　he　struggled　to　fight　through　the　torrent　of　anguish。　He　knew　he　couldn’t　allow　himself　to　be　pulled　along　with　it；　or　he　would　be　lost；　consumed。
　
　The　emotions　of　her　visions　buffeted　him　as　he　was　swept　deeper　into　her　mind。　Dark　thoughts　just　beyond　the　surface　of　perception　clawed　at　his　will；　trying　to　drag　him　into　the　depths　of　hopeless　abandon。　His　own　painful　memories　washed　to　the　surface　of　his　consciousness　to　join　with　Jebra’s　lifetime　of　sorrow　in　a　convergence　of　terrible　agony　and　madness。　Only　his　experience　and　resolve　kept　his　sanity；　his　free　will；　from　being　pulled　into　the　bottomless　waters　of　bitterness　and　grief。
　
　At　last；　he　broke　through　to　the　calm；　white　light　at　the　center　of　her　being。　Zedd　reveled　in　the　paratively　mild　pain　of　her　life…threatening　wound。　Reality　could　seldom　match　the　imagination；　and　in　the　imagination；　the　pain　was　real。
　
　All　around　the　calm　center；　the　cold　darkness　of　eternal　night　encroached　on　the　waning　warmth　and　light　of　her　life。　impatient　to　shroud　forever　Jebra’s　spirit。　Zedd　pulled　back　that　shroud；　to　let　the　light　of　his　gift　warm　her　spirit　with　life　and　vitality。　The　shadows　receded　before　the　power　of　his　Additive　Magic。
　
　The　strength　of　that　magic；　its　exigency　for　the　well…being　of　life；　drew　the　exposed　organs　back　to　where　the　Creator　intended　them。　Zedd　didn’t　yet　dare　to　spare　anything　to　block　her　suffering。　Jebra’s　back　arched。　She　wailed　in　pain。　He；　too；　felt　her　pain。　His　own　abdomen　flamed　with　the　same　agony　she　felt。　He　shook　with　the　searing　sharpness　of　it。
　
　When　the　hardest；　that　which　was　beyond　his　prehension；　was　finished；　he　at　last　spared　a　portion　of　the　magic　to　block　her　pain。　Jebra　sagged　against　the　floor　with　a　moan　of　relief。　He　felt　the　relief　in　his　own　body。
　
　Directing　the　flow　of　magic；　Zedd　finished　the　healing。　He　used　his　power　to　pull　her　wound　together；　letting　tissue　knit　to　tissue；　flesh　to　flesh；　layer　upon　layer；　up　to　the　surface　of　skin；　joining　as　if　it　had　never　been　parted。
　
　Finished　at　last；　Zedd　had　only　to　escape　her　mind。　That　was　as　dangerous　as　entering；　and　his　strength　was　nearly　gone；　he　had　given　it　over　to　her。　Rather　than　wasting　any　more　time　worrying　about　it；　he　released　himself　into　the　flow　of　agony。
　
　Nearly　an　hour　after　he　had　begun；　he　found　himself　on　his　knees；　hunched　over；　weeping　uncontrollably。　Jebra　was　sitting　up；　with　her　arms　around　him；　holding　his　head　to　her　shoulder。　As　soon　as　he　was　aware　that　he　was　back；　he　managed　to　bring　himself　under　control　and　straighten。　He　glanced　around　the　hall。　Everyone　had　been　pushed　back　a　goodly　distance；　beyond　earshot。　None　had　any　interest　in　being　near　a　wizard　when　he　was　wielding　magic　that　left　people　screaming　as　Jebra　had　done。
　
　‘There；’　he　said；　at　last；　with　a　modicum　of　restored　dignity；　‘that　wasn’t　so　bad。　I　believe　all　is　well　now。’
　
　Jebra　laughed　a　quiet；　shaky　laugh　and　hugged　him　tight。　‘I　was　taught　a　wizard　couldn’t　heal　a　Seer。’
　
　Zedd　managed　to　get　a　bony　finger　in　the　air。　‘No　ordinary　wizard　can；　my　dear。　But　I　am　Zeddicus　Zu’l　Zorander；　wizard　of　the　First　Order。’
　
　Jebra　wiped　a　tear　from　her　cheek。　‘I　have　nothing　of　value　to　repay　you　with；　except　this。’　She　unhooked　the　gold　chain　that　ran　through　her　hair　and　brought　it　down；　putting　it　in　his　hand。　‘Please；　accept　this　humble　offering。’
　
　Zedd　looked　down　at　the　chain　with　the　blue　stone。　That　is　very　kind　of　you；　Jebra　Bevinvier。　I’m　touched。’　Zedd　felt　a　pang　of　guilt　for　having　planted　the　impulse　in　her　mind。　‘It’s　a　fine　chain；　and　I　will　accept　it　in　humble　gratitude。’　He　used　a　thread…thin　stream　of　power　to　separate　the　stone　from　its　mounting。　He　handed　the　Stone　back；　he　only　needed　the　chain。　‘But　the　chain　is　payment　enough。　Keep　your　Stone；　it’s　yours　by　right。’
　
　She　closed　her　fingers　around　the　Stone　with　a　nod　and　gave　him　a　kiss　on　the　cheek。　He　accepted　the　peck　with　a　smile。
　
　‘And　now；　my　dear；　you　will　need　to　rest。　I　have　used　a　good　deal　of　your　strength　to　put　things　right。　Maybe　a　few　days　of　bed　rest；　and　you　will　be　as　good　as　new。’
　
　‘I　fear　that　you　have　not　only　left　me　healed；　but　also　without　employment。　I　must　find　work　to　feed　myself　She　looked　down　at　the　bloody；　shredded　rip　in　her　green　dress。　‘And　to　clothe　myself。’
　
　‘Why　were　you　wearing　the　Stone；　if　you　were　the　servant　of　the　Lady　Ordith？’
　
　‘Not　many　know　what　the　Stone　signifies。　Lady　Ordith　didn’t。　Her　husband；　the　duke；　did。　He　wanted　my　services；　but　his　wife　would　never　have　allowed　a　woman　in　his　employ；　so　he　had　me　placed　as　her　servant。
　
　‘I　know　it　is　not　the　most　honorable　thing；　for　a　Seer　to　place　herself　covertly；　but　there　is　much　starvation　in　Burgalass。　My　family　knew　of　my　ability　and　closed　their　doors　to　me；　afraid　of　the　visions　I　might　have　of　them。　Before　my　grandmother　passed　on；　she　put　her　Stone　in　my　hand；　saying　if　I　wore　hers　she　would　be　honored。’
　
　Jebra　pressed　the　fist　with　the　Stone　to　her　cheek。　‘Thank　you；’　she　whispered；　‘for　not　accepting　it。　For　understanding。’
　
　Zedd　felt　a　renewed　pang　of　guilt。　‘And　so　this　duke　had　you　taken　in　and　used　you　for　his　own　purposes？’
　
　‘Yes。　Maybe　a　dozen　years　ago。　Because　I　was　Lady　Ordith’s　body　servant；　I　was　almost　always　present　at　any　meeting　or　function。　The　duke　would　e　to　me　later　and　I　would　tell　him　what　I　saw　of　his　adversaries。　With　my　help；　he　made　more　of　his　power　and　wealth。
　
　‘Virtually　no　one　anymore　knows　of　the　Stone　of　a　Seer。　He　disdained　people　who　ignored　the　old　knowledge。　He　mocked　his　opponents’　ignorance　by　having　me　wear　the　Stone　openly。
　
　‘He　also　had　me　keep　an　eye　to　the　Lady　Ordith。　It　prevented　her　from　succeeding　at　making　herself　a　widow。　So　she　now　contents　herself　with　being　absent　from　the　duke’s　house　whenever　she　can。　She　will　not　be　displeased　to　be　rid　of　me；　the　duke　used　his　strings　of　power　to　keep　me　employed　when　the　Lady　Ordith　would　have　wished　it　otherwise。’
　
　‘Why　would　she　be　displeased　with　your　service？’　He　grinned。　‘Are　you　lazy　and　rude；　as　she　claims？’
　
　Jebra　smiled　back；　the　fine　wrinkles　at