tg.stone of tears-第99章

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　She　stared　at　the　table　with　a　bitter　expression。　‘I　be　an　old　woman。　I　be　an　old　woman　who　has　weled　the　Keeper　into　my　heart。’
　
　Zedd　watched　her；　but　she　didn’t　meet　his　eyes。　He　pushed　his　chair　back　and　stood。　‘An　old　woman？　No。　A　foolish　woman；　maybe。’　She　didn’t　reply。　Her　gaze　stayed　pointedly　on　the　table。
　
　Zedd　strolled　across　the　room　and　inspected　the　bones　hanging　on　the　wall。　He　clasped　his　hands　behind　his　back　as　he　studied　the　talismans　of　the　dead。
　
　‘Maybe　I　am　just　an　old　man　then。　Hmm？　A　foolish　old　man。　Maybe　I　should　let　a　young　man　do　this　work。’　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　She　was　watching　him。　‘But　if　a　young　man　is　good；　then　even　younger　would　be　better。　In　fact；　why　not　let　a　child　do　it？　That　would　be　better　yet。　Maybe　there　is　a　ten…year…old…boy　somewhere　who　will　be　willing　to　do　something　to　stop　the　dead　from　swallowing　the　living。’
　
　He　threw　his　hands　up　in　the　air。　‘According　to　you；　it　would　seem；　knowledge　is　of　no　use；　only　youth。’
　
　‘Now　you　are　being　foolish；　old　man。　You　know　what　I　mean。’
　
　Zedd　stepped　back　to　the　table　and　gave　a　shrug　of　his　bony　shoulders。　‘If　you　just　sit　here　in　this　house　instead　of　helping　with　what　you　know；　then　you　might　as　well　be　the　thing　you　fear　most：　an　agent　of　the　Keeper。’
　
　He　put　his　knuckles　to　the　table　and　glowered　as　he　leaned　over　her。　‘If　you　don’t　fight　him；　then　you　help　him。　That　is　what　his　plan　has　been　all　along。　Not　to　turn　you　to　him；　but　to　make　you　fear　stopping　him。’
　
　She　looked　into　his　eyes；　uneasiness　stealing　into　her　expression。　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘He　has　already　done　all　he　needed；　Adie。　He　made　you　afraid　of　yourself。　The　Keeper　has　an　eternity　of　patience。　He　doesn’t　need　you　to　work　for　him。　It　takes　effort　to　turn　one　with　the　gift。　You　weren’t　worth　the　trouble。　He　needed　only　for　you　not　to　work　against　him。　He　did　all　that　was　necessary。　He　didn’t　waste　an　effort　to　do　more。
　
　‘In　some　ways　he　is　as　blind　to　this　world　as　we　are　to　his。　He　has　only　so　much　influence　here；　he　must　choose　his　tasks　carefully。　He　doesn’t　spend　what　power　he　has　here　frivolously。’
　
　Realization　took　the　place　of　unease。　‘Perhaps　you　not　be　such　an　old　fool。’
　
　Zedd　smiled　as　he　pulled　the　chair　forward　and　sat。　That　has　always　been　my　opinion。’
　
　Hands　nestled　in　her　lap；　Adie　studied　the　tabletop　as　if　hoping　it　would　e　to　her　aid。　The　house　was　silent；　except　for　the　slow　crackle　of　the　fire　in　the　hearth。　‘All　these　years；　the　truth　be　hiding　right　under　my　nose。’　She　lifted　her　head；　giving　him　a　puzzled　frown。　‘How　did　you　e　to　be　so　wise？’
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　‘But　one　of　the　advantages　of　having　lived　so　long。　You　view　yourself　as　just　an　old　woman。　I　see　a　striking；　dear　lady；　who　has　learned　much　in　her　time　in　this　world；　and　has　gained　wisdom　from　what　she　has　seen。’
　
　He　pulled　the　yellow　rose　from　her　hair　and　held　it　before　her。　‘Your　loveliness　is　not　a　mask；　layered　over　a　rotten　core。　It　blossoms　from　the　beauty　inside。’
　
　She　lifted　the　flower　from　his　fingers　and　laid　it　on　the　table。　‘Your　clever　tongue　cannot　cover　the　fact　that　I　have　wasted　my　life。　。。。’
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head；　cutting　her　off。　‘No。　You　have　wasted　nothing。　You　simply　have　not　seen　the　other　side　of　things　yet。　In　magic；　in　all　things；　there　is　a　balance　if　we　look　for　it。　The　Keeper　did　as　he　did；　sending　a　baneling　to　you；　to　keep　you　from　interfering　in　his　work；　and　to　plant　a　seed　of　doubt　in　you　that　would　perhaps　turn　you　to　him　one　day。
　
　‘But　in　that　too；　there　was　something　to　balance　what　he　did。　You　came　here　to　learn　about　the　world　of　the　dead　in　order　to　contact　your　Pell。　Don’t　you　see；　Adie？　You　were　manipulated　to　prevent　you　from　interfering　with　the　Keeper’s　plans；　but　in　so　doing；　the　balance　is　that　you　have　learned　things　that　might　be　of　aid　in　stopping　him。　You　must　not　surrender　to　what　he　had　done　to　you；　you　must　strike　back　with　what　he　has　inadvertently　given　you。’
　
　Her　eyes　glistened　as　she　cast　her　gaze　about　her　house；　looking　to　the　bone　pile；　the　walls　covered　with　talismans　of　the　dead　she　had　collected　over　the　years；　and　to　the　shelves　holding　more　yet。　‘But　my　oath　。。。　my　Pell。　I　must　reach　him；　tell　him。　He　died　thinking　I　betrayed　him。　If　I　cannot　redeem　myself　in　his　eyes；　then　I　be　lost；　my　heart　be　lost。　If　I　be　lost；　then　the　Keeper　will　find　me。’
　
　‘Pell　is　dead；　Adie。　Gone。　The　boundary；　the　pass；　is　gone。　You　would　know　better　than　I　if　it　would　have　ever　been　any　use　in　what　you　wanted；　but　in　all　these　years；　you　have　not　found　a　way　to　make　it　so。　If　you　wish　to　continue　the　pursuit　of　your　oath；　you　will　find　no　help　here。　Perhaps　in　Aydindril；　you　will。
　
　‘Helping　to　stop　the　Keeper　does　not　mean　you　must　break　your　oath　to　yourself。　If　my　knowledge　and　help　can　be　of　any　aid　in　what　you　seek；　I　offer　it　gladly。　Just　as　you　know　things　I　do　not；　I　know　things　you　don’t。　I　am；　after　all；　the　First　Wizard。　Perhaps　what　I　know　will　help　you。　Pell　would　not　want　you　to　bring　him　your　message　that　you　did　not　betray　him；　if　it　meant　you　must　betray　everyone　else。’
　
　Adie　picked　up　the　yellow　flower；　twirling　it　between　her　finger　and　thumb　a　moment　before　setting　it　down　again。　Gripping　the　edge　of　the　table；　she　pushed　herself　to　her　feet。　She　stood　a　moment；　and　then　lifted　her　head　to　gaze　with　her　white　eyes　around　the　room　once　more。
　
　Smoothing　her　robes　at　her　hips；　as　if　to　make　herself　presentable；　she　limped　around　the　table　to　stand　behind　his　chair。　Zedd　felt　her　hands　rest　on　his　shoulders。　Unexpectedly；　she　leaned　over　and　kissed　the　top　of　his　head　and　smoothed　his　unruly　hair　with　gentle　fingers。　Zedd　was　relieved　the　fingers　hadn’t　gone　around　his　throat。　He　thought　they　might；　after　some　of　the　things　he　had　said。
　
　Thank　you；　my　friend；　for　hearing　my　tale；　and　for　helping　me　to　find　the　meaning　in　it。　My　Pell　would　have　liked　you。　You　both　be　men　of　honor。　I　accept　your　word　that　you　will　help　me　tell　my　Pell。’
　
　Zedd　twisted　around　in　his　chair　and　raised　his　face　to　her　soft　smile　and　kind　eyes。　‘I　will　do　whatever　I　can　to　help　you　keep　your　oath。　You　have　my　oath　on　that。’
　
　Her　smile　widened　as　she　smoothed　down　a　stray　lock　of　his　white　hair。　‘Now。　Tell　me　of　the　Stone　of　Tears。　We　must　decide　what　is　to　be　done　with　it。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　23
　
　‘The　Stone　of　Tears？　Well；　it　is　hidden。’
　
　She　gave　a　single；　firm　nod。　‘Good。　It　not　be　something　to　be　loose　in　this　world。’　Her　brow　wrinkled　in　a　little　frown。　‘It　be　hidden　well？　It　be　safe？’
　
　Zedd　winced　a　little。　He　didn’t　want　to　tell　her；　he　knew　what　she　would　say；　but　he　had　promised。　‘I　put　it　on　a　chain。　Put　it　on　a　chain　and　hung　it　around　the　neck　of　a　little　girl。　I　don’t　know　。。。　exactly　。。。　where　she　is　right　now。’
　
　‘You　touched　it！’　Adie’s　eyes　widened。　The　Stone　of　Tears？　You　touched　it；　and　hung　it　around　the　neck　of　a　little　girl！’
　
　She　gripped　his　chin　firmly　in　her　suddenly　powerful　fingers　and　leaned　close　to　his　face。　‘You　have　hung　the　Stone　of　Tears；　the　Stone　that　it　be　told　was　hung　by　the　Creator　Himself　around　the　Keeper’s　neck　to　lock　him　in　the　underworld　。。。　you　hung　that　around　a　little　girl’s　neck？　And　let　her　wander　off！’
　
　Zedd　scowled　defensively。　‘Well；　I　had　to　do　something　with　it。　I　couldn’t　just　leave　it　lying　about。’
　
　Adie　smacked　the　palm　of　her　hand　to　her　forehead。　‘Just　as　he　makes　me　think　him　wise；　he　shows　me　he　be　a　fool　indeed。　Dear　spirits；　save　me　from　the　hands　you　have　placed　me　in。’
　
　Zedd　shot　to　his　feet。　‘And　just　what　would　you　have　done　with　it！’
　
　‘Well；　I　would　have　certainly　given　it　more　thought　than　you　seem　to　have　done。　And　I　wouldn’t　have　touched　it！　It　be　a　thing　from　another　world！’　She　turned　her　back　to　him；　shaking　her　head　and　whispering　things　in　her　foreign　tongue。
　
　Zedd　shifted　his　robes；　straightening　them　with　a　firm　tug。　‘I　didn’t　have　the　luxury　of　time　to　give　it　any　thought。　We　were　attacked　by　a　screeling。　If　I　had　left　it　there　。。。’
　
　Adie　spun　around。　‘A　screeling！　You