tg.stone of tears-第23部分

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　and　wipe　a　little　spittle　into　the　opening。　In　a　little　while；　he　had　drilled　all　the　way　through　the　tooth。　He　used　his　knife　to　clean　the　burrs　from　where　the　drill　went　through　the　other　side　of　the　tooth；　and　then　held　it　up；　grinning；　showing　off　the　hole。　Richard　laughed　and　thanked　him　as　he　strung　a　leather　thong　to　the　tooth。　He　hung　it　around　his　neck　with　the　Bird　Man’s　whistle　and　the　Mord…Sith’s　Agiel。
　
　He　was　getting　quite　a　collection。　Some　of　it　she　didn’t　like。
　
　Wiping　out　his　porridge　bowl　with　a　piece　of　tava　bread；　Savidlin　asked；　‘Is　your　head　better？’
　
　‘It’s　better；　but　still　hurts　something　fierce。　Nissel’s　leaves　help。　I’m　embarrassed　I　had　to　be　carried　back　last　night。’
　
　Savidlin　laughed。　‘One　time；　I　had　a　bad　hurt；　here。’　He　pointed　at　a　round　scar　in　his　side。　‘I　was　carried　home　by　women。’　He　leaned　closer　and　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Women！’　Weselan　cast　a　disapproving　eye　toward　him。　He　made　a　point　of　not　noticing。　‘When　my　men　found　out　I　was　carried　home　by　women；　they　had　a　good　laugh　over　it。’　He　put　the　last　of　the　tava　bread　in　his　mouth　and　chewed　for　a　few　minutes。　‘Then　I　told　them　which　women　carried　me　home；　and　they　stopped　laughing　and　wanted　to　know　how　to　get　a　hurt　like　mine　so　they　too　could　be　carried　home　by　those　women。’
　
　‘Savidlin！’　Weselan　scolded　in　a　scandalized　tone。　She　turned　to　them。　‘If　he　didn’t　already　have　a　hurt；　I　would　have　given　him　one。　A　good　one。’
　
　‘So　how　did　you　get　this　hurt？’　Richard　asked。
　
　Savidlin　shrugged。　‘Like　I　told　my　men：　it　was　easy。　You　just　stand　there　like　a　surprised　rabbit　while　a　trespasser　puts　a　spear　through　you。’
　
　‘And　why　didn’t　he　finish　you？’
　
　‘Because　I　put　a　few　ten…step　arrows　in　him。’　He　pointed　at　his　throat。　‘Here。’
　
　‘What’s　a　ten…step　arrow？’
　
　Savidlin　reached　to　the　side　and　pulled　a　barbed；　fine…pointed　arrow　from　his　quiver。　‘One　of　these。　See　the　dark　stain？　Poison。　Ten…step　poison。　When　it　sticks　you；　you　get　only　ten　steps；　and　then　you　are　dead。’　He　laughed。　‘My　men　decided　to　think　of　a　different　way　to　get　those　women　to　carry　them。’
　
　Weselan　leaned　over　and　stuffed　the　rest　of　her　tava　bread　in　her　husband’s　mouth。　She　turned　to　Kahlan。　‘Men　enjoy　telling　the　most　awful　stories。’　She　broke　into　a　shy　smile。　‘But　I　worried　for　him　until　he　was　well。　I　knew　he　was　well　when　he　came　to　me　and　made　Siddin。　Then　I　did　not　worry　anymore。’
　
　Kahlan　realized　she　had　translated　before　she　had　paid　attention　to　the　meaning　of　the　words。　She　felt　her　ears　burn。　Instead　of　looking　at　Richard；　she　paid　close　attention　to　eating　her　porridge。　She　was　glad　her　hair　covered　her　ears；　at　least。
　
　Savidlin　gave　Richard　a　look　of　a　put…upon　male。　‘　You　will　find　that　women；　too；　like　to　tell　stories。’
　
　Kahlan　tried　desperately　to　think　of　a　new　direction　for　the　conversation。　She　couldn’t。　Thankfully；　Savidlin　did。　He　leaned　back；　looking　out　the　door。
　
　‘It　will　soon　be　the　time　to　go。’
　
　‘How　do　you　know　what　time　we　are　to　go？’
　
　Savidlin　shrugged。　‘I　am　here；　you　are　here；　some　of　the　men　are　here。　When　they　are　all　here；　that　is　the　time　to　go。’
　
　Savidlin　went　to　the　corner　and　retrieved　a　bow　that　was　taller　than　the　one　Kahlan　had　seen　him　use　before。　Taller　for　Richard。　With　the　aid　of　his　foot；　Savidlin　stretched　the　cord　to　the　bow。
　
　Richard　had　a　wide　grin　on　his　face。　He　told　Savidlin　it　was　the　finest　bow　he　had　ever　seen。　Savidlin　beamed　with　pride　and　gave　him　a　quiver　full　of　arrows。
　
　Richard　tested　the　weight　of　the　draw。　‘How　did　you　know　how　strong　to　make　the　pull？　It’s　just　right。’
　
　Savidlin　pointed　at　his　chin。　‘I　remembered　how　strong　your　respect　for　my　strength　was　when　we　first　met。　It　is　too　heavy　for　me；　but　I　estimated　it　was　right　for　you。’
　
　Kahlan　stood　up　next　to　Richard。　‘Are　you　sure　you　want　to　go？　How　does　your　head　feel？’
　
　Terrible。　But　I　have　the　leaves；　they　help　a　little。　I　think　I’ll　be　all　right。　Savidlin　is　looking　forward　to　this。　I　don’t　want　to　disappoint　him。’
　
　She　rubbed　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　‘Should　I　e　with　you？’
　
　Richard　kissed　her　forehead。　‘I　don’t　think　I’ll　need　anyone　to　translate　to　tell　me　how　badly　I’m　being　beaten。　And　I　don’t　think　I　want　to　give　Chandalen’s　men　any　excuse　to　humiliate　me　any　worse　than　they　are　already　going　to。’
　
　‘Zedd　told　me　you　were　pretty　good。　In　fact；　he　told　me　you　were　better　than　good。’
　
　Richard　stole　a　look　at　Savidlin；　who　was　stringing　his　own　bow。　‘It’s　been　a　long　time　since　I’ve　shot　a　bow。　Zedd　was　just　trying　to　stir　up　trouble；　I’ll　bet。’
　
　He　stole　a　kiss　while　Savidlin　was　finishing　and　then　went　out　the　door　with　him。　Kahlan　leaned　against　the　doorframe；　still　feeling　the　print　of　his　lips　on　hers　as　she　watched　him　walking　away。
　
　Showing　no　emotion；　Chandalen　stared　up　from　sighting　down　one　of　his　arrows。　Prindin　and　Tossidin　flashed　sly　smiles。　They　were　looking　forward　to　this。　Richard　glanced　around；　meeting　the　eyes　of　all　the　men　as　he　walked　past。　They　fell　in　behind　him。　He　was　a　good　head　taller　than　any　of　them。　They　looked　like　a　bunch　of　children　following　an　adult。　But　these　children　had　poison　arrows；　and　some　of　them　didn’t　hold　any　favor　for　Richard。　Suddenly　she　didn’t　like　this。
　
　Weselan　stood　next　to　her；　watching　the　men　go。　‘Savidlin　said　he　will　watch　Richard’s　back。　Don’t　be　concerned；　Chandalen　would　not　do　anything　foolish。’
　
　‘I　worry　about　what　Chandalen　considers　foolish。’
　
　Weselan　wiped　her　hands　on　a　cloth；　turning　back　to　keep　a　watchful　eye　on　Siddin。　Siddin　wanted　to　go　out；　and　was　sitting；　poking　a　finger　along　the　ground；　looking　dejected　because　his　mother　said　she　wanted　him　to　stay　inside。　Weselan　stood　over　him　a　long　moment　watching。　He　looked　up；　his　chin　resting　in　one　palm。　She　gave　him　a　gentle　snap　with　the　cloth。
　
　‘Go　outside　and　play。’　Weselan　sighed　as　he　tore　through　the　door　with　a　squeal　of　glee。　She　shook　her　head　to　herself。　‘The　young　don’t　know　how　dear　life　is。　Or　how　fragile。’
　
　‘Maybe　that　is　why　we　all　wish　we　were　young　again。’
　
　Weselan　nodded。　‘Maybe　so。’　A　handsome　smile　came　to　her　tanned　face。　Her　dark　eyes　sparkled。　‘What　color　would　you　like　to　wear　when　you　wed　your　man？’
　
　With　both　hands；　Kahlan　pulled　her　long　hair　back　over　her　shoulders　and　thought　a　minute。　A　smile　welled　up　from　within。　‘Richard　favors　blue。’
　
　Weselan　twined　her　fingers　together。　‘Oh；　that　would　be　just　right；　then。　I　have　just　the　thing。　I　have　been　saving　it　for　something　special。’
　
　She　went　into　her　small　bedroom　and　came　back　with　a　bundle。　Sitting　on　the　bench　next　to　Kahlan；　she　carefully　unfolded　it　in　her　lap。　The　cloth　was　finely　woven；　a　rich　blue　with　a　print　of　lighter　blue　flowers　dappled　across　it。　Kahlan　thought　it　would　make　a　gorgeous　dress。
　
　She　tested　the　weave　between　her　finger　and　thumb。　‘It’s　beautiful。　Where　did　you　get　it？’
　
　‘I　traded　for　it。’　She　flicked　her　hand　over　her　head。　‘With　people　from　the　north。　They　like　the　bowls　I　make。　I　traded　with　them　for　it。’
　
　Kahlan　knew　fine　cloth　when　she　saw　it。　Weselan　would　have　had　to　make　many　bowls　for　this　cloth。　‘I　wouldn’t　feel　right　using　it；　Weselan。　You　worked　hard　for　this。　It　is　yours。’
　
　Weselan　held　up　the　corners　of　the　blue　fabric；　giving　it　a　critical　appraisal。　‘Nonsense。　You　two　e　here　and　teach　our　people　how　to　make　roofs　that　don’t　leak。　You　save　Siddin　from　those　shadow　things；　and　in　the　process　rid　us　of　an　old　fool　and　make　it　so　Savidlin　can　be　one　of　the　six　elders。　He　has　never　been　so　happy。　When　Siddin　is　carried　off；　you　find　him　and　bring　him　back　to　us。　You　destroy　the　man　who　would　have　enslaved　us。　You　two　are　guardians　to　our　people。　What　is　a　piece　of　cloth？
　
　‘I　will　be　proud　the　Mother　Confessor　of　all　the　Midlands　is　wedded　in　a　dress　I　make。　Me；　just　a　simple　woman。　For　you；　my　friend；　from　all　those　faraway　places；　with　all　those　grand　things　that　I　cannot　even　imagine。　You　would　not　be　taking　something　from　me。　You　would　be　giving　me　something。’
　
　Kahlan’s　eyes　filled　with　tears。　Her　lower　lip　trembled。　‘You　can’t　know　the　joy　you　have　given　me；　Weselan。　To　be　a　Confessor　is　to　be　feared。　My　whole　life；　people　have　feared　and　shunned　me。　No　one　has　ever　treated　me　as　just　a　woman；　talked　to　me　as　a　woman。　Only　as　a　Confessor。　No　one　before　Richard　ever　saw　me　as　a　person。　No　woman　before　you　ever　weled　me　into　her　home。　No　woman　has　ever　let　me　hold　her　child。’　She　wiped　away　some　of　the　tears。　‘It　will　be　the　most　beautiful　dress　I　have　ever　worn；　the　most　treasured　dress　I　will　ever　have。　I　will　wear　it；　proud　that　a　friend　made　it　for　me。’
　
　Weselan　gave　her　a　sidelong　look。　‘　When　your　man　sees　you　in　this　dress；　he　will　make　you　a　child　of　your　own。’
　
　Kahlan　laughed　and　cried　and　hugged　her。　She　had　never　dared　to　dream　that　all　these　things　could　happen　in　her　life；　that　she　could　ever　be　treated　as　anything　but　a　Confessor。
　
　Kahlan　and　Weselan　spent　the　better　part　of　the　morning　starting　the　dress。　Weselan　seemed　as　excited　about　making　the　dress　as　Kahlan　was　about　wearing　it。　The　seamstresses　back　in　Aydindril　had　nothing　over　Weselan　with　her　fine　bone　needles。　They　settled　on　a　simple　design　fashioned　something　like　a　kirtle。
　
　They　had　a　light　lunch　of　tava　bread　and　chicken　broth。　Weselan　said　she　would　work　on　the　dress　later；　and　asked　what　Kahlan　wanted　to　do　in　the　afternoon。　Kahlan　said　she　really　would　like　to　cook　something。
　
　Kahlan　never　ate　meat　when　she　was　here　before　on　official　business　because　she　knew　the　Mud　People　ate　human　flesh；　ate　their　enemies　to　gain　their　knowledge。　To　avoid　offending　them；　she　had　always　used　the　excuse　that　she　didn’t　eat　meat。　The　night　before；　Richard　had　reacted　strangely　to　eating　meat；　so　Kahlan　didn’t　say　anything　to　change　the　menu　when　Weselan　suggested　a　vegetable　stew。
　
　The　two　of　them　cut　up　tava；　some　other　rust…colored　roots　Kahlan　didn’t　recognize；　peppers；　beans；　some　nutty　kuru；　and　then　added　greens　and　dried　m