tg.stone of tears-第74部分

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saw　little　evidence　of　potions；　powders；　or　the　usual　type　of　charms；　any　of　the　typical　things　he　knew　to　expect　from　a　woman　of　her　talents。　He　knew　what　she　was　probing　into；　just　not　why。
　
　Sorceresses　usually　confined　their　concerns　to　things　living。　She　was　a　searcher　into　things　dark　and　dangerous。　Things　dead。　Unfortunately；　that　was　what　he　was　doing；　too。　If　you　wanted　to　know　about　fire；　you　had　to　study　it；　he　guessed。　Of　course；　it　was　a　good　way　to　get　burned。　He　knew　he　didn’t　like　the　analogy　the　moment　it　popped　into　his　head。
　
　He　looked　up　from　the　bone　pile　as　he　placed　the　last　of　them。　‘If　you　don’t　want　grippers　in　your　house；　Adie；　you　should　keep　your　door　closed。’
　
　His　perfectly　apt；　scolding　frown　was　wasted；　as　she　didn’t　turn　from　her　task　of　stacking　the　firewood　back　in　its　bin　at　the　side　of　the　hearth。　The　door　be　closed。　And　bolted；’　she　said　in　her　dry　rasp；　in　a　tone　seemingly　meant　to　wither　his　unseen　scowl。　This　be　the　third　time。’
　
　Picking　up　a　bone　that　had　been　hiding　behind　a　stick　of　firewood；　she　straightened　and　carried　it　to　him。　‘Before；　the　grippers　never　came　near　my　house。’　Her　voice　lowered　as　if　in　a　threat　to　unseen　ears。　‘I　saw　to　that。’　She　handed　over　the　thick；　white　rib　bone；　peering　down　at　him　as　he　squatted　on　the　floor　next　to　the　bone　pile。　‘Now；　since　winter；　they　e　near。　The　bones　no　longer　seem　to　keep　them　away。　The　reason　be　a　mystery　to　me。’
　
　Adie　had　lived　in　this　pass　a　long　time。　No　one　knew　as　well　as　she　its　dangers；　its　quirks；　its　vagaries。　None　knew　better　than　she　what　it　took　to　be　safe　here；　to　live　on　the　cusp　between　the　world　of　the　living　and　the　world　of　the　dead；　at　the　edge　of　the　underworld。　Of　course；　the　boundary　was　gone　now。　It　should　be　safe　here　now。
　
　He　wondered　what　else　was　going　on　that　she　wasn’t　telling　him；　sorceresses　never　told　all　they　knew。　What　was　she　doing　still　living　here　with　strange；　and　dangerous；　things　happening？　Stubborn　women；　sorceresses；　the　lot　of　them。
　
　Adie　limped　slightly　as　she　walked　across　the　room　lit　only　by　the　fire。　‘Light　the　lamp？’
　
　Following　behind；　Zedd　swept　a　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　table。　The　lamp　lit　itself；　adding　a　soft　glow　to　that　of　the　fire　in　the　large　hearth　made　of　smooth　river　stones；　and　helped　illuminate　the　dark　walls　of　the　room。　Every　wall　held　white　bones。　Shelves　lined　one　wall；　and　were　stuffed　to　overflowing　with　the　skulls　of　dangerous　beasts。　Many　of　the　bones　had　been　made　into　ceremonial　objects；　some　had　been　made　into　necklaces；　decorated　with　feathers　and　beads；　and　some　had　been　inscribed　with　ancient　symbols。　Some　had　spells　drawn　on　the　wall　around　them。　It　was　the　oddest　collection　he　had　ever　seen。
　
　Zedd　pointed　a　bony　finger　down　at　her　foot。　‘Why　are　you　limping？’
　
　Adie　gave　him　a　sidelong　glance　as　she　stopped　and　lifted　a　spoon　from　a　hook　set　into　the　mortar　at　the　side　of　the　fireplace。　The　new　foot　you　grew　me　be　too　short。’
　
　Zedd　stood　with　one　hand　on　a　knobby　hip；　and　the　stick…like　fingers　of　the　other　holding　his　smooth　chin　as　he　looked　down　at　her　foot。　He　hadn’t　noticed　it　wasn’t　long　enough　when　he　had　grown　it　back；　he　had　needed　to　leave　soon　after　it　was　done。　‘Maybe　I　could　grow　the　ankle　a　little　longer；’　he　wondered　aloud。　He　took　his　hand　from　his　chin　and　flourished　it　in　the　air。　‘Make　them　even。’
　
　Adie　glared　over　her　shoulder　as　she　stirred　the　stew。　‘No；　thank　you。’
　
　Zedd　arched　an　eyebrow。　‘Wouldn’t　you　appreciate　having　them　both　even？’
　
　‘I　appreciate　you　growing　my　foot　back　for　me。　Life　be　easier　with　two　of　them。　I　did　not　realize　how　much　I　hated　that　crutch。　But　the　foot　be　fine　the　way　it　is。’　She　lifted　the　long…handled　spoon　to　her　lips；　blowing　on　the　hot　stew。
　
　‘It　would　be　easier　if　they　were　even。’
　
　‘I　said　no。’　She　tasted　the　stew。
　
　‘Bags；　woman；　why　not？’
　
　Adie　tapped　the　spoon　clean　on　the　edge　of　the　iron　kettle　and　hung　it　back　on　its　hook；　then　lifted　a　dented　tin　from　the　side　of　the　mantel；　unscrewing　the　lid。　Her　voice　was　quiet；　her　rasp　softer。　‘I　do　not　wish　to　revisit　that　pain。　Had　I　known　what　it　would　be　like；　I　would　have　chosen　to　live　the　rest　of　my　life　without　the　foot。’　Reaching　her　hand　into　the　tin；　she　took　a　three…finger…and…thumb　pinch　of　five…spice　and　flung　it　into　the　stew。
　
　Zedd　tugged　at　his　ear。　Perhaps　she　was　right。　Growing　the　foot　back　for　her　had　nearly　killed　her。　He　hadn’t　expected　what　had　happened；　her　reaction　to　his　using　that　much　magic　on　her。　Still；　he　had　been　successful；　and　managed　to　draw　away　the　pain　of　the　memories；　though　he　still　didn’t　know　what　they　had　been　about。　But　he　should　have　taken　into　account　that　she　could　have　had　memories　that　held　that　much　pain。
　
　He　should　have　taken　the　Wizard’s　Second　Rule　into　account；　but　he　had　been　intent　on　doing　something　good　for　her。　That　was　the　way　it　worked　with　the　second　rule；　it　was　usually　hard　to　tell　if　you　were　violating　it。
　
　‘You　know　the　price　of　magic；　Adie；　almost　as　well　as　a　wizard。　And　besides；　I　made　it　up　to　you。　For　the　pain；　I　mean。’　He　knew　it　wouldn’t　take　as　much　magic　to　make　the　ankle　longer　as　it　had　to　grow　the　foot　back；　but　after　what　she　had　suffered；　he　could　understand　her　reluctance。　‘Perhaps　you　are　right。　Maybe　I　have　done　enough。’
　
　Her　white　eyes　settled　on　him　again。　‘Why　be　you　here；　wizard？’
　
　He　gave　her　an　impish　grin。　‘I　wanted　to　see　you。　You　are　a　hard　woman　to　forget。　And　I　wanted　to　tell　you　about　Darken　Rahl　being　defeated；　by　Richard。　That　we　won。’　He　frowned　at　her　stare。　‘Why　do　you　think　the　grippers　are　ing　here？’
　
　She　shook　her　head　with　a　sigh。　‘You　talk　like　a　drunk　man　walks：　in　every　direction　but　where　he　be　headed。’　She　flicked　a　finger　toward　the　table；　indicating　that　she　wanted　him　to　get　the　bowls。　‘I　already　knew　we　won。　The　first　day　of　winter　has　e　and　past。　Had　Rahl　won；　things　wouldn’t　be　so　peaceful　as　they　are。　Though　I　be　pleased　to　see　your　bones　again。’
　
　Her　voice　lowered；　became　even　more　raspy。　‘Why　be　you　here；　wizard？’
　
　He　strode　over　to　the　table；　glad　to　elude　the　scrutiny　of　those　eyes　for　a　moment。　‘You　didn’t　answer　my　question。　Why　do　you　think　the　grippers　are　ing　here？’
　
　Her　voice　lowered　into　a　deeper；　harsher　rasp；　bordering　on　anger。　‘I　think　the　grippers　be　here　for　the　same　reason　you　be　here：　to　cause　an　old　woman　trouble。’
　
　Zedd　grinned　as　he　returned　with　bowls。　‘My　eyes　don’t　see　an　old　woman。　They　see　only　a　handsome　woman。’
　
　She　regarded　his　grin　with　a　helpless　shake　of　her　head。　‘I　fear　your　tongue　be　more　dangerous　than　a　gripper。’
　
　He　handed　her　a　bowl。　‘Have　the　grippers　ever　e　here　before？’
　
　‘No。’　She　turned　and　began　spooning　stew　into　the　bowl。　‘When　the　boundary　be　in　place；　the　grippers　stayed　in　the　pass；　with　other　beasts。　After　the　boundary　went　down；　I　not　see　them　for　a　time；　but　when　winter　came；　so　did　the　grippers。　That　not　be　right。　I　think　something　be　wrong。’
　
　He　exchanged　the　empty　bowl　for　the　full；　holding　it　to　his　nose　and　inhaling　the　aroma。　‘Maybe　when　the　boundary　finally　failed；　there　was　no　longer　any　hold　over　them；　and　they　simply　came　out　of　the　pass。’
　
　‘Maybe。　When　the　boundary　failed；　most　of　the　beasts　went　with　it；　back　into　the　underworld。　Some　were　freed　of　their　bonds　and　escaped　into　the　surrounding　country。　I　never　saw　any　grippers　until　the　winter　came；　nearly　a　month　ago。　I　fear　something　else　happened；　for　them　to　be　here。’
　
　Zedd　knew　very　well　what　had　happened；　but　didn’t　say　so。　Instead；　he　asked；　Adie；　why　don’t　you　leave？　e　away　with　me。　To　Aydindril。　It　would　be　。。。’
　
　‘No！’　Her　mouth　snapped　closed。　She　seemed　almost　surprised　by　her　own　voice。　She　smoothed　her　robe　with　her　hand；　letting　the　anger　leave　her　face　and　then　took　the　spoon　out　of　the　hand　with　the　bowl　and　returned　to　dishing　out　stew。　‘No。　This　be　my　home。’
　
　Zedd　watched　silently　as　she　worked　over　the　kettle。　When　finished；　she　carried　her　bowl　to　the　table；　set　it　down；　and　retrieved　a　loaf　of　bread　from　over　the　counter；　from　a　shelf　behind　a　blue…and…white…striped　curtain。　She　pointed　with　the　bread　to　the　other　empty　chair。　Zedd　set　his　bowl　on　the　table　and　sat；　hiking　his　robes　up　as　he　folded　his　legs　underneath　himself。　Adie　lowered　herself　into　the　chair　opposite　him　and　sliced　off　a　chunk　of　bread；　using　the　knifepoint　to　push　it　across　the　table　before　she　looked　up　to　meet　his　eyes。
　
　‘Please；　Zedd；　do　not　ask　me　to　leave　my　home。’
　
　‘I　am　only　worried　for　you；　Adie。’
　
　Adie　dunked　a　chunk　of　bread　in　her　stew。　‘That　be　a　lie。’
　
　He　looked　up　from　under　his　eyebrows　as　he　picked　up　his　bread。　‘It’s　not　a　lie。’
　
　She　ate　without　lifting　her　head。’　‘Only’　be　a　lie。’
　
　Zedd　went　back　to　his　stew　and　ate　in　earnest。　‘Umm。　Thish　ish　womerful；’　he　mumbled　around　a　hot　chunk　of　meat。　She　nodded　her　thanks。　He　ate　until　his　bowl　was　empty；　then　took　it　to　the　fireplace　and　filled　it　once　more。
　
　On　his　way　back　to　the　table；　he　swept　his　hand　around　at　the　room；　pointing　with　his　spoon。　‘You　have　a　lovely　home；　Adie。　Quite　lovely。’　He　sat　and　picked　up　the　bread　she　passed　to　him。　He　put　his　elbows　on　the　table；　his　sleeves　slipping　up　his　forearms　as　he　broke　the　bread　in　half。　‘But　I　don’t　think　you　should　be　living　here；　all　alone。　Not　with　the　grippers　and　all。’　He　gestured　with　the　bread　to　the　north。　‘Why　don’t　you　e　with　me　to　Aydindril？　It’s　a　lovely　place；　too。　You　would　like　it　there。　There’s　plenty　of　room。　Kahlan　could　see　to　it　you　have　your　choice　of　places　to　live。　Why；　you　could　even　stay　at　the　Keep；　if　you　preferred。’
　
　Her　white　eyes　stayed　on　her　meal。　‘No。’
　
　‘Why　not？　We　could　have　a　good　time　there。　A　sorceress　could　have　a　grand　time　in　the　Keep。　There　are　books　and。。。’
　
　‘I　said　no。’
　
　He　watched　her　as　she　went　back　to　eating　stew。　He　pushed　his　sleeves　up　farther　and　did　the　same。　He　couldn’t　eat　long。　He　set　the　spoon　in　the　bowl　and　looked　up　from　under　his　eyebrows。
　
　‘Adie；　there　is　more　to　the　stor