tg.wizardfirstrule-第35部分

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！


　
　She　looked　so　beautiful　in　the　moonlight；　but　it　wasn't　only　the　way　she　looked；　it　was　what　was　inside　her；　everything　from　her　intelligence　and　courage　to　her　wit；　and　the　special　smile　she　gave　only　to　him。　He　would　slay　a　dragon；　if　there　were　such　a　thing；　just　to　see　that　smile。　He　knew　he　would　never　want　anyone　else　for　as　long　as　he　lived。　He　would　rather　spend　the　rest　of　his　life　alone　than　with　someone　else。　There　could　be　no　one　else。
　
　He　desperately　wanted　to　hug　her　close。　He　ached　to　taste　her　soft　lips。　But　he　was　inexplicably　getting　the　same　feeling　he　had　had　before　he　crossed　the　bridge。　It　was　a　strong　feeling　of　warning；　stronger　than　his　desire　to　kiss　her。　Something　told　him　that　if　he　did；　it　would　be　crossing　one　bridge　too　many。　He　remembered　how　the　magic　flared　when　she　had　touched　his　hand　as　he　held　the　sword。　He　had　been　right　about　the　bridge；　so　he　didn't　put　his　arms　around　her。
　
　She　broke　the　gaze　with　a　glance　to　the　ground。　〃Chase　said　the　next　two　days　are　going　to　be　rough。　I　guess　I　had　better　get　some　sleep。〃
　
　He　knew　that　whatever　was　going　on　in　her　head；　he　had　no　say　in　it。　He　couldn't　force　her。　It　was　something　she　had　to　handle　herself。
　
　〃You　have　an　obligation　to　me　too；〃　he　said。　She　looked　back　to　him　with　a　questioning　frown；　and　he　smiled。　〃You　have　promised　to　be　my　guide。　I　intend　to　hold　you　to　that　promise。〃
　
　She　smiled　and　could　only　nod；　too　close　to　tears　to　speak。　She　kissed　the　end　of　her　finger　and　pressed　it　against　his　cheek；　then　slipped　back　into　the　night。
　
　Richard　sat　in　the　dark；　trying　to　swallow　past　the　lump　in　his　throat。　Long　after　she　was　gone　he　could　still　feel　the　place　on　his　cheek　where　she　had　put　her　finger；　her　kiss
　
　The　night　was　so　still　that　Richard　felt　as　if　he　were　the　only　one　awake　in…　the　whole　world。　Stars　flickered；　looking　like　Zedd's　magic　dust　frozen　in　place　as　the　moon　stared　silently　down　at　him。　Not　even　the　wolves　sang　tonight。　Loneliness　threatened　to　crush　him。
　
　He　found　himself　wishing　something　would　attack　just　so　he　would　have　something　else　to　think　about。　He　pulled　out　his　sword；　and　for　something　to　do；　polished　its　already　gleaming　blade　with　the　corner　of　his　cloak。　It　was　his　sword　to　use　as　he　saw　fit；　that's　what　Zedd　had　told　him。　Whether　Kahlan　liked　it　or　not；　he　was　going　to　use　it　to　protect　her。　She　was　hunted。　Anything　that　tried　to　touch　her　was　going　to　have　to　e　through　his　sword　first。
　
　The　thought　of　her　hunters；　the　quads；　and　Darken　Rahl　made　his　anger　heat。　He　wanted　them　to　e　now　so　he　could　put　an　end　to　the　threat。　He　hungered　for　them。　His　heart　pounded。　His　jaws　clenched。
　
　He　realized　suddenly　that　it　was　the　sword's　anger　awakening　his。　The　sword　was　free　from　its　scabbard　and　the　mere　thought　of　something　threatening　Kahlan　was　making　its　anger；　and　his　anger；　e　forth。　He　was　startled　at　how　it　had　seeped　into　him；　so　quiet；　so　unseen；　so　seductive。　Simply　perception；　the　wizard　had　said。　What　was　the　sword's　magic　perceiving　in　him？
　
　Richard　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard；　put　back　the　anger；　feeling　the　gloom　seep　through　him　once　again　as　he　resumed　his　scan　of　the　countryside　and　sky。　He　stood　and　walked　around　to　relieve　the　cramps　in　his　legs；　then　sat　once　more　against　the　rock；　inconsolable。
　
　An　hour　before　his　watch　was　due　to　end；　he　heard　quiet　footsteps　he　recognized。　It　was　Zedd；　a　piece　of　cheese　in　each　hand；　with　no　cloak；　wearing　only　his　simple　robes。
　
　〃What　are　you　doing　up？　It's　not　time　for　your　watch　yet。〃
　
　〃I　thought　you　might　like　the　pany　of　a　friend。　Here；　I　brought　you　a　piece　of　cheese。〃
　
　〃No；　thanks。　About　the　cheese；　I　mean。　I　could　use　the　friend　part；　though。〃
　
　Zedd　sat　down　next　to　him；　folded　his　bony　knees　up　to　his　chest；　and　pulled　the　robes　down　over　them；　making　himself　the　center　of　a　little　tent。　〃What's　the　problem？〃　Richard　shrugged。　〃Kahlan；　I　guess。〃　Zedd　didn't　say　anything。　Richard　looked　over。　〃She's　the　first　thing　in　my　mind　when　I　wake　and　the　last　thing　in　my　mind　before　I　sleep。　I've　never　felt　like　this　before；　Zedd；　never　felt　this　alone　before。〃
　
　〃I　see。〃　Zedd　laid　the　cheese　on　a　rock。
　
　〃I　know　she　likes　me；　but　I　get　the　feeling　she's　keeping　me　at　arm's　length。　When　we　were　setting　up　camp　tonight；　I　told　her　that　if　it　had　been　her；　like　Chase　today；　I　would　have　e　after　her。　A　while　ago　she　came　out　here　to　see　me。　She　said　she　didn't　want　me　ing　after　her；　but　she　meant　more　than　that。　She　meant　she　didn't　want　me　ing　after　her；　period。〃
　
　〃Good　girl；〃　Zedd　said　under　his　breath。
　
　〃What？？　。
　
　〃I　said　she's　a　good　girl。　We　all　like　her。　But　Richard；　she　is　other　things；　too。　She　has　responsibilities。〃
　
　Richard　frowned　at　the　old　man。　〃And　what　are　those　other　things？〃
　
　Zedd　leaned　back　a　little。　〃It's　not　for　me　to　say。　She　is　the　one　to　answer　that。　I　would　have　thought　she　would　have　done　so　by　now。〃　The　old　man　put　his　arm　around　Richard's　big　shoulders。　〃If　it　makes　you　feel　any　better；　the　only　reason　she　hasn't　is　because　she　cares　for　you　more　than　she　should。　She　is　afraid　of　losing　your　friendship。〃
　
　〃You　know　about　her　secrets；　and　Chase　knows；　I　can　see　it　in　his　eyes。　Everyone　knows　but　me。　She　tried　to　tell　me　tonight；。　but　she　couldn't。　She　shouldn't　worry　about　losing　my　friendship。　That　won't　happen。〃
　
　〃Richard；　she　is　a　wonderful　person；　but　she　is　not　the　one　for　you。　She　can't　be　that。〃
　
　〃Why？〃
　
　Zedd　plucked　something　off　his　sleeve　as　he　spoke；　avoiding　Richard's　eyes。　〃I　gave　my　word　I　would　allow　her　to　be　the　one　to　tell　you。　You　will　just　have　to　trust　me；　she　cannot　be　what　you　want。　Find　another　girl。　The　land　is　awash　with　them。　Why；　half　of　all　the　people　are　girls；　there　are　plenty　to　pick　from。　Pick　another。〃
　
　Richard　drew　his　knees　up；　folding　his　arms　across　them；　looking　away。　〃All　right。〃　Zedd　looked　up　in　surprise；　then　smiled　and　patted　his　young　friend's　back。
　
　〃All　right　on　one　condition；〃　Richard　added　as　he　scanned　the　boundary　woods。　〃You　answer　one　question；　honestly；　toasted　toads　honest。　If　you　can　answer　yes；　then　I　will　do　as　you　ask。〃
　
　〃One？　Only　one　question？〃　Zedd　asked　cautiously；　putting　a　bony　finger　to　his　thin　bottom　lip。　。
　
　〃One　question。〃
　
　Zedd　thought　about　it　a　minute。　〃Very　well。　One　question。〃
　
　Richard　turned　his　fierce　eyes　to　the　old　man。　〃Before　you　married　your　wife；　if　someone…tell　you　what；　let's　make　it　even　easier　for　you　to　say　yes…if　someone　you　trusted；　a　friend；　someone　you　loved　like　a　father；　if　that　person　had　e　to　you；　and　said　pick　another；　would　you　have　done　so？〃
　
　Zedd　looked　away　from　Richard's　eyes　and　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Bags。　You　would　think　by　now　I　would　have　learned　not　to　let　a　Seeker　ask　me　a　question。〃　He　picked　up　the　cheese　and　took　a　bite。
　
　〃I　thought　as　much。〃
　
　Zedd　threw　the　cheese　away　into　the　darkness。　〃That　doesn't　change　the　facts；　Richard！　It　will　not　work　between　you　two。　I'm　not　saying　this　to　hurt　you。　I　love　you　like　a　son。　If　I　could　change　the　way　the　world　works；　I　would。　I　wish　it　were　not　so；　for　your　sake；　but　there　is　no　way　for　it　to　work。　Kahlan　knows　it；　and　if　you　try；　you　will　only　hurt　her。　I　know　you　don't　want　that。〃
　
　Richard's　voice　was　calm；　quiet。　〃You　said　it　yourself。　I　am　the　Seeker。　There　is　a　way；　and　I　will　find　it。〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I　wish　it　were　so；　my　boy；　but　it　is　not。〃
　
　〃Then　what　am　I　to　do？〃　Richard　asked　in　a　broken　whisper。
　
　His　old　friend　put　his　skinny　arms　around　him　and　hugged　him　close　in　the　darkness。　Richard　felt　numb。
　
　〃Just　be　her　friend；　Richard。　That's　what　she　needs。　But　you　can　be　nothing　more。〃
　
　Richard　nodded　in　Zedd's　arms。
　
　After　a　few　minutes　the　Seeker；　a　suspicious　look　in　his　eye；　pushed　away；　holding　the　wizard　at　arm's　length。
　
　〃What　is　it　you　came　out　here　for？〃　〃To　sit　with　a　friend。〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃You　came　out　here　as　wizard；　away　from　the　others；　to　counsel　the　Seeker。　Now；　tell　me　why　you're　here。〃
　
　〃Very　well。　I　came　here　in　my　capacity　as　wizard；　to　tell　the　Seeker　he　almost　made　a　serious　mistake　today。〃
　
　Richard　took　his　hands　from　Zedd's　shoulders；　but　continued　to　hold　his　gaze。　〃I　know　that。　A　Seeker　cannot　put　himself　at　risk　when　by　so　doing　he　puts　everyone　else　at　risk。〃
　
　〃But　you　were　going　to　do　it　anyway；〃　Zedd　pressed。
　
　〃When　you　named　me　Seeker；　you　took　the　bad　with　the　good。　I'm　new　at　the　responsibilities　of　the　position。　It's　hard　for　me　to　see　a　friend　in　trouble　and　not　help。　I　know　I　can't　afford　that　luxury　anymore。　Consider　me　reprimanded。〃
　
　Zedd　smiled。　〃Well；　that　part　went　well。〃　He　sat　a　minute；　his　smile　faded。　〃But　Richard；　the　issue　is　bigger　than　just　what　happened　today。　You　must　understand　that；　as　Seeker；　you　may　cause　the　death　of　innocent　people。　In　order　to　succeed　in　stopping　Rahl　you　may　have　to　turn　away　from　those　who　might　be　saved　with　your　help。　A　soldier　knows　that　on　the　battlefield；　if　he　bends　to　help　a　downed　rade；　he　might　take　a　sword　in　the　back；　and　so；　if　he　is　to　win；　he　must　fight　on　despite　the　cries　for　help　from　his　fellows。　You　must　be　able　to　do　this　to　win；　it　may　be　the　only　way。　You　must　steel　yourself　to　it。　This　is　a　struggle　for　survival；　and　in　this　battle　the　ones　crying　for　help　probably　won't　be　soldiers；　but　innocents。　Darken　Rahl　will　kill　anyone　to　win。　Those　who　fight　on　his　side　will　do　the　same。　You　may　have　to　do　the　same。　Like　it　or　not；　the　aggressor　makes　the　rules。　You　must　play　by　them；　or　you　will　surely　die　by　them。〃
　
　〃How　could　anyone　fight　on　his　side？　Darken　Rahl　wants　to　dominate　everyone；　to　be　the　master　of　all。　How　could　they　fight　for　him？〃
　
　The　wizard　leaned　back　against　the　rock　and　looked　out　over　the　hills；　as　if　seeing　more　than　was　there。　His　tone　was　sorrowful。　〃Because；　Richard；　many　people　must　be　ruled　to　thrive。　In　their　selfishness　and　greed；　they　see　free　people　as　their　oppressors。　They　wish　to　have　a　leader　who　will　cut　the　taller　plants　so　the　sun　will　reach　them。　They　think　no　plant　should　be　allowed　to　grow　taller　than　the　short