tg.wizardfirstrule- 第173节

　
　One　day；　after　the　afternoon　devotion；　when　Constance　had　gone　off　to　train　someone　else；　Denna　took　him　back　to　the　little　room　adjacent　to　her　quarters　for　his　afternoon　training。　She　hoisted　him　up　by　the　rope　until　he　was。　hardly　able　to　touch　the　floor。
　
　〃Mistress　Denna；　with　your　permission；　would　you　allow　Mistress　Constance　to　do　all　my　training　from　now　on？〃　His　question　had　an　effect　he　hadn't　expected。　It　enraged　her。　She　stared　at　him；　her　face　turning　a　deep　red；　then　she　started　hitting　him　with　the　Agiel；　driving　it　into　him；　screaming　at　him；　telling　him　how　worthless　he　was；　how　insignificant；　how　she　was　sick　of　his　talking。　Denna　was　strong；　and　she　beat　him　with　the　Agiel　as　hard　as　she　could。　It　went　on　and　on。
　
　Richard　couldn't　remember　her　being　so　angry；　so　severe；　so　cruel。　Soon　he　couldn't　remember　anything；　even　where　he　was。　He　convulsed　in　pain。　He　couldn't　say　anything　or　beg　her　to　stop；　or　even　breathe　most　of　the　time。　She　never　slowed　or　let　up。　She　just　seemed　to　get　angrier　as　she　hurt　him。　He　saw　blood　on　the　floor；　a　lot　of　blood。　It　splattered　all　over　her　white　leather。　Her　chest　heaved　with　her　effort；　her　rage。　Her　braid　came　loose。
　
　Denna　grabbed　his　hair　and　yanked　his　head　back。　She　gave　him　no　warning。　She　drove　the　Agiel　in　his　ear　harder　than　she　ever　had。　She　did　it　again　and　again。　Time　distorted　into　eternity。　He　no　longer　knew　who　he　was；　or　what　was　happening。　He　no　longer　tried　to　beg；　to　cry；　to　hold　on。
　
　She　stopped；　standing　next　to　him；　panting　in　ire。　〃I'm　going　to　dinner。〃　He　felt　the　agony　of　the　magic　e　on　in　him。　He　gasped；　his　eyes　going　wide。　〃While　I'm　gone；　and　I'm　going　to　take　my　time；　I've　leaving　the　pain　of　the　magic　on　you。　You　will　not　be　able　to　pass　out；　or　to　stop　it。　If　you　let　the　anger　get　away　from　you；　it　will　make　the　pain　worse。　And　it　will　get　away　from　you。　I　promise。〃
　
　She　went　to　the　wall　and　hoisted　the　rope　up　until　his　feet　were　off　the　floor。　Richard　cried　out。　His　arms　felt　as　if　they　would　be　torn　out。
　
　〃Enjoy　yourself。〃　She　turned　on　her　heels　and　left。
　
　Richard　balanced　on　the　edge　of　sanity　and　madness；　the　suffering　twisting　in　him；　making　him　unable　to　control　the　anger；　as　she　had　promised。　The　flames　of　his　hurt　consumed　him。　It　was　somehow　worse　that　she　wasn't　there。　He　had　never　felt　so　alone；　so　helpless；　and　the　pain　wouldn't　even　let　him　cry；　he　could　only　gasp　in　agony。
　
　He　had　no　idea　how　long　he　was　left　alone。　He　was　aware　only　of　suddenly　dropping　to　the　floor；　then　Denna's　boots　to　either　side　of　his　head　as　she　stood　over　him。　She　turned　off　the　pain　of　the　magic；　but　his　arms　were　still　clamped　helplessly　behind　his　back；　and　the　burning　inferno　of　pain　in　his　shoulders　didn't　extinguish。　He　cried　against　the　blood　on　the　floor　as　she　stood　over　him。
　
　〃I　told　you　before；〃　she　hissed　through　gritted　teeth；　〃you　are　my　mate　for　life。〃　He　could　hear　her　heavy　breathing；　the　rage　in　her。　〃Before　I　begin　doing　worse　to　you；　and　you　are　no　longer　able　to　speak；　I　want　you　to　tell　me　why　you　asked　to　have…Constance　train　you　instead　of　me。〃
　
　He　coughed　up　blood；　trying　to　speak。
　
　〃That　is　not　the　way　you　talk　to　me！　On　your　knees！　Now！〃
　
　He　tried　to　get　to　his　knees；　but　with　his　arms　behind　his　back；　he　was　unable　to。　Denna　took　a　fistful　of　his　hair　and　pulled　him　up。　Dizzy；　he　fell　against　her；　his　face　against　the　wet　blood　on　her　belly。　His　blood。
　
　She　pushed　him　away　from　her　with　the　tip　of　the　Agiel　against　his　forehead。　That　brought　his　eyes　open。　He　looked　up　at　her；　to　answer。
　
　Denna　backhanded　him　across　the…mouth。　〃Look　at　the　ground　when　you　speak　to　me！　No　one　gave　you　permission　to　look　at　me！〃　Richard　looked　down　at　her　boots。　〃You're　running　out　of　time！　Answer　the　question！〃
　
　Richard　coughed　up　more　blood；　it　ran　down　his　chin；　and　he　had　to　struggle　to　keep　from　vomiting。　〃Because；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　〃I　know　it　hurts　you　to　hold　the　Agiel。　I　know　it　hurts　you　to　train　me。　I　wanted　Mistress　Constance　to　do　it；　to　spare　you　the　pain。　I　don't　want　you　to　hurt。　I　know　what　it　feels　like　to　hurt；　you　have　taught　me。　You　have　already　been　hurt　enough；　I　don't　want　you　to　hurt　any　more。　I　would　rather　have　Mistress　Constance　punish　me　than　have　you　be　in　pain。〃
　
　He　strove　to　balance　himself　on　his　knees。　There　was　a　long　silence。　Richard　stared　at　her　boots；　and　coughed　a　little；　struggling　to　breathe　with　the　pain　in　his　shoulders。　The　silence　seemed　as　if　it　would　never　end。　He　didn't　know　what　she　was　going　to　do　to　him　next。
　
　〃I　don't　understand　you；　Richard　Cypher；〃　she　said　softly；　at　last；　the　anger　gone　from　her　voice。　〃The　spirits　take　me；　I　don't　understand　you。〃　She　walked　behind　him；　unhooked　the　device　that　held　his　arms；　and　walked　out　of　the　room　without　another　word。　He　couldn't　straighten　out　his　arms　properly；　and　fell　on　his　face。　He　didn't　try　to　get　up；　he　only　cried　against　the　bloody　floor。
　
　After　a　time；　he　heard　the　bell；　calling　them　to　the　evening　devotion。　Denna　came　back　in；　squatted　down　next　to　him；　put　her　arm　gently　around　him；　and　helped　him　to　his　feet。
　
　〃We　are　not　allowed　to　miss　a　devotion；〃　she　explained　in　a　quiet　voice；　hooking　the　chain　to　her　belt。
　
　The　sight　of　his　blood　all　over　the　white　lather　was　shocking。　There　were　strings　of　it　across　her　face　and　in　her　hair。　As　they　walked　to　the　devotion；　people　who　usually　spoke　to　her　averted　their　eyes　and　gave　her　wide　passage。　Kneeling　with　his　head　to　the　floor　hurt　his　ribs；　making　it　hard　to　breathe；　much　less　chant。　He　didn't　know　if　he　was　getting　the　words　right；　but　Denna　didn't　correct　him；　so　he　just　went　on。　How　he　stayed　upright　the　whole　time；　without　tipping　over；　he　didn't　know。
　
　When　the　bell　rang　twice；　Denna　rose；　but　didn't　help　him。　Constance　appeared；　a　rare　grin　on　her　face。
　
　〃My；　my；　Denna；　looks　like　you've　been　having　fun。〃　Constance　backhanded　him；　but　he　managed　to　stay　on　his　feet。　〃Been　a　bad　boy；　have　you？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress　Constance。〃
　
　〃Very　bad；　it　would　appear。　How　delightful。〃　Her　hungry　eyes　turned　to　Denna。　〃I'm　free。　Let's　go　teach　him　what　two　Mord…Sith　can　really　do。〃
　
　〃No；　not　tonight；　Constance。〃
　
　〃No？　What　do　you　mean；　no？〃
　
　Denna　exploded。　〃I　mean　no！　He　is　my　mate；　and　I'm　taking　him　back　to　train　him　as　such！　Do　you　wish　to　e　and　watch　when　I　lie　with　my　mate！　Do　you　want　to　watch；　too；　what　I　do　when　I　have　the　Agiel　between　my　teeth！〃
　
　Richard　shrank　back。　So　that　was　what　she　had　planned。　If　she　did　that　to　him　tonight；　as　badly　as　he　was　already　hurt　。　。　。
　
　People　in　white　robes…missionaries；　Denna　had　called　them…were　staring。　Constance　glared　back　and　they　hurried　off。　Both　women's　faces　were　red…Denna's　from　anger；　Constance's　from　embarrassment。
　
　〃Of　course　not；　Denna；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃I'm　sorry
　
　I　didn't　know。　I　will　leave　you　to　it。〃　She　gave　Richard　a　smirk。　〃You　look　to　be　in　enough　trouble　already；　my　boy。　I_　hope　you　are　up　to'　your　duties。〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　jab　in　the　stomach　with　her　Agiel；　and　walked　off。　Dizzy；　Richard　put　his　hand　across　himself　with　a　moan。　Denna's　hand　e　up　under　his　arm；　holding　him　up。　Denna　glared　after　Constance；　then　started　off；　expecting　him　to　follow。　He；　did。
　
　When　they　were　back　in　Denna's　quarters；　she　gave　him　the　bucket。　He　almost　collapsed　at　the　thought　of　filling　her　tub。
　
　Her　voice　was　quiet。　〃Go　and　get　one　bucket　of　hot　water。〃
　
　Richard　could　have　died　with　relief；　knowing　that　he　didn't　have　to　fill　a　tub。　He　retrieved　the　water；　a　little　confused。　She　seemed　to　be　angry；　but　Wasn't　directing　her　anger　at　him。　After　he　set　the　bucket　on　the　floor；　he　waited　with　his　eyes　cast　downward。　Denna　brought　the　chair　over。　He　was　surprised　she　didn't　have　him　do　it。
　
　〃Sit　down。〃　She　went　to　the　table　by　her　bed　and　came　back　with　a　pear。　She　looked　at　it　in　her　hand　a　moment；　turning　it　around　and　around；　rubbing　it　a　little　with　her　thumb；　then　held　it　out　to　him。　〃I　brought　this　back　from　dinner。　I　find　I　am　no　longer　hungry。　You　had　no　dinner；　you　eat　it。〃
　
　Richard　looked　at　the　pea