tg.wizardfirstrule- 第8节

　
　〃Please　get　me　a　piece　of　cheese？〃
　
　〃Sure。　What　kind？〃
　
　She　scanned　the　throng。　〃Any　kind。〃
　
　Richard　worked　his　way　back　through　the　crowd　to　the　food　table　and　picked　up　two　pieces　of　cheese；　eating　one　along　his　way　back　to　Kahlan。　She　took　the　cheese　when　he　handed　it　to　her；　but　instead　of　eating　it；　she　let　her　arm　slip　to　her　side；　and　let　the　cheese　fall　to　the　floor；　as　if　she　had　forgotten　she　was　holding　it。
　
　〃Wrong　kind？〃
　
　Her　tone　was　distant。　〃I　hate　cheese。〃　She　was　staring　past　him　to　a　spot　across　the　room。
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃Then　why　did　you　ask　for　it？〃　There　was　a　hint　of　irritation　in　his　voice
　
　〃Keep　looking　at　me；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　returning　to　his。　〃There　are　two　men　behind　you；　across　the　room。　They　have　been　watching　us。　I　wanted　to　know　if　it　was　me　or　you　they　were　watching。　When　I　sent　you　for　the　food　they　watched　you　go　and　e　back。　They　paid　no　attention　to　me。　It　is　you　they　are　watching。〃
　
　Richard　put　his　hands　on　her　shoulders　and　turned　her　to　see　for　himself。　He　scanned　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd；　to　the　far　side　of　the　room。　〃They're　just　two　of　Michael's　aides。　They　know　me。　They're　probably　wondering　where　I've　been　and　why　I　look　such　a　mess。〃　He　looked　into　her　eyes　and　spoke　softly　so　that　no　one　would　hear。　〃It's　all　right；　Kahlan；　relax。　Those　men　from　this　morning　are　dead。　You're　safe　now。〃
　
　She　shook　her　head。　〃More　will　follow。　I　should　not　be　with　you。　I　do　not　want　to　endanger　your　life　any　more　than　I　already　have。　You　are　my　friend。〃
　
　〃There　is　no　way　another　quad　could　track　you　now；　not　once　you　have　e　here；　to　Hartland。　It's　impossible。〃　He　knew　enough　about　tracking　to　feel　confident　that　he　was　telling　her　the　truth。
　
　Kahlan　hooked　a　finger　in　the　neck　of　his　shirt　and　drew　his　face　close。　There　was　a　flash　of　angry　intolerance　in　her　green　eyes。
　
　Her　voice　came　in　a　slow；　harsh　whisper。　〃When　I　left　my　homeland；　five　wizards　cast　spells　over　my　tracks　so　none　could　know　where　I　went；　or　follow；　and　then　they　killed　themselves　so　they　could　not　be　made　to　talk！〃　Her　teeth　were　gritted　in　anger；　and　her　eyes　were　wet。　She　was　starting　to　tremble。
　
　Wizards！　Richard　went　rigid。　At　last；　he　let　out　his　breath　and　took　her　hand　gently　from　his　shirt；　holding　it　in　both　of　his；　his　voice　barely　audible　over　the　din。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　
　〃Richard；　I　am　scared　to　death！〃　She　was　trembling　more　now。　〃If　you　hadn't　been　there　today；　you　don't　know　what　would　have　happened　to　me。　The　dying　would　have　been　the　best　of　it。　You　don't　know　about　those　men。〃　She　shook　uncontrollably；　giving　herself　over　to　her　fear。
　
　He　felt　goose　bumps　on　his　arms。　He　eased　her　back　behind　the　column　where　they　couldn't　be　observed。　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan。　I　don't　know　what　any　of　this　is　about。　You　know　at　least　some　of　it；　but　I'm　in　the　dark。　I'm　scared；　too。　Today　on　the　cliff　。。。　I've　never　been　that　afraid。　And　I　didn't　really　do　much　of　anything　that　would　have　saved　us。〃　Seeing　her　need　was　giving　him　the　courage　to　reassure　her。
　
　〃What　you　did；〃　she　said　struggling　to　get　the　words　out；　〃was　enough　to　make　a　difference。　It　was　enough　to　save　us。　No　matter　how　little　you　think　it　was；　it　was　enough。　If　you　hadn't　helped　me　。　。　。　I　don't　want　my　being　here　to　bring　you　to　harm。〃
　
　He　squeezed　her　hand　tighter。　〃It　won't。　I　have　a　friend；　Zedd。　He　may　be　able　to　tell　us　what　we　can　do　to　keep　you　safe。　He's　a…little　strange；　but　he's　the　smartest　man　I　know。　If　there's　anyone　who　would　know　what　to　do；　it's　Zedd。　If　you　can　be　tracked　anywhere；　then　there　is　no　place　for　you　to　run；　they　will　find　you。　Let　me　take　you　to　Zedd。　As　soon　as　Michael　gives　his　speech　we　will　go　to　my　house。　You　can　sit　in　front　of　the　fire；　and　in　the　morning　I'll　take　you　to　Zedd。〃　He　smiled；　and　pointed　with　his　chin　to　a　window　near　them。　〃Look　over　there。〃
　
　She　turned　to　see　Chase　outside　a　tall；　round…topped　window。　The　boundary　warden　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder　and　gave　her　a　wink　and　a　heartening　grin　before　resuming　his　scan　of　the　area。
　
　〃To　Chase；　a　quad　would　be　just　a　bit　of　fun。　While　he　was　taking　care　of　them；　he'd　be　telling　you　a　story　about　some　real　trouble。　He's　been　watching　out　for　you　since　we　told　him　of　the　men。〃
　
　…　That　brought　a　small　smile；　but　it　quickly　faded。
　
　〃There　is　more　to　it。　I　thought　I　was　going　to　be　safe　by　ing　to　Westland。　I　should　have　been。　Richard；　I　came　across　the　boundary　only　with　the　help　of　magic。〃　She　was　still　shaking　but　starting　to　regain　control　of　herself；　taking　strength　from　him。　〃I　do　not　know　how　those　men　came　across。　They　should　not　have　been　able　to。　They　should　not　have　even　known　I　left　the　Midlands。　Somehow；　the　rules　have　changed。〃
　
　〃We'll　deal　with　that　tomorrow。　For　now；　you　are　safe。　Be…　sides；　it　would　take　another　quad　days　to　get　here；　wouldn't　it？
　
　That　will　give　us　time　to　make　plans。〃
　
　She　gave　a　nod。　〃Thank　you；　Richard　Cypher。　My　friend。　But　know　that　if　I　bring　danger　to　you；　I　will　leave　before　it　can　harm　you。〃　She　took　her　hand　back　and　wiped　the　bottom　lids　of　her　eyes。　〃I　am　still　hungry。　Could　we　have　more？〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　〃Sure；　what　would　you　like？〃
　
　〃Some　more　of　your　little　treasures？〃
　
　They　went　back　to　the　food　and　ate　while　they　waited　for　Michael。　Richard　felt　better；　not　about　the　things　she　told　him；　but　because　at　least　he　knew　a　little　more；　and　because　he　had　made　her　feel　safe。　Somehow　he　would　find　the　answer　to　her　problem；　and　he　would　know　what　was　going　on　with　the　boundary。　As　much　as　he　feared　the　answers；　he　would　know　them。
　
　Whispers　rippled　through　the　crowd　as　heads　turned　to　the　far　side　of　the　room。　It　was　Michael。　Richard　took　Kahlan's　hand　and　moved　to　the　side　of　the　room；　closer　to　his　brother；　so　they　could　watch。
　
　As　Michael　stepped　up　onto　a　platform；　Richard　realized　why　it　had　taken　him　so　long　to　e　out。　He　had　been　waiting　for　the　sunlight　to　fall　on　that　spot；　so　he　could　stand　in　the　light　and　be　lit　in　its　glory　for　all　to　see。
　
　Not　only　was　he　shorter　than　Richard；　but　heavier　and　softer。　Sunlight　lit　his　mop　of　unruly　hair。　His　upper　lip　proudly　displayed　a　mustache。　He　wore　baggy　white　trousers；　and　his　white　tunic　with　bloused　sleeves　was　cinched　at　the　waist　by　a　gold　belt。　Standing　there　in　the　sunlight；　Michael　positively　gleamed；　casting　the　same　cold；　eerie　glow　the　marble　did　when　struck　by　the　sun。　He　stood　out　in　stark　relief　against　the　shadowed　background。
　
　Richard　held　up　his　hand　to　catch　his　attention。　Michael　saw　the　hand　and　smiled　at　his　brother；　holding　his　eyes　for　a　moment　as　he　began　speaking；　before　shifting　his　gaze　to　the　crowd。
　
　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　today　I　accepted　the　position　of　First　Councilor　of　Westland。〃　A　roar　went　up　from　the　room。　Michael　listened　without　moving；　then　thrust　his　arms　suddenly　into　the　air；　calling　for　silence。　He　waited　until　every　last　cough　died　out。　〃The　councilors　from　all　of　Westland　selected　me　to　lead　us　in　these　times　of　challenge　because　I　have　the　courage　and　vision　to　take　us　into　a　new　era。　Too　long　we　have　lived　looking　to　the　past　and　not　to　the　future！　Too　long　we　have　chased　old　ghosts　and　been　blind　to　new　callings！　Too　long　we　have　listened　to　those　who　would　seek　to　drag　us　into　war　and　ignored　those　who　would　guide　us　on　a　path　to　peace！〃　。
　
　The　crowd　went　wild。　Richard　was　dumbfounded。　What　was　Michael　talking　about？　What　war？　There　was　no　one　to　have　a　war　with！
　
　Michael　held　up　his　hands　again　and；　not　waiting　for　quiet　this　time；　went　on。　〃I　will　not　stand　by　while　the　Westland　is　put　into　peril　by　these　traitors！〃　His　face　was　red　and　angry。　The　crowd　roared　again；　this　time　with　fists　jabbing　the　air。　They　chanted　Michael's　name。　Richard　and　Kahlan　looked　at　each　other。
　
　〃Concerned　citizens　have　e　forward　to　identify　these　cowards；　these　traitors。　At　this　very　moment；　as　we　join　our　hearts　here　today　in　a　mon　goal；　the　boundary　wardens　protect　us　while　the　army　is　rounding　up　these　conspirators　who　plot　against　the　government。　They　are　not　the　mon　criminals　you　might　think；　but　respected　men　in　high　authority！〃