tg.wizardfirstrule-第24章

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　The　wizard　doesn't　point　to　someone　and　say；　‘Here　is　the　Sword　of　Truth；　you　will　be　the　Seeker。'　He　doesn't　really　have　a　choice　in　the　matter。　It　isn't　something　you　can　train　someone　for。　One　should　simply　be　a　Seeker　and　show　himself　to　be　so　by　his　actions。　A　wizard　must　watch　a　person　for　years　to　be　sure。　A　Seeker　doesn't　have　to　be　the　smartest　person；　but　he　has　to　be　the　right　person；　he　has　to　have　the　right　qualities　within　himself。　A　true　Seeker　is　a　rare　person。
　
　〃The　Seeker　is　a　balance　point　of　power。　The　council　made　the　appointment　a　political　bone　to　be　thrown　to　one　of　the　sniveling　dogs　at　their　feet。　It　was　a　sought…after　post　because　of　the　power　a　Seeker　wields。　But　the　council　didn't　understand：　it　wasn't　the　post　that　brought　the　power　to　the　person；　it　was　the　person　that　brought　the　power　to　the　post。〃
　
　He　edged　closer　to　her。　〃Kahlan；　you　were　born　after　the　council　took　this　power　upon　itself；　so　you　may　have　been　a　Seeker　when　you　were　young；　but　in　those　days　they　were　pretend　Seekers；　you　have　never　seen　the　real　thing。〃　His　eyes　got　round　in　the　telling；　his　voice　low　and　full　of　passion。　〃I　have　seen　a　true　Seeker　make　a　king　quake　in　his　boots　with　the　asking　of　a　single　question：　When　a　real　Seeker　draws　the　Sword　of　Truth　。　。　。〃　He　held　his　hands　up　and　rolled　his　eyes　in　delight。　〃Righteous　anger　can　be　an　extraordinary　thing　to　behold。〃　Kahlan　smiled　at　his　excitement。　〃It　can　make　the　good　tremble　with　joy；　and　the　wicked　shiver　in　fear。〃　The　smile　left　his　face。　〃But　people　rarely　believe　the　truth　when　they　see　it　and　less　so　when　they　don't　want　to；　and　that　makes　the　position　of　Seeker　a　dangerous　one。　He　is　an　obstacle　to　those　who　would　subvert　power。　He　draws　lightning　from　many　sides。　Most　often　he　stands　alone；　and　frequently　not　long。〃
　
　〃I　know　the　feeling　well；〃　she　said；　with　only　the　hint　of　a　smile。
　
　Zedd　leaned　closer。　〃Against　Darken　Rahl；　I　doubt　even　a　true　Seeker　would　last　long。　And　then　what？〃
　
　She　took　up　his　hands　again。　〃Zedd；　we　must　try。　It　is　our　only　chance。　If　we　don't　take　it；　we　have　none。〃
　
　He　sat　up；　pulling　away　from　her。　〃Any　person　the　wizard　picks　would　not　know　the　Midlands。　He　would　have　no　chance　there。　It　would　be　a　sentence　of　quick　death。〃
　
　〃That　is　the　other　reason　I　was　sent。　To　be　his　guide；　and　stand　with　him；　to　offer　my　life　if　need　be；　to　help　protect　him。　Confessors　spend　their　life　traveling　the　lands。　I　have　been　almost　everywhere　in　the　Midlands。　A　Confessor　is　trained　from　birth　in　languages。　She　has　to　be；　because　she　never　knows　where　she　will　be　called。　I　speak　every　major　language；　and　most　of　the　minor　ones。　And　as　far　as　drawing　lightning；　a　Confessor　draws　her　fair　share。　If　we　were　easy　to　kill；　Rahl　would　not　need　to　send　quads　to　get　the　job　done。　And　many　of　them　have　died　in　the　doing。　I　can　help　protect　the　Seeker；　if　need　be；　with　my　own　life。〃
　
　〃What　you　propose　not　only　would　put　someone's　life　at　terrible　risk；　as　Seeker；　dear　one；　but　yours　also。〃
　
　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃I　am　hunted　now。　If　you　have　a　better　way；　put　words　to　it。〃
　
　Before　Zedd　could　answer；　Richard　moaned。　The　old　man　looked　over　at　him　and　then　rose。　〃It　is　time。〃
　
　Kahlan　stood　up　next　to　him　as　he　lifted　Richard's　arm　by　the　wrist；　holding　the　wounded　hand　over　the　tin　plate。　Blood　dripped　onto　the　plate　with　soft；　hollow　sounds。　The　thorn　fell　out　with　a　small；　wet　splash。　Kahlan　reached　for　it。
　
　Zedd　grabbed　her　wrist。　〃Don't　do　that；　dear　one。　Now　that　it　has　been　expelled　from　its　host；　it　will　be　anxious　to　have　a　new　one。　Watch。〃
　
　She　took　her　hand　back　as　he　put　his　bony　finger　on　the　plate　several　inches　from　the　thorn。　It　wiggled　its　way　toward　the　finger；　leaving　a　thin　trail　of　blood。　He　took　his　finger　away　and　handed　her　the　plate。　〃Hold　it　from　underneath；　and　take　it　to　the　hearth。　Put　it　on　the　fire；　facedown；　and　leave　it　there。〃
　
　While　she　did　as　Zedd　requested；　he　cleaned　the　wound　and　applied　a　salve。　When　Kahlan　returned；　he　held　Richard's　hand　while　she　wrapped　it。　Zedd　watched　her　hands　as　she　worked。
　
　〃Why　have　you　not　told　him　what　you　are；　that　you　are　a　Confessor？〃　There　was　a　hard　edge　to　his　voice。
　
　Hers　came　back　in　kind。　〃Because　of　the　way　you　reacted　when　you　recognized　me　as　a　Confessor。〃　She　paused；　and　the　harshness　left　her　voice。　〃Somehow　we　have　bee　friends。　I　am　inexperienced　in　that；　but　I　am　very　experienced　at　being　a　Confessor。　I　have　seen　reactions　like　yours　all　my　life。　When　I　leave　with　the　Seeker；　I　will　tell　him。　Until　then；　I　would　very　much　like　to　have　his　friendship。　Is　that　too　much　to　ask；　to　be　allowed　the　simple　human　pleasure　of　a　friend？　The　friendship　will　end　soon　enough；　when　I　tell　him。〃
　
　When　she　finished；　Zedd　put　a　finger　under　her　chin；　raising　her　face　to　his　gentle　smile。　〃When　I　first　saw　you；　I　reacted　foolishly。　Mostly　to　the　surprise　of　seeing　a　Confessor。　I　had　not　expected　ever　to　see　one　again。　I　quit　the　Midlands　to　be　free　of　the　magic。　You　were　an　intrusion　into　my　solitude。　I　apologize　for　my　reaction　and　for　making　you　feel　unwele。　I　hope　I　have　made　it　up　to　you。　I　am　one　who　has　respect　for　the　Confessors；　perhaps　more　than　you　will　ever　know。　You　are　a　good　woman；　and　you　are　wele　in　my　house。〃
　
　Kahlan　looked　into　his　eyes　a　long　moment。　〃Thank　you；　Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander。〃
　
　Zedd's　expression　turned　more　dangerous　than　hers　had　when　they　had　first　met。　She　stood　frozen　with　his　finger　still　under　her　chin；　afraid　to　move；　her　eyes　wide。
　
　〃Know　this；　though；　Mother　Confessor。〃　His　voice　was　only　one　step　above　a　whisper；　and　deadly。　〃This。　boy　has　been　my　friend　a　good　long　time。　If　you　touch　him　with　your　power；　or　if　you　choose　him；　you　will　answer　to　me。　And　you　would　not　like　that。　Do　you　understand？〃
　
　She　swallowed　hard　and　managed　to　give　a　weak　nod。　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃Good。〃　The　danger　left　his　face；　leaving　calm　again　in　its　place。　He　removed　his　finger　from　under　her　chin；　and　began　to　turn　to　Richard。
　
　Kahlan　let　her　breath　out　and；　not　willing　to　be　intimidated；　grabbed　his　arm；　turning　him　back　to　her。　〃Zedd；　I　would　not　do　that　to　him；　not　because　of　what　you　said；　but　because　I　care　for　him。　I　want　you　to　understand　that。〃
　
　They　faced　off　a　long　while；　each　measuring　the　other。　Zedd's　impish　smile　returned；　as　disarming　as　ever。
　
　〃If　offered　a　choice；　dear　one；　that　is　the　way　I　would　prefer　it。〃
　
　She　relaxed；　satisfied　at　having　made　her　point；　and　gave　him　a　quick　hug　that　was　returned　earnestly。
　
　〃There　is　one　thing　you　have　left　unspoken。　You　have　not　asked　for　my　help　in　finding　the　wizard。〃
　
　〃No；　and　for　now　I　won't。　Richard　fears　what　I　would　do　if　you　were　to　say　no。　I　promised　I　would　not　ask　until　he　has　a　chance　to　ask　you　first。　I　gave　him　my　word。〃
　
　Zedd　put　a　bony　finger　to　his　chin。　〃How　interesting。〃　He　laid　his　hand　on　her　shoulder　conspiratorially；　and　changed　the　subject。　〃You　know；　dear　one；　you　might　make　a　good　Seeker　yourself。〃
　
　〃Me？　A　woman　can　be　Seeker？〃
　
　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Of　course。　Some　of　the　best　Seekers　have　been　women。〃
　
　〃I　already　have　an　impossible　job。〃　She　frowned。　〃I　don't　need　two。〃
　
　Zedd　chuckled；　his　eyes　sparkling。　〃Perhaps　you　are　right。　Now；　it's　very　late；　dear　one。　Go　to　my　bed　in　the　next　room　and　get　yourself　some　needed　sleep。　I　will　sit　with　Richard。〃
　
　〃No！〃　She　shook　her　head　and　plopped　down　in　the　chair。　〃I　don't　want　to　leave　him　for　now。〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃As　you　wish。〃　He　walked　behind　her　and　patted　her　shoulder　reassuringly。　〃As　you　wish：〃　He　gently　reached　up　and　put　a　middle　finger　to　each　of　her　temples；　rubbing　in　little　circles。　She　moaned　softly　as　her　eyes　closed。　〃Sleep；　dear　one；〃　he　whispered；　〃sleep。〃　She　folded　her　arms　down　onto　the　edge　of　the　bed；　and　her　head　sank　onto　her　arms。　She　was　deeply　asleep。　After　he　put　a　blanket　over　her；　Zedd　went　to　the　front　room　and　pulled　open　the　door；　looking　out　into　the　night。
　
　〃Cat！　e　here；　I　want　you。〃　The　cat　came　running　in　and　rubbed　himself　against　Zedd's　legs；　swishing　his　tail　up。　Zedd　bent　down　and　scratched　him　behind　the　ears。　〃G