tg.wizardfirstrule-第78章

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　His　eyes　went　from　hers　to　Savidlin；　and　then　back　to　hers　again；　before　he　yielded　and　angrily　thrust　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　Relieved；　she　turned　back　to　the　Mud　People　as　Richard　stepped　up　protectively　next　to　her。　Savidlin　and　the　others　had　been　watching　calmly。　They　didn't　understand　the　words；　but　they　seemed　to　grasp　the　meaning　of　what　had　happened。　Savidlin　looked　away　from　Richard；　to　Kahlan。　He　spoke　in　his　dialect。
　
　〃Who　is　this　man　with　the　temper？〃
　
　〃His　name　is　Richard。　He　is　the　Seeker　of　Truth。　〃
　
　Whispers　broke　out　among　the　other　members　of　the　hunting　party。　Savidlin's　eyes　sought　Richard's。
　
　〃Strength　to　Richard；　the　Seeker。　〃
　
　Kahlan　told　him　what　Savidlin　had　said。　There　was　still　a　hot　look　on　his　face。
　
　Savidlin　stepped　up　and　hit　Richard；　not　with　an　open　hand　as　he　had　hit　her；　but　with　his　fist。　Immediately　Richard　unleashed　a　powerful　blow　of　his　own　that　knocked　Savidlin　from　his　feet　and　sent　him　sprawling　on　his　back。　He　lay　dazed　on　the　ground　with　his　limbs　strewn　awkwardly　out。　Fists　tightened　on　weapons。　Richard　straightened；　giving　the　men　a　dangerous　look　that　kept　them　rooted　firmly　in　place。
　
　Savidlin　propped　himself　up　on　one　hand；　rubbing　his　jaw　with　the　other。　A　grin　spread　across　his　face。　〃None　has　ever　shown　such　respect　for　my　strength！　This　is　a　wise　man。〃
　
　The　other　men　broke　out　in　laughter。　Kahlan　held　her　hand　over　her　mouth；　trying　to　hide　her　own。　The　tension　evaporated。
　
　〃What　did　he　say？〃　Richard　demanded。
　
　〃He　said　you　have　great　respect　for　him；　that　you　are　wise。　I　think　you　have　made　a　friend。〃
　
　Savidlin　held　his　hand　out　for　Richard　to　help　him　up。　Warily；　Richard　plied。　Once　on　his　feet；　Savidlin　slapped　Richard　on　the　back；　putting　an　arm　around　his　big　shoulders。
　
　〃I　am　truly　glad　you　recognize　my　strength；　but　I　hope　you　do　not　e　to　respect　me　any　more。　〃　The　men　laughed。　〃Among　the　Mud　People；　you　shall　be　known　as　‘Richard　With　The　Temper。'　〃
　
　Kahlan　tried　to　hold　back　her　laughter　while　she　translated。　The　men　were　still　snickering。　Savidlin　turned　to　them。
　
　〃Maybe　you　men　would　like　to　greet　my　big　friend；　and　have　him。　show　you　his　respect　for　your　strength。　〃
　
　They　all　held　their　hands　out　in　front　of　themselves　and　shook　their　heads　vigorously。
　
　〃No；　〃　one　of　them　said　between　fits　of　laughter；　〃he　has　already　shown　you　enough　respect　for　all　of　us。〃
　
　He　turned　back　to　Kahlan。　〃As　always；　Confessor　Kahlan　is　wele　among　the　Mud　People。　〃　Without　looking　over；　he　gave　a　nod　of　his　head；　indicating　Richard。　〃Is　he　your　mate？〃
　
　〃No！　〃
　
　Savidlin　tensed。　〃Then　you　have　e　here　to　choose　one　of　our　men？〃
　
　〃No；　〃　she　said；　her　voice　regaining　its　calmness。
　
　Savidlin　looked　greatly　relieved。　〃The　Confessor　chooses　dangerous　traveling　panions。　〃　〃Not　dangerous　to　me；　only　to　those　who　would　think　to　harm　me。　〃
　
　Savidlin　smiled　and　nodded；　then　looked　Kahlan　up　and　down。
　
　〃You　wear　odd　things。　Different　from　before。〃
　
　〃Underneath；　I　am　the　same　as　before；〃　Kahlan　said　as　she　leaned　a　little　closer　to　make　her　point。　〃That　is　what　you　need　to　know。〃
　
　Savidlin　backed　away　a　little　from　her　intense　expression　and　gave　a　nod。　His　eyes　narrowed。　〃And　why　are　you　here？〃
　
　〃So　that　we　might　help　each　other。　There　is　a　man　who　would　rule　your　people。　The　Seeker　and　I　would　have　you　rule　yourselves。　We　came　seeking　your　people's　strength　and　wisdom　to　aid　us　in　our　fight。〃
　
　〃Father　Rahl；〃　Savidlin　announced　knowingly。
　
　〃You　know　of　him？〃
　
　Savidlin　nodded。　〃A　man　came。　He　called　himself'　a　missionary；　said　he　wanted　to　teach　us　of　the　goodness　of　one　called　Father　Rahl。　He　talked　to　our　people　for　three　days；　until　we　became　tired　of　him。　〃
　
　It　was　Kahlan's　turn　to　stiffen；　she　glanced　to　the　other　men；　who　had　started　smiling　at　the　mention　of　the　missionary。　She　looked　back　to　the　elder's　mud　streaked　face。　〃And　what　happened　to　him　after　the　three　days？〃
　
　〃He　was　a　good　man。　〃　Savidlin　smiled　meaningfully。
　
　Kahlan　straightened　herself。　Richard　leaned　closer　to　her。
　
　〃What　are　they　saying？〃
　
　〃They　want　to　know　why　we　are　here。　They　said　they　have　heard　of　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　〃Tell　them　I　want　to　talk　to　their　people；　that　I　need　them　to　call　a　gathering。〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　him　from　under　her　eyebrows。　〃I　am　getting　to　that。　Adie　was　right；　you　are　not　a　patient　person。〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　〃No；　she　was　wrong。　I　am　very　patient；　but　I　am　not　very　tolerant。　There　is　a　difference。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　at　Savidlin　as　she　spoke　to　Richard。　〃Well；　please　do　not　bee　intolerant　just　now；　or　show　them　any　more　respect　for　the　moment。　I　know　what　I　am　doing；　and　it　is　going　well。　Let　me　do　it　my　way；　all　right？〃
　
　He　agreed；　folding　his　arms　in　frustration。　She　turned　once　more　to　the　elder。　He　peered　at　her　sharply　and　asked　something　that　surprised　her。
　
　〃Did　Richard　With　The　Temper　bring　us　the　rains？〃
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　〃Well；　I　guess　you　could　say　that。　〃　She　was　confused　by　the　question　and　didn't　know　what　to　say；　so　told　him　the　truth。　〃The　clouds　follow　him。　〃
　
　The　elder　studied　her　face　intently　and　nodded。　She　didn't　feel　fortable　under　his　gaze；　and　sought　to　bring　the　conversation　back　to　the　reason　for　her　visit。
　
　〃Savidlin；　the　Seeker　has　e　to　see　your　people　on　my　advice。　He　is　not　here　to　harm　or　interfere　with　your　people。　You　know　me。　l　have　been　among　you　before。　You　know　of　my　respect　for　the　Mud　People。　1　would　not　bring　another　to　you　unless　it　was　important。　Right　now；　time　is　our　enemy。　〃
　
　Savidlin　considered　what　she　had　said　for　a　while；　then　at　last　spoke。
　
　〃As　1　said　before；　you　are　wele　among　us。　〃　He　looked　up　with　a　grin　at　the　Seeker；　then　back　to　her。　〃Richard　With　The　Temper　is　most　wele　in　our　village　too。　〃
　
　The　other　men　were　pleased　with　the　decision；　they　all　seemed　to　like　Richard。　They　gathered　up　their　things；　including　two　deer　and　a　wild　boar；　each　tied　to　a　carrying　pole。　Kahlan　hadn't　seen　the　result　of　their　hunt　before　because　it　had　been　hidden　in　the　tall　grass。　As　they　all　started　off　down　the　path；　the　men　gathered　about　Richard；　touching　him　cautiously　and　jabbering　questions　he　couldn't　understand。　Savidlin　clapped　him　on　the　shoulders；　looking　forward　to　showing　off　his　big　new　friend　to　the　village。　Kahlan　went　along　beside　him；　for　the　most　part　ignored；　and　happy　that　so　far　they　liked　Richard。　She　understood　the　feeling…it　was　hard　to　dislike　him…but　there　was　some　other　reason　for　their　ready　acceptance　of　him。　She　worried　about　what　that　reason　could　be。
　
　〃I　told　you　I　would　win　them　over；〃　Richard　said　with　a　grin　as　he　looked　at　her　over　their　heads。　〃I　just　never　thought　I　would　do　it　by　laying　one　of　them　out。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　23
　CHICKENS　SCATTERED　AT　THEIR　feet　as　the　hunting　party　surrounding　Kahlan　and　Richard　led　them　into　the　Mud　People's　village。　Set　on　a　slight　rise　that　passed　for　a　hill　in　the　grasslands　of　the　Wilds；　the　village　was　a　collection　of　buildings　constructed　of　a　kind　of　mud　brick；　surfaced　with　a　tan　clay　plaster　and　topped　with　grass　roofs　that　leaked　as　they　became　dry；　and　had　to　be　replaced　constantly　to　keep　the　rain　at　bay。　There　were　wood　doors；　but　no　glass　in　the　windows　of　the　thick　walls；　only　cloth　hanging　in　some　to　keep　out　the　weather。
　
　Set　in　a　rough　circle　around　an　open　area；　the　buildings　were　one…room　family　homes　clustered　tightly　on　the　south　side；　most　sharing　at　least　one　mon　wall；　narrow　walkways　passing　between　the　homes　here　and　there；　and　munal　buildings　grouped　together　on　the　north。　A　variety　of　structures　placed　loosely　on　the　east　and　west　separated　them。　Some　of　these　were　nothing　more　than　four　poles　with　grass　roofs；　used　as　places　to　eat；　or　as　work　areas　for　making　weapons　and　pottery；　or　as　food　preparation　and　cooking　areas。　In　dry　times　the　whole　village　was　shrouded　in　a　fog　of　dust　that　clogged　the　eyes；　nose；　and　tongue；　but　now　its　buildings　were　washed　clean　by　the　rain；　and　on　the　ground　a　thousand　footprints　were　turned　to　puddles　that　reflected　the　drab　buildings　above。