tg.stone of tears-第48部分

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　‘With　a　wail　of　anguish　like　none　I　have　ever　heard；　my　father　clutched　his　chest　and　fell　to　the　floor；　dead。’
　
　Richard　gazed　into　her　eyes。　‘I’m　sorry；　Kahlan。’　He　bent　and　kissed　her　forehead。　‘I’m　sorry；’　he　whispered。
　
　He　lay　back　once　more　and　put　the　stalk　of　grass　back　between　his　teeth。
　
　‘It　was　a　long　time　ago。’
　
　‘So；　what　does　that　make　you？　Are　you　a　princess；　or　a　queen；　or　something？’
　
　She　laughed　a　little　at　the　question；　at　how　strange　all　this　must　seem　to　him。　He　still　knew　little　of　her　life；　her　world。　‘No。　I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。　The　daughter　of　a　Confessor　is　a　Confessor；　not　the　daughter　of　her　father。’　She　felt　unfortable　about　seeming　to　belittle　her　father。　It　was　not　his　fault　her　mother　had　chosen　and　taken　him。　‘Do　you　wish　to　know　about　him？’
　
　He　shrugged。　‘Sure。　You　are　part　of　him；　too。　I　like　knowing　all　about　you。’
　
　She　thought　a　moment　about　what　his　reaction　would　be。　‘Well；　he　was　the　husband　to　Queen　Bernadine　when　my　mother　chose　him　as　her　mate。’
　
　‘Your　mother　chose　a　man　who　was　already　married？’
　
　She　felt　Richard’s　eyes　on　her。　‘It　is　not　as　it　must　seem　to　you。　The　marriage　between　him　and　the　queen　was　arranged。　He　was　a　warrior；　a　great　mander。　The　marriage　wedded　his　realm　to　the　lands　ruled　by　Queen　Bernadine；　creating　the　land　of　Galea。　He　did　it　for　his　people；　to　make　a　united　land　under　a　crown　that　could　stand　against　hostile　neighbors。
　
　The　queen　was　a　wise　and　respected　leader。　She　married　my　father　for　the　good　of　Galea；　not　for　herself。　She　and　my　father　had　no　love　for　each　other。　He　gave　her；　gave　the　people　of　Galea；　a　fine；　strong　daughter；　Cyrilla；　and　a　then　a　son；　Harold。’
　
　Then　you　have　a　half　sister　and　brother。’
　
　She　shrugged。　‘In　a　way。　But　not　in　the　way　you　think　of　it。　I　am　a　Confessor；　not　a　knot　in　the　string　of　royalty。　I　have　met　both　Cyrilla　and　Harold。　They　are　fine　people。　Cyrilla　is　the　Queen　of　Galea　now。　Her　mother　died　a　few　years　back。　Prince　Harold　is　the　mander　of　the　army；　as　was　his　father。　They　don’t　think　of　me　as　kin；　nor　I　them。　I　am　of　the　Confessors；　of　the　magic。’
　
　‘What　about　your　mother？　When　did　she　e　into　all　this？’
　
　‘She　had　just　bee　the　Mother　Confessor　at　the　time。　She　wanted　a　strong　mate；　one　who　would　give　her　a　daughter　with　strength。　She　had　heard　the　queen　was　not　happy　in　her　marriage；　and　went　to　speak　with　her。　Queen　Bernadine　told　my　mother　that　she　did　not　love　her　husband；　that　he　was　a　cuckold。　Even　though　she　loved　another；　she　respected　Wyborn　as　a　strong　man；　as　a　leader；　and　as　a　cunning　warrior；　and　would　not　condone　my　mother　taking　him　with　her　power。
　
　‘While　my　mother　was　thinking　on　what　she　would　do；　Wyborn　caught　the　queen　in　the　bed　of　that　lover。　He　nearly　killed　her。　When　my　mother　heard　of　this；　she　returned　to　Galea　and　solved　everyone’s　problems　before　he　could　add　the　murder　of　the　lover　to　the　beating　he　had　given　his　wife。
　
　Though　a　Confessor　has　many　things　to　fear；　being　struck　by　her　husband　is　not　one　of　them。’
　
　‘It　must　be　hard　to　have　to　choose　a　mate　without　loving　him。’
　
　She　smiled　and　pressed　her　head　against　him。　‘In　my　whole　life；　I　never　thought　I　would　be　able　to　have　anyone　I　love。　I　wish　my　mother　could　have　known　this　joy。’
　
　‘What　was　it　like　having　him　as　your　father？’
　
　She　folded　her　fingers　together　against　her　stomach。　‘He　was　as　a　stranger　to　me。　He　had　no　emotion　except　for　my　mother；　no　real　feelings；　except　for　devotion　to　my　mother。　She　wished　him　to　spend　time　with　me；　to　teach　me　the　things　he　knew；　so　he　was　overjoyed　to　do　so；　but　for　her　sake；　not　mine。
　
　‘He　spent　time　teaching　me　what　he　knew：　war。　He　taught　me　the　tactics　of　his　enemies；　how　to　steal　victory　from　a　much　larger　and　confident　force；　and　most　importantly；　how　to　survive；　and　triumph；　by　using　your　head　instead　of　rules。　My　mother　would　sit　sometimes　and　watch　as　he　taught　me。　He　would　look　up　and　ask　her　if　he　was　teaching　me　correctly。　She　told　him　he　was；　to　teach　me　so　that　I　might　know　the　skills　of　war　he　knew；　in　the　hope　I’d　never　need　them；　and　if　I　did；　so　that　I　might　survive。
　
　‘He　taught　me　that　the　most　important　quality　in　a　warrior　is　ruthlessness。　He　said　that　he　prevailed　many　times　by　being　ruthless。　He　said　terror　could　overwhelm　reason；　and　it　was　a　leader’s　job　to　bring　that　manner　of　terror　to　the　enemy。
　
　The　things　he　taught　me　helped　me　survive　when　other　Confessors　died。　Because　of　what　he　taught　me；　I　was　able　to　kill　when　there　was　need。　He　taught　me　not　to　be　afraid　of　doing　the　things　that　must　be　done　to　survive。
　
　‘For　the　things　he　taught　me；　I　loved　him；　and　I　hated　him。’
　
　‘Well；　I　love　him；　for　teaching　you　to　how　to　survive；　so　that　you　could　be　with　me　now。’
　
　Kahlan　shook　her　head　slightly　as　she　watched　a　small　bird　chasing　away　a　raven。　The　things　he　knew　were　not　the　horror；　those　who　make　you　do　them　to　survive　are。　He　never　wrongly　took　war　to　others。　I　shouldn’t　fault　him　for　knowing　how　to　triumph　when　he　was　forced　to　fight　a　war。　Richard；　perhaps　we　should　start　thinking　about　surviving　now。’
　
　‘You’re　right；’　he　said；　slipping　an　arm　around　her。　‘You　know；　I　was　thinking；　we’re　sitting　here　like　those　targets；　just　sitting　here　waiting　for　an　arrow　to　e　and　shoot　us；　waiting　to　see　what　will　happen　to　us。’
　
　‘What　do　you　think　we　should　do？’
　
　He　shrugged。　‘I　don’t　know。　But　if　we　keep　sitting　here；　sooner　or　later　we’re　going　to　get　shot。　Sooner　or　later　the　Sisters　are　going　to　e　back。　Why　should　we　just　wait　for　them　to　e　to　us？　I　don’t　have　the　answers；　but　I　can’t　see　how　sitting　here　is　going　to　help。’
　
　She　crossed　her　arms　under　her　breasts；　burying　her　hands　to　get　them　warm。　‘Zedd？’
　
　Richard　nodded。　‘Zedd　would　know　what　to　do；　if　anyone　would。　I　think　we　need　to　see　him。’
　
　‘What　about　the　headaches？　What　if　you　get　them　when　we’re　traveling？　What　if　they　get　worse；　and　you　don’t　have　even　Nissel　to　help？’
　
　‘I　don’t　know。’　He　sighed。　‘But　I　think　we　have　to　try。　Otherwise；　I　don’t　have　a　chance。’
　
　Then　let’s　leave　right　away；　before　they　get　worse。　Let’s　not　wait　for　anything　else　to　happen。’
　
　He　squeezed　her　shoulders。　‘Soon。　But　we　have　to　do　something　first。　Something　important。’
　
　Kahlan　twisted　her　head　around；　looking　up　at　him。　‘What？’
　
　He　smiled　down　at　her。　‘We　have　to　get　married；’　he　whispered。　‘I’m　not　leaving　until　I　get　to　see　this　dress　I　keep　hearing　so　much　about。’
　
　She　turned　and　hugged　him。　‘Oh；　Richard；　it’s　going　to　be　so　beautiful。　Weselan　smiles　the　whole　time　she　sews　on　it。　I　can’t　wait　for　you　to　see　me　in　it。　I　know　you　will　love　it。’
　
　‘Of　that；　my　wife…to…be；　I　have　no　doubt。’
　
　‘Everyone　is　looking　forward　to　it。　A　wedding　feast　among　the　Mud　People　is　a　big　party。　Dancing；　music；　actors。　The　whole　village　joins　in。　Weselan　said　it　will　take　a　week　or　so　to　prepare　everything；　once　we　give　the　word　to　start。’
　
　He　pulled　her　closer。　‘Word　is　given。’
　
　She　had　her　eyes　closed