tg.stone of tears-第63部分

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ve　off　an　orange　glow。　You　will　bring　the　crystal　to　me　to　prove　you　have　done　the　job。’
　
　Ranson　swallowed。　‘Yes；　Sister。’
　
　‘Before　I　leave　tonight；　you　will　give　the　oath。’　She　pushed　the　figure　with　the　crystal　toward　him　until　he　took　it。　‘This　will　be　your　first　task　after　giving　the　oath。　Fail　it；　or　fail　any　of　the　tasks　to　follow；　and　you　will　wish　you　could　trade　places　with　your　friend。　You　will　wish　it　for　all　eternity。’
　
　He　stood　gripping　the　knife　in　one　hand　and　the　small　figure　in　the　other。　‘Yes；　Sister。’　He　stole　a　quick　glance　over　his　shoulder　at　the　man　crouched　on　the　floor　against　the　wall。　He　lowered　his　voice。　‘Sister；　could　you　。。。　could　you　still　his　tongue。　I　don’t　know　if　I　could　bear　him　talking　while　I　do　it。’
　
　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　‘You　have　a　knife；　Neville。　If　his　words　bother　you；　cut　out　his　tongue。’
　
　He　swallowed　and　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment。　They　came　open。　‘What　if　he　dies　before　the　magic　is　all　bled　away？’
　
　‘With　the　quillion　present；　he　will　live　as　long　as　there　is　any　significant　trace　of　it　in　him。　After　it’s　all　in　the　crystal；　it　will　begin　to　glow。　In　that　way　you　will　know　it　is　finished。　After　that；　I　don’t　care　what　you　do　with　him。　If　you　want；　you　may　finish　him　quickly。’
　
　‘What　if　he　tries　to　prevent　what　I　do？’　He　leaned　a　little　closer。　‘With　his　magic。’
　
　She　smiled　indulgently。　‘That　I　will　still；　with　his　collar。　He　will　not　be　able　to　stop　you。　After　he’s　dead；　there　will　be　no　life　force　to　hold　the　Rada’Han　on　him。　It　will　open。　Bring　it　with　you　and　give　it　to　me　when　you　bring　the　crystal。’
　
　‘And　what　about　the　body？’
　
　She　gave　him　a　hard　look。　‘You　know　how　to　wield　the　Subtractive。　I　have　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　teaching　you；　as　have　others。’　She　darted　a　glance　at　Weber。　‘Use　it。　Get　rid　of　the　body　with　Subtractive　Magic。　Every　last　scrap　of　it。　Every　last　drop　of　blood。’
　
　Ranson　straightened　a　little　and　nodded。　‘All　right。’
　
　‘After　you　have　finished　here；　and　before　you　e　to　me　at　dawn；　there　is　one　more　task　you　will　perform　this　night。’
　
　Ranson　took　a　deep　breath；　letting　it　out　slowly。　‘Another　task？　Must　I　do　another　task　this　night？’
　
　She　smiled　and　patted　his　cheek。　This　second　task　you　will　enjoy。　It’s　a　reward　for　doing　a　good　job　with　the　first。　Serving　the　Keeper　well　has　its　rewards；　as　you　will　find　out。　Failing　him　has　its　punishments；　as　I　hope　you　never　discover。’
　
　He　looked　suspicious。　And　what　is　this　second　task？’
　
　‘You　know　a　novice　named　Pasha？’
　
　He　let　out　a　grunt。　There　isn’t　a　man　in　the　palace　who　doesn’t　know　who　Pasha　Maes　is。’
　
　‘And　how　well　do　these　men　‘know’　her？’
　
　Ranson　shrugged。　‘She　likes　to　give　a　kiss　and　a　cuddle　in　a　corner。’
　
　‘Any　more　than　a　‘kiss　and　a　cuddle’？’
　
　‘I　know　a　few　men　who　have　had　their　hand　up　her　skirt。　I’ve　heard　them　talk　about　what　fine　legs　she　has；　how　they　would　give　up　the　gift　just　to　have　those　legs　around　them。　But　I　don’t　think　any　have。　Some　of　the　men　watch　out　for　her；　as　if　she　were　a　defenseless　kitten。　One　in　particular；　young　Warren；　keeps　a　watchful　eye　on　her。’
　
　‘Warren　is　one　of　the　men　she　likes　to　kiss　and　cuddle？’
　
　‘I　don’t　think　she　would　know　him　if　he　was　standing　in　front　of　her。’　He　chuckled　softly。　‘If　he　could　even　work　up　enough　courage　to　take　his　nose　out　of　the　archives　and　look　her　in　the　face。’　He　frowned。　‘So　what　is　the　task？’
　
　‘When　you　are　finished　here；　I　want　you　to　go　to　her　room。　Tell　her　how　you　are　to　be　released　tomorrow；　and　that　when　you　passed　all　your　tests；　the　Creator　came　to　you　in　a　vision。　Tell　her　that　the　Creator　told　you　in　this　vision　that　you　were　to　go　to　her　and　teach　her　how　to　use　the　glorious　gift　of　her　figure　that　He　had　given　her；　how　she　was　meant　to　use　this　gift　to　please　men；　so　that　when　the　special　task　He　has　for　her　is　revealed；　she　will　be　prepared。
　
　Tell　her　the　Creator　said　it　was　to　help　her　deal　with　her　new　one；　as　he　would　be　the　most　difficult　any　novice　has　ever　been　given。　Tell　her　the　Creator　revealed　to　you　that　He　made　this　night　hot；　so　she　would　sweat　between　her　breasts；　over　her　heart；　to　awaken　her　to　His　wishes。’　She　gave　him　a　smooth　smile。　‘Then；　I　want　you　to　teach　her　how　to　please　a　man。’
　
　He　stared　incredulously　at　her。　‘What　makes　you　think　she　will　believe　any　of　this；　or　go　along？’
　
　Her　smile　widened。　‘You　tell　her　what　I　told　you　to　tell　her；　Neville；　and　you　will　have　a　great　deal　more　than　your　hand　up　her　skirt。　She　will　probably　have　her　legs　around　you　before　you　finish　talking。’
　
　He　nodded　dumbly。　All　right。’
　
　She　glanced　deliberately　down　at　him。　‘I’m　glad　to　see　that　you　are　。。。　up　to　the　task。’　She　looked　back　to　his　eyes。　Teach　her　everything　you　can　think　of　to　please　a　man。　At　feast　everything　you　can　teach　her　by　dawn。　Teach　her　well。　I　want　her　to　know　how　to　make　a　man　happy；　and　keep　him　ing　back　for　more。’
　
　He　smiled。　‘Yes；　Sister。’
　
　She　put　the　tip　of　the　rod　under　his　chin；　lifting　it　a　little。　‘You　be　gentle　with　her；　Neville。　I　don’t　want　you　to　hurt　her　in　any　way。　I　want　this　to　be　a　very　pleasant　experience　for　her。　I　want　her　to　enjoy　it。’　She　looked　down　at　him　again。　‘Well；　do　the　best　you　can　with　what　you　have。’
　
　‘I’ve　never　had　any　plaints；’　he　snapped。
　
　‘Idiot。　Women　don’t　plain　about　that　to　men’s　faces；　they　plain　to　the　backs　of　their　heads。　Don’t　you　dare　jump　on　her；　please　yourself；　then　fall　asleep。　You　have　until　dawn。　I　don’t　want　you　sleeping　tonight。　You　make　sure　this　is　an　experience　she　remembers　fondly。　You　teach　her　well。　Everything　you　know。’
　
　She　pushed　up　with　the　rod　a　little　more。　‘This　may　be　a　pleasant　task；　but　it　is　a　task　for　the　Keeper　just　the　same。　Fail　in　this；　as　in　any　other；　and　your　service　will　end　abruptly。　But　your　pain　will　go　on　and　on。　Keep　alert　when　you　are　with　her。　In　the　morning；　I　expect　a　detailed　report　of　everything　you　have　taught　her。　You　will　report　every　bit　of　it。　I　need　to　know　what　she　knows　so　I　may　guide　her。’
　
　‘Yes；　Sister。’
　
　She　glanced　past　him　to　the　man　against　the　wall。　The　sooner　you　finish　here；　the　sooner　you　can　be　with　Pasha；　and　the　more　time　you　will　have　to　teach　her。’
　
　He　nodded　with　a　grin。　‘Yes；　Sister。’
　
　She　took　the　rod　away　and　he　let　out　a　breath。　With　a　gesture；　she　made　his　robe　float　to　her　hand。　She　shoved　it　at　him。
　
　‘Put　this　on。　You’re　embarrassing　yourself。’　She　watched　as　he　began　gathering　the　material　and　pulling　it　over　his　head。　Tomorrow　the　real　work；　the　real　task；　begins。’
　
　His　head　poked　through　the　robe；　his　arms　following　one　at　a　time。　‘What　work？　What　task？’
　
　‘After　you　are　released；　you　must　be　off　at　once；　in　the　service　of　your　homeland。　You　do　remember　your　homeland；　don’t　you？　You　are　going　to　go　to　Aydindril；　as　an　advisor　to　High　Prince　Fyren。　You　have　things　to　do　there。　Important　things。’
　
　‘Like　what？’
　
　‘We　will　talk　about　it　in　the　morning。　But　now；　before　you　can　do　the　first　task；　and　the