tg.wizardfirstrule-第109节

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here　will　I　go；　Kahlan；　tell　me？　How　will　I　know　where　it's　safe？　I　could　walk　right　into　Rahl's　hands；　carry　the　box　right　to　him。〃
　
　〃Shota　said　you　are　the　only　one　with　a　chance。　Without　you　all　is　lost。　Not　me。　You。　She　said　that　if　I　live　。　。　。　Richard；　I　can't　allow　that。　I　won't。〃
　
　〃You　are　a　traitor　to　us；〃　he　whispered　viciously。
　
　She　shook　her　head　slowly。　〃Despite　what　you　think；　Richard；　I　do　this　for　you。〃
　
　Richard　screamed　and　threw　her　backward　as　hard　as　he　could。　She　fell　to　the　ground　on　her　back。　He　came　and　stood　above　her；　glaring　down；　dust　rising　around　his　boots。
　
　〃Don't　you　dare　say　that！〃　he　yelled；　both　hands　in　fists。　〃You　do　this　for　yourself；　because　you　haven't　got　the　stomach　for　what　victory　entails！　Don't　you　dare　to　say　you　do　this　for　me！〃
　
　She　came　to　her　feet；　keeping　her　eyes　on　him。　〃I　would　give　almost　anything；　Richard；　for　you　not　to　remember　me　in　this　way。　But　what　I　do；　I　do　because　I　must。　For　you。　For　you　to　have　a　chance。　I　have　sworn　to　protect　the　Seeker　with　my　life。　The　payment　has　e　due。〃　Tears　ran　down　her　face；　through　the　dust　on　her　cheeks。
　
　As　he　watched　her　turn　and　vanish　into　the　darkness；　Richard　felt　as　if　a　plug　inside　him　had　been　pulled　and　his　whole　self　was　draining　away。
　
　He　went　to　the　fire；　slid　his　back　down　the　log　until　he　sat　on　the　ground。　He　pulled　his　knees　up　with　his　arms　around　them；　put　his　face　against　them；　and　cried　as　he　had　never　cried
　
　CHAPTER　33
　RACHEL　SAT　ON　HER　little　chair　behind　the　Princess；　knocking　her　knees　together；　thinking　about　how　she　would　get　the　Princess　to　put　her　out　so　she　could　take　the　box　away　with　her　and　never　e　back。　She　kept　thinking　about　the　loaf　of　bread　with　the　box　in　it；　waiting　for　her　in　the　garden。　She　was　afraid；　but　excited；　too。　Excited　that　she　was　going　to　be　helping　all　those　people　so　they　wouldn't　get　their　heads　chopped　off。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　ever　felt　like　an　important　person。　She　twisted　the　hem　of　her　dress。　She　could　hardly　wait　to　get　away。
　
　All　the　lords　and　ladies　were　drinking　their　special　drink。　They　all　seemed　happy　to　be　doing　it。　Giller　was　standing　behind　the　Queen　with　her　other　advisors。　He　was　talking　quietly　to　the　court　artist。　She　didn't　like　the　artist；　he　scared　her；　he　always　smiled　funny　at　her。　And　he　only　had　one　hand。　She　had　heard　the　servants　talking　before；　that　they　were　afraid　the　artist　would　draw　a　picture　of　them。
　
　The　people　started　getting　scared　looks　on　their　faces。　They　were　looking　at　the　Queen。　They　started　to　stand　up。　Rachel　looked　over　at　the　Queen　and　saw　that　the　people　weren't　looking　at　her；　they　were　looking　at　something　else；　behind　her。　Her　eyes　got　wide　when　she　saw　the　two　big　men。
　
　They　were　the　biggest　men　she　had　ever　seen。　Their　shirts　didn't　have　sleeves　but　their　arms　had　metal　bands　on　them；　with　sharp　things　sticking　out。　The　men　had　big　muscles　all　over；　and　yellow　hair。　They　looked　like　the　meanest　men　she　had　ever　seen；　meaner　even　than　any　of　the　dungeon　guards。　The　men　looked　around　the　room　at　the　people；　then　went　and　stood　on　each　side　of　the　big　archway　behind　the　Queen　and　folded　their　arms。　The　Queen　huffed　and　turned　around　in　her　chair　to　see　what　was　happening。
　
　A　man　with　blue　eyes；　and　long　yellow　hair　and　white　robes；　and　a　gold…handled　knife　at　his　belt；　came　through　the　archway。　He　was　the　handsomest…looking　man　she　had　ever　seen。　He　smiled　at　the　Queen。　She　jumped　to　her　feet。
　
　〃What　an　unexpected　surprise！〃　she　said　in　her　nicest　dog　voice。　〃We　are　honored。　But　we　weren't　expecting　you　until　tomorrow。〃
　
　The　man　again　smiled　a　pretty　smile　at　her。　〃I　couldn't　wait　to　get　here；　to　see　your　lovely　face　again。　Forgive　me　for　being　early；　Your　Majesty。〃
　
　The　Queen　giggled　as　she　held　her　hand　out　for　him　to　kiss。　She　was　always　having　people　kiss　her　hand。　Rachel　was　surprised　at　what　the　nice…looking　man　had　said。　She　never　knew　anyone　who　thought　the　Queen　was　lovely。　The　Queen　took　his　hand　in　hers　and　brought　him　forward。
　
　〃Lords　and　ladies；　may　I　introduce　Father　Rahl。〃
　
　Father　Rahl！　She　looked　around　to　see　if　anyone　had　seen　her　jump；　taut　no　one　had；　they　were　all　looking　at　Father　Rahl。　She　was　sure　he　was　going　to　look　at　her；　and　see　that　she　was　going　to　run　away　with　the　box。　She　looked　at　Giller；　but　he　didn't　look　back。　His　face　was　white。　Father　Rahl　was　here　before　she　had　run　away　with　the　box！　What　was　she　going　to　do？
　
　She　was　going　to　do　what　Giller　had　told　her　to　do；　that's　what。　She　was　going　to　be　brave　and　save　all　those　people。　She　had　to　think　of　a　way　to　get　out。
　
　Father　Rahl　looked　around　at　all　the　people　who　were　standing　up　now。　The　little　dog　barked。　He　turned　to　the　source　of　the　sound　and　it　stopped　barking；　instead　it　began　to　whine　softly。　He　turned　back　to　the　people。　It　got　real　quiet。
　
　〃Dinner　is　over。　You　will　excuse　us　now；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。
　
　Everyone　started　whispering。　His　blue　eyes　watched。　The　whispering　stopped　and　they　started　to　leave；　first　slow；　then　faster。　Father　Rahl　looked　at　some　of　the　royal　advisors；　and　they　left；　looking　glad　to　be　doing　it。　A　few　he　didn't　look　at；　including　Giller；　stayed。　Princess　Violet　stayed；　too；　and　Rachel　tried　to　stay　behind　her　so　she　wouldn't　be　noticed。　The　Queen　smiled　and　held　her　arm　out　to　the　table。
　
　〃Won't　you　sit；　Father　Rahl；　I'm　sure　you　have　had　a　strenuous　journey。　Let　us　bring　you　something　to　eat。　We　have　a　lovely　roast　tonight。〃
　
　He　looked　at　her　with　blue　eyes　that　didn't　blink。　〃I　don't　approve　of　butchering　helpless　animals　and　then　consuming　their　flesh。〃
　
　Rachel　thought　the　Queen　was　going　to　choke。　〃Well；　then　。　。　。　we　also　have　a　lovely　turnip　soup；　and　some　other　things；　I'm　sure　。　。　。　there　must　be　something　。　。　。　if　there　isn't；　the　cooks；　will　make　whatever　。　。　。〃
　
　〃Perhaps　some　other　time。　I　am　not　here　to　eat；　I　am　here　for　your　contribution　to　the　alliance。〃
　
　〃But　。。。　this　is　sooner　than　expected；　we　haven't　finished　drawing　up　the　agreements；　there　are　many　papers　to　be　signed；　and　you　will　want　to　have　them　looked　over　first；　surely。〃
　
　〃I　will　be　only　too　happy　to　sign　anything　you　have　ready；　and　offer　my　word　that　I　will　sign　whatever　additional　documents　you　might　have　drawn　up。　I　trust　your　honesty　to　deal　with　me　fairly。〃　He　smiled。　〃You　don't　have　any　intention　of　tricking　me　somehow　with　these　agreements；　do　you？〃
　
　〃Well；　no；　Father　Rahl；　of　course　not。　Of　course　not。〃
　
　〃There　you　have　it；　then。　Why　would　I　need　anyone　to　look　over　these　papers；　if　you　are　being　fair　with　me？　You　are　being　fair；　you　say？〃
　
　〃Well；　of　course　I　am。　I　guess　there　is　no　need　。　。　。　but　this　is　most　unusual。〃
　
　〃So　is　our　alliance。　Let's　be　on　with　it；　then。〃
　
　〃Yes。　Yes；　of　course。〃　She　turned　to　one　of　her　advisors。　〃Go　get　whatever　of　the　alliance　treaty　you　have　ready　and　bring　it。　Bring　ink　and　pens。　And　my　seal。〃　He　bowed　and　left。　The　Queen　turned　to　Giller。　〃Wherever　you　have　secreted　the　box；　go　and　get　it。〃
　
　He　bowed。　〃Of　course；　Your　Majesty。〃　Rachel　felt　alone　and　afraid　when　she　saw　him　go　through　the　door；　his　silver　robes　flying　behind　him。
　
　While　they　waited；　the　Queen　introduced　the　Princess　to　Father　Rahl。　Rachel　stood　behind　Princess　Violet's　chair　after　she　went　to　have　her　hand　kissed。　Father　Rahl　bowed　to　her　and　kissed　her　hand　and　told　her　how　she　was　as　pretty　as　her　mother。　The　Princess　grinned　and　grinned　and　held　the　hand　he　had　kissed　to　her　breast。
　
　The　advisor　came　back　with　his　helpers；　they　each　carried　armfuls　of　papers。　They　moved　plates　aside　and　laid　the　papers　all　over　the　head　table；　pointing　to　where　the　Queen　and　Father　Rahl　should　sign　their　names。　One　of　the　helpers　dripped　red　wax　on　the　papers；　and　the　Queen　pressed　her　seal　into　it。　Father　Rahl　said　he　didn't　have　a　seal；　and　that　his　written　name　would　do；　that　he　was　sure　he　would　recognize　his　own　writing　in　the　future。　When　Giller　came　back；　he　stood　off　to　the　side　and　waited　until　they　finished。　The　men　started　gathering　up　all　the　papers；　arguing　with　each　other　about　which　order　they　went　in。　The　Queen　motioned　Giller　forward。
　
　〃Father　Rahl；〃　Giller　said　with　his　finest　smile；　〃may　I　present　you　with　Queen　Milena's　box　of　Orden。〃　He　held　the　fake　box　out　in　both　hands；　careful；　just　as　if　it　were　the　real　one。　The　jewels　all　sparkled　real　pretty。
　
　Father　Rahl　smiled　a　little　smile　as　he　reached　out　and　carefully　lifted　the　box　from　Giller's　hands。　He　turned　it　around　a　minute；　looking　at　the　pretty　jewels。　Then　he　motioned　one　of　the　big　men　with　all　the　muscles　to　e　forward。　When　he　did；　Father　Rahl　looked　him　in　the　eye　and　handed　him　the　box。
　
　With　one　hand；　the　man　squeezed　the　box。　It　shattered。　The　Queen's　eyes　got　real　big。
　
　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this！〃　she　asked。
　
　Father　Rahl's　face　got　scary…looking。　〃That　would　be　my　question；　Your　Majesty。　This　box　is　a　counterfeit。〃
　
　〃Why；　that's　simply　not　possible　。。。　there　is　no　way　。。。　I　know　for　a　fact　。。。〃　The　Queen　turned　her　head　to　Giller。　〃Giller！　What　do　you　know　of　this？〃
　
　He　held　his　hands　in