tg.wizardfirstrule-第134节

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that　much　to　him。　I　told　you　we　have　a　wizard　with　us；　when　we　take　confessions。　One　reason　is　for　protection；　but　there　is　another　reason。　In　a　case　like　this；　where　the　person　is　unjustly　accused；　and　found　to　be　innocent；　he　is　still　left　touched　by　our　power；　he　cannot　be　returned　to　who　he　was。　So；　the　wizard　changes　him　to　something　else。　The　changing　takes　away　some　of　the　magic；　of　the　Confessor；　and　gives　him　enough　concern　for　himself　to　start　over　with　a　new　life。〃
　
　Richard　was　incredulous。　〃You　were　innocent？　And　yet　you　are　to　be　left　like　this？　For　life？〃
　
　〃pletely　innocent；〃　Brophy　confirmed。
　
　〃Brophy。〃　Kahlan　spoke　his　name　in　a　rising　tone　Richard　was　familiar　with。
　
　The　wolf　sank　back　down。　〃Of　killing　that　boy。〃　His　cowering　eyes　looked　up　at　Kahlan　as　she　watched　him。　〃That's　all　I　meant。　Innocent　of　killing　that　boy。〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　
　Kahlan　looked　over　to　him。　〃It　…means　that　when　he　gave　his　confession；　he　confessed　to　other　things　he　was　not　accused　of。　You　see；　Brophy　had　been　engaged　in　occupations　of　a　dubious　nature。〃　She　glanced　down　at　the　wolf。　〃At　the　gray　edges　of　law。〃
　
　〃I　was　an　honest　businessman；〃　the　wolf　protested。
　
　Kahlan　cast　an　eye　toward　Brophy　while　she　spoke　to　Richard。　〃Brophy　was　a　trader。〃
　
　〃My　father　was　a　trader；〃　Richard　said；　his　anger　rising。
　
　〃I　don't　know　what　traders　in　Westland　trade；　but　in　the　Midlands；　some　traders　deal　in　things　of　magic。〃　Richard　thought　about　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　〃So　what？〃
　
　Kahlan　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　〃Some　of　them　happen　to　be　alive　at　the　time。〃
　
　Brophy　rose　up　on　his　front　paws。　〃How　am　I　to　tell？　You　can't　always　tell。　Sometimes；　you　think　something　is　just　an　artifact；　like　a　book；　that　a　collector　will　pay　handsomely　for。　Sometimes　it's　something　more；　a　stone；　a　statue；　or　a　staff；　or　perhaps　a　。　。　。　Well；　how　am　I　to　know　if　they　are　alive？〃　。
　
　Kahlan　still　had　her　eye　on　the　wolf。　〃You　traded　things　of　magic　other　than　books　and　statues；〃　she　scolded。　〃In　this　innocent　business　of　his；　he　would　also　get　himself　into　disagreements　with　people。　Disagreements　such　as　rights　of　ownership。　When　Brophy　was　a　man；　he　was　as　big　for　a　man　as　he　is　for　a　wolf。　He　sometimes　used　his　size　to　‘persuade'　people　to　do　as　he　wished。　Is　this　not　true；　Brophy？〃
　
　The　wolf's　ears　wilted。　〃It's　true；　Mistress。　I　have　a　temper。　A　temper　as　big　as　my；　muscles。　But　it　only　came　out　when　I　was　wronged。　A　lot　of　people　think　they　can　cheat　traders；　they　think　we　are　little　more　than　thieves　and　will　not　stand　up　for　ourselves。　When　I　settled　disagreements　with　my　temper；　they　tended　to。　stay　settled。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　the　wolf　a　little　smile。　〃Brophy　had　a　reputation　that；　although　not　unearned；　was　larger　than　the　truth。〃　She　looked　up　at　Richard。　〃The　business　he　was　in　was　dangerous；　and　therefore　very　profitable。　Brophy　made　enough　money　at　it　to　support　his　‘hobby。'　Almost　no　one　knew　about　it　until　after　I　touched　him；　and　he　made　his　confession。〃
　
　The　wolf　put　his　paws　over　his　head。　〃Oh；　Mistress；　please！　Must　we？〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃What　was　this　‘hobby'？〃
　
　Kahlan's　smile　widened。　〃Brophy　had　a　weakness。　Children。　As　he　traveled　around　in　search　of　things　to　trade；　he　would　stop　at　orphanages　and　see　to　it　they　had　what　they　needed　to　take　care　of　the　children。　All　the　gold　he　made　ended　up　in　different　orphanages；　so　the　children　could　be　cared　for；　and　not　go　hungry。　He　twisted　the　arms　of　the　people　running　the　orphanages；　to　swear　them　to　secrecy。　He　didn't　want　anyone　knowing。　Of　course；　he　didn't　have　to　twist　very　hard。〃　Brophy's　paws　were　still　over　his　head；　and　his　eyes　squeezed　tightly　shut。　〃Mistress；　please；〃　he　whined；　〃I　have　a　reputation。〃　He　opened　his　eyes　and　rose　up　on　his　front　paws。　〃And　a　well　earned　one　at　that！　I've　broken　my　share　of　arms　and　noses！　I've　done　some　pretty　despicable　deeds！〃
　
　Kahlan　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　〃Yes；　you　have。　Some　were　reason　enough　to　get　you　thrown　in　prison　for　a　time。　But　none　were　reason　enough　to　chop　off　your　head。〃　She　looked　back　up　at　Richard。　〃You　see；　since　Brophy　had　been　seen　around　orphanages；　and　because　of　his　reputation；　no　one　was　too　surprised　when　he　was　accused　of　the　murder　of　a　little　boy。〃
　
　〃Demmin　Nass；〃　Brophy　growled。　〃Accused　by　Demmin　Nass。〃　His　lips　curled　back；　showing　his　long　teeth　as　he　growled。
　
　〃Why　didn't　the　people　at　the　orphanages　stand　up　for　you？〃
　
　〃Demmin　Nass；〃　Brophy　growled　again。　〃He　would　have　slit　their　throats。〃
　
　〃Who　is　this　Demmin　Nass？〃
　
　Kahlan　exchanged　a　look　with　the　wolf。　〃Remember　when　Darken　Rahl　came　to　the　Mud　People；　and　he　took　Siddin？　Remember　when　he　said　Siddin　was　a　gift　for　a　friend？　Demmin　Nass　is　that　friend。〃　She　gave　Richard　a　meaningful　look。　〃Demmin　Nass　has　a　very　sick　interest　in　little　boys。〃
　
　Richard　felt　a　stab　of　fear；　and　pain；　for　Siddin；　and　for　Savidlin　and　Weselan。　He　remembered　his　promise　to　try　to　find　their　boy。　He　had　never　felt　so　powerless。
　
　〃If　I　ever　find　him；〃　Brophy　growled　fiercely；　〃I　will　settle　a　few　scores。　He's　not　fit　to　die。　He　must　pay　first　for　the　things　he's　done。〃
　
　〃You　just　stay　away　from　him；〃　Kahlan　warned。　〃He　is　a　dangerous　man。　I　don't　want　you　hurt　any　more　than　you　have　been　already。〃
　
　The　wolf's　yellow　eyes　flared　angrily　at　Kahlan　for　a　moment　before　they　cooled。　〃Yes；　Mistress。〃　He　lay　back　down。　〃I　would　have　faced　the　executioner　with　my　head　held　high；　the　spirits　know　I　may　have　earned　it；　but　not　for　that。　I　would　not　let　them　kill　me　thinking　I　had　done　those　things　to　children。　So　I　demanded　a　Confessor。〃
　
　〃I　didn't　want　to　take　his　confession。〃　Kahlan　picked　up　a　stick　and　pushed　at　the　dirt。　〃I　knew　he　wouldn't　have　requested　a　Confessor　unless　he　was　innocent。　I　talked　to　the　judge；　he　said　that　in　view　of　the　crime；　he　would　not　mute　the　sentence。　It　was　death　or　a　confession。　Brophy　insisted　upon　the　confession。〃　Richard　could　see　the　firelight　reflecting　in　the　wetness　of　her　green　eyes。　〃Afterward；　I　asked　him　to　pick　another　creature　he　would　choose　to　be；　if　he　had　a　choice。　He　chose　a　wolf。　Why　a　wolf；　I　don't　know。〃　She　smiled　a　little。　〃I　guess　it　fits　his　nature。〃
　
　〃Because　wolves　are　honorable　creatures。〃　Richard　smiled。　〃You　haven't　lived　in　the　forest；　you've　lived　among　people。　Wolves　are　very　social　creatures；　have　strong　ties　and　relationships。　They　are　fiercely　protective　of　their　young。　The　whole　pack　will　fight　to　protect　them。　And　all　members　of　the　pack　care　for　the　young。〃
　
　〃You　understand；〃　Brophy　whispered。
　
　〃Really；　Brophy？〃　she　asked。
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress。　I　have　a　good　life；　now。〃　His　tail　swished　back　and　forth。　〃I　have　a　mate！　She's　a　fine　wolf。　She　smells　divine；　and　her　nips　give　me　shivers；　and　she　has　the　cutest　little　。。　。　well；　never　mind。〃　He　looked　up　at　Kahlan。　〃She　is　the　leader　of　our　pack。　With　me　at　her　side；　of　course。　She　is　pleased　with　me。　She　says　I'm　the　strongest　wolf　she　has　ever　seen。　We　had　a　litter；　this　last　spring。　Six。　They're　fine　pups；　almost　grown　now。　It's　a　fine　life；　hard；　but　fine。　Thank　you；　Mistress；　for　releasing　me。〃
　
　〃I'm　so　glad；　Brophy。　But　why　are　you　here？　Why　aren't　you　back　with　your　family？〃
　
　〃Well；　when　you　were　ing　down　out　of　the　Rang'Shada；　you　passed　near　my　den。　I　sensed　your　presence。　I　found　I　could　smell　you。　The　urge　to　protect　you　was　too　strong　to　overe。　I　know　you　are　in　danger；　and　I　can't　be　at　peace　in　my　pack　until　I　know　you're　safe。　I　must　protect　you。〃
　
　〃Brophy；〃　she　protested；　〃we're　fighting　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　It's　too　dangerous　for　you　to　be　with　us。　I　don't　want　you　to　lose　your　life。　You　have　already　sacrificed　too　much　to　Darken　Rahl；　through　Demmin　Nass。〃
　
　〃Mistress；　when　I　was　changed　to　the　wolf；　it　removed　most　of　my　need　for　you；　my　need　to　please　you。　Yet　I　would　still　die　for　you。　It　is　still　extremely　difficult　for　me　to　go　against　your　wishes。　But　in　this；　I　must。　I　will　not　leave　you　to　danger。　I　must　protect　you；　or　I　could　never　be　at　peace。　mand　me　to　leave　if　you　will；　but　I　will　not　go。　I　will　shadow　you　until　you　are　safe　from　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　〃Brophy；〃　Richard　said。　The　wolf　looked　over　to　him。　〃I　too　want　Kahlan　protected；　so　she　can　do　her　job　and　help　stop　Rahl。　I　would　be　honored　to　have　you　along。　You　have　already　proven　your　value　and　your　heart。　If　you　can　help　protect　her；　you　just　ignore　what　she　says　and　go　right　on　protecting　her。〃
　
　Brophy　looked　up　at　her。　Kahlan　smiled　at　him。　〃He　is　the　Seeker。　I'm　sworn　on　my　life　to　protect　him；　as　is　Zedd。　If　that　is　his　word；　then　I　must　go　along。〃
　
　Brophy's　muzzle　opened　in　surprise。　〃He　mands　you？　He　mands　the　Mother　Confessor？〃
　
　〃He　does。〃
　
　The　wolf　shook　his　head。　〃Wonder　of　wonders。〃　He　licked　his　lips。　〃By　the　way；　I　would　like　to　thank　you　for　the　food　you　have　left　me。〃
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　
　〃Whenever　he　trapped　food；　he　always　left　some　for　me。〃
　
　〃You　did？〃　she　asked。
　
　Richard　shrugged。　〃Well；　I　knew　he　was　out　there；　and　I　didn't　know　what　he　was；　but　I　didn't　think　he　meant　us　har