tg.wizardfirstrule-第146节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ch　she　slipped　over　the　post　on　the　back　of　the　wooden　chair。
　
　〃The　magic　will　punish　you　for　going　against　my　wishes。　When　I　place　this　chain　somewhere；　it　is　my　wish　for　it　to　stay　there　until　I　remove　it。　I　want　you　to　learn　that　you　are　helpless　to　remove　it。〃　She　pointed　at　the　door；　which　stood　open。　〃For　the　next　hour；　I　want　you　to　try　your　best　to　make　it　to　that　doorway。　If　you　don't　try　your　hardest；　this　is　what　I　will　do　for　the　rest　of　the　hour。〃　She　put　the　Agiel　to　the　side　of　his　neck　until　he　was　on　his　knees；　screaming　in　agony；　and　begging　for　her　to　stop。　She　took　it　away　and　told　him　to　begin；　then　went　to　lean；　arms　folded；　against　a　wall。
　
　The　first　thing　he　did　was　simply　to　try　to　walk　to　the　door。　The　pain　buckled　his　legs　before　he　was　able　to　put　even　a　little　tension　on　the　chain；　and　stopped'　only　when　he　scooted　backward　toward　the　chair。
　
　Richard　reached　for　the　ring。　The　pain　of　the　magic　cramped　his　arms　until　he　was　shaking　with　the　strain　of　reaching　for　it。　Sweat　ran　off　his　face。　He　tried　backing　to　the　chair；　then　turning；　but　before　his　fingers　could　touch　the　chain；　the　pain　took　him　to　the　ground　again。　He　pushed　against　the　pain；　straining　to　reach　the　chair；　but　couldn't　get　there　past　the　pain；　the　effort　causing　him　to　fall　to　the　ground；　vomiting　blood。　When　it　ended；　he　held　himself　up　with　one　hand；　tears　dripping　from　his　face　as　he　held　his　stomach　with　his　other　hand　and　shook。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　saw　Denna　unfold　her　arms　and　stand　up　straight。　He　started　moving　again。
　
　What　he　was　doing　was　clearly　not　going　to　work。　He　had　to　think　of　something　else。　He　drew　the　sword；　thinking　to　lift　the　chain。　For　a　brief　instant；　and　with　the　greatest　effort；　he　managed　to　touch　the　chain　with　the　blade。　The　pain　made　him　drop　the　sword。　He　was　able　to　stop　the　hurt　only　by　putting　the　sword　back　in　its　scabbard。
　
　A　thought　came　to　him。　He　lay　down　on　the　ground；　and　in　a　quick　movement；　kicked　the　chair　out　from　under　the　chain　before　the　pain　could　paralyze　him。　The　chair　skidded　across　the　floor；　hit　the　table；　and　fell　over。　The　chain　fell　from　the　post。
　
　The　victory　lasted　only　the　briefest　of　moments。　With　the　chain　off　the　chair；　the　pain　elevated　to　a　new　height。　He　choked　and　gasped　against　the　floor。　With　all　his　effort；　he　clawed　his　way　across　the　stone。　Each　inch　he　moved　only　increased　the　pain　until　he　was　blinded　by　it。　His　eyes　felt　as　if　they　would　explode　from　his　head。　He　had　managed　to　move　only　about　two　feet。　He　didn't　know　what　to　do；　the　pain　wouldn't　let　him　move；　and　it　was　keeping　him　from　thinking。
　
　〃Please；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　whispered　with　all　his　strength；　〃help　me。　Please　help　me。〃　He　realized　he　was　crying；　but　didn't　care。　He　only　wanted　the　chain　back　on　the　chair　so　the　pain　would　stop。
　
　He　heard　her　boots　walking　toward　him。　She　bent　and　picked　up　the　chair；　righted　it；　and　replaced　the　loop。　His　pain　lifted；　but　he　couldn't　stop　crying　as　he　rolled　onto　his　back。
　
　She　stood　over　him　with　her　hands　on　her　hips。　〃That　was　only　fifteen　minutes；　but　since　I　had　to　e　help　you；　the　hour　starts　over。　The　next　time　I　have　to　e　help　you；　it　will　be　two　hours。〃　She　bent　and　pushed　the　Agiel　against　his　stomach；　making　pain　bloom　inside　him。　〃Understand？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　cried。　He　was　afraid　there　was　a　way　to　escape；　and　afraid　of　what　would　happen　to　him　if　he　found　it；　and　afraid　of　not　trying。　If　there　was　a　way；　by　the　end　of　the　hour；　he　had　not　found　it。
　
　She　came　and　stood　over　him　as　he…　rested　on　his　hands　and　knees。　〃Do　you　think　you　understand　now？　Do　you　understand　what　will　happen　if　you　try　to　escape？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress　Denna。〃　And　he　really　did。　There　was　no　way　for　him　to　ever　get　away。　Hopelessness　closed　around　him；　feeling　as　if　it　would　suffocate　him。　He　wanted　to　die。　He　thought　about　the　knife　at　his　belt。
　
　〃Stand　up。〃　As　if　reading；　his　mind；　she　spoke　softly。　〃If　you　should　think　you　would　end　your　service　as　my　pet；　think　again
　
　The　magic　will　prevent　it；　the　same　as　it　prevents　you　from　moving　the　chain　from　where　I　put　it。〃　Richard　blinked　numbly　at　her。　〃There　is　no　way　for　you　to　escape　me；　not　even　through　death。　You　will　be　mine　as　long　as　I　choose　to　let　you　live。〃
　
　〃That　won't　be　long；　Mistress　Denna。　Darken　Rahl　is　going　to　kill　me。〃
　
　〃Perhaps。　But　even　if　he　does；　it　will　only　be　after　you　tell　him　what　he　wants　to　know。　What　I　want　is　for　you　to　answer　his　questions；　and　you　are　going　to　do　what　I　want　without　hesitation。〃　Her　brown　eyes　had　the　hardness　of　steel。　〃You　may　not　believe　that　right　now；　but　you　have　no　idea　how　good　I　am　at　training　people。　I　have　never　failed　to　break　a　man。　You　may　think　you　will　be　the　first；　but　you　will　soon　be　begging　to　please　me。〃
　
　The　first　day　with　her　wasn't　over；　and　already　Richard　knew　he　would　do　almost　anything　she　said。　She　had　weeks　left　to　train　him。　If　he　could　have　willed　himself　to　die　on　the　spot；　he　would　have　done　it。　The　worst　thing　was　knowing　she　was　right；　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　to　stop　her。　He　was　at　her　mercy；　and　he　didn't　think　she　had　a　shred　of　it。
　
　〃I　understand；　Mistress　Denna。　I　believe　you。〃　Her　pleasant　smile　made　him　need　to　think　of　how　pretty　her　braid　was。
　
　〃Good。　Now；　take　off　your　shirt。〃　Her　smile　widened　at　the　puzzled　look　on　his　face；　and　the　way　he　started　unbuttoning　his　shirt　nonetheless。　She　held　the　Agiel　in　front　of　his　eyes。　〃It's　time　to　teach　you　all　the　things　the　Agiel　can　do。　If　you　leave　your　shirt　on；　it　will　be　covered　in　blood；　and　I　won't　be　able　to　find　a　fresh　spot　on　you。　You　are　going　to　see　why　the　outfit　I　wear　is　this　color。〃
　
　He　pulled　his　shirttail　out。　He　was　breathing　hard；　in　a　near　panic。　〃But　Mistress　Denna；　what　have　I　done　wrong？〃
　
　She　cupped　a　hand　to　the　side　of　his　face　with　mock　concern。　〃Why；　don't　you　know？〃　He　shook　his　head；　swallowing　back　the　lump　in　his　throat。　〃You　have　let　yourself　be　captured　by　a　Mord…Sith。　You　should　have　killed　all　my　men　with　your　sword。　I　think　you　could　have　done　it。　You　were　very　impressive；　as　far　as　you　went。　Then　you　should　have　used　your　knife　or　your　bare　hands　to　kill　me；　while　I　was　vulnerable；　before　I　had　control　of　your　magic。　You　should　have　never　given　me　the　chance　to　take　control　of　the　magic　from　you。　You　should　have　never　tried　to
　
　use　it　against　me。〃　　‘
　
　〃But　why　must　you　use　the　Agiel　on　me；　now。〃
　
　She　laughed。　〃Because　I　want　you　to　learn。　Learn　that　I　can　do　whatever　I　want；　and　there　is　no　way　for　you　to　stop　me。　You　must　learn　that　you　are　totally　helpless；　and　that　if　you　enjoy　any　time　without　pain；　it　is　only　because　I　choose　it。　Not　you。〃　The　smile　left　her　face。　She　went　to　the　table；　returned　with　manacles　held　with　a　length　of　chain。　〃Now。　You　have　a　problem　that　annoys　me。　You　keep　falling　down。　We　are　going　to　fix　that。　Put　these　on。〃
　
　She　threw　them　at　him。　He　struggled　to　control　his　breathing　as　he　latched　each　iron　band　to　a　shaking　wrist。　Denna　dragged　the　chair　over　to　a　beam；　made　him　stand　under　it。　She　stood　on　the　chair　to　hook　the　chain　to　an　iron　peg。
　
　〃Stretch　up。　It　doesn't　reach　yet。〃　He　had　to　stand　on　his　toes　and　stretch　before　she　could　get　it　hooked。　〃There。〃　She　smiled。　〃Now　we　won't　have　any　more　problems　with　you　falling　down。〃
　
　Richard　hung　from　the　chain；　trying　to　control　his　terror；　the　iron　bands　digging　into　his　wrists　because　of　his　own　weight。　He　knew　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　to　stop　her　before；　but　this　was　different。　It　amplified　his　helplessness；　made　him　all　the　more　aware　that　there　was　no　way　for　him　to　fight　back。　Denna　pulled　on　her　gloves；　walked　around　him　several　times；　tapping　the　Agiel　against　her　hand；　prolonging　his　anxiety。
　
　If　only　he　had　been　killed　trying　to　stop　Darken　Rahl…that　was　a　price　he　had　been　prepared　to　pay。　This　was　different。　This　was　death　without　dying。　Living　death。　He　was　not　even　to　be　allowed　the　dignity　of　fighting　back。　He　knew　what　the　Agiel　felt　like；　he　didn't　need　her　to　show　him　anymore。　She　was　only　doing　this　to　take　away　his　pride；　his　self…respect。　To　break　him。
　
　Denna　tapped　the　Agiel　against　his　chest　and　back　as　she　continued　walking　around　him。　Each　touch　of　it　was　like　a　dagger　knifing　into　him。　Each　touch　made　him　cry　out　in　pain　and　twist　on　the　chain；　and　he　knew　she　hadn't　even　really　begun　yet。　The　first　day　was　still　not　over；　and　there　would　be　many　more　to　e。　He　cried　at　his　helplessness。
　
　Richard　imagined　his　sense　of　self；　his　dignity；　as　a　living　thing；　saw　it　in　his　mind。　He　imagined　a　room。　A　room　that　was　impervious　to　anything；　to　any　harm。　He　put　his　dignity；　his　self　respect；　into　that　room；　and　locked　the　door。　No　one　would　have　a　key　to　that　door。　Not　Denna；　not　Darken　Rahl。　Only　him。　He　would　endure　what　was　to　e；　for　as　long　as　it　was　to　e；　without　his　dignity。　He　would　do　what　he　had　to；　and　someday　he　would　unlock　the　door；　and　be　himself　again；　even　it　if　was　only　in　death。　But　for　now；　he　would　be　her　slave。　For　now。　But　not　always。　Someday；　it　would　end。
　
　Denna　took　his　face　in　both　her　hands　and　kissed　him；　hard。　Hard　enough　to