tg.wizardfirstrule-第35节

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　or　death；　not　by　their　choice；　but　by　Darken　Rahl's。　Chase　looked　from　one　to　the　other　as　they　spoke；　understanding　the　seriousness　of　what　they　were　telling　him；　appearing　grim　at　the　telling　of　the　story　of　the　magic　of　Orden。　They　didn't　have　to　convince　him　of　the　truth　of　it；　he　was　a　man　who　had　seen　more　than　they　would　probably　ever　know。　He　asked　few　questions；　and　listened　carefully。
　
　He　did　enjoy　the　story　of　what　Zedd　had　done　to　the　mob。　His　booming　laugh　filled　the　room　until　his　laughter　dissolved　in　tears。
　
　The　door　opened；　and　Kahlan　and　Emma　stepped　into　the　light。　Kahlan　was　outfitted　in　fine　forest　garb；　dark　green　pants　with　a　wide　belt；　tan　shirt；　dark　cloak；　and　a　good　pack。　The　boots　and　waist　pouch　were　her　own。　She　looked　ready　to　live　a　life　in　the　woods。　Still；　her　hair；　her　face；　her　figure；　and　mostly　her　bearing；　spoke　that　she　was　more。
　
　Richard　introduced　her　to　Chase。　〃My　guide。〃
　
　Chase　lifted　an　eyebrow。
　
　Emma　saw　the　sword；　and　by　her　expression　Richard　knew　she　understood。　She　moved　behind　her　husband　again；　not　touching　his　hair；　but　simply　resting　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　wanting　to　be　near　him。　She　knew　trouble　visited　this　night。　Richard　sheathed　the　sword；　and　Kahlan　came　and　sat　next　to　him　as　he　finished　relating　the　rest　of　the　events　of　the　night。　When　he　was　done；　they　all　pat　in　silence　for　a　few　minutes。
　
　〃What　can　I　do　to　help　you；　Richard？〃　Chase　…finally　asked。
　
　Richard　spoke　softly；　but　firmly。　〃Tell　me　where　the　pass　is。〃　Chase's　eyes　came　up　sharply。　〃What　pass？〃　His　old　defensiveness　was　still　in　evidence。
　
　〃The　pass　across　the　boundary。　I　know　about　it；　I　just　don't　know　exactly　where　it　is；　and　I　don't　have　time　to　search。〃　Richard　didn't　have　time　to　play　these　games　and　felt　his　anger　rising。
　
　〃Who　told　you　this？〃　'
　
　〃Chase！　Answer　the　question！〃
　
　The　other　smiled　a　little。　〃One　condition。　I　take　you　there。〃
　
　Richard　thought　about　the　children。　Chase　was　used　to　danger；　but　this　was　different。　〃That　isn't　necessary；〃
　
　Chase　gave　Richard　an　appraising　look。　〃It　is　to　me。　It's　a　dangerous　place。　You　three　don't　know　what　you're　getting　yourselves　into。　I　won't　send　you　there　alone。　And　the　boundary　is　my　responsibility。　If　you　want　me　to　tell　you；　then　I'm　going。〃
　
　Everyone　waited　while　Richard　considered　this　a　moment。　Chase　didn't　bluff；　and　time　was　dear。　Richard　had　no　choice。　〃Chase；　we　would　be　honored　to　have　you　with　us。〃
　
　〃Good。〃　He　slapped　his　hand　on　the　table。　〃The　pass　is　called　the　Kings'　Port。　It's　in　a　foul　place　called　Southaven。　Four；　maybe　five　days'　ride　on　horseback；　if　we　take　Hawkers　Trail。　Since　you're　in　a　hurry；　that's　the　way　you'll　want　to　be　going。　It　will　be　light　in　a　few　hours。　The　three　of　you　need　to　get　some　sleep。　Emma　and　I　will　get　the　provisions　together。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　12
　　IT　SEEMED　THAT　HE　had　just　fallen　asleep　when　Emma　woke　him　and　led　them　down　to　breakfast。　The　sun　wasn't　up　yet；　nor　was　anyone　else　in　the　house；　but　roosters　were　already　crowing　at　the　lightening　of　the　new　day。　The　aromas　of　cooking　made　him　instantly　hungry。　Emma；　smiling；　but　not　as　brightly　as　the　night　before；　dished　out　a　big　breakfast　and　said　Chase　had　already　eaten　and　was　loading　the　horses。　Richard　had　always　thought　Kahlan　looked　alluring　in　her　unusual　dress。　He　decided　her　new　outfit　didn't　lessen　her　appeal　in　the　least。　While　Kahlan　and　Emma　talked　about　the　children；　and　Zedd　gushed　pliments　about　the　food；　Richard's　mind　fretted　on。　what　lay　ahead。
　
　The　light　dimmed　a　little　as　Chase's　form　filled　the　doorway。　Kahlan　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　him。　He　was　wearing　a　chain　mail　shirt　over　a　tan　leather　tunic；　heavy　black　pants；　boots；　and　cloak。　Black　gauntlets　were　tucked　behind　a　wide　black　belt　set　with　a　large　silver　buckle　emblazoned　with　the　emblem　of　the　boundary　wardens。　Strapped　everywhere　were　enough　armaments　to　outfit　a　small　army。　On　an　ordinary　man　the　effect　would　have　been　silly；　on　Chase　it　was　frightening。　He　was　an　image　of　overt　threat；　deadly　with　every　weapon　he　carried。　Chase　had　two　basic　expressions　he　wore　most　of　the　time；　the　first　a　look　of　feigned　ignorant　disinterest；　the　second；　one　that　made　him　seem　as　if　he　was　about　to　participate　in　a　slaughter。　He　wore　the　second　this　day。
　
　On　their　way　out；　Emma　handed　Zedd　a　bundle。　〃Fried　chicken；〃　she　said。　He　gave　her　a　big　grin　and　kissed　her　forehead。　Kahlan　gave　her　a　hug　and　promised　to　see　that　the　clothes　were　returned。　Richard　bent　and　gave　Emma　a　warm　embrace。　〃Be　careful；〃　she　whispered　in　his　ear。　She　gave　her　husband　a　kiss　on　the　cheek　that　he　accepted　graciously。
　
　Chase　handed　Kahlan　a　sheathed　long　knife；　telling　her　to　wear　it　at　all　times。　Richard　asked　if　he　could　borrow　a　knife；　too；　as　he　had　left　his　home。　Chase's　fingers　deftly　found　the　strap　he　wanted　among　the　tangle；　freed　it；　and　handed　a　knife　to　Richard。　。
　
　Kahlan　eyed　all　the　weaponry。　〃Do　you　think　you　will　need　all　those？〃　‘
　
　He　gave　her　a　crooked　smile。　〃If　I　didn't　take　them；　I　know　I　would。〃
　
　The　small　pany；　Chase　leading；　followed　by　Zedd；　then　Kahlan；　with　Richard　bringing　up　the　rear；　settled　into　a　fortable　pace　through　the　Hartland　Woods。　It　was　a　bright　autumn　morning　with　a　chill　to　the　air。　A　hawk　wheeled　in　the　sky　over　their　heads；　a　sign　of　warning　at　the　beginning　of　a　journey。　Richard　thought　to　himself　that　the　sign　was　totally　unnecessary。
　
　By　midmorning　they　had　left　the　Hartland　Valley　and　passed　into　the　upper　Ven　Forest；　joining　Hawkers　Trail　below　Trunt　Lake；　and　turned　south；　with　the　snakelike　cloud　in　slow　pursuit。　Richard　was　glad　to　be　leading　it　away　from　Chase's　house　and　children。　He　was　troubled　that　they　had　to　travel　so　far　to　the　south　to　cross　the　boundary；　for　time　was　dear。　But　Chase　had　said　that　if　there　was　another　pass；　he　didn't　know　about　it。
　
　Hardwood　forests　gave　way　to　stands　of　ancient　pines。　Passing　among　them　was　like　traveling　through　a　canyon。　The　trunks　soared　to　dizzying　heights　before　the　limbs　branched　out；　and　Richard　felt　small　in　the　deep　shade　of　the　old　trees。　He　had　always　been　at　ease　traveling。　He　did　it　often；　and　the　familiar　places　they　passed　made　it　seem　to　be　just　another　trek；　but　this　trip　was　not　the　same。　They　were　going　'places　he　had　never　been。　Dangerous　places。　Chase　was　concerned；　and　had　warned　them。　This　alone　gave　Richard　pause；　for　Chase　was　not　a　man　to　worry　over　nothing；　in　fact；　Richard　had　often　thought　he　worried　far　too　little。
　
　Richard　watched　the　other　three　as　they　rode：　Chase；　a　black　wraith　upon　his　horse；　armed　to　the　teeth；　feared　by　the　people　he　protected　as　well　as　the　ones　he　hunted；　but　somehow；　not　by　children；　the　wisp　of　a　wizard；　sticklike　Zedd；　unassuming；　hardly　more　than　a　smile；　white　hair；　and　simple　robes；　content　to　carry　nothing　more　than　a　bundle　of　fried　chicken；　but　wielder　of　wizard's　fire　and　who　knew　what　else；　and　Kahlan；　courageous；　determined；　and　keeper　of　some　secret　power；　sent　to　threaten　a　wizard　into　naming　the　Seeker。　The　three　of　them　were　his　friends；　yet　each　in　their　own　way　made　him　uneasy。　He　wondered　who　was　the　most　dangerous。　They　followed　him　unquestioningly；　yet　led　him　at　the　same　time。　The　three　of　them；　all；　sworn　to　protect　the　Seeker　with　their　lives。　And　yet；　none　of　the　small　pany；　singly　or　together；　was　a　match　for　Darken　Rahl。　The　whole　of　their　task　seemed　hopeless。
　
　Zedd　was　already　into　the　chicken。　Periodically　he　would　toss　a　bone　over　his　shoulder。　After　a　while　he　thought　to　offer　a　piece　to　the　others。　Chase　declined；　as　he　kept　up　a　continual　scan　of　their　surroundings；　paying　particular　attention　to　the　left　side　of　the　trail；　to　the　boundary。　The　other　two　accepted。　The　chicken　had　lasted　longer　than　Richard　thought　it　would。　When　the　trail　widened；　he　brought　his　horse　up　with　Kahlan's　and　rode　next　to　her。　She　took　off　her　cloak　as　the　day　warmed；　and　smiled　over　to　him　with　the　special　smile　she　never　gave　anyone　else。
　
　Richard　had　a　thought。　〃Zedd；　is　there　anything　a　wizard　can　do　about　that　cloud？〃
　
　The　old　man　squinted　up　at　it；　then　peered　back　at　Richard。　〃That　idea　has　already　e　into'　my　head。　I　think　there　might　be；　but　I　want　to　wait　a　while　longer；　until　we　are　farther　away　from　Chase's　family。　I　don't　want　to　lead　a　search　to　them。〃
　
　In　the　late　afternoon　they　came　upon　an　old　couple；　woods　people　whom　Chase　knew。　The　four　brought　their　horses　to　a　halt　while　the　boundary　warden　spoke　with　the　couple。　He　sat　re　Taxed　on　his　mount；　leather　creaking；　as　he　listened　to　them　repeat　rumors　that　they　had　heard　about　things　ing　out　of　the　boundary。　Richard　now　knew　them　to　be　more　than　rumors。　Chase　treated　the　couple　with　respect；　as　he　did　most　people；　nevertheless；　they　were　clearly　afraid　of　him。　He　told　them　he　was　looking　into　the　matter　and　advised　them　to　stay　inside　at　night。
　
　They　rode　until　long　after　dark　before　making　camp　for　the　night　in　a　stand　of　pine；　and　were　on　their　way　the　next　morning　as　the　sky　lightened　behind　the　mountains　of　the　boundary。　Richard　and　Kahlan　both　yawned　as　they　rode。　The　forest　thinned；　with　open　patches　of　meadow