tg.wizardfirstrule-第92节

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　how　much　it　hurt；　if　it　didn't　hurt　enough；　the　Princess　would　slap　her　again。　Rachel　put　her　hand　over　the　sting；　her　bottom　lip　quivering；　tears　welling　up　in　her　eyes；　but　she　said　nothing。
　
　Turning　back　to　the　shiny；　polished　wall　of　little　wooden　drawers；　Princess　Violet　put　her　stubby　finger　through　a　gold　handle　and　slid　open　another　drawer；　taking　out　a　sparkling　silver　necklace　studded　with　large　blue　stones。
　
　〃This　one's　pretty。　Hold　my　hair　up。〃
　
　She　turned　to　the　tall　wood…framed　mirror；　admiring　herself　as　her　fingers　hooked　the　clasp　behind　her　plump　neck　while　Rachel　held　her　long；　dull；　brown　hair　out　of　the　way　for　her。　Rachel　eyed　herself　in　the　mirror；　inspecting　the　red　mark　on　her　face。　She　hated　looking　at　herself　in　the　mirror；　hated　seeing　her　hair；　how　it　looked　when　the　Princess　chopped　it　off　short。　She　wasn't　allowed　to　let　her　hair　grow；　of　course；　she　was　a　nobody；'　but　she　wished　so　much　it　could　at　least　be　cut　even。　Almost　everyone　else　had　their　hair　cut　short；　but　it　was　even。　The　Princess　liked　chopping　it　for　her；　liked　making　it　all　jagged。　Princess　Violet　liked　it　when　other　people　thought　Rachel　was　ugly。
　
　Rachel　shifted　her　weight　to　her　other　foot　and　rolled　her　free　ankle　around　to　ease　its　stiffness。　They'd　been　in　the　Queen's　jewel　room　all　afternoon；　the　Princess　trying　on　one　piece　of　jewelry　after　another；　then　primping　and　turning　in　front　of　the　tall　mirror。　It　was　her　favorite　thing　to　do；　trying　on　the　Queen's　jewelry　and　looking　at　herself　in　the　mirror。　Being　her　playmate；　Rachel　was　required　to　be　with　her；　to　make　sure　the　Princess　was　enjoying　herself。　Dozens　of　the　little　drawers　stood　open；　some　a　little；　some　a　lot。　Necklaces　and　bracelets　hung　halfway　out　of　some；　like　sparkling　tongues。　More　were　scattered　around　the　floor；　along　with　brooches；　tiaras；　and　rings。
　
　The　Princess　looked　down　her　nose　and　pointed　to　a　blue　stone　ring　on　the　floor。　〃Give　me　that　one。〃
　
　Rachel　slipped　it　over　the　finger　held　in　front　of　her　face；　then　the　Princess　watched　herself　in　the　mirror　as　she　turned　her　hand　this　way　and　that。　She　ran　her　hand　over　the　pretty　pale　blue　satin　dress；　admiring　the　ring。　Letting　out　a　long；　bored　sigh；　she　walked　over　to　the　fancy　white　marble　pedestal　that　stood　by　itself　in　the　opposite　corner　of　the　jewel　room。　She　was　looking　up　at　her　mother's　favorite　object；　one　she　fawned　over　at　every　opportunity。
　
　Princess　Violet's　pudgy　fingers　reached　up；　pulling　the　gold　jewel…encrusted　box　off　its　honored　resting　place。
　
　〃Princess　Violet！〃　Rachel　blurted　out　before　she　had　a　chance　to　think。　〃Your　mother　said　you　mustn't　touch　that。〃
　
　The　Princess　turned　with　an　innocent　expression；　then　tossec　her　the　box。　Rachel　gasped；　catching　the　box；　horrified　it　might　crash　against　the　wall。　Terrified　that　she　had　it　in　her　hands；　she　immediately　set　it　down　on　the　floor　as　if　it　were　a　hot　coal。　She　backed　away；　fearful　of　getting　whipped　just　for　being　caught　near　the　Queen's　precious　box。
　
　〃What's　the　big　deal？〃　Princess　Violet　snapped。　〃Magic　keep　it　from　being　taken　from　this　room。　It's　not　like　anyone's　going　to　steal　it　or　anything。〃　Rachel　didn't　know　anything　about　any　magic；　but　she　knew　she　didn't　want　to　be　caught　touching　the　Queen's　box。
　
　〃I'm　going　down　to　the　dining　room；〃　the　Princess　said；　lifting　her　nose；　〃to　watch　the　guests　arrive；　and　wait　for　dinner。　Clean　up　this　dreadful　mess；　then　go　to　the　kitchen　and　tell　the　cooks　I　don't　want　my　roast　cooked　like　leather；　like　the　last　time；　or　I'll　tell　my　mother　to　have　them　beaten。〃
　
　〃Of　course；　Princess　Violet。〃　Rachel　curtsied。
　
　The　Princess　held　her　big　nose　up。　〃And？〃
　
　〃And　。　。　。　thank　you；　Princess　Violet；　for　bringing　me；　and　letting　me　see　how　pretty　you　look　in　the　jewelry。〃
　
　〃Well；　it's　the　least　I　can　do；　you　must　get　tired　of　looking　at　your　ugly　face　in　the　mirror。　My　mother　says　we　must　do　kind　things　for　the　less　fortunate。〃　She　reached　in　a　pocket　and　brought　out　something。　〃Here。　Take　the　key　and　lock　the　door　when　you're　finished　putting　everything　back。〃
　
　Rachel　curtsied　again。　〃Yes；　Princess　Violet。〃
　
　While　the　key　was　dropping　into　Rachel's　outstretched　hand；　the　Princess's　other　hand　came　out　of　nowhere；　slapping　Rachel's　face　unexpectedly；　and　unexpectedly　hard。　She　stood　stunned　as　Princess　Violet　walked　out　of　the　room；　laughing　a　high；　squeaky；　snorting　laugh。　Princess　Violet's　laugh　hurt　almost　as　much　as　the　slap。
　
　Tears　fell　from　her　face　as　she　crawled　around　on　the　floor　on　her　hands　and　knees；　picking　up　fingerfuls　of　rings　from　the　carpets。　She　stopped　and　sat　back　a　moment；　carefully　touching　her　fingertips　to　the　place　where　she　had　been　slapped。　It　hurt　like　anything。
　
　Rachel　deliberately　worked　around　the　Queen's　box；　giving　it　sidelong　glances；　afraid　to　touch　it；　yet　knowing　she　would　have　to；　because　she　had　to　put　it　back。　She　worked　slowly；　meticulously　laying　the　jewelry　in　its　place；　carefully　pushing　the　drawers　closed；　hoping　somehow　she　wouldn't　finish；　so　she　wouldn't　have　to　pick　up　the　box；　the　Queen's　favorite　thing　in　the　whole　world。
　
　The　Queen　wouldn't　be　happy　at　all　if　she　knew　that　some　nobody　had　touched　it。　Rachel　knew　the　Queen　was　always　having　somebody's　head　chopped　off。　Sometimes；　the　Princess　made　Rachel　go　with　her　to　watch；　but　Rachel　always　closed　her　eyes。　The　Princess　didn't。
　
　When　all　the　jewelry　was　put　away；　the　last　drawer　closed；　she　looked　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　down　at　the　box　sitting　on　the　floor。　She　felt　as　if　it　were　looking　back；　as　if　it　might　somehow　tell　the　Queen。　Finally；　squatting　down；　eyes　wide；　she　picked　it　up。　Holding　it　at　arm's　length；　she　carefully　shuffled　her　feet　over　the　edges　of　carpets；　terrified　she　might　drop　it。　She　set　the　box　in　its　place　as　slowly　as　she　could；　carefully；　gingerly；　fearing　a　jewel　might　fall　out　or　something。　She　quickly　drew　her　fingers　away；　relieved。
　
　Turning　back；　she　caught　sight　of　the　hem　of　a　silver　robe　that　touched　the　floor。　Her　breath　caught　in　her　throat。　She　hadn't　heard　footsteps。　Her　head　slowly；　almost　involuntarily；　rose　up　the　line　of　the　robe；　to　the　hands　stuck　in　the　opposite　sleeves；　to　the　long；　pointed；　white　beard；　to　the　bony　face；　the　hooked　nose；　the　bald　head；　and　the　dark　eyes　looking　down　at　her　startled　face。
　
　The　wizard。
　
　〃Wizard　Giller；〃　she　whined；　fully　expecting　to　be　struck　dead　any　second；　〃I　was　only　putting　it　back。　I　swear。　Please；　please　don't　kill　me。〃　Her　face　wrinkled　up　as　she　tried　to　make　herself　back　away；　but　her　feet　wouldn't　move。　〃Please。〃　She　stuck　the　hem　of　her　dress　in　her　mouth；　biting　it　as　she　whimpered。
　
　Rachel　scrunched　her　eyes　closed　and　shook　as　the　wizard　began　sinking；　lowering　himself　to　the　floor。
　
　〃Child；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。　Rachel　cautiously　opened　one　eye；　surprised　to　find　he　was　sitting　on　the　floor；　his　face　even　with　hers。　〃I　am　not　going　to　hurt　you。〃
　
　She　opened　the　other　eye；　just　as　cautiously。　〃You're　not？〃　She　didn't　believe　him。　She　saw　with　a　start　that　the　big　heavy　door　was　closed；　her　only　escape　route　blocked。
　
　〃No；〃　he　smiled；　shaking　his　bald　head。　〃Who　took　the　box　down？〃
　
　〃We　were　playing。　That's　all；　just　playing。　I　was　putting　it　back　for　the　Princess。　She's　very　good　to　me；　so　very　good；　I　wanted　to　help　her。　She's　a　wonderful　person。　I　love　her；　she's　so　kind　to　me　。　。　。'　He　put　a　long　finger　over　her　lips；　to　gently　silence　her。　〃I　get　the　point；　child。　So；　you　are　the　Princess's　playmate　then？〃
　
　She　nodded　in　earnest。　〃Rachel。〃
　
　His　grin　got　bigger。　〃That's　a　pretty　name。　Glad　to　meet　you；　Rachel。　I'm　sorry　I　frightened　you。　I。　was　only　ing　to　check　on　the　Queen's　box。〃
　
　No　one　had　ever　told　her　that　her　name　was　pretty。　But　he　had　shut　the　big　door。　〃You're　not　going　to　strike　me　dead？　Or　change　me　into　something　horrid？〃
　
　〃Oh；　dear；　no；〃　he　laughed。　He　turned　his　head；　peering　at　her　with　one　eye。　〃Why　are　there　red　marks　on　your　cheeks？〃
　
　She　didn't　answer；　too　scared　to　say。　Slowly；　carefully；　he　reached　out；　his　fingers　touching　one　cheek；　then　the　other。　Her　eyes　opened　wide。　The　sting　was　gone。
　
　〃Better？〃
　
　She　nodded。　His　eyes　seemed　so　big；　the　way　they　looked　at　her　up　close　like　this。　They　made　her　feel　like　telling　him；　so　she　did。　〃The　Princess　hits　me；〃　she　admitted；　ashamed。
　
　〃So'？　She　is　not　so　kind　to　you；　then？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head；　casting　her　eyes　downward。　Then　the　wizard　did　something　that　absolutely　stunned　her。　He　reached　around　and　gave　her　a　gentle　hug。　She　stood　stiffly　for　a　moment；　then　put　her　arms　around　his　neck；　hugging　him　back。　His　long　white　whiskers　tickled　the　side　of　her　face　and　neck；　but　she　still　liked　it。
　
　He　looked　at　her　with　sad　eyes。　〃I'm　sorry；　dear　child。　The　Princess　and　the　Queen　can　be　quite　cruel。〃
　
　His　voice　sounded　so　nice；　she　thought；　like　Brophy's。　A　big　grin　spread　beneath　his　hook　nose。
　
　〃Tell　you　what；　I　have　something　here　that　might　help。〃　A　thin　hand　reached　into　his　robes；　and　he　looked　up　into　the　air　while　his　hand　felt　around。…Then　his　hand　found　what　it　was　looking　fo