tg.stone of tears-第28节

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ake。　They　are　not　to　be　wasted；　but　the　men　kept　wanting　him　to　do　it　again；　because　they　had　never　seen　anything　like　it　before。　One　time；　he　put　six　arrows　through　the　first；　one　right　on　top　of　the　other。
　
　‘We　shot　rabbits；　and　cooked　them　over　a　fire。　Richard　sat　with　us；　and　then　when　we　started　eating；　he　wouldn’t　eat　with　us。　He　looked　sick；　and　went　off　and　shot　arrows　by　himself　until　we　were　finished。　Later；　after　we　ate；　is　when　he　killed　the　man。’
　
　She　nodded。　‘We　better　hurry　and　get　Nissel。’　She　glanced　over　as　they　walked　along。　‘Savidlin；　why　did　those　men　have　that　head？　How　can　they　be　so　gruesome？’
　
　‘Did　you　see　that　there　was　black　painted　over　the　eyes　of　the　dead　man？　That　was　to　hide　him　from　our　spirits；　so　he　could　sneak　up　on　us。　A　man　who　es　onto　our　land　with　black　over　his　eyes　es　for　only　one　reason：　to　kill。　Chandalen’s　men　put　the　heads　of　men　like　that　on　poles　at　the　edge　of　our　land　to　warn　others　who　would　paint　black　on　their　eyes。
　
　‘It　may　seem　gruesome　to　you；　but　in　the　end　it　makes　for　much　less　killing。　Do　not　think　less　of　Chandalen’s　men　for　taking　a　head。　They　do　it　today　not　because　they　like　it；　but　so　there　will　be　less　killing　tomorrow。’
　
　Kahlan　suddenly　felt　foolish。　‘I　guess　that；　just　as　Chandalen；　I　am　guilty　of　judging　too　quickly。　Forgive　me；　Elder　Savidlin；　for　thinking　things　about　your　people　that　were　wrong。’
　
　He　gave　her　a　one…arm　hug　around　her　shoulders。
　
　When　they　came　back　with　the　healer；　they　found　Richard　huddled　in　a　corner；　his　fingers　intertwined　over　his　head。　His　skin　was　white；　cold；　and　wet。　Nissel　gave　him　something　to　drink。　After　a　few　minutes；　she　gave　him　a　small　cube　of　something　to　swallow。　Richard　smiled　when　he　saw　it。　He　must　have　known　what　it　was。　Nissel　sat　on　the　floor　next　to　him　and　felt　his　pulse　for　a　long　time。　When　a　little　of　his　color　came　back；　she　made　him　put　his　head　back　and　open　his　mouth。　She　twisted　a　clove　of　something　over　his　mouth；　dripping　the　juice　in。　He　made　a　face。　Nissel　smiled　at　that　without　ment。
　
　She　turned　to　Kahlan。　‘I　think　these　things　will　help　him。　Tell　him　to　keep　chewing　the　leaves。　e　get　me　if　he　needs　me。’
　
　‘Nissel；　is　he　going　to　get　better　soon？　Shouldn’t　he　be　getting　better？’
　
　The　stooped　old　woman　glanced　down　at　Richard。　‘Spirit　has　a　mind　of　its　own。　It　doesn’t　always　listen。　I　think　his　does　not　want　to　listen。’　She　suddenly　brightened　at　seeing　the　stricken　look　on　Kahlan’s　face。　‘Don’t　worry；　child。　I　can　make　even　the　spirit　listen。’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　Nissel　gave　her　a　warm　smile　and　a　pat　on　the　arm　before　she　went　on　her　way。
　
　Richard　looked　up　at　Kahlan　and　Savidlin。　‘Did　you　tell　him？　Did　you　tell　him　I’m　sorry　about　ruining　all　his　arrows？’
　
　Kahlan　smiled　a　little　to　Savidlin。　‘He　is　worried　about　ruining　so　many　arrows。’
　
　Savidlin　grunted。　‘It　is　my　own　fault。　I　made　your　bow　too　good。’　Richard　managed　a　laugh。　‘Weselan　is　off　making　bread。　I　must　go　see　to　some　things。　Rest　well。　We　will　be　back　when　it　is　time　to　eat。　We　will　eat　together。　It　smells　like　my　wife　has　made　some　good　stew。’
　
　
　After　Savidlin　left；　Kahlan　sat　on　the　floor；　tight　against　him。
　
　‘Richard；　what　happened　today？　Savidlin　told　me　how　you　shot　arrows　today。　You　haven’t　always　been　that　good；　have　you？’
　
　He　wiped　sweat　off　his　brow　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　‘No。　I’ve　split　arrows　before；　but　not　more　than　a　half　dozen　in　one　day。’
　
　‘You’ve　shot　that　many　in　one　day　before？’
　
　He　nodded。　‘On　a　good　day；　when　I　can　feel　the　target。　But　today　was　different。’
　
　‘How？’
　
　‘Well；　we　went　out　on　the　plain；　and　my　head　was　really　starting　to　hurt。　The　men　set　up　targets　of　bundled　grass。　I　didn’t　think　I　would　even　be　able　to　hit　a　target；　because　my　head　hurt　so　much。　But　I　didn’t　want　to　disappoint　Savidlin；　so　I　tried　anyway。　When　I　shoot；　I　call　the　target　to　me。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean；　you　call　the　target　to　you？’
　
　Richard　shrugged。　‘I　don’t　know。　I　used　to　think　everyone　did　it　when　they　shot。　But　Zedd　told　me　they　don’t。　I　look　at　the　target；　and　just　sort　of　pull　it　to　me。　When　I’m　doing　it　right；　it　blocks　out　everything　else。　It’s　only　me　and　the　target；　as　if　it　es　closer。　Somehow；　I　know　exactly　how　the　arrow　must　be　held　to　hit　the　target。　When　I’m　doing　it　right；　I　can　feel　that　the　arrow　is　in　the　right　place　before　I　release　the　bowstring。
　
　‘When　I　learned　that　I　always　hit　the　target　when　I　had　that　certain　feeling；　I　quit　shooting　arrows。　I　would　just　aim；　trying　to　bring　on　the　correct　feel。　I　knew　when　I　had　it　I　wouldn’t　miss；　so　I　didn’t　bother　shooting。　I　would　nock　another　arrow　and　try　for　the　feel　again。　Over　time；　I　learned　to　do　it　more　often。’
　
　‘How　was　it　different　today？’
　
　‘Well；　like　I　said；　my　head　really　hurt。　I　watched　some　of　the　other　men　shoot。　They　were　very　good。　Savidlin　started　slapping　me　on　the　back；　so　I　knew　it　was　my　turn。　I　figured　I　might　as　well　get　it　over。　My　head　felt　as　if　it　was　going　to　split　open。　I　drew　the　bow；　and　called　the　target　to　me。’
　
　Richard　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　‘I　don’t　know　how　to　explain　it。　I　called　the　target；　and　instantly；　my　headache　was　gone。　No　pain　at　all。　The　target　came　to　me　as　it　never　had　before。　It　felt　like　there　was　a　notch　in　the　air　where　I　needed　only　to　lay　the　arrow。　I　have　never　felt　it　so　strongly　before。　It　was　as　if　the　target　was　huge。　I　knew　it　would　be　impossible　to　miss。
　
　‘After　a　while；　just　for　variation；　instead　of　splitting　the　arrows　already　there；　I　would　just　shave　off　the　red　outside　feather。　When　I　did　that；　the　men　thought　I　had　missed　splitting　the　arrow　already　there。　They　had　no　idea　I　was　doing　something　more　difficult。’
　
　‘And　your　headache　was　pletely　gone？’　He　nodded。　‘Do　you　have　any　idea　why　all　this　was　happening？’
　
　Richard　pulled　his　knees　up　and　rested　his　forearms　on　them。　He　looked　away　from　her　face。　‘I’m　afraid　I　do。　It　was　magic。’
　
　‘Magic？’　Kahlan　whispered。　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　His　eyes　came　back　to　her。　‘Kahlan；　I　don’t　know　what　your　magic　feels　like　inside　you；　but　I　have　felt　magic。　Every　time　I　draw　the　Sword　of　Truth；　magic　flows　into　me；　bees　part　of　me。　I　know　what　that　magic　feels　like。　I’ve　felt　it　often　enough；　and　in　different　ways；　depending　on　how　I　use　it。　But　because　I　have　joined　with　the　sword；　I　can　sense　the　magic　from　it；　even　as　it　sits　in　its　scabbard　on　my　hip。　Now　I　can　call　forth　its　magic　without　even　having　to　draw　the　sword。　I　can　sense　it；　like　a　dog　at　my　heel；　ready　to　jump　for　me。
　
　‘Today；　when　I　drew　the　bow　and　called　the　target；　I　also　called　something　else：　magic。
　
　‘When　Zedd　touched　me　before；　to　heal　me；　and　when　you　touched　me　when　you　were　in　the　Con　Dar；　I　felt　the　magic。　This　was　something　like　that。　I　knew　it　was　magic。　It　felt　different　from　yours　and　Zedd’s；　but　I　recognized　the　texture　of　magic。　I　could　feel　the　life　of　it；　like　a　second　breath。　Alive。’　Richard　put　a　fist　in　the　center　of　his　chest。　‘I　could　feel　it　ing　from　inside　me；　building　until　I　released　it　to　call　the　target。’
　
　Kahlan　recognized　in　herself　the　feelings　he　was　describing。　‘Maybe　it　has　something　to　do　with　the　sword。’
　
　He　shook　his　head。　‘I　don’t　know。　I　suppose　it　could　be。　But　I　couldn’t　control　it。　After　a　while；　it　simply　went　away；　like　a　candle　blown　out　in　the　wind。　It　felt　like　suddenly　being　in　darkness；　as　if　I　was　suddenly　blind。　And　the　headache　came　back。
　
　‘I　couldn’t　hit　the　target；　and　I　couldn’t　call　it　to　me；　so　I　just　let　the　others　shoot。　The　magic　would　e　and　go。　I　could　never　tell　when　it　was　going　to　happen。　Then　when　the　men　started　eating　meat；　I　felt　sick；　and　had　to　go　away　from　them。　I　shot　while　they　ate；　and　sometimes　I　could　summon　the　magic　and　the　headache　would　go　away。’
　
　‘What　about　when　you　caught　the　arrow　out　of　the　air？’
　
　He　cast　her　a　sidelong　glance。　‘Savidlin　told　you　about　that；　did　he？’　She　nodded。　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath。　‘That　was　the　strangest　of　all。　I　don’t　know　how　to　explain　it。　Somehow；　I　made　the　air　thicker。’
　
　She　leaned　closer；　studying　his　face。　‘Made　the　air　thicker？’
　
　He　nodded　again。　‘I　knew　I　had　to　slow　the　arrow　down；　and　the　only　thing　I　could　think　of　was　that　if　the　air　was　thick；　like　it　was　those　times　with　the　sword；　when　the　air　got　thick　and　stopped　the　sword；　then　maybe　I　had　a　chance。　Otherwise；　I　was　going　to　die。　It　just　all　came　into　my　head　at　once；　the　idea；　and　the　doing。　Instantly。
　
　‘I　have　no　clue　as　to　what　I　did。　I　just　had　the　thought　and　I　saw　my　hand　snatch　the　arrow　out　of　the　air。’
　
　He　fell　silent。　Kahlan　rubbed　her　thumb　on　the　side　of　her　boot　heel。　She　didn’t　know　what　to　say。　Fear　was　nibbling　at　the　fringes　of　her　mind。　She　flicked　her　eyes　up　for　a　glance　at　him。　He　was　staring　off　into　space。
　
　‘Richard；’　she　whispered；　‘I　love　you。’
　
　His　answer　was　a　long　moment　in　ing。　‘I　love　you　too。’　He　turned　to　her。　‘Kahlan；　I’m　afraid。’
　
　‘Of　what？’
　
　‘Something　is　going　on。　A　screeling　shows　up；