tg.stone of tears- 第180部分

　
　Now；　he　had　to　wait。　It　would　be　quite　a　while；　he　was　sure；　but　she　would　e。
　
　When　she　realized　where　he　was；　she　would　e。
　
　As　he　sat　still　and　quiet；　the　night　returned　to　its　normal　activity　around　him。　While　he　concentrated　on　the　picture　of　the　sword；　Richard　was　vaguely　aware　of　the　chirps　and　clicks　of　bugs；　the　low；　steady　croaks　of　frogs；　and　the　rustling　of　mice　and　voles　among　the　dry　debris　of　the　forest　floor。　The　air　occasionally　whirred　with　a　bat。　Once；　he　heard　a　squeak　as　an　owl　caught　its　dinner。
　
　And　then；　while　in　the　dreamlike　haze　as　he　sat　and　pictured　the　sword；　the　night　became　still。
　
　In　his　mind；　he　saw　the　dark　shape　behind　him。
　
　In　one　fluid　movement；　Richard　was　up　and　spinning；　the　sword　tip　whistling　through　the　air。　The　flowing　shape　pitched　back；　and　lunged　again　when　the　sword　was　past。　Richard　felt　a　thrill　that　he　had　missed；　that　it　would　not　be　ended　so　soon；　that　he　could　dance　with　the　spirits；　that　he　could　let　the　rage　free。
　
　It　moved　like　a　cape　in　the　wind；　dark　as　death；　and　just　as　quick。
　
　Around　the　clearing　they　darted；　the　sword　glinting　in　the　waning　light　of　the　moon；　the　blade　slicing　the　air；　the　dark　shape’s　bladelike　claws　flashing　past。　Richard　immersed　himself　in　the　sword’s　magic；　in　its　wrath；　in　his　own。　He　freed　his　anger　and　frustration　to　join　with　the　sword’s　own　fury；　reveling　in　the　dance　with　death。
　
　Across　the　clearing　they　spun；　like　leaves　in　a　gale；　one　avoiding　the　blade；　the　other；　the　claws。　Lunging　and　ducking；　they　used　the　trees　for　cover　and　attack。　Richard　let　the　spirits　of　the　sword　dance　with　him。　He　immersed　himself　in　the　magic’s　mastery；　he　let　himself　do　as　the　spirits　counseled；　and　he　watched；　almost　in　a　detached　state；　as　they　spun　him　this　way　and　that；　had　him　skim　across　the　ground；　dodge　right　then　left；　leap　and　thrust。
　
　He　hungered　to　learn　the　dance。
　
　Teach　me。
　
　Knowledge；　like　memory；　flowed　forth；　forged　by　his　will　into　the　pleting　link。
　
　He　became　not　the　user　of　the　sword；　the　magic；　the　spirits；　but　their　master。　The　blade；　the　magic；　the　spirits；　and　the　man　were　one。
　
　The　dark　shape　lunged。
　
　Now。　With　a　solid　thwack；　the　blade　halved　the　shape。　A　spray　of　blood　hit　the　trees　close　by。　A　death　howl　shivered　the　air；　and　then　all　was　still。
　
　Richard　stood　panting；　almost　sorry　it　was　over。　Almost。
　
　He　had　danced　with　the　spirits　of　the　dead；　with　the　magic；　and　in　so　doing；　had　found　the　release　he　sought；　release　not　only　of　some　of　his　feelings　of　helpless　frustration；　but　release；　too；　of　darker　needs　deep　within　himself　that　he　didn’t　understand。
　
　
　The　sun　had　been　up　for　nearly　two　hours　when　he　heard　her　ing。　She　was　blundering　through　the　brush；　huffing　indignantly　at　branches　that　snagged　her　clothes。　He　could　hear　twigs　snap　as　she　staggered　up　the　rise。　Tugging　her　skirt　free　from　a　thorn；　she　stumbled　into　the　clearing　before　him。
　
　Richard　was　sitting　cross…legged；　with　his　eyes　closed　and　the　sword　resting　across　his　knees。　She　came　to　a　panting　halt　before　him。
　
　‘Richard！’
　
　‘Good　morning；　Pasha。’　He　opened　his　eyes。　‘Beautiful　day；　isn’t　it？’
　
　She　held　her　long；　brown　skirt　up　a　little　in　her　hands。　Her　white　blouse　was　damp　with　sweat。　Her　hair　had　burrs　in　it。
　
　Pasha　blew　a　strand　of　hair　from　her　face。　‘You　have　to　get　out　of　here　at　once。　Richard；　this　is　the　Hagen　Woods。’
　
　‘I　know。　Sister　Verna　told　me。　Interesting　place；　I　rather　like　it。’
　
　She　blinked　at　him。　‘Richard；　this　place　is　dangerous！　What　are　you　doing　here！’
　
　Richard　smiled　to　her。　‘Waiting　for　you。’
　
　She　peered　around　at　trees　and　dark　shadows。　‘Something　smells　awful　in　here；’　she　muttered。
　
　Pasha　squatted　down　in　front　of　him；　smiling　a　little　smile　as　a　person　might　to　a　child；　or　to　someone　she　thought　was　insane。　‘Richard；　you’ve　had　your　fun；　your　nice　walk　in　the　country；　now；　give　me　your　hand　and　let’s　get　out　of　here。’
　
　‘I’m　not　leaving　until　Verna　is　restored　to　Sister　again。’
　
　Pasha　shot　to　her　feet。　‘What！’
　
　Richard　took　his　sword　in　hand　and　rose　in　front　of　her。　‘I’m　not　leaving　here　until　Verna　is　restored　to　the　rank　of　Sister；　the　same　as　she　was　before。　The　palace　must　choose　what’s　more　important　to　them　…　my　life；　or　keeping　Sister　Verna　a　novice。’
　
　Pasha’s　mouth　fell　open。　‘But　the　only　one　who　can　remove　Verna’s　sanction　is　Sister　Maren！’
　
　‘I　know。’　He　touched　his　finger　to　her　nose。　That’s　why　you’re　going　to　go　and　tell　Sister　Maren　she　must　e　here；　in　person；　and　give　me　her　solemn　pledge　that　Verna　is　once　again　a　Sister；　and　agree　to　my　terms。’
　
　‘You　can’t　be　serious。　Sister　Maren　will　not　do　that。’
　
　‘I’m　not　leaving　this　spot　unless　she　does。’
　
　‘Richard；　we’ll　go　back　and　see　if　Sister　Maren　will　discuss　this；　but　you　can’t　stay　here。　It’s　not　worth　dying　for！’
　
　He　regarded　her　with　a　cool　expression。　‘It　is　to　me。’
　
　Her　tongue　wet　her　lips。　‘Richard；　you　don’t　know　what　you’re　doing。　This　is　a　dangerous　place。　I’m　responsible　for　you。　I　cannot　allow　you　to　stay　here！
　
　‘If　you　won’t　e　away　with　me；　then　I　will　have　to　use　the　collar　and　make　you　e　with　me；　and　I　know　you　don’t　want　that。’
　
　Richard’s　grip　tightened　on　the　sword’s　hilt。　‘Sister　Verna　is　being　punished　in　retaliation　against　me。　I　have　made　a　vow　to　myself　to　restore　Verna　to　Sister。　I　can’t　allow　the　sanction　to　stand。　I’ll　do　whatever　I　must；　die　here　if　I　have　to。
　
　‘If　you　use　the　collar　to　hurt　me；　or　drag　me　off；　I’ll　fight　you；　with　everything　I　have。　I　don’t　know　who　will　win；　but　if　that　happens；　I　am　sure　of　one　thing：　one　of　us　will　die。　If　it’s　you；　then　the　war　will　have　started。　If　I　die；　then　your　test　to　bee　a　Sister　will　end　on　the　first　day。　Sister　Verna　will　still　be　a　novice；　but　that　is　where　she　stands　now。　At　least　I　will　have　done　my　best。’
　
　‘You　would　be　willing　to　die？　For　this？’
　
　‘Yes。　It’s　that　important　to　me。　I　will　not　allow　Sister　Verna　to　be　punished　because　of　what　I　have　done。　It　was　unjust。’
　
　Her　brow　wrinkled。　‘But　。。。　Sister　Maren　is　the　headmistress　of　the　novices。　I’m　a　novice。　I　can’t　go　to　her　and　tell　her　she　must　reverse　the　order　…　she’ll　skin　me　alive！’
　
　‘I　am　the　cause　of　the　trouble；　you　are　simply　the　messenger。　If　she　punishes　you；　I　would　not　stand　for　it；　any　more　than　I　will　stand　for　what　was　done　to　Sister　Verna。　If　Sister　Maren　wishes　to　start　a　war；　then　let　it　start。　If　she　wishes　to　keep　my　truce；　then　she　will　have　to　e　to　me；　here；　and　agree　to　my　terms。’
　
　Pasha　stared　at　him。　‘Richard；　if　you　are　here　when　the　sun　goes　down；　you　will　die。’
　
　‘Then　I　would　suggest　you　hurry。’
　
　She　turned；　holding　her　arm　out　toward　the　city。　‘But　。。。　I　must　go　all　the　way　back。　It　took　me　hours　to　get　here。　It　will　take　me　hours　to　go　back；　and　then　I　must　find　Sister　Maren；　and　then　convince　her　that　you’re　serious；　and　even　if　I　could　get　her　to　agree　to　return　with　me；　we　must　still　get　back　here。’
　
　‘You　should　have　ridden　a　horse。’
　
　‘But　I　ran　here　as　soon　as　I　realized　where　you　were！　I　wasn’t　thinking　about　a　horse；　or　anything　else！　I　knew　there　was　trouble　and　just　came　after　you！’
　
　He　gave　her　an　even　look。　‘Then　you　made　a　mistake；　Pasha。　You　should　have　thought　before　you　acted。　Next　time；　maybe　you　will　think　first。’
　
　Pasha　put　a　hand　to　her　chest　as　she　gulped　air。　‘Richard；　there　is　hardly　time　。。。’
　
　‘Then　you　had　better　hurry；　or　your　new　charge　will　be　sitting　here；　in　Hagen　Woods；　when　the　sun　goes　down。’
　
　Her　eyes　moistened　with　frustration　and　concern。　‘Richard；　please；　you　don’t　understand。　This　is　no　game。　This　place　is　dangerous。’
　
　He　turned　a　little　and　pointed　with　the　sword。　‘Yes；　I　know。’
　
　Pasha　peered　around　him；　to　the　shadows；　and　gasped。　Hesitantly；　she　stepped　to　the　thing　by　the　trees。　Richard　didn’t　follow。　He　knew　what　was　there；　two　halves　of　a　creature　from　a　nightmare；　its　guts　spilled　across　the　ground。
　
　Its　sinuous　head；　like　a　man’s　half　melted　into　a　snake；　or　lizard；　was　a　picture　of　wickedness　itself；　covered　in　a　glossy；　tight；　black　skin；　smooth　down　to　the　base　of　the　thick　neck　where　it　began　welting　up　into　pliable　scales。　The　lithe　body　was　shaped　much　like　a　man’s。　The　whole　of　the　creature　seemed　made　for　fluid　speed；　deadly　quick　grace。
　
　It　wore　hides　covered　with　short；　black　hair；　and　a　full…length；　black；　hooded　cape。　What　Richard　had　taken　for　claws　were　not　claws；　but　three…bladed　knives；　one　in　each　webbed　hand；　with　crosswise　handles　held　in　the　fist。　Steel　extensions　went　up　each　side　of　the　wrist　for　support　when　a　strike　was　made。
　
　Pasha　stood　dumbstruck。　Richard　finally　went　to　stand　by　her；　looking　down　at　the　two　halves　of　the　thing。　Whatever　it　was；　it　bled；　the　same　as　any　other　creature。　And　it　smelled；　like　fish　guts　rotting　in　the　hot　sun。
　
　Pasha　stood　trembling　as　she　stared　at　the　thing。　‘Dear　Creator；’　she　whispered。　‘It’s　a　mriswith。’　She　took　a　step　back。　‘What　happened　to　i