tg.stone of tears- 第36部分

　
　‘If　I　decide　to　kill　you；　my　dear　boy；　and　I　may；　your　sword　will　not　help　you。’　Richard　suddenly　yelped　and　dropped　the　sword　as　if　it　was　a　hot　coal。　He　stared　down　at　the　sword　as　he　forted　his　hand。　‘Now；　put　it　away。’　That　time　the　quality　of　her　voice　was　more　of　velvet　rubbed　the　wrong　way。
　
　From　under　his　eyebrows；　Richard　looked　up　at　Shota　on　her　throne；　before　bending　to　retrieve　his　sword　and　slide　it　back　into　its　scabbard。
　
　A　self…satisfied　smile　spread　across　Shota’s　full　lips。　She　lifted　the　snake　from　her　lap　and　set　it　aside。　Shota　watched　Richard　a　moment　longer　and　then　stood；　leaning　forward　enough　in　the　process　to　offer　her　breasts　the　opportunity　to　fall　out　of　her　wispy；　low…cut；　variegated　gray　dress。　How　they　managed　not　to；　Kahlan　didn’t　know。　A　little　stoppered　bottle　tumbled　from　its　snug　place　between　her　breasts　and　swung　on　a　fine　silver　chain。
　
　Kahlan’s　face　heated　as　Shota　gracefully　descended　the　three　platforms；　never　taking　her　eyes　from　Richard。　The　loose　points　of　the　dress　floated　gently；　as　if　in　a　light　breeze。　But　there　was　no　breeze　inside　the　spirit　house。
　
　That　fabric；　Kahlan　decided；　was　definitely　too　thin　for　a　dress。　She　wondered　what　she　would　look　like　in　it；　and　blushed　at　the　mental　image。
　
　Once　standing　on　the　ground；　Shota　turned　and　pulled　the　stopper　from　the　little　bottle。　The　entire　throne　wavered；　like　something　seen　through　heat　waves。　Abruptly　it　turned　to　gray　smoke　and　swirled　in　a　circle；　diminishing　all　the　time　in　size；　and　sucked　itself　into　a　fine　line　that　went　into　the　little　bottle。　Shota　replaced　the　stopper；　tucked　the　bottle　back　between　her　breasts；　and　with　a　finger；　pushed　it　so　far　down　it　could　no　longer　be　seen。　Kahlan　took　a　deep；　noisy　breath。
　
　Shota’s　gaze　glided　from　Richard’s　eyes　and　took　in　his　open　shirt　with　what　might　have　been　amusement。　Or　satisfaction。　Richard’s　face　reddened。
　
　Shota’s　smile　widened。　‘How　delightfully　indecent。’　She　ran　one　of　her　long；　red　nails　all　the　way　down　his　chest　to　his　navel；　and　then　she　gently　patted　his　stomach。　‘Button　your　shirt；　Richard；　or　I　may　forget　why　I’m　here。’
　
　His　face　turned　a　deeper　red。　Kahlan　moved　deliberately　closer　to　his　side　as　he　began　redoing　the　buttons。
　
　‘Shota；’　he　said　as　he　tucked　the　tails　in　his　pants；　‘I　have　to　thank　you。　You　may　not　know　it；　but　you　really　helped　me　before。　Helped　me　to　figure　it　out。’
　
　‘It　was　my　intention　to　help　you。’
　
　‘You　don’t　understand。　I　mean　you　helped　me　figure　out　how　to　be　with　Kahlan。　You　helped　me　figure　out　how　we　could　be　together。　How　to　love　her。’　He　smiled。　‘We’re　going　to　be　married。’
　
　There　was　a　moment　of　icy　silence。
　
　That’s　right；’　Kahlan　said；　holding　her　chin　up；　‘we　love　each　other　。。。　and　can　be　together　now　。。。　Forever。’　She　hated　the　way　Shota　made　her　feel　explanations　were　necessary；　and　the　way　she　fumbled　with　them。
　
　Shota’s　intense　gaze　slid　to　her　and　her　smile　slowly　evaporated；　making　Kahlan　have　to　swallow　again。　‘You　ignorant　children；’　Shota　whispered　as　she　slowly　shook　her　head。　‘You　foolish；　ignorant　children。’
　
　Richard’s　expression　was　being　heated。　‘We　may　be　ignorant；　but　we　are　not　children；　and　we　love　each　other。　And　we　are　going　to　be　married。　I　was　hoping　you　would　be　happy　for　us；　Shota；　since　you　played　a　small　part　in　it。’
　
　‘What　I　told　you；　dear　boy；　was　that　you　needed　to　kill　her。’
　
　‘But　that’s　all　over；’　Kahlan　protested。　The　problem　has　been　solved。　It’s　all　right　for　us　now。　Everything　is　all　right。’
　
　Kahlan　gasped　as　she　felt　her　feet　lift　off　the　ground。　Both　she　and　Richard　were　flung　across　the　room　and　up　against　the　wall。　The　impact　knocked　the　wind　from　her　lungs。　Little　points　of　light　floated　and　danced　before　her　eyes。　She　looked　down；　trying　to　clear　her　vision。
　
　She　and　Richard　were　flattened　against　the　mud…brick　wall；　a　good　three　feet　off　the　ground。　She　could　hardly　breathe。　The　only　thing　she　could　move　was　her　head。　Even　her　clothes　were　flattened。　Her　cloak　lay　against　the　wall　as　if　it　were　the　floor。　Richard　was　as　helpless　as　she。　They　both　struggled；　twisting　their　heads；　but　it　was　useless；　they　were　stuck　tight。
　
　Shota　glided　across　the　room　toward　them；　her　eyes　hot　and　dangerous。　She　stopped　in　front　of　Kahlan。　‘He　didn’t　need　to　kill　you？　And　it’s　all　right　now；　is　it；　Mother　Confessor？’
　
　‘Yes；’　Kahlan　managed；　trying　to　sound　confident　as　she　hung　helpless。
　
　‘Did　it　ever　occur　to　you；　Mother　Confessor；　that　perhaps　there　are　reasons　behind　what　I　say？’
　
　‘Yes；　but　that　has　all。。。’
　
　‘Did　it　ever　occur　to　you；　Mother　Confessor；　that　there　is　a　reason　why　Confessors　are　not　supposed　to　love　their　mates？　And　perhaps　another　reason　he　should　have　killed　you？’
　
　Kahlan　couldn’t　answer。　Her　mind　raced　with　frantic　thoughts。
　
　‘What　are　you　talking　about？’　Richard　demanded。
　
　Shota　ignored　him。　‘Did　it；　Mother　Confessor？’
　
　Kahlan’s　throat　was　so　dry；　she　had　to　swallow　twice　before　she　could　speak。　‘What　do　you　mean？　What　reason？’
　
　‘Have　you　lain　with　this　man　you　love？　Have　you　done　that　yet；　Mother　Confessor？’
　
　It　was　Kahlan’s　turn　to　blush。　‘What　kind　of　question　is　that　to　ask　someone！’
　
　‘Answer　the　question；　Mother　Confessor；’　Shota　hissed；　‘or　I　will　skin　you　right　now　and　use　your　hide　to　make　myself　something　pretty。　I　am　of　a　mind　to　do　it　anyway。　You　had　better　not　even　think　of　lying　to　me。’
　
　‘I　。。。　We　。。。　No！　And　what　business　is　it　of　yours　anyway！’
　
　Shota　stepped　closer。　Her　eyes　sent　a　silent　shriek　through　Kahlan。　‘Maybe　you’d　better　think　twice　before　you　do；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’　she　breathed；　wide…eyed。
　
　Shota　folded　her　arms　across　her　breasts。　Her　voice　became　more　menacing。　‘Confessors　are　not　supposed　to　love　their　mates；　because　if　they　bear　a　male　child；　she　has　to　ask　the　husband　to　kill　the　baby。　The　husband　is　supposed　to　have　been　taken　by　the　Confessor’s　power；　so　that　he　will　do　whatever　she　asks。　Without　question。’
　
　‘But　。。。’
　
　Shota　stepped　even　closer；　her　eyes　filled　with　fury。　‘If　you　love　him；　how　could　you　ask　that　of　him！　How　could　you　ask　Richard　to　kill　his　son？　Do　you　think　he　would？　Would　you？　Would　you　kill　the　son　of　the　man　you　love？　Would　you；　Mother　Confessor？’
　
　Shota’s　words　knifed　into　Kahlan’s　heart　and　soul；　leaving　her　barely　able　to　whisper　the　answer。　‘No。’
　
　She　felt　her　hopes　and　happiness　collapsing。　In　the　joy　of　finding　she　could　be　with　Richard；　she　hadn’t　given　any　thought　to　the　future。　To　the　consequences。　To　children。　She　had　thought　only　of　Richard　and　her　being　together。
　
　Shota　was　screaming　at　her。　‘And　then　what；　Mother　Confessor！　You　will　raise　him？　And　you　will　visit　upon　the　world　a　male　Confessor？　A　male　Confessor！’　She　unfolded　her　arms；　her　white…knuckled　fists　dropping　to　her　sides。　‘You　will　bring　the　world　to　the　dark　times　again！　The　dark　times！　Because　of　you！　Because　you　love　this　man！　Did　you　ever　think　of　that；　you　ignorant　child？’
　
　The　lump　in　Kahlan’s　throat　threatened　to　choke　her。　She　wanted　to　run　from　Shota；　but　she　couldn’t　move。　‘Not　all　male　Confessors　are　that　way。’
　
　‘Almost　every　one　is！　Almost　every　one！’　She　pointed　a　single　finger　at　Richard　without　looking　at　him。　‘Are　you　going　to　risk　the　world；　because　you　love　this　man？　Risk　sending　everyone　into　the　terror　of　the　dark　times；　just　because　you　would　selfishly　want　the　son　of　this　man　to　live？’
　
　‘Shota；’　Richard’s　voice　was　surprisingly　calm。　‘Most　Confessors　bear　girls。　You　are　worrying　about　something　that　probably　won’t　even　happen。　We　may　not　even　have　children。　Not　all　couples　conceive。　You　are　extending　your　worries　along　a　lot　of　forks　in　the　road。’
　
　Richard　suddenly　slid　down　the　wall；　landing　with　a　grunt。　In　a　rage；　Shota　grabbed　his　shirt　in　her　fists　and　lifted　him；　slamming　him　against　the　wall；　knocking　the　wind　from　his　lungs。　‘Do　you　think　I　am　as　stupid　as　you？　I　know　the　flow　of　time！　I　am　a　witch　woman！　I　told　you　before；　I　know　how　certain　events　flow　and　unfold！　If　you　lie　with　this　woman；　she　will　have　a　male　child！　She　is　a　Confessor！　Every　Confessor　bears　a　Confessor！　Always！　If　you　give　her　a　child；　it　will　be　a　boy！’
　
　She　slammed　him　against　the　wall　again。　Kahlan　winced　at　the　sound　of　his　head　hitting　the　wall。　Shota’s　behavior　was　frightening；　and　seemed　out　of　character。　She　had　impressed　Kahlan　before　as　menacing　in　the　extreme；　but　she　also　seemed　intelligent　and　reasonable。　At　least　to　an　extent。　She　seemed　different　now；　unstable。
　
　Richard　didn’t　try　to　remove　her　hands；　but　Kahlan　could　see　he　was　getting　angry。　‘Shota　…’
　
　She　slammed　him　up　against　the　wall　again。　‘Keep　your　tongue　still　or　I　will　cut　it　out！’
　
　Richard’s　rage　looked　to　match　Shota’s。　‘You　were　wrong　before；　Shota！　Wrong！　There　are　many　ways　for　events　to　flow　forward　in　time。　Had　I　listened　to　you　the　last　time；　and　killed　Kahlan　when　you　wanted　me　to；　Darken　Rahl　would　rule　us　all　now！　And　it　would　have　been　because　I　followed　your　stupid　advice！　It　was　through　her　that　I　defeated　Darken　Rahl！　If　I　had　done　as　you　wished；　we　would　have　lost！’
　
　His　chest　heaved　as　he　glared　at　her。　‘If　you　have　e　all　this　way　to　threaten　us　about　some　perceived　threat；　you　have　wasted　your　time。　I　didn’t　do　it　your　way　the　last　time；　and　I　will　not　do　it　your　way　now！　I　will　not　kill　her　nor　will　I　give　her　up　on　your　word！　On　anyone’s！’
　
　Shota　stared　at　him　a　moment　and　then　removed　her　hands　from　his　shirt。　‘I　did　not　e　here　about　some　‘perceived’　threat　to　the　future；’　she　whispered。　‘I　did　not　e　here　to　argue　with　you　about　making　babies　with　Confessors；　Richard　Rahl。’
　
　Richard　jerked　back　in　shock。　‘I’m　not　。。。’
　
　‘I　came　here；　because　I　may　want　to　kill　you　for　what　you　have　done；　Richard　Rahl。　That　you　two　ignorant　children　want　to　go　make　babies　is　a　flea　on　the　back　of　the　true　monster　you　have　already　created。’
　
　‘Why　are　you　calling　me　that？’　Richard　whispered。
　
　Shota　st