tg.stone of tears-第70章

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　Zedd　leaned　forward。　‘But　you　couldn’t　speak。　How　did　you　answer？’
　
　Adie　smiled　a　small；　cold　smile。　‘I　picked　her　up　by　the　throat；　with　the　power　of　the　gift；　and　slammed　her　against　the　wall。　I　walked　up　to　her　and　nodded　my　head。　I　squeezed　her　throat　in　anger。　She　fought　me。　She　fought　me　with　all　her　power。　But　I　be　stronger；　much　stronger。　I　never　knew　until　that　moment　that　the　gift　be　different　in　different　people。　She　be　as　helpless　as　a　stick　doll。
　
　‘But　I　could　not　hurt　her；　as　much　as　I　wished　to　for　her　asking　that　question　before　any　other。　I　released　her　and　sagged　to　the　floor；　I　could　stand　no　longer。　She　came　to　me　and　began　tending　to　my　wounds。　She　told　me　I　had　done　wrong；　by　breaking　my　oath；　but　that　what　was　done　to　me　was　a　more　grievous　wrong。
　
　‘I　never　feared　Grandmother　Lindel　again。　Not　because　she　be　helping　me；　but　because　I　had　broken　the　oath；　I　be　beyond　the　laws　I　had　been　taught；　and　because　I　knew　I　was　stronger　than　she。　From　that　day　on；　she　be　afraid　of　me。　I　think　she　helped　me　because　she　wanted　me　well；　so　I　could　leave。
　
　‘A　few　days　later；　Grandmother　Lindel　came　home　to　tell　me　that　she　had　been　called　before　the　king’s　circle　and　questioned。　She　said　all　the　men　at　the　mill；　all　the　Blood　of　the　Fold；　be　dead；　except　Mathrin。　He　had　escaped。　She　told　the　circle　she　had　not　seen　me。　They　believed　her；　or　said　they　did　because　they　did　not　want　to　confront　her　and　additionally　a　sorceress　who　had　killed　that　many　men　in　such　a　shocking　manner；　so　they　let　her　go　about　her　business。’
　
　Some　of　the　tension　seemed　to　ease　from　her　shoulders。　She　studied　the　teacup　a　moment　and　then　took　another　sip。　She　held　the　cup　out　for　him　to　warm。　Zedd　poured　a　little　more。　He　idly　wished　he　had　put　some　of　the　powdered　cloud　leaf　in　his　own　tea。　He　didn’t　think　that　was　the　end　of　the　story。
　
　‘I　lost　my　child；’　Adie　said　in　a　soft　rasp。
　
　Zedd　looked　up。　‘I’m　sorry；　Adie。’
　
　She　looked　up　to　meet　his　eyes。　‘I　know。’　She　took　one　of　his　hands　in　both　hers　after　he　set　down　the　kettle。　‘I　know。’　She　took　her　hands　back。　‘My　throat　healed。’　She　touched　her　fingers　lightly　to　her　neck；　then　knitted　them　together。　‘But　it　left　me　with　a　voice　like　dragging　iron　over　rock。’
　
　He　smiled　at　her。　‘I　like　your　voice。　Iron　fits　the　rest　of　you。’
　
　The　ghost　of　a　smile　passed　across　her　face。　‘My　eyes；　though；　did　not　grow　better。　I　be　blind。　Grandmother　Lindel　not　be　as　strong　as　me；　but　she　be　old；　and　had　seen　many　a　trick　with　the　gift。　She　taught　me　to　see　without　my　eyes。　She　taught　me　to　see　with　the　gift。　It　not　be　the　same　as　eyes；　but　in　some　ways；　it　be　better。　In　some　ways；　I　see　more。
　
　‘After　I　be　healed；　Grandmother　Lindel　wanted　me　to　leave。　She　not　be　fond　of　living　with　one　who　had　broken　the　oath；　even　though　I　be　of　her　blood。　She　feared　I　would　bring　trouble。　Whether　from　the　Keeper；　for　breaking　my　oath；　or　from　the　Blood　of　the　Fold；　she　did　not　know；　but　she　feared　trouble　would　e　because　of　me。’
　
　Zedd　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　stretching　his　tense　muscles　a　bit。　‘And　did　trouble　e？’
　
　‘Oh；　yes；’　Adie　hissed；　raising　her　eyebrows　as　she　leaned　forward。　‘Trouble　came。　Mathrin　Galliene　brought　them：　twenty　Blood　of　the　Fold。　Ones　paid　by　the　Crown。　Professionals。　Battle…hard　men；　big　men；　grim…faced；　savage　men；　all　pretty　on　horseback　in　neat　ranks　with　swords；　shields；　and　banners；　every　spear　held　just　so；　at　the　same　angle。　All　pretty　in　their　chain　mail　and　polished　breastplates　shining　with　the　embossed　crest　of　the　Crown；　and　all　wearing　helmets　with　red　plumes　that　flicked　as　they　rode。　Every　horse　white。
　
　‘I　stood　on　the　porch　and　watched　with　the　eyes　of　the　gift　as　they　spread　rank　before　me　with　perfect　precision；　like　they　be　performing　for　the　king　himself。　Every　horse　put　every　foot　the　same；　stopping　in　a　line　at　the　lifting　of　a　finger　from　the　mander。　They　be　spread　out　before　me；　ready；　eager；　to　do　their　grisly　duty。　Mathrin　waited　behind　them　on　his　horse；　watching。　The　mander　called　out　to　me；　‘You　be　under　arrest　as　a　baneling；　and　are　to　be　executed　as　such。’’
　
　Adie　lifted　her　head　from　the　specters　of　her　memory；　her　eyes　meeting　Zedd’s。　‘I　thought　of　Pell。　My　Pell。’
　
　Her　expression　hardened　into　an　iron　mask。　‘Not　one　sword　cleared　a　scabbard；　not　one　spear　be　leveled；　not　one　foot　touched　the　ground；　before　they　died。　I　swept　the　line；　from　left　to　right；　one　man　at　a　time；　everything　I　had；　into　each　in　turn；　quick　as　a　thought。　Thump　thump　thump。　Every　one；　except　the　mander。　He　sat　still　and　stone…faced　upon　his　white　horse　as　men　in　armor　crashed　to　the　ground　to　each　side　of　him。
　
　‘When　it　be　finished；　when　the　last　shield　had　clattered　into　silence；　I　met　his　eyes。　‘Armor；’　I　told　him；　‘be　of　no　use　against　a　true　baneling。　Or　a　sorceress。　It　only　be　of　use　against　innocent　people。’　Then　I　told　him　he　was　to　deliver　a　message　to　the　king　for　me；　from　one　sorceress　named　Adie。　In　a　calm；　firm　voice；　he　asked　the　message。　I　said；　‘Tell　him　that　if　he　sends　another　of　the　Blood　of　the　Fold　to　take　me；　it　will　be　the　last　living　order　he　ever　gives。’　He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment　without　a　hint　of　emotion　in　his　cold　eyes；　and　then　he　turned　his　horse　and　walked　it　away　without　looking　back。’
　
　Her　gaze　sank　to　the　table。　‘My　grandmother　turned　her　back　to　me。　She　told　me　to　leave　the　shelter　of　her　roof　and　never　to　return。’
　
　A　little　wince　touched　Zedd’s　face　before　he　caught　it；　at　the　thought　of　a　sorceress　with　enough　power　to　kill　men　in　that　fashion。　It　was　exceedingly　rare　for　a　sorceress　to　be　that　strong　in　the　gift。　‘What　of　Mathrin？　You　didn’t　kill　him？’
　
　She　shook　her　head。　A　humorless　smile　played　across　her　lips。
　
　‘No。　I　took　him　with　me。’
　
　‘Took　him　with　you？’
　
　‘I　bonded　him　to　me。　Bonded　his　life　to　mine。　Bonded　him　so　that　he　always　knew　where　I　be；　and　so　that　every　new　moon　he　was　pelled　to　e　to　me；　no　matter　where　I　be；　no　matter　what　he　wished。　He　had　to　follow　me；　at　least　close　enough　so　that　he　could　e　to　me　every　new　moon。’
　
　Frowning；　Zedd　studied　the　dregs　in　his　tea　cup。　‘I　met　a　man；　once；　in　Winstead；　the　capital　and　Crown　seat　of　Kelton。　His　name　was　Mathrin。　He　was　a　beggar；　missing　the　fingers　on　one　hand；　as　I　recall。　He　was　blind。　His　eyes　had　been　。。。’　Zedd’s　eyes　suddenly　fixed　on　hers。　She　was　watching　him。　‘His　eyes　had　been　gouged　out。’
　
　Adie　nodded。　‘Indeed　they　had。’　Her　face　was　iron　again。
　
　‘Every　new　moon；　he　came　to　me；　and　I　cut　something　off　him；　letting　his　screams　try　to　fill　the　emptiness　in　me。’
　
　Zedd　leaned　back；　his　hands　pressed　to　the　tabletop。　Iron　indeed。　‘So　you　made　a　new　home　in　Kelton？’
　
　‘No。　I　made　no　home。　I　traveled；　seeking　out　women　with　the　gift；　ones　who　could　help　me　in　my　studies。　None　knew　very　much　of　what　I　sought；　but　each　knew　at　least　a　little　that　others　did　not。
　
　‘Mathrin　followed；　and　every　new　moon　he　came　to　me；　and　I　cut　something　else　from　him。　I　wanted　him　to　live　forever；　to　suffer　forever。　He　be　the　one　who　beat　me；　down　there；　with　his　fists；　so　I　would　lose　Pell’s　child。　He　be　the　one　who　killed　Pell。　He　be　the　one　who　blinded　me。’
　
　Her　white　eyes　shone　red　in　the　lamplight　as　she　stared　off　again。　‘He　be　the　one　who　made　Pell　believe　I　had　betrayed　him。　I　wanted　Mathrin　Galliene　to　suffer　forever。’
　
　Zedd　gestured　vaguely　with　his　hand。　‘How　long　did　he　。。。　last？’
　
　Adie　sighed。　‘Not　long　enough；　and　too　long。’　Zedd　frowned。　‘One　day；　a　thought　occurred　to　me：　I　had　never　used　the　gift　to　prevent　Mathrin　from　killing　himself。　Why　would　he　still　e　to　me？　Let　me　make　him　to　suffer　like　I　did？　Why　would　he　not　simply　end　it？　So；　the　next　time　he　came；　and　I　cut　something　else　off；　I　also　cut　the　bond。　Cut　his　need　to　e　the　next　time。　But　I　did　it　in　a　way　so　as　he　would　not　notice；　so　he　could　simply　forget　about　me；　if　he　wished。’
　
　‘So　that　was　the　last　you　saw　of　him？’
　
　She　gave　a　grim　shake　of　her　head。　‘No。　I　thought　it　would　be；　but　he　returned　with　the　next　new　moon。　Returned　when　he　needn’t　have。　It　made　my　blood　run　cold；　to　wonder　why。　I　decided　that　it　be　time　for　him　to　pay　with　his　life　for　what　he　had　done　to　me；　and　Pell；　and　all　the　others。　But　I　resolved　that　before　he　gave　me　his　life；　he　would　give　me　the　answer。
　
　‘In　my　travels；　I　had　learned　many　things。　Things　for　which　I　thought　I　would　never　have　use。　That　night　I　found　use。　I　used　them　to　learn　what　torture　Mathrin　feared　above　all　others。　The　trick　be　used　to　learn　fears；　but　be　useless　to　learn　other　secrets。　Against　his　will；　the　words　tumbled　out　of　him；　his　fears　spilled　out。
　
　‘I　left　him　to　sweat　all　that　night　and　the　whole　next　day　while　I　went　in　search　of　the　things　I　needed：　the　things　he　feared　above　all　else。　When　I　finally　returned　with　them；　he　be　nearly　insane　with　fright。　His　fears　be　well　founded。　I　asked　him　to　confess　his　secret。　He　said　no。
　
　‘I　dumped　out　the　sack；　put　the　little　cages　and　the　other　things　in　front　of　him　as　he　sat　naked　and　helpless　on　the　floor。　I　picked　up　each；　held　it　before　his　sightless　face；　and　described　it；　told　him　what　be　in　each　little　cage　or　basket　or　jar。　Again　I　asked　him　to　confess。　He　be　sweating　and　panting　and　shaking；　but　he　said　no。　Mathrin　thought　I　be　bluffing；　that　I　did　not　have　the　courage。　Mathrin　be　wrong。
　
　‘I　steeled　myself；　and　brought　his　worst　fears　to　life　for　him。’
　
　Zedd’s　brow　bunched　up　into　wrinkles。　Curiosity　won　out　over　dread。　‘What　did　you　do？’
　
　She　lifted　her　head　to　look　into　his　eyes。　That　be　the　one　thing　I　will　not　tell　you。　It　not　be　important　anyway。
　
　‘Mathrin　would　not　talk；　and　suffered　so　much　that　I　almost　stopped　several　times。　Each　time　I　wanted　to　stop；　I　thought　about　the　last　thing　my　eyes　had　seen　before　he　blinded　me：　Pell’s　head　held　in　Mathrin’s　fist　before　me。’　Adie　swallowed；　her　voice　so　low　Zedd　could　hardly　hear　her。　‘And　I　remembered　Pell’s　last　words：　‘I　will　not　say　that　of　her　to　save　my　life。　Even　though　she　has　betrayed　me。’’
　
　She　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment。　They　came　open　and　she　went　on。　‘Mathrin　be　on　the　edge　of　death。　I　thought　he　was　not　going　to　tell　me　why　he　came　to　me。　But　just　before　he　died；　he　became　still；　despite　what　was　being　done　to　him。　And　then　he　said　he　would　tell　me；　because　he　be　about　to　die；　because　this；　too；　had　been　by　plan。　I　asked　him　again　why　he　had　e　back。
　
　‘He　leaned　toward　me。　‘Don’t　you　know；　Adie？’　he　asked　me。　‘Don’t　you　know　what　I　be？　I　be　a　baneling。　I　have　been　hiding　right　under　your　nose　all　this　time。　You　have　kept　me　near　you　all　this　time；　and　the　Keeper　knew　right　where　you　be。　The　Keeper　lusts　for　those　with　the　gift　above　all　else。’　I　had　thought　that　that　be　it；　that　he　be　a　baneling。　I　told　him　he　had　failed；　it　had　done　him　no　good；　as　he　be　about　to　die　for　his　crimes。
　
　‘He　smiled　at　me。’　She　leaned　forward。　‘Smiled！　And　he　said；　‘You　be　wrong　Adie。　I　have　not　failed。　I　have　done　the　Keeper’s　bidding。　I　have　fulfilled　my　task。　Perfectly。　All　this　be　by　plan。　I　have　made　you　do　exact