tg.wizardfirstrule-第69部分

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devoted。　The　one　touched　by　a　Confessor　would　do　anything　she　says。〃　She　gave　him　a　hard　look。　〃Anything。〃
　
　Richard　felt　his　mouth　go　dry　as　his　thoughts　scattered　in　every　direction　at　once；　trying　desperately　to　hold　on　to　his　hopes；　his　dreams。　The　only　way　he　could　hold　it　together；　and　gain　time　to　think；　was　to　ask　questions。　〃Does　it　work　on　everyone？〃
　
　〃Everyone　human。　Except　Darken　Rahl。　The　wizards　warned　me　that　the　magic　of　Orden　protects　him　from　our　touch。　He　has　nothing　to　fear　from　me。　On　those　who　are　not　human；　it　mostly　doesn't　work　because　they　don't　have　the　capacity　for　passion；　which　the　magic　requires　in　order　to　work。　A　gar；　for　example；　would　not　be　changed　by　my　touch。　It　works　on　some　other　creatures；　but　not　exactly　the　same　as　it　does　a　human。〃
　
　He　watched　her　from　under　his　eyebrows。　〃Shar？　You　touched　her；　didn't　you？〃
　
　Kahlan　nodded　and　leaned　back　a　little；　the　slump　_　settling　back　into　her　shoulders。　〃Yes。　She　was　dying；　and　lonely。　She　was　suffering　the　pain　of　being　away　from　her　kind；　the　pain　of　dying　alone。　She　asked　me　to　touch　her。　My　touch　took　her　fear；　and　replaced　it　with　a　love　for　me　that　left　no　room　for　her　own　pain；　for　her　own　loneliness。　Nothing　was　left　of　her　except　her　love　for　me。〃
　
　〃What　about　when　I　first　met　you；　when　the　quad　was　chasing　us？　You　touched　one　of　those　men　too；　didn't　you？〃
　
　Kahlan　nodded；　leaning　back　the　rest　of　the　way　against　the　log；　pulling　her　cloak　around　her；　looking　into　the　fire。　〃Even　though　they　are　sworn　to　kill　me；　once　I　touch　one　of　them；　they　are　mine；〃　she　said　with　finality。　〃They　will　fight　to　the　death　to　protect　me。　That　is　the　reason　Rahl　sends　four　men　to　kill　a　Confessor；　it's　expected　she　will　touch　one；　then　there　are　three　left　to　kill　him；　and　her。　It　takes　the　three　left　because　the　one　will　fight　so　fiercely　he　usually　kills　one；　often　two；　but　that　still　leaves　at　least　one　to　kill　the　Confessor。　On　a　rare　occasion；　he　will　kill　the　remaining　three。　That　happened　to　me　with　the　quad　that　chased　me　before　the　wizards　sent　me　across　the　boundary。　A　quad　is　the　most　economical　unit　to　send；　they　almost　always　succeed；　and　if　they　don't；　Rahl　will　simply　send　another。
　
　〃We　weren't　killed　on　the　cliff　because　you　separated　them。　The　one　I　touched　killed　the　other　with　him　while　you　held　off　the　other　two；　then　he　went　after　the　remaining　two；　but　you　had　pushed　one　off　the　edge；　so　he　used　his　own　life　to　take　the　leader　over　the　cliff。　He　did　that　because　then　there　wouldn't　be　any　chance　of　losing　in　a　sword　fight。　It　meant　his　life　too；　but　that　didn't　matter　to　him　after　I　touched　him。　It　was　the　only　way　for　him　to　be　sure　he　protected　me。〃
　
　〃Can't　you　simply　touch　all　four？〃
　
　〃No。　The　power　is　expended　with　each　use。　It　takes　time　for　it　to　recover。〃
　
　He　felt　the　hilt　of　his　sword　against　his　elbow　and　a　sudden　thought　came　to　him。　〃When　we　came　through　the　boundary；　and　that　last　man　of　the　quad　was　after　you；　and　I　killed　him　。　。　。　I　wasn't　really　saving　you；　was　L〃
　
　She　was　silent　for　a　moment　before　answering。　〃One　man；　no　matter　how　big；　or　strong；　is　no　threat　to　a　Confessor；　even　a　weak　Confessor；　much　less　me。　If　you　hadn't　e　when　you　did　。。　。　I　would　have　dealt　with　him。　I'm　sorry；　Richard；〃　she　whispered；　〃but　there　was　no　need　for　you　to　have　killed　him。　I　could　have　handled　it。〃
　
　〃Well；〃　he　said　dryly；　〃at　least　I　saved　you　from　having　to　do　it。〃
　
　She　didn't　answer；　only　looked　sadly　at　him。　It　seemed　she　had　nothing　to　say　that；　could　bring　him　any　fort。　〃How　much　time？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃How　much　time　does　it　take　to　recover　after　a　Confessor　has　used　her　power？〃
　
　〃In　every　Confessor　the　power　is　different。　In　some　it　is　weaker；　and　it　may　take　several　days　and　nights　to　recover。　In　most；　it　takes　about　one　day　and　one　night。〃
　
　Richard　looked　over　at　her。　〃And　in　you？〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　his　eyes；　…almost　as　if　she　wished　he　hadn't　asked　the　question。　〃About　two　hours。。〃
　
　He　turned　back　to　the　fire；　not　liking　the　sound　of　her　answer。　〃Is　that　unusual？〃　She　let　out　a　breath。　〃So　I　have　been　told。〃　Her　voice　sounded　weary。　〃Shorter　time　to　recover　the　power　also　means　the　power　is　stronger；　works　more　powerfully　in　the　one　touched。　That　is　why　some　of　the　quad　members　I　touch　are　able　to　kill　the　other　three。　It　would　not　be　so　for　a　Confessor　with　a　weaker　power。
　
　〃Confessors　have　position　according　to　their　power；　because　the　ones　with　the　strongest　power　will　bear　daughters　who　have　the　best　chance　of　having　that　stronger　power。　There　is　no　jealousy　among　the　Confessors　for　those　with　the　strongest　power；　only　deeper　affection　and　devotion　in　times　of　trouble；　like　since　Rahl　came　through　the　boundary。　The　lower　ranks　will　protect　the　higher；　with　their　lives　if　need　be。〃
　
　He　knew　she　wasn't　going　to　say　it　unless　he　asked；　so　he　did。　〃And　what　is　your　rank？〃
　
　Her　eyes　stared　unblinking　at　the　fire。　〃All　Confessors　follow　me。　Many　laid　down　their　lives　to　protect　mine　。　。　。〃　Her　voice　caught　for　a　moment。　〃。　。　。　that　I　might　survive；　and　somehow　use　my　power　to　stop　Rahl。　Of　course；　there　are　none　to　follow　me　now。　I　am　the　only　one　left。　Darken　Rahl　has　killed　every　last　one。〃
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan；〃　he　said　softly。　He　was　only；　just　beginning　to　prehend　the　importance　of　the　woman　she　was。　〃So；　do　you　have　a　title？　What　do　people　call　you？〃
　
　〃I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。〃
　
　Richard　tensed。　The　sound　of　〃Mother　Confessor〃　had　the　chill　of　terrible　authority　to　it。　Richard　felt　a　little　overwhelmed。　He　had　always　known　Kahlan　was　important；　but　he　had　dealt　with　important　people　when　he　was　a　guide；　and　had　learned　not　to　be　awed　by　them。　But　he　never　knew　she　was　someone　of　such　prominence。　Mother　Confessor。　Even　if　he　was　just　a　guide；　and　she　was　this　important；　he　didn't　care；　he　could　live　with　that。　Surely；　she　could；　too。　He　wasn't　going　to　lose　her；　or　send　her　away　because　of　who　she　was。
　
　〃I　don't　know　what　that　means。　Is　it　something　like　a　princess；　or　a　queen？〃
　
　Kahlan　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　〃Queens　bow　down　to　the　Mother　Confessor。〃
　
　Now　he　felt　intimidated。
　
　〃You　are　more　than　a　queen？〃　he　winced
　
　〃The　dress　I　wore　when　you　first　saw　me？　That　is　a　Confessor's　dress。　We　all　wear　them　so　there　can　be　no　mistaking　who　we　are；　although　most　people　of　the　Midlands　would　recognize　us　no　matter　how　we　were　to　dress。　All　Confessors；　no　matter　their　age；　wear　a　Confessor's　dress　that　is　black…except　the　Mother　Confessor；　her　dress　is　white。〃　Kahlan　seemed　a　little　annoyed　by　having　to　explain　her　eminence。　〃It　feels　very　odd　to　me　to　explain　all　this；　Richard。　Everyone　in　the　Midlands　knows　it　all；　so　I　have　never　had　to　think　about　how　to　put　it　all　into　words。　It　sounds　so　。　。　。　I　don't　know；　so　arrogant　when　I　put　words　to　it。〃
　
　〃Well；　I'm　not　from　the　Midlands。　Just　try；　I　need　to　understand。〃
　
　She　nodded　and　looked　back　up　at　him。　〃Kings　and　queens　are　masters　of　their　land；　they　each　have　their　own　domain。　There　are　a　number　of　them　in　the　Midlands。　Other　lands　are　ruled　in　different　manners；　such　as　by　councils。　Some　are　places　of　magic　creatures。　The　night　wisps；　for　example…no　humans　live　in　their　lands。
　
　〃The　place　where　the　Confessors　live；　my　home；　is　called　Aydindril。　It　is　also　the　home　of　the　wizards；　and　the　Central　Council　of　the　Midlands。　Aydindril　is　a　beautiful　place。　It's　been　a　long　time　since　I　have　been　home；〃　she　said　wistfully。　〃The　Confessors　and　the　wizards　are　closely　linked；　bonded；　much　the　way　the　Old　One；　Zedd；　is　linked　with　the　Seeker。
　
　〃No　one　holds　claim　to　Aydindril。　No　ruler　would　dare　to　lay　claim　to　it；　they　all　fear　it；　fear　the　Confessors　and　the　wizards。　All　the　lands　of　the　Midlands　contribute　to　the　support　of　Aydindril。　They　all　pay　tribute。　Confessors　are　above　the　law　of　any　one　land；　much　the　same　way　the　Seeker　is　ultimately　above　any　law　but　his　own。　Yet　at　the　same　time；　we　serve　all　the　people　of　the　Midlands　through　the　Central　Council。
　
　〃In　the　past；　arrogant　rulers　had　thought　to　make　the　Confessors　submit　to　their　word。　In　those　times；　there　were　farsighted　Confessors；　now　revered　as　legends；　who　knew　they　must　lay　the　foundation　for　our　independence；　or　forever　submit　to　domination；　so　the。　Mother　Confessor　took　the　rulers　with　her　power。　The　rulers　were　removed　from　their　thrones；　and　replaced　with　new　rulers　who　understood　that　Confessors　were　to　be　left　alone：　The　old　rulers；　those　who　were　taken；　were　kept　in　Aydindril　as　little　more　than　slaves。　The　Confessors　took　these　old　rulers　with　them　when　they　traveled　to　the　different　lands；　made　them　carry　the　provisions　and　luxuries　of　travel。　Back　then；　there　was　more　ceremony　surrounding　the　Confessors　than　there　is　now。　Anyway；　it　made　the　intended　impression。〃
　
　〃I　don't　understand；〃　Richard　said。　〃Kings　and　queens　must　be　powerful　leaders。　Didn't　they　have　protection？　Didn't　they　have　guards；　and　others；　to　keep　them　safe？　How　could　a　Confessor　get　near　to　a　king　or　queen　to　touch　them？〃
　
　〃Yes；　they　have　protection；　a　lot；　in　fact；　but　it's　not　as　difficult　as　it　sounds。　A　Confessor　touches　one　person；　maybe　a　guard；　then　she　has　an　ally；　he　takes　her　to　another；　he　is　taken；　soon　she　is　inside。　Each　person　she　touches　can　get　her　close　to　one　of　higher　rank；　and　gains　her　more　allies。　Working　her　way　up　through　the　trusted　positions　and　advisors；　she　can　be　at　the　king　or　queen　sooner　than　you　would　think；　and　often　before　so　much　as　an　eyebrow　is　raised；　much　less　an　alarm。　Any　Confessor　could　do　it。　The　Mother　Confessor　even　easier。
　
　〃The　Mother　Confessor　with　a　band　of　her　sisters　would　sweep　through　a　castle　like　the　plague。　Not　that　such　an　effort　is　without　danger；　many　Confessors　died；　but　the　goal　was　seen　as　worth　it。　This　is　the　reason　no　land　is　closed　to　a　Confessor；　though　it　may　be　to　every　other。
　
　〃Closing　a　land　to　a　Confessor　is　tantamount　to　an　admission　of　guilt；　and　is　sufficient　cause　for　the　leader　to　be　taken　from　power。　This　is　why　the　Mud　People；　for　example；　allow　me　in；　even　though　they　do　not　often　let　other　outsiders　in。　Not　allowing　a　Confessor　access　would　raise　questions　and　suspicions。　A　leader　involved　in　any　sort　of　plot　would　gladly　grant　a　Confessor　free　access；　to　try　to　hide　their　involvement　in　any　subversion。
　
　〃In　those　times；　there　were　some　among　the　Confessors　who　were　more　than　willing　to　use　their　power　as　they　wanted；　to　root　out　wrongdoing；　as　they　saw　it。　The　wizards　exerted　their　influence　to　bring　this　under　control；　but　the　Confessors'　zeal　showed　the　people　what　a　Confessor　was　capable　of。　But　these　were　different　times。〃
　
　Taking　a　ruler　from　power。　Different　times　or　not；　Richard　found　all　this　hard　to　take；　to　justify。　〃What　gave　these　Confessors　the　right？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head　slowly。　〃What　we　are　doing　now；　you　and　1；　is　it　much　different　from　what　has　been　done　in　the　past？　Taking　a　ruler　from　power？　We　all　do　what　we　think　we　must；　what　we　think　is　right。〃
　
　He　shifted　his　weight　unfortably。　〃I　see　your　point；〃　he　admitted。　〃Have　you　done　this　before？　Removing　a　ruler？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Still；　the　leaders　of　the　lands　are　all　keen　to　avoid　my　attention。　It　is　much　the　same　way　with　the　Seeker。　At　least；　it　used　to　be；　before　you　and　I　were　born。　Then；　Seekers　were　more　feared　and　respected　than　Confessors。〃　She　gave　him　a　meaningful　look。　〃They；　too；　have　dethroned　kings。　Now；　though；　because　the　Old　One　was　ignored；　and　the　sword　had　bee　a　political　favor；　they　are　seen　as　less；　little　more　than　pawns；　thieves。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　sure　that　has　changed；〃　Richard　said；　more　to　himself　than　to　her。　〃Much　of　the　time；　I　feel　as　if　I　am　nothing　more　than　a　pawn；　being　moved　by　others。　Even　by　Zedd；　and　。　。　。〃
　
　He　shut　his　mouth　and　didn't　finish；　she　did　it　for　him。
　
　〃And　by　me。〃
　
　〃I　don't　mean　it　that　way。　It's　just　that；　sometimes；　I　wish　I　had　never　heard　of　the　Sword　of　Truth。　But　at　the　same　time；　I　can't　allow　Rahl　to　win；　so　I'm　stuck　with　my　duty。　I　guess　I　have　no　choice；　and　that's　what　I　hate。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　sadly　as　she　folded　her　legs　under　her。　〃Richard；　as　you　e　to　understand　what　I　am；　I　hope　you　can　remember　it's　the　same　with　me。　I；　too；　have　no　choice。　But　with　me；　it's　worse；　because　I　was　born　with　my　power。　At　least　when　this　is　all　done；　you　can　give　the　sword　back　if　you　want。　I　am　a　Confessor　。for　as　long　as　I　live。〃　She　paused；　then　added；　〃Since　I　have　e　to　know　you；　I　would　pay　any　price　to　be　able　to　give　it　up；　and　just　be　a　normal　woman。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　know　what　to　do　with　his　hands；　so　he　picked　up　a　stick　and　started　drawing　lines　in　the　dirt。　〃I　still　don't　understand；　why　are　you　called　‘Confessors'？　What　does　‘Confessor'　mean？〃　He　was　。able　to　look　up　at　her　only　with　great　difficulty。
　
　Kahlan　took　on　an　expression　of　pain　that　made　him　feel　sorry　for　her。　〃It　is　what　we　do。　We　are　the　final　arbiters　of　truth。　It　is　the　reason　the　wizards　gave　us　the　power；　back　in　times　long　forgotten。　It　is　how　we　serve　the　people。〃
　
　〃Final　arbiter　of　truth；〃　he　repeated　with　a　frown。　〃Something　like　a　Seeker。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃Seekers　and　Confessors　are　linked　in　purpose。　In　a　way；　we　are　the　opposite　ends　of　the　same　magic。　The　wizards　of　long　ago　were　almost　like　rulers；　and　they　became　frustrated　by　the　corruption　about　them。　They　hated　the　lies　and　deception。　They　wanted　a　way　to　prevent　corrupt　leaders　from　using　their　power　to　deceive　and　subvert　the　people。　You　see；　these　unscrupulous　leaders　would　simply　accuse　their　political　enemies　of　a　crime；　and　have　them　executed　for　it；　at　once　dishonoring　them　and　eliminating　them。
　
　〃The　wizards　wanted　a　way　to　put　a　stop　to　this。　They　needed　a　way　that　left　no　room　for　doubt。　So　they　created　a　magic；　and　gave　it　a　life　of　its　own。　They　created　the　Confessors　from　a　select　group　of　women。　They　picked　the　women　carefully；　because　once　brought　to　life　in　these　women；　the　power　had　a　life　of　its　own；　and　would　pass　to　their　offspring…forever。〃　She　looked　down　at　the　stick；　idly　watching　him　draw　lines。　〃We　use　our　power　to　find　the　truth；　when　the　truth　is　important　enough。　Mostly；　now；　it　is　used　to　make　sure　a　person　sentenced　to　death　is　really　guilty。　When　a　person　is　condemned　to　death；　we　touch　them；　and　then；　once。　they　are　ours；　we　have　them　confess。〃
　
　Richard　found　himself　leaning　over；　the　stick　frozen　in　place。　He　forced　himself　to　move　it　as　she　went　on。
　
　〃Once　touched；　even　the　most　vile　of　murderers　will　do　as　we　mand；　and　will　confess　his　crimes。　Occasionally；　the　courts　are　not　sure　they　have　the　_　right　man；　and　so　a　Confessor　is　called　in　to　find　the　truth。　In　most　lands；　the　law　states　that　none　can　be　put　to　death　without　first　giving　a　confession；　so　all　can　be　sure　they　are　putting　the　right　man　to　death；　and　not　letting　the　guilty　escape；　and　that　it's　not　an　act　of　political　revenge。
　
　〃Some　peoples　of　the　Midlands　won't　use　a　Confessor；　the　Mud　People；　for　example。　They　don't　want　what　they　see　as　outside　interference。　But　they　still　fear　us；　because　they　know　what　we　can　do。　We　respect　the　wishes　of　these　people；　there　is　no　law　forcing　them　to　use　our　servi