按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Richard squirmed in his saddle。 ‘Will we see any of the towers when we cross？’
There’s no way to tell。 The gaps shift constantly。 Occasionally； on the way through； the openings take you close to a tower。 I saw one on my first journey through。 Some Sisters never saw one。 I hope never to see another。’
Richard realized he was gripping the hilt of his sword with his left hand。 The raised letters of the word TRUTH bit into his flesh。 He relaxed his hand； releasing the hilt。
‘So； what can we expect to see？’
Sister Verna broke her gaze into the distance and redirected it to him。 ‘There are spells of every sort。 Some are spells of despair。 To be snared in one is to have your soul wander in despair for all time。 Some are spells of joy and delight； in which one is lost in enchantment for all time。 Some are pure destruction； and will tear you apart。 Some will show you things you fear； to make you run into the clutches of things that lurk behind。 Some tempt with things you hope for。 If you give in to the desire 。。。’ She leaned closer to him。 ‘You must stay close to me； keep going。 You must ignore any desire you have； both fear and longing； to do otherwise。 Do you understand？’
Richard finally nodded。 Sister Verna returned her gaze to the shimmering forms。 She sat motionless； watching。 In the distance； beyond the wavering light； he thought he saw thun…derheads； dark and ominous； drifting across the horizon。 He felt more than heard their thunder。 Somehow； he knew it wasn’t clouds； but magic。 When Bonnie tossed her head； Richard gave her a reassuring pat on her neck。
After watching awhile； he looked over to the Sister。 She sat still and tense。
‘What are you waiting for； Sister？ Courage？’
She answered without moving。 ‘Exactly。 I am waiting for courage； child。’
He felt no anger this time at her calling him ‘child；’ but rather that it might be an appropriate characterization； as far as his abilities were concerned。
In a whisper； and still without looking away from the sunbaked inferno ahead； she went on。 ‘You were still in swaddling clothes when I came through； but I remember every detail as if it happened yesterday。 Yes； I am waiting for courage。’
He gave Bonnie a squeeze with his legs； urging her ahead。 ‘The sooner we start； the sooner we’re through。’
‘Or lost。’ She walked her horse after him。 ‘So anxious to be lost； Richard？’
‘I’m already lost； Sister。’
CHAPTER 29
They were confronted by steps； twenty strides wide； that revealed themselves for what they were only at the far right； where the wind had funneled down next to the sweeping； pink marble balustrade and kept the snow clear。 Pausing for only a moment as she realized they had reached her destination； Kahlan set her snowshoes firmly into the snowdrift that covered the steps； and ascended to the portico； its fascia decorated with a row of statues swathed in cut stone that mimicked the drape of cloth so well it seemed as if it might move in the light breeze。 Ten white columns to each side held the massive entablature at a dizzying height above the arched entrance。 Bodies fallen in a desperate battle were sprawled atop one another all over the snow…covered lawns； and sat as if in repose against the walls of the domed exterior entrance hall。
The ornate doors； displaying delicately carved royal shields of the House of Amnell； held aloft by twin mountain lions； lay in splinters on the floor of the vestibule。 Flanking the rope…carved stone arch at the far end stood life…size statues of Queen Bernadine and King Wyborn； each holding a spear and shield in one hand； the queen a sheaf of wheat in the other； and the king a lamb。 The queen’s breasts were broken away； flakes of stone and stone dust littered the rust colored marble tiles。 Both statues were without their heads。
With nearly numb fingers； Kahlan untied the bindings of her snowshoes and leaned them against the queen’s statue。 Chandalen followed her example before following her into the reception hall lined with broken mirrors and torn tapestries。 She pulled her mantle tight around herself as clouds of their breath rose lazily into dead still air that was somehow much colder than that outside。
‘What is this place used for？’ Chandalen asked in a whisper； as if afraid he might wake the spirits of the dead。
She had to force herself not to whisper。 ‘It is the home of the queen of this land。 Her name is Cyrilla。’
His doubting voice echoed down the stone hall。 ‘One person lives in a place such as this？’
‘Many people live here。 There are advisors； much like the elders among your people； and others that are responsible for governing the needs of the land； and people who tend to their needs so they may perform their duties。 Many people call this their home； but the queen is the head of the household； as she is the head of her land。 She is above them all。’
Chandalen followed silently as she began to search the palace。 His eyes slid from one wondrous object to another； from elaborately carved furniture that now lay everywhere in splinters； to the heavy red； blue； gold； or green draperies that adorned the ten…foot…tall； square…top windows； all broken now。
She descended a flight of stairs to the lower rooms； the oak treads creaking with every step in the cold。 He insisted on entering each room first； pushing doors open with a foot and gliding in behind a fully drawn ten…step arrow； before allowing her to search inside。
They found only the dead。 In a few of the rooms they found some of the staff； who had been lined up against a wall and pincushioned with arrows。 In the kitchens it looked as if after executing the cooks； cook’s helpers； wine stewards； assistants； dishwashers； potboys； spit boys； and scullions； the invaders had sat down and had a drunken feast。 The ale and wine casks were empty。 It appeared they had thrown more food at the walls than they had eaten。
While Chandalen checked the ransacked larder； Kahlan’s eye was caught by the bodies of two young women； kitchen help； on the floor behind a long chopping block。 One was pletely naked； and the other had but one brown； woolen stocking； bunched down around her thin ankle。 Her first assumption had been wrong。 Not all the help had been killed before the drunken feast。
Her face as still as those of the dead women； she turned and strode from the kitchen and started up the servants’ stairs to check the upper floors。 Chandalen’s thumping footfalls came charging up behind as he took three steps at a time to catch her。
She knew he didn’t like it that she had left without him； but he didn’t voice it。 There is salted meat。 Maybe we could take a little？ I do not think these people would think it wrong for us to do so。 They would not deny us a little food。’
Kahlan put her hand to the railing as she climbed with a steady cadence； but then pulled the hand back inside her mantle； because the polished maple was so cold to the touch it stung her fingers。 ‘If you eat the meat； you will die。 They will have poisoned it； so that if any of the dead’s countrymen return to thi