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！
of this duty is placed upon us … to teach him to dance with the spirits。 You have learned something this night； have you not？’
Richard gave a grim nod。
‘I am the keeper of the laws of our people。 It was our calling to teach you this。 If we were to ignore what the old words tell us we must do； then the Caharin would not learn what is within himself； and he would be defenseless against the forces of death。 In the end； death would have everyone。
The Majendie sacrifice us； to remind us always of our duty to the spirits； and to remind us to practice with the blades。 The witch women to the other side aid the Majendie； so that we will be surrounded； with no way of escape； and nowhere to go； so that we will always be under threat； and unable to ever forget our duty。
‘It is proclaimed that the Caharin will announce his arrival by dancing with the spirits； and spilling the blood of thirty Baka Ban Mana； a feat none but the chosen one could acplish except with the aid of the spirits。 It is said that when this happens； then we are his to rule。 We are no longer a free people； but bound to his wishes。 To your wishes； Caharin。
The old words say that if every year the one who wears the prayer dress goes to our land； to give our prayers to the spirits； then one year； they will send the Caharin； and if we carry out our duty； then he will return our land to us。’
Richard stood； as if in a dream； glaring down at the woman。 ‘You have taken something precious from me this night； Du Chaillu。’
She came to her feet； straightening before him。 ‘Do not speak to me of sacrifice； Caharin。 My five husbands； whom I loved； whom my children loved； who have not seen me since I was captured； were among the thirty you have just killed。’
Richard sank to his knees。 He felt like he might be sick。 ‘Du Chaillu； forgive me for what I have done this night。’
She gently put a hand to his bowed head。 ‘It has been my honor to be the spirit woman of our people when the Caharin has e； to be the one to wear the prayer dress and bring him to his people。 You must do your duty； now； and return our land； as the old words tell us。’
Richard lifted his head。 ‘And do the old words say how I am to acplish this task？’
She slowly shook her head。 ‘Only that we are to help you； and that you will。 We are yours to mand。’
In the dark； Richard felt a tear run down his cheek。 Then I mand that the killing stop。 You will do as I have already ordered。 You will use the bird whistle to bring peace with the Majendie。 While you are doing that； you will do as you promised； and have someone guide us to the Palace of the Prophets。’
Without looking up； Du Chaillu snapped her fingers。 Richard realized； for the first time； that people in the shadows surrounded the bloody clearing。 All were on their knees； bowed toward him。 At the snap of her fingers； several sprang forward。
‘Guide them to the big stone house。’
Richard stood before her； looking into her dark eyes。 ‘Du Chaillu； I’m so sorry I killed your husbands。 I begged you to stop it； but I’m so sorry。’
Her eyes bore the timeless look he had seen in the eyes of others； Sister Verna； Shota the witch woman； and Kahlan。 He knew now that it was the gift he was seeing。 A ghost of a smile came to her lips。 He didn’t know how she could smile at a time like this。
They fought as hard as any Baka Ban Mana have ever fought。 They had the honor of teaching the Caharin。 They have given their lives for their people。 They brought honor to themselves； and will live on as legends。’
She reached out and placed her hand on his bare chest。 On the handprint there。 ‘You are my husband； now。’
Richard’s eyes widened。 ‘What？’
She gave a curious frown。 ‘I wear the prayer dress。 I am the spirit woman of our people。 You are the Caharin。 It is the old law。 You are my husband。’
Richard shook his head。 ‘No； I’m not。 I already have 。。。’
He was going to say he already had a love。 But the words caught in his throat。 Kahlan had sent him away。 He had nothing。
She shrugged。 ‘It could be worse for you。 The last one who wore the prayer dress was old and wrinkled。 She had no teeth。 I hope that I bring at least some pleasure to your eyes； and maybe someday a song to your heart； but I belong to the Caharin。 It is not for you； or me； to decide。’
‘Yes it is！’ He looked about and then snatched up his shirt。 As he put it on； he saw Sister Verna at the edge of the clearing； watching him； like a bug in a box。 He turned to Du Chaillu。
‘You have a job to do。 You will do it。 The killing is ended。 The Sister and I must get to the palace so I can get this collar off。’
Du Chaillu leaned over and kissed his cheek。 ‘Until I see you again； Richard； Seeker； Caharin； husband。’
CHAPTER 49
Richard and Sister Verna sat on their horses； anchoring long； thin shadows； as they looked down from the grassy prominence。 Trees meandered along the low places among some of the hills； and blanketed others in dusky green。 The vast city below lay awash in a straw…colored haze that muted the colors into a mellow monotone。 The distant tiled and shingled roofs shimmered in the rays of the setting sun like points of light on a pond。
Richard had never seen so many buildings laid out in such an orderly array。 Off to the edges they were smaller； but toward the core they seemed to grow； both in size and in grandeur。 The faraway sounds of tens of thousands of people and horses and wagons drifted all the way up to them on the hill； carried on the light； salty breeze。
A river meandered through the collection of countless buildings； dividing the city； with the part on the far side twice as large。 At the edge of the city； docks lined the banks along the mouth of the majestic river。 Boats of all sizes were not only moored there； but dotted the river； their white sails filled with air。 Some of the boats； he could just make out； had three masts。 Richard had never imagined that such large boats might exist。
Despite being there against his will； Richard found himself fascinated by the city； by all the people and all the sights it must hold。 He had never seen such a place。 He imagined a person could probably walk around for days and days； and not begin to see it all。
Beyond； shimmering with golden sparkles and reflections； lay the sea； stretching to a knife’s…edge line at the horizon。
Dominating the city； near the center； rising up on an island of its own； stood a vast palace； its imposing； crenellated west wall bathed in the sun’s golden rays。 Baileys and ramparts and towers and sections and roofs； all of grand design； joined together into a plex structure that held labyrinthine courtyards with trees； or grass； or ponds。 The palace seemed to be stretching its stone arms； jealously trying to enclose the whole of the island atop which it sat。
Seen from this distance； with the thread…thin streets radiating out from the the island at the core of the city； and strandlike bridges spanning the river all around； the palace reminded Richard of nothing as much as a fat spider sitting in the center of its web。
‘The Palace of the Prophets；’ Sister Verna said。
‘Prison；’ Richard said without looking to her。
She ignored the ment。 The city is Tanimura； and through it； the River Kern。 The palace itself sits on Halsband Island。’
‘Halsband。’ His hackles rose。 ‘Is that some kind of sardonic joke？’
‘What do you mean？ Does Halsband have significance？’
Richard raised an eyebrow。 ‘A halsband is a collar used to launch a hunting hawk on an attack。’
She shrugged dismissively。 ‘You read too much into things。’
‘Do I？ We shall see。’
She let out a small sigh as she lifted her hips； starting her horse down the hill； and changed the subject。 ‘It’s been many years since I was home； but it looks as it always has。’
The two Baka Ban Mana men who had guided them through the swampy； trackless forest for the last two days had left them that morning； once Sister Verna was at last in familiar territory。 Although he never lost his sense of direction； Richard could easily see how people could bee disoriented there。 But he was at home in such places of vast desolation； and was more likely to bee lost in a building than in dense woods。
The two men had spoken little over those two days。 Though they were swordsmen as fierce as those Richard had fought； they were in awe of him。 Richard had to shout before they would stop all the bowing。 No amount of shouting； though； could make them stop calling him Caharin。
One night； before he went to stand his usual watch； Sister Verna had told him； in a quiet tone； that she was sorry that he had had to kill those thirty people。 A little surprised by her sincerity and the seeming lack of meaning other than that stated； and haunted by the memory； he had thanked her for understanding。
Richard scanned the fertile hills and valleys。 ‘Why isn’t this land farmed？ With all those people； they must need to plant food。’
Sister Verna lifted a hand holding the reins and indicated the