tg.stone of tears- 第124部分

　
　This　some　kind　of　joke？’
　
　Zedd　brought　his　attention　back　to　Ahern。　With　two　fingers；　the　big　man　drew　a　coin　from　the　bag　and　flicked　it　across　the　table。　The　coin　spun　with　a　dull　color　before　finally　toppling　over；　making　a　sound　just　as　dull。　Zedd　stared　incredulously。
　
　The　coin　looked　just　like　an　ordinary　coin。　Except　it　was　wood　instead　of　gold。
　
　‘I　。。。　I。。。　well　。。。’
　
　Ahern　had　poured　the　rest　of　the　gold　coins　into　his　big　mitt　and　was　now　letting　them　tumble　back　into　the　purse。　‘And　there　are　only　eighteen　here。　You’re　two　short。　I’m　not　taking　wooden　coins。’
　
　Zedd　smiled　indulgently　as　he　pulled　the　light　brown　purse　from　his　robes。　‘I　apologize；　Ahern。’　He　swept　the　wooden　coin　from　the　table。　‘It　would　seem　I　gave　you　the　wrong　purse；　the　one　with　my　lucky　coin。　I　would　never　give　that　away；　of　course。　It’s　more　valuable　to　me　than　gold。’
　
　He　peered　into　his　purse。　Seventeen。　And　two　of　those　were　wood；　too。　There　should　have　been　nineteen；　altogether。　His　mind　reeled　as　he　tried　to　make　sense　of　it。　Could　Master　Hillman　have　tried　to　short　him？　No；　that　would　be　too　clumsy　a　theft。　Besides；　to　carve　a　coin　from　wood；　hoping　to　pass　it　off　as　gold；　would　be　witless。
　
　‘My　other　two　gold？’
　
　‘Oh　yes；　yes。’　Zedd　pulled　two　gold　coins　from　the　purse　and　slid　them　across　the　table。
　
　Ahern　added　them　to　his　purse；　jerked　the　drawstring　tight；　and　stuffed　the　dark　brown　bag　into　a　pocket。　‘I’m　at　your　bidding；　now。　When　would　you　like　to　leave？’
　
　The　silver　coins　that　were　turned　to　wood　instead　of　gold　did　not　concern　the　wizard；　that　could　be　explained。　Somehow。　But　there　were　three　coins　missing。　Vanished。　That　could　not　be　explained。　That　did　concern　him。　Concern　him　down　to　the　bones　in　his　toes。
　
　‘I　would　like　to　leave　as　soon　as　possible。　At　once。’
　
　‘You　mean　tomorrow？’
　
　Zedd　snatched　up　his　hat。　‘No；　I　mean　at　once。’　He　glanced　at　the　man’s　puzzled　frown。　‘My　wife　。。。　there　is　no　time　to　waste。　She　needs　to　get　to　her　healers。’
　
　Ahern　shrugged。　‘Well；　I　just　got　back　from　Tristen。　I’ll　need　to　catch　a　little　sleep。　It’s　going　to　be　a　long；　hard　run。’
　
　Zedd　reluctantly　nodded　his　acquiescence。　‘First　I’ll　put　the　runners　on　the　coach。　That’ll　take　a　couple　of　hours。　Less　if　I　can　get　one　of　these　fellows　to　help　me。’
　
　Zedd　thumped　his　cane。　‘No！　Tell　no　one　what　you’re　doing；　or　where　you’re　going。　Don’t　even　tell　anyone　you’re　leaving。’　He　snapped　his　mouth　shut　when　he　saw　Ahern’s　frown；　and　thought　he　had　better　say　something　to　ease　it。　Those　shadows　you　spoke　of。　Does　no　good　to　let　them　know　where　to　point　an　arrow。’
　
　Ahern　stared　down　suspiciously　as　he　stood　to　his　full；　towering　height；　drawing　his　longcoat　on。　‘First　you　talk　me　into　taking　you　to　the　accursed　land　of　wizards　and　Confessors；　and　now　this。　I　think　I　asked　too　little。’　He　flicked　the　ends　of　the　coat’s　belt　together　into　a　loose　knot。　‘But　a　bargain　is　a　bargain。　I’ll　get　the　coach　set　up；　and　get　some　provisions　together　before　I　snatch　a　little　sleep。　I’ll　meet　you　back　here　three　hours　before　dawn。　We’ll　be　across　the　border　and　into　Galea　before　midday　tomorrow。’
　
　‘I　have　a　horse　at　the　stables。　We　might　as　well　take　her　along。　Stop　by　and　fetch　her　before　you　e　for　us。’　Zedd　dismissed　the　man　with　an　absent　wave　of　his　cane。　‘Three　hours　before　dawn。’
　
　His　mind　was　racing　in　other　directions。　This　was　more　serious　than　he　had　thought。　It　was　imperative　that　they　have　help　as　soon　as　possible。　Maybe　the　woman　in　Nicobarese　who　had　had　the　three　daughters　had　studied　somewhere；　perhaps　someplace　closer。　Maybe　they　could　find　what　they　needed　without　going　all　that　way。　Time　was　of　the　essence。
　
　The　light　only　knows；　Adie　had　said；　where　the　woman　had　learned　about　the　skrin。　The　‘light’　was　a　mon　reference　to　the　gift。　It　was　also　an　obscure　reference　to　something　else　entirely。　He　thumped　his　cane　on　the　floor。　Must　Adie　always　speak　in　sorceress’s　riddles！
　
　As　Ahern　headed　for　the　door；　the　wizard　rose　and　headed　for　the　stairs。
　
　
　CHAPTER　35
　
　Zedd　opened　the　door　to　be　confronted　by　a　haze　of　smoke　that　smelled　of　creosote。　The　window　was　opened；　letting　in　icy　cold　air；　and　letting　out　the　smoke。　Adie　sat　on　the　bed；　wrapped　nearly　to　her　neck　in　a　blanket；　brushing　her　straight；　black　and　gray；　jaw…length　hair。
　
　‘What’s　going　on？　What　happened？’
　
　She　pointed　with　the　hairbrush。　‘I　be　cold。　I　tried　to　start　a　fire。’
　
　Zedd　glanced　to　the　hearth。　‘You　need　wood；　Adie。　You　can’t　have　a　fire　without　wood。’
　
　He　expected　a　scowl。　Instead；　it　was　a　look　of　disquiet。　‘There　be　wood。　I　used　magic；　to　try　to　light　the　fire　from　where　I　be　in　bed。　But　there　be　a　big　puff　of　smoke　and　sparks。　I　opened　the　window　to　let　out　the　smoke。　When　I　looked　to　the　hearth；　the　logs　be　gone。’
　
　Zedd　stepped　closer　to　her。　‘Gone？’
　
　She　nodded　and　went　back　to　brushing。　‘Something　be　wrong。　Wrong　with　my　gift。’
　
　Zedd　stroked　a　hand　down　her　hair。　‘I　know。　I　had　a　similar　problem。　It　must　be　the　taint。’　He　sat　and　took　the　brush　from　her　hand；　setting　it　down。　Adie；　what　can　you　tell　me　about　this　taint；　about　the　skrin？　We　must　have　answers。’
　
　‘I　have　already　told　you　all　I　know。　The　skrin　be　force　on　the　cusp　between　the　world　of　the　living　and　the　world　of　the　dead。’
　
　‘But　why　won’t　the　cut　heal？　Why　won’t　my　magic　work　to　heal　it？　What　made　the　logs　disappear　when　you　used　magic？’
　
　‘Skrin　be　from　both　worlds。　Do　you　not　see？’　She　shook　her　head　in　frustration。　‘Skrin　be　magic；　magic　of　both　worlds；　so　it　can　work　in　both　worlds。　Additive　and　Subtrac…tive。　We　be　touched　by　that　force。　The　taint　be　Subtractive。’
　
　‘You　mean　that　you　think　the　taint　of　Subtractive　Magic　is　corrupting　our　magic？　Our　gift？’
　
　She　nodded。　‘It　be　like　you　have　just　cleaned　ashes　from　a　hearth　with　your　bare　hands；　and　without　washing　them　clean　you　try　to　hang　up　freshly　washed　white　sheets　to　dry。　Your　hands　be　tainted　with　the　ash；　and　it　gets　on　the　clean；　damp；　white　sheets。　Sticks　to　them。’
　
　Zedd　silently　considered　the　problem　for　a　time。　‘Adie；’　he　whispered；　‘we　must　somehow　clean　our　hands。　Wash　the　taint　away。’
　
　‘You　have　a　talent　for　stating　the　obvious；　old　man。’
　
　Zedd　checked　his　tongue　and　took　a　different　tack。　‘Adie；　I　hired　us　a　coach　to　take　us　to　Nicobarese；　but　you’re　getting　weaker；　and　I’m　not　going　to　be　long　behind。　I　don’t　know　if　we　can　wait。　If　there’s　another　way；　maybe　someone　else　closer　who　can　help　us；　I　must　know。’
　
　‘There　be　no　other　way。　There　be　no　one　else。’
　
　‘Well；　what　about　this　woman　who　had　the　three　daughters？　Perhaps　she　studied　somewhere　closer　to　learn　some　of　these　things。　Maybe　we　could　go　there；　instead。’
　
　‘It　not　be　a　help。’
　
　‘Why　not？’
　
　Adie　considered　him　a　moment；　and　at　last　yielded。　‘She　studied　with　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。’
　
　Zedd　shot　to　his　feet。　‘What！’　He　paced　back　and　forth　between　the　bed　and　the　fireplace。　‘Bags　and　double　bags！　I　knew　it。　I　knew　it！’
　
　‘Zedd；　she　studied　with　them　to　learn。　Then　she　returned　home。　She　not　be　a　Sister。　The　Sisters　not　be　so　。。。　unreasonable　。。。　as　you　think。’
　
　He　halted　to　peer　at　her　with　one　eye。　‘And　how　would　you　know　that？’
　
　Adie　gave　a　resigned　sigh。　The　round　skrin　bone；　the　one　that　be　given　to　me　just　before　the　woman　died；　the　one　I　told　you　be　important；　the　one　we　lost　back　at　my　house　。。。　the　gifted　woman　who　gave　it　to　me　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light。’
　
　‘And　what　was　she　doing　in　the　New　World？’　Zedd　asked　in　a　level　tone。
　
　‘She　not　be　in　the　New　World。　I　be　in　the　Old　World；　at　the　time。’
　
　Zedd　put　both　fists　on　his　hips　as　he　leaned　toward　her。
　
　‘You　crossed　the　Valley　of　the　Lost？　You　went　into　the　Old　World！　You’re　just　filled　right　up　full　with　little　secrets。’
　
　Adie　shrugged　with　one　shoulder。　‘I　told　you　I　searched　out　women　with　the　gift；　to　learn　from　them　what　I　could。　Some　of　them　be　in　the　Old　World。　I　used　my　one　passing　through　the　valley　and　back　to　learn　what　I　could　of　what　I　needed　to　know。’
　
　Adie　snugged　the　blanket　tighter　around　her　shoulders。　The　Sisters；　some　of　them；　taught　me　the　little　bits　they　knew。　Important　little　bits。　The　Sisters　view　it　as　their　province　to　know　about　the　Keeper；　the　Nameless　One　as　they　call　him；　in　order　to　keep　souls　from　his　grasp。
　
　‘I　did　not　stay　at　their　palace　long；　they　would　not　let　me　stay　unless　I　wished　to　be　one　of　them；　but　for　a　time　they　let　me　study　with　them；　study　things　in　their　vaults。　There　be　Sisters　in　the　palace　I　would　not　trust　to　cook　me　breakfast；　but　there　be　some　who　were　great　help。’
　
　Muttering；　Zedd　started　pacing　again。　The　Sisters　of　the　Light　are　misguided　zealots。　They　make　the　Blood　of　the　Fold　look　to　be　reasonable　men！’　He　came　to　a　halt。　‘And　when　you　were　there；　did　you　see　any　of　their　boys？　Did　you　see　if　they　even　had　any　with　the　gift？’
　
　‘I　had　my　own　learning　to　attend　to。　I　not　be　there　to　argue　theology　with　the　Sister