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！
Her eyes closed as she sank to her knees； leaning forward； bending into a deep bow。 The whole of the time she was slumping forward； her hair shortened。 By the time her head touched the sparkling white sand； her hair looked as if it had been chopped short； close to the nape of her neck。
‘This must be； or the Keeper will escape。 Stopping it will aid him； and he will have us all。 Speak if you must these words； but not of this vision。’ Without looking up； she spoke in a detached rote。
‘Of all there were； but a single one born of the magic to bring forth truth will remain alive when the shadow’s threat is lifted。 Therefore es the greater darkness of the dead。 For there to be a chance at life’s bond； this one in white must be offered to her people； to bring their joy and good cheer。’
As Richard stood staring at the illusion； at the back of her head； a ring of blood blossomed around her neck。 Richard’s breath halted。 As if it had been cleaved off； Kahlan’s head tumbled away。 Her body fell to its side； blood gushing； spreading in a pool beneath it； turning the white sand and white dress to red。
Richard drew a gasp of a breath。
‘Noooo！’
His chest heaved。 He felt his fingernails cutting into his palms。 His toes curled in his boots。
It’s an illusion； he told himself as he shook。 An illusion。 Nothing more。 An illusion meant to terrorize him。
Kahlan stared up at him with flat； dead green eyes。 Though he knew it had to be an illusion； it nonetheless was working。 Panic paralyzed his legs； fright raced recklessly through his mind。
The image of Kahlan wavered and then vanished suddenly as Sister Verna stormed through an archway to the side。
‘Richard！’ she shrieked in fury。 ‘What are you doing in here！ I told you to stay with me！ Can’t you follow the simplest instructions？ Must you always act like a child！’
She took two strides forward； her face red with rage。
His heart thumped violently with the pain of what he had just seen。 He blinked at Sister Verna。 He was in an ill humor to tolerate the surly side of her disposition。 ‘You were gone。 I couldn’t find you。 I looked but 。。。’
‘Don’t talk back to me！’ Her curls sprang up and down as she yelled。 ‘I’ve had all the talk from you I can stomach。 I told you I was in no mood for it。 My patience is at an end； Richard。’
He opened his mouth to speak； but the collar yanked him backward； his feet leaving the ground。 It felt as if he had been jerked by a rope around his neck。 With a grunt he slammed into the wall。 The impact knocked the wind from his lungs and the sense from his head。 He hung； his feet clear of the ground； pinned to the wall by the Rada’Han。 The collar was choking him。 He tried to focus his eyes； but his vision only blurred uselessly。
‘It’s time you had a lesson I should have given long ago；’ the Sister said in a growl as she stalked toward him。 ‘I have suffered enough of your disobedience。 I will suffer it no longer。’
Richard struggled to breathe。 Each breath burned as he drew it through the constriction at his neck。 His vision cleared and finally focused on Sister Verna’s face。 His anger heated。
‘Sister 。。。 don’t 。。。’
Pain took his words。 It ignited in his chest with such intense burning force it made his fingers tingle。 He couldn’t draw a breath to scream。
‘I’ve had enough of your words。 I will hear no more。 No more of your excuses； your arguments； your harsh judgments。 From now on； you will do as you are told； when you are told； and you will offer me no more of your insolence。’
She took another step toward him。 Her expression twisted with menace。 ‘Do we understand each other！’
She somehow made the pain worse。 He shook with the crushing hurt in his chest。 Stinging tears flooded from his wide eyes。
‘I asked you a question！ Do we understand each other！’
Air rushed into his lungs。 ‘Sister Verna 。。。 I’m warning you 。。。 don’t do this or 。。。’
‘You are warning me！ You are warning me！’
White…hot pain knifed through his chest； twisting tighter with each breath。 A scream ripped from his lungs。 His worst fears were ing to life。 This was what wearing a collar had brought him to； again。 This was what the Sisters had in mind for him。 This was his fate； if he allowed it。
Richard called the sword’s magic。
Summoned by its master； the power swept into him； hot with promise； hot with wrath； hot with need。 Richard weled it； embraced it； letting his own rage join with the rage of the sword and spiral through him。 His fury consumed the pain； using it to draw power。
‘Don’t you dare fight me； or I will make you rue the day you were born！’
Fiery flames of agony bloomed anew。 Richard drew them into the wrath。 Though he wasn’t touching the sword； he didn’t need to。 He was one with the magic； and he called forth all its force now。
‘Stop this；’ he managed through gritted teeth。 ‘Or I will。’
Sister Verna； with her fists at her side； stepped closer。
‘Now you threaten me？ I warned you before about threatening me。 You have made your last mistake； Richard。’
Though he was nearly blinded by the pain she suddenly unleashed into him； he was able to see one thing。 The Sword of Truth。 It lay in the sand； near the Sister。
The Seeker focused the sword’s magic into the power that bound him to the wall。 With a loud crack； the bond broke and he tumbled away from the wall； rolling through the sand。
His hands found the sword。
Sister Verna charged toward him。 He came up swinging the sword in an arc。 The need for her blood seared through his soul； beyond retrieval。 Nothing else mattered。
Bringer of death。
He didn’t try to direct the track of the blade； but simply focused his need to kill into the power of its swing。
The sword’s tip whistled through the air。
Bringer of death。
The blade exploded through the Sister at shoulder level。 The cool air erupted with a spray of hot blood； the smell of it filling his nostrils as the sight of it filled his vision。 Her head and part of her shoulders