tg.stone of tears-第46部分

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through；　the　air　became　moist；　dripping。　The　fire　hissed　out。
　
　Although　she　didn’t　try　to　move；　she　knew　she　couldn’t。　She　could　feel　that　the　grip　held　her　firmly。　She　turned　it　cold；　brittle；　with　ice；　and　broke　it。　When　she　was　free；　she　lifted　Pasha　from　the　floor。　Defensive　webs　from　the　girl　wove　through　her　snaking　onslaught；　but　failed　to　break　the　grip。　Her　feet　rose　again。　Impressive　…　the　girl　could　counter　even　while　being　held。
　
　Spells　tangled　together；　conflicting；　fighting；　snarling　into　knots。　Each　matched　and　defended；　striking　back　at　any　opportunity。　The　silent；　motionless　battle　raged　on　for　a　time；　the　two　of　them　hanging　inches　off　the　ground。
　
　At　last；　she　tired　of　the　sport　and　severed　herself　from　the　webs；　tying　them　to　the　girl；　locking　them　on。　She　settled　gently　to　the　ground；　and　left　Pasha　with　the　whole　weight　of　the　load　to　juggle。　A　simple；　if　devious；　escape：　giving　the　opponent　not　only　the　attacking　spells　to　deal　with；　but　dumping　her　own　back　on　her。　Pasha　hadn’t　been　expecting　this；　and　wasn’t　able　to　defend　against　it；　it　was　not　the　way　she　had　been　taught。
　
　Sweat　ran　down　the　novice’s　face　as　she　grimaced　slightly。　The　force　radiating　through　the　hall　made　carpets　curl　up　at　their　corners。　Lamps　chattered　in　their　brackets。　Pasha　was　getting　angry。　Her　brow　wrinkled。　With　a　loud　crack　that　shattered　a　mirror　far　off　down　the　hall；　she　broke　the　spells。　Her　slippered　feet　settled　to　the　ground。
　
　Pasha　took　a　few　deep　breaths。　‘I　have　not　seen　that　done　before；　Sister。　It　is　not　。。。　by　the　rules。’
　
　She　put　the　rod　back　under　the　other’s　chin。　‘Rules　are　for　children’s　games。　You　are　no　longer　a　child。　When　you　are　a　full　Sister；　you　must　deal　with　situations　where　there　are　no　rules。　You　must　be　prepared　for　that。　If　you　always　stick　to　somebody’s　‘rules；’　you　may　find　yourself　at　the　point　of　a　very　sharp　knife；　held　by　a　hand　that　doesn’t　know　about　your　‘rules。’’
　
　Pasha　didn’t　flinch。　‘Yes；　Sister。　Thank　you　for　showing　me。’
　
　She　smiled　inwardly；　but　kept　it　off　her　face。　This　one　had　a　spine；　if　a　small　one。　A　rare　modity　in　a　novice；　even　one　of　the　third　rank。
　
　She　let　her　eyes　take　in　Pasha　again：　soft　brown　hair　that　just　touched　her　shoulders；　big　brown　eyes；　attractive　features；　lips　of　the　sort　men　stared　at；　proud；　upright　shoulders；　and　a　sweep　of　curves　that　even　a　novice’s　dress　failed　to　conceal。
　
　She　let　the　rod　trail　from　Pasha’s　chin；　down　her　neck；　down　into　the　heart　of　her　exposed　cleavage。
　
　Grown　into　a　man。
　
　‘And　since　when；　Pasha；’　she　said　in　a　quiet　voice　that　could　have　been　taken　for　either　threatening；　or　kind；　‘have　novices　been　allowed　to　wear　their　dresses　unbuttoned　like　this？’
　
　Pasha　blushed　furiously。　‘Forgive　me；　Sister。　It’s　such　a　warm　night。　I　was　alone　。。。　I　didn’t　think　there　was　anyone　about。　I　just　wanted　to　let　the　breeze　cool　my　skin。’　Her　face　turned　a　deeper　red。　‘I　sweat　so；　there。　I　never　meant　to　offend　anyone。　I’m　so　embarrassed。　Forgive　me。’
　
　Pasha’s　hands　rushed　to　the　buttons。　With　the　rod；　she　gently　pushed　the　hands　away　from　the　swell　of　the　young　woman’s　bosom。
　
　‘The　Creator　made　you　this　way。　You　should　not　be　embarrassed　of　what　He　has　chosen；’　in　his　wisdom；　to　bestow　upon　you。　You　should　never　be　ashamed；　Pasha；　of　what　He　has　graced　you　with。　Only　those　of　questionable　loyalty　to　the　Creator　would　scorn　you　for　being　proud　of　showing　the　Maker’s　hand　in　all　its　magnificence。’
　
　‘Why　。。。　thank　you；　Sister。　I　never　looked　at　it　in　quite　that　way。’　A　frown　wrinkled　her　brow。　‘What　do　you　mean；　‘questionable　loyalty’？’
　
　She　pulled　the　rod　away　and　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Those　who　worship　the　Nameless　One　don’t　hide　in　the　shadows；　my　dear。　They　could　be　anywhere。　Why；　even　you　could　be　one。　Even　me。’
　
　Pasha　fell　to　a　knee；　bowing　her　head。　‘Oh；　please；　Sister；’　she　implored；　‘don’t　say　such　a　thing　of　yourself；　even　in　jest。　You　are　a　Sister　of　the　Light；　and　we　are　in　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets；　safe；　I　pray；　from　the　whispers　of　the　Nameless　One。’
　
　‘Safe？’　With　her　rod；　she　motioned　the　novice　up。　After　she　was　on　her　feet；　she　gave　her　a　stern　look。　‘Only　a　fool　assumes　she　is　safe；　even　here。　Sisters　of　the　Light　are　not　fools。　Even　they　must　always　be　alert　to　the　dark　whispers。’
　
　‘Yes；　Sister。　I　will　remember。’
　
　‘Remember　it；　any　time　someone　would　make　you　ashamed　of　how　the　Creator　has　formed　you。　Ask　yourself　why　they　blush　at　seeing　the　Maker’s　hand。　Blush；　as　the　Nameless　One　would。’
　
　‘Yes；　Sister。　。。。　Thank　you；’　she　stammered。　‘You　have　given　me　things　to　think　on。　I　have　never　thought　about　the　Creator　in　this　way　before。’
　
　‘He　has　reasons　for　the　things　He　does。　Is　this　not　true？’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘Well；　when　He　gives　a　man　a　strong　back；　what　does　that　say？’
　
　‘Everyone　knows　that。　He　was　given　the　strong　back　to　use。　It　means　the　Creator　has　given　him　the　strong　back　so　that　he　might　work　to　feed　his　family。　Work　to　make　his　way。　Work　to　make　the　Creator　proud。　And　not　waste　the　Creator’s　gift　by　being　lazy。’
　
　She　whisked　the　rod　up　and　down　in　front　of　Pasha。　‘And　what　do　you　think　the　Creator　had　in　mind　when　he　gave　you　this　body？’
　
　‘I　。。。　don’t　know　。。。　exactly。　That　I　should　use　it　to　。。。　make　the　Creator　proud　of　His　work　。。。　in　some　way？’
　
　She　nodded。　‘You　think　on　it。　You　think　on　your　reason　for　being　here。　Being　here　at　this　time。　We　are　all　here　for　a　reason。　The　Sisters　of　the　Light　are　here　for　a　reason；　are　they　not？’
　
　‘Oh；　yes；　Sister。　We　are　here　to　teach　the　ones　with　the　gift；　teach　them　to　use　it；　and　guide　them　so　they　may　not　hear　the　whispers　of　the　Nameless　One；　that　they　may　hear　only　the　Creator。’
　
　‘And　how　are　we　able　to　do　that？’
　
　‘We　were　given　the　gift　of　being　sorceresses；　so　that　we　may　be　able　to　guide　them　in　their　gift。’
　
　‘And　if　the　Creator　was　wise　enough　to　give　you　that　gift；　the　gift　of　being　a　sorceress；　do　you　not　think　He　may　have　given　you　your　looks　for　a　reason　too？　Maybe　to　be　a　part　of　your　calling　as　a　Sister　of　the　Light？　To　use　your　looks　to　serve　Him？’
　
　Pasha　stared。　‘Why；　I　never　thought　of　it　that　way　before。　In　what　way　are　my　looks　to　be　of　aid？’
　
　She　shrugged。　‘We　cannot　always　know　what　the　Creator　has　intended。　When　He　wishes；　it　will　be　revealed。’
　
　‘Yes；　Sister。’　Her　voice　was　unsure。
　
　‘Pasha；　when　you　see　a　man　that　the　Creator　has　graced　with　good　looks；　a　finely　shaped　body；　what　do　you　think？　What　do　you　feel？’
　
　Pasha　blushed。　‘I　。。。　sometimes　。。。　it　makes　my　heart　race。　I　guess。　It　makes　me　feel。。。　good。　Feel　longings。’
　
　At　last　she　allowed　a　small　smile。　‘There　is　no　need　to　blush；　my　dear。　It　is　a　longing　to　touch　what　the　Creator’s　hand　has　wrought。　Don’t　you　suppose　it　pleases　the　Creator　that　you　appreciate　His　work？　Don’t　you　think　He　wants　you　to　like　what　He　has　done？　To　enjoy　it？　Just　as　you　must　know　that　men　enjoy　witnessing　your　beauty　and　long　to　touch　the　work　of　the　Creator’s　hand。　It　would　be　a　crime　against　the　Creator　not　to　use；　in　your　service　to　Him；　what　He　has　given　you。’
　
　Pasha　smiled　shyly。　‘I　never　thought　about　it　in　that　way。　You　have　given　me　new　eyes；　Sister。　The　more　I　learn；　the　more　it　seems　I　don’t　know。　I　hope　that　someday　I　will　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light　half　as　wise　as　you。’
　
　‘Knowledge　es　as　it　will；　Pasha。　Life’s　lessons　e　at　the　most　surprising　times。　Like　tonight。’　She　swished　the　rod　toward　the　window。　‘Here　you　are；　looking　out　a　window；　hoping　to　learn　one　thing；　and　you　have　learned　something　more　important。’
　
　Pasha　touched　her　arm。　‘Oh；　thank　you；　Sister；　for　taking　the　time　to　teach　me。　No　Sister　has　spoken　so　frankly　to　me　before。’
　
　‘This　is　one　lesson；　Pasha；　that　is　outside　the　palace　curriculum。　It　is　a　lesson　the　Nameless　One　would　be　angry　you　learned；　so　keep　it　to　yourself。　As　you　think　on　what　I　have　told　you；　and　the　Creator’s　hand　is　revealed；　you　will　understand　better　how　it　is　to　work　for　Him。　And　if　you　need　more　understanding；　I　will　always　be　here　to　help　guide　you。　But　keep　our　talk　from　others。　As　I　said；　you　can　never　tell　who　listens　to　the　whispers　of　the　Nameless　One。’
　
　Pasha　curtsied。　‘I　will；　Sister。　Thank　you。’
　
　A　novice　is　given　many　tests。　Tests　of　the　palace’s　devising。
　
　There　are　rules　to　them。　The　final　test　to　be　named　a　Sister　of　the　Light　is　being　charged　with　a　new　one。　In　this；　the　final　test；　there　are　not　always　rules。　New　ones　can　be　difficult　to　control。　But　that　does　not　mean　they　are　bad。’
　
　‘Difficult？’
　
　‘Of　course。　They　e　here；　plucked　from　the　only　life　they　knew；　and　are　thrust　into　a　new　place；　with　new　demands　they　don’t　understand。　They　can　be　rebellious；　difficult　to　control。　It　is　because　they　are　afraid。　We　must　have　patience。’
　
　‘Afraid　。。。？　Of　the　Sisters？　And　the　palace？’
　
　‘Weren’t　you　afraid；　when　you　first　came　here？　Just　a　little？’
　
　‘Well；　maybe　just　a　little。　But　it　was　my　dream　to　e。　I　wanted　it　more　than　anything。’
　
　‘