tg.wizardfirstrule-第94部分

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　piece　of　meat　like　the　Queen　and　the　Princess　ate。　He　handed　it　down　to　her；　put　it　right　into　her　hand。
　
　〃Sorry　I　yelled　at　you；　Rachel。　You　sit　on　that　stool　over　there　and　eat　this；　and　then　let　us　be　sure　you're　cleaned　up；　so　no　one　will　be　the　wiser。　All　right？〃
　
　She　nodded　and　ran　off　to　the　stool　with　her　prize；　forgetting　to　tiptoe。　It　was　the　best；　most　delicious　thing　she　had　ever　eaten。　She　tried　to　eat　it　slowly　while　she　watched　all　the　people　running　around；　clanging　pots　and　carrying　things；　but　she　couldn't。　Juice　ran　down　her　arms　and　dripped　off　her　elbows。
　
　When　she　was　finished；　the　short　cook　came　and　wiped　her　hands　and　arms　and　face　with　a　towel；　then　he　gave　her　a　slice　of　lemon　pie；　placing　it　right　in　her　hands　the　way　the　tall　cook　had　done　with　the　meat。　He　said　he　baked　it　himself　and　he　wanted　to　know　if　it　was　good。　She　told　him；　quite　truthfully；　that　it　was　just　about　the　bestest　thing　she　had　ever　had。　He　grinned。
　
　This　had　been　just　about　the　best　day　she　could　ever　remember。　Two　good　things　in　the　same　day：　the　trouble　doll；　and　now　the　food。　She　felt　like　a　queen　herself。
　
　Later；　as　she　sat　in　the　big　dining　room　on　her　little　chair　behind　the　Princess；　it　was　the　first　time；　ever；　that　she　hadn't　been　so　hungry　that　her　stomach　made　noises　while　the　important　people　ate。　The　head　table；　where　they　sat；　was　three　steps　higher　than　all　the　other　tables；　so　if　she　sat　up　straight　she　could　see　the　whole　room　even　from　her　little　chair。　Servers　were　dashing　all　about；　bringing　in　food；　taking　out　dishes　with　food　still　left　on　them；　pouring　wine；　and　exchanging　half…full　trays　on　the　tables　with　full　ones　from　the　kitchen。
　
　She　watched　all　the　fine　ladies　and　gentlemen　dressed　in　pretty　dresses　and　colorful　braided　coats；　sitting　at　the　long　tables；　eating　from　the　fancy　plates；　and　for　the　first　time　she　knew　how　the　food　tasted。　She　still　didn't　understand；　though；　why　they　heeded　so　many　forks　and　spoons　to　eat　with。　One　time　when　she　had　asked　the　Princess　why　there　were　so　many　forks　and　spoons　and　things；　the　Princess　had　said　it　was　something　a　nobody　like　her　would　never　need　to　know。
　
　Mostly　Rachel　was　ignored　at　the　banquets。　The　Princess　only　turned　to　look　at　her　once　in　a　while；　she　was　just　there　because　she　was　Princess　Violet's　playmate；　for　looks；　she　guessed。　The　Queen　had　people　standing　or　sitting　behind　her　when　she　ate；　too。　The　Queen　said　Rachel　was　for　the　Princess　to　practice　on；　to　practice　leadership。
　
　She　leaned　forward　and　whispered；　〃Is　your　roast　juicy　enough；　Princess　Violet'？　I　told　the　cooks　it　was　mean　to　give　you　bad　meat；　and　you　said　not　to　do　it　again。〃
　
　Princess　Violet　looked　back　over　her　shoulder；　gravy　dripping　from　her　chin。　〃It's　good　enough　to　keep　them　from　getting　whipped。　And　you're　right；　they　shouldn't　be　so　mean　to　me。　It's　about　time　they　learned。〃
　
　Queen　Milena　sat　at　the　table；　as　she　always　did；　with　her　tiny　little　dog　held　in　one　arm。　It　kept　pushing　its　skinny　little　stick　legs　against　her　fat　arm　as　it　shook；　making　little　dents　with　its　feet。　The　Queen　fed　it　scraps　of　meat　that　were　better　than　any　Rachel　had　ever　been　fed。　Before　today；　that　is；　she　thought　with　a　smile。
　
　Rachel　didn't　like　the　little　dog。　It　barked　a　lot；　and　sometimes　when　the　Queen　set　it　on　the　floor；　it　would　run　over　to　her　and　bite　her　legs　with　its　tiny　sharp　teeth；　and　she　didn't　dare　to　say　anything。　When　the　dog　bit　her；　the　Queen　always　told　it　to　be　careful；　not　to　hurt　itself。　She　always　used　a　funny；　high；　sweet　voice　when　she　talked　to　the　dog。
　
　While　the　Queen　and　her　ministers　talked　about　some　kind　of　alliance；　Rachel　…sat　jiggling　her　legs；　knocking　her　knees　together；　thinking　about　her　trouble　doll。　The　wizard　stood　behind　and　to　the　right　of　the　Queen；　offering　his　advice　when　asked。　He　looked　grand　in　his　silver　robes。　She　had　never　paid　much　attention　to　Giller　before；　he　had　just　been　another　one　of　the　Queen's　important　people；　always　there　with　her；　like　her　little　dog。　People　were　afraid　of　him；　too；　the　way　she　was　afraid　of　the　dog。　Now；　as　she　watched　him；　he　seemed　like　just　about　the　nicest　man　she　had　ever　seen。
　
　He　ignored　her　through　the　whole　dinner；　never　once　looking　her　way。　Rachel　figured　he　didn't　want　to　draw　attention　to　her；　and　make　the　Princess　mad。　That　was　a　good　idea。　Princess　Violet　would　be　cross　if　she　knew　Giller　had　said　he　thought　Rachel's　name　was　pretty。　The　Queen's　long　hair　hung　down　behind　her　fancy　carved　chair；　shaking　in　waves　when　her　important　people　talked　to　her　and　she　nodded　her　head。
　
　When　the　meal　was　finished；　servers　rolled　out　a　cart　with　the　crock　she　had　seen　the　cooks　mixing。　Goblets　were　filled　from　a　ladle　and　carried　to　all　the　guests。　Everyone　seemed　to　think　it　was　pretty　important。
　
　The　Queen　stood；　holding　her　goblet　in　the　air；　and　the　little　dog　in　her　other　arm。　〃Lords　and　ladies；　I　present　you　with　the　drink　of　enlightenment；　that　we　may　see　the　truth。　This　is　a　very　precious　modity；　few　are　offered　the　opportunity　of　enlightenment。　I　have　availed　myself　of　it　many　times；　of　course；　that　I　might　see　the　truth；　the　way　of　Father　Rahl；　in　order　to　lead　my　people　to　the　mon　good。　Drink　up。〃
　
　Some　people　looked　like　they　didn't　want　to；　but　only　for　a　minute。　Then　they　all　drank。　The　Queen　drank；　after　she　saw　that　everyone　else　had；　then　sat　back　down　with　a　funny　look　on　her　face。　She　leaned　to　a　server；　whispering。　Rachel　started　to　get　worried；　the　Queen　was　frowning。　When　the　Queen　frowned；　people　got　their　heads　chopped　off。
　
　The　tall　cook　came　out；　smiling。　The　Queen　motioned　to　him　with　her　finger　hooked；　to　lean　closer。　There　was　sweat　on　his　forehead。　Rachel　guessed　it　was　because　the　kitchen　was　so　hot。　She　was　sitting　behind　the　Princess；　who　sat　at　the　left　arm　of　the　Queen；　so　she　could　hear　them　talking。
　
　〃This　does　not　taste　the　same；〃　she　said　in　her　mean　voice。　She　didn't　always　talk　in　her　mean　voice；　but　when　she　did；　people　got　scared。
　
　〃Ali；　well；　Your　Majesty；　you　see；　in　truth；　uh；　well；　it's　not；　you　see。　Not　the　same；　that　is。〃　Her　eyebrows　lifted　and　he　talked　faster。　〃You　see；　uh；　in　truth；　well；　I　knew　this　was　a　very　important　dinner。　Yes；　I　knew；　you　see；　that　you　wouldn't　want　anything　to　go　wrong。　You　see。　Wouldn't　want　anyone　to　fail　to　be　enlightened；　to　fail　to　see　your　brilliance；　about　all　this；　uh；　business；　so；　you　see；　well；〃　he　leaned　a　little　closer　and　lowered　his　voice　to　speak　confidentially；　〃so　I　took　the　liberty　of　making　the　drink　of　enlightenment　stronger。　Much　stronger；　actually；　you　see。　So　no　one　would　fail　to　see　the　rightness　of　what　you　say。　I　assure　you；　Your　Majesty；　it　is　so　strong；　no　one　will　fail　to　be　enlightened。〃　He　leaned　even　closer；　lowered　his　voice　even　more。　〃In　fact；　Your　Majesty；　it　is　so　strong　that　anyone　who　fails　to　be　enlightened；　and　opposes　you　after　drinking　it；　well；　they　could　only　be　a　traitor。〃
　
　〃Really；〃　the　Queen　whispered　in'　surprise。　〃Well；　I　thought　it　was　stronger。〃
　
　〃Very　perceptive；　Your　Majesty；　very　perceptive。　You　have　a　very　refined　palate。　I　knew　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　fool　you。〃
　
　〃Indeed。　But　are　you　sure　it　isn't　too　powerful？　I　can　feel　the　enlightenment　sweeping　through　me　already。〃
　
　〃Your　Majesty；〃　his　eyes　shifted　among　the　guests。　〃Where　your　mandate　is　concerned；　I　feared　to　make　it　any　weaker。〃　His　eyebrows　lifted　up。　〃Lest　any　traitor　go　unfound。〃
　
　She　smiled　at　last；　and　nodded。　〃You　are　a　wise　and　loyal　cook。　From　now　on；　I　put　you；　exclusively；　in　charge　of　the　drink　of　enlightenment。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Your　Majesty。〃
　
　He　bowed　a　bunch　of　times　and　left。　Rachel　was　glad　he　didn't　get　in　trouble。
　
　〃Lords　and　ladies；　a　special　treat。　Tonight；　I　had　the　cook　prepare　the　drink　of　enlightenment　extra　strong；　so　none　loyal　to　their　queen　could　fail　to　see　the　wisdom　of　Father　Rahl's　ways。〃
　
　The　people　all　smiled　and　nodded　how　pleased　they　were　about　this。　Some　told　how　they　could　already　feel　the　special　insights　the　drink　was　giving　them。
　
　〃A　special　treat；　lords　and　ladies；　for　your　entertainment。〃　She　snapped　her　fingers。　〃Bring　in　the　fool。〃
　
　Guards　brought　in　a　man；　and　made　him　stand　in　the　center　of　the　room；　directly　in　front　of　the　Queen；　all　the　tables　around　him。　He　was　big　and　strong…looking；　but　he　was　bound　with　chains。　The　Queen　leaned　forward。
　
　〃We　here　have　all　agreed　that　an　alliance　with　our　ally；　Darken　Rahl；　will　bring　great　benefits　to　all　our　people；　that　we　all　will　profit；　together。　That　the　little　people；　the　workers；　the　farmers；　will　benefit　the　most。　That　they　will　be　freed　from　the　oppression　of　those　who　would　only　exploit　them　for　profit；　for　gold；　for　greed。　That　from　now　on；　we　all　will　be　working　for　the　mon　good；　not　individual　goals。〃　The　Queen　frowned。　〃Please　tell　all　these　ignorant　lords　and　ladies〃…she　swept　her　hand　around　the　room…〃how　it　is　that　you　are　smarter　than　they；　and　why　you　should　be　allowed　to　work　only　for　yourself；　instead　of　your　fellow　man。〃
　
　The　man　had　an　angry　look　on　his　face。　Rachel　wished　he　would　change　it；　before　he　got　in　trouble。