tg.stone of tears-第114章

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nst　the　white　ground。
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　weary　moan　as　she　dismounted　before　the　four　men　who　had　e　to　greet　her。　Other　men　all　around　kept　to　their　tasks；　but　moved　more　slowly　as　they　watched　her　with　great　interest。　The　four　before　her　stared　openly　with　wide　eyes。　None　said　a　word。
　
　‘What　are　you　all　staring　at？’　she　said；　a　little　short…tempered。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；’　Captain　Ryan　said；　‘you’re　covered　in　blood。　Are　you　hurt？’
　
　Kahlan　stared　down　at　the　white　wolf　fur　of　her　mantle；　only　it　was　no　longer　white。　She　realized　for　the　first　time　that　the　skin　of　her　face　was　tight　with　dried　blood；　her　hair　stiff　with　it。
　
　‘Oh；’　she　said；　in　a　quieter　tone。　‘It’s　all　right。　I’m　fine。’
　
　Chandalen　and　Prindin　sighed　with　relief。
　
　Lieutenant　Hobson；　still　wide…eyed；　swallowed。　‘What　of　the　wizard？　Did　you　see　him？’
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘What　you　see　on　me　is　what’s　left　of　him。’
　
　Chandalen　appraised　her　with　a　sly　smile。　‘And　how　many　others　did　you　kill？’
　
　Kahlan　gave　a　tired　shrug。　‘I　was　awfully　busy。　I　didn’t　take　the　time　to　count；　but　all　things　considered；　I　would　guess；　including　the　fires；　well　over　a　hundred。　The　wizard　is　dead；　that’s　what　matters。　Two　of　their　manders　are　dead　also；　and　at　least　two　more　are　wounded。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　and　Lieutenant　Hobson　paled。
　
　Chandalen’s　proud　grin　widened。　‘I　am　surprised　you　left　any　for　others　to　kill；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　She　didn’t　return　his　smile。　‘There　are　plenty　left。’　Kahlan　rubbed　her　horse’s　nose。　‘Nick　did　most　of　the　work。’
　
　‘I　told　you　he　wouldn’t　let　you　down；　Mother　Confessor；’　Hobson　said。
　
　That　he　did　not。　He　was　better　aid　than　the　good　spirits。　He　kept　me　alive　this　day。’
　
　Kahlan　lowered　herself　to　one　knee　in　the　snow　before　the　two　Galean　officers。　She　bowed　her　head。
　
　‘I　find　I　must　beseech　your　forgiveness。’　She　took　a　hand　of　each　in　hers。　Though　you　are　ignorant　of　how　to　acplish　what　must　be　done；　you　have　put　your　duty　to　the　Midlands　before　my　orders。　That　was　courage　of　the　highest　order。　I　want　you　all　to　know　I　was　wrong。　You　acted　of　noble　intent。’　She　kissed　each　hand。　‘I　laud　your　righteous　hearts。　You　have　kept　in　mind　your　duty　above　all　else。　I　beg　you　forgive　me。’
　
　There　was　silence　as　she　knelt　on　one　knee。　At　last　Captain　Ryan　whispered　down　to　her。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　please。　Get　up。　Everyone’s　watching。’
　
　‘Not　until　you　forgive　me。　I　want　everyone　to　know　you　did　the　right　thing。’
　
　‘But　you　didn’t　realize　what　we　were　doing；　or　why。　You　had　only　our　safety　in　mind。’　Kahlan　waited　and　he　was　silent　in　embarrassment　a　moment　longer。　All　right。　I　forgive　you。。。。　Don’t　do　it　again？’
　
　She　came　to　her　feet；　releasing　their　hands　and　giving　them　a　small；　humorless　smile。　‘See　that　that　is　the　last　time　you　ever　disobey　me。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　nodded　in　earnest。　‘I　will。’　He　shook　his　head。　‘I　mean；　no；　I　won’t；　I　mean　I　。。。　We　will　do　as　you　mand；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘I　understand　what　you　mean；　Captain。’　She　let　out　a　tired　sigh。　‘We　have　a　lot　of　work　to　do　before　we　attack　those　men。’
　
　‘We！’　Chandalen　shouted。　‘We　were　only　to　teach　them　some　things；　and　then　‘we’　are　to　be　on　our　way　to　Aydin…dril！　We　cannot　bee　caught　up　in　this　battle。　You　have　already　taken　enough　chances！　We　must。。。’
　
　Kahlan　interrupted　him。　‘I　must　talk　to　you　three。　Bring　Tossidin。　Captain；　please　collect　the　men；　including　the　sentries。　I　want　to　speak　to　you　all　together。　Please　wait　with　your　men。　I　will　be　with　you　shortly。　And　leave　a　tent　up　for　me。　I　need　a　few　hours’　sleep　while　things　are　being　prepared。’
　
　She　walked　off　a　ways；　out　of　earshot　of　the　camp；　with　Chandalen　in　tow；　as　Prindin　went　to　get　Tossidin。　When　they　were　all　together；　she　turned　to　them。　Chandalen　was　scowling；　the　other　two　waited　without　emotion。
　
　‘The　Mud　People；’　she　began　in　a　soft　tone；　‘have　magic。’
　
　‘We　have　no　magic；’　Chandalen　argued。
　
　‘Yes；　you　do。　You　do　not　think　of　it　as　magic　because　you　were　born　with　it　and　it　is　the　only　way　you　know。　You　do　not　know　of　other　peoples；　of　their　ways。　The　Mud　People　can　speak　with　their　ancestors’　spirits。　They　can　do　this　because　they　have　magic。　You　think　this　is　simply　the　way　things　work；　but　they　do　not　work　so　in　other　places；　with　other　people。　Your　ability　to　do　these　things　is　magic。　Magic　is　not　some　strange　and　powerful　force；　it’s　simply　the　way　some　people；　some　creatures；　are。’
　
　‘Others　can　speak　with　their　ancestors；　if　they　wish；’　Chandalen　said。
　
　‘A　few　can；　but　most　cannot。　To　them；　it’s　speaking　with　the　dead；　and　that　is　magic。　Frightening　magic。　You；　and　I；　know　it　is　not　to　be　feared；　but　you　will　never　convince　others　that　what　you　do　is　good。　They　will　always　think　it　evil。　People　believe　as　they　were　raised；　and　they　were　raised　to　believe　that　talking　to　the　dead　is　evil。’
　
　‘But　our　ancestors’　spirits　help　us；’　Prindin　said。　‘They　never　bring　harm。　They　only　bring　help。’
　
　Kahlan　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　as　she　looked　to　his　worried　eyes。　‘I　know。　That’s　why　I　help　to　keep　others　away　from　you；　so　you　may　live　as　you　wish。　There　are　a　few　other　people　who　talk　with　their　ancestors；　as　you　do；　and　they；　too；　have　this　magic。　There　are　other　peoples；　and　other　creatures；　that　have　magic　different　from　you；　but　just　as　important　to　them　as　yours　is　to　you。’　She　looked　to　each。　‘Do　you　understand。’
　
　‘Yes；　Mother　Confessor；’　Tossidin　said。
　
　Prindin　nodded　his　agreement。　Chandalen　grunted　and　folded　his　arms。
　
　‘The　important　thing；　though；　is　not　if　you　believe　what　you　have　can　be　called　magic。　The　important　thing　is　for　you　to　understand　that　others　believe　what　you　do　is　magic。　Many　fear　magic。　They　think　you　are　evil　because　you　practice　this　magic。’
　
　Kahlan　pointed　in　the　direction　of　the　army　of　the　Imperial　Order。　‘Those　men；　the　ones　we　chase；　the　ones　who　killed　all　the　people　back　at　the　city；　they　are　joined　in　a　cause。　They　wish　to　rule　all　the　people　of　the　Midlands。　They　do　not　want　any　to　live　as　they　wish；　but　to　bow　to　their　rule。’
　
　‘Why　would　they　wish　to　rule　the　Mud　People？’　Prindin　asked。　‘We　have　nothing　they　would　want。　We　stay　to　our　lands。’
　
　Chandalen　unfolded　his　arms　and　spoke　softly。　‘They　fear　magic；　and　they　wish　us　to　stop　speaking　with　our　ancestors。’
　
　Kahlan　squeezed　his　shoulder。　‘That’s　right。　But　more　than　that；　they　think　it’s　their　duty　to　the　spirits　they　worship　to　kill　you　all。　They　are　on　a　mission　to　destroy　all　who　have　magic；　because　they　think　magic　is　evil。　They　believe　people　like　you　have　magic。’　She　met　Chandalen’s　eyes。　‘If　they　are　not　killed　to　a　man；　like　the　Jocopo；　sooner　or　later；　they　will　e　and　destroy　the　Mud　People；　just　as　they　destroyed　the　city　of　Ebinissia。’
　
　The　three　men　studied　the　ground　in　thought。　She　waited　for　them　to　weigh　her　words。　Chandalen　at　last　spoke。
　
　‘And　they　would　kill　the　other　people；　those　who　wish　not　to　have　outsiders　e　to　them；　to　live　alone；　like　the　Mud　People？’
　
　‘They　would。　I　spoke　with　the　men　of　that　army。　They　are　like　crazy　men。　They　sound　as　if　they　have　been　visited　by　evil　spirits；　like　the　Bantak　did。　Like　the　Jocopo。　They　will　not　listen　to　reason。　They　think　we　are　the　ones　who　listen　to　evil　spirits。　They　will　do　as　they　promise。　You　saw　the　city　they　destroyed　and　the　size　of　the　army　defending　it；　it　is　not　an　empty　threat。
　
　‘I　must　get　to　Aydindril　so　I　can　raise　an　army　to　fight　these　men。　The　councilors　should　already　be　doing　that；　but　I　must　get　there　to　make　sure　the　extent　of　the　threat　is　known；　to　make　sure　all　of　the　Midlands　join　together　in　this。
　
　‘But　there　are　no　forces　at　hand　to　fight　these　men；　now；　except　these　boys。　There　are　cities　that　will　be　destroyed　before　help　can　arrive。　Worse；　the　threat　these　men　pose　will　convince　some　to　join　with　them。　Some　see　honor　as　an　inconvenience　and　will　side　with　the　army　they　think　will　win。　This　will　swell　their　ranks　further。
　
　‘Before　Aydindril　can　send　troops　to　find　and　defeat　these　men；　many　will　die。　We　must　call　upon　these　boys　to　join　the　fight　now；　before　more　innocent　people　are　slaughtered。　These　boys　volunteered　to　bee　fighters；　like　you；　to　protect　their　people；　the　people　of　all　the　Midlands。　We　must　help　them　in　this。　We　must　not　let　this　army　of　evil　men　escape　to　wander　the　Midlands；　killing　and　destroying；　and　winning　more　to　their　side。
　
　‘We　must　begin　the　battle　with　these　boys；　help　them；　show　them；　to　make　sure　they　will　know　how　to　fight；　and　to　know　they　will　continue　without　us　to　lead　them。　We　must　lead　them　into　the　first　battle；　to　give　them　confidence　in　the　ways　we　teach　them；　before　we　can　be　on　our　way　to　Aydindril。’
　
　Chandalen　gave　her　a　level　look。　‘And　you　will　call　the　lightning　to　help　us？’
　
　‘No；’　Kahlan　whispered。　‘I　tried　last　night；　but　it　didn’t　e。　It’s　difficult　to　explain　to　you；　but　I　believe　that　because　I　invoked　this　special　magic　on　behalf　of　Richard；　it　will　not　work　except　to　protect　him。　I’m　sorry。’
　
　Chandalen　unfolded　his　arms。　‘Then　how　did　you　kill　so　many？’
　
　Kahlan　patted　his　arm　where　the　bone　knife　was。　The　same　way　as　your　grandfather　taught　your　father；　and　he　you。　I　did　not　do　as　they　expected。　I　did　not　fight　their　way。’　The　two　brothers　leaned　in　intently　as　she　spoke。　‘They　like　to　drink；　and　when　they’re　drunk；　they　don’t　think　so　well；　and　they　are　slow。’
　
　Tossidin　pointed　behind　with　a　thumb。　‘These　men；　too；　like　to　have　drink　at　night。　They　have　a　wagon　of　it　among　their　supplies。　We　would　not　let　them　have　any。　Some　were　angry。　They　said　it　was　their　right。’
　
　Kahlan　shook　her　head。　‘These　boys　also　thought　it　would　be　right　to　march　right　up　to　an　enemy　who　outnumbers　them　ten　to　one　and　have　a　battle　in　broad　daylight。　We　must　help　them　in　this。　We　must　teach　them　what　to　do。’
　
　‘They　do　not　like　to　listen。’　Prindin　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder；　at　the　men　he　had　been　trying　to　teach。　‘They　wish　always　to　argue。　They　say　‘This　is　the　way　it　is　done’　and　‘We　must　do　it　so。’　They　are　filled　only　with　the　way　they　were　taught；　and　do　not　like　to　be　told　another　way。’
　
　‘Yet　that’s　what　we　must　do；’　Kahlan　said。　‘We　must　lead　them　in　the　way　that　will　work。　That’s　why　I　need　you　three。　I　need　you　to　help　me　in　this；　or　many　people；　including；　eventually；　the　Mud　People；　will　die。　I　need　your　help　in　this。　I　must　lead　them　into　battle。’
　
　Chandalen　stood　mute　and　unmoving。　The　two　brothers　pushed　snow　with　their　feet；　considering。　Prindin　finally　looked　up。
　
　‘We　will　help。　My　brother　and　I　will　do　as　you　ask。’
　
　‘Thank　you；　Prindin；　but　it’s　not　you　who　must　decide。　Chandalen　must　be　the　one　who　agrees。　It　is　for　him　to　decide。’
　
　The　two　brothers　took　sidelong　glances　at　him　as　he　stood　glaring　at　her。　At　last　he　let　out　an　exasperated　breath。
　
　‘You　are　a　stubborn　woman。　You　are　so　stubborn　you　will　get　killed　if　we　three　are　not　there　to　bring　some　reason　to　your　head。　We　go　with　you　to