tg.wizardfirstrule-第81章

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　Legs　were　suddenly　all　about　them。　She　peered　up。　The　Bird　Man　was　there；　as　were　Savidlin　and　Weselan。　Weselan　was　sobbing　loudly。　Kahlan　stood　and　handed　her　son。　Weselan　passed　the　boy　to　her　husband　and　threw　her　arms　around　Kahlan；　kissing　her　face　all　over。
　
　〃Thank　you；　Mother　Confessor；　thank　you　for　saving　my　boy；　〃　she　bawled。　〃Thank　you；　Kahlan；　thank　you。　〃
　
　〃1　know；　I　know。　〃　Kahlan　hugged　her　back。　〃It's　all　right　now。〃
　
　Weselan　turned　tearfully　back　to　take　Siddin　in　her　arms。　Kahlan　saw　Toffalar　lying　close　by；　dead。　She　flopped　down　in　the　mud；　exhausted；　and　pulled　her　knees　up　with　her　arms　around　them。
　
　She　put　her　face　against　her　knees　and；　losing　control；　started　crying。　Not　because　she　had　killed　Toffalar；　but　because　she　had　hesitated。　It　had　almost　cost　her　her　life；　almost　cost　Richard　and　Siddin…everyone…their　lives。　She　had　almost　given　victory　to　Rahl　because　she　hadn't　wanted　Richard　to　see　what　she　was　going　to　do；　and　had　hesitated。　It　was　the　stupidest　thing　she　had　ever　done；　other　than　not　telling　Richard　she　was　a　Confessor。　Tears　of　frustration　poured　out　as　she　cried　in　choking　sobs。
　
　A　hand　reached　under　her　good　arm；　pulling　her　up。　It　was　the　Bird　Man。　She　bit　her　quivering　lip；　forcing　herself　to　stop　crying。　She　could　not　let　these　people　see　her　showing　weakness。　She　was　a　Confessor。
　
　〃Well　done；　Mother　Confessor；〃　he　said　as　he　took　a　strip　of　cloth　from　one　of　his　men　and　started　wrapping　it　around　her　wounded　arm。
　
　Kahlan　held　her　head　up。　〃Thank　you；　honored　elder。　〃　〃This　will　need　to　be　stitched　together。　I　will　have　the　gentlest　healer　among　us　do　the　work。　〃
　
　She　stood　numbly　as　he　tightened　the　bandage；　sending　flames　of　pain　through　the　deep　cut。　He　looked　down　at　Richard；　who　seemed　content　to　lie　there　on　his　back　in　the　mud；　as　if　it　were　the　most　fortable　bed　in　the　world。
　
　The　Bird　Man　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　her；　and　gave　a　nod；　indicating　Richard。　〃Your　warning　that　I　should　not　want　to　give　the　Seeker　cause　to　draw　his　sword　in　anger　was　as　true　as　an　arrow　from　my　finest　archer。　〃　There　was　a　twinkle　in　his　sharp　brown　eyes；　the　corners　of　his　mouth　curled　in　a　smile。　He　looked　down　at　the　Seeker。　〃You　made　a　good　showing　of　yourself　too；　Richard　With　The　Temper。　Fortunately　the　evil　spirits　still　have　not　learned　to　carry　swords。　〃
　
　〃What'd　he　say？〃　Richard　asked。
　
　She　told　him；　and　he　gave　a　grim　smile　at　their　private　joke　as　he　came　to　his　feet　and　put　away　the　sword。　He　reached　out　and　took　the　pouch　from　her　hand。　She　hadn't　even　realized　it　was　still　clutched　there。　Richard　put　it　in　his　pocket。　〃May　we　never　encounter　spirits　armed　with　swords。〃
　
　The　Bird　Man　nodded　his　agreement。　〃And　now　we　have　business。　〃
　
　He　reached　down　and　grabbed　a　fistful　of　the　coyote　hide　around　Toffalar。　The　body　rolled　over　in　the　mud　as　he　tore　it　off。　He　turned　to　the　hunters。
　
　〃Bury　the　body。　〃　His　eyes　narrowed。　〃All　of　it。　〃
　
　The　men　looked　at　each　other；　unsure。　〃Elder；　you　mean　all　of　it　except　the　skull？〃
　
　〃I　said　what　1　meant。　All　of　it！　We　only　keep　the　skulls　of　honored　elders；　to　remind　us　of　their　wisdom。　We　do　not　keep　the　skulls　of　fools。　〃
　
　This　sent　a　chill　through　the　crowd。　It　was　just　about　the　worst　thing　you　could　do　to　an　elder；　a　dishonor　of　the　highest　order。　It　meant　his　life　had　mattered　for　nothing。　The　men　gave　a　nod。　No　one　spoke　up　for　the　dead　elder；　including　the　five　standing　nearby。
　
　〃We　are　short　an　elder；　〃　the　Bird　Man　announced。　He　turned；　looking　slowly　to　the　eyes　around　him；　then　made　his　back　straight　and　shoved　the　coyote　hide　against　Savidlin's　chest。　〃1　choose　you。　〃
　
　Savidlin　put　his　hands　around　the　muddy　hide　with　the　reverence　due　a　gold　crown。　He　gave　a　small；　proud　smile　and　a　nod　to　the　Bird　Man。
　
　〃Do　you　have　anything　to　say　to　our　people；　as　their　newest　elder？〃　It　was　not　a　question；　it　was　a　mand。
　
　Savidlin　walked　over　and　turned；　standing　between　Kahlan　and　Richard。　He　put　the　hide　around　his　shoulders；　beaming　with　pride　at　Weselan；　and　then　addressed　the　gathered　people。　Kahlan　looked　out　and　realized　that　the　whole　village　surrounded　them。
　
　〃Most　honored　among　us；　〃　he　addressed　the　Bird　Man；　〃these　two　people　have　acted　selflessly　in　the　defense　of　our　people。　In　my　life；　I　have　never　witnessed　anything　to　pare　with　it。　They　could　have　left　us　to　fend　for　ourselves　when　we　foolishly　turned　our　backs　on　them。　Instead；　they　have　shown　us　what　manner　of　people　they　be。　They　are　as　fine　as　the　best　of　us。〃　Almost　everyone　in　the　crowd　was　nodding　agreement。　〃I　demand　that　you　name　them　Mud　People。　〃
　
　The　Bird　Man　smiled　a　small　smile。　The　smile　evaporated　as　he　turned　to　the　other　five　elders。　Though　he　hid　it　well；　Kahlan　could　see　the　Bird　Man's　eyes　flash　with　the　ghost　of　his　anger。　〃Step　forward。　〃　They　gave　one　another　sidelong　glances；　then　did　as　ordered。　〃The　demand　made　by　Savidlin　is　extraordinary。　It　must　be　unanimous。　Do　you　make　the　same　demand？〃
　
　Savidlin　strode　to　the　archers　and　snatched　a　bow　from　the　hands　of　one。　He　smoothly　nocked　an　arrow　while　he　kept　his　squinted　eyes　on　the　elders。　He　put　tension　to　the　string；　locking　the　arrow　in　place　with　the　bow　hand；　then　stepped　in　front　of　the　five。　〃Make　the　demand。　Or　we　will　have　new　elders　who　will。　〃
　
　They　stood　grimly；　facing　Savidlin。　The　Bird　Man　made　no　movement　to　interfere。　There　was　a　long　silence　as　the　crowd　waited；　spellbound。　At　last；　Caldus　took　a　step　forward。　He　put　his　hand　on　Savidlin's　bow　and　gently　lowered　its　point　to　the　ground。
　
　〃Please；　Savidlin；　allow　us　to　speak　from　our　hearts；　not　from　the　point　of　an　arrow。　〃
　
　〃Speak　then。　〃　Caldus　walked　to　Richard；　stopping　in　front　of　him；　looking　him　in　the　eye。
　
　〃The　hardest　thing　for　a　man　to　do；　especially　an　old　man；　〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice；　waiting　for　Kahlan　to　translate；　〃is　to　admit　he　has　acted　foolishly；　and　selfishly。　You　have　acted　neither　foolishly　nor　selfishly。　The　two　of　you　are　better　examples　of　Mud　People　for　our　children　than　L　1　demand　of　the　Bird　Man　that　you　be　named　Mud　People。　Please；　Richard　With　The　Temper；　and　Mother　Confessor；　our　people　reed　you。　〃　He　held　his　palms　out　in　an　open　gesture。　〃If　you　deem　me　unworthy　of　making　this　demand　upon　your　behalf；　please　strike　me　down　that　one　better　than　I　might　make　the　demand。〃
　
　Head　bowed；　he　dropped　to　his　knees　in　the　mud　in　front　of　Richard　and　Kahlan。　She　translated　it　all　word　for　word；　omitting　only　her　title。　The　other　four　elders　came　and　knelt　beside　him；　adding　their　sincere　request　to　that　of　Caldus。　Kahlan　sighed　in　relief。　At　last；　they　had　what　they　wanted；　what　they　needed。
　
　Richard　stood　over　the　five　men　with　his　arms　folded；　looking　down　at　the　tops　of　their　heads；　saying　nothing。　She　couldn't　understand　why　he　wasn't　telling　them　it　was　all　right；　and　to　get　to　their　feet。　No　one　moved。　What　was　he　doing？　What　was　he　waiting　for？　It　was　over。　Why　wasn't　he　acknowledging　their　contrition？
　
　Kahlan　could　see　the　muscle　in　his　jaw　tighten　and　flex。　She　went　cold。　She　recognized　the　look　in　his　eyes。　The　anger。　These　men　had　crossed　a　line　against　him。　And　against　her。　She　remembered　how　he　had　slid　the　sword　away　when　he　had　last　stood　with　them；　this　very　day。　It　had　been　final；　and　Richard　meant　it。　He　was　not　thinking。　He　was　thinking　of　killing。
　
　Richard's　arms　unfolded；　his　hand　went　to　the　hilt。　The　sword　slid　out　as　slowly；　smoothly；　as　it　had　slid　away　for　them　the　last　time。　The　high…pitched　sound　of　steel　announced　the　blade's　arrival　in　the　silent　air；　sending　a　painful　shiver　through　her　shoulders　and　up　the　back　of　her　neck。　She　could　see　Richard's　chest　beginning　to　heave。
　
　Kahlan　stole　a　glance　at　the　Bird　Man。　He　did　not　move；　nor　did　he　have　any　intention　of　moving。　Richard　did　not　know　it；　but　under　the　law　of　the　Mud　People；　these　men　were　his　to　kill　if　he　so　wished。　It　was　no　false　offer　they　had　made。　Savidlin　had　not　been　bluffing　either；　he　would　have　killed　them。　In　a　blink。　Strength；　to　the　Mud　People；　meant　the　strength　to　kill　your　adversary。　These　men　were　already　dead　in　the　eyes　of　the　village；　and　only　Richard　could　give　them　back　their　lives。
　
　Even　so；　their　law　was　irrelevant；　the　Seeker　was　a　law　unto　himself；　answering　ultimately　to　no　one　but　himself。　There　was　no　one　present　who　could　stop　this。
　
　Richard's　knuckles　were　white　as　he　held　the　Sword　of　Truth　level　in　both　hands；　over　the　heads　of　the　five　elders。　Kahlan　could　see　the　rage　building　in　him；　the　hot　need；　the　fury。　The　whole　scene　felt　like　a　dream；　a　dream　she　could　only　watch　helplessly；　one　she　couldn't　stop。
　
　Kahlan　thought　of　all　those　she　knew　who　had　already　died；　both　the　innocent　and　those　who　had　given　their　lives　trying　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　Dennee；　all　the　other　Confessors；　the　wizards；　Shar　the　night　wisp；　perhaps　Zedd　and　Chase。
　
　She　understood。
　
　Richard　was　not　deciding　if　he　should　kill　them；　but　if　he　dared　let　them　live。
　
　Could　he　trust　these　men　with　his　chance　of　stopping　Rahl；　trust　that　they　were　sincere？　Could　Richard　trust　them　with　his　life？　Or　should　he　ha