tg.stone of tears-第133章

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　‘What　would　you　do　to　defeat　this　enemy；’　she　asked　as　she　moved　her　gaze　among　the　three；　‘if　you　had　to？’
　
　At　last　Tossidin　leaned　in　again。　‘There　are　too　many。　It　cannot　be　done。’
　
　Chandalen　angrily　backhanded　Tossidin’s　shoulder。　‘We　are　Mud　People　fighters！　We　are　smarter　than　these　men　who　ride　in　wagons　and　murder　women。　Do　you　think　them　better　fighters　than　us？’
　
　The　two　brothers　shuffled　their　feet　as　they　averted　their　eyes。　‘Well；’　Prindin　said；　‘we　know　that　the　way　they　want　to　do　it　will　only　get　them　killed。　There　are　better　ways。’
　
　Chandalen　smiled。　‘Of　course　there　are。　The　spirits　taught　my　grandfather　how　to　do　such　things。　He　taught　my　father　and　my　father　taught　me。　The　numbers　may　be　larger；　but　it　is　the　same　problem。　We　know　better　than　these　men　what　to　do。’　He　looked　Kahlan　in　the　eye。　‘You；　too；　know　better　than　these　men　what　to　do。　You　know　you　must　not　fight　the　way　the　enemy　wants。　That　is　what　these　men　are　about　to　do。’
　
　Kahlan　smiled　at　him　and　nodded。　‘Maybe　we　can　help　these　men　protect　other　innocent　people。’
　
　She　turned　to　Captain　Ryan。　He　had　been　watching　her　speak　in　a　foreign　tongue　with　the　three　strange　men。
　
　‘All　right；　Captain。　We　are　going　to　go　after　this　army。’
　
　He　gripped　her　shoulders。　‘Thank　you；　Mother　Confessor！’　He　jerked　his　hands　back；　realizing　with　a　fright　that　he　had　actually　touched　her。　He　instead　rubbed　his　hands　together。　‘It　will　work。　You’ll　see。　We’ll　have　the　jump　on　them。　We’ll　surprise　them　and　have　them　all　on　a　pike。’
　
　She　leaned　toward　him。　He　backed　away。　‘Surprise　them？　Surprise　them！’　She　grabbed　him　by　his　collar　and　pulled　his　face　close。　‘They　have　a　wizard；　you　idiot！’
　
　The　captain’s　face　paled。　‘A　wizard？’　he　whispered。
　
　She　released　his　collar　with　an　angry　shove。　‘You　were　at　Ebinissia；　didn’t　you　see　the　hole　melted　through　the　wall？’
　
　‘Well　。。。　I　guess　I　didn’t　pay　attention。　I　only　saw　the　dead。’　His　eyes　darted　about；　as　if　seeing　them　now。　They　were　everywhere。’
　
　She　cooled　at　the　pained　expression　on　his　face。　‘I　understand。　They　were　your　friends　and　family。　I　can　understand　why　you　wouldn’t　have　noticed。　But　that　is　no　excuse　for　a　soldier。　A　soldier　must　notice　everything。　Missing　details　can　get　you　killed；　Captain。　This　is　a　good　example　of　a　little　detail　that　would　have　done　you　in。’
　
　He　swallowed　and　then　nodded。　‘Yes；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘Do　you　want　to　kill　the　men　who　destroyed　Ebinissia？’　The　three　soldiers　spoke　up　that　they　did。　Then　I　am　taking　mand　of　this　legion。　If　you　want　to　stop　the　men　who　are　up　there；　then　you　will　do　as　I　say。　And　as　Chandalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　say。
　
　‘You　may　know　about　battle　tactics；　but　we　know　about　killing　people。　This　is　not　a　battle；　Captain；　this　is　killing　people。　We　are　only　going　to　help　you　if　you　really　want　to　stop　those　men。　If　you　are　interested　in　having　a　battle；　then　we　will　leave　you　right　now　so　you　can　get　yourselves　slaughtered。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　fell　to　a　knee。　The　two　lieutenants　followed　his　example。　‘Mother　Confessor；　it　would　be　my　greatest　honor　to　serve　under　you。　You　have　my　life；　and　the　lives　of　every　one　of　my　men。　If　you　know　how　to　stop　those　men　from　murdering　any　more　people；　we　will　do　whatever　you　ask。’
　
　She　nodded　down　to　the　three　men。　This　is　no　war　game；　Captain。　For　us　to　win；　every　man　must　do　as　he　is　ordered。　Anyone　who　doesn’t　do　as　we　order　is　aiding　the　enemy。　That　is　treason。　If　you　want　to　stop　those　men；　then　you　all　are　going　to　have　to　turn　mand　over　to　me；　and　you　can’t　change　your　mind　if　the　task　bees　grim。　Do　you　understand？’
　
　‘Yes；　Mother　Confessor。　I　understand。’
　
　She　looked　to　the　other　two。　‘And　you？’
　
　‘I　am　honored　to　serve　under　you；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘As　am　I；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　Kahlan　motioned　them　up　and　then　drew　her　fur　mantle　closed。　‘I　must　get　to　Aydindril。　It　is　of　the　utmost　importance；　but　I　will　help　you　begin　this。　We　will　tell　you　what　must　be　done。　I　can　give　you　only　a　day　or　two；　we　will　help　you　begin　the　killing；　and　then　we　must　be　on　our　way。’
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　what　of　the　wizard？’
　
　Kahlan　looked　at　him　from　under　her　eyebrows。　‘You　leave　the　wizard　to　me。　Do　you　understand？　He　is　mine。　I　will　handle　it。’
　
　‘All　right。　What　do　you　want　us　to　do　first？’
　
　Kahlan　walked　between　the　captain　and　one　of　the　lieutenants。　‘The　first　thing　you　have　to　do　is　get　me　a　horse。’
　
　Chandalen　leapt　forward　and　gripped　her　arm；　slowing　her　as　he　put　his　head　close　to　hers。　His　tone　was　angry　with　suspicion。　‘Why　do　you　want　a　horse？　Where　are　you　going？’
　
　She　came　to　a　halt；　pulling　her　arm　free。　She　took　in　all　six　men。　‘Do　you　have　any　idea　what　it　is　I’m　about　to　do？　I’m　about　to　choose　sides。　I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。　If　I　choose　sides；　I　choose　sides　for　all　the　Midlands。　I　mit　all　the　Midlands　to　war。’　She　met　Chandalen’s　eyes。　‘I　cannot　do　that　on　the　word　of　these　men。’
　
　Chandalen　erupted　in　fury。　‘What　more　proof　do　you　need！　You　saw　what　they　did　back　at　that　city！’
　
　‘What　I　saw　does　not　matter。　I　must　know　why。　I　cannot　simply　declare　war。　I　must　know　who　these　men　are；　for　whom　they　fight。’　She　had　another　reason　to　go；　a　more　important　reason；　but　she　didn’t　speak　it。
　
　They　are　killers！’
　
　‘You’ve　killed　people。　Would　you　not　want　others　to　know　the　reason　before　they　sought　vengeance？’
　
　‘You　foolish　woman！’　Prindin　put　a　cautionary　hand　on　Chandalen’s　arm；　attempting　to　bring　a　little　prudence　to　Chandalen’s　words。　Chandalen　angrily　wrenched　his　arm　away。　‘You　say　these　men　are　foolish；　and　they　have　thousands。　You　are　one！　You　have　no　chance　to　escape　if　they　decide　to　kill　you！’
　
　‘I’m　the　Mother　Confessor。　None　may　lay　a　weapon　to　me。’
　
　She　knew　it　was　an　absurd　pretext；　but　she　had　to　do　this；　and　could　think　of　no　other　justification　to　allay　his　fears。　Chandalen　was　too　angry　to　speak。　He　finally　turned　away　with　a　growl。　She　knew　that　in　the　past　he　would　have　been　angry　because　if　she　were　killed　he　couldn’t　return　home；　she　thought　that　perhaps　now　he　was　genuinely　afraid　for　her。
　
　She　didn’t　like　the　idea　either；　but　had　no　choice。　She　was　the　Mother　Confessor。　She　had　a　duty　to　the　Midlands。
　
　‘Lieutenant　Hobson；　please　get　me　a　horse。　A　white　or　gray　if　you　have　one。’　He　nodded　and　ran　off　to　do　as　asked。　‘Captain；　I　want　you　to　get　all　your　men　together　and　tell　them　what’s　happening。’
　
　Chandalen　stood　with　his　back　to　her。　She　stroked　a　hand　down　the　white　fur　over　his　shoulder；　over　his　father’s　bone　knife。　‘You　are　fighting　for　the　Midlands　now；　not　just　the　Mud　People。’　He　let　out　an　angry　grunt。　‘While　I’m　gone；　I　want　you　three　to　start　explaining　to　these　men　what　must　be　done。　I　hope　to　be　back　before　dawn。’
　
　When　she　saw　Hobson　returning　with　the　horse；　her　knees　tried　to　buckle。　Dear　spirits；　what　had　she　gotten　herself　into？
　
　She　turned　to　face　Captain　Ryan。　‘If　I’m　。。。　If　anything　。。。’　She　took　a　breath　and　started　again。　‘If　I　get　lost　and　can’t　find　my　way　back；　you’re　to　take　your　orders　from　Chandalen。　Do　you　understand？　You’re　to　do　as　he　says。’
　
　‘Yes；　Mother　Confessor；’　he　said　in　a　quiet　tone　as　he　put　his　fist　to　his　heart　in　salute。　‘May　the　good　spirits　be　with　you。’
　
　‘From　my　experience；　I’ll　take　a　fast　horse　instead。’
　
　Then　you　have　your　wish；’　Lieutenant　Hobson　said。　‘Nick　is　fast；　and　he’s　fierce。　He　won’t　let　you　down。’
　
　The　Captain　cupped　his　hands；　giving　her　a　boost　up　onto　the　big　warhorse。　She　looked　down　at　the　men　as　she　gave　the　gray　an　introductory　pat　on　his　neck。　Nick　snorted　and　tossed　his　head。　Before　she　lost　her　nerve；　she　pulled　the　big　stallion　around　and　urged　him　toward　the　slopes；　toward　a　trail　that　would　circle　her　around　to　e　into　the　enemy　camp　from　the　other　side。
　
　
　CHAPTER　38
　
　The　snow…crusted　trees　loomed　all　about　her　in　the　eerie　light。　The　moon　would　be　down　soon；　but　for　the　time　being　it　gave　the　snow　a　luminescence　that　made　the　way　easy　to　see。　As　she　trotted　her　horse　into　the　open　valley；　she　was　almost　glad　to　be　free　of　the　pressing　trees　that　could　hide　anyone　intent　on　ambush。　She　made　no　attempt　to　conceal　her　approach；　and　the　sentries　saw　her；　but　they　made　no　move　to　stop　a　lone　rider。
　
　Ahead；　the　army’s　camp　was　alive　with　fires；　men；　and　noise。　As　large　as　a　small　city；　it　could　be　spotted　easily　and　heard　from　miles　away。　Confident　in　their　numbers；　they　feared　no　attack。
　
　With　the　hood　of　her　fur　mantle　pulled　up　and　drawn　close　around　her　face；　Kahlan　walked　Nick　among　the　confusion　of　men；　wagons；　horses；　mules；　tents；　gear；　and　roaring　fires。　She　sat　tall　on　her　horse；　and　above　the　din　she　could　almost　hear　her　heart　thumping。　The　strong　aroma　of　roasting　meat　and　woodsmoke　filled　the　still　air。　The　snow　had　been　trampled　and　packed　flat　by　tens　of　thousands　of　feet；　both　man　and　beast；　and　by　wagons　of　every　sort。
　
　Men　were　gathered　around　fires；　drinking　and　eating　and　singing。　Pikes　were　stac