tg.stone of tears-第143章

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　‘What　we　do　is　done　to　save　the　lives　of　men　and　women　yet　alive　and　yet　unborn。　You　saw　what　was　done　to　the　people　in　Ebinissia。　Remember　the　faces　of　those　dead。　Remember　the　way　they　died；　and　the　horror　they　suffered　before　they　did。　Remember　those　soldiers　captured；　and　beheaded。
　
　‘It　is　up　to　us　to　prevent　that　from　happening　to　any　more　people。　To　do　that；　we　must　kill　these　men。　There　is　no　glory　in　the　doing。　Only　survival。’
　
　In　the　back；　two　men　gestured　obscenely　to　those　around　them　and　walked　off　to　join　with　Mosle’s　men。　Sixty…nine。　But　the　rest　stood　in　firm　resolution　to　take　up　the　fight。
　
　The　time　had　e。　She　had　dissuaded　them　from　their　raw　thoughts　of　glorious　battle；　and　told　them　of　the　true　nature　of　their　task。　She　had　brought　most　to　an　understanding　of　the　larger　temper　of　the　battle　ahead。　She　had　told　them　some　of　what　must　be　done。　She　had　brought　them　to　a　more　focused　understanding　of　their　importance　in　the　scheme　of　this　struggle。
　
　The　time　had　e　to　charge　them　irreversibly　to　the　burden；　to　forge　them　into　an　instrument　of　retribution　that　could　annihilate　the　threat。
　
　Kahlan　opened　her　arms　to　the　men　before　her；　her　blood　soaked　mantle　hanging　limp。
　
　‘I　am　dead；’　she　called　to　the　gray　sky。　Frowning；　they　all　leaned　in　a　little。　‘What　has　happened　to　my　countrymen；　my　countrywomen　…　my　fathers；　sons；　mothers；　and　daughters　…has　slain　me。　The　agony　of　their　slaughter　has　mortally　wounded　my　heart。’
　
　Her　arms　spread　wider　as　her　voice　rose　in　wrath。
　
　‘Only　vengeance　can　restore　me！　Only　victory　can　return　my　life　to　me！’
　
　She　gazed　into　all　the　wide　eyes　staring　back。　‘I　am　the　Mother　Confessor　of　the　Midlands。　I　am　your　mothers；　your　sisters；　your　daughters　yet　unborn。　I　call　upon　you　to　die　with　me；　and　live　again　only　by　avenging　me。’
　
　Kahlan　swept　a　hand　out。　Those　of　you　who　join　with　me　in　this　are　dead　with　me。　Our　lives　can　be　returned　only　through　vengeance。　As　long　as　one　of　our　enemy　lives；　we　are　dead。　We　have　no　life　to　lose　in　this　battle；　for　our　lives　are　already　lost；　here；　today；　now。　Only　when　every　one　of　the　destroyers　of　Ebinissia　is　slain　may　we　live　once　again。　Until　then　we　have　no　life。’
　
　She　looked　out　at　the　solemn　faces　of　the　men　gathered　before　her；　watching；　waiting　for　her　next　words。　On　a　warm　breeze；　the　bloody　wolf　fur　rustled　against　her　cheek。　Kahlan　pulled　free　her　knife　and　held　it　up　in　her　fist　for　all　to　see。　She　laid　the　weapon　over　her　heart。
　
　‘An　oath　then；　to　the　good　people　of　Ebinissia　who　are　now　with　the　spirits；　and　to　the　good　people　of　the　Midlands！’
　
　Almost　all　the　men　followed　her　example；　holding　their　knives　over　their　hearts。　Seven　did　not；　but；　grumbling　curses；　rose　to　join　with　Mosle。　Seventy…six。
　
　‘Vengeance　without　mercy　before　our　lives　are　returned　to　us！’she　pledged。
　
　The　sober　voice　of　every　man　before　her　repeated　the　oath；　joining　with　every　other　in　unflinching　unity。
　
　‘Vengeance　without　mercy　before　our　lives　are　returned　to　us！’　The　roar　of　their　words　drifted　away　on　the　morning　air。
　
　Kahlan　watched　William　Mosle　cast　a　glance　over　his　shoulder　at　her　before　following　his　men　away；　back　up　the　pass。
　
　She　returned　her　attention　to　those　before　her。　‘You　are　all　sworn　in　oath；　then。　Tonight；　we　begin　the　killing　of　the　men　of　the　Order。　Let　it　be　without　quarter。　We　take　no　prisoners。’
　
　No　cheer　went　up　this　time。　The　men　listened　in　grim　attention。
　
　‘We　must　no　longer　travel　as　you　have　been；　with　wagons　to　carry　your　needs　and　supplies。　We　must　take　only　what　we　can　carry。　We　need　to　be　able　to　travel　the　woods；　the　small　passes；　so　we　can　outmaneuver　the　men　we　hunt。　I　intend　to　sweep　in　at　them　from　all　directions　and　at　will；　like　wolves　at　hunt。　And　like　wolves；　who　hunt　with　coordination；　we　will　control　and　direct　them；　as　wolves　control　and　direct　their　prey。
　
　‘You　are　men　of　this　land。　You　know　the　woods　and　mountains　around　us。　You　have　hunted　them　since　you　were　children。　We　will　use　your　knowledge。　The　enemy　is　in　strange　territory；　and　keeps　to　the　wide　passes　with　their　wagons　and　great　numbers。　We　will　no　longer　be　impeded　as　they。　We　will　move　through　the　country　around　them　as　do　the　wolves。
　
　‘You　must　divide　up　what　you　have　in　the　wagons；　and　place　what　you　can　carry　in　your　packs。　Leave　the　heavy　armor；　it　takes　too　much　effort　to　carry；　and　we　are　not　going　to　fight　that　way。　Take　only　light　armor　you　can　wear　at　a　forced　march。　Take　what　food　you　can。
　
　‘You　are　to　take　no　liquor　or　ale。　When　you　have　avenged　the　people　of　Ebinissia；　you　may　drink　all　you　want。　Until　then；　you　will　not。　I　want　everyone　alert　at　all　times。　We　do　not　ever　relax　until　our　enemy　is　dead　to　a　man。
　
　‘Some　of　the　food　that’s　left　is　to　be　packed　into　a　few　of　the　smaller　wagons；　without　any　arms　or　armor。　We　will　need　volunteers　to　give　it　to　the　enemy。’
　
　The　men　mumbled　in　surprise　and　confusion。
　
　‘The　road　divides　ahead。　When　they　are　past　the　fork；　and　on　their　way　to　Cellion；　the　wagons　with　the　food　and　all　the　ale　are　to　take　the　other　road；　and　then　the　smaller　routes；　to　get　ahead　of　them。　You　will　lie　in　wait　with　these　wagons　until　their　advance　guard　nears；　and　then　cross　their　path　so　they　can　see　you。　When　their　forward　column　spots　you　and　gives　chase；　you　are　to　abandon　the　wagons　and　escape。　Let　them　have　the　food　and　drink。
　
　‘The　Imperial　Order　is　nearly　out　of　ale；　and　tonight　they　will　celebrate　their　luck。　I　expect　they　will　get　drunk。　I　want　them　to　be　drunk　when　we　attack　them。’
　
　The　men　cheered　with　that　news。
　
　‘Know　this：　we’re　as　a　wolf　pack；　trying　to　bring　down　a　bull。　Though　we　are　not　strong　enough　to　do　it　with　one　dispatching　strike；　we　will　harry　him　to　exhaustion；　drag　him　to　the　ground；　and　kill　him。　This　will　not　be　a　single　battle；　but　a　constant　nipping　at　his　hide；　taking　small　chunks　of　him　at　a　time；　wounding；　weakening；　and　bleeding　him　all　the　while；　until　finally　we　have　the　advantage　and　can　kill　the　beast。
　
　‘Tonight；　under　cover　of　darkness；　we　will　slip　into　their　camp　and　make　a　quick　strike。　This　is　to　be　a　disciplined　action；　not　random　killing。　We　will　have　a　list　of　objectives。　Our　aim　is　to　weaken　the　bull。　I　have　already　partially　blinded　him　by　eliminating　the　wizard。
　
　The　sentries　and　lookouts　will　be　taken　first。　We　will　dress　as　many　men　as　we　can　in　their　clothes。　Those　men　will　go　into　their　camp　and　locate　our　targets。
　
　‘Our　first　need　is　to　slow　their　ability　to　counterattack。　I　don’t　want　us　run　down　by　cavalry。　We　need　to　bring　ruin　to　their　horses。　There’s　no　need　to　waste　time　killing　them；　breaking　their　legs　is　sufficient。　We　need　to　destroy　their　food。　We’re　an　army　small　enough　to　be　able　to　get　food　by　hunting；　foraging；　and　buying　from　surrounding　farms　and　villages；　but　one　that　size　requires　much。　If　we　destroy　their　food；　they　will　be　weakened。
　
　‘We　need　to　kill　their　arrow　makers　and　fletchers；　bowyers　and　blacksmiths；　all　the　craftsmen　who　can　make　and　repair　bows；　arrows；　and　other　weapons。　They　will　have　sacks　of　goose　wings　for　fletching　arrows。　They　must　be　stolen　or　burned。　Every　arrow　not　made　is　one　that　can’t　kill　us。　Bow　staves　need　to　be　destroyed。　Wreck　their　bugles；　if　you　find　them；　and　the　buglers。　This　will　help　take　away　their　voice　and　coordination。
　
　‘Their　lances；　pikes；　and　argons　will　be　stacked　upright；　together。　Five　seconds　and　a　few　swings　with　an　axe　or　sword　will　destroy　a　great　many　lances　and　pikes。　Heavy　axes　or　hammers　will　at　least　bend　the　argons　and　render　them　useless。　Every　lance　or　spear　broken　is　one　that　can’t　kill　you。　Burn　their　tents；　to　expose　them　to　the　cold；　burn　their　wagons　so　they　will　lose　supplies。
　
　‘Of　most　importance　are　their　officers。　I　would　rather　kill　one　officer　tonight　than　a　thousand　men。　If　we　can　kill　their　officers；　it　will　make　them　dull　and　slow；　and　it　will　be　easier　to　take　this　bull　to　the　ground。
　
　‘If　any　of　you　can　think　of　anything　else　that　will　weaken　them；　bring　the　ideas　to　me　or　Captain　Ryan；　or　the　other　officers。　The　object　tonight　is　not　primarily　to　kill　soldiers；　there　are　too　many。　Our　object　is　to　disable　them；　make　them　weak；　slow；　to　make　them　less　sure　of　themselves。
　
　‘Most　of　all；　our　object　is　to　put　fear　into　their　minds。　These　men　aren’t　used　to　being　afraid。　When　men　are　afraid；　they　make　mistakes。　Those　mistakes　allow　us　to　kill　them。　I　intend　to　terrify　them。　Later；　I　will　tell　you　how。
　
　‘You　have　a　few　hours　to　get　everything　ready；　and　then　we　start　moving。　I　want　the　sentries　at　double　distance。　Beyond　them；　I　want　lookouts　and　I　want　scouts　to　keep　in　contact　with　the　Order。　I　want　to　know　where　they　are　at　all　times。　I　want　constant　reports。　I　don’t　want　to　be　surprised　by　anything。　I　want　to　know　of　anything　that　you　see　or　encounter；　no　matter　how　innocent　it　seems。　If　a　rabbit　jumps　too　high；　I　want　to　know　about　it。　Just　as　we　intend　to　trick　them；　I　don’t　want　them　tricking　us。　Take　nothing　for　granted。
　
　‘May　the　good　spirits　be　with　you。　Now　get　started。’
　
　The　men　all