tg.stone of tears-第200章

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　The　jowly　man　looked　surprised。　‘I　have　just　arrived　two　days　ago　from　the　beautiful　city　of　Ebinissia；　and　they　know　nothing　of　their　slaughter。’
　
　The　crowd　chuckled　with　him。　Ranson　smiled　petulantly　at　her。
　
　‘Did　you　not　expect；　Mother　Confessor；　that　we　would　have　witnesses　to　expose　your　preposterous　stories？　This　is　simply　a　fiction　meant　to　inflame　people’s　fears；　and　stir　them　to　war。’
　
　Ranson　snapped　his　fingers。　A　woman　in　drab；　worn　clothes　came　in　and　stood　to　the　side。　Ranson　gently　told　her　not　to　be　frightened；　and　to　tell　her　story。　The　woman　told　of　how　her　children　had　to　go　to　bed　hungry；　because　she　had　no　money。　She　said　she　had　been　forced　into　prostitution　to　feed　her　children。　Kahlan　knew　it　was　a　lie。　There　was　no　scarcity　of　charitable　people　and　groups　who　would　help　anyone　truly　needing　it。
　
　For　the　next　hour；　one　witness　after　another　was　paraded　in；　and　each　told　a　story　of　hunger　and　want；　and　how　the　palace　would　not　give　them　money　to　feed　and　clothe　themselves；　not　caring　if　their　children　starved。　The　people　in　the　balconies　listened　with　rapt　attention　to　the　sad　stories；　some　weeping　with　the　witnesses。
　
　Kahlan　recognized　a　few　of　the　people　testifying。　She　remembered　Mistress　Sanderholt　offering　them　work　in　the　past。　She　had　told　Kahlan　that　when　they　had　e　in；　they　scoffed　at　the　things　they　were　asked　to　do。　Mistress　Sander…holt　ended　up　having　to　do　many　of　the　tasks　herself。
　
　Wizard　Ranson　rose　to　his　feet；　after　the　last　witness　had　told　his　tearful　story；　and　turned　to　each　side；　addressing　the　people　gathered。　The　Mother　Confessor　has　a　vast　treasury；　and　she　intended　to　use　it　to　finance　a　war　against　the　people　of　the　Midlands　who　would　wish　to　be　free　of　her　rule。　She　first　takes　the　food　from　your　mouths；　and　the　mouths　of　your　children；　and　then；　to　keep　you　from　thinking　about　the　gnawing　hunger　in　your　gut；　invents　an　enemy；　and　starts　a　war　with　your　hard…earned　money；　which　she　has　stolen　for　her　already　wealthy　friends。
　
　‘While　you　people　go　hungry；　she　eats　well！　While　you　need　clothes；　she　would　buy　weapons！　While　your　sons　would　bleed　to　death　in　battle；　she　lounges　in　the　lap　of　luxury！　When　your　family　members　are　unjustly　accused　of　crimes；　she　uses　her　magic　to　make　them　confess　to　crimes　they　did　not　mit　to　silence　their　protests　against　her　tyranny！’
　
　People　were　weeping。　A　few　cried　out　with　anguish　at　the　last　part。　Still　more　angrily　demanded　justice。　Kahlan　began　to　doubt　that　she　would　be　beheaded。　This　mob　would　probably　tear　her　apart　before　she　ever　made　it　to　the　block。
　
　Ranson　held　his　arms　open　to　the　people　gathered。　As　a　representative　of　the　Imperial　Order；　I　direct　that　the　people　get　what　they　really　need。　The　treasury　of　Aydindril　will　be　put　to　its　best　use。　It　will　be　turned　back　to　the　oppressed。　I　direct　that　every　family　shall　be　entitled　to　one　gold　piece　a　month；　to　clothe　and　feed　your　children。　There　will　be　no　starvation　allowed　under　the　rule　of　the　Imperial　Order。’
　
　Cheering　erupted　in　the　great　hall。　The　wild　applauding　and　huzzahs　went　on　unabated　for　a　good　five　minutes。　Ranson　sat　and　steepled　his　fingers　while　he　listened　to　the　celebration。　He　never　took　his　eyes　from　Kahlan；　nor　she　from　his。
　
　Kahlan　knew　that　life’s　hardships　were　not　that　simple　to　eradicate。　She　knew　that　seeming　kindness　could　in　truth　be　cruel。　She　calculated　that　the　payments　would　take；　at　most；　six　months　to　empty　the　treasury。　She　wondered　what　would　happen　the　following　month；　when　the　money　was　gone；　and　people　would　have　by　then　stopped　working；　or　planting；　to　provide　for　themselves。　Then　there　certainly　would　be　hunger　and　starvation　…　in　the　guise　of　generosity。
　
　At　last　the　noise　died　out。　Ranson　leaned　forward。
　
　There　is　no　way　of　telling　how　many　people　have　gone　hungry；　or　starved　to　death；　or　died　in　war；　by　your　mand；　Mother　Confessor。　It　is　obvious　you　are　guilty　of　treason　against　the　people　of　the　Midlands。　I　see　no　reason　to　draw　the　evidence　out；　as　we　could；　for　weeks。’　The　other　councilors　all　voiced　yeas　of　agreement。　Ranson　slapped　his　hand　to　the　desk。　‘Guilty　of　the　first　charge　then：　treason。’
　
　The　people　cheered；　again。　Kahlan　stood　with　her　back　stiff；　wearing　her　Confessor’s　face。　Ranson　read　off　charges　she　could　scarcely　believe　could　be　read　with　a　straight　face。　Witnesses　came　forward　and　testified　to　atrocities　that　Kahlan　thought　anyone　with　mon　sense　would　laugh　at。　No　one　laughed。
　
　People　she　had　never　met　before　confided　their　intimate　knowledge　of　what　Confessors　did　in　secret。　A　lump　rose　in　Kahlan’s　throat　as　she　heard　what　people　thought　of　her。　People　repeated　irrational　fears　and　rumors　of　every　sort　of　outrage　mitted　by　Confessors；　and　the　Mother　Confessor　in　particular。
　
　For　her　whole　life　she　had　sacrificed　everything；　as　had　the　other　Confessors；　to　protect　these　people；　and　the　whole　time　they　believed　these　monstrosities　instead。　Kahlan　thought；　when　she　heard　a　witness　testify　that　in　order　to　retain　their　magical　power；　Confessors　had　to　dine　regularly　on　human　flesh；　that　there　would　be　laughter　at　the　charge。　Instead；　wide…eyed　people　leaned　forward　and　gasped。　She　had　to　bite　the　inside　of　her　cheek　to　keep　from　bursting　into　tears；　not　because　she　was　being　charged　with　such　things；　but　because　people　truly　believed　them　of　her。
　
　Kahlan　finally　stopped　listening。　As　Ranson　listed　charges；　brough　forth　witnesses；　and　the　council　found　her　guilty　of　charge　after　charge；　she　thought　about　Richard。　She　tried　to　remember　all　the　moments　she　had　spent　with　him；　all　the　times　he　had　smiled；　all　the　times　he　had　touched　her。　She　tried　to　remember　every　kiss。
　
　‘You　think　it　amusing！’　Ranson　railed。
　
　Kahlan　looked　up。　She　realized　she　was　smiling。　‘What？’
　
　A　woman　was　standing　to　the　side；　weeping　into　a　kerchief。　Kahlan　blinked　at　her；　and　then　looked　up　to　Ranson。
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　I　guess　I　missed　her　performance。’
　
　The　crowd　grumbled　in　anger。　Ranson　leaned　back　in　his　chair　with　a　disgusted　shake　of　his　head。
　
　‘Guilty；　of　practicing　your　Confessor’s　magic　on　children。’
　
　‘What？　Are　you　insane？　Children？’
　
　Ranson　held　a　hand　out　toward　the　woman；　who　broke　into　wild　wailing。　‘She　has　just　testified　that　her　child　is　missing；　and　has　told　how　other　women　nave　had　their　children　disappear；　too；　and　how　it　is　mon　knowledge　that　the　children　are　taken　so　that　Confessors　may　practice　their　magic　on　them。　As　a　wizard；　I　can　verify　the　truth　of　this。’　The　crowd　howled　with　rage。
　
　Kahlan　blinked　up　at　him。　‘I　have　a　headache。　Why　don’t　you　just　chop　it　off　for　me。’
　
　‘Unfortable；　Mother　Confessor？　Unfortable　that　the　people　would　be　given　the　chance　to　face　their　oppressor；　and　hear　the　extent　of　her　heinous　crimes？’
　
　Kahlan　held　her　Confessor’s　face　to　keep　from　tears。　‘I　am　sorry　only　that　I　have　given　my　whole　life　to　the　people　of　the　Midlands。　Had　I　known　they　would　be　so　ungrateful；　and　believe　instead　such　filth　after　what　I　have　sacrificed　for　them；　I　would　have　been　more　selfish　and　left　them　to　true　tyranny。’
　
　Ranson　scowled　down　at　her。　‘You　have　worked　your　whole　life　for　the　Keeper。’　The　crowd　gasped　again。　That　is　who　you　serve。　That　is　what　you　work　for。　You　offer　the　souls　of　your　people　to　your　master；　the　Keeper；　in　the　underworld。’
　
　People　in　the　balconies　wailed　with　terror。　Cries　of　anger　and　calls　for　vengeance　echoed　in　the　dome。　Shaking　their　fists；　the　crowd　on　the　main　floor　tried　to　push　forward；　but　the　guards　spread　their　arms　and　held　them　back。　Ranson　lifted　his　hands；　calling　for　calm　and　quiet。
　
　Kahlan　moved　her　gaze　over　the　people　to　each　side。
　
　‘I　give　you　to　the　Imperial　Order；’　she　called　out　in　a　loud　voice。　‘I　work　no　longer　to　save　you。　You　will　be　punished　for　your　unthinking　willingness　to　believe　these　lies。　Punished　by　what　your　own　selfish　desires　will　bring　upon　you。　You　will　e　to　regret　the　torment　you　have　willingly　cast　yourselves　into。　I　am　joyful　that　I　will　be　dead；　so　I　will　not　be　tempted　to　help　you。　I　regret　only　that　I　have　ever　shed　a　tear　for　your　suffering。　To　the　Keeper　with　all　of　you！’
　
　Kahlan　glared　up　at　a　smirking　Wizard　Ranson。　‘Get　on　with　it！　Chop　off　my　head！　I’m　sickened　with　this　travesty　of　truth！　You　and　your　Imperial　Order　win。　Kill　me；　so　I　may　be　rid　of　this　life；　and　go　to　the　spirit　world；　where　I　will　not　have　to　suffer　to　help　anyone。　I　confess　to　everything。　Execute　me。　I　am　guilty　of　it　all。’　She　looked　down　at　the　body　at　her　feet。　‘Except　killing　this　Keltish　pig。　I　wish；　now；　that　I　had　killed　him；　but　unfortunately；　I　can’t　claim　credit。’
　
　Ranson　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘A　liar　to　the　end；　Mother　Confessor；　you　cannot　even　admit　the　truth　of　this　murder。’
　
　Lady　Ordith　came　in；　her　nose　in　the　air；　and　testified　that　she　had　heard　Kahlan　threaten　Prince　Fyren　only　the　night　before。　The　council　all　spoke　up；　that　they；　too；　had　heard　her　threaten　to　cut　his　throat。
　
　‘This　is　your　proof？’　Kahlan　asked。
　
　Ranson　gestured　to　the　side。　‘Bring　in　the　witness。　You　see；　Mother　Confes