tg.stone of tears-第204章

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　And　the　good　spirits　had　left　her　to　it；　as　they　always　did。　Kahlan　was　furious　with　the　good　spirits。　Though　she　had　lived　her　whole　life　to　see　their　ideals　upheld；　they　never　once　helped　her。
　
　Well；　no　more。　She　was　finished　with　the　good　spirits；　as　she　was　finished　with　trying　to　help　the　ungrateful　people　of　the　Midlands。　What　had　it　gotten　her？　She　had　learned　in　the　council　chambers　what　it　had　gotten　her。　It　had　gotten　her　the　undying　hatred　of　her　people。　The　very　people　she　fought　for　thought　she　harmed　children。　People　didn’t　like　Confessors；　and　were　afraid　of　them　for　a　variety　of　reasons；　but　she　had　been　stunned　to　learn　what　people　really　believed　about　her。
　
　From　now　on；　she　was　going　to　worry　about　herself；　her　friends；　and　Richard；　and　to　the　Keeper　with　the　rest　of　them。　He　could　have　them　all。　She　was　through　with　it　all。
　
　She　was　the　Mother　Confessor　no　longer。　She　was　Kahlan。
　
　The　torch　sputtered　out；　plunging　the　pit　into　blackness。
　
　Thank　you　again；　good　spirits！’　she　screamed　at　the　top　of　her　lungs。　Her　words　echoed　around　the　pit。　‘To　the　Keeper　with　you！’
　
　The　men　set　upon　Tyler　in　the　dark。　Kahlan　didn’t　know　what　was　happening。　She　could　hear　grunts　and　screams　and　thuds。
　
　She　heard　an　echoing；　banging　sound。　She　couldn’t　understand　what　it　was。　And　then　she　heard　a　muffled　voice　calling　out　her　title。　The　familiar　voice　was　ing　from　above。
　
　‘Chandalen！　Chandalen！　I’m　down　here！　Open　the　door！’
　
　‘Mother　Confessor！’　came　the　voice　from　beyond　the　door。　‘How　do　I　open　the　door！’
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　shriek　when　a　hand　snatched　her　ankle　and　pulled　her　from　her　feet。　Chandalen　called　out　at　the　sound　of　her　scream。　Tyler　grabbed　the　fingers　around　her　ankle　and　bent　them　back　until　they　snapped。　The　man　screamed　in　the　dark。
　
　‘Chandalen！　You　need　a　key！　Use　the　key！’
　
　‘Key？　What　is　this　key！’
　
　‘Chandalen！’　She　shoved　a　head　away　from　her　middle。　‘Chandalen！　Remember　when　we　were　in　the　city　with　the　dead　people？　Remember　the　queen’s　room　that　was　locked？　Remember　I　showed　you　a　key　to　open　the　door？　Chandalen；　one　of　the　guards　up　there　has　a　ring　on　his　belt！　It　has　the　key！　Hurry！’
　
　Kahlan　recognized　Tyler’s　grunt　as　he　was　slammed　to　the　wall。　She　could　hear　the　bone…jarring　blows　of　his　fist。　She　could　hear　a　metallic　noise　from　above。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor！　It　will　not　turn！’
　
　Then　it’s　the　wrong　one！　Try　another！’
　
　Someone　crashed　into　her；　knocking　her　to　the　floor。　She　clawed　at　his　eyes。　He　punched　at　her　middle。
　
　A　sudden　shaft　of　light　descended　into　the　pit。　Tyler　saw　the　man　on　her　and　threw　him　off。　A　ladder　dropped　down。
　
　Tyler！　Keep　them　away　from　the　ladder！’
　
　Kahlan　threw　herself　onto　the　ladder　and　scrambled　up。　The　men　piled　on　Tyler。　She　heard　him　groan　and　then　his　neck　snap。　Her　foot　slipped　through　a　rung　when　a　fist　punched　the　back　of　her　calf。　Hands　grabbed　at　her　ankles。　Kahlan　kicked　the　face　of　the　man　right　behind　and　then　clambered　up。　He　tumbled　back；　taking　the　others　with　him。　They　charged　back　up　in　a　rush。
　
　Kahlan　stretched　for　the　hand　extended　down。　Chandalen　clamped　onto　her　wrist　and　yanked　her　through　the　doorway。　He　stabbed　the　man　right　behind　her。　As　the　man　toppled　back；　Chandalen　slammed　the　door　closed。　Panting；　she　fell　into　his　arms。
　
　‘e；　Mother　Confessor。　We　must　get　out　of　this　place。’
　
　There　were　dead　guards　everywhere；　all　killed　silently；　from　behind；　by　Chandalen’s　troga。　He　held　her　hand　as　they　ran　through　the　dank；　dark　halls　and　up　stairs。　She　wondered　how　Chandalen　had　managed　to　find　his　way　down　here。　Someone　must　have　shown　him　the　way。
　
　Around　a　corner；　they　came　to　the　sight　of　a　bloody　battle。　Bodies　were　sprawled　everywhere。　Only　one　man　was　standing。　Orsk。　His　great　battle…axe　dripped　with　gore。　Orsk　nearly　leapt　out　of　his　skin　with　joy　when　he　saw　her。　She　was　almost　thrilled　to　see　his　scarred　face。
　
　‘I　made　him　wait；’　Chandalen　explained　as　he　pulled　her　through　the　bloody　mess。　‘I　told　him　that　I　would　bring　you；　if　he　waited　and　guarded　this　hall。’
　
　Chandalen　frowned　at　her。　Kahlan　realized　he　was　staring　at　her　hair；　or　what　was　left　of　it。　He　said　nothing；　though；　and　she　was　glad　for　that。　It　felt　more　than　strange　not　to　feel　the　weight　of　her　hair；　it　was　heartbreaking。　She　had　loved　her　hair；　so　had　Richard。
　
　Kahlan　bent　and　took　a　war　axe　from　one　of　the　dead　guards。　With　her　power　not　yet　recovered；　she　felt　better　with　a　weapon　in　her　hands。
　
　Chandalen；　dragging　Kahlan　along　by　her　hand；　with　Orsk　protecting　the　rear；　burst　through　a　door。　Directly　outside；　the　captain　of　the　guards　had　a　woman　pressed　up　against　the　wall。　Her　arms　were　wrapped　around　his　neck　as　she　kissed　him；　his　hands　were　up　her　dress。
　
　As　they　charged　past；　and　the　startled　captain　looked　up；　Chandalen　drove　his　long　knife　into　the　man’s　ribs。
　
　‘e！’　he　said　to　the　woman。　‘We　have　her！’
　
　The　woman　fell　into　line　with　the　rest　of　them　as　they　wound　their　way　up　through　the　palace。　Puzzled；　Kahlan　looked　back。　The　woman　in　the　hooded　cloak　was　the　woman　who　had　fainted　…　Jebra　Bevinvier。
　
　‘What’s　going　on？’　Kahlan　asked　Jebra。
　
　‘Forgive　me；　Mother　Confessor；　for　fainting。　I　had　a　vision　of　you　being　beheaded。　It　was　so　horrifying　that　I　fainted。　I　knew　I　must　help；　so　that　the　vision　would　not　e　true。
　
　You　told　me　that　you　had　a　friend　in　the　woods。　I　went　and　found　him。’
　
　They　all　flattened　up　against　a　wall　and　waited　for　a　patrol　to　pass　through　an　adjoining　room。　When　their　echoing　footsteps　faded；　Chandalen　turned　with　a　hot　look　to　Jebra。
　
　‘What　were　you　doing　with　that　man！’
　
　She　blinked　in　surprise。　‘He　was　the　captain　of　the　guards。　He　was　making　the　rounds　with　a　whole　detachment。　I　convinced　him　to　send　the　guards　away　for　a　while。　I　did　the　only　thing　I　could　think　of　to　keep　fifty　men　from　trapping　you　down　there。’
　
　Chandalen　grumbled　that　maybe　it　made　sense。　As　they　headed　on；　Kahlan　told　Jebra　that　she　had　done　a　brave　thing；　and　that　she　understood　what　courage　it　took　to　do　it。　Jebra　protested　that　she　was　no　heroine；　and　didn’t　want　to　be　one。
　
　At　an　intersection　with　a　vaulted　corridor；　Mistress　Sander…holt　was　waiting。　Letting　out　a　cry；　Kahlan　threw　her　arms　around　the　woman。　Mistress　Sanderholt　held　her　bandaged　hands　out。
　
　‘Not　now；　Mother　Confessor。　You　must　escape。　This　way　is　clear。’
　
　As　the　others　rushed　in　the　direction　Mistress　Sanderholt　indicated；　Kahlan　went　the　other　way。　They　all　turned　and　ran　after。
　
　‘What　are　you　doing！’　Chandalen　yelled。　‘We　must　escape！’
　
　‘I　have　to　get　something　from　my　room。’
　
　‘What　could　be　more　important　than　escaping！’
　
　‘Grandfather’s　knife；’　she　said　as　she　ran。
　
　When　they　realized　they　were　not　going　to　be　able　to　change　her　mind；　they　all　followed　after　as　she　led　them　up　through　the　labyrinth　of　smaller　and　less　frequently　patrolled　halls。　Several　times　they　did　encounter　guards。　Orsk　fiercely　hacked　them　to　pieces　when　they　charged　after　her。
　
　As　she　came　around　a　corner　at　the　top　of　a　stairway；　a　surprised　guard　spun　to　her。　With　all　her　strength；　Kahlan　buried　her　axe　in　the　center　of　his　chest。　His　sword　skittered　across　the　floor　as　he　went　down　on　his　back。
　
　As　he　thrashed　on　the　floor；　Kahlan　put　a　foot　against　his　heaving　stomach　and　tried　to　pull　the　axe　out。　Bubbles　of　air　and　blood　frothed　forth；　but　the　axe　was　stuck　tight　in　his　breastbone；　so　she　scooped　up　his　Keltish　sword　instead。　Chandalen　lifted　an　eyebrow。　Before　they　reached　her　room；　she　had　cause　to　use　the　sword；　and　with　similar；　deadly　effect。
　
　The　others　waited　in　the　outer　room；　recovering　their　wind；　while　she　rushed　into　her　bedroom。　She　froze　when　she　saw　her　blue　wedding　dress。　She　swept　it　up　and　held　it　to　her　breast。　That　was　what　she　had　e　for。　She　didn’t　want　to　leave　it；　she　was　never　returning　to　this　place。　Kahlan　shed　a　tear　on　the　dress；　rolled　it　into　a　tight　bundle；　and　stuffed　it　in　her　pack。
　
　All　the　other　clothes　from　her　pack　were　cleaned；　too；　and　laid　out　for　her。　She　stuffed　them　in　the　pack　after　strapping　the　bone　knife　around　her　left　arm。　She　threw　the　mantle　around　her　shoulders。　Hurriedly；　she　strung　the　bow。
　
　She　swept　through　the　outer　room；　her　pack　and　quiver　on　her　back；　and　her　bow　on　her　shoulder。　She　had　everything　she　wanted。　Everything　that　meant　anything　to　her。　She　paused　a　moment；　looking　at　her　room　for　the　last　time　as　she　idly　turned　the　round　bone　on　her　necklace；　and　then　led　the　others　out　and　down　a　back　way；　headed　for　an　outside　door。
　
　She　lost　count　of　how　many　men　Chandalen　took　out　with　his　troga　or　knife。　When　a　big　guard　charged　out　of　a　side　hall　and　tried　to　roll　them　down；　Kahlan　ran　him　through　with　the　sword。　The　four　of　them　were　grim　death　moving　through　the　palace。　The　alarm　bells　rang　frantically　in　the　tower。
　
　On　the　landing　leading　to　the　great　staircase；　Orsk　lopped　off　a　guard’s　head。　The　body　rolled　down　the　stairs；　spilling　a　trail　of　blood；　as　if　unrolling　a　red　carpet