tg.stone of tears-第124章

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　have　against　an　army　that　could　defeat　this　many？　Against　an　army　half　that　size？’
　
　Chandalen　shifted　his　weight　without　answering。
　
　There　are　lands；　Chandalen；　that　have　no　say；　like　the　Mud　People；　and　the　Bantak。　They　are　not　represented　on　the　council。　The　larger　lands；　like　this　one；　and　the　one　that　defeated　them；　are　very　powerful；　yet　Darken　Rahl　conquered　them。　I　speak　for　the　lands　that　have　no　voice　on　the　council。　I　protect　your　wish　to　be　left　alone；　and　forbid　others　to　e　onto　your　land。
　
　‘Without　me　to　make　them　afraid；　and　tell　them　what　to　do；　they　would　take　your　land　for　themselves。　You　have　seen　the　country　we　have　traveled　through。　Much　of　it　is　difficult　to　plant。　People　would　take　your　land　for　farms；　and　to　raise　animals。　Your　sacred　grasslands　would　be　burned　and　tilled　and　planted　with　crops　to　trade　for　gold。
　
　‘As　brave　and　strong　as　you　are；　you　would　not　be　able　to　protect　your　people。　These　outsiders　would　blacken　your　land　with　their　numbers。　Just　because　you　are　brave；　and　strong；　does　not　mean　you　will　win。　The　soldiers　here　were　brave；　and　strong；　and　a　hundred　times　your　number；　and　look　what　happened　to　them。　And　this　is　only　one　city。　There　are　many　larger。
　
　‘Being　brave　does　not　mean　you　have　to　be　stupid；　Chandalen。　You　saw　what　was　done　here。　How　long　do　you　think　you　could　fight　against　an　army　like　that　which　did　this？　Even　if　every　one　of　your　men　killed　fifty；　they　would　hardly　notice。　You　would　be　like　the　Jocopo；　gone。　Every　last　one　of　you。’
　
　Kahlan　jabbed　a　finger　at　her　own　chest。　‘I　am　the　one　who　tells　them　they　may　not。　They　do　not　fear　you；　but　they　fear　me；　and　the　alliance　I　represent。　There　are　good　people　in　the　Midlands；　people　who　are　willing　to　fight　to　protect　others　who　are　less　powerful。　The　dead　here　are　one　of　those　peoples。　They　are　one　that　has　always　backed　me　when　I　said　no　land　may　attack　another　to　gain　land。
　
　‘I　head　the　Council　of　the　Midlands　and　hold　together　the　lands　that　want　peace。　Under　me　they　would　fight　any　who　would　make　war　on　others。　Yes；　I　make　people　afraid；　so　they　will　do　what　I　say。　But　not　to　have　the　glory　of　power。　I　hold　power　to　keep　the　people　of　the　Midlands　…　including　the　Mud　People　…　free　of　oppression。　These　people　here　have　fought　before　to　keep　all　the　people　of　the　Midlands　free　to　live　as　they　wished。　They　have　fought　for　you；　for　your　rights；　though　you　have　never　known　of　the　blood　they　have　shed　on　your　behalf。’
　
　She　clutched　her　mantle　more　tightly。　‘You　have　never　before　had　to　fight　for　them；　until　Darken　Rahl　threatened　all。　I　came　to　the　Mud　People；　with　Richard；　to　seek　help。　Your　ancestors’　spirits　saw　the　truth　of　our　struggle；　and　they　helped　us　so　that　the　Mud　People；　and　all　others；　could　live　free。　For　the　first　time；　Mud　People　had　to　shed　blood　for　the　Midlands。　Your　ancestors’　spirits　saw　the　truth　of　this；　and　they　helped　us。
　
　‘The　people　of　the　Midlands　owe　the　Mud　People　a　debt　for　their　sacrifice；　but　you　also　owe　them。
　
　‘Richard　With　The　Temper　put　his　life　at　risk　for　your　people。　He　lost　loved　ones　in　the　struggle；　the　same　as　you。　He　suffered　things　you　could　never　understand。　You　could　not　imagine　what　was　done　to　him　by　Darken　Rahl　before　Richard　killed　him。’
　
　Kahlan　stood　in　fury；　clouds　of　her　hot　breath　rising　into　the　cold　air。
　
　‘I　make　people　afraid　of　me　so　you　may　continue　to　be　blind　and　stubborn。　Richard　and　I　have　fought　to　keep　all　the　people　of　the　Midlands；　including　the　Mud　People；　from　being　murdered；　as　the　Jocopo　murdered　Mud　People；　even　though　you　would　deny　us　your　help；　or　simple　gratitude。’
　
　Silence　echoed　around　them。
　
　Chandalen　walked　slowly　to　the　railing；　idly　running　a　finger　along　its　polished　surface。　She　watched　each　slow　cloud　of　his　breath　dissipate；　to　be　followed　by　another。　He　spoke　softly。　‘You　see　me　as　stubborn。　I　see　you；　too；　as　stubborn。　Maybe　our　fathers　should　have　also　taught　us　to　see　that　sometimes　people　do　as　they　do；　not　because　they　are　stubborn；　but　because　they　fear　for　those　they　protect。　Maybe　you　and　I　should　be　able　to　see　each　other　not　as　harsh；　but　as　doing　the　best　we　know；　to　keep　our　people　safe。’
　
　A　small　smile　came　unexpectedly　to　Kahlan’s　lips。　‘Perhaps；　Chandalen　is　not　so　blind　as　I　thought。　I　will　try；　myself；　to　see　better；　see　you　for　the　man　of　honor　you　are。’
　
　He　gave　a　nod；　and　a　small　smile　of　his　own。　‘Richard　With　The　Temper　is　not　a　stupid　man。’　He　put　his　hands　to　the　railing；　looking　out　over　the　first　floor。　‘He　said　that　if　he　had　to　pick　one　man　to　fight　beside　him；　he　would　pick　Chandalen。’
　
　‘You　speak　the　truth；’　she　said　softly。　‘He　is　not　a　stupid　man。’
　
　‘Richard　also　sacrificed　himself　as　your　mate。　He　has　saved　our　men　from　being　chosen；　as　surely　you　would　have　picked　one　of　us；　because　we　are　so　strong。’　His　voice　rose　with　pride。　‘You　would　probably　have　picked　me；　so　that　you　might　have　the　strongest　mate。　Richard　has　saved　me。’
　
　Kahlan　smiled　again　in　spite　of　herself　as　he　stared　out　over　the　railing。　‘I’m　sorry　you　feel　the　task　of　being　my　mate　is　so　onerous　a　thing。’
　
　Chandalen　came　back　to　her。　He　stood　a　moment；　studying　her　eyes；　and　then　began　untying　the　band　at　his　right　arm。　He　pulled　the　band　and　bone　knife　free；　holding　it　out　before　her。
　
　‘Grandfather　would　be　proud　to　protect　you；　one　of　his　own；　one　of　his　Mud　People。’　He　flipped　her　mantle　back　over　her　left　shoulder。
　
　‘Chandalen；　I　cannot　accept　this。　It　holds　the　spirit　of　your　grandfather。’
　
　He　ignored　her　words　and　tied　the　band　to　her　left　arm。　‘I　have　the　spirit　of　my　father　with　me；　and　I　am　strong。　You　fight　to　protect　our　people。　Grandfather　would　want　to　be　with　you　in　your　fight。　You　do　him　an　honor。’
　
　She　held　her　chin　up　as　he　slipped　the　bone　knife　into　the　band。　‘I’m　honored；　then；　to　have　your　grandfather’s　spirit　with　me。’
　
　‘This　is　good。　You　have　the　duty　now　to　fight　as　my　grandfather　fought　to　protect　your　people。　All　of　your　people。’　He　lifted　her　right　hand　and　placed　it　on　the　bone　knife。　‘Swear　to　carry　this　duty　in　your　heart。’
　
　‘I　have　already　sworn　to　protect　the　Mud　People；　and　the　others　of　the　Midlands。　I　have　already　fought　and　will　continue　to　fight　for　all　of　you。’
　
　He　squeezed　her　hand　tighter　to　the　bone。　‘Swear　to　Chandalen。’
　
　She　studied　his　grim　expression　a　long　moment。　‘You　have　my　vow；　Chandalen。　I　swear　it　before　you。’
　
　He　smiled　as　he　pulled　her　mantle　back　over　her　shoulder；　over　the　bone　knife。　‘Chandalen　will　thank　Richard　With　The　Temper；　when　I　see　him　again；　for　saving　me　from　being　chosen　as　the　mate　to　the　Mother　Confessor。　I　will　wish　him　no　bad　fortune。　He　fights；　too；　for　the　Mud　People；　as　the　Bird　Man　has　told　us。’
　
　Kahlan　bent　to　pick　up　his　mantle。　‘Here。　Put　this　back　on；　I　don’t　want　you　to　freeze。　You　must　still　get　me　to　Aydindril。’
　
　He　nodded；　still　wearing　the　small；　tight　smile；　as　he　threw　the　mantle　over　his　shoulders。　His　smile　died　as　he　glanced　at　the　doors。　‘Someone　has　been　here　since　this　was　done。’
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　‘What　makes　you　think　that？’
　
　‘Why　did　you　close　the　doors　after　you　had　looked？’
　
　‘Out　of　respect　for　the　dead。’
　
　‘When　we　came　to　them；　they　were　closed。　Those　who　did　this　rape　had　no　respect。　They　would　not　have　closed　all　the　doors。　They　wanted　anyone　who　came　to　see　what　they　had　done。　Someone　else　has　been　here；　and　closed　the　doors。’
　
　Kahlan　glanced　to　the　doors；　seeing　the　meaning　of　what　he　said。　‘I　think　you’re　right。’　She　shook　her　head。　Those　who　did　this　would　not　have　closed　the　door。’
　
　Chandalen　leaned　on　the　railing　again；　looking　down　at　the　wide　stairs。　‘Why　are　we　here？’
　
　‘Because　I　had　to　know　what　happened　to　these　people。’
　
　‘You　saw　that　outside。　Why　are　we　here；　in　this　house？’
　
　Kahlan　glanced　at　the　steps　leading　up　to　the　top　floor。　‘Because　I　have　to　know　if　the　queen　was　killed；　too。’
　
　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　toward　her。　‘She　means　something　to　you？’
　
　Kahlan　was　suddenly　aware　of　the　pounding　of　her