tg.stone of tears-第149章

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　Lieutenant　Hobson　stepped　forward。　‘And　then　you’ll　have　to　take　me。’
　
　After　the　three　of　us；’　Captain　Ryan　said；　‘you　will　have　to　move　through　the　officers　and　then　every　one　of　the　men。　If　there　is　one　left；　he　will　attack；　and　die　in　battle　if　need　be。’
　
　She　drew　her　hand　back。　‘I’m　going　to　the　Central　Council　and　will　take　care　of　this。　What　you　want　to　do　is　a　suicide。’
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　we　are　going　to　attack。’
　
　‘For　what！　For　glory？　You　want　to　be　heroes　avenging　the　murdered？　You　want　to　die　in　a　glorious　battle！’
　
　‘No；　Mother　Confessor；’　he　said　in　a　quiet　tone。　‘We　saw　what　those　men　did　to　Ebinissia。　We　saw　what　they　did　to　the　soldiers　they　captured。　We　saw　what　they　did　to　the　women　and　children　back　there。　Many　of　the　men　under　my　mand　had　mothers　and　sisters　back　there。　We　all　saw　what　was　done　to　them；　and　what　was　done　to　our　fathers　and　brothers。　Our　people。’
　
　He　drew　himself　up　tall　and　straight　as　he　looked　with　resolve　into　her　eyes。　‘We’re　not　doing　this　for　glory；　Mother　Confessor。　We　know　it’s　a　suicide　mission。　But　we’re　all　single；　we　have　no　families　to　leave　without　fathers。　We’re　doing　it　because　those　men　will　go　on　to　another　city　and　do　to　them　what　they　did　in　Ebinissia。　We’re　doing　this　to　stop　them；　if　we　can。
　
　‘Our　lives　are　sworn　to　protect　our　people。　We　cannot　shirk　our　responsibility。　We　must　attack　and　try　to　stop　these　men　before　they　kill　any　more　innocent　people。　I　pray　to　the　good　spirits　that　you　succeed　in　Aydindril；　but　still；　that　will　take　too　long。　How　many　more　cities　will　be　plundered　before　you　can　bring　the　Midlands　to　bear　on　these　men？　One　city　is　too　many。　We’re　the　only　ones　in　contact　with　these　killers。　Our　lives　are　all　that　stand　between　them　and　their　next　victims。
　
　‘When　I　took　the　oath　to　serve；　I　swore　that　no　matter　the　choices；　no　matter　the　orders；　I　would　always　put　the　protection　of　my　people　first。　That’s　why　I　must　disobey　your　orders；　Mother　Confessor　…　not　for　glory；　but　to　protect　the　defenseless。　I　wish　to　have　your　blessing　in　this；　but　I　will　try　to　stop　those　men　with　your　blessing；　or　without　it。’
　
　She　sank　to　sit　on　the　log　again；　and　stared　off　into　the　distance；　pondering　the　three　soldiers。　The　six　men　waited　in　silence。　Children　indeed。　They　were　older　than　she　had　thought。　And　they　were　right。
　
　It　would　still　take　her　some　time　to　get　to　Aydindril　and　more　time　yet　to　raise　armies　to　hunt　down　these　killers。　In　the　meantime　they　would　go　on　killing。　How　many　would　have　to　die　waiting　for　help　from　the　Central　Council？
　
　She　wished　she　could　be　anyone　right　now　but　who　she　was。　The　Mother　Confessor。　She　disregarded　her　feelings　and　considered　the　problem　as　the　Mother　Confessor　must；　she　weighed　lives；　those　spent；　and　those　spared。
　
　Kahlan　stood　and　turned　to　Chandalen。　‘We　must　help　these　men。’
　
　Chandalen　pushed　his　hands　farther　up　on　his　spear　and　leaned　toward　her。　‘Mother　Confessor；　these　men　are　foolish　children；　and　they　are　going　to　die。　If　we　stay　with　them　they　will　bring　a　storm　of　killing　around　us。　We　will　be　killed　with　them。　They　will　die　just　the　same；　and　you　will　not　reach　Aydindril。’
　
　‘Chandalen；　these　boys　are　like　the　Mud　People。　They　are　chasing　their　Jocopo。　If　we　don’t　help　them；　then　more　will　die　like　we　saw　back　in　the　city。’
　
　Prindin　leaned　in。　‘Mother　Confessor；　we　will　do　whatever　you　wish；　but　there　is　no　way　to　help　these　boys。　We　are　only　four。’
　
　Tossidin　nodded。　‘And　then　you　would　fail　in　your　duty　to　reach　Aydindril。　Is　that　not　important？’
　
　‘Of　course　it　is。’　She　pulled　some　hair　back　off　her　face。　‘But　what　if　the　army　who　killed　everyone　in　that　city　were　going　next　to　the　Mud　People？　Would　you　not　want　me　to　help　if　it　were　your　people　they　would　murder　next？’
　
　The　three　men　straightened。　They　twisted　their　spears　while　they　thought；　glancing　over　her　shoulder　occasionally；　to　the　three　soldiers　who　also　stood　silently。
　
　‘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　killin