tg.stone of tears-第156章

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　The　Blood　considered　magic　the　force　through　which　the　Keeper　extended　his　influence　into　this　world；　into　the　world　of　the　living。　The　Blood　were　as　unreasonable　and　thickheaded　as　any　men　alive。　And　they　considered　it　their　duty　to　send　to　the　land　of　the　dead　any　who　they　thought　served　the　Keeper。　That　was　just　about　anyone　who　disagreed　with　their　view　of　things。　In　some　lands　the　Blood　were　outlawed；　and　in　some；　like　Nicobarese；　they　were　encouraged　and　paid　by　the　Crown。
　
　Maybe　Riggs　was　right。　Maybe　she　should　have　brought　the　rule　of　law　to　stop　men　like　this。　But　that　had　never　been　the　intent　of　the　council　…　to　make　all　to　bow　in　all　things　to　one。　The　strength　and　beauty　of　the　Midlands　was　in　its　diversity；　even　if　some　of　that　diversity　was　ugly。　What　was　ugly　to　one　was　beautiful　to　another；　and　so　it　was　that　each　land　was　to　be　left　to　rule　itself；　as　long　as　it　brought　no　force　of　arms　to　another。　It　was　a　tolerant　suffering　of　things　repugnant　to　allow　things　beautiful　to　blossom。　It　was　a　sometimes　difficult　and　fine　line　to　hold　the　council　to：　forcing　lands　to　work　together　in　some　things；　but　allowing　them　to　be　autonomous　in　others。
　
　But　perhaps　Riggs　was　right。　People　in　some　lands　suffered　the　cruel　or　poor　rule　of　their　greedy　or　inept　leaders；　with　no　hope　of　matters　being　brought　to　change　from　without。　Though　the　wise；　but　smaller；　lands　had　not　to　live　in　fear　of　outside　conquest。　If　the　suffering　of　the　people　under　less　fortunate　rule　could　be　ended　with　wise　central　rule；　would　not　matters　be　improved？
　
　Yet　when　all　lived　under　the　same　rule；　every　other　form　of　existence　was　extinguished；　never　to　have　the　chance　to　grow；　though　one　of　them　might　have　been　a　superior　way。　The　kind　of　single　rule　the　Imperial　Order　represented　was　slavery。
　
　Kahlan　was　surprised　to　encounter　Galean　sentries　farther　from　their　camp　than　before。　They　were　no　longer　spread　too　far　apart；　and　they　were　well　hidden；　popping　up　with　drawn　bows　and　bared　steel　when　she　was　almost　upon　them。　Chan…dalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　had　obviously　been　at　work。　The　sentries　put　fists　to　hearts　when　they　recognized　her。
　
　The　dawn　was　turning　the　sky　to　a　dark　steel　gray。　It　was　warmer　than　it　had　been；　with　the　clouds　covering　the　land　like　a　warming　quilt。　She　was　dead　tired　in　the　saddle　as　Nick　plodded　through　the　snow　toward　the　camp；　but　as　she　came　into　sight　of　men　rushing　about；　she　came　alert　with　the　thoughts　of　what　needed　to　be　done。
　
　Chandalen；　Prindin；　Captain　Ryan；　and　Lieutenant　Hobson　were　speaking　with　a　group　of　men　when　they　saw　her　riding　toward　the　camp。　The　four　came　at　a　run　to　meet　her　at　the　edge　of　the　activity。　Men　were　cooking；　eating；　stowing　gear；　preparing　weapons；　and　tending　to　wagons　and　horses。　She　spotted　Tossidin；　in　his　white　wolf　mantle；　off　some　distance　with　Lieutenant　Sloan；　waving　his　arms　in　explanation　as　he　talked　to　men　who　stood　mute；　with　their　spears　all　standing　upright　in　the　snow；　the　tight　mob　of　them　looking　like　a　dark　porcupine　against　the　white　ground。
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　weary　moan　as　she　dismounted　before　the　four　men　who　had　e　to　greet　her。　Other　men　all　around　kept　to　their　tasks；　but　moved　more　slowly　as　they　watched　her　with　great　interest。　The　four　before　her　stared　openly　with　wide　eyes。　None　said　a　word。
　
　‘What　are　you　all　staring　at？’　she　said；　a　little　short…tempered。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；’　Captain　Ryan　said；　‘you’re　covered　in　blood。　Are　you　hurt？’
　
　Kahlan　stared　down　at　the　white　wolf　fur　of　her　mantle；　only　it　was　no　longer　white。　She　realized　for　the　first　time　that　the　skin　of　her　face　was　tight　with　dried　blood；　her　hair　stiff　with　it。
　
　‘Oh；’　she　said；　in　a　quieter　tone。　‘It’s　all　right。　I’m　fine。’
　
　Chandalen　and　Prindin　sighed　with　relief。
　
　Lieutenant　Hobson；　still　wide…eyed；　swallowed。　‘What　of　the　wizard？　Did　you　see　him？’
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘What　you　see　on　me　is　what’s　left　of　him。’
　
　Chandalen　appraised　her　with　a　sly　smile。　‘And　how　many　others　did　you　kill？’
　
　Kahlan　gave　a　tired　shrug。　‘I　was　awfully　busy。　I　didn’t　take　the　time　to　count；　but　all　things　considered；　I　would　guess；　including　the　fires；　well　over　a　hundred。　The　wizard　is　dead；　that’s　what　matters。　Two　of　their　manders　are　dead　also；　and　at　least　two　more　are　wounded。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　and　Lieutenant　Hobson　paled。
　
　Chandalen’s　proud　grin　widened。　‘I　am　surprised　you　left　any　for　others　to　kill；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　She　didn’t　return　his　smile。　‘There　are　plenty　left。’　Kahlan　rubbed　her　horse’s　nose。　‘Nick　did　most　of　the　work。’
　
　‘I　told　you　he　wouldn’t　let　you　down；　Mother　Confessor；’　Hobson　said。
　
　That　he　did　not。　He　was　better　aid　than　the　good　spirits。　He　kept　me　alive　this　day。’
　
　Kahlan　lowered　herself　to　one　knee　in　the　snow　before　the　two　Galean　officers。　She　bowed　her　head。
　
　‘I　find　I　must　beseech　your　forgiveness。’　She　took　a　hand　of　each　in　hers。　Though　you　are　ignorant　of　how　to　acplish　what　must　be　done；　you　have　put　your　duty　to　the　Midlands　before　my　orders。　That　was　courage　of　the　highest　order。　I　want　you　all　to　know　I　was　wrong。　You　acted　of　noble　intent。’　She　kissed　each　hand。　‘I　laud　your　righteous　hearts。　You　have　kept　in　mind　your　duty　above　all　else。　I　beg　you　forgive　me。’
　
　There　was　silence　as　she　knelt　on　one　knee。　At　last　Captain　Ryan　whispered　down　to　her。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　please。　Get　up。　Everyone’s　watching。’
　
　‘Not　until　you　forgive　me。　I　want　everyone　to　know　you　did　the　right　thing。’
　
　‘But　you　didn’t　realize　what　we　were　doing；　or　why。　You　had　only　our　safety　in　mind。’　Kahlan　waited　and　he　was　silent　in　embarrassment　a　moment　longer。　All　right。　I　forgive　you。。。。　Don’t　do　it　again？’
　
　She　came　to　her　feet；　releasing　their　hands　and　giving　them　a　small；　humorless　smile。　‘See　that　that　is　the　last　time　you　ever　disobey　me。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　nodded　in　earnest。　‘I　will。’　He　shook　his　head。　‘I　mean；　no；　I　won’t；　I　mean　I　。。。　We　will　do　as　you　mand；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘I　understand　what　you　mean；　Captain。’　She　let　out　a　tired　sigh。　‘We　have　a　lot　of　work　to　do　before　we　attack　those　men。’
　
　‘We！’　Chandalen　shouted。　‘We　were　only　to　teach　them　some　things；　and　then　‘we’　are　to　be　on　our　way　to　Aydin…dril！　We　cannot　bee　caught　up　in　this　battle。　You　have　already　taken　enough　chances！　We　must。。。’
　
　Kahlan　interrupted　him。　‘I　must　talk　to　you　three。　Bring　Tossidin。　Captain；　please　collect　the　men；　including　the　sentries。　I　want　to　speak　to　you　all　together。　Please　wait　with　your　men。　I　will　be　with　you　shortly。　And　leave　a　tent　up　for　me。　I　need　a　few　hours’　sleep　while　things　are　being　prepared。’
　
　She　walked　off　a　ways；　out　of　earshot　of　the　camp；　with　Chandalen　in　tow；　as　Prindin　went　to　get　Tossidin。　When　they　were　all　together；　she　turned　to　them。　Chandalen　was　scowling；　the　other　two　waited　without　emotion。
　
　‘The　Mud　People；’　she　began　in　a　soft　tone；　‘have　magic。’
　
　‘We　have　no　magic；’　Chandalen　argued。
　
　‘Yes；　you　do。　You　do　not　think　of　it　as　magic　because　you　were　born　with　it　and　it　is　the　only　way　you　know。　You　do　not　know　of　other　peoples；　of　their　ways。　The　Mud　People　can　speak　with　their　ancestors’　spirits。　They　can　do　this　because　they　have　magic。　You　think　this　is　simply　the　way　things　work；　but　they　do　not　work　so　in　other　places；　with　other　people。　Your　ability　to　do　these　things　is　magic。　Magic　is　not　some　strange　and　powerful　force；　it’s　simply　the　way　some　people；　some　creatures；　are。’
　
　‘Others　can　speak　with　their　ancestors；　if　they　wish；’　Chandalen　said。
　
　‘A　few　can；　but　most　cannot。　To　them；　it’s　speaking　with　the　dead；　and　that　is　magic。　Frightening　magic。　You；　and　I；　know　it　is　not　to　be　feared；　but　you　will　never　convince　others　that　what　you　do　is　good。　They　will　always　think　it　evil。　People　believe　as　they　were　raised；　and　they　were　raised　to　believe　that　talking　to　the　dead　is　evil。’
　
　‘But　our　ancestors’　spirits　help　us；’　Prindin　said。　‘They　never　bring　harm。　They　only　bring　help。’
　
　Kahlan　laid　a　hand　on　his　shou