tg.stone of tears-第188章

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　Chandalen　glanced　to　the　body。　‘I　have　known　them　since　they　were　young　boys。　They　both　followed　me　around；　begging　me　to　teach　them。　Begging　to　be　one　of　my　men。’　He　hung　his　head　in　silence。　Finally；　he　returned　his　attention　to　her。　‘The　men　are　worried　greatly　about　you。　They　are　waiting。’
　
　Kahlan　followed　as　he　crawled　out　on　his　knees　and　one　hand。　She　dragged　the　sword　with　her。　Outside；　in　the　light；　there　was　a　sudden　rustle　of　sound　as　men　rose　to　their　feet。
　
　Captain　Ryan　rushed　forward；　but　a　big　man；　with　one　arm　in　a　sling；　thrust　his　good　arm　across　the　captain’s　chest；　stopping　him　cold。　He　held　a　monstrous　war　axe　in　his　fist。
　
　‘Orsk？　You　are　alive；　too？’
　
　His　eyes　were　red　from　weeping。　Kahlan　remembered　the　way　her　father　had　wept　when　her　mother；　his　mistress；　was　ill。
　
　‘Mistress！’　Tears　sprang　anew　to　his　eyes。　‘You　are　well！　What　do　you　wish？’
　
　‘Orsk；　these　men　are　all　my　friends。　None　of　them　will　hurt　me。　You　do　not　need　to　keep　them　away。　I’m　safe。　It　would　please　me　if　you　just　sat　quietly　for　now。’
　
　Instantly；　he　flopped　to　the　ground。　Kahlan　gave　a　questioning　frown　to　Chandalen。
　
　Chandalen　shrugged。　‘I　saw　him　fight　to　protect　you；　and　Prindin　wanted　to　kill　him；　so　I　gave　him　quassin　doe。　The　men　dug　the　arrow　from　his　back。　I　am　not　sure　how　badly　he　is　hurt；　he　has　no　interest　in　his　wound；　only　in　you。　I　was　only　able　to　keep　him　out　of　the　shelter　by　telling　him　you　needed　to　be　left　alone　or　you　might　not　recover；　but　he　would　not　leave　this　spot　as　long　as　you　were　inside。’
　
　Kahlan　sighed　as　she　gazed　at　the　grisly　face　staring　silently　up　at　her。　She　could　hardly　stand　to　look　at　the　jagged　white　scar；　and　the　one　eye　that　was　sewn　shut。　She　returned　her　attention　to　an　impatient　Captain　Ryan；　and　the　hundreds　of　faces　behind　him。
　
　‘How　goes　the　war？’
　
　The　war！　Dash　the　war！　Are　you　all　right？　You　had　us　scared　to　death！’　He　cast　a　hot　glance　at　Chandalen；　and　then　at　Orsk　sitting　in　the　snow。　‘These　two　wouldn’t　even　let　me　have　a　peek　at　you；　to　see　how　you　were。’
　
　‘That’s　their　job；’　Kahlan　said。　She　gave　them　a　warm　smile。　Thank　you　all　for　your　concern。　Chandalen　has　saved　me。’
　
　‘Well；　what　happened？　This　place　was　a　mess。　The　dozen　men　I　left　here　were　slaughtered。　By　a　troga。　Prindin　and　Tossidin　are　dead。　And　there　were　dead　men　of　the　Order。　We　feared　they　killed　you。’
　
　Kahlan　realized　Chandalen　had　told　them　nothing。　‘One　of　the　dead　men；　off　in　that　direction；　is　General　Riggs；　of　the　Imperial　Order。　Orsk　here；’　she　pointed　down　to　the　one…eyed　man；　‘killed　most　of　the　men　of　the　Order。　They　came　here　to　get　me。　Prindin　killed　our　guards；　and　his　brother；　and　he　tried　to　kill　me。’　Whispers　and　gasps　spread　among　the　men。
　
　Captain　Ryan’s　eyes　looked　like　they　would　pop　from　his　head。　‘Prindin！　Not　Prindin。　Dear　spirits；　why？’
　
　She　waited　until　silence　settled　over　the　men。　She　spoke　in　a　quiet　tone。　‘Prindin　was　a　baneling。’
　
　Stunned　silence　was　all　she　heard　for　a　moment；　and　then　the　worried　whispers　of　‘baneling’　spread　back　through　the　ranks。
　
　‘You　men　are　doing　a　fine　job。　But　now　you　must　fight　on　without　me。　I　must　get　to　Aydindril。’　Disappointed　murmurs　filled　the　air。　‘I　would　not　leave　you　if　I　did　not　know　you　were　up　to　the　task。　You　have　all　proven　your　worth　and　your　heart　in　battle。　You　are　men　the　equal　of　any。’
　
　The　men　stood　a　little　taller。　They　listened　intently　to　her；　as　if　hearing　their　general。
　
　‘I　am　proud　of　each　and　every　one　of　you。　You　are　heroes　of　the　Midlands。　This　army　of　the　Imperial　Order；　threat　though　it　is；　is　representative　of　a　larger　threat　to　the　Midlands；　to　the　world　of　the　living。　That　the　Keeper　would　send　a　baneling　to　stop　me　is　proof　of　that。
　
　‘I　believe　the　Imperial　Order　is　aligned　with　the　Keeper。　I　must　now　turn　my　attention　to　this　threat。　I　know　you　will　fight　on；　as　you　have　sworn；　and　show　the　enemy　no　quarter。　I　know　the　days　of　the　Order　are　numbered。’
　
　Kahlan　realized　that　her　neck　didn’t　hurt。　She　touched　her　fingers　to　the　bite。　It　was　gone。　Suddenly　she　felt　that　perhaps　she　had　escaped　the　Keeper’s　grasp　in　more　ways　than　one。
　
　With　a　serious　demeanor；　she　regarded　the　young　faces　that　intently　watched　her。　Though　you　will　fight　on　without　quarter；　you　must　not　let　yourselves　bee　what　you　are　fighting。　The　enemy　fights　to　kill；　and　to　enslave。　You　fight　for　life；　and　freedom。　Keep　that　always　uppermost　in　your　hearts。
　
　‘Do　not　let　yourselves　bee　what　you　hate。　I　know　how　easy　it　is　to　do。　It　almost　happened　to　me。’
　
　Kahlan　put　a　fist　into　the　air。　‘I　promise　to　never　forget　a　one　of　you。　Promise　me　that　when　this　is　finished；　both　the　threat　from　the　Imperial　Order；　and　the　threat　from　the　Keeper；　that　you　will　one　day　all　e　to　Aydindril；　so　the　Midlands　may　honor　your　sacrifice。’
　
　The　men　all　lifted　a　fist　in　pledge。　A　cheer　went　up。
　
　‘Captain　Ryan；　please　tell　the　men　at　the　other　camps　my　words。　I　wish　I　could　speak　to　them　all　myself；　but　I　must　leave　at　once。’
　
　He　assured　her　it　would　be　done。　Kahlan　lifted　the　sword　in　both　hands；　holding　it　out。
　
　‘King　Wyborn　wielded　this　sword　in　battle　to　protect　his　land。　The　Mother　Confessor　has　wielded　it　in　defense　of　the　Midlands。　I　now　place　it　in　capable　hands。’
　
　Captain　Ryan’s　fingers　carefully　lifted　the　sword　from　hers。　He　held　it　as　if　holding　the　crown　of　Galea　itself。　A　beaming　grin　lit　his　face。
　
　‘I　will　carry　it　with　pride；　Mother　Confessor。　Thank　you　for　everything　you　have　taught　us。　When　you　first　found　us；　we　were　boys。　Thank　you　for　making　us　into　men。　You　have　taught　us　not　only　to　fight　better　but；　more　importantly；　what　it　means　to　be　soldiers；　and　to　be　protectors　of　the　Midlands。’
　
　He　took　the　hilt　in　his　fist　and　held　the　sword　skyward　as　he　turned　to　his　men。
　
　‘Three　cheers　for　the　Mother　Confessor！’
　
　As　she　listened　to　the　three　wild　cheers；　Kahlan　realized　that　in　all　her　life　she　had　never　heard　anyone　cheer　the　Mother　Confessor　before。　She　had　to　strain　to　keep　her　surprise　from　showing。　She　lifted　a　kiss　on　her　fingers　and　thanked　them　all。
　
　‘Captain　Ryan；　I　wish　to　take　Nick；　and　I　will　need　two　other　horses；　also。’
　
　Chandalen　lurched　forward。　‘Now；　why　do　you　need　horses！’
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘Chandalen；　I　have　an　arrow　wound　in　my　leg。　I　can　hardly　stand；　much　less　walk。　I　need　to　ride；　if　I’m　to　get　to　Aydindril。　I　hope　you　do　not　think　me　weak　because　of　it。’
　
　His　brow　knotted　up。　‘Well；　no。　Of　course　you　cannot　be　expected　to　walk。’　His　eyes　turned　angry　again。　‘But　why　do　you　want　two　other　horses？’
　
　‘If　I　ride；　you　must；　too。’
　
　‘Chandalen　does　not　need　to　ride！　I　am　strong！’
　
　She　leaned　close　and　spoke　in　his　tongue。　‘Chandalen；　I　know　the　Mud　People　do　not　ride　horses。　I　would　not　expect　you　would　know　how。　I　will　teach　you。　You　will　do　fine。　When　you　return　to　your　people；　you　will　have　a　new　skill　that　none　of　them　have。　They　will　be　impressed。　The　women　will　see　that　you　are　brave。’
　
　He　grunted　suspiciously　as　he　scowled。　Then　why　do　we　need　the　third　horse？’
　
　‘We’re　taking　Orsk。’
　
　‘What！’
　
　Kahlan　shrugged。　‘You　can’t　draw　a　bow　until　your　arm　recovers。　How　will　you　protect　me？　Orsk　can　wield　an　axe　with　his　one　good　arm；　and　you　can　throw　a　spear　with　yours。’
　
　He　rolled　his　eyes。　‘I　am　not　going　to　be　able　to　talk　you　out　of　this；　am　I？’
　
　‘No；’　she　said　with　a　small　smile。　‘Now；　we　better　get　our　things　and　be　on　our　way。’
　
　Kahlan　surveyed　the　men　one　last　time。　Her　men。　She　gave　them　a　salute　of　her　fist　to　her　heart。　They　all　silently　returned　the　salute。　She　had　lost　much　with　these　men。　She　had　gained　much。　Take　care。　Each　and　every　one　of　you。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　48
　
　‘So；　when　are　we　going　to　meet　your　people；　the　ones　who　will　guide　Sister　Verna　and　me　to　the　palace？’
　
　Du　Chaillu　glanced　back　over　her　shoulder；　pulling　her　mass　of　black　hair　out　of　the　way　to　peer　at　him。　She　was　leading　her　horse。　Richard　had　grown　tired　of　her