tg.stone of tears-第114章

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d　to　kill　everyone　who　refuses　to　join　them。　Ebinissia　refused。'
　
　The　boys　shouted　and　shook　their　fists。　They；　themselves；　they　said；　would　bring　an　end　to　the　threat。
　
　She　spoke　over　their　words；　bringing　them　to　silence　as　she　did　so。　'The　men　who　slaughtered　your　countrymen　and　countrywomen　are　called　the　Imperial　Order。　They　fight　on　behalf　of　no　country　or　land。　They　fight　to　conquer　all　lands；　and　to　rule　all　lands。　They　answer　to　no　government；　to　no　king；　to　no　lord；　to　no　council。　They　believe　themselves　to　be　the　fountain　of　law。
　
　'They　are　made　up　of　mostly　D'Haran　men；　but　others　have　joined　them。　I　saw　among　them　Keltans。'
　
　Waves　of　angry　whispers　swept　back　through　the　crowd。　Kahlan　let　it　go　on　for　a　moment。　'I　saw　also；　among　them；　men　from　other　lands。　And　I　saw　Galeans。'
　
　This　time　shocked　and　angry　voices　called　out　that　it　wasn't　true；　and　said　she　was　wrong。
　
　'I　saw　them　with　my　own　eyes！'　They　fell　once　more　to　silence。　She　quieted　her　tone。　'I　wish　that　it　were　not　true；　but　I　saw　them。　Men　of　many　lands　have　joined　with　them。　More　men　will　join　with　them　if　they　believe　they　can　be　part　of　the　victory；　part　of　the　new　law；　if　they　believe　they　can　be　in　on　the　plunder　and　awarded　positions　of　authority　and　power。
　
　'The　city　of　Cellion　lies　hardly　more　than　a　hand　of　days　ahead。　The　Imperial　Order　will　have　their　surrender　and　allegiance；　or　their　death。
　
　'Other　cities；　towns；　villages；　and　farms　will　suffer　these　men　if　they　are　not　stopped。　Eventually；　all　will　e　under　their　sword。　I　am　going　to　Aydindril　to　marshal　the　forces　of　the　Midlands　against　the　Imperial　Order；　but　that　will　take　time。　In　that　time；　their　numbers　will　swell　with　those　who　would　think　to　be　on　the　side　of　might。　Right　now；　there　is　no　one　able　to　stop　these　men　from　killing　everyone　in　their　path　who　resists　them。
　
　'Except　you。'
　
　Kahlan　stiffened　her　back　as　she　let　what　she　had　said　sink　in；　and　in　preparation　for　what　she　was　going　to　tell　them　next。　She　let　the　silence　settle　once　more　over　the　valley。
　
　'As　the　Mother　Confessor　of　the　Midlands；　and　absent　the　luxury　of　conferring　with　the　Central　Council；　I　have　had　to　do　that　which　no　Mother　Confessor　for　a　thousand　years　or　more　has　had　to　do。　On　my　authority；　alone；　I　have　mitted　the　Midlands　to　war。　The　army　of　the　Imperial　Order　is　to　be　killed　to　a　man。　No　negotiation　or　promise　will　be　offered　by　the　Midlands。　Under　no　circumstances　will　the　Order's　surrender　be　accepted。
　
　'I　have　given　an　oath　on　behalf　of　the　Midlands　that　no　quarter　shall　be　granted。'
　
　Astonished　faces　stared　at　her。
　
　'Whether　I　live　or　die；　this　decree　is　irrevocable。　Any　land　or　people　who　willingly　join　with　the　Imperial　Order　cast　their　lot　under　the　shadow　of　this　edict。
　
　'It　is　not　in　the　name　of　Galea　that　I　call　upon　you　to　fight。　In　the　office　of　the　Mother　Confessor；　I　call　upon　you　to　fight　for　the　Midlands。　For　it　is　not　Galea　that　is　under　threat；　but　all　lands；　and　all　free　people。'
　
　There　was　confident　grumbling　that　they　were　up　to　the　task。　Some　in　the　ranks　called　out　their　assurance　that　they　were　the　men　to　do　it；　that　they　were　in　the　right；　and　would　triumph。
　
　Kahlan　nodded　to　them　all。　'You　think　so？　I　want　each　of　you　to　look　to　the　faces　around　you。'　They　mostly　stared　at　her。　'Do　as　I　say！　Look　to　all　the　faces　around　you！　Look　to　your　rades！'
　
　A　little　confused；　they　began　looking　around；　twisting　to　see　those　to　the　sides　and　those　behind；　smiling　and　laughing　among　themselves；　as　if　it　were　a　game。
　
　When　they　seemed　to　have　finished　with　the　task；　she　went　on。　A　few　of　you　will　remember　the　faces　you　have　looked　upon　today。　Remember；　and　grieve。　The　rest；　if　you　take　up　this　battle；　will　not　be　around　to　remember。　They　will　die　in　the　struggle。'
　
　In　the　cold　silence；　Kahlan　heard　the　distant　chatter　of　a　squirrel；　and　then　the　sound　of　that；　too；　died　away。
　
　The　smiles　were　all　gone　as　she　finally　spoke　again。　'These　men；　the　Imperial　Order；　are　led　by　and　are　mostly　D'Haran　troops。　D'Haran　soldiers　are　trained　from　the　time　they　are　half　your　age。　They　fight　internal　conflicts　in　their　land；　put　down　riots　and　rebellions；　they　do　not　simply　practice　battle　tactics；　they　live　them　day　in　and　day　out。　They　know　only　a　life　of　fighting。　They　have　been　exposed　to　it　in　every　form。　I　have　taken　the　confessions　of　many　D'Harans。　Most　do　not　know　the　meaning　of　peace。
　
　'Since　spring；　when　Darken　Rahl　sent　them　against　the　Midlands；　they　have　been　at　what　they　do　best：　war。　They　have　fought　in　battle　after　battle。　All　who　have　e　before　them　have　fallen。
　
　'They　relish　fighting。　They　delight　in　it。　They　are　as　close　to　fearless　as　men　e。　They　hold　contests；　often　lethal；　to　win　the　right　to　be　in　the　van　of　battle；　to　win　the　right　to　be　the　first　to　strike　a　blow　at　the　enemy；　to　win　the　right　to　be　the　first　to　fall。'
　
　She　surveyed　the　young　faces。　'You　have　confidence　in　your　training；　your　battle　tactics？'　The　faces　nodded；　looking　to　one　another；　smiling　their　knowing　confidence。
　
　Kahlan　pointed　to　one；　a　sergeant　by　the　look　of　his　coat's　braids。　'Tell　me　then。　You　are　now　in　the　field　of　battle；　having　chased　down　these　men；　and　here　es　the　enemy；　back　at　you。　You　are　in　charge　of　the　pikes　and　archers。　Here　they　e。　Thousands　of　them；　yelling；　running；　ing　to　rend　your　force　in　two；　to　break　your　army's　back。　You　see　they　have　heavy　spears；　called　by　them　argons；　with　long；　thin　barbs。　If　they　pierce　you；　they　are　nearly　impossible　to　remove。　They　cause　ghastly　wounds　that　are　almost　always　fatal。　Here　they　e；　with　their　argons。　Thousands　of　men。　What　is　your　tactic？'
　
　The　young　man　held　his　chin　out；　knowingly。　'Form　a　tight　rank　of　the　pikes　formed　into　a　box　or　wedge　to　protect　the　archers。　The　pikemen　face　the　pikes　out　and　overlapping　the　shields；　present　the　enemy　with　a　tight；　impenetrable　wall。　The　shields　protect　the　pikemen；　who　protect　the　archers。　The　archers　take　them　down　before　they　can　get　close　enough　to　use　their　argons。　The　few　who　do　fall　on　the　pikes。　Their　drive　is　repelled　and；　in　all　likelihood；　they　have　lost　a　good　many　men　in　the　failed　attempt；　making　another　less　likely。'
　
　Kahlan　nodded；　as　if　impressed。　'Well　stated。'　He　beamed。　The　men　around　him　grinned　with　pride　in　their　knowledge　of　their　business。　'I　have　seen　some　of　the　most　experienced　armies　of　the　Midlands　use　those　very　same　tactics　when　the　D'Harans　first　came　over；　last　spring；　when　the　boundary　went　down。'
　
　'Well；　there　you　have　it；'　the　man　said。　'They　lose　their　charge　against　the　archers　and　on　the　point　of　our　pikes。'
　
　She　gave　him　a　small　smile。　The　D'Haran　van；　those　men　I　told　you　about；　the　biggest；　the　fiercest；　the　ones　who　won　the　right　to　be　the　first　at　you？　Well；　they've　developed　special　tactics　of　their　own；　for　use　against　your　plans。　First　of　all；　they　have　arrow　shields；　so　as　they　run　in；　they're　protected　from　the　brunt　of　the　archers'　work。
　
　'And　I　guess　I　forgot　to　tell　you　one　other　thing　about　those　argons　of　theirs。　These　spears　have　iron…sheathed　shafts　for　most　of　their　length；　and　a　unique　purpose。　As　the　enemy　is　charging　in；　mostly　unaffected　by　your　archers；　they　heave　their　argons　at　you。'
　
　'We　have　shields；'　the　man　pointed　out。　'Their　argons　expended；　they　will　be　on　the　point　of　our　pikes。'
　
　She　folded　her　arms；　nodding　to　him。　'The　van；　the　men　who　won　the　right　to　be　the　first　wave；　are　big　men。　I　doubt　the　smallest　has　arms　less　than　twice　the　average　of　yours。
　
　The　argons　are　needle　sharp。　Thrown　by　those　powerful　arms；　they　penetrate　and　stick　in　your　shields。　The　long　barbs　prevent　them　from　being　withdrawn。'
　
　The　confident　smiles　were　fading　as　she　looked　from　face　to　face　as　she　went　on。　'You　now　have　argons　stuck　solidly　in　your　shields。　You　drop　your　pikes；　drawing　swords　to　hack　the　heavy　spears　away。　But　the　shafts　are　covered　in　iron；　and　don't　yield。　The　spears　are　heavy；　and　the　butts　drag　the　ground。　D'Harans　can　run　almost　as　fast　as　their　spears　fly。　As　they　reach　you　now；　they　jump　on　the　shafts　of　the　spears　stuck　in　your　shields；　dragging　them　to　the　ground；　leaving　you　on　your　knees；　and　naked　to　their　heavy　axes。'
　
　Arms　still　folded；　she　leaned　toward　them。　'I　have　seen　men　split　from　scalp　to　navel　by　those　axes。'
　
　Men　glanced　sideways　at　one　another；　their　confidence　shaken。
　
　She　nodded　mockingly　as　she　unfolded　her　arms。　'I　am　not　giving　you　conjecture。　I've　seen　a　D'Haran　force　take　down　an　experienced　army　nearly　ten　times　their　size　in　just　this　fashion。　In　the　space　of　an　hour；　the　battle　turned　from　a　rout　of　the　D'Harans　to　a　rout　of　their　foes。
　
　'A　D'Haran　charge　of　the　argon　is　almost　as　devastating　as　a　classic　cavalry　charge；　except　they　have　far　greater　numbers　than　any　cavalry。　And　their　own　cavalry　is　anything　but　typical。　You　don't　even　want　to　know　about　them。
　
　'They　lost　half　their　number　in　the　slaughter　of　Ebinissia；　and　they　are　in　camp；　now；　singing　and　drinking。　Would　you；　if　you　lost　every　other　one　of　you；　be　of　good　cheer？　'I　know　you　believe　you　can　win　a　battle　against　a　force　ten　times　your　size；　and　I　know　also　that　such　a　thing　can　be　done。　But　it　is　those　experienced　D'Haran　troops　who；　on　a　battlefield；　fighting　by　the　tactics　of　mon　war；　could　bring　about　such　a　feat。
　
　'Please　believe　me；　I　mean　no　disrespect　to　your　bravery；　but　in　the　field　of　war；　you　are　not　their　equal。　Not　yet。　You　could　not　defeat　an　army　half　their　size　were　the　battle　fought　the　way　your　enemy　would　fight。
　
　'That　does　not　mean　you　cannot　win。　It　means　only　that　you　must　do　it　in　another　way。　I　believe　you　can　win；　and　I'm　going　to　tell　you　what　you　must　do；　and　lead　you　in　the　first　strike；　to　start　you　in　this。　The　Imperial　Order　is　not　invincible。　They　can　be　defeated。
　
　'From　this　day　forward；　I　shall　never　again　call　you　'boys。'　From　this　day　forward；　you　are　men。
　
　'You　think　of　yourselves　as　soldiers　of　your　homeland；　Galea。　But　you　are　not。　In　this；　you　are　not。　You　are　soldiers；　men；　of　the　Midlands。　For　it　is　not　just　Galea　who　will　be　conquered；　but　all　of　the　Midlands；　if　these　men　are　not　stopped。　I　call　upon　you　to　stop　them。'
　
　The　tightly　packed　crowd　of　soldiers；　tempered　by　what　they　had　heard；　shouted　that　they　would　do　the　job。　She　watched　from　under　her　eyebrows　as　they　confidently　pledged　to　fight　to　the　end。　There　were　angry　whispers　from　some　in　the　crowd；　to　her　right。　Men　were　jostling　each　other　and　arguing。　Some　men　wanted　to　speak；　and　others　were　seeking　to　prevent　it。
　
　'If　you　should　choose　to　join　in　this　battle；　you　will　follow　orders　without　question；'　she　said。　'But　for　this　time　only；　you　may　speak　your　mind　freely；　without　retribution。　If　you　have　something　to　say；　then　let　all　hear　it　now；　or　else　hold　it　to　your　grave。'
　
　One　man　pulled　his　arm　free　of　another。　He　glowered　up　at　her。　'We're　men。　We　don't　follow　women　into　battle。'
　
　Kahlan　blinked　at　him。　'You　follow　Queen　Cyrilla。'
　
　'She　is　our　queen；　we　fight　on　her　behalf。　She　doesn't　lead　us　in　battle。　That's　left　to　men　to　do。'
　
　Kahlan　narrowed　her　eyes