tg.stone of tears-第130章

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　As　they　rode　on；　she　could　feel　his　warm　blood　running　down　the　back　of　her　leg；　dripping　from　her　toes　in　the　stirrup。　She　could　hear　the　shouts　of　the　enemy　chasing　behind。
　
　He　was　losing　a　lot　of　blood。　In　exhaustion；　he　laid　his　head　against　the　back　of　her　shoulder。　If　they　didn't　tie　his　wound　closed；　he　would　bleed　to　death　in　short　order。　She　was　naked；　and　had　nothing　to　use　as　a　bandage；　even　if　they　had　the　time　to　stop。
　
　'Hold　the　wound　closed　with　a　hand；'　she　said。　'Clamp　it　closed　as　tight　as　you　can。　And　hold　fast　to　me　with　your　other　arm。　I　don't　want　you　falling　off。'
　
　He　took　one　arm　from　her　waist　and　held　the　gash　closed　as　she　rode　right　on　the　heels　of　the　men　at　the　end　of　the　line。　They　were　cold　and　fatigued。　The　men　of　the　Order　were　not　far　behind。　As　she　looked　back；　they　came　into　sight。　She　was　shocked　by　the　numbers。　They　hooted　and　hollered。
　
　'Run！　Run　or　we　will　be　caught！'
　
　A　wall　of　rock；　with　scraggly　trees　growing　from　cracks　and　clefts；　loomed　up　before　them。　The　men　ran　up　the　narrow　pass　as　if　their　lives　depended　on　it。　And　they　did。
　
　As　they　began　the　climb　up　the　rift；　she　rang　the　flat　of　her　sword　three　times　on　the　rock；　giving　the　signal。
　
　A　man　ahead　turned　as　he　ran。　'We're　not　there　yet！　It's　too　soon！　We'll　be　caught　along　with　the　enemy！'
　
　'Then　you　better　run　faster！　If　we　wait　too　long；　they　will　get　through；　too！'
　
　She　rapped　the　rock　wall　three　more　times；　the　ringing　sound　carrying　into　the　dark；　damp　air。　She　hoped　it　would　work；　there；　of　course；　had　been　no　way　to　perform　a　test。　The　men　ahead　scrambled　up　the　trail。　Nick's　hooves　slipped　in　places　on　the　snow…covered　rock。
　
　At　first；　she　could　only　feel　it；　a　rumbling　deep　in　her　chest；　too　low　to　hear；　but　too　powerful　not　to　be　felt。　She　looked　up　along　the　mist…slicked　rock　that　disappeared　above　into　the　dark　and　fog。　She　couldn't　see　it　yet；　but　she　could　feel　it。
　
　She　hoped　the　man　was　wrong；　that　it　wouldn't　be　too　soon。　When　she　heard　the　battle　cries　of　the　men　ing　from　behind；　she　knew　they　had　no　choice。
　
　And　then　she　could　hear　it：　a　booming　roar；　as　if　the　ground　itself　were　moving。　She　could　hear　tree　trunks　snapping。　The　thundering　growl　reverberated　off　the　surrounding　mountain　walls。　The　ground　vibrated。
　
　'Run！　Can't　you　run　any　faster？　Do　you　want　to　be　buried　alive？　Run！'
　
　She　knew　they　were　going　as　fast　as　they　could；　but　they　were　on　foot；　and　from　atop　her　horse；　it　seemed　painfully　slow。　Deadly　slow。
　
　Overhead；　the　rumbling　roar　grew　louder　as　uncountable　tons　of　snow　crashed　down　toward　them。　She　was　thrilled　that　the　men　on　top　had　been　successful　in　starting　an　avalanche　on　mand；　but　she　was　also　terrified　that　she　had　given　the　mand　too　soon。
　
　A　lump　of　wet　snow　slapped　her　face；　another　smacked　her　shoulder。　Little　clods　rattled　through　the　trees　above　them　and　bounced　out　over　the　edge。　A　cloud　of　fluffy　snow　misted　her　face。　The　roar　was　deafening。
　
　A　flow　of　thundering　white　sluiced　over　the　ledge　above。　They　drove　through　it；　like　running　through　a　waterfall。　Behind　her；　a　tree　trunk　bounced　on　the　trail；　spinning　out　over　the　precipice。　They　just　cleared　the　leading　edge　of　the　bulk　of　snow。
　
　The　men　of　the　Imperial　Order　behind　were　not　so　lucky。　The　plunging　snow；　charged　with　timber　and　boulders；　cascaded　down　with　ever…gathering　power。　They　were　swept　away　in　the　tumbling　white　death。　The　fury　of　sound　muffled　the　screams　of　men　it　carried　away；　rolling　them　into　the　pounding　slide；　burying　them　alive。
　
　Kahlan　sagged　with　relief。　They　could　not　be　followed　now。　The　pass　was　entombed。
　
　The　panting　men　slowed；　but　they　couldn't　slow　too　much；　or　they　would　freeze。　Their　pace　kept　them　warm。　Their　feet；　she　knew；　despite　being　wrapped　in　white　cloth　for　a　little　protection；　were　not　warm。　They　had　given　her　their　best　effort。　They　had　given　the　Midlands　their　best　effort。　Many　had　given　their　lives。
　
　Kahlan　was　so　exhausted　from　lack　of　sleep；　as　well　as　the　fatigue　of　battle；　along　with　the　emotional　drain　of　fright；　and　the　effort　required　to　use　her　power；　that　she　could　hardly　stay　upright。　Soon；　she　told　herself；　she　could　rest。　Soon。
　
　She　patted　the　hand　on　her　stomach。　'We　made　it；　soldier。　We're　safe；　now。'
　
　'Yes；　Mother　Confessor；'　he　whispered　groggily。　'Mother　Confessor；　I'm　sorry。'
　
　'For　what？'
　
　'I　only　killed　seventeen。　I'm　sorry。　I　promised　myself　I'd　get　twenty。　I　only　got　seventeen；'　he　mumbled。
　
　'I　know　heroes　of　battle；　decorated　men；　who　have　not　bested　half　that　number　in　bat。　You　have　made　me　proud。　You　have　made　the　Midlands　proud。　Feel　only　pride；　soldier。'
　
　He　mumbled　something　she　couldn't　understand。
　
　She　patted　his　hand　again。　'You'll　be　to　help　soon。　Hold　on。　You'll　be　fine。'
　
　He　didn't　answer。　She　looked　behind；　down　the　trail；　and　saw　only　white；　and　heard　only　silence。　In　the　distant；　dark　mountains；　a　wolf　yipped。
　
　
　A　short　time　later；　on　a　high　plateau；　they　reached　the　camp。　The　men　ahead　in　the　line　were　already　wrapped　in　blankets　as　they　shivered　around　fires；　warming　their　feet。　Some　were　pulling　on　their　clothes　under　the　blankets。　More　men　threw　blankets　around　the　men　ing　in　ahead　of　her　and　tended　the　wounded。　Some　of　the　wounded　were　groaning　in　pain；　feeling　it　for　the　first　time；　now　that　the　heady　furor　of　bat　and　escape　had　evaporated。　She　began　to　feel　a　throbbing　in　her　lip。
　
　In　the　flickering　light　of　small　fires；　she　could　see　Prindin　and　Tossidin；　some　distance　away；　running　around　searching　the　new　arrivals。　When　they　saw　her　on　the　horse；　they　both　sighed　with　relief；　giving　her　twin　smiles。
　
　Captain　Ryan；　dressed　in　a　D'Haran　uniform　and　with　a　bandage　around　his　left　hand；　ran　over。　Other　men　took　the　reins；　and　yet　others　extended　their　hands　to　take　the　man　behind　her　as　she　held　him　by　an　elbow；　lowering　the　limp　form　down。
　
　Prindin　ran　to　meet　her；　her　mantle　in　hand。　He　stood；　holding　it　open　for　her；　waiting　for　her　to　dismount　so　he　could　put　it　around　her　shoulders。　He　grinned　at　her。
　
　Without　moving　from　the　saddle；　she　slowly　extended　her　hand。　'I　have　had　enough　eyes　on　my　flesh　to　last　me　the　rest　of　my　life。　Throw　it　up　here！'
　
　Prindin　shrugged　self…consciously　and　tossed　the　mantle　up　to　her。　Tossidin　swatted　the　back　of　his　brother's　head。　Silence　fell　over　the　gathered　men。　They　all　looked　away　in　embarrassment　as　she　put　the　mantle　around　her　shoulders　and　tied　it。
　
　She　slid　down；　finding　her　legs　barely　up　to　the　task　of　holding　her。　She　used　the　sword　still　in　her　hand　as　a　cane。　She　had　to　pause　a　moment　until　everything　stopped　spinning。　She　glanced　to　the　man　lying　in　the　snow　at　her　feet。
　
　'Why　isn't　someone　helping　this　man？　Don't　just　stand　there；　help　him！'　No　one　moved。　'I　said　help　him！'
　
　Captain　Ryan　stepped　closer　to　her。　He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　ground。　'I'm　sorry；　Mother　Confessor。　He's　dead。'
　
　Her　hand　tightened　into　a　fist。　'He's　not　dead！　I　was　just　talking　to　him！'　No　one　moved。　She　beat　her　free　fist　against　his　chest。　'He's　not　dead！　He's　not！'
　
　Everyone　looked　away。　No　one　said　anything。　She　finally　glanced　at　the　men　around　the　small　fires；　at　all　the　hanging　heads。　Her　hand　fell　to　her　side。
　
　'He　killed　seventeen　of　them；'　she　said　to　Captain　Ryan。　'He　killed　seventeen　of　them；'　she　said　louder；　to　the　rest　of　them。
　
　Captain　Ryan　nodded。　'He　did　well。　We　are　all　proud　of　him。'
　
　She　watched　the　faces　as　they　all　finally　came　up。　'Forgive　me。　All　of　you；　please　forgive　me。　You　have　all　done　a　good　job。'　The　fury　had　gone　out　of　her。　'You　have　all　made　me　proud。　You　are　heroes；　in　my　eyes；　and　in　the　eyes　of　the　Midlands。'
　
　The　men　brightened　a　bit。　Some　went　back　to　eating；　while　others　started　passing　around　tin　bowls　and　spooned　beans　from　pots　on　the　fires。　Some　tore　off　chunks　of　flat　camp　bread　to　dunk　in　the　beans。
　
　'Where's　Chandalen？'　she　asked　as　she　pushed　her　feet　into　the　boots　Tossidin　handed　her。
　
　'He　went　with　the　archers。　I　imagine　that　he's　probably　shooting　arrows　into　D'Harans　right　now。'　Captain　Ryan　leaned　toward　her；　as　the　brothers　moved　away；　and　lowered　his　voice。　'I'm　glad　these　three　are　on　our　side。　You　should　have　seen　them　taking　out　the　sentries。　Prindin；　especially；　is　like　death　itself；　with　that　troga　of　his。　It　was　eerie；　the　way　they　were　first　here；　and　then　over　there；　and　you　never　even　saw　them　move。　I　never　heard　a　thing。　They　just　appeared　with　the　sentries'　uniforms。'
　
　'You　should　see　them　do　that　out　in　the　open。grassland；　in　broad　daylight。'　Kahlan　looked　him　up　and　down。　She　managed　a　small　smile。　'Quite　handsome。　You　wear　it　well。'
　
　He　pulled　at　his　shoulder。　'I　don't　know　how　they　wear　this　heavy　mail　all　the　time。'　He　fingered　a　slash　in　the　leather。　'But　I　was　glad　to　have　it　on。'
　
　'How　did　everything　go？　How　many　men　did　you　lose？'
　
　'We　got　nearly　everything　we　went　after。　In　these　uniforms；　we　didn't　have　to　do　much　fighting。　Hardly　anyone　noticed　us；　except　the　ones　we　killed。　We　only　lost　a　few　men。'　He　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder。　'Looks　like　you　caught　the　worst　of　it。　I　took　a　rough　count　as　you　came　in。　We　lost　close　to　four　hundred　of　the　thousand　swordsmen　who　went　in。'
　
　She　stared　past　him；　at　the　men　around　the　fires。　'We　came　close　to　losing　them　all。'　She　brought　her　attention　back　to　the　captain。　'But　they　did　themselves　proud。　The　drivers；　too。'
　
　He　cradled　his　bandaged　hand。　'From　the　ones　I　talked　to；　I　don't　think　many　took　less　than　ten　of　the　enemy；　and　many　took　a　lot　more。　We　took　quite　a　chunk　out　of　the　Order's　hide。'
　
　Kahlan　swallowed。　'They　took　quite　a　chunk　out　of　ours。'
　
　'Did　the　men　do　like　I　told　them？'　he　asked。　'Did　they　keep　trouble　away　from　you？'
　
　'They　kept　the　enemy　so　far　from　me　I　couldn't　tell　you　what　they　looked　like。　I'm　afraid　I　wasn't　able　to　add　much　honor　to　your　sword；　though　it　was　a　fort　to　have　along。　I　pray　you　will　at　least　be　honored　that　I　carried　it　in　battle。'
　
　He　frowned；　leaning　to　the　side；　trying　to　get　a　better　look　at　her　face　in　the　firelight。　'Your　lip　looks　cut。'　He　glanced　at　her　warhorse　as　the　men　were　taking　the　tack　off。　That　horse　is　covered　in　blood。　You're　covered　in　blood；　too；　aren't　you？'　It　was　an　accusation；　not　a　question。
　
　Kahlan　stared　off　at　a　fire。　'Some　drunk　threw　something　at　me。　It　cut　my　lip。　That　wounded　soldier　I　was　bringing　in　bled　to　death　on　my　horse；　and　on　me。'　Her　eyes　drifted　among　the　young　faces　around　fires。　'I　wish　I　could　have　done　half　as　well　they。　They　were　magnificent。'
　
　He　grunted　suspiciously。　'I'm　just　relieved　to　see　you。'
　
　'Is　everything　else　in　order？　The　archers；　the　cavalry？　We　must　make　the　best　use　of　our　opportunity　while　they're　drunk　and　sick　with　the　poison。　We　must　make　the　most　of　this　weather；　too。　We　can't　let　up　for　a　moment。　One　lightning　strike　after　another。　No　engagement。　Glancing　attacks；　always　from　a　different　place。'
　
　'They　all　know　their　jobs；　and　are　waiting　their　turn。　The　archers　should　be　finished　soon；　then　the　cavalry；　then　the　pikemen。　We're　ready　fo