tg.stone of tears-第115章

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　‘You　are　a　stubborn　woman。　You　are　so　stubborn　you　will　get　killed　if　we　three　are　not　there　to　bring　some　reason　to　your　head。　We　go　with　you　to　kill　these　evil　men。’
　
　Kahlan　sighed　with　relief。　‘Thank　you；　Chandalen。’　She　bent　and　took　up　a　handful　of　snow；　using　it　to　scrub　the　dried　blood　from　her　face。　‘Now　I　must　go　and　tell　these　boys　what　they　must　do。’　She　shook　the　snow　from　her　hands　when　she　had　finished　with　her　face。　‘Did　you　three　get　any　sleep　last　night？’
　
　‘Some；’　Chandalen　said。
　
　‘Good。　After　I　speak　with　them；　I　need　to　get　a　few　hours’　sleep。　You　can　begin　showing　them　how　to　travel　without　their　wagons。　We　must　teach　them　to　be　strong；　like　you。　We　will　begin　the　killing　tonight？’
　
　Chandalen　gave　a　grim　nod。　‘Tonight。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　40
　
　Kahlan　climbed　atop　a　wagon　before　the　assembled　men。　They　stood　in　brown　wool　coats；　packed　tightly　together　before　her　in　the　gray　morning　light。　Captain　Ryan；　with　his　two　lieutenants　flanking　him；　stood　at　the　front　of　the　men。　He　leaned　an　arm　on　the　wagon　wheel；　waiting。
　
　Kahlan　looked　out　at　all　the　young　faces。　Boys。　She　was　about　to　ask　boys　to　die。　But　what　choice　did　she　have？
　
　Dear　mother；　she　wondered；　is　this　the　reason　you　chose　Wyborn　as　my　father？　To　teach　me　what　I　am　about　to　do？
　
　‘I’m　afraid　I　have　only　one　bit　of　good　news　for　you；’　she　began　in　a　quiet　voice　that　carried　through　the　cold　air；　out　over　the　faces　all　watching　her；　‘and　so　I　will　give　you　that　first；　to　give　you　courage　for　the　other　things　I　have　to　tell　you。’
　
　Kahlan　took　a　deep　breath。　‘Your　queen　was　not　killed　in　Ebinissia；　nor　did　the　men　who　attacked　the　city　find　or　capture　her。　Either　she　was　away　when　the　attack　came；　or　she　escaped。
　
　‘Queen　Cyrilla　lives。’
　
　The　boys　seemed　to　take　a　deep　breath；　as　if　hoping　she　wouldn’t　add　anything　more；　and　then　they　erupted　in　wild　cheering。　They　threw　their　arms　in　the　air；　shaking　their　fists　at　the　sky。　They　yelled　and　hooted　with　joy　and　relief。
　
　Kahlan　stood　in　her　blood…soaked　wolf　mantle；　her　hands　at　her　sides；　letting　them　have　their　time　of　celebration　and　hope。　Some　of　the　boys；　forgetting　for　the　moment　that　they　were　soldiers；　hugged　each　other。　She　watched　tears　of　happiness　run　down　many　a　cheek　as　men　leapt　and　shouted。
　
　Kahlan　stood　feeling　small　and　insignificant　as　the　mob　of　boys　poured　out　their　adoration　for　her　half　sister。　She　couldn’t　bring　herself　to　halt　their　rejoicing。
　
　At　last　Captain　Ryan　climbed　up　onto　the　wagon　next　to　her。　He　held　his　arms　up；　calling　for　silence。
　
　‘All　right！　All　right！　Hold　it　down！　Stop　acting　like　a　bunch　of　children　in　front　of　the　Mother　Confessor！　Show　her　what　men　you　be！’
　
　The　cheering　finally　died　out；　to　be　replaced　by　grins　and　bright　eyes。　Captain　Ryan　clasped　his　hands　together　and　cast　her　a　somewhat　sheepish　look　before　taking　a　couple　of　steps　away　atop　the　wagon；　to　give　her　room。
　
　The　people　of　Ebinissia；’　she　went　on；　in　the　same　quiet　tone；　‘were　not　so　fortunate。’
　
　The　winter　silence　became　brittle。　Light　breezes　rustled　icy　branches　on　the　trees　ascending　the　slopes　to　either　side　of　the　flat　valley　pass　holding　their　camp。　The　grins　withered。
　
　‘Every　one　of　you；　at　the　least；　had　friends　who　were　murdered　there。　Many　of　you　had　loved　ones；　family；　who　died　at　the　hands　of　the　men　a　few　hours　up　this　pass。’　Kahlan　cleared　her　throat　and　swallowed　as　her　eyes　found　the　ground。　‘I；　too；　knew　people　who　died　there。’
　
　Her　eyes　came　up。　‘Last　night；　I　went　to　their　camp；　to　discover　who　they　were；　and　if　they　could　be　called　upon　to　return　to　their　homelands。　They　have　no　intention　of　doing　anything　but　conquering　all　the　lands　and　putting　them　under　their　rule。　They　have　vowed　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。　‘Th