tg.stone of tears-第116章

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　‘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sharp。　Thrown　by　those　powerful　arms；　they　penetrate　and　stick　in　your　shields。　The　long　barbs　prevent　them　from　being　withdrawn。’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。　‘What　is　your　name？’
　
　He　glanced　around　at　his　fellows；　and　then　held　his　chin　up。　‘I’m　William　Mosle。　And　we’ve　been　trained　by　Prince　Harold　himself。’
　
　‘And　I；’　Kahlan　said；　‘was　trained　by　his　father；　King　Wyborn。　King　Wyborn　was　my　father；　too。　I　am　half　sister　to　Queen　Cyrilla　and　Prince　Harold。’
　
　There　were　astonished　murmurs　throughout　the　crowd。　Without　taking　her　eyes　from　Mosle；　she　lifted　a　hand　to　silence　them。　‘But　that　does　not　count　for　mand。　You　are　soldiers。　Your　duty　is　to　follow　the　orders　of　your　manders；　and　they　the　queen；　and　she　must　follow　mands　of　the　Central　Council　of　the　Midlands。　The　council　of　the　Midlands　follows　the　orders　of　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　‘For　now；　I　fill　that　office。　My　family　name　is；　like　your　queen’s；　Amnell；　but　I’m　of　Confessor　blood；　first；　and　last。　I　am　the　Mother　Confessor　of　the　Midlands；　and　as　such；　if　I　say　you’re　to　march　into　a　lake；　then　it’s　your　duty　to　march　until　you’re　breathing　water　and　seeing　fishes。　Does　that　make　it　clear　enough　for　you；　soldier？’
　
　A　few　other　men　were　shoving　at　Mosle；　urging　him　to　go　on　with　their　grievances。　‘It　means　you　can　order　us；　it　doesn’t　mean　you　know　what　you’re　doing。’
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　sigh　and　pulled　some　blood…stiffened　hair　back；　hooking　it　behind　an　ear。　‘I　don’t　have　the　time；　today；　to　tell　you　of　all　the　training　I’ve　had；　or　of　all　the　fighting　against　impossible　odds　I’ve　been　through；　or　the　men　I’ve　had　to　kill　in　that　fighting。
　
　‘I　would　tell　you　only　that　last　night；　I　went　alone　to　the　camp　of　the　Imperial　Order　to　save　your　life。　The　men　of　the　Order；　D’Harans；　fear　the　things　of　the　night；　spirits；　and　for　protection　from　that　and　to　assist　them；　they　had　a　wizard　in　their　pany。　Had　you；　in　your　confidence　of　battle　knowledge；　tried　to　attack　those　men；　that　wizard　would　have　known　what　you　were　doing；　and　probably　used　magic　to　kill　you　all。’
　
　Mosle’s　defiant　expression　didn’t　diminish；　but　some　of　the　others　broke　into　worried　whispers。　Fighting　against　steel　was　one　thing；　fighting　against　magic　quite　another。
　
　Captain　Ryan　stepped　forward。　‘The　Mother　Confessor　killed　the　wizard；’　he　said　with　pride。　There　were　relieved　sighs　among　the　men。　‘If　it　hadn’t　been　for　her　experience；　we　would　have　marched　to　our　deaths　without　even　having　the　chance　to　lay　steel　to　steel。　I；　for　one；　intend　to　follow　those　I’ve　sworn　my　life　to　serve：　my　land；　my　queen；　the　Midlands；　and　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　‘We’re　going　to　stop　this　threat　against　the　Midlands；　and　we’re　going　to　do　it　by　following　those　we　are　sworn　to　follow。　We　go　into　battle　under　the　mand　of　the　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘I’m　a　soldier　in　the　Galean　army！’　Mosle　seemed　only　to　get　more　defiant。　‘Not　a　soldier　in　any　Midlands　army！　I　fight　for　Galea；　not　to　protect　lands　like　Kelton！’　Kahlan　watched　as　other　men　shouted　their　agreement。　‘This　army；　the　Imperial　Order；　or　whatever　they　call　themselves；　is　marching　toward　the　border。　Cellion　is　a　border　city；　and　most　of　it’s　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　in　Kelton！　Most　of　its　citizens　are　Keltish！　Why　should　we　die　for　the　Keltans？’
　
　Men　in　the　crowd　were　starting　to　argue　with　one　another。　Captain　Ryan’s　face　was　red。　‘Mosle；　you’re　a　disgrace　to　。。。！’
　
　Kahlan　held　a　hand　out　to　silence　him。　‘No；　soldier　Mosle　is　only　speaking　as　he　believes；　as　I　asked　him　to。　You　men　must　understand　me。　I’m　not　ordering　you　to　do　this。　I’m　asking　you　to　fight　for　the　lives　of　innocent　people　of　the　Midlands。　Tens　of　thousands　of　your　fellow　soldiers　have　already　died　in　this　battle。　I　would　not　ask　you　to　lay　down　your　lives　for　something　you　do　not　believe　in。　Most　who　go　into　this　war　will　die。
　
　‘It’s　your　decision　to　stay　or　not。　You　are　not　manded　to　stay。　But　if　you　choose　to　stay；　it　will　be　under　my　mand。　I　want　no　man　with　us　who　does　not　believe　in　what　we　do。
　
　‘Decide　now；　if　you　will　be　with　us　or　not。　If　not；　then　you　are　free　to　go；　because　you　will　be　of　no　help　to　your　rades。’
　
　Her　voice　turned　as　cold　as　the　thin　morning　air。　‘If　you　decide　to　go　with　me　into　this　war；　then　you　will　follow　the　orders　of　your　superiors。　In　the　Midlands；　there　is　no　one　to　outrank　me。　You　will　follow　my　orders　without　question；　or　your　punishment　will　be　unsparing。　Too　much　is　at　stake　to　have　to　suffer　men　who　can’t　follow　orders。
　
　‘If　I　say　you　will　do　something；　then　you　will　do　it；　even　if　you　know　it’s　to　cost　you　your　life；　because　it’s　to　save　many　more　lives。　I　give　no　orders　without　sound　reason；　but　I　won’t　always　have　time　to　explain　them。　Your　duty　is　to　trust　in　your　superiors　and　do　as　you’re　told。’
　
　She　held　out　a　finger　and　swept　it　slowly　over　their　heads。　‘Choose；　then。　With　us；　or　not。　But　choose　this　day　for　all　time。’
　
　Kahlan　drew　her　hands　back　inside　her　warm　fur　mantle　and　waited　in　silence　while　men　discussed　and　argued　among　themselves。　Tempers　flared；　and　angry　oaths　were　given。　Men　gathered　around　Mosle；　and　others　moved　away　from　him。
　
　‘I’m　leaving；　then；’　Mosle　called　out　to　the　others。　He　thrust　his　fist　in　the　air。　‘I’ll　follow　no　woman　into　battle；　no　matter　who　she　is！　Who’s　leaving　with　me！’
　
　About　sixty　or　seventy　men　gathered　about　cheered　their　support　for　him。
　
　‘Go；　then；’　Kahlan　manded。　‘Before　you　bee　caught　up　in　a　battle　you　do　not　believe　in。’
　
　Having　made　their　choice；　Mosle　and　the　men　with　him　cast　her　glares　of　contempt。　He　swaggered　forward。　‘We’ll　leave　as　soon　as　we　can　get　our　things　together。　We’ll　not　be　rushed　out　on　your　word。’
　
　The　men　in　the　crowd　pushed　in。　Before　it　came　to　blows　Kahlan　held　her　hand　up。　‘Stop！　Let　them　be。　They’ve　made　their　choice。　Let　them　get　their　things　and　be　gone。’
　
　Mosle　turned　and　pushed　his　way　back　through　the　throng；　his　new　men　in　tow。　As　they　left　the　gathered　soldiers；　Kahlan　carefully　counted　their　numbers。　Sixty…seven。　Sixty…seven　who　would　leave。
　
　She　looked　out　at　all　the　faces。　Any　more？　Do　any　more　wish　to　leave？’　No　one　moved　a　muscle。　Then　do　all　of　you　wish　to　join　in　this　fight？’　A　united　cheer　went　up。　‘So　be　it。　I　wish　I　did　not　have　to　call　upon　you　men　to　do　this；　but　there　is　no　one　else　to　ask。　My　heart　weeps　for　those　of　you　who　will　die。　Know　that　none　of　those　who　live　will　ever　forget　the　sacrifice　you　make　for　them　and　the　people　of　the　Midlands。’
　
　From　the　corner　of　her　eye；　she　watched　the　sixty…seven　men　moving　among　the　wagons；　taking　the　supplies　they　thought　they　would　need。　And　now；　to　what　must　be　done。’
　
　Slowly；　she　shook　her　head。　‘You　men　must　understand　what　it　is　I　call　upon　you　to　do。　It　is　no　glorious　battle；　as　you　think；　where　you　move　like　pieces　on　a　game　board。　No　tactics　to　outwit　an　opponent　in　a　grand　engagement。　We　will　not　face　them　in　the　field　of　battle；　but　kill　them　in　every　other　way。’
　
　‘But　Mother　Confessor；’　someone　near　the　front　timidly　called　out；　‘it’s　the　code　of　honor　for　soldiers　to　face　one　another　in　battle；　to　best　him　in　a　fair　fight。’
　
　There　is　nothing　fair　about　having　to　fight　in　war。　The　only　fair　thing　would　be　to　live　in　peace。　The　purpose　of　war　is　singular：　to　kill。