tg.stone of tears-第136章

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　CHAPTER　47
　
　In　the　tingling　blackness；　her　lip　hurt。　Something　was　jabbing　against　the　cut；　making　it　throb。　Something　was　in　her　mouth。　She　thought　it　felt　like　a　finger；　poking　into　her　mouth。
　
　‘Swallow！’
　
　Kahlan　frowned　in　the　darkness；　in　her　sleep。
　
　‘Swallow！　Do　you　hear　me？　Swallow！’
　
　Making　a　sour　face；　she　did　as　manded。　The　finger　pushed　more　of　the　dry　things　into　her　mouth。
　
　‘Swallow　again！’
　
　She　swallowed；　hoping　the　voice　would　leave　her　alone；　now。　It　did。　She　sank　back　down　into　the　tingling　void。　She　drifted　in　the　nowhere　place；　unaware。　She　had　no　concept　of　time；　no　idea　how　long　she　floated。
　
　With　a　gasp；　her　eyes　opened。　She　blinked　around　at　her　shelter。　The　candles　were　burned　halfway　down。　Her　fur　mantle　was　covering　her。
　
　Chandalen　leaned　over；　peering　down　at　her。　A　broad　smile　spread　on　his　lips。　He　let　out　a　long　sigh　of　relief。
　
　‘You　are　back；’　he　said。　‘You　are　safe；　now。’
　
　‘Chandalen？’　She　tried　to　make　sense　of　what　she　was　seeing。　‘Am　I　in　the　underworld；　or　are　you　are　not　dead？’
　
　He　laughed　quietly。　‘Chandalen　is　hard　to　kill。’
　
　She　worked　her　tongue；　trying　to　wet　her　dry　mouth。　She　was　awake；　really　awake；　for　the　first　time　in　as　long　as　she　could　remember。　It　seemed　she　had　forgotten　what　it　was　like　to　be　awake；　how　vibrant　it　felt。　Still；　she　did　not　move；　afraid　the　blackness　would　return。
　
　‘But；　Prindin　shot　you　with　a　ten…step　arrow。　I　saw　it。’
　
　He　turned　a　bit；　looking　away　in　chagrin。　She　could　see　that　his　black　hair　was　matted　with　dried　blood。　He　flipped　his　hand；　as　if　uneasy　that　he　had　to　explain。
　
　‘Remember　I　told　you　that　our　ancestors　took　quassin　doe　before　they　went　into　battle；　so　that　if　they　were　shot　with　a　ten…step　arrow；　the　poison　would　not　kill　them？’　She　nodded。　He　tenderly　tested　his　wounded　scalp。　‘Well；　in　honor　of　my　ancestors；　my　warrior　ancestors；　I　ate　some　of　the　quassin　doe　leaves　before　I　went　to　fight。　The　quassin　doe　you　gave　to　me　back　at　that　city。’　His　eyebrows　lifted；　as　if　further　justification　was　needed。　‘It　was　to　honor　my　ancestors。’
　
　Kahlan　smiled　warmly　to　him　as　she　put　a　hand　to　his　arm。　‘You　have　done　your　ancestors　proud。’
　
　He　helped　her　sit　up。　In　the　dim　light；　she　saw　that　Prindin　lay　next　to　her；　on　his　back。
　
　The　bone　knife；　the　bone　knife　made　from　Chandalen’s　grandfather’s　bones；　the　one　she　had　worn　at　her　arm；　jutted　from　Prindin’s　chest。　The　black　feathers　fanned　out　around　the　hilt　end；　draped　like　a　shroud　over　the　fatal　wound。　Somehow；　she　had　managed　to　put　that　knife　between　them　when　Prindin　had　leaped　on　her。　Somehow。
　
　She　remembered　her　numb；　helpless　plight。　She　remembered　the　tingling　feeling　of　the　poison；　and　that　she　couldn’t　move。　She　remembered　her　terror。　She　remembered　Prindin’s　leap　onto　her。
　
　But　she　didn’t　remember　pulling　the　knife。
　
　Her　voice　trembled。　‘I’m　so　sorry；　Chandalen。’　Her　fingers　covered　her　mouth。　‘I’m　so　sorry　that　I　killed　your　friend。’
　
　Chandalen　glared　at　the　body。　‘He　was　not　my　friend。　My　friends　do　not　try　to　kill　me。’　He　put　a　forting　hand　to　her　shoulder。　‘He　was　sent　by　the　great；　dark　spirit　of　the　dead。　His　heart　was　taken　by　evil。’
　
　Kahlan　clutched　his　sleeve。　‘Chandalen；　that　great；　dark　spirit　of　the　dead　is　trying　to　escape　from　behind　the　veil。　He　wants　to　pull　us　all　behind　the　veil；　into　the　world　of　the　dead。’
　
　His　brown　eyes　studied　hers。　‘I　believe　you。　We　must　get　you　to　Aydindril；　so　you　may　help　stop　him。’
　
　She　sagged　with　relief。　Thank　you；　Chandalen。　Thank　you　for　understanding；　and　for　saving　me　with　the　quassin　doe。’　Kahlan　clutched　his　arm。　The　men！　Prindin　set　a　trap　for　them！　What　time　is　it？’
　
　He　made　a　forting；　hushing　sound。　‘When　Captain　Ryan　came　to　Tossidin　and　me　before　the　attack；　I　asked　where　you　were。　I　knew　you　would　want　to　be　with　them。　He　told　me　that　you　were　sick。　That　you　could　not　wake。　It　sounded　to　me　like　bandu。
　
　‘Captain　Ryan　said　you　would　not　eat；　and　would　have　only　tea　Prindin　made　for　you。　I　knew　then；　what　was　happening。　I　knew　you　had　been　poisoned；　and　the　only　thing　you　had　was　tea。
　
　Tossidin　and　I　were　greatly　worried　for　you。　We　checked　to　see　if　the　enemy　had　changed　position。　We　saw　that　they　were　waiting　for　the　attack　where　we　had　planned　it　at　first。　I　made　the　men　change　the　attack；　and　e　from　a　different　place　than　expected。　As　soon　as　I　gave　the　new　orders；　we　rushed　back　here。
　
　‘I　knew　Prindin　had　betrayed　us；　but　Tossidin　thought　there　must　be　some　other　explanation。　He　trusted　his　brother　and　did　not　want　to　think　evil　of　him。　He　paid　for　his　trust；　his　mistake；　with　his　life。’
　
　Kahlan　looked　away　in　the　uneasy　quiet。　She　frowned　back　at　him。　‘What　of　the　arrow？　What　of　the　wound　on　your　head？　We　must　see　to　your　wounds。’
　
　Chandalen　pulled　the　neck　of　his　buckskin　shirt　to　the　side；　revealing　a　bandage　over　his　left　shoulder。　‘The　men　returned　in　the　night。　They　stitched　my　head。　It　is　not　as　bad　as　it　looks。　They　also　took　out　the　arrow。’
　
　He　winced　as　he　pulled　the　shirt　back　up　on　his　shoulder。　‘I　taught　Prindin　well。　He　used　a　bladed　arrow。　Bladed　arrows　do　more　harm　ing　out　than　going　in。　One　of　the　men；　the　one　who　cuts　and　sews　the　wounded；　cut　out　the　arrow；　and　stitched　me　together。　The　arrow　hit　the　bone；　so　it　did　not　go　in　too　far。　My　arm　is　stiff；　and　I　will　not　be　able　to　use　it　for　a　time。’
　
　Kahlan　felt　her　leg。　There　was　a　bandage　under　her　pants。　‘Did　he　stitch　my　leg；　too？’
　
　‘No。　It　did　not　need　sewing；　just　to　be　wrapped；　I　did　that。　Prindin　used　a　round　point　on　you。　That　is　not　like　I　taught　him。　I　don’t　know　why　he　would　do　that。’
　
　Kahlan　could　feel　the　presence　of　the　body　next　to　her。　‘He　wanted　to　be　able　to　get　it　out　of　me；　after　he　shot　me　with　poison；’　she　said　quietly。　‘He　wanted　it　out　of　his　way。　He　was　going　to　rape　me　before　he　gave　me　to　the　enemy。’
　
　Chandalen　watched　the　body；　not　wanting　to　look　at　her；　and　said　he　was　glad　that　had　not　happened。
　
　She　touched　his　left　hand。　‘And　I’m　glad　it　was　your　shoulder；　and　not　your　throat。’
　
　He　frowned。　‘I　taught　Prindin　how　to　shoot。　He　would　never　miss　my　throat　from　that　distance。　Why　did　he　not　shoot　my　throat？’
　
　She　shrugged；　feigning　ignorance。　He　grunted　suspiciously。
　
　‘Chandalen；　why　is　his　body　still　in　here？　Why　didn’t　you　drag　him　out？’
　
　He　moved　his　wounded　arm　a　bit　with　his　other；　making　it　more　fortable。　‘Because　Grandfather’s　spirit　knife　is　still　in　him。’　He　regarded　her　with　a　serious　expression。　‘You　have　used　the　aid　of　Grandfather’s　bones；　his　spirit；　to　protect　yourself；　to　take　another　life。　Grandfather’s　spirit　is　bonded　to　you　now。　No　other　may　touch　his　bone　knife；　now。　It　is　yours；　and　only　you　may　touch　it。　You　must　remove　it。’
　
　Kahlan　momentarily　contemplated　whether　or　not　she　could　just　leave　the　knife　where　it　was；　and　bury　it　with　the　body。　She　thought　maybe　the　bone　knife　should　be　put　to　rest；　too。　But　she　discarded　the　thought。　To　the　Mud　People　this　was　powerful　spirit　magic。　She　would　insult　Chandalen　if　she　rejected　the　knife。
　
　She　thought；　too；　that　maybe　she　would　be　insulting　the　spirit　of　Chandalen’s　grandfather　if　she　didn’t　take　back　the　knife。　She　wasn’t　entirely　sure　that　it　wasn’t　the　spirit　in　the　bone　knife　that　had　killed　Prindin　to　save　her。　She　didn’t　know　how　the　knife　had　gotten　into　her　hand。
　
　Kahlan　reached　out　and　wrapped　her　fingers　around　the　round　end　protruding　from　Prindin’s　chest。　It　made　a　sucking　sound　as　she　pulled　it　from　the　body。　She　wiped　it　clean　on　the　balsam　boughs　covering　the　floor。
　
　Kahlan　brought　the　round　end　to　her　lips　and　kissed　it　lightly。　Thank　you；　spirit　grandfather；　for　saving　my　life。’　Somehow；　it　seemed　the　right　thing　to　do。
　
　Chandalen　smiled　as　she　slid　the　bone　knife　into　the　band　on　her　arm。　‘You　are　a　good　Mud　Person。　You　knew　what　to　do　without　me　telling　you。　Grandfather’s　spirit　will　watch　over　you　always。’
　
　‘Chandalen；　we　must　get　to　Aydindril。　The　veil　to　the　underworld　is　torn。　We’ve　done　what　we　must　to　help　these　men。　I　must　do　my　job；　now。’
　
　‘When　we　first　found　these　men；　I　did　not　want　to　stay　with　them。　I　wanted　to　be　away　from　their　fight　so　that　you　would　be　safe。’　He　stared　off　at　nothing。　‘Somehow；　I　forgot　that　thought；　and　all　I　wanted　to　do　was　fight　and　kill　the　enemy。’
　
　‘I　know；’　she　whispered；　‘that　happened　to　me；　too。　I　forgot　all　about　what　I　was　supposed　to　be　doing。　It’s　almost　as　if　we；　too；　listened　to　the　great；　dark　spirit。　The　veil　is　torn。　Maybe　that’s　why　we　were　distracted。’
　
　‘You　think　that　this　veil　is　torn；　and　because　of　that　we　forgot　what　we　were　to　do；　and　wanted　only　to　kill？’
　
　‘Chandalen；　I　don’t　know　the　answers　to　these　things。　I　must　get　to　Aydindril。　The　wizard　will　know　what　to　do。　Richard　needs　help。　We　have　taken　enough　time　here。　We　must　not　waste　any　more。　We　must　talk　to　the　men；　and　then　be　on　our　way。　Are　they　out　there？’　He　nodded。　‘Then　let’s　get　going。’
　
　She　started　to　rise；　but　he　put　his　good　hand　to　her　arm　and　stopped　her。　They　have　been　waiting　outside　your　shelter　all　night。　I　would　not　let　them　e　inside。’
　
　He　took　his　hand　back　as　he　seemed　to　search　for　the　right　words。　‘I　feared　greatly　that　you　would　die　this　night。　I　didn’t　know　if　I　had　given　you　the　quassin　doe　in　time。　Prindin　had　been　giving　you　poison　without　our　knowing　it；　for　a　long　time。　You　almost　went　to　the　spirit　world。
　
　‘If　you　had　died；　I　would　never　be　able　to　return　to　my　people　again。　But　that　is　not　why　I　am　glad　you　live。　I　am　glad　because　you　are　a　good　Mud　Person。　You　are　a　protector　to　our　people；　the　same　as　Chandalen。　We　each　fight　in　our　own　way。’　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Lately；　you　have　been　fighting　too　much　like　Chandalen　fights。　You　are　good　at　it；　but　you　should　leave　that　to　me；　and　fight　in　the　way　you　are　meant　to　fight。’
　
　Kahlan　smiled。　‘You’re　right。　Thank　you　for　sitting　with　me　all　night。　It　was　good　to　have　you　near。　I’m　sorry　you　were　hurt。’
　
　He　shrugged。　‘Someday；　when　I　find　a　woman　for　myself；　I　will　have　scars　to　show　her；　so　she　may　see　how　brave　Chandalen　is。’
　
　Kahlan　laughed。　‘I’m　sure　she　will　be　impressed　with　your　bravery　when　you　were　shot　with　an　arrow。’
　
　Chandalen　gave　her　a　crooked　look。　‘It　does　not　prove　I　was　brave　because　I　was　shot　with　an　arrow。　Anyone　can　be　shot。’　He　lifted　his　chin。　‘I　am　brave　because　I　did　not　cry　out　when　the　the　arrow　was　cut　from　me。’
　
　Someday；　Kahlan　thought；　some　fortunate　woman　would　have　her　hands　full　with　this　one。　‘I’m　glad　the　good　spirits　watched　over　you；　and　you　are　with　me。’
　
　He　narrowed　his　eyes　as　he　peered　at　her。　‘I　do　not　know　what　happened；　but　I　think　Prindin　missed　my　throat　because　you　were　watching　over　me；　too。’
　
　She　only　grinned。　When　she　looked　to　the　body；　her　grin　withered。　She　stroked　the　fur　of　her　mantle。　‘Poor　Tossidin。　He　loved　his　brother。　I’ll　miss　him。’
　
　Chandalen　glanced　to　the　body。　‘I　have　known　them　since　the