tg.stone of tears-第92章

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　His　smile　vanished。　‘But　you　are　now　one　of　the　Mud　People。’
　
　‘That　may　be　true；　but　I’m　still　the　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　His　face　blanched。　‘I　have　offended　you。’　He　leapt　up　from　the　bench　and　fell　to　his　knees　before　her。　‘Forgive　me；　please。　I　meant　no　disrespect。　I　meant　only　to　show　my　favor　for　you。’
　
　Her　red　face　glowed　in　embarrassment。　She　had　done　it　now；　she　had　humiliated　him。
　
　‘I　understand；　Prindin。　I　know　your　words　are　harmless；　but　you　must　not　speak　this　way　outside　your　land。　Others　would　not　understand　your　ways　and　would　be　greatly　offended。’
　
　He　was　nearly　in　tears。　‘I　did　not　know。　Please　say　you　forgive　Prindin。’　He　clutched　at　her　pants；　and　gripped　her　upper　thighs　with　his　powerful　fingers。
　
　‘Yes　。。。　of　course　。。。　I　know　you　meant　no　harm。’　She　took　hold　of　his　wrists；　pulling　them　gently　from　her　legs。　‘I　forgive　you。。。。’
　
　Chandalen　came　through　the　door；　his　face　set　in　a　grim　cast。　He　took　a　quick　glance　at　Prindin　before　looking　up　into　her　eyes。
　
　‘What　is　this？’
　
　‘Nothing。’　She　hastily　helped　Prindin　to　his　feet　as　his　brother　entered　the　room。　‘But　we’re　going　to　have　to　have　a　talk　about　the　proper　way　to　speak　to　ladies　in　the　Midlands。　There　are　things　you　three　will　need　to　be　taught；　to　keep　you　out　of　trouble。’　She　smoothed　her　pant　legs　and　the　lingering　sting　of　where　Prindin’s　strong　fingers　had　been；　and　then　straightened　herself。　Tell　me　what　you’ve　found。’
　
　Chandalen　cast　a　withering　glare　at　Prindin。　‘What　have　you　done？’
　
　Prindin　took　a　half　step　back；　diverting　his　eyes。　‘I　did　not　know　it　would　be　wrong。　I　told　her　she　had　a　fine　。。。’
　
　‘I　said　it　was　nothing；’　Kahlan　said；　cutting　him　off。　‘It’s　just　a　small　misunderstanding。　Forget　about　it。’　She　turned　to　the　fire。　‘I　made　hot　tea。　Get　some　cups　…　there　are　some　we　can　use　on　the　floor　over　there　…　and　we　will　have　some　tea　while　you　tell　me　what　you　found。’
　
　Tossidin　made　for　the　cups；　thumping　the　back　of　his　brother’s　head　along　the　way；　adding　a　whispered　reprimand。　Chandalen　shrugged　off　his　mantle　and　squatted　before　the　fire；　warming　his　hands。　The　brothers　brought　the　cups；　Prindin　rubbing　the　back　of　his　head；　and　passed　them　around。
　
　In　an　attempt　to　let　them　all　know　Prindin　hadn’t　lost　any　honor　in　her　eyes；　Kahlan　directed　her　attention　and　first　question　to　him。　‘Tell　me　what　you　found。’
　
　Prindin　glanced　briefly　at　the　other　two　before　setting　his　face　with　a　serious　expression。　‘Ten；　maybe　twelve　days　ago；　this　killing　was　done。　The　enemy　came　mostly　from　the　east；　but　there　were　many；　and　some　came　from　farther　to　the　north　and　south。　They　had　war　in　the　narrow　places　in　the　mountains　with　men　from　this　city。　Those　men　from　the　city　not　killed　ran　away　as　they　were　overrun　and　gathered　their　numbers　here；　and　tried　to　make　a　stand。　While　they　ran　to　here；　they　were　chased　by　their　enemy；　fighting　and　dying　as　they　ran。
　
　‘More　and　more　of　the　invaders　poured　through　the　passes；　sweeping　around　to　the　south；　here；　where　they　had　a　battle。　After　they　defeated　those　men；　and　killed　the　ones　they　captured；　the　enemy　came　through　the　wall。　When　they　were　finished　in　this　city；　all　of　them；　together；　went　east　again。’
　
　Tossidin　leaned　in　a　little。　‘Before　they　left；　they　took　their　dead　from　the　city。　They　used　wagons；　there　are　many　tracks　from　the　wheels。　It　took　them　maybe　two　days　to　take　all　their　dead　from　here。　Many　thousands。　The　people　here　must　have　fought　like　demon　spirits。　The　ones　who　did　this　lost　more　men　than　they　killed。’
　
　‘Where　are　the　bodies？’　she　asked。
　
　‘In　a　bowl　in　a　pass　to　the　east；’　Prindin　said。　‘The　wagons　took　the　dead　along　the　road；　and　then　they　were　thrown　down　into　the　low　place。　They　are　piled　so　deep　we　do　not　know　how　low　the　ground　is　there。’
　
　‘What　did　they　look　like？’　She　took　a　sip　of　tea；　holding　the　tin　cup　with　both　hands　wrapped　around　it；　soaking　up　the　warmth。　‘How　were　they　dressed？’
　
　Prindin　reached　under　his　shirt　and　pulled　out　a　folded　cloth。　He　handed　her　the　bloodred　bundle。　There　were　poles；　with　these　on　them。　Many　of　the　men　wore　clothes　with　the　same　symbols　on　them；　but　we　did　not　want　to　take　the　clothes　from　the　dead。’
　
　Kahlan　unfolded　the　banner　and　stared　in　shock　at　the　long　red　triangle　draped　over　her　hands。　In　the　center　was　a　black　shield　with　an　ornate　silver　letter　on　it。　The　letter　R。　It　was　a　war　banner；　with　the　shield　and　symbol　of　the　House　of　Rahl。
　
　‘D’Haran　soldiers；’　she　whispered。　‘How　could　that　be？’　She　looked　up。　‘Were　there　Keltans；　too？’
　
　The　three　men　looked　at　one　another。　They　didn’t　understand。　They　didn’t　know　the　Keltans。
　
　There　were　some　with　other　clothes；’　Prindin　said。　‘But　most　had　this　symbol　on　them；　or　on　their　shields。’
　
　‘And　they　went　east？’
　
　Tossidin　nodded。　‘I　do　not　know　the　way　to　tell　you　their　numbers；　but　there　were　so　many　that　if　you　stood　in　the　same　spot　on　the　wide　road　they　took；　you　would　be　there　all　day　watching　them　pass。’
　
　‘Also；’　Prindin　said；　‘as　they　were　going；　others　joined　them；　from　the　north　where　they　had　been　waiting；　and　went　with　them。’
　
　Kahlan’s　eyes　narrowed　as　she　frowned　in　thought。　‘Did　they　have　many　wagons？　Big　wagons？’
　
　Prindin　snorted　a　laugh。　They　must　have　hundreds。　These　men　do　not　carry　anything。　They　use　wagons。　They　have　victory；　because　they　are　many；　but　they　are　lazy。　They　ride　in　wagons；　or　use　them　to　carry　their　things。’
　
　‘It　takes　a　lot　of　supplies；’　she　said；　‘to　support　an　army　that　big。　And　if　they　ride　in　wagons　it　keeps　them　fresh　for　fighting。’
　
　‘It　also　makes　them　soft；’　Chandalen　said　defiantly。　‘If　you　carry　what　you　need；　like　we　do；　then　you　grow　strong。　If　you　walk　without　carrying　what　you　need；　or　ride　in　wagons；　or　on　horses；　then　you　grow　soft。　These　men　are　not　strong；　like　us。’
　
　‘They　were　strong　enough　to　crush　this　city；’　Kahlan　said；　looking　up　from　under　her　eyebrows。　‘They　were　strong　enough　to　win　the　battle　and　destroy　their　opponent。’
　
　‘Only　because　they　are　many；’　Chandalen　argued；　‘like　the　Jocopo；　not　because　they　are　strong；　or　good　fighters。’
　
　‘Large　numbers；’　she　said；　quietly；　‘has　a　strength　all　its　own。’
　
　None　of　the　three　men　disagreed　with　that。
　
　Prindin　downed　the　last　of　his　tea　before　speaking。　‘Their　numbers　are　all　gone　now。　They　stay　together　as　they　go　east。’
　
　‘East。’　She　thought　a　moment　while　the　three　waited。　‘Did　they　go　through　a　pass　that　has　a　thin　rope　bridge　stretched　above　it？　A　bridge　that　can　only　be　crossed　by　one　person　at　a　time；　on　foot？’
　
　The　brothers　nodded。
　
　Kahlan　stood。　‘Jara　Pass；’　she　whispered　to　herself　as　she　turned　to　stare　out　the　door。　‘It’s　one　of　the　few　big　enough　for　their　wagons。’
　
　There　is　more；’　Tossidin　said　as　he　stood；　too。　‘Maybe　five　days　after　they　left；　more　men　came　here。’　He　held　up　the　spread　fingers　of　both　hands。　This　many　did　the　killing　here。’　He　closed　all　but　a　lone　little　finger　on　his　right　hand。　This　many　came　here　after　it　was　done。’
　
　Kahlan　glanced　to　Chandalen。　The　ones　who　closed　the　doors。’
　
　He　nodded　as　the　two　brothers　frowned。
　
　They　searched　the　city；’　Tossidin　went　on。　There　were　no　people　left　here　to　kill；　so　they　followed　the　tracks；　followed　those　that　went　east；　to　join　with　them。’
　
　‘No；’　Kahlan　said。　They　were　no　allies　of　those　who　did　this。　They　didn’t　go　to　join　them。　They’re　going　after　them；　though。’
　
　Prindin　considered　this　a　moment。　Then　if　they　catch　the　ones　who　did　this；　then　they；　too；　will　die。　They　have　no　numbers　like　those　they　chase。　They　will　be　like　fleas　trying　to　eat　a　dog。’
　
　Kahlan　snatched　up　her　mantle　and　flung　it　around　her　shoulders。　‘Let’s　get　going。　Jara　Pass　is　wide　and　easy　enough　for　large　wagons；　but　it’s　also　very　long　and　meandering。　I　know　small　passes　…　like　the　one　that　takes　that　rope　bridge　over　the　Jara；　and　then　up　through　Harpies　Cleft　…　that　an　army　cannot　travel；　but　we　can；　and　it’s　much　shorter。　What　they　travel　in　three　or　four　days；　we　can　travel　in　one。’
　
　Chandalen　stood；　but　did　so　in　an　easy　manner。　‘Mother　Confessor；　following　these　men　will　not　take　us　to　Aydindril。’
　
　‘We　have　to　go　over　one　of　the　passes　to　get　us　to　Aydindril。　Harpies　is　as　good　as　any。’
　
　Chandalen　still　made　no　move　to　recover　his　mantle。　‘But　that　way　lies　an　army　of　thousands。　You　wanted　to　get　to　Aydindril　with　as　little　trouble　as　possible。　That　way　lies　trouble。’
　
　Kahlan　squatted　with　her　boot　over　a　snowshoe；　and　began　lacing　on　the　binding。　The　faces　of　the　dead　young　women　wavered　before　her　eyes。　‘I’m　the　Mother　Confessor。　I　will　not　allow　this　to　happen　in　the　Midlands。　It’s　my　responsibility。’
　
　The　men　glanced　uneasily　at　one　another。　The　brothers　moved　to　retrieve　their　snowshoes。　Chandalen　did　not。
　
　‘You　said　your　responsibility　was　to　go　to　Aydindril　as　Richard　With　The　Temper　asked。　You　said　you　must　do　as　he　asked。’
　
　Kahlan　paused　her　work　at　the　binding　of　the　second　snowshoe。　Anguish　seared　though　her。　She　considered　Chan…dalen’s　words；　but　only　briefly。　‘I’m　not　abandoning　that　responsibility。’　She　finished　the　binding　and　stood。　‘But　we’re　Mud　People。　We　have　other　responsibilities；　too。’
　
　‘Other　responsibilities？’
　
　Kahlan　tapped　the　bone　knife　that　was　tied　to　her　arm；　under　her　mantle。　‘To　the　spirits。　The　Jocopo；　the　Bantak；　and　now　these　men；　have　listened　to　spirits　that　would　have　them　do　great　evil　…　spirits　that　e　through　the　tear　in　the　veil。　We　have　responsibilities　to　the　spirits　of　our　ancestors；　and　their　living　descendants。’
　
　She　knew　that　to　close　the　veil；　she　needed　to　reach　Zedd；　to　get　help　for　Richard。　It　was　possible　that　Richard　was　the　only　one　who　could　close　the　veil。　Chandalen　was　right；　they　must　reach　Aydindril。
　
　But　the　faces　of　the　young　women　still　filled　her　mind。　The　horror　of　what　had　been　done　to　them　still　coursed　through　her。
　
　The　two　brothers　were　sitting　on　the　bench　putting　on　their　snowshoes。　Chandalen　stepped　close　to　her　and　lowered　her　voice。
　
　‘What　good　will　e　of　us　catching　this　army？　It　is　wrong。’
　
　She　looked　into　his　brown　eyes。　They　were　not　filled　with　defiance　as　they　had　been　in　the　past；　but　with　genuine　concern。
　
　‘Chandalen；　the　men　who　did　this　killing；　and　went　east；　are　perhaps　fifty　thousand　strong。　The　ones　who　closed　the　doors　in　the　palace　and　are　chasing　that　army　are　perhaps　five　thousand。　They　are　filled　with　anger；　but　if　they　catch　the　ones　they’re　chasing；　they’ll　be　slaughtered；　too。　If　I　have　a　chance　to　prevent　five　thousand　men　from　dying；　then　I　must　try　for　that　chance。’
　
　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘And　if　you　are　killed　in　this；　then　what　greater　evil　will　break　its　bounds？’
　
　‘That’s　what　you　three　are　supposed　to　prevent　…　my　being　killed。’
　
　She　started　for　the　door。　Chandalen　gently　gripped　her　arm　and　brought　her　to　a　halt。　He　spoke　calmly。
　
　‘It　will　be　dark　soon。　We　can　rest　here　tonight；　and　cook　food。　We