tg.stone of tears-第215部分

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　even　let　me　have　a　peek　at　you；　to　see　how　you　were。’
　
　‘That’s　their　job；’　Kahlan　said。　She　gave　them　a　warm　smile。　Thank　you　all　for　your　concern。　Chandalen　has　saved　me。’
　
　‘Well；　what　happened？　This　place　was　a　mess。　The　dozen　men　I　left　here　were　slaughtered。　By　a　troga。　Prindin　and　Tossidin　are　dead。　And　there　were　dead　men　of　the　Order。　We　feared　they　killed　you。’
　
　Kahlan　realized　Chandalen　had　told　them　nothing。　‘One　of　the　dead　men；　off　in　that　direction；　is　General　Riggs；　of　the　Imperial　Order。　Orsk　here；’　she　pointed　down　to　the　one…eyed　man；　‘killed　most　of　the　men　of　the　Order。　They　came　here　to　get　me。　Prindin　killed　our　guards；　and　his　brother；　and　he　tried　to　kill　me。’　Whispers　and　gasps　spread　among　the　men。
　
　Captain　Ryan’s　eyes　looked　like　they　would　pop　from　his　head。　‘Prindin！　Not　Prindin。　Dear　spirits；　why？’
　
　She　waited　until　silence　settled　over　the　men。　She　spoke　in　a　quiet　tone。　‘Prindin　was　a　baneling。’
　
　Stunned　silence　was　all　she　heard　for　a　moment；　and　then　the　worried　whispers　of　‘baneling’　spread　back　through　the　ranks。
　
　‘You　men　are　doing　a　fine　job。　But　now　you　must　fight　on　without　me。　I　must　get　to　Aydindril。’　Disappointed　murmurs　filled　the　air。　‘I　would　not　leave　you　if　I　did　not　know　you　were　up　to　the　task。　You　have　all　proven　your　worth　and　your　heart　in　battle。　You　are　men　the　equal　of　any。’
　
　The　men　stood　a　little　taller。　They　listened　intently　to　her；　as　if　hearing　their　general。
　
　‘I　am　proud　of　each　and　every　one　of　you。　You　are　heroes　of　the　Midlands。　This　army　of　the　Imperial　Order；　threat　though　it　is；　is　representative　of　a　larger　threat　to　the　Midlands；　to　the　world　of　the　living。　That　the　Keeper　would　send　a　baneling　to　stop　me　is　proof　of　that。
　
　‘I　believe　the　Imperial　Order　is　aligned　with　the　Keeper。　I　must　now　turn　my　attention　to　this　threat。　I　know　you　will　fight　on；　as　you　have　sworn；　and　show　the　enemy　no　quarter。　I　know　the　days　of　the　Order　are　numbered。’
　
　Kahlan　realized　that　her　neck　didn’t　hurt。　She　touched　her　fingers　to　the　bite。　It　was　gone。　Suddenly　she　felt　that　perhaps　she　had　escaped　the　Keeper’s　grasp　in　more　ways　than　one。
　
　With　a　serious　demeanor；　she　regarded　the　young　faces　that　intently　watched　her。　Though　you　will　fight　on　without　quarter；　you　must　not　let　yourselves　bee　what　you　are　fighting。　The　enemy　fights　to　kill；　and　to　enslave。　You　fight　for　life；　and　freedom。　Keep　that　always　uppermost　in　your　hearts。
　
　‘Do　not　let　yourselves　bee　what　you　hate。　I　know　how　easy　it　is　to　do。　It　almost　happened　to　me。’
　
　Kahlan　put　a　fist　into　the　air。　‘I　promise　to　never　forget　a　one　of　you。　Promise　me　that　when　this　is　finished；　both　the　threat　from　the　Imperial　Order；　and　the　threat　from　the　Keeper；　that　you　will　one　day　all　e　to　Aydindril；　so　the　Midlands　may　honor　your　sacrifice。’
　
　The　men　all　lifted　a　fist　in　pledge。　A　cheer　went　up。
　
　‘Captain　Ryan；　please　tell　the　men　at　the　other　camps　my　words。　I　wish　I　could　speak　to　them　all　myself；　but　I　must　leave　at　once。’
　
　He　assured　her　it　would　be　done。　Kahlan　lifted　the　sword　in　both　hands；　holding　it　out。
　
　‘King　Wyborn　wielded　this　sword　in　battle　to　protect　his　land。　The　Mother　Confessor　has　wielded　it　in　defense　of　the　Midlands。　I　now　place　it　in　capable　hands。’
　
　Captain　Ryan’s　fingers　carefully　lifted　the　sword　from　hers。　He　held　it　as　if　holding　the　crown　of　Galea　itself。　A　beaming　grin　lit　his　face。
　
　‘I　will　carry　it　with　pride；　Mother　Confessor。　Thank　you　for　everything　you　have　taught　us。　When　you　first　found　us；　we　were　boys。　Thank　you　for　making　us　into　men。　You　have　taught　us　not　only　to　fight　better　but；　more　importantly；　what　it　means　to　be　soldiers；　and　to　be　protectors　of　the　Midlands。’
　
　He　took　the　hilt　in　his　fist　and　held　the　sword　skyward　as　he　turned　to　his　men。
　
　‘Three　cheers　for　the　Mother　Confessor！’
　
　As　she　listened　to　the　three　wild　cheers；　Kahlan　realized　that　in　all　her　life　she　had　never　heard　anyone　cheer　the　Mother　Confessor　before。　She　had　to　strain　to　keep　her　surprise　from　showing。　She　lifted　a　kiss　on　her　fingers　and　thanked　them　all。
　
　‘Captain　Ryan；　I　wish　to　take　Nick；　and　I　will　need　two　other　horses；　also。’
　
　Chandalen　lurched　forward。　‘Now；　why　do　you　need　horses！’
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘Chandalen；　I　have　an　arrow　wound　in　my　leg。　I　can　hardly　stand；　much　less　walk。　I　need　to　ride；　if　I’m　to　get　to　Aydindril。　I　hope　you　do　not　think　me　weak　because　of　it。’
　
　His　brow　knotted　up。　‘Well；　no。　Of　course　you　cannot　be　expected　to　walk。’　His　eyes　turned　angry　again。　‘But　why　do　you　want　two　other　horses？’
　
　‘If　I　ride；　you　must；　too。’
　
　‘Chandalen　does　not　need　to　ride！　I　am　strong！’
　
　She　leaned　close　and　spoke　in　his　tongue。　‘Chandalen；　I　know　the　Mud　People　do　not　ride　horses。　I　would　not　expect　you　would　know　how。　I　will　teach　you。　You　will　do　fine。　When　you　return　to　your　people；　you　will　have　a　new　skill　that　none　of　them　have。　They　will　be　impressed。　The　women　will　see　that　you　are　brave。’
　
　He　grunted　suspiciously　as　he　scowled。　Then　why　do　we　need　the　third　horse？’
　
　‘We’re　taking　Orsk。’
　
　‘What！’
　
　Kahlan　shrugged。　‘You　can’t　draw　a　bow　until　your　arm　recovers。　How　will　you　protect　me？　Orsk　can　wield　an　axe　with　his　one　good　arm；　and　you　can　throw　a　spear　with　yours。’
　
　He　rolled　his　eyes。　‘I　am　not　going　to　be　able　to　talk　you　out　of　this；　am　I？’
　
　‘No；’　she　said　with　a　small　smile。　‘Now；　we　better　get　our　things　and　be　on　our　way。’
　
　Kahlan　surveyed　the　men　one　last　time。　Her　men。　She　gave　them　a　salute　of　her　fist　to　her　heart。　They　all　silently　returned　the　salute。　She　had　lost　much　with　these　men。　She　had　gained　much。　Take　care。　Each　and　every　one　of　you。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　48
　
　‘So；　when　are　we　going　to　meet　your　people；　the　ones　who　will　guide　Sister　Verna　and　me　to　the　palace？’
　
　Du　Chaillu　glanced　back　over　her　shoulder；　pulling　her　mass　of　black　hair　out　of　the　way　to　peer　at　him。　She　was　leading　her　horse。　Richard　had　grown　tired　of　her　plaints；　and　when　she　finally　refused　to　ride　any　longer；　he　decided　not　to　make　an　issue　of　it　and　let　her　walk。　Richard　had　decided　to　walk　for　a　while　himself。　Sister　Verna　rode　behind　them；　watching　Du　Chaillu　like　an　owl　from　atop　her　horse。
　
　‘Soon。’　Her　cool；　distant　expression　disturbed　him。　‘Very　soon。’
　
　Her　attitude　had　slowly　changed　since　they　had　left　the　Majendie　land；　as　they　went　deeper　into　hers。　She　was　no　longer　chatty　and　open；　but　had　grown　haughty　and　distant。　Sister　Verna　rarely　took　her　eyes　from　Du　Chaillu；　and　Du　Chaillu；　in　turn；　didn’t　miss　a　move　the　Sister　made。　They　were　like　two　cats　with　their　fur　standing　on　end；　silent　and　still；　but　ready　to　spring。　It　wouldn’t　have　surprised　him　if　soon　he　saw　their　teeth　bared。
　
　Richard　had　the　feeling　the　two　of　them　were　constantly　testing　each　other；　but　in　ways　he　couldn’t　see。　By　the　Sister’s　attitude；　he　didn’t　think　she　was　pleased　about　what　she　was　discovering。　Richard　could　tell；　from　experience；　when　the　Sister　was　touching　her