tg.stone of tears-第112章

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o　you。　You　will　be　mine；　now　and　forever。　If　you　are　to　live；　it　will　be　as　one　touched　by　a　Confessor。　If　you　would　think　to　pull　me　over　the　edge　with　you　before　I　can　release　my　magic；　let　me　assure　you　I　would　not　make　the　offer　were　there　that　chance。　I　have　touched　more　men　than　I　can　count。　You　will　have　no　time。　You　will　be　mine。'
　
　He　blinked　icy　water　dripping　down　on　him　from　his　eyes；　shook　it　from　his　face；　and　stared　up　at　her。
　
　Kahlan　extended　her　hand　toward　him。　'From　now　on；　Huon；　either　way；　your　old　life　is　ended。　If　you　live　it　will　not　be　as　who　you　are　now。　That　man　will　be　gone　forever。　You　will　be　mine。'
　
　'Please；'　he　whispered；　'just　help　me　up。　I　won't　hurt　you。　I　swear　to　let　you　be　on　your　way。　It　would　take　me　hours　to　make　it　back　to　camp　on　foot；　and　you'll　be　long　gone　by　then　anyway。　Please；　just　help　me　up。'
　
　'How　many　people　in　Ebinissia　did　you　hear　beg　for　their　lives？　To　how　many　did　you　grant　mercy？'　Her　words　came　as　cold　as　the　ice　she　lay　on。　'I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。　I　have　proclaimed　war　without　quarter　on　the　Imperial　Order。　The　oath　stands　as　long　as　one　of　you　lives。　Choose；　Huon。　Death；　or　to　be　touched　by　my　power。　Either　way；　who　you　are　dies。'
　
　'The　people　of　Ebinissia　got　what　they　deserved。　I'd　rather　take　the　hand　of　the　Keeper　himself　than　be　touched　by　your　filthy　magic。　The　good　spirits　would　never　accept　me　to　them　if　I　were　touched　by　your　dark　and　profane　magic。'　His　lip　curled　in　a　sneer。　To　the　Keeper　with　you；　Confessor！'
　
　Huon　threw　his　arms　open　and　silently　dropped　away　into　the　darkness。
　
　
　As　she　rode　back　to　the　Galean　recruits；　she　thought　about　the　things　Riggs；　Karsh；　and　Slagle　had　told　her。　She　also　thought　about　the　creatures　of　magic　living　in　the　Midlands。
　
　She　thought　about　the　beautiful　land　of　the　night　wisp；　with　open　fields　deep　in　ancient；　remote　forests；　where　the　wisps　gathered　at　twilight　to　dance　together　in　the　air　above　the　grasses　and　wildflowers；　like　joyous　fireflies。　She　had　spent　many　a　night　lying　on　her　back　in　the　grass　as　they　hovered　above　her　and　spoke　with　her　of　things　mon　to　all　life：　of　dreams　and　hopes；　of　loves。
　
　She　thought　about　the　creatures　living　in　Long　Lake；　translucent　things　hard　to　see；　seeming　almost　made　of　liquid　glass；　or　of　the　water　that　was　their　home；　with　whom　she　had　never　spoken；　but　whom　she　had　watched　emerge　at　night　to　bask　in　the　moonlight　on　rock　and　shore；　creatures　who　had　no　voice；　but　with　whom　she　had　shared　understanding；　and　had　promised　to　protect。
　
　She　thought　about　the　whispering　tree　people；　whom　she　had　spoken　with　in　a　hauntingly　beautiful　experience；　fright…eningly　eerie；　but　somehow　gently　peaceful　at　the　same　time。
　
　The　whispering　tree　people　were　all　joined　as　one；　through　their　roots　touching　under　the　earth；　and　each　spoke　as　if　they　were　all　but　one；　as　if　there　were　no　individuals；　yet　each　had　a　name　to　whisper　to　you　if　you　made　it　promises　of　simple　favors；　a　mass　munity　that　was　at　the　same　time　all　only　one。　To　cut　down　a　tree　there　would　be　to　bring　the　pain　of　that　one's　death　to　all；　they　could　not　escape　the　contact　they　felt　with　each　other。　If　people　went　into　that　land　and　cut　down　the　trees；　it　would　be　torture　to　all。　Kahlan　had　seen　them　in　pain　before。　Their　wails　could　make　the　stars　cry。
　
　There　were　other　creatures；　too；　that　were　magic；　and　people；　too；　who　possessed　it。　Sometimes　it　was　hard　to　place　a　line　between　creatures　of　the　wild　and　people。　Some　people　of　the　Midlands　were　part　creature；　or　perhaps　some　creatures　were　part　people。　They　were　strange　and　delightful；　and　very　shy。
　
　And　so　it　went　throughout　various　forms　of　magic；　from　the　simplest　things　in　the　Howling　Caves　that　could　let　you　peek　through　solid　rock　to　see　their　nests；　to　people　like　the　Mud　People；　who　had　only　simple　magic　that　would　do　but　one　thing。
　
　As　Mother　Confessor；　all　these；　and　many　more；　were　her　charges；　and　as　Mother　Confessor；　she　manded　all　to　protect　these　magic　places；　so　no　one　people　would　bear　the　brunt　of　burden　against　others。　It　was　an　arrangement　backed　by　Confessors　and　wizards　extending　back　for　thousands　of　years。
　
　The　twilight　beings；　Riggs　had　called　them。　That　was　the　name　given　to　these　magical　creatures　by　the　Blood　of　the　Fold；　among　others；　because　many　of　them　came　out　only　at　night。　For　this　reason；　the　Blood　associated　them　with　darkness；　and　so；　out　of　fear；　with　the　darkness　of　the　Keeper　of　the　Dead。
　
　The　Blood　considered　magic　the　force　through　which　the　Keeper　extended　his　influence　into　this　world；　into　the　world　of　the　living。　The　Blood　were　as　unreasonable　and　thickheaded　as　any　men　alive。　And　they　considered　it　their　duty　to　send　to　the　land　of　the　dead　any　who　they　thought　served　the　Keeper。　That　was　just　about　anyone　who　disagreed　with　their　view　of　things。　In　some　lands　the　Blood　were　outlawed；　and　in　some；　like　Nicobarese；　they　were　encouraged　and　paid　by　the　Crown。
　
　Maybe　Riggs　was　right。　Maybe　she　should　have　brought　the　rule　of　law　to　stop　men　like　this。　But　that　had　never　been　the　intent　of　the　council　…　to　make　all　to　bow　in　all　things　to　one。　The　strength　and　beauty　of　the　Midlands　was　in　its　diversity；　even　if　some　of　that　diversity　was　ugly。　What　was　ugly　to　one　was　beautiful　to　another；　and　so　it　was　that　each　land　was　to　be　left　to　rule　itself；　as　long　as　it　brought　no　force　of　arms　to　another。　It　was　a　tolerant　suffering　of　things　repugnant　to　allow　things　beautiful　to　blossom。　It　was　a　sometimes　difficult　and　fine　line　to　hold　the　council　to：　forcing　lands　to　work　together　in　some　things；　but　allowing　them　to　be　autonomous　in　others。
　
　But　perhaps　Riggs　was　right。　People　in　some　lands　suffered　the　cruel　or　poor　rule　of　their　greedy　or　inept　leaders；　with　no　hope　of　matters　being　brought　to　change　from　without。　Though　the　wise；　but　smaller；　lands　had　not　to　live　in　fear　of　outside　conquest。　If　the　suffering　of　the　people　under　less　fortunate　rule　could　be　ended　with　wise　central　rule；　would　not　matters　be　improved？
　
　Yet　when　all　lived　under　the　same　rule；　every　other　form　of　existence　was　extinguished；　never　to　have　the　chance　to　grow；　though　one　of　them　might　have　been　a　superior　way。　The　kind　of　single　rule　the　Imperial　Order　represented　was　slavery。
　
　Kahlan　was　surprised　to　encounter　Galean　sentries　farther　from　their　camp　than　before。　They　were　no　longer　spread　too　far　apart；　and　they　were　well　hidden；　popping　up　with　drawn　bows　and　bared　steel　when　she　was　almost　upon　them。　Chan…dalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　had　obviously　been　at　work。　The　sentries　put　fists　to　hearts　when　they　recognized　her。
　
　The　dawn　was　turning　the　sky　to　a　dark　steel　gray。　It　was　warmer　than　it　had　been；　with　the　clouds　covering　the　land　like　a　warming　quilt。　She　was　dead　tired　in　the　saddle　as　Nick　plodded　through　the　snow　toward　the　camp；　but　as　she　came　into　sight　of　men　rushing　about；　she　came　alert　with　the　thoughts　of　what　needed　to　be　done。
　
　Chandalen；　Prindin；　Captain　Ryan；　and　Lieutenant　Hobson　were　speaking　with　a　group　of　men　when　they　saw　her　riding　toward　the　camp。　The　four　came　at　a　run　to　meet　her　at　the　edge　of　the　activity。　Men　were　cooking；　eating；　stowing　gear；　preparing　weapons；　and　tending　to　wagons　and　horses。　She　spotted　Tossidin；　in　his　white　wolf　mantle；　off　some　distance　with　Lieutenant　Sloan；　waving　his　arms　in　explanation　as　he　talked　to　men　who　stood　mute；　with　their　spears　all　standing　upright　in　the　snow；　the　tight　mob　of　them　looking　like　a　dark　porcupine　against　the　white　ground。
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　weary　moan　as　she　dismounted　before　the　four　men　who　had　e　to　greet　her。　Other　men　all　around　kept　to　their　tasks；　but　moved　more　slowly　as　they　watched　her　with　great　interest。　The　four　before　her　stared　openly　with　wide　eyes。　None　said　a　word。
　
　'What　are　you　all　staring　at？'　she　said；　a　little　short…tempered。
　
　'Mother　Confessor；'　Captain　Ryan　said；　'you're　covered　in　blood。　Are　you　hurt？'
　
　Kahlan　stared　down　at　the　white　wolf　fur　of　her　mantle；　only　it　was　no　longer　white。　She　realized　for　the　first　time　that　the　skin　of　her　face　was　tight　with　dried　blood；　her　hair　stiff　with　it。
　
　'Oh；'　she　said；　in　a　quieter　tone。　'It's　all　right。　I'm　fine。'
　
　Chandalen　and　Prindin　sighed　with　relief。
　
　Lieutenant　Hobson；　still　wide…eyed；　swallowed。　'What　of　the　wizard？　Did　you　see　him？'
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　'What　you　see　on　me　is　what's　left　of　him。'
　
　Chandalen　appraised　her　with　a　sly　smile。　'And　how　many　others　did　you　kill？'
　
　Kahlan　gave　a　tired　shrug。　'I　was　awfully　busy。　I　didn't　take　the　time　to　count；　but　all　things　considered；　I　would　guess；　including　the　fires；　well　over　a　hundred。　The　wizard　is　dead；　that's　what　matters。　Two　of　their　manders　are　dead　also；　and　at　least　two　more　are　wounded。'
　
　Captain　Ryan　and　Lieutenant　Hobson　paled。
　
　Chandalen's　proud　grin　widened。　'I　am　surprised　you　left　any　for　others　to　kill；　Mother　Confessor。'
　
　She　didn't　return　his　smile。　'There　are　plenty　left。'　Kahlan　rubbed　her　horse's　nose。　'Nick　did　most　of　the　work。'
　
　'I　told　you　he　wouldn't　let　you　down；　Mother　Confessor；'　Hobson　said。
　
　That　he　did　not。　He　was　better　aid　than　the　good　spirits。　He　kept　me　alive　this　day。'
　
　Kahlan　lowered　herself　to　one　knee　in　the　snow　before　the　two　Galean　officers。　She　bowed　her　head。
　
　'I　find　I　must　beseech　your　forgiveness。'　She　took　a　hand　of　each　in　hers。　Though　you　are　ignorant　of　how　to　acplish　what　must　be　done；　you　have　put　your　duty　to　the　Midlands　before　my　orders。　That　was　courage　of　the　highest　order。　I　want　you　all　to　know　I　was　wrong。　You　acted　of　noble　intent。'　She　kissed　each　hand。　'I　laud　your　righteous　hearts。　You　have　kept　in　mind　your　duty　above　all　else。　I　beg　you　forgive　me。'
　
　There　was　silence　as　she　knelt　on　one　knee。　At　last　Captain　Ryan　whispered　down　to　her。
　
　'Mother　Confessor；　please。　Get　up。　Everyone's　watching。'
　
　'Not　until　you　forgive　me。　I　want　everyone　to　know　you　did　the　right　thing。'
　
　'But　you　didn't　realize　what　we　were　doing；　or　why。　You　had　only　our　safety　in　mind。'　Kahlan　waited　and　he　was　silent　in　embarrassment　a　moment　longer。　All　right。　I　forgive　you。。。。　Don't　do　it　again？'
　
　She　came　to　her　feet；　releasing　their　hands　and　giving　them　a　small；　humorless　smile。　'See　that　that　is　the　last　time　you　ever　disobey　me。'
　
　Captain　Ryan　nodded　in　earnest。　'I　will。'　He　shook　his　head。　'I　mean；　no；　I　won't；　I　mean　I　。。。　We　will　do　as　you　mand；　Mother　Confessor。'
　
　'I　understand　what　you　mean；　Captain。'　She　let　out　a　tired　sigh。　'We　have　a　lot　of　work　to　do　before　we　attack　those　men。'
　
　'We！'　Chandalen　shouted。　'We　were　only　to　teach　them　some　things；　and　then　'we'　are　to　be　on　our　way　to　Aydin…dril！　We　cannot　bee　caught　up　in　this　battle。　You　have　already　taken　enough　chances！　We　must。。。'
　
　Kahlan　interrupted　him。　'I　must　talk　to　you　three。　Bring　Tossidin。　Captain；　please　collect　the　men；　including　the　sentries。　I　want　to　speak　to　you　all　together。　Please　wait　with　your　men。　I　will　be　with　you　shortly。　And　leave　a　tent　up　for　me。　I　need　a　few　hours'　sleep　while　things　are　being　prepared。'
　
　She　walked