tg.stone of tears-第120章

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re　ordered　to　assume　they　are　in　with　the　outlaws；　and　you're　to　execute　them　on　the　spot。　The　road　to　Nicobarese　goes　northeast。　Tell　them　to　keep　to　it　and　not　to　stop　before　they're　a　good　long　distance　from　here。'
　
　Cynric　clapped　a　fist　to　his　heart　as　she　turned　to　take　Captain　Ryan's　arm　and　lead　him　toward　the　tents　with　the　whitewash。　Behind；　she　heard　the　sentry　gallop　off　toward　the　coach　he　had　found。　The　other　men　took　the　hint　that　they　weren't　to　e；　and　went　about　other　business。
　
　She　loosened　the　thong　holding　her　mantle　closed。　The　temperature　had　climbed　above　freezing；　and　the　clouds　had　lowered　nearly　to　the　ground。　The　air　felt　wringing　wet。
　
　'Fog　will　move　in　by　this　afternoon；'　he　observed。　This　whole　valley　pass　will　be　thick　with　it　tonight。'　He　glanced　to　her　questioning　frown。　'I've　lived　in　these　mountains　my　whole　life。　When　it　takes　a　thaw　like　this　in　winter；　the　fog　settles　into　the　passes　for　at　least　a　couple　of　days。'
　
　Kahlan　surveyed　the　mountain　sides　ascending　into　the　gray　clouds。　That　will　serve　us　well。　Especially　for　what　I　have　in　mind。　It　will　be　an　aid　to　us　in　bringing　terror　to　the　enemy。'
　
　'So；　are　you　ready　to　tell　me　what　we're　to　paint？'
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　tired　sigh。　'We've　devised　a　number　of　plans　to　strike　targets　that　must　be　destroyed。　Tonight　will　be　our　best　chance　of　acplishing　those　things；　because　they　will　be　surprised。　We　will　not　have　a　chance　of　surprise　like　this　again。　After　tonight；　they　will　be　expecting　our　next　attacks。'
　
　'I　understand。　The　men；　too；　know　the　importance　of　this。　They　will　do　well。'
　
　'We　must　also　not　lose　sight　of　our　intent。　Our　intent　is　to　kill　these　men。　Tonight；　we　will　have　the　chance　to　do　that　as　perhaps　at　no　other　time。　We　must　take　that　opportunity。
　
　'How　many　swordsmen　do　we　have？'
　
　He　was　silent　a　moment　as　he　tallied　the　numbers　in　his　head。　'Nearly　two　thousand　are　swordsmen。　Not　quite　another　eight　hundred　archers；　and　the　rest　divided　up　among　pikemen；　lancers；　and　cavalry　among　others；　including　the　rest　of　what　an　army　needs；　from　drivers　to　fletchers　to　blacksmiths。'
　
　Kahlan　nodded　to　herself。　'I　want　you　to　select　about　a　thousand　swordsmen。　Pick　the　strongest；　the　fiercest；　the　most　eager　for　the　fight。'
　
　'And　what　are　we　going　to　do　with　these　men？'
　
　'The　men　dressed　in　the　uniforms　of　the　sentries　we　kill　will　make　an　exploration　of　the　enemy　camp；　and　e　back　and　give　us　the　locations　of　our　objectives。　We　have　enough　men　to　do　the　tasks　we　have　assigned　for　those　objectives。
　
　'The　swordsmen　are　for　beginning　our　prime　objective。　Killing　the　enemy。　They　will　first　see　to　the　enemy　manders；　just　in　case　they　weren't　poisoned；　and　then　after　that；　they　will　kill　as　many　men　as　they　can　in　the　shortest　possible　time。'
　
　They　came　to　the　dozen　tents　set　up　close　together　in　a　half　circle。　Kahlan　checked　inside　them　all　to　be　sure　they　were　equipped　as　she　had　ordered。　Finished　checking；　she　stood　outside　the　largest　and　faced　Captain　Ryan。
　
　'So；　are　you　going　to　tell　me；　now；　what　it　is　we're　to　paint？'
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　'Those　thousand　swordsmen。'
　
　He　stared；　dumfounded。　'We're　going　to　paint　the　men？　Why？'
　
　'It's　simple。　D'Harans　fear　spirits。　They　fear　the　spirits　of　the　foes　they　kill；　that's　why　they　drag　the　bodies　of　their　fallen　rades　away　from　a　battle　site；　like　Ebinissia。
　
　'Tonight；　their　fears　are　going　to　e　to　haunt　them。　They　are　going　to　be　attacked　by　the　thing　they　fear　most：　spirits。'
　
　'But　they　will　recognize　us　as　soldiers；　simply　with　white　clothes；　not　as　spirits。'
　
　Kahlan　looked　at　Captain　Ryan　from　under　her　eyebrows。　'They　will　not　be　wearing　clothes。　They　will　have　nothing　but　their　swords；　painted　white；　just　as　are　they。　They　will　remove　their　clothes　just　before　the　attack。'
　
　His　mouth　dropped　open。　'What？'
　
　'I　want　you　to　get　the　swordsmen　together；　now；　and　assemble　them　here。　They're　to　go　into　the　tents；　remove　their　clothes；　and　dip　themselves　in　the　whitewash。　After　dunking　themselves；　they　will　stand　near　the　hot　rocks　until　dry。　It　won't　take　long。　Then　they　can　put　their　clothes　back　on。　Until　the　attack。'
　
　Captain　Ryan　stood　in　shock。　'But　it's　winter。　They'll　freeze　without　clothes。'
　
　'We　have　a　break　in　the　bitter　cold。　Besides；　the　cold　will　remind　them　to　rush　in　and　rush　back　out。　I　don't　want　them　to　stay　in　that　camp　very　long。　The　enemy　will　recover　from　their　shock　in　short　order；　and　set　upon　any　invader。　I　want　our　men　to　attack；　kill　terrified　D'Harans；　and　escape。
　
　'As　I　said；　D'Harans　fear　spirits。　When　they　see　what　they　will　at　first　think　is　their　worst　fear；　they　will　be　stunned。　Their　first　thought　will　be　to　run；　not　to　fight。　Men　die　as　easily　from　a　sword　through　the　back　as　through　the　front。　Some　will　freeze　in　place；　not　knowing　what　to　do。　Even　those　who　recognize　the　invaders　as　men　painted　white；　and　not　as　spirits；　will　be　confused　for　a　moment。
　
　'Those　few　seconds　of　confusion；　as　we　e　upon　each　new　group；　are　the　seconds　we　need　to　run　them　through。　In　battle；　the　difference　between　killing；　and　being　killed；　is　often　a　single　moment　of　indecision。
　
　The　swordsmen　are　not　to　engage　in　fights。　If　challenged；　they're　to　run　on　to　others。　There　are　more　than　enough　to　kill；　it's　a　mistake　to　waste　time　engaging　in　battle；　if　it　can　be　avoided。　I　simply　want　enemy　soldiers　killed。　After　the　manders　are　dead；　it　doesn't　matter　which　ones。　I　don't　want　our　men　fighting　unless　forced　to；　that　only　risks　their　lives　needlessly。
　
　'Rush　in；　kill　as　many　men　as　possible；　and　rush　out。　Those　are　to　be　the　orders。'
　
　Captain　Ryan　frowned　as　he　considered。　'I　never　thought　I　would　hear　myself　say　it；　but　I　think　it　sounds　like　it　might　be　an　outlandishly　successful　tactic。　The　men　aren't　going　to　like　it　at　first；　but　they'll　follow　orders。　I'll　explain　it　to　them；　and　then　I　know　they'll　feel　a　little　better　about　it。
　
　'I've　never　heard　of　such　a　thing；　and　I'm　sure　the　enemy　hasn't　either。'　He　at　last　smiled　a　sly　smile。　'It's　sure　to　surprise　them；　no　doubt　about　that。'
　
　Kahlan　was　relieved　he　had　e　around　to　that　much　of　it。　'Good。　I'm　pleased　to　have　the　enthusiasm　of　a　captain　in　the　Galean　army。　In　the　Midlands　army。
　
　'Now；　I　want　you　to　have　my　horse's　saddle　and　tack　brought　here；　and　dipped　in　the　whitewash。　And　please　post　some　guards　outside　this　tent；　while　I'm　inside。'
　
　His　eyes　widened。　'Your　saddle？　。。。　You're　not　。。。　Mother　Confessor　。。。　You　can't　be　serious。'
　
　'I　would　not　ask　my　men　to　do　something　I　myself　would　not　do。　They　need　to　have　a　mander　to　rally　around　in　their　first　battle。　I　intend　to　lead　them。'
　
　Captain　Ryan　took　a　step　back。　He　was　aghast。　He　regained　the　step。　'But　Mother　Confesser　。。。　you're　a　woman。　And　not　in　any　way　an　ugly　woman。'　Seemingly　involuntarily；　he　took　a　quick　glance　the　length　of　her。　'In　fact；　you　are　。。。　Mother　Confessor；　forgive　me。'　He　fell　silent。
　
　'They　are　soldiers　with　a　mission。　Make　your　point；　Captain。'
　
　His　face　filled　with　blood。　These　are　young　men；　Mother　Confessor。　They　are　。。。　Well；　you　can't　expect　。。。　They　are　young　men。'　His　jaw　moved　as　he　tried　to　find　words。　They　won't　be　able　to　help　themselves。　Mother　Confessor；　please。　You'll　be　embarrassed　beyond　all　tolerance。'　He　winced；　hoping　he　wouldn't　have　to　explain　further。
　
　She　gave　him　a　small　smile　to　try　to　ease　his　horror。　'Captain；　have　you　ever　heard　the　legend　of　the　Shahari？'　He　shook　his　head。　'When　the　tribes　and　lands　now　called　D'Hara　were　being　forged　together；　the　method　of　conquest　and　joining　were　much　the　same　as　it　is　with　the　Imperial　Order　…　join　with　them；　or　be　conquered。　The　Shahari　people　refused　to　join　into　D'Hara；　and　they　refused　to　be　conquered。
　
　They　fought　so　fiercely　that　they　came　to　be　greatly　feared　by　the　D'Haran　troops；　who　outnumbered　them　many　times　over。　The　Shahari　loved　nothing　more　than　fighting。　They　were　so　fearless　and　aroused　about　going　into　war　that　they　went　into　battle　naked　and；　well　。。。　aroused。'
　
　Kahlan　looked　up　to　see　Captain　Ryan　staring；　mouth　agape。　She　went　on。　The　D'Harans　all　know　the　legend　of　the　Shahari。　They　all；　to　this　day；　fear　the　Shahari。'　She　cleared　her　throat。　'If　the　men　go　into　battle；　and　。。。　that　。。。　happens；　it　will　only　bring　greater　fear　to　the　men　of　the　Order。
　
　'I　don't　think；　though；　that　the　men　need　fear　being　embarrassed。　They　will　have　more　pressing　matters　on　their　minds；　like　not　being　killed。　And　if　it　does　happen；　well　then；　they　should　know　it　pleases　me　because　it　will　only　strike　greater　fear　into　the　hearts　of　our　enemy。'
　
　Captain　Ryan　finally　looked　to　the　ground　and　pushed　snow　with　his　boot。　'Forgive　me；　Mother　Confessor；　but　I　still　don't　like　it。　It　puts　you　at　danger　for　nothing　of　much　gain。'
　
　That's　not　true。　There　are　two　more　important　reasons　I　must　do　this。　First；　when　I　left　the　Order's　camp　last　night　I　was　being　chased　by　about　fifty　men。　The　D'Hafans　have　no　doubt　that　those　fifty　men　will　catch　me；　and　kill　me。'
　
　The　captain　stiffened。　'You　mean　there　are　fifty　men　roaming　around　looking　for　you？'
　
　'No。　They're　all　dead。　To　a　man。　But　the　men　back　at　camp　don't　know　that。　When　they　see　me；　all　white；　like　a　spirit；　they　will　think　I　was　killed；　as　I　should　have　been；　and　that　it's　my　spirit　in　their　midst。　It　will　only　frighten　them　further。'
　
　'All　fifty　。。。！'　He　peered　up　at　her。　'And　what's　the　second　reason？'
　
　Kahlan　stared　at　him　for　a　moment。　Her　voice　came　softly。　'When　those　men　of　the　Order　see　me；　whether　they　think　me　a　spirit　or　they　think　me　a　naked　woman　on　a　horse　before　them；　they　will　stare。　While　they　are　staring；　they　cannot　kill　our　men。　But　we　can　kill　them。　It　will　divert　their　attention　from　the　men；　to　me。'
　
　He　gazed　silently　at　her　as　she　went　on。　'I　would　be　willing　to　suffer　any　embarrassment；'　she　said；　'if　it　will　save　the　life　of　even　one　of　our　men。　I　must　do　this　to　help　them；　and　to　keep　them　alive。'
　
　He　looked　to　the　ground　as　he　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets。
　
　'I　never　knew　the　Mother　Confessor　was　a　person　who　cared　this　much　for　her　people；'　he　whispered。　'I　never　knew　before；　that　she　cared　at　all　what　happened　to　any　of　us。'　He　looked　up　at　last。　'Is　there　anything　at　all　I　can　say　to　talk　you　out　of　doing　this？'
　
　Kahlan　smiled。　'There's　only　one　man　in　the　world　who　could　keep　me　from　doing　this；　and　you　are　not　him。'　She　laughed　quietly。　'In　fact；　if　he　knew　what　I　was　about　to　do；　I'm　sure　he　would　forbid　it。'
　
　His　curiosity　overcame　his　caution。　'One　man？　Is　he　your　mate？'　She　shook　her　head。　'He　is　the　one　you　will　choose　as　your　mate？'
　
　Kahlan　sighed　pleasantly。　'No。　He　is　the　one　I'm　to　wed。　At　least　I　hope　to　wed　him。　He　asked　me　to　marry　him。'　She　smiled　at　the　confused　look　on　his　face。　'His　name　is　Richard。　He　is　the　Seeker。'
　
　Captain　Ryan　stiffened　and　his　breath　cut　off。　'If　I'm　asking　what　I　shouldn't；　just　say　so；　but　I　thought　all　Confessors　used　their　power　。。。　I　thought；　your　magic　would　。。。　I　didn't　think　Confessors　could　。。。　marry。'
　
　'They　can't。　But　Richard　is　specia