tg.stone of tears-µÚ132ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
dn't¡¡be¡¡running¡¡around¡¡foolishly¡¡risking¡¡her¡¡life£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Midlands¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡world¡¡of¡¡the¡¡living¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡in¡¡danger¡£
¡¡
¡¡That¡¡was¡¡what¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡¡was¡¡laughing¡¡at£º¡¡her¡¡foolishness¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡tea¡¡Prindin¡¡had¡¡made¡¡for¡¡her¡¡and¡¡held¡¡it¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hands£»¡¡letting¡¡it¡¡warm¡¡her¡¡fingers¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Midlands¡¡and¡¡had¡¡to¡¡act¡¡like¡¡a¡¡leader£»¡¡and¡¡tend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡most¡¡important¡¡things¡¡above¡¡all¡¡else£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡things¡¡that¡¡she£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡she£»¡¡could¡¡do¡£¡¡She¡¡downed¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tea£»¡¡making¡¡a¡¡face¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bitter¡¡taste¡£
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡again£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡teacup¡¡on¡¡her¡¡stomach¡£¡¡The¡¡faces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡women¡¡again¡¡floated¡¡before¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡The¡¡weapon¡¡that¡¡most¡¡readily¡¡conquers¡¡reason¡¡is¡¡terror¡¡and¡¡violence£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡what¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡had¡¡done¡¡to¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡horror¡¡of¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡¡done¡¡had¡¡conquered¡¡her¡¡reason¡£
¡¡
¡¡That¡¡very¡¡day£»¡¡she¡¡and¡¡her¡¡men¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡lost¡¡if¡¡the¡¡scouts¡¡had¡¡all¡¡been¡¡killed¡£¡¡Without¡¡those¡¡guides£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡lost£»¡¡and¡¡vincible¡¡to¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£
¡¡
¡¡That¡¡was¡¡what¡¡she¡¡was£º¡¡a¡¡guide¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡guide¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Midlands¡£¡¡She¡¡belonged¡¡in¡¡Aydindril£»¡¡guiding¡¡the¡¡council£»¡¡pulling¡¡everyone¡¡together¡¡against¡¡the¡¡threat¡£¡¡Without¡¡that¡¡guidance£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡ignorant£»¡¡and¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fog¡¡of¡¡what¡¡was¡¡happening¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡was¡¡also¡¡Richard's¡¡guide£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡help¡¡he¡¡needed¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡up¡¡to¡¡her¡¡to¡¡get¡¡Zedd's¡¡help¡£¡¡Without¡¡that¡¡guidance£»¡¡Richard£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡living£»¡¡were¡¡lost¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡sat¡¡up£»¡¡staring¡¡into¡¡the¡¡candle¡¡flame¡£
¡¡
¡¡No¡¡wonder¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡¡had¡¡been¡¡laughing¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡been¡¡letting¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡conquer¡¡her¡¡reason¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡almost¡¡been¡¡diverted¡¡from¡¡her¡¡duties£»¡¡and¡¡given¡¡the¡¡Keeper¡¡time¡¡to¡¡work¡¡his¡¡plans¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡now¡¡what¡¡she¡¡had¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡done¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡get¡¡these¡¡men¡¡started£»¡¡had¡¡shown¡¡them¡¡their¡¡responsibility£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡it¡¡out¡£¡¡Now¡¡they¡¡had¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡they¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡conquer¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£¡¡What¡¡she¡¡had¡¡done¡¡was¡¡right£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡they¡¡had¡¡their¡¡jobs£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡hers¡£
¡¡
¡¡This¡¡army¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡now¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡Aydindril¡£
¡¡
¡¡Having¡¡decided£»¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡a¡¡great¡¡weight¡¡had¡¡been¡¡lifted¡¡from¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡infused¡¡with¡¡purpose¡£¡¡Richard£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡he¡¡wasn't¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡had¡¡helped¡¡her¡¡find¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡confusion£»¡¡and¡¡helped¡¡her¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡true¡¡duty¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡teacup£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡had¡¡drunk¡¡the¡¡tea£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cup¡¡was¡¡empty¡£¡¡Her¡¡head¡¡felt¡¡fuzzy¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡wouldn't¡¡stay¡¡open¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡so¡¡tired¡¡she¡¡could¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡sit¡¡up¡£
¡¡
¡¡As¡¡she¡¡flopped¡¡back¡¡down£»¡¡she¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡Richard¡¡was¡¡doing£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡£¡¡Probably¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Sisters£»¡¡learning¡¡how¡¡to¡¡control¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡She¡¡prayed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡good¡¡spirits¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡help¡¡him¡¡realize¡¡how¡¡much¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡him¡£
¡¡
¡¡Her¡¡arm£»¡¡suddenly¡¡too¡¡heavy¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡up£»¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cup¡¡rolled¡¡away¡£
¡¡
¡¡Sleep¡¡was¡¡as¡¡dreamless¡¡as¡¡death¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡46
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡plunged¡¡into¡¡a¡¡void£»¡¡a¡¡wasteland¡¡of¡¡brutal¡¡blackness¡¡bereft¡¡of¡¡all¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡time¡¡or¡¡awareness¡¡of¡¡place¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡lost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡The¡¡dark¡¡deprivation¡¡was¡¡beyond¡¡understanding£»¡¡or¡¡fort¡£
¡¡
¡¡Drifting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡that¡¡void£»¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡something¡£¡¡That¡¡there¡¡was¡¡something¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡sparked¡¡hope¡¡in¡¡her£»¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡from¡¡this¡¡forsaken¡¡nowhere¡£¡¡With¡¡that¡¡tingling¡¡of¡¡sense£»¡¡she¡¡snatched¡¡desperately¡¡at¡¡substance£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡clutching¡¡a¡¡rock¡¡in¡¡a¡¡vast£»¡¡dark¡¡river¡£¡¡Trying¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡suffocating¡¡darkness¡¡brought¡¡sensation¡¡to¡¡her¡¡body¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡floated¡¡back£»¡¡her¡¡head¡¡throbbing¡¡with¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡ache£»¡¡and¡¡numbly¡¡she¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡was¡¡happening¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡Someone¡¡called¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡Mother¡¡Confessor£»¡¡they¡¡called¡£¡¡No£»¡¡that¡¡wasn't¡¡her¡¡name¡£
¡¡
¡¡It¡¡came¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡Kahlan¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡her¡¡name¡£¡¡Hands¡¡shook¡¡her¡£¡¡Someone¡¡was¡¡calling¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡shaking¡¡her¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡returned¡¡from¡¡a¡¡great¡¡distance¡£
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan's¡¡eyes¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡world¡¡spun¡£¡¡Captain¡¡Ryan¡¡was¡¡gripping¡¡her¡¡shoulders£»¡¡shaking¡¡her£»¡¡calling¡¡to¡¡her¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡cold¡¡air¡¡into¡¡her¡¡lungs¡£¡¡She¡¡twisted¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡had¡¡to¡¡put¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡for¡¡support¡£¡¡Concern¡¡creased¡¡his¡¡features¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Mother¡¡Confessor£»¡¡are¡¡you¡¡all¡¡right£¿'
¡¡
¡¡'I¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡I¡¡¡£¡£¡£'¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡about¡£¡¡Tossidin¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡too¡£¡¡She¡¡sat¡¡up¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡and¡¡put¡¡her¡¡cold¡¡fingers¡¡to¡¡her¡¡forehead¡£¡¡'My¡¡head¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡What¡¡time¡¡is¡¡it£¿'
¡¡
¡¡'It¡¡will¡¡be¡¡light¡¡soon¡£'¡¡With¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡concern£»¡¡he¡¡glanced¡¡back¡¡over¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡at¡¡Tossidin¡£¡¡'We¡¡came¡¡to¡¡wake¡¡you£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡told¡¡me¡¡to¡£¡¡The¡¡swordsmen¡¡are¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡go¡£'
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡pushed¡¡her¡¡mantle¡¡off¡£¡¡'I'll¡¡be¡¡ready¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡can¡¡¡£¡£¡£'
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡remembered¡¡her¡¡decision¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡Aydindril¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡Zedd¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡to¡¡get¡¡help¡¡for¡¡Richard¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡was¡¡true¡¡that¡¡the¡¡veil¡¡was¡¡torn¡¡¡£¡£¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Mother¡¡Confessor£»¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡look¡¡well¡£¡¡You've¡¡been¡¡through¡¡a¡¡lot£»¡¡you¡¡hadn't¡¡slept¡¡in¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡you've¡¡only¡¡just¡¡gotten¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡sleep¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡need¡¡more¡£'
¡¡
¡¡Yes£»¡¡she¡¡did¡£¡¡Though¡¡she¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡her¡¡power¡¡was¡¡back£»¡¡she¡¡definitely¡¡did¡¡not¡¡feel¡¡recovered¡£¡¡She¡¡put¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡his¡¡arm¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Captain£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡leave¡¡for¡¡Aydindril¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡¡£¡£¡£'
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡a¡¡little¡¡smile¡£¡¡'You¡¡rest¡£¡¡You're¡¡not¡¡rested¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡travel¡£¡¡Stay¡¡here¡¡and¡¡rest¡£¡¡When¡¡we¡¡get¡¡back£»¡¡you'll¡¡be¡¡rested¡¡and¡¡you¡¡can¡¡leave¡£'
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡nodded£»¡¡still¡¡clutching¡¡his¡¡sleeve¡¡for¡¡support¡£¡¡'Yes¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡I¡¡must¡¡leave¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡about¡¡it¡¡last¡¡night¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡get¡¡to¡¡Aydindril¡£¡¡I'll¡¡rest¡¡until¡¡you¡¡get¡¡back£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡I¡¡must¡¡leave¡£'¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡about¡£¡¡Only¡¡Tossidin¡¡was¡¡there¡¡with¡¡the¡¡captain¡£¡¡'Where's¡¡Chandalen£»¡¡and¡¡Prindin£¿'
¡¡
¡¡'My¡¡brother¡¡went¡¡to¡¡check¡¡on¡¡their¡¡sentries£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡they¡¡didn't¡¡place¡¡any£»'¡¡Tossidin¡¡said£»¡¡'so¡¡that¡¡our¡¡attack¡¡will¡¡be¡¡without¡¡warning¡£'
¡¡
¡¡'Chandalen¡¡is¡¡attacking¡¡with¡¡the¡¡pikemen£»'¡¡Captain¡¡Ryan¡¡said¡£¡¡'I'm¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡swordsmen¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡attack¡£'
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡forted¡¡her¡¡sore¡¡lip¡£¡¡'Tossidin£»¡¡tell¡¡Chandalen¡¡that¡¡when¡¡your¡¡attack¡¡is¡¡finished£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡leave¡£¡¡You¡¡three¡¡be¡¡careful¡£¡¡You¡¡must¡¡get¡¡me¡¡to¡¡Aydindril¡£'¡¡She¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡open¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡bring¡¡forth¡¡the¡¡energy¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡she¡¡wasn't¡¡able¡¡to¡¡travel£»¡¡yet¡£¡¡'I'll¡¡rest¡¡until¡¡you¡¡return¡£'
¡¡
¡¡Captain¡¡Ryan¡¡sighed¡¡with¡¡relief¡¡that¡¡she¡¡wasn't¡¡going¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡safe£»¡¡here¡£¡¡'I'll¡¡leave¡¡some¡¡men¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡guard¡¡while¡¡you¡¡rest¡£'
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡gestured¡¡with¡¡her¡¡hand¡£¡¡'This¡¡camp¡¡is¡¡well¡¡hidden¡£¡¡I'm¡¡safe¡¡up¡¡here¡£'
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡leaned¡¡forward¡¡insistently¡£¡¡Ten¡¡or¡¡twelve¡¡men¡¡are¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡make¡¡any¡¡difference¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡would¡¡be¡¡better¡¡able¡¡to¡¡put¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡our¡¡task¡¡if¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡worrying¡¡about¡¡you¡¡all¡¡alone¡¡back¡¡here¡£'
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡didn't¡¡have¡¡the¡¡energy¡¡to¡¡argue¡£¡¡'All¡¡right¡¡¡£¡£¡£'
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡flopped¡¡back¡¡down¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡troubled¡¡frown£»¡¡Tossidin¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡mantle¡¡up¡¡over¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡sinking¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡blackness¡¡as¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡crawled¡¡out¡¡the¡¡opening¡£¡¡She¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡herself¡¡from¡¡going¡¡into¡¡that¡¡unfeeling¡¡place£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡helplessly¡¡swept¡¡away¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡crushing¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡void¡¡closed¡¡in¡¡around¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡its¡¡grasp£»¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡e¡¡back¡¡up£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡was¡¡too¡¡thick£»¡¡like¡¡being¡¡encased¡¡in¡¡mud¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡trapped£»¡¡still¡¡being¡¡sucked¡¡deeper¡£¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡surge¡¡of¡¡panic¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡think£»¡¡but¡¡could¡¡not¡¡form¡¡thoughts¡¡into¡¡coherent¡¡concepts¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡the¡¡sense¡¡that¡¡something¡¡was¡¡wrong£»¡¡but¡¡could¡¡not¡¡bring¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡on¡¡the¡¡solution¡£
¡¡
¡¡This¡¡time£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡surrendering£»¡¡she¡¡focused¡¡all¡¡her¡¡strength¡¡on¡¡thoughts¡¡of¡¡Richard£»¡¡on¡¡her¡¡need¡¡to¡¡help¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡then¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡total¡¡void¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡an¡¡inkling¡¡of¡¡time£»¡¡sensing¡¡its¡¡incremental¡¡passing¡£¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡were¡¡sleeping¡¡her¡¡whole¡¡lifetime¡¡away¡¡as¡¡she¡¡tenaciously¡¡kept¡¡Richard¡¡in¡¡her¡¡thoughts¡£
¡¡
¡¡Her¡¡concern¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡anxiety¡¡over¡¡the¡¡strangeness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡depthless¡¡sleep£»¡¡let¡¡her¡¡slowly£»¡¡methodically£»¡¡claw¡¡her¡¡way¡¡back¡£¡¡Yet¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡take¡¡hours¡£
¡¡
¡¡With¡¡a¡¡desperate¡¡gasp£»¡¡she¡¡came¡¡awake¡£¡¡Her¡¡head¡¡swirled¡¡with¡¡a¡¡throbbing¡¡ache¡£¡¡Her¡¡whole¡¡body¡¡tingled¡¡with¡¡sharp¡¡little¡¡pricks¡¡of¡¡pain¡£¡¡She¡¡laboriously¡¡pushed¡¡herself¡¡up£»¡¡to¡¡sit£»¡¡staring¡¡about¡¡her¡¡dark¡¡shelter¡£¡¡The¡¡candle¡¡was¡¡burned¡¡almost¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡down¡£¡¡Quiet¡¡hummed¡¡in¡¡her¡¡ears¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡maybe¡¡she¡¡needed¡¡cold¡¡air¡¡to¡¡wake¡¡up¡£¡¡Her¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡legs¡¡felt¡¡thick¡¡and¡¡heavy¡¡as¡¡she¡¡crawled¡¡through¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shelter¡£¡¡Outside£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡dusk¡£¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡stars¡¡winking¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡Her¡¡breath¡¡fogged¡¡before¡¡her¡¡face¡¡as¡¡she¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡wobbly¡¡legs¡£
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡took¡¡a¡¡step£»¡¡and¡¡promptly¡¡tripped¡¡over¡¡something£»¡¡falling¡¡on¡¡her¡¡face¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow¡£¡¡Her¡¡cheek¡¡still¡¡against¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡she¡¡opened¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡Inches¡¡away£»¡¡glassy¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡side¡¡of¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man's¡¡face¡¡was¡¡lying¡¡against¡¡the¡¡snow£»¡¡close¡¡to¡¡hers¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡his¡¡leg¡¡she¡¡had¡¡tripped¡¡over¡£¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡her¡¡bones¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡leap¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡skin¡¡and¡¡run¡£
¡¡
¡¡His¡¡throat¡¡was¡¡gaping¡¡open£»¡¡his¡¡neck¡¡nearly¡¡sliced¡¡in¡¡two£»¡¡letting¡¡his¡¡head¡¡bend¡¡back¡¡from¡¡his¡¡body¡¡at¡¡an¡¡impossible¡¡angle¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡of¡¡his¡¡severed¡¡windpipe¡£¡¡Clotted¡¡blood¡¡covered¡¡snow¡£¡¡A¡¡bloom¡¡of¡¡bile¡¡rose¡¡up¡¡into¡¡her¡¡throat¡£¡¡She¡¡swallowed£»¡¡forcing¡¡it¡¡back¡¡down¡£
¡¡
¡¡Slowly¡¡lifting¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡other¡¡bodies¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡all¡¡Galean¡£¡¡Every¡¡sword¡¡still¡¡rested¡¡in¡¡its¡¡scabbard¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡died¡¡without¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡back¡£
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan's¡¡legs¡¡tensed£»¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡run£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡strained¡¡to¡¡be¡¡still¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡dull¡¡fog¡¡of¡¡the¡¡halfsleep¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡throw¡¡off£»¡¡she¡¡struggled¡¡to¡¡think¡£¡¡Her¡¡mind¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡mired¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dreamlike¡¡stupor£»¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡concentrate¡£¡¡Someone¡¡had¡¡killed¡¡these¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡still¡¡be¡¡around£»¡¡she¡¡somehow¡¡had¡¡to¡¡force¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡think¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡touched¡¡her¡¡fingers¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡soldier's¡¡hand¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡still¡¡warm¡£¡¡This¡¡must¡¡have¡¡just¡¡happened¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡that¡¡was¡¡what¡¡had¡¡wakened¡¡her¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡peered¡¡up£»¡¡among¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡Men¡¡moved¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadows¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡moving¡¡into¡¡the¡¡clearing¡¡around¡¡her¡£¡¡They¡¡laughed¡¡and¡¡hooted¡¡as¡¡they¡¡came¡¡forward£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡who¡¡they¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡close¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡D'Harans£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡Keltans¡£¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡Order¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡gasp£»¡¡Kahlan¡¡sprang¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet¡£
¡¡
¡¡One¡¡man£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡closest£»¡¡had¡¡a¡¡puffy¡¡red¡¡wound¡¡down¡¡the¡¡left¡¡side¡¡of¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡from¡¡his¡¡temple¡¡to¡¡his¡¡jaw£»¡¡where¡¡Nick's¡¡hoof¡¡had¡¡caught¡¡him¡£¡¡Ragged¡¡stitches¡¡held¡¡the¡¡black¡¡and¡¡red¡¡flesh¡¡closed¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡sneering¡¡smile¡¡with¡¡the¡¡good¡¡side¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mouth¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡General¡¡Riggs¡£
¡¡
¡¡'Well£»¡¡well£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡found¡¡you¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡Confessor¡£'
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡flinched¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡when¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡form¡¡screaming¡¡a¡¡battle¡¡cry¡¡crashed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡underbrush¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡men¡¡turned£»¡¡Kahlan¡¡bolted¡¡the¡¡other¡¡way¡£
¡¡
¡¡Before¡¡she¡¡turned£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡fading¡¡light¡¡glint¡¡off¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡war¡¡axe¡£¡¡The¡¡crescent¡shaped¡¡blade¡¡struck¡¡down¡¡two¡¡men¡¡in¡¡one¡¡swing¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Orsk¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡searching¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡too£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡could¡¡protect¡¡her¡£¡¡One¡¡touched¡¡by¡¡a¡¡Confessor¡¡never¡¡gave¡¡up¡£
¡¡
¡¡Her¡¡legs¡¡felt¡¡thick£»¡¡and¡¡tingled¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡slept¡¡on¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡as¡¡hard¡¡as¡¡she¡¡could¡£¡¡Yelling¡¡and¡¡screaming¡¡erupted¡¡behind¡¡her¡£¡¡Steel¡¡rang¡¡against¡¡steel¡£¡¡Orsk¡¡roared¡¡as¡¡he¡¡tore¡¡into¡¡the¡¡men¡¡after¡¡her¡£
¡¡
¡¡Spruce¡¡branches¡¡slapped¡¡her¡¡face¡¡as¡¡she¡¡staggered¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡Dead¡¡limbs¡¡and¡¡brush¡¡snagged¡¡her¡¡pants¡¡and¡¡shirt¡£¡¡Dizzy£»¡¡she¡¡stumbled¡¡through¡¡the¡¡drifts¡£¡¡Snow¡¡splashed¡¡against¡¡her¡¡face¡¡as¡¡she¡¡crashed¡¡through¡¡drooping¡¡boughs¡£¡¡She¡¡couldn't¡¡make¡¡her¡¡legs¡¡run¡¡fast¡¡enough¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡man¡¡on¡¡her¡¡heels¡¡grunted¡¡as¡¡he¡¡dove¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡His¡¡a