tg.stone of tears-第42章

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　'This　man　。。。'　Richard　held　the　piece　of　meat　up　in　front　of　the　Bird　Man's　face。　'This　man　was　the　son　of　their　spirit　guide。'
　
　The　elders　broke　into　worried　whispers。　The　Bird　Man　didn't　move　his　eyes　from　Richard。　'Are　you　sure　of　this？　Killing　the　son　of　a　spirit　guide　is　a　grave　offense。　Even　in　self…defense。　It　would　be　the　same　if　someone　killed　my　offspring；　had　I　one。'　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　'Grave　enough　to　start　a　war。'
　
　Richard　nodded　hurriedly。　'I　know。　That's　what　they　had　planned。　For　some　reason；　they　thought　the　Mud　People　were　suddenly　dangerous　to　them。　To　be　sure；　they　sent　the　son　of　their　spirit　guide；　knowing　that　if　we　killed　him；　it　would　be　a　sign　of　our　hostile　intent。　They　were　planning　on　watching　for　his　head　on　a　pole；　to　see　if　they　were　right。　If　he　didn't　return；　and　they　found　the　head；　they　were　going　to　attack。'
　
　He　waved　the　meat　in　front　of　the　elders'　faces　again。　This　man；　for　some　reason；　had　bitterness　in　his　heart。　He　wanted　there　to　be　a　war。　He　attacked　us；　knowing　he　would　be　killed；　wanting　it；　so　it　would　start　the　war；　and　his　people　could　kill　all　the　Mud　People。　Don't　you　see？　With　the　banquet　going　on；　they　will　hear　the　sounds　of　it　far　out　onto　the　plain。　They　will　know　we　are　not　prepared　to　defend　ourselves；　that　we　are　diverted。　They　are　ing！　Now！'
　
　The　elders　all　leaned　back　a　little。　The　Bird　Man　turned　to　Chandalen。
　
　'Richard　With　The　Temper　has　had　a　vision　from　our　enemy。　Have　each　of　your　men　gather　ten　others。　We　must　not　allow　the　Bantak　to　harm　our　people。　You　will　stop　them　before　they　reach　the　village。'
　
　Chandalen's　eyes　flashed　to　Richard；　and　then　back　to　the　Bird　Man。　'We　will　see　if　his　vision　is　true。　I　will　lead　our　men　east。　If　they　are　ing；　we　will　stop　them。'
　
　'No！'　Richard　screamed　when　Kahlan　translated。　'They　will　e　from　the　north！'
　
　'North！'　Chandalen　glared　at　him。　'The　Bantak　live　to　the　east；　not　the　north。　They　will　e　from　the　east。'
　
　They　will　expect　you　to　defend　to　the　east。　They　think　the　Mud　people　want　to　kill　them。　They　expect　it。　They　will　flank　you　and　e　from　the　north！'
　
　Chandalen　folded　his　arms。　'The　Bantak　are　not　fighters。　They　do　not　know　of　such　tactics。　If　they　are　going　to　attack　us；　as　you　say；　they　will　simply　e　straight　in。　As　you　said；　they　will　hear　the　banquet；　they　will　know　we　will　be　unprepared。　They　have　no　reason　to　go　all　the　way　around　and　e　in　from　the　north。　It　would　only　slow　them　down　for　no　reason。'
　
　Richard　glared　at　him。　'They　are　ing　from　the　north。'
　
　'Was　this　part　of　your　vision？'　the　Bird　Man　asked。　'Did　you　see　this　too；　from　eating　the　meat？'
　
　Richard　forced　out　a　breath　and　looked　down。　'No。　I　didn't　see　it　with　the　rest　of　the　vision。'　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　'But　I　know　it's　true。　I　don't　know　how；　but　I　know。　They　are　ing　from　the　north。'
　
　The　Bird　Man　turned　to　Chandalen。　'Perhaps　you　could　split　the　men。　Take　some　to　the　east；　and　some　to　the　north。'
　
　Chandalen　shook　his　head。　'No。　If　the　vision　proves　true；　we　will　need　all　our　men　together。　One　strike；　with　surprise；　with　all　our　men；　and　with　luck；　will　end　it。　If　there　are　enough　of　them；　as　he　seems　to　think；　then　they　might　defeat　a　number　that　small；　and　then　they　would　be　upon　our　people　before　we　could　turn　them　back。　Many　women　and　children　would　be　killed。　The　whole　village　could　fall。　It　is　too　dangerous。'
　
　The　Bird　Man　nodded。　'Chandalen；　a　vision　has　been　presented　to　us。　It　is　your　job　to　keep　our　people　safe。　Since　the　vision　did　not　say　which　way　they　would　e；　only　that　they　would　e；　I　leave　it　to　you　to　protect　us　as　you　see　best。　You　are　the　smartest　fighter　among　us；　I　will　trust　your　fighting　judgment。'
　
　He　frowned　and　leaned　closer　to　the　man。　'But　know　that　it　had　better　be　a　fighting　judgment；　and　not　a　personal　one。'
　
　Chandalen　showed　no　emotion。　'It　is　my　opinion　the　Bantak　would　attack　from　the　east。'　He　glanced　at　Richard。　'If　they　really　e。'
　
　Richard　put　a　hand　on　Chandalen's　folded　arm。　'Chandalen；　please　listen　to　me。'　His　voice　was　quiet　and　worried。　'I　know　you　don't　like　me。　Maybe　you　are　justified　in　your　feelings。　Maybe　you　are　right　that　I　have　brought　trouble　to　our　people。　But　trouble　is　ing　now；　and　it　is　ing　from　the　north。　Please；　I　beg　you；　believe　me。　The　lives　of　all　our　people　depend　on　this。　Hate　me　all　you　want；　but　don't　let　any　of　them　die　because　of　that　hate。'
　
　Richard　drew　the　Sword　of　Truth　and　held　out　the　hilt。　'I　will　give　you　my　sword。　Go　north。　If　they　e　from　the　east；　and　I　am　wrong；　you　may　kill　me　with　it。'
　
　Chandalen　looked　down　at　the　sword；　and　back　up　to　Richard's　face。　A　small　smile　spread　on　his　own。　'I　will　not　let　you　trick　me。　I　will　not　let　our　people　be　devastated；　just　for　a　chance　to　kill　you。　I　would　rather　let　you　live　among　us；　than　let　my　people　be　killed。　I　go　to　the　east。'　He　turned　and　strode　off；　shouting　instructions　to　his　men。
　
　Richard　stood　watching　him　go；　then　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。
　
　'That　man　is　a　fool；'　Kahlan　said。
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　'He　is　just　doing　what　he　thinks　best。　He　wants　to　protect　his　people　more　than　he　wants　to　kill　me。　If　I　had　to　pick　one　man　to　fight　beside　me；　as　much　as　he　hates　me；　it　would　be　him。　I　am　the　fool；　for　not　being　able　to　make　him　see　the　truth。'　He　turned　to　her。　'I　have　to　go　north。　I　have　to　stop　them。'
　
　Kahlan　looked　around。　There　are　some　other　men　here。　We　will　gather　all　we　can　and　…'
　
　He　shook　his　head；　cutting　her　off。　'No。　There　wouldn't　be　enough。　Besides；　we　need　every　man　able　to　hold　a　bow　or　spear　here；　to　defend　the　village　if　I　fail。　The　elders　must　go　on　with　the　banquet。　We　must　have　the　gathering。　That　is　what's　most　important。　I'll　go　alone。　I'm　the　Seeker。　Maybe　I　can　stop　them。　Maybe　they　will　listen　to　one　man；　see　that　he　isn't　so　much　of　a　threat。'
　
　'All　right。　Wait　here。　I'll　be　right　back。'
　
　'Why？'
　
　'I　have　to　put　on　my　Confessor's　dress。'
　
　'You're　not　going！'
　
　'I　have　to。　You　can't　speak　their　language。'
　
　'Kahlan；　I　don't　want　。。。'
　
　'Richard！'　She　snatched　a　fistful　of　his　shirt。　'I'm　the　Mother　Confessor！　There　will　be　no　war　under　my　nose　while　I　have　a　say　in　it！　You　will　wait　here！'
　
　She　released　his　shirt　and　stormed　off。　The　Mother　Confessor　didn't　wait　for　answers　to　her　instructions；　she　expected　them　to　be　carried　out。　She　suddenly　regretted　yelling　at　Richard；　but　she　was　furious　at　Chandalen　for　not　listening。
　
　She　was　furious；　too；　at　the　Bantak。　She　had　been　to　their　village　before　and　always　found　them　to　be　a　gentle　people。　Whatever　their　reasons；　as　long　as　she　was　around　there　was　going　to　be　no　war。　The　Mother　Confessor　was　supposed　to　stop　wars；　not　sit　by　and　watch　them　start。　This　was　her　responsibility；　her　job；　not　Richard's。
　
　At　Savidlin　and　Weselan's　home；　in　the　dark　with　all　the　noise　going　on　outside；　she　slipped　into　her　white　Confessor's　dress。　All　Confessors　wore　dresses　cut　the　same；　square　at　the　neck；　long；　simple；　free　of　embellishment；　and　satiny　smooth；　but　of　black　fabric。
　
　Only　the　Mother　Confessor's　was　white。　It　was　a　mantle　of　power。　In　the　dress；　she　was　not　Kahlan　Amnell；　she　was　the　Mother　Confessor；　a　symbol　of　the　power　of　truth。　With　all　the　other　Confessors　now　dead；　the　weight　of　defending　the　Midlands；　those　without　power；　was　upon　her　shoulders。
　
　It　made　her　feel　different　now　to　wear　the　dress。　Before；　it　had　seemed　the　normal　thing　to　do。　Now；　since　she　had　met　Richard；　it　seemed　a　heavier　responsibility。　Before；　she　had　always　felt　alone　in　her　job；　but　now；　with　him；　she　felt　more　of　a　connection　to　the　people　of　the　Midlands；　more　one　of　them；　more　responsible　to　them。　She　knew　now　what　it　was　to　love　someone；　and　to　fear　for　him。　She　was　not　going　to　allow　anyone　to　start　a　war；　not　as　long　as　she　was　the　Mother　Confessor。　She　grabbed　their　heavy　cloaks　and　went　back　through　the　passageways　to　the　festivities。
　
　The　elders　were　standing　in　front　of　their　platform；　where　she　had　left　them。　Richard　was　still　waiting。　She　tossed　his　cloak　to　him　and　addressed　the　elders。
　
　'Tomorrow　night　is　the　gathering。　It　must　go　on。　We　will　be　back　well　before　then。'　She　turned　to　the　wives。　'　Weselan；　we　wish　to　be　married　the　next　day。　I'm　sorry　there　isn't　more　time　to　prepare；　but　we　must　leave　as　soon　as　it　is　done。　We　must　go　to　Aydindril。　We　must　stop　the　threat　to　the　Mud　People　and　everyone　else。'
　
　Weselan　smiled。　'　Your　dress　will　be　ready。　I　wish　we　could　give　you　a　big　wedding　feast；　but　we　understand。'
　
　The　Bird　Man　put　a　hand　on　her　shoulder。　'If　Chandalen　is　wrong　。。。　Be　careful。　The　Bantak　are　peaceful；　but　maybe　things　have　changed。　Tell　them　we　wish　their　people　no　harm。　We　do　not　want　war　with　them。'
　
　Kahlan　nodded　and　flung　her　cloak　around　her　shoulders　as　she　started　off。　'Let's　go。'
　
　
　CHAPTER　15
　
　Richard　fell　in　beside　her　without　objection。　Without　speaking；　they　left　the　village　and　went　north　out　onto　the　flat；　open　grasslands。　As　they　walked；　the　sounds　of　the　people　and　boldas　and　drums　faded　steadily　into　the　night。　The　moon　wasn't　near　full；　but　it　gave　them　enough　light　to　see　by　as　they　walked　through　the　waist…high；　dry　grass。　She　hoped　that　it　was　dark　enough　to　make　them　poor　targets。
　
　Richard　finally　glanced　over。　'Kahlan；　I'm　sorry。'
　
　'For　what？'
　
　'For　forgetting　who　you　are。　That　you　are　the　Mother　Confessor；　and　that　this　is　your　job。　I　was　just　worried　for　you。'
　
　She　was　surprised　by　his　apology。　'I'm　sorry　I　yelled　at　you。　I　shouldn't　have　done　that。　I　just　don't　want　there　to　be　any　fighting。　I'm　supposed　to　keep　the　people　of　the　Midlands　from　fighting。　It　makes　me　angry　when　they　insist　on　killing　one　another。　Richard；　I'm　so　tired　of　seeing　people　killed。　I　thought　it　was　over。　I　can't　bear　it　anymore。　I　swear　I　can't。'
　
　He　put　an　arm　around　her。　'I　know。　Me；　too。'　He　gave　her　shoulder　a　squeeze　as　they　walked。　'The　Mother　Confessor　will　put　a　stop　to　it。'　He　looked　over。　She　thought　he　was　frowning；　but　it　was　too　dark　to　be　sure。　'With　my　help。'
　
　She　grinned。　'With　your　help。'　She　leaned　her　head　against　him　a　moment。　'From　now　on；　always　with　your　help。'
　
　They　walked　a　long　way　from　the　village　without　seeing　anything　but　the　black　ground　and　starlit　sky。　Richard　would　stop　once　in　a　while　to　watch　the　surrounding　grassland　and　take　out　a　few　of　Nissel's　leaves　to　chew。　Sometime　past　the　middle　of　the　night　they　came　to　a　slight　depression　in　the　landscape。　He　looked　around　again　and　then　decided　they　should　wait　where　they　were。　It　would　be　better　for　the　Bantak　to　e　upon　them；　he　said；　than　for　the　two　of　them　to　walk　into　a　surprise。
　
　Richard　flattened　out　a　small　patch　of　grass　and　they　sat　down　to　wait。　They　each　took　turns　taking　little　naps　while　the　other　watched　to　the　north。　With　her　hand　over　his；　she　watched　him　sleep　and　scanned　the　horizon；　and　thought　about　all　the　times　they　had　done　this　before；　one　standing　watch；　the　other　sleeping。　She　longed　for　the　day　they　could　just　sleep；　and　not　have　to　watch。　Sleep　together。　It　would　happen；　she　decided；　soon　e