nst¡¡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¡¡off¡¡a¡¡ways£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡earshot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡camp£»¡¡with¡¡Chandalen¡¡in¡¡tow£»¡¡as¡¡Prindin¡¡went¡¡to¡¡get¡¡Tossidin¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡all¡¡together£»¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡Chandalen¡¡was¡¡scowling£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two¡¡waited¡¡without¡¡emotion¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®The¡¡Mud¡¡People£»¡¯¡¡she¡¡began¡¡in¡¡a¡¡soft¡¡tone£»¡¡¡®have¡¡magic¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡have¡¡no¡¡magic£»¡¯¡¡Chandalen¡¡argued¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Yes£»¡¡you¡¡do¡£¡¡You¡¡do¡¡not¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it¡¡as¡¡magic¡¡because¡¡you¡¡were¡¡born¡¡with¡¡it¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¡You¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡of¡¡other¡¡peoples£»¡¡of¡¡their¡¡ways¡£¡¡The¡¡Mud¡¡People¡¡can¡¡speak¡¡with¡¡their¡¡ancestors¡¯¡¡spirits¡£¡¡They¡¡can¡¡do¡¡this¡¡because¡¡they¡¡have¡¡magic¡£¡¡You¡¡think¡¡this¡¡is¡¡simply¡¡the¡¡way¡¡things¡¡work£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not¡¡work¡¡so¡¡in¡¡other¡¡places£»¡¡with¡¡other¡¡people¡£¡¡Your¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡do¡¡these¡¡things¡¡is¡¡magic¡£¡¡Magic¡¡is¡¡not¡¡some¡¡strange¡¡and¡¡powerful¡¡force£»¡¡it¡¯s¡¡simply¡¡the¡¡way¡¡some¡¡people£»¡¡some¡¡creatures£»¡¡are¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Others¡¡can¡¡speak¡¡with¡¡their¡¡ancestors£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡wish£»¡¯¡¡Chandalen¡¡said¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®A¡¡few¡¡can£»¡¡but¡¡most¡¡cannot¡£¡¡To¡¡them£»¡¡it¡¯s¡¡speaking¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dead£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is¡¡magic¡£¡¡Frightening¡¡magic¡£¡¡You£»¡¡and¡¡I£»¡¡know¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡feared£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡will¡¡never¡¡convince¡¡others¡¡that¡¡what¡¡you¡¡do¡¡is¡¡good¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡always¡¡think¡¡it¡¡evil¡£¡¡People¡¡believe¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡raised£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡raised¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡is¡¡evil¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®But¡¡our¡¡ancestors¡¯¡¡spirits¡¡help¡¡us£»¡¯¡¡Prindin¡¡said¡£¡¡¡®They¡¡never¡¡bring¡¡harm¡£¡¡They¡¡only¡¡bring¡¡help¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡laid¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡as¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡his¡¡worried¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡know¡£¡¡That¡¯s¡¡why¡¡I¡¡help¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡others¡¡away¡¡from¡¡you£»¡¡so¡¡you¡¡may¡¡live¡¡as¡¡you¡¡wish¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡a¡¡few¡¡other¡¡people¡¡who¡¡talk¡¡with¡¡their¡¡ancestors£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡they£»¡¡too£»¡¡have¡¡this¡¡magic¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡other¡¡peoples£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡creatures£»¡¡that¡¡have¡¡magic¡¡different¡¡from¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡just¡¡as¡¡important¡¡to¡¡them¡¡as¡¡yours¡¡is¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡each¡£¡¡¡®Do¡¡you¡¡understand¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Yes£»¡¡Mother¡¡Confessor£»¡¯¡¡Tossidin¡¡said¡£
¡¡
¡¡Prindin¡¡nodded¡¡his¡¡agreement¡£¡¡Chandalen¡¡grunted¡¡and¡¡folded¡¡his¡¡arms¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®The¡¡important¡¡thing£»¡¡though£»¡¡is¡¡not¡¡if¡¡you¡¡believe¡¡what¡¡you¡¡have¡¡can¡¡be¡¡called¡¡magic¡£¡¡The¡¡important¡¡thing¡¡is¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡others¡¡believe¡¡what¡¡you¡¡do¡¡is¡¡magic¡£¡¡Many¡¡fear¡¡magic¡£¡¡They¡¡think¡¡you¡¡are¡¡evil¡¡because¡¡you¡¡practice¡¡this¡¡magic¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡pointed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡army¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡Order¡£¡¡¡®Those¡¡men£»¡¡the¡¡ones¡¡we¡¡chase£»¡¡the¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡killed¡¡all¡¡the¡¡people¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡joined¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cause¡£¡¡They¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡rule¡¡all¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Midlands¡£¡¡They¡¡do¡¡not¡¡want¡¡any¡¡to¡¡live¡¡as¡¡they¡¡wish£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡bow¡¡to¡¡their¡¡rule¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Why¡¡would¡¡they¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡rule¡¡the¡¡Mud¡¡People£¿¡¯¡¡Prindin¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡®We¡¡have¡¡nothing¡¡they¡¡would¡¡want¡£¡¡We¡¡stay¡¡to¡¡our¡¡lands¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Chandalen¡¡unfolded¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡softly¡£¡¡¡®They¡¡fear¡¡magic£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡wish¡¡us¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡speaking¡¡with¡¡our¡¡ancestors¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡squeezed¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡¡®That¡¯s¡¡right¡£¡¡But¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that£»¡¡they¡¡think¡¡it¡¯s¡¡their¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spirits¡¡they¡¡worship¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡you¡¡all¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡on¡¡a¡¡mission¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡all¡¡who¡¡have¡¡magic£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡think¡¡magic¡¡is¡¡evil¡£¡¡They¡¡believe¡¡people¡¡like¡¡you¡¡have¡¡magic¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡met¡¡Chandalen¡¯s¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡®If¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡¡killed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Jocopo£»¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later£»¡¡they¡¡will¡¡e¡¡and¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡Mud¡¡People£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡they¡¡destroyed¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Ebinissia¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡three¡¡men¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡in¡¡thought¡£¡¡She¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡weigh¡¡her¡¡words¡£¡¡Chandalen¡¡at¡¡last¡¡spoke¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®And¡¡they¡¡would¡¡kill¡¡the¡¡other¡¡people£»¡¡those¡¡who¡¡wish¡¡not¡¡to¡¡have¡¡outsiders¡¡e¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡to¡¡live¡¡alone£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Mud¡¡People£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®They¡¡would¡£¡¡I¡¡spoke¡¡with¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡that¡¡army¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡like¡¡crazy¡¡men¡£¡¡They¡¡sound¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡have¡¡been¡¡visited¡¡by¡¡evil¡¡spirits£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Bantak¡¡did¡£¡¡Like¡¡the¡¡Jocopo¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡not¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡reason¡£¡¡They¡¡think¡¡we¡¡are¡¡the¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡evil¡¡spirits¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡do¡¡as¡¡they¡¡promise¡£¡¡You¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡city¡¡they¡¡destroyed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡the¡¡army¡¡defending¡¡it£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡an¡¡empty¡¡threat¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡must¡¡get¡¡to¡¡Aydindril¡¡so¡¡I¡¡can¡¡raise¡¡an¡¡army¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡these¡¡men¡£¡¡The¡¡councilors¡¡should¡¡already¡¡be¡¡doing¡¡that£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡must¡¡get¡¡there¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡the¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡threat¡¡is¡¡known£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Midlands¡¡join¡¡together¡¡in¡¡this¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®But¡¡there¡¡are¡¡no¡¡forces¡¡at¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡these¡¡men£»¡¡now£»¡¡except¡¡these¡¡boys¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡cities¡¡that¡¡will¡¡be¡¡destroyed¡¡before¡¡help¡¡can¡¡arrive¡£¡¡Worse£»¡¡the¡¡threat¡¡these¡¡men¡¡pose¡¡will¡¡convince¡¡some¡¡to¡¡join¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡Some¡¡see¡¡honor¡¡as¡¡an¡¡inconvenience¡¡and¡¡will¡¡side¡¡with¡¡the¡¡army¡¡they¡¡think¡¡will¡¡win¡£¡¡This¡¡will¡¡swell¡¡their¡¡ranks¡¡further¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Before¡¡Aydindril¡¡can¡¡send¡¡troops¡¡to¡¡find¡¡and¡¡defeat¡¡these¡¡men£»¡¡many¡¡will¡¡die¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡call¡¡upon¡¡these¡¡boys¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the¡¡fight¡¡now£»¡¡before¡¡more¡¡innocent¡¡people¡¡are¡¡slaughtered¡£¡¡These¡¡boys¡¡volunteered¡¡to¡¡bee¡¡fighters£»¡¡like¡¡you£»¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡their¡¡people£»¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Midlands¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡help¡¡them¡¡in¡¡this¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡not¡¡let¡¡this¡¡army¡¡of¡¡evil¡¡men¡¡escape¡¡to¡¡wander¡¡the¡¡Midlands£»¡¡killing¡¡and¡¡destroying£»¡¡and¡¡winning¡¡more¡¡to¡¡their¡¡side¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡must¡¡begin¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡with¡¡these¡¡boys£»¡¡help¡¡them£»¡¡show¡¡them£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡they¡¡will¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡fight£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡know¡¡they¡¡will¡¡continue¡¡without¡¡us¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡them¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡lead¡¡them¡¡into¡¡the¡¡first¡¡battle£»¡¡to¡¡give¡¡them¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ways¡¡we¡¡teach¡¡them£»¡¡before¡¡we¡¡can¡¡be¡¡on¡¡our¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Aydindril¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Chandalen¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡a¡¡level¡¡look¡£¡¡¡®And¡¡you¡¡will¡¡call¡¡the¡¡lightning¡¡to¡¡help¡¡us£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®No£»¡¯¡¡Kahlan¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡tried¡¡last¡¡night£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡e¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡because¡¡I¡¡invoked¡¡this¡¡special¡¡magic¡¡on¡¡behalf¡¡of¡¡Richard£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡not¡¡work¡¡except¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¯m¡¡sorry¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Chandalen¡¡unfolded¡¡his¡¡arms¡£¡¡¡®Then¡¡how¡¡did¡¡you¡¡kill¡¡so¡¡many£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡patted¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡where¡¡the¡¡bone¡¡knife¡¡was¡£¡¡The¡¡same¡¡way¡¡as¡¡your¡¡grandfather¡¡taught¡¡your¡¡father£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡do¡¡as¡¡they¡¡expected¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡fight¡¡their¡¡way¡£¡¯¡¡The¡¡two¡¡brothers¡¡leaned¡¡in¡¡intently¡¡as¡¡she¡¡spoke¡£¡¡¡®They¡¡like¡¡to¡¡drink£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¯re¡¡drunk£»¡¡they¡¡don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡so¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡are¡¡slow¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Tossidin¡¡pointed¡¡behind¡¡with¡¡a¡¡thumb¡£¡¡¡®These¡¡men£»¡¡too£»¡¡like¡¡to¡¡have¡¡drink¡¡at¡¡night¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡a¡¡wagon¡¡of¡¡it¡¡among¡¡their¡¡supplies¡£¡¡We¡¡would¡¡not¡¡let¡¡them¡¡have¡¡any¡£¡¡Some¡¡were¡¡angry¡£¡¡They¡¡said¡¡it¡¡was¡¡their¡¡right¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡®These¡¡boys¡¡also¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡right¡¡to¡¡march¡¡right¡¡up¡¡to¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡who¡¡outnumbers¡¡them¡¡ten¡¡to¡¡one¡¡and¡¡have¡¡a¡¡battle¡¡in¡¡broad¡¡daylight¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡help¡¡them¡¡in¡¡this¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡teach¡¡them¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®They¡¡do¡¡not¡¡like¡¡to¡¡listen¡£¡¯¡¡Prindin¡¡glanced¡¡back¡¡over¡¡his¡¡shoulder£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡men¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡teach¡£¡¡¡®They¡¡wish¡¡always¡¡to¡¡argue¡£¡¡They¡¡say¡¡¡®This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡way¡¡it¡¡is¡¡done¡¯¡¡and¡¡¡®We¡¡must¡¡do¡¡it¡¡so¡£¡¯¡¡They¡¡are¡¡filled¡¡only¡¡with¡¡the¡¡way¡¡they¡¡were¡¡taught£»¡¡and¡¡do¡¡not¡¡like¡¡to¡¡be¡¡told¡¡another¡¡way¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Yet¡¡that¡¯s¡¡what¡¡we¡¡must¡¡do£»¡¯¡¡Kahlan¡¡said¡£¡¡¡®We¡¡must¡¡lead¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡that¡¡will¡¡work¡£¡¡That¡¯s¡¡why¡¡I¡¡need¡¡you¡¡three¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡you¡¡to¡¡help¡¡me¡¡in¡¡this£»¡¡or¡¡many¡¡people£»¡¡including£»¡¡eventually£»¡¡the¡¡Mud¡¡People£»¡¡will¡¡die¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡your¡¡help¡¡in¡¡this¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡lead¡¡them¡¡into¡¡battle¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Chandalen¡¡stood¡¡mute¡¡and¡¡unmoving¡£¡¡The¡¡two¡¡brothers¡¡pushed¡¡snow¡¡with¡¡their¡¡feet£»¡¡considering¡£¡¡Prindin¡¡finally¡¡looked¡¡up¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡will¡¡help¡£¡¡My¡¡brother¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡as¡¡you¡¡ask¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Thank¡¡you£»¡¡Prindin£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¯s¡¡not¡¡you¡¡who¡¡must¡¡decide¡£¡¡Chandalen¡¡must¡¡be¡¡the¡¡one¡¡who¡¡agrees¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡decide¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡two¡¡brothers¡¡took¡¡sidelong¡¡glances¡¡at¡¡him¡¡as¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡glaring¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡he¡¡let¡¡out¡¡an¡¡exasperated¡¡breath¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®You¡¡are¡¡a¡¡stubborn¡¡woman¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡so¡¡stubborn¡¡you¡¡will¡¡get¡¡killed¡¡if¡¡we¡¡three¡¡are¡¡not¡¡there¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡some¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡your¡¡head¡£¡¡We¡¡go¡¡with¡¡you¡¡to¡¡