tg.stone of tears- 第122部分

　
　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　special。　He　has　the　gift；　and　my　power　cannot　harm　him。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　smiled　at　last。　‘I’m　glad。　I’m　happy　for　you；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　Kahlan　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘But　if　you　ever　meet　him；　don’t　you　dare　tell　him　about　this　。。。　pretending　to　be　a　spirit　business。　He　has　rather　fusty　views　about　such　things。　If　you　told　him　you　let　me　run　around　naked　with　a　thousand　of　your　men；　he　would　probably　take　your　head　off。’
　
　Kahlan　laughed　at　the　alarmed　look　on　the　captain’s　face。
　
　‘Captain；　I　need　a　sword。’
　
　‘A　sword！　Now　you’re　going　to　fight；　too！’
　
　Kahlan　leaned　toward　him。　‘Captain；　if　I’m　sitting　there　naked；　and　a　D’Haran　wishes　to　despoil　my　honor；　how　am　I　to　defend　myself　unless　I　have　a　sword？’
　
　‘Oh。　Well；　I　see　your　point。’
　
　He　thought　a　moment。　An　idea　brightened　his　face　and　he　withdrew　his　own　sword　from　its　scabbard。　He　held　the　weapon　out　in　both　hands。　It　was　an　old　sword；　with　a　blade　pattern　wielded　in　the　old　fashion　and　acid　etched　in　the　fuller　to　display　the　wavy　folds　of　steel。
　
　This　blade　was　given　to　me　by　Prince　Harold　when　I　became　an　officer。　He　said　it　was　his　father’s；　that　it　was　one　that　belonged　to　King　Wyborn　himself。　He　said　King　Wyborn　held　it　once　in　battle。’　He　shrugged　self…consciously。　‘Of　course；　a　king　has　many　swords；　and　holds　many　of　them　in　battle　at　least　once；　so　they　will　be　said　to　have　been　wielded　by　a　king　in　defense　of　his　kingdom。　So　it’s　not　really　valuable；　or　anything。’　He　looked　up　expectantly。　‘But　I　would　be　honored　if　you　took　it　as　yours。　It　seems　only　right　that；　well；　since　you’re　King　Wyborn’s　daughter；　I　guess；　that　you　should　wield　his　sword　in　battle。　Maybe　it　has　magic；　or　something；　and　will　help　protect　your　life。’
　
　Kahlan　carefully　lifted　the　sword　from　his　hands。
　
　Thank　you；　Bradley。　This　means　a　lot　to　me。　You　are　wrong；　it　is　valuable。　I　will　carry　it　with　honor。　But　I　will　not　keep　it。　When　I’m　finished；　and　leave　for　Aydindril　in　a　couple　of　days；　then　I　will　return　it；　and　you　will　have　a　sword　wielded　not　only　by　a　king；　but　by　the　Mother　Confessor；　too。’
　
　He　grinned　with　the　idea　of　that。
　
　‘Now；　would　you　please　post　a　guard　outside　this　tent？　And　then　see　to　the　swordsmen？’
　
　He　smiled　a　little　smile　and　brought　his　fist　to　his　heart。　‘Of　course；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　As　Kahlan　went　inside　the　warm　tent；　he　was　already　returning　with　three　men。　He　had　a　scowl　on　his　face　as　serious　as　any　scowl　she　had　ever　seen　on　any　officer’s　face。
　
　‘And　while　the　Mother　Confessor　is　in　her　bath；　you　will　keep　your　back　to　the　tent；　and　not　let　anyone　near。　Is　that　clear！’
　
　‘Yes；　Captain；’　the　three　wide…eyed　soldiers　said　together。
　
　Inside；　in　the　warmth；　Kahlan　leaned　the　sword　against　the　tub；　slipped　off　the　fur　mantle；　and　then　her　clothes。　She　was　so　tired　she　felt　sick。　Her　stomach　felt　as　if　it　were　rising　and　falling　in　waves。　Her　head　spun　so　that　she　had　to　fight　nausea　that　swelled　in　bouts。
　
　She　dragged　her　hand　through　the　whitewash。　It　was　hot；　like　a　wonderful　bath。　But　this　was　no　bath。　She　lifted　her　legs　over　the　edge　one　at　a　time；　and　eased　herself　down　into　the　silky…smooth　white　water。　Her　breasts　felt　buoyant　in　the　milky　pool。　For　a　few　minutes；　she　draped　her　arms　over　the　sides　of　the　tub；　closed　her　eyes；　and　pretended　it　was　a　hot　bath。　She　wished　so　much　that　it　could　be　a　bath。　But　it　wasn’t。
　
　It　was　something　she　did　to　keep　some　men　alive；　and　to　kill　others。　She　would　wear　white　as　the　Mother　Confessor　always　did；　but　it　would　not　be　her　dress；　as　always　before。
　
　Kahlan　lifted　her　father’s　sword　and　held　the　hilt　between　her　breasts；　with　the　length　of　the　blade　running　down　her　body；　against　her　belly；　and　between　her　legs。　She　crossed　her　ankles　and　kept　her　legs　apart　so　as　not　to　slice　her　thighs　on　the　weapon。　She　held　her　nose　closed　with　her　other　hand；　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　tight；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　then　submerged　herself。
　
　
　CHAPTER　42
　
　Richard　and　Sister　Verna　continued　on；　through　a　dark　and　humid；　dank　and　stifling　tunnel　of　green；　ascending　the　gently　sloping　road　toward　the　humming；　haunting　sound　of　distant　flutes。　Branches　holding　not　only　their　own　leaves；　but　vines　of　every　sort　spiraling　around　and　over　them；　and　pale　moss　hanging　in　wispy　curtains；　filled　the　gaps　between　trunks　to　the　sides；　and　nearly　closed　off　the　light　from　above。
　
　Short　walls　to　each　side；　looking　to　have　been　built　in　an　attempt　to　hold　back　the　tangled　growth；　were　instead　being　snared　by　it　and　slowly　enfolded　into　the　creeping；　leafy　mat　of　life　they　sought　to　retain。　From　joints　in　the　stone　block；　vines　sprouted；　surrounding　and　smothering　whole　sections　of　wall；　bulging　it　in　other　places；　pushing　the　occasional　stone　out　to　hang　at　a　drunken　angle；　unable　to　fall　to　the　ground　because　of　the　net　of　tendrils。　The　walls　looked　as　if　they　were　prey；　being　swallowed　by　a　ponderous　predator。
　
　Only　one　part　of　the　walls　was　untouched　by　the　forest　life　…　the　human　skulls。　Atop　the　walls　to　each　side；　they　were　spaced　at　intervals　of　no　more　than　three　feet；　each　sitting　on　its　own　square　of　lichen…splotched　stone；　each　clean　of　growth；　looking　like　so　many　finials　with　eye　sockets　and　toothy　grins。　Richard　had　lost　count　of　the　number　of　skulls。
　
　His　curiosity；　his　dread；　failed　to　overe　his　stubborn　silence。　He　and　the　Sister　had　not　spoken　since　their　last　argument。　He　had　not　even　slept　in　camp　with　her；　preferring　instead　to　spend　his　watch；　and　the　rest　of　the　night；　hunting　and　sleeping　with　Gratch。　Sister　Verna’s　angry　silence　was；　at　last；　no　match　for　his。　He　had　no　intention；　this　time；　of　being　the　one　to　make　amends。　They　both　contented　themselves　with　looking　at　anything　but　each　other。
　
　Opening　into　sunlight；　the　road　widened；　splitting　in　the　distance　around　a　striated　pyramid。　Richard　frowned；　trying　to　see　what　made　it　look　the　way　it　did　…　a　dotted；　pale　tan；　with　darker　bands　at　evenly　spaced　intervals　up　its　sides。　He　judged　its　height　at　three　times　his　eye　level　from　where　he　sat　atop　Bonnie。
　
　As　they　approached；　he　realized　the　mound　was　constructed　entirely　of　bones。　Human　bones。　The　dotted　tan　parts　were　skulls；　and　the　bands　were　leg　and　arm　bones　placed　end…out　in　layers。　He　guessed　there　must　be　tens　of　thousands　of　skulls　in　the　o