tg.stone of tears- 第134部分

　
　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　arms　snared　her　legs　and　she　went　down　hard。　She　spit　snow　out　as　she　kicked　and　struggled　to　get　away。　The　man　clawed　his　way　up　her　legs；　grabbing　hold　of　her　belt　and　throwing　himself　on　top　of　her。
　
　The　red　face　with　the　angry　wound　down　one　side　hovered　right　over　hers。　In　triumph；　he　grinned　wickedly。　Back　through　the　trees；　she　could　hear　the　sounds　of　furious　battle。　She　and　Riggs　were　alone　as　she　struggled　to　squirm　away。
　
　One　fist　grabbed　her　hair　and　held　her　head　to　the　ground。　His　other　fist　punched　her　in　the　side；　knocking　the　wind　from　her　lungs。　He　hit　her　again。　Nausea　swept　through　her　in　a　hot　wave　as　she　fought　to　get　her　breath。
　
　‘I’ve　got　you　now；　Confessor。　You’ll　not　get　away　again。　You　may　as　well　resign　yourself　to　it。’
　
　He　was　alone。　What　was　he　thinking？　She　slapped　a　hand　to　his　chest。　It　seemed　a　puzzle　to　her　that　alone　man　would　think　he　could　take　a　Confessor。
　
　‘You　have　no　one；　Riggs；’　she　managed　to　say　under　the　weight　of　him。　‘You’ve　lost。　You　are　mine。’
　
　‘I　don’t　think　so。’　He　sneered。　‘He　said　you　can’t　use　your　power；　now。’
　
　He　lifted　her　head　and　thumped　it　against　the　ground。　Her　vision　blurred。　She　tried　to　concentrate　on　what　she　needed　to　do。　He　lifted　her　head　again　to　bang　it　against　the　ground。　Though　she　was　bewildered　by　what　he　had　said；　she　had　to　do　it　now；　before　he　knocked　her　unconscious；　before　it　was　too　late。　Now；　when　time　was　hers。
　
　In　the　silence　of　her　mind；　as　he　lifted　her　head；　she　let　her　Confessor’s　power　sweep　through　her。　She　released　her　restraint。
　
　There　was　thunder　with　no　sound。　The　impact　of　power；　of　magic；　made　Riggs　flinch。　Tree　branches　all　around　shook　with　a　jolt。　Snow　dropped　down；　splattering　on　his　back　and　her　face。
　
　His　eyes　went　wide；　his　jaw　slack。　‘Mistress！　mand　me。’
　
　With　the　last　of　her　strength；　she　managed　to　ask；　‘Who　told　you　my　power　couldn’t　harm　you！’
　
　‘Mistress；　it　was　。。。’
　
　The　bloody　point　of　an　arrow　exploded　from　the　prominence　on　the　fore　of　his　throat。　The　broad　steel　point　stopped　a　scant　inch　from　her　chin。　His　eyes　teared　as　his　mouth　moved　and　blood　frothed；　but　no　words　came　forth。　As　his　breath　rattled　from　his　lungs；　he　began　slumping　onto　her。
　
　A　fist　gripped　the　shoulder　of　his　uniform　and　pulled　Riggs　away。　At　first；　she　thought　it　would　be　Orsk；　but　it　wasn’t。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor！’　A　worried　Prindin　peered　down　at　her。　‘Are　you　hurt？　Did　he　hurt　you？’
　
　He　hastily　rolled　the　general　off　her　and　offered　his　hand　to　help　her　up　as　his　eyes　glided　down　the　length　of　her　lying　on　the　snow。　She　stared　up　at　him；　but　didn’t　take　his　hand。　Using　her　power　had　left　her　exhausted　and　limp　as　never　before。
　
　His　customary　grin　spread　on　his　face　as　he　shouldered　his　bow。　‘I　can　see　you　are　not　hurt。　You　look　very　fine。’
　
　‘You　didn’t　need　to　kill　him。　I　had　already　used　my　power　on　him。　He　was　mine。　He　was　just　about　to　tell　me　who　it　was　that　said　I　could　not　harm　。。。’
　
　Her　whole　body　tingled　with　apprehension　at　the　way　his　eyes　took　her　in。　His　familiar　grin　ran　a　cold　shiver　up　her　arms　and　the　back　of　her　neck；　making　the　fine　hairs　stand　stiffly　out。
　
　Orsk　crashed　through　the　trees。　‘Mistress！　Are　you　safe？’
　
　She　could　hear　others　ing　in　the　woods　behind　him。　She　heard　Chandalen’s　voice。　Prindin　swiftly　nocked　an　arrow。　Orsk　lifted　his　axe　with　one　big　fist。　‘Prindin！　No！　Don’t　hurt　him！’　Prindin　drew　his　bow。　‘Orsk！　Run！’
　
　The　big　man　spun　without　question　and　darted　back　into　the　brush。　An　arrow　followed　him　in。　She　heard　the　arrow　strike　something　solid。　She　could　hear　Orsk　stumble　through　the　barren　undergrowth；　breaking　branches　and　saplings。　The　snapping　of　twigs　died　out；　and　then　she　heard　him　hit　the　ground。
　
　She　tried　to　stand；　but　feebly　fell　back。　It　felt　as　if　she　had　no　bones　and　her　muscles　were　melting。　Her　strength　was　gone。　The　blackness　was　trying　to　suck　her　back　in。　Prindin　turned　his　grin　back　to　her　as　he　shouldered　his　bow　once　more。
　
　Kahlan　strained　to　bring　forth　the　strength　to　speak。　It　came　in　a　breathy　whisper。　‘Prindin；　why　did　you　do　that？’
　
　He　shrugged。　‘So　we　can　be　alone。’　His　smile　widened。　‘Before　they　chop　off　your　head。’
　
　Prindin。　Prindin　had　told　Riggs　her　power　wouldn’t　hurt　him；　so　she　would　expend　it　on　him；　and　would　have　nothing　left。　Her　legs　trembled　with　the　effort　of　trying　to　lift　herself。　She　fell　back　again　as　he　watched。
　
　A　voice　came　through　the　trees。　It　was　a　breathless　Chan…dalen；　calling　to　her。　In　another　direction；　she　heard　Tossidin　calling。　She　tried　to　scream　to　them。　Only　a　weak；　hoarse　plaint　came　from　her　throat。　Darkness　pressed　into　her。
　
　Maybe　she　was　still　asleep；　she　thought。　She　could　hardly　speak；　hardly　move；　just　like　a　nightmare。　She　wished　it　were。
　
　But　she　knew　it　was　no　dream。
　
　Prindin　turned　to　the　insistent　calls。　Kahlan　dug　her　heels　into　the　snow　and；　with　a　mighty　effort；　managed　to　scoot　herself　back。　Her　hand　fell　on　a　stout　maple　limb　lying　on　the　ground。