tg.stone of tears-第145部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　
　‘For　what？’
　
　‘I　only　killed　seventeen。　I’m　sorry。　I　promised　myself　I’d　get　twenty。　I　only　got　seventeen；’　he　mumbled。
　
　‘I　know　heroes　of　battle；　decorated　men；　who　have　not　bested　half　that　number　in　bat。　You　have　made　me　proud。　You　have　made　the　Midlands　proud。　Feel　only　pride；　soldier。’
　
　He　mumbled　something　she　couldn’t　understand。
　
　She　patted　his　hand　again。　‘You’ll　be　to　help　soon。　Hold　on。　You’ll　be　fine。’
　
　He　didn’t　answer。　She　looked　behind；　down　the　trail；　and　saw　only　white；　and　heard　only　silence。　In　the　distant；　dark　mountains；　a　wolf　yipped。
　
　
　A　short　time　later；　on　a　high　plateau；　they　reached　the　camp。　The　men　ahead　in　the　line　were　already　wrapped　in　blankets　as　they　shivered　around　fires；　warming　their　feet。　Some　were　pulling　on　their　clothes　under　the　blankets。　More　men　threw　blankets　around　the　men　ing　in　ahead　of　her　and　tended　the　wounded。　Some　of　the　wounded　were　groaning　in　pain；　feeling　it　for　the　first　time；　now　that　the　heady　furor　of　bat　and　escape　had　evaporated。　She　began　to　feel　a　throbbing　in　her　lip。
　
　In　the　flickering　light　of　small　fires；　she　could　see　Prindin　and　Tossidin；　some　distance　away；　running　around　searching　the　new　arrivals。　When　they　saw　her　on　the　horse；　they　both　sighed　with　relief；　giving　her　twin　smiles。
　
　Captain　Ryan；　dressed　in　a　D’Haran　uniform　and　with　a　bandage　around　his　left　hand；　ran　over。　Other　men　took　the　reins；　and　yet　others　extended　their　hands　to　take　the　man　behind　her　as　she　held　him　by　an　elbow；　lowering　the　limp　form　down。
　
　Prindin　ran　to　meet　her；　her　mantle　in　hand。　He　stood；　holding　it　open　for　her；　waiting　for　her　to　dismount　so　he　could　put　it　around　her　shoulders。　He　grinned　at　her。
　
　Without　moving　from　the　saddle；　she　slowly　extended　her　hand。　‘I　have　had　enough　eyes　on　my　flesh　to　last　me　the　rest　of　my　life。　Throw　it　up　here！’
　
　Prindin　shrugged　self…consciously　and　tossed　the　mantle　up　to　her。　Tossidin　swatted　the　back　of　his　brother’s　head。　Silence　fell　over　the　gathered　men。　They　all　looked　away　in　embarrassment　as　she　put　the　mantle　around　her　shoulders　and　tied　it。
　
　She　slid　down；　finding　her　legs　barely　up　to　the　task　of　holding　her。　She　used　the　sword　still　in　her　hand　as　a　cane。　She　had　to　pause　a　moment　until　everything　stopped　spinning。　She　glanced　to　the　man　lying　in　the　snow　at　her　feet。
　
　‘Why　isn’t　someone　helping　this　man？　Don’t　just　stand　there；　help　him！’　No　one　moved。　‘I　said　help　him！’
　
　Captain　Ryan　stepped　closer　to　her。　He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　ground。　‘I’m　sorry；　Mother　Confessor。　He’s　dead。’
　
　Her　hand　tightened　into　a　fist。　‘He’s　not　dead！　I　was　just　talking　to　him！’　No　one　moved。　She　beat　her　free　fist　against　his　chest。　‘He’s　not　dead！　He’s　not！’
　
　Everyone　looked　away。　No　one　said　anything。　She　finally　glanced　at　the　men　around　the　small　fires；　at　all　the　hanging　heads。　Her　hand　fell　to　her　side。
　
　‘He　killed　seventeen　of　them；’　she　said　to　Captain　Ryan。　‘He　killed　seventeen　of　them；’　she　said　louder；　to　the　rest　of　them。
　
　Captain　Ryan　nodded。　‘He　did　well。　We　are　all　proud　of　him。’
　
　She　watched　the　faces　as　they　all　finally　came　up。　‘Forgive　me。　All　of　you；　please　forgive　me。　You　have　all　done　a　good　job。’　The　fury　had　gone　out　of　her。　‘You　have　all　made　me　proud。　You　are　heroes；　in　my　eyes；　and　in　the　eyes　of　the　Midlands。’
　
　The　men　brightened　a　bit。　Some　went　back　to　eating；　while　others　started　passing　around　tin　bowls　and　spooned　beans　from　pots　on　the　fires。　Some　tore　off　chunks　of　flat　camp　bread　to　dunk　in　the　beans。
　
　‘Where’s　Chandalen？’　she　asked　as　she　pushed　her　feet　into　the　boots　Tossidin　handed　her。
　
　‘He　went　with　the　archers。　I　imagine　that　he’s　probably　shooting　arrows　into　D’Harans　right　now。’　Captain　Ryan　leaned　toward　her；　as　the　brothers　moved　away；　and　lowered　his　voice。　‘I’m　glad　these　three　are　on　our　side。　You　should　have　seen　them　taking　out　the　sentries。　Prindin；　especially；　is　like　death　itself；　with　that　troga　of　his。　It　was　eerie；　the　way　they　were　first　here；　and　then　over　there；　and　you　never　even　saw　them　move。　I　never　heard　a　thing。　They　just　appeared　with　the　sentries’　uniforms。’
　
　‘You　should　see　them　do　that　out　in　the　open。grassland；　in　broad　daylight。’　Kahlan　looked　him　up　and　down。　She　managed　a　small　smile。　‘Quite　handsome。　You　wear　it　well。’
　
　He　pulled　at　his　shoulder。　‘I　don’t　know　how　they　wear　this　heavy　mail　all　the　time。’　He　fingered　a　slash　in　the　leather。　‘But　I　was　glad　to　have　it　on。’
　
　‘How　did　everything　go？　How　many　men　did　you　lose？’
　
　‘We　got　nearly　everything　we　went　after。　In　these　uniforms；　we　didn’t　have　to　do　much　fighting。　Hardly　anyone　noticed　us；　except　the　ones　we　killed。　We　only　lost　a　few　men。’　He　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder。　‘Looks　like　you　caught　the　worst　of　it。　I　took　a　rough　count　as　you　came　in。　We　lost　close　to　four　hundred　of　the　thousand　swordsmen　who　went　in。’
　
　She　stared　past　him；　at　the　men　around　the　fires。　‘We　came　close　to　losing　them　all。’　She　brought　her　attention　back　to　the　captain。　‘But　they　did　themselves　proud。　The　drivers；　too。’
　
　He　cradled　his　bandaged　hand。　‘From　the　ones　I　talked　to；　I　don’t　think　many　took　less　than　ten　of　the　enemy；　and　many　took　a　lot　more。　We　took　quite　a　chunk　out　of　the　Order’s　hide。’
　
　Kahlan　swallowed。　‘They　took　quite　a　chunk　out　of　ours。’
　
　‘Did　the　men　do　like　I　told　them？’　he　asked。　‘Did　they　keep　trouble　away　from　you？’
　
　‘They　kept　the　enemy　so　far　from　me　I　couldn’t　tell　you　what　they　looked　like。　I’m　afraid　I　wasn’t　able　to　add　much　honor　to　your　sword；　though　it　was　a　fort　to　have　along。　I　pray　you　will　at　least　be　honored　that　I　carried　it　in　battle。’
　
　He　frowned；　leaning　to　the　side；　trying　to　get　a　better　look　at　her　face　in　the　firelight。　‘Your　lip　looks　cut。’　He　glanced　at　her　warhorse　as　the　men　were　taking　the　tack　off。　That　horse　is　covered　in　blood。　You’re　covered　in　blood；　too；　aren’t　you？’　It　was　an　accusation；　not　a　question。
　
　Kahlan　stared　off　at　a　fire。　‘Some　drunk　threw　something　at　me。　It　cut　my　lip。　That　wounded　soldier　I　was　bringing　in　bled　to　death　on　my　horse；　and　on　me。’　Her　eyes　drifted　among　the　young　faces　around　fires。　‘I　wish　I　could　have　done　half　as　well　they。　They　were　magnificent。’
　
　He　grunted　suspiciously。　‘I’m　just　relieved　to　see　you。’
　
　‘Is　everything　else　in　order？　The　archers；　the　cavalry？　We　must　make　the　best　use　of　our　opportunity　while　they’re　drunk　and　sick　with　the　poison。　We　must　make　the　most　of　this　weather；　too。　We　can’t　let　up　for　a　moment。　One　lightning　strike　after　another。　No　engagement。　Glancing　attacks；　always　from　a　different　place。’
　
　‘They　all　know　their　jobs；　and　are　waiting　their　turn。　The　archers　should　be　finished　soon；　then　the　cavalry；　then　the　pikemen。　We’re　ready　for　their　sentries；　when　they　send　them　out。　Our　men　will　sleep　in　turns；　but　from　now　on；　the　Imperial　Order　will　get　no　sleep。’
　
　‘Good。　These　men　need　rest。　In　the　morning；　it　will　be　their　turn　again。’　She　lifted　a　finger　to　the　captain。　‘Remember　the　most　important　thing。’　She　quoted　her　father；　‘‘The　weapon　that　most　readily　conquers　reason　is　terror　and　violence。’　Don’t　forget　that。　It’s　the　tool　they　use；　and　now　we　must　turn　it　on　them。’
　
　Prindin　came　back　into　the　firelight。　‘Mother　Confessor。　My　brother　and　I　made　you　a　shelter；　while　we　waited　for　your　return。　We　have　your　clothes　there；　and　hot　water；　so　you　may　wash　yourself　if　you　wish。’
　
　She　tried　not　to　show　how　eager　she　was　to　wash　off　the　reek　of　war。　‘Thank　you；　Prindin。’
　
　He　held　his　arm　out；　showing　her　the　way　to　the　small　clearing。　The　brothers　had　built　a　roomy　shelter　of　balsam　boughs　covered　over　with　snow。　She　crawled　through　the　low　opening　to　find　candles　inside。　The　snowy　ground　was　covered　with　a　mat　of　boughs；　too；　giving　the　shelter　the　pleasant　aroma　of　balsam。　A　steaming　bucket　of　water　had　just　been　set　next　to　hot　rocks　placed　in　the　center。　She　warmed　her　fingers　over　the　rocks。
　
　The　brothers　had　made　her　a　warm　and　snug　home　for　the　night。　She　could　have　wept　at　their　thoughtfulness。
　
　Her　pack　was　there；　and　her　clothes　folded　in　a　neat　pile。　Kahlan　took　off　her　necklace；　the　one　Adie　had　given　her；　the　one　with　the　round　bone。　It　was　…the　only　thing　she　had　worn　into　battle。　She　clutched　it　to　her　cheek　a　moment　before　she　washed　it。　It　reminded　her　of　the　one　her　mother　had　given　her。
　
　She　dunked　her　whole　head　in　the　bucket；　washed　her　hair；　and　then　methodically　washed　the　rest　of　herself。　It　was　only　a　sponge　bath；　but　it　still　felt　wonderful　to　wash　off　the　blood；　and　the　feel　of　the　hands。　She　had　to　force　herself　to　think　of　other　things　as　she　washed；　to　keep　from　being　sick。　She　thought　of　Richard；　thought　of　his　boyish　smile　that　never　failed　to　make　her　grin；　thought　of　his　gray　eyes　that　could　look　right　into　her。　When　she　finished　washing；　she　lay　down；　drying　her　hair　on　the　rocks。
　
　She　desperately　needed　sleep。　She　still　hadn’t　recovered　her　Confessor’s　power　since　using　it　on　the　one…eyed　man；　Orsk。　She　could　feel　the　emptiness　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach；　a　hollow　where　the　power　belonged。　It　would　be　a　while　longer　until　it　was　restored。　She　wouldn’t　be　able　to　shake　the　sick；　dizzy　exhaustion；　though；　until　she　had　sleep。
　
　She　longed　to　lie　down　in　her　bedroll　and　sleep。　It　had　been　so　long；　and　she　was　so　sleepy。　But　she　couldn’t。　Not　yet。
　
　She　put　the　necklace　back　over　her　head　and　then　laboriously　pulled　on　her　clothes。　From　her　pack　she　recovered　an　unguent　and　spread　it　on　her　cut　lip。　When　she　replaced　it；　she　saw　the　bone　knife　Chandalen　had　given　her；　and　tied　it　around　her　arm　again。
　
　She　was　so　tired　she　could　hardly　force　herself　up；　but　she　had　something　to　do　before　she　slept；　she　had　to　be　with　her　men。　She　wouldn’t　let　them　think　she　didn’t　hold　their　interest　highest　in　her　heart。　They　had　offered　their　lives；　the　least　she　could　do　was　show　her　appreciation；　on　behalf　of　the　Midlands。
　
　Clean；　her　long　hair　full　and　shiny　once　more；　and　dressed　at　last　in　layer