tg.stone of tears-µÚ91²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡
¡¡Her¡¡cheek¡¡burned¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sting¡¡of¡¡his¡¡handprint¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®You¡¡can¡¯t¡¡put¡¡me¡¡in¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¯¡¡Her¡¡whispered¡¡entreaty¡¡was¡¡hopeless£»¡¡she¡¡knew£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡from¡¡her¡¡lips¡£
¡¡
¡¡Fyren¡¡rolled¡¡his¡¡shoulders£»¡¡straightening¡¡his¡¡back¡¡and¡¡coat¡¡as¡¡he¡¡regained¡¡his¡¡posure¡£¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡those¡¡below¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡men¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡defile¡¡a¡¡lady£»¡¡would¡¡you£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Soft¡¡laughter¡¡echoed¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pit¡£¡¡¡®Why£»¡¡course¡¡not¡£¡¡We¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡beheaded¡¡twice¡£¡¯¡¡The¡¡coarse¡¡voice¡¡deepened¡¡into¡¡cold¡¡menace¡£¡¡¡®We¡¯ll¡¡treat¡¡her¡¡real¡¡nice¡¡like¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Cyrilla¡¡could¡¡taste¡¡warm£»¡¡salty¡¡blood¡¡at¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡her¡¡mouth¡£¡¡¡®Fyren£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¯t¡¡do¡¡this¡£¡¡I¡¡demand¡¡to¡¡be¡¡beheaded¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡There¡¡you¡¡go¡¡again£º¡¡demanding¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Why¡¡can¡¯t¡¡it¡¡be¡¡done¡¡now£¡¡¡Let¡¡it¡¡be¡¡done¡¡now£¡¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡drew¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡back¡¡to¡¡slap¡¡her¡¡again£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡let¡¡it¡¡lower¡¡as¡¡his¡¡simper¡¡returned¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡see£¿¡¡At¡¡first¡¡you¡¡proclaimed¡¡your¡¡innocence£»¡¡and¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡executed£»¡¡but¡¡already¡¡you¡¡are¡¡reconsidering¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡down¡¡there£»¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡begging¡¡to¡¡be¡¡beheaded¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡eagerly¡¡confess¡¡your¡¡treason¡¡before¡¡all¡¡those¡¡gathered¡¡to¡¡witness¡¡your¡¡punishment¡£¡¡Besides£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡other¡¡matters¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡to¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡be¡¡bothered¡¡right¡¡now¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡be¡¡put¡¡to¡¡death¡¡when¡¡I¡¡deem¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡time¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡With¡¡rising¡¡terror£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡only¡¡now¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡grasp¡¡the¡¡full¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fate¡¡that¡¡awaited¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pit¡£¡¡Tears¡¡burned¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Please¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡don¡¯t¡¡do¡¡this¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¯m¡¡begging¡¡you¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Prince¡¡Fyren¡¡smoothed¡¡the¡¡white¡¡ruffles¡¡at¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡and¡¡spoke¡¡softly¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡¡easy¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡Cyrilla£»¡¡because¡¡you¡¯re¡¡a¡¡woman¡£¡¡Drefan¡¯s¡¡knife¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡quick¡£¡¡You¡¡would¡¡have¡¡suffered¡¡little¡¡that¡¡way¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡allowed¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡your¡¡place¡¡such¡¡mercy¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡it¡¡the¡¡easy¡¡way¡£¡¡You¡¡allowed¡¡the¡¡Mother¡¡Confessor¡¡to¡¡interfere¡£¡¡You¡¡allowed¡¡yet¡¡another¡¡woman¡¡to¡¡infringe¡¡on¡¡the¡¡dominion¡¡of¡¡men£¡
¡¡
¡¡¡®Women¡¡don¡¯t¡¡have¡¡the¡¡stomach¡¡for¡¡ruling¡£¡¡They¡¯re¡¡ill¡¡suited¡¡to¡¡the¡¡task¡£¡¡They¡¡should¡¡never¡¡be¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡mand¡¡armies¡¡or¡¡to¡¡meddle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡affairs¡¡of¡¡nations¡£¡¡Things¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡set¡¡right¡£¡¡Drefan¡¡died¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡¡the¡¡easy¡¡way¡£¡¡Now¡¡we¡¡do¡¡it¡¡the¡¡other¡¡way¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡nodded¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man¡¡behind¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡guard¡¡hauled¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡to¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡to¡¡lower¡¡an¡¡end¡¡into¡¡the¡¡pit¡¡as¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡moved¡¡her¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡men¡¡drew¡¡swords£»¡¡apparently¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡any¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pit¡¡from¡¡thinking¡¡to¡¡e¡¡up¡¡the¡¡ladder¡£
¡¡
¡¡Cyrilla¡¡could¡¡think¡¡of¡¡no¡¡way¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡this¡£¡¡She¡¡voiced¡¡a¡¡protest£»¡¡knowing¡¡it¡¡was¡¡foolish£»¡¡but¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡check¡¡her¡¡panic¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡queen£»¡¡a¡¡lady£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡made¡¡to¡¡scurry¡¡down¡¡a¡¡rickety¡¡ladder¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Prince¡¡Fyren¡¡blinked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡ludicrous¡¡objection£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡motioned¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡for¡¡the¡¡man¡¡to¡¡pull¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡doorway¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡mocking¡¡bow¡£¡¡¡®As¡¡you¡¡wish£»¡¡my¡¡lady¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡rose£»¡¡giving¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡nod¡¡to¡¡the¡¡men¡¡holding¡¡her¡¡arms¡£¡¡They¡¡released¡¡her¡£¡¡Before¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡move¡¡a¡¡muscle£»¡¡he¡¡rammed¡¡the¡¡heel¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡into¡¡her¡¡chest£»¡¡between¡¡her¡¡breasts¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡painful¡¡blow¡¡knocked¡¡her¡¡off¡¡balance¡£¡¡She¡¡toppled¡¡backward¡¡through¡¡the¡¡opening¡£¡¡Down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡pit¡£
¡¡
¡¡As¡¡she¡¡plummeted£»¡¡she¡¡fully¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡be¡¡killed¡£¡¡She¡¡resigned¡¡to¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡last¡¡gasp¡¡as¡¡the¡¡futile¡¡flow¡¡of¡¡her¡¡past¡¡glory¡¡whirled¡¡before¡¡her¡¡mind¡¯s¡¡eye¡£¡¡Had¡¡it¡¡all¡¡e¡¡to¡¡this£¿¡¡All¡¡for¡¡nought£¿¡¡To¡¡have¡¡her¡¡skull¡¡cracked¡¡like¡¡an¡¡egg¡¡fallen¡¡from¡¡a¡¡table¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor£¿
¡¡
¡¡But¡¡hands¡¡caught¡¡her¡£¡¡Hands¡¡were¡¡everywhere¡¡upon¡¡her£»¡¡unexpectedly¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡most¡¡indecent¡¡places¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡opened¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡go¡¡dark¡¡with¡¡a¡¡loud£»¡¡reverberating¡¡clang¡£
¡¡
¡¡Faces¡¡were¡¡all¡¡around¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡haunting£»¡¡flickering¡¡torchlight¡£¡¡Scruffy£»¡¡whiskered¡¡faces¡£¡¡Ugly£»¡¡sweaty£»¡¡wicked¡¡faces¡£¡¡Cunning¡¡black¡¡eyes¡¡played¡¡over¡¡her¡£¡¡Hungry£»¡¡humorless¡¡grins¡¡showed¡¡crooked£»¡¡sharp¡¡teeth¡£¡¡So¡¡many¡¡teeth¡£¡¡Her¡¡throat¡¡clenched¡¡shut£»¡¡locking¡¡her¡¡breath¡¡in¡¡her¡¡lungs¡£¡¡Her¡¡mind¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡function£»¡¡and¡¡flashed¡¡with¡¡confusing£»¡¡useless¡¡images¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡was¡¡pressed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡The¡¡stone¡¡was¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡painfully¡¡rough¡¡against¡¡her¡¡back¡£¡¡Grunts¡¡and¡¡low¡¡squeals¡¡assailed¡¡her¡¡from¡¡every¡¡side¡£¡¡Men¡¡were¡¡tight¡¡together¡¡above¡¡her¡£¡¡Against¡¡her¡¡struggles£»¡¡her¡¡limbs¡¡were¡¡pushed¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡as¡¡the¡¡men¡¡willed¡£
¡¡
¡¡Clutching£»¡¡clawlike¡¡hands¡¡ripped¡¡at¡¡her¡¡fine¡¡dress¡¡and¡¡pinched¡¡brutally¡¡at¡¡suddenly£»¡¡shockingly£»¡¡exposed¡¡flesh¡£
¡¡
¡¡And¡¡then¡¡Cyrilla¡¡did¡¡something¡¡she¡¡hadn¡¯t¡¡done¡¡since¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡girl¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡screamed¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡27
¡¡
¡¡Except¡¡for¡¡her¡¡thumb¡¡and¡¡forefinger¡¡idly¡¡turning¡¡the¡¡smooth£»¡¡round¡¡bone¡¡on¡¡her¡¡necklace£»¡¡Kahlan¡¡stood¡¡motionless¡¡as¡¡she¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡sprawling¡¡city¡£¡¡The¡¡surrounding¡¡rugged¡¡slopes¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡tenderly¡¡cradle¡¡the¡¡buildings¡¡that¡¡filled¡¡nearly¡¡the¡¡length¡¡and¡¡breadth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gently¡¡rolling¡¡valley¡£¡¡Steeply¡¡pitched¡¡slate¡¡roofs¡¡pricked¡¡the¡¡land¡¡within¡¡the¡¡ribbon¡¡of¡¡wall£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡peaks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡off¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northern¡¡end£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as¡¡a¡¡wisp¡¡of¡¡smoke¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡stone¡¡chimneys¡¡into¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡air¡£¡¡She¡¡saw¡¡no¡¡movement¡£¡¡The¡¡arrow¡straight¡¡south¡¡road¡¡leading¡¡to¡¡the¡¡main¡¡gate£»¡¡the¡¡smaller£»¡¡meandering¡¡roads¡¡that¡¡branched¡¡off¡¡to¡¡end¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lesser¡¡gates£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡which¡¡bypassed¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡walls¡¡altogether¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡north£»¡¡were¡¡deserted¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡sloping¡¡mountain¡¡meadow¡¡before¡¡her¡¡lay¡¡buried¡¡beneath¡¡a¡¡white¡¡winter¡¡blanket¡£¡¡A¡¡light¡¡breeze¡¡liberated¡¡the¡¡burden¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡from¡¡a¡¡sagging¡¡branch¡¡of¡¡a¡¡nearby¡¡pine£»¡¡freeing¡¡a¡¡sparkling¡¡cloud¡¡to¡¡curl¡¡away¡£¡¡The¡¡same¡¡breeze¡¡ruffled¡¡the¡¡white¡¡wolf¡¡fur¡¡of¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡mantle¡¡snugged¡¡against¡¡her¡¡cheek£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡hardly¡¡noticed¡£
¡¡
¡¡Prindin¡¡and¡¡Tossidin¡¡had¡¡made¡¡the¡¡mantle¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡warm¡¡on¡¡their¡¡way¡¡northeast¡¡through¡¡the¡¡bitter¡¡winter¡¡storms¡¡that¡¡raked¡¡the¡¡bleak¡¡land¡¡they¡¡had¡¡traveled¡£¡¡Wolves¡¡were¡¡fearful¡¡of¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡rarely¡¡let¡¡themselves¡¡be¡¡seen£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡little¡¡of¡¡their¡¡habits¡£¡¡The¡¡brothers¡¯¡¡arrows¡¡had¡¡found¡¡their¡¡mark¡¡where¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡nothing¡£¡¡If¡¡she¡¡hadn¡¯t¡¡seen¡¡Richard¡¡shoot£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡shots¡¡impossible¡£¡¡The¡¡brothers¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡good¡¡as¡¡he¡£
¡¡
¡¡Though¡¡she¡¡had¡¡always¡¡held¡¡a¡¡vague¡¡enmity¡¡for¡¡wolves£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡never¡¡actually¡¡been¡¡harried¡¡by¡¡them¡£¡¡Since¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡told¡¡her¡¡of¡¡their¡¡close¡¡family¡¡packs£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡an¡¡affection¡¡for¡¡them¡£¡¡She¡¡hadn¡¯t¡¡wanted¡¡the¡¡two¡¡brothers¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡wolves¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡warm¡¡cape£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡insisted¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡and£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡acquiesced¡£
¡¡
¡¡It¡¡had¡¡sickened¡¡her¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡carcasses¡¡being¡¡skinned£»¡¡revealing¡¡the¡¡red¡¡muscle¡¡beneath£»¡¡and¡¡white¡¡of¡¡bone¡¡and¡¡sinew£»¡¡the¡¡substance¡¡of¡¡being£»¡¡so¡¡elegant¡¡when¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡life¡¡and¡¡spirit£»¡¡so¡¡suddenly¡¡morbid¡¡when¡¡left¡¡with¡¡neither¡£
¡¡
¡¡As¡¡the¡¡brothers¡¡went¡¡about¡¡the¡¡grisly¡¡task£»¡¡she¡¡could¡¡think¡¡only¡¡of¡¡Brophy£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡she¡¡had¡¡touched¡¡with¡¡her¡¡power£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡have¡¡it¡¡prove¡¡him¡¡innocent¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡a¡¡wolf¡¡by¡¡her¡¡wizard£»¡¡Giller£»¡¡to¡¡release¡¡him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Confessor¡¯s¡¡magic£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡could¡¡start¡¡over¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new¡¡life¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡wondered¡¡at¡¡how¡¡saddened¡¡these¡¡wolves¡¯¡¡families¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡when¡¡they¡¡never¡¡returned£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡Brophy¡¯s¡¡mate¡¡and¡¡pack¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡killed¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡so¡¡much¡¡killing¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡weary¡¡nearly¡¡to¡¡tears¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡way¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡without¡¡an¡¡end¡¡in¡¡sight¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡the¡¡three¡¡men¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡no¡¡pride¡¡or¡¡joy¡¡at¡¡having¡¡killed¡¡the¡¡magnificent¡¡animals£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡said¡¡a¡¡prayer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spirits¡¡of¡¡their¡¡brother¡¡wolves£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡called¡¡them¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡doing¡¡this£»¡¯¡¡Chandalen¡¡grumbled¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡was¡¡leaning¡¡on¡¡his¡¡spear£»¡¡watching¡¡her£»¡¡she¡¡knew£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡take¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡from¡¡the¡¡silent¡¡city¡¡below£»¡¡the¡¡too¡still¡¡scene¡£¡¡His¡¡tone¡¡was¡¡not¡¡as¡¡sharp¡¡as¡¡it¡¡usually¡¡was¡£¡¡It¡¡betrayed¡¡his¡¡awe¡¡at¡¡seeing¡¡a¡¡city¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡Ebinissia¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡had¡¡never¡¡before¡¡been¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Mud¡¡People¡¯s¡¡lands£»¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡this¡¡many¡¡buildings£»¡¡especially¡¡none¡¡of¡¡such¡¡grand¡¡scale¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡first¡¡taken¡¡in¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡his¡¡brown¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡stared¡¡in¡¡silent¡¡wonder¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡conceal£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡acid¡¡tongue£»¡¡for¡¡once£»¡¡had¡¡forsaken¡¡him¡£¡¡Having¡¡lived¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡life¡¡in¡¡the¡¡village¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡plains£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡look¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡magic£»¡¡not¡¡mere¡¡human¡¡effort¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡small¡¡pang¡¡of¡¡sorrow¡¡for¡¡him¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡brothers£»¡¡that¡¡their¡¡simple¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡world¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡shattered¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡see¡¡more£»¡¡before¡¡this¡¡journey¡¡was¡¡ended£»¡¡that¡¡would¡¡astonish¡¡them¡¡further¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Chandalen£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡spent¡¡a¡¡great¡¡effort£»¡¡nearly¡¡every¡¡waking¡¡moment£»¡¡teaching¡¡you¡¡and¡¡Prindin¡¡and¡¡Tossidin¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡my¡¡language¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡where¡¡we¡¡go¡¡will¡¡speak¡¡yours¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡for¡¡your¡¡own¡¡good¡¡that¡¡I¡¡do¡¡this¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡free¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡being¡¡spiteful£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡doing¡¡as¡¡I¡¡say£º¡¡being¡¡mindful¡¡of¡¡your¡¡safety¡¡outside¡¡your¡¡land£»¡¡but¡¡either¡¡way£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tongue¡¡I¡¡have¡¡taught¡¡you¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡His¡¡tone¡¡tightened£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡could¡¡not¡¡disguise¡¡how¡¡humbled¡¡he¡¡was¡¡at¡¡seeing¡¡a¡¡great¡¡city¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡he¡¡would¡¡see¡£¡¡Perhaps£»¡¡too£»¡¡it¡¡betrayed¡¡something¡¡she¡¡had¡¡never¡¡before¡¡sensed¡¡from¡¡him£º¡¡fear¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡take¡¡you¡¡to¡¡Aydindril£»¡¡not¡¡this¡¡place¡£¡¡We¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡using¡¡our¡¡time¡¡at¡¡this¡¡place¡£¡¯¡¡His¡¡inflection¡¡implied¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡a¡¡place¡¡such¡¡as¡¡this¡¡could¡¡be¡¡only¡¡evil¡£
¡¡
¡¡Squinting¡¡against¡¡the¡¡blindingly¡¡bright¡¡sun¡¡on¡¡white¡¡snow£»¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡two¡¡figures£»¡¡far¡¡below£»¡¡starting¡¡up¡¡the¡¡slope¡£¡¡She¡¡let¡¡the¡¡round¡¡bone¡¡slip¡¡from¡¡her¡¡fingers¡£¡¡¡®I¡¯m¡¡the¡¡Mother¡¡Confessor¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡all¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Midlands£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡¡I¡¡work¡¡to¡¡safeguard¡¡the¡¡Mud¡¡People¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®You¡¡bring¡¡no¡¡help¡¡to¡¡my¡¡people£»¡¡only¡¡trouble¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡His¡¡protest¡¡seemed¡¡more¡¡habit¡¡than¡¡a¡¡heartfelt¡¡challenge¡£¡¡She¡¡answered¡¡it¡¡in¡¡a¡¡quiet£»¡¡tired¡¡murmur¡£¡¡¡®Enough£»¡¡Chandalen¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Thankfully£»¡¡he¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡press¡¡the¡¡argument£»¡¡but¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡anger¡¡elsewhere¡£¡¡¡®Prindin¡¡and¡¡Tossidin¡¡should¡¡not¡¡e¡¡up¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡like¡¡that¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡taught¡¡them¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡stupid¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡were¡¡boys£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡strike¡¡their¡¡bottoms¡£¡¡Anyone¡¡can¡¡see¡¡where¡¡they¡¡go¡£¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡do¡¡as¡¡I¡¡say£»¡¡and¡¡e¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡open¡¡now£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡let¡¡him¡¡shepherd¡¡her¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡shroud¡¡of¡¡trees£»¡¡not¡¡because¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡necessary£»¡¡but¡¡because¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡let¡¡him¡¡know¡¡she¡¡respected¡¡his¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡her¡£¡¡Despite¡¡his¡¡animosity¡¡at¡¡being¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡this¡¡journey£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done