tg.stone of tears-第67部分

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　people。’　He　lifted　her　right　hand　and　placed　it　on　the　bone　knife。　‘Swear　to　carry　this　duty　in　your　heart。’
　
　‘I　have　already　sworn　to　protect　the　Mud　People；　and　the　others　of　the　Midlands。　I　have　already　fought　and　will　continue　to　fight　for　all　of　you。’
　
　He　squeezed　her　hand　tighter　to　the　bone。　‘Swear　to　Chandalen。’
　
　She　studied　his　grim　expression　a　long　moment。　‘You　have　my　vow；　Chandalen。　I　swear　it　before　you。’
　
　He　smiled　as　he　pulled　her　mantle　back　over　her　shoulder；　over　the　bone　knife。　‘Chandalen　will　thank　Richard　With　The　Temper；　when　I　see　him　again；　for　saving　me　from　being　chosen　as　the　mate　to　the　Mother　Confessor。　I　will　wish　him　no　bad　fortune。　He　fights；　too；　for　the　Mud　People；　as　the　Bird　Man　has　told　us。’
　
　Kahlan　bent　to　pick　up　his　mantle。　‘Here。　Put　this　back　on；　I　don’t　want　you　to　freeze。　You　must　still　get　me　to　Aydindril。’
　
　He　nodded；　still　wearing　the　small；　tight　smile；　as　he　threw　the　mantle　over　his　shoulders。　His　smile　died　as　he　glanced　at　the　doors。　‘Someone　has　been　here　since　this　was　done。’
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　‘What　makes　you　think　that？’
　
　‘Why　did　you　close　the　doors　after　you　had　looked？’
　
　‘Out　of　respect　for　the　dead。’
　
　‘When　we　came　to　them；　they　were　closed。　Those　who　did　this　rape　had　no　respect。　They　would　not　have　closed　all　the　doors。　They　wanted　anyone　who　came　to　see　what　they　had　done。　Someone　else　has　been　here；　and　closed　the　doors。’
　
　Kahlan　glanced　to　the　doors；　seeing　the　meaning　of　what　he　said。　‘I　think　you’re　right。’　She　shook　her　head。　Those　who　did　this　would　not　have　closed　the　door。’
　
　Chandalen　leaned　on　the　railing　again；　looking　down　at　the　wide　stairs。　‘Why　are　we　here？’
　
　‘Because　I　had　to　know　what　happened　to　these　people。’
　
　‘You　saw　that　outside。　Why　are　we　here；　in　this　house？’
　
　Kahlan　glanced　at　the　steps　leading　up　to　the　top　floor。　‘Because　I　have　to　know　if　the　queen　was　killed；　too。’
　
　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　toward　her。　‘She　means　something　to　you？’
　
　Kahlan　was　suddenly　aware　of　the　pounding　of　her　heart。　‘Yes。　Do　you　remember　the　statues　near　the　door　we　entered？’
　
　‘A　woman；　and　a　man。’
　
　She　nodded。　The　statue　of　the　woman　is　a　statue　of　her　mother。　My　mother　was　a　Confessor。　The　statue　of　the　man　is　a　statue　of　her　father。　King　Wyborn。　He　was　also　my　father。’
　
　Chandalen　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘You　are　sister　to　this　queen？’
　
　‘Half　sister。’　Summoning　courage；　she　started　for　the　stairs。　‘Let’s　see　if　she　is　here；　and　then　we　can　be　on　our　way　to　Aydindril。’
　
　Kahlan’s　heart　was　still　pounding　as　she　stood　before　the　door　to　the　queen’s　chambers。　She　couldn’t　bring　herself　to　open　it。　It　smelled　dreadful　in　the　hall；　but　she　hardly　noticed。
　
　‘Do　you　wish　me　to　look　for　you？’
　
　‘No；’　she　said。　‘I　must　see　with　my　own　eyes。’
　
　She　turned　the　knob。　The　door　was　locked；　the　key　still　in　place。　She　touched　the　icy　metal　plate。　This　is　a　lock；　the　thing　I　told　you　of　before；’　she　lectured　as　she　pulled　the　key　out　and　held　it　up。　This　is　a　key。’　Replacing　the　key；　she　twisted　it　with　shaking　fingers。　‘If　you　have　a　key；　you　can　open　the　lock；　and　then　the　door。’
　
　Someone　had　obviously　locked　the　door；　out　of　respect　for　the　queen。
　
　The　windows　were　intact；　as　was　the　furniture。　The　room　was　as　freezing　cold　as　the　rest　of　the　palace；　but　the　smell　made　them　suddenly　gag　and　hold　their　breath。
　
　Human　excrement　covered　everything　in　the　outer　sitting　room。　The　two　of　them　stared　in　shock。　Dark　piles　dotted　the　carpets　and　sat　on　the　desk　and　table。　The　blue　velvet　chairs　and　couches　were　soaked　with　yellow；　frozen　urine。　Someone　had　even　squatted　neatly　in　the　fireplace。
　
　Holding　their　mantles　across　their　noses；　they　stepped　carefully　across　the　room　to　the　next　closed　door。　The　queen’s　bedchamber　was　worse。　There　was　hardly　a　place　to　put　a　foot　without　stepping　in　it。　But　as　covered　as　the　floor　was；　the　worst　was　the　bed；　it　was　heaped　with　feces。　Delicately　painted　floral　scenes　on　the　walls　were　smeared　with　it。　If　everything　hadn’t　been　frozen　solid；　they　would　have　been　driven　from　the　room　by　the　stench。　As　it　was；　it　was　barely　tolerable。
　
　Thankfully；　there　were　no　bodies。　The　queen　was　not　here。
　
　The　names　on　Kahlan’s　mental　roster　of　who　could　have　done　all　this　fell　away；　and　only　one　nation　was　left。　The　ones　who　had　been　at　the　top；　before。
　
　‘Keltans；’　she　hissed　to　herself。
　
　Chandalen　was　dumbfounded。　‘Why　would　these　men　do　this？　Are　they　children　who　do　not　know　better？’
　
　After　a　last　look　around；　Kahlan　led　them　back　out　into　the　hall；　locking　the　door　once　more；　at　last　taking　a　full　breath。　‘It’s　a　message。　It’s　meant　to　show　their　disrespect　for　the　people　who　lived　here。　It　says　that　they　have　nothing　but　scorn　for　these　people；　and　anything　that’s　theirs。　They’ve　soiled　their　foe’s　honor　in　every　way　they　could　think　of。’
　
　‘At　least　your　half　sister　is　not　here。’
　
　Kahlan　snugged　the　thongs　of　her　mantle　tight　at　her　neck。　‘At　least　there　is　that。’
　
　She　descended　the　steps；　pausing　to　look　once　more　at　the　closed　doors　on　the　second　floor。　Chandalen　watched　her　after　he；　too；　glanced　to　the　row　of　doors。
　
　She　sought　to　fill　the　silence。　‘We　must　go　and　find　Prindin　and　Tossidin。’
　
　His　face　was　lined　with　ire。　‘Does　this　not　make　you　angry？’
　
　She　realized　only　then　that　she　was　wearing　her　Confessor’s　face。　‘It　would　do　no　good　for　me　to　show　my　anger　right　now。　When　the　time　is　right；　you　will　know　just　how　angry　I　am。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　30
　
　In　a　cramped　daub　and　wattle　house　next　to　the　hole　in　the　city’s　wall；　Kahlan　watched　as　Chandalen　built　a　small　fire　for　her　in　the　central　pit。　The　two　brothers　were　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　
　‘Warm　yourself；’　he　said。　‘I　will　see　if　Prindin　and　Tossidin　are　close；　and　tell　them　where　we　wait。’
　
　After　he　had　left；　she　drew　off　her　mantle；　even　though　she　knew　it　wasn’t　a　good　idea　to　get　too　used　to　the　warmth　because　it　would　only　make　the　cold　seem　worse　later。　Drawn　by　the　lure　of　the　fire；　she　squatted　close；　rubbing　her　hands　together　over　the　flames；　shivering　as　the　warmth　seeped　into　her　bones。
　
　The　small　room　was　one　of　only　two　that　had　been　a　large　part　of　some　family’s　world。　The　table　was　broken　but　the　crude　bench　sitting　against　the　wall　was　not。　A　few　pieces　of　clothing　were　scattered　about；　along　with　bent　tin　plates　and　a　broken　spinning　wheel。　Three　bobbins　were　crushed　into　the　dirt　floor。
　
　Kahlan　retrieved　a　dented　pot　from　among　the　rubble；　deciding　it　was　easier　to　use　it　than　to　unpack　one　of　their　own。　She　heaped　it　full　of　snow　from　outside　the　door；　placed　the　pot　on　three　stones　in　the　fire；　then　warmed　her　icy　fingers　again；　finally　pressing　them　against　the　cold　flesh　of　her　face。　There　was　tea　in　a　crushed　canister　in　the　corner；　but　she　instead　pulled　her　own　from　her　pack　while　she　waited　for　the　snow　to　melt；　and　the　men　to　return。
　
　Try　as　she　might；　she　couldn’t　get　the　faces　of　the　dead　young　women　out　of　her　mind。
　
　Several　times；　she　added　snow　as　that　in　the　pot　melted　down。　As　the　water　was　just　starting　to　bubble；　Prindin　came　through　the　door。　He　leaned　his　bow　against　the　wall　and　with　a　sigh　slumped　down　heavily　on　the　bench。
　
　Kahlan　stood　and　glanced　to　the　empty　doorway。　‘Where’s　your　brother？’
　
　‘He　should　be　here　soon。　We　took　different　ways　back；　to　be　able　to　look　at　more　tracks。’　He　craned　his　neck；　looking　through　the　doorway　into　the　second　room。　‘Where　is　Chandalen？’
　
　‘He　went　to　find　you　and　Tossidin。’
　
　Then　he　will　be　back　soon。　My　brother　is　not　far。’
　
　‘What　did　you　find？’
　
　‘More　dead　people。’
　
　He　didn’t　seem　to　want　to　talk　about　it　at　the　moment；　so　she　decided　to　wait　until　Chandalen　returned　with　Tossidin　before　questioning　him。
　
　‘I　was　just　warming　water。　We’ll　have　some　hot　tea。’
　
　He　nodded；　flashing　her　his　handsome　smile。　‘It　would　be　good　to　have　hot　tea。’
　
　Kahlan　bent　over　the　pot；　shaking　tea　from　a　leather　pouch　with　one　hand；　and　holding　her　long　hair　back　from　her　face　with　the　other。
　
　‘You　have　a　fine…looking　bottom；’　came　his　voice　from　behind。
　
　She　straightened　and　turned　to　him。　‘What　did　you　say？’
　
　Prindin　pointed　toward　her　middle。　‘I　said　you　have　a　fine…looking　bottom。　It　is　a　good　shape。’
　
　Kahlan　had　learned　not　to　be　startled　or　insulted　by　the　strange　customs　of　different　peoples　of　the　Midlands。　Among　the　Mud　People；　for　example；　a　man　plimenting　a　woman　on　her　breasts　was　the　same　as　saying　she　looked　to　be　capable　of　being　a　fit　and　healthy　mother；　able　to　nurse　her　future　children。　It　was　a　pliment　that　brought　smiles　of　pride　from　the　flattered　woman’s　family；　and　was　a　sure　way　for　a　suitor　to　make　friends　with　her　father。　At　the　same　time；　asking　to　see　a　woman　with　the　sticky　mud　washed　from　her　hair　was　likely　as　not　to　raise　drawn　bows　…　it　was　tantamount　to　asking　the　young　woman　for　improper　favors。
　
　The　Mud　People　treated　matters　of　sex　in　an　especially　casual　manner。　Kahlan　had　more　than　once　been　brought　to　blushing　by　Weselan’s　unexpected　and　cavalier　descriptions　of　coupling　with　her　husband。　Worse；　she　was　as　likely　as　not　to　do　it　in　his　presence。
　
　As　she　stared　at　Prindin；　the　visions　of　the　young　women’s　faces；　too；　floated　before　her　eyes。
　
　Though　Prindin　had　not　plimented　her　on　her　breasts；　it　seemed　to　her　that　a　woman’s　hips　could　be　construed　to　carry　the　same　maternal　pliment。　She　knew　he　meant　no　disrespect；　but　still；　his　beaming　smile　made　the　hairs　on　her　arms　stand　on　end。　Maybe　it　was　just　the　inappropriate　timing；　with　the　dead　all　about；　that　unnerved　her。　But　he　hadn’t　seen　the　dead　young　women。
　
　Prindin’s　smile　faded　only　a　little　as　a　frown　came　to　his　brow。　‘You　look　surprised。　Doesn’t　Richard　With　The　Temper　ever　tell　you　how　fine　your　bottom　is？’
　
　Kahlan　fumbled　for　words；　not　sure　how　to　bring　this　to　an　honorable　halt。　‘He　has　never　mentioned　it；　specifically。’
　
　‘Other　men　must　have　told　you　this　before。　It　is　too　fine　for　them　not　to　notice。　The　shape　of　your　body　is　very　good　to　look　at。　It　fills　me　with　desire　to　。。。’　He　frowned　in　puzzlement。　‘I　don’t　know　your　word　for　。。。’
　
　Blood　went　to　her　face　in　a　red　rush　as　she　took　a　step　toward　him。　‘Prindin！’　She　relaxed　her　fists　and　brought　her　voice　back　in　check。　‘Prindin。　I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　He　nodded；　his　grin　returning；　but　not　quite　as　confident。　‘Yes；　but　you　are　a　woman；　too；　and　your　shape　。。。’
　
　‘Prindin！’　He　blinked　at　her　as　she　ground　her　teeth。　‘In　your　land　it　may　be　proper　to　speak　to　a　woman　in　this　fashion；　but　in　other　places　in　the　Midlands；　it　is　not。　In　other　places；　speaking　in　this　manner　is　offensive。　Very　offensive。　More　than　that；　I’m　the　Mother　Confessor；　and　it’s　not　proper　to　speak　to　me　in　this　way。’
　
　His　smile　vanished。　‘But　you　are　now　one　of　the　Mud　People。’
　
　‘That　may　be　true；　but　I’m　still　the　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　His　face　blanched。　‘I　have　offended　you。’　He　leapt　up　from　the　bench　and　fell　to　his　knees　before　her。　‘Forgive　me；　please。　I　meant　no　disrespect。　I　meant　only　to　show　my　favor　for　you。’
　
　Her　red　face　glowed　in　embarrassment。　She　had　done　it　now；　she　had　humiliated　him。
　
　‘I　understand；　Prindin。　I　know　your　words　are　harmless；　but　you　must　not　speak　this　way　outside　your　land。　Others　would　not　understand　your　ways　and　would　be　greatly　offended。’
　
　He　was　nearly　in　tears。　‘I　did　not　know。　Please　say　you　forgive　Prindin。’　He　clutched　at　her　pants；　and　gripped　her　upper　thighs　with　his　powerful　fingers。
　
　‘Yes　。。。　of　course　。。。　I　know　you　meant　no　harm。’　She　took　hold　of　his　wrists；　pulling　them　gently　from　her　legs。　‘I　forgive　you。。。。’
　
　Chandalen　came　through　the　door；　his　face　set　in　a　grim　cast。　He　took　a　quick　glance　at　Prindin　before　looking　up　into　her　eyes。
　
　‘What　is　this？’
　
　‘Nothing。’　She　hastily　helped　Prindin　to　his　feet　as　his　brother　entered　the　room。　‘But　we’re　going　to　have　to　have　a　talk　about　the　proper　way　to　speak　to　ladies　in　the　Midlands。　There　are　things　you　three　will　need　to　be　taught；　to　keep　you　out　of　trouble。’　She　smoothed　her　pant　legs　and　the　lingering　sting　of　where　Prindin’s　strong　fingers　had　been；　and　then　straightened　herself。　Tell　me　what　you’ve　found。’
　
　Chandalen　cast　a　withering　glare　at　Prindin。　‘What　have　you　done？’
　
　Prindin　took　a　half　step　back；　diverting　his　eyes。　‘I　did　not　know　it　would　be　wrong。　I　told　her　she　had　a　fine　。。。’
　
　‘I　said　it　was　nothing；’　Kahlan　said；　cutting　him　off。　‘It’s　just　a　small　misunderstanding。　Forget　about　it。’　She　turned　to　the　fire。　‘I　made　hot　tea。　Get　some　cups　…　there　are　some　we　can　use　on　the　floor　over　there　…　and　we　will　have　some　tea　while　you　tell　me　what　you　found。’
　
　Tossidin　made　for　the　cups；　thumping　the　back　of　his　brother’s　head　along　the　way；　adding　a　whispered　reprimand。　Chandalen　shrugged　off　his　mantle　and　squatted　before　the　fire；　warming　his　hands。　The　brothers　brought　the　cups；　Prindin　rubbing　the　back　of　his　head；　and　passed　them　around。
　
　In　an　attempt　to　let　them　all　know　Prindin　hadn’t　lost　any　honor　in　her　eyes；　Kahlan　directed　her　attention　and　first　question　to　him。　‘Tell　me　what　you　found。’
　
　Prindin　glanced　briefly　at　the　other　two　before　setting　his　face　with　a　serious　expression。　‘Ten；　maybe　twelve　days　ago；　this　killing　was　done。　The　enemy　came　mostly　from　the　east；　but　there　were　many；　and　some　came　from　farther　to　the　north　and　south。　They　had　war　in　the　narrow　places　in　the　mountains　with　men　from　this　city。　Those　men　from　the　city　not　killed　ran　away　as　they　were　overrun　and　gathered　their　numbers　here；　and　tried　to　make　a　stand。　While　they　ran　to　here；　they　were　chased　by　their　enemy；　fighting　and　dying　as　they　ran。
　
　‘More　and　more　of　the　invaders　poured　through　the　passes；　sweeping　around　to　the　south；　here；　where　they　had　a　battle。　After　they　defeated　those　men；　and　killed　the　ones　they　captured；　the　enemy　came　through　the　wall。　When　they　were　finished　in　this　city；　all　of　them；　together；　went　east　again。’
　
　Tossidin　leaned　in　a　little。　‘Before　they　left；　they　took　their　dead　from　the　city。　They　used　wagons；　there　are　many　tracks　from　the　wheels。　It　took　them　maybe　two　days　to　take　all　their　dead　from　here。　Many　thousands。　The　people　here　must　have　fought　like　demon　spirits。　The　ones　who　did　this　lost　more　men　than　they　killed。’
　
　‘Where　are　the　bodies？’　she　asked。
　
　‘In　a　bowl　in　a　pass　to　the　east；’　Prindin　said。　‘The　wagons　took　the　dead　along　the　road；　and　then　they　were　thrown　down　into　the　low　place。　They　are　piled　so　deep　we　do　not　know　how　low　the　ground　is　there。’
　
　‘What　did　they　look　like？’　She　took　a　sip　of　tea；　holding　the　tin　cup　with　both　hands　wrapped　around　it；　soaking　up　the　warmth。　‘How　were　they　dressed？’
　
　Prindin　reached　under　his　shirt　and　pulled　out　a　folded　cloth。　He　handed　her　the　bloodred　bundle。　There　were　poles；　with　these　on　them。　Many　of　the　men　wo