tg.stone of tears-第81部分

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　your　head　on　a　pike！’　When　the　soldier　scurried　off；　the　table　of　men　erupted　in　laughter。
　
　Kahlan　brought　her　huge　warhorse　right　up　to　the　edge　of　the　table。　She　sat　tall　and　still　as　she　appraised　the　half…dozen　men　sitting　around　the　table。　Four　were　D’Haran　officers；　the　one　with　his　boots　resting　on　the　table　had　been　the　man　who　had　been　yelling；　one　was　a　Keltish　mander　in　an　ornate　uniform　unbuttoned　to　reveal　a　filthy　shirt　soaked　with　wine　and　meat　drippings；　and　one　man　wore　plain；　tan　robes。
　
　With　a　large　knife；　the　man　with　his　feet　up　on　the　table　carved　a　long　strip　of　meat　from　a　bone。　He　tossed　the　bone　over　his　shoulder　to　a　snarling　pack　of　dogs　behind　him。　He　tore　the　strip　of　meat　in　half　with　his　teeth　and　pointed　with　the　knife　to　his　right；　to　the　young　man　in　plain　robes；　as　he　added　a　swig　from　a　mug　to　the　meat　already　in　his　mouth。　He　spoke　around　it　all。
　
　‘Wizard　Slagle　here　told　me　he　thought　he　smelled　a　Confessor。’　He　peered　up　with　bloodshot　eyes。　‘And　where　is　your　wizard；　Confessor？　Huh？’　Everyone　at　the　table　laughed　with　him。　Ale　ran　down　his　thick；　blond　beard。　‘Bring　anything　to　drink；　Confessor？　We’re　nearly　out。　No？　Well；　not　to　mind。’　With　the　knife；　he　pointed　over　to　the　Keltish　mander。　‘Karsh　here　tells　me　there’s　a　nice　city　a　week　or　so　down　the　mountains；　and　they’re　bound　to　have　some　ale　for　us　thirsty　boys；　after　they　wele　us　to　their　town　and　swear　allegiance。’
　
　Kahlan’s　eyes　slid　to　the　wizard。　It　was　for　him　she　had　e。　She　coolly　calculated　whether　or　not　she　could　make　the　jump　from　the　horse　to　the　wizard　and　touch　him　with　her　power　before　she　was　caught　by　that　big　knife。　The　man　wielding　the　knife　didn’t　look　to　be　able　to　react　too　quickly。　Still；　she　judged　it　to　be　poor　odds。　She　was　willing　to　give　her　life　to　the　task；　but　only　if　she　could　be　reasonably　sure　of　success。
　
　But　it　was　for　him　she　had　e。　The　wizard　was　this　army’s　eyes。　He　saw　things　before　they　could；　and　things　they　couldn’t　see；　like　her。　And　D’Harans　feared　things　magic；　and　spirits。　A　wizard　was　their　defense　against　magic　and　those　spirits。
　
　Her　gaze　moved　from　the　wizard’s　deep…set　eyes　and　drunken；　leering　smirk　to　what　he　was　doing　with　his　hands。　He　was　whittling。　Before　him　on　the　table　was　a　pile　of　shavings。　She　remembered　the　piles　of　wood　shavings　in　the　palace　at　Ebinissia；　outside　the　girls’　rooms。
　
　The　wizard　waggled　the　stick　he　had　whittled。　For　the　first　time；　she　noticed　what　it　was。　It　was　a　larger…than…life　phallus。　His　smirk　grew。
　
　The　man　with　the　knife　pointed　it　to　the　wizard。　‘Slagle’s　got　something　for　you；　Confessor。　Been　working　on　it　for　two　hours；　since　he　realized　you　were　ing　for　a　visit。’　He　made　a　feeble　attempt　to　hold　back　his　laughter；　but　it　came　in　fits　through　his　restraint　and　he　finally　gave　in　to　it。
　
　Two　hours。　They　had　just　told　her　the　limits　of　this　wizard’s　power。　She　had　left　the　Galeans　four　hours　ago；　but　nearly　an　hour　of　that　had　been　spent　at　her　task　up　on　the　ridges。　That　meant　the　Galean　boys　weren’t　yet　close　enough　for　the　wizard　to　know　of　them；　but　were　only　concealed　from　discovery　by　a　dangerously　thin　margin。　Any　closer；　and　the　wizard　would　know　of　them。　Long　before　they　could　bring　any　surprise　to　bear。
　
　She　waited　for　the　D’Haran　man’s　laughter　to　sputter　out　before　she　spoke。　‘You　have　me　at　a　disadvantage。’
　
　‘Not　yet！　But　I　will！’　The　men　roared　and　hooted　again。
　
　With　every　beat　of　her　heart；　she　became　more　calm。　She　pushed　her　hood　back。　She　wore　her　Confessor’s　face。　‘What　is　your　name；　soldier？’
　
　‘Soldier！’　He　lurched　forward　and　stuck　the　knife　in　the　table。　‘I’m　no　soldier。　I’m　General　Riggs。　I’m　supreme　mander　of　all　our　troops。　All　our　men；　old　and　new；　answer　to　me。’
　
　And　in　whose　name　are　you　fighting；　General　Riggs？’
　
　He　swept　his　hand　around。　‘Why；　the　Imperial　Order　is　fighting　a　war　on　behalf　of　those　who　join　us。　A　war　against　all　the　oppressors。　Against　all　who　fight　us。　Those　who　don’t　join　us　are　against　us；　and　will　be　crushed。　We　fight　to　bring　order。
　
　‘Under　the　Imperial　Order；　all　who　join　us　will　find　protection；　and　in　turn　they　will　help　protect　all。　All　the　lands　will　join　with　us；　or　they　will　be　swept　aside。　It　is　a　new　order　for　which　we　struggle。　The　Imperial　Order。　They　mand　all　the　lands；　and　I　mand　them。’
　
　Kahlan　frowned；　trying　to　make　sense　of　what　she　was　hearing。　‘I　am　the　Mother　Confessor；　and　I　mand　the　Midlands；　not　you。’
　
　‘Mother　Confessor！’　He　clapped　the　wizard　on　the　back。　‘You　didn’t　tell　me　she　was　the　Mother　Confessor！　Well；　you　don’t　look　like　any　mother　I’ve　seen。　But　after　tonight；　you’ll　be　a　mother　sure　enough。　You　have　my　word　on　that！’　He　roared　with　laughter。
　
　‘Darken　Rahl　is　dead。’　That　brought　the　laughter　to　an　end。　‘The　new　Lord　Rahl　has　declared　the　war　ended　and　called　all　the　D’Haran　troops　home。’
　
　General　Riggs　rose　to　his　feet。　‘Darken　Rahl　was　a　man　of　limited　foresight；　a　man　too　much　concerned　with　his　ancient　magic　and　too　little　concerned　with　order。　He　was　too　preoccupied　with　his　own　quests；　his　old　religions。　Magic；　until　it　is　eradicated；　is　a　tool　of　men；　not　a　master　of　them。
　
　‘Darken　Rahl　failed　to　use　the　opportunity　he　had。　We　will　not　fail。　Darken　Rahl　himself；　in　the　underworld；　knows　this；　and　repents。　He　is　allied　to　our　struggle；　now。　The　good　spirits　have　declared　it！　We　no　longer　bow　to　the　house　of　Rahl；　but　they；　as　all　houses；　districts；　and　kingdoms；　to　us。　The　new　Lord　Rahl　will　join　us；　too；　or　we’ll　crush　him　and　any　heathen　dogs　who　follow　him。　We　will　crush　all　the　heathen　dogs！’
　
　‘In　other　words；　General；　you　fight　for　no　one　other　than　yourself。　Your　purpose　is　simply　to　murder　people。’
　
　‘I　do　not　fight　for　myself！　This　is　a　larger　purpose　than　one　man。　We　offer　all　the　opportunity　to　join　with　us。　If　they　don’t　join　with　us；　it’s　because　they’re　aligned　with　our　enemies；　and　we　must　kill　them！’　He　threw　his　hands　up。　‘It’s　useless　trying　to　explain　such　matters　of　state　and　canon　to　a　woman。　Women　have　no　intellect　for　rule。’
　
　‘Men　have　no　exclusive　talent　to　rule；　General。’
　
　‘It’s　profanity　for　men　to　bow　down　to　a　woman　for　protection！　Right　men　concern　themselves　only　with　getting　under　a　woman’s　skirts；　not　with　hiding　behind　them！　Women　rule　from　their　nipples；　offering　only　their　sympathetic　pap。　Men　rule　from　their　fist。　They　make　and　enforce　the　law。　They　provide　and　protect。
　
　‘Every　king　and　patrician　will　be　offered　the　chance　to　join　with　us；　to　bring　his　land　and　his　people　under　our　protection。　All　queens　will　be　offered　the　chance　to　ply　their　wares　in　a　brothel；　or　perhaps　to　be　the　humble　wives　of　an　indentured　farmer；　but　either　way　make　a　proper　use　of　themselves。’
　
　He　swept　his　mug　up　from　the　table　and　took　a　few　gulps。　‘Can’t　you　see；　woman？　Are　you　that　stupid；　even　for　a　woman？　What　has　your　Midland’s　alliance　acplished　under　the　rule　of　women？’
　
　Acplished？　The　alliance　is　to　acplish　nothing　but　to　let　all　the　lands　live　in　peace；　to　leave　their　neighbors’　lands　to　their　neighbors；　and　know　that　their　own　is　safe　from　covetous　hands；　and　that　all　will　stand　to　protect　each；　even　the　weak　and　defenseless；　so　none　will　stand　alone　and　naked。’
　
　He　smiled　in　triumph　as　he　looked　to　his　rades。　‘Truly　spoken　from　the　teat！’
　
　He　gestured　with　disgust。　‘You　provide　no　leadership；　no　law；　each　land　proscribes　and　pronounces　as　they　see　fit。　What　in　one　place　is　a　crime；　in　another　is　virtue。　Your　alliance　shies　from　bringing　order　to　all。　You’re　nothing　but　fragmented　tribes；　each　jealously　guarding　what’s　his；　with　no　thought　to　the　union　other　than　fits　their　own　greed；　and　in　so　doing　lets　all　be　vincible。’
　
　‘You　are　wrong；　that　is　exactly　what　the　Central　Council　in　Aydindril　is　for；　to　bring　all　lands　together　for　the　mon　defense。　The　mon　defense　against　murderers　like　you。　It　is　not　a　feeble　union；　as　you　seem　to　think；　but　one　with　teeth。’
　
　A　noble　ideal。　One；　in　fact；　which　I　share；　but　one　you　only　give　pap　to。　You　bring　them　together　only　timidly；　not　under　mon　canon。’　He　held　his　hand　out　to　her；　closing　it　into　a　fist　as　he　sneered　at　her。　‘In　so　doing；　you　leave　all　lands　ripe　for　the　squeezing。　You　are　lost　souls　in　search　of　true　leadership　and　in　desperate　need　of　protection。
　
　As　soon　as　the　boundaries　fell；　you　were　ravaged　by　Darken　Rahl；　and　he　was　only　halfhearted　about　it；　seeking　only　his　magic！　Had　he　let　the　generals　run　as　they　would；　there　wouldn’t　be　even　a　shell　of　this　play　alliance　of　yours　left。’
　
　And　who　is　it　we　all　need　protection　from？’
　
　He　stared　off；　whispering；　almost　to　himself。　‘From　the　horde　who　will　e。’
　
　‘What　horde？’
　
　He　looked　up；　as　if　he　had　just　awakened。　The　horde　spoken　of　in　the　prophecies。’　He　frowned　at　her　as　if　she　were　hopelessly　thick；　and　then　held　his　hand　out　to　the　wizard。　‘The　good　wizard　here　has　counseled　us　on　the　prophecies。　You　are　one　who　spent　your　life　with　wizards；　and　you　never　sought　their　knowledge？’
　
　‘Your　eloquent　claim　to　want　to　join　people　in　peace　and　law　are　high…minded　words；　General　Riggs。　But　your　atrocities　in　Ebinissia　put　the　lie　to　them。　For　all　time；　Ebinissia　will　bear　mute　but　irrefutable　testimony　to　your　true　cause。　You；　and　your　Imperial　Order；　are　the　horde。’　Kahlan　glowered　to　the　wizard。　‘What’s　your　part　in　this；　Wizard　Slagle？’
　
　He　shrugged。　‘Why；　to　assist　and　facilitate　the　joining　of　all　people　under　the　rule　of　mon　law。’
　
　‘Whose　law？’
　
　‘The　law　of　the　victors。’　He　smiled。　‘That　would　be　us。　The　Imperial　Order。’
　
　‘You　have　responsibilities　as　a　wizard。　Those　responsibilities　are　to　serve；　not　to　rule。　You　will　report　at　once　to　Aydindril；　to　take　your　place　in　that　service；　or　you　will　answer　to　me。’
　
　‘You？’　he　said　with　a　derisive　sneer。　‘You　demand　that　good　and　decent　men　whimper　and　snivel　before　you；　and　at　the　same　time　you　blindly　let　banelings　have　a　free　run　of　the　land。’
　
　‘Banelings？’　She　glowered　at　Riggs。　‘I　suppose　you　would　be　foolish　enough　to　seek　council　from　the　Blood　of　the　Fold。’
　
　‘They’ve　already　joined　with　us；’　General　Riggs　said；　offhandedly。　‘Our　cause　is　theirs；　and　theirs　ours。　They　know　how　to　expunge　those　who　would　serve　the　Keeper　and　thus　our　enemies。　We　will　cleanse　the　land　of　all　who　serve　the　Keeper。　Goodness　must　triumph。’
　
　‘You　mean　your　cause。　It　is　you　who　would　rule。’
　
　‘Are　you　blind；　Confessor？　I　rule　here；　now；　but　this　is　not　about　me；　it’s　about　the　future。　I　simply　fill　the　post　for　now；　furrow　the　field　so　it　may　produce。　It’s　not　I　who　is　the　focus。
　
　‘We　offer　everyone　the　chance　to　serve　with　us；　and　every　man　with　me　has　taken　that　offer。　Others　have　joined　our　troops　in　our　battle。　We　are　no　longer　D’Haran　troops。　They　are　no　longer　troops　of　their　homeland。　We　are　all　the　Imperial　Order。　Any　of　right　mind　can　lead　us。　If　I　fall　in　our　noble　struggle；　another　will　rise　up　to　take　my　place；　until　all　the　lands　are　joined　under　united　rule；　and　the　Imperial　Order　can　flower。’
　
　Either　the　man　was　too　drunk　to　know　what　he　was　saying；　or　he　was　mad。　She　glanced　about　at　the　dancing；　drunken；　singing　men　at　campfires　all　about。　Mad　as　the　Bantak。　Mad　as　the　Jocopo。
　
　‘General　Riggs。’　He　had　been　muttering　angrily　under　his　breath；　but　stopped　and　looked　up　at　her。　‘I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。　Like　it　or　not；　I　represent　the　Midlands。　In　the　name　of　the　Midlands　I　call　upon　you　to　to　halt　this　war　immediately　and　either　return　to　D’Hara；　or　e　to　the　council　with　your　grievances。　You　may　petition　the　Central　Council　with　any　dispute　you　have；　and　it　will　be　heard；　but　you　may　not　visit　war　upon　my　people。　You　will　not　like　the　consequence　if　you　choose　not　to　heed　my　orders。’
　
　He　sneered　up　at　her。　‘We　make　no　promises。　We’ll　annihilate　all　who　don’t　join　us。　We　fight　to　stop　the　killing；　to　stop　the　murdering；　as　the　good　spirits　have　called　upon　us　to　do。　We　fight　for　peace！　Until　we　win　peace；　we　will　have　war！’
　
　She　frowned。　‘Who　told　you　this？　Who　told　you　that　you　must　fight？’
　
　He　blinked　at　her。　‘It’s　self…evident；　you　stupid　bitch！’
　
　‘You　cannot　possibly　be　so　stupid　as　to　think　the　good　spirits　tell　you　to　wage　war。　The　good　spirits　do　not　act　in　such　overt　ways。’
　
　‘Ah；　well　then；　we　have　a　disagreement。　That　is　the　purpose　of　war；　is　it　not？　To　settle　such　matters？　The　good　spirits　know　us　to　be　in　the　right；　else　they　would　easily　join　against　us。　Our　victory　will　prove　they　side　with　us　or　we　could　not　win　in　our　struggle。　The　Creator　Himself　wishes　to　see　us　triumph；　and　our　victory　will　be　proof　of　that。’
　
　The　man　was　a　lunatic。　She　redirected　her　attention　to　the　Keltish　mander。　‘Karsh　。。。’
　
　‘General　Karsh。’
　
　‘You　demean　the　rank；　General。　Why　did　you　slaughter　the　people　of　Ebinissia？’
　
　‘Ebinissia　was　given　the　opportunity　to　join　us；　as　will　all　be　given　the　opportunity。　Ebinissia　chose　to　fight。　We　had　to　make　an　example　of　her　heathen　people；　to　show　others　what　awaits　them　if　they　fail　to　join　us　in　peace。　It　cost　us　nearly　half　our　men；　but　it　was　a　goal　worth　the　cost。　Even　now；　those　lost　are　being　replaced　by　others　joining　with　us；　and　we　will　swell　in　rank　to　take　in　all　the　known　lands。’
　
　This；　you　call　leadership？　Extortion　and　murder？’
　
　General　Karsh　slammed　his　mug　down　on　the　table。　His　eyes　were　fire。　‘We　visit　upon　them　what　they　visit　upon　our　people！　They　raid　our　farms；　our　border　towns。　They　kill　Keltans　as　if　we　were　bugs　to　be　stepped　on！
　
　‘Yet　we　offered　them　peace。　It　is　they　who　chose　to　shun　our　mercy。　They　were　offered　a　chance　at　peace；　a　chance　to　join　us；　they　chose　war。　In　that　way；　they　chose　to　aid　us；　they’ve　made　an　example　for　others　of　the　folly　of　fighting　us。’
　
　‘And　what　have　you　done　with　Queen　Cyrilla？　Did　you　slaughter　her；　too；　or　is　she　back　there　in　your　whores’　tents？’
　
　They　all　laughed。　‘She　would　be；’　Riggs　put　in；　‘if　we’d　found　her。’　Kahlan　almost　sighed　aloud　with　relief。
　
　She　looked　back　to　Karsh；　who　was　taking　another　swig。　‘What　has　Prince　Fyren　to　say　of　this？’
　
　‘Fyren’s　in　Aydindril！　I’m　here！’
　
　So；　perhaps　the　Crown　wasn’t　a　part　of　this。　Perhaps　this　was　little　more　than　a　band　of　murdering　outlaws　who　fancied　themselves　as　more。
　
　Kahlan　knew　Prince　Fyren；　knew　him　to　be　a　reasonable　man。　Of　the　Keltish　diplomats　assigned　to　Aydindril；　he　was　the　one　who　had　done　the　most　to　bring　Kelton　forward　into　the　alliance　of　the　Midlands　through　the　Central　Council。　He　cajoled　and　persuaded　his　mother；　the　queen；　to　go　the　route　of　peace　rather　than　conflict。　Prince　Fyren　was　a　gentleman；　in　every　sense　of　the　word。
　
　‘Besides　being　a　murderer；　General　Karsh；　you　are　also　a　traitor　to　your　own　land　and　Crown。　To　your　own　queen。’
　
　He　hammered　his　pewter　mug　down　on　the　table。　‘I’m　a　patriot！　A　protector　of　my　people！’
　
　She　leaned　the　slightest　bit　forward。　‘You’re　a　treasonous　bastard　and　an　outlaw　cutthroat　without　conscience。　I　leave