tg.stone of tears-第85部分

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ity；　alone；　I　have　mitted　the　Midlands　to　war。　The　army　of　the　Imperial　Order　is　to　be　killed　to　a　man。　No　negotiation　or　promise　will　be　offered　by　the　Midlands。　Under　no　circumstances　will　the　Order’s　surrender　be　accepted。
　
　‘I　have　given　an　oath　on　behalf　of　the　Midlands　that　no　quarter　shall　be　granted。’
　
　Astonished　faces　stared　at　her。
　
　‘Whether　I　live　or　die；　this　decree　is　irrevocable。　Any　land　or　people　who　willingly　join　with　the　Imperial　Order　cast　their　lot　under　the　shadow　of　this　edict。
　
　‘It　is　not　in　the　name　of　Galea　that　I　call　upon　you　to　fight。　In　the　office　of　the　Mother　Confessor；　I　call　upon　you　to　fight　for　the　Midlands。　For　it　is　not　Galea　that　is　under　threat；　but　all　lands；　and　all　free　people。’
　
　There　was　confident　grumbling　that　they　were　up　to　the　task。　Some　in　the　ranks　called　out　their　assurance　that　they　were　the　men　to　do　it；　that　they　were　in　the　right；　and　would　triumph。
　
　Kahlan　nodded　to　them　all。　‘You　think　so？　I　want　each　of　you　to　look　to　the　faces　around　you。’　They　mostly　stared　at　her。　‘Do　as　I　say！　Look　to　all　the　faces　around　you！　Look　to　your　rades！’
　
　A　little　confused；　they　began　looking　around；　twisting　to　see　those　to　the　sides　and　those　behind；　smiling　and　laughing　among　themselves；　as　if　it　were　a　game。
　
　When　they　seemed　to　have　finished　with　the　task；　she　went　on。　A　few　of　you　will　remember　the　faces　you　have　looked　upon　today。　Remember；　and　grieve。　The　rest；　if　you　take　up　this　battle；　will　not　be　around　to　remember。　They　will　die　in　the　struggle。’
　
　In　the　cold　silence；　Kahlan　heard　the　distant　chatter　of　a　squirrel；　and　then　the　sound　of　that；　too；　died　away。
　
　The　smiles　were　all　gone　as　she　finally　spoke　again。　‘These　men；　the　Imperial　Order；　are　led　by　and　are　mostly　D’Haran　troops。　D’Haran　soldiers　are　trained　from　the　time　they　are　half　your　age。　They　fight　internal　conflicts　in　their　land；　put　down　riots　and　rebellions；　they　do　not　simply　practice　battle　tactics；　they　live　them　day　in　and　day　out。　They　know　only　a　life　of　fighting。　They　have　been　exposed　to　it　in　every　form。　I　have　taken　the　confessions　of　many　D’Harans。　Most　do　not　know　the　meaning　of　peace。
　
　‘Since　spring；　when　Darken　Rahl　sent　them　against　the　Midlands；　they　have　been　at　what　they　do　best：　war。　They　have　fought　in　battle　after　battle。　All　who　have　e　before　them　have　fallen。
　
　‘They　relish　fighting。　They　delight　in　it。　They　are　as　close　to　fearless　as　men　e。　They　hold　contests；　often　lethal；　to　win　the　right　to　be　in　the　van　of　battle；　to　win　the　right　to　be　the　first　to　strike　a　blow　at　the　enemy；　to　win　the　right　to　be　the　first　to　fall。’
　
　She　surveyed　the　young　faces。　‘You　have　confidence　in　your　training；　your　battle　tactics？’　The　faces　nodded；　looking　to　one　another；　smiling　their　knowing　confidence。
　
　Kahlan　pointed　to　one；　a　sergeant　by　the　look　of　his　coat’s　braids。　‘Tell　me　then。　You　are　now　in　the　field　of　battle；　having　chased　down　these　men；　and　here　es　the　enemy；　back　at　you。　You　are　in　charge　of　the　pikes　and　archers。　Here　they　e。　Thousands　of　them；　yelling；　running；　ing　to　rend　your　force　in　two；　to　break　your　army’s　back。　You　see　they　have　heavy　spears；　called　by　them　argons；　with　long；　thin　barbs。　If　they　pierce　you；　they　are　nearly　impossible　to　remove。　They　cause　ghastly　wounds　that　are　almost　always　fatal。　Here　they　e；　with　their　argons。　Thousands　of　men。　What　is　your　tactic？’
　
　The　young　man　held　his　chin　out；　knowingly。　‘Form　a　tight　rank　of　the　pikes　formed　into　a　box　or　wedge　to　protect　the　archers。　The　pikemen　face　the　pikes　out　and　overlapping　the　shields；　present　the　enemy　with　a　tight；　impenetrable　wall。　The　shields　protect　the　pikemen；　who　protect　the　archers。　The　archers　take　them　down　before　they　can　get　close　enough　to　use　their　argons。　The　few　who　do　fall　on　the　pikes。　Their　drive　is　repelled　and；　in　all　likelihood；　they　have　lost　a　good　many　men　in　the　failed　attempt；　making　another　less　likely。’
　
　Kahlan　nodded；　as　if　impressed。　‘Well　stated。’　He　beamed。　The　men　around　him　grinned　with　pride　in　their　knowledge　of　their　business。　‘I　have　seen　some　of　the　most　experienced　armies　of　the　Midlands　use　those　very　same　tactics　when　the　D’Harans　first　came　over；　last　spring；　when　the　boundary　went　down。’
　
　‘Well；　there　you　have　it；’　the　man　said。　‘They　lose　their　charge　against　the　archers　and　on　the　point　of　our　pikes。’
　
　She　gave　him　a　small　smile。　The　D’Haran　van；　those　men　I　told　you　about；　the　biggest；　the　fiercest；　the　ones　who　won　the　right　to　be　the　first　at　you？　Well；　they’ve　developed　special　tactics　of　their　own；　for　use　against　your　plans。　First　of　all；　they　have　arrow　shields；　so　as　they　run　in；　they’re　protected　from　the　brunt　of　the　archers’　work。
　
　‘And　I　guess　I　forgot　to　tell　you　one　other　thing　about　those　argons　of　theirs。　These　spears　have　iron…sheathed　shafts　for　most　of　their　length；　and　a　unique　purpose。　As　the　enemy　is　charging　in；　mostly　unaffected　by　your　archers；　they　heave　their　argons　at　you。’
　
　‘We　have　shields；’　the　man　pointed　out。　‘Their　argons　expended；　they　will　be　on　the　point　of　our　pikes。’
　
　She　folded　her　arms；　nodding　to　him。　‘The　van；　the　men　who　won　the　right　to　be　the　first　wave；　are　big　men。　I　doubt　the　smallest　has　arms　less　than　twice　the　average　of　yours。
　
　The　argons　are　needle　sharp。　Thrown　by　those　powerful　arms；　they　penetrate　and　stick　in　your　shields。　The　long　barbs　prevent　them　from　being　withdrawn。’
　
　The　confident　smiles　were　fading　as　she　looked　from　face　to　face　as　she　went　on。　‘You　now　have　argons　stuck　solidly　in　your　shields。　You　drop　your　pikes；　drawing　swords　to　hack　the　heavy　spears　away。　But　the　shafts　are　covered　in　iron；　and　don’t　yield。　The　spears　are　heavy；　and　the　butts　drag　the　ground。　D’Harans　can　run　almost　as　fast　as　their　spears　fly。　As　they　reach　you　now；　they　jump　on　the　shafts　of　the　spears　stuck　in　your　shields；　dragging　them　to　the　ground；　leaving　you　on　your　knees；　and　naked　to　their　heavy　axes。’
　
　Arms　still　folded；　she　leaned　toward　them。　‘I　have　seen　men　split　from　scalp　to　navel　by　those　axes。’
　
　Men　glanced　sideways　at　one　another；　their　confidence　shaken。
　
　She　nodded　mockingly　as　she　unfolded　her　arms。　‘I　am　not　giving　you　conjecture。　I’ve　seen　a　D’Haran　force　take　down　an　experienced　army　nearly　ten　times　their　size　in　just　this　fashion。　In　the　space　of　an　hour；　the　battle　turned　from　a　rout　of　the　D’Harans　to　a　rout　of　their　foes。
　
　‘A　D’Haran　charge　of　the　argon　is　almost　as　devastating　as　a　classic　cavalry　charge；　except　they　have　far　greater　numbers　than　any　cavalry。　And　their　own　cavalry　is　anything　but　typical。　You　don’t　even　want　to　know　about　them。
　
　‘They　lost　half　their　number　in　the　slaughter　of　Ebinissia；　and　they　are　in　camp；　now；　singing　and　drinking。　Would　you；　if　you　lost　every　other　one　of　you；　be　of　good　cheer？　‘I　know　you　believe　you　can　win　a　battle　against　a　force　ten　times　your　size；　and　I　know　also　that　such　a　thing　can　be　done。　But　it　is　those　experienced　D’Haran　troops　who；　on　a　battlefield；　fighting　by　the　tactics　of　mon　war；　could　bring　about　such　a　feat。
　
　‘Please　believe　me；　I　mean　no　disrespect　to　your　bravery；　but　in　the　field　of　war；　you　are　not　their　equal。　Not　yet。　You　could　not　defeat　an　army　half　their　size　were　the　battle　fought　the　way　your　enemy　would　fight。
　
　‘That　does　not　mean　you　cannot　win。　It　means　only　that　you　must　do　it　in　another　way。　I　believe　you　can　win；　and　I’m　going　to　tell　you　what　you　must　do；　and　lead　you　in　the　first　strike；　to　start　you　in　this。　The　Imperial　Order　is　not　invincible。　They　can　be　defeated。
　
　‘From　this　day　forward；　I　shall　never　again　call　you　‘boys。’　From　this　day　forward；　you　are　men。
　
　‘You　think　of　yourselves　as　soldiers　of　your　homeland；　Galea。　But　you　are　not。　In　this；　you　are　not。　You　are　soldiers；　men；　of　the　Midlands。　For　it　is　not　just　Galea　who　will　be　conquered；　but　all　of　the　Midlands；　if　these　men　are　not　stopped。　I　call　upon　you　to　stop　them。’
　
　The　tightly　packed　crowd　of　soldiers；　tempered　by　what　they　had　heard；　shouted　that　they　would　do　the　job。　She　watched　from　under　her　eyebrows　as　they　confidently　pledged　to　fight　to　the　end。　There　were　angry　whispers　from　some　in　the　crowd；　to　her　right。　Men　were　jostling　each　other　and　arguing。　Some　men　wanted　to　speak；　and　others　were　seeking　to　prevent　it。
　
　‘If　you　should　choose　to　join　in　this　battle；　you　will　follow　orders　without　question；’　she　said。　‘But　for　this　time　only；　you　may　speak　your　mind　freely；　without　retribution。　If　you　have　something　to　say；　then　let　all　hear　it　now；　or　else　hold　it　to　your　grave。’
　
　One　man　pulled　his　arm　free　of　another。　He　glowered　up　at　her。　‘We’re　men。　We　don’t　follow　women　into　battle。’
　
　Kahlan　blinked　at　him。　‘You　follow　Queen　Cyrilla。’
　
　‘She　is　our　queen；　we　fight　on　her　behalf。　She　doesn’t　lead　us　in　battle。　That’s　left　to　men　to　do。’
　
　Kahlan　narrowed　her　eyes。　‘What　is　your　name？’
　
　He　glanced　around　at　his　fellows；　and　then　held　his　chin　up。　‘I’m　William　Mosle。　And　we’ve　been　trained　by　Prince　Harold　himself。’
　
　‘And　I；’　Kahlan　said；　‘was　trained　by　his　father；　King　Wyborn。　King　Wyborn　was　my　father；　too。　I　am　half　sister　to　Queen　Cyrilla　and　Prince　Harold。’
　
　There　were　astonished　murmurs　throughout　the　crowd。　Without　taking　her　eyes　from　Mosle；　she　lifted　a　hand　to　silence　them。　‘But　that　does　not　count　for　mand。　You　are　soldiers。　Your　duty　is　to　follow　the　orders　of　your　manders；　and　they　the　queen；　and　she　must　follow　mands　of　the　Central　Council　of　the　Midlands。　The　council　of　the　Midlands　follows　the　orders　of　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　‘For　now；　I　fill　that　office。　My　family　name　is；　like　your　queen’s；　Amnell；　but　I’m　of　Confessor　blood；　first；　and　last。　I　am　the　Mother　Confessor　of　the　Midlands；　and　as　such；　if　I　say　you’re　to　march　into　a　lake；　then　it’s　your　duty　to　march　until　you’re　breathing　water　and　seeing　fishes。　Does　that　make　it　clear　enough　for　you；　soldier？’
　
　A　few　other　men　were　shoving　at　Mosle；　urging　him　to　go　on　with　their　grievances。　‘It　means　you　can　order　us；　it　doesn’t　mean　you　know　what　you’re　doing。’
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　sigh　and　pulled　some　blood…stiffened　hair　back；　hooking　it　behind　an　ear。　‘I　don’t　have　the　time；　today；　to　tell　you　of　all　the　training　I’ve　had；　or　of　all　the　fighting　against　impossible　odds　I’ve　been　through；　or　the　men　I’ve　had　to　kill　in　that　fighting。
　
　‘I　would　tell　you　only　that　last　night；　I　went　alone　to　the　camp　of　the　Imperial　Order　to　save　your　life。　The　men　of　the　Order；　D’Harans；　fear　the　things　of　the　night；　spirits；　and　for　protection　from　that　and　to　assist　them；　they　had　a　wizard　in　their　pany。　Had　you；　in　your　confidence　of　battle　knowledge；　tried　to　attack　those　men；　that　wizard　would　have　known　what　you　were　doing；　and　probably　used　magic　to　kill　you　all。’
　
　Mosle’s　defiant　expression　didn’t　diminish；　but　some　of　the　others　broke　into　worried　whispers。　Fighting　against　steel　was　one　thing；　fighting　against　magic　quite　another。
　
　Captain　Ryan　stepped　forward。　‘The　Mother　Confessor　killed　the　wizard；’　he　said　with　pride。　There　were　relieved　sighs　among　the　men。　‘If　it　hadn’t　been　for　her　experience；　we　would　have　marched　to　our　deaths　without　even　having　the　chance　to　lay　steel　to　steel。　I；　for　one；　intend　to　follow　those　I’ve　sworn　my　life　to　serve：　my　land；　my　queen；　the　Midlands；　and　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　‘We’re　going　to　stop　this　threat　against　the　Midlands；　and　we’re　going　to　do　it　by　following　those　we　are　sworn　to　follow。　We　go　into　battle　under　the　mand　of　the　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　‘I’m　a　soldier　in　the　Galean　army！’　Mosle　seemed　only　to　get　more　defiant。　‘Not　a　soldier　in　any　Midlands　army！　I　fight　for　Galea；　not　to　protect　lands　like　Kelton！’　Kahlan　watched　as　other　men　shouted　their　agreement。　‘This　army；　the　Imperial　Order；　or　whatever　they　call　themselves；　is　marching　toward　the　border。　Cellion　is　a　border　city；　and　most　of　it’s　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　in　Kelton！　Most　of　its　citizens　are　Keltish！　Why　should　we　die　for　the　Keltans？’
　
　Men　in　the　crowd　were　starting　to　argue　with　one　another。　Captain　Ryan’s　face　was　red。　‘Mosle；　you’re　a　disgrace　to　。。。！’
　
　Kahlan　held　a　hand　out　to　silence　him。　‘No；　soldier　Mosle　is　only　speaking　as　he　believes；　as　I　asked　him　to。　You　men　must　understand　me。　I’m　not　ordering　you　to　do　this。　I’m　asking　you　to　fight　for　the　lives　of　innocent　people　of　the　Midlands。　Tens　of　thousands　of　your　fellow　soldiers　have　already　died　in　this　battle。　I　would　not　ask　you　to　lay　down　your　lives　for　something　you　do　not　believe　in。　Most　who　go　into　this　war　will　die。
　
　‘It’s　your　decision　to　stay　or　not。　You　are　not　manded　to　stay。　But　if　you　choose　to　stay；　it　will　be　under　my　mand。　I　want　no　man　with　us　who　does　not　believe　in　what　we　do。
　
　‘Decide　now；　if　you　will　be　with　us　or　not。　If　not；　then　you　are　free　to　go；　because　you　will　be　of　no　help　to　your　rades。’
　
　Her　voice　turned　as　cold　as　the　thin　morning　air。　‘If　you　decide　to　go　with　me　into　this　war；　then　you　will　follow　the　orders　of　your　superiors。　In　the　Midlands；　there　is　no　one　to　outrank　me。　You　will　follow　my　orders　without　question；　or　your　punishment　will　be　unsparing。　Too　much　is　at　stake　to　have　to　suffer　men　who　can’t　follow　orders。
　
　‘If　I　say　you　will　do　something；　then　you　will　do　it；　even　if　you　know　it’s　to　cost　you　your　life；　because　it’s　to　save　many　more　lives。　I　give　no　orders　without　sound　reason；　but　I　won’t　always　have　time　to　explain　them。　Your　duty　is　to　trust　in　your　superiors　and　do　as　you’re　told。’
　
　She　held　out　a　finger　and　swept　it　slowly　over　their　heads。　‘Choose；　then。　With　us；　or　not。　But　choose　this　day　for　all　time。’
　
　Kahlan　drew　her　hands　back　inside　her　warm　fur　mantle　and　waited　in　silence　while　men　discussed　and　argued　among　themselves。　Tempers　flared；　and　angry　oaths　were　given。　Men　gathered　around　Mosle；　and　others　moved　away　from　him。
　
　‘I’m　leaving；　then；’　Mosle　called　out　to　the　others。　He　thrust　his　fist　in　the　air。　‘I’ll　follow　no　woman　into　battle；　no　matter　who　she　is！　Who’s　leaving　with　me！’
　
　About　sixty　or　seventy　men　gathered　about　cheered　their　support　for　him。
　
　‘Go；　then；’　Kahlan　manded。　‘Before　you　bee　caught　up　in　a　battle　you　do　not　believe　in。’
　
　Having　made　their　choice；　Mosle　and　the　men　with　him　cast　her　glares　of　contempt。　He　swaggered　forward。　‘We’ll　leave　as　soon　as　we　can　get　our　things　together。　We’ll　not　be　rushed　out　on　your　word。’
　
　The　men　in　the　crowd　pushed　in。　Before　it　came　to　blows　Kahlan　held　her　hand　up。　‘Stop！　Let　them　be。　They’ve　made　their　choice。　Let　them　get　their　things　and　be　gone。’
　
　Mosle　turned　and　pushed　his　way　back　through　the　throng；　his　new　men　in　tow。　As　they　left　the　gathered　soldiers；　Kahlan　carefully　counted　their　numbers。　Sixty…seven。　Sixty…seven　who　would　leave。
　
　She　looked　out　at　all　the　faces。　Any　more？　Do　any　more　wish　to　leave？’　No　one　moved　a　muscle。　Then　do　all　of　you　wish　to　join　in　this　fight？’　A　united　cheer　went　up。　‘So　be　it。　I　wish　I　did　not　have　to　call　upon　you　men　to　d