tg.stone of tears-第147章

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　She　let　out　a　long　breath；　its　thin；　white　cloud　drifting　away　in　the　cold　air。　‘I　have　to　stop　this。’　She　hiked　her　pack　and　bow　up　on　her　back。　‘Let’s　get　down　there。’
　
　Chandalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　followed　behind　as　she　slogged　down　the　hillside　of　fluffy　snow。　It　had　taken　her　longer　than　she　had　hoped　to　catch　these　men。　A　blizzard　high　in　Jara　Pass　had　left　the　four　of　them　holed　up　in　the　shelter　of　a　wayward　pine　for　two　days。　Wayward　pines　always　reminded　Kahlan　of　Richard；　and　as　she　had　lain　in　her　fur　mantle；　listening　to　the　howl　of　the　wind；　she　had　dreamed　of　him　while　she　slept；　and　while　she　was　awake。
　
　She　was　furious　that　she　had　to　lose　valuable　time　on　the　way　to　Aydindril　to　stop　this　army　from　their　suicide　pursuit　…of　the　forces　that　had　destroyed　Ebinissia；　but　as　the　Mother　Confessor　she　couldn’t　allow　nearly　five　thousand　men　to　die　to　no　purpose。　She　had　to　stop　them　before　they　got　close　to　the　army　that　had　plundered　Ebinissia。　They　were　too　close　now。　They　would　surely　make　contact　by　the　next　day。
　
　The　army　sprang　to　alert　as　the　four　figures　in　white　wolf…pelt　mantles　marched　toward　them。　Shouts　erupted；　and　were　repeated　back　through　the　ranks。　Tent　flaps　were　flung　open　and　men　poured　out。　Swords　were　drawn；　sending　the　ring　of　steel　into　the　cold；　twilight　air。　Men　with　spears　came　running　through　the　snow。　Men　with　bows　took　up　positions；　nocking　arrows。　A　wall　of　several　hundred　men　put　themselves　between　her　and　the　mand　tents。　More　were　ing　at　a　run；　pulling　on　clothes；　shouting　to　others　still　in　their　tents。
　
　Kahlan　and　the　three　men　with　her　came　to　a　halt。　She　stood　tall　and　still。　Behind　her；　Chandalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　leaned　lazily　on　their　spears。
　
　A　man　of　rank　tumbled　out　of　the　largest　tent　as　he　pulled　on　a　heavy；　brown　coat。　He　made　his　way　through　the　wall　of　men；　shouting　at　the　archers　to　hold　their　arrows。　He　was　joined　by　two　others　of　rank　as　he　stumbled　through　the　line　of　defenders。　She　recognized　his　rank　as　he　approached。　He　was　the　captain。　The　two　men　with　him；　one　to　each　side；　were　lieutenants。
　
　When　he　drew　himself　to　a　panting　halt　before　her；　she　let　the　hood　of　her　mantle　drop　back。　Her　long　hair　fell　across　the　white　fur。
　
　‘What　is　the　。。。’　The　captain’s　eyes　went　suddenly　wide。　He　and　the　two　lieutenants　collapsed　to　a　knee。
　
　Every　man　as　far　as　she　could　see　fell　to　his　knees。　Every　head　bowed。　The　rustle　of　wool；　the　creek　of　leather；　and　the　clang　of　steel　fell　silent。　The　three　men　with　her　cast　one　another　glances　of　wonder；　they　had　never　seen　the　Mother　Confessor　greeted　by　anyone　but　Mud　People　before。　The　only　sound　was　the　slow　creak　of　branches　in　the　cold　breeze。
　
　‘Rise；　my　children。’
　
　Acpanied　by　the　renewed　racket　of　movement；　all　came　to　their　feet。　The　captain　stood　and　gave　her　a　smart　bow；　from　the　waist。　He　came　up　with　a　proud　smile。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　what　an　honor！’
　
　Kahlan　stared　in　disbelief　at　his　square　jaw；　his　wavy　light　brown　hair；　his　clear；　blue　eyes；　his　young；　handsome　face。
　
　‘You’re　a　child；’　she　whispered。　She　looked　around　to　the　hundreds；　the　thousands；　of　young；　bright　eyes　all　fixed　on　her。　She　blinked　at　them。　She　could　feel　the　blood　going　to　her　face。
　
　Her　fists　tightened　as　she　shook　with　rage。　‘You’re　children！　You’re　all　children！’
　
　The　captain　glanced　back　to　his　men　with　an　embarrassed　expression　bordering　on　hurt。　‘Mother　Confessor；　we’re　new　recruits；　but　we’re　all　soldiers　of　the　Galean　army。’
　
　‘You　are　all　children；’　she　whispered。　‘Children！’
　
　Silence　swept　over　the　gathered　recruits。　Most　looked　to　be　fifteen　or　sixteen　years。　The　captain　and　his　two　lieutenants　shifted　their　weight　and　hung　their　heads。　Some　of　the　men　couldn’t　help　staring　openly　at　Chandalen；　Prindin；　and　Tos…sidin。　They　had　never　seen　anyone　like　them　before。
　
　Kahlan　grabbed　the　captain’s　lapels　and　began　dragging　him　off。　She　growled　to　the　two　lieutenants。　‘You　two　e　along　with　us。’　She　glared　over　their　heads。　‘Everyone　go　back　to　what　you　were　doing！’
　
　There　was　a　rattle　of　swords　being　returned　to　scabbards　and　arrows　to　quivers　as　she　dragged　the　captain　out　of　earshot　of　his　men。　When　she　reached　the　trees；　she　pulled　him　toward　a　log　and　released　him　with　an　angry　shove。
　
　Kahlan　flopped　down　on　a　snow…covered　log　as　if　it　were　a　throne。　She　folded　her　arms。　Chandalen　stood　to　her　right；　Prindin　and　Tossidin　to　her　left。　They　planted　the　butts　of　their　spears　and　waited　in　silence。
　
　She　gritted　her　teeth。　‘What　is　your　name；　Captain？’
　
　He　fumbled　with　a　brass　button　on　his　open　coat。　‘I’m　Bradley　Ryan。’　His　blue　eyes　came　up。　‘Captain　Bradley　Ryan；　Mother　Confessor。’　He　quickly　glanced　away　to　the　man　at　his　right。　‘This　is　Lieutenant　Nolan　Sloan。’　He　pointed　to　the　other　side。　‘This　is　Lieutenant　Flin　Hobson。’
　
　‘How　many　children　do　you　have　along　with　you；　Captain　Ryan？’
　
　He　stiffened　a　little。　‘Mother　Confessor；　we　may　be　younger　than　you；　although　not　by　much；　and　you　may　not　think　highly　of　us；　but　we’re　soldiers。　Good　soldiers。’
　
　‘Good　soldiers。’　She　was　hardly　able　to　keep　herself　from　screaming　at　him。　‘If　you’re　such　good　soldiers；　why　was　I　able　to　walk；　unnoticed；　through　your　line　of　sentries？’　His　face　reddened　and　he　made　a　visible　effort　to　remain　silent。　‘And　is　there　a　one　of　these　good　soldiers；　including　you　three；　that　is　beyond　eighteen？’　He　pressed　his　lips　tighter　and　shook　his　head。　‘Then　I　repeat；　how　many　children　do　you　have　along　with　you？’
　
　There　are　four　and　a　half　thousand　under　my　mand。’
　
　‘And　do　you　know；　Captain　Ryan；　that　you　are　about　to　stumble　upon　a　force　ten　times　your　size？’
　
　Captain　Ryan　lifted　an　eyebrow；　and　a　little…boy　grin　grew　out　of　one　side　of　his　mouth。　‘We’re　not　about　to　‘stumble’　upon　anyone；　Mother　Confessor。　We’re　about　to　catch　them。　We’ve　been　chasing　them。　I　think　we’ll　have　them　tomorrow。’
　
　She　gritted　her　teeth　anew。　‘Have　them？　Tomorrow；　if　I　hadn’t　caught　up　with　you；　young　man；　you　and　all　your　‘men’　would　die。　You　have　no　idea　of　the　army　you　are　about　to　catch。’
　
　He　lifted　his　chin。　‘We　know　what　we　are　chasing。　We　have　scouts；　you　know。　I　get　reports。’
　
　Kahlan　shot　to　her　feet；　thrusting　her　arm　to　the　right　and　pointing。　‘There　are　fifty　thousand　men　around　that　mountain！’
　
　‘Fifty…two　thousand；　and　a　few　hundred。’　He　shrugged。　‘We’re　not　stupid。　We　know　what　we’re　doing。’
　
　Her　arm　dropped　as　she　glared。　‘Oh　you　do；　do　you？　And　just　what　were　you　going　to　do　once　you　caught　them？’
　
　Captain　Ryan　smiled　as　he　leaned　in；　sure　that　he　could　prove　to　her　that　he　indeed　did　know　what　he　was　doing。　‘Well；　they’re　about　to　e　to　a　divergence　in　the　pass。　I’m　going　to　send　a　force　up　there；　around　them；　to　e　in　from　each　fork。　They’ll　think　they’re　being　attacked　by　a　large　force。　We’re　going　to　drive　them　back　this　way；　where　we’re　going　to　be　waiting　for　them；　beyond　the　narrows　just　ahead。
　
　Then；　we’re　going　to　retreat　back　this　way；　to　the　narrows；　then　split　the　flank；　let　them　in；　until　they　have　nowhere　to　go。　The　pikemen　will　be　bunched　in　the　narrowest　place；　they’re　called　the　Anvil。　Archers　to　the　sides　will　hold　the　enemy　to　the　center。　The　force　driving　them　is　called　the　Hammer。’　His　grin　widened。　‘We’ll　crush　them　in　the　middle。’
　
　He　flicked　his　hand　in　a　casual　manner　as　he　straightened　a　little。　‘It’s　a　classic　tactic。　It’s　called　the　Hammer　and　Anvil。’
　
　Dumbfounded；　Kahlan　stared　at　him。　‘I　know　what　it’s　called；　young　man。　The　Hammer　and　Anvil　is　a　bold　maneuver　。。。　under　the　right　conditions。　Against　a　force　ten　times　your　size　it’s　beyond　foolhardy。　You　are　a　badger　trying　to　swallow　an　ox　whole。’
　
　‘We　were　taught　that　with　good　timing；　and　determination；　a　small　force　of　good　men；　in　a　tight　place；　like　this　valley　。。。’
　
　‘Good　men？　You　think　that’s　going　to　count　with　the　spirits？　Is　that　what　your　pride　and　presumption　leads　you　to　think！’　The　captain’s　eyes　descended　to　the　ground。　‘You　can’t　pu