tg.stone of tears-第165章
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All the top rows were unloaded； leaving only the bottom row； which the men stood up so the plugs could be removed。
‘Why are six of these barrels smaller？’
They’re rum；’ the captain said。
‘Rum？ The drink of nobility？’ Kahlan smiled。 The manders will take the rum first。’ She straightened from peering into one of the open casks。 ‘Chandalen； will they be able to taste it？ Will the taste give them warning； if I put more in some？’
He dipped a finger in a cask of rum； and sucked it clean。 ‘No。 This is bitter enough。 Bitter things hide the taste of bandu。’
Kahlan used her knife point to divide the poison from Chandalen’s box into sixths。 She swished each sixth off her knife point into the round opening in one of the smaller casks … those with the rum。
Chandalen watched what she was doing。 That much； in the smaller barrels； will probably kill them by morning； the next day for sure。 But now you have none for the other six。’
Kahlan handed Chandalen back his bone box with a little of the bandu left in the ers and climbed down from the dray。 ‘Six of the casks of ale will have no poison so that we can be sure the rum will kill those who drink it。’ She put a knife point laden with poison from Tossidin’s box into each of the next twelve。 ‘Mix all the barrels up。 I don’t want the rum on the bottom。 The manders might not see it and take the ale instead。’
Kahlan went to the last twelve and opened Prindin’s box。 She looked up。 ‘You don’t have very much。 What have you done with yours？’
Prindin looked as though he wished she hadn’t asked that question。 He gestured vaguely。 ‘When we left； I was not thinking so good。 You were in a hurry； and so I forgot to see that my bandu box was full。’
Chandalen put his fists on his hips and glared down from atop the wagon。 ‘Prindin； how many times have I said that you would forget to take your feet could you walk away without them？’
‘It doesn’t matter；’ Kahlan said。 Prindin looked relieved to have her interrupt Chandalen’s questioning。 ‘This will make them sick。 That is all that matters。’
As she was putting it in the barrels； she heard men in the distance hailing her。 When she had swirled the poison into the last barrel； she looked up to see two huge draft horses trotting toward her。 She frowned at seeing men riding them bareback； and calling out to her。
The two powerful draft horses looked shaggy in their thick； dun…colored winter coats； with heavy white feathering on their legs。 They wore their harnesses and neck collars； but not their breeching。 Several bends of chain were looped over the inside hame of each collar。 The men about all stared at the odd sight。
When the horses came to a halt before her； the riders un… hooked the loops of chain and dropped them to the ground。 She realized then that the horses were connected by that chain； attached to the hame hooks on their collars。 She had never seen such a thing。 The two riders slid to the ground。
‘Mother Confessor！’ Their grins made their salutes look a little silly。 The both of them were gangly； with short…cropped brown hair。 Neither looked as if he could be fifteen。 Their wool coats were unbuttoned in the warming day； and fit them like gunnysacks on lapdogs。 They both looked about to burst with excitement。 They halted before getting too close； but even their fear of her couldn’t wither their breathless excitement。
‘What are your names？’
‘I’m Brin Jackson and this is Peter Chapman； Mother Confessor。 We had an idea； and we wanted to show you。 We think it’ll do the job。 We’re sure it will。 It’ll work some clever it sure will。’
Kahlan looked from one beaming face to the other。 ‘What will do what job？’
Brin almost leapt with joy at being asked。 He hefted the chain lying in the snow between the big horses。 ‘This！’ He lugged a wad of chain to her and held it out。 ‘This will do it； Mother Confessor。 We thought of it ourselves！ Peter and me。’ He dumped the heavy chain on the ground。 ‘Show her； Peter。 Move ‘em apart。’
Peter’s head bobbed as he grinned。 He sidestepped his horse until the heavy chain lifted off the snow。 The sag of chain swung to and fro between the hame hooks on the collars。 Kahlan and all the men with her frowned； trying to understand what the peculiar rig was for。
Brin pointed at the chain。 ‘You said we were going to leave the wagons； and we surely didn’t want to leave Daisy and Pip behind。 Them’s our horses … Daisy and Pip。 We’re drivers。 We wanted to help； and make a good use of Daisy and Pip； so we took some of the biggest trace chains and asked Morvan； he’s the blacksmith； we asked Morvan to weld a couple of ‘em together for us。’ He nodded expectantly； as if that should explain it。
Kahlan dipped her head toward him a little。 ‘And now that he has？’
Brin held his hands open in excitement。 ‘You said we needed to take out their horses。’ He couldn’t help giggling。 That’s what this is for！ You said we’re going to attack at night。 Their horses will be tethered to picket lines。 We gallop Daisy and Pip down the picket line； one on each side； and the chain’ll break their legs out from under ‘em！ We’ll take out the whole line in one sweep！’
Kahlan leaned back and folded her arms。 She looked to Peter。 He nodded； keen on the idea； too。 ‘Brin； having horses chained together like that； at a gallop； and dragging a chain that will be catching things； heavy things； sounds to me very dangerous。’
He wilted only a little。 ‘But it could take out their horses！ We can do it！ We can get them for you！’
‘They have close to two thousand horses。’
Peter wilted more。 Brin scrunched up his face as he looked at the ground for the first time。 He scratched his shoulder。 Two thousand；’ he finally whispered in disappointment。
Kahlan glanced to Captain Ryan。 He shrugged as if to say he didn’t know if it would work or not。 The other men standing about rubbed their chins and shuffled their feet as they pondered the rig。
‘It will never do；’ Kahlan said at last。 Brin’s shoulders slumped more。 There are too many of them for you。 You will need more horses set up like this。’ Brin and Peter’s faces came up； their eyes widening。 ‘Since you two know how to do it； I want you to get all the draft horses and their drivers together。 This will be the best use of their skill。
‘Use all the equipment off the wagons or breeching you need。 We’ll not be taking them anyway。 Have the chains made up at once； and then I want you all to practice the rest of the day。 I want you to set up things to drag the chains through。 Heavy thing； so the horses will be used to what you’re going to do。 You need to practice so each team of men and horses can work together。’
Peter came forward and stood next to a beaming Brin。 ‘We will； Mother Confessor！ You’ll see！ We can do it！ You can count on us！’
She gave them each a sobering look。 ‘What you want to do is dangerous。 But if you can do it； it will be a great benefit to us。 It could save many of our lives。 Their cavalry is deadly。
Take your gear and your practice seriously。 Men will be trying to kill you when you do it for real。’
They put their fists to their hearts； this time holding their chins up。 ‘We’ll see to it； Mother Confessor。 You can count on the drivers。 We won’t let you down。 We’ll get their horses。’
After receiving her nod； they turned to their horses。 Heads together； whispering in excitement； they went to their task。 Kahlan watched a lone rider； in the distance； galloping through the camp。 He stopped to ask a group of men something。 They pointed in her direction。
They’ve only been with us a couple months；’ Captain Ryan said。 They’re just boys。’
Kahlan raised an eyebrow to him。 They are men； fighting for the Midlands。 When I first saw you； I thought of you in much the same way you see them。 Now I think you look a little older to me。’
He sighed。 ‘I guess you’re right。 If they really can do the job； it will be a brilliant achievement。’
The galloping rider approached and leapt from his horse
