tg.stone of tears-第58章

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　Richard　hardly　heard　the　translation。　‘Get　your　men　together。　Get　more　men。　We　have　to　go　stop　them。’
　
　Chandalen　studied　him。　‘We　have　nothing　to　fear　from　the　Bantak。　They　would　not　attack　us。’
　
　Richard　nearly　exploded。　‘Chandalen；　you　are　charged　with　protecting　our　people！　I　am　telling　you　there　is　a　threat　to　them！　You　must　not　ignore　me　in　this！’
　
　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　calming　himself。　‘Chandalen；　don’t　you　think　it　a　little　strange　that　one　man　would　have　attacked　all　of　us？　Would　you；　as　brave　as　you　are；　have　e　into　the　open　and　attacked　that　many　men；　by　yourself？　You；　with　only　a　spear；　and　they　with　bows？’
　
　Chandalen　only　glared。　The　Bird　Man　led　the　other　elders　off　the　platform　and　stood　next　to　Chandalen；　facing　Richard。　‘Tell　us　what　our　enemy　has　revealed　to　you。　Tell　us　what　you　have　seen。’
　
　‘This　man　。。。’　Richard　held　the　piece　of　meat　up　in　front　of　the　Bird　Man’s　face。　‘This　man　was　the　son　of　their　spirit　guide。’
　
　The　elders　broke　into　worried　whispers。　The　Bird　Man　didn’t　move　his　eyes　from　Richard。　‘Are　you　sure　of　this？　Killing　the　son　of　a　spirit　guide　is　a　grave　offense。　Even　in　self…defense。　It　would　be　the　same　if　someone　killed　my　offspring；　had　I　one。’　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Grave　enough　to　start　a　war。’
　
　Richard　nodded　hurriedly。　‘I　know。　That’s　what　they　had　planned。　For　some　reason；　they　thought　the　Mud　People　were　suddenly　dangerous　to　them。　To　be　sure；　they　sent　the　son　of　their　spirit　guide；　knowing　that　if　we　killed　him；　it　would　be　a　sign　of　our　hostile　intent。　They　were　planning　on　watching　for　his　head　on　a　pole；　to　see　if　they　were　right。　If　he　didn’t　return；　and　they　found　the　head；　they　were　going　to　attack。’
　
　He　waved　the　meat　in　front　of　the　elders’　faces　again。　This　man；　for　some　reason；　had　bitterness　in　his　heart。　He　wanted　there　to　be　a　war。　He　attacked　us；　knowing　he　would　be　killed；　wanting　it；　so　it　would　start　the　war；　and　his　people　could　kill　all　the　Mud　People。　Don’t　you　see？　With　the　banquet　going　on；　they　will　hear　the　sounds　of　it　far　out　onto　the　plain。　They　will　know　we　are　not　prepared　to　defend　ourselves；　that　we　are　diverted。　They　are　ing！　Now！’
　
　The　elders　all　leaned　back　a　little。　The　Bird　Man　turned　to　Chandalen。
　
　‘Richard　With　The　Temper　has　had　a　vision　from　our　enemy。　Have　each　of　your　men　gather　ten　others。　We　must　not　allow　the　Bantak　to　harm　our　people。　You　will　stop　them　before　they　reach　the　village。’
　
　Chandalen’s　eyes　flashed　to　Richard；　and　then　back　to　the　Bird　Man。　‘We　will　see　if　his　vision　is　true。　I　will　lead　our　men　east。　If　they　are　ing；　we　will　stop　them。’
　
　‘No！’　Richard　screamed　when　Kahlan　translated。　‘They　will　e　from　the　north！’
　
　‘North！’　Chandalen　glared　at　him。　‘The　Bantak　live　to　the　east；　not　the　north。　They　will　e　from　the　east。’
　
　They　will　expect　you　to　defend　to　the　east。　They　think　the　Mud　people　want　to　kill　them。　They　expect　it。　They　will　flank　you　and　e　from　the　north！’
　
　Chandalen　folded　his　arms。　‘The　Bantak　are　not　fighters。　They　do　not　know　of　such　tactics。　If　they　are　going　to　attack　us；　as　you　say；　they　will　simply　e　straight　in。　As　you　said；　they　will　hear　the　banquet；　they　will　know　we　will　be　unprepared。　They　have　no　reason　to　go　all　the　way　around　and　e　in　from　the　north。　It　would　only　slow　them　down　for　no　reason。’
　
　Richard　glared　at　him。　‘They　are　ing　from　the　north。’
　
　‘Was　this　part　of　your　vision？’　the　Bird　Man　asked。　‘Did　you　see　this　too；　from　eating　the　meat？’
　
　Richard　forced　out　a　breath　and　looked　down。　‘No。　I　didn’t　see　it　with　the　rest　of　the　vision。’　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　‘But　I　know　it’s　true。　I　don’t　know　how；　but　I　know。　They　are　ing　from　the　north。’
　
　The　Bird　Man　turned　to　Chandalen。　‘Perhaps　you　could　split　the　men。　Take　some　to　the　east；　and　some　to　the　north。’
　
　Chandalen　shook　his　head。　‘No。　If　the　vision　proves　true；　we　will　need　all　our　men　together。　One　strike；　with　surprise；　with　all　our　men；　and　with　luck；　will　end　it。　If　there　are　enough　of　them；　as　he　seems　to　think；　then　they　might　defeat　a　number　that　small；　and　then　they　would　be　upon　our　people　before　we　could　turn　them　back。　Many　women　and　children　would　be　killed。　The　whole　village　could　fall。　It　is　too　dangerous。’
　
　The　Bird　Man　nodded。　‘Chandalen；　a　vision　has　been　presented　to　us。　It　is　your　job　to　keep　our　people　safe。　Since　the　vision　did　not　say　which　way　they　would　e；　only　that　they　would　e；　I　leave　it　to　you　to　protect　us　as　you　see　best。　You　are　the　smartest　fighter　among　us；　I　will　trust　your　fighting　judgment。’
　
　He　frowned　and　leaned　closer　to　the　man。　‘But　know　that　it　had　better　be　a　fighting　judgment；　and　not　a　personal　one。’
　
　Chandalen　showed　no　emotion。　‘It　is　my　opinion　the　Bantak　would　attack　from　the　east。’　He　glanced　at　Richard。　‘If　they　really　e。’
　
　Richard　put　a　hand　on　Chandalen’s　folded　arm。　‘Chandalen；　please　listen　to　me。’　His　voice　was　quiet　and　worried。　‘I　know　you　don’t　like　me。　Maybe　you　are　justified　in　your　feelings。　Maybe　you　are　right　that　I　have　brought　trouble　to　our　people。　But　trouble　is　ing　now；　and　it　is　ing　from　the　north。　Please；　I　beg　you；　believe　me。　The　lives　of　all　our　people　depend　on　this。　Hate　me　all　you　want；　but　don’t　let　any　of　them　die　because　of　that　hate。’
　
　Richard　drew　the　Sword　of　Truth　and　held　out　the　hilt。　‘I　will　give　you　my　sword。　Go　north。　If　they　e　from　the　east；　and　I　am　wrong；　you　may　kill　me　with　it。’
　
　Chandalen　looked　down　at　the　sword；　and　back　up　to　Richard’s　face。　A　small　smile　spread　on　his　own。　‘I　will　not　let　you　trick　me。　I　will　not　let　our　people　be　devastated；　just　for　a　chance　to　kill　you。　I　would　rather　let　you　live　among　us；　than　let　my　people　be　killed。　I　go　to　the　east。’　He　turned　and　strode　off；　shouting　instructions　to　his　men。
　
　Richard　stood　watching　him　go；　then　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。
　
　‘That　man　is　a　fool；’　Kahlan　said。
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　‘He　is　just　doing　what　he　thinks　best。　He　wants　to　protect　his　people　more　than　he　wants　to　kill　me。　If　I　had　to　pick　one　man　to　fight　beside　me；　as　much　as　he　hates　me；　it　would　be　him。　I　am　the　fool；　for　not　being　able　to　make　him　see　the　truth。’　He　turned　to　her。　‘I　have　to　go　north。　I　have　to　stop　them。’
　
　Kahlan　looked　around。　There　are　some　other　men　here。　We　will　gather　all　we　can　and　…’
　
　He　shook　his　head；　cutting　her　off。　‘No。　There　wouldn’t　be　enough。　Besides；　we　need　every　man　able　to　hold　a　bow　or　spear　here；　to　defend　the　village　if　I　fail。　The　elders　must　go　on　with　the　banquet。　We　must　have　the　gathering。　That　is　what’s　most　important。　I’ll　go　alone。　I’m　the　Seeker。　Maybe　I　can　stop　them。　Maybe　they　will　listen　to　one　man；　see　that　he　isn’t　so　much　of　a　threat。’
　
　‘All　right。　Wait　here。　I’ll　be　right　back。’
　
　‘Why？’
　
　‘I　have　to　put　on　my　Confessor’s　dress。’
　
　‘You’re　not　going！’
　
　‘I　have　to。　You　can’t　speak　their　language。’
　
　‘Kahlan；　I　don’t　want　。。。’
　
　‘Richard！’　She　snatched　a　fistful　of　his　shirt。　‘I’m　the　Mother　Confessor！　There　will　be　no　war　under　my　nose　while　I　have　a　say　in　it！　You　will　wait　here！’
　
　She　released　his　shirt　and　stormed　off。　The　Mother　Confessor　didn’t　wait　for　answers　to　her　instructions；　she　expected　them　to　be　carried　out。　She　suddenly　regretted　yelling　at　Richard；　but　she　was　furious　at　Chandalen　for　not　listening。
　
　She　was　furious；　too；　at　the　Bantak。　She　had　been　to　their　village　before　and　always　found　them　to　be　a　gentle　people。　Whatever　their　reasons；　as　long　as　she　was　around　there　was　going　to　be　no　war。　The　Mother　Confessor　was　supposed　to　stop　wars；　not　sit　by　and　watch　them　start。　This　was　her　responsibility；　her　job；　not　Richard’s。
　
　At　Savidlin　and　Weselan’s　home；　in　the　dark　with　all　the　noise　going　on　outside；　she　slipped　into　her　white　Confessor’s　dress。　All　Confessors　wore　dresses　cut　the　same；　square　at　the　neck；　long；　simple；　free　of　embellishment；　and　satiny　smooth；　but　of　black　fabric。
　
　Only　the　Mother　Confessor’s　was　white。　It　was　a　mantle　of　power。