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t to asking the young woman for improper favors。
The Mud People treated matters of sex in an especially casual manner。 Kahlan had more than once been brought to blushing by Weselan’s unexpected and cavalier descriptions of coupling with her husband。 Worse； she was as likely as not to do it in his presence。
As she stared at Prindin； the visions of the young women’s faces； too； floated before her eyes。
Though Prindin had not plimented her on her breasts； it seemed to her that a woman’s hips could be construed to carry the same maternal pliment。 She knew he meant no disrespect； but still； his beaming smile made the hairs on her arms stand on end。 Maybe it was just the inappropriate timing； with the dead all about； that unnerved her。 But he hadn’t seen the dead young women。
Prindin’s smile faded only a little as a frown came to his brow。 ‘You look surprised。 Doesn’t Richard With The Temper ever tell you how fine your bottom is？’
Kahlan fumbled for words； not sure how to bring this to an honorable halt。 ‘He has never mentioned it； specifically。’
‘Other men must have told you this before。 It is too fine for them not to notice。 The shape of your body is very good to look at。 It fills me with desire to 。。。’ He frowned in puzzlement。 ‘I don’t know your word for 。。。’
Blood went to her face in a red rush as she took a step toward him。 ‘Prindin！’ She relaxed her fists and brought her voice back in check。 ‘Prindin。 I am the Mother Confessor。’
He nodded； his grin returning； but not quite as confident。 ‘Yes； but you are a woman； too； and your shape 。。。’
‘Prindin！’ He blinked at her as she ground her teeth。 ‘In your land it may be proper to speak to a woman in this fashion； but in other places in the Midlands； it is not。 In other places； speaking in this manner is offensive。 Very offensive。 More than that； I’m the Mother Confessor； and it’s not proper to speak to me in this way。’
His smile vanished。 ‘But you are now one of the Mud People。’
‘That may be true； but I’m still the Mother Confessor。’
His face blanched。 ‘I have offended you。’ He leapt up from the bench and fell to his knees before her。 ‘Forgive me； please。 I meant no disrespect。 I meant only to show my favor for you。’
Her red face glowed in embarrassment。 She had done it now； she had humiliated him。
‘I understand； Prindin。 I know your words are harmless； but you must not speak this way outside your land。 Others would not understand your ways and would be greatly offended。’
He was nearly in tears。 ‘I did not know。 Please say you forgive Prindin。’ He clutched at her pants； and gripped her upper thighs with his powerful fingers。
‘Yes 。。。 of course 。。。 I know you meant no harm。’ She took hold of his wrists； pulling them gently from her legs。 ‘I forgive you。。。。’
Chandalen came through the door； his face set in a grim cast。 He took a quick glance at Prindin before looking up into her eyes。
‘What is this？’
‘Nothing。’ She hastily helped Prindin to his feet as his brother entered the room。 ‘But we’re going to have to have a talk about the proper way to speak to ladies in the Midlands。 There are things you three will need to be taught； to keep you out of trouble。’ She smoothed her pant legs and the lingering sting of where Prindin’s strong fingers had been； and then straightened herself。 Tell me what you’ve found。’
Chandalen cast a withering glare at Prindin。 ‘What have you done？’
Prindin took a half step back； diverting his eyes。 ‘I did not know it would be wrong。 I told her she had a fine 。。。’
‘I said it was nothing；’ Kahlan said； cutting him off。 ‘It’s just a small misunderstanding。 Forget about it。’ She turned to the fire。 ‘I made hot tea。 Get some cups … there are some we can use on the floor over there … and we will have some tea while you tell me what you found。’
Tossidin made for the cups； thumping the back of his brother’s head along the way； adding a whispered reprimand。 Chandalen shrugged off his mantle and squatted before the fire； warming his hands。 The brothers brought the cups； Prindin rubbing the back of his head； and passed them around。
In an attempt to let them all know Prindin hadn’t lost any honor in her eyes； Kahlan directed her attention and first question to him。 ‘Tell me what you found。’
Prindin glanced briefly at the other two before setting his face with a serious expression。 ‘Ten； maybe twelve days ago； this killing was done。 The enemy came mostly from the east； but there were many； and some came from farther to the north and south。 They had war in the narrow places in the mountains with men from this city。 Those men from the city not killed ran away as they were overrun and gathered their numbers here； and tried to make a stand。 While they ran to here； they were chased by their enemy； fighting and dying as they ran。
‘More and more of the invaders poured through the passes； sweeping around to the south； here； where they had a battle。 After they defeated those men； and killed the ones they captured； the enemy came through the wall。 When they were finished in this city； all of them； together； went east again。’
Tossidin leaned in a little。 ‘Before they left； they took their dead from the city。 They used wagons； there are many tracks from the wheels。 It took them maybe two days to take all their dead from here。 Many thousands。 The people here must have fought like demon spirits。 The ones who did this lost more men than they killed。’
‘Where are the bodies？’ she asked。
‘In a bowl in a pass to the east；’ Prindin said。 ‘The wagons took the dead along the road； and then they were thrown down into the low place。 They are piled so deep we do not know how low the ground is there。’
‘What did they look like？’ She took a sip of tea； holding the tin cup with both hands wrapped around it； soaking up the warmth。 ‘How were they dressed？’
Prindin reached under his shirt and pulled out a folded cloth。 He handed her the bloodred bundle。 There were poles； with these on them。 Many of the men wore clothes with the same symbols on them； but we did not want to take the clothes from the dead。’
Kahlan unfolded the banner and stared in shock at the long red triangle draped over her hands。 In the center was a black shield with an ornate silver letter on it。 The letter R。 It was a war banner； with the shield and symbol of the House of Rahl。
‘D’Haran soldiers；’ she whispered。 ‘How could that be？’ She looked up。 ‘Were there Keltans； too？’
The three men looked at one another。 They didn’t understand。 They didn’t know the Keltans。
There were some with other clothes；’ Prindin said。 ‘But most had this symbol on them； or on their shields。’
‘And they went east？’
Tossidin nodded。 ‘I do not know the way to tell you their numbers； but there were so many that if you stood in the same spot on the wide road they took； you would be there all day watching them pass。’
‘Also；’ Prindin said； ‘as they were going； others joined them； from the north where they had been waiting； and went with them。’
Kahlan’s eyes narrowed as she frowned in thought。 ‘Did they have many wagons？ Big wagons？’
Prindin snorted a laugh。 They must have hundreds。 These men do not carry anything。 They use wagons。 They have victory； because they are many； but they are lazy。 They ride in wagons； or use them to carry their things。’
‘It takes a lot of supplies；’ she said； ‘to support an army that big。 And if they ride in wagons it keeps them fresh for fighting。’
‘It also makes them soft；’ Chandalen said defiantly。 ‘If you carry what you need； like we do； then you grow strong。 If you walk without carrying what you need； or ride in wagons； or on horses； then you grow soft。 These men are not strong； like us。’
‘They were strong enough to crush this city；’ Kahlan said； looking up from under her eyebrows。 ‘They were strong enough to win the battle and destroy their opponent。’
‘Only because they are many；’ Chandalen argued； ‘like the Jocopo； not because they are strong； or good fighters。’
‘Large numbers；’ she said； quietly； ‘has a strength all its own。’
None of the three men disagreed with that。
Prindin downed the last of his tea before speaking。 ‘Their numbers are all gone now。 They stay together as they go east。’
‘East。’ She thought a moment while the three waited。 ‘Did they go through a pass that has a thin rope bridge stretched above it？ A bridge that can only be crossed by one person at a time； on foot？’
The brothers nodded。
Kahlan stood。 ‘Jara Pass；’ she whispered to herself as she turned to stare out the door。 ‘It’s one of the few big enough for their wagons。’
There is more；’ Tossidin said as he stood； too。 ‘Maybe five days after they left； more men came here。’ He held up the spread fingers of both hands。 This many did the killing here。’ He closed all but a lone little finger on his right hand。 This many came here after it was done。’
Kahlan glanced to Chandalen。 T