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hem。 Chan…dalen； Prindin； and Tossidin had obviously been at work。 The sentries put fists to hearts when they recognized her。
The dawn was turning the sky to a dark steel gray。 It was warmer than it had been； with the clouds covering the land like a warming quilt。 She was dead tired in the saddle as Nick plodded through the snow toward the camp； but as she came into sight of men rushing about； she came alert with the thoughts of what needed to be done。
Chandalen； Prindin； Captain Ryan； and Lieutenant Hobson were speaking with a group of men when they saw her riding toward the camp。 The four came at a run to meet her at the edge of the activity。 Men were cooking； eating； stowing gear； preparing weapons； and tending to wagons and horses。 She spotted Tossidin； in his white wolf mantle； off some distance with Lieutenant Sloan； waving his arms in explanation as he talked to men who stood mute； with their spears all standing upright in the snow； the tight mob of them looking like a dark porcupine against the white ground。
Kahlan let out a weary moan as she dismounted before the four men who had e to greet her。 Other men all around kept to their tasks； but moved more slowly as they watched her with great interest。 The four before her stared openly with wide eyes。 None said a word。
‘What are you all staring at？’ she said； a little short…tempered。
‘Mother Confessor；’ Captain Ryan said； ‘you’re covered in blood。 Are you hurt？’
Kahlan stared down at the white wolf fur of her mantle； only it was no longer white。 She realized for the first time that the skin of her face was tight with dried blood； her hair stiff with it。
‘Oh；’ she said； in a quieter tone。 ‘It’s all right。 I’m fine。’
Chandalen and Prindin sighed with relief。
Lieutenant Hobson； still wide…eyed； swallowed。 ‘What of the wizard？ Did you see him？’
She lifted an eyebrow to him。 ‘What you see on me is what’s left of him。’
Chandalen appraised her with a sly smile。 ‘And how many others did you kill？’
Kahlan gave a tired shrug。 ‘I was awfully busy。 I didn’t take the time to count； but all things considered； I would guess； including the fires； well over a hundred。 The wizard is dead； that’s what matters。 Two of their manders are dead also； and at least two more are wounded。’
Captain Ryan and Lieutenant Hobson paled。
Chandalen’s proud grin widened。 ‘I am surprised you left any for others to kill； Mother Confessor。’
She didn’t return his smile。 ‘There are plenty left。’ Kahlan rubbed her horse’s nose。 ‘Nick did most of the work。’
‘I told you he wouldn’t let you down； Mother Confessor；’ Hobson said。
That he did not。 He was better aid than the good spirits。 He kept me alive this day。’
Kahlan lowered herself to one knee in the snow before the two Galean officers。 She bowed her head。
‘I find I must beseech your forgiveness。’ She took a hand of each in hers。 Though you are ignorant of how to acplish what must be done； you have put your duty to the Midlands before my orders。 That was courage of the highest order。 I want you all to know I was wrong。 You acted of noble intent。’ She kissed each hand。 ‘I laud your righteous hearts。 You have kept in mind your duty above all else。 I beg you forgive me。’
There was silence as she knelt on one knee。 At last Captain Ryan whispered down to her。
‘Mother Confessor； please。 Get up。 Everyone’s watching。’
‘Not until you forgive me。 I want everyone to know you did the right thing。’
‘But you didn’t realize what we were doing； or why。 You had only our safety in mind。’ Kahlan waited and he was silent in embarrassment a moment longer。 All right。 I forgive you。。。。 Don’t do it again？’
She came to her feet； releasing their hands and giving them a small； humorless smile。 ‘See that that is the last time you ever disobey me。’
Captain Ryan nodded in earnest。 ‘I will。’ He shook his head。 ‘I mean； no； I won’t； I mean I 。。。 We will do as you mand； Mother Confessor。’
‘I understand what you mean； Captain。’ She let out a tired sigh。 ‘We have a lot of work to do before we attack those men。’
‘We！’ Chandalen shouted。 ‘We were only to teach them some things； and then ‘we’ are to be on our way to Aydin…dril！ We cannot bee caught up in this battle。 You have already taken enough chances！ We must。。。’
Kahlan interrupted him。 ‘I must talk to you three。 Bring Tossidin。 Captain； please collect the men； including the sentries。 I want to speak to you all together。 Please wait with your men。 I will be with you shortly。 And leave a tent up for me。 I need a few hours’ sleep while things are being prepared。’
She walked off a ways； out of earshot of the camp； with Chandalen in tow； as Prindin went to get Tossidin。 When they were all together； she turned to them。 Chandalen was scowling； the other two waited without emotion。
‘The Mud People；’ she began in a soft tone； ‘have magic。’
‘We have no magic；’ Chandalen argued。
‘Yes； you do。 You do not think of it as magic because you were born with it and it is the only way you know。 You do not know of other peoples； of their ways。 The Mud People can speak with their ancestors’ spirits。 They can do this because they have magic。 You think this is simply the way things work； but they do not work so in other places； with other people。 Your ability to do these things is magic。 Magic is not some strange and powerful force； it’s simply the way some people； some creatures； are。’
‘Others can speak with their ancestors； if they wish；’ Chandalen said。
‘A few can； but most cannot。 To them； it’s speaking with the dead； and that is magic。 Frightening magic。 You； and I； know it is not to be feared； but you will never convince others that what you do is good。 They will always think it evil。 People believe as they were raised； and they were raised to believe that talking to the dead is evil。’
‘But our ancestors’ spirits help us；’ Prindin said。 ‘They never bring harm。 They only bring help。’
Kahlan laid a hand on his shoulder as she looked to his worried eyes。 ‘I know。 That’s why I help to keep others away from you； so you may live as you wish。 There are a few other people who talk with their ancestors； as you do； and they； too； have this magic。 There are other peoples； and other creatures； that have magic different from you； but just as important to them as yours is to you。’ She looked to each。 ‘Do you understand。’
‘Yes； Mother Confessor；’ Tossidin said。
Prindin nodded his agreement。 Chandalen grunted and folded his arms。
‘The important thing； though； is not if you believe what you have can be called magic。 The important thing is for you to understand that others believe what you do is magic。 Many fear magic。 They think you are evil because you practice this magic。’
Kahlan pointed in the direction of the army of the Imperial Order。 ‘Those men； the ones we chase； the ones who killed all the people back at the city； they are joined in a cause。 They wish to rule all the people of the Midlands。 They do not want any to live as they wish； but to bow to their rule。’
‘Why would they wish to rule the Mud People？’ Prindin asked。 ‘We have nothing they would want。 We stay to our lands。’
Chandalen unfolded his arms and spoke softly。 ‘They fear magic； and they wish us to stop speaking with our ancestors。’
Kahlan squeezed his shoulder。 ‘That’s right。 But more than that； they think it’s their duty to the spirits they worship to kill you all。 They are on a mission to destroy all who have magic； because they think magic is evil。 They believe people like you have magic。’ She met Chandalen’s eyes。 ‘If they are not killed to a man； like the Jocopo； sooner or later； they will e and destroy the Mud People； just as they destroyed the city of Ebinissia。’
The three men studied the ground in thought。 She waited for them to weigh her words。 Chandalen at last spoke。
‘And they would kill the other people； those who wish not to have outsiders e to them； to live alone； like the Mud People？’
‘They would。 I spoke with the men of that army。 They are like crazy men。 They sound as if they have been visited by evil spirits； like the Bantak did。 Like the Jocopo。 They will not listen to reason。 They think we are the ones who listen to evil spirits。 They will do as they promise。 You saw the city they destroyed and the size of the army defending it； it is not an empty threat。
‘I must get to Aydindril so I can raise an army to fight these men。 The councilors should already be doing that； but I must get there to make sure the extent of the threat is known； to make sure all of the Midlands join together in this。
‘But there are no forces at hand to fight these men； now； except these boys。 There are cities that will be destroyed before help can arrive。 Worse； the threat these men pose will convince some to join with them。 Some see honor as an inconvenience and will side with the army they think will win。 This will swell their ranks further。
‘Before Aydindril can send troops