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痵 get going。’
She started to rise； but he put his good hand to her arm and stopped her。 They have been waiting outside your shelter all night。 I would not let them e inside。’
He took his hand back as he seemed to search for the right words。 ‘I feared greatly that you would die this night。 I didn’t know if I had given you the quassin doe in time。 Prindin had been giving you poison without our knowing it； for a long time。 You almost went to the spirit world。
‘If you had died； I would never be able to return to my people again。 But that is not why I am glad you live。 I am glad because you are a good Mud Person。 You are a protector to our people； the same as Chandalen。 We each fight in our own way。’ He lifted an eyebrow。 ‘Lately； you have been fighting too much like Chandalen fights。 You are good at it； but you should leave that to me； and fight in the way you are meant to fight。’
Kahlan smiled。 ‘You’re right。 Thank you for sitting with me all night。 It was good to have you near。 I’m sorry you were hurt。’
He shrugged。 ‘Someday； when I find a woman for myself； I will have scars to show her； so she may see how brave Chandalen is。’
Kahlan laughed。 ‘I’m sure she will be impressed with your bravery when you were shot with an arrow。’
Chandalen gave her a crooked look。 ‘It does not prove I was brave because I was shot with an arrow。 Anyone can be shot。’ He lifted his chin。 ‘I am brave because I did not cry out when the the arrow was cut from me。’
Someday； Kahlan thought； some fortunate woman would have her hands full with this one。 ‘I’m glad the good spirits watched over you； and you are with me。’
He narrowed his eyes as he peered at her。 ‘I do not know what happened； but I think Prindin missed my throat because you were watching over me； too。’
She only grinned。 When she looked to the body； her grin withered。 She stroked the fur of her mantle。 ‘Poor Tossidin。 He loved his brother。 I’ll miss him。’
Chandalen glanced to the body。 ‘I have known them since they were young boys。 They both followed me around； begging me to teach them。 Begging to be one of my men。’ He hung his head in silence。 Finally； he returned his attention to her。 ‘The men are worried greatly about you。 They are waiting。’
Kahlan followed as he crawled out on his knees and one hand。 She dragged the sword with her。 Outside； in the light； there was a sudden rustle of sound as men rose to their feet。
Captain Ryan rushed forward； but a big man； with one arm in a sling； thrust his good arm across the captain’s chest； stopping him cold。 He held a monstrous war axe in his fist。
‘Orsk？ You are alive； too？’
His eyes were red from weeping。 Kahlan remembered the way her father had wept when her mother； his mistress； was ill。
‘Mistress！’ Tears sprang anew to his eyes。 ‘You are well！ What do you wish？’
‘Orsk； these men are all my friends。 None of them will hurt me。 You do not need to keep them away。 I’m safe。 It would please me if you just sat quietly for now。’
Instantly； he flopped to the ground。 Kahlan gave a questioning frown to Chandalen。
Chandalen shrugged。 ‘I saw him fight to protect you； and Prindin wanted to kill him； so I gave him quassin doe。 The men dug the arrow from his back。 I am not sure how badly he is hurt； he has no interest in his wound； only in you。 I was only able to keep him out of the shelter by telling him you needed to be left alone or you might not recover； but he would not leave this spot as long as you were inside。’
Kahlan sighed as she gazed at the grisly face staring silently up at her。 She could hardly stand to look at the jagged white scar； and the one eye that was sewn shut。 She returned her attention to an impatient Captain Ryan； and the hundreds of faces behind him。
‘How goes the war？’
The war！ Dash the war！ Are you all right？ You had us scared to death！’ He cast a hot glance at Chandalen； and then at Orsk sitting in the snow。 ‘These two wouldn’t even let me have a peek at you； to see how you were。’
‘That’s their job；’ Kahlan said。 She gave them a warm smile。 Thank you all for your concern。 Chandalen has saved me。’
‘Well； what happened？ This place was a mess。 The dozen men I left here were slaughtered。 By a troga。 Prindin and Tossidin are dead。 And there were dead men of the Order。 We feared they killed you。’
Kahlan realized Chandalen had told them nothing。 ‘One of the dead men； off in that direction； is General Riggs； of the Imperial Order。 Orsk here；’ she pointed down to the one…eyed man； ‘killed most of the men of the Order。 They came here to get me。 Prindin killed our guards； and his brother； and he tried to kill me。’ Whispers and gasps spread among the men。
Captain Ryan’s eyes looked like they would pop from his head。 ‘Prindin！ Not Prindin。 Dear spirits； why？’
She waited until silence settled over the men。 She spoke in a quiet tone。 ‘Prindin was a baneling。’
Stunned silence was all she heard for a moment； and then the worried whispers of ‘baneling’ spread back through the ranks。
‘You men are doing a fine job。 But now you must fight on without me。 I must get to Aydindril。’ Disappointed murmurs filled the air。 ‘I would not leave you if I did not know you were up to the task。 You have all proven your worth and your heart in battle。 You are men the equal of any。’
The men stood a little taller。 They listened intently to her； as if hearing their general。
‘I am proud of each and every one of you。 You are heroes of the Midlands。 This army of the Imperial Order； threat though it is； is representative of a larger threat to the Midlands； to the world of the living。 That the Keeper would send a baneling to stop me is proof of that。
‘I believe the Imperial Order is aligned with the Keeper。 I must now turn my attention to this threat。 I know you will fight on； as you have sworn； and show the enemy no quarter。 I know the days of the Order are numbered。’
Kahlan realized that her neck didn’t hurt。 She touched her fingers to the bite。 It was gone。 Suddenly she felt that perhaps she had escaped the Keeper’s grasp in more ways than one。
With a serious demeanor； she regarded the young faces that intently watched her。 Though you will fight on without quarter； you must not let yourselves bee what you are fighting。 The enemy fights to kill； and to enslave。 You fight for life； and freedom。 Keep that always uppermost in your hearts。
‘Do not let yourselves bee what you hate。 I know how easy it is to do。 It almost happened to me。’
Kahlan put a fist into the air。 ‘I promise to never forget a one of you。 Promise me that when this is finished； both the threat from the Imperial Order； and the threat from the Keeper； that you will one day all e to Aydindril； so the Midlands may honor your sacrifice。’
The men all lifted a fist in pledge。 A cheer went up。
‘Captain Ryan； please tell the men at the other camps my words。 I wish I could speak to them all myself； but I must leave at once。’
He assured her it would be done。 Kahlan lifted the sword in both hands； holding it out。
‘King Wyborn wielded this sword in battle to protect his land。 The Mother Confessor has wielded it in defense of the Midlands。 I now place it in capable hands。’
Captain Ryan’s fingers carefully lifted the sword from hers。 He held it as if holding the crown of Galea itself。 A beaming grin lit his face。
‘I will carry it with pride； Mother Confessor。 Thank you for everything you have taught us。 When you first found us； we were boys。 Thank you for making us into men。 You have taught us not only to fight better but； more importantly； what it means to be soldiers； and to be protectors of the Midlands。’
He took the hilt in his fist and held the sword skyward as he turned to his men。
‘Three cheers for the Mother Confessor！’
As she listened to the three wild cheers； Kahlan realized that in all her life she had never heard anyone cheer the Mother Confessor before。 She had to strain to keep her surprise from showing。 She lifted a kiss on her fingers and thanked them all。
‘Captain Ryan； I wish to take Nick； and I will need two other horses； also。’
Chandalen lurched forward。 ‘Now； why do you need horses！’
She lifted an eyebrow to him。 ‘Chandalen； I have an arrow wound in my leg。 I can hardly stand； much less walk。 I need to ride； if I’m to get to Aydindril。 I hope you do not think me weak because of it。’
His brow knotted up。 ‘Well； no。 Of course you cannot be expected to walk。’ His eyes turned angry again。 ‘But why do you want two other horses？’
‘If I ride； you must； too。’
‘Chandalen does not need to ride！ I am strong！’
She leaned close and spoke in his tongue。 ‘Chandalen； I know the Mud People do not ride horses。 I would not expect you would know how。 I will teach you。 You will do fine。 When you return to your people； you will have a new skill that none of them have。 They will be impressed。 The women will see that you are brave。’
He grunted suspiciously as he scowled。 T