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‘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 to find and defeat these men； many will die。 We must call upon these boys to join the fight now； before more innocent people are slaughtered。 These boys volunteered to bee fighters； like you； to protect their people； the people of all the Midlands。 We must help them in this。 We must not let this army of evil men escape to wander the Midlands； killing and destroying； and winning more to their side。
‘We must begin the battle with these boys； help them； show them； to make sure they will know how to fight； and to know they will continue without us to lead them。 We must lead them into the first battle； to give them confidence in the ways we teach them； before we can be on our way to Aydindril。’
Chandalen gave her a level look。 ‘And you will call the lightning to help us？’
‘No；’ Kahlan whispered。 ‘I tried last night； but it didn’t e。 It’s difficult to explain to you； but I believe that because I invoked this special magic on behalf of Richard； it will not work except to protect him。 I’m sorry。’
Chandalen unfolded his arms。 ‘Then how did you kill so many？’
Kahlan patted his arm where the bone knife was。 The same way as your grandfather taught your father； and he you。 I did not do as they expected。 I did not fight their way。’ The two brothers leaned in intently as she spoke。 ‘They like to drink； and when they’re drunk； they don’t think so well； and they are slow。’
Tossidin pointed behind with a thumb。 ‘These men； too； like to have drink at night。 They have a wagon of it among their supplies。 We would not let them have any。 Some were angry。 They said it was their right。’
Kahlan shook her head。 ‘These boys also thought it would be right to march right up to an enemy who outnumbers them ten to one and have a battle in broad daylight。 We must help them in this。 We must teach them what to do。’
‘They do not like to listen。’ Prindin glanced back over his shoulder； at the men he had been trying to teach。 ‘They wish always to argue。 They say ‘This is the way it is done’ and ‘We must do it so。’ They are filled only with the way they were taught； and do not like to be told another way。’
‘Yet that’s what we must do；’ Kahlan said。 ‘We must lead them in the way that will work。 That’s why I need you three。 I need you to help me in this； or many people； including； eventually； the Mud People； will die。 I need your help in this。 I must lead them into battle。’
Chandalen stood mute and unmoving。 The two brothers pushed snow with their feet； considering。 Prindin finally looked up。
‘We will help。 My brother and I will do as you ask。’
‘Thank you； Prindin； but it’s not you who must decide。 Chandalen must be the one who agrees。 It is for him to decide。’
The two brothers took sidelong glances at him as he stood glaring at her。 At last he let out an exasperated breath。
‘You are a stubborn woman。 You are so stubborn you will get killed if we three are not there to bring some reason to your head。 We go with you to kill these evil men。’
Kahlan sighed with relief。 ‘Thank you； Chandalen。’ She bent and took up a handful of snow； using it to scrub the dried blood from her face。 ‘Now I must go and tell these boys what they must do。’ She shook the snow from her hands when she had finished with her face。 ‘Did you three get any sleep last night？’
‘Some；’ Chandalen said。
‘Good。 After I speak with them； I need to get a few hours’ sleep。 You can begin showing them how to travel without their wagons。 We must teach them to be strong； like you。 We will begin the killing tonight？’
Chandalen gave a grim nod。 ‘Tonight。’
CHAPTER 40
Kahlan climbed atop a wagon before the assembled men。 They stood in brown wool coats； packed tightly together before her in the gray morning light。 Captain Ryan； with his two lieutenants flanking him； stood at the front of the men。 He leaned an arm on the wagon wheel； waiting。
Kahlan looked out at all the young faces。 Boys。 She was about to ask boys to die。 But what choice did she have？
Dear mother； she wondered； is this the reason you chose Wyborn as my father？ To teach me what I am about to do？
‘I’m afraid I have only one bit of good news for you；’ she began in a quiet voice that carried through the cold air； out over the faces all watching her； ‘and so I will give you that first； to give you courage for the other things I have to tell you。’
Kahlan took a deep breath。 ‘Your queen was not killed in Ebinissia； nor did the men who attacked the city find or capture her。 Either she was away when the attack came； or she escaped。
‘Queen Cyrilla lives。’
The boys seemed to take a deep breath； as if hoping she wouldn’t add anything more； and then they erupted in wild cheering。 They threw their arms in the air； shaking their fists at the sky。 They yelled and hooted with joy and relief。
Kahlan stood in her blood…soaked wolf mantle； her hands at her