Faith of the Fallen

"Puny., "Puny. That was it. I guess he felt that because he was twice your size, that made him your better. I recall men clearing off a table, and the two of you arm wrestling."

"Ah, well, I was younger back then, and I had a few glasses of wine with dinner, besides."

"You won."

He laughed softly. "Not by strength. He was cocky. I was clever, perhaps, and quick-that's all."

"You won; that was the result. Those hundred thousand Order troops aren't any less dead because they outnumbered us."

The smile left his lips. "Point taken. I guess the Imperial Order ought to quit now, while they have men left. I recall how those five thousand Galean recruits you led went after that force of fifty thousand, and eliminated them." He leaned an arm on the rough-hewn mantel. "Anyway, I see your point. When you are facing superior strength, you must use your wits."

"I need your help," Kahlan told the man.

His big brown eyes reflected the firelight as they turned toward her.

"Anything, Mother Confessor. If it be in my power to do, anything."

Kahlan bent and shoved another log onto the fire. Sparks swirled around before ascending the chimney.

"We need wool cloaks-hooded cloaks-for the men."

He considered only briefly. "Just tell me the numbers, and I will see to it. I'm sure it can be arranged."

"I'll need at least a hundred thousand-our entire force down here at present. We're expecting more men any time, so if you could add half again that number, it would go a long way to helping destroy the Order."

As he went through mental calculations, Kahlan used the poker to set the new log to the back of the fire. "I know I'm not asking for something easy."

He scratched his scalp through his thick gray hair. "You've no need of hearing how difficult it will be, that won't help you win, so let me just say that you will have them."

Representative Theriault's word was a pledge as sound as gold, and as valuable. She stood and faced him.

"And I want them made from bleached wool."

He lifted an eyebrow in curiosity. "Bleached wool?"

"We need to be clever, as you can understand. The Imperial Order comes from far to the south. Richard was down there, once, and told me about how the weather is very different than it is up here, in the New World. Their winters are nothing like we have. If I don't miss my bet, the Order is not familiar with winter, nor is it used to surviving, much less fighting, in such weather. Winter conditions may be difficult, but this puts it to our advantage."

Kahlan made a fist before him. "I want to harry them mercilessly. I want to use the winter weather to make them suffer. I want to draw them out make them have to fight-in conditions they don't understand as well as we do.

"I want the hooded cloaks to help disguise our men. I want to be able to use the conditions to get in close on raids, and then disappear right before their eyes."

"They don't have gifted?"

"Yes, but they're not going to have a sorceress telling every archer where to aim his arrow."

He stroked his chin. "Yes, I see your point." He slapped the mantel as if to seal his promise. "I'll have our people begin at once. Your men will need warm mittens, too.

Kahlan smiled appreciatively. "They will be grateful. Have your people start sending the cloaks down to us as soon as they have some made. Don't wait for them all. We can start our raids with any number and add to them as you deliver more."

Representative Theriault pulled his hood up and fastened his heavy wool cloak. "Winter has just set in. The more time you have to whittle them down while you have the advantage of weather, the better. I had best be on my way at once."

Kahlan clasped arms with the man-not something the Mother Confessor typically did, but something anyone else might do in sincere appreciation of aid.

-]--

As she and Cara stood outside the door, watching the representative and his guards trudging off through the snow, Kahlan hoped the supply of white cloaks would start arriving soon, and that they would be as effective as she hoped.

"Do you really think we can press the war effectively in winter?" Cara asked.

Kahlan turned back to the door. "We have to."

Before she went back inside, Kahlan caught sight of a procession coming up through the trees. When they were a little closer, she saw that it was General Meiffert, on foot, leading. She was able to pick out Adie, Verna, Warren, and Zedd, all walking along beside four riders. The midday sun sparkled off the hilt of the lead rider's sword.

Kahlan gasped when she saw who it was.

Without bothering to go back inside to get her cloak or fur mantle, she raced down through the snow to great him. Cara was right on Kahlan's heels.

"Harold!" she called out as she got closer. "Oh, Harold! Are we ever glad to see you!"