Stone of Tears

“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 come 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 come 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 become 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?”