Stone of Tears

“You have a few hours to get everything ready, and then we start moving. I want the sentries at double distance. Beyond them, I want lookouts and I want scouts to keep in contact with the Order. I want to know where they are at all times. I want constant reports. I don’t want to be surprised by anything. I want to know of anything that you see or encounter, no matter how innocent it seems. If a rabbit jumps too high, I want to know about it. Just as we intend to trick them, I don’t want them tricking us. Take nothing for granted.

“May the good spirits be with you. Now get started.”

The men all began moving, the air coming to life with the sound of feet and talking. One of the two lieutenants stood near, unbuttoning his coat, giving orders to some men around him.

“Lieutenant Sloan.” He looked up as the men he had instructed went to their tasks. “see to the sentries and lookouts at once. I want any of your men who know how to make white paint or whitewash to assemble the supplies they need. We will need large tubs of some sort. I want rocks heated, to warm the insides of tents.”

He didn’t question her strange instructions. “Yes, Mother Confessor.”

“See that the small wagons with the ale and food are prepared, but hold them until I give the order to let them go.”

He put his fist to his heart without comment and marched off to see to it.

Kahlan’s legs felt as if they would give out at any second. She was so tired from having had no sleep, and from riding the better part of the night, to say nothing of the work she had done and the heart-pounding fright, that she could hardly focus her eyes anymore. Her shoulder hurt where the lance had been couched when it was shattered. The muscles in her left leg jittered with the effort of keeping her standing.

She was also mentally exhausted. Anxiety, over not only the enormity of her decision to take it upon herself to call all the Midlands into war, but also over her impassioned plea for these men to lay down their lives on her word, eroded her strength further. Despite the unusual warmth of the day, she shivered inside her fur mantle.

Captain Ryan stepped over to her. Chandalen, Prindin, and Tossidin were standing by the rear of the wagon, watching.

Captain Ryan gave her a sly smile. “I like it.”

He jumped down and held his hand out for her. She ignored the hand and jumped down as he had done, and by luck more than anything, stayed on her feet. She could not accept his offer of help, not now, not with what she was about to do.

“And now, Captain, I must give you an order you are not going to like.” She looked to his blue eyes. “I want you to send men after Mosle and those who went with him. Send enough to be sure to accomplish the deed.”

“Deed?”

They must be killed. Send a force with instructions that they are to pretend to join with Mosle’s men, so they don’t scatter when your men approach. Send your cavalry behind, but out of sight, in case they’re able to take to the woods. When they are surrounded, kill them. There are seventy-six. Count the bodies to make sure they are all dead. I will be very displeased if even one escapes.”

His eyes were wide. “But Mother Confessor…”

“I take no pleasure in this, Captain. You have your orders.” She turned to the three Mud People. “Prindin, go with the men he picks. Make sure those who departed are killed to a man.”

Prindin gave her a grim nod. He understood the unpleasant necessity of what she was doing.

Captain Ryan tensed in near panic. “Mother Confessor… I know those men. They’ve been with us a long time. You said they were free to go! We can’t…”

She laid a hand on his arm. He suddenly recognized the threat that represented. “I am doing what I must to save your lives. You have given your word to follow orders.” She leaned a little closer. “do not add yourself to those seventy-six.”

He at last gave a nod and she removed her hand. His eyes told it all. Hate radiated from him.

“I didn’t know the killing was to start with our own men,” he whispered.

“It does not. It starts with the enemy.”

Captain Ryan pointed angrily up the pass. “They’re going in the opposite direction of the Order!”

“And did you think they would go to the enemy in plain sight of you? They intend to circle around.” She turned and started off toward a tent that had been left up for her.

Captain Ryan, trailed by Chandalen, Prindin, and Tos-sidin, followed her, unwilling to concede. “If you were so concerned, why did you let them go! Why didn’t you let the men kill them when they would have!”

“Because I had to give all those who would renounce us and abandon their fellows the chance to do so.”

“What makes you think all the “traitors” departed? There could be spies, or assassins, among us.”

“Yes, there could be. But I have no evidence of that at the moment. If I find there are, I will have to deal with them then.”