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ple。 Some people of the Midlands were part creature； or perhaps some creatures were part people。 They were strange and delightful； and very shy。
And so it went throughout various forms of magic； from the simplest things in the Howling Caves that could let you peek through solid rock to see their nests； to people like the Mud People； who had only simple magic that would do but one thing。
As Mother Confessor； all these； and many more； were her charges； and as Mother Confessor； she manded all to protect these magic places； so no one people would bear the brunt of burden against others。 It was an arrangement backed by Confessors and wizards extending back for thousands of years。
The twilight beings； Riggs had called them。 That was the name given to these magical creatures by the Blood of the Fold； among others； because many of them came out only at night。 For this reason； the Blood associated them with darkness； and so； out of fear； with the darkness of the Keeper of the Dead。
The Blood considered magic the force through which the Keeper extended his influence into this world； into the world of the living。 The Blood were as unreasonable and thickheaded as any men alive。 And they considered it their duty to send to the land of the dead any who they thought served the Keeper。 That was just about anyone who disagreed with their view of things。 In some lands the Blood were outlawed； and in some； like Nicobarese； they were encouraged and paid by the Crown。
Maybe Riggs was right。 Maybe she should have brought the rule of law to stop men like this。 But that had never been the intent of the council … to make all to bow in all things to one。 The strength and beauty of the Midlands was in its diversity； even if some of that diversity was ugly。 What was ugly to one was beautiful to another； and so it was that each land was to be left to rule itself； as long as it brought no force of arms to another。 It was a tolerant suffering of things repugnant to allow things beautiful to blossom。 It was a sometimes difficult and fine line to hold the council to： forcing lands to work together in some things； but allowing them to be autonomous in others。
But perhaps Riggs was right。 People in some lands suffered the cruel or poor rule of their greedy or inept leaders； with no hope of matters being brought to change from without。 Though the wise； but smaller； lands had not to live in fear of outside conquest。 If the suffering of the people under less fortunate rule could be ended with wise central rule； would not matters be improved？
Yet when all lived under the same rule； every other form of existence was extinguished； never to have the chance to grow； though one of them might have been a superior way。 The kind of single rule the Imperial Order represented was slavery。
Kahlan was surprised to encounter Galean sentries farther from their camp than before。 They were no longer spread too far apart； and they were well hidden； popping up with drawn bows and bared steel when she was almost upon them。 Chan…dalen； Prindin； and Tossidin had obviously been at work。 The sentries put fists to hearts when they recognized her。
The dawn was turning the sky to a dark steel gray。 It was warmer than it had been； with the clouds covering the land like a warming quilt。 She was dead tired in the saddle as Nick plodded through the snow toward the camp； but as she came into sight of men rushing about； she came alert with the thoughts of what needed to be done。
Chandalen； Prindin； Captain Ryan； and Lieutenant Hobson were speaking with a group of men when they saw her riding toward the camp。 The four came at a run to meet her at the edge of the activity。 Men were cooking； eating； stowing gear； preparing weapons； and tending to wagons and horses。 She spotted Tossidin； in his white wolf mantle； off some distance with Lieutenant Sloan； waving his arms in explanation as he talked to men who stood mute； with their spears all standing upright in the snow； the tight mob of them looking like a dark porcupine against the white ground。
Kahlan let out a weary moan as she dismounted before the four men who had e to greet her。 Other men all around kept to their tasks； but moved more slowly as they watched her with great interest。 The four before her stared openly with wide eyes。 None said a word。
‘What are you all staring at？’ she said； a little short…tempered。
‘Mother Confessor；’ Captain Ryan said； ‘you’re covered in blood。 Are you hurt？’
Kahlan stared down at the white wolf fur of her mantle； only it was no longer white。 She realized for the first time that the skin of her face was tight with dried blood； her hair stiff with it。
‘Oh；’ she said； in a quieter tone。 ‘It’s all right。 I’m fine。’
Chandalen and Prindin sighed with relief。
Lieutenant Hobson； still wide…eyed； swallowed。 ‘What of the wizard？ Did you see him？’
She lifted an eyebrow to him。 ‘What you see on me is what’s left of him。’
Chandalen appraised her with a sly smile。 ‘And how many others did you kill？’
Kahlan gave a tired shrug。 ‘I was awfully busy。 I didn’t take the time to count； but all things considered； I would guess； including the fires； well over a hundred。 The wizard is dead； that’s what matters。 Two of their manders are dead also； and at least two more are wounded。’
Captain Ryan and Lieutenant Hobson paled。
Chandalen’s proud grin widened。 ‘I am surprised you left any for others to kill； Mother Confessor。’
She didn’t return his smile。 ‘There are plenty left。’ Kahlan rubbed her horse’s nose。 ‘Nick did most of the work。’
‘I told you he wouldn’t let you down； Mother Confessor；’ Hobson said。
That he did not。 He was better aid than the good spirits。 He kept me alive this day。’
Kahlan lowered herself to one knee in the snow before the two Galean officers。 She bowed her head。
‘I find I must beseech your forgiveness。’ She took a hand of each in hers。 Though you are ignorant of how to acplish what must be done； you have put your duty to the Midlands before my orders。 That was courage of the highest order。 I want you all to know I was wrong。 You acted of noble intent。’ She kissed each hand。 ‘I laud your righteous hearts。 You have kept in mind your duty above all else。 I beg you forgive me。’
There was silence as she knelt on one knee。 At last Captain Ryan whispered down to her。
‘Mother Confessor； please。 Get up。 Everyone’s watching。’
‘Not until you forgive me。 I want everyone to know you did the right thing。’
‘But you didn’t realize what we were doing； or why。 You had only our safety in mind。’ Kahlan waited and he was silent in embarrassment a moment longer。 All right。 I forgive you。。。。 Don’t do it again？’
She came to her feet； releasing their hands and giving them a small； humorless smile。 ‘See that that is the last time you ever disobey me。’
Captain Ryan nodded in earnest。 ‘I will。’ He shook his head。 ‘I mean； no； I won’t； I mean I 。。。 We will do as you mand； Mother Confessor。’
‘I understand what you mean； Captain。’ She let out a tired sig