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re of the lethargic enemy； killing as many as they could while rolling ahead。 White death moved into the mist once again。
Kahlan glanced behind； and saw the pairs of draft horses； their riders holding the chains up between them。 She waved them into the stream of white； urging them to move faster。 They started unhooking one end of the chains from the hame hooks and looping the chain over the horn on the other horse； to give each horse freedom； now that they needed to make a quick escape。
In the distance； in the fog to the right； she saw a line of picketed horses。 She saw Brin and Peter e together； snap the end of the chain over the other hook again and urge Daisy and Pip into gallops。 She thought to scream at them； to order them to keep with the others； that they couldn’t hope to get them all； that they had done enough and must leave now； that it was too late。 But she knew they wouldn’t hear her。
Brin dropped the loops of chain。 They spread the horses to pull the steel taut as they peeled away toward the picket line of horses。 The hooves of the big horses thundered across the ground。 She took a last look at Brin and Peter； knowing it would be the last time she ever looked upon them in this world； and then turned her attention ahead。
She pointed with her sword。 ‘There are the rest of the supply wagons！’
The men knew what to do。 As she charged the column past； the wagons were doused with lamp oil。 Wheels were staved in； and torches thrown。 The wagons erupted in flame。 More torches set fire to tents。 The men brought awake by the noise and fire found blades sweeping at them。 The fires faded into an orange glow in the mist behind as they plunged onward into the fog。
Suddenly they broke free of the camp； and were in open snow。 Now that they were away from the camp； and its fires； the darkness pressed around them。 The men in front faltered； looking about as they jogged。
‘Scouts forward！’ she yelled。 ‘Where are the scouts！’
Two men charged through the ranks； to the fore； pointing out the direction of the pass they sought。 She looked for the others； turning from side to side。 None came。 She galloped Nick to the van； after the two scouts。
‘Where are the others！ They were ordered to be in the lead！’
The round； wet eyes that looked up at her answered her question without words。
‘All right；’ she said； ‘you two know the way。 Get us out of here。’
Fifty men had scouted the pass they wanted。 Fifty； to be sure there would be a good number left to show the way。 Two were left。
With a silent growl she cursed the spirits。 Shamefaced； she called the curse back。 They had at least left her those two； without them； they would be left to wander in the fog； freezing and vincible to the men of the Order chasing them。
She pulled Nick to a halt beside the stream of naked men。 She swooped her arm frantically。
‘Move move move！ Run； curse you； run！ They’ll be on top of us！’ The men on the draft horses； Brin and Peter not among them； came abreast of her。 ‘Drivers！ Watch for the scout ahead！ He’ll show you the stakes to follow。’ They nodded that they remembered。
Men in D’Haran uniforms； with white cloth swatches sewn into their epaulets to show that they were in fact the Galean men who had infiltrated the enemy camp in the uniforms of the sentries； ran past。 ‘Don’t forget to pull up the stakes before you get up on the horses。’
They were to double or triple up on the draft horses and ride to one of the other small camps established around the enemy。 Earlier in the day； they had made trails all over the valley so that without the sticks stuck in the snow to mark the proper trail； none would know the way to those camps。
The trail through the snow from all the men on foot would be easy for the enemy to follow。 But they had plans to take care of that。
In the distance； back toward the Order； she saw the rear guard engaged in a pitched battle。 Lieutenant Sloan was supposed to keep that from happening； and keep the rear moving。 Cursing anew； she galloped her horse back。 Without pause； she charged between the two forces； spun and charged through again； separating the two sides。 The leather…clad D’Harans fell back at the sight of the white spirit woman atop a white horse。
She waded in among the Galeans。 ‘What’s the matter with you！ You know the orders！ Run； or you won’t make it！’
The men started moving； trying to drag a body with them。
‘Where’s Lieutenant Sloan！ He’s supposed to be back here！’
The men nodded to the body they were dragging。 The side of the head was gone； and she could see the exposed brain。 It was Lieutenant Sloan。 The D’Harans charged in again。 She pulled the reins and Nick reared。 The D’Harans fell back once more。
‘He’s dead！ Leave him！ Run！ Run； you idiots！ If any of you stops again for anything； I’ll make you fight the rest of this war naked！ Now run！’
This time they took off in earnest； kicking up snow； running for their lives。 Again she swept past the line of drunken D’Harans； causing them to stumble backward and fall over one another in panic。 She had to stall these men to give her own time to gain enough of a lead。
She ran Nick through the D’Harans； trampling those who got in the way。 The men scattered in momentary dread of the white spirit woman； some calling to the spirits for protection。 But others came back swinging weapons。 If they caught Nick’s legs 。。。
She fought back with her sword and her warhorse； as they closed around her。 Her men were fading into the fog。 Run； she bid them； run。 She swung the sword at men who reached out。 The next time she glanced back； she saw nothing but dark fog and mist。 She was losing her sense of direction as she wheeled Nick around； charging at the men； trying to buy her own men the time they needed to escape。
She tried to break away； but the enemy swarmed around her； with more ing all the time。 Some yelled at the others that she was just a woman； and not a spirit； and they weren’t going to let a woman get away。 She felt more naked than she had felt all night。
Men threw themselves around Nick’s legs； and although he reared and kicked them off； even more took their place； staggering the big horse with their weight。 Kahlan hacked furiously at the men； shearing off arms； splitting skulls； and stabbing bodies。
With a sea of men all around her； she suddenly realized that her situation was untenable。 She knew that if they got her off her horse； she was finished； and her horse was being hobbled。 Try as she might； she couldn’t get the men away。
For the first time that night； she truly feared she wasn’t going to make it。 She was going to die； here； in the snow； in this mist…shrouded valley。 She would never see Richard again。
She felt an abrupt； icy pain in the bite on her neck。 Darken Rahl’s bite。 She thought she heard quiet laughter in the air。
She slashed away at the men grabbing for her。 Powerful fingers clutched her legs。 The pain of those fingers urged her into frantic stabbing。 Nick managed to spin； the men’s feet flying outward； but they held on