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‘Around my waist！ Put your arms around my waist！’
He still held his arms out as he bounced。 ‘But 。。。’
‘Haven’t you ever put your arms around a woman before？’
‘Yes。。。 but she had clothes on；’ he whined。
‘Do it； or you’ll fall off； and I’m not ing back for you。’
Reluctantly； carefully； he put his arms around her waist； stiffly trying to keep them away from anything important； or unfamiliarly exotic。 Kahlan gave the back of his hands a pat of reassurance。 ‘When you brag about this； don’t make it more than it is。’ He let out a small； worried groan that made her smile。
As they rode on； she could feel his warm blood running down the back of her leg； dripping from her toes in the stirrup。 She could hear the shouts of the enemy chasing behind。
He was losing a lot of blood。 In exhaustion； he laid his head against the back of her shoulder。 If they didn’t tie his wound closed； he would bleed to death in short order。 She was naked； and had nothing to use as a bandage； even if they had the time to stop。
‘Hold the wound closed with a hand；’ she said。 ‘Clamp it closed as tight as you can。 And hold fast to me with your other arm。 I don’t want you falling off。’
He took one arm from her waist and held the gash closed as she rode right on the heels of the men at the end of the line。 They were cold and fatigued。 The men of the Order were not far behind。 As she looked back； they came into sight。 She was shocked by the numbers。 They hooted and hollered。
‘Run！ Run or we will be caught！’
A wall of rock； with scraggly trees growing from cracks and clefts； loomed up before them。 The men ran up the narrow pass as if their lives depended on it。 And they did。
As they began the climb up the rift； she rang the flat of her sword three times on the rock； giving the signal。
A man ahead turned as he ran。 ‘We’re not there yet！ It’s too soon！ We’ll be caught along with the enemy！’
‘Then you better run faster！ If we wait too long； they will get through； too！’
She rapped the rock wall three more times； the ringing sound carrying into the dark； damp air。 She hoped it would work； there； of course； had been no way to perform a test。 The men ahead scrambled up the trail。 Nick’s hooves slipped in places on the snow…covered rock。
At first； she could only feel it； a rumbling deep in her chest； too low to hear； but too powerful not to be felt。 She looked up along the mist…slicked rock that disappeared above into the dark and fog。 She couldn’t see it yet； but she could feel it。
She hoped the man was wrong； that it wouldn’t be too soon。 When she heard the battle cries of the men ing from behind； she knew they had no choice。
And then she could hear it： a booming roar； as if the ground itself were moving。 She could hear tree trunks snapping。 The thundering growl reverberated off the surrounding mountain walls。 The ground vibrated。
‘Run！ Can’t you run any faster？ Do you want to be buried alive？ Run！’
She knew they were going as fast as they could； but they were on foot； and from atop her horse； it seemed painfully slow。 Deadly slow。
Overhead； the rumbling roar grew louder as uncountable tons of snow crashed down toward them。 She was thrilled that the men on top had been successful in starting an avalanche on mand； but she was also terrified that she had given the mand too soon。
A lump of wet snow slapped her face； another smacked her shoulder。 Little clods rattled through the trees above them and bounced out over the edge。 A cloud of fluffy snow misted her face。 The roar was deafening。
A flow of thundering white sluiced over the ledge above。 They drove through it； like running through a waterfall。 Behind her； a tree trunk bounced on the trail； spinning out over the precipice。 They just cleared the leading edge of the bulk of snow。
The men of the Imperial Order behind were not so lucky。 The plunging snow； charged with timber and boulders； cascaded down with ever…gathering power。 They were swept away in the tumbling white death。 The fury of sound muffled the screams of men it carried away； rolling them into the pounding slide； burying them alive。
Kahlan sagged with relief。 They could not be followed now。 The pass was entombed。
The panting men slowed； but they couldn’t slow too much； or they would freeze。 Their pace kept them warm。 Their feet； she knew； despite being wrapped in white cloth for a little protection； were not warm。 They had given her their best effort。 They had given the Midlands their best effort。 Many had given their lives。
Kahlan was so exhausted from lack of sleep； as well as the fatigue of battle； along with the emotional drain of fright； and the effort required to use her power； that she could hardly stay upright。 Soon； she told herself； she could rest。 Soon。
She patted the hand on her stomach。 ‘We made it； soldier。 We’re safe； now。’
‘Yes； Mother Confessor；’ he whispered groggily。 ‘Mother Confessor； I’m sorry。’
‘For what？’
‘I only killed seventeen。 I’m sorry。 I promised myself I’d get twenty。 I only got seventeen；’ he mumbled。
‘I know heroes of battle； decorated men； who have not bested half that number in bat。 You have made me proud。 You have made the Midlands proud。 Feel only pride； soldier。’
He mumbled something she couldn’t understand。
She patted his hand again。 ‘You’ll be to help soon。 Hold on。 You’ll be fine。’
He didn’t answer。 She looked behind； down the trail； and saw only white； and heard only silence。 In the distant； dark mountains； a wolf yipped。
A short time later； on a high plateau； they reached the camp。 The men ahead in the line were already wrapped in blankets as they shivered around fires； warming their feet。 Some were pulling on their clothes under the blankets。 More men threw blankets around the men ing in ahead of her and tended the wounded。 Some of the wounded were groaning in pain； feeling it for the first time； now that the heady furor of bat and escape had evaporated。 She began to feel a throbbing in her lip。
In the flickering light of small fires； she could see Prindin and Tossidin； some distance away； running around searching the new arrivals。 When they saw her on the horse； they both sighed with relief； giving her twin smiles。
Captain Ryan； dressed in a D’Haran uniform and with a bandage around his left hand； ran over。 Other men took the reins； and yet others extended their hands to take the man behind her as she held him by an elbow； lowering the limp form down。
Prindin ran to meet her； her mantle in hand。 He stood； holding it open for her； waiting for her to dismount so he could put it around her shoulders。 He grinned at her。
Without moving from the saddle； she slowly extended her hand。 ‘I have had enough eyes on my flesh to last me the rest of my life。 Throw it up here！’
Prindin shrugged self…consciously and tossed the mantle up to her。 Tossidin swatted the back of his brother’s head。 Silence fell over the gathered men。 They all looked away in embarrassment as she put the mantle ar