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‘What we do is done to save the lives of men and women yet alive and yet unborn。 You saw what was done to the people in Ebinissia。 Remember the faces of those dead。 Remember the way they died； and the horror they suffered before they did。 Remember those soldiers captured； and beheaded。
‘It is up to us to prevent that from happening to any more people。 To do that； we must kill these men。 There is no glory in the doing。 Only survival。’
In the back； two men gestured obscenely to those around them and walked off to join with Mosle’s men。 Sixty…nine。 But the rest stood in firm resolution to take up the fight。
The time had e。 She had dissuaded them from their raw thoughts of glorious battle； and told them of the true nature of their task。 She had brought most to an understanding of the larger temper of the battle ahead。 She had told them some of what must be done。 She had brought them to a more focused understanding of their importance in the scheme of this struggle。
The time had e to charge them irreversibly to the burden； to forge them into an instrument of retribution that could annihilate the threat。
Kahlan opened her arms to the men before her； her blood soaked mantle hanging limp。
‘I am dead；’ she called to the gray sky。 Frowning； they all leaned in a little。 ‘What has happened to my countrymen； my countrywomen … my fathers； sons； mothers； and daughters …has slain me。 The agony of their slaughter has mortally wounded my heart。’
Her arms spread wider as her voice rose in wrath。
‘Only vengeance can restore me！ Only victory can return my life to me！’
She gazed into all the wide eyes staring back。 ‘I am the Mother Confessor of the Midlands。 I am your mothers； your sisters； your daughters yet unborn。 I call upon you to die with me； and live again only by avenging me。’
Kahlan swept a hand out。 Those of you who join with me in this are dead with me。 Our lives can be returned only through vengeance。 As long as one of our enemy lives； we are dead。 We have no life to lose in this battle； for our lives are already lost； here； today； now。 Only when every one of the destroyers of Ebinissia is slain may we live once again。 Until then we have no life。’
She looked out at the solemn faces of the men gathered before her； watching； waiting for her next words。 On a warm breeze； the bloody wolf fur rustled against her cheek。 Kahlan pulled free her knife and held it up in her fist for all to see。 She laid the weapon over her heart。
‘An oath then； to the good people of Ebinissia who are now with the spirits； and to the good people of the Midlands！’
Almost all the men followed her example； holding their knives over their hearts。 Seven did not； but； grumbling curses； rose to join with Mosle。 Seventy…six。
‘Vengeance without mercy before our lives are returned to us！’she pledged。
The sober voice of every man before her repeated the oath； joining with every other in unflinching unity。
‘Vengeance without mercy before our lives are returned to us！’ The roar of their words drifted away on the morning air。
Kahlan watched William Mosle cast a glance over his shoulder at her before following his men away； back up the pass。
She returned her attention to those before her。 ‘You are all sworn in oath； then。 Tonight； we begin the killing of the men of the Order。 Let it be without quarter。 We take no prisoners。’
No cheer went up this time。 The men listened in grim attention。
‘We must no longer travel as you have been； with wagons to carry your needs and supplies。 We must take only what we can carry。 We need to be able to travel the woods； the small passes； so we can outmaneuver the men we hunt。 I intend to sweep in at them from all directions and at will； like wolves at hunt。 And like wolves； who hunt with coordination； we will control and direct them； as wolves control and direct their prey。
‘You are men of this land。 You know the woods and mountains around us。 You have hunted them since you were children。 We will use your knowledge。 The enemy is in strange territory； and keeps to the wide passes with their wagons and great numbers。 We will no longer be impeded as they。 We will move through the country around them as do the wolves。
‘You must divide up what you have in the wagons； and place what you can carry in your packs。 Leave the heavy armor； it takes too much effort to carry； and we are not going to fight that way。 Take only light armor you can wear at a forced march。 Take what food you can。
‘You are to take no liquor or ale。 When you have avenged the people of Ebinissia； you may drink all you want。 Until then； you will not。 I want everyone alert at all times。 We do not ever relax until our enemy is dead to a man。
‘Some of the food that’s left is to be packed into a few of the smaller wagons； without any arms or armor。 We will need volunteers to give it to the enemy。’
The men mumbled in surprise and confusion。
‘The road divides ahead。 When they are past the fork； and on their way to Cellion； the wagons with the food and all the ale are to take the other road； and then the smaller routes； to get ahead of them。 You will lie in wait with these wagons until their advance guard nears； and then cross their path so they can see you。 When their forward column spots you and gives chase； you are to abandon the wagons and escape。 Let them have the food and drink。
‘The Imperial Order is nearly out of ale； and tonight they will celebrate their luck。 I expect they will get drunk。 I want them to be drunk when we attack them。’
The men cheered with that news。
‘Know this： we’re as a wolf pack； trying to bring down a bull。 Though we are not strong enough to do it with one dispatching strike； we will harry him to exhaustion； drag him to the ground； and kill him。 This will not be a single battle； but a constant nipping at his hide； taking small chunks of him at a time； wounding； weakening； and bleeding him all the while； until finally we have the advantage and can kill the beast。
‘Tonight； under cover of darkness； we will slip into thei