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She gave him a small smile to try to ease his horror。 ‘Captain； have you ever heard the legend of the Shahari？’ He shook his head。 ‘When the tribes and lands now called D’Hara were being forged together； the method of conquest and joining were much the same as it is with the Imperial Order … join with them； or be conquered。 The Shahari people refused to join into D’Hara； and they refused to be conquered。
They fought so fiercely that they came to be greatly feared by the D’Haran troops； who outnumbered them many times over。 The Shahari loved nothing more than fighting。 They were so fearless and aroused about going into war that they went into battle naked and； well 。。。 aroused。’
Kahlan looked up to see Captain Ryan staring； mouth agape。 She went on。 The D’Harans all know the legend of the Shahari。 They all； to this day； fear the Shahari。’ She cleared her throat。 ‘If the men go into battle； and 。。。 that 。。。 happens； it will only bring greater fear to the men of the Order。
‘I don’t think； though； that the men need fear being embarrassed。 They will have more pressing matters on their minds； like not being killed。 And if it does happen； well then； they should know it pleases me because it will only strike greater fear into the hearts of our enemy。’
Captain Ryan finally looked to the ground and pushed snow with his boot。 ‘Forgive me； Mother Confessor； but I still don’t like it。 It puts you at danger for nothing of much gain。’
That’s not true。 There are two more important reasons I must do this。 First； when I left the Order’s camp last night I was being chased by about fifty men。 The D’Hafans have no doubt that those fifty men will catch me； and kill me。’
The captain stiffened。 ‘You mean there are fifty men roaming around looking for you？’
‘No。 They’re all dead。 To a man。 But the men back at camp don’t know that。 When they see me； all white； like a spirit； they will think I was killed； as I should have been； and that it’s my spirit in their midst。 It will only frighten them further。’
‘All fifty 。。。！’ He peered up at her。 ‘And what’s the second reason？’
Kahlan stared at him for a moment。 Her voice came softly。 ‘When those men of the Order see me； whether they think me a spirit or they think me a naked woman on a horse before them； they will stare。 While they are staring； they cannot kill our men。 But we can kill them。 It will divert their attention from the men； to me。’
He gazed silently at her as she went on。 ‘I would be willing to suffer any embarrassment；’ she said； ‘if it will save the life of even one of our men。 I must do this to help them； and to keep them alive。’
He looked to the ground as he put his hands in his pockets。
‘I never knew the Mother Confessor was a person who cared this much for her people；’ he whispered。 ‘I never knew before； that she cared at all what happened to any of us。’ He looked up at last。 ‘Is there anything at all I can say to talk you out of doing this？’
Kahlan smiled。 ‘There’s only one man in the world who could keep me from doing this； and you are not him。’ She laughed quietly。 ‘In fact； if he knew what I was about to do； I’m sure he would forbid it。’
His curiosity overcame his caution。 ‘One man？ Is he your mate？’ She shook her head。 ‘He is the one you will choose as your mate？’
Kahlan sighed pleasantly。 ‘No。 He is the one I’m to wed。 At least I hope to wed him。 He asked me to marry him。’ She smiled at the confused look on his face。 ‘His name is Richard。 He is the Seeker。’
Captain Ryan stiffened and his breath cut off。 ‘If I’m asking what I shouldn’t； just say so； but I thought all Confessors used their power 。。。 I thought； your magic would 。。。 I didn’t think Confessors could 。。。 marry。’
‘They can’t。 But Richard is special。 He has the gift； and my power cannot harm him。’
Captain Ryan smiled at last。 ‘I’m glad。 I’m happy for you； Mother Confessor。’
Kahlan lifted an eyebrow。 ‘But if you ever meet him； don’t you dare tell him about this 。。。 pretending to be a spirit business。 He has rather fusty views about such things。 If you told him you let me run around naked with a thousand of your men； he would probably take your head off。’
Kahlan laughed at the alarmed look on the captain’s face。
‘Captain； I need a sword。’
‘A sword！ Now you’re going to fight； too！’
Kahlan leaned toward him。 ‘Captain； if I’m sitting there naked； and a D’Haran wishes to despoil my honor； how am I to defend myself unless I have a sword？’
‘Oh。 Well； I see your point。’
He thought a moment。 An idea brightened his face and he withdrew his own sword from its scabbard。 He held the weapon out in both hands。 It was an old sword； with a blade pattern wielded in the old fashion and acid etched in the fuller to display the wavy folds of steel。
This blade was given to me by Prince Harold when I became an officer。 He said it was his father’s； that it was one that belonged to King Wyborn himself。 He said King Wyborn held it once in battle。’ He shrugged self…consciously。 ‘Of course； a king has many swords； and holds many of them in battle at least once； so they will be said to have been wielded by a king in defense of his kingdom。 So it’s not really valuable； or anything。’ He looked up expectantly。 ‘But I would be honored if you took it as yours。 It seems only right that； well； since you’re King Wyborn’s daughter； I guess； that you should wield his sword in battle。 Maybe it has magic； or something； and will help protect your life。’
Kahlan carefully lifted the sword from his hands。
Thank you； Bradley。 This means a lot to me。 You are wrong； it is valuable。 I will carry it with honor。 But I will not keep it。 When I’m finished； and leave for Aydindril in a couple of days； then I will return it； and you will have a sword wielded not only by a king； but by the Mother Confessor； too。’
He grinned with the idea of that。
‘Now； would you please post a guard outside this tent？ And then see to the swordsmen？’
He smiled a little smile and brough