srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第15部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


。　At　the　same　time；　hundreds　of　creatures　broke　from　their　ranks　and　charged　toward　the　open　gates。
　　　　But　Mhoram　deflected　the　blast　with　his　staff；　sent　it　into　the　air　over　his　head；　where　his　own　fiery　power　attacked　it　and　consumed　it。　Then　he　ducked　behind　the　concealment　of　the　parapet。　Over　his　shoulder；　he　called　Warmark　Quaan；　〃Seal　the　gates！　Order　the　archers　to　slay　any　creatures　which　gain　the　courtyard。　We　cannot　deal　gently　with　this　foe。〃
　　　　Quaan　was　already　on　his　way　down　the　stairs　into　the　plex　passages　of　the　tower；　shouting　orders　as　he　ran　to　oversee　the　fray；　Mhoram　looked　downward　to　assure　himself　that　Satansfist　had　not　passed　through　the　gates。　Then　he　hastened　after　Quaan。
　　　　From　the　highest　of　the　crosswalks　above　the　courtyard；　he　surveyed　the　skirmish。　Strong　Woodhelvennin　archers　drove　their　shafts　into　the　milling　creatures　from　the　battlements　on　both　sides　of　the　court；　and　the　sound　of　weapons　echoed　out　of　the　tunnel。　In　moments；　the　fighting　would　be　done。　Gritting　his　teeth　over　the　shed　blood；　Mhoram　left　the　conclusion　the　skirmish　in　Quaan's　petent　hands；　and　crossed　the　wooden　span　to　the　main　Keep；　where　his　fellow　Lords　awaited　him。
　　　　As　he　met　the　somber　eyes　of　Trevor；　Loerya；　and　Amatin；　a　sudden　weariness　came　over　him。　Satansfist's　threats　came　so　close　to　the　truth。　He　held　his　panions　were　inadequate　for　the　task　of　using　even　those　few　powers　and　mysteries　which　they　possessed。　And　he　was　no　nearer　to　a　resolution　of　his　secret　knowledge　than　he　had　been　when　he　had　summoned　and　lost　Thomas　Covenant。　He　sighed；　allowed　his　shoulders　to　sag。　To　explain　himself；　he　said；　〃I　had　not　thought　there　were　so　many　ur…viles　in　all　the　world。〃　But　the　words　were　only　tangential　to　what　he　　felt。
　　　　Yet　he　could　not　afford　such　weariness。　He　was　the　High　Lord。　Trevor；　Loerya；　and　Amatin　had　their　own　uncertainties；　their　own　needs；　which　he　could　not　refuse；　he　had　already　done　them　enough　damage　in　the　private　dilemma　of　his　heart。　Drawing　himself　erect；　he　told　them　what　he　had　seen　and　heard　of　the　Raver　and　Lord　Foul's　army。
　　　　When　he　was　done；　Amatin　smiled　wryly。　〃You　affronted　samadhi　Raver。　That　was　boldly　done；　High　Lord。〃
　　　　〃I　did　not　wish　to　fort　him　with　the　thought　that　we　believe　him　safe。〃
　　　　At　this；　Loerya's　gaze　winced。　〃Is　he　so　safe？〃　she　asked　painfully。
　　　　Mhoram　hardened。　〃He　is　not　safe　while　there　is　heart　or　bone　or　Earthpower　to　oppose　him。　I　only　say　that　I　know　not　how　he　may　be　fought。　Let　him　discover　my　ignorance　for　himself。〃
　　　　As　she　had　so　often　in　the　past；　Loerya　once　again　attempted　to　probe　his　secret。　〃Yet　you　have　touched　Loric's　krill　and　given　it　life。　Your　hand　drew　a　gleam　of　blue　from　the　gem。　Is　there　no　hope　in　this？　The　legends　say　that　the　krill　of　Loric　Vilesilencer　was　potent　against　the　peril　of　the　Demondim。〃
　　　　〃A　gleam；〃　Mhoram　replied。　Even　in　the　privacy　of　his　own　knowledge；　he　feared　the　strange　power　which　had　enabled　him　to　spark　the　krill's　opaque　jewel。　He　lacked　the　courage　to　explain　the　source　of　his　strength。　〃What　will　that　avail？〃
　　　　In　response；　Loerya's　face　thronged　with　demands　and　protests；　but　before　she　could　voice　them；　a　shout　from　the　courtyard　drew　the　Lords'　attention　downward。　Warmark　Quaan　stood　on　the　flagstones　amid　the　corpses。　When　Mhoram　answered　him；　he　saluted　mutely　with　his　sword。
　　　　Mhoram　returned　the　salute；　acknowledging　Quaan's　victory。　But　he　could　not　keep　the　hue　of　sadness　from　his　voice　as　he　said；　〃We　have　shed　the　first　blood　in　this　siege。　Thus　even　those　who　oppose　ill　must　wreak　harm　upon　the　victims　of　ill。　Bear　their　bodies　to　the　upland　hills　and　burn　them　with　purging　fires；　so　that　their　flesh　may　recover　its　innocence　in　ashes。　Then　scatter　their　ashes　over　Furl　Falls；　as　a　sign　to　all　the　Land　that　we　abhor　the　Despiser's　wrong；　not　the　slaves　which　he　has　made　to　serve　his　wrong。〃
　　　　The　Warmark　scowled；　loath　to　honor　his　enemies　with　such　courtesy。　But　he　promptly　gave　the　orders　to　carry　out　Mhoram's　instructions；　Sagging　again；　Mhoram　turned　back　to　his　fellow　Lords。　To　forestall　any　further　probing；　he　said；　〃The　Giant　knows　he　cannot　breach　these　walls　with　swords　and　spears。　But　he　will　not　stand　idle；　waiting　for　hunger　to　do　his　work。　He　is　too　avid　for　blood。　He　will　attempt　us。　We　must　be　prepared。　We　must　stand　constant　watch　within　the　tower…to　counter　any　force　which　he　may　bring　against　us。〃
　　　　Lord　Trevor；　eager　for　any　responsibility　which　he　believed　to　be　within　his　ability；　said；　〃I　will　watch。〃
　　　　With　a　nod；　Mhoram　accepted。　〃Summon　one　of　us　when　you　are　weary。　And　summon　us　all　when　Satansfist　chooses　to　act。　We　must　see　him　at　work；　so　that　we　may　learn　our　defense。〃　Then　he　turned　to　a　warrior　standing　nearby。　〃Warhaft；　bear　word　to　the　Hearthralls　Tohrm　and　Borillar。　Ask　the　Hirebrands　and　Gravelingases　of　Lord's　Keep　to　share　the　watch　of　the　Lords。　They　also　must　learn　our　defense。〃
　　　　The　warrior　saluted　and　walked　briskly　away。　Mhoram　placed　a　hand　on　Trevor's　shoulder；　gripped　it　firmly　for　a　moment。　Then；　with　one　backward　look　at　the　winter…stricken　sky；　he　left　the　balcony　and　went　to　his　chambers。
　　　　He　intended　to　rest；　but　the　sight　of　Elena's　marrowmeld　sculpture　standing　restlessly　on　his　table　disturbed　him。　It　had　the　fanatic；　vulnerable　look　of　a　man；　chosen　to　be　a　prophet；　who　entirely　mistakes　his　errand…　who；　instead　of　speaking　to　glad　ears　the　words　of　hope　with　which　he　was　entrusted；　spends　his　time　preaching　woe　and　retribution　to　a　wilderland。　Looking　at　the　bust；　Mhoram　had　to　force　himself　to　remember　that　Covenant　had　rejected　the　Land　to　save　a　child　in　his　own　world。　And　the　Unbeliever's　ability　to　refuse　help　to　tens　of　thousands　of　lives…to　the　Land　itself…for　the　sake　of　one　life　was　a　capacity　which　could　not　be　easily　judged。　Mhoram　believed　that　large　balances　might　be　tipped　by　the　weight　of　one　life。　Yet　the　face　of　the　sculpture　seemed　at　this　moment　taut　with　misapprehended　purpose…crowded　with　all　the　people　who　would　die　so　that　one　young　girl　might　live。
　　　　As　he　gazed　at　this　rendition　of　Covenant's　fate；　High　Lord　Mhoram　experienced　again　the　sudden　passion　which　had　enabled　him　to　draw　a　gleam　from　Loric's　krill。　Danger　filled　his　eyes；　and　he　snatched　up　the　sculpture　as　if　he　meant　to　shout　at　it。　But　then　the　hard　lines　of　his　mouth　bent；　and　he　sighed　at　himself。　With　conflicting　intensities　in　his　face；　he　ore　the　anundivian　yajna　work　to　the　Hall　of　Gifts；　where　he　placed　it　in　a　position　of　honor　high　on　one　of　the　rude；　rootlike　pillars　of　the　cavern；　after　that；　he　returned　to　his　chambers　and　slept。
　　　　He　was　awakened　shortly　after　noon　by　Trevor's　summons。　His　dreamless　slumber　vanished　instantly；　and　he　was　on　his　way　out　of　his　rooms　before　the　young　warrior　who　brought　the　message　was　able　to　knock　a　second　time。　He　hastened　up　out　of　the　recesses　of　Revelstone　toward　the　battlements　over　the　gates　of　the　main　Keep；　where　he　chanced　upon　Hearthrall　Tohrm。　Together；　they　crossed　to　the　tower　and　climbed　the　stairs　to　its　top。　There　they　found　Trevor　Loerya…mate　with　Warmark　Quaan　and　Hirebrand　Borillar。
　　　　Quaan　stood　between　the　Lord　and　the　Hearthrall　like　an　anchor　to　their　separate　tensions。　Trevor's　whole　face　was　clenched　white　with　apprehension；　and　Borillar's　hands　trembled　on　his　staff　with　mixed　dread　and　determination；　but　Quaan　held　his　arms　folded　across　his　chest　and　frowned　stolidly　downward　as　if　he　had　lost　the　capacity　to　be　surprised　by　anything　any　servant　of　the　Gray　Slayer　did。　As　the　High　Lord　joined　them；　the　old　Warmark　pointed　with　one　tanned；　muscular　arm；　and　his　rigid　finger　guided　Mhoram's　eyes　like　an　accusation　to　a　gathering　of　ur…viles　before　the　gates　of　the　tower。
　　　　The　ur…viles　were　within　arrow　reach；　but　a　line　of　red…eyed　Cavewights　bearing　wooden　shields　protected　them　by　intercepting　the　occasional　shafts　which　Quaan's　warriors　loosed　from　the　windows　of　the　tower。　Behind　this　cover；　the　ur…viles　were　building。
　　　　They　worked　with　deft　speed；　and　their　construction　quickly　took　shape　in　their　midst。　Soon　Mhoram　saw　that　they　were　making　a　catapult。
　　　　Despite　the　freezing　ire　of　Foul's　wind；　his　hands　began　to　sweat　on　his　staff。　As　the　ur…viles　looped　heavy　ropes　around　the　sprocketed　winches　at　the　back　of　the　machine；　lashed　the　ropes　to　the　stiff　throwing…arm；　and　sealed　with　flashes　of　black　power　a　large；　ominous　iron　cup　to　the　end　of　the　arm；　he　found　himself　tensing；　calling　all　his　lore　and　strength　into　readiness。　He　knew　instinctively　that　the　attackers　did　not　intend　to　hurl　rocks　at　Revelstone。
　　　　The　Demondim…spawn　worked　without　instructions　from　Satansfist。　He　watched　from　a　distance；　but　neither　spoke　nor　moved。　A　score　of　them　clambered　over　the　catapult…adjusting；　tightening；　sealing　it…and　High　Lord　Mhoram　marveled　grimly　that　they　could　build　so　well　without　eyes。　But　they　showed　no　need　for　eyes；　noses　were　as　discerning　as　vision。　In　a　short　time　the　finished　catapult　stood　erect　before　Revelstone's　tower。
　　　　Then　barking　shouts　chorused　through　the　encampment；　and　a　hundred　ur…viles　ran　forward　to　the　machine。　On　either　side；　a　score　of　them　formed　wedges　to　concentrate　their　power　and　placed　themselves　so　that　their　loremasters　stood　at　the　winches。　Using　their　iron　staves；　the　two　loremasters　began　turning　the　sprockets；　thus　tightening　the　ropes　and　slowly　bending　the　catapult's　arm　backward。　The　catapult　dwarfed　the　creatures；　but　by　focusing　their　strength　in　wedges；　they　were　able　to　crank　the　winches　and　bend　the　arm。　And　while　this　was　being　done；　the　other　ur…viles　came　together　and　made　an　immense　wedge　behind　the　catapult。　Against　the　background　of　the　frozen　snow…scud；　they　looked　like　a　spear　point　aimed　at　the　heart　of　the　Keep。
　　　　With　part　of　his　mind；　Mhoram　observed　that　Lord　Amatin　now　stood　beside　him。　He　glanced　around　for　Loerya　and　saw　her　on　a　balcony　of　the　main　Keep。　He　waved　his　approval　to　her；　if　any　holocaust　struck　the　watchtower；　all　the　Lords　would　not　be　lost。　Then　he　cocked　an　eyebrow　at　Quaan；　and　when　the　Warmark　nodded　to　indicate　that　the　warriors　were　ready　for　any　sudden　orders；　High　Lord　Mhoram　returned　his