df.therunelords-第91部分

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　The　skies　went　black　as　onyx　as　the　flameweavers　began　drawing　ropes　of　energy　from　the　heavens。　Time　and　again；　the　flameweavers　reached　into　the　sky　and　caught　the　light。　Time　and　again；　they　gathered　it　into　their　hands　and　merely　held　it；　so　that　their　hands　became　green　blazing　lights　of　their　own　that　glowed　brighter　and　brighter。
　The　hedge　wizard　muttered　and　cursed。
　The　flameweavers'　magics　took　more　than　the　mere　light　from　heaven。　For　minutes　now；　the　air　had　been　growing　colder。　Tempest　saw　that　a　rime　of　frost　began　to　cover　the　castle　walls；　and　the　haft　of　the　warhammer　in　his　hand　had　gradually　bee　stinging　cold。
　Frost　formed　along　the　groundheaviest　near　the　bonfire；　and　fanning　out　over　the　fields　and　all　around　the　army；　as　if　this　otherworldly　fire　drew　heat；　rather　than　gave　it　off。　The　flameweavers　were　drawing　the　energy　from　the　fire　so　efficiently　now　that　Tempest　imagined　that　even　he　could　have　stood　in　those　emerald　flames；　walked　through　them　unburned。
　Tempest's　teeth　chattered。　It　seemed　that　the　very　heat　of　his　body　was　beginning　to　be　sucked　from　him。　Indeed；　he　could　see　the　salamanders　more　clearly　in　the　flames　nowethereal　beings　with　tails　of　flame；　leaping　and　dancing　about；　staring　at　the　men　on　the　castle　walls。
　〃Beware　the　salamander's　eyes。　Don't　look　into　the　flames！〃　the　hedge　wizard　began　to　shout。　Tempest　recognized　the　danger。　For　when　his　eyes　met　those　pinpricks　of　flame　that　formed　the　orbs　of　a　salamander；　though　for　only　a　flickering　instant；　the　salamander　grew　more　solid　in　form　while　Tempest's　blood　ran　all　the　colder。　Men　averted　their　gaze；　studied　the　Frowth　giants　or　the　mastiffs　or　the　Invincibles　in　Raj　Ahten's　armyanything　but　the　salamanders。
　In　the　foreboding　gloom；　the　bonfire　grew　surrealbecame　a　green　flaming　world　of　its　own；　its　walls　decorated　in　fierce　runes；　the　creatures　at　its　heart　growing　in　power　with　each　passing　moment。
　The　clouds　above　had　bee　so　cold　that　a　thunderous　hail　now　began　to　fall　lightly；　bouncing　like　gravel　from　the　battlements；　pinging　against　the　helms　and　armor　of　the　castle's　defenders。
　Tempest　felt　frightened　to　the　core　of　his　soul。　He　did　not　know　what　the　flameweavers　might　try。　Would　they　simply　suck　the　life　heat　from　the　men　on　the　walls？　Or　would　they　send　gouts　of　fire　lancing　into　the　ranks？　Or　did　they　have　some　scheme　that　was　even　more　nefarious？
　As　if　to　answer　his　question；　one　flameweaver　suddenly　stopped　his　gyrations　among　the　heart　of　the　emerald　flames。　For　a　long　moment；　ropes　of　green　energy　coiled　from　the　skies；　falling　into　each　of　his　hands。　Now；　the　skies　all　around　grew　blacker　than　the　darkest　night。　Distantly；　thunder　grumbled；　yet　if　lightning　flashed；　Tempest　never　saw　it。
　In　that　moment；　it　seemed　as　if　all　time；　all　sound；　suddenly　stilled　in　expectation。
　Then　the　flameweaver　pacted　the　energy　in　his　hand；　as　if　he　were　forming　a　snowball；　and　hurled　a　green　bolt　of　fire　toward　the　castle　walls。　Immediately　the　flameweaver　dropped　back；　as　if　spent。
　The　green　bolt　exploded　into　the　drawbridge　with　a　sound　of　thunder；　as　if　answering　the　heavens。　The　castle　rattled　under　the　impact；　and　Tempest　grasped　a　merlon　for　support。　The　ancient　earth　spells　that　bound　the　oak　planks　and　stone　of　the　bridge　were　supposed　to　resist　fire。　Even　the　touch　of　the　elemental　some　fifteen　minutes　earlier　had　only　barely　charred　the　wood　of　the　bridge。
　But　never　was　anything　made　to　resist　an　accursed　fire　like　this。　The　green　flames　smote　the　iron　crossbars　on　the　bridge；　then　raced　up　the　metal；　burning　the　iron　with　a　fierce　light；　racing　up　the　chains　that　held　the　drawbridge　closed。　Wondrously；　the　flames　did　not　scorch　the　wooden　planks　of　the　bridge；　did　not　burn　the　stone　casements　around　it。　Instead；　they　ate　only　the　iron；　burned　only　iron。
　In　horror；　Cedrick　Tempest　imagined　how　the　touch　of　that　flame　would　have　affected　an　armored　warrior。
　With　a　creaking　sound；　the　bridge　fell　open。
　Tempest　shouted；　ordering　defenders　down　from　the　walls；　to　bolster　the　troops　behind　the　ruined　bridge。　Three　hundred　knights　were　down　in　the　bailey；　mounted　on　warhorses；　ready　to　issue　out　to　attack　if　needed。　But　carts　and　barrels　were　also　crowding　the　bailey；　forming　a　barricade　that　would　not　be　enough。　In　the　hail　and　darkness；　men　struggled　for　better　positions。　Some　knights　were　shouting；　wanting　to　charge　out　now；　attack　while　they　might　be　of　use。　Other　defenders　on　the　ground　sought　to　further　barricade　the　gates。　Warhorses　were　whinnying　and　kicking；　and　more　than　one　knight　fell　from　his　charger　and　was　trampled。
　Overhead；　the　whole　sky　went　black　again　while　ropes　of　twisted　energy　began　to　feed　a　second　flameweaver。　A　long　minute　later；　the　flameweaver　hurled　a　great　ball　of　green　flames　at　the　east　tower；　which　overlooked　the　drawbridge。
　Instantly　the　flames　raced　in　a　circle　all　about　the　base　of　the　tower；　so　that　for　a　moment　it　looked　like　a　green　ring　upon　a　stone　finger。　But　these　flames　were　alive；　seeking　entry。　They　seemed　to　squirm　through　archery　slots　and　up　the　kill　holes。　They　flickered　and　licked　the　dull　stone；　limning　the　mortar　that　sealed　the　tower　closed；　then　raced　into　windows。　If　anything；　Tempest　realized　with　mounting　horror；　this　flameweaver's　spell　was　more　powerful　than　the　first's。
　What　happened　next；　Cedrick　Tempest　did　not　want　to　know；　yet　he　could　not　help　but　watch。
　The　stones　of　the　tower　seemed　to　wail　in　pain；　and　a　rush　of　wind　and　light　escaped　all　the　holes　in　the　tower　from　ground　to　rooftop　as　every　piece　of　wooden　planking　or　shield；　as　every　wool　tapestry；　as　every　scrap　of　hide　and　hair　and　cloth　on　every　man　in　that　tower　all　simultaneously　burst　into　flames。
　Fierce　lights　raged　from　the　windows；　and　Captain　Tempest　could　see　his　warriors　trapped　inside；　lurid　dancers　shrieking　in　horror　among　the　inferno。
　There　could　be　no　fighting　such　magic。　In　despair；　Tempest　wondered　what　to　do。　No　charge　had　begun；　yet　already　the　castle　gates　were　down；　and　half…undefended。
　Before　the　castle　gates；　with　a　shout　that　seemed　to　echo　from　the　sky；　cutting　through　the　blackness　and　the　curtain　of　hail；　came　Raj　Ahten's　voice：　〃Prepare　the　charge！〃
　Somehow；　in　the　past　minutes；　Tempest　had　lost　sight　of　the　enemy　mander。　Now　he　saw　Raj　Ahten　on　the　hillside；　standing　among　his　men；　staring　toward　the　castle　with　an　expression　of　apathy。
　The　Wolf　Lord's　well…trained　troops　knew　what　to　do。　His　artillerymen　began　to　feed　iron　shot　into　the　baskets　of　their　engines；　send　it　hurling　high　against　the　walls。
　All　along　the　walls；　Tempest's　men　hunched　behind　the　battlements；　and　now　the　hail　that　fell　from　the　skies　grew　deadly　to　the　castle's　defenders。　An　archer　next　to　Tempest　took　a　ball　to　the　head；　was　swept　from　the　castle　walls。　Men　raised　their　shields　high　for　protection。
　Tempest　looked　to　the　hedge　wizard；　but　now　the　wizard　was　crouched　behind　the　battlements；　eyes　filled　with　terror。
　Wind　buffeted　from　the　south；　and　for　a　few　seconds　there　was　light　as　the　flameweavers　took　their　rest。　Tempest　saw　Raj　Ahten's　spy　balloon；　which　had　been　moored　a　moment　earlier；　suddenly　lift　like　a　graak；　despite　the　battering　hail。　Four　balloonists　began　emptying　sacks　of　arcane　powders　into　the　air；　powders　that　floated　down　toward　the　castle　in　dirty　clouds　of　yellow；　red；　and　gray。
　Tempest　gaped；　wondering　where　King　Orden　might　be；　whispering　under　his　breath　for　the　King　to　e；　to　save　them　all。　Longmont　is　a　great　castle；　protected　by　earth　runes；　he　told　himself。　Yet　already　the　gate　was　down；　and　Raj　Ahten　had　not　even　begun　his　attack　in　earnest。
　Now；　seeking　power　once　again；　Raj　Ahten's　flameweavers　began　grasping　ropes　of　fire　from　the　skies。　Green　walls　of　flame　shone　like　emerald　around　the　great　bonfire；　bedazzling；　their　intricate　runes　gleaming。　The　blackening　trees　within　the　wall　were　a　bizarre　sight；　like　twisted　fingers　and　arms　in　an　enormous　heap　of　burning　body　parts。　Or　like　scraps　of　iron　in　the　forge。　Everything　became　luminous　in　the　heart　of　the　infernoflameweavers；　fiery　salamanders；　dancing　among　the　logs　at　the　fire's　center。
　As　the　flameweavers　stole　fire　from　heaven；　darkness　deepened；　making　the　battlefield　a　garish；　flickering；　half…glimpsed　sight。　The　hail　fell　heavier　for　a　few　seconds　then；　and　the　air　froze　in　a　cloudy　fog　before　his　face　as　Cedrick　Tempest　breathed。
　In　that　flickering　darkness；　Tempest　glimpsed　giants　gathering　their　ladders；　men　on　the　battlefield　drawing　weapons。
　〃Bowmen　at　the　ready！〃　Tempest　shouted。　He　watched　the　track　to　the　north；　hoping　Orden　would　appear。
　Yet　he　now　feared　it　would　not　happen；　feared　that　Orden　still　lived；　and　that　the　serpent　ring　had　not　broken。　Perhaps　Orden　had　never　met　up　with　Raj　Ahten；　and　was　even　now　racing　off　on　some　fruitless　hunt。　Or　perhaps　Orden　was　incapacitated。
　Tempest's　heart　pounded。　He　needed　a　protector。　There　was　only　one　thing　to　docall　upon　the　knights　in　the　ring　to　form　a　new　head。　But　no；　he　realized；　that　would　not　do。　The　Dedicates　in　the　castle　were　widely　dispersed。　He　did　not　have　time　to　find　them；　speak　to　them　all。
　He　needed　to　break　the　serpent　ring；　slay　a　Dedicate　so　that　the　serpent　would　form　a　head。
　Across　the　hill；　Raj　Ahten　made　a　pulling　gesture　with　his　hand；　as　if　to　yank　clouds　from　the　sky。　Hundreds　of　mastiffs　began　racing　for　the　castle　in　a　black　wave；　their　red　masks　and　iron　collars　making　the　mastiffs　a　horrendous　sight；　their　mander　barking　in　short　yaps。
　Now　the　Frowth　giants　hoisted　the　great　siege　ladders；　two　giants　to　a　ladder；　and　loped　for　the　castle　at　a　seemingly　slow　pace；　yet　covering　four　yards　to　the　stride。　Black　behemoths　struggling　in　the　night。
　Tempest　did　not　have　time　to　explain　to　another　what　needed　to　be　done。　He　turned　from　his　post　above　the　gate；　and　ran　for　the　stairs。
　〃Captain？〃　one　of　his　men　cried；　as　if　worried　that　Tempest　had　bee　a　craven　coward　in　that　moment。
　Tempest　had　no　time　to　explain。　A　shout　rose　across　the　battlefield　as　three　thousand　of　Raj　Ahten's　archers　raced　forward；　hurrying　to　give　cover　fire　against　the　castle　walls。
　Tempest　glanced　over　his　shoulder　before　descending　the　stone　steps。