df.therunelords-第101节
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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 s
