tw.togreenangeltower2-第121节
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We have siege engines； if you know what those are。 We can knock the gates down eventually； or maybe even burrow under the walls。 But the Hayholt was built stronger than anything in Osten Ard； and it won't happen fast。 In the meantime； your Conqueror Star is right overhead。〃
Likimeya； who Isgrimnur supposed was the queen of the Sithi； though no one seemed to call her by that title； turned her faintly serpentine gaze on him。 It was all the Rimmersman could do to meet her stare。
This one chills my blood。 And I thought Aditu was strange。
〃You are correct； mortal。 If our understanding； and the lore of your Scrollbearers is true； we have very little time。〃 She turned to Josua。 〃We brought down Naglimund's walls in days…but that did not stop the Hikeda'ya from doing what they wished； or at least we do not think it did。 We cannot afford to make that mistake here。〃
Prince Josua lowered his head； thinking。 〃But what else can we do？ As Isgrimnur pointed out to me last night； we cannot fly over the walls。〃
〃There are other ways into the castle you call the Hayholt；〃 said Likimeya。 The tall； black…haired Sitha beside her nodded。 〃We could not send an army in through those passages； nor would we wish to； but we can； and should； send a sufficient force。 Ineluki has a hand in all this； he or your mortal enemies have doubtless made sure that these ways are guarded。 But if we keep our foes' attention on what happens out here before the walls； we might succeed in getting a small troop inside。〃
〃What 'other ways' do you mean？〃 Josua asked； frowning。
〃Tunnels；〃 said Camaris suddenly。 〃Ways in and out。 John knew them。 There is one on the cliffside below the Sea Gate。〃 The old man had a slightly wild look； as though any moment he might begin raving again。
Likimeya nodded。 The strings of polished stones braided into her hair clinked。 〃Just so…although I think we can choose a better entrance than the caves along the cliff。 Do not forget。 Prince Josua： Asu'a was ours once； and many of us were alive when it was still the great house of the Zida'ya。 We know its hidden paths。〃
〃The sword。〃 Camaris rubbed his hand back and forth across Thorn's pommel。 〃It wants to go inside。 It has been 。 。 。〃 He broke off and fell silent。 He had been strangely subdued through the entire day； but Isgrimnur could not help noticing that he seemed less daunted by the Sithi than any of the other mortals assembled in Likimeya's tent。 Even Tiamak and Strangyeard； students of old lore； sat wide…eyed and silent except when forced into stammering speech。
Outside； the wind grew louder。
〃That is another； and perhaps the most important； mystery；〃 said Jiriki。 〃Your brother has one Great Sword； Prince Josua。 This mortal knight； Sir Camaris； has another。 Where is the third？〃
Josua shook his head。 〃As I told you； it is gone from my father's barrow。〃
〃And how will they serve us if we bring them all together？〃 Jiriki finished。 〃Still； it seems that Camaris must be one of those we send beneath the walls。 We cannot afford the chance that we would gain the other two swords and have this black blade left outside。〃 He steepled his long fingers。 〃I regret more than ever the fact that Eolair and I could not find the Tinukeda'ya of Mezutu'a…those you call dwarrows。 They know more of sword…lore and forging than anyone； and they certainly made Minneyar。 There is doubtless much they could have told us。〃
〃Send in Camaris？ Through some underground caverns？〃 Josua seemed more than dubious…there was an edge almost of despair to his words。 〃We face perhaps the greatest battle that Osten Ard has seen…certainly； it seems； one of the most important…and you say that we should send away our greatest warrior？〃 As Josua looked over to the old knight； Isgrimnur saw again the disfort he had sensed earlier。 What had Camaris told him？
〃But surely you can see the sense of what my brother says； Prince Josua。〃 Aditu had been almost deferentially silent through the afternoon。 〃If all the signs； if all the dreams and rumors and whispered lore are true； then it is the Great Swords that will thwart Ineluki's plan； not men…or even immortals…battling before the gates of the castle。 That has been the wisdom by which you have planned everything。〃
〃So because Thorn belongs to Camaris； he and he alone can take it inside？ And not through the gate or over the walls with the army behind him； but like a sneak thief？〃
〃Thorn does not belong to me。〃 Camaris seemed to be struggling just to speak slowly and rationally。 〃Methinks it is the other way around。 Merciful Aedon； let me go； Josua。 I doubt I can wait much longer before this thing drives me mad。〃
Josua looked at the old knight for a long time； something unspoken passed between them。 〃Perhaps there is sense in what you all say；〃 the prince admitted at last。 〃But it will be a hard thing to lose Camaris。。。。〃 He paused。 'To lose him for the ing battle。 It will be hard on the men。 They feel invincible when they follow him。〃
〃Perhaps they should not know that he is gone；〃 Aditu said。
Josua turned； startled。 〃What？ How would we hide such a thing？〃
〃I think my sister has spoken wisely；〃 said Jiriki。 〃If we hope to have a chance to send Sir Camaris into your brother's castle…and he will not be alone； Josua； there will be Zida'ya with him who know those places…but we do not wish to blow a trumpet and announce that we have done that； we must make it seem that Camaris is still here； even once the full siege has begun。〃
〃The siege？ But if our only hope is the swords and our true stroke is this pany that we send in through your secret ways； what point is there in throwing away the lives of others？〃 the prince demanded angrily。 〃Are you saying we should sacrifice men in a bloody siege that we already know； is starting too late to achieve success？〃
Likimeya leaned forward。 〃We must sacrifice men and Zida'ya both。〃 Isgrimnur caught a flicker in her amber stare that seemed almost like regret； or pain； but he dismissed it。 He could not believe one so stern； so alien； felt anything but cool necessity。 〃Otherwise； we announce to our enemies that we have other hopes。 We shout to them that we are waiting for some other stratagem to take effect。〃
〃Why？〃 Isgrimnur could see that Josua was truly agonized。 〃Any sensible war…leader knows it is better practice to starve out a foe than to waste men's lives on thick stone walls。〃
〃You are camped beside the Zida'ya。 Those who are even now watching from behind those stone walls have made pact with Ineluki。 Some may even be our kin； the Hikeda'ya。 They will know that the Dawn Children see the red star in the sky overhead。 The Conqueror Star； as you call it； tells us that we have only a few days at most； that whatever your mortal sorcerer plans to do on Ineluki's behalf must happen soon。 If we appear to ignore that fact； we will fool no one。 We must launch the siege immediately； and your people and ours must fight as though we have no other hope。 And who knows？ Perhaps
we do not。 Not all tales end happily； Prince Josua。 We Gardenborn know that all too well。〃
Josua turned to Isgrimnur as if for support。 〃So we send our finest warrior； who is also our greatest inspiration； down into the earth。 And we throw away the lives of our fighting men on a siege that we know cannot succeed。 Duke Isgrimnur； have I gone mad？ Is this all that is left to us？〃
The Rimmersman shrugged helplessly。 It was dreadful to watch Josua's honest torment。 〃What the Sithi…folk say makes sense。 I'm sorry； Josua。 It galls me； too。〃
The prince lifted his hand in a gesture of resignation。 〃Then I will do as you all say。 Since my brother took the throne； I have been faced with horror after horror。 It seems； as one of my teachers once told me； that God shapes us with a hammer of pain on an anvil of duty。 I cannot imagine what shape we will be when He is finished。〃 He sat back； waving to the others to continue。 〃Make certain only that Camaris is well…defended。 He carries the one thing we have that we did not already possess when my brother and the Storm King broke Naglimund…and we have lost much else since then。〃
Isgrimnur looked at the old knight。 Camaris was lost in thought； his eyes fixed on nothing visible； his lips moving。
The king was lurking in the passageway above the entrance to the forge。 The soldiers； already nervous； startled when they saw the cloaked shape lurch forward out of the shadows。 One of them even went so far as to draw his sword before Pryrates barked at him to put up； Elias； though； seemed oblivious to what would normally be a fatal error for a young guardsman。
〃Pryrates；〃 the king rasped。 〃I have been searching and searching。 Where is my cupbearer？ My throat is so dry。。。〃
〃I will help you； Majesty。〃 The priest turned his coal…black stare on the gawking soldiers； who quickly shifted their eyes sideways or down to their own chests。 〃The captain will take these men back to the walls。 We are finished here。〃 He waved them away with a flapping red sleeve。
When the noise of their footfalls grew faint in the corridor； Pryrates gently took the king's arm so that Elias could lean on him。 The king's staring face
