tw.togreenangeltower2-第129节

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　it。〃　A　moment　later　he　made　a　noise　of　surprise　and　horror。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　see？〃　Strangyeard　squinted　his　eye；　trying　to　see　through　the　swirling　snows。
〃Something　was　dropped　on　them。〃　The　harper　was　shaken。　〃A　big　stone；　I　think。　I　am　sure　they　are　all　dead。〃
　　　　　　　〃May　the　Ransomer　protect　us；〃　Strangyeard　said　miserably。　〃It　has　begun　in　earnest。　Now　we　can　only　wait　for　the　ending；　whatever　that　may　be。〃

　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　held　his　hands　close　to　his　face；　trying　to　shield　himself　from　the　wind…flung　snow。　He　was　having　great　difficulty　keeping　track　of　what　was　happening；　although　the　Hayholt's　walls　were　less　than　five　hundred　cubits　up　the　hillside　from　where　he　watched。　Hundreds　of　armored　men　floundered　in　the　drifts　before　the　wall；　busy　as　insects。　Hundreds　more；　even　dimmer　shapes　from　Isgrimnur's　vantage　point；　scurried　about　atop　the　Hayholt's　walls。　The　duke　cursed　quietly。　Everything　seemed　so　damnably　distant！
Freosel　climbed　onto　the　wooden　platform　the　engineers　had　built　between　the　bottom　of　the　hill　and　the　empty；　storm…raddled　husk　of　Erchester。　The　Falshireman　was　visibly　struggling　against　the　wind。　〃Ram's　almost　to　the　gates。　The　wind；　it'll　be　our　friend　today…hard　on　their　bowmen；　it　be。〃
〃But　we're　not　able　to　shoot　any　better；〃　the　duke　snarled。　〃They've　got　free　run　of　the　walls　and　they're　pushing　our　scaling　ladders　off　easy　as　you　〃please。〃　He　smacked　his　fist　into　his　gloved　hand。　〃The　sun's　been　up　for　hours　and　all　we've　done　is　wear　a　few　trenches　in　the　snow。〃
The　Falshireman　looked　at　him　quizzically。　〃Pardon；　Sir　Duke；　but　seems　you　think　we　should　knock　these　walls　down　'fore　sunset。〃
〃No；　no。　God　knows　the　Hayhoit　is　built　strong。　But　I　don't　know　how　much　time　we　have。〃　He　looked　up　into　the　murky　sky。　〃That　cursed　star　they　all　talk　about　is　right　overhead。　I　can　almost　feel　it　glaring。　The　prince　and　Camaris　are　gone。　Miriamele's　gone。〃　He　turned　his　gaze　to　the　Hayhoit；　peering　through　the　snow　flurries。　〃And　our　men　are　going　to　freeze　solid　if　we　keep　them　out　there　too　long。　I　wish　we　could　knock　the　walls　down　by　sunset…but　I　don't　hold　much　hope。〃

　　　　　　　Isorn　pointed　upward。　The　soldiers　gathered　around　him　looked　up。
　　　　　　　〃There。　On　the　walls。〃
　　　　　　　Beside　the　helmeted　heads　peering　through　the　crenellations　were　more　than　a　few　whose　heads　were　bare；　their　faces　were　ghostly；　and　their　white　hair　blew　in　the　strong　wind。
〃White　Foxes？〃　asked　Sludig。　He　made　the　sign　of　the　Tree。
〃Indeed。　And　inside　the　Hayhoit。　Cursed　things！〃　Isorn　lifted　his　black…painted　sword　and　waved　it　back　and　forth　in　challenge；　but　the　distant　figures　on　the　walls　did　not　seem　to　notice。　〃And　curse　Elias　for　whatever　foul　bargain　he　made。〃
　　　　　　　Sludig　was　staring。　〃I　have　not　seen　them　before；〃　he　cried　above　the　tumult。　〃Merciful　Aedon；　they　look　like　demons！〃
　　　　　　　〃They　are　demons。　And　now　the　Hayhoit　is　their　nest。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　they　are　doing　nothing　that　I　can　see。〃
〃Just　as　well；〃　Isorn　replied。　〃Perhaps　they　are　too　few。　But　they　are　fearsome　archers。　I　wonder　why　none　of　them　seem　to　have　bows。〃
　　　　　　　Sludig　shook　his　head；　mystified。　He　was　unable　to　look　away　from　the　pale　faces。　〃Preserve　us；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　　　　　　　Baron　Seriddan　climbed　heavily　up　the　steps　onto　the　platform；　weighted　by　his　armor。　〃What　news？〃　Isgrimnur　asked。
　　　　　　　Seriddan　took　off　his　gloves　and　held　his　hands　close　to　the　brazier　of　coals。　〃Things　go　well；　I　suppose。　Elias'　men　are　firing　on　the　ram　and　it　is　slow　going　to　keep　it　moving　uphill；　but　it　will　be　against　the　gate　soon。　Some　of　the　siege　towers　are　also　being　moved　into　place；　and　they　seem　to　be　concentrating　their　arrows　on　them。　We　are　lucky　there　is　such　wind　today；　and　that　it　is　so　hard　for　the　king's　archers　to　see。〃
〃That's　what　everyone　keeps　saying；〃　the　duke　grumbled。　〃But　I　am　going　quietly　mad　here　anyway。　Curse　Josua　for　leaving　me　this　way。〃　He　scowled；　then　made　the　sign　of　the　Tree。　〃Forgive　me。　I　did　not　mean　that。〃
Seriddan　nodded。　〃I　know。　It　is　terrible　not　to　know　where　he　is。〃
〃That's　not　all　that's　bothering　me。　There　are　still　too　many　unanswered　questions。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃If　all　they　need　to　do　is　stall　us…if　this　flaming　star　truly　signifies　something　will　happen　that　helps　Elias…　then　why　didn't　they　even　try　to　parley？　And　you'd　think　that　the　king　would　want　to　see　his　brother　at　the　very　least；　if　only　to　shout　at　him　and　call　him　a　traitor。〃　
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　Elias　knows　that　Josua　is　not　here。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　flinched。　〃How　could　he　know　that？　Josua　only　disappeared　last　night！〃
　　　　　　　〃You　know　more　of　these　matters　than　I　do；　Duke　Isgrimnur。　You　have　been　fighting　the　king　and　his　mag…
ical　allies　a　long　time。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　walked　to　the　front　of　the　platform；　staring　at　the　Hayholt's　shadowy　walls。　〃Maybe　they　do　know。　Maybe　they　lured　Camaris　in　somehow…but；　damn　me；　that　wouldn't　mean　Josua　would　e；　too。　They　couldn't　have　planned　on　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　cannot　even　guess；〃　said　the　baron。　〃I　only　came　to　tell　you　that　I'd　like　to　take　some　of　my　men　around　to　the　western　wall。　I　think　it　is　time　we　gave　them　another　spot　to　worry　about。〃
〃Go　ahead。　But　that　is　another　thing　that　troubles　me：　Elias　doesn't　seem　very　worried　at　all。　With　the　battering　ram　so　close；　I　would　have　expected　at　least　one　sortie　to　prevent　us　from　dragging　it　into　place。〃
〃I　cannot　answer　you。〃　Seriddan　clapped　him　on　the　arm。　〃But　if　this　is　all　that　the　High　King　has　left　to　offer；　we　will　have　the　gate　down　in　a　matter　of　days　at　the　most。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　may　not　have　days；〃　Isgrimnur　replied；　frowning。　
　　　　　　　〃But　we　do　what　we　can。〃　Seriddan　clambered　down　and　moved　toward　his　horse。　〃Take　heart；　Duke　Isgrimnur；〃　he　called。　〃Things　are　going　well。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　looked　around。　〃Jeremias！〃　
　　　　　　　The　boy　pushed　through　a　small　knot　of　armored　men　at　the　back　of　the　platform。　〃Yes；　sire。〃
　　　　　　　〃See　if　you　can　find　me　some　wine；　boy。　My　guts　are　colder　than　my　toes。〃
The　squire　hurried　off　toward　the　tents。　Isgrimnur　turned　back　to　the　windy；　snow…smothered　battlefield；　glowering。

　　　　　　　〃God　preserve　us！〃　Sludig　gaped　in　astonishment。　〃What　are　they　doing？〃
　　　　　　　〃Singing；〃　said　Isorn。　〃I　saw　it　before　the　walls　of　Naglimund。　It　went　on　a　long　time。〃　He　stared　at　the　two　dozen　Sithi；　who　had　ridden　forward　and　now　stood　calmly　within　bowshot　of　the　walls；　knee…deep　in　the　drifting　snows。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean；　singing？〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　how　they　fight…at　least　it　is　how　they　fight　with　their　cousins；　the　Norns。　If　I　understood　better；　I　would　explain　it　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　these　are　the　allies　we've　been　waiting　for？〃　Sludig's　voice　rose　in　anger。　〃We　battle　for　our　lives…　and　they　sing？　Look！　Our　men　are　dying　out　there！〃
〃The　Sithi　can　fight　in　other　ways　too；　Sludig。　You　will　see　that；　I　think。　And　it　worked　for　them　at　Naglimund；　although　I　don't　know　how。　They　brought　the　walls　down。〃
His　panion　snorted　derisively。　〃I　will　put　my　faith　in　the　ram　and　the　siege…towers…and　in　men　with　strong　arms。〃　He　looked　up　at　the　sky。　〃It's　getting　darker。　But　it　cannot　be　much　past　midday。〃
〃The　storm　is　growing　thicker；　perhaps。〃　Isorn　restrained　his　horse；　which　was　stepping　nervously。　〃I　do　not　like　the　looks　of　it；　though。　Do　you　see　that　cloud　over　the　towers？〃
　　　　　　　Sludig　stared；　following　Isorn's　pointing　finger。　He　blinked。　〃Lightning！　Is　this　the　Sithi's　doing？〃　Indeed；　almost　the　only　thing　that　could　be　heard　over　the　moaning　wind　was　the　strange；　rhythmic　rise　and　fall　of　the　immortals'　voices。
〃I　do　not　know；　but　it　might　be。　I　watched　them　at　it　before　Nagtimund　for　days；　and　still　I　could　not　tell　you　what　they　do。　But　Jiriki　told　me　that　his　people　work　to　counter　certain　magicks　of　the　Norns。〃　Isorn　winced　as　thunder　crashed；　echoing　across　the　hillside　and　down　through　the　deserted　streets　of　Erchester　behind　the　prince's　army。　The　lightning　flashed　again；　seeming　for　a　moment　to　freeze　everything　on　and　before　the　walls　of　the　Hayholt…men；　engines　of　war；　flurrying　snowflakes；　even　arrows　in　their　flight…before　the　storm　darkness　returned。　Another　roar　of　thunder　sounded。　The　wind　howled　even　louder。　〃Perhaps　that　is　why　the　Norns　are　not　among　the　archers；〃　Isorn　continued　loudly。　〃Because　they　are　preparing　some　trick；　some　spell…something　we　will　not　like　much。　Oh；　I　saw　horrors　at　Naglimund；　Sludig。　I　pray　Jiriki's　people　are　strong　enough　to　hold　them　back。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　is　madness！〃　Sludig　shouted。　〃I　can　see　almost　nothing！〃
Another　crash　came；　this　one　a　little　softer。　It　was　not　thunder。　〃Praise　Usires！　They　have　brought　the　ram　against　the　gates；〃　Isorn　called；　excited。　〃See；　Sludig；　they　have　struck　the　first　blow！〃　The　black　sword　raised　before　him；　he　spurred　his　horse　forward　a　few　steps。　With　the　sea…dragon　helm　on　his　head　and　his　cloak　whipping　in　the　high　wind；　even　Sludig　could　almost　believe　this　was　Camaris　and　not　his　liege…lord's　son。　〃We　must　find　Hotvig's　riders　and　be　ready　to　go　in　if　they　can　breach　the　gate。〃
　　　　　　　Sludig　looked　in　vain　for　a　messenger　among　the　milling　foot　soldiers。　〃We　should　tell　your　father；〃　he　shouted。
　　　　　　　〃Go；　then。　I　will　wait。　But　hurry；　man。　Who　would　have　thought