fs.thefirstbookofswords-第48节

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！


oaning　wounded　being　cared　for。　He　had　e　down　from　the　roof　with　Dame　Yoldi's　permission；　in　response　to　a　wave　from　Barbara。　A　longer　break　in　the　fighting　than　any　previous　had　set　in；　and　the　magicians　of　Yambu　had　even　summoned　the　Horde　back　from　the　walls；　out　of　reach　of　fire　and　hurled　rock；　till　more　ladders　could　be　got　ready。　Inside　the　castle；　those　who　had　borne　the　burden　of　the　battle　were　being　relieved　now；　wherever　possible；　for　food　and　rest。　Still　it　seemed　to　Mark　that　the　yard　was　crowded　mostly　with　nonbatant　refugees；　all　of　whom　seemed　to　be　muttering　plaints　that　too　many　others　had　been　let　in。　Mark　heard　several　people　assuring　others　that　whatever　food　supplies　Sir　Andrew　had　available　could　not　possibly　be　enough　to　see　this　crowd　through　a　long　seige。
　　　Mark　repeated　this　saying　to　his　old　panions；　when　he　came　to　the　place　against　a　damp…stoned　wall　where　Barbara；　and　now　Ben　as　well；　were　waiting　for　him。
　　　Barbara　sat　leaning　against　the　wall；　but　Ben　was　standing；　as　if　his　nerves　and　muscles　were　still　on　alert；　tuned　to　too　high　a　pitch　to　let　him　rest。　He　was　not　tall；　but　neither　was　he　as　short　as　his　thick　build　sometimes　made　him　look。　The　mismatched　breastplate　and　helmet　he　had　scrounged　somewhere　now　gave　him　an　almost　clownish　look。
　　　Looking　at　Barbara；　Ben　laughed　tiredly。　〃I　only　hope　we　have　the　chance　to　try　out　a　long　seige。　I　think　we'd　like　it　better　than。。。〃　He　didn't　finish；　but　let　himself　slump　back　against　the　wall；　and　then　slide　down　till　he　was　sitting　beside　her。
　　　Now　Mark　could　see　Nestor；　swordless　at　the　moment　but　still　wearing　most　of　his　new　armor；　picking　his　way　wearily　across　the　crowded　court　toward　them。
　　　Nestor　said　nothing　until　he　had　e　up　to　where　they　were；　and　had　let　himself　down　with　a　great　sigh；　that　seemed　to　have　in　it　all　the　exhaustion　of　war。　He　tipped　his　head　back　and　kept　it　that　way；　gazing　up　into　the　gray　sky　which　dropped　a　little　rain　from　time　to　time。　Only　occasionally　did　he　lower　his　gaze　to　look　at　any　of　his　panion。
　　　〃The　fighting。。。　〃　Nestor　began　to　say　at　last。　And　then　it　appeared　that　he　did　not　mean　to　finish　either。
　　　For　some　time　there　was　a　silence　among　them　all。　Mark　knew；　or　at　least　felt；　that　there　were　things　that　needed　saying；　but　he　had　no　feeling　for　how　to　begin。
　　　He　kept　expecting　at　any　moment　to　hear　the　call　to　arms；　but　it　did　not　e。　The　respite　in　the　fighting　was　growing　unexpectedly　prolonged。　From　the　distance　came　the　repetitive；　soothing　chants　of　the　lesser　magicians　of　Yambu　…　it　was　said　that　the　Queen　there　was　her　own　best　wizard。　The　chanting　was　being　used　to　keep　the　Horde　treading　in　place　or　marching　in　a　circle　until　a　greater　number　of　ladders　could　be　made　and　distributed　for　the　next　assault。
　　　。。。　Mark　roused　with　a　start；　and　realized　he　had　been　dozing；　his　back　against　a　wall。　Dame　Yoldi　had　appeared　in　the　midst　of　their　resting　group。　It　was　early　afternoon　now；　and　she　was　bending　over　Nestor；　talking　to　him。　〃Are　you　hurt？〃
　　　〃No；　lady。　Not　much。　But　tired。　And　stiffening　now。　I've　had　a　fair　rest；　though。　I'll　be　ready　to　take　back　the　Sword　and　use　it　when　the　fighting　starts　again。〃
　　　Yoldi；　straightening　up；　nodded　abstractedly。　She　said：　〃Whoever　has　Townsaver　in　hand；　fighting　to　protect　unarmed　folk　in　a　held　place；　cannot　die　so　long　as　he　keeps　on　fighting；　no　matter　how　severe　his　wounds。　But　if　he　is　badly　hurt；　he　will　fall　as　soon　as　the　fighting　slackens。〃
　　　Nestor　said　nothing；　but　continued　gazing　at　the　sky。　After　a　time　he　nodded；　to　show　that　he　had　heard。
　　　Mark；　happening　to　look　toward　a　far　part　of　the　courtyard　where　vehicles　were　gathered；　saw　something　that　made　him　speak　without　thinking。
　　　〃Look；〃　he　said。　〃Our　old　wagon。〃
　　　The　others　looked。　〃My　lute　is　there；〃　Ben　said。
　　　〃I　wonder；〃　asked　Barbara；　of　no　one　in　particular；　〃if　the　money's　still　under　the　front　seat。〃
　　　Mark　had　nodded　into　sleep　again；　only　to　waken　to　a　heartfounding　shock。　It　was　late　in　the　day；　very　late　now；　and　long　afternoon　shadows　had　e　over　them　all。
　　　〃Listen！〃　Nestor　ordered；　urgently。
　　　Mark　sat　bolt　upright。
　　　The　distant　chanting　of　the　sorcerers　of　Yambu　had　fallen　into　silence。
　　　There　was　no　time　for　farewells　or　good　wishes。　Mark　rushed　to　rejoin　Dame　Yoldi　on　the　roof；　as　she　had　bidden　him　do　if　an　alert　sounded。　On　his　way　to　the　first　ascending　stair；　Mark　ran　past　Sir　Andrew。　The　knight's　armor　was　dented　here　and　there　from　the　earlier　fighting。　He　was　exhorting　his　troops；　in　a　huge　voice；　to　make　another　winning　effort。
　　　It　was　a　long　climb　back　to　the　roof。　When　he　emerged　on　it　at　last；　Mark　found　Dame　Yoldi　already　there；　her　arms　raised　to　a　darkening　sky　and　her　eyes　closed。　A　pair　of　her　helpers；　a　man　and　a　woman；　arranged　things　on　the　parapet　before　her；　things　of　magic　in　bottles　and　baskets　between　two　burning　candles。
　　　Looking　down；　Mark　saw　the　next　surging　attack　of　the　larvae　strike　against　the　walls　on　a　broad　front；　and　wash　up　like　a　wave　upon　a　hundred　scaling　ladders。　He　could　draw　some　encouragement　from　the　fact　that　the　creatures'　reserve　force；　that　in　the　morning　had　stretched　endlessly　across　the　fairgrounds；　was　much　pacted　now。　Their　legions　had　been　hacked　and　broken　into　a　vast　mud…flat　that　stained　the　ground　for　meters　in　front　of　every　wall　they　had　assaulted。
　　　But；　beyond　those　thinning　deadwood　ranks；　the　human　armies　of　Fraktin　and　Yambu　were　both　readying　themselves　for　an　attack。　Mark　realized　that　the　human　onslaught　would　be　timed　to　fall　upon　an　exhausted　and　weakened　defense；　just　as　the　last　of　the　larvae　were　cut　down　…　if　indeed　the　last　of　the　larvae　could　be　defeated。　Already　the　defenders'　ranks；　thin　to　begin　with；　had　suffered　painful　losses。
　　　Sir　Andrew's　voice；　now　distant　from　Mark's　ears；　roared　out　from　a　wall…top：　〃Save　your　missiles！　We'll　need　them　to　hit　men！〃
　　　And　the　slingers　and　the　archers　on　the　battlements　held　their　fire。　Mark　supposed　that　Barbara　had　rejoined　her　group　there；　though　he　could　not　pick　her　out。
　　　The　sun　was　setting　now；　beams　lancing　between　dark　masses　of　cloud；　red…rimmed　like　some　reflection　of　the　renewed　red　glow　in　the　east。　Torches　were　being　lighted　on　the　walls；　for　illumination　and　weapons　both；　and　they　shone　down　on　the　advancing；　climbing　Horde。　Darts　and　arrows　flew　up　at　the　defenders　from　below　the　walls；　but　in　no　great　numbers。　The　Horde　was　not　well　supplied　with　missile　weapons。
　　　Dame　Yoldi　still　stood　like　a　statue　on　the　high　roof；　her　arms　raised；　her　eyes　closed；　a　rising　wind　moving　her　garments。　She　appeared　to　be　oblivious　to　what　was　happening　below。　She　would　be　trying　to　strike　back　at　the　enemy　somehow；　or　else　to　ward　off　some　new　harm　from　them　…　Mark　was　unable　to　tell　which。
　　　The　attack　this　time　was　on　a　broader　front　than　before；　along　almost　the　entire　accessible　rim　of　wall；　and　just　as　savage　as　the　previous　attacks　had　been。　It　prospered　quickly。　Two　calls　for　Townsaver　went　up　at　the　same　time；　from　opposite　directions　on　the　walls。
　　　Was　it　Nestor　again；　the　helmed　figure　Mark　saw　now；　running　out　from　a　guard…tower　with　the　sword？　Mark　could　not　be　sure。　Whoever　it　was；　he　could　fight　in　only　one　place　at　a　time。
　　　Again　the　screaming　of　the　Sword　of　Fury　rose　above　the　eternal　whistle…howling　of　the　foe。　Again　Mark　watched　Townsaver's　blade　carve　a　dead…wood　legion　into　chunks　of　mud　and　flying　dust。　Again　the　sword　built　a　blurred　wall　through　which　the　invaders　could　not　force　their　way；　press　forward　as　they　might。
　　　But；　again；　Townsaver　prevailed　only　where　it　could　be　brought　to　bear。
　　　Now；　Mark　could　hear　despairing　cries　go　up；　from　the　defenders　on　the　wall　where　the　sword　was　not。　The　enemy　had　gained　a　foothold　there；　at　last；　and　was　now　pouring　in　reinforcements。　Dame　Yoldi；　rousing　herself　from　what　had　seemed　a　trance；　abruptly　abandoned　her　work；　snapping　orders　to　her　assistants。　Then　she　grabbed　Mark　by　one　arm　and　began　to　tow　him　to　the　trapdoor　that　led　down。　In　his　last　glance　from　the　high　roof　at　the　fighting；　he　could　see　warbeasts　starting　to　mount　some　of　the　scaling　ladders　far　below。
　　　And；　across　what　had　once　been　the　fairgrounds；　the　human　troops　of　Fraktin　and　Yambu　were　answering　to　trumpets；　marshalling　for　their　own　move　to　attack。
　　　The　enchantress；　still　clutching　Mark　tightly　by　the　wrist；　left　the　stair　at　the　level　of　the　castle　where　her　own　workroom　was。　Already　there　was　panic　in　the　corridors；　folk　running　this　way　and　that　bearing　weapons；　children；　treasures　great　and　small　that　they　had　hopes　of　saving　somehow。　Yoldi　ignored　all　this；　moving　almost　at　a　run　to　her　own　chambers。　There；　without　ceremony；　she　lifted　Dragonslicer　from　the　table；　and　grabbed　a　belt　and　scabbard　from　a　shelf。
　　　She　began　to　buckle　the　sword　on　her　own　bodythen；　with　a　rare　display　of　hesitation；　paused。　In　an　instant　she　had　changed　her　mind　and　was　fastening　it　round　Mark's　waist　instead。
　　　〃It　will　be　best　this　way；〃　she　murmured　to　herself。　〃Yes；　best。　Now　let　us　get　on　down。〃
　　　Once　more　they　hurried　through