df.therunelords-第84章

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　Now　Raj　Ahten　watched　in　awe　and　satisfaction　as　years　of　nurturing　his　sorcerers　and　financing　their　grim　study　paid　off。　The　skies　all　around　went　blacker　than　the　deepest　night　as　the　final　ropes　of　fire　twisted　down　from　heaven。　Hail　plummeted　from　the　air；　and　the　sound　of　thunder　raged　overhead。
　The　huge　bonfire　where　the　flameweavers　stood　with　the　beings　they　summoned　suddenly　snuffed　out　like　a　candle；　the　green　walls　collapsing；　the　creatures　within　drawing　all　light　and　heat　into　themselves。
　The　skies　remained　black；　and　in　that　sudden　total　darkness；　no　archer　could　have　seen　his　target　to　shoot。　For　ten　seconds；　the　skies　gave　no　light。
　Atop　the　castle　walls；　Orden's　knights　performed　one　last　defiant　act。　They　broke　into　a　grim　song。
　Under　the　cover　of　that　shadow；　Raj　Ahten's　troops　continued　to　race　for　the　walls。
　As　the　bowmen　on　the　castle　rose　to　shoot　at　unseen　attackers；　a　blinding　light　shot　from　the　center　of　the　flameweavers'　infernos。
　The　sorcerous　blast　roared　like　a　living　sun　from　flameweavers　and　salamanders；　and　a　green　flaming　wave　of　fire　swept　from　the　hilltop；　raced　toward　the　castle。
　In　the　sudden　rush　of　light；　one　could　see　the　terrified　faces　of　Longmot's　defenders。　Brave　boys　unmanned；　brave　men　trembling　but　still　defiant。
　As　the　wave　of　flame　traveled　inexorably　toward　Longmont；　it　touched　the　arcane　powders　in　the　sky。
　Then　the　whole　arch　above　the　gate　roared　into　an　inferno。　Raj　Ahten's　powders　exploded　in　a　cloud　of　fire　that　rose　like　a　mushroom　some　hundred　yards　at　the　base；　slowly　ascending　a　mile　into　the　air。　The　concussion　threw　defenders　from　the　walls　like　rag　dolls。　Many　fell；　stunned。　Others　staggered　back　in　abject　terror。
　But　the　great　green　wave　of　flame　was　not　a　mere　spark　to　touch　off　the　explosive　powders。　It　was　much　more　than　that。
　The　wave　of　green　fire　smote　the　castle　walls；　washing　over　hundreds　of　defenders　who　still　stood。
　On　the　crowded　walls；　away　from　the　initial　explosion　above　the　arch；　warriors　were　crammed　shoulder　to　shoulder　in　ranks　six　deep。　The　green　flames　rolled　over　them　like　the　roaring　waves　of　the　sea。
　Longmont　had　been　the　perfect　castle　for　Raj　Ahten　to　use　his　powders　on。　Its　south　face　was　but　a　hundred　and　twenty　yards　wide。　Defenders　had　concentrated　along　the　upper　wall…walk　in　that　hundred　yards。
　Raj　Ahten's　flameweavers　incinerated　perhaps　some　two　thousand　men。　As　the　mushroom　cloud　rose；　Raj　Ahten's　flameweavers　now　fell　unconscious　into　the　ruins　of　their　own　bonfire。　No　flames　leapt　in　the　remains　of　the　fire。　No　smoke　rose；　for　the　flameweavers　had　drained　the　vast　majority　of　the　energies　from　it；　and　in　an　instant　the　great　blackened　logs　had　incinerated；　bee　ash。　So　now　the　flameweavers　lay　dazed　among　the　hot　coals。
　But　the　white…hot　salamanders　suddenly　leapt；　as　if　freed　from　a　cage；　rushing　hungrily　toward　the　castle。
　The　scene　before　the　castle　gate　was　a　pandemonium。　Under　the　cover　of　darkness；　Raj　Ahten's　giants　had　made　the　wall。　Raj　Ahten's　archers　unleashed　a　hail　of　deadly　arrowsa　hail　that　proved　almost　unnecessarywhile　his　Invincibles　began　to　race　up　ladders　to　the　tops　of　the　battlements。
　No　defenders　stood　on　that　south　wall　now。　The　explosion　and　waves　of　fire　had　all　but　emptied　the　wall…walk。
　The　castle　gate　stood　undefended。　The　east　tower　was　a　smoking　ruin。　But　within　the　west　tower；　a　few　men　tried　one　last　trick。　King　Orden's　men　unleashed　a　rain　of　burning　oil；　pouring　it　down　runnels　within　the　tower。　Stone　gargoyles　above　the　gate　suddenly　spewed　the　vile　stuff　as　Raj　Ahten's　troops　raced　in　with　their　battering　ram。
　Some　of　Raj　Ahten's　men　faltered　under　the　heat　of　that　oil；　but　such　was　the　speed　of　the　men　running　that　the　head　of　the　ram　still　struck　the　mantelet　behind　the　castle　gate。
　All　the　energy　of　the　spells　bound　within　the　wolf's　head　exploded　against　the　mantelet；　sending　timbers　of　wood　splintering　in　all　directions。　Defenders　behind　the　mantelet　shrieked　and　died　under　the　onslaught。
　And　in　Raj　Ahten's　mind；　a　peculiar　flame　began　to　dance。
　He　knew　that　he　should　restrain　himself　now；　that　it　was　wrong　to　destroy　men　so　ruthlessly。　It　would　have　been　better　to　use　those　he　could；　take　their　endowments。　These　men　had　virtues　and　strengths　that　should　not　have　been　wasted　in　such　a　brutish　fashion。　Their　ugly；　fleeting　little　lives　could　have　been　converted　to　a　grander　purpose。
　Yet　the　smell　of　burning　flesh　suddenly　enticed　Raj　Ahten；　left　him　tingling　in　anticipation。　Against　all　his　better　reason；　he　hungered　for　destruction。
　Cedrick　Tempest　had　been　standing　behind　the　mantelet；　racing　between　two　warhorses　toward　the　Duke's　kitchens；　where　Shostag　lay　hidden；　when　the　green　wave　of　flame　touched　the　battlements　and　a　great　ball　of　fire　filled　the　sky　overhead。
　Fortunately；　he'd　been　staring　down；　running　away　from　the　blast。　The　heat　and　energy　of　it　shoved　him　face…first　into　the　paving　stones；　so　that　his　helm　bent　close　to　his　head。　For　one　moment；　he'd　felt　the　searing　heat　of　the　blast　crisp　his　clothing；　burn　his　skin　at　a　touch。　Then　he　tried　to　draw　a　breath　in　the　hot　wind　of　the　fireball's　passage。
　Horses　kicked　and　fell　under　the　impact　of　the　blast。　One　of　them　landed　half　atop　him；　the　body　of　a　knight　crushing　him。
　For　a　moment；　Tempest　fell　unconscious。　Found　himself　crawling　among　the　stones；　among　the　fallen　horses。　Men　and　parts　of　men　rained　from　the　castle　walls；　a　gruesome　storm　of　burned　bodies；　destroyed　flesh。
　In　that　moment；　he　gazed　about　in　horror　as　a　blackened　boy　plopped　at　his　head；　an　arm　fell　near　his　hand。　He　knew　then　that　he　would　not　survive　this　day。　Three　days　past；　he'd　sent　his　wife　and　children　to　Castle　Groverman；　hoping　they'd　be　safe；　hoping　he'd　live　to　see　them　again。　He　remembered　how　they'd　looked　as　they　lefthis　two　toddlers　riding　the　back　of　a　goat；　his　wife　carrying　their　babe　in　her　arms；　his　oldest　daughter　trying　to　look　mature；　her　lips　trembling　as　she　stifled　tears　of　fear。
　Tempest　looked　up　to　the　castle　walls；　on　the　west。　The　walls　were　nearly　empty。　Those　men　still　up　looked　dazed；　confused。
　Suddenly；　a　flaming　white　salamander　leapt　up　on　the　merlon　of　the　south　tower；　gazing　about。　Tempest　hid　his　face；　lest　the　pearly　orbs　of　its　eyes　touch　him。
　A　second；　smaller　explosion　sounded　fifty　yards　behind　him。　Tempest　tried　to　scrabble　to　his　knees；　looked　back。　Raj　Ahten's　Invincibles　had　just　hit　the　little　mantelet　barricade　inside　the　gates　with　their　ram。　The　barricade　exploded；　sending　shards　of　woods　flying；　flaming　out。
　Any　men　who　stood　near　that　barricade　blew　back　under　the　onslaught　of　fiery　debris；　yet　painfully　few　men　had　been　standing　at　all。　A　few　knights　were　still　up　on　their　horses；　but　the　fallen　bodies　of　their　rades　hemmed　them　in。
　The　battle　was　lost。　All　along　the　walls　before　him；　defenders　were　down。　Thousands　of　men　screamed　and　writhed　in　pain。　Arrows　were　hurtling　over　the　castle　walls　now；　a　dark　and　deadly　rain；　dropping　into　wounded　men。
　Some　few　hundred　men　were　rushing　from　the　north　side　of　the　castle；　trying　to　reach　the　gates；　to　put　up　some　kind　of　defense。　Yet　Raj　Ahten's　Invincibles　rushed　to　meet　them　by　the　thousands。
　War　dogs　in　grim　leather　masks　raced　through　the　streets；　leaping　over　fallen　knights　and　their　horses；　ripping　apart　any　man　or　beast　that　lived；　feeding　as　they　slaughtered。
　Tempest　hoped　still　that　he　might　find　Shostag；　slay　him　so　that　the　serpent　would　form　a　head。　Yet　he　felt　stunned；　confused。　Blood　dripped　from　his　face。
　He　collapsed　as　Raj　Ahten's　war　dogs　raced　over　him；　leaping　through　the　fray。
　　
　Chapter　49
　THE　EARTH　KING　STRIKES
　　
　Binnesman　rode　over　the　heath　toward　Gaborn　and　Iome；　beneath　the　cloud　of　dirt　and　pollen　raised　by　the　feet　of　hundreds　of　thousands　of　men　and　cattle。
　Gaborn　stared　at　the　wizard。　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　seen　him　in　full　daylight。　His　hair　had　gone　white；　and　the　baggy　robes　he　wore　had　turned　from　a　forest　green　to　shades　of　scarlet　and　orange；　like　leaves　that　had　changed　color。
　Gaborn　rode　so　close　to　Iome　that　at　times　her　knee　touched　his。　He　dared　not　try　to　call　a　halt　as　the　wizard　neared；　his　mount　speeding　over　the　purple　heather。　Too　many　people　and　animals　moved　in　the　great　throng。　Yet　Gaborn　wanted　to　talk　to　Binnesman；　wanted　to　hear　his　report。
　Binnesman　stared　at　Gaborn's　troops　for　a　long　moment；　wheeled　his　horse　to　a　near　halt；　and　at　last　asked　in　surprise；　〃Do　you　plan　to　feed　Raj　Ahten's　army　with　all　these　cattle；　or　trample　him　with　them？〃
　〃Whatever　he　desires；〃　Gaborn　said。
　Binnesman　shook　his　head　in　wonder。　〃I　heard　the　startled　cries　of　birds　here；　felt　the　earth　groan　under　the　weight　of　feet。　I　thought　that　you　had　conjured　an　army。　I　thought　it　fortunate　that　I'd　gone　to　the　trouble　of　destroying　the　old　Harm's　Gorge　Bridge；　blocking　Raj　Ahten's　hopes　for　reinforcements　from　the　west。〃
　〃I　appreciate　the　gesture；〃　Gaborn　said。　〃What　can　you　tell　me？　Have　Raj　Ahten's　reinforcements　been　spotted？〃
　〃No；〃　Binnesman　said；　〃nor　do　I　think　they　are　close。〃
　〃Perhaps　luck　is　with　us；〃　Gaborn　said。
　〃Perhaps　so；〃　Binnesman　said。
　On　the　horizon；　just　along　the　line　of　green　hills　covered　with　trees；　the　blackness　flashed　again；　much　more　fiercely　than　ever　beforea　line　of　blackness　that　split　the　sky　from　horizon　to　horizon。
　Then　a　great　pillar　of　fire　roared　slowly　into　the　air；　an　explosion　so　massive；　Gaborn　had　never　seen　the　like。　Something　terrible　was　happening。
　〃Gaborn；〃　Binnesman　said。　〃Close　your　eyes。　Use　your　Earth　Sight。　Tell　me　what　is　happening。〃
　Gaborn　closed　his　eyes。　For　a　moment；　he　felt　nothing；　and　he　wondered　if　Binnesman　had　erred　in　asking　him　to　use　the　Earth　Sight。
　Then；　faintly；　he　felt　the　connections；　felt　the　invisible　lines　of　power　between　him　and　his　people。　He　had　only　consciously　chosen　his　father。　Now　he　realized　that　he'd　been　choosing　people　for　days。　He'd　chosen　Myrrima　that　morning　in　the　market；　and　he'd　claimed　Borenson。　He'd　chosen　Chemoise　when　he　saw　her　helping　her　father　in　the　wagon；　and　had　chosen　her　father。
　Now；　he　felt　all　those　he　had　claimedBorenson；　his　father；　Myrrima；　Chemoise　and　her　father。　He　felt。。。danger。　Terrible　danger。　He　feared　that　if　they　did　not　fight　now；　they　would　all　die。
　Strike；　Gaborn　silently　willed　them。　Strike　now；　if　you　can！
　Twenty　seconds　later；　the　sound　of　an　explosion　roared　across　the　plain；　shaking　the　earth；　like　distant　thunder。
　　
　Chapter　50
　THE　OPENING
　　
　At　Castle　Sylvarresta；　Chemoise　was　getting　dinner　in　the　buttery　when　she　felt　the　urge　to　strike。　The　desire　came　so　quickly　and　so　profoundly　that　she　struck　her　hand　against　the　table　by　reflex；　smashing　a　round　of　cheese。
　Myrrima　tempered　her　response　with　reason。　The　thunders　of　war　shook　the　manor　house　where　she　hid；　and　outside　the　sky　was　black。　She　couldn't　strike　against　Raj　Ahten's　soldiers；　knew　she　was　no　match。　So　she　raced　upstairs；　hoping　to　hide　beneath　some　lord's　bed。
　Six　years　past；　Eremon　Vottania　Solette　had　chosen　to　live　as　a　Dedicate　to　Salim　al　Daub　because　he　had　two　dreams：　The　first　was　to　see　his　daughter　again。　The　second　was　to　survive　until　his