tw.togreenangeltower2-第106章

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〃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　we　would　be　so　close　so　soon？〃
　　　　　　　Sludig　tried　to　say　something；　but　it　was　lost　in　the　noise　of　the　storm。　He　turned　his　horse　away　and　rode　back　down　the　hill　toward　Duke　Isgrimnur's　watching　place。

　　　　　　　〃The　ram　is　against　the　gate；〃　Sangfugol　said　exultantly。　〃Look　at　it！　It　is　big　as　three　houses！〃
〃The　gate　is　bigger。〃　Strangyeard　was　shivering。　〃Still；　I　am　astonished　that　there　should　be　so　little　resistance。〃　
　　　　　　　〃You　saw　Erchester。　Everyone　has　fled。　Elias　and　his　pet　wizard　have　made　this　place　a　wasteland。〃
〃But　there　seem　to　be　men　enough　inside　the　walls　to　defend　the　castle。　Why　did　they　dig　no　trenches　to　slow　the　siege　engines？　Why　did　they　lay　up　so　few　stones　to　push　down　on　the　scaling　ladders？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　stones　they　had　did　their　work；〃　Sangfugol　replied；　angry　that　Strangyeard　did　not　share　his　excitement。　〃The　men　who　wound　up　beneath　them　are　as　dead　as　you　could　wish。〃
〃Elysia；　Mother　of　our　Ransomer！〃　The　priest　was　shocked。　〃Sangfugol；　do　not　speak　so　of　our　fallen　soldiers！　I　only　meant　it　is　strange　the　defenders　seem　so　ill…prepared　for　a　siege　Elias　must　have　known　was　ing　for　weeks；　even　months。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　king　has　gone　mad；〃　the　harper　replied。　〃You've　heard　what　those　who　fled　Erkynland　say。　And　there　are　few　left　to　fight　with　him。　This　will　be　no　different　than　prodding　a　bear　out　of　its　cave。　The　bear　is　fierce；　but　it　is　an　animal　for　all　that；　and　must　lose　out　to　the　cleverness　of　men。〃
〃Cleverness？〃　The　archivist　did　his　best　to　shake　the　snow　off　his　blanket。　The　wind　slashed　bitterly　even　through　the　low　barrier　of　stones　they　had　erected。　〃What　have　we　done　that　is　so　clever？　We　have　been　led　by　the　nose　like　oxen　all　along。〃
　　　　　　　Sangfugol　waved　his　hand　airily；　although　he　too　was　trembling　with　cold。　〃Having　Isorn　and　that　Nabban　fellow　pose　as　Camaris　and　Josua…that　was　a　clever　idea；　you　must　admit　。。。　except　for　your　little　suggestion　that　I　be　the　one　to　play　the　prince。　And　going　beneath　the　Hayholt's　walls　by　caverns　and　tunnels…that　is　something　clever　indeed！　The　king　would　not　think　of　that　in　a　thousand　years。〃
　　　　　　　Strangyeard；　who　was　rubbing　his　hands　together　furiously　in　an　effort　to　keep　them　warm；　suddenly　stopped。　〃The　king　might　not…but　his　allies　must　know　of　those　tunnels。〃　His　voice　shook。　〃Surely　the　Norns　must　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　why　our　fairy…folk　have　gone　down　after　the　prince　and　Camaris。　I've　seen　them；　Aditu's　brother　and　mother　and　the　rest。　They　can　take　care　of　themselves；　I　have　no　doubt　。。。　even　if　the　Norns　know　about　the　tunnels　and　are　waiting　for　them；　as　you　seem　to　think。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　not　what　I　am　thinking。〃　Strangyeard　stood。　Snow　fell　from　him　and　was　promptly　snatched　away　by　the　wind。　〃Not　what　I　am　thinking　at　all。　The　Norns　know　all　about　the　tunnels。〃　He　stepped　over　the　low　wall　of　stones；　knocking　several　loose。
　　　　　　　〃Hi！　What　are　you　doing？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　to　find　Duke　Isgrimnur。　We　are　in　more　danger　than　we　suspected。〃　He　turned　and　waded　downhill　through　the　drifts；　leaning　into　the　wind；　frail　but　determined。
〃Strangyeard！〃　cried　Sangfugol。　〃Blast　it；　I　am　not　staying　here　by　myself。　I'll　e　with　you；　whatever　madness　you're　onto。〃　He　followed　the　archivist　over　the　barrier。　〃You　are　heading　right　toward　the　fighting！〃　he　shouted。　〃You'll　be　shot　with　an　arrow！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　to　find　Isgrimnur；〃　Strangyeard　called　back。　Cursing　richly；　the　harper　hurried　after　him。

　　　　　　　〃Isorn's　right；　sire；〃　said　Sludig。　〃If　we　pass　through　the　gate；　we　must　make　a　great　charge。　The　men　have　already　seen　the　Norns　and　they　are　frightened。　If　we　hesitate；　the　advantage　will　be　the　king's　again。　Who　knows　what　will　happen　if　he　makes　a　sortie；　and　us　fighting　uphill？〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　stared　at　the　Hayholt's　high　walls。　It　was　only　when　seen　against　a　storm　like　this　that　the　works　of　man；　even　such　a　mighty　construction　as　the　Hayholt；　seemed　truly　small。　Perhaps　they　actually　could　knock　down　the　gate。　Perhaps　Sludig　and　the　others　were　right…Elias'　kingdom　was　a　rotting　fruit　waiting　to　fall　from　the　vine。
　　　　　　　There　was　another　strange；　sputtering　flash　of　lightning　over　the　tower　tops。　Thunder　rolled；　but　following　close　behind　it　came　a　loud　crash　as　the　great　ram　was　swung　forward　into　the　gate。
　　　　　　　〃Go；　then；〃　Isgrimnur　told　Sludig。　His　earl　had　not　dismounted；　but　had　brought　his　steam…puffing　horse　to　the　edge　of　the　wooden　structure　where　the　duke　stood。　〃Hotvig　and　his　riders　are　still　waiting　at　the　edge　of　the　Kynswood。　No；　better　yet；　you　stay　here。〃　Isgrimnur　summoned　one　of　the　newly　returned　outriders　and　gave　him　a　message　for　the　Thrithings…men；　then　sent　him　on　his　way。　〃You　go　back　to　Isorn；　Sludig。　Tell　him　to　hold　fast　and　let　the　first　of　the　men…at…arms　go　through　on　foot。　There　will　be　no　storied　charges　here；　at　least　not　until　I　see　what　Elias　has　waiting。〃
　　　　　　　As　the　duke　spoke；　the　ram　smashed　against　the　Nearulagh　Gate。　The　timbers　seemed　to　sag　inward　a　little　way；　as