tw.togreenangeltower2-第107章

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　　　　　　　As　the　duke　spoke；　the　ram　smashed　against　the　Nearulagh　Gate。　The　timbers　seemed　to　sag　inward　a　little　way；　as　though　the　huge　bolts　had　been　loosened。　
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　sire。〃　Sludig　turned　his　charger　toward　the　walls。
　　　　　　　The　ram's　engineers　swung　it　forward　once　more。　The　iron…plated　head　crunched　against　the　barrier。　A　length　of　wood　splintered　away　down　the　length　of　the　gate；　and　even　through　the　storm　noises　Isgrimnur　could　hear　the　excited　shouts　of　men　all　across　the　field。　The　ram　was　pulled　back　and　then　set　in　motion　again。　The　Nearulagh　Gate　shattered　and　fell　inward　in　an　explosion　of　broken　timbers　and　tumbling　statuary。　Snow　swirled　in　the　empty　space。　Isgrimnur　goggled；　almost　unable　to　believe　the　gate　was　down。　When　the　snow　cleared；　a　few　score　of　the　castle's　pikemen　moved　into　the　opening；　braced　against　attack。　No　great　hidden　army　charged　outward。
A　long　moment　passed　as　the　two　forces　eyed　each　other　through　the　snow…flurries。　It　seemed　no　one　could　move；　that　both　sides　were　astonished　by　what　had　happened。　Then　a　small；　golden…helmeted　figure　lifted　a　sword　and　spurred　forward。　A　score　of　mounted　knights　and　several　hundred　foot　soldiers　surged　toward　the　breach　in　the　Hayholt's　walls。
　　　　　　　〃Damn　me；　Isorn！〃　Duke　Isgrimnur　shouted。　He　leaned　so　far　forward　that　he　nearly　lost　his　balance　and　toppled　from　the　observation　platform。　〃e　back！　Where　is　Sludig！？　Studig！　Stop　him！〃　Someone　was　tugging　at　his　sleeve；　pulling　him　back　from　the　edge　of　the　platform；　but　Isgrimnur　paid　the　intruder　no　mind。　〃Can't　he　see　that　it's　too　easy？　Isorn？〃　He　knew　his　voice　could　not　possibly　carry　above　the　tumult。　〃Seriddan！　Where　are　you！？　Ride　after　him…by　Dror's　red　mallet；　where　are　my　messengers！？〃
　　　　　　　〃Duke　Isgrimnur！〃　It　was　Strangyeard　the　archivist；　still　pulling　at　his　sleeve。
　　　　　　　〃Get　away；　damn　you！〃　Isgrimnur　roared。　〃I　do　not　need　a　priest；　I　need　mounted　knights。　Jeremias；　run　to　Seriddan；〃　he　called。　〃Isorn　has　forced　our　hand。　Tell　the　baron　to　ride　in。〃
Strangyeard　was　undaunted。　〃Please；　Duke　Isgrimnur；　you　must　listen　to　me！〃
〃I　have　no　time　for　you　now；　man！　My　son　has　just　charged　in　like　a　fool。　He　must　think　he　is　Camaris…after　all　I　told　him！〃　He　stalked　across　the　platform；　satisfying　himself　that　everyone　was　in　as　much　of　a　furious　state　of　excitement　as　he　was。　The　priest　pursued　him　like　a　dog　nipping　at　the　heels　of　a　bull。　Finally　Strangyeard　grasped　Isgrimnur's　surcoat　and　yanked　hard；　pulling　the　duke　off…balance　and　almost　toppling　him　over。
〃By　all　that's　holy；　Isgrimnur！〃　he　shouted。　〃You　must　listen　to　me！〃
　　　　　　　The　duke　stared　at　the　priest's　reddened　face。　Strangyeard's　eyepatch　had　slid　almost　onto　his　nose。　〃What　are　you　on　about？〃　Isgrimnur　demanded。　〃We　have　knocked　down　the　gates！　We　are　at　war；　man！〃
〃The　Norns　must　know　about　the　tunnels；〃　Strangyeard　said　urgently。　Isgrimnur　saw　Sangfugol　the　harper　skulking　beside　the　platform；　and　wondered　what　both　a　priest　and　a　harper　were　doing　in　the　middle　of　things　that　did　not　concern　them。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　　　　　　〃They　must　know。　And　if　we　can　think　to　send　somebody　under　the　castle　walls　。。。〃
　　　　　　　The　clamor　of　men　as　they　charged　up　the　hillside　toward　the　shattered　gate；　even　the　grumbling　of　thunder　and　the　moan　of　the　wind；　were　suddenly　overtopped　by　a　hideous　grinding　noise；　a　rasp　like　fingernails　on　slate。　Horses　reared；　and　several　of　the　soldiers　on　the　platform　lifted　their　hands　to　their　ears。
〃Oh；　merciful　Aedon；〃　said　Isgrimnur；　staring　up　at　the　Hayholt。　〃No！〃
The　last　of　Isorn's　pany　had　fought　their　way　through　the　opening　in　the　wall。　At　their　backs；　thrusting　up　from　the　snowy　ground　and　the　wreckage　left　by　the　battering　ram；　a　second　gate　was　rising。　It　climbed　upward　swiftly；　rasping　like　an　ogre's　teeth　grinding　on　bone。　Within　a　few　moments　the　wall　was　sealed　again。　The　new　gate；　beneath　a　layer　of　snow　and　mud；　was　cov…　ered　with　dull　iron　plates。　
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　God　help　me；　I　was　right；〃　Isgrimnur　groaned。　'They　have　trapped　Isorn　and　the　others。　Sweet　Usires。〃　He　stared　in　sick　horror　as　the　engineers　rolled　the　ram　forward　and　began　hammering　at　the　second　gate。　The　metal…clad　wood　did　not　seem　to　give　even　an　inch。　
　　　　　　　〃They　think　they　have　trapped　Camaris；〃　Strangyeard　said。　〃That　is　what　they　planned　to　do　all　along。〃
　　　　　　　Isgrimnur　turned　and　grabbed　at　the　priest's　robe；　thrusting　his　face　close　to　the　smaller　man's。　〃You　knew？　You　knew？！〃
　　　　　　　〃Goodness；　Isgrimnur；　no；　I　didn't。　But　I　see　it　now。〃
　　　　　　　The　duke　let　him　go　and　began　shouting　frantic　orders；　sending　his　remaining　archers　forward　to　help　protect　the　engineers；　who　were　receiving　redoubled　interest　from　the　soldiers　on　the　Hayholt's　walls。　〃And　find　me　that　damn　Sithi　general！〃　he　bawled。　〃The　one　in　green！　The　fairy…folk　must　help　us　knock　this　new　wall　down！〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　still　must　listen　to　me；　Isgrimnur；〃　said　the　priest。　〃If　the　Sithi　know　of　those　tunnels；　the　Norns　must；　too。　The　Storm　King；　when　he　lived；　was　master　of　Asu'a！〃
　　　　　　　〃What　does　that　mean？　Speak　plainly；　damn　you！〃　Isgrimnur　was　furiously　agitated。　〃My　son　is　trapped　in　there　with　only　a　few　men。　We　must　break　down　this　new　gate　and　go　in　after　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　you　must　look　。。。〃　Strangyeard　began；　when　another　round　of　excited　shouts　interrupted　him。　This　time；　though；　they　came　from　behind　Isgrimnur。
　　　　　　　〃ing　up　through　Erchester！〃　one　of　the　mounted　men　screamed。　〃Look！　It　is　the　White　Foxes！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　you　must　look　behind　you；　I　was　going　to　say。〃　Strangyeard　shook　his　head。　〃If　we　could　go　beneath　the　walls；　so　could　they。〃
　　　　　　　Even　in　near…darkness　it　was　possible　to　see　that　the　host　moving　up　Main　Row　was　not　human。　White　faces　gleamed　in　the　shadows。　White　hands　held　long　sharp　spears。　Now　that　they　had　been　sighted　and　the　need　for　stealth　was　gone。　they　began　to　sing；　a　triumphant　chant　that　fell　painfully　on　Isgrimnur's　ears。
　　　　　　　The　duke　allowed　himself　one　moment　of　utter　despair。　〃Ransomer　preserve　us；　we　have　been　snared　like　rabbits。〃　He　patted　the　priest's　shoulder　in　silent　thanks；　then　strode　to　the　middle　of　the　platform。　〃To　me；　Josua's　men！　To　me！〃　He　waved　to　Jeremias；　calling　for　his　horse。
　　　　　　　The　Norns　came　up　Main　Row；　singing。

30
Beside　the　Pool

　　　　　　　〃Up　to　the　tree　。　。　。〃　Guthwulf　mumbled。　His　face　beneath　Simon's　hand　was　oven…hot　and　slippery　with　sweat。　〃To　the　flaming　tree。　Wants　to　go　。。。〃
　　　　　　　The　earl　was　getting　worse；　and　Simon　did　not　know　what　to　do。　He　was　still　badly　hobbled　by　his　own　wounds；　knew　almost　nothing　of　the　healing　arts；　and　in　any　case　was　in　a　lightless　place　with　nothing　that　might　be　of　use　in　easing　Guthwulf's　fever。　Because　of　a　dim　recollection　that　fevers　had　to　burn　themselves　out；　he　had　covered　the　suffering　earl　with　some　of　the　rags　strewn　about　the　floor；　but　he　felt　like　a　traitor　putting　warm　things　on　someone　who　seemed　to　be　burning　up。
　　　　　　　Helpless；　he　sat　down　beside　Guthwulf　once　more；　listening　to　him　rave　and　praying　that　the　earl　would　survive。　The　blackness　pressed　in　on　him　like　the　crushing　depths　of　the　ocean；　making　it　hard　to　breathe；　to　think。　He　tried　to　distract　himself　by　remembering　the　things　he　had　seen；　the　places　he　had　been。　More　than　anything　he　wanted　to　do　something；　but　at　this　moment　there　seemed　to　be　nothing　to　do　but　wait。　He　did　not　want　to　be　left　alone　and　lost　in　the　empty　places　again。
　　　　　　　Something　touched　his　leg　and　Simon　reached　out；　thinking　that　Guthwulf　in　his　misery　was　looking　for　a　hand　to　hold。　Instead；　Simon's　fingers　trailed　across　something　warm　and　covered　with　fur。　He　let　out　a　shout　of　surprise　and　scrabbled　back；　expecting　momentarily　to　feel　rats　or　something　worse　swarming　over　him。　When　there　was　no　further　contact　he　crouched；　huddled　into　himself；　for　a　long　time。　Then　his　feelings　of　responsibility　for　Guthwulf　won　out　and　he　edged　back　toward　the　earl。　A　squeamish　exploration　found　the　furry　thing　again。　It　shrank　back　as　he　had；　but　did　not　go　far。　It　was　a　cat。
　　　　　　　Simon　laughed　breathlessly；　then　reached　out　and　stroked　the　creature。　It　arched　beneath　his　hand；　but　would　not　e　to　him。　Instead　it　settled　against　the　blind　man　and　Guthwulf's　movements　became　less　agitated；　his　breathing　quieter。　The　cat's　presence　seemed　to　soothe　him。　Simon；　too；　felt　a　little　less　alone；　and　resolved　to　be　careful　not　to　frighten　the　animal　away。　He　fetched　some　of　the　remaining　heel　of　bread　and　offered　a　pinch　to　the　cat；　who　sniffed　it　but　did　not　take　any。　Simon　ate　a　few　small　pieces　himself；　then　tried　to　find　a　fortable　position　to　sleep　in。
　　　　　　　Simon　awakened；　abruptly　conscious　that　something　had　happened。　In　the　darkness　it　was　impossible　to　discern　any　changes；　but　he　had　the　inescapable　feeling　that　things　had　shifted　somehow；　that　he　was　suddenly　in　an　unfamiliar　place　with　no　knowledge　of　how　he　had　e　there。　But　the　rags　around　him　were　the　same；　and　Guthwulf's　labored　breathing；　though　quieter；　still　rasped　away　nearby。　Simon　crawled　over　to　the　earl；　gently　pushed　aside　the　warm　and　purring　cat；　and　was　heartened　to　feel　much　of　the　cramping　tension　gone　from　the　blind　man's　limbs。　Perhaps　he　was　recovering　from　the　fever。　Perhaps　the　cat　had　been　his　panion　and　its　presence　had　restored　a　little　of　his　sanity。　In　any　case；　Guthwulf　had　stopped　raving。　Simon　let　the　cat　clamber　back　into　the　crook　of　the　earl's　arm。　It　felt　strange　not　to　hear　Guthwulf's　voice。
During　the　earliest　hours　of　his　fever；　the　earl　had　been　almost　lucid　for　short　stretches；　although　he　was　so　plagued　by
his　voices　and　former　solitude　that　it　was　difficult　to　separate　truth　from　terrifying　dream。　He　talked　about　crawling　through　darkness；　desperate　to　find　Bright…Nail…although；　strangely；　he　did　not　seem　to　think　of　it　as　a　sword　at　all；　but　as　something　alive　that　summoned　him。　Simon　remembered　Thorn's　disturbing　vitality　and　thought　he　understood　a　little　of　what　the　earl　meant。
　　　　　　　It　was　hard　to　make　sense　out　of　the　impressions　of　a　half…mad　blind　man；　but　as　Guthwulf　spoke；　Simon　pictured　the　earl　walking　through　the　tunnels；　lured　by　something　that　called　to　him　in　a　voice　he　could　not　ignore。　Guthwulf　had　gone　far　beyond　his　usual　range；　it　seemed；　and　had　heard　and　felt　many　terrible　things。　At　last　he　had　crawled；　and　when　even　those　narrow　ways　were　blocked；　he　had　dug；　fighting　his　way　through　the　last　cubits　of　earth　that　had　separated　him　from　the　object　of　his　obsession。
　　　　　　　He　dug　into　John's　barrow；　Simon　realized；　shuddering。　Like　a　blind　mole　after　a　carrot；　scraping；　scraping　。。。
Guthwulf　had　taken　his　prize　and　had　somehow　found　his　way　back　to　his　nest；　but　apparently　even　the　joy　of　possessing　the　thing　he　had　sought　had　not　been　enough　to　keep　him　in　hiding。　For　some　reason　he　had　ventured　out；　perhaps　to　steal　food　from　the　forge…where　else　had　the　bread　and　water　e　from？…but　perhaps　for　some　deeper；　more　plicated　reason。　
　　　　　　　Why　did　he　e　to　me？　Simon　wondered。　Why　would　he　risk　being　caught　by　Inch？　He　thought　again　of　Thorn；　of　how　it　had　seemed　almost　to　choose　where　it　wished　to　go。　Maybe　Bright…Nail　wanted　to　find　。。。　me。
　　　　　　　The　thought　was　a　frighteningly　seductive　one。　If　Bright…Na