tw.togreenangeltower2-第65章

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opponent；　Eolair　lunged　forward；　sweeping　his　sword　around　at　ankle…height。　There　was　a　resounding　crunch　of　steel　against　bone　and　his　enemy　fell　atop　him。
　　　　　　　The　next　moments　passed　in　what　seemed　a　profound　stillness。　The　sounds　of　battle　dropped　away；　as　though　he　had　passed　through　into　some　other　realm…a　silent　world　only　a　cubit　wide　and　a　few　inches　deep　where　nothing　existed　but　his　own　panicked　struggle；　his　failing　wind；　and　the　bony　fingers　clawing　at　his　throat。　The　white　face　hovered　before　him；　grinning　mirthlessly　like　some　Southern　devil　mask。　The　thing's　eyes　were　flat　dark　pebbles；　its　breath　smelled　like　a　cold　hole　in　the　ground。
　　　　　　　Eolair　had　a　dagger　at　his　belt；　but　he　did　not　want　to　let　go　even　an　instant　to　reach　for　it。　Still；　despite　his　advantage　in　size；　he　could　feel　his　hands　and　arms　losing　their　strength。　The　Norn　was　gradually　crushing　the　muscles　of　Eolair's　neck；　closing　his　windpipe。　He　had　no　choice。
　　　　　　　He　released　his　grip　on　the　Norn's　wrists　and　snatched　at　his　sheath。　The　fingers　on　his　throat　tightened　and　the　silence　began　to　hiss；　blackness　spread　across　the　cubitwide　world。　Eolair　hammered　with　the　knife　at　the　thing's　side　until　the　pressure　slackened；　then　he　clutched　his　dying　enemy　like　a　lover；　trying　to　prevent　the　Norn　from　reaching　any　weapon　of　its　own。　At　last　the　body　atop　him　ceased　struggling。　He　pushed　and　the　Nom　rolled　off；　flopping　into　the　snow。
　　　　　　　As　Eolair　lay　gasping　for　breath；　the　dark…haired　head　of　Kuroyi　appeared　at　the　edge　of　his　cloudy　vision。　The　Sitha　seemed　to　be　deciding　whether　the　count　would　live　or　not；　then；　without　saying　a　word；　he　vanished　from　Eolair's　view。
　　　　　　　Eolair　forced　himself　to　sit　up。　His　surcoat　was　sodden　with　the　Norn's　fast…cooling　blood。　He　glanced　at　the　sprawled　corpse；　then　turned　to　stare；　arrested　even　in　the　midst　of　chaos。　Something　about　the　shape　of　his　enemy's　face　and　slender　torso　was　。。。　wrong。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　woman。　He　had　been　fighting　a　Norn　woman。
　　　　　　　Coughing；　each　breath　still　burning　in　his　throat；　Eolair　struggled　to　his　feet。　He　should　not　feel　ashamed…she　had　almost　killed　him…but　he　did。
　　　　　　　What　kind　of　world。。。　？
　　　　　　　As　the　silence　in　his　head　receded；　the　singing　of　Sithi　and　Cloud　Children　pressed　in　on　him　anew；　bining　with　the　more　mundane　screams　of　anger　and　shrieks　of　pain　to　fill　the　air　with　a　plicated；　frightening　music。
　　　　　　　Eolair　was　bleeding　in　a　dozen　places　and　his　limbs　felt　heavy　as　stone。　The　sun；　which　had　been　shrouded　all　day；　seemed　to　have　gone　down　into　the　west；　but　it　was　hard　for　him　to　tell　whether　it　was　sunset　or　the　leaping　flames　that　stained　the　mists　red。　Most　of　the　defenders　of　Naglimund's　inner　keep　had　fallen；　only　a　final　knot　of　Norns　and　the　last　and　largest　of　the　giants　remained；　all　backed　into　a　covered　passageway　before　the　keep's　tall　doors。　They　seemed　determined　to　hold　this　ground。　The　muddy　earth　before　them　was　piled　with　bodies　and　drenched　with　blood。
　　　　　　　As　the　battle　slackened；　the　count　ordered　his　Hernystirmen　back。　The　dozen　who　still　stood　were　dull…eyed　and　sagging　with　weariness；　but　they　demanded　to　see　the　battle　through　to　the　end；　Eolair　felt　a　fierce　love　for　them　even　as　he　cursed　their　idiocy　out　loud。　This　was　the　Sithi's　fight　now；　he　told　them：　long　weapons　and　swift　reflexes　were　needed；　and　the　staggering　mortals　had　nothing　left　to　offer　but　theic　failing　bodies　and　brave　hearts。　Eolair　held　to　his　call　for　retreat；　sending　his　men　toward　the　relative　safety　of　Naglimund's　outwall。　He　was　desperate　to　bring　some　of　them　out　of　this　nightmare　alive。
　　　　　　　Eolair　remained　to　hunt　for　Isorn；　who　had　not　answered　the　war　horn's　summons。　He　stumbled　along　the　outskirts　of　the　struggle；　ignored　by　the　Sithi　warriors　trying　to　force　the　giant　out　of　the　shelter　of　the　arched　doorway；　where　he　was　inflicting　terrible　injuries　even　in　his　dying　moments。　The　Sithi　seemed　in　a　desperate　hurry；　but　Eolair　could　not　understand　why。　All　but　a　few　of　the　defenders　were　dead；　those　who　remained　were　protecting　the　doors　to　the　inner　keep；　but　whoever　was　still　inside　seemed　content　to　let　them　die　doing　so　rather　than　try　to　bring　them　inside。　Eventually；　the　Sithi　would　pick　them　off…Jiriki's　folk　had　few　arrows　left；　but　several　of　the　Norns　had　lost　their　shields；　and　the　giant；　half…concealed　behind　one　of　the　arch　pillars；　already　had　a　half…score　of　feathered　shafts　lodged　in　his　shaggy　hide。
　　　　　　　Where　Eolair　walked；　the　bodies　of　mortals　and　immortals　alike　lay　scattered　as　if　the　gods　had　flung　them　down　from　heaven。　The　count　passed　by　many　faces　he　recognized；　some　of　them　young　Hernystirmen　with　whom　he　had　sat　at　the　campfire　only　the　night　before；　some　Sithi　whose　golden　eyes　stared　up　into　nothing。
　　　　　　　He　found　Isorn　at　last；　on　the　far　side　of　the　keep。　The　young　Rimmersman　was　lying　on　the　ground；　limbs　awkwardly　splayed；　his　helmet　tumbled　beside　him。　His　horse　was　gone。
　　　　　　　Brynioch　of　the　Skies！　Eolair　had　spent　hours　in　the　freezing　wind；　but　when　he　saw　his　friend's　body；　he　went　colder　still。　The　back　of　Isorn's　head　was　soaked　with　blood。　Oh；　gods；　how　will　I　tell　his　father？
　　　　　　　He　hurried　forward　and　grasped　Isorn's　shoulder　to　turn　him　over。　The　young　Rimmersman's　face　was　a　mask　of　mud　and　fast…melting　snow。　As　Eolair　gently　wiped　some　of　it　away；　Isorn　choked。
　　　　　　　〃You　live！〃
　　　　　　　He　opened　his　eyes。　〃Eolair？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　it's　me。　What　happened；　man？　Are　you　badly　wounded？〃
　　　　　　　Isorn　took　in　a　great　rasping　wheeze　of　breath。　〃Ransomer　preserve　me；　I　don't　know…it　feels　like　my　head　is　split　open。〃　He　lifted　a　shaking　hand　to　his　head；　then　stared　at　his　reddened　fingers。　〃One　of　the　Hunen　struck　me。　A　great　hairy　thing。〃　He　sagged　back　and　closed　his　eyes；　giving　Eolair　another　fright　before　he　opened　them　again。　He　looked　more　alert；　but　what　he　said　belied　it。
　　　　　　　〃Where's　Maegwin？〃
　　　　　　　〃Maegwin？〃　Eolair　took　the　young　man's　hand。　〃She　is　in　the　camp。　You　are　inside　Naglimund；　and　you've　been　hurt。　I'll　go　find　some　folk　to　help　me　with　you　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Isorn　said；　impatient　despite　his　weakness。　〃She　was　here。　I　was　chasing　her　when　。。。　when　the　giant　clubbed　me。　He　did　not　strike　me　full。〃
　　　　　　　〃Maegwin　。。。　here？〃　For　a　moment　it　was　as　though　the　northerner　had　begun　speaking　another　tongue。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　　　　　　〃Just　as　I　said。　I　saw　her　walk　past　the　outskirts　of　the　fighting；　right　through　the　courtyard；　heading　around　the　keep。　I　thought　I　was　seeing　things　in　the　mist；　but　I　know　she's　been　strange。　I　followed；　and　saw　her　just　。　。　。　there　。。。〃　he　winced　at　the　pain　as　he　pointed　toward　the　far　corner　of　the　blocky　keep；　〃and　followed。　Then　that　thing　caught　me　from　behind。　Before　I　knew　it；　I　was　lying　here。　I　don't　know　why　it　didn't　kill　me。〃　Despite　the　chill；　sweat　beaded　on　his　pale　forehead。　〃Perhaps　some　of　the　Sithi　came　up。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　stood。　〃I'll　get　help　for　you。　Don't　move　any　more　than　you　have　to。〃
　　　　　　　Isorn　tried　to　smile。　〃But　I　wanted　to　take　a　walk　in　the　castle　gardens　tonight。〃
　　　　　　　The　count　draped　his　cloak　over　his　friend　and　sprinted　back　toward　the　front　of　the　keep；　skirting　the　siege　of　the　keep's　great　doors。　He　found　his　Hernystirinen　huddled　beside　a　gap　in　the　outwall　like　sheep　terrified　of　thunder；　and　took　four　of　the　healthiest　back　to　carry　Isorn　to　the　camp。　As　soon　as　he　saw　they　had　him　safe；　he　returned　to　his　search　for　Maegwin；　it　had　taken　all　the　restraint　he　possessed　to　see　his　friend　out　of　harm's　way　first。
　　　　　　　It　did　not　take　him　long　to　find　her。　She　was　curled　on　the　ground　at　the　back　of　the　keep。　Although　he　could　see　no　marks　of　violence　on　her　anywhere；　her　skin　felt　deathly　cold　to　his　touch。　If　she　breathed；　he　could　find　no　sign　of　it。
　　　　　　　When　his　wits　returned　sometime　later；　he　was　carrying　Maegwin's　limp　body　in　his　arms；　staggering　across　the　camp　at　the　base　of　the　hill　below　Naglimund。　He　could　not　remember　how　he　had　gotten　there。　Men's　faces　looked　up　as　he　approached；　but　at　that　moment　their　expressions　had　no　more　meaning　for　him　than　the　bright　eyes　of　animals。
　　　　　　　〃Kira'athu　says　that　she　is　alive；　but　very　close　to　death；〃　said　Jiriki。　〃I　bring　you　my　sorrow；　Eolair　of　Nad　Mullach。〃
　　　　　　　As　the　count　looked　up　from　Maegwin's　pale；　slack　face；　the　Sitha　healer　rose　from　the　far　side　of　the　pallet　and　went　quietly　past　Jiriki　and　out　of　the　tent。　Eolair　almost　called　her　back；　but　he　knew　that　there　were　others　who　needed　her　help；　his　own　men　among　them。　It　was　clear　that　there　was　little　more　she　could　do　here；　although　Eolair　could　not　have　said　what　exactly　the　silver…haired　Sitha　woman　had　done；　he　had　been　too　busy　willing　Maegwin　to　live　to　pay　attention；　clutching　the　young　woman's　cold　hand　as　though　to　lend　her　some　of　his　own　feverish　warmth。
　　　　　　　Jiriki　had　blood　on　his　face。　〃You've　been　hurt；〃　Eolair　pointed　out。
　　　　　　　〃A　cut；　no　more。〃　Jiriki　made　a　flicking　movement　with　his　hand。　〃Your　men　fought　bravely。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　turned　so　he　could　speak　without　craning　his　neck；　but　he　retained　his　grip　on　Maegwin's　fingers。　〃And　the　siege　is　over？〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　paused　for　a　moment　before　replying。　Eolair；　even　in　the　depth　of　his　mourning；　felt　a　sudden　fear。　〃We　do　not　know；〃　the　Sitha　finally　said。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　　　　　　　Jiriki　and　his　kin　had　a　quality　of　stillness　in　them　at　all　times　that　marked　them　off　from　Eolair　and　his　mortal　fellows；　but　even　so　it　was　clear　that　the　Sitha　was　disturbed。　'They　have　sealed　the　keep　with　the　Red　Hand　still　inside。　They　have　sung　a　great　Word　of　Changing　and　there　is　no　longer　a　way　in。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　way　in？　How　can　that　be？〃　Eolair　pictured　huge　stones　pushed　against　the　inside　of　the　entrance。　〃Is　there　no　way　to　force　the　doors？〃
　　　　　　　The　Sitha　moved　his　head　in　a　birdlike　gesture　of　negation。　'The　doors　are　there；　but　the　keep　is　not　behind　them。〃　He　frowned。　〃No；　that　is　misleading。　You　would　think　us　mad　if　I　told　you　that；　since　the　building　clearly　still　stands。〃　The　Sitha　smiled　crookedly。　〃I　do　not　know　if　I　can　explain　to　you。　Count。　There　are　not　words　in　any　mortal　tongue　that　are　quite　right。〃　He　paused。　Eolair　was　astonished　to　see　one　of　the　Sithi　looking　so　distraught；　so　。。。　human。　〃They　cannot　e　out；　but　we　cannot　enter　in。　That　is　enough　to　know。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　brought　down　the　walls。　Could　you　not　knock
down　the　stones　of　the　keep　as　well？〃
　　　　　　　〃We　brought　down　the　walls；　yes；　but　if　the　Hikeda'ya　had　been　given　time　earlier　to　do　what　they　have　now　acplished；　those　walls　would　still　be　standing。　Only　some　all…important　task　could　have　kept　them　from　doing　that　before　we　laid　siege。　However；　even　if　we　now　took　down　every　stone　of　the　keep　and　carried　it　a　thousand　leagues　away；　we　still　could　not　reach　them…but　they　would　still　be　there。〃
　　　　　　　Eolair　shook　his　head　in　weary　confusion。　〃I　do　not　understand；　Jiriki。　If　they　cannot　e　out　and　the　rest　of　Naglimund　is　ours；　then　there　is　no　worry；　is　there？〃　He　had　reached　his　limit　with　the　vague　explanations　of　the　Peaceful　Ones。　He　wanted　only　to　be　left　in　peace　with　Lluth's　dying　daughter。
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　it　were　so。　But　whatever　purpose　brought　them　here　is　still　not　understoo