tw.thestoneoffarewell-第6部分

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！


　　Josua　hissed：　〃No　forest　dweller　would　go　so　noisily　。　。　。〃　His　anxiousness　was　poorly　hidden。　He　pulled　Naidel　out　of　the　sheath。　〃It　walks　two…legged　。。。〃
　　〃Help　me　。　。　。〃　called　a　voice　out　of　the　dark。　The　night　seemed　to　grow　deeper　still；　as　though　the　blackness　might　roll　over　them　and　obliterate　their　feeble　campfire。
　　A　moment　later　something　pushed　through　into　the　ring　of　trees。　It　flung　its　arms　up　before　its　eyes　as　the　firelight　beat　upon　it。
　　〃God　save　us；　God　save　us！〃　Towser　cried　hoarsely。
　　〃Look；　it　is　a　man；〃　Isorn　gasped。　〃Aedon；　he　is　covered　in　blood！〃
　　The　wounded　man　lurched　another　two　steps　toward　the　fire；　then　slid　jerkily　to　his　knees；　pushing　forward　a　face　nearly　black　with　dried　blood；　but　for　the　eyes　that　stared　unseeingly　toward　the　circle　of　startled　people。
　　〃Help　me；〃　he　moaned　again。　His　voice　was　slow　and　thick；　almost　unrecognizable　as　a　man　speaking　the　Westerling　tongue。
　　〃What　is　this　madness；　Lady？〃　Towser　groaned。　The　old　jester　was　tugging　at　Duchess　Gutrun's　sleeve　as　might　a　child。　〃Tell　me；　what　is　this　curse　that　has　been　put　on　us？〃
　　〃I　think　I　know　this　man！〃　Deornoth　gasped；　and　a　moment　later　felt　the　freezing　fear　drop　away；　he　sprang　forward　to　grab　the　trembling　man's　elbow　and　ease　him　closer　to　the　fire。　The　newer　was　draped　in　tattered　rags。　A　fringe　of　twisted　rings；　all　that　remained　of　a　mail　shirt；　hung　about　his　neck　on　a　collar　of　blackened　leather。　〃It　is　the　pikeman　who　came　with　us　as　a　guard；〃　Deornoth　told　Josua。　〃When　you　met　your　brother　in　the　tent　before　the　walls。〃
　　The　prince　nodded　slowly。　His　gaze　was　intent；　his　expression　momentarily　unfathomable。　〃Ostrael　。　。　。〃Josua　murmured。　〃Was　that　not　his　name？〃　The　prince　stared　at　the　blood…spattered　young　pikeman　for　a　long　instant；　then　his　eyes　brimmed　with　tears　and　he　turned　away。
　　〃Here；　you　poor；　wretched　fellow；　here　。。。〃　Father　Strangyeard　reached　forward　with　a　skin　of　water。　They　had　scarcely　more　of　that　than　they　had　of　wine；　but　no　one　said　a　word。　The　water　filled　Ostrael's　open　mouth　and　overflowed；　streaming　down　his　chin。　He　could　not　seem　to　swallow。
　　〃The　。　。　。　diggers　had　him；〃　Deornoth　said。　〃I　am　sure　I　saw　him　caught　by　them；　back　at　Naglimund。〃　He　felt　the　pikeman's　shoulder　quiver　beneath　his　touch；　heard　the　man's　breath　whistling　in　and　out。　〃Aedon；　how　he　must　have　suffered。〃
　　Ostrael's　eyes　turned　up　to　his；　yellow　and　glazed　even　in　the　dim　light。　The　mouth　opened　again　in　the　dark…crusted　face。　〃Help　。　。　。〃　The　voice　was　painfully　slow；　as　chough　each　heavy　word　were　being　hoisted　up　his　throat　to　his　mouth　before　tumbling　out　into　the　air。　〃It　。　。　。　hurts　me；〃　he　wheezed。　〃Hollow。〃
　　〃God's　Tree；　what　can　possibly　be　done　for　him？〃　Isorn　groaned。　〃We　are　all　hurting。〃
　　Ostrael's　mouth　gaped。　He　stared　up　with　blind　eyes。
　　〃We　can　bandage　his　wounds。〃　Isorn's　mother　Gutrun　was　recovering　her　considerable　poise。　〃We　can　get　him　a　cloak。　If　he　lives　until　the　morning；　we　can　do　more　then。〃
　　Josua　had　turned　back　to　look　at　the　young　pikeman　again。　〃The　duchess　is　right；　as　usual。　Father　Strangyeard；　see　if　you　can　find　a　cloak。　Perhaps　one　of　the　less　injured　can　spare　theirs　。。。〃
　　〃No！〃　Einskaldir　growled。　〃I　do　not　like　this！〃
　　A　confused　silence　fell　on　the　gathering。
　　〃Surely　you　do　not　begrudge　。。。〃　Deornoth　began；　then　gasped　as　Einskaldir　leaped　past　him　and　seized　the　panting　Ostrael　by　the　shoulders；　throwing　him　roughly　to　the　ground。　Einskaldir　squatted　on　the　young　pikeman's　chest。　The　bearded　Rimmersman's　long　knife　appeared　from　nowhere　to　lie　against　Ostrael's　blood…smeared　neck　like　a　glinting　smile。
　　〃　Einskaldir！　〃Josua's　face　was　pale。　〃What　is　this　madness？〃
　　The　Rimmersman　looked　over　his　shoulder；　a　strange　grin　slashing　his　bearded　face。　〃This　is　no　true　man！　I　do　not　care　where　you　think　you
　　have　seen　him　before！〃
　　Deornoth　reached　a　hand　toward　Einskaldir；　but　drew　it　back　quickly　when　the　Rimmersman's　knife　whickered　past　his　outstretched　fingers。
　　〃Fools！　Look！〃　Einskaldir　pointed　with　his　hilt　toward　the　fire。　Oscrael's　bare　foot　lay　among　the　embers　at　the　edge　of　the　firepit。　The　flesh　was　being　consumed；　blackening　and　smoking；　yet　the　pikeman　himself　lay　almost　placidly　beneath　Einskaldir；　his　lungs　fluting　as　he　forced　breath　in　and　out。
　　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　A　smothering；　bone…chilling　fog　seemed　to　settle　over　the　clearing。　The　moment　had　bee　as　horribly　strange　yet　inalterable　as　a　nightmare。　Fleeing　the　ruin　of　Naglimund；　they　might　have　wandered　into　the　trackless　lands　of　madness。
　　〃Perhaps　his　wounds　。　。　。〃　Isorn　began。。。
　　〃Idiot！　He　feels　no　fire；〃　Einskaldir　snarled。　〃And　he　has　a　slash　in　his　throat　that　would　kill　any　man。　Look！　See。'〃　He　forced　back　Ostrael's　head　until　those　gathered　around　could　see　the　ragged；　fluttering　edges　of　the　wound；　which　stretched　from　one　angle　of　his　jaw　to　the　other。　Father
　　Strangyeard；　who　had　been　leaning　close；　made　a　choking　noise　and　turned　away。
　　〃Tell　me　he　is　not　some　ghost　。　。　。〃　the　Rimmersman　continued；　then　was　almost　thrown　to　the　ground　as　the　body　of　the　pikeman　began　to　thrash　beneath　him。　〃Hold　him　down！〃　Einskaldir　shouted；　trying　to　keep　his　face　away　from　Ostrael's　head；　which　whipped　from　side　to　side；　the　teeth　snapping　shut　on　empty　air。
　　Deornoth　dove　forward　and　clutched　at　one　of　the　slender　arms；　it　was　cold　and　hard　as　stone；　but　still　horribly　flexible。　Isorn；　Strangyeard；　and　Josua　were　also　struggling　to　find　handholds　on　the　wriggling；　lunging　form。　The　half…darkness　was　rich　with　panicky　curses。　When　Sangfugol　came　forward　and　wrapped　himself　around　the　last　unprisoned　foot；　hanging　on　with　both　arms；　the　body　became　quiescent　for　a　moment。　Deornoth　could　still　feel　the　muscles　moving　beneath　the　skin；　tightening　and　relaxing；　mustering　strength　for　another　try。　Air　hissed　in　and　out　of　the　pikeman's　distended；　idiot…mouth。
　　Ostrael's　head　craned　out　on　his　uplifted　neck；　his　blackened　face　swinging　to　look　at　each　of　them　in　turn。　Then；　with　terrifying　suddenness；　the　staring　eyes　seemed　to　blacken　and　fall　inward。　A　moment　later；　wavering　crimson　fire　blossomed　in　the　empty　pits　and　the　labored　breathing　stopped。
　　Somebody　shrieked；　a　thin　cry　that　quickly　fell　away　into　choking　silence。
　　Like　the　clammy；　crushing　grip　of　a　titan　hand；　loathing　and　raw　dread　reached　out　and　enfolded　the　entire　camp　as　the　prisoner　spoke。
　　〃So；'　it　said。　Nothing　human　was　left　in　its　tones；　only　the　dreadful；　icy　inflection　of　empty　spaces；　the　voice　droned　and　blew　like　a　black；　unfenced　wind。　〃This　would　have　been　much　the　easier　way。。。　but　a　swift　death　that　es　in　sleep　is　denied　to　you；　now。〃
　　Deornoth　felt　his　own　heart　speeding　like　a　snared　rabbit's；　speeding　until　he　thought　it　might　leap　from　his　breast。　He　felt　the　strength　flowing　out　of　his　fingers；　even　as　they　clutched　at　the　body　that　had　once　been　Ostrael　Firsfram's　son。　Through　the　tattered　shirt　he　could　feel　flesh　chill　as　a　headstone　but　nevertheless　trembling　with　awful　vitality。　
　　〃What　are　you！？〃　Josua　said；　struggling　to　keep　his　voice　even。　〃And　what　have　you　done　to　this　poor　man？〃
　　The　thing　chuckled；　almost　pleasantly；　but　for　the　awful　emptiness　of　its　voice。　〃I　did　nothing　so　this　creature。　It　was　already　dead；　of　course；　or　nearly　so…it　was　noi　hard　to　find　dead　mortals　in　the　ruins　of　your　freehold；　prince　of　rubble。〃
　　Somebody's　fingernails　were　cutting　into　the　skin　of　Deornoth's　arm；　but　the　ruined　face　gripped　his　gaze　like　a　candle　gleaming　at　the　end　of　a　long；　black　tunnel。
　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Josua　demanded。
　　〃I　am　one　of　the　masters　of　your　castle　。　。　。　and　of　your　ultimate　death；〃　the　thing　replied　with　poisonous　gravity。　〃I　owe　no　mortal　answers。　If　not　for　the　bearded　one's　keen　eye；　your　throats　would　have　all　been　quietly　slit　tonight；　saving　us　much　time　and　trouble。　When　your　fleeing　spirits　go　squealing　at　last　into　the　endless　Between　from　which　we　ourselves　escaped；　it　will　be　by　our　doing。　We　are　the　Red　Hand；　knights　of　the　Storm　King…and　He　is　the　master　of　all！〃
　　With　a　hiss　from　the　ruptured　throat；　the　body　abruptly　doubled　over　like　a　hinge；　struggling　with　the　horrifying　strength　of　a　scorched　snake。
　　Deornoth　felt　his　hold　slipping　away。　As　the　fire　was　kicked　up　into　fluttering　sparks；　he　heard　Vorzheva　sobbing　somewhere　nearby。　Others　were　filling　the　night　with　frightened　cries。　He　was　sliding　off；　Isorn's　weight　was　being　pushed　down　on　top　of　him。　Deornoth　heard　the　terrified　shouts　of　his　fellows　intertwine　with　his　own　hysterical　prayer　for　strength。。。
　　Suddenly　the　thrashing　became　weaker。　The　body　beneath　him　continued　to　flail　from　side　to　side　for　long　moments；　like　a　dying　eel；　then　finally　stopped。
　　〃What。　。　。　？〃　he　was　able　to　force　out　at　last。
　　Einskaldir；　gasping　for　breath；　pointed　to　the　ground　with　his　elbow；　still　maintaining　a　tight　grip　on　the　unmoving　body。　Severed　by　Einskaldir's　sharp　knife；　Ostrael's　head　had　rolled　an　arm's　length　away；　almost　out　of　the　firelight。　Even　as　the　pany　stared；　the　dead　lips　pulled　back　in　a　snarl。　The　crimson　light　was　extinguished；　the　sockets　were　only　empty　wells。　A　thin　whisper　of　sound　passed　the　broken　mouth；　forced　out　on　a　last　puff　of　breath。
　　〃。　。　。　No　escape　。　。　。　Norns　will　find　。。。　No　。。。〃　It　fell　silent。
　　〃By　the　Archangel　。。。〃　Hoarse　with　terror；　Towser　the　jester　broke　the　stillness。
　　Josua　rook　a　shaky　breath。　〃We　must　give　the　demon's　victim　an　Aedonite　burial。〃　The　prince's　voice　was　firm；　but　it　clearly　took　a　heroic　effort　of　will　to　make　it　so。　He　turned　to　look　at　Vorzheva；　who　was　wide…eyed　and　slack…mouthed　with　shock。　〃And　then　we　must　flee。　They　are　indeed　pursuing　us。〃　Josua　turned　and　caught　Deornoth's　eye；　staring。　〃An　Aedonite　burial；〃　he　repeated。
　　〃First；〃　Einskaldir　panted；　blood　welling　in　a　long　scratch　on　his　face；　〃I　cut　the　arms　and　legs　off；　too。〃　He　bent　to　the　task；　lifting　his　hand　axe。
　　The　others　turned　away。
　　The　forest　night　crept　in　closer　still。
　　
　　Old　Gealsgiath　walked　slowly　along　the　wet；　pitching　deck　of　his　ship　toward　the　two　hooded　and　cloaked　figures　huddli