tw.togreenangeltower2-第129部分

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　　　　　　　He　scrambled　upward；　ignoring　the　flare　of　pain　each　step　brought　as　he　fought　to　keep　close　to　Josua；　who　was　a　slender　gray　shadow　moving　through　the　near…darkness　above　him。　Tiamak's　mouth　was　dry。　Something　waited　at　the　top　of　these　stairs。
　　　　　　　Death；　he　thought。　Death；　crouching　like　a　ghant　in　the　treetops。
From　somewhere　above　the　bell　thundered　again；　a　shuddersome　impact　that　shook　him　as　an　angry　parent　shakes　a　child。　Flames　flickered　again　before　his　eyes；　and　the　very　substance　of　things　seemed　to　shred　apart。　It　seemed　an　agonizingly　long　time　before　he　could　see　the　steps　before　him　once　more；　and　could　make　his　clumsy；　nerveless　legs　do　what　he　bade　them。　The　tower。。。　was　it　ing　to　life？　When　everything　else　was　about　to　die？　Why　did　she　send　me？　What　can　I　do？　He　Who　Always　Steps　on　Sand；　I　am　so　frightened！
　　　　　　　Prince　Josua　pulled　farther　ahead；　then　disappeared　from　view；　but　the　lame　Wrannaman　climbed　on。　Quick　glances　through　the　tower　windows　showed　him　brawling　chaos　raging　across　the　unfamiliar　terrain　below。　The　Conqueror　Star　glared　like　an　angry　eye　overhead。　Snow　cluttered　the　reddened　skies；　but　he　could　make　out　the　faint　shapes　of　men　swarming　over　the　walls；　small　skirmishes　forming　along　the　battlements；　other　bats　spilling　across　the　open　ground　around　the　tower。　For　a　moment　Tiamak　felt　hope；　guessing　that　Duke　Isgrimnur　and　the　rest　of　Josua's　army　must　be　forcing　their　way　in…until　he　remembered　the　ward　with　which　Binabik　said　the　tower　was　sealed。　Isgrimnur　and　the　others　would　be　unable　to　prevent　whatever　was　to　happen　here。
　　　　　　　So　much　was　confusing。　What　exactly　had　Miriamele　and　the　troll　meant　about　the　swords？　They　were　a　trick；　somehow…and；　more　importantly；　Pryrates　and　Elias　wanted　them　brought　here。　But　why？　What　had　they　planned？　Clearly；　Utuk'ku's　presence　beneath　the　castle　had　something　to　do　with　it。　The　Sithi　had　said　they　could　slow　her　but　not　stop　her。　There　had　been　some　vast　power　in　the　Pool　of　Three　Depths；　and　Tiamak　felt　sure　the　Nom　Queen　intended　to　harness　it。　The　Sithi　had　been　struggling　to　slow　her；　but　they　had　seemed　to　be　failing　at　even　that　task。
　　　　　　　Tiamak　heard　Josua's　voice　close　by。　He　paused；　quivering；　afraid　to　go　the　final　steps。　Suddenly　he　did　not　want　to　see　whatever　the　prince　had　found　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　He　squeezed　his　eyes　tightly　shut　and　prayed　with　all　his　strength　that　he　would　wake　up　in　his　banyan…tree　hut　once　more；　everything　that　had　happened　just　an　evil　dream。　But　the　sound　of　the　restless　winds　outside　never　faded；　and　when　he　opened　his　eyes　the　pale；　polished　walls　of　Green　Angel　Tower's　stairwell　still　surrounded　him。　He　knew　he　must　go　on；　although　every　hammerblow　of　his　heart　urged　him　to　flee　back　down　the　stairs。　His　legs　too　weak　to　hold　him　upright；　he　sank　to　the　stone；　then　climbed　the　last　few　steps　on　his　hands　and　knees；　until　his　head　rose　past　the　top　step　into　cold　wind　and　he　found　himself　inside　the　airy　bellchamber。
　　　　　　　The　huge　bronze　bells　hung　beneath　the　vaulted　ceiling　like　poisonous　green　marsh　flowers；　and　indeed；　despite　the　buffeting　wind；　the　chamber　was　filled　with　the　odor　of　decaying　flesh　that　such　flowers　produced。　Around　the　center　of　the　chamber　a　cluster　of　dark　pillars　rose　to　the　ceiling；　and　on　all　four　sides　great　arched　windows　opened　out　onto　swirling　snow　and　angry　crimson　clouds。　Josua　stood　a　few　steps　before　Tiamak；　facing　the　north　window。　The　prince's　attitude　was　stiff；　as　though　he　did　not　know　what　to　do；　how　to　stand。　Facing　him；　seated　before　the　window　on　a　simple　wooden　stool；　was　his　brother　Elias。
　　　　　　　The　king　wore　a　dark　iron　crown　on　his　pale　brow；　and　held　in　his　hands　a　long　gray　something　that　Tiamak　could　not　quite　see。　It　had　something　of　the　shape　of　a　sword；　but　Tiamak's　eyes　could　not　fasten　on　it　properly；　as　though　it　did　not　entirely　reside　within　the　natural　world。　The　king　himself　was　dressed　in　full　royal　pomp；　but　his　clothes　were　stained；　and　his　cloak　where　the　wind　caught　and　lifted　it　showed　more　holes　than　cloth。
　　　　　　　〃Throw　it　away？〃　Elias　said　slowly。　His　eyes　were　still　downcast；　and　he　replied　to　whatever　Josua　had　said　with　the　air　of　one　who　had　been　daydreaming。　〃Throw　it　away？　But　I　could　never　do　that。　Not　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃For　God's　love　and　mercy；　Elias！〃　Josua　said　desperately；　〃it　is　killing　you！　And　it　is　meant　to　do　more…whatever　Pryrates　has　told　you；　he　plans　only　evil！〃
　　　　　　　The　king　lifted　his　head；　and　Tiamak；　though　he　was　behind　Josua　and　hidden　by　the　shadows　in　the　stairwell；　could　not　help　recoiling　in　horror。　The　red　light　from　the　windows　played　across　the　king's　colorless　face；　muscles　writhed　beneath　the　skin　like　worms。　But　it　was　his　eyes　that　made　Tiamak　choke　back　a　shout　of　fear。　A　dull　gleam　smoldered　in　them；　an　inhuman　light　like　the　pallid　glare　of　marsh…candles；
〃Aedon　save　us；〃　Josua　gasped。
〃But　this　is　not　Pryrates'　plan。〃　Elias'　lips　pulled　back　in　a　stiff　smile；　as　though　he　could　no　longer　make　his　face　work　properly。　〃I　am　the　High　King；　do　not　forget：　everything　moves　at　my　will。　It　is　my　plan。　The　priest　has　only　done　my　bidding；　and　soon　I　will　have　no　further　need　of　him。　And　you　。。。〃　he　rose；　unfolding　himself　with　odd　jerking　movements　until　he　stood　at　full　height；　the　uncertain　gray　thing　still　resting　point…down　on　the　floor；　〃。。。　you　were　my　brother。　Once。〃
　　　　　　　〃Once！？〃　Josua　shouted。　〃Elias；　what　has　happened　to　you？　You　have　bee　something　foul…something　demonic！〃
　　　　　　　He　took　a　step　back　and　almost　fell　into　the　hole　of　the　stairwell；　then　turned　Naidel's　hilt　in　his　trembling　hand　and　made　the　sign　of　the　Tree　over　his　own　breast。　Thunder　growled　outside　and　the　light　flickered；　but　the　king　only　stared　at　him　blankly。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　no　demon；〃　the　king　said。　He　seemed　to　be　considering　the　matter　carefully。　〃No。　But　soon　I　will　be　more…much　more…than　a　man。　I　can　feel　it　already；　feel　myself　opening　to　the　winds　that　cry　between　stars；　feel　myself　as　a　night　sky　where　ets　flare。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃May　Usires　the　Ransomer　forgive　me；〃　Josua　breathed。　〃You　are　correct；　Elias。　You　are　no　longer　my　brother。〃
The　king's　calm　expression　twisted　into　rage。　〃And　whose　is　the　fault？！　You　have　envied　me　since　you　were　a　child　and　have　done　your　best　to　destroy　me。　You　took　my　wife　from　me；　my　beloved　Hylissa；　stole　her　and　gave　her　to　Death！　I　have　not　had　a　moment's　peace　since！〃　The　king　lifted　a　twitching　hand。　〃But　that　was　not　enough…no；　cutting　out　my　heart　was　not　enough　for　you；　but　you　would　have　my　rightful　kingship；　too！　So　you　covet　my　crown；　do　you？〃　he　bellowed。　〃Here；　take　it！〃　He　wrenched　at　the　dark　circlet　as　Josua　stared。　〃Cursed　iron…it　has　burned　me　until　I　thought　I　would　go　mad！〃　Elias　grunted　as　he　ripped　it　free　and　cast　it　to　the　floor。　A　seared　shadow…crown　of　torn；　blackened　flesh　remained　on　his　brow。
　　　　　　　Josua　took　a　step　back；　eyes　wide　with　horror　and　pity。　Tears　ran　down　his　cheeks。　〃I　pray　。。。　Aedon's　mercy！　I　pray　for　your　soul；　Elias。〃　The　prince　lifted　his　leather…capped　arm　as　though　to　push　away　what　he　saw。　〃Ah；　God；　you　poor　man！〃　He　stiffened；　then　raised　Naidel　and　extended　it　until　the　point　trembled　before　the　king's　breast。　〃But　you　must　surrender　that　cursed　sword。　There　are　only　moments　before　Pryrates　es。　I　cannot　wait。〃
The　king　dropped　his　chin；　peering　out　at　Josua　from　beneath　his　eyebrows；　head　lolling　as　if　his　neck　was　broken。　A　thick　droplet　of　blood　oozed　from　the　place　where　the　crown　had　been。　〃Ah。　Ah。　Is　it　that　time；　then？　I　grow　confused；　since　everything　has　already　happened…or　so　it　seems　。。。〃　He　swept　up　the　gray　thing；　and　for　a　moment　it　hardened　into　existence；　a　long　mottle…bladed　sword；　with　a　double　guard；　streaked　with　fiery　gleams。　Tiamak　quailed；　but　stayed　where　he　was；　unable　to　look　away。　The　blade　seemed　a　piece　of　the　storm…tortured　sky。　〃Very　well。　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Josua　leaped　forward　with　a　wordless　cry；　Naidel　darting　like　lightning。　The　king　flicked　Sorrow　and　knocked　the　blow　aside；　but　did　not　return　the　thrust。　Josua　danced　back；　shaking　as　though　fevered；　Tiamak　wondered　if　merely　having　the　gray　sword　touch　his　own　made　him　quiver　so。　The　prince　waded　in　again；　and　for　long　moments　he　strove　to　break　through　his　brother's　guard。　Elias　seemed　to　fight　in　a　sort　of　dream；　moving　in　sudden　spasms；　but　only　enough　to　block　Josua's　attacks；　waiting　until　the　last　moment　each　time　as　though　he　knew　where　the　prince　would　strike。
　　　　　　　Josua　at　last　drew　back；　gasping　for　breath。　The　sweat　on　his　brow　gleamed　as　lightning　flickered　in　the　distance。
〃You　see；〃　Elias　said；　〃it　is　too　late　for　such　crude　methods。〃　He　paused　for　a　moment；　a　rumble　of　thunder　gently　shook　the　bells。　〃Too　late。〃　The　smoky　light　in　his　eyes　flared　as　he　lifted　Sorrow。　〃But　it　is　not　too　late　for　me　to　enjoy　a　little　repayment　for　all　the　evil　you　have　done　me…my　wife　dead；　my　throne　made　unsafe；　my　daughter's　heart　poisoned　against　me。　Later　I　will　have　other　concerns。　But　for　this　time　I　can　think　on　you；　once…brother。〃　He　stepped　forward；　the　sword　a　shadowy　blur。
　　　　　　　Josua　fought　a　desperate　battle　of　resistance；　but　the　king　had　a　more　than　human　strength。　He　quickly　backed　Josua　against　the　southern　window；　then；　despite　the　strange　stiffness　of　his　movements；　kept　the　prince　pinned　there　with　heavy　blows　that　Josua　only　barely　managed　to　keep　from　his　vital　spots。　Slender　Naidel　was　not　enough　to　hold　the　king　away；　and　within　instants　Josua　tottered　against　the　window…ledge；　unable　to　protect　himself　any　longer。　Elias　abruptly　reached　out　and　grasped　Naidel　by　the　blade；　then　yanked　it　from　Josua's　grip。　Tiamak；　desperate　beyond　sense；　clambered　up　out　of　the　stairwell　and　flung　himself　at　the　king's　back　as　Sorrow　rose　overhead。　The　Wrannaman　dragged　at　Elias'　sword　arm。
　　　　　　　It　was　not　enough　to　save　the　prince。　Josua　flung　up　his　arms　to　protect　himself；　but　the　gray　blade　hammered　down　at　his　neck。　Tiamak　did　not　see　the　sword　bite；　but　he　heard　the　awful　smash　of　impact　and　felt　it　shiver　up　the　king's　arm。　Josua's　head　jerked　and　he　flew　to　one　side；　blood　streaming　from　his　neck。　He　collapsed　like　an　empty　sack；　then　lay　still。
　　　　　　　Thrown　off　his　balance；　the　king　staggered