tw.togreenangeltower2-第145部分
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it。〃 A moment later he made a noise of surprise and horror。
〃What do you see？〃 Strangyeard squinted his eye； trying to see through the swirling snows。
〃Something was dropped on them。〃 The harper was shaken。 〃A big stone； I think。 I am sure they are all dead。〃
〃May the Ransomer protect us；〃 Strangyeard said miserably。 〃It has begun in earnest。 Now we can only wait for the ending； whatever that may be。〃
Isgrimnur held his hands close to his face； trying to shield himself from the wind…flung snow。 He was having great difficulty keeping track of what was happening； although the Hayholt's walls were less than five hundred cubits up the hillside from where he watched。 Hundreds of armored men floundered in the drifts before the wall； busy as insects。 Hundreds more； even dimmer shapes from Isgrimnur's vantage point； scurried about atop the Hayholt's walls。 The duke cursed quietly。 Everything seemed so damnably distant！
Freosel climbed onto the wooden platform the engineers had built between the bottom of the hill and the empty； storm…raddled husk of Erchester。 The Falshireman was visibly struggling against the wind。 〃Ram's almost to the gates。 The wind； it'll be our friend today…hard on their bowmen； it be。〃
〃But we're not able to shoot any better；〃 the duke snarled。 〃They've got free run of the walls and they're pushing our scaling ladders off easy as you 〃please。〃 He smacked his fist into his gloved hand。 〃The sun's been up for hours and all we've done is wear a few trenches in the snow。〃
The Falshireman looked at him quizzically。 〃Pardon； Sir Duke； but seems you think we should knock these walls down 'fore sunset。〃
〃No； no。 God knows the Hayhoit is built strong。 But I don't know how much time we have。〃 He looked up into the murky sky。 〃That cursed star they all talk about is right overhead。 I can almost feel it glaring。 The prince and Camaris are gone。 Miriamele's gone。〃 He turned his gaze to the Hayhoit； peering through the snow flurries。 〃And our men are going to freeze solid if we keep them out there too long。 I wish we could knock the walls down by sunset…but I don't hold much hope。〃
Isorn pointed upward。 The soldiers gathered around him looked up。
〃There。 On the walls。〃
Beside the helmeted heads peering through the crenellations were more than a few whose heads were bare； their faces were ghostly； and their white hair blew in the strong wind。
〃White Foxes？〃 asked Sludig。 He made the sign of the Tree。
〃Indeed。 And inside the Hayhoit。 Cursed things！〃 Isorn lifted his black…painted sword and waved it back and forth in challenge； but the distant figures on the walls did not seem to notice。 〃And curse Elias for whatever foul bargain he made。〃
Sludig was staring。 〃I have not seen them before；〃 he cried above the tumult。 〃Merciful Aedon； they look like demons！〃
〃They are demons。 And now the Hayhoit is their nest。〃
〃But they are doing nothing that I can see。〃
〃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
