tw.togreenangeltower2-第167部分
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Even through the music of the swords； Simon could sense the chill presence he had felt on the stairs growing stronger； vast and weighty as a mountain； cold as the gaps between stars。 It was closer now； but at the same time it hovered just beyond some inprehensible wall。
Elias； who seemed almost unmoved by the exuberating power of the swords； raked Simon with mad green eyes。 〃I do not know this one； Pryrates；〃 he murmured； 〃…although there is something familiar about him。 But it does not matter。 All the bargains have been kept。〃
〃Indeed。〃 The priest moved past； so close that his robe touched Simon's arm。 A buried part of Simon shrieked with disgust and fury； but no sound passed his quivering lips： he was now little more than something that held Bright…Nail。 The sword's vaulting spirit； connected now to its brothers； uncaring of human struggles and human hatreds； waited only for whatever would happen next； eager as a dog expecting to be fed。
〃All bargains are kept；〃 Pryrates rasped as he took a place beside the king's shoulder； 〃and all is now set in motion。 Soon Utuk'ku the Eldest will have harnessed the Pool of Three Depths。 Then we will have pleted the Fifth House； and all will change。〃 He looked at Simon and his eyes glittered。 〃This one you do not know is Morgenes' kitchen…whelp； Highness。〃 Pryrates grinned。 〃This is satisfying。 I saw what you did to Inch； boy。 Very thorough work。 You saved me some tiresome effort。〃
Simon felt a powerful rage bubbling up inside him。 In the red light the priest's smug face seemed to hang bodilessiy； and for a moment Simon could see nothing else。 He struggled to move his limbs； to pull Bright…Nail away from its brothers so he could smash out the murderer's life； but he was helpless。 The flame of anger blazed without release； so hot that Simon felt sure it would scorch him to ashes from within。
The tower rocked again to the thunderous voice of the bell。 Simon stared； even as the floor shook before him and his ears popped； but the bronze bells at the center of the chamber did not move。 Instead； a ghostly shape appeared； a bell of sorts； but long and cylindrical。 For a moment； as the phantom bell vibrated； Simon saw flames sheeting again outside the windows； the sky gone endlessly black。
When the noise had died； Pryrates lifted his hands。 〃She has conquered。 It is time。〃
The king lowered his head。 〃God help me； I have waited long。〃
〃Your waiting is over。〃 The priest crossed his arms before his face； then lowered them。 〃Utuk'ku has captured the Pool of Three Depths。 The swords are here； waiting only for the Words of Unmaking to release that which binds them； then the force that was prisoned within them will sing free and bring you everything that you have desired。〃
〃Immortality？〃 asked Elias； shy as a child。
〃Immortality。 A life that outlasts the stars。 You sought your dead wife； Highness； but you found something far greater。〃
〃Do not 。。。 do not speak of her。〃
〃Rejoice； Elias； do not grieve！〃 Pryrates brought his palms together and lightning scratched across the sky outside the tall windows。 〃You feared you would have no heir when your disobedient daughter ran away…but you yourself will be your own inheritor。 You will never die！〃
Elias lifted his head； his eyes shut as though he basked in a warming sun。 His mouth trembled。
〃Never die；〃 he said。
〃You have gained powerful friends； and in this hour they will pay you back for all your suffering。〃 Pryrates stepped away from the king and thrust his red…sleeved arm toward the ceiling。 〃I invoke the First House！〃
The great invisible bell sounded again； crashing like a hammer in a god's smithy。 Flames ran through the betlchamber； capering across the icy walls。 〃On Thisterborg； among the ancient stones；〃 Pryrates intoned； 〃one of the Red Hand is waiting。 For his master and you he uses the power of that place and opens a crack into the between…places。 He unfolds the first of the A…Genay'asu'e and brings forth the First House。〃
Simon sensed the cold； dreadful something that waited growing stronger。 It was all around Green Angel Tower； drawing nearer； like a hunting beast ing stealthily through the darkness toward a campfire。
〃At Wentmouth；〃 Pryrates cried； 〃on the cliffs above the endless ocean where the Hayefur once burned for travelers from the lost West； the Second House is now built。 The Storm King's servant is there； and a far greater flame lifts to the skies。〃
〃Do 。。。 not 。。。〃 Binabik； held by Pryrates' magics； struggled to move forward from the walls。 His voice eemed to e from a great distance。 〃Do 。。。 not。。。 ！〃
The priest flicked a gesture toward him and the troll was silenced； squirming helplessly。
Again the bell rang； and the power of it seemed to pulse on and on； reverberating。 For a moment Simon heard voices rising outside； screams of pain and terror in the language of the Sithi。 Red lights flickered in the icicles hanging from the bell…chamber's vaulted ceiling。
〃Above Hasu Vale； beside the ancient Wailing Stone； where the Eldest before the Eldest once danced beneath stars that have burned out…the Third House is built。 The Storm King's servant lifts another flame to the skies。〃
Elias suddenly took a wobbly step。 Sorrow's blade dipped as he bent； although it still touched the other two swords。 〃Pryrates；〃 he gasped； 〃something 。。。 something is burning 。。。 inside me！〃
〃Father！〃 Miriamele's voice was faint； but her face was contorted with terror。
〃Because it is time； Majesty；〃 the alchemist said。 〃You are changing。 Your mortality must be scorched away by clean flame。〃 He pointed at the princess。 〃Look； Elias！ Do you see what your weakness does to you？ Do you see what the sham of love would bring you？ She would make you into an old man； sobbing for your meals； pissing in your bed！〃
The king straightened up and turned his back on Miriamele。 〃I will not be held down；〃 he gritted。 Every word seemed an effort。 〃I will 。 。。 take 。。。 what was promised。〃
Simon saw that the priest was smiling； though sweat trickled down his egg…smooth brow。 〃You will have it。〃 He lifted his arms once more。 Simon strained until he thought veins would burst in his temples； but could not pull free from the crossed swords。 〃In your brother's stronghold； Elias；〃 Pryrates said； 〃in what was the very heart of his treachery…at Naglimund we build the Fourth House！〃
Simon again saw the unfamiliar black sky framed in the window。 At the bottom of the sill； the Hayholt had bee a forest of pale； graceful towers。 Flames ran among them。 The strange sight did not vanish。 The Hayholt was gone； replaced by 。。。 Asu'a？ Simon heard shrieking Sithi voices echoing； and the roar of flames。
〃And now the Fifth House！〃 cried Pryrates。
The tolling of the phantom bell this time brought back Simon's view of storm clouds and whirling snow。 The high…pitched anguish of the Sithi gave way to the dulled shouts of mortals。
〃In the Pool of Three Depths； Utuk'ku gives way to the last of the Storm King's servitors； and beneath us the fifth and final House is created。〃 Pryrates spread his arms； palms down； and the whole tower trembled。 A kind of sucking pull reached down the length of Bright…Nail； through Simon's arm； tugging at his heart and even his thoughts as though it sought to draw them out whole。 Across from him； Camaris bared his teeth in an agonized grimace； Thorn quivering in his fist。
A fountain of icy blue light sprang up through the floor of the bellchamber； roaring and crackling as it passed through the blackness where the swords touched。 Diminished and distorted by that passage； it continued up past Simon's face and spattered the glinting ceiling with blue sparks。 Simon felt his body convulsing as tremendous energies flowed around him and through him。 Inside his battered thoughts the swords thrilled exultantly； their spirits released。 He tried to open his mouth and scream； but his jaws were locked tight； teeth grinding。 The coruscating blue light filled his eyes。
〃And now the three Great Swords have found their way to this place； beneath the Conqueror Star。 Sorrow； defender of Asu'a； scourge o
