fs.thefirstbookofswords-第54部分
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Barbara sat leaning against the wall； but Ben was standing； as if his nerves and muscles were still on alert； tuned to too high a pitch to let him rest。 He was not tall； but neither was he as short as his thick build sometimes made him look。 The mismatched breastplate and helmet he had scrounged somewhere now gave him an almost clownish look。
Looking at Barbara； Ben laughed tiredly。 〃I only hope we have the chance to try out a long seige。 I think we'd like it better than。。。〃 He didn't finish； but let himself slump back against the wall； and then slide down till he was sitting beside her。
Now Mark could see Nestor； swordless at the moment but still wearing most of his new armor； picking his way wearily across the crowded court toward them。
Nestor said nothing until he had e up to where they were； and had let himself down with a great sigh； that seemed to have in it all the exhaustion of war。 He tipped his head back and kept it that way； gazing up into the gray sky which dropped a little rain from time to time。 Only occasionally did he lower his gaze to look at any of his panion。
〃The fighting。。。 〃 Nestor began to say at last。 And then it appeared that he did not mean to finish either。
For some time there was a silence among them all。 Mark knew； or at least felt； that there were things that needed saying； but he had no feeling for how to begin。
He kept expecting at any moment to hear the call to arms； but it did not e。 The respite in the fighting was growing unexpectedly prolonged。 From the distance came the repetitive； soothing chants of the lesser magicians of Yambu … it was said that the Queen there was her own best wizard。 The chanting was being used to keep the Horde treading in place or marching in a circle until a greater number of ladders could be made and distributed for the next assault。
。。。 Mark roused with a start； and realized he had been dozing； his back against a wall。 Dame Yoldi had appeared in the midst of their resting group。 It was early afternoon now； and she was bending over Nestor； talking to him。 〃Are you hurt？〃
〃No； lady。 Not much。 But tired。 And stiffening now。 I've had a fair rest； though。 I'll be ready to take back the Sword and use it when the fighting starts again。〃
Yoldi； straightening up； nodded abstractedly。 She said： 〃Whoever has Townsaver in hand； fighting to protect unarmed folk in a held place； cannot die so long as he keeps on fighting； no matter how severe his wounds。 But if he is badly hurt； he will fall as soon as the fighting slackens。〃
Nestor said nothing； but continued gazing at the sky。 After a time he nodded； to show that he had heard。
Mark； happening to look toward a far part of the courtyard where vehicles were gathered； saw something that made him speak without thinking。
〃Look；〃 he said。 〃Our old wagon。〃
The others looked。 〃My lute is there；〃 Ben said。
〃I wonder；〃 asked Barbara； of no one in particular； 〃if the money's still under the front seat。〃
Mark had nodded into sleep again； only to waken to a heartfounding shock。 It was late in the day； very late now； and long afternoon shadows had e over them all。
〃Listen！〃 Nestor ordered； urgently。
Mark sat bolt upright。
The distant chanting of the sorcerers of Yambu had fallen into silence。
There was no time for farewells or good wishes。 Mark rushed to rejoin Dame Yoldi on the roof； as she had bidden him do if an alert sounded。 On his way to the first ascending stair； Mark ran past Sir Andrew。 The knight's armor was dented here and there from the earlier fighting。 He was exhorting his troops； in a huge voice； to make another winning effort。
It was a long climb back to the roof。 When he emerged on it at last； Mark found Dame Yoldi already there； her arms raised to a darkening sky and her eyes closed。 A pair of her helpers； a man and a woman； arranged things on the parapet before her； things of magic in bottles and baskets between two burning candles。
Looking down； Mark saw the next surging attack of the larvae strike against the walls on a broad front； and wash up like a wave upon a hundred scaling ladders。 He could draw some encouragement from the fact that the creatures' reserve force； that in the morning had stretched endlessly across the fairgrounds； was much pacted now。 Their legions had been hacked and broken into a vast mud…flat that stained the ground for meters in front of every wall they had assaulted。
But； beyond those thinning deadwood ranks； the human armies of Fraktin and Yambu were both readying themselves for an attack。 Mark realized that the human onslaught would be timed to fall upon an exhausted and weakened defense； just as the last of the larvae were cut down … if indeed the last of the larvae could be defeated。 Already the defenders' ranks； thin to begin with； had suffered painful losses。
Sir Andrew's voice； now distant from Mark's ears； roared out from a wall…top： 〃Save your missiles！ We'll need them to hit men！〃
And the slingers and the archers on the battlements held their fire。 Mark supposed that Barbara had rejoined her group there； though he could not pick her out。
The sun was setting now； beams lancing between dark masses of cloud； red…rimmed like some reflection of the renewed red glow in the east。 Torches were being lighted on the walls； for illumination and weapons both； and they shone down on the advancing； climbing Horde。 Darts and arrows flew up at the defenders from below the walls； but in no great numbers。 The Horde was not well supplied with missile weapons。
Dame Yoldi still stood like a statue on the high roof； her arms raised； her eyes closed； a rising wind moving her garments。 She appeared to be oblivious to what was happening below。 She would be trying to strike back at the enemy somehow； or else to ward off some new harm from them … Mark was unable to tell which。
The attack this time was on a broader front than before； along almost the entire accessible rim of wall； and just as savage as the previous attacks had been。 It prospered quickly。 Two calls for Townsaver went up at the same time； from opposite directions on the walls。
Was it Nestor again； the helmed figure Mark saw now； running out from a guard…tower with the sword？ Mark could not be sure。 Whoever it was； he could fight in only one place at a time。
Again the screaming of the Sword of Fury rose above the eternal whistle…howling of the foe。 Again Mark watched Townsaver's blade carve a dead…wood legion into chunks of mud and flying dust。 Again the sword built a blurred wall through which the invaders could not force their way； press forward as they might。
But； again； Townsaver prevailed only where it could be brought to bear。
Now； Mark could hear despairing cries go up； from the defenders on the wall where the sword was not。 The enemy had gained a foothold there； at last； and was now pouring in reinforcements。 Dame Yoldi； rousing herself from what had seemed a trance； abruptly abandoned her work； snapping orders to her assistants。 Then she grabbed Mark by one arm and began to tow him to the trapdoor that led down。 In his last glance from the high roof at the fighting； he could see warbeasts starting to mount some of the scaling ladders far below。
And； across what had once been the fairgrounds； the human troops of Fraktin and Yambu were answering to trumpets； marshalling for their own move to attack。
The enchantress； still clutching Mark tightly by the wrist； left the stair at the level of the castle where her own workroom was。 Already there was panic in the corridors； folk running this way and that bearing weapons； children； treasures great and small that they had hopes of saving somehow。 Yoldi ignored all this； moving almost at a run to her own chambers。 There； without ceremony； she lifted Dragonslicer from the table； and grabbed a belt and scabbard from a shelf。
She began to buckle the sword on her own bodythen； with a rare display of hesitation； paused。 In an instant she had changed her mind and was fastening it round Mark's waist instead。
〃It will be best this way；〃 she murmured to herself。 〃Yes； be
