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！
And in Raj Ahten's mind； a peculiar flame began to dance。
He knew that he should restrain himself now； that it was wrong to destroy men so ruthlessly。 It would have been better to use those he could； take their endowments。 These men had virtues and strengths that should not have been wasted in such a brutish fashion。 Their ugly； fleeting little lives could have been converted to a grander purpose。
Yet the smell of burning flesh suddenly enticed Raj Ahten； left him tingling in anticipation。 Against all his better reason； he hungered for destruction。
Cedrick Tempest had been standing behind the mantelet； racing between two warhorses toward the Duke's kitchens； where Shostag lay hidden； when the green wave of flame touched the battlements and a great ball of fire filled the sky overhead。
Fortunately； he'd been staring down； running away from the blast。 The heat and energy of it shoved him face…first into the paving stones； so that his helm bent close to his head。 For one moment； he'd felt the searing heat of the blast crisp his clothing； burn his skin at a touch。 Then he tried to draw a breath in the hot wind of the fireball's passage。
Horses kicked and fell under the impact of the blast。 One of them landed half atop him； the body of a knight crushing him。
For a moment； Tempest fell unconscious。 Found himself crawling among the stones； among the fallen horses。 Men and parts of men rained from the castle walls； a gruesome storm of burned bodies； destroyed flesh。
In that moment； he gazed about in horror as a blackened boy plopped at his head； an arm fell near his hand。 He knew then that he would not survive this day。 Three days past； he'd sent his wife and children to Castle Groverman； hoping they'd be safe； hoping he'd live to see them again。 He remembered how they'd looked as they lefthis two toddlers riding the back of a goat； his wife carrying their babe in her arms； his oldest daughter trying to look mature； her lips trembling as she stifled tears of fear。
Tempest looked up to the castle walls； on the west。 The walls were nearly empty。 Those men still up looked dazed； confused。
Suddenly； a flaming white salamander leapt up on the merlon of the south tower； gazing about。 Tempest hid his face； lest the pearly orbs of its eyes touch him。
A second； smaller explosion sounded fifty yards behind him。 Tempest tried to scrabble to his knees； looked back。 Raj Ahten's Invincibles had just hit the little mantelet barricade inside the gates with their ram。 The barricade exploded； sending shards of woods flying； flaming out。
Any men who stood near that barricade blew back under the onslaught of fiery debris； yet painfully few men had been standing at all。 A few knights were still up on their horses； but the fallen bodies of their rades hemmed them in。
The battle was lost。 All along the walls before him； defenders were down。 Thousands of men screamed and writhed in pain。 Arrows were hurtling over the castle walls now； a dark and deadly rain； dropping into wounded men。
Some few hundred men were rushing from the north side of the castle； trying to reach the gates； to put up some kind of defense。 Yet Raj Ahten's Invincibles rushed to meet them by the thousands。
War dogs in grim leather masks raced through the streets； leaping over fallen knights and their horses； ripping apart any man or beast that lived； feeding as they slaughtered。
Tempest hoped still that he might find Shostag； slay him so that the serpent would form a head。 Yet he felt stunned； confused。 Blood dripped from his face。
He collapsed as Raj Ahten's war dogs raced over him； leaping through the fray。
Chapter 49
THE EARTH KING STRIKES
Binnesman rode over the heath toward Gaborn and Iome； beneath the cloud of dirt and pollen raised by the feet of hundreds of thousands of men and cattle。
Gaborn stared at the wizard。 It was the first time he had seen him in full daylight。 His hair had gone white； and the baggy robes he wore had turned from a forest green to shades of scarlet and orange； like leaves that had changed color。
Gaborn rode so close to Iome that at times her knee touched his。 He dared not try to call a halt as the wizard neared； his mount speeding over the purple heather。 Too many people and animals moved in the great throng。 Yet Gaborn wanted to talk to Binnesman； wanted to hear his report。
Binnesman stared at Gaborn's troops for a long moment； wheeled his horse to a near halt； and at last asked in surprise； 〃Do you plan to feed Raj Ahten's army with all these cattle； or trample him with them？〃
〃Whatever he desires；〃 Gaborn said。
Binnesman shook his head in wonder。 〃I heard the startled cries of birds here； felt the earth groan under the weight of feet。 I thought that you had conjured an army。 I thought it fortunate that I'd gone to the trouble of destroying the old Harm's Gorge Bridge； blocking Raj Ahten's hopes for reinforcements from the west。〃
〃I appreciate the gesture；〃 Gaborn said。 〃What can you tell me？ Have Raj Ahten's reinforcements been spotted？〃
〃No；〃 Binnesman said； 〃nor do I think they are close。〃
〃Perhaps luck is with us；〃 Gaborn said。
〃Perhaps so；〃 Binnesman said。
On the horizon； just along the line of green hills covered with trees； the blackness flashed again； much more fiercely than ever beforea line of blackness that split the sky from horizon to horizon。
Then a great pillar of fire roared slowly into the air； an explosion so massive； Gaborn had never seen the like。 Something terrible was happening。
〃Gaborn；〃 Binnesman said。 〃Close your eyes。 Use your Earth Sight。 Tell me what is happening。〃
Gaborn closed his eyes。 For a moment； he felt nothing； and he wondered if Binnesman had erred in asking him to use the Earth Sight。
Then； faintly； he felt the connections； felt the invisible lines of power between him and his people。 He had only consciously chosen his father。 Now he realized that he'd been choosing people for days。 He'd chosen Myrrima that morning in the market； and he'd claimed Borenson。 He'd chosen Chemoise when he saw her helping her father in the wagon； and had chosen her father。
Now； he felt all those he had claimedBorenson； his father； Myrrima； Chemoise and her father。 He felt。。。danger。 Terrible danger。 He feared that if they did not fight now； they would all die。
Strike； Gaborn silently willed them。 Strike now； if you can！
Twenty seconds later； the sound of an explosion roared across the plain； shaking the earth； like distant thunder。
Chapter 50
THE OPENING
At Castle Sylvarresta； Chemoise was getting dinner in the buttery when she felt the urge to strike。 The desire came so quickly and so profoundly that she struck her hand against the table by reflex； smashing a round of cheese。
Myrrima tempered her response with reason。 The thunders of war shook the manor house where she hid； and outside the sky was black。 She couldn't strike against Raj Ahten's soldiers； knew she was no match。 So she raced upstairs； hoping to hide beneath some lord's bed。
Six years past； Eremon Vottania Solette had chosen to live as a Dedicate to Salim al Daub because he had two dreams： The first was to see his daughter again。 The secon