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！
From the castle； the last agonized cries of dying prisoners sounded； the grunting and screams。 The old man in pigskins cringed； knowing he would be next； while the captain sweated heavily； panting。
The captain had that inward gaze that men of conscience get when doing evil。 Raj Ahten did not trust him to answer another question honestly。 You could only push a man so far。
Raj Ahten stepped forward； slashed the old fellow who wore pigskins in half。
He considered killing the captain of Longmont。 He had not wanted to leave any witness to tell the secret of his magic powders； or to reveal his battle tactics。 It would be a small matter to gut the fellow。
Yet the captain might serve a greater purpose。 By telling how Raj Ahten had destroyed the walls of Longmont with a mere battle cry； this lone survivor would spread fear across the kingdoms of the North。
All the Northern castles； all the proud fortresses that had stood for thousands of years as men battled the Toth and the nomen and each otherall were useless now。 Death traps。
The men of the North should know。 They should be prepared to surrender。
〃I'm most grateful；〃 Raj Ahten told the captain。 〃You've won your life。 You served as my Dedicate once。 Now you shall serve me again。 I want you to tell others what happened here。 When men ask how you survived the battle； tell them： Raj Ahten left me to testify of his power。〃
The soldier nodded weakly。 His legs shook。 The captain wouldn't be able to stand much longer。 Raj Ahten put a hand on his shoulder； and asked casually； 〃Do you have a family； children？〃
The man nodded； burst into tears； and turned away。
〃What is your name？〃
〃Cedrick Tempest；〃 the young man cried。
Raj Ahten smiled。 〃How many children； Cedrick？〃
〃Three。。。girls and a boy。〃
Raj Ahten nodded appreciatively。 〃You think yourself a coward； Cedrick Tempest。 You think yourself disloyal。 But today； you were loyal to your children； yes？ 'Children are gems； and he who has many is rich indeed。' You will live for them？〃
Cedrick nodded vigorously。
〃There are many kinds of heroes； many forms of loyalty；〃 Raj Ahten said。 〃Do not regret your decision。〃
He turned to walk back to his pavilion on the hill； stopped to clean the gore from the blade of his scimitar on a dead man's cape。 He considered his next move。 His forcibles were goneto Mystarria； perhaps； or any of a hundred keeps。 His reinforcements were late。 An army was marching on him。
Yet he had a new weapon； one that might yet win the day； beyond all hope or expectation。
The men closest to Raj Ahten had taken great damage from his cry； as did men with but a few endowments of stamina。 Raj Ahten dared not use his weapon too near his own men。 Which meant that if he sought to kill Gaborn by the power of his Voice； he'd have to stand alone。
A few small flakes of snow began to fall from the leaden skies； swirling at his feet。 He had not noticed how cold it had bee。
He studied the damage to Castle Longmont from outside。 Cracks had broken the walls； splitting the stone in numerous places。 Massive walls of black stone nearly a hundred feet tall still loomed above him。 The foundation stones were thirty feet thick； fourteen feet wide； twelve feet tall。 Each stone weighed thousands of tons。 This fortress had stood for centuries； indomitable。 He'd seen the wards of earth…binding on its gates。
His flameweavers' most powerful spells could hardly pierce the walls。 His catapults hadn't chipped them。 Yet his voice had rent some of the massive foundation stones。
Even Raj Ahten marveled。 It was not clear yet what he was being。 He'd taken Castle Sylvarresta with nothing more than the power of his glamour。 Now he found that his Voice was being a potent； dazzling weapon。
In his realms to the south； Dedicates died from moment to moment； while new ones were recruited。 The configuration of his attributes was always in flux。 But of one thing he felt certain： More endowments were being added than were lost。 He was being added upon。 Being the Sum of All Men。
Perhaps now was the time to face this young foolthe Earth King and his armies。 Raj Ahten glowered。
He turned and gave a great roar； threw his voice against the near wall。 〃I am mightier than the earth！〃
Longmont crackedthe whole southern wall shuddered。 Cedrick Tempest fell； too； running from the gate； clutching his helm； curling in on himself when he could run no more。
To Raj Ahten's dismay； the upper half of the Duke's Keep crumbled to the left。 Some of his men screamed within the castle as the building collapsed on them。 It was as if the wards of earth power that bound the castle crumbled； leaving the keep in ruin。
At the same time； on the hill behind him； Raj Ahten heard a branch crack。
He turned； glimpsed the great oak by his pavilion。 The trunk of the great oak snapped。。。and half of the tree crashed through the roof of his Dedicates' wagon。
In that moment； Raj Ahten felt a dozen small deaths； the dizzying breathlessness that acpanied the loss of virtue。
The world slowed terrifyingly。 For long years； Raj Ahten had brought his wagon with him。 In it he bore Dervin Feyl； a man who had bequeathed Raj Ahten an endowment of metabolism many years back； had bee a vector。
Dervin had just died； along with the Dedicate who vectored glamour to Raj Ahten； and several other minor men。
Raj Ahten marveled at his sudden sluggishness。 Did my Voice smite the tree； or does Earth seek to punish me？ he wondered。
Did the earth strike at me？ He had no way to answer the question。 Yet it mattered a great deal。 The wizard Binnesman had cursed him； seemingly with no effect。 Had the wizard's curse weakened that tree？
Or had his own Voice been his downfall？
Such a small blow。 Yet so profoundly effective。
Raj Ahten wondered； but at that moment； it no longer mattered。 Raj Ahten； despite his victory at Longmont； stood defeated。 Though he had the wit and grace and brawn of thousands； without his speed he'd bee a 〃warrior of unfortunate proportion。〃 Even a mon soldier； some boy without endowments； might be able to slaughter him。
If Gaborn came against him with the speed of even five men and endowments of stamina from another five； Raj Ahten could not prevail against him。
Raj Ahten cast his eyes about in desperation。 His flameweavers had burned themselves out。 His forcibles were gone。 The salamanders had returned to the netherworld； and would not be summoned easily for a long while。 His arcane explosive powders were all used up。
I came to destroy Orden and Sylvarresta； he thought； and that much I've acplished。 But in doing this； I've created a greater enemy。
It was time to flee Longmont； flee Heredon and all the Kingdoms of Rofehavan while he reconsidered his tactics。 At this moment； despite whatever other victories his men might win here in the North； he could feel the Kingdoms of Rofehavan all slipping from his grasp。
Raj Ahten had his endowments； thousands upon thousands of them。 But his mines were petering out； and his forcibles were in the hands of his enemy。 Whatever gifts he had now； the young king might soon match。
Raj Ahten felt utterly dismayed。
The snow was blowing。 The first snow Raj Ahten would