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！
e presence of the thing she sought； she reached out for it； praying to forces that had been old in Venyha Do'sae that it would give her what she needed to acplish her final； long…awaited goal。
A flare of joy passed through her。 The power was there； more than enough for her purposes； now all that remained was to master it and make it hers。 The hour was ap… proaching； and Utuk'ku had no need to be patient any longer。
〃My eyes are not good at the best of times；〃 Strangyeard plained。 〃And with this sunless day and the blowing snow； I cannot see anything！ Sangfugol； tell me what is happening； please！〃
〃There's nothing to see； yet。〃 They were perched on the side of one of Swertclif's foothills； looking down on Erchester and the Hayholt。 The tree beneath which the pair huddled and the low wall of stones they had made provided scant protection against the wind。 Despite his hooded cloak and the two blankets he had wrapped around himself； the harper was shivering。 〃Our army is before the walls and the heralds have blown the trumpets。 Isgrimnur or someone must be reading the Writ of Demand。 I still don't see any of the king's soldiers 。。。 no； there are some shapes moving on the battlements。 I had begun to wonder if anyone was inside at all。。。。〃
〃Who？ Who is on the battlements？〃
〃Aedon's mercy； Strangeyeard； I can't tell。 They are shapes； that's all。〃
〃We should be closer；〃 the priest said fretfully。 〃This hillside is too distant in weather like this。〃
The harper darted a glance at him。 〃You must be mad。 I am a musician； you are a librarian。 We are too close as it is…we should have stayed in Nabban。 But here we are； and here we will stay。 Closer； indeed！〃 He blew into his cupped palms。
A faint clamor of horns drifted over the wind。 〃What is it？〃 Strangyeard asked。 〃What is happening？〃
'They have finished the Writ and I suppose they've gotten no answer。 That is just like Josua； to give Elias a chance to surrender honorably when we know already he will do nothing of the sort。〃
〃The prince is 。。。 determined to do the right thing；〃 Strangyeard replied。 〃Goodness； I hope he is well。 It makes me sick to think of him and Camaris wandering lost in those caverns。〃
〃There is that Nabbanman；〃 Sangfugol said excitedly。 〃He does look rather like Josua…from here； anyway。〃 He turned suddenly toward the priest。 〃Did you really suggest I should mimic the prince？〃
〃You look much like him。〃
Sangfugol stared at him with disgust and bitter amusement。 〃Mother of God； Strangyeard； do me no favors。〃 He huddled deeper into his blankets。 〃Imagine me riding around waving a sword。 Ransomer save us all。〃
〃But we all must do what we can。〃
〃Yes…and what I can do is play my harp； or my lute； and sing。 And if we win； I will most assuredly do that。 And if we don't…well； 1 may do that anyway if I live； but it won't be here。 But what I cannot do is ride and fight and convince people that I am Josua。〃
They were silent for a time； listening to the wind。
〃If we lose； I fear there will be nowhere else to run to； Sangfugol。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 The harper sat unspeaking a while longer； then said： 〃Finally！〃
〃What？ Is something happening？〃
〃They are bringing forward the battering ram…save me； but it is a frightening thing。 It has a great iron head on it that looks like a real ram； with curling horns and all。 But it's so big！ Even with all those men； it is a miracle they can push it along。〃 He took a sharp breath。 〃The king's men are firing arrows from the walls！ There； someone is down。 More than one。 But the ram is still going forward。〃
〃May God keep them safe；〃 Strangyeard said quietly。 〃It is so cold up here； Sangfugol。〃
〃How can anyone shoot an arrow in this wind； let alone hit anything？ Ah！ Someone has fallen from the wall。 That's one of theirs gone； in any case。〃 The harper's voice rose in excitment。 〃It is hard to see what is happening； but our men are close to the walls now。 There； someone has put up a ladder。 There are soldiers swarming up 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