fs.thefirstbookofswords-第39章

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d；　howling　dully；　ready　without　fear　or　hope　to　take　their　turn　beneath　the　walls。
　　　From　the　winding　road　around　west　to　the　lake　again；　the　human　forces　of　Yambu　held　the　field。　They　were　arrayed；　like　the　Duke's　army；　in　a　rough　halfcircle。　The　Duke　like　everyone　else　was　well　aware　that　the　two　armies　of　attackers　were　watching　each　other　closely　and　uneasily；　even　as　both　watched　the　progress　of　the　swarming　preliminary　attack　on　the　castle　by　Yambu's　auxiliaries。
　　　The　Duke　turned　to　his　blue…garbed　wizard；　who　was　waiting　nearby　clad　in　incongruous…looking　armor。　〃At　least；〃　His　Grace　remarked；　〃a　good　part　of　the　Horde　is　going　to　he　used　up　against　those　walls；　and　particularly　by　that　sword。　We　can　hope　that　most　of　those　dead…wood　monsters　will　be　out　of　the　way　before　it　es　our　turn　to　fight　Yambu；　for　the　spoils。〃　〃Indeed；　sire。〃
　　　〃I'm　convinced　now；　Blue…Robes；　that　it　was　she　who　tried　to　kidnap　my　cousin。　Obviously　she's　got　word　of　the　swords　somehow。。。　what　word　is　there　from　the　east？〃
　　　This　last　was　spoken　to　the　Duke's　staff　at　large。　None　of　them　had　any　real　news　to　report　from　that　direction。　At　night　there　were　the　reddened　eastern　skies　for　all　to　see；　and　by　day　the　distant　plumes　of　smoke。　When　the　Duke　had　dispatched　a　flying　scout　with　a　message　for　the　small　garrison　at　Arin…on…Aldan；　the　scout　had　e　back　with　a　report　of　being　unable　to　find　the　village　or　its　garrison；　in　the　altered　landscape　and　foul　air。　（The　message　had　been　an　order　for　the　family　of　Jord　the　Miller　to　be　brought　into　the　Duke's　presence　for　some　serious　interrogation；　milder　methods　having　failed。）　Indeed　it　appeared　now　that　munications　with　the　foothill　region　had　broken　down　pletely。　Reports；　scattered　and　uncertain；　indicated　that　the　whole　civilian　population　of　that　area　was　now　in　flight；　and　military　patrols　were　at　best　disrupted。　The　Duke　sighed；　for　his　vanished　family　of　subjects　for　interrogation。　But　he　had　a　battle　to　fight　here；　and　could　spare　no　extra　manpower　for　search　operations　of　doubtful　utility　over　there。
　　　Still；　the　blue…robed　wizard　did　not　appear　entirely　unhappy　when　this　subject　came　up　for　discussion。　He　had　the　air　of　holding　good　news　in　reserve；　and；　sure　enough；　at　his　earliest　good　chance　he　announced　it。
　　　〃Sire；　I　am　pleased　to　be　able　to　report　that　my　private　project　has　achieved　a　measure　of　success。〃
　　　〃What　other　project？〃　The　ducal　brow　creased　with　a　slight　frown。　〃Oh。　You　are　speaking　now　of。。。　of　what　you　spoke　to　me　about　last　night　in　secret。〃
　　　〃Exactly　so；　sire。〃　The　wizard　bowed；　a　small　dip　with　an　air　of　triumph。　〃We　now　have　reason　to　hope　that　Mars　himself　is　soon　going　to　e　directly　to　our　aid。　Then；　what　will　our　rivals　have　gained　from　their　paltry　success　in　raising　the　Horde？〃
　　　〃By　the　Great　Worm　Yilgarn。〃　Duke　Fraktin　was　indubitably　impressed。　But　he　was　suddenly　somewhat　worried　as　well。　〃Do　you　think；　Blue…Robes；　that　such　a　raising　is。。。　the　god？　Mars？　Are　you　sure　you're　serious？〃
　　　〃Oh；　entirely　serious；　sire。〃
　　　A　hundred　people　or　more　might　be　watching；　even　if　probably　none　of　them　were　close　enough　at　the　moment　to　hear。　The　Duke　made　himself　smile。　〃Do　you　think　it　entirely　wise？〃
　　　At　this　the　wizard　began　to　look　downcast；　he　had　surely　been　expecting　more　enthusiasm　from　his　master。　He　was　somewhat　relieved　when　their　talk　was　interrupted。　A　closeranked　body　of　men　had　surrounded；　and　were　now　bringing　into　the　Duke's　presence　a　man　who　（it　was　reported）　insisted　on　speaking　to　the　Duke　himself；　who　swore　that　he　had　been　within　the　past　day　inside　the　beseiged　castle；　and　who　claimed　to　know　a　way　by　which　it　would　be　possible　to　enter　secretly　with　a　body　of　armed　men。
　　　Presently；　after　the　man　was　thoroughly　searched；　and　tested　for　magical　powers；　the　Duke　confronted　trim。　〃Well？　Spit　it　out；　fellow。〃
　　　The　fellow　before　him　was　poorly　garbed；　and　young；　with　a　lean；　hunted　look。　〃My　name　is　Kaparu；　Your　Grace。　I　have　worked　as　an　agent　of　Queen　Yambu　in　the　past；　but　I'll　be　pleased　to　work　for　a　prince　as　well…known　for　generosity　as　yourself　instead。〃
　　　Throughout　the　whole　morning　the　fighting　continued　with　scarcely　an　interruption。　What　small　pauses　there　were　resulted　not　from　any　weariness　or　unwillingness　on　the　part　of　the　inhuman　mob　that　tried　to　swarm　upon　the　walls；　but　from　their　need　for　new　ladders；　as　numbers　of　the　old　ones　burned　or　broke　under　the　impact　of　rock　or　fire　or　molten　lead。　And　even　when　the　fighting　ebbed　for　a　time；　the　howling　of　the　Horde　went　on　without　pause。　The　volume　of　sound　did　not　seem　to　diminish　much　with　their　necessarily　diminishing　numbers。
　　　As　Mark　came　down　from　the　roof　to　the　level　of　the　top　of　the　outer　walls；　he　heard　a　stalwart　swordsman　mutter：　〃We　have　cut　down　thousands　of　them；　and　yet　still　they　e。〃　The　man　was　not　exaggerating。
　　　Presently　Mark　was　making　his　way　across　the　crowded　main　courtyard　of　the　castle；　passing　hastily　arranged　stockpiles　of　supplies；　tethered　animals；　a　row　of　moaning　wounded　being　cared　for。　He　had　e　down　from　the　roof　with　Dame　Yoldi's　permission；　in　response　to　a　wave　from　Barbara。　A　longer　break　in　the　fighting　than　any　previous　had　set　in；　and　the　magicians　of　Yambu　had　even　summoned　the　Horde　back　from　the　walls；　out　of　reach　of　fire　and　hurled　rock；　till　more　ladders　could　be　got　ready。　Inside　the　castle；　those　who　had　borne　the　burden　of　the　battle　were　being　relieved　now；　wherever　possible；　for　food　and　rest。　Still　it　seemed　to　Mark　that　the　yard　was　crowded　mostly　with　nonbatant　refugees；　all　of　whom　seemed　to　be　muttering　plaints　that　too　many　others　had　been　let　in。　Mark　heard　several　people　assuring　others　that　whatever　food　supplies　Sir　Andrew　had　available　could　not　possibly　be　enough　to　see　this　crowd　through　a　long　seige。
　　　Mark　repeated　this　saying　to　his　old　panions；　when　he　came　to　the　place　against　a　damp…stoned　wall　where　Barbara；　and　now　Ben　as　well；　were　waiting　for　him。
　　　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