srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第16章

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cked　them　flat　on　the　balcony。　The　wet　corrosion　of　the　acid　turned　the　graveling　instantly　to　cinders；　but　in　turn　the　rhadhamaerl　might　of　the　fire…stones　burned　away　the　acid　before　the　last　drop　of　it　touched　Tohrm　or　Revelstone。
　　　　The　other　pair　of　Gravelingases　were　not　so　successful。　They　mistimed　their　countering　heave；　and　as　a　result　their　graveling　only　stopped　half　the　vitriol。　Both　men　died　in　fluid　fire　which　destroyed　a　wide　section　of　the　balcony。
　　　　But　instead　of　striking　again；　launching　more　attacks　to　wear　down　the　defenses　of　the　Keep；　the　ur…viles　abandoned　their　catapults　and　withdrew…apparently　satisfied　with　what　they　had　learned　about　Revelstone's　mettle。
　　　　High　Lord　Mhoram　watched　them　go　with　surprise　in　his　face　and　cold　dread　in　his　heart。　Surely　the　ur…viles　had　not　been　intimidated　by　the　defense。　If　Satansfist　chose　now　to　change　his　tactics；　it　was　because　he　had　measured　the　weakness　of　Revelstone；　and　knew　a　better　way　to　capitalize　on　it。
　　　　The　next　morning；　Mhoram　saw　the　mencement　of　Satansfist's　new　strategy；　but　for　two　days　after　that　he　did　not　prehend　it。　The　Raver's　hordes　moved　closer　to　Revelstone；　placed　themselves　hardly　a　hundred　yards　from　the　walls；　and　faced　the　plateau　as　if　they　expected　its　defenders　to　leap　willingly　into　their　jaws。　The　ur…viles　moved　among　the　slavering　creatures　and　Cavewights；　and　formed　scores　of　wedges　which　seemed　to　point　toward　the　very　heart　of　Revelstone。　And　behind　them　Satansfist　stood　in　a　broad　piece　of　open　ground；　openly　wielding　his　Stone　for　the　first　time。　But　he　launched　no　physical　onslaught；　offered　the　Keep　no　opportunity　to　strike　or　be　stricken。　Instead；　his　creatures　dropped　to　their　hands　and　knees；　and　glared　hungrily　at　Revelstone　like　crouching　preyers。　The　ur…vile　loremasters　set　the　tips　of　their　staves　in　the　ground；　began　a　barking　ululation　or　invocation　which　carried　in　shreds　to　the　Keep　through　the　tearing　wind。　And　samadhi　Raver；　Sheol　and　Satansfist；　squeezed　his　fragment　of　the　Illearth　Stone　so　that　it　ran　with　steam　like　boiling　ice。
　　　　As　Mhoram　watched；　he　could　feel　the　upsurge　of　power　on　all　sides；　the　exertion　of　might　radiated　at　him　until　the　skin　of　his　cheeks　stung　under　it　despite　the　raw　chill　of　the　wind。　But　the　besiegers　took　no　other　action。　They　held　their　positions　in　fierce　concentration；　scowling　murderously　as　if　they　were　envisioning　the　blood　of　their　victims。
　　　　Slowly；　tortuously；　they　began　to　have　an　effect　upon　the　ground　of　the　foothills。　From　the　unflickering　green　blaze　of　the　Stone；　a　rank　emerald　hue　spread　to　the　dirt　around　Satansfist's　feet　and　throbbed　in　the　soil　It　encircled　him；　pulsing　like　a　fetid　heart；　then　sent　crooked　offshoots　like　green　veins　through　the　ground　toward　Revelstone。　These　grew　with　each　savage　throb；　branched　out　until　they　reached　the　backs　of　the　crouching　hordes。　At　that　point；　red　pain　sickly　tinged　with　green　blossomed　from　the　embedded　tips　of　the　loremasters'　staves。　Like　Satansfist's　emerald；　the　ill　red　grew　in　the　ground　like　arteries　or　roots　of　hurt。　It　shone　through　the　gray　ice　on　the　earth　without　melting　it；　and　expanded　with　each　throb　of　samadhi's　central　power　until　all　of　Revelstone　was　ringed　in　pulsing　veins。
　　　　The　process　of　this　growth　was　slow　and　deadly；　by　nightfall；　the　red…green　harm　was　not　far　past　the　feet　of　the　ur…viles；　and　after　a　long；　lurid　darkness；　dawn　found　the　veins　just　halfway　to　the　walls。　But　it　was　implacable　and　sure。　Mhoram　could　conceive　no　defense　against　it　because　he　did　not　know　what　it　was。
　　　　During　the　next　two　days；　the　dread　of　it　spread　over　Lord's　Keep。　People　began　to　talk　in　whispers。　Men　and　women　hurried　from　place　to　place　as　if　they　feared　that　the　city　stone　were　turning　against　them。　Children　whimpered　inexplicably；　and　winced　at　the　sight　of　well…known　faces。　A　thick　atmosphere　of　fear　and　inprehension　hovered　in　Revel…stone　like　the　spread　wings　of　an　alighting　vulture。　Yet　Mhoram　did　not　grasp　what　was　being　done　to　the　city　until　the　evening　of　the　third　day。　Then　by　chance　he　approached　Warmark　Quaan　unseen　and　unheard；　and　at　the　touch　of　his　hand　on　Quaan's　shoulder；　the　Warmark　reeled　away　in　panic；　clawing　at　his　sword。　When　his　eyes　finally　recognized　the　High　Lord；　his　face　filled　with　a　gray　ash　of　misery；　and　he　trembled　like　an　overwhelmed　novice。
　　　　With　a　groan　of　insight；　Mhoram　understood　Revelstone's　plight。　Dread　of　the　unknown　was　only　the　surface　of　the　peril。　As　he　threw　his　arms　around　Quaan's　trembling；　he　saw　that　the　red…green　veins　of　power　in　the　ground　were　not　a　physical　danger；　rather；　they　were　a　vehicle　for　the　raw　emotional　force　of　the　Despiser's　malice…a　direct　attack　on　the　Keep's　will；　a　corrosive　hurled　against　the　moral　fabric　of　Revelstone's　resistance。
　　　　Fear　was　growing　like　a　fatal　disease　in　the　heart　of　Lord's　Keep。　Under　the　influence　of　those　lurid　veins；　the　courage　of　the　city　was　beginning　to　rot。
　　　　It　had　no　defense。　The　lillianrill　and　rhadhamaerl　could　build　vast　warming　fires　within　the　walls。　The　Lorewardens　could　sing　in　voices　that　shook　helplessly　brave　songs　of　encouragement　and　victory。　The　Warward　could　drill　and　train　until　the　warriors　had　neither　leisure　nor　stamina　for　fear。　The　Lords　could　flit　throughout　the　city　like　blue　ravens；　carrying　the　light　of　courage　and　support　and　intransigence　wherever　they　went；　from　gray　day　to　blind　night　to　gray　day　again。　The　Keep　was　not　idle。　As　time　dragged　its　dread…aggravated　length　along；　moved　through　its　skeletal　round　with　an　almost　audible　clatter　of　fleshless　bones；　everything　that　could　be　done　was　done。　The　Lords　took　to　moving　everywhere　with　their　staffs　alight；　so　that　their　bright　azure　could　resist　the　erosion　of　Revel…stone's　spirit。　But　still　the　veined；　bloody　harm　in　the　ground　multiplied　its　aegis　over　the　city。　The　malignance　of　tenscore　thousand　evil　hearts　stifled　all　opposition。
　　　　Soon　even　the　mountain　rock　of　the　plateau　seemed　to　be　whimpering　in　silent　fear。　Within　five　days；　some　families　locked　themselves　in　their　rooms　and　refused　to　e　out；　they　feared　to　be　abroad　in　the　city。　Others　fled　to　the　apparent　safety　of　the　upland　hills。　Mad　fights　broke　out　in　the　kitchens；　where　any　cook　or　food　handler　could　snatch　up　a　knife　to　slash　at　sudden　gusts　of　terror。　To　prevent　such　outbursts；　Warmark　Quaan　had　to　station　Eoman　in　every　kitchen　and　refectory。
　　　　But　though　he　drove　them　as　if　he　had　a　gaunt　specter　of　horror　clinging　to　his　shoulders；　he　could　not　keep　even　his　warriors　from　panic。　This　fact　he　was　finally　forced　to　report　to　the　High　Lord；　and　after　hearing　it；　Mhoram　went　to　stand　his　watch　on　the　tower。　Alone　there；　he　faced　the　night　which　fell　as　heavily　as　the　scree　of　despair　against　the　back　of　his　neck；　faced　the　unglimmering　emerald　loathsomeness　of　the　Stone；　faced　the　sick；　red…green　veined　fire…and　hugged　his　own　dread　within　the　silence　of　his　heart。　If　he　had　not　been　so　desperate；　he　might　have　wept　in　sympathy　for　Kevin　Landwaster；　whose　dilemma　he　now　understood　with　a　keenness　that　cut　him　to　the　bone　of　his　soul。
　　　　Sometime　later…after　the　darkness　had　added　all　its　chill　to　Lord　Foul's　winter；　and　the　watch　fires　of　the　encampment　had　paled　to　mere　sparks　beside　samadhi　Raver's　loud；　strong　lust　for　death；　Loerya　Trevor…mate　came　to　the　tower；　bearing　with　her　a　small　pot　of　graveling　which　she　placed　before　her　when　she　sat　on　the　stone；　so　that　the　glow　lit　her　drawn　face。　The　uplift　of　her　visage　cast　her　eyes　into　shadow；　but　still　Mhoram　could　see　that　they　were　raw　with　tears。
　　　　〃My　daughters〃…her　voice　seemed　to　choke　her…〃my　children…　they　You　know　them；　High　Lord；〃　she　said　as　if　she　were　pleading。　〃Are　they　not　children　to　make　a　parent　proud？〃
　　　〃Be　proud；〃　Mhoram　replied　gently。　〃Parents　and　children　are　a　pride　to　each　other。〃
　　　　〃You　know　them；　High　Lord；〃　she　insisted。　〃My　joy　in　them　has　been　large　enough　to　be　pain。　They…　High　Lord；　they　will　no　longer　eat。　They　fear　the　food…they　see　poison　in　the　food。　This　evil　maddens　them。''
　　　　〃We　are　all　maddened；　Loerya。　We　must　endure。〃
　　　　〃How　endure？　Without　hope…？　High　Lord；　it　were　better　if　I　had　not　borne　children。〃
　　　　Gently；　quietly；　Mhoram　answered　a　different　question。　〃We　cannot　march　out　to　fight　this　evil。　If　we　leave　these　walls；　we　are　ended。　There　is　no　other　hold　for　us。　We　must　endure。〃
　　　　In　a　voice　suffused　with　weeping；　Loerya　said；　〃High　Lord；　summon　the　Unbeliever。〃
　　　　〃Ah；　sister　Loerya…that　I　cannot　do。　You　know　I　cannot。　You　know　that　I　chose　rightly　when　I　released　Thomas　Covenant　to　the　demands　of　his　own　world。　Whatever　other　follies　have　twisted　the　true　course　of　my　life；　that　choice　was　not　folly。〃
　　　　〃Mhoram！〃　she　beseeched　thickly。
　　　　〃No。　Loerya；　think　what　you　ask。　The　Unbeliever　desired　to　save　a　life　in　his　world。　But　time　moves　in　other　ways　there。　Seven　and　forty　years　have　passed　since　he　came　first　to　Revelstone；　yet　in　that　time　he　has　not　aged　even　three　cycles　of　the　moon。　Perhaps　only　moments　have　gone　by　for　him　since　his　last　summoning。　If　he　were　called　again　now；　perhaps　he　would　still　be　prevented　from　saving　the　young　child　who　needs　him。〃
　　　　At　the　mention　of　a　child；　sudden　anger　twisted　Loerya's　face。　〃Summon　him！〃　she　hissed。　〃What　are　his　nameless　children　to　me？　By　the　Seven；　Mhoram！　Summon…！〃
　　　　〃No。〃　Mhoram　interrupted　her；　but　his　voice　did　not　lose　its　gentleness　。　〃I　will　not。　He　must　have　the　freedom　of　his　own　fate…it　is　his　right。　We　have　no　right　to　take　it　from　him…no；　even　the　Land's　utterest　need　does　not　justify　such　an　act。　He　holds　the　white　gold。　Let　him　e　to　the　Land　if　he　wills。　I　will　not　gainsay　the　one　true　bravery　of　my　unwise　life。''
　　　　Loerya's　anger　collapsed　as　swiftly　as　it　had　e。　Wringing　her　hands　over　the　graveling　as　if　even　the　hope　of　warmth　had　gone　out　of　them；　she　moaned；　〃This　evening　my　youngest…Yolenid…she　is　hardly　more　than　a　baby…she　shrieked　at　the　sight　of　me。〃　With　an　effort；　she　raised　her　streaming　eyes　to　the　high　Lord；　and　whispered；　〃How　endure？〃
　　　　Though　his　own　heart　wept　for　her；　Mhoram　met　her　gaze。　〃The　alternative　is　Desecration。〃　As　he　looked　into　the　ragged　extremity　of　her　face；　he　felt　his　own　need　crying　out；　urging　him　to　share　his　perilous　secret。　For　a　moment　that　made　his　pulse　hammer　apprehensively　in　his　temples；　he　knew　that　he　would　answer　Loerya　if　she　asked　him。　To　warn　her；　he　breathed　softly；　〃Power　is　a　dreadful　thing。〃
　　　　A　spark　of　inchoate　hope　lit　her　eyes。　She　climbed　unsteadily　to　her　feet；　brought　her　face　closer　to　his　and　searched　him。　The　first　opening　of　a　meld　drained　the　surfaces　of　his　mind。　But　what　she　saw　or　felt　in　him　stopped　her。　His　cold　doubt　quenched　the　light　in　her　eyes；　and　she　receded　from　him。　In　an　awkward　voice　that　carried　only　a　faint　vibration　of　bitterness；　she　said；　〃No；　Mhoram。　I　will　not　ask。　I　trust　you　or　no　one。　You　will　speak　when　your　heart　is　ready。〃
　　　　Gratitude　burned　under　Mhoram's　eyelids。　With　a　crooked　smile；　he　said；　〃You　are　courageous；　sister　Loerya。〃
　　　　〃No。〃　She　picked　up　her　graveling　pot　and　moved　away　from　him。　〃Though　it　is　no　fault　of　theirs；　my　daughters　make　me　craven。''　Without　a　backw