srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第56章

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　　　　〃For　nothing；〃　groaned　Covenant。
　　　　Triock　gaped　bleakly　out　from　under　his　hood；　then　threw　back　his　head　and　began　to　laugh。　Mordant　glee　barked　through　his　teeth；　making　the　music　shiver　as　if　its　abhorrence　were　no　less　than　his。　〃Powerless！〃　he　laughed。　〃By　the　mirth　of　my　master！　Powerless！〃
　　　　Chuckling　savagely；　he　started　toward　Covenant。
　　　　At　once；　the　silent　song　rushed　gleaming　between　them。　But　Triock　advanced　against　the　lights。　〃Begone！〃　he　growled。　〃You　also　will　pay　for　your　part　in　this。''　With　a　deft　movement；　he　caught　one　spangle　in　each　fist。　Their　wailing　shimmered　in　the　air　as　he　crushed　them　between　his　fingers。
　　　　Ringing　like　broken　crystal；　the　rest　of　the　music　vanished。
　　　　Covenant　reeled　as　if　an　unseen　support　had　been　snatched　away。　He　flung　up　his　hands　against　Triock's　approach；　stumbled　backward。　But　the　man　did　not　touch　him。　Instead；　he　stamped　one　foot　on　the　hard　ground。　The　earth　bucked　under　Covenant；　stretched　him　at　Triock's　feet。
　　　　Then　Triock　threw　off　his　hood。　His　visage　was　littered　with　broken　possibilities；　wrecked　faiths　and　loves；　but　behind　his　features　his　skull　shone　with　pale　malice。　The　backs　of　his　eyes　were　as　black　as　night；　and　his　teeth　gaped　as　if　they　were　hungry　for　the　taste　of　flesh。　Leering　down　at　Covenant；　he　smirked；　〃No；　groveler。　I　will　not　strike　you　again。　The　time　for　masquerading　has　ended。　My　master　may　frown　upon　me　if　I　harm　you　now。〃
　　　　〃Master？〃　Covenant　croaked。
　　　　〃I　am　turiya　Raver；　also　called　Herem…and　Kinslaughterer…and　Triock。〃　He　laughed　again　grotesquely。　〃This　guise　has　served　me　well；　though　'Triock'　is　not　pleased。　Behold　me；　groveler！　I　need　no　longer　let　his　form　and　thoughts　disguise　me。　You　are　powerless。　Ah；　I　savor　that　jest！　So　now　I　permit　you　to　know　me　as　I　am。　It　was　I　who　slew　the　Giants　of　Seareach…I　who　slew　the　Unfettered　One　as　he　sought　to　warn　that　fool　Mhoram…I　who　have　captured　the　white　gold！　Brothers！　I　will　sit　upon　the　master's　right　hand　and　rule　the　universe！〃
　　　　As　he　gloated；　he　reached　into　his　cloak　and　drew　out　the　lomillialor　rod。　Brandishing　it　in　Covenant's　face；　he　barked；　〃Do　you　see　it？　High　Wood！　I　spit　on　it。　The　test　of　truth　is　not　a　match　for　me。〃　Then　he　gripped　it　between　his　hands　as　if　he　meant　to　break　it；　and　shouted　quick　cruel　words　over　it。　It　caught　fire；　blazed　for　an　instant　in　red　agony；　and　fell　into　cinders。
　　　　Gleefully；　the　Raver　snarled　at　Covenant；　〃Thus　I　signal　your　doom；　as　I　was　manded。　Breathe　swiftly；　groveler。　There　are　only　moments　left　to　you。〃
　　　　Covenant's　muscles　trembled　as　if　the　ground　still　pitched　under　him；　but　he　braced　himself；　struggled　to　his　feet。　He　felt　stunned　with　horror；　helpless。　Yet　in　the　back　of　his　mind　he　strained　to　find　an　escape。　〃The　ring；〃　he　panted。　〃Why　don't　you　just　take　the　ring？〃
　　　　A　black　response　leaped　in　Triock's　eyes。　〃Would　you　give　it　to　me？〃
　　　　〃No！〃　He　thought　desperately　that　if　he　could　goad　Triock　into　some　act　of　power；　Caer…Caveral's　glaucous　song　might　return　to　aid　him。
　　　　〃Then　I　will　tell　you；　groveler；　that　I　do　not　take　your　ring　because　the　mand　of　my　master　is　too　strong。　He　does　not　choose　that　I　should　have　such　power。　In　other　times；　he　did　not　bind　us　so　straitly；　and　we　were　free　to　work　his　will　in　our　several　ways。　But　he　claims…and…I　obey。〃
　　　　〃Try　to　take　it！〃　Covenant　panted。　〃Be　the　ruler　of　the　universe　yourself。　Why　should　he　have　it？〃
　　　　For　an　instant；　he　thought　he　saw　something　like　regret　in　Triock's　face。　But　the　Raver　only　snarled；　〃Because　the　Law　of　Death　has　been　broken；　and　he　is　not　alone。　There　are　eyes　of　pulsion　upon　me　even　now…eyes　which　may　not　be　defied。〃　His　leer　of　hunger　returned。　〃Perhaps　you　will　see　them　before　you　are　slain…before　my　brother　and　I　tear　your　living　heart　from　you　and　eat　it　in　your　last　sight。〃
　　　　He　laughed　harshly；　and　as　if　in　answer　the　darkness　around　the　campfire　grew　thicker。　The　night　blackened　like　an　accumulation　of　spite；　then　drew　taut　and　formed　discrete　figures　that　came　forward。　Covenant　heard　their　feet　rustling　over　the　cold　ground。　He　whirled；　and　found　himself　surrounded　by　ur…viles。
　　　　When　their　eyeless　faces　felt　his　stricken　stare；　they　hesitated　for　an　instant。　Their　wide；　drooling　nostrils　quivered　as　they　tasted　the　air　for　signs　of　power；　evidence　of　wild　magic。　Then　they　rushed　forward　and　overwhelmed　him。
　　　　Livid　red　blades　wheeled　above　him　like　the　shattering　of　the　heavens。　But　instead　of　stabbing　him；　they　pressed　flat　against　his　forehead。　Red　waves　of　horror　crashed　through　him。　He　screamed　once　and　went　limp　in　the　grasp　of　the　ur…viles。
　
　FIFTEEN　
　〃Lord　Mhoram's　Victory〃
　
　　　　The　exertion　of　hauling　the　dead　forms　from　the　ground　and　throwing　them　at　Revelstone　had　exhausted　samadhi　Satansfist；　drained　him　until　he　could　no　longer　sustain　that　expenditure　of　force。　He　had　seen　High　Lord's　Furl　torn　from　its　flagpole　atop　the　tower　by　his　Cavewights。　He　knew　he　had　met　at　least　part　of　his　master's　objective　in　this　assault。　While　his　forces　held　the　tower…while　tons　of　sand　blocked　the　inner　gates　of　the　Keep…while　winter　barrened　the　upland　plateau　above　Revelstone…the　Lords　and　all　their　people　were　doomed。　They　could　not　feed　themselves　within　those　stone　walls　indefinitely。　If　last　came　to　last；　the　Giant…Raver　knew　that　he　could　through　patience　alone　make　the　great　Keep　into　one　reeking　tomb　or　crypt。　He　let　his　dead　collapse　into　sand。
　　　　Yet　his　failure　to　burst　those　inner　gates　enraged　him；　made　him　pant　for　repense　even　though　he　lacked　the　strength　to　assail　the　walls　himself。　He　was　a　Raver；　insatiable　for　blood　despite　the　mortal　limits　of　the　Giantish　body　he　occupied。　And　other　things　pelled　him　also。　There　was　an　implacable　coercion　in　the　wind；　a　demand　which　brooked　no　failure；　however　partial　or　eventually　meaningless。
　　　　As　the　dead　fell　apart；　Satansfist　ordered　his　long…leashed　army　to　the　attack。
　　　　With　a　howl　that　shivered　the　air；　echoed　savagely　off　the　carven　walls；　beat　against　the　battlements　like　an　ululation　of　fangs　and　claws　and　hungry　blades；　the　Despiser's　hordes　charged。　They　swept　up　through　the　foothills　like　a　shrill　gray　flood　and　hurled　themselves　at　Revelstone。
　　　　Lord　Foul's　Stone…spawned　creatures　led　the　attack…not　because　they　were　effective　against　granite　walls　and　abutments；　but　because　they　were　expendable。　The　Raver's　army　included　twice　a　hundred　thousand　of　them；　and　more　arrived　every　day；　marching　to　battle　from　Foul's　Creche　through　the　Center　Plains。　So　samadhi　used　them　to　absorb　the　defense　of　the　Keep；　thus　protecting　his　Cavewights　and　ur…viles。　Thousands　of　perverted　creatures　fell　with　arrows；　spears；　javelins　jutting　from　them；　but　many　many　thousands　more　forged　ahead。　And　behind　them　came　the　forces　which　knew　how　to　damage　Revelstone。
　　　　In　moments；　the　charge　hit。　Rabid；　rockwise　Cavewights　found　crafty　holds　in　the　stone；　vaulted　themselves　up　onto　the　lowest　battlements　and　balconies。　Mighty　ur…vile　wedges　used　their　black　vitriol　to　wipe　clear　the　parapets　above　them；　then　pounced　upward　on　sturdy　wooden　ladders　brought　to　the　walls　by　other　creatures。　Within　a　short　time；　Revelstone　was　under　assault　all　along　its　south　and　north　faces。
　　　　But　the　ancient　Giants　who　made　Lord's　Keep　had　built　well　to　defend　against　such　an　attack。　Even　the　lowest　parapets　were　high　off　the　ground；　they　could　be　sealed　off；　so　that　the　attackers　were　denied　access　to　the　city；　they　were　defended　by　positions　higher　still　in　the　walls。　And　Warmark　Quaan　had　drilled　the　Warward　year　after　year；　preparing　it　for　just　this　kind　of　battle。　The　prearranged　defenses　of　the　Keep　sprang　into　action　instantly　as　alarms　sounded　throughout　the　city。　Warriors　left　secondary　tasks　and　ran　to　the　battlements；　relays　formed　to　supply　the　upper　defenses　with　arrows　and　other　weapons；　concerted　Eoman　charged　the　Cavewights　and　ur…viles　which　breached　the　lower　abutments。　Then　came　Lore　wardens；　Hirebrands；　Gravelingases。　Lorewardens　repulsed　the　attacks　with　songs　of　power；　while　Hirebrands　set　fire　to　the　ladders；　and　Gravelingases　braced　the　walls　themselves　against　the　strength　of　the　Cavewights。
　　　　As　he　manded　the　struggle　from　a　coign　in　the　upper　walls；　Quaan　soon　saw　that　his　warriors　could　have　repulsed　this　assault　if　they　had　not　been　outnumbered　thirty　or　more　to　one…if　every　life　in　his　army　had　not　been　so　vital；　and　every　life　in　the　Raver's　so　insignificant。　But　the　Warward　was　outnumbered；　it　needed　help。　In　response　to　the　fragmentary　reports　which　reached　him　from　the　Close…reports　of　fire　and　power　and　immense　relief…he　sent　an　urgent　messenger　to　summon　the　Lords　to　Revelstone's　aid。
　　　　The　messenger　found　High　Lord　Mhoram　in　the　Close；　but　Mhoram　did　not　respond　to　Quaan's　call。　It　only　reached　the　outskirts　of　his　mind；　and　he　held　it　gently　distant；　away　from　himself。　When　he　heard　one　of　the　guards　explain　to　the　messenger　what　had　transpired　in　the　fire…ruined　Close；　he　let　his　own　awareness　of　the　battle　slip　away…let　all　thought　of　the　present　danger　drop　from　him；　and　gave　himself　to　the　melding　of　the　Lords。
　　　　They　sat　on　the　slumped　floor　around　the　graveling　pit　with　their　staffs　on　the　stone　before　them…Trevor　and　Loerya　on　Mhoram's　left；　Amatin　on　his　right。　In　his　trembling　hands；　the　krill　blazed　in　hot　affirmation　of　white　gold。　Yet　he　barely　saw　the　light；　his　eyes　were　heat…scorched；　and　he　was　blinded　by　tears　of　release　that　would　not　stop。　Through　the　silent　contact　of　the　meld；　he　spread　strength　about　him；　and　shared　knowledge　which　had　burdened　him　more　than　he　had　ever　realized。　He　told　his　fellow　Lords　how　he　had　been　able　to　remove　the　krill　from　its　stone　rest；　and　why　now　it　did　not　burn　his　vulnerable　flesh。
　　　　He　could　feel　Amatin　shrink　from　what　he　said；　feel　Trevor　shake　with　a　pain　that　only　in　part　came　from　his　injury；　feel　Loerya　appraise　his　munication　as　she　might　have　appraised　any　new　weapon。　To　each　of　them；　he　gave　himself；　he　showed　them　his　conviction；　his　understanding；　his　strength。　And　he　held　the　proof　in　his　hands；　so　that　they　could　not　doubt　him。　With　such　evidence　shining　amid　the　ravage　of　the　Close；　they　followed　the　process　which　had　led　him　to　his　secret　knowledge　and　shared　the　dismay　which　had　taught　him　to　keep　it　secret。
　　　　Finally；　Lord　Amatin　framed　her　question　aloud。　It　was　too　large　for　silence；　it　required　utterance；　so　that　Revelstone　itself　could　hear　it。　She　swallowed　awkwardly；　then　floated　words　in　the　untarnished　acoustics　of　the　chamber。　〃So　it　is　we…we　ourselves　who　have…for　so　many　generations　the　Lords　themselves　have　inured　themselves　to　the　power　of　Kevin's　Lore。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　Lord；〃　Mhoram　whispered；　knowing　that　everyone　in　the　Close　could　hear　him。
　　　　〃The　Oath　of　Peace　has　prevented…〃
　　　　〃Yes；　Lord。〃
　　　　Her　breathing　shuddered　for　a　moment。　〃Then　we　are　lost。〃
　　　　Mhoram　felt　the　lorn　dilemma　in　her　words　and　stood　up　within　himself；　pulling　the　authority　of　his　High　Lordship　about　his　shoulders。　〃No。〃
　　　　〃Without　power；　we　are　lost；〃　she　countered。　〃Without　the　Oath　of　Peace；　we　are　not　who　we　are；　and　we　are　lost。〃
　　　　〃Thomas　Covenant　has　returned；〃　responded　Loerya。