srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第53章

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ain；　resumed　his　stare。　Korik　prepared　to　strike　again　with　more　force；　but　Lord　Hyrim　stopped　him。　〃Do　him　no　injury；　Korik。　He　is　closed　to　us。〃
　〃We　must　reach　him；〃　Korik　said。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Hyrim。　〃Yes；　we　must。〃　He　moved　close　to　the　Giant；　and　called；　〃Rockbrother！　Hear　me！　I　am　Hyrim　son　of　Hoole；　Lord　of　the　Council　of　Revelstone。　You　must　hear　me。　In　the　name　of　all　the　Unhomed…in　the　name　of　friendship　and　the　Land　…I　adjure　you　Open　your　ears　to　me！〃
　The　Giant　made　no　reply。　The　slow　rate　of　his　breathing　did　not　vary；　his　white　gaze　did　not　falter。
　Lord　Hyrim　stepped　back；　studied　the　Giant。　Then　he　said　to　Korik；　〃Free　one　of　his　hands。〃　He　rubbed　one　heel　of　his　staff；　and　when　he　took　his　hand　away　a　blue　flame　sprang　up　on　the　metal。　〃I　will　attempt　the　caamora…the　fire　of　grief。〃
　Korik　understood。　The　caamora　was　a　ritual　by　which　the　Giants　purged　themselves　of　grief　and　rage。　They　were　impervious　to　any　ordinary　fire；　but　the　flames　hurt　them；　and　they　used　that　pain　at　need　to　help　them　master　themselves。　Swiftly；　Korik　pried　the　Giant's　right　hand　loose　from　its　grip；　pulled　the　arm　back　so　that　its　hand　was　extended　toward　Lord　Hyrim。
　Moaning　softly；　〃Stone　and　Sea；　Rockbrother！　Stone　and　Sea！〃　the　Lord　increased　the　strength　of　his　Lordsfire。　He　placed　the　flame　directly　under　the　Giant's　hand；　enveloped　the　fingers　in　fire。
　At　first；　nothing　happened；　the　ritual　had　no　effect。　The　Giant's　fingers　hung　motionless　in　the　flame；　and　the　flame　did　not　consume　them。　But　then　they　twitched；　groped；　clenched。　The　Giant　pushed　his　hand　farther　into　the　fire；　though　his　fingers　were　writhing　in　pain。
　Abruptly；　he　drew　a　deep　shuddering　breath。　His　head　snapped　back；　thudded　against　the　wall；　dropped　forward　onto　his　knees。　Yet　still　he　did　not　withdraw　his　hand。　When　he　raised　his　head　again；　his　eyes　were　full　of　tears。
　Trembling；　panting；　he　pulled　back　his　hand。　It　was　undamaged。
　At　once；　Lord　Hyrim　extinguished　his　fire。　〃Rockbrother；〃　he　cried　softly。　〃Rockbrother。　Forgive　me。〃
　The　Giant　stared　at　his　hand。　Time　passed　as　he　became　slowly　aware　of　his　situation。　At　last　he　recognized　the　Lord　and　the　Bloodguard。　Suddenly　he　flinched；　jerked　both　hands　to　the　sides　of　his　head；　gasped；　〃Alive？〃　Before　Lord　Hyrim　could　answer；　he　went　on；　〃What　of　the　others？　My　people？〃
　Lord　Hyrim　clutched　his　staff　for　support。　〃All　dead。〃
　〃Ah！〃　the　Giant　groaned。　His　hands　dropped　to　his　knees；　and　he　leaned　his　head　back　against　the　wall。　〃Oh；　my　people！〃　The　tears　streamed　down　his　cheeks　like　blood。
　The　Lord　and　the　Bloodguard　watched　him　in　silence；　waited　for　him。　At　last　his　grief　eased；　and　his　tears　ceased。　When　he　brought　his　head　forward　from　the　wall；　he　murmured　as　if　in　defeat；　〃He　has　left　me　to　the　last。〃
　With　a　visible　effort；　Lord　Hyrim　forced　himself　to　ask；　〃Who　is　he？〃
　The　Giant　answered　in　misery；　〃He　came　soon…he　came　soon　after　we　had　learned　the　fate　of　the　three　brothers…the　brothers　of　one　birth…Damelon　Rockbrother's　omen　of　the　end。　This　spring…ah；　was　it　so　recent？　It　needs　more　time。　There　should　be　years　given　to　it。　There…ah；　my　people！　This　spring…this…we　knew　at　last　that　the　old　slumbering　ill　of　the　Sarangrave　was　awake。　We　thought　to　send　word　to　brave　Lord's　Keep…〃　For　a　moment；　he　choked　on　the　grief　in　his　throat。　〃Then　we　lost　the　brothers。　Lost　them。　We　arose　to　one　sunrise；　and　they　were　gone。
　〃We　did　not　send　to　the　Lords。　How　could　we　bear　to　tell　them　that　our　hope　was　lost？　No。　Rather；　we　searched。　From　the　Northron　Climbs　to　the　Spoiled　Plains　and　beyond；　we　searched。　We　searched　through　all　the　summer。　Nothing。　In　despair；　the　searchers　returned　to　The　Grieve；　Coercri；　last　home　of　the　Unhomed。
　〃Then　the　last　searcher　returned…Wavenhair　Haleall；　whose　womb　bore　the　three。　Because　she　was　their　mother；　she　searched　when　all　others　had　given　up　the　search；　and　she　was　the　last　to　return。　She　had　journeyed　to　the　Shattered　Hills　themselves。　She　called　all　the　people　together；　and　told　us　the　fate　of　the　three　before　she　died。　The　wounds　of　the　search…〃
　He　groaned　again。　〃Now　I　am　the　last。　Ah；　my　people！〃　As　he　cried　out；　he　moved；　shoved　himself　to　his　feet；　stood　erect　against　the　wall。　Towering　over　his　hearers；　he　put　back　his　head　and　began　to　sing　the　old　song　of　the　Unhomed。
　Now　we　are　Unhomed；　bereft　of　root　and　kith　and　kin。
　From　other　mysteries　of　delight；　we　set　our　sails　to　resail　our　track；　but　the　winds　of　life　blew　not　the　way　we　chose；　and　the　land　beyond　the　Sea　was　lost。
　It　was　long；　like　all　Giantish　songs。　But　he　sang　only　a　fragment　of　it。　Soon　he　fell　silent；　and　his　chin　dropped　to　his　breast。
　Again　Lord　Hyrim　asked；　〃Who　is　he？〃
　The　Giant　answered　by　resuming　his　tale。　〃Then　he　came。　Omen　of　the　end　and　Home　turned　to　misery　and　gall。　Then　we　knew　the　truth。　We　had　seen　it　before…in　lighter　times；　when　the　knowledge　might　have　been　of　some　use…but　we　had　denied　it。　We　had　seen　our　evil；　and　had　denied　it；　thinking　that　we　might　find　our　way　Home　and　escape　it。　Fools！　When　we　saw　him；　we　knew　the　truth。　Through　folly　and　withering　seed　and　passion　and　impatience　for　Home；　we　had　bee　the　thing　we　hate。　We　saw　the　truth　in　him。　Our　hearts　were　turned　to　ashes；　and　we　went　to　our　dwellings…these　small　rooms　which　we　called　homes　in　vain。〃
　〃Why　did　you　not　flee？〃
　〃Some　did…some　four　or　five　who　did　not　know　the　long　name　of　despair…or　did　not　hear　it。　Or　they　were　too　much　like　him　to　judge。　The　ill　of　the　Sarangrave　took　them…they…are　no　more。〃
　pelled　by　the　ancient　passion　of　the　Bloodguard；　Korik　asked；　〃Why　did　you　not　fight？〃
　〃We　had　bee　the　thing　we　hate。　We　are　better　dead。〃
　〃Nevertheless！〃　Korik　said。　〃Is　this　the　fealty　of　the　Giants？　Does　all　promised　faithfulness　e　to　this？　By　the　Vow；　Giant！　You　destroy　yourselves；　and　let　the　evil　live！　Even　Kevin　Landwaster　was　not　so　weak。〃
　In　his　emotion；　he　forgot　caution；　and　all　the　Bloodguard　were　taken　unaware。　The　sudden　voice　behind　them　was　cold　with　contempt；　it　cut　through
　them　like　a　gale　of　winter。　Turning；　they　found　that　another　Giant　stood　in　the　doorway。　He　was　much　younger　than　the　Giant　within；　but　he　resembled　the　older　Giant。　The　chief　difference　lay　in　the　contempt　that　filled　his　face；　raged　in　his　eyes；　twisted　his　mouth　as　if　he　were　about　to　spit。
　In　his　right　hand；　he　clenched　a　hot　green　stone。　It　blazed　with　an　emerald　strength　that　shone　through　his　fingers。　As　he　gripped　it；　it　steamed　thickly。
　He　stank　of　fresh　blood；　he　was　spattered　with　it　from　head　to　foot。　And　within　him；　clinging　to　his　bones；　was　a　powerful　presence　that　did　not　fit　his　form。　It　slavered　from　behind　his　eyes　with　a　great　force　of　malice　and　wrong。
　〃Hmm；〃　he　said　in　a　despising　tone；　〃a　Lord　and　three　Bloodguard。　I　am　pleased。　I　had　thought　that　my　friend　in　the　Sarangrave　would　take　all　like　you　but　I　see　I　shall　have　that　pleasure　myself。　Ah；　but　you　are　not　entirely　scatheless；　are　you？　Black　bees　you。　Did　you　lose　friends　to　my　friend？〃　He　laughed　with　a　grating　sound；　like　the　noise　of　boulders　being　crushed　together。
　Lord　Hyrim　stepped　forward；　planted　his　staff；　said　bravely；　〃e　no　closer；　turiya　Raver。　I　am　Hyrim；　Lord　of　the　Council　of　Revelstone。　Melenkurion　abatha！　Duroc　minas　mill　khabaal！　I　will　not　let　you　pass。〃
　The　Giant　winced　as　Lord　Hyrim　uttered　the　Words　of　power。　But　then　he　laughed　again。　〃Hah！　Little　Lord！　Is　that　the　limit　of　your　lore？　Can　you　e　no　closer　than　that　to　the　Seven　Words？　You　pronounce　them　badly。　But　I　must　admit…you　have　recognized　me。　I　am　turiya　Herem。　But　we　have　…new　names　now；　my　brothers　and　I。　There　is　Fleshharrower；　and　Satansfist。　And　I　am　named　Kinslaughterer。〃
　At　this；　the　older　Giant　groaned　heavily。　The　Raver　glanced　into　the　back　of　the　cell；　and　said　in　a　tone　of　satisfaction；　〃Ah；　there　he　is。　Little　Lord；　I　see　that　you　have　been　speaking　with　Sparlimb　Keelsetter。　Did　he　tell　you　that　he　is　my　father？　Father；　why　do　you　not　wele　your　son？〃
　The　Bloodguard　did　not　look　at　the　older　Giant。　But　they　heard　Keelsetter's　pain；　and　understood　it。　Something　within　the　Giant　was　breaking。　Suddenly；　he　gave　a　savage　roar。　Leaping　past　the　four；　he　attacked　Kinslaughterer。
　His　fingers　caught　the　Raver's　throat。　He　drove　him　back　out　of　the　doorway　onto　the　headrock　of　the　piers。
　Kinslaughterer　made　no　attempt　to　break　his　father's　hold。　He　resisted　the　impetus　until　his　feet　were　braced。　Then　he　raised　the　green　stone；　moved　it　toward　Keelsetter's　forehead。
　Both　fist　and　stone　passed　through　the　older　Giant's　skull　into　his　brain。
　Keelsetter　screamed。　His　hands　dropped；　his　body　went　limp。　He　hung　from　the　point　of　power　which　impaled　his　head。
　Grinning　ravenously；　the　Raver　held　his　father　there　for　a　long　moment。　Then　he　tightened　his　fist。　Deep　emerald　flashed；　the　stone　blasted　the　front　of　Keelsetter's　skull。　He　fell　dead；　pouring　blood　over　the　headrock。
　Kinslaughterer　stamped　his　feet　in　the　spreading　pool。
　He　appeared　oblivious　to　the　four；　but　he　was　not。　As　Korik　and　Tull　started　forward　to　attack　him；　he　swung　his　arm；　hurled　a　bolt　of　power　at　them。　It　would　have　slain　them　before　they　reached　the　doorway；　but　Lord　Hyrim　lunged；　thrust　up　his　staff　between　them。　The　end　of　his　staff　caught　the　bolt。　It　detonated　with　such　force　that　it　broke　the　staff　in　two；　and　flung　the　four　humans　against　the　back　of　the　cell。
　The　impact　made　them　unconscious。
　Thus　even　the　Vow　could　not　preserve　the　Bloodguard　from　the　extremity　of　their　need。
　Korik　was　the　first　to　reawaken。　Hearing　returned　before　sight　or　touch；　and　he　began　to　listen。　In　his　ears；　the　noise　of　the　Sea　grew；　became　violent。　But　the　sound　was　not　the　sound　of　waves　in　storm；　it　was　more　erratic；　more　vicious。　When　his　sight　was
　restored；　he　was　surprised　to　find　that　he　could　see。　He　had　expected　the　darkness　of　clouds。
　But　early　starlight　shone　through　the　doorway　from　a　clear　night　sky。　Outside；　the　Sea　thrashed　and　heaved　across　the　piers　and　up　the　levee　as　if　goaded　by　rowels。　And　along　the　sky　lightning　leaped；　followed　by　such　thunder　that　he　felt　the　bursting　in　his　chest。　Through　the　spray　a　high　wind　howled。　And　still　the　sky　was　clear。
　There　was　a　bayamo　upon　the　Sea。
　Then　a　different　lightning　struck　upward　into　the　heavens…a　bolt　as　green　as　blazing　emerald。　It　came　from　the　levee。　Looking　through　the　darkness；　Korik　discerned　the　form　of　the　Raver；　Kinslaughterer。　He　stood　down　in　the　levee；　so　close　to　the　tide　that　the　waves　broke　against　his　knees。　With　his　stone；　he　hurled　green　blasts　into　the　sky；　and　shook　his　arms　as　if　the　windstorm　were　his　to　mand。
　On　the　levee　behind　him　were　three　dead　forms　the　three　Bloodguard　whom　Korik　had　sent　to　the　northern　end　of　the　city。
　For　a　time；　Korik　did　not　prehend　what　Kinslaughterer　was　doing。　But　then　he　perceived　that　the　seas　out　beyond　the　piers　moved　in　consonance　with　Kinslaughterer's　arms。　As　the　Giant…Raver　waved　and　gestured；　they　heaved　and　reared　and　broke　and　piled　themselves　together。
　Farther　away；　the　situation　was　worse。　Slowly；　with　great　pitchings　and　shudders；　a　massive　wall　of　water　rose　out　of　the　ocean。　Kinslaughterer's　green　lightning　glared　across　the　face　of　it　as　it　mo