srdonaldson.thepowerthatpreserves-第18部分

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〃　he　cried　thickly。　〃Ah；　Revelstone！〃
　　　　The　ur…viles　were　already　cranking　their　catapult　into　position　for　another　throw。
　　　　For　an　instant；　Mhoram　felt　stunned　and　helpless。　With　such　catapults；　so　many　thousands　of　ur…viles　might　be　able　to　tear　Lord's　Keep　down　piece　by　piece；　reduce　it　to　dead　rubble。　But　then　his　instinct　for　resistance　came　to　life　within　him。　To　Trevor　and　Amatin　he　snapped；　〃Those　blasts　must　not　touch　the　Keep。　Join　me。　We　will　shape　a　Forbidding。〃
　　　　Even　as　they　moved　away　from　him　on　either　side　to　prepare　between　them　as　wide　a　defense　as　possible；　he　knew　that　these　tactics　would　not　suffice。　Three　Lords　might　be　able　to　deflect　the　greatest　harm　of　a　few　attacks；　but　they　could　not　repulse　the　assault　of　fifteen　or　twenty　thousand　ur…viles。　〃Tohrm！〃　he　manded　sharply。　〃Borillar！〃
　　　　At　once；　Hearthrall　Tohrm　began　calling　for　more　Gravelingases。　But　Borillar　hesitated；　searching　around　him　uncertainly　as　if　the　urgency　of　the　Situation　interfered　with　his　thinking；　hid　his　own　lore　from　him。
　　　　〃Calmly；　Hirebrand；〃　Mhoram　said　to　steady　him。　〃The　catapults　are　of　wood。〃
　　　　Abruptly；　Borillar　spun　and　dashed　away。　As　he　passed　Warmark　Quaan；　he　cried；　〃Archers！〃　Then　he　was　yelling　toward　the　main　Keep；　〃Hirebrands！　Bring　lor…liarill！　We　will　make　arrows！
　　　　In　a　dangerously　short　time；　the　ur…viles　had　cocked　their　machine　and　were　filling　its　cup　with　their　black　vitriol。　They　fired　their　next　throw　scant　moments　after　Tohrm's　rhadhamaerl　reinforcements　had　positioned　themselves　to　support　the　stone。
　　　　At　Mhoram's　mand；　the　Lords　struck　against　the　arcing　gout　of　acid　before　it　reached　the　tower。　Their　staffs　flashed　as　they　threw　up　a　wall　of　fire　across　the　acid's　path。
　　　　The　fluid　hit　their　fire　with　a　force　which　shredded　their　Forbidding。　The　black　acid　shot　through　their　power　to　slam　against　the　tower　wall。　But　the　attack　had　spent　much　of　its　virulence。　When　it　reached　the　stone；　Tohrm　and　his　fellow　Gravelingases　were　able　to　withstand　it。
　　　　It　shattered　against　the　strength　which　they　called　up　in　the　rock；　and　fell　flaming　viciously　to　the　ground；　leaving　behind　dark　stains　on　the　wall　but　no　serious　damage。
　　　　Tohrm　turned　to　meet　High　Lord　Mhoram's　gaze。　Hot　anger　and　exertion　flushed　the　Hearthrall's　face；　but　he　bared　his　teeth　in　a　grin　which　promised　much　for　the　defense　of　Revelstone。
　　　　Then　three　of　Quaan's　archers　joined　the　Lords；　followed　closely　by　two　Hirebrands。　The　archers　were　tall　Woodhelvennin　warriors；　whose　slimness　of　form　belied　the　strength　of　their　bows。　Warmark　Quaan　acknowledged　them；　and　asked　Borillar　what　he　wanted　them　to　do。　In　response；　Borillar　accepted　from　the　Hirebrands　six　long；　thin　arrows。　These　were　delicately　rune…carved；　despite　their　slenderness；　their　tips　were　sharpened　to　keen　points；　and　their　ends　were　fletched　with　light　brown　feathers。　The　Hearthrall　gave　two　of　them　to　each　archer；　saying　as　he　did　so；　〃This　is　lor…liarill；　the　rare　wood　called　by　the　Giants　of　Seareach　'Gildenlode。'　They…〃
　　　　〃We　are　Woodhelvennin；〃　the　woman　who　led　the　archers　said　bluntly。　''Lor…liarill　is　known　to　us。〃
　　　　〃Loose　them　well；〃　returned　Borillar。　〃There　are　no　others　prepared。　Strike　first　at　the　Cavewights。〃
　　　　The　woman　looked　at　Quaan　to　see　if　he　had　any　orders　for　her；　but　he　waved　her　and　her　panions　to　the　parapet。　With　smooth　petence；　the　three　archers　nocked　arrows；　bent　bows；　and　took　aim　at　the　catapult。
　　　　Already；　the　ur…viles　had　pulled　back　its　arm；　and　were　busy　rabidly　refilling　its　iron　cup。
　　　　Through　his　teeth；　Quaan　said；　〃Strike　now。〃
　　　　Together；　three　bowstrings　thrummed。
　　　　Immediately；　the　defending　Cavewights　jerked　up　their　shields；　caught　the　arrows　out　of　the　air。
　　　　The　instant　the　arrows　bit　wood；　they　exploded　into　flame。　The　force　of　their　impact　spread　fire　over　the　shields；　threw　blazing　shreds　and　splinters　down　onto　the　Cavewights。　Yelping　in　surprise　and　pain；　the　dull…witted；　gangling　creatures　dropped　their　shields　and　jumped　away　from　the　fire。
　　　　At　once；　the　archers　struck　again。　Their　shafts　sped　through　the　air　and　hit　the　catapult's　throwing　arm；　just　below　the　cup。　The　lor…liarill　detonated　instantly；　setting　the　black　acid　afire。　In　sudden　conflagration；　the　fluid's　power　smashed　the　catapult；　scattered　blazing　wood　in　all　directions。　A　score　of　ur…viles　and　several　Cavewights　fell；　and　the　rest　went　scrambling　beyond　arrow　range；　leaving　the　pieces　of　the　machine　to　burn　themselves　out。
　　　　With　a　fierce　grin；　the　Woodhelvennin　woman　turned　to　Borillar　and　said；　〃The　lillianrill　make　dour　shafts；　Hearthrall。〃
　　　　Borillar　strove　to　appear　dispassionate；　as　if　he　were　accustomed　to　such　success；　but　he　had　to　swallow　twice　before　he　could　find　his　voice　to　say；　〃So　it　would　appear。〃
　　　　High　Lord　Mhoram　placed　a　hand　of　praise　on　the　Hearthrall's　shoulder。　〃Hirebrand；　is　there　more　lor…liarill　which　may　be　formed　into　such　arrows？〃
　　　　Borillar　nodded　like　a　veteran。　〃There　is　more。　All　the　Gildenlode　keels　and　rudders　which　were　made　for　the　Giants…before…　That　wood　may　be　reshaped。〃
　　　　〃Ask　the　Hirebrands　to　begin　at　once；〃　said　Mhoram　quietly。

　　　　Smiling　broadly；　Tohrm　moved　to　stand　beside　Borillar。　〃Hearthrall；　you　have　outdone　me；〃　he　said　in　a　teasing　tone。　〃The　rhadhamaerl　will　not　rest　until　they　have　found　a　way　to　match　this　triumph　of　yours。〃
　　　　At　this；　Borillar's　dispassion　broke　into　a　look　of　wide　pleasure。　Arm　in　arm；　he　and　Tohrm　left　the　tower；　followed　by　the　other　Hirebrands　and　Gravelingases。
　　　　After　bowing　under　a　few　curt　words　of　praise　from　Quaan；　the　archers　left　also。　He　and　the　three　Lords　were　left　alone　on　the　tower；　gazing　somberly　into　each　other's　eyes。
　　　　Finally；　Quaan　spoke　the　thought　that　was　in　all　their　faces。　〃It　is　a　small　victory。　Larger　catapults　may　strike　from　beyond　the　reach　of　arrows。　Larger　wedges　may　make　power　enough　to　breach　the　walls。　If　several　catapults　are　brought　to　the　attack　together；　we　will　be　sorely　pressed　to　resist　even　the　first　throws。〃
　　　　〃And　the　Illearth　Stone　has　not　yet　spoken　against　us；〃　Mhoram　murmured。　He　could　still　feel　the　force　which　had　rent　his　defense　tingling　in　his　wrists　and　elbows。　As　an　afterthought；　he　added；　〃Except　in　the　voice　of　this　cruel　wind　and　winter。〃
　　　　For　a　moment；　he　melded　his　mind　with　Trevor　and　Amatin；　sharing　his　strength　with　them；　and　reminding　them　of　their　own　resources。　Then；　with　a　sigh；　Lord　Amatin　said；　〃I　am　of　Woodhelvennin　blood。　I　will　assist　Hearthrall　Borillar　in　the　making　of　these　shafts。　It　will　be　slow　work；　and　many　of　the　lillianrill　have　other　tasks。〃
　　　　〃And　I　will　go　to　Tohrm；〃　Trevor　said。　〃I　have　no　lore　to　match　the　rhadhamaerl。　But　it　may　be　that　a　counter　to　this　Demondim…bane　can　be　found　in　the　fire…stones。〃
　　　　Mhoram　approved　silently；　put　his　arm　around　the　two　Lords　and　hugged　them。　〃I　will　stand　watch；''　he　said；　〃and　summon　Loerya　when　I　am　weary。〃　Then　he　sent　Quaan　with　them　from　the　tower；　so　that　the　Warmark　could　ready　his　warriors　for　all　the　work　they　might　have　to　do　if　the　walls　were　harmed。　Alone；　the　High　Lord　stood　and　faced　the　dark　encampment　of　Satansfist's　hordes…stood　below　the　snapping　Furl；　which　was　already　ragged　in　the　sharp　wind；　planted　the　iron　heel　of　his　staff　on　the　stone；　and　faced　the　encircling　enemy　as　if　his　were　the　hand　which　held　the　oute　of　the　siege。
　　　　In　the　gray　dimness　toward　evening；　the　ur…viles　built　another　catapult。　Beyond　the　reach　of　arrows；　they　constructed　a　stronger　machine；　one　capable　of　throwing　their　power　across　the　additional　ground。　But　High　Lord　Mhoram　summoned　no　aid。　When　the　black　spew　of　corrosion　was　launched；　it　had　farther　to　travel；　it　was　beyond　the　mand　of　its　makers　for　a　longer　time。　Mhoram's　blue　power　lashed　out　at　it　as　it　reached　the　top　of　its　arc。　A　fervid　lightning　of　Lords…fire　bolted　into　the　vitriol；　weakened　its　momentum；　caused　it　to　fall　short。　Splashing　angrily；　effectlessly；　it　crashed　to　the　earth；　and　burned　a　morbid　hole　like　a　charnel　pit　in　the　frozen　dirt。
　　　　The　ur…viles　withdrew；　returned　to　the　garish　watch　fires　which　burned　throughout　the　army　for　the　sake　of　the　misborn　creatures　that　needed　light。　After　a　time；　Mhoram　rubbed　the　strain　from　his　forehead；　and　called　Lord　Loerya　to　take　his　place。
　　　　During　the　blind　night；　three　more　catapults　were　built　in　the　safety　of　distance；　then　brought　forward　to　attack　Revelstone。　None　of　them　assaulted　the　tower；　two　of　them　threw　at　the　walls　of　the　main　Keep　from　the　north；　one　from　the　south。　But　each　time　the　defenders　were　able　to　react　quickly。　The　loremasters'　exertion　of　power　as　they　cocked　the　machines　radiated　a　palpable　impression　up　at　the　battlements；　and　this　emanation　warned　the　Keep　of　each　new　assault。　Archers　waiting　with　lor…liarill　arrows　raced　to　respond。
　　　　They　gained　light　to　aim　with　by　driving　arrows　into　the　ground　near　the　catapults；　in　the　sudden　revealing　fires；　they　destroyed　two　of　the　new　threats　as　they　had　destroyed　the　first。　But　the　third　remained　beyond　bowshot；　and　attacked　the　south　wall　from　a　position　out　of　Loerya's　reach。　Yet　this　assault　was　defeated　also。　In　a　moment