df.therunelords-第115章
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nstantly so they might appease the Power that the sorcerers served。 His flameweavers were； Raj Ahten believed； the most fearsome of their kind on earth。
And these flameweavers had made great studies in the use of explosive fires。 It had long been known that when wheat and rice were poured into their granaries； the flame of a small lantern could ignite the air with explosive force。 Miners pounding out coal deep beneath the mountains of Muyyatin had long known that coal dust would spark at the touch of their lamps； sometimes exploding so ferociously that entire passages within the mine would cave in。
For generations； people had raised borage flowers to give them courage； and children had delighted in throwing the dried stalks into the fire to hear the popping sounds they exuded as they exploded。
But no one had considered how to benefit from the explosive force of such agents。 So Raj Ahten's flameweavers studied the phenomenon； learned to prepare and grind and mix the powders。
Now Raj Ahten watched in awe and satisfaction as years of nurturing his sorcerers and financing their grim study paid off。 The skies all around went blacker than the deepest night as the final ropes of fire twisted down from heaven。 Hail plummeted from the air； and the sound of thunder raged overhead。
The huge bonfire where the flameweavers stood with the beings they summoned suddenly snuffed out like a candle； the green walls collapsing； the creatures within drawing all light and heat into themselves。
The skies remained black； and in that sudden total darkness； no archer could have seen his target to shoot。 For ten seconds； the skies gave no light。
Atop the castle walls； Orden's knights performed one last defiant act。 They broke into a grim song。
Under the cover of that shadow； Raj Ahten's troops continued to race for the walls。
As the bowmen on the castle rose to shoot at unseen attackers； a blinding light shot from the center of the flameweavers' infernos。
The sorcerous blast roared like a living sun from flameweavers and salamanders； and a green flaming wave of fire swept from the hilltop； raced toward the castle。
In the sudden rush of light； one could see the terrified faces of Longmot's defenders。 Brave boys unmanned； brave men trembling but still defiant。
As the wave of flame traveled inexorably toward Longmont； it touched the arcane powders in the sky。
Then the whole arch above the gate roared into an inferno。 Raj Ahten's powders exploded in a cloud of fire that rose like a mushroom some hundred yards at the base； slowly ascending a mile into the air。 The concussion threw defenders from the walls like rag dolls。 Many fell； stunned。 Others staggered back in abject terror。
But the great green wave of flame was not a mere spark to touch off the explosive powders。 It was much more than that。
The wave of green fire smote the castle walls； washing over hundreds of defenders who still stood。
On the crowded walls； away from the initial explosion above the arch； warriors were crammed shoulder to shoulder in ranks six deep。 The green flames rolled over them like the roaring waves of the sea。
Longmont had been the perfect castle for Raj Ahten to use his powders on。 Its south face was but a hundred and twenty yards wide。 Defenders had concentrated along the upper wall…walk in that hundred yards。
Raj Ahten's flameweavers incinerated perhaps some two thousand men。 As the mushroom cloud rose； Raj Ahten's flameweavers now fell unconscious into the ruins of their own bonfire。 No flames leapt in the remains of the fire。 No smoke rose； for the flameweavers had drained the vast majority of the energies from it； and in an instant the great blackened logs had incinerated； bee ash。 So now the flameweavers lay dazed among the hot coals。
But the white…hot salamanders suddenly leapt； as if freed from a cage； rushing hungrily toward the castle。
The scene before the castle gate was a pandemonium。 Under the cover of darkness； Raj Ahten's giants had made the wall。 Raj Ahten's archers unleashed a hail of deadly arrowsa hail that proved almost unnecessarywhile his Invincibles began to race up ladders to the tops of the battlements。
No defenders stood on that south wall now。 The explosion and waves of fire had all but emptied the wall…walk。
The castle gate stood undefended。 The east tower was a smoking ruin。 But within the west tower； a few men tried one last trick。 King Orden's men unleashed a rain of burning oil； pouring it down runnels within the tower。 Stone gargoyles above the gate suddenly spewed the vile stuff as Raj Ahten's troops raced in with their battering ram。
Some of Raj Ahten's men faltered under the heat of that oil； but such was the speed of the men running that the head of the ram still struck the mantelet behind the castle gate。
All the energy of the spells bound within the wolf's head exploded against the mantelet； sending timbers of wood splintering in all directions。 Defenders behind the mantelet shrieked and died under the onslaught。
And in Raj Ahten's mind； a peculiar flame began to dance。
He knew that he should restrain himself now； that it was wrong to destroy men so ruthlessly。 It would have been better to use those he could； take their endowments。 These men had virtues and strengths that should not have been wasted in such a brutish fashion。 Their ugly； fleeting little lives could have been converted to a grander purpose。
Yet the smell of burning flesh suddenly enticed Raj Ahten； left him tingling in anticipation。 Against all his better reason； he hungered for destruction。
Cedrick Tempest had been standing behind the mantelet； racing between two warhorses toward the Duke's kitchens； where Shostag lay hidden； when the green wave of flame touched the battlements and a great ball of fire filled the sky overhead。
Fortunately； he'd been staring down； running away from the blast。 The heat and energy of it shoved him face…first into the paving stones； so that his helm bent close to his head。 For one moment； he'd felt the searing heat of the blast crisp his clothing； burn his skin at a touch。 Then he tried to draw a breath in the hot wind of the fireball's passage。
Horses kicked and fell under the impact of the blast。 One of them landed half atop him； the body of a knight crushing him。
For a moment； Tempest fell unconscious。 Found himself crawling among the stones； among the fallen horses。 Men and parts of men rained from the castle walls； a gruesome storm of burned bodies； destroyed flesh。
In that moment； he gazed about in horror as a blackened boy plopped at his head； an arm fell near his hand。 He knew then that he would not survive this day。 Three days past； he'd sent his wife and children to Castle Groverman； hoping they'd be safe； hoping he'd live to see them again。 He remembered how they'd looked as they lefthis two toddlers riding the back of a goat； his wife carrying their babe in her arms； his oldest daughter trying to look mature； her lips trembling as she stifled tears of fear。
Tempest looked up to the castle walls； on the west。 The walls were nearly empty。 Those men still up looked dazed； confused。
Suddenly； a flaming white salamander leapt up on the merlon of the south tower； gazing about。 Tempest hid his face； lest the pearly orbs of its eyes touch him。
A second； smaller explosion sounded fifty yards behind him。 Tempest tried to scrabble to his knees； looked back。 Raj Ahten's Invincibles had just hit the little mantelet barricade inside the gates with their ram。 The barricade exploded； sending shards of woods flying； flaming out。
Any men who stood near that barricade blew back under the onslaught of fiery debris； yet painfully few men had been standing at all。 A few knights were still up on their horses； but the fallen bodies of their rades hemmed them in。
The battle was lost。 All along the walls before him； defenders were down。 Thousands of men screamed and writhed in pain。 Arrows were hurtling over the castle walls now； a dark and deadly rain； dropping into wounded men。
Some few hundred men were rushing from the north side of the castle； trying to reach the gates； to put up some kind of defense。 Yet Raj Ahten's Invincibles rushed to meet them
