tw.togreenangeltower2-第141章
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e noises； some of them grunts or gasps of pain； then a moment later she was snatched up again。
At last she touched down again on the hard stone。 The darkness was absolute。 〃Binabik？〃 she called。
There was a spark nearby； then a flash。 For a moment she saw the troll standing beside a cavern wall in the midst of darkness with his hand full of flame。 Then he flung whatever he held outward； and it scattered in a shower of sputtering sparks。 Tiny flames burned everywhere。 Frozen as if painted on a tapestry were Binabik； several dwarrows； and almost a dozen other shadowy figures； all scattered about a long； high…ceilinged cavern。 The stone door that had protected them lay in pieces behind her at the far end of this outer cavern。
She had scarcely an instant to marvel at the effect of the troll's fire…starting powder before a pale…faced shape raced toward her； long knife held high。 Miriamele lifted her own blade； but her ankles seemed bound somehow and she could not get her feet beneath her。 The knife lashed toward Miriamele's face； but the blade stopped abruptly a hand's length from her eyes。
The dwarrow that had caught the creature's arm jerked upward。 There was a sound of something snapping； a moment later the Norn was pitched headfirst across the chamber。
〃Go that way；〃 Yis…fidri gasped； pointing toward a dark hole at the near end of the cavern。 In the faint； flickering light he looked even more grotesque than the enemy he had dispatched： one of his arms hung limply； and the broken shaft of an arrow wagged in his shoulder。 The dwarrow flinched as another arrow shattered against the cavern wall beside him。
Miriamele reached down and disentangled her feet from what had held them…a Norn bow。 Its owner lay a few paces away； just inside the entrance to the dwarrow's hiding place； a thick shard of rock jutted from his crushed chest。
〃Move quickly； quickly；〃 said Yis…fidri。 〃We have surprised them； but there may be more ing。〃 His brisk tones could not hide his terror； his saucer eyes seemed to bulge。 One of the other dwarrows threw a stone at the Norn archer。 The motion was awkward； but the missile flew so swiftly that the white…faced immortal staggered backward before the dwarrow's arm had finished moving； then crumpled to the cavern floor。
〃Run！〃 Binabik called。 〃Before more archers are ing！〃
Miriamele rushed after him into the tunnel mouth； still clutching the bow。 She stooped on the run to pick up a few scattered Norn arrows。 She put Simon's arrow through her belt for safekeeping； and nocked one of the black arrows； as she did so； she looked back。 Yis…fidri and the other dwarrows were backing after her； keeping their frightened eyes fixed on the Norns。 These inched along behind them； staying out of the dwarrows' long reach； but obviously not intending to let them escape so easily。 Despite the carnage； the half…dozen bodies lying scattered in the outer chamber and the breached doorway； the Norns seemed as calm and unhurried as hunting insects。
Miriamele turned and hastened her pace。 Binabik had lit a torch； and she followed its light down the uneven tunnel。
〃They're still following！〃 she panted。
〃Run； then； until we find a better place for fighting；〃 the troll called back。 〃Where is the monk Cadrach？〃
〃Don't know；〃 Miriamele said。
And maybe it would be better for everyone if he died back there。 The thought felt cruel but just。 Better for everyone。
She raced along after the bobbing torch。
〃Josua is gone？〃 Isorn was stunned。 〃But how could he risk himself； even for Camaris？〃
Isgrimnur did not know how to answer his son's question。 He tugged fiercely at his beard； trying to think clearly。 〃Still； there it is；〃 he said。 He stared around the tent at the rest of the unhappy faces。 〃I have had soldiers hunting all through the caves for hours with no luck。 The Sithi are preparing to go after the two of them； and Tiamak will acpany them。 There is nothing more we can do about it。〃 He blew out； fluttering his mustache。 〃Yes； damn me； Josua has hamstrung us； but now more than ever we must make sure we distract Elias。 We can't waste tears。〃
Sludig peered out through the door flap。 〃It is nearly dawn； Duke Isgrimnur。 And snowing again。 The men know something strange has happened…they are growing restless。 We should decide what to do； my lord。〃
The duke nodded。 Inwardly he cursed the fate that had dropped Josua's mand into his lap。 〃We will do what we planned。 All that has changed from yesterday's council is that Josua is gone。 So we will need not one mimic； but two。〃
〃I am ready；〃 Isorn said。 〃I have Camaris' surcoat； and see；〃 he pulled his sword from its scabbard： blade and hilt were shiny black； 〃a little paint and it bees Thorn。〃 He caught Isgrimnur's disfited look。 〃Father； you agreed to this and nothing has changed。 Of all who can be trusted with the secret； only I am nearly tall enough to pass as Camaris。〃
The duke frowned。 〃It is so。 But because you pretend to be Camaris； don't believe you are Camaris： you need to stay alive and on your horse so you can be seen。 Take no foolish chances。〃
Isorn flashed him an unhappy glance； angry after all his experiences to be treated like a child。 Isgrimnur almost regretted his fatherly worry…almost； but not quite。 〃So then。 Who shall mime Josua？〃
〃Are there any that can fight with their left hands？〃 Sludig asked。
〃S'right；〃 said Freosel。 〃None'll believe Josua with a right hand。〃
Isgrimnur felt his frustration growing。 This was madness…like choosing courtiers to act in the Tunath's Day pageant。 〃He need only be seen； not fight；〃 Isgrimnur growled。
〃But he must be somewhere in the fighting；〃 Sludig insisted； 〃or no one will see him。！〃
〃I will do it；〃 said Hotvig。 The scarred Thrithings…man lifted his arm and his bracelets jangled。 〃I can fight with either hand。〃
〃But 。 。 。 but he does not took like Josua；〃 said Strangyeard apologetically； 〃。。。 does he？〃 He had sobered since the duke had seen him earlier； but still seemed distracted。 〃Hotvig。 you are 。。。 you are very broad in the chest。 And your hair is too light。〃
〃He will be wearing a helm；〃 Sludig pointed out。
〃The harper Sangfugol looks much like the prince；〃 Strangyeard offered。 〃At least he is slender and dark…haired。〃
〃Ha。〃 Isgrimnur barked a laugh。 〃I would not send a singer into the middle of such a bloodletting。 Even if he need not fight； he must sit his horse in the clamor of fierce fighting。〃 He shook his head。 〃But I cannot spare you； either； Hotvig。 We need your Thrithings…men…you are our fastest horsemen； and we must be ready in case the king's knights make a sally from the gate。 Who else？〃 He turned to Seriddan。 The Nabbanai captains had been silent； stunned by Josua's disappearance。 〃Have you any ideas； Baron？〃
Before Seriddan could reply； his brother Brindalles stood。 〃I am close to the prince's size。 And I can ride。〃
〃No； that is foolish；〃 Seriddan began； but Brindalles halted him with a raised hand。
〃I am not a fighter like you； my brother； but this is something I can do。 Prince Josua and these folk have risked much for us。 They faced imprisonment or even death at our hands to bring us the truth； and then helped us to drive Benigaris from the throne。〃 He looked around the tent somberly。 〃But what good is that to us if we do not survive to enjoy it； if our children are unhomed by Elias and his allies？ I am still somewhat baffled by all this talk of swords and strange magics； but if this stratagem is truly necessary； then it is the least I can do。〃
Isgrimnur saw his calm resolve and nodded。 〃It is done； then。 Thank you； Brindalles； and may Aedon give you good luck。 Isorn； get him into things of Josua's as will fit； then you can take whatever else of Camaris' that you need。 From what Jeremias said； I doubt he took his helm with him。 Freosel？〃
〃Yes； Duke Isgrimnur？〃
〃Tell the engineers to make ready。 Everyone else； go to your men and make ready。 God's grace on us all。〃
〃Yes；〃 Strangyeard said suddenly。 〃Yes； of course…God's grace on us all。〃
He Who Always Steps on Sand； Tiamak pr
