tw.togreenangeltower2-第150章
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ithi's lights jittered； although the immortals themselves seemed not to move。 For a moment； Tiamak thought he sensed the presence of a host of others； a shadowy horde disposed all through the ruined halls。 Then the feeling was gone and everything was as it had been but for an odd； lingering smell of smoke。
〃Aedon's mercy！〃 Josua looked down at his feet as though surprised to discover them still on the ground。 〃What is this place？〃
The Sithi had paused。 Jiriki turned to the mortals。
〃We must go faster；〃 he said。 〃Can you keep up？〃
〃I have a lame leg；〃 Tiamak replied。 〃But I will do my best。〃
Josua laid his hand on the Wrannaman's shoulder。 〃I will not leave you behind。 I can carry you if need be。〃
Tiamak smiled； touched。 〃I do not think it will e to that； Prince Josua。〃
〃e； then。 The Sithi need haste。 We will try to give it to them。〃
They moved at a fast trot through the winding passageways。 Watching the backs of the Sithi； Tiamak had little doubt that if they chose they could leave their mortal panions far behind。 But they did not； and that said much： the Sithi thought that Tiamak and Josua could do something important。 He ignored the pain in his leg and hurried on。
They seemed to run for hours； although Tiamak had no way of knowing if that was true： just as the substance of Asu'a itself seemed strangely unstable； so too did time move in a manner that Tiamak no longer trusted himself to interpret。 The lag between steps sometimes seemed to stretch for long moments； then an instant later he would be in another part of the ruined sub…castle； still running； with no memory of the intervening journey。
He Who Always Steps on Sand； keep me sane until I have done whatever I can do； he prayed。 Beside him； the prince too seemed in silent munication with something or someone。
For a while the Sithi were so far ahead that their lights were little more than a glow in the tunnel before them。 Tiamak's own globe； jiggling in his clutch； provided inconstant light； he and Josua found themselves stumbling through wreckage they could barely see； suffering more than a few cuts and bruises； until they caught up to the immortals once more。
The Sithi had halted beneath a high archway where they stood silhouetted by a diffuse glow from the chamber beyond。 As Tiamak hobbled to a stop beside them； gasping for breath； he wondered if they had finally reached the light of the upper world。 As he sucked air into his lungs； he stared at the dragonlike serpent carved on the arch。 Its tail stretched down one side and was carved across the dusty floor of the archway as well； then rose up the other side and back to the lintel； where the tip was clasped in its owner's mouth。 There were still flecks of paint on its thousands of minute scales。
The smoky light behind the Sithi made them seem distorted； freakishly lean and without firm edges。 The nearest； Jiriki； turned and looked back at the panting mortals。 There was passion on his face； but it battled with more pressing emotions。 〃Beyond is the Pool of Three Depths；〃 he said。 〃If I tell you it is a Master Witness； you may have some idea of what kind of forces are at work here。 This is one of the mightiest of the places of power； the great worms of Osten Ard once came to drink its wa… ters and share their wordless wisdom； long before my people set foot in this land。〃
〃Why have we stopped here？〃 Josua asked。 〃Is Camaris。。。 ？〃
〃He may be； or he may have already been here and passed on。 It is a place of potency as I said； and it is one of the sources of the change we have felt all around us。 He may very well have been drawn here。〃 Jiriki lifted his hand in warning； for the first time； Tiamak could see the weariness on the immortal's face。 〃Please do nothing without asking。 Touch nothing except the floor where we walk。 If something speaks to you； do not reply。〃
Tiamak was chilled。 He nodded his understanding。 There were a thousand questions he longed to ask； but the tension
he saw in the Sithi was a strong argument for silence。
〃Lead on；〃 said Josua。
Appearing a little hesitant themselves； the Sithi stepped through the archway into a wide chamber full of indirect light。 Where Tiamak could see the walls through the strange mistiness of the air； they seemed almost new…built； undamaged and ribbed with great sculpted pillars that stretched up toward the hidden ceiling。 The pool； a circular expanse of scintillant water； lay in the center of the chamber。 A circular staircase whose landing touched on the pool's far side spiraled up； massive yet graceful； and vanished in the mists above。
Something in the room was 。。。 alive。 Tiamak could think of no other way to describe the sensation。 Whether it was the pool itself； with its shifting blue and green glows flickering up from the depths； he could not say； but there was far more to this place than water and stone。 The air was thunderstorm…taut； and he found he was holding his breath as they moved forward。 The Sithi； moving as cautiously as hunters stalking a wounded boar； fanned out along the edge of the pool； growing unaccountably more distant from him with each single step。 The smoky light glimmered。
〃Camaris！〃 shouted Josua。 Tiamak looked up； startled。 The prince was staring at a shape beyond the farthest of the Sithi； a tall figure with a long shadow in one hand。 The prince hastened around the tarn's rim； the Sithi； their attention pulted away from the pool； moved with him toward the solitary figure。 Tiamak hurried after； the pain of his leg momentarily forgotten。
For an instant Tiamak thought the prince was mistaken； that whatever this shape was； it was not Camaris： for a blink of time he saw someone pletely different； jet…haired and dressed in strange robes； with a branching crown upon his head。 Then the chamber seemed to shudder and tip； and the Wrannaman stumbled； when he had regained his balance； he saw that it was indeed the old knight。 Camaris looked up at the approaching figures and stepped back； his eyes wild with alarm； then leveled the black sword before him。 Josua and the Sithi stopped beyond its reach。
〃Camaris；〃 said the prince。 〃It is Josua。 Look； it is only me。 I have been searching for you。〃
The old man stared at him； but the sword did not waver from its defensive position。 〃It is a sinful world；〃 he replied hoarsely。
〃I will go with you；〃 said Josua。 〃Wherever you wish to go。 Do not be afraid。 I will not stop you。〃
Likimeya's voice was surprisingly gentle。 〃We can help you； Hikka Ti…tuno。 We will not stay you； but we can make your pain less。〃 She took a step forward； her hands held with palms upward。 〃Do you remember Amerasu Ship…Born？〃
The old man's lips drew back in a grimace of pain or fear and he drew Thorn back as if to strike。 Dark Kuroyi's sword hissed from its sheath as he stepped in front of Likimeya。
〃There is no need；〃 she said coldly。 〃Put up。〃
The tall Sitha hesitated for a moment； then slipped his witchwood sword back into place。 Camaris lowered his black blade once more。
〃Pity。〃 Kuroyi sounded genuinely regretful。 〃I have always wondered what it would be to cross swords with the greatest of mortal warriors。。。。〃
Before anyone else spoke again the light flared wildly； then the room was plunged into blackness。 A moment later light returned； but this time the misty air was blue as the center of a flame。 Tiamak felt a freezing wind that seemed to blow through him； and the tension of the air increased until his ears hammered。
〃How you do love mortals。〃 The dreadful voice sounded in his thoughts and all through his body； the words felt like insects skittering on the Wrannaman's skin。 〃You cannot leave them alone。〃
Tiamak and the others turned。 In the roiling mists behind them a shape was forming； pale robed and silver masked； enthroned in midair above the pool。 The sickly blue light did not reach much beyond the water； and the chamber was now walled with shadow。 The Wrannaman felt terror seize him by the spine。 He could not move； could only pray that he would be unnoticed。 Stormspike's queen…for who else could it be？…was as dreadful as any nightmare vision of She Who Waits to Take Al
