tw.togreenangeltower2-第68章
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And to what purpose？ Isgrimnur wondered。 Less than a man's lifetime has passed and here we are again； making more feasts for the vultures。 Over and over and over。 I am sick with it。
He sat unfortably in the saddle； looking down the length of the pass。 Below him stood the waiting ranks of the prince's newest allies； their house banners bright in the noon sun； an aviary of Goose； Pheasant； Tern； and Grouse。 Seriddan's neighboring barons had not been slow to follow his lead： none seemed happy with Duke Benigaris； and the resurrected Camaris was difficult to ignore。
Isgrimnur was struck by the circularity of the situation。 Josua's forces were led by a man thought long…dead； and they were fighting a crucial battle in the very place where Prester John； Josua's father and Camaris' closest friend； had won his greatest triumph。 It should have been a good omen； Isgrimnur thought 。。。 but instead he felt the past reaching up to squeeze the life out of the present； as though History was some great and jealous monster thai wished to force all that followed after into unhappy mimicry。
This is no life for an old man。 The duke sighed。 Sludig； watching raptly as the battle developed； was oblivious。 To fight a war； you must believe it can acplish something。 We fight this one to save John's kingdom； or perhaps even to save all of mankind 。。。 but isn 't that what we always think？ That all wars are useless…except the one we're fighting now？
He fingered his reins。 His back was stiff； sore already； and he had not even put it to any hard work。 Kvalnir hung sheathed at his side； untouched since he had sharpened it and polished it in the sleepless hours last night。
I'm just tired； he thought。 I want Elvritshalla back。 I want to see my grandchildren。 I want to walk with my wife by the Gratuvask when the ice is breaking up。 But I can have none of those things until this damnable fighting is over。
And that is why we do it； he decided。 Because we hope it will bring us peace。 But it never； never does。。。。
Sludig cried out。 Isgrimnur looked up； startled； but his earl's shout had been one of glee。
〃Look！ Camaris and the horsemen are ing down on them！〃
When it had bee clear that bowshot would not dislodge Seriddan's Metessan shield wall from the center of the pass； Varellan of Nabban had ordered another charge by his knights。 Now that Varellan's forces had mitted themselves to pushing the prince's troops back down the valley； Camaris and Hotvig's Thrithings…men had e down from the hillroads and thrown themselves into the side of Varellan's larger force。
〃Where is Camaris？〃 Sludig said。 〃Ah！ There！ I see his helm！〃
Isgrimnur could see it； too。 The sea…dragon was little more than a flaming smear of gold from this distance； but its wearer stood tall in his stirrups； a visible circle of dismay spreading around him as the Nabbanai knights struggled to stay out of Thorn's black reach。
Prince Josua； who had been watching the battle from a point about a hundred cubits downslope from Isgrimnur and Sludig； now turned Vinyafod toward them。 〃Sludig！〃 he called。 'Tell Freosel I want his troop to wait until he counts his fingers ten times after I give the sign for the rest of us to charge。〃
〃Yes； Highness。〃 Sludig wheeled his steed around and jogged toward where Freosel and the rest of Josua's household troop stood in fretting anticipation。
The prince continued upslope until he was at Isgrimnur's side。 〃Varellan's youth is finally beginning to show。 He has proved himself overeager。〃
〃There are worse faults in a mander；〃 Isgrimnur replied； 〃but you're right。 He should have been content to hold the mouth of the pass。〃
〃But he thought he saw a weakness when he threw us back yesterday。〃 Josua squinted up at the sky。 〃Now he is mitted to pushing us back。 We are lucky。 Benigaris； for all his rashness in other matters； would never have taken such a risk。〃
〃Then why did he take the chance of sending little brother in the first place？〃
Josua shrugged。 〃Who knows？ Perhaps he underestimated us。 Remember also that Benigaris does not rule alone in Nabban。〃
Isgrimnur grunted。 〃Poor Leobardis。 What did he do to deserve such a wife and son？〃
〃Again； who knows？ But perhaps there is some end that we cannot see to all this。〃
The duke shrugged。
The prince was watching the flow of the battle critically； eyes shadowed in the depths of his helm。 He had drawn Naidel； which lay across his saddle and knee。 〃Almost time；〃 he said。 〃Almost time。〃
〃They are still many more than us； Josua。〃 Isgrimnur pulled Kvalnir from its sheath。 There remained a momentary pleasure in this： the blade had stood him well in many a contest； witnessed by the fact that he was still here； still alive； with aching back and chafing armor and doubts and all。
〃But we have Camaris…and you； old friend。〃 Josua grinned tightly。 〃We can ask for no better odds。〃 His gaze had not left the neck of the pass。 〃May Usires the Ransomer preserve us。〃 The prince solemnly made the sign of the Tree on his breast； then lifted his hand。 Naidel caught the sunlight； and for a moment Isgrimnur found it hard to breathe。 〃To me； men！〃 Josua cried。
A horn sounded on the slopes above him。 From the narrows of the pass； Cellian blared back an answer。
As the prince's troops and the rebel barons and their men charged up the road； Isgrimnur could not help marveling。 They had bee a real army at last； several thousand strong。 When he remembered how it had begun； Josua and a dozen other bedraggled survivors slipping out of Naglimund through a back door； he felt heartened。 Surely God the Merciful could not bring them so far only to dash their hopes！
The Metessans had held firm。 Josua and his army swirled around and past them； the pikemen； freed from their deadly chore； dragged their wounded back down the road。 The prince's forces flung themselves on Varellan's knights； whose superior numbers and heavy armor had been overwhelming even the ferocity of Camaris and the Thrithings…men。
Isgrimnur held back at first； lending aid where he could； but unwilling to throw himself into the thick； where lives seemed to be measured in instants。 He spotted one of Hotvig's men unhorsed； standing over his dying steed and warding off the pike of a mounted knight。 Isgrimnur rode forward； bellowing a challenge； when the Nabbanai knight heard him and turned； the Thrithings…man leapt forward and shoved his sword in beneath the man's arm where there was no shielding metal on his leather coat。 As the knight toppled； bleeding； Isgrimnur felt a twitch of fury at his ally's dishonorable tactic； but when the rescued man shouted his thanks and legged down the slope； back into the heart of the struggle； the duke did not know any longer what to think。 Should the Thrithings…man have died to preserve the lie that war could be honorable？ But did another man deserve death because he believed that lie？
Slowly； as the afternoon turned； Isgrimnur found himself drawn deeper into the bloody conflict； slaying one man and driving several others back； bloodily wounded。 He sustained only minor hurts himself； but only because luck was with him。 He had stumbled once； and his opponent's swinging two…handed sword blow had glanced off the top of his helm； had he not fallen； it would likely have separated head from neck。 Isgrimnur fought with none of his old battle rage； but fear brought out a strength he had forgotten he had。 It was like the ghant nest all over again： everywhere he turned there were hard…shelled things that wanted to kill him。
Upslope； Josua and his knights had pushed Varellan's force back almost to the outer lip of the pass。 Surely； thought Isgrimnur； some of those who fought in the front line must be able to see the broad valley below； green in the sunlight…except that to look at anything except the man in front of you and his weapon was to court swift death。
The knights of Nabban bent； but did not give。 If they had made a mistake in trying to push their earlier advantage； they would make no mistake now。 Whatever Prince Josua wanted； it was clear that
