srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第15章

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und　the　sacred　enclosure；　where　the　inhabitants　of　Revelstone　worshipped。
　He　followed　Troy　in　through　one　of　the　many　doors　onto　a　balcony　which　hung　in　the　great　cavern。　The　cavity　was　cylindrical　in　shape；　with　seven　balconies　cut　into　the　walls；　a　flat　floor　with　a　dais　on　one　side；　and　a　domed　ceiling　too　high　above　the　balconies　to　be　seen　clearly。　The　enclosure　was　dim；　the　only　illumination　came　from　four　large　lillianrill　torches　set　around　the　dais。　Bannor　closed　the　door；　shutting　out　the　light　from　the　outer　hallway；　and　in　the　gloom　Covenant　clung　to　the　railing　for　security　against　the　depth　of　the　cavity。　He　was　several　hundred　feet　above　the　dais。
　The　balconies　were　nearly　empty。　Clearly；　whatever　ceremony　was　about　to　be　enacted　was　not　intended　for　the　general　population　of　Revelstone。
　The　nine　Lords　were　already　on　the　dais。　They　stood　in　a　circle　facing　each　other。　With　their　backs　to　the　torches；　their　faces　were　shadowed；　and　Covenant　could　not　make　out　their　features。
　〃This　is　your　doing；〃　said　Troy　in　an　intent　whisper。　〃They　have　tried　everything　else。　You　shamed　them　into　this。〃
　Two　Bloodguard　bearing　some　figure　between　them　moved　toward　the　dais。　With　a　start；　Covenant　identified　the　injured　Waynhim。　Dukkha　was　struggling　feebly；　but　it　could　not　prevent　the　Bloodguard　from　placing　it　within　the　circle　of　the　Lords。
　〃They're　going　to　try　to　break　the　hold　of　the　Illearth　Stone；〃　Troy　continued。　〃This　is　risky。　If　they　fail；　it　could　spread　to　one　of　them。　They'll　be　too　exhausted　to　fight　it。〃
　Clutching　the　railing　with　both　hands；　Covenant　watched　the　scene　below　him。　The　two　Bloodguard　left　dukkha　cowering　in　the　circle；　and　retreated　to　the　wall　of　the　enclosure。　For　a　long　moment；　the　Lords　stood　in　silent　concentration；　preparing　themselves。　Then　they　lifted　their　heads；　planted　their　staffs　firmly　before　them　on　the　stone；　and　began　to　sing。　Their　hymn　echoed　in　the　enclosure　as　if　the　domed　gloom　itself　were　resonating。　They　appeared　small　in　the　immense　chamber；　but　their　song　stood　up　boldly；　filling　the　air　with　authority　and　purpose。
　As　the　echoes　died；　Troy　whispered　in　Covenant's　ear；　〃If　something　goes　wrong　here；　you're　going　to　pay　for　it。〃
　I　know；　Covenant　said　like　a　prophet。　I'm　going　to　have　to　pay　for　everything。
　When　silence　at　last　refilled　the　enclosure；　High〃　Lord　Elena　said　in　a　clear　voice；　〃Dharmakshetra；　Waynhim；　if　you　can　hear　us　through　the　wrong　which　has　been　done　to　you；　listen。　We　seek　to　drive　the　power　of　the　Illearth　Stone　from　you。　Please　aid　us。　。　Resist　the　Despiser。　Dukkha；　head　Remember　health　and　hope；　and　resist　this　ill！〃
　Together；　the　Lords　raised　their　staffs。
　Troy's　fingers　reached　out　of　the　darkness　and　gripped　Covenant's　arm　above　the　elbow。
　Crying　in　one　voice；　〃Melenkurion　abatha！〃　the　Lords　struck　their　staffs　on　the　stone。　The　metal　rang　through　the　sacred　enclosure　like　a　clashing　of　shields；　and　blue　Lords…fire　burst　from　the　upheld　end　of　each　staff。　The　incandescent　flames　burned　hotly；　outshining　the　light　of　the　torches。　But　the　Staff　of　Law　dazzled　them　all；　flaring　like　a　tongue　of　lightning。　And　the　fire　of　the　staffs　made　a　low　sound　like　the　rush　of　distant　storm　winds。
　Slowly；　one　of　the　lesser　staffs　bent　toward　the　head　of　dukkha。　It　descended；　then　stopped　with　its　flame　well　above　the　Waynhim's　head；　as　if　at　that　point　the　fire　met　resistance。　When　the　wielding　Lord　pressed　down；　the　air　between　dukkha's　skull　and　the　staff　ignited；　the　whole　space　burned。　But　the　fire　there　was　as　green　as　cold　emerald；　and　it　devoured　the　Lords'　blue　power。
　Troy's　fingers　dug　like　claws　into　the　flesh　of　Covenant's　arm。　But　Covenant　hardly　felt　them。
　To　meet　the　green　flame；　the　Lords　broke　into　s　stern　antiphonal　chant；　using　words　that　Covenant　could　not　understand。　Their　voices　pounded　against　the　green；　and　the　rushing　wind　of　their　power　mounted。　Yet　through　it　could　be　heard　the　voice　of　dukkha　Waynhim；　gibbering。
　One　by　one；　the　Lords　added　their　fires　to　the　struggle　over　dukkha's　head；　until　only　the　Staff　of　Law　remained　unmitted。　As　each　new　power　touched　the　green；　a　sound　of　hunger　and　the　crushing　of　bones　multiplied　in　the　sir；　and　the　baleful　emerald　fire　blazed　up　more　mightily；　expanding　like　an　inferno　of　cruel　ice　to　bat　the　Lords'　strength。
　Abruptly；　the　lillianrill　torches　went　out；　as　if　extinguished　by　a　high　wind。
　Troy's　fingers　tightened。
　Then　High　Lord　Elena's　voice　sprang　out　over　the　song　of　the　Lords。　〃Melenkurion　abatha！　Duroc　minas　mill　khabaal！〃　With　a　sweeping　stroke；　she　swung　the　Staff　of　Law　into　the　fray。
　For　an　instant；　the　force　of　her　attack　drove　the　conflicting　fires　together。　Blue　and　green　became　one；　and　raged　up　over　the　circle　of　the　Lords；　ravening　and　roaring　like　a　holocaust。　But　the　next　moment；　dukkha　shrieked　as　if　its　soul　were　torn　in　two。　The　towering　flame　ruptured　like　a　thunderhead。
　The　detonation　blew　out　all　the　fire　in　the　enclosure。　At　once　a　darkness　as　plete　as　a　grave　closed　over　the　Lords。
　Then　two　small　torches　appeared　in　the　hands　of　the　Bloodguard。　The　dim　light　showed　dukkha　lying　on　the　stone　beside　two　prostrate　Lords。　The　others　stood　in　their　places；　leaning　on　their　staffs　as　if　stunned　by　their　exertion。
　Seeing　the　fallen　Lords；　Troy　drew　a　breath　that　hissed　fiercely　through　his　teeth。　His　fingers　seemed　to　be　trying　to　bare　Covenant's　bone。　But　Covenant　bore　the　pain；　watched　the　Lords。
　Swiftly；　the　Bloodguard　refit　the　four　torches　around　the　dais。　At　the　touch　of　the　warm　light；　one　of　the　Lords　Covenant　recognized　Mhoramshook　off　his　numbness；　and　went　to　kneel　beside　his　collapsed　rades。　He　examined　them　for　a　moment　with　his　hands；　using　his　sense　of　touch　to　explore　the　damage　done　to　them；　then　he　turned　and　bent　over　dukkha。　Around　him　vibrated　a　silence　of　hushed　fear。
　At　last　he　climbed　to　his　feet；　bracing　himself　with　his　staff。　He　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　but　his　words　carried　throughout　the　enclosure。　〃The　Lords　Trevor　and　Amatin　are　well。　They　have　only　lost　consciousness。〃　Then　he　bowed　his　head；　and　sighed。　〃The　Waynhim　dukkha　is　dead。　May　its　soul　at　last　find　peace。〃
　〃And　forgive　us；〃　High　Lord　Elena　responded；　〃for　we　have　failed。〃
　Breathing　in　his　deep　relief；　Troy　released　Covenant。　Covenant　felt　sudden　stabs　of　pain　in　his　upper　arm。　The　throbbing　made　him　aware　that　his　own　hands　hurt。　The　intensity　of　his　hold　on　the　railing　had　cramped　them　until　they　felt　crippled。　The　pain　was　sharp；　but　he　weled　it。　He　could　see　death　in　the　broken　limbs　of　the　Waynhim。　The　bruises　on　his　arms；　the　aching　stiffness　in　his　palms；　were　proof　of　life。
　Dully；　he　said；　〃They　killed　it。〃
　〃What　did　you　want　them　to　do？〃　Troy　retorted　with　ready　indignation。　〃Keep　it　captive；　alive　and　in　torment？　Let　it　go；　and　disclaim　responsibility？　Kill　it　in　cold　blood？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Then　this　is　your　only　choice。　This　was　the　only　thing　left　to　try。〃
　〃No。　You　don't　understand。〃　Covenant　tried　to　find　the　words　to　explain；　but　he　could　go　no　further。　〃You　don't　understand　what　Foul　is　doing　to　them。〃　He　pulled　his　cramped　fingers　away　from　the　railing；　and　left　the　enclosure。
　When　he　regained　his　rooms；　he　was　still　shaken。
　He　did　not　think　to　close　the　door　behind　him；　and　the　Warmark　strode　after　him　into　the　suite　without　bothering　to　ask　admittance。　But　Covenant　paid　no　attention　to　his　visitor。　He　went　straight　to　the　tray　of　food；　picked　up　the　flask　which　stood　beside　the　still　steaming　bowls；　and　drank　deeply；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　quench　the　heat　of　his　blood。　The　springwine　in　the　flask　had　a　light；　fresh；　beery　taste；　it　washed　into　him；　clearing　the　dust　from　his　internal　passages。　He　emptied　the　flask；　then　remained　still　for　a　moment　with　his　eyes　shut；　experiencing　the　sensation　of　the　draft。　When　its　clear　light　had　eased　some　of　the　constriction　in　his　chest；　he　seated　himself　at　the　table　and　began　to　eat。
　〃That　can　wait；〃　Troy　said　gruffly。　〃I've　got　to　talk　to　you。〃
　〃So　talk；〃　Covenant　said　around　a　mouthful　of　stew。　In　spite　of　his　visitor's　insistent　impatience；　he　kept　on　eating。　He　ate　rapidly；　acting　on　his　decision　before　doubt　could　make　him　regret