按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Warriors！〃 he said abruptly。 〃We are here。 For
victory or defeat； this is the end。 Today the oute of this war will be decided。
〃Our position is desperate…but you know that。 Fleshharrower is only a league away by now。 We're caught between his army and Garroting Deep。 I want you to know that this is not an accident。 We didn't panic and run here out of fear。 We didn't e here because Fleshharrower forced us。 You aren't victims。 We came here on my order。 I made the decision。 When I was on Kevin's Watch； I saw how big Fleshharrower's army is。 It's so big that we wouldn't have had a chance in Doom's Retreat。 So I made the decision。 I brought us here。
〃I believe we're going to win today。 We are going to cause the destruction of that horde…I believe it。 I brought you here because I believe it。 Now let me tell you how we're going to do it。〃
He paused for a moment； and became even stiffer； more erect； as he braced himself for what he had to say。 Then he went on； 〃We are going to fight that army here for one reason。 Lord Mhoram needs time。 He's going to make this plan of mine work…and we have to keep him safe until he's ready。
〃When he's ready〃…Troy seemed to clench himself…〃we're going to run like hell into Garroting Deep。〃
If he expected an outcry； he was surprised； the warriors were too weak to protest。 But a rustle of anguish passed among them； and Mhoram could see horror on many faces。
Troy went on promptly； 〃I know how bad that sounds。 No one has ever survived the Deep…no one has ever returned。 I know all that。 But Foul is hard to beat。 Our only chance is something that seems impossible。 I believe we won't be killed。
〃While we fight； Lord Mhoram is going to summon Caerroil Wildwood； the Forestal。 And Caerroil Wildwood is going to help us。 He's going to give us free passage through Garroting Deep。 He's going to defeat Fleshharrower's army。
〃I believe this。 I want you to believe it。 It will work。 The Forestal has no reason to hate us…you know
that。 And he has every reason to hate Fleshharrower。 That Giant is a Raver。 But the only way Caerroil Wildwood can get at Fleshharrower is to give us free passage。 If we run into Garroting Deep； and Fleshharrower sees that we aren't harmed…then he'll follow us。 He hates us and he hates the Deep too much to pass up a chance like this。 It will work。 The only problem is to summon the Forestal。 And that is up to Lord Mhoram。〃
He paused again； weighing his words before he said； 〃Many of you have known Lord Mhoram longer than I have。 You know what kind of man he is。 He'll succeed。 You know that。
〃Until he succeeds； the only thing we have to do is fight…keep him alive while he works。 That's all。 I know how tough it's going to be for you。 I…I hear how tired you are。 But you are warriors。 You will find the strength。 I believe it。 Whatever happens； I'll be proud to fight with you。 And I won't be afraid to lead you into Garroting Deep。 You are the true preservers of the Land。〃
He stopped； waiting for some kind of answer。
The warriors gave no cheers or shouts or cries； the extravagant grip of their exhaustion kept them silent。 But together they heaved themselves to their feet。 Twelve thousand men and women stood to salute the Warmark。
He seemed to hear their movement and understand it。 He saluted them once； rigidly。 Then he turned his proud Ranyhyn； and went trotting back toward where he had left Lord Mhoram。
He caught Mhoram by surprise； and the Lord failed to intercept him。 He moved as if he were held erect by the stiffness of extreme need； his voice rocked as he said to the empty air where Mhoram had been； 〃I hope you understand what'll happen if you fail。 We won't have any choice。 We'll still have to go into the Deep。 And pray the Forestal doesn't kill us until Fleshharrower follows。 We'll all die that way； but maybe the Raver will； too。〃
Mhoram hastened toward Troy。 But Terrel was closer to the Warmark； and he spoke before Mhoram
could stop him。 〃That we will not permit；〃 he said dispassionately。 〃It is suicide。 We do not speak of the Warward。 But we are the Bloodguard。 We will not permit the Lords to enact their own death。 We failed to prevent High Lord Kevin's self…destruction。 We will not fail again。〃
〃I hear you；〃 Mhoram replied sharply。 〃But that moment has not yet e。 First I must work。〃 Turning to Troy； he said； 〃My friend； will you remain with me while I make this attempt。 I need…I have need of support。〃
Troy seemed to totter on Mehryl's back。 But he caught hold of the Ranyhyn's mane； steadied himself。 〃Just tell me if there's anything I can do。〃 He reached out his hand； and when Mhoram clasped it； he slipped down from Mehryl's back。
Mhoram gripped his hand for a moment； then released him。 The Lord looked over at the Warward； saw that it was preparing to meet Fleshharrower's charge。 He turned his attention to the Deep。 Dread constricted his heart。 He was afraid that Caerroil Wildwood would simply strike him where he stood for the affront of his call…strike all the army。 But he was still his own master。 He stepped forward； raised his staff high over his head； and began the ritual appeal to the woods。
〃Hail； Garroting Deep！ Forest of the One Forest！ Enemy of our enemies！ Garroting Deep； hail！ We are the Lords…foes to your enemies； and learners of the lillianrill lore。 We must pass through！
〃Harken； Caerroil Wildwood！ We hate the ax and flame which hurt you。 Your enemies are our enemies。 Never have we brought edge of ax or flame of fire to touch you…nor ever shall。 Forestal； harken！ Let us pass！〃
There was no answer。 His voice fell echoless on the trees and grass； nothing moved or replied in the dark depths。 He strained his senses to listen and look for any sign； but none came。 When he was sure of the silence； he repeated the ritual。 Again there was no reply。 After a third appeal； the silent gloom of the Deep
seemed to increase； to grow more profound and ominous； as he beseeched it。
Through the Forest's unresponsiveness； he heard the first gleeful shout of Fleshharrower's army as it caught sight of the Warward。 The hungry cry multiplied his dread； his knuckles whitened as he resisted it。 Planting his staff firmly on the grass； he tried another approach。
While the sun arced through the middle of the afternoon； Lord Mhoram strove to make himself heard in the heart of Garroting Deep。 He used every Forestal name which had been preserved in the lore of the Land。 He wove appeals and chants out of every invocation or summoning known to the Loresraat。 He bent familiar forms away from their accustomed usage； hoping that they would unlock the silence。 He even took the Summoning Song which had called Covenant to the Land； altered it to fit his need； and sang it into the Deep。 It had no effect。 The Forest remained impenetrable； answerless。
And behind him the last battle of the Warward began。 As Fleshharrower's hordes rushed at them； the warriors raised one tattered cheer like a brief pennant of defiance。 But then they fell silent； saved the vestiges of their strength for bat。 With their weapons ready； they faced the ravening that charged toward them out of the Wastes。
The Raver's army crashed murderously into them。 Firing their arrows at close range； they attempted to crack the momentum of the charge。 But the horde's sheer numbers swept over slain ur…viles and Cavewights and other creatures； trampled them underfoot； drove into the Warward。
Its front lines crumbled at the onslaught； thousands of ill beasts broke into its core。 But Hiltmark Quaan rallied one flank； and First Haft Amorine shored up the other。 For the first time since she had left Doriendor Corishev； she seemed to remember herself。 Throwing off her enervation of will； she brought her Eoward to the aid of the front lines。 And Lord Callindrill held his ground in the army's center。 Whirling his staff about his head； he rained blue fiery force in
all directions。 The creatures gave way before him； scores of unorganized ur…viles fell under his fire。
Then Quaan and Amorine reached him from either side。
From a place deep within them； beyond their most bereft exhaustion； the men and women of the Land brought up the strength to fight back。 Faced with the raw malevolence of Lord Foul's perverse creations； the warriors found that they could still resist。 Bonedeep love and abhorrence exalted them。 Passionately； they hurled themselves at the enemy。 Hundreds of them fell in swaths across the ground； but they threw back the Raver's first assault。
Fleshharrower roared his orders； the creatures drew back to regroup。。 Ur…viles horned to form a wedge against Lord Callindrill； and the rest of the army shifted； brought Cavewights forward to bear the brunt of the next charge。
In an effort to disrupt these preparations； Quaan launched an attack of his own。 Warriors leaped after the retreating beasts。 Lord Callindrill and one Eoward ran to prevent the formation of the ur…vile wedge。 For several furious moments； they threw the black Demondim…spawn into chaos。
But then the Giant…Raver struck； used his Stone to support the ur…viles。 Several blasts of emerald fire forced Callindrill to give ground。 At once； the wedge pulled itself together。 The Eoward had to retreat。
It was a