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！
queen…for who else could it be？…was as dreadful as any nightmare vision of She Who Waits to Take All Back。
Likimeya nodded her head。 She held herself stiffly； as though even speaking took much effort。 〃So； Eldest。 You have found a way to reach the Pool of Three Depths。 That does not mean that you can use it。〃
The masked figure did not move； but Tiamak felt something almost like triumph emanate from it。 〃I silenced Amerasu…I broke her before my huntsman dispatched her。 Do you think you are her equal； child？〃
〃By myself； no。 But I have others here with me。〃
〃Other children。〃 A pale gloved hand lifted； wavering as the mist swirled。
Tiamak was dimly aware of movement on the edge of the circle of figures around him； but could not tear his eyes away from the shimmering silver mask。
〃Camaris！〃 Josua cried。 〃He is leaving。〃
〃Go；〃 said Jiriki。 〃And you； too； Tiamak。 Follow him。〃
〃But what of you？〃 The prince's voice cracked。 〃And how will we find our way？〃
〃He is going where he is drawn。〃 Jiriki moved closer to his mother； who already seemed locked in some silent struggle with the Norn Queen。 The muscles of Likimeya's face were rippling。 〃And that is where you must go； too。 This is our struggle here。〃 Jiriki turned to face the pool。
〃Go！〃 said Aditu urgently。 She tugged at Tiamak's sleeve； pulling him off…balance and sending him stumbling toward Josua。 〃We will call on the power of the Oldest Tree and hold her at bay as long as we can； but we cannot defeat their plan here。 Utuk'ku is already drawing on the Master Witness。 I can feel it。〃
〃But what is she doing？ What is happening？〃 Tiamak heard his voice rising in terror。
〃We cannot see that；〃 Aditu moaned。 Her teeth were clenched。 〃We have all we can do to hold her back。 You and the others must acplish whatever remains。 This is our battle。 Now go！〃 She turned away from him。
The pulsing radiance of the pool grew stronger； and lavender flames kindled along the walls； leaping as though in a fierce wind。 The entire chamber felt tight as a drumhead。 Tiamak thought he could feel himself shrinking； twisting； being slowly crushed by the forces now unleashed。 Something powerful； yet without form or substance； was beating out at him from the misty shape that hovered over the water。
Fumbling as though they were battered by gale winds； the Sithi formed into a line before the pool and linked their hands； then began to sing。
As the immortals' strange music rose； the lights of the pool flickered wildly。 Tiamak stared helplessly at the glowing mists； unable to remember how to move。 The walls around the pool seemed to bend inward and then push out again； bend in and push out； as though the chamber breathed。 On the rim of the pool Aditu staggered and slumped forward； but her brother； who stood beside her； pulled her upright； the song of the Sithi faltered for a moment； then resumed。
In response to their wailing music； something else began to form in the mists of the pool； something that rapidly became entangled with the pate shadow of the Norn Queen。 Tiamak saw it as a dim； dark shape with a wide trunk； swaying branches； and phantom leaves that fluttered as though a wind caressed them。 Aditu had said 〃the Oldest Tree〃； Tiamak could sense this huge thing's antiquity； its deep roots and spreading； nurturing strength。 For a moment he felt something like hope。
As if in response； the blue lights in the water began to burn even more fiercely； until the glare filled the chamber with blinding radiance。 The tree shape grew less substantial。 The Wrannaman felt himself sinking down to the ground as Utuk'ku's choking； freezing might surged out from the Pool of Three Depths。
〃Tiamak！〃
The voice was distant and far behind him； it meant little。 Nothing could push through the fog that was filling his ears； his heart； his thoughts。。。 。
High above the center of the pool； the Norn Queen seemed a creature made entirely of ice； but something black pulsed at the heart of her； and jagged flares of purple and blue played about her head and glinted from her shining mask。 She spread her arms； then clenched her gloved fists。 Kuroyi abruptly shrieked and fell away from the rest of the Sithi to writhe on the ground。 The dark…haired Sitha began to deform into impossibly swift…changing shapes； as though invisible hands kneaded him like dough。 The other Sithi slumped and fell back； the ghost…tree vanished pletely。 After a few moments Aditu and her kin recovered themselves and began fighting to close the gap where Kuroyi had been。 They struggled as though immersed in deep water； striving to join hands once more。 The fallen Sitha had stopped struggling and lay still。 There was no longer anything manlike in his form。
Something jerked at Tiamak's arm； then jerked again。 He turned slowly。 Josua was screaming at him。 but he could not hear the words。 The prince pulled him up onto his feet and dragged him； stumbling； away from the pool。 Tiamak's heart was rattling as though it might burst。 His legs did not want to support him； but Josua kept tugging until Tiamak could move on his own； then the prince turned and lurched away in pursuit of Camaris。 The old knight was several score paces ahead； walking stiff…legged toward the dark passages at the far side of the wide chamber。 Tiamak limped slowly after them both。
The song of the Dawn Children rose again behind him； more raggedly this time。 Tiamak did not dare look back。 Blue light throbbed all across the cavern ceiling； and the shadows bloomed and vanished and then bloomed again。
Despite the strange shifting that seemed to be going on around him； despite the bodiless voices that sometimes shrieked or gibbered in the blackness； Simon did not surrender to fear。 He had survived the wheel and then had passed over into the void and returned。 He had won back his life； but he did not hold it as tightly as he once had； and so； in a way； his grip on it was more sure。 What were little things like hunger or momentary blindness？ He had been hungry before。 He had wandered without light。
The cat padded silently ahead； turning at intervals to rub against him before moving on； leading him slowly through the twisting tunnels。 He had long since given his safety over into the animal's care。 There was nothing else to do； and no use worrying about it。
Something was happening around him； although he could not tell exactly what that something was。 The ghostly presences and strange distortions were even stronger than before； and seemed to e now as regularly as waves dashing themselves upon a beach； sweeping all before them； then ebbing away again。 He hardened himself to the sensations as he had hardened himself to his own aches。
Simon felt his way along the black corridors； Bright…Nail scraping the walls like a beetle's feeler； his fingers trailing through dust and dank moss and cobwebs and other things less pleasant。 He could do nothing but what he was doing。 He had faced the ice…dragon and shouted his name at it； had wandered the emptiness beyond dreams and clung to himself。 He could not turn back from the task that was before him； and he would not。
Bright…Nail seemed to change along with his lightless surroundings。 One moment it was a simple blade slapping against his hip； then a moment later it seemed to throb in time with the convulsions of the castle depths； being for a moment a living thing； at those times； it was hard to tell whether one of them was master； or whether Simon and the sword were； as he and the cat were； two creatures traveling the darkness together in strange partnership。
At such times； he could begin to hear its call in his thoughts； it was a faint presence； only a hint of the song that Guthwutf had seemed to hear； but it was growing steadily stronger。 For brief moments he could almost understand it； as though it spoke to him in a language he had forgotten long ago； but which was slowly surfacing from the place in his memory where it had been buried。 But Simon did not think he wanted to understand what the blade sang。 Perhaps if he wandered long enough； he thought； he would indeed bee like Guthwulf； and hear almost nothing but the sword's