tg.stone of tears-第4章

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an　in　leather　and　a　polished　breastplate　with　the　ornate　letter　R　embossed　on　it：　the　symbol　of　the　House　of　Rahl。　The　scars　of　rank　were　incised　on　upper　arms　covered　only　with　coarse　mail　sleeves。　Intense　blue　eyes　glowered　out　from　under　his　gleaming　helmet。
　
　‘What’s　going　on　here？’　he　demanded。　‘What　is　it？’
　
　‘Get　these　people　out　of　this　hall。　They　are　all　in　danger。’
　
　The　mander’s　face　reddened　behind　the　cheek　plates　of　his　helmet。　‘I’m　a　soldier；　not　a　bloody　sheepherder！’
　
　Zedd　gritted　his　teeth。　And　a　soldier’s　first　duty　is　to　protect　people。　If　you　don’t　get　these　people　out　of　this　hall；　mander；　I　will　see　to　it　you　bee　a　sheepherder！’
　
　The　mander’s　fist　snapped　to　his　heart　in　salute；　his　voice　suddenly　controlled　at　realizing　who　he　was　arguing　with。　‘By　your　mand；　Wizard　Zorander。’　He　turned　his　anger　instead　on　his　men。　‘Get　everyone　back！　Right　bloody　now！　Spread　rank！　Sweep　the　hall！’
　
　The　soldiers　fanned　out；　pushing　a　wave　of　startled　people　before　them。　Zedd　hoped　they　could　get　them　all　clear；　and　then　maybe；　with　the　soldiers’　help；　they　could　bottle　up　the　screeling　and　hack　it　to　pieces。
　
　But　then　the　screeling　launched　itself　from　behind　the　column；　a　black　streak　tearing　across　the　floor。　It　tumbled　into　a　bunched　knot　of　onlookers　the　soldiers　were　herding　back；　toppling　many　over　one　another　to　the　floor。　Shrieks　and　wails　and　the　screeling’s　hideous　laughter　erupted　from　across　the　hall。
　
　Soldiers　fell　upon　the　creature　and　were　flung　back；　bloodied；　as　more　came　to　their　aid。　In　the　panicked　clump　of　people；　the　soldiers　couldn’t　swing　a　sword　or　axe　with　any　effect　as　the　screeling　tore　a　bloody　path　through　the　bodies。　It　had　no　more　caution　for　the　armed　soldiers　than　unarmed　innocents。　It　simply　ripped　at　anyone　close　enough。
　
　‘Bags！’　Zedd　cursed。　He　turned　to　Chase。　‘Stick　close　to　me。　We　have　to　draw　it　away。’　He　looked　around。　‘Over　there。　The　devotion　pool。’
　
　They　ran　to　the　square　pool　of　water　that　was　situated　under　an　opening　in　the　roof。　Sunlight　streamed　down；　reflecting　in　rippling　patterns　on　the　column　at　one　of　its　corners。　A　bell　perched　on　the　dark　pitted　rock　that　sat　off…center　in　the　water。　Orange　fish　glided　through　the　shallow　pool；　unconcerned　with　the　mayhem　above。
　
　Zedd　was　getting　an　idea。　The　screeling　certainly　wasn’t　bothered　by　fire；　the　most　it　did　when　hit　with　it　was　steam　a　little。　He　ignored　the　sounds　of　pain　and　dying　and　stretched　his　hands　out　over　the　water；　gathering　its　warmth；　preparing　it　for　what　he　was　going　to　do。　He　could　see　shimmering　waves　of　heat　just　above　the　surface　of　the　water。　He　held　the　rising　heat　at　that　point；　just　below　ignition。
　
　‘When　it　es；’　he　told　Chase；　‘we　have　to　get　it　in　the　water。’
　
　Chase　nodded。　Zedd　was　glad　the　boundary　warden　wasn’t　one　who　always　needed　to　have　things　explained　to　him；　and　knew　better　than　to　waste　precious　seconds　with　questions。　Chase　set　Rachel　on　the　floor。　‘Stay　behind　me；’　he　told　her。
　
　She；　too；　asked　no　questions。　She　nodded　and　hugged　her　doll　close。　Zedd　saw　she　was　clutching　the　fire　stick　in　her　other　hand。　Gutsy　indeed。　He　turned　to　the　uproar　across　the　hall；　lifted　a　hand；　and　sent　tickling　tongues　of　flame　into　the　flailing　dark　thing　in　its　center。　The　soldiers　fell　back。
　
　The　screeling　straightened；　turning；　dropping　a　disembodied　arm　from　its　teeth　as　it　did　so。　Steam　rose　where　the　flames　had　licked　it。　It　hissed　a　cackling　laugh　at　the　wizard　standing　still　in　the　sunlight　by　the　pool。
　
　The　soldiers　were　pushing　the　remaining　people　down　the　halls；　although　the　people　no　longer　needed　the　encouragement。　Zedd　rolled　balls　of　fire　across　the　floor。　The　screeling　batted　them　out　of　the　way　and　they　sparked　out。　Zedd　knew　the　fire　wouldn’t　harm　it；　he　only　wanted　to　draw　its　attention。　It　worked。
　
　‘Don’t　forget；’　he　said　to　Chase；　‘in　the　water。’
　
　‘You　don’t　mind　if　it’s　dead　when　it　goes　in；　do　you？’
　
　‘All　the　better。’
　
　With　a　clatter　of　claws　against　stone；　the　screeling　charged　across　the　hall。　The　tips　of　the　claws　scratched　into　the　floor；　sending　little　spurts　of　stone　dust　behind　along　with　flakes　and　chips。　Zedd　hit　it　with　pacted　knots　of　air；　hammering　it　down；　keeping　its　attention；　trying　to　slow　it　down　enough　so　they　might　be　able　to　handle　it。　It　came　to　its　feet　in　a　rush　each　time；　charging　onward。　Chase　crouched　a　little　lower　in　readiness；　now　holding　a　six…bladed　mace　in　his　fist　instead　of　the　sword。
　
　The　screeling　made　an　impossible　leap　through　the　air　at　the　wizard；　landing　on　him　with　a　howl　before　he　had　a　chance　to　turn　it　aside。　As　he　was　thrown　to　the　floor；　Zedd　wove　webs　of　air　to　keep　the　thrashing　claw　at　bay。　Teeth　snapped　viciously　at　his　throat。
　
　Man　and　beast　rolled　over　once；　and　when　the　screeling　came　up　on　top；　Chase　swung　the　mace　at　its　head；　hitting　a　glancing　blow。　It　spun　to　him　and　he　slammed　it　square　in　the　chest；　knocking　it　off　the　wizard。　Zedd　could　hear　bones　snapping　with　the　blow。　The　screeling　seemed　hardly　to　notice。
　
　Its　one　arm　swept　out；　yanking　Chase’s　legs　out　from　under　him；　and　then　sprang　on　his　chest　as　he　hit　the　floor　with　a　hard　grunt。　Zedd　struggled　to　regain　his　wits。　Rachel　laid　the　fire　stick　on　the　screeling’s　back；　and　flames　burst　up。　Zedd　pushed　it　with　air；　trying　to　knock　it　in　the　water；　but　the　screeling　held　on　to　Chase　tenaciously。　Angry　black　。　eyes　glared　out　from　behind　the　fire。　Lips　curled　back　in　a　snarl。
　
　Chase　brought　the　mace　up　with　both　hands；　catching　the　powerful　creature　square　in　the　back。　The　impact　knocked　the　screeling　into　the　pool。　Hissing　steam　rose　upon　the　contact　of　flame　and　water。
　
　Instantly；　Zedd　ignited　the　air　above　the　water；　using　the　heat　in　the　water　to　feed　it。　The　wizard’s　fire　sucked　all　warmth　from　the　water。　The　entire　pool　froze　into　a　solid　block　of　ice。　The　screeling　was　encased。　The　fire　sputtered　out　when　the　heat　feeding　it　was　exhausted。　There　was　sudden　quiet；　except　for　the　moans　from　the　injured　across　the　hall。
　
　Rachel　fell　on　Chase；　her　voice　choked　with　tears。　‘Chase；　Chase；　are　you　all　right？’
　
　He　put　an　arm　around　her　as　he　levered　himself；　into　a　sitting　position。　That　I　am；　little　one。’
　
　Zedd　could　see　that　that　wasn’t　entirely　true。　‘Chase；　go　sit　on　that　bench。　I　have　to　help　those　people；　and　I　don’t　want　little　eyes　to　see　what’s　over　there。’
　
　He　knew　this　appeal　would　work　better　than　telling　Chase　he　didn’t　want　him　walking　around　with　his　injuries　until　they　could　be　seen　to。　Still；　Zedd　was　a　little　surprised　when　Chase　nodded　without　protest。
　
　The　mander　and　eight　of　his　men　rushed　up。　A　few　of　them　were　bloody；　one　had　ragged　claw　cuts　right　through　the　metal　of　his　breastplate。　They　all　cast　an　eye　to　the　screeling　frozen　in　the　pool。　‘Nice　bit　of　work；　Wizard　Zorander。’　The　mander　gave　a　small　nod　and　smile　of　respect。　There　are　a　few　over　there　who　are　still　alive。　Is　there　anything　you　can　do　for　them？’
　
　‘I’ll　have　a　look。　mander；　have　your　men　use　their　battle…axes　to　hack　that　thing　to　pieces　before　it　figures　out　how　to　melt　the　ice。’
　
　His　eyes　went　wide。　‘You　mean　it’s　still　alive？’
　
　Zedd　grunted　to　indicate　that　it　was　so。　‘The　sooner　the　better；　mander。’
　
　The　men　already　had　their　crescent　axes　unhooked　from　their　belts；　waiting　for　the　order。　The　mander　gave　them　a　nod　and　they　charged　onto　the　ice；　swinging　before　they　slid　to　a　stop。
　
　He　lowered　his　voice。　‘Wizard　Zorander；　what　is　that　thing？’
　
　Zedd　looked　from　the　man’s　face　over　to　Chase；　who　was　listening　intently。　He　held　the　boundary　warden’s　gaze。　‘It’s　a　screeling。’　Chase　didn’t　show　any　reaction；　the　boundary　warden　rarely　did。　Zedd　turned　back　to　the　mander。
　
　The　big　man’s　blue　eyes　were　wide。　‘The　screelings　are　loose？’　he　whispered。　‘Wizard　Zorander　。。。　you　can’t　be　serious。’
　
　Zedd　studied　the　man’s　face　seeing　scars　he　hadn’t　seen　before；　scars　earned　in　battles　to　the　death。　For　a　D’Haran　soldier；　there　rarely　was　any　other　kind。　This　was　a　man　not　used　to