Questing Knight(科幻战争)-第15部分

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through　his　breastplate。　Nevertheless；　Duke　Merovech　stood　victorious；　and　Calard　shook　his　head　in
wonderment。　Could　nothing　kill　him？
The　varghulf’s　powerful　legs　bunched　for　one　final　spring；　but　it　was　never　given　the　chance。　Duke
Merovech　hurled　his　sword　aside　and　leapt　towards　his　enemy　with　a　blood…curdling　battle　cry；　hands
extended　like　claws。　He　grabbed　the　immense　creature　by　the　head；　grappling　with　it；　and　with　a　roar　of
effort；　he　wrenched　it　upwards；　exposing　its　neck。
Merovech’s　fangs　flashed；　and　he　tore　into　the　varghulf’s　neck。　The　creature　fought　against　him；　but
its　strength　was　gone。　For　long　moments　Merovech　drank；　glutting　himself　before　pulling　away。　His
mouth　and　chin　were　caked　in　blood。
Duke　Merovech　dragged　the　immense　weight　of　the　varghulf　across　the　dais　floor；　until　he　reached
the　altar。　With　one　hand；　he　grabbed　the　chalice　from　altar’s　tabernacle。　He　glanced　heavenward。　The
green　moon　of　Morrslieb　was　eclipsing　Mannslieb　now；　like　a　repulsive；　burning　pupil　in　a　silver　iris。
Apparently　satisfied；　Merovech　forced　the　varghulf’s　neck　back；　and　lowered　his　mouth　to　its　neck　once
more。　This　time　he　did　not　feed；　but　rather　tore。　He　ripped　open　its　throat；　and　the　last　of　its　blood　began
to　gush　forth。
GRANDFATHER　MORTIS　CLUTCHED　unsteadily　at　the　railing　of　the　balcony　as　he　watched　his　beloved
lord　and　master　slain。　His　children　were　being　butchered　down　below；　their　will　to　fight　evaporating　as
they　too　registered　that　their　master　was　no　more。
He　staggered　back；　casting　his　eyes　from　the　sickening　sight　of　his　master’s　body　defiled。　A　took　a
deep；　shuddering　breath；　and　turned　away。
A　heavy　spiked　cudgel　smashed　one　of　his　kneecaps　to　splinters；　and　he　fell　to　the　ground　with　a　cry
of　pain　and　shock。
Chlod　stood　over　him；　and　the　old　man　gaped　up　at　him。
‘Fifteen　years　I　was　your　slave；　one　of　your　cursed　children；’　said　Chlod。　‘I’ll　not　be　that　again。’
The　hunchbacked　peasant　spat　in　Mortis’s　face；　making　the　old　man　flinch。　That　merely　enraged
Chlod　more；　and　he　slammed　his　spiked　cudgel　into　Mortis’s　side。　Ribs　snapped　like　dry　twigs。
‘Fifteen　years　I　stole　and　murdered　for　you；　you　old　bastard；’　said　Chlod。　‘Fifteen　years　you　starved
me。　How　many　times　did　I　feel　the　touch　of　your　switch；　hmm？　How　many　bones　did　you　break？　How
many　scars　did　you　leave？’
He　made　to　strike　Mortis　again；　and　the　old　man　recoiled；　his　face　twisted　in　agony。
‘Who　has　the　power　now？’　said　Chlod。
‘I　took　you　in；　you　wretched　ingrate；’　hissed　Mortis　between　clenched　teeth。　‘I　fed　you！　I　clothed
you！　I！　Without　me　you’d　be　dead！　You’d　be　nothing！　I　made　you　what　you　are！’
‘You　did　at　that；’　said　Chlod。　‘Do　you　like　what　you　see？’
Chlod　brought　his　spiked　cudgel　down　again　and　again；　and　as　loud　as　Mortis’s　screams　were；　no
one　came　to　his　aid。　He　continued　his　brutal　attack　even　after　Mortis　had　ceased　screaming；　even　after　he
was　far　beyond　recognisable。
Finally；　Chlod　stopped　his　relentless　assault。　He　was　breathing　heavily；　and　tears　were　running　down
his　face。　He　was　completely　covered　in　blood；　and　chunks　of　skin　and　hair　clung　to　the　spikes　of　his　club。
He　spat　down　on　the　thing　that　had　once　been　Grandfather　Mortis；　and　then　turned　away。
CALARD　KNELT　BY　Raben；　and　gently　drew　back　the　outcast’s　arm　to　see　the　extent　of　his　injuries。
‘How’s　it　look？’　said　Raben。　His　face　was　pale。
‘It’s　a　scratch；’　said　Calard。　‘You’ll　be　whoring　again　in　a　week；　mark　my　words。’
‘Liar；’　said　Raben；　with　a　sardonic　smile。
‘You’ll　survive；’　said　Calard；　more　seriously。　‘Though　you’ll　have　one　hell　of　a　scar　to　match　that
one；’　he　said；　indicating　the　jagged　old　wound　that　crossed　Raben’s　throat。
‘Ladies　don’t　like　a　man　that’s　too　pretty；’　said　Raben。
‘Well；　you　certainly　aren’t　that；’　said　Calard；　casting　a　wary　eye　around　them。
There　were　few　left　standing；　in　truth。　It　seemed　that　both　sides　had　practically　annihilated　the　other；
though　from　the　looks　of　things；　there　were　far　more　of　Mortis’s　people　dead　than　Merovech’s。
Looking　back　up　towards　the　dais；　he　saw　that　Merovech　had　filled　the　chalice　with　the　varghulf’s
blood。　Now　he　stood；　letting　the　massive　creature’s　head　drop　to　the　floor；　dead。　The　vampire　duke
moved　towards　the　first　of　the　throned　statues。　He　raised　the　chalice　above　its　head；　and　tipped　it　slightly；
allowing　a　trickle　of　frothing　blood　to　drip　onto　the　statue’s　head。　Red　rivulets　ran　down　over　its　face；
removing　centuries　of　dust　and　grime。　Calard’s　heart　skipped　a　beat　as　the　statue　moved。
It　turned　its　face　up　towards　the　stream　of　blood；　its　mouth　opening　wide；　showing　off　impressively
elongated　canines。　Its　tongue　lapped　at　the　flow；　and　Calard　saw　its　throat　moving　as　it　swallowed。
‘That’s　not　good；’　said　Raben。
Merovech　righted　the　chalice；　and　the　enthroned　creature　returned　to　its　former　position。　The　duke
moved　on　to　the　next　in　line；　but　Calard’s　gaze　was　locked　on　the　first。　Its　eyes　snapped　open；　and　it
smiled。
Calard　took　a　few　steps　towards　the　steps　of　the　dais；　knowing　that　he　stood　little　chance　against
Merovech　alone；　even　without　with　his　newly　awoken　allies。　Nevertheless；　he　had　sworn　an　oath；　and
would　see　Merovech　dead　or　die　in　the　attempt。
‘Calard；’　called　Raben；　and　he　looked　back。　‘Don’t　throw　your　life　away。’
‘This　is　something　I　have　to　do；’　Calard　said。　He　swung　back　around。　His　step　faltered　as　the　holy
light　radiating　from　the　Sword　of　Garamont　dimmed；　then　died　altogether。　He　halted；　looking　down　at　it。
What　did　it　mean？　Did　the　Lady　disapprove　of　his　actions？　But　how　could　she？　Was　it　not　she　who
had　led　him　here？

Three　of　the　‘statues’　had　come　awake　now；　and　were　on　their　feet；　blinking　and　stretching　their
necks　like　men　awakening　from　a　deep　slumber。　Each　was　as　tall　as　Merovech　himself；　and　all　of　them
were　garbed　in　similar；　barbed　armour。
Calard　stood　stock　still；　indecision　plaguing　him。
‘Lady；　give　me　a　sign；’　he　whispered。　‘Show　me　what　it　is　you　wish　of　me。’
A　blinding　flash　exploded　in　Calard’s　mind；　sending　him　crashing　to　his　knees；　his　eyes　tightly　closed。
He　gasped　at　the　searing　pain　in　his　temples；　clutching　his　head　in　his　hands。
A　bewildering　flash　of　images　assailed　him；　overwhelming　in　their　intensity　and　their　power。
It　was　over　in　an　instant；　the　pain　gone　as　if　it　had　never　been；　but　the　images　were　seared　forever
into　his　mind’s　eye。
‘As　you　will　it；　Lady；　so　shall　it　be　done；’　he　whispered。
‘Calard？’　called　Raben；　straining　to　see　him。
‘We　have　to　go；’　said　Calard；　turning　his　back　on　the　dais；　where　all　five　of　Merovech’s　vampiric
lieutenants　how　now　arisen。
Calard　hurried　to　Raben’s　side。
‘We　have　to　go；’　he　said　again。
‘Sounds　good　to　me；’　said　Raben。
‘Put　your　arm　around　me；’　said　Calard；　and　then　he　lifted　Raben　to　his　feet。　The　outcast　knight
groaned　in　pain；　but　did　not　cry　out。　Together；　they　staggered　across　a　floor　littered　with　the　dead；
making　their　way　towards　the　chamber’s　exit。　The　few　of　Merovech’s　knights　that　still　stood　paid　them
no　heed；　staring　in　wonder　at　the　duke　and　his　newly　arisen　entourage。
At　the　door　of　the　chamber　they　paused；　glancing　back　within。
The　scene　was　one　of　utter　devastation。　Hundreds　of　bodies　were　sprawled　across　the　marble　floor。
Many　were　not　yet　dead；　and　the　ground　rippled　with　movement。　Their　cries　and　moans　were　pitiful。
Blood　was　splattered　up　the　walls；　and　more　than　a　few　of　the　bodies　had　been　partially　devoured。　The
corpse　of　the　monstrous　varghulf　lay　motionless　upon　the　dais。　Merovech　descended　the　stairs　of　the
raised　platform；　flanked　by　the　five　lieutenants　that　had　served　him　seven　hundred　years　earlier。
The　few　living　knights　still　standing　in　the　room　dropped　to　their　knees　before　Merovech。　The　duke
ignored　them；　walking　past　with　barely　a　glance。　His　companions；　however；　circled　them　like　wolves。　As
one；　they　closed　in；　and　began　to　feed。
Merovech　dropped　to　one　knee　alongside　Bertelis’s　headless　corpse；　and　Calard　thought　he　saw
something　approaching　sorrow　ghost　across　the　duke’s　features　as　he　placed　a　hand　upon　his　brother’s
chest。　Then　Merovech　raised　his　head；　looking　down　the　length　of　the　chamber　directly　at　Calard。　He
stood；　and　began　walking　towards　them。
‘We　have　to　leave；’　said　Raben。
Calard　nodded；　and　supporting　the　outcast’s　weight；　hurried　from　the　room。
They　almost　collided　with　Chlod　as　he　came　bowling　down　a　wide　set　of　stairs。　The　peasant　was
covered　from　head　to　toe　in　blood。
No　words　were　spoken；　and　after　a　brief　pause；　Chlod　moved　forward　to　help　support　Raben。　The
outcast　threw　his　arm　over　his　shoulder　and　the　three　of　them　began　making　their　way　from　the　palace　of
Mousillon。

‘Gods；　peasant；’　said　Calard。　‘You　stink。’
Drained　of　blood；　the　corpse　was　dropped　unceremoniously　to　the　ground。　The　vampire’s　flesh　was
flushed；　and　its　mouth　and　chin　was　stained　with　congealing　gore。
Nothing　living　moved　within　the　great　hall。　Every　corpse　has　been　bled　dry　to　satiate　the　thirst　of　the
duke’s　newly　risen　lieutenants。
It　would　not　be　long　now；　Merovech　knew。
Within　the　hour；　the　first　of　the　drained　knights　stirred　and　rose　unsteadily　to　its　feet；　staggering　like　a
newborn　colt。　Darkness　lingered　in　its　eyes；　and　its　lips　curled　back　to　reveal　newly　formed　canines。
More　knights　stirred　as　they　awoke　to　darkness；　and　Merovech　smiled。
‘Welcome；　brothers；’　he　said；　spreading　his　arms　wide。　‘Welcome　to　damnation。’




　　　　　　　　　　　（The　End）


。　…　。………【gzbysh】整理