Questing Knight(科幻战争)-第15章

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‘And　I’m　truly　sorry；’　said　Calard。　‘My　words　were　spoken　in　haste。　I　was　blinded　by　grief。　I　meant
not　what　I　said。’
‘It　is　too　late　for　apologies；’　said　Bertelis；　and　Calard　knew　he　spoke　the　truth。　There　was　a　madness
behind　his　eyes　that　Calard　had　never　seen　before；　a　simmering；　insatiable　rage　that　threatened　to
consume　him。　It　was　as　if　some　wild　beast　had　taken　up　residence　in　the　flesh　of　his　brother；　directing　his
movements　like　a　puppet。
‘You　are　no　longer　the　brother　I　knew　and　loved；’　said　Calard。　His　breath　was　ragged　from　the
intensity　of　the　fight；　yet　Bertelis　appeared　completely　rested；　barely　having　raised　a　sweat。
‘No；’　agreed　Bertelis。　‘I　am　something　far　greater。’
‘Enough！’　hissed　Duke　Merovech　from　the　edge　of　the　killing　circle。　‘Finish　it；　now！’
Calard’s　gaze　darted　between　the　fiend　that　was　once　his　brother　and　the　pale；　immortal　figure　of
Duke　Merovech。　Realisation　dawned。
‘It　was　you　who　sacked　Garamont；’　he　said；　looking　back　at　Bertelis。　‘It　was　you　who　killed
Orlando　and　Montcadas；　and　butchered　my　knights。’
‘I　would　have　killed　you　too；’　said　Bertelis；　‘had　you　been　there。　Now；　the　cycle　will　be　complete；
and　every　tie　to　my　former　life　will　at　last　be　severed。’
‘You　are　not　even　human；’　said　Calard。　Bertelis　smiled　in　response；　exposing　needle…sharp　canines。
‘My；　you　are　quick；　brother；’　he　said。　The　smile　dropped　from　his　face。　‘And　now；　you　die。’
For　a　moment　the　brothers　regarded　each　other　from　opposite　sides　of　the　killing　circle；　before　they

began　closing　the　distance；　swords　at　the　ready。
A　deafening　roar　boomed　through　the　cavernous　chamber；　echoing　loudly　and　making　the　windows
rattle　in　their　frames。　Calard　could　feel　the　reverberant　sound　in　his　bones。　He　looked　up；　the　duel
momentarily　forgotten。
An　arched　balcony　jutted　out　over　the　room；　thirty　feet　overhead；　and　crouched　upon　its　marble
balustrade　was　a　monster。
XIII
IT　WAS　HUGE；　easily　six　times　the　bulk　of　a　man；　and　it　looked　like　some　monstrous　gargoyle　come　to
life。　It　was　hunched；　and　black　matted　fur　covered　its　massive　shoulders。　Immense　talons　carved　furrows
in　the　marble　as　it　tensed　its　huge　arms；　bulging　with　sinew　and　muscle。　It　howled　at　the　heavens　again；
the　sound　deeply　affecting　on　some　primal　level；　before　turning　its　baleful　gaze　down　into　the　chamber
below。
Its　head　was　huge　and　wide；　a　hideous　blend　of　man；　bat　and　wolf。　Its　lips　drew　back　to　expose　a
terrifying　array　of　fangs；　and　its　snarl　rumbled　deep　in　its　powerful　chest。　Its　canines　were　heavily
pronounced；　and　each　was　easily　six　inches　in　length。　Its　eyes　were　those　of　a　predator；　burning　with　fury
and　hunger；　and　they　locked　on　the　pale　figure　of　Duke　Merovech；　far　below。
The　monster　howled　again；　spittle　flying　from　its　maw；　and　it　launched　from　its　eyrie。　Powerful　leg
muscles　propelled　it　downwards　at　astonishing　speed；　and　its　huge　taloned　arms　extended　in　front　of　it；
veined　membranes　of　skin　unfurling　from　wrist　to　hip　like　vestigial　wings。
It　hurtled　downwards；　like　a　monstrous　bird　of　prey　dropping　on　its　quarry；　and　shouts　and　screams
erupted　across　the　chamber。　Calard　heard　the　sound　of　weapons　clashing　along　with　cries　of　shock　and
pain；　and　through　the　dense　crowd　he　spied　the　filth…encrusted　forms　of　Grandfather　Mortis’s　children；
leaping　and　howling　as　they　attacked。　Like　a　frenzied　pack；　they　descended　on　the　crowded　chamber；
and　chaos　erupted。
Duke　Merovech　hurled　himself　to　one　side　as　the　monster　struck。　It　slammed　down　into　the　floor
with　titanic　force；　sending　cracks　shooting　out　across　the　surface　of　the　marble　from　the　impact。
Merovech　rolled　neatly　to　his　feet；　a　sword　in　each　hand。
People　were　running　across　the　killing　circle　in　panic；　separating　Calard　and　Bertelis。　He　saw　his
brother　fighting　his　way　through　the　crowd　towards　him；　his　face　a　mask　of　fury。　A　knight　slammed　into
Calard；　knocking　him　back　a　step；　and　a　heavy　blow　to　his　arm　knocked　the　Sword　of　Garamont　from
his　grasp。　The　ancient　heirloom　clattered　to　the　ground　and　was　kicked　away；　spinning　just　out　of　reach。
Calard　swore　and　dived　after　it。　Someone　tripped　over　him　and　fell　sprawling；　and　he　grunted　as　he
was　kicked　and　trampled；　but　he　ensured　that　he　kept　his　eyes　locked　on　the　holy　sword。　He　reached　for
it；　and　his　fingers　grazed　its　hilt　tantalisingly；　but　then　it　was　kicked　away　again；　this　time　disappearing　into
the　crowd。　Glancing　over　his　shoulder；　he　saw　Bertelis　storming　towards　him；　hacking　down　knights；
ladies　and　feral　peasants　alike；　and　he　swore　again。
Fighting　back　to　his　feet；　he　tore　the　shield　from　his　arm　and　hurled　it　aside。　He　reached　up　over　his
back　and　yanked　his　hand…and…a…half　sword　from　its　scabbard　as　Bertelis　drew　close。
Had　he　been　a　fraction　slower　he　would　have　been　dead；　and　he　only　barely　managed　to　block
Bertelis’s　blow　slicing　in　at　his　neck。　He　was　knocked　back　a　step　and　Bertelis　came　after　him；　getting
inside　the　reach　of　his　longer　blade。
He　was　completely　outclassed；　and　they　both　knew　it。　Confident　that　Calard　could　not　match　him；
Bertelis　was　now　fighting　well　within　his　own　limits；　and　his　form　was　slipping。　Calard’s　anger　swelled；　he
was　determined　to　punish　Bertelis　for　such　arrogance；　but　knew　he　might　only　get　one　chance。

After　a　few　more　passes；　Bertelis　lunged。　Calard　sidestepped　neatly；　turning　side…on　to　let　Bertelis’s
momentum　take　him　past　him。　His　brother’s　blade　slid　by　him；　a　hair’s…breadth　from　his　throat。　With　a
grunt　of　exertion；　he　rammed　his　sword’s　heavy　pommel　into　the　side　of　Bertelis’s　head；　putting　his　whole
armoured　weight　behind　it。
The　move　was　expertly　delivered；　his　timing　perfect；　and　it　should　have　caved　Bertelis’s　skull　in。　His
brother’s　head　snapped　back；　but　he　did　not　fall。　Calard　used　the　moment　to　step　back；　adopting　a
ready　stance　with　his　blade　held　high；　its　point　levelled　at　Bertelis。
A　trickle　of　blood　ran　from　Bertelis’s　temple；　but　he　appeared　otherwise　unaffected　by　the　blow。　He
reached　up　to　the　wound；　and　then　licked　the　blood　from　his　finger　tips。
‘For　that；　I’m　going　to　make　this　really　hurt；’　said　Bertelis。
Calard　lunged　at　him　and　Bertelis　danced　out　of　the　way。　Calard　turned；　sweeping　his　blade
overhead　and　bringing　it　crashing　down　in　a　heavy；　diagonal　strike。　Bertelis　parried　it　early　and　leapt　in
under　the　blade　to　grab　Calard　by　the　throat。　He　moved　so　fast；　he　was　little　more　than　a　blur。　His　grip
was　like　iron；　and　his　snarling　face　was　close。　Up　close；　he　looked　barely　human　at　all；　his　eyes　glinting
with　fathomless　hunger　and　madness；　his　skin　almost　translucent；　and　his　expression　twisted　and　bestial。
‘Orlando’s　blood　was　so　sweet；　so　innocent；’　he　hissed。　‘It　was　like　nectar　on　my　lips；　sweeter　than
the　finest　wine。’
Bertelis　lifted　Calard　off　his　feet；　holding　him　aloft　with　one　hand　before　tossing　him　aside　like　a　child。
Calard　slammed　into　one　of　Merovech’s　knights；　bowling　him　over；　and　they　fell　in　a　tangled　heap。
Calard　was　up　first；　and　as　the　knight　grappled　with　him；　he　pummelled　his　elbow　into　the　man’s　face；
dropping　him　instantly。
Calard　staggered　to　his　feet；　dragging　his　sword　up。　Bertelis’s　boot　slammed　down　on　it　hard；
snapping　the　blade　halfway　up　its　length；　and　Calard　reeled　back。
A　knight　lunged　at　him　with　a　drawn　sword；　and　Calard　swayed　to　the　side；　avoiding　the　killing
thrust。　He　stabbed　the　jagged　end　of　his　shattered　sword　into　the　man’s　face；　and　he　fell　away　with　a
strangled　cry。　Another　knight　swung　at　him　from　behind；　but　Calard　sidestepped　neatly。　Grabbing　the
man’s　arm　as　he　came　around；　he　pulled　him　off…balance；　shoving　him　into　Bertelis’s　path。
Without　blinking；　Bertelis　ran　the　knight　through；　and　the　tip　of　Bertelis’s　blade　burst　from　his　back。
He　dragged　his　sword　clear；　and　hurled　the　man　aside。
Calard　took　a　moment　to　survey　his　surroundings。　The　attack　by　Mortis’s　feral　brood　had　taken　the
knights　by　surprise；　but　they　were　fighting　back　now；　gathering　into　tight　huddles　to　support　each　other；
and　both　sides　were　taking　heavy　casualties。　Bodies　were　strewn　across　the　chamber　floor；　and　more
than　a　few　of　the　hunched　peasants　had　dropped　to　the　ground　to　feed；　unable　to　restrain　their　hunger
amid　the　sight　and　smell　of　so　much　blood。
He　saw　Mortis　standing　alone；　up　on　the　balcony　where　the　monster　had　appeared；　watching　the
mayhem　unfold。
The　immense　beast　and　Duke　Merovech　had　taken　their　fight　up　onto　the　raised　dais　where　the　five
statues　sat　enthroned；　separating　themselves　from　the　chaotic　melee　below。
The　creature　was　bleeding　from　a　dozen　wounds；　but　it　did　not　appear　to　be　slowing。　Merovech
danced　and　weaved　like　a　dervish；　ducking　under　blows　that　would　have　torn　him　in　half；　twin　blades
flashing。　He　moved　with　preternatural　speed；　but　the　monster　he　fought　was　almost　as　quick；　despite　its
bulk。　As　he　watched；　he　saw　the　beast　catch　Merovech　a　glancing　blow　that　sent　the　duke　skittering
across　the　dais　like　a　rag　doll；　crashing　into　the　central　altar　holding　the　huge；　dark　chalice　with
bone…jarring　force。
The　beast　roared　in　victory　and　leapt　after　him　but　Merovech　recovered　quickly；　and　rolled　under　the
blade…like　talons　that　hammered　down　towards　him。　As　he　came　to　his　feet；　both　blades　carved　bloody

furrows　across　the　monster’s　chest；　and　it　hissed　in　pain。
Using　the　immense　beast’s　arm　like　a　ladder；　Merovech　turned　and　leapt　lightly　up　his　enemy’s　body；
spinning　both　swords　around　in　his　hands　so　that　they　were　pointed　downwards；　like　daggers。　Kicking
off　the　beast’s　chest；　he　turned　in　mid…air　and　plunged　both　swords　into　its　neck。
The　monster　bellowed。　Both　swords　were　embedded　to　the　hilt；　and　Calard　could　see　their　tips
protruding　from　the　back　of　its　neck　as　it　thrashed　around　in　pain。　It　reached　up　and　ripped　both
weapons　free；　hurling　them　away　from　it；　and　blood　gushed　from　the　wounds。　Such　a　blow　ought　to　have
been　fatal；　but　the　beast　merely　shook　its　head　and　dropped　to　all　fours；　and　began　stalking　towards　the
now　unarmed　Duke　Merovech。
‘Your　master’s　going　to　die；’　said　Calard　as　Bertelis　closed　the　distance　between　them。
‘I　think　not；’　said　his　brother。　‘No　devolved　varghulf　is　a　match　for　him。’
Bertelis　lun