《棋卒 (Players and Pawns)》

by　Arlin Brewster
翻译：玄音


　　在第二次大灾变以后不久......

　　一支骑士小队正在盛夏的暴风中艰难地跋涉，狂风撕扯着他们身上猎猎翻滚的披肩，泥浆在马蹄的践踏下四处飞溅。　这九名奈拉卡骑士——两名被称为“荆棘骑士”的法师，以及四名“骷髅骑士”和三名“百合骑士”——正在拼命地冲向他们眼前的庇护所，一小片出现在地平线上如同海市蜃楼般的森林。虽然太阳还没有落到树梢以下，但天空却是显得异常阴暗，给人一种不祥的预感，狰狞的闪电不断地从天空中排打下来。这是一个黑暗的暴风雨之夜的开始，眼前的情景不禁让这支小队的指挥官萨林回忆起他年轻的时候，和他的哥哥们在营火边上讲的那些鬼故事，故事中的气氛多少和现在有些类似。

[玄音注：奈拉卡骑士，就是混沌之神那场大战以前的塔克西斯骑士，最低的基础级别是百合骑士，等级高了以后可以转为相当于牧师的骷髅骑士，或是相当于法师的荆棘骑士——这些法师骑士由于先要成为相当于战士的百合骑士，所以大致算一种战士／法师，而且他们可以同时吸取三个月亮的力量，因此一般是比大法师塔里的那批要强，虽然号称骑士，不过这些法师还是披着灰色或者黑色的法袍。基础编制是9人一个小队(talon)，再上去是5个小队组成的一个连(wing)，然后是中队(compgroup)、营(shield)、大队(quadron)、军团(army)，一个军团的兵力大概是44100名骑士，加上后勤；一名升到lv14的骑士就有资格当这个军团的boss了。]　　

　　通过银月索林纳瑞从攒集的乌云间透出的黯淡光辉，萨林可以看到他的副官——塔蒙爵士正面无表情地骑在他的左侧，在狂风的怒号中紧紧地抿着嘴唇。两名骷髅骑士怒气冲冲地跟在后面，他们刚刚和那两个法师骑士——鲁恩以及安雅吵过一架：只不过要求他们施展一个简单的法术来保护雷暴中的队伍，让大家觉得稍微暖和干燥一点而已，却遭到了他们强烈的拒绝，并且声称那些残留在魔法物品里的珍贵魔力决不能浪费在这种不必要的护盾咒语上。所以这支队伍只能冒险骑向森林去寻求庇护。

　　这些骑士刚刚完成了一项侦察任务，他们深入到一处被称为“高原废墟”的地方，这是一个被乱山和废墟所覆盖的地区，红龙王玛丽斯·崔克斯曾经把这里当作她的基地，并根据她的需要肆意地改造了这里的地形。实际上，他们过去也曾经被派到这匹巨龙的巢穴附近，来窥探她的行踪，因为当时的奈拉卡骑士正试图和玛丽斯龙王缔结一个新的盟约。

　　这次远征他们遇到了许多危险，包括那些似乎毫不起眼，但却依然相当致命的威胁——那些红龙、那些耸立在无名荒地中的峻峭悬崖还有那些危险的沼泽地，甚至包括了一群坎德人!　他们当时觉得扮成一队塔克西斯骑士(这个名号现在已经被骑士们所憎恨)一定非常有趣，不过这群坎德人只在骑士后面跟了很短的一段时间，因为其中一名坎德人忽然提到他那位名叫“陷阱触手(Trapspringer)”的叔叔曾经在一头龙的窝里打了一小盹，醒过来以后当场发现那头龙竟然睡在他头上!　随后几乎所有的坎德人都顿时回忆起他们也有一个同名的叔叔做过同样的事，骚乱于是就发生了。秩序最后终于得以短暂的恢复(在无数次地感叹他们原来竟是失散已久的表亲之后)，接着他们作出了一个决定，为了纪念他们叔叔的光荣事迹，他们也要找到一个龙窝，然后全部待在里面打盹，一直等到某条龙回家为止。

[玄音注：这里的“陷阱触手”叔叔，翻译为“崔普施普林格叔叔”也许更好，(我一个朋友建议翻成“触陷太郎”，Faint...)，估计是《失落的传说系列(Lost Legends)》中的人物，该系列包括了： 威纳斯·索兰那斯(Vinas Solamnus)； 费斯坦但提勒斯的再生(Fistandantilus Reborn)； 崔普施普林格叔叔的故事(Tales of Uncle Trapspringer) ，估计很多人都没有看过该系列，(别看着我，我也没看过，只听过介绍)，所以这里我取意译。]

　　当这些喋喋不休的坎德人离开的时候，骑士们长长地嘘出了一口气，当然除此以外的表情他们都掩饰得相当完美，然后骑士们决定返回奈拉卡，把他们迄今为止的发现作一个汇报。目前他们的位置是在高原废墟的边缘，靠近福罗参。[玄音注：福罗参，位于伊斯塔血海7点钟方向的一个沿海城市。红龙王玛丽斯的老巢，也就是上面提到的“高原废墟”，就在伊斯塔血海以南不远，《大战乱前夜》里，在她老巢的最后一场大战中，龙王被龙枪戳了一家伙，就是向北栽到伊斯塔血海里去的，不过大家放心，龙王MM没死^^]　

　　根据安雅的推测，眼前这些不知道从哪里刮起来的风暴，八成是来自血海。达力玛司——一名年轻的百合骑士——曾经建议大家回到高原废墟去找一个暂时掩蔽的地方——比如一个山洞或者一面峭壁——总比这时候走在外面好，不过塔蒙爵士不同意回头，最后队长萨林站到了他的副官一边。

　　他们骑着马穿越外面的平原，雨一开始只是一点一点地轻轻落下来，但是很快就发展成了一场暴雨。德纳得，这名敏锐的百合骑士第一个发现了那片森林——远远望去只不过是一小丛树而已，不过随着骑士们不断靠近，一片森林很快就展现在大家面前，他们决定就在这里避一避，总比什么都没有要强。

　　骑士们花了整整一个小时才走进树林里，全身的盔甲都湿透了，寒气仿佛已经渗进了他们的骨髓，相比之下，森林里那些橡树和松树的高大树冠看上去要让人舒服多了。他们把马匹聚拢到一个大水洼旁边，然后一边发着抖，一边迅速地散开去收集干柴，很快他们就生起了一堆火，紧紧地围坐到了火堆旁边。

　　“如果我们冻死了，那收集的这些情报就没有意义了。”塔蒙爵士淡淡地说，同时把又一捆树皮和枝条丢到火堆里。火焰带来的温暖和亮光慢慢地让这些骑士恢复了过来，不久他们就开始相互谈论起马上就要到家的兴奋和这几个星期以来在高原废墟上遇到的事情。

　　“有点奇怪，”鲁恩对他的法师同伴安雅说，“我不记得这里有这样的一片树林。”他怀疑地往四周扫视了一下，然后继续说，“而且我感到好象有什么东西在跟着我们，某种魔法的......让我觉得不太舒服。”　他低语道，这种奇怪的感觉已经烦扰了这两名法师好几个星期了，他们弄不清它是从哪里来的，也不知道它是由什么引起的。有很多次他们在马背上猛地回过头去，希望能逮到什么，不过除了像往常一样殿后的德纳得和达力玛司以外，他们没有看到任何有意义的东西。

　　安雅不太确定地耸了耸肩。她知道她的这名法师同伴实际上曾经在福罗参附近生活了相当长的一段时间，就像了解睡眠术一样了解这个地区，不过有很多事情都和从前不太一样了。“也许是玛丽斯弄的？”安雅怀疑地问他，她还记得这匹巨大的红龙王是怎样彻底地改变了整个大陆东部的地形。

　　“唔，谁知道呢？”鲁恩叹了口气，“不过我很高兴已经走到这里了。”他难得地笑了笑。

　　黑夜很快就降临了，除了三名守夜的骑士以外，其他人不久就围着火堆进入了梦乡。但那些还醒着的人和睡着的并没有太大的区别，因为没有人注意到自己正在被森林深处的眼睛注视着......


* * * *


　　德纳得睁开惺忪的睡眼，发现法师鲁恩正站在他面前，“快醒醒!”这名法师骑士催促着，“保持安静。”　年轻的百合骑士坐了起来，双眼迅速地四下搜索着，然而周围没有任何危险的迹象，他疑惑地望向鲁恩。

　　看上去天已经亮了，透过茂密的树枝，勉强可以看到后面的太阳。营地中的其他人有的还在睡梦中，醒过来的人已经在静静地收拾着装备；火堆不久前刚刚熄灭，还在微微地冒着轻烟。德纳得的脸上充满了疑惑，鲁恩匆匆地往他身后望了一眼，然后压低声音回答他：

　　“这片森林不像它看上去那么简单，”法师骑士神秘地说，忽然他猛地抬起头，听到一种奇怪的叫声从森林深处传了出来，随后又恢复了沉寂。德纳得从地上弹了起来，拔剑在手。“小心点，”鲁恩提醒他，“我们现在还不确定发生了什么事。”

　　其他的骑士也都陆续醒了过来，不安地四下张望着。谁都说不清究竟哪里不对劲，但是都感到空气中弥漫着一种不祥的气息。守夜的三名骑士失踪了!　接着安雅发出了一声惊叫，发现她的魔法物品也都不翼而飞。她开始发了疯似的到处乱找，鲁恩随后加入，他的魔法物品也全部不见了；一种深深的无助感攫住了这两名法师。

　　“这叫声是从哪个方向传过来的？”塔蒙爵士问，他迷惑地来回走动着，并试着向林中的黑暗张望。

　　“它是从西边过来的，”德纳得指着一个方向说。

　　“不，它从北边传过来!”达力玛司指着另一个方向争论道，他带头冲进了森林。

　　“我个人认为它来自南面，”萨林说，“但看来不管我们愿不愿意，都先到北边看看吧。”他叫回了两名法师,然后跟在那名年轻骑士身后跑进了树丛。

　　“我早就说过这个森林不太对劲!”鲁恩向安雅抱怨着，他们也紧紧地尾随在后，还是没有找到那些魔法物品。


* * * *


　　“这该死的森林到底有多大？”萨林咕哝着，一条忽然后摆的枝桠正好打在他的脸上。“停下来，达力玛司!”他冲着前面大喊道，也不管安静不安静了，他对这个年轻人失去了耐心。年轻的骑士就在前面站住了。萨林总算追上了这名年轻人，其他人也很快地赶了过来。

　　虽然还不是很清楚，不过大家都预感到要遇到一些麻烦，脚底下的地面变得非常柔软，让他们的靴子有种下陷的感觉。前方是一大片阴沉沉的沼泽。他们退回到干燥的地面上，相互交换了一下意见。

　　“也许你是对的，”达力玛司满脸通红地承认道，“不过我刚才的确听到它是从这个方向传过来。”

　　“这不怪你，”塔蒙安慰地说，“这片森林里的回音相当奇怪，很难进行追踪——即使是对于像我这样的老游侠而言，”他笑着拍了拍这名急性子骑士的肩膀，“不过要是你再这样忽然跑掉的话，我们肯定会把你抓回来，然后丢到那片沼泽里。”他调侃道。

　　“大家安静，”萨林发出命令，每个人都停下了来，开始静静地感受着周围的环境。在青蛙的鸣叫声中，附近似乎有个庞然大物滑进了水里，高大的松树在风中吱吱嘎嘎地摇曳着；反胃的潮气让鲁恩忍不住打了个喷嚏，响声沿着沼泽的水面回荡开来；蟋蟀藏在沼泽边上的芦苇和阴冷潮湿的苔藓间大声地鸣叫着。他们忽然听到了一种让人毛骨悚然的声音——仿佛有某个人，或者说是某样东西正在沉重而粗嘎地喘着气。他们一听到这种声音，就好象其他的声音统统消失了一样。他们听了很长一段时间，指着声音的方向悄悄地做着手势，现在他们都同意，这一次是从沼泽对面传过来的。

　　安雅和鲁恩开始低声地激烈争论起来，萨林马上把一支手指竖在嘴唇前面，示意他们安静。又过了一会，这种沉重的喘息声被一阵嘶哑的咳嗽打断了，紧接着是一声低沉的呻吟——大多数人都认出了这个声音。

　　“是艾瑞克爵士!”塔蒙首先打破了沉默，他和艾瑞克在一起训练和作战已经有十多年了，无论在什么地方，他都能马上认出战友的声音。其他人也点头同意，德纳得开始沿着这片沼泽的边缘寻找一条可以过去的路，然而不到五分钟，他就回来报告说无论从哪一个方向，所有的路都延伸到了视野以外。

　　“怎么办？”达玛力司一反常态地问，“根本没有路可以通过去!”他指着沼泽地里那片黑乎乎的水，消极地说。

　　“我们不能丢下他不管，”塔蒙用一种低沉的语调回应，他望向萨林想征求他的意见。

　　萨林勉强地点了点头，然后问德纳得：“真的没有其他路可以绕过去吗？如果有别的选择，我实在不愿意把靴子弄湿了。”　虽然这并不是他第一次徒步穿越沼泽，不过从前的痛苦经历曾经使他不断地发誓决不再走第二次——那些由于穿着湿漉漉的靴子而弄出来的水疱可不是一般的痛。

　　又一阵痛苦的低吟声从沼泽对面传了过来。“长官，”年轻的骑士恭敬地回答道，“走进沼泽里看的话，岸边无论往哪个方向延伸出去的芦苇我都望不到头。我和您一样不喜欢把脚伸进水里，长官，不过再拖下去我们可能就来不及救出艾瑞克爵士了。”　

　　“对，你说得没错，当然了，”萨林嘟哝着，“好了，”他随后大声说，让大家都注意过来，“我们这样分配行动：塔蒙爵士和我从这里涉水过去找艾瑞克爵士，”他装着没有注意到那名老骷髅骑士露出了一脸苦相，“其他人可以留在原地，如果你们愿意的话，这个选择并不损及你们的荣誉。”他向众人点了点头，等着大家作出决定，骑士们彼此对望着，虽然他们知道没有必要对长官证明什么，不过谁也不愿意第一个说自己留下来。德纳得站到了塔蒙身边，这两名骑士开始把裤腿尽可能地卷起来，准备下水；萨林带头走下了沼泽，他用一根棍子往前面试探着，看看脚下有没有坑或者其他一些危险的东西，安雅跟在他后面，鲁恩也跟着德纳得和塔蒙下了水，摇摇晃晃地努力赶上队伍，没人愿意落下。

　　达力玛司挪到了岸边，“你们都疯了，”他在芦苇旁大喊着，眉毛痛苦地拧到了一起。他沿着堤岸厌恶地跑了一阵，然后听到萨林的喊声传了过来，叫他待在原地等他们。“很好，就让我一个留下来吧，”他懊恼地挖苦道。为什么一定要涉水呢？他困惑地皱着眉头，望着队伍渐渐隐没到沼泽深处的雾气里。又一阵更加低沉的呻吟让达力玛司全身都跟着颤抖起来，他看到水面上一波波的涟漪向他脚下推了过来。“萨林？”他疑惑地问，以为是哪个骑士退回来了，“塔蒙爵士？”他又问道，语调中透着绝望。恐惧紧紧地攫住了他的胸口，他不知所措地望着眼前的浓雾弥漫开来，向着他慢慢地靠近。


* * * *


　　刚走进沼泽不到十五分钟，那片雾气就吞没了他们，让众人的视线越来越模糊起来。安雅无助地表示，如果能够的话，她会非常乐意用她的魔法项链把这片讨厌的东西统统清掉。忽然他们听到身后传来一阵淅沥哗啦的水声，然后很快地，全身湿透的达力玛司从头面追了上来，在最后几码的时候一跤跌到一个水坑里，把脚踝给扭了。

　　“哦天、天哪，天哪......!”他惊慌失措地嚷着，“水里，后面的水里有个什么东西!”

　　骑士们迅速地围成了一圈，拔出他们的武器，塔蒙爵士挥舞着一把寒光四射的长枪，法师们则无奈地站在骑士身后，这也许是他们有史以来最屈辱的经历，鲁恩和安雅从来没有觉得自己这么谦虚过。六名骑士静静地伫立在水中，达力玛司依然沉重地喘着粗气，盯着他来的方向，他肯定有什么东西正追在后面，他们脚下的地面在一起一伏地脉动着，使得这名骑士越来越慌乱起来。

　　“放松点，达力玛司!”萨林命令道，他抓住达力玛司的肩膀，来回地摇晃着，“脚底下只不过是一堆烂泥而已，你到底看到了什么?　除了那些芦苇和青蛙，我什么也没.....”

　　萨林话音未落，一个形体就从二十码开外的水面下蹿了出来，来回地扭动着，他大吃一惊地看着另外六个也随即从旁边冒了上来。骑士们不安地透过浓雾，小心翼翼地望着那些东西。

　　“几根木头罢了，”塔蒙不屑地哼了一声，“达力玛司，你这个白痴，现在马上回到队伍里来，然后......”

　　“不，等一下，”德纳得发出警告，“他们有眼睛，而且正盯着我们。”这名骑士拥有不同寻常的视觉能力，因为他的曾祖父是一名精灵——这件事只有队长萨林一个人知道，奈拉卡骑士通常是不接纳精灵的，但是鉴于德纳得敏锐的感官和技巧对整个小队的贡献，他有意保守了这个秘密。达力玛司吐出了一声呜咽，虽然这和他全身披挂的骑士身份极不相称，不过大家都能够理解——达力玛司有一种强烈的恐水症，从几个星期以前，当他们试图滩过高原废墟的一条小溪时，大家就发现了。

　　另外六只脑袋又潜了下去，只留下原来的那只依然浮在上面，紧紧地盯着这队紧张的骑士。慢慢地，它开始笨重地贴着水面向他们游了过来。从水面以上，可以看到它那张扭曲而粗糙的，像猪一样的嘴巴，以及一对球根一样的眼睛。

　　“不要弄出声音来，”塔蒙爵士老练地建议道，“它的确有点古怪，不过大家都站着别动，”他补充说，同时迅速地朝队伍后面以及周围的水域扫视了一下，又回到那头怪物的身上。

　　那颗恶心的脑袋缓缓地滑向他们，然后在离他们五码左右的地方停了下来。达力玛司除了他剧烈的心跳以外，几乎什么都听不见了，他看着那双爬虫类的眼睛，冷冰冰地闪动着，紧盯着他们。他感到这双眼睛攫住了他，穿透了他的灵魂，找到他内心深处所有的恐惧和脆弱，然后把它们一点一点地挖出来。怪物和骑士们就这样一动不动地僵持了几分钟，然后忽然沉入水下消失了。达力玛司的双腿在深及膝盖的沼泽地里发着抖，他试着要看清楚这头怪物到底去了哪里。

　　“我们现在快走!”塔蒙命令道，那种骇人的感觉同样影响了他。这种动物的行为极其反常，当他看到那双冰冷而巨大的眼球时，那种毛骨悚然的感觉是从来没有过的。他刚刚迈出了几步，脚下的地面就忽然皱了起来，随后开始翻滚，几名骑士趔趄地失去了平衡，接着他们身边的沼水混合着苔藓猛地喷了上来。

　　一匹巨大的野兽赫然出现在眼前，一匹多头海蛇，七支翻滚缠绕的头颅张开了血盆大口向骑士们迅猛地噬咬过来。达力玛司发出了恐惧的尖叫声，他的士气彻底地崩溃了。与此同时，萨林率先发起冲锋，他迅速穿过水面，飞身跃向那匹怪兽，一剑劈在它粗韧的外皮上。鲁恩和安雅则迅速地后撤，提心吊胆地四下搜索着是不是还有其他怪物。德纳得也目瞪口呆地向后退却，同时努力地把达玛力司从水里提起来，扶他站稳脚跟。塔蒙爵士挥舞着长枪紧跟在他的指挥官身边，勇猛地向前冲锋，他们两个和怪兽殊死搏斗着，几乎没办法在躲避那些尖牙的同时做出有效的反击。一支怪物的头颅从塔蒙的耳边嘶嘶地掠过，同时另一只头颅爆发出一声怒号——萨林成功地挥出一剑，扫落了它几颗门牙。

　　“我希望我能......做点什么!”鲁恩在混乱中绝望地冲着安雅喊道。手头没了那些魔法物品，眼下的情形就象诸神带着魔法能量刚离开克莱恩时那么困难，——也许还要更糟，他不得不承认。

　　忽然溅起的黑水泼了鲁恩一身，萨林被那头野兽打得直飞起来，摔到了一边。塔蒙爵士则被怪物的其中两个头叼在嘴里，用力地噬咬着他身上厚厚的盔甲，渴望触及里面温暖的血肉。塔蒙不停地诅咒着，并用他的长枪猛戳怪物的眼睛；萨林随后从地上爬了起来，展开另一轮进攻。

　　“安雅？”鲁恩转头看了看他的同伴，只见那名法师骑士正压低着她的身体，双目紧闭，并且把她的两条手臂伸进水里，脸上浮现出一种高度集中的神情。“安雅？”鲁恩焦急地问道，“见鬼，你到底在做什么？”

　　他很快就得到了答案，无数的树根、苇杆和苔藓忽然从水面下喷射了出来，那些植物在多头海蛇周围盘根错结地交织着，形成一条条巨大的触手，将怪物的咽喉紧紧地勒住，再把它们拽到地面上，长长的树根随后翻卷上去，把怪物的躯体整个包了起来，看上去就像一只由植物构成的活生生的巨兽，鲁恩在怪物和安雅之间紧张地看着，汗珠开始在他同伴那张全力施为的脸上凝聚。

　　突然间的窒息使多头海蛇陷入了恐慌，它松开塔蒙，然后顺势又向萨林甩出一击，骑士用盾整个接了下来，盾面当场深陷了下去，巨大的冲力让他一下子跪倒在地上。怪兽狂乱地扭动着，身上的植物拽着它缓缓地下沉，那些树根和水草把这只巨大的爬虫类拖了下去，绞死在水里。骑士们重新站稳了脚跟，全神戒备地过了几分钟，一直到水面上的波纹逐渐散去，恢复了平静。安雅虚脱地昏倒在鲁恩怀里。　

　　
* * * *


　　队伍终于穿过了沼泽，来到对岸。骑士们把自己勉强拖到树林间的一块空地上，一边坐下来休息一边把衣服上的水拧干。安雅已经恢复了意识，但还是很虚弱，鲁恩在一旁照料着她。

　　“安雅，”鲁恩轻轻地问他的同伴，声音里明显地流露出他的关心，“刚才是怎么回事？”

　　“我也觉得好奇怪，”安雅回答，她扶着鲁恩的臂膀，两个人一起向一颗高大的松树下走去。鲁恩扶着她背靠在树干上，然后她继续说，“那头怪物扑过来的时候，我感到非常的......我想是‘无依无靠’，至少这是目前我能形容它的最恰当的词了。”

　　鲁恩理解地点了点头，“我不介意对你承认，就这么一次，我会感到自己双脚在发抖，”他不悦地回忆着，“让我害怕得手足无措。”

　　“我也一样，”安雅感同身受地说，她稍微坐直了些，觉得恢复了一点元气，“当时我感到有一种必需要做点什么的冲动，过了一会儿，这种奇怪的感觉变得清晰起来——我突然间......感到......有某种魔法能量，从我身体中流过。”她停下来吸了一口气，兴奋的光芒在她眼眸间闪烁着，“它来自那些植物，鲁恩!来自那些苔藓，那些树，还有那些芦苇——我能感觉到它们就在我们周围......!”

　　鲁恩觉得他的心脏仿佛在一瞬间停了几拍，这太让人震惊了!　她的话、她的想法，简直让人难以置信，这种出乎意料的好事，反而使人觉得不太真实，他思索着，不过那只多头海蛇的确是被什么东西摧毁了，难道真的有这种可能?......

　　“就好象是某种东西从我身体里面打开了，鲁恩!”安雅继续说着，感到越来越兴奋。“就好象我发现了自己的另一部分，以前一无所知的部分。通过这种魔法能量，我可以控制那些植物——虽然我不知道自己是怎么做到的，但我就是能够......不知道为什么。这种魔法能量是如此的强大，就好像在大灾变以前那样!”她惊奇地描述着她的发现，脸上浮现出欢欣鼓舞的笑容，憧憬着魔法像从前那样得到复兴。其他人则开始来回地走动着，以便让身上快点干起来，鲁恩依然处于极度的震惊之中，他不断地向安雅提着有关的问题，一脸困惑的表情。德纳得朝着他们走了过来，他也有自己的问题要问。

　　“你觉得怎么样，塔蒙?”萨林问他的副官，看到他正在努力地卸着盔甲，同时在不停地咒骂着。

　　这名老骑士总算解开了一根皮带，这些皮带把盔甲紧紧地缚在他身上，使他露出一脸痛苦的表情。“妈的，我没事，萨林。那头野兽把我的盔甲弄皱了些。”——他的手指摸索着皮带的边缘——“我受了点擦伤，不过最糟糕的是它把这些皮带都绷过了头，”他怒气冲冲地指着那些硬梆梆的皮带，“搞得我透不过气来了!”他愤慨地拔出一把匕首往那些皮带上割。　　　

　　萨林微笑着赶紧走过去阻止塔蒙在他的盔甲上蛮干，然后自己动手帮他解开那些皮带。至少塔蒙还没事，他自言自语地说。

　　达力玛司坐在一边，默默地让自己镇静下来，并且为自己的懦弱而感到羞愧不已。

　　“嘿，”德纳得走过来向他打了个招呼，他刚刚向鲁恩和安雅问过了方才发生的事。德纳得很清楚这名年轻骑士正在忍受着什么，刚才他眼睁睁地看着自己最恐怖的噩梦变成了现实。“谢谢你及时向我们发出警报，”他把这个想法说了出来，试着让达力玛司感觉好受一点。达力玛司的脸色明朗了一些，他点点头作为回答。

　　正当他们在休整的时候，艾瑞克爵士痛苦的呻吟声又传了过来，这次似乎就在附近。骑士们马上拿起他们的装备，迅速越过了那些树丛，随后一幕可怕的情景出现在他们眼前。那名失踪的骷髅骑士被吊在离地面数英尺高的树干上，他的双脚在半空中荡来荡去，身上的盔甲和军装已经被剥掉了，在他心脏的位置上有一个正在溃烂的创口。虽然还没有死，不过他很显然地正处于极度的痛苦之中。塔蒙爵士飞快地上前将绳索割断，然后接住他下落的身体，将他抬到林间的空地上。艾瑞克痛苦地喘息着，他微微地睁开了眼睛，随后伸出一只手来抓住塔蒙的军装，眼中流露出恳求的神色。

　　“塔蒙，”他虚弱地低语着，强忍住痛楚的身体不停地抖动，“你快把里面的东西给我取出来!”他指着心头的伤口，嘶哑地喊。

　　其他人紧紧地围成了一个圈，塔蒙果断地点了点头，从他的伙伴手里拿过一个水袋，接着又掏出了那把匕首。他拿了一段木条让艾瑞克咬住。整个手术过程会有多痛，他相信他的朋友用不着自己来提醒。过去他们都曾经当过战地医生，对战场上那些最恐怖的伤势早已经司空见惯——尤其是在和混沌之神的那场战争中。“坚持住!”塔蒙只说了这么一句。他小心翼翼地将匕首探入伤口，用触觉搜索着他的目标。那八成是一段箭头，他揣度着，把嘴抿得更紧了。　　　　　　　

　　塔蒙闭上了眼睛，以使他的其他感觉更加敏锐。很快地，他就捕捉到了目标，然后熟练地把匕首移动到它下方，准备把它撬出来。他一只手握着刀刃，另一只手拿着一块纱布，接着他深深地吸进一口气，刃端有力地一挑，那块东西从伤口里蹦了出来，滚落到他身旁的土地上。塔蒙迅速用清水把伤口冲洗干净，随后用力地将纱布敷在上面。然而艾瑞克还是在塔蒙迷惑的注视下，很快就陷入了昏迷，塔蒙绝望地使出浑身解数试图挽回战友的生命，可是一切都无济于事。骑士的脉搏慢慢地衰弱了下去，几分钟以后，终于停止了。塔蒙挫折地低声咒骂着，不得不把目光暂时挪开。

　　刚才从伤口中滚落的物体在肮脏的地面上闪闪发光，塔蒙把它捡了起来，用纱布小心地将上面的血迹擦拭干净。这是一块宝石——一枚硕大的红宝石，在有些阴暗的树林中微微地闪烁着，随后，他惊奇地看到上面的光泽逐渐地暗淡下来，最后消失了。红宝石开始褪色，晶体里的红色从内部渗透出来，像血红的眼泪一样，滴落到地面上。裂痕开始在宝石的表面上出现——刚开始只有一点点，然后迅速地蔓延开来，几秒钟以后，整个宝石碎成了飞灰。由于太过专心地观察手里的宝石，塔蒙没有注意到他们身边的景物忽然间开始抖动起来，尽管其他人注意到了......

　　见鬼，到底发生了什么？鲁恩悄悄地问。这个问题的答案也是所有人想知道的。


* * * *

            * * * *

　　
　　这六名骑士尽可能地为艾瑞克举行了一场体面的葬礼。当晚，他们蜷缩在火堆旁边熬过了一个不眠之夜，然后他们决定找到一条路绕着沼泽地走回去，并且开始搜索另外两名失踪的骑士。没有人愿意再从沼泽中间穿过去，一部分是因为达力玛司的缘故，更多的是不想再遇到其他潜伏在沼泽黑水里的怪物。昨天发生的那些事让所有人都感到忧心冲冲，同时也倍加警惕，大家都尽量不去提起在艾瑞克身上究竟发生了什么事。虽然没有明说，但是大家都在担心同样的命运会降临在另外两名失踪的骑士——欧文爵士和凯拉思的身上。　　　　

　　他们沿着沼泽的边缘大概走了几个小时——由于头顶上过于茂密的树冠，时间变得很难去估算——德纳得走在队伍前面，尽量带着队伍往那些干燥而且好走的地方行进。潜伏在芦苇和草地中的蚊虫墨蚋围绕着这队骑士挥之不去地飞舞着，他们的脸上被叮满了奇痒无比的小疙瘩。半个小时以来，浓烈的腐烂物的恶臭已经盖过了沼泽地那种潮湿的味道，使人更加难以忍受——他们不经意地走近了多头海蛇的巢穴和觅食地，地面上堆满了鹿和熊的残体，他们赶紧悄悄地绕了过去。

　　浓雾慢慢地散开，看来这块沼泽地总算开始向他们刚进入树林的地方弯了回去。德纳得忽然停住了脚步，叫大家注意。在他们前面不远的地方，又有一个人被吊在树上，似乎已经毫无生气了。这个人的手被绑在一条巨大的树枝上。他们小心翼翼地靠了过去，发现这个人正是失踪者之一，年轻的百合骑士凯拉思，他死气沉沉地被挂在空地中央的一棵巨大的橡树上。

　　周围死一般的沉寂，整个树林就像被一面巨大的棺盖罩住了。沼泽地里的蟋蟀也不再发出那种催眠般的叫声，树上的鸟，还有芦苇里的那些青蛙，也都忽然间安静了下来。水面上一丝涟漪也没有，就连在松树和橡树间穿梭的风，也仿佛凝固住了。骑士们知道这里肯定有问题，但他们不能让他们的同伴就这样继续吊在树上。萨林让其他人后退，他已经假定这是一个陷阱，决定自己一个人上去把凯拉思放下来。

　　这名勇敢的小队指挥官迈着坚定的步伐，大踏步地向前走去，手上紧紧握着他的宝剑——既是为了砍断树上的绳索，也是为了保护他自己。萨林来到那名骑士跟前，抓住了他的手腕，虽然还有一丝脉搏，但已经微弱得几乎感觉不到了。树叶忽然发出了一阵微弱的悉悉嗦嗦的响声，萨林迅速扭头，扫视着身边的树林，试图找出扰动的来源。什么都没有。于是他转身继续将凯拉思手腕上的绳索砍断。这名骑士重重地摔到了地上，依然毫无意识地躺在那里，萨林在他身边蹲了下来，检察他的伤势，在他心脏的位置上也有一个类似的伤口。萨林把塔蒙喊了过来。他们低声商量了一阵，然后塔蒙说出他的意见。　　

　　“好吧，我看他这样是活不下去的，”塔蒙皱着眉头说，“我们只有把那个东西弄出来，才有机会救活他，”他一脸严峻地建议道，实在很不乐意再做一次这样的手术。

　　萨林在心里叹了口气，他的部下到底发生了什么事?他在心里不断地问，不过他现在只能暂时把心头的疑惑放在一边，让塔蒙放手开始做他的手术。这名老骑士悲伤地摇着头，几乎已经看到同样的伤口夺去了凯拉思的生命，就像艾瑞克爵士那样。即使正处于深度的昏迷之中，这名年轻骑士的脸还是在剧烈的痛苦中扭曲了，但塔蒙知道自己必须继续下去。就在他慢慢地把匕首伸入伤口的时候，身边的空气忽然间蹿动了起来，树叶开始飒飒作响，树干也发出了吱吱嘎嘎的响声，就好象有一阵狂风掠过一样——然而根本就没有风。塔蒙抬起头，看到所有的人都在后退，整片森林活了!

　　许多模样怪异的树——或者说许多模样怪异的人——从周围的环境中分离了出来，他们的伪装简直无懈可击。这些活生生的树人足足有十英尺高，巨大的武器从他们身上的枝桠里被拔了出来，这些坚硬的，由树木构成的长矛和剑对准了这队骑士，塔蒙慌乱地试图把凯拉思胸口里的东西挖出来，这次它进得更深了。萨林、达力玛司、以及德纳得迅速拔出武器，鲁恩和安雅与他们站在一起，摆出了一个防御的阵势，树人们向他们冲了过来，血红的眼睛在树干的黑洞中闪闪发光。

　　“快，塔蒙，这里需要你!”萨林高喊着，同时架住了一把巨大的木剑，强横的冲击力透过他的盔甲，狠狠地轰在他身上。德纳得和达力玛司也竭尽全力地对抗着这些巨人，但是巨人的数量和力量都远远地盖过了他们。

　　“安雅？”鲁恩抱着一线希望问道，“你可以......你还能不能再使用一次刚才那种力量？”鲁恩疑惑地问，这些生物看起来都是由树木构成的，所以也许......　　　

　　安雅已经开始行动了，她跪到地面上，把双手平贴着泥土。她将眼睛闭了起来，努力地集中精神，把周围那些嘈杂的巨响从脑海中推开——那些钢铁和木头猛烈碰撞的声音，还有达力玛司痛苦的惨叫，树人的剑深深地劈入了他的肩膀，几乎把整条手臂砍了下来。

　　“安雅!”鲁恩大叫，开始惊慌失措起来，树人的攻势越来越紧，迫使鲁恩和安雅不断地后退。达力玛司无力回天地战斗着，用尽最后一丝力气将他的剑狠狠地刺进了一个树人的心脏，然后眼睁睁地看着另一个树人用长矛刺穿了他的身体。那只中了一剑的怪物摇晃了几下，接着用它树叶般的爪子抓住了剑柄，把整支剑抽了出来，丢在地上。随后它跨过了达力玛司那毫无生气的躯体，向其他骑士冲了过去。

　　看来安雅又一次找到了那种力量，数条树根从地面下激射出来，缠绕在那些树人的肢体上，刹那间就把他们缚住了，然而很快又放开了他们，随后，就像受到了树人无声的指令一样，开始帮助它们展开进攻。鲁恩目瞪口呆地看到树根从萨林和德纳得身边冒了出来，缠到他们身上；更多的树根也从他和安雅脚下出现，他想要后退，可是太迟了——那些树根绕上了他的腿，把他扯向地面，拖倒在地上，并死死地勒住了他。

　　极度的痛苦使鲁恩紧紧地把手指抠进了土里，他感到全身的骨头都要碎掉了，在绝望中，他竭尽全力地强迫自己冷静下来，回想着安雅说的那些话......可以从那些植物体内......感觉到的魔法能量.....一条树根绞上了他的脖子，然后迅速收紧，压力越来越大，鲁恩眼前开始冒出金星。他听到旁边的安雅发出了窒息的呻吟，同时又听见另一个人发出一声惨叫，似乎已经被扼死了。鲁恩的意识开始飘出了身体，涣散开来，他想自己就快失去意识了。忽然间，他感觉到了什么......一开始，它只是微弱地刺激着他的知觉，他把精神集中起来，让那种感觉慢慢地增长。

　　然后，就好象有什么东西从他身体里打开了——正如安雅说的那样——通过插在土壤里的手指，鲁恩感觉到有一种排山倒海般的魔法能量在大地中涌动着。他清醒地意识到，现在他可以随心所欲地操纵那些土地，他身体下方的泥土开始移动并且重塑着形态，随即击碎了他身上的树根，彻底地消灭了它们。很快地，其余的树根也全部软了下去，他把它们尽数甩开，其他骑士也同样挣脱了束缚。尽管鲁恩现在非常虚弱，但是他的手指依然插在土里，这一次，他的目标是那些树人。随着又一道心念闪过，一双由石头和泥土构成的巨手凭空生成，鲁恩站了起来，用意念操控着它们。巨手在他的控制下握成了拳，只一瞬间就轰碎了三个树人，随后捏碎了另外两个。

　　他的战友们从地上站了起来，稍微恢复了一些，他们张大着嘴巴，充满敬畏地看着眼前这幕威力无比的场面，尤其是安雅，她正在为魔法的力量而狂喜不已，也为她的同伴感到无比的兴奋。战斗很快就结束了，一切都平静了下来，塔蒙爵士开始继续进行他的手术，这一次他从伤口中取出了一枚巨大的蓝宝石。宝石上的光几乎在被取出的同时就开始暗淡下来，再一次地，色彩从晶体的内部向外渗漏，接着这枚宝石碎成了飞灰。整个森林又一次在众人眼前开始狂乱的波动，一圈圈巨大的波纹从大家的视野中掠过，就像往湖面上丢了一块石头一样。

　　这些杂乱无章的波动最后终于停了下来。骑士们估算了一下他们的损失，凯拉思在被找到的时候就已经奄奄一息了，所以他的死亡并不使大家感到意外——但是达力玛司的阵亡却属于意料之外的事，他们现在只剩下了五个人。萨林明确宣布，从现在开始，他们的首要任务是活着走出这片森林，同时放弃搜索最后一名失踪的骑士——欧文爵士。没有人对此表示异议，大家都能够理解。他们迅速但体面地为凯拉思和达力玛司举行了葬礼，然后马上动身赶路。

　　
* * * *

　　
　　他们沿着沼泽走到了尽头，但这反而把他们带到了森林中更深更密的地方，现在树枝就像屋顶一样盖在他们头上，几乎没有阳光可以透进来。他们的前进速度因此被拖慢了许多，也不止一次地争论到底要不要往回走。塔蒙爵士坚持要继续前进，他认为只要队伍的行进路线是一条直线(或者尽可能地保持直线)，他们最后就有可能找到森林的边缘，重新来到那片平原上。其他人都认同了这个观点中所包含的逻辑性，所以他们仍然继续往前走。
　　
　　自从他们和树人的那场遭遇战以后，又过了许多个小时，森林始终显得非常平静。实际上，他们已经很难去判断现在到底是一天中的哪个时段，茂密的树叶挡住了所有的光线。塔蒙走在前面带队，他是一名经验丰富的丛林游侠，其他人紧紧地跟在后面；萨林和德纳得静静地走在队伍后面压阵，安雅和鲁恩在队伍中间低声交谈着，对他们的经历感慨不已。之前他们虽然也曾经听说过有关新的魔法能量被发现的传闻，不过谁也没有太多地留意，他们都相信自己已经掌握了这门艺术中所有该掌握的部分。现在，他们两人已经把这种魔法现象的某些方面进行了归纳，显然树人们也能同样地控制那些植物，所以那些咒语会被反弹回来。这可是一个代价不菲的教训，它在这些疲惫不堪的骑士们身上留下了无数道瘀青和伤口。

　　“萨林，我们必须休息一下了，”德纳得恳求道，他的声音在黑暗中显得非常疲惫。

　　小队的指挥官在作出回答之前考虑了一会儿，“很抱歉，德纳得，你必须得坚持跟上来，我们一定要尽快走出这片森林——越快越好。”萨林在心里暗暗地叹了口气。他不是那种把部下逼过极限的领导者，不过他心里很清楚，这也许就意味着生和死的区别，因为谁也不知道还有多少树人在等着他们，尤其是在这样的黑暗之中。“你还没有老到比我还虚弱吧？”萨林开玩笑地说，希望能让他的朋友稍微振作一些。

　　“没有，长官，”德纳得一脸阴沉地回答，举步维艰地跟在他的指挥官身边。塔蒙试图点燃一支火把来照亮脚下的路，但是由于没有灯油，事情就显得非常麻烦，那些木头不是太湿就是太干，才烧了几分钟就已经拿不住了。就这样，他们在树林中穿行着，只有在非常必需的时候，才点起火来照明。

　　筋疲力尽的几个小时过去了。他们都开始注意到在空气里有种异样的气息，弥漫着一股不知道从哪里散发出来的微弱的臭味。同时，在他们心里也浮现出一种特别的感觉，但谁都不敢把它说出来。即使是在最疯狂的噩梦里，他们不会想到要去面对这种可能性。

　　安雅猛地停住了脚步，大喊了起来。“我再也受不了了!”她挫折地大叫着，“我能感觉到它正在盯着我们，我知道你们也都能感觉到!”　的确，每个人都知道这一点，但是每个人都害怕面对这样一个事实：一种远远比其他怪物都要恐怖的生物正在无声无息地追踪着他们，在很近很近的地方盯着他们，用它那强大无比的魔法掩盖住自己的形体和声音。

　　他们最恐怖的噩梦成真了，一双金黄色的巨眼在眼前的树林间浮现了出来，森林中的一只小动物开始转变它的形体，在现出原形的同时挤倒了好几棵大树——一匹硕大无朋的黄金龙出现了。离它最近的塔蒙当场在龙威中跪倒下来，双手紧紧地抱住了头，全力抗拒着这势不可挡的恐惧。其他人只能目瞪口呆地望着眼前恐怖的一幕，金龙那狭长光滑的身躯上覆盖着强壮无比的肌肉，在月色中熠熠地闪耀着金光——由于许多大树刚刚被金龙挤倒在地上，所以月光正从树林上方的空隙中透射进来。

　　金龙从胸中发出了一声咆哮，整片大地都在脚下隆隆地晃动着，它鳞光闪闪的喙缘在吼叫声中掀了起来，露出嘴里那些锋芒闪耀的毒牙。巨龙裂着血盆大口，向骑士们发出嘶嘶的响声，接着，它的长颈忽然向后弓起，此时，鲁恩所能做到的一切就是全力撞向安雅，两个人一起摔到了草丛里，萨林和德纳得也同样迅速地扑倒在地上。金龙发出了它那盖世无匹的巨大龙息，一簇炽热的龙焰吞没了瑟缩在地面上的塔蒙爵士，将他和他的恐惧一起烧成了灰烬。

　　它为什么会攻击我们？鲁恩强压住心头的恐惧，疑惑地思索着，他知道这可不是金龙的作风。又一簇龙焰就在离萨林和德纳得仅仅一英尺的地面上炸开，他们被轰得横飞了出去，龙焰把他们的皮肤烫出了水泡，四周的大树也同时腾起火来。

　　他们的指挥官在站稳脚跟的同时恢复了镇定，他大声呼叫着鲁恩和安雅，寄希望于他们能用某种方式来提供帮助。这两名法师已经先一步开始行动了，他们高度集中着精神，力图压制住龙威并开始接近身边那些潜在的魔法能量。这对鲁恩而言还是有点难，安雅则显得更加熟练一些，她很快就让自己的意念得到了表达，将众人头顶上的树分开了，使大家至少能够清楚地看到眼前的对手。鲁恩更加努力地集中着精神，终于，他战胜了巨龙施加在自己身上的影响，几块巨石随即凌空而起，向巨龙疾射了过去。

　　金龙用意念在自己身前竖起了一道护盾，那些巨石在护盾上撞得粉碎，这只不过更加激怒了它——它现在确认了这群骑士的确想要伤害自己。巨龙向前扑了过来，巨大的尾巴将更多的大树甩得粉碎，它露出了尖锐的牙齿，准备把下一个不走运的骑士撕成碎片。这次德纳得离它最近，他几乎已经无法躲过那张血盆大口，一阵恶臭的腥风扑打在他的脸上，巨大的龙牙以分毫之差在德纳得身边咬空，他看到那双黄色的巨眼，暗金色的怒火在它眼中熊熊地燃烧着。萨林迅速地穿过树林，试图绕到龙的背后去，他打算跃上龙脊，然后从那里展开攻击。　　　　

　　鲁恩让巨龙前方的土地爆炸开来，为德纳得赢到了一点逃跑的时间。安雅绝望地四处张望着，她随即惊诧地瞪大了眼睛，就在几码外的一棵树上，正吊着最后一名失踪的骑士：欧文爵士。她毫不迟疑地离开鲁恩身边，向那名奄奄一息的骑士跑了过去。

　　巨龙狂怒地嘶吼着，树枝在吼声中剧烈地摇撼，萨林从后面靠了上来，他的双膝不停地发着抖。金龙向鲁恩吐出了一道闪电，鲁恩见状马上在自己面前升起了一列土墙，来抵挡这道致命的能量，他毛骨悚然地看着闪电轰在土墙上，瞬间击碎了它。这匹蜿蜒扭曲的巨型爬虫因为没能命中鲁恩而不满地甩动着它的巨尾，这条尾巴在带倒了几棵大树以后，恰好准准地甩在萨林的胸甲上，猛烈地撞碎了他的盔甲和里面的肋骨。

　　片刻之后，安雅来到了欧文爵士跟前，在她和那株大树之间，赫然出现了一个巨大的龙巢，在极度的震惊和恐惧中，她发现在那株大树里面藏着三枚巨大的金色龙蛋。将眼前的情景和刚才发生的事联系起来——现在她总算搞懂了，那匹金龙是为了保护它的蛋，它的血脉，才向他们发起了进攻，但实际上这条龙出现的时候，他们的小队已经没剩下几个人了——安雅抽出一把小匕首，把欧文爵士放了下来，这名骑士绝望地看着她，一只手紧紧地捂在心头的伤口上。安雅脸色苍白地意识到，现在只能靠她来把那块宝石挖出来了，其他人这时候正在拼死地战斗着。

　　她知道他们现在需要她，需要她所能提供的一切帮助，所以她迅速地下定了决心，开始在伤口里寻找那块宝石，就像她看到塔蒙爵士做的那样。一开始，她的努力只不过加剧了欧文爵士的痛苦，使他痛得大叫了起来。安雅吐了吐舌头，但是并没有停下手头的动作，她终于把刀刃移到了那枚宝石下方，迅速地把它撬了出来，然后她从骑士的军装上撕下了一块碎布，把它用力地敷在伤口上，以免出血过多。这次从伤口中掉出来的是一枚巨大的翡翠，安雅把它拿了起来。它明亮地发着光，但是也已经在慢慢地暗淡下来。安雅意识到了，这些宝石好象是在用某种方式吸取着骑士们的生命能源，以此来维持自身的存在，因为当它们的宿主死亡的同时，它们也随之崩散。安雅把手从欧文爵士的伤口上拿开，她知道自己已经帮不了什么忙了，所以她马上起身返回鲁恩身边，那枚翡翠在她手中闪烁着。

　　鲁恩已经感到极度疲惫，在金龙连续的进攻下，他不断地从地上升起护盾，这非常地消耗精力。他现在谁也看不到了，也不知道自己是不是最后一个还活着的人，在他心中充满了绝望，知道自己最多只能再撑它几分钟——如果他运气够好的话——然后就必死无疑了。那条金龙现在向他逼了过来，巨大的龙爪一下击碎了他刚刚升起来的土墙。鲁恩向后摔了出去，他眼睁睁地看着金龙扬起它的巨爪，爪尖在月光中骇人地闪耀着，他瞪大了眼睛，看着厄运降临在自己头上，希望能睁着眼睛，亲眼目睹自己被杀的一瞬。

　　安雅靠近了战场，手里的那枚翡翠开始迸裂，她发出了恐怖的尖叫，眼睁睁地看着巨大的龙爪凌空落下，地上是毫无抵抗能力的鲁恩......

　　几乎在同一瞬间，那枚翡翠粉碎了，一阵强烈的眩晕向安雅席卷了过来，使她跪倒在地上，同时整个森林——包括龙和其他的一切——就在她眼前闪烁了起来，狂乱地波动着，随后，一切都破碎开来。那些大树、龙、还有那些金色的蛋——它们似乎全部开始蒸发，就像炎炎夏日中的无数水气一样，向天空中袅袅地升了起来，随后灰飞烟灭。

　　安雅过了好一阵子才恢复过来，同时感到脑中一阵恶心的天旋地转。她从地上虚弱地站起来，四下地张望着。森林消失了，她正站在原来的那片平原上。鲁恩就倒在几码以外的地上，他慢慢地坐了起来，搞不清自己是死了还是活着。他看到了安雅，然后笑了笑，她还活着，这让他安心了一点。欧文爵士的尸体正躺在她身后的地面上，隔了一段距离是塔蒙爵士那已经烧焦了的残破身躯，另一个躯体——指挥官萨林——也倒在一边。德纳得慢慢地从地面上站了起来，甩着头让自己清醒一点，然后大踏步地向他们走了过来，安雅同时也扶着鲁恩站稳脚跟。

　　“发......发生了什么事？”鲁恩试探性地问，刚才那场战斗让他现在依然感到极度虚弱。　

　　“我......我也不知道，鲁恩。”安雅迷惑地回答。

　　“你们已经完美地通过了测试。”德纳得忽然在他们身边说，两名法师迷惑地望着他，他瞪了回去，脸上浮现出邪恶的笑容，他的眼睛眯了起来。

　　“你这是什么意思？”鲁恩问道，他搞不懂德纳得刚才说的话。

　　“我是说，你这个笨蛋，”德纳得回答，他的骑士外表慢慢地开始融化，一袭黑袍从里面露了出来，“你们活过了我的小小试验，”他继续说道，语调中透着愉悦，“而且，你们还发现了——就像我预料的那样——那些魔法并没有消失!”他得意洋洋地说。　　　　　　　　 　

　　安雅向后退了一步，不知道为什么，她有一种被侵犯的感觉。“我不懂。”她无助地呢喃着。

　　“你当然不会懂，”德纳得施舍似地说，“你根本没有想到，你和你的朋友们这几天以来一直是我试验的一部分。”

　　“试验？”鲁恩充满疑惑地问。

　　“是的，”德纳得讥笑地回答他，“我的试验内容是，当你们两个被剥夺了魔法物品以后，”——他这时从袍子的口袋里拿出鲁恩的一串魔法项链——“是不是能够在你们极度需要的时候，找到一种全新的魔法能量。”他把那串项链紧紧地握在拳中，感觉着里面奔腾的魔法能流。“啊，我知道你们在想什么，”他若有所思地看到他们疑惑的脸上，开始显露出一种恍然大悟的表情。

　　“这片森林，”他为自己的聪明而沾沾自喜着，“全都是一个幻象，由那三枚被你们大张旗鼓破坏掉的宝石所维持着，”他皱着眉头评述道，“通过一个古老神器内的魔法能量对它们进行点化，使它们只需要得到一个活生生的宿主，就可以把我创造出来的这片魔法森林完全地运作起来。”德纳得把手伸进他的黑袍里，掏出了一个透明的水晶骷髅，它的双眼闪耀着邪恶的红光，被栓在一条钢铁做成的项链上。“这可不是一种轻易就能实现的技巧，”他夸耀道，“但是这个小小的宝贝让一切成为了可能。”他向那双血红的眼睛中凝视了一会儿，仿佛被催眠了一样，随后把它藏进了黑袍里。“当然，你们一定想到了，我会把这些宝石远远地分散开来，然后让我的怪兽们守在旁边。再让你们这些感情脆弱的傻瓜走进森林，去寻找你们宝贵的骑士们!”他大笑地嘲弄着。

　　“你利用了我们!”鲁恩狂怒地大喊，“你自己没有能力去发现，所以你利用我们!”

　　“不对，”德纳得反驳道，“只是这样可以更有效率地利用我那些魔法资源而已，我通过你们去发现它，然后再从你们那里学过来。”　　

　　“可是......”安雅抗议道，“你......你害死了他们!　把我们都拖到了陷阱里!”

　　“哦，来吧，”德纳得漠不关心地反对说，“想想看我们得到的好处!　想想看这个发现的意义......一个崭新的魔法领域，而你们是这个领域的主要开拓者之一。我们为什么不......”他露出一个阴险的笑容，“我们可以一起开一所学校，把这种新魔法教给全安塞隆的法师们——当然，他们要付出一点代价......”他补充道，想看看鲁恩或者安雅是不是对这个想法感兴趣，但是他除了卑夷和厌恶的目光以外，什么都没有得到，他后退了一步。“看来是我想得太多了，”他哼了一声，“很好，你们已经做出了决定!”

　　黑袍法师抬手指向他们，同时念出一段蜘蛛般的咒文，他右手上的一枚戒指闪出了光芒。数枚火焰飞镖从他的手指尖激射了出来，飞向鲁恩和安雅，有几枚准准地命中了目标，让他们向后摔了出去，随后，他们摆出了防御的架势。鲁恩奋力地将精神集中起来，德纳得脚下的地面忽然间裂开了，但是德纳得同时施展出了漂浮术，他的身体瞬间变得比空气还轻。裂开的地面又在巨响中合拢了起来，响声向远方的高原废墟激荡出去，在回声传来的同时，安雅也触及了蕴藏在四周植物里的魔法能量，正试图找到一个办法来对付眼前的黑袍法师。德纳得用火球术作出反击，鲁恩迅速在安雅身前竖起了一面土盾，使她幸免于难，但是他自己却被红热的魔法火焰溅到，他的皮肤发出了烧焦的噼啪声，火焰把他身上的衣服烧出了几个大洞，炙灼着里面的血肉。他在极度的痛苦中跪了下来，这短短的一瞬间对德纳得而言已经足够了，他直指着鲁恩开始施展闪电术。咒语来到了德纳得嘴边，忽然他瞪圆了眼睛向前踉跄地跌了出去，一条三英尺长的剑刃从他腹部刺了出来。

　　德纳得双手紧紧握住腹部的剑刃，浑身剧烈地抖动着，他扭过头来，看到萨林正憎恨地瞪住他，痛苦而吃力地喘着气。“为我的部下!”他胜利地宣告道，就在这个时候，黑袍法师无声地滑离了他的剑，然后掏出了那个水晶骷髅，并对着那双闪烁着红光的眼球，低诵出一段致命的魔法咒文。

　　这次你休想!安雅在心里说道，她将凝聚在那些植物中的巨大魔法能量扯了出来，赋予它们新的方向和新的焦点。一枚幼芽从德纳得身后破土而出，在一瞬间爆长成一株巨大的橡树，靠近地面的枝条突然甩了下来，绞住德纳得的手臂以及双腿，把他扯离了地面，勒到巨大的树干上。德纳得咒骂着重新开始吟诵那道咒文，他已经失去了精神的集中，但是依然紧紧地抓着那个水晶骷髅。　　　　　　　

　　鲁恩从那股致命的魔法火焰中恢复了过来，他重新集中起精神，把双手高高地举向空中。大地剧烈地震撼着，巨大的岩石从地下浮了上来，像水流一样涌动着，随后喷向了那棵巨大的橡树，并沿着它的树干淹没上去，在它的表面上裹上了一层致密的花岗岩外皮。德纳得恐怖地尖叫着，那些岩石的洪流吞没了他的双腿，漫过了手臂，还在不断地上涨，接着涌进了他的尖叫的嘴里，让喊声嘎然而止，岩流随即盖过了他的脸，永远把这种恐惧的表情留在了黑袍法师脸上。岩流继续上涨着，在覆盖了整棵橡树以后突然停住，然后一切都安静了下来。

　　“结束了。”安雅松了一口气，轻轻地说道，

　　“但是......我们的那些魔法物品，它们都被封在里面了......”鲁恩一脸遗憾地说。

　　“我们再也不需要它们了，”安雅安慰他，“我们需要的所有魔法都在这儿了，在我们周围的这些物体里，”她补充道，然后她在萨林的身体边跪了下来，他终于为他的小队报了仇，安心地阖上了双眼。

　　他们两人在这里待了几天，为他们的小队举行了一场适度的葬礼，并且考虑着他们今后的去向。


* * * *


　　现在，有不少旅行者都会在这座狰狞的路标前停下脚步，望着这名被封锁在永恒尖叫中的法师，以及他身后那棵巨大的石树，对他们背后的故事感到非常好奇，尤其是那些坎德人，他们常常在石化枝叶的荫影下进行野餐。对于某些有胆量靠得够近的人，则可以发现一段用通用语写成的碑文：

　　＝纪念＝
　　第二十七小队，
　　第十三中队，
　　奈拉卡骑士

　　指挥官萨林——您的领导是我们前进的道标。
　　塔蒙爵士——您的智慧指引着我们在正确的道路上前进。
　　达力玛司——你的热情鼓舞着我们的心。
　　艾瑞克爵士，欧文爵士，以及凯拉思——你们的牺牲我们将永志不忘。

　　如果有人继续往下看的话，会发现另一段用古老的索兰尼亚文写成的碑铭。有些人好奇地看着它们，希望有人能把它们翻译出来。而对于那些索兰尼亚的继承者们，或者是那些学识渊博的人，无论如何，这些意味深长的文字都将伴随着对那名石化法师的想象，永远地留在他们脑海里：

　　＝MAY THE PURSUIT OF MAGIC ALWAYS BE HONORABLE＝.



[全文完......啊啊，最后一句还是翻译一下^-^，个人看法是翻成：“对魔法的追求永远是一种荣誉。”大家看呢？^^]

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　——玄音　2002.2.19

            [原文也贴出来，大家不要客气，尽量开炮^^......有耐心看完的话......]

Players and Pawns
by Arlin Brewster

Shortly after the Second Cataclysm...

The summer squall tore at[] the billowing capes of the talon of knights as they drove their horses onwards, hooves pounding in the muck and spraying water up on the riders. The nine Knights of Neraka - numbering two mages - Knights of the Thorn, four Knights of the Skull, and three Knights of the Lily - were desperately trying to reach the sanctity of a small forest looming on the horizon. Though the sun had not yet gone below the treetops, the sky was dark and foreboding, menacing bolts of lightning arcing down from the heavens. It was the beginning of a dark and stormy night, just like those Talon Leader Sarin had imagined during his youth as he sat around a campfire with his older brothers, telling ghost stories.

Looking to his left where the solitary moon shone faintly through the gathering clouds, Sarin could see the stony visage of his second in command, Sir Tamel, his jaw clenched as he rode his horse through the fury of the storm. The two Knights of the Skull were still fuming after an argument earlier with the two knight mages, Rouen and Anya, to cast a simple spell to protect them from the thunderstorm and keep the group dry and warm, but they had vehemently refused, stating that the magic contained in their relics was far too precious to be used up on an unnecessary shielding spell. And thus the breakneck ride for the sheltering branches of the forest.

The knights were returning from a reconnaissance mission deep into the heart of what was known as the Desolation, a region covered by wastelands and mountains, crafted by the great red dragon Malystryx to suit her needs. Indeed, they had been sent to patrol near the gigantic dragon's lair to spy on her activities, for they were contemplating on forging a new alliance with Malys.

The excursion had been fraught with dangers including smaller - but still deadly - red dragons, sheer cliffs in the middle of nowhere, perilous swamps, and many kender, a party of which had decided it would be great fun to pretend they were Knights of Takhisis (a name now resented by the knights) and follow the talon. This only lasted a short while until one kender declared that his Uncle Trapspringer had once taken a nap in a dragon's nest and awoke to find the beast sleeping upon him; a tumult ensued as all the kender exclaimed that his Uncle Trapspringer had done the very same thing. In short order (after much exclamation that they were long-lost cousins) they decided that, in his honored memory, they should all go and nap in a dragon's nest and wait for one to come home.

Their cover all but blown after the chattering kender left, the knights decided to return to Neraka and report their findings to date. They were on the edge of the Desolation, approaching the city of Flotsam, when the storm had blown in out of nowhere - most likely from the sea, Anya had surmised. A younger Knight of the Lily, Demeris, had suggested that they turn back and look for shelter within the Desolation - a cave or a cliff - rather than risk being out in the open, but Sir Tamel wouldn't hear of it, and in the end Sarin had sided with his second in command.

They rode out into the plains, the rain coming down first as a light sprinkle but soon turning into a deluge. Denard, a keen Knight of the Lily, was the first to spot the forest. A tiny clump of trees from a distance, it soon grew in size, and they decided that it was better than nothing.

It took them a full hour to reach the glade. Soaked beneath their armors and chilled to the bone, the lofty boughs of the oaks and pines were a welcome sight. Tethering their horses next to a large pool of water, the shivering knights quickly went about the task of finding dry wood, and soon all were huddled close to a blazing fire.

"Little good secrecy will do us if we die of the chill," Sir Tamel had pointed out nonchalantly, adding another armload of twigs and bark to the fire. The warmth and light served to lift their spirits and soon they were talking amongst themselves about the joys of returning home and about the events of the last few weeks spent in the Desolation.

"Strange, though," Rouen had commented to his fellow mage, Anya. "I don't remember ever seeing this forest here." He let his gaze sweep across their surroundings suspiciously before continuing. "And that odd feeling that something has been following us… Something magical… Is still bothering me," he whispered, referring to a strange sensation that had been irritating both of the mages for many weeks, for they could not discern where it came from or what it was caused by. Many times they had turned quickly, expecting to see something following them, only to see Denard and Demeris bringing up the rear of the party as usual. It just didn't make sense to them.

Anya shrugged her shoulders, unconcerned. She knew that her friend had actually lived in nearby Flotsam for most of his life and knew the area like a sleep spell, but things were hardly as they had always been. "Malys's doing?" she queried, remembering how drastically the great red had changed the eastern landscape.

"Oh, who knows," Rouen sighed. "I'm just glad that it's here now," he admitted, offering a rare smile.

The evening rolled by quickly and soon all the knights, except three on guard, slept soundly beside the fire. It mattered not whom was awake or asleep however, for nobody knew that they were being watched from deep within the forest...

* * * *

Denard awoke with a start to find the mage Rouen standing over him. "Wake up," the mage-knight urged him, "and be quiet." The young Knight of the Lily sat up, his eyes darting about for signs of trouble. Seeing nothing, he gazed into Rouen's eyes, seeking answers.

It was early morning by the looks of it; the sun barely peeked through the branches of the thick forest. The others in the camp were either still asleep or were silently gathering their gear; the fire had gone out some time ago and was still smoking slightly. Denard's questioning look was plain to see, and Rouen glanced behind him before he explained in a hushed tone.

"This forest is not what it appears," the mage knight said cryptically, cocking his head suddenly and listening when a strangled cry echoed through the forest, followed by silence. Denard shot up off the ground, his hand already pulling his sword free from its scabbard. "Be careful," Rouen advised. "We're not sure what's going on yet."

The rest of the knights were awake now, looking nervously about. Nobody could place quite what was wrong, but a sense of malice permeated the air. The three guards who were supposed to be keeping watch were missing, and as Anya had noted with a shocked cry, so were her magical relics. She searched frantically for them, Rouen joining in when he discovered his were gone as well, a feeling of profound helplessness washing over both of them.

"Which way did that come from?" Sir Tamel asked, referring to the disturbing cry, twisting about in confusion, trying to see into the darkness.

"It was from the west," Denard stated, pointing off one way.

"No, it came from the north!" Demeris argued, pointing off in another direction, taking the initiative and heading deeper into the forest.

"I thought it was from the south, myself," Sarin spoke, "but it seems we're searching north first, whether we like it or not," he added, calling the attention of the two mages and heading off into the bush after the novice knight.

"I told you something was wrong about this forest!" Rouen chided to Anya as they followed closely behind, still barren of their magic-inducing devices.

* * * *

"How large is this damned forest?" Sarin grumbled, swearing as a branch snapped back and struck him in the face. "Slow down, Demeris!" he called, not caring about silence any longer, frustrated with the young man. It seemed as though he had finally gotten through to the knight, who had stopped just ahead, and soon the rest caught up to him.

Even in the low light they could all foresee the trouble that waited just ahead of them. Even now their boots sank slightly into the spongy ground as they gazed across the expanse of a dark and gloomy swamp. They all surveyed the scene, stepping back onto dry ground to confer for a moment.

"Maybe you were right," Demeris admitted sheepishly, his face reddening in embarrassment. "I was sure I'd heard it from this way, though."

"Nobody's blaming you," Tamel assured him. "The echoes in this forest are strange and difficult to follow, even for an old ranger like me," he said with a smile, clapping the brash knight on the shoulder. "But run off like that again and we'll be sure to come back here and throw you in that swamp," he jested.

"Quiet, everyone," Sarin ordered. The remains of the talon stood still, letting their senses reach out and take in their surroundings. A frog croaked nearby as something larger slipped into the water; the tall pine trees creaked and groaned as they swayed in the wind; Rouen sneezed at the cloying dampness, the sound echoing out across the still waters; the crickets sang loudly, hidden away in the dank mosses and reeds surrounding the swamp. And there was something that made the hairs stand up on the back of everybody's necks - in the background was the sound of somebody or something breathing very heavily, very huskily. Once they could hear it, it was as if they could hear nothing else. They listened for a long time, gesturing silently towards the sound, which this time they all agreed was coming from across the swamp.

Anya and Rouen began whispering to each other fervently, but Sarin held a finger to his lips, demanding silence. After another few moments the breathing was suddenly interrupted by a hoarse cough and followed by a low moan which most of them recognized.

"It's Sir Aeric," Tamel blurted before the rest could. He would recognize his fellow Skull Knight's voice anywhere, having spent well over a decade fighting and training by his side. The rest nodded agreement, and Denard began looking for a way around the swamp, returning not five minutes later to report that it stretched out of sight either way.

"What are we going to do?" Demeris asked dramatically. "No way can you make me cross that!" he said defensively, pointing out into the murky waters.

"We can't leave him behind," Tamel spoke in a deep voice, looking to Sarin to back him up.

Nodding reluctantly, Sarin asked Denard, "Are you sure there's no way around? I don't particularly favor getting my boots wet if there's an alternative," he admitted. Though this wouldn't be the first time he'd trudged his way through a swamp, Sarin had always vowed he would never do so again. The blisters he'd received from wearing wet boots had been abominably painful.

Another low, painful moan came across the waters before the younger knight could reply. "Sir," he said respectfully, "after wading out into the water I saw that the reeds go off in either direction out of my sight. I don't like it any more than you, Sir, but any more delay and we may not be able to help Sir Aeric!"

"Yes, you're right, of course," Sarin muttered. "All right," he spoke up, getting the attention of the group. "Here's the deal. Sir Tamel and I will go across the swamp to find Sir Aeric," he said, ignoring the older Skull Knight's protests at being volunteered, "and the rest of you can stay here if you like, no infraction upon your honor if you choose to do so." He nodded to the group as they stood looking around at each other, trying to decide. Though they knew they had nothing to prove to their commander, nobody was going to be the first to say they were staying behind. Denard stood by Tamel's side, the two rolling up their leggings as far as possible in preparation as Sarin began wading out into the swamp, using a stick to prod into the dark waters, searching for pits and other hazards. Anya was behind him, not one to be left behind, and Rouen came sloshing up behind Denard and Tamel, trying to catch up.

Demeris stood by the edge of the reeds. "You're all crazy," he called out, his brow wrinkling with worry. He paced along the bank as Sarin called back for him not to move until they got back, huffing his displeasure. "Fine, leave me all alone," he said bitterly, sarcasm thick in his voice. Why did it have to be water? he wondered, frowning as he stopped to watch the group disappearing into a fog far out in the swamp. Another moan, lower and deeper resonated through Demeris's body as a series of ripples lapped up against the toes of his boots. "Sarin?" he asked, wondering if perhaps one of the knights had returned. "Sir Tamel?" he asked again, the tone of his voice more desperate. Fear clenched his stomach as he tried to decide what to do, noticing that the fog was spreading out, coming closer to him.

* * * *

They had only been out in the swamp for fifteen minutes when the fog rolled across them, making their visibility even poorer. Anya remarked that she would have gladly used one of her amulets to lift the annoyance, still feeling helpless. A great splashing could be heard behind them, and soon Demeris caught up to them, thoroughly soaked, limping the last few yards after having plunged into a small pit beneath the water and twisting his ankle.

"Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods..!" he cried, panicked. "There's something back there, in the water!"

Forming a semi-circle, the knights drew their weapons, Sir Tamel wielding a wickedly-spiked lance and the mages reluctantly standing behind their friends for protection, a most humiliating and humbling experience for both Rouen and Anya. The six stood very still, Demeris still breathing heavily and glancing back across the waters behind him, sure that something was following him. The ground swelled and dropped beneath them, causing the knight to panic even further.

"Relax, Demeris!" Sarin commanded, taking hold of the man by the shoulders and shaking him. "It's just the loam beneath our feet. Now what's this about something in the water? There's nothing here but frogs and reeds and..."

Sarin stopped mid-sentence as a small form rose up out of the waters and bobbed about twenty yards behind the startled knight, six others soon surfacing near it. Wary and apprehensive, the knights peered through the fog and the dark, trying to see what was behind them.

"They look like logs," Tamel snorted. "Demeris, you're an idiot. Now get back in line and..."

"No, wait," Denard cautioned. "They have eyes. I can see them watching us." The knight had exceptional sight, a birthright from his great-grandfather, an elf - although none but Sarin knew of this, for elves were not accepted into the Knights of Neraka, and he intended to keep the secret, valuing the young man's senses and skills highly in his talon. Demeris made a whimpering sound, quite unbecoming of a knight garbed in steel armor, but understood by all - they had all known that Demeris had an acute fear of water, ever since they'd tried to ford a stream in the Desolation weeks ago.

The other six heads slipped back beneath the surface, the original still floating slightly above the water, watching, studying the group of anxious knights. Slowly, ponderously, the head drew nearer, sinking almost completely beneath the surface, the creature's bumpy snout and bulbous eyes all that were now visible above the surface.

"Hold still," Sir Tamel advised, the voice of experience in the group. "It's probably just curious. But be on your guard," he added, glancing at the waters behind and beside them before returning his attention back to the solitary creature.

The head glided frustratingly slow towards them, stopping only five yards away this time. Demeris could hear nothing but the intense thumping of his heart as he watched the cold, reptilian eyes blink at them, stare at them. It seemed to the knight that the creature was looking directly at him, looking right into his soul, learning all of his fears and weaknesses and surfacing them. For long minutes the creature floated, unblinking, unmoving, much the same as the knights, and then suddenly it sunk beneath the surface and disappeared. His legs still trembling, Demeris stood calf-deep in the swamp, trying to see where it went.

"Let's move, now!" Tamel ordered, the unnerving experience having gotten to him as well. It was very unusual behavior for any animal and gave him the worst case of goose bumps to stare into those large, cold eyes. He had not taken five steps when the ground again rippled beneath their feet, then began to roll, a few knights losing their balance as moss and water exploded high into the air off to their side.

A great beast surfaced, a hydra, its seven heads writhing and twisting, gnashing their teeth and snapping at the knights. Demeris cried out in terror, his morale totally lost even as Sarin took up the lead and charged through the water, throwing himself at the beast, trying to hack through the tough hide with his sword. Rouen and Anya retreated back as far as they dared, keeping an eye out for more monstrosities. Denard hung back as well, mouth agape, trying to help Demeris up out of the water and back onto his feet as Sir Tamel courageously followed his commander, thrusting outwards at the heads with his lance. The two battled fiercely for their lives, unable to land a blow while trying to dodge the nipping heads. One of the heads hissed loudly by Tamel's ear while another let out a great roar of fury as Sarin slashed outwards, managing to break off several of the hydra's teeth.

"I wish I could do... something!" Rouen desperately shouted to Anya above the tumult. Being bereft of all his magical relics was as difficult now as it had been when the gods had left Krynn, taking magic with them - perhaps it was even more difficult now, he admitted.

Black water sprayed over Rouen as Sarin picked himself up, having been batted aside by the great beast. Two of the heads had now taken Sir Tamel in their mouths and were biting hard against his thick plate mail, hungry for the warm flesh and blood beneath. He cursed volubly, striking one of the heads in the eye with his lance as Sarin resumed his attack.

"Anya?" Rouen asked, glancing at his companion. The mage knight was crouched down in the water, her eyes closed and arms immersed in the water, a look of great concentration spreading across her face. "Anya?" Rouen asked, worried. "What in the Abyss are you doing?"

His answer came momentarily as many roots, reeds, and mosses rose up out of the water and began to twine themselves around the hydra like great vines, constricting the beast's many throats and pulling down on its legs, long tree roots wrapping around the creature's body. It was like a living monster made of plants, and Rouen glanced between it and Anya, beads of sweat now beginning to form upon his friend's face from exertion.

Panicked at the sudden loss of breath, the hydra released Tamel and lashed out at Sarin again, the knight taking the blow full upon his shield, denting it deeply and sending him down on his knees from the force. Thrashing wildly, the plants and great reptile sunk below the surface, the roots and grasses pulling the creature down into a watery grave. Minutes passed as the knights regrouped and eventually not a ripple marred the surface of the swamp, Anya having passed out in Rouen's arms.

* * * *

Reaching the other side of the swamp, the knights dragged themselves into a clearing in the woods and stopped to rest and wring the water out of their clothes while Rouen tended to Anya, who had regained consciousness but was still weak.

"Anya," Rouen spoke quietly to his friend, concern still apparent in his voice. "What happened back there?"

"It was strange," she began, holding onto Rouen for support as they walked to the bole of a large pine tree. He helped her sit back against it and she continued to explain. "When that creature attacked, I felt so... Helpless, I guess. Or at least that's the best way I can describe it."

Rouen nodded in understanding. "I don't mind admitting that for once I was quivering in my boots," he said wryly. "It was horrible not being able to do anything."

"Just as I felt," Anya empathized, sitting up a little straighter as she regained her strength. "I was overcome with the need to do something, and in another moment, this odd feeling came over me - I could suddenly... sense... some sort of magic flowing through my body." She stopped for a second to catch her breath, her eyes glinting with excitement. "It was coming from the plants, Rouen! From the moss and the trees and the reeds - I could feel it all around us..!"

Rouen felt as though his heart had skipped a number of beats, so amazed was he. It was hard to believe what she was saying, what she was inferring. It was too good to be true, he thought, and yet the hydra had been killed by something. Could it be true..?

"It was like something opened in me, Rouen!" Anya continued, even more excited now. "Like I discovered a part of me I never knew I had. I was able to control the plants using that magic - I don't know how I did; I just knew... Somehow. The magic was so powerful, almost the way it was before the Cataclysm!" she marveled, a smile on her face, reveling in her new discovery, already dreaming of a revival of magic as it once had been. Rouen, still shocked and amazed, continued to ask her questions about it while the others went about drying off, a perplexed look on his face. Denard came over to them, having his own questions to ask.

"How do you fare, Tamel?" Sarin asked his second in command, watching as the knight tried to get his plate mail off, swearing every moment.

Managing to undo one of the straps that kept his armor firmly around him, the older knight grimaced in pain. "Damn it all. I'll be fine, Sarin. That beast crumpled my armor a bit" - his fingers fumbled with a strap on the opposite side - "and I have a few bruises, but the worst thing is that it tightened these to the breaking point," he fumed, indicating the stubborn leather straps. "And I hardly have room to breathe in here anymore!" he said heatedly, drawing a dagger to cut the straps off.

Sarin smiled faintly, moving quickly to stop the knight from destroying what was left of his plate mail and working on the straps himself. At least Tamel was okay, he mused.

Demeris sat nearby, quietly calming himself and trying to deal with the shame he felt for being so cowardly.

"Hey," Denard spoke, now finished asking Rouen and Anya about what had happened, catching his attention. He was sure what the knight must be going through, having once had his own worst fears realized. "Thanks for warning us about the hydra," he said, trying to make him feel better, letting the thought sink in. Demeris's expression lightened a little, and he nodded in reply.

They were still resting when they again heard Sir Aeric moan in pain, not far away this time. Quickly picking up their gear, the knights hastened through the trees, coming at last upon a disturbing scene. The formerly missing Knight of the Skull was tied to a tree several feet above the ground, his feet dangling in midair. He had been stripped of his armor and tunic and now bore a festering wound over his heart. The man had not been killed, but was in a very obvious state of pain. Sir Tamel was quick to cut his old friend free from the bonds, catching him as he slumped down to the ground and laying him out flat upon the forest floor. Aeric gasped in pain, his eyes flashing open, and reached up to grasp Tamel by the tunic, his eyes pleading.

"Tamel," he whispered weakly, his body shaking as he tried to control the pain. "You've got to get this out of me!" he cried hoarsely, gesturing to the wound.

The rest standing around in a tight circle, Tamel nodded decisively, ordering for somebody to give him a waterskin as he again pulled out his dagger. He placed a stick between Aeric's teeth to bite down on, knowing that he need not tell his friend that the procedure would be painful. The two had served for a time as battlefield medics and had seen all of the worst, especially during the Chaos War. "Brace yourself," was all Tamel said as he pushed the blade of his dagger carefully down into the wound, feeling for the resistance that would tell him he'd found the object. Likely an arrow tip, he surmised, clenching his jaw more firmly together.

Tamel closed his eyes as he worked, letting his other senses take over. Soon he felt the object and expertly worked the blade beneath it, preparing to pry it out. One hand on the blade and another holding a wound dressing, he took a deep breath and gave one forceful motion, the object ejecting from the wound to land in the dirt beside him. Tamel pressed forcefully down on the wound with the dressing after having cleaned it thoroughly with water. Concern riddled Tamel's face as Aeric passed into unconsciousness and he desperately fought for the man's life, applying all the skills he'd learned as a medic, but to no avail. The knight's pulse ebbed away slowly, stopping with finality some minutes later, a frustrated Tamel swearing under his breath, having to look away for a moment.

His eyes fell upon the glinting object lying on the dusty forest floor, and he reached down to pick it up, wiping the blood off carefully with the wound dressing. It was a gem - a large ruby, one that glowed faintly in the slightly darkening forest. He watched with awe as the light faded slowly, eventually blinking out. The ruby suddenly began to lose all of its color, the red hues running down out of the crystal and dripping upon the ground like blood-colored tears. Large cracks began to run through the gem - a few at first, but soon hundreds marred the surface and within seconds it crumbled to dust. Tamel was so intent upon watching the ruby that he didn't notice the landscape around them suddenly shudder and waver, although the rest of the knights had.

What in the Abyss is going on? Rouen wondered silently, the same thought upon all of their minds.

* * * *

            * * * *

The six knights had done what they could to give Aeric a proper burial and had spent a sleepless night huddled around a fire before attempting to find their way back around the swamp and begin the search for the two missing knights. None were willing to risk actually crossing the swamp again, partly for Demeris's sake, but mostly to avoid any other creatures that may have been living in the murky waters. The previous day's events had left them all apprehensive and wary, not to mention disturbed at what had happened to Aeric. It made them all wonder what fate had befallen the other two missing knights, Sir Owyn and Callash, although none spoke of it aloud.

They traversed the edge of the swamp for what seemed like hours - time was difficult to keep track of with the trees so thick above them - with Denard in the lead, making their path as easy and dry as possible. The mosquitoes and blackflies nesting in the reeds and grasses had long since discovered the knights, and their faces were now covered with small, itchy bites. For half an hour none of them could smell the dank swamp over the even worse smell of rot - they had chanced upon the hydra's nest and feeding grounds, quickly and quietly circumventing the clearing filled with deer and bear carcasses.

The fog had now lifted, and it seemed as though the swamp was finally beginning to bend back towards the place they had originally entered the forest when Denard suddenly stopped in his tracks, motioning for the rest to be wary. A short ways ahead they were able to see another man hanging limply from a tree, his hands tethered to the limbs of a great branch. They approached cautiously, discovering that it was the young Knight of the Lily, Callash, who hung looking very lifeless from a great oak tree in the center of a glade.

It was eerily quiet, like a strange pall had been cast over the forest. The crickets in the swamp just behind them did not sing their hypnotizing songs any longer; no birds chirped from the trees nor frogs croak in the reeds. The waters were still, and even the wind seemed to have stopped whistling through the leaves of the oaks and the needles of the pines. They all had a sense that something was very wrong, but they could not let their fellow knight continue to hang from the tree. Feeling as though it were a trap, Sarin motioned for the others to stay in place and let him attempt to free Callash.

The brave talon commander strode towards the tree with purpose, his sword drawn and ready - both for cutting his friend free and for defending himself. He reached the knight and was able to touch his wrist; in it he felt a faint pulse of life, but it was very faint and Sarin almost missed it. There was a slight rustle in the leaves and Sarin glanced about, his eyes darting between the trees for the source of the disturbance. When nothing came forth, he continued about his task, hacking at the ropes tied about Callash's wrists. The man fell heavily to the ground and remained there, unconscious, while Sarin knelt down to inspect him. The same strange wound pierced the flesh over his heart, and Sarin called for Tamel to join him. They conferred a short while in whispered tones before Tamel gave his advice.

"Well, he can't survive like this," Tamel said with a frown. "I think that if we have any chance of saving his life, we'll have to remove it," he advised solemnly, not happy at the prospect of needing to remove such an object again.

Sarin sighed inwardly. What was happening to his men? he wondered, but set the thought aside for the moment to ask Tamel to go ahead with the task. The veteran shook his head sadly, already expecting that Callash would die from the trauma like Sir Aeric had. Even in the depths of his unconsciousness, the knight's face was contorted into one of immense pain, and Tamel knew it had to be done. As he pressed his knife slowly down into the wound, suddenly there was a flurry of activity about him. The leaves rustled and the trees began to groan as if being blown by a great gust of wind - although there was no wind to be spoken of. As Sir Tamel looked up to see what was happening, he discovered the others recoiling as the very forest itself seemed to come alive.

A number of odd-looking trees - or were they odd-looking men? - detached themselves from the surroundings, having been perfectly camouflaged. Standing over ten feet tall, the living tree-men drew great weapons from their branches; fire hardened pikes and swords made of wood were leveled at the group of knights as Tamel frantically worked to get the object out of Callash's chest, this one having gone deeper. Sarin, Demeris, and Denard drew their own weapons and stood together defensively with Rouen and Anya as the treants advanced upon them, glowing red eyes glaring at them from dark holes in their trunks.

"Hurry up, Tamel. I need your arm!" Sarin cried as he parried against one of the great wooden swords, the shock of the blow coursing through his arms and deep into his body. Denard and Demeris did what they could against the giants, but they were outnumbered and overpowered.

"Anya?" Rouen asked hopefully. "Can you... Are you able to do what you did before?" he queried. These creatures seemed to be made of the trees themselves, so perhaps...

Anya was one step ahead of him, already kneeling upon the ground, her hands pressed flat against the earth. She closed her eyes in concentration, ignoring the loud clashes of wood against steel and the painful cry as Demeris took a hard blow to the shoulder, the treant's sword nearly cleaving his arm off.

"Anya!" Rouen shouted, beginning to panic as the treants pushed harder, causing Denard and Sarin to keep retreating backwards. Demeris battled on futilely, plunging his sword deep into the heart of one treant in a last, desperate act before the pike of another tree-man ran him through. The creature staggered for a moment as it wrapped a leafy hand around the hilt and pulled the sword out, dropping it to the ground and stepping over the lifeless form of Demeris as it advanced upon the remaining knights.

It seemed that Anya had been able to perform the act again, as evidenced by several roots shooting up out of the ground, wrapping themselves around the limbs of the treants and holding them momentarily. They soon let go however, and added their strength to the treant's attack as if by some silent order from the tree-men. Rouen's eyes grew wide as the roots began to shoot out of the ground and wrap themselves around Sarin and Denard, and he recoiled as more came out of the ground beneath him and Anya, but it was too late - they twined about his legs and pulled him against the ground, pulling down and crushing him against it.

Rouen dug his fingers into the earth in pain as he began to feel bones cracking, and desperately tried to calm his mind and remember what Anya had said... Something about being able to feel the magic within the plants themselves... One root wrapped around his throat, constricting tightly, and Rouen began to see stars in front of his eyes as the pressure increased. He could hear Anya nearby, gasping for air and somebody else adding a strangled cry. Rouen's mind drifted off, stretched out, and he thought he was about to lose consciousness. But suddenly he was able to feel something... At first it just tingled his senses, and he concentrated on that feeling, letting it grow.

And then it was as if something opened in him - just as Anya had said - and he could sense immense amounts of magic flowing through the earth that he even now had his fingers in. With one conscious thought, he was able to control the earth itself, using it to move and shift beneath him, breaking the roots and killing them. No sooner had he done this than the roots went limp and he was able to cast them aside, his fellow knights doing likewise. His fingers still clutching at the earth, Rouen concentrated on the treants this time, despite his weakened state. With another thought he created a gigantic pair of hands out of the soil and rocks and, now standing, was able to control their movements. He clenched his hands into fists and destroyed three of the treants under massive blows, then wrapped the fingers around two others and crushed them.

His friends, now recovered and able to stand again, were watching the display of power in open-mouthed awe, particularly Anya, who was reveling in the magic and excited for her friend. After a few more moments there was no more movement and Sir Tamel was able to go back about his work, this time prying a large, blue sapphire out of the man's chest. The light in the gem faded out almost immediately after he removed it and once again the color seeped out of the crystal before it disintegrated. This time, however, the forest wavered maddeningly before their sight, large ripples swimming across their vision as if somebody had tossed a stone into a lake.

The disorienting waves stopped eventually, and the knights took stock of their losses. Callash had been on death's doorstep when they found him, so it had not been surprising that he had perished - but Demeris was an unexpected casualty and now reduced their numbers to five. Sarin made it clear that their first imperative from then on was to get out of the forest alive and that they would not search for Sir Owyn, the last of the missing knights. The rest understood and were not about to argue, and as soon as they could give Callash and Demeris a hasty - but respectful - burial, they were on their way.

* * * *

Coming around the far end of the swamp proved only to take them into a thicker part of the forest, the branches now forming a roof over them that sunlight could hardly penetrate. Their progress was slow as a result, and many times they argued over whether or not to continue or turn back. Sir Tamel insisted that they continue, offering the thought that if they walked in a straight line (or as close as they could come to it), they would eventually have to find the edge of the forest and would be able to walk out onto the plains once again. The companions all saw the logic in this, and onwards they went.

The forest had been silent ever since their encounter with the treants, many hours ago. Indeed, it was now hard to tell what time of day it was, so dark did the leafy cover make it. Tamel took up the lead, an experienced woodsman, the rest following closely behind; Sarin and Denard were quietly taking up the rear while Anya and Rouen whispered to each other in the middle, both of them still exclaiming over their experiences. While they'd heard rumors of a new magic being found, neither had paid it much heed, believing that they understood all there was to know about the art. They had theorized between them that in some way, the treants were able to control the plants as well, and this was the reason the spell had backfired. It had been a costly lesson, leaving many bruises and sores upon the weary knights.

"Sarin, we need to rest," Denard implored, his voice sounding very fatigued in the darkness.

The talon leader thought for a moment before replying. "I'm sorry Denard, you'll just have to pick up your feet and keep up with the rest of us. We have to get out of this forest - the sooner, the better." Sarin sighed inwardly. He was not one to push his men past their limits, but he knew well that it might mean the difference between survival and death, for it was impossible to know how many more treants could lay in wait for them, especially in the darkness. "You're not getting weak on me now, are you?" Sarin teased, hoping to lighten his friend's spirits.

"No, Sir," Denard replied sullenly, trudging on along the forest floor beside his commander. Tamel had tried to make a torch to light their path, but without any lamp oil, the task was not easy. The wood that wasn't too wet to burn was too dry and gave them only minutes of light at the most before it became too dangerous to carry. And thus they went through the woods, lighting a brand only when absolutely necessary.

A few exhaustive hours later they all began to notice a different feel to the air, a faint stench they couldn't quite place. Another peculiar feeling also registered in their minds, one that they didn't dare talk about, a possibility they would never in their wildest dreams have imagined.

At one point Anya stopped dead in her tracks, speaking aloud. "I can't take this anymore!" she cried in frustration. "I can feel it watching us, as I know all of you can!" Everybody had indeed known it and were all fearing the knowledge that the most dread of beasts was tracking them silently, watching their movements closely, cloaking itself from sight and sound using powerful magic.

Their worst fears realized, a pair of enormous golden-yellow eyes materialized in the forest before them, several trees breaking off as the beast changed its form from that of a small forest animal to that of its full-sized adult body - that of a very large gold dragon. Tamel, closest to it, dropped to his knees as the dragonfear washed over him, holding his head between his hands, trying to block the all-consuming dread. The rest were only able to stare numbly at the horrific sight of a long, sleek, and powerfully-muscled body glinting golden in the moonlight, able to shine down into the forest now that several trees had been flattened to the ground.

The beast growled deeply in its chest, a rumbling that could be felt through the ground, pulling its scaly lips back in a snarl that revealed the wickedly sharp and pointed teeth, gaping wide as the dragon hissed at them. The gold reared its head back, and it was all Rouen could do to collide with Anya, the two of them crashing into the underbrush as Sarin and Denard did likewise. A great gout of searing flame flashed through the air as the dragon released her breath, incinerating Sir Tamel where he cowered on the ground, overcome with fear.

Why is it attacking..? Rouen managed to wonder through a haze of fear, knowing that this behavior was quite uncharacteristic of a gold dragon. Sarin and Denard were sent flying as another gout exploded into the ground mere feet from them, blistering their skin and setting the surrounding trees ablaze.

Their commander, gathering his wits at the same time as his footing, called aloud for Anya and Rouen, hoping against hope that they could help in some way. But the two were already a step ahead of him and were now both in deep concentration, trying to overcome the dragonfear and tap into the latent power in their surroundings. It was a struggle for Rouen, but Anya proved more adept and soon was able to let her mind reach out, commanding the trees to part overhead so they could at least see their adversary better. Rouen concentrated harder, finally breaking the spell the dragon had cast over him, and sent several large boulders hurtling towards the beast.

With a thought, the gold erected a shield over himself and the rocks disintegrated against it, only serving to enrage the dragon further - for now it knew that the knights meant to harm it. It lunged forward, splintering more trees in its wake, teeth bared and ready to shred an unfortunate knight apart. Denard was closest and was barely able to avoid the massive jaws, feeling a rank-smelling wind buffet his face as the great teeth snapped shut, the yellow eyes burning a darker gold color in her anger. Sarin moved quickly through the forest, attempting to come up behind the beast, planning to get on the creature's back and improvise from there.

While Rouen attacked by making the ground explode in front of the great dragon, giving Denard the time he needed to make an escape, Anya glanced about in desperation, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw the last of the missing knights, Sir Owyn, hanging from a tree several yards off. Without delay she left Rouen's side, heading for the deathly pale man.

The dragon roared in fury, the sound shaking the branches and making Sarin's knees tremble as he neared the beast. The gold let loose a bolt of lightning at Rouen, who saw it coming and quickly raised an earthen wall in front of him, shielding him from the deadly energies, the hair on his arms rising as it impacted with the wall, shattering it. The great serpentine form whipped its tail in displeasure at having missed Rouen, the sinuous appendage knocking over several trees and colliding full-on with Sarin's chest, effectively crushing the plate armor and his ribs beneath.

Anya came upon Sir Owyn moments later, shocked and appalled to find that a huge dragon's nest lay between her and the tree containing three large, golden eggs. Setting that fact to the back of her mind - now realizing that the dragon was likely attacking out of protection of her eggs and of her species, for indeed, after the great dragons had come, few of her number remained alive - Anya drew a small dagger and freed the knight, who looked desperately at her, a hand clutching over the wound by his heart. Her face going ashen, Anya realized that she had to be the one to remove the stone, the rest of her friends fighting for their lives at the moment.

She knew that they needed her, in whatever capacity that she could help, and with a quick decision began to search for the jewel as she had seen Sir Tamel do. Her efforts only served to bring the man more pain at first, and he screamed in agony. Anya grimaced but kept trying, finally getting the edge of the blade underneath the gem and with a quick motion brought it out of the wound. She pulled a shred of the man's tunic off and pressed it hard against the wound, attempting to staunch the flow of blood as she picked up the large emerald that had exited the wound. It glowed brightly, but was already fading slowly. It came to Anya then that somehow these gems were feeding off of the life essence of the knights, for they shattered when the men died. She released her hand off of Owyn's wound, knowing that there was nothing she could do any longer to help him, and hurried back to Rouen's side, the glowing gem in hand.

Rouen was growing extremely weary, the act of raising barriers against the gold's repeated attacks being very draining. He could no longer see anybody and wondered if he was the only one left alive, despair filling his heart as he realized that it was a matter of minutes - if he was fortunate - before he met his own end. The gold had now advanced upon him, destroying his newest earthen barrier with one swipe of a gigantic paw. It drew one paw back, the tips of the talons glinting menacingly in the moonlight as Rouen fell backwards, watching as his fate drove down upon him, wishing to meet his end with his eyes wide open.

As Anya drew close to the fight, the emerald had already begun to crack, and she cried out in horror as the dragon brought its claws down towards the defenseless Rouen...

The emerald shattered at that moment, and a sense of vertigo overwhelmed Anya and she dropped to her knees as the entire forest - dragon and all - shimmered before her sight, rippling maddeningly, then suddenly seeming to disintegrate itself. The trees, the dragon, the golden eggs - they all seemed to evaporate before her sight, rising up into the heavens and disappearing like so much water on a hot summer's day.

Anya took a moment to recover, sickened by the feeling of disorientation that had pervaded her mind. She rose weakly from the ground, taking in her surroundings. She stood out upon the plains, the forest nowhere in sight. Rouen lay several yards away from her, slowly sitting up, unsure if he was alive or dead. He saw her and smiled, reassured by her presence. Sir Owyn lay dead upon the ground behind her, and the charred remains of Sir Tamel rested in the distance, a second form - that of commander Sarin - nearby. Denard rose slowly from the ground, shaking his head to clear it and striding towards Anya as she helped Rouen to his feet.

"What... What happened..?" Rouen asked tentatively, still feeling exhausted from the battle.

"I... I don't know, Rouen," Anya replied, confused.

"You've passed, brilliantly," Denard suddenly spoke beside them. The two mages looked at him, bewilderment clear in their eyes. Denard gazed back, a malicious smile spreading across his face, his eyes narrowing.

"What do you mean?" Rouen demanded, unable to make sense of what Denard was saying.

"What I'm saying, you fool," Denard replied, suddenly letting the exterior of the knight melt away from his body, black robes falling out from underneath, "is that you survived my little tests," he continued, a delighted tone in his voice. "And not only that, you discovered - as I had hoped - that magic does still exist!" he said triumphantly.

Feeling violated, but not exactly sure why, Anya backed off a step. "I don't understand," she said helplessly.

"Of course you don't," he said condescendingly. "What you haven't realized is that you and your friends have all been part of my experiment for days."

"Experiment?" Rouen queried, a confused tone in his voice.

"Yes," the man replied with a sneer. "My experiment to test whether or not the two of you, deprived of your magic," - at this point, the man pulled one of Rouen's amulets out of the pocket of his robe - "would discover a new source of power at the time of your greatest need." He closed his fist around the amulet, feeling the power coursing through it. "Ah, I know what you think," he mused, seeing the questioning looks upon their faces as they began to understand.

"The forest," he continued, gloating at his brilliance, "was all an illusion, one upheld by the three gems you so blatantly destroyed," he remarked with a frown. "Imbued with magic from an ancient artifact, they merely needed a living host in order to upkeep the magical forest once I had created it." Reaching down underneath his robe, he pulled out a clear crystal skull with red eyes that glowed menacingly, hanging on a steel chain. "It was no simple feat," he boasted, "but it was all made possible by this little treasure." He gazed into the red eyes a moment, mesmerized by them, before placing it back inside his robe. "Of course, you must by now realize that I had to place the gems far apart and that I had my beasts guard them. And the sentimental fools that you are, you went in search of your precious knights!" he laughed derisively.

"You used us!" Rouen shouted, outraged. "You used us because you couldn't do it yourself!"

"Nonsense," he said defensively. "It was simply a much more efficient use of my resources to use you to discover it and to learn from what you had to say."

"But..." Anya protested. "You... You murdered them! Drew us all into a trap!"

"Oh, come now," Denard countered, unconcerned. "Think of the good that I'm doing! Think of the importance of the discovery... A new frontier in magic, one that you have been an integral part in developing. Why," he smiled schemingly, "we could open a school together. Teach all the mages in Ansalon the new ways - for a price," he added, seeing if the thought appealed to Anya or Rouen. When naught but looks of abject horror greeted him, he took a step back. "I thought as much," he snorted. "Very well. You've served your purpose!"

Pointing his fingers out towards them, the black-robed mage incanted a series of spidery words, a ring on his right hand glowing brightly. Flaming darts leaped from his fingertips and into Rouen and Anya, several painfully hitting home, causing the two to fall back and take a defensive stance. Rouen concentrated hard, causing the ground to suddenly split wide open beneath Denard, who was able to counter it with a floating spell, his body suddenly lighter than air. The fissure closed with a loud bang that echoed all the way to the Desolation and back as Anya tapped into the energies of the plants surrounding them, searching for a means to combat the black-robe. Denard retaliated with a fireball and Rouen raised an earthen shield in front of Anya to save her, but it served also to spray Rouen with red-hot magefire, crackling as it singed his skin and burned holes through his clothes, searing the flesh beneath. He dropped to his knees for a moment in agony, but just long enough for Denard to begin casting a bolt straight at him. The words still upon Denard's lips, his eyes suddenly grew wide and he stumbled forward, three feet of steel protruding from his gut.

Grasping the blade with both hands, shocked to the core of his being, Denard spun around to find Sarin glaring at him in hatred, his breathing labored and agonizing. "For my men," he declared, triumphant even as the black-robe slid the sword out of his body and pulled out his crystal skull, whispering the words of deadly magic into the glaring red eyes.

Not this time, Anya thought to herself, pulling upon great reserves of magical energy stored in the plants and giving it new focus, new direction. A sprout popped through the soil behind Denard but grew almost instantaneously into an enormous oak tree, the lower branches bending down suddenly, wrapping themselves around Denard's arms and legs, jerking him up off the ground and slapping him against the side of the great tree. Cursing and swearing, Denard began to recite the spell once again, having lost his concentration but still clutching at his precious crystal skull.

Having recovered from the deadly magefire, Rouen refocused and raised his arms up high into the air. The ground trembled and shook as great rocks came to the surface, moving like flowing water, splashing up against the sides of the great oak and flowing up its sides, coating it with an impenetrable skin of granite. Denard screamed in terror as the rock ran up his legs and over his arms, rising ever higher, drowning his cries with a sudden finality as the liquid rock flowed into his mouth and up over the rest of his face, forever preserving the look of horror upon the wizard's face. As the rock finished covering the rest of the oak it suddenly stopped and all was still.

"It's over," Anya said quietly, relieved.

"But... Our relics. They're gone..." Rouen said regretfully.

"We won't need them anymore," Anya reassured him. "All the magic we've ever needed is right here, in the things that surround us," she added, kneeling beside the form of Sarin, his eyes closed in peace at having avenged his talon.

The two did not leave for several days, taking the time to give the knights from their talon a proper burial and to reflect on where their lives should now take them.

* * * *

To this day, many a traveler has stopped to gaze at the grim landmark, wondering at the story behind the mage locked in his eternal scream and of the stone tree, just as many a kender has stopped for a picnic in the shade of the stony leaves and branches. For those who ventured close enough though, an inscription written in Common was there for all to see:

In Memory of the
Twenty-Seventh Talon,
Compgroup Thirteen,
Knights of Neraka

For Commander Sarin - Your leadership was a beacon to us all.
For Sir Tamel - Your wisdom guided us along the right path.
For Demeris - Your spirit lightened our hearts.
For Sir Aeric, Sir Owyn, and Callash - Your ultimate sacrifice
will never be forgotten.

And, if one were to look further down from there, another inscription written in old Solamnic was plain to see. Some would stare at it curiously, wishing they could translate it. For those of a Solamnic heritage or of a learned nature, however, the words of wisdom would always remain within their minds, accompanied by the image of the stone wizard:

May the pursuit of magic always be honorable.

            题目不错，切题
令人联想到传奇里雷斯林与吾后的那段经典对话。