Mists of Everness (The War of the Dreaming) by John C. Wright

Author:John C. Wright [Wright, John C.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2006-05-30T06:00:00+00:00

III

At that same moment, there came a great commotion and noise from the east of the little cabin. Two gigantic hands coated with ice plunged in through the east wall, ripped it out of its foundations, and opened that side to the sky.

Bergelmir the ice giant, face hidden behind its featureless mask of ice, raised the wall on high. But it was not attacking those within the cabin; it was facing the other direction, toward the southern forest.

Through the drenching downpour of rain, which was, somehow, on that side of the cabin, Peter could see the forest on fire, and, wading through the burning trees, the flame giant Surtvitnir came, breathing out conflagrations.

At the edge of the trees, walking calmly, dry, untouched by wind, was Raven, son of Raven. There was also a squad of Kelpie trying to close with him, and armed men; but they were being whirled away by the tremendous winds that flattened the nearby trees. The only creatures large enough to stand were the two giants.

Bergelmir threw the wall at Raven. Lightning danced off the ice-giant with no noticeable effect. The tons of brick and masonry fell; a hurricanic wind threw Raven to one side. During that moment, Surtvitnir, his fiery body also unharmed by the lightning, stepped out from the forest fire and stooped toward Raven, raising his burning bludgeon on high.

Peter curved his shot so that the hammer passed through Bergelmir before it sheared off Surtvitnir’s head, and then, coming again back to his hand, the hammer passed through both their falling bodies. One turned to ash and was blown away; the other collapsed into powdery light snow.

The hurricane stopped at a nod from Raven. Peter waited till Raven had come close enough before he spoke. “You killed my son! It’s payback time!” And he drew back the hammer.

Lemuel said, “ … Beware … the wall broken … ward broken …”

The Kelpie-knights dismounted and came in through the door, stepping over the fallen goat.

“You will thank us for this, in time,” said one, raising his sword and coming toward Peter. Another stooped over Lemuel, who had fainted.

Raven said loudly, “Peter, wait!”

Peter glanced at the knight closing with him. He only had one short moment to avenge his son. He threw the hammer.

Galen stepped out from the woods behind Raven and raised his shining bow. He shot.

Suddenly, Lemuel’s daze passed. A sharp warmth stabbed into him. He opened his eyes to stare in awe at the arrow which, touching his freshly healed arm, was transforming into a beam of sunlight. The Kelpie-knight bent over Lemuel, who had just been missed by the shaft, was staring at the arrow, his face slack with guilty fear. In the light from the shaft, the knight looked pale and unhealthy.

The other Kelpie-knights had frozen in shock and shame. One stared toward Galen and shouted, “It’s not my fault!”

That one doubled over the shaft that pierced his midriff, and transformed immediately into a disease-ridden hulk. Two others fell, their wholesome appearance vanquished by the radiant shafts.

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