war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第4部分

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wo　more　feral　grunts；　and　started　at　them。　Ryld　put　out　one　hand　to　push　Halisstra　behind　him；　but　she　had　already　skipped　back　into　the　darkness。　He　set　his　feet；　ready　for　the　charge；　and　saw　the　arrowhawk　shoot　out　of　the　darkness　again。　The　arrowhawk　whipped　its　tail　forward；　and　Ryld；　knowing　what　was　ing；　closed　his　eyes　and　lifted　one　arm…both　hands　on　Splitter's　pommel…to　shield　his　sensitive　eyes。
　　　There　was　a　sizzle　of　electricity；　the　faint　smell　of　ozone；　and　the　none…too…faint　stench　of　burned　hair　again。　The　furred　creature　growled　in　agony；　and　Ryld　opened　his　eyes。　Again；　the　arrowhawk　was　nowhere　to　be　seen；　likely　whirling　through　the　forest　dodging　tree　trunks；　circling　back　for　another　pass。
　　　〃Wait！〃　a　woman's　voice　called。　Ryld　thought　at　first　that　it　was　Halisstra。
　　　〃No；　Feliane；〃　Halisstra　called　back。　〃It's　all　right。　Between　Ryld　and　the…〃
　　　〃No！〃　the　surface　drow　cut　in。
　　　Ryld　would　have　turned　to　watch　Feliane　approach；　but　the　animal　had　decided　to　charge　him　again。　Not　sure　what　Feliane　was　trying　to　stop；　exactly；　Ryld　stepped　in　toward　the　big　animal。　He　saw　the　arrowhawk　ing；　though　and　slid　to　a　stop　in　the　snow。　The　animal　must　have　realized　why　the　drow　came　to　such　a　sudden　halt；　and　when　the　arrowhawk　came　in　low　for　another　slash　with　its　talons；　the　creature　saw　it　as　well。
　　　Jaws　snapped　over　the　arrowhawk。　There　was　a　loud　confusion　of　fluttering　wings；　screaming；　growling；　snapping；　and　popping…and　the　arrowhawk　fell　to　the　snow　in　two　twitching；　bleeding　pieces。
　　　〃What's　going　on　here？〃　Feliane　called；　her　voice　much　closer。　〃What　in　the　goddess's　name　are　you　doing？〃
　　　Its　long；　fang…lined　jaws　dripping　with　the　arrowhawk's　blood；　the　animal　looked　fiercer；　more　dangerous；　and　angrier　than　ever。　Ryld　smiled；　spun　his　massive　enchanted　greatsword　in　front　of　him；　and　ran　at　the　thing　head　on。
　　　Behind　him　and　off　in　the　underbrush；　Halisstra　and　Feliane　were　talking　in　urgent　tones；　but　Ryld's　trained　senses　put　that　aside。　They　were　allies；　and　the　only　opponent　of　note　was　the　furious　beast。　Whatever　they　were　discussing；　they　could　tell　him　about　it　later；　after　he　had　dispatched　the　vicious；　cunning　predator。
　　　The　creature　reared　up　again　as　Ryld　came　in；　and　the　drow　slipped　Splitter　in　low　in　front　of　him；　slicing　a　deep　furrow　in　the　beast's　exposed　underbelly。　Blood　oozed　from　the　wound；　and　quickly　soaked　the　matted；　dirty　brown　fur　around　it。　Ryld　spun　his　greatsword　back　around　and　pointed　it　forward；　held　in　both　hands　above　his　head；　for　a　final　impaling　stab。
　　　The　forest　predator　again　proved　it　wouldn't　go　down　easily。　Before　Ryld　could　plunge　Splitter　home；　the　thing's　huge；　handlike　claw　wrapped　around　his　right　arm；　digging　into　the　space　between　his　pauldron　and　vambrace　to　puncture　the　skin　of　his　underarm。
　　　Ryld　tucked　his　right　arm　down；　pressing　the　claw　against　his　armored　side　to　keep　the　beast　from　tearing　away　his　pauldron…and　a　good　portion　of　skin　and　muscle　with　it。　That　had　the　unfortunate　effect　of　tipping　the　point　of　his　greatsword　up。　The　animal　pushed　down；　and　its　weight　was　enough　to　send　Ryld　sinking；　slipping；　then　falling　onto　his　back。　Splitter's　tip　passed　harmlessly　past　the　animal's　shoulder。　When　he　felt　the　other　claw　clamp　onto　his　left　pauldron；　Ryld　knew　he　was　pinned。
　　　The　beast　snapped　at　his　face；　but　Ryld　still　had　enough　room　to　jerk　his　head　out　of　the　way。　With　all　his　considerable　strength；　the　weapons　master　pushed　up；　but　with　his　arms　trapped　over　his　head　and　his　sword　all　but　immobile　next　to　the　animal's　ear；　he　had　to　use　his　back　and　shoulders　to　try　to　lift　himself　off　the　ground…carrying　the　fifteen…foot　animal　that　must　have　weighed　a　ton　at　least　with　him。　He　didn't　move　it　far；　but　when　the　animal　felt　him　trying　to　push　up；　it　pushed　down；　extending　its　arms　the　fraction　of　an　inch　Ryld　needed　to　muscle　his　sword　down　and　under。　Twisting　his　wrists　painfully；　Ryld　managed　to　get　the　greatsword's　tip　up　under　the　beast's　chin。
　　　The　animal　rolled；　its　dark；　dull　eyes　down　and　stretched　its　neck　up　and　away　from　the　sword。　The　two　of　them　were　stuck　that　way；　and　Ryld　feared　that　that　was　how　they　were　going　to　remain　for　a　very　long　time：　it　pushing　him　away；　he　trying　to　stab　it　through　the　throat。
　　　〃Halisstra！〃　Feliane　screamed。　〃No！〃
　　　The　sound　was　shrill；　panicked；　and　close　enough　that　it　finally　registered　on　Ryld　that　the　two　females　were　still　there。　He　wasn't　alone。　As　females　were　wont　to　do；　they　were　letting　him　take　the　brunt　of　the　punishment；　but　they　wouldn't　leave　him　like　that…of　would　they？　From　the　sound　of　Feliane's　voice；　it　was　exactly　what　she　intended　to　do。
　　　Ryld　redoubled　his　efforts；　but　so　did　the　beast　and　they　got　no　closer　to　a　resolution…until　Ryld　heard　a　woman　growl　in　an　odd　way；　realizing　it　was　Halisstra。　The　thing　dipped　that　fraction　of　an　inch　forward　that　Ryld　was　hoping　for。
　　　The　tip　of　the　greatsword　bit　into　the　animal's　throat；　and　blood　poured　down　the　blade。　The　animal　grunted；　opening　its　mouth　a　quarter　of　an　inch…and　allowing　the　blade　to　slip　that　much　farther　in。　Hot　red　blood　exploded　from　the　wound；　then　pumped　out　of　the　monstrosity's　neck　in　rhythm　to　its　speeding　heart…Ryld　had　found　the　artery　he'd　been　hoping　for。
　　　He　saw　Halisstra's　boot　to　his　right　and　heard　a　sword　e　out　of　its　sheath。　She　had　jumped　onto　the　animal's　back　and　was　straddling　it；　drawing　the　Crescent　Blade　to　deliver　the　killing　blow。
　　　Ryld　celebrated　that　realization　by　twisting　Splitter's　tip　into　the　creature's　throat；　bringing　more　blood　and　sending　a　shiver　rippling　through　the　creature's　fur。
　　　Feliane　ran　up　next　to　them　and　must　have　hit　the　side　of　the　animal　hard。　Halisstra　grunted；　and　the　hulk　started　to　topple　sideways。　Ryld　sawed　into　its　neck　for　good　measure；　not　sure　it　was　actually　dead。
　　　Feliane's　boot　scuffled　in　the　snow　next　to　him；　and　she　said；　〃Stop　it。　For　Eilistraee's　sake；　that's　not　what　the　Crescent　Blade　was　meant　for。〃
　　　Ryld　let　the　quivering　carcass　roll　off　him　and　fall　into　a　dead　sprawl　in　the　underbrush。　Wincing　from　the　pain　in　his　shoulder　and　underarm；　he　slid　his　blade　out　of　the　dead　animal's　neck　and　got　to　his　feet；　stepping　back　a　few　steps　before　he　had　his　legs　under　him。
　　　Halisstra　and　Feliane　were　standing　next　to　the　fallen　animal；　and　Feliane's　hand　was　wrapped　tightly　around　Halisstra's　sword　arm。
　　　〃I　couldn't　。　。　。〃　Halisstra　said；　her　voice　quavering；　each　word　punctuated　by　a　puff　of　steam　that　rolled　into　the　frigid　air。　〃I　couldn't　let　it　kill　him。〃
　　　Both　of　the　women　turned　to　look　at　Ryld；　who　could　only　shrug。
　　　〃She　was　only　protecting　her　young；〃　Feliane　said。
　　　She　was　looking　at　Ryld；　but　the　weapons　master　got　the　distinct　impression　she　was　talking　to　Halisstra。　Ryld　didn't　understand。　Who　was　protecting　。　。　。　？
　　　〃The　animal？〃　he　asked。
　　　〃She's　a　giant　land　sloth；〃　the　Eilistraeen　said；　releasing　Halisstra's　arm　and　stepping　away　from　her。　〃She　was　a　giant　land　sloth。　They're　rare；　especially　this　far　north。〃
　　　〃Good；〃　Ryld　said。　〃It　was　tougher　than　it　looks。〃
　　　〃Damn　it！〃　Feliane　cursed。　〃She　was　only　protecting　her　young。　You　didn't　have　to　kill　her。〃
　　　Halisstra　was　looking　at　her　sword；　the　blade　glowing　in　the　darkness。
　　　〃Why；〃　Ryld　asked；　〃would　it　attack　an　armed　drow　to　protect　its　young？　It　could　have　lived　to　birth　more。〃
　　　Feliane　opened　her　mouth　to　answer　but　said　nothing。　A　strange　look　came　over　her；　one　that　Ryld　couldn't　remember　ever　seeing　on　the　face　of　a　drow。
　　　Halisstra　looked　down　at　the　dead　sloth　and　whispered；　〃She。　。　。　。〃
　　　Ryld　shook　his　head。　He　didn't　understand　and　was　beginning　to　think　he　never　would。
　　　
Chapter　Three
　　　It　had　been　two　days　since　Pharaun　had　contacted　his　master；　and　the　news　that　sending　had　brought　still　sat　heavily　on　the　wizard's　shoulders。　The　spell　allowed　only　a　short　message　to　travel　through　the　Weave　from　the　Lake　of　Shadows　into　Menzoberranzan　and　an　equally　short　message　back。
　　　Ship　of　chaos　is　ours；　Pharaun　had　sent；　careful　to　use　no　unnecessary　words　though　that　was　against　his　natural　tendencies。　Advise　on　proper　diet。　Don't　trust　captain。　Any　word　of　Ryld　Argith　or　Halisstra　Melarn？　Sent　home　to　report　details。
　　　He'd　waited　the　interminable　seconds　for　a　reply；　all　the　time　wondering　if　the　time　he　had　been　waiting　for　had　e…the　moment　when　Gromph　Baenre；　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan；　would　fail　to　answer。　That　would　be　the　moment　Pharaun　would　know　that　they　had　failed；　that　they　had　no　city　to　return　to；　no　civilization　to　protect。
　　　That　time　had。　not　yet　e。
　　　Feed　it　manes；　the　archmage　had　replied。　As　many　as　you　can。　Captain　will　serve　power。　Master　Argith　and　Mistress　Melarn　not　here。　Stop　your　squabbling　and　get　moving。
　　　Pharaun　didn't　stop　to　wonder　how　Gromph　had　known　that　the　tenuous　alliances　within　the　expedition　were　fraying。　Gromph　was　a　drow　himself；　after　all；　and　probably　assumed　it。　If　he　thought　he'd　had　the　time；　Pharaun　might　have　studied　that　point　much　more　closely；　tried　to　determine　the　degree　to　which　Gromph　was　aware　of　their　actions；　but　there　was　work　to　do。
　　　A　manes　demon　was　hardly　the　most　daunting　creature　to　either　summon　or　control；　but　it　was　a　demon　nonetheless。　He　would　have　to　use　powerful　spells　to　summon　and　bind　them；　all　the　while　maintaining　some　measure　of　control　over　the　uridezu　captain　who　gave　his　name　as　Raashub。　It　had　been　two　long；　difficult；　and　tiring　days　for　Pharaun。　He　had　taken　only　enough　Reverie　to　replenish　his　spells　and　was　doing　everything　his　considerable　training　allowed　him　to　push　his　casting　to　its　limit。　The　parade　of　hideous；　groveling；　snapping　sub…demons　he　brought　to　the　ship's　deck　began　to　amaze　even　himself；　and　Pharaun　hoped　that　Quenthel　and　the　others　were　taking　note。　Those　among　them　capable　of　gauging　such　abilities　would　have　to　be　impressed；　and　if　they　were　impressed　they　would　be　scared。　So　long　as　they　were　scared；　he　would　be　safe。
　　　As　he　led　a　string　of　the　vile…smelling　fiends　into　the　gnashing　jaws　of　the　demonic　ship's　hold；　Pharaun　let　his　mind　wander　back　to　the　rest　of　that　sending。　Ryld　hadn't　made　it　to　Menzoberranzan；　but　that　could　mean　anything。　He　could　be　dead　anywhere　between　that　cave　on　the　World　Above　and　the　City　of　Spiders；　or　he　could　still　be　on　his　way。　There　was　no　straight　line　between　any　two　points　in　the　Underdark；　and　he　could　be　only　a　few　miles　as　the　worm　bored　from　Menzoberranzan　and　still　have　a　tenday's　travel　ahead　of　him。
　　　Ryld　might　still　hold　a　grudge　for　Pharaun's　having　abandoned　him　all　those　days　before；　back　in　the　city；　but　Pharaun　knew　he　still　had　a　powerful　ally　in　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere。　The　warrior　might　have　fallen　under　the　spell　of　the　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn；　but　if　Halisstra　herself　still　lived；　surely　she　would　be　on　her　way　to　Menzoberranzan　herself。　Pharaun　couldn't　imagine　the　homeless　priestess　had　anywhere　else　to　go。
　　　Without　Ryld　at　his　side；　Pharaun　had　given　Quenthel　and　her　draegloth　nephew　Jeggred　as　much　room　as　the　cramped　deck　allowed。　They　hadn't　appreciated　Pharaun　leaving　them　to　spin　while　he'd　gone　to　pick　up　Valas　and　Danifae　first。　Even　Valas　and　Danifae　had　been　surprised　by　that　one；　but　Pharaun　had　long　ago　learned　that　whenever　possible　a　cautious　drow　lets　his　enemies　twist　for　a　while；　if　only　to　remind　them　that　he　can。
　　　Still；　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　had　been　more　than　a　little　displeased；　and　Jeggred　had　made　another　serious　attempt　at　a　physical　assault。　Quenthel　had　held　him　back；　if　reluctantly；　and　charged　the　draegloth　with　guarding　the　uridezu。　They　were　two　of　the　same：　demons　on　the　wrong　plane；　pressed　into　the　service　of　drow　who　were　ready　to　take　them　back　to　the　Abyss　that　spawned　them。　Pharaun　let　himself　sigh　at　that　thought。　He　knew　it　was　a　bad　idea　on　its　surface；　going　to　the　Abyss；　but　they　had　passed　up　the　acceptable　a　long　time　before。　They　were　in　new　territory。　They　were　headed　for　the　Spider　Queen　herself；　and　right　when　Lolth　seemed　least　inclined　to　greet　them。
　　　Pharaun　was　sure　he　wasn't　the　only　one　who　had　second　thoughts　about　the　expedition；　even　as　strenuously　as　he'd　argued　for　their　going　forward。　For　a　Master　of　Sorcere；　it　was　a　mission　that　could　make　him　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan。　For　her　part；　Quenthel　had　already　achieved　the　highest　post　she　could　hope　for。　As　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　Quenthel　was　the　spiritual　leader　of　all　Menzoberranzan　and　the　second　most　powerful　female　in　the　city。　Some　would　argue　that　she　was　indeed　more　powerful　than　her　sister　Triel。
　　　Of　all　drow　under　Faerun；　she　would　surely　be　weled　into　Lolth's　domain…assuming　there　was　either　a　Lolth　or　a　Demonweb　Pits　at　all　anymore…but　still　the　high　priestess　was　on　edge。　Her　normally　stern　countenance　had　gone　nearly　rigid；　and　her　movements　were　jerky　and　twitching。　Any　talk　of　the　journey　ahead　made　her　pace　around　the　deck；　all　but　oblivious　to　the　lesser　demons　that　often　snapped　at　her　or　reached　out　to　grab　her。
　　　Even　Pharaun；　cynical　as　he　was；　didn't　want　to　believe　that　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　might　be　losing　her　faith。
　　　The　fact　that　Jeggred　also　noticed　Quenthel's　unease　didn't　make　the　wizard　feel　any　better。　The　draegloth's　expressions　weren't　always　easy　to　read；　though　the　half…demon　was　the　least　intellectually　capable　of　the　party；　but　since　ing　to　the　Lake　of　Shadows…perhaps　even　before…Jeggred　had　looked　at　his　aunt　quite　differently。　He　could　see　her　agitation；　though　he　might　have　thought　it　fear；　and　he　didn't　like　it。　He　didn't　like　it　at　all。
　　　Pharaun　closed　his　eyes　and　took　a　deep　breath　as　the　last　of　the　day's　manes　went　down　the　ship's　gullet。　He　felt　tired　enough　to　sleep　like　a　human。　Without　even　bothering　to　cross　the　deck　to　the　place　where　he'd　set　his　pack；　Pharaun　sank　to　the　fleshy　planks　and　sat。
　　　〃Before　you　slip　into　Reverie；〃　Valas　Hune　said　from　behind　him；　〃we　should　discuss　practical　concerns。〃
　　　Pharaun　turned　to　look　at　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　and　offered　him　a　twisted　smile。
　　　〃Practical　concerns？〃　the　wizard　asked。　〃At　this　point　I'm　too　tired　for　any　kind　of　concerns　。　。　。　other　than　。　。　。　the　。　。　。　ones　that　are　。　。　。〃
　　　Pharaun　closed　his　eyes　and　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　the　scout　asked；　his　tone　fortably　devoid　of　real　concern。
　　　〃My　wit　has　failed　me；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃I　must　be　tired　indeed。〃
　　　The　scout　nodded。
　　　〃We'll　need　supplies；〃　he　said；　addressing　all　four　of　them。
　　　Quenthel　didn't　look　up；　and　Jeggred　only　glanced　away　from　the　chained　demon　for　a　second。
　　　The　draegloth　shrugged　and　said；　〃I　can　eat　the　captain。〃
　　　Pharaun　didn't　bother　to　look　at　the　uridezu　for　a　response；　and　the　demon；　sensibly；　didn't　offer　one。
　　　〃Well；　I　can't；〃　Valas　replied。　〃Neither　can　the　rest　of　us。〃
　　　〃There　will　be　no　opportunity　to　stop　along　the　way？〃　Danifae　asked。
　　　Pharaun　regarded　the　beautiful；　enigmatic　battle…captive　with　a　smile　and　said；　〃We'll　travel　from　this　lake　across　the　Fringe　and　into　the　Shadow　Deep。　From　there　to　the　e