war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第11部分

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　expanse　of　Anauroch；　the　desert　they'd　recently　visited。　The　difference；　however；　was　that　the　lake　had　steep　cliffs　hemming　it　in　on　every　side；　a　waterfall　that　thundered　into　it　from　the　cavern　where　Valas　perched；　and　a　high；　domed　ceiling　overhead。　Enormous　stalactites　hung　from　that　ceiling。　Some　had　points　that　touched　the　water；　others　were　broken　off　like　jagged　teeth；　making　the　cavern　look　like　an　enormous；　ranged　mouth。　Valas　shivered；　hoping　it　wasn't　an　omen　of　what　was　to　e。
　　　A　hand　touched　his　shoulder。　Turning；　he　saw　Pharaun。　Danifae　was　right　behind　him。
　　　〃What's　wrong？〃　the　mage　asked。
　　　〃Nothing；〃　Valas　answered。　〃It's　just　the　spray　from　the　waterfall。　I'm　chilled。〃
　　　Quenthel　scrambled　up　behind　Pharaun　and　Danifae…who　backed　away；　one　wary　eye　on　the　whip　in　Quenthel's　belt。　Quenthel　was　crouching　to　negotiate　the　low　ceiling；　her　hands　and　feet　spread　wide　to　keep　her　balance　on　the　slippery　rocks。　That　and　the　hungry　gleam　in　her　eye　made　her　look　like　a　dark　spider。　Jeggred　was　one　pace　behind　her；　as　usual；　moving　nimbly　across　the　uneven　ledge；　his　second；　smaller　set　of　arms　held　out　for　balance。
　　　Quenthel　peered　into　the　vast　cavern　beyond　the　waterfall　and　asked；　〃Have　we　reached　Lake　Thoroot？〃
　　　Her　voice　was　barely　audible　over　the　roar　of　falling　water。
　　　〃It's　just　below；〃　Valas　answered　with　a　nod。　〃About　fifty　paces　straight　down。〃
　　　〃Do　you　see　any　sign　of　the　city…or　the　ship？〃
　　　Valas　shook　his　head　and　replied；　〃Both　are　probably　far　beneath　the　surface。〃
　　　But　which　part　of　the　surface？　he　wondered。
　　　For　all　Valas　knew；　Zanhoriloch　was　on　the　far　side　of　the　lake；　though　he　wasn't　about　to　admit　that　to　Quenthel。　They　had　entered　through　the　only　approach　to　the　lake　the　scout　was　familiar　with。　The　last　thing　he　wanted　was　to　exhibit　any　weakness　or　uncertainty；　even　after　they　found　the　ship　and　left　the　Underdark…and　his　expertise…behind。
　　　One　hand　clutching　the　wet　rock　beside　him；　Valas　leaned　as　far　out　as　he　dared；　studying　the　wall　below。　The　tunnel　they'd　been　following　was　a　wide　one；　with　a　natural　ledge　of　rock　on　one　side　of　the　river。　It　had　provided　a　wele　shortcut　to　the　lake；　an　easy　trek　after　their　long；　weary　journey。　But　from　there；　things　got　tricky。　The　river　burst　out　of　the　tunnel　like　a　horizontal　fountain；　its　spray　soaking　the　rock　for　a　great　distance　on　either　side。　Through　the　mist；　Valas　could　see　faintly　glowing　streaks　of　green　against　the　stone：　patches　of　water…soaked；　slippery　fungi。
　　　Valas　felt　someone　looming　behind　him；　and　fetid　breath　told　him　who　it　was。　Jeggred　stared　out　at　the　lake；　his　monstrous　body　crowding　Valas　and　nearly　forcing　him　over　the　edge。
　　　Elbowing　Jeggred　back；　Valas　shouted　back　to　the　others　over　the　draegloth's　head；　〃I'd　like　to　scout　ahead　before　we　go　any　farther。　Pharaun；　I'll　need　magic　to　climb　down；　and　that　spell　of　yours　that　will　allow　me　to　breathe　underwater。〃
　　　〃You're　going　alone？〃　the　mage　asked。　〃Shouldn't　you　take　someone　with　you？〃　He　glanced　past　Quenthel　as　if　anticipating　someone　else　to　materialize　behind　her；　then　he　sighed。　〃What　about　Jeggred？〃
　　　〃No！〃　Quenthel　barked；　the　vipers　in　her　whip　lashing。　〃Jeggred　stays　with　me。〃
　　　Sensing　her　anger；　Jeggred　scrambled　over　to　crouch　at　her　side。
　　　〃He　can　take　Danifae；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　Before　Valas　could　shake　his　head　in　protest；　Pharaun　butted　in。
　　　〃Danifae　will　only　slow　him　down…and　I　don't　want　to　waste　my　time　and　talents　preparing　the　same　spells　twice。〃
　　　Valas　glanced　between　Quenthel　and　Pharaun。　Valas　had　to　tread　carefully；　so　as　not　to　tip　the　scales…a　balancing　act　that　was　growing　wearisome。　It　would　be　a　relief　to　get　away　on　his　own　for　a　while。
　　　〃I'll　go　alone；〃　he　told　them。
　　　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　took　off　his　piwafwi；　then　set　his　haversack；　bow；　and　quiver　beside　it。　He　also　shed　his　chain　mail…its　weight　would　only　drag　him　to　the　bottom　of　the　lake…and　his　boots。　He　carefully　removed　from　his　enchanted　vest　any　of　his　many　talismans　that　might　be　harmed　by　the　water；　then　put　the　vest　back　on。　Next　he　lashed　his　daggers　into　their　sheaths。　The　thread　he　used　would　prevent　them　from　falling　out　when　he　was　underwater　but　was　thin　enough　to　be　broken　easily　in　an　emergency。
　　　When　he　was　done；　he　looked　up　at　Pharaun　and　said；　〃Ready。〃
　　　The　mage　nodded　and　pulled　a　small　sheet　of　mushroom…skin　paper　from　his　pocket。　Unfolding　it；　he　handed　its　contents　to　Valas：　a　small　blob　of　a　black；　tarry　substance。
　　　〃Eat　it；〃　the　wizard　instructed。
　　　Without　asking　what　it　was；　Valas　popped　it　into　his　mouth。　It　had　a　bitter　taste；　and　it　stuck　to　his　teeth。　With　an　effort；　Valas　forced　his　jaws　apart；　unsticking　his　molars。
　　　Pharaun　laughed　and　said；　〃You　don't　have　to　chew　it。　Just　swallow。〃
　　　Valas　swallowed　the　substance；　then　stood　waiting　as　Pharaun　chanted　the　words　to　his　spell。　The　mage　ended　by　fluttering　his　fingers　against　Valas's　chest；　like　a　mother　imitating　a　spider　in　a　child's　nursery　rhyme。　When　Pharaun　was　done；　the　scout's　fingers　and　toes　felt　gummy。　He　lifted　one　hand　from　the　rock；　and　sticky　strands　of　web　followed　it。
　　　Pharaun　reached　into　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi　a　second　time　and　pulled　out　a　short　length　of　some　kind　of　dried　surface　plant。
　　　〃Ready？〃　he　asked。
　　　Valas　nodded。
　　　The　mage　grinned　and　said；　〃Then　rake　a　deep　breath。〃
　　　Valas　did；　and　Pharaun　blow　through　the　stick　at　him；　pleting　his　second　spell。
　　　Valas's　chest　felt　heavy；　and　water　trickled　from　his　nostrils。
　　　〃Go！〃　Pharaun　shouted。
　　　Valas　didn't　need　any　urging。　The　pressure　of　the　water　that　filled　his　lungs　was　incentive　enough。　Scrambling　over　the　edge；　he　scurried　down　the　cavern　wall　like　a　spider；　his　sticky　hands　and　feet　allowing　him　to　crawl　along　the　sheer　cliff　face。　Head…down；　he　hurried　toward　the　water；　eyes　squinted　against　the　spray。　Above　him；　the　waterfall　arced　out　and　over；　obscuring　his　view　of　the　tunnel　he'd　just　left；　it　hit　the　water　below　in　a　thundering　roar　that　grew　louder　as　he　descended。
　　　The　scout　was　still　a　pace　or　two　above　the　surface　of　the　lake　when　the　urge　to　breathe　overcame　him。　Expelling　the　water　in　his　lungs　like　a　vomiting　man；　he　tried　to　draw　air…and　nearly　drowned。
　　　Sputtering；　he　at　last　reached　the　lake。　As　his　head　plunged　beneath　the　cold；　choppy　surface　he　drew　in　a　great　lungful　of　water　and　felt　relief。
　　　He　continued　down；　following　the　wall　of　stone　until　the　churning　water　washed　the　stickiness　from　his　hands　and　feet。　Pushing　off　from　the　wall；　he　swam；　allowing　the　current　caused　by　the　waterfall　to　carry　him　deeper。　The　water　was　cold…and　dark。　He　swam　through　it　for　some　time　without　seeing　anything；　relying　on　his　keen　sense　of　direction　to　keep　him　oriented　toward　the　middle　of　the　lake。　Pharaun's　spell　would　enable　him　to　keep　breathing　water　for　more　than　a　cycle…he　could　rest　on　the　bottom　of　the　lake；　if　he　needed　to…but　he　hoped　it　wouldn't　take　him　that　long　to　find　some　sign　of　where　the　aboleth　city　was。
　　　After　he　swam；　and　rested；　and　swam　a　while　longer；　Valas　saw　a　glow　in　the　darkened　water　ahead。　As　he　made　his　way　toward　it；　the　glow　resolved　itself　into　a　pattern　of　tightly　clustered；　greenish…yellow　globes　that　brightened　and　dimmed；　brightened　and　dimmed。
　　　Are　those　the　lights　of　Zanhoriloch？　Valas　thought　as　he　stroked　toward　them；　only　to　be　disappointed　as　he　drew　near　enough　to　see　the　lights　more　clearly。
　　　The　glowing　globes　turned　out　not　to　be　the　lights　of　the　aboleth　city　but　a　school　of　luminescent　jellyfish。　There　were　hundreds　of　them；　each　the　size　of　Valas's　palm。　They　moved　together；　their　tendrils　contracting；　then　pulsing　in　unison；　each　pulse　pumping　up　their　light　from　greenish…yellow　to　yellow。
　　　Valas　started　to　turn　away；　disappointed；　when　he　spotted　a　silhouette　swimming　between　him　and　the　jellyfish。　The　scout　froze；　not　wanting　to　betray　himself　with　movement。　Drifting　with　the　current；　he　hung　in　the　water；　watching。
　　　The　silhouette　was　the　same　size　as　a　drow　and　had　two　arms　and　two　legs；　each　of　which　ended　in　a　wide　webbed　hand　or　foot。　It　also　had　a　fluked　tail…but　no　tentacles。　Definitely　not　an　aboleth　then　。　。　。　but　what　race　was　it？
　　　The　creature　swam　beside　the　jellyfish；　herding　them　with　a　staff　it　held　in　one　hand。　The　head　of　the　staff　emitted　crackling　bursts　of　light　whose　frequency　matched　the　pulsing　of　the　jellyfish。　Valas　could　just　barely　hear　the　sound　that　came　from　it；　a　low…pitched　thum；　thum；　thum；　like　the　sound　of　a　muted　drum。
　　　Intent　upon　its　glowing　flock；　the　creature　hadn't　spotted　Valas；　which　left　the　scout　with　a　decision　to　make。　He　could　approach　and　try　to　municate；　in　the　hope　that　the　creature　would　tell　him　where　Zanhoriloch　was；　or　exercise　his　usual　caution　and　swim　away。
　　　He　touched　his　star…shaped　talisman；　reassuring　himself　that　it　was　still　pinned　to　his　shirt。　If　necessary；　he　could　always　use　its　magic　to　escape。
　　　He　swam　toward　the　creature。
　　　As　he　drew　nearer　he　could　see　that　it　had　skin　as　dark　as　a　drow's。　Its　head　was　bald；　and　its　body　glistened　in　the　light　of　the　jellyfish。　A　layer　of　greenish　slime　covered　its　skin。　When　Valas　was　perhaps　ten　paces　from　it；　the　creature　must　have　sensed　his　presence。　It　turned　with　a　sudden；　whiplike　flick　of　its　tail。　Seeing　its　face；　Valas　gasped。　The　high　cheekbones　and　pointed　jaw　gave　the　creature　a　distinctively　drow　appearance。　It　even　had　red　eyes；　but　no　ears…or　at　least；　only　gnarled　ridges　around　holes　in　its　head　that　looked　like　the　melted　remains　of　ears。　The　thing's　hands…one　sculling　back　and　forth；　keeping　the　creature　in　place；　the　other　holding　the　staff…had　a　thumb；　but　only　two　fingers；　with　a　wide　web　of　skin　between　them。
　　　Valas　opened　his　mouth；　then　remembered　he　was　breathing　water　and　was　unable　to　speak。　On　a　whim；　he　tried　drow　sign　language　instead。　He　chose　a　carefully　neutral　message。　He　still　didn't　know　if　the　creature　was　a　friend　or　foe　of　either　the　drow　or　the　aboleths。
　　　This　is　the　lake　of　the　aboleth；　is　it　not？　he　asked。　Is　their　city　nearby？
　　　He　didn't　expect　an　answer。　The　scout　who'd　told　him　about　Lake　Thoroot　had　said　that　only　a　handful　of　drow　had　ever　ventured　that　way。
　　　Valas　was　shocked；　then；　when　the　creature　replied　in　sign…albeit　a　sign　that　was　made　clumsy　by　his　awkward；　webbed　fingers；　You　seek　the　aboleth？　Are　you　insane？　Go　back；　before　they…
　　　The　drow…thing　convulsed　as　if　it　had　been　struck　a　blow。　Releasing　its　staff　it　curled　into　a　fetal　position；　webbed　hands　clutching　its　head；　mouth　open　in　a　silent　scream。　Valas　twisted　around；　reaching　for　his　daggers　as　he　searched　for　the　threat；　but　before　he　could　draw　them　a　high…pitched　scream　pounded　in　through　his　skull。
　　　Louder　than　any　noise　he　had　ever　experienced；　the　scream　shattered　thought　and　forced　his　body　into　spastic　jerks。　He　found　himself　curled　in　the　same　fetal　position；　eyes　squeezed　shut　in　a　pained　grimace　and　hands　pressed　over　his　ears。
　　　It　didn't　help。　The　scream　continued；　echoing　against　the　inside　of　his　skull　until　he　was　certain　the　bone　would　shatter　like　crystal。　Then；　mercifully；　silence　and　darkness　claimed　him。
　　　
Chapter　Eleven
　　　Halisstra　sat　cross…legged　on　the　wet　stone　floor　of　a　cave　whose　only　exit　was　far　overhead。　The　walls　of　the　cave　were　covered　with　pictures；　the　paint　daubed　onto　the　stone　itself；　the　lines　following　the　natural　contours　of　the　rock。　Life…size　figures　of　drow　strained　toward　the　ceiling；　hands　extended　overhead　and　eyes　glowing　with　rapturous　desire。　All　of　the　figures　were　adult；　but　each　had　an　umbilical　cord　that　snaked　down　toward　the　floor　of　the　cavern　like　a　root。
　　　Halisstra's　wrists　were　no　longer　bound；　but　she　could　no　more　escape　the　cave　than　the　painted　figures　could　step　away　from　the　rocky　canvas　that　held　them。　The　walls　were　at　least　three　times　her　height　and　curved　inward　to　meet　the　hole　in　the　ceiling；　making　climbing　impossible　without　the　aid　of　magic。　She　had　been　carefully　and　thoroughly　stripped　of　all　magical　devices　and　weapons；　and　the　curse　the　priestess　had　placed　on　Halisstra　prevented　her　from　singing　or　even　humming…from　using　any　of　her　bae'qeshel　magic。
　　　After　Ryld　had　gone；　the　priestess　who'd　slain　the　troll　teleported　Halisstra　into　the　cave；　then　disappeared。　The　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn　had　remained　there　for　an　entire　day；　at　first　restlessly　pacing　the　cave；　looking　for　a　way　out。　When　she　finally　accepted　the　fact　that　she　was　trapped；　she　sank；　cross…legged；　into　Reverie。　Once　she'd　emerged　from　her　meditations；　she'd　watched　the　circle　of　sky　above　grow　gray；　then　black。　The　rain　had　stopped　but　the　sky　was　still　overcast。　Neither　the　stars　nor　the　moon　could　be　seen。　Looking　up；　Halisstra　could　almost　imagine　that　she　was　in　the　Underdark…that　above　the　cave　was　a　tunnel　or　passage。　But　the　earth…and…bark…scented　breeze　blowing　in　through　the　hole　destroyed　that　illusion；　as　did　the　low　rumble　of　thunder　in　the　distance。　So　too　did　the　ferns　that　surrounded　the　opening　like　a　fringe　of　hair。　Beads　of　rain　dripped　from　their　sodden　stems。
　　　From　outside　came　the　sound　of　singing。　The　voices　were　those　of　the　priestesses　who'd　gathered　to　decide　Halisstra's　fate。　Their　song　was　acpanied　by　the　silvery　tones　of　a　flute　and　the　rapid　clash　of　swords；　a　staccato　of　metallic　clangs　marking　the　beat。　Halisstra　thought　it　might　just　be　her　imagination；　but　it　sounded　as　if　the　song　was　reaching　a　crescendo。　She　assumed　that　one　of　Eilistraee's　followers　would　appear　in　another　moment　and　announce　how　Halisstra　was　to　die。
　　　Halisstra　braced　herself　for　the　inevitable。　One　way　or　another…by　the　magic　of　their　traitor　goddess　or　the　cold　steel　of　a　sword…she　was　going　to　be　put　to　death。　The　priestesses　would　have　e　to　their　senses　and　realized　that　Halisstra　had　only　been　buying　time　when　she　swore　fealty　to　Eilistraee。　The　time　had　e　for　Halisstra　to　pray　and　prepare　for　entry　into　the　next　realm…but　pray　to　which　god？
　　　Halisstra　knew　hundreds　of　prayers　to　supplicate　Lolth…prayers　she　could　recite　with　her　hands；　using　the　silent　speech…but　they　would　go　unheard；　unseen。　Lolth　had　vanished　and　was　no　longer　listening　to　prayers。　She　wasn't　even　punishing　blasphemers。　The　Demonweb　Pits　had　been　devoid　of　the　souls　of　the　dead；　and　Halisstra　had　to　presume　that　Lolth's　faithful　were　disappearing　into　oblivion；　just　as　their　goddess　had。
　　　Should　Halisstra　pray　instead　to　Selvetarm；　Lolth's　champion？　For　all　she　knew；　he　might　be　locked　in　battle　with　Vhaeraun　still　and　unable　to　hear　her…or　worse；　slain。　Was　there　any　god　who　was　still　listening？
　　　Halisstra　shivered　and　drew　her　knees　up　against　her　chest；　wrapping　her　arms　around　them。　At　least　Ryld　was　safe。　Her　surrender　had　saved　him。　She　started　to　rest　her　chin　on　her　knee；　then　winced　as　it　touched　the　cut　from　Ryld's　sword。　The　wound　was　a　tiny　one；　no　bigger　than　the　crescent　of　her　thumbnail；　but　it　burned　like　a　fresh　brand。　It　had　broken　open　and　was　bleeding　again；　even　though　Halisstra's　chin　had　barely　touched　it。
　　　Outside；　the