war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第15部分

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iven　up；　so　neither　should　we。　But　in　the　meantime；　we　have　to　rely　upon　ourselves。　And　upon　other　forms　of　magic。〃
　　　She　turned　to　Nauzhror　and　asked；　〃Do　you　know　the　spell　that　will　transform　stone　to　flesh？〃
　　　〃I　do；　Matron　Mother；〃　he　answered；　〃but　if　we　transform　it　to　flesh；　the　statue　will　bee　a　living　spider。　The　problem　remains。　We　just　can't。　。　。　kill　it。〃
　　　〃Quite　so；〃　Triel　said。　As　she　spoke；　she　unfastened　one　of　the　wand　cases　hanging　from　her　belt。　〃But　by　the　time　we're　finished；　it　won't　be　a　spider。〃　She　drew　out　a　slender　iron　wand；　tipped　with　a　chunk　of　amber　whose　depths　held　the　remains　of　a　desiccated　moth。　〃As　soon　as　you　cast　your　spell；　I'll　polymorph　it　into　something　else…something　large　and　dangerous　enough　to　have　torn　a　hole　through　our　ranks。　Something　our　troops　won't　have　any　problem　attacking。〃
　　　Nauzhror　smiled　and　said；　〃A　deceitful　plan；　Matron　Mother。　One　worthy　of　Lolth　herself。〃
　　　Glancing　down；　Triel　saw　that　the　spider　had　nearly　reached　the　temple。
　　　〃Quit　fawning；〃　she　ordered。　〃Teleport　us　down　there　at　once。〃
　　　Nauzhror　spoke　the　words　of　his　spell；　and　an　instant　later　the　balcony　seemed　to　lurch　sideways　as　he　and　Triel　squeezed　between　the　dimensions。　In　the　blink　of　an　eye　they　were　standing　in　front　of　the　doors　to　the　great　temple。　Two　dozen　House　guards　who　had　been　milling　about　uncertainly　a　moment　before　gasped　as　their　matron　mother　suddenly　appeared　before　them。　Some　bowed；　and　others　glanced　between　Triel　and　the　jade　spider　that　was　rapidly　approaching；　its　stone　legs　click…clicking　as　it　scurried　across　the　Nauzhror；　his　face　paling　to　gray　as　the　enormous　stone　spider　rapidly　closed　the　gap；　began　chanting　a　spell。　He　pointed　a　finger；　from　which　an　intense；　narrow　beam　or　red　light　sprang；　but　the　trembling　or　his　hand　made　the　beam　waver；　causing　it　to　miss　the　spider　by　several　paces。
　　　Triel　grabbed　Nauzhror's　hand；　steadying　it。　The　beam　connected…and　jade　became　flesh。　Triel　activated　her　wand。
　　　The　spider　shifted　into　the　form　she　held　in　her　mind；　a　two…legged　creature　with　powerful　muscles；　enormous　claws　and　mandibles；　and　a　rounded；　insectoid　head。　Its　body　was　covered　in　chitinous　plates；　and　feelers　sprouted　from　cracks　near　its　head　where　the　sections　met。　Startled　by　its　sudden　transformation；　the　creature　stumbled　to　a　halt；　feelers　waving　frantically　as　its　mandibles　clacked　shut。
　　　〃Matron　Mother；〃　Nauzhror　gasped。　〃An　umber　hulk？〃
　　　〃Convincing；　isn't　it？〃　Triel　said　with　a　wry　smile。　She　turned　to　the　dozen　or　so　soldiers　who　stood　gaping　nearby　and　ordered；　〃Soldiers　of　House　Baenre；　you　have　been　fooled　by　an　illusion。　Defend　me！〃
　　　To　a　man；　the　soldiers　leaped　forward；　swords　in　hand。　The　transformed　statue　fought　back；　its　mandibles　tearing　one　soldier　in　half　and　neatly　scissoring　the　head　off　another。　Then　a　lieutenant　of　the　House　guard…a　small　male　with　white　hair　plaited　in　two　braids　that　were　tucked　behind　his　pointed　ears…leaped　directly　into　the　path　of　the　umber　hulk。　He　wore　no　armor；　and　his　only　weapon　was　a　small　crossbow　strapped　to　his　left　wrist。　He　aimed　deliberately　as　the　umber　hulk　staggered　toward　him…still　uncertain　of　its　footing　with　only　two　legs；　instead　of　eight…and　he　fired。
　　　The　bolt　struck　the　umber　hulk　in　the　throat；　in　a　spot　where　two　of　its　armor　plates　met。　It　buried　itself　to　the　fletching　in　soft　flesh…then　exploded　with　magical　energy。　Sparks　raced　in　brilliant　streaks　across　the　umber　hulk's　body；　then　shot　up　its　feelers；　sizzling　them　like　burned　hair。　The　umber　hulk　faltered；　then　fell。
　　　The　lieutenant…whom　Triel　belatedly　recognized　as　one　of　her　nephews；　a　male　named　Vrellin…dropped　to　one　knee　in　front　of　her。
　　　〃Matron　Mother；〃　he　said；　never　once　lifting　his　eyes。　〃I　failed　to　recognize　the　threat。　My　life　is　yours；〃
　　　Closing　his　eyes；　he　raised　his　head；　baring　his　exposed　neck。
　　　Triel　laughed。
　　　The　noise　startled　Vrellin。　Uncertain；　he　looked　up…but　not　quite　into　Triel's　eyes。　Vrellin　was　a　male　who　knew　his　place。
　　　〃Matron　Mother；　do　you　mock　me？〃　he　asked　in　a　strained　voice。　〃Is　my　life　worth　so　little　you　deem　it　not　worth　taking？〃
　　　Triel　spread　her　fingers　and　brushed　them　across　the　lieutenant's　head…a　touch　as　light　as　a　spiderweb。
　　　〃For　what　you　have　done；　lieutenant；　the　goddess　will　reward　you…in　this　life；　or　the　next。〃
　　　As　she　spoke；　she　wondered　if　that　was　true。　Then　something　caught　her　eye　in　the　distance；　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　great　cavern：　streaks　of　dull　red　light；　arcing　up　into　the　air　and　down　again。　They　seemed　to　be　ing　from　the　rear　of　the　Tier　Breche　cavern；　from　somewhere　between　and　behind　Sorcere　and　Arach…Tinilith。
　　　She　swore　softly　as　she　realized　their　point　of　origin…the　tunnel　that　gave　access　to　Tier　Breche　from　outside　Menzoberranzan…and　what　the　source　of　the　light　must　have　been：　pots　of　magical　fire；　capable　of　burning　even　stone；　like　those　that　had　destroyed　Ched　Nasad。
　　　Stonefire　bombs。
　　　Menzoberranzan　was　under　attack　on　a　second　front。　And；　judging　by　the　pinpoints　of　fire　blossoming　on　the　buildings　in　the　distant　cavern；　the　stonefire　bombs　were　being　used　to　good　effect　against　Menzoberranzan's　three　most　cherished　institutions：　Sorcere；　Melee…Magthere…and　Arach…Tinilith；　the　most　holy　of　the　temples　to　Lolth。
　　　Tearing　her　eyes　away；　Triel　glanced　down　at　the　base　of　the　Qu'ellarz'orl　plateau。　The　drow　had　finally　beaten　the　tanarukks　back　into　the　tunnels。　All　that　was　visible　of　the　conflict　were　a　few　scattered　corpses。
　　　〃Abyss　take　them；〃　Triel　swore　under　her　breath。　〃It　was　just　a　feint。〃
　　　
　　　Aliisza　lounged　on　one　of　the　plush　carpets　that　had　been　thrown　down　on　the　floor　of　the　cavern　and　sipped　her　glass　of　lacefungus　wine。　Kaanyr　had　been　pacing　back　and　forth　across　the　cavern　that　served　as　his　quarters　in　the　field。　He　paused　next　to　his　〃throne〃…an　enormous　chair　that　had　been　lashed　together　from　the　bones　of　his　enemies；　a　hideous　piece　of　furniture　he'd　insisted　on　carrying　with　him　on　campaign。　Snarling；　he　kicked　over　the　enormous　brazier　that　stood　next　to　it。
　　　〃Abyss　take　Nimor！〃　he　shouted；　his　skin　blazing　with　radiant　heat。　〃He　promised　the　drow　would　be　in　disarray；　unable　to　mount　a　coherent　defense。　Now　my　army　sits　stalled　and　impotent；　while　the　duergar　claim　all　the　glory。〃
　　　Glowing　red　coals　scattered　across　the　rugs；　which　began　smoldering。　Aliisza　picked　up　one　of　the　coals　and　juggled　it　back　and　forth　across　her　palm。　Its　heat　tickled　her　skin。
　　　〃So　why　not　march　your　troops　north　and　join　the　duergar　attack？〃　she　suggested；　her　black　wings　framing　the　question　with　a　shrug。
　　　〃And　give　the　drow　an　opportunity　to　attack　us　from　the　rear；　and　in　territory　they　know　well？〃　Vhok　shook　his　head　and　added；　〃Your　grasp　of　tactics…or　lack　thereof…astounds　me。　Sometimes　I　wonder　just　whose　side　you're　on；　Aliisza。〃
　　　Setting　her　glass　aside；　Aliisza　rose　to　her　feet。　She　stood　on　tiptoe　and　locked　her　hands　behind　Kaanyr　Vhok's　head。　Drawing　his　mouth　down　to　hers；　she　kissed　him。
　　　〃I'm　on　your　side；　darling　Kaanyr；〃　she　murmured。
　　　The　half…demon　broke　off　the　kiss。
　　　〃This　Nimor　begins　to　annoy　me；〃　he　grumbled。　〃He　promised　us　the　spoils　of　the　noble　Houses…an　empty　promise。　Even　without　Lolth；　Menzoberranzan　is　proving　to　be；　as　Horgar　so　aptly　noted；　a　tough　stone　to　crack。　And　if　Lolth　suddenly　returns　。　。　。〃
　　　He　paused；　lost　in　thought　as　he　stared　at　one　of　the　small　fires　that　had　erupted　in　the　carpet　at　his　feet。
　　　〃That　group　of　drow　you　were　spying　on；　back　in　Ched　Nasad　。　。　。〃　he　said。
　　　Aliisza　was　busy　nuzzling　the　cambion's　coal…hot　neck。
　　　〃Mmm？〃　she　purred。
　　　〃What　were　they　doing？〃
　　　Aliisza　pouted　but　asked；　〃Does　it　matter？〃
　　　〃It　might；〃　Vhok　said。　〃Which　is　why　I　have　another　little　job　for　you。　I　want　you　to　find　them…and；　more　importantly；　learn　what　they're　up　to。　If　I'm　right；　we　may　need　to　rethink　our　alliance。〃
　　　Aliisza　cocked　her　head　and　smiled…not　at　the　treachery　Kaanyr　Vhok　was　hinting　at；　but　at　the　thought　of　seeing　Pharaun　again。
　　　He　certainty　was　delicious。
　　　
Chapter　Fourteen
　　　Gromph　felt　the　blood　drain　from　his　face　as　he　stared；　horrified；　at　the　illithid。　Were　he　not　trapped　in　the　gods…cursed　sphere；　he　could　have　dealt　with　the　creature　in　a　summary　fashion；　casually　flicking　a　death…dealing　spell　in　its　direction；　but　instead　he　was　at　its　mercy。　Every　fleeting　thought　that　passed　through　Gromph's　mind　would　be　heard　by　the　illithid　as　if　spoken　aloud。　None　of　Gromph's　secrets…or　the　secrets　of　Sorcere…were　safe；　unless　he　could　deliberately　not　think　of　them。　That　effort　would　only　cause　them　to　e　bubbling　to　the　surface　of　his　mind。　The　only　good　thing　about　his　situation　was　that　the　mind　flayer's　gently　waving　tentacles　were　on　the　other　side　of　the　glass。　The　illithid　could　no　more　reach　in　and　attack　Gromph　than　Gromph　could　send　his　magic　out　to　blast　the　illithid。
　　　The　mind　flayer's　telepathic　speech　was　another　matter。　It　penetrated　the　sphere　with　ease。
　　　Sorcere？　Which　building　is　it？
　　　A　fleeting　image　formed　in　Gromph's　mind：　Sorcere's　sculpted　stalagmite　tower；　standing　proudly　beside　the　other　two　edifices　of　the　Academy：　the　pyramid　of　Melee…Magthere；　and　the　eight…legged　temple　of　Arach…Tinilith。
　　　Gromph　cursed；　and　quickly　fixed　his　mind　on　something　else；　but　it　was　too　late。　The　illithid　swam　up　until　its　head　broke　the　surface　of　the　lake。　It　glanced　to　its　right；　toward　the　northern　end　of　the　city；　blank　white　eyes　searching　for　the　raised　grotto　that　opened　off　the　main　cavern　of　Menzoberranzan。　Its　tentacles　lifted　slightly；　and　its　mouth　began　to　move。
　　　A　bright　sparkle　of　magical　energy　enveloped　the　illithid；　and　the　view　of　the　lake　and　shore　disappeared。　With　a　sinking　heart；　Gromph　realized　that　things　were　even　worse　than　he'd　thought。　His　captor　was　no　ordinary　illithid　but　one　capable　of　sorcery。
　　　Gromph　immediately　recognized　the　spot　that　the　illithid's　spell　had　carried　them　to。　They　were　in　the　wide　cavern　that　led　from　the　Dark　Dominions　into　Tier　Breche。　Exhausted　duergar　sprawled　on　the　cavern　floor；　many　of　them　wounded。　Others；　carrying　enormous　axes　and　battle…chewed　shields；　hurried　through　the　tunnel；　their　officers　urging　them　toward　Tier　Breche；　which　was　filled　with　the　flashes　of　exploding　spells。
　　　Still　other　gray　dwarves　busied　themselves　just　inside　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel；　hurriedly　assembling　siege　engines　and　shelters。　The　duergar　labored　without　ceasing；　even　though　an　occasional　ball　of　fire　or　ice　or　crackling　electricity　arced　over　and　smashed　into　the　ground　near　the　siege　walls　they　had　set　up　just　inside　Tier　Breche。　Glowing　pits　of　molten　rock　or　ice…shattered　stone　attested　to　the　force　of　those　blasts。
　　　Gromph　could　see　everything　but　could　not　hear　the　shouts　of　the　duergar…who　nodded　to　the　newly　arrived　illithid…nor　could　he　smell　the　sulfurous　explosions。　The　sphere　enclosed　him　in　a　world　filled　only　with　his　own　breathing…which　became　rapid　as　he　realized　that　Gracklstugh's　army　had　not　only　reached　Menzoberranzan　but　had　established　a　foothold　inside　Tier　Breche　itself。　The　duergar　were　attacking　the　three　buildings　that　were　the　most　heavily　fortified　in　the　city；　aside　from　the　noble　Houses　themselves。
　　　Hands　pressed　to　the　curved　wall　of　his　prison；　Gromph　strained　his　eyes；　looking　for　the　jade　spiders　that　should　have　been　guarding　the　tunnel。　They　were　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　　　They　serve　a　different　master；　now；　the　illithid　said　with　a　smirk。　As　will　the　drow；　soon　enough。　The　army　is　already　inside　Menzoberranzan。
　　　Whose　army？　Gromph　wondered。　Not　an　army　of　illithids；　surely；　or　the　one　who　carried　him　would　have　said　〃our　army。〃　Had　the　duergar　of　Gracklstugh　reached　Menzoberranzan　on　their　own？
　　　The　answer　came　swiftly。
　　　Yes。　And　tanarukks　march　with　them。　The　drow　cannot　stand　against　their　bined　might。
　　　Gromph　had　no　way　of　knowing　whether　or　not　that　was　true。　If　only　he　could　get　free　of　the　sphere　he　could　use　his　magic　to　drive　the　enemy　back。　But　in　order　to　free　himself　he　needed　to　find　a　wizard　who　knew　the　precise　spell　required；　And　he　needed　to　get　inside　Sorcere…specifically；　to　his　quarters；　where　the　lichdrow　had　cast　his　imprisonment　spell。　Unfortunately；　both　those　things　were　on　the　other　side　of　the　duergar　siege　wall。
　　　Gromph　glanced　up　at　the　illithid　and　thought；　Or　。　。　。　are　they？
　　　Deliberately；　Gromph　let　his　mind　dwell　upon　that　thought。
　　　The　reply　was　tinged　with　arrogance。
　　　Of　course　I　know　that　spell；　but　why　should　I　use　it　to　set　you　free？　All　of　your　secrets　will　be　mine；　in　time。　I　will　flay　your　mind；　layer　by　layer；　like　the　skin　of　a…
　　　The　illithid　broke　off　in　mid…sentence；　suddenly　glancing　at　someone　who　was　approaching。　Long；　purple　fingers　closed　tightly　around　the　sphere。　The　illithid　held　it　in　both　hands；　hiding　what　it　contained。　It　rubbed　its　fingers　deliberately　against　the　glass；　smearing　its　surface　with　the　slime　that　coated　its　palms。　Gromph　tumbled　to　his　hands　and　knees　as　the　illithid　dropped　the　hand　holding　the　sphere　to　its　side。　He　scrambled　forward　to　look　out　through　the　only　clear　spot　that　remained　on　the　surface　of　the　glass。
　　　One　of　the　duergar　stood　in　front　of　the　illithid；　his　face　level　with　the　sphere。　Like　the　others　of　his　race；　the　dwarf　had　pale　gray　skin；　a　snub　nose　that　looked　as　if　it　had　been　flattened　by　a　mace；　and　a　bald　head。　He　was　dressed　in　mottled　gray…and…black　clothing　the　color　of　stone　but　wore　a　bronze　breastplate　so　untarnished　and　free　of　dents　that　Gromph　was　willing　to　bet　it　was　magical。　He　carried　a　greataxe　whose　double…bladed　head　swirled　with　ghostly　patterns…likely　the　trapped　souls　of　those　it　had　slain；　or　so　Gromph　guessed。
　　　The　gray　dwarf　didn't　have　his　head　tilted　up　to　speak　to　the　illithid　but　kept　his　eyes　level　with　the　mind　flayer's　waist。　The　gray　dwarf's　gaze　occasionally　creeped　down　to　the　sphere；　and　he　gestured　repeatedly　at　Tier　Breche。
　　　Glancing　up；　Gromph　could　see　the　illichid's　tentacles　ripple　as　it　shook　its　head。　The　gray　dwarf；　who　obviously　thought　he　was　addressing　another　duergar；　pointed　at　the　sphere。
　　　With　a　suddenness　that　surprised　Gromph；　the　illithid　bent　over　the　dwarf。　Its　four　tentacles　lashed　out；　wrapping　themselves　around　the　duergar's　face。　The　dwarf　flailed　with　his　axe；　but　the　illithid　had　anticipated　that　move　and　countered　it　with　magic。　The　dwarf's　body　went　suddenly　rigid；　the　axe　poised　above　his　head。　Tentacles　flexed；　and　the　duergar's　head　split　open　like　a　ripe　fungus　ball。　One　of　the　tentacles　relaxed；　and；　while　the　remaining　three　held　the　head　in　a　vicelike　grip；　it　began　scooping　pinkish　gobs　of　brain　into　the　illithid's　mouth。　Gromph；　sickened　by　the　sight；　turned　his　face　away　from　the　glass。
　　　The　other　duergar　turned；　shocked　looks　on　their　faces。　One　or　two　reached　for　their　weapons；　took　a　look　at　the　illithid's　blank　white　eyes；　then　all　of　them　suddenly　relaxed。　Gromph　could　only　imagine　how　easy　it　was　for　the　illithid　to　cloud　the　simple　minds　of　a　g