war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第31部分

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　　　〃The　moon　metal　shed　by　the　boulder　was　collected　and　forged　into　a　sword　with　a　crescent…shaped　blade；〃　Uluyara　continued。　〃With　each　heating；　with　each　hammer　stroke　against　the　anvil；　with　each　quenching；　enchantments　were　laid　upon　the　blade。　It　was　made　holy；　giving　it　a　keener　edge　against　evil。　It　was　made　quick　as　thought；　allowing　it　to　strike　twice　for　each　stroke　of　an　enemy　blade。　It　was　enchanted　with　moonlight；　just　as　my　own　sword　is；　allowing　it　to　pass　through　armor…or　even　stone…as　easily　as　through　flesh。　By　the　blessing　of　Eilistraee　it　can　also　fend　off　evil　magic；　casting　a　protective　circle　around　the　one　who　holds　it。
　　　〃The　final　enchantment　laid　upon　the　Crescent　Blade；〃　Uluyara　continued；　〃is　perhaps　the　most　powerful　of　all。　If　the　arm　of　the　priestess　wielding　it　is　strong　and　her　aim　is　true；　the　blade　will　sever　the　neck　of　any　creature。〃
　　　Uluyara　paused；　and　her　eyes　bored　deep　into　Halisstra's。
　　　〃Any　creature；〃　she　repeated。　〃Be　it　a　drow；　a　demon　。。。　or　even　a　goddess。〃
　　　All　at　once；　Halisstra　understood。
　　　〃So　that's　what　Seyll　was　trying　to　tell　me；〃　she　whispered。　〃I'm　to　use　the　Crescent　Blade　not　to　kill　Quenthel　Baenre　but　to　kill　Lolth　herself。〃
　　　Uluyara　stared　at　her　for　a　long　moment　before　she　said；　〃Impossible　as　it　sounds；　it　is　so。〃
　　　〃But　I。。。　But　she。。。〃
　　　Overe　by　the　enormity　of　the　idea；　Halisstra　found　herself　unable　even　to　protest。　She；　Halisstra…a　former　priestess　of　Lolth　only　recently　brought　into　Eilistraee's　light…was　to　slay　the　most　powerful　deity　known　to　the　drow？　With　a　sword？　The　notion　was　insane。　Laughable；　even。　She'd　witnessed　first　hand　a　battle　between　gods；　when　Vhaeraun　and　Selvetarm　confronted　each　other　outside　Lolth's　temple　in　the　Demonweb　Pits。　None　of　the　mortals　present…even　Pharaun…could　have　affected　the　oute　of　that　battle　if　they　tried。　But　Halisstra　supposed　Eilistraee　must　know　what　she　was　doing…that　she　must　have　chosen　Halisstra　for　some　reason。
　　　Though　really；　Halisstra　couldn't　see　why。　She　knew　only　a　handful　of　bae'qeshel　spells…mostly　simple　healing　magic…and　was　still　struggling　to　relearn　the　clerical　spells　that　Lolth　had　once　granted；　and　that　Eilistraee　was　slowly　revealing　to　her　in　new　forms。　Halisstra　was　like　someone　who　had　been　laid　low　by　an　illness　and　who　was　only　slowly　learning　to　walk　again。　And　Eilistraee　expected　her　not　just　to　walk　but　to　run。　To　fly；　even。
　　　As　Uluyara　had　said；　impossible。
　　　Or　was　it？　Lolth　might　not　be　dead；　but　she　was　inactive…and　inattentive。　When　Halisstra　had　blasphemed　against　her；　nothing　had　happened。　Even　killing　the　phase　spider　by　invoking　Eilistraee's　moonfire　had　failed　to　arouse　her　wrath。　Lolth's　yochlol　handmaidens　might　have　killed　one　of　Eilistraee's　priestesses；　but　from　the　goddess　herself　there　had　been　no　direct　sign。　According　to　Uluyara's　scrying；　Lolth's　temple　was　still　sealed　by　an　enormous　black　stone。　A　stone　that　resembled　a　face…and　had　a　neck。
　　　A　neck　made　of　stone…a　material　the　Crescent　Blade　could　cut　through　easily；　as　easily　as　a　normal　blade　through　bare　flesh。　With　a　single；　well…aimed　stroke　of　the　Crescent　Blade；　that　neck　could　be　severed。　As　long　as　the　blow　was　struck　by　one　of　Eilistraee's　faithful。
　　　Would　that　really　kill　Lolth？
　　　Halisstra　shook　her　head。
　　　〃Why　me？〃　she　asked　Uluyara。　〃Surely　Eilistraee　could　have　found　a　more　worthy　priestess。　You；　for　example。〃
　　　〃It　is　not　I　who　was　chosen；〃　Uluyara　said。　Then；　after　a　moment's　thought；　she　added；　〃You；　out　of　all　of　those　who　worship　Eilistraee；　are　unique　for　the　simple　reason　that　you　are　the　only　one　Quenthel　Baenre　and　the　others　will　trust。　If　they　do　succeed　in　reaching　Lolth's　domain　and　you　are　among　them；　you'll　be　in　the　perfect　position　to　end　the　Spider　Queen's　dark　reign　and　release　her　children　from　the　clinging　webs　that　hold　them　back　from　their　birthright。
　　　〃If　it　truly　is　Eilistraee's　will；　I　will　try；〃　Halisstra　said　slowly。　Then　she　realized　that　the　first　step　in　her　monumental　quest　had　yet　to　be　taken。　〃Seyll　said　the　Crescent　Blade　was　lost　on　the　Cold　Field。　Where　is　that？〃
　　　〃It　lies　about　three　days'　march　to　the　southeast　of　here；　at　the　edge　of　the　great　wood；〃　Uluyara　said。　〃It　is　a　dangerous　place。　Centuries　ago　it　was　a　battlefield；　and　the　foul　magic　once　unleashed　there　permeates　it。　The　ghosts　of　the　dead　soldiers　who　once　fought　there　roam　it　still…and　are　at　their　most　dangerous　in　winter。　When　the　chill　of　the　air　matches　the　chill　of　the　grave　they　rise　to　fight　again…and　sweep　away　everything　in　their　path。〃
　　　Halisstra；　going　over　Seyll's　message　again　in　her　mind；　was　only　half　listening。
　　　〃Is　the　Cold　Field　home　to　a　dragon？〃　she　asked；　remembering　the　warning　about　a　wyrm。
　　　Uluyara　shrugged　and　said；　〃None　has　been　sighted　there；　but　it　is　possible。　The　battle　was　said　to　involve　dragons。　The　Cold　Field　was　scoured　by　their　magical　breath；　and　its　soil　remains　infertile　to　this　day。　One　of　these　dragons　might　have　laired　there　in　the　centuries　since。〃
　　　〃How　did　the　Crescent　Blade　e　to　be　lost？〃　Halisstra　asked。　〃Seyll　said　'she'　was　carrying　it。　Who？　A　priestess？〃
　　　The　look　Uluyara　gave　Halisstra　was　a　peculiar　one。　She　stared　as　if　she'd　suddenly　realized　something　about　Halisstra…something　of　import。
　　　〃She　who　carried　the　Crescent　Blade　was　a　priestess　of　the　first　rank；〃　she　said。　〃One　of　our　Sword　Dancers。　She　came；　originally；　from　the　same　city　as　yourself。　She　came　from　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　Halisstra　nodded。　She　was　surprised　to　hear　that　someone　from　her　own　city　had　also　wound　up　at　that　temple；　so　far　from　home。
　　　〃What　House　was　she？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　〃House　Melarn。〃
　　　Halisstra　blinked；　and　asked；　〃What。　。　。　what　was　her　name？〃
　　　〃Mathira。〃
　　　Halisstra　frowned。　She　didn't　recognize　the　name；　at　first…but　then　a　memory　bubbled　up　from　her　childhood。　A　memory　of　the　day　she'd　noticed　that　one　of　the　portrait　busts　in　House　Melarn's　great　hall　was　〃broken。〃　The　chisel　work　that　obliterated　the　features　of　the　stone　head　and　the　name　carved　into　its　base　had　been　roughly　done；　so　it　was　still　possible　to　make　out　the　first　letter：　an　M。　When　Halisstra　noticed　the　damage；　she　asked　her　mother　whose　bust　it　had　been　and　how　it　came　to　be　broken。　Her　answer　was　a　stinging　slap　across　the　face…a　slap　so　hard　it　had　split　Halisstra's　upper　lip。　She　could　still　remember　her　surprise…and　the　taste　of　her　own　blood。　Some　questions；　she'd　learned；　were　better　not　asked。
　　　Which　had　made　her　all　that　much　more　keen　to　have　an　answer。　And　so；　years　later　when　she　had　bee　a　priestess；　she'd　used　one　of　the　spells　granted　by　Lolth　to　satisfy　her　curiosity。　Under　the　spell's　magic；　the　name　on　the　ruined　bust　had　blazed　clearly：　Mathira。　Discreet　inquiries　had　uncovered　a　sliver　of　information　about　the　woman；　that　she　had　fallen　into　disgrace　and　been　forced　to　flee　Ched　Nasad　a　decade　before　Halisstra　was　born。　What　her　〃traitorous　act〃　had　been；　however；　Halisstra　had　not　been　able　to　discover。　Eventually；　having　reached　the　end　of　the　thread　of　family　scandal　she　grew　bored　and　let　the　matter　drop。
　　　〃So；〃　Halisstra　said；　half　whispering；　〃Mathira　must　have　fled　Ched　Nasad　because　she'd　turned　to　the　worship　of　Eilistraee。〃
　　　〃And　she　came　here；〃　Uluyara　finished　for　her。　〃She　rose　through　the　ranks　of　the　faithful　to　bee　a　Sword　Dancer；　and　was　the　priestess　who　carried　the　Crescent　Blade　onto　the　Cold　Field…and　lost　it。
　　　And　it　was　up　to　Halisstra　to　find　it　and　to　use　it　as　Eilistraee　intended；　to　kill　Lolth。
　　　It　was　all　too　much　to　be　mere　coincidence。　Halisstra　saw　the　hand　of　Eilistraee　in　every　step　of　it。　Who　else　but　a　goddess　could　guide　the　lives　of　mortals　in　so　subtle　a　fashion；　weaving　together　a　plan　that　spanned　centuries？　Halisstra　was　certain　that；　were　she　to　try　to　back　out　of　the　quest；　Eilistraee　would　find　a　way　to　steer　her　feet　back　onto　her　ordained　path。
　　　The　thought　terrified　her。　At　the　same　time；　it　also　gave　her　hope　that　she　might　succeed。　She　had　to　trust　in　the　goddess…even　though　trust　was　something　she　had　only　just　learned。　It　still　came　only　with　difficulty。
　　　One　question；　however；　remained。
　　　〃How　do　I　find　the　Crescent　Blade？〃　she　asked。
　　　Uluyara　stared　up　at　the　moon　and　for　several　lone　moments　said　nothing。　Then　slowly；　the　words　came。
　　　〃You　have　magic　that　we　do　not…'dark　song　magic；'　you　called　it。　Perhaps　that　is　what　is　needed　to　bring　the　Crescent　Blade　back　into　the　light。〃
　　　Halisstra　nodded　and　said；　〃There　is　a　spell　I　was　learning；　before　I　left。　。　。　before　Ched　Nasad　was　destroyed。　The　bard　who　was　teaching　it　to　me　said　it　could　be　used　to　locate　any　object　I　could　visualize。　If　I'm　able　to　cast　it；　I　might　use　it　to　find　the　Crescent　Blade。　If；　that　is；　you　could　tell　me　where　I　should　begin　my　search。　Where　was　Mathira　when　she　disappeared？〃
　　　〃She　was　last　seen　in　Harrowdale；〃　Uluyara　answered。　〃From　there；　she　was　to　travel　south　to　Scardale；　then　on　to　Blackfeather　Bridge。　She　could　hardly　go　missing　along　so　well　traveled　a　road；　and　so　we　assumed　she　veered　from　it　and　became　lost。　Mathira's　business　was　urgent　and　perhaps　caused　her　to　choose　a　shorter　route…to　travel　to　Blackfeather　Bridge　in　a　direct　line　across　the　Cold　Field；　instead　of　circling　around　it　by　road。〃
　　　Already　Halisstra　was　deciding　how　to　use　her　spell　to　best　advantage。　She'd　travel　to　Harrowdale；　orient　herself　in　the　direction　of　Feather　Falls；　and　march　in　as　straight　a　line　as　possible；　casting　her　spell　every　eight　hundred　paces…the　limit　of　its　range。
　　　〃How　big　is　the　Cold　Field？〃　Halisstra　asked；　picturing　something　the　size　of　a　large　cavern。
　　　〃Unfortunately；　the　Cold　Field　is　widest　from　northeast　to　southwest；〃　Uluyara　said。　〃It's　open　ground…so　no　more　than　a　two…day　march　at　a　steady　pace。　But　it　will　be　far　from　easy。　You'll　be　lucky　to　reach　the　other　side　of　it　alive。　Luckier　still；　if　the　ghosts　that　inhabit　that　bleak　place　haven't　driven　you　mad　long　before　you　leave　it。〃
　　　〃Won't　any　of　the　other　priestesses　be　ing　with　me？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　〃Most　have　already　left　to　search　for　the　yochlol　that　killed　Breena。　The　one　or　two　who　remain　have　other；　equally　pressing　matters　to　attend　to。　I　don't　know　if　they　can　be　spared。〃
　　　Halisstra's　eyes　narrowed；　and　she　asked；　〃You　don't　really　expect　me　to　find　it；　do　you？〃
　　　〃It　isn't　that；　child；〃　Uluyara　answered　softly。　〃It's　just　that　some　journeys　must　be　taken　alone。〃　Her　gaze　drifted　up　toward　the　tree…tops。　The　singing　had　stopped。　Breena's　body　had　been　laid　to　rest。
　　　The　night　air　was　cold；　but　Halisstra　felt　a　fire　begin　to　smolder　inside　her。
　　　〃I'll　find　the　Crescent　Blade；〃　she　vowed。　〃On　my　own。　I　don't　need　help　from　anyone。〃
　　　She　turned　and　strode　into　the　forest；　back　to　the　shelter　she　shared　with　Ryld。　Uluyara　might　not　have　faith　in　Halisstra；　but　there　was　one　greater　who　did。
　　　Eilistraee。
　　　
Chapter　Twenty…eight
　　　Valas　waited；　a　kukri　in　each　hand；　at　the　end　of　the　tunnel　that　Pharaun　had　bored　through　solid　stone　with　his　magic　a　moment　before。　Perfectly　smooth　and　slightly　oval　in　shape；　the　tunnel　was　not　quite　high　enough　for　Valas　to　stand　fully　upright。　He　stood　with　shoulders　hunched；　his　hair　brushing　the　magic…warmed　stone。
　　　Pharaun；　a　pace　behind　him；　chanted　softly；　holding　the　tiny　seeds　that　were　the　spell's　material　ponent　between　forefinger　and　thumb。　The　mage　had　prepared　well　over　the　course　of　the　four　days　it　took　them　to　reach　the　portion　of　the　Underdark　that　lay　beneath　Myth　Drannor。　He'd　already　cast　the　spell　several　times；　extending　the　tunnel　until　it　was　more　than　a　hundred　paces　long。　If　the　rogue　who'd　told　Valas　about　the　portal　had　been　accurate　in　his　estimates；　the　distance　between　the　corridor　behind　them　and　the　vault　they　hoped　to　reach　was　close　to　that　figure。　The　next　spell　should　see　them　through　the　intervening　rock。
　　　As　Pharaun　pleted　his　spell；　flicking　the　seeds　at　the　tunnel's　end　wall　and　pointing　with　his　forefinger；　Valas　braced　himself。　The　stone　before　him　shimmered；　then　seemed　to　melt　away　in　front　of　Pharaun's　finger；　revealing　a　large　room　about　ten　paces　ahead。　A　rush　of　stale　air　came　back　along　the　tunnel；　carrying　with　it　the　smell　of　dust　and　desiccated　flesh。
　　　Quiet　as　a　spider；　Valas　crept　forward　and　peered　into　the　ancient　treasure　vault。　It　was；　as　the　rogue　had　described；　immense。　Circular　in　shape；　it　was　perhaps　a　hundred　and　fifty　paces　across　and　fifty　paces　high；　with　a　domed　roof　whose　ceiling　was　inlaid　with　intricate　mosaics。　Those；　wrought　in　polished　pebbles…many　of　them　semiprecious　stones…depicted　a　number　of　the　surface　elves'　gods；　bows　in　hand　with　arrows　nocked。　Portions　of　the　mosaic　had　fallen　away　in　spots　where　tree　roots　had　grown　down　through　the　ceiling；　bulging　its　masonry　inward。　Chunks　of　stone　and　a　scattering　of　earth　lay　on　the　floor　below。　The　gods　that　remained　in　the　mosaic　frowned　down　into　the　empty　room　as　if　angered　by　its　decrepit　state。
　　　At　floor　level…about　five　paces　below　the　tunnel　in　which　Valas　crouched…were　three　doors；　set　at　equal　distances　from　each　other。　The　one　immediately　below　Valas　and　to　his　right　looked　as　though　it　had　been　blasted　off　its　hinges。　Thar　was　how　the　rogue　and　his　panions　had　entered；　after　negotiating　a　corridor　filled　with　more　traps　than　a　spider's　nest　had　eggs。　Wisely；　Quenthel…or　rather　Pharaun；　who　had　subtly　persuaded　her…had　chosen　not　to　try　that　route。
　　　Valas　stared　into　the　darkened　room；　listening　intently。　Of　the　wraiths　there　was　no　sign；　but　that　was　not　unusual。　Wraiths　could　pass　through　walls；　and　they　might　appear　at　any　moment。　Nor　was　there　any　sign　of　the　bodies　of　the　rogue's　panions。　Again；　that　was　not　surprising。　Risen　again　as　wights；　they　probably　left　through　the　ruined　door　in　search　of　fresh　meat…only　to　be　cut　to　pieces　by　the　blade　traps　that　lined　the　corridor。　Their　stench；　however；　lingered　in　the　still　air。。。　or　did　it？
　　　Glancing　up　at　the　ceiling　again；　Valas　saw　a　skull　nested　in　one　of　the　tangles　of　tree　root　that　bulged　down　into　the　room。　The　vault　must　have　been　built　under　a　graveyard。　The　surface　elves　were　known　for　planting　trees　atop　the　graves　of　their　dead。　With　all　of　the　moldering　corpses　that　lay　just　above　the　ceiling；　it　was　no　wonder　wraiths　were　drawn　to　the　place。
　　　Pharaun　crept　up　behind　Valas　and　stared　down　into　the　vault。
　　　See　anything？　the　Master　of　Sorcere　signed。
　　　Transferring　both　daggers　into　one　hand；　Valas　shook　his　head　and　replied；　I　see　no　sign　of　the　wraiths…or　of　the　portal。
　　　If　it's　here；　you　soon　will；　Pharaun　signed　back。
　　　The　wizard　began　whispering　the　words　to　a　spell。　He　passed　a　hand　through　the　air；　palm　toward　the　room。　After　a　moment；　a　circle　at　the　center　of　the　room　began　to　glow　a　faint　purple。
　　　There；　he　signed；　pointing。
　　　Valas　made　a　mental　note　of　the　spot；　then　continued　watching　and　waiting。　Since　magic　had　disturbed　the　air　of　the　vault；　the　wraiths　would　likely　appear　that　much　sooner。　Assuming；　that　was；　that　the　rogues　story　had　been　accurate。
　　　The　fellow　h