war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第27部分

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e　can　hold　out　for　several　days；　but　the　outpost　will　fall　when　the　duergar　bring　up　their　siege　engines；　or　employ　the　right　sort　of　magic。〃
　　　〃It　should　not　surprise　me　to　learn　that　this　duergar　onslaught　is　little　more　than　a　particularly　large　and　aggressive　raid；〃　Vadalma　of　Faen　Tlabbar　said。　〃I　am　sure　Matron　Dyrr　has　reported　what　her　males　believe　to　be　the　case；　but　perhaps　the　matter　should　be　investigated　before　we　react　in　blind　panic。　A　simple　confirmation　of　the　report；　at　the　least。　After　we　have　properly　assessed　the　scope　of　the　threat；　the　Council　can　deliberate　over　the　best　means　to　address　it。〃
　　　〃Under　most　circumstances；　our　young　sister　would　be　wise　to　suggest　a　more　thorough　assessment　of　the　situation；〃　said　Yasraena。　She　had　been　well　coached。　Nimor　lowered　his　gaze　to　keep　his　smile　from　showing。　〃However；　my　officers　tell　me　that；　if　we　wish　to　meet　the　duergar　army　outside　the　city；　the　place　to　do　it　is　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　between　here　and　Rhazzt's　Dilemma。　A　strong　army　dispatched　quickly　can　hold　the　pillars　against　any　conceivable　assault；　but　if　we　delay　too　long；　the　duergar　will　reach　it　before　we　do。　We　would　throw　away　a　very　significant　advantage　of　position。　We　should；　of　course；　seek　confirmation　of　the　report　with　all　due　haste；　but　while　we're　investigating；　our　soldiers　should　be　marching。〃
　　　〃Shouldn't　we　simply　stand　on　the　defensive　here；　in　the　city　cavern？〃　asked　Mez'Barris　Armgo。　〃We　can　fortify　the　approaches　easily　enough；　and　the　duergar　army　would　have　a　difficult　time　surrounding　the　city　in　its　entirety　while　the　threat　of　our　own　intact　army　remains　within。〃
　　　〃If　we　allow　the　gray　dwarves　to　infest　the　city；〃　one　of　the　other　matron　mothers　said；　〃we　shall　surely　see　illithid；　aboleth；　and　humanoid　armies　at　our　doorstep　in　no　time　at　all。　We　have　many　enemies。　Look　at　what　happened　to　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　The　eight　high　priestesses　exchanged　somber　looks。
　　　〃Clearly；　the　Council　must　reach　some　decisions　quickly；〃　Triel　Baenre　said；　breaking　her　thoughtful　silence。　〃We　don't　have　much　time　if　we　wish　to　meet　the　duergar　outside　the　city；　so　I　will　order　half　of　Baenre's　troops　to　make　ready　to　march。　I　advise　the　rest　of　you　to　do　the　same。　If　we　decide　to　stand　on　the　defensive　in　the　city　cavern；　we　can　have　our　soldiers　stand　down；　but　if　we　decide　to　march；　we　will　want　to　be　able　to　inarch　soon。〃
　　　〃I　favor　a　vigorous　and　aggressive　defense　of　the　city；〃　said　Yasraena　Dyrr。　〃Hard　exertion　now　may　serve　to　deter　further　attacks　later。　I　will　order　half　the　strength　of　House　Dyrr　to　make　ready　at　once。〃　She　studied　the　other　matrons　carefully　and　added；　〃Provided；　of　course；　that　some　other　Houses　agree　to　shoulder　a　share　of　the　risk　and　assist　us。　Either　we　all　make　the　same　mitment；　or　none。〃
　　　〃House　Baenre　guarantees　Agrach　Dyrr　until　the　return　of　the　expedition；〃　Triel　said　briskly。
　　　Nimor　nodded　to　himself。　He'd　expected　that　the　leader　of　Menzoberranzan's　strongest　House　would　choose　to　lead　by　example　in　this　instance。　Among　other　things；　it　deflected　any　predatory　designs　of　the　other　Houses　into　an　external　activity；　where　the　Baenre　could　be　seen　to　be　taking　strong　and　decisive　action　to　secure　the　city。　Triel　was　badly　in　need　of　such　measures。
　　　She　looked　up　at　the　various　guards；　advisors；　and　guests　in　the　council　chamber　and　said；　〃The　matron　mothers　must　discuss　how　best　to　meet　this　treacherous　attack　in　private。　Leave　us。〃
　　　〃Captain　Zhayemd；〃　Yasraena　Dyrr　said；　〃I　would　like　it　if　you　took　mand　of　the　Agrach　Dyrr　contingent　and　began　your　preparations　at　once。　I　know　you　have　fought　your　way　through　great　peril　already　today；　but　you　have　intimate　knowledge　of　the　field　of　battle；　and　I　have　the　utmost　confidence　in　you。〃
　　　〃I　will　serve　to　the　best　of　my　abilities；〃　Nimor　said。　〃With　the　goddess's　aid；　I　will　scour　our　city's　foes　from　our　territory。〃
　　　He　offered　another　deep　bow　to　the　matron　mothers；　and　quietly　withdrew。
　　　
　　　The　forest　sounds　abruptly　returned；　signaling　the　end　of　the　spell　of　silence。　Wind　sighed　in　the　treetops；　a　small　brook　ran　somewhere　nearby；　and　tiny　rustles　and　scuttling　sounds　whispered　in　the　darkness　as　the　small　creatures　of　the　woods…or　larger　ones　who　knew　how　to　be　stealthy…moved　about　nearby。　Halisstra　listened　for　a　long　time；　hoping　to　hear　some　sort　of　positive　evidence　that　the　surface　dwellers　had　gone　or　that　her　rades　battled　on　somewhere　nearby；　but　no　ringing　swords　or　thunderous　spells　split　the　night。　She　heard　nothing　as　convenient　as　an　enemy　conversation　to　help　her　decide　if　her　foes　had　left；　or　were　instead　crouched　silently　outside　the　darkness；　waiting　for　her　to　emerge。　Halisstra　could　be　quite　patient　when　it　suited　her；　and　she　was　not　unused　to　hardship　and　danger；　but　the　sheer　nervous　tension　of　stretching　out　to　identify　and　categorize　every　tiny　sound　that　came　to　her　ears　soon　left　beads　of　sweat　trickling　down　her　face。
　　　If　Quenthel　and　the　others　were　nearby；　I　would　hear　it；　she　decided。　The　fight　must　have　carried　them　far　ahead　by　now。
　　　Her　heart　pounded　at　the　thought　of　being　lost　in　the　endless　woods　alone；　a　reviled　enemy　to　any　creature　who　walked　the　surface　world。
　　　Better　to　die　trying　to　rejoin　the　others；　Halisstra　decided。　At　least　I　know　where　they're　going；　if　I　can　manage　to　keep　my　course。
　　　First；　she　needed　to　escape　from　the　darkness　that　sheltered　her。　She　did　not　choose　to　dismiss　the　magical　gloom；　deciding　to　leave　it　to　continue　until　it　failed　in　an　hour　or　two。　There　was　a　small　chance　that　her　enemies　might　be　waiting　quietly　outside　for　the　darkness　to　fail　before　moving　in。　Halisstra　groped　in　her　belt　pouch　and　withdrew　a　slender　ivory　wand。　She　felt　very　carefully　to　determine　if　it　was　the　wand　she　needed；　and　when　she　was　convinced　that　she　had　the　right　one；　she　tapped　it　against　her　chest　and　whispered　a　word。
　　　Though　there　was　no　way　for　her　to　verify　it；　sitting　on　the　forest　floor　in　the　magical　darkness；　the　wand's　magic　had　made　her　invisible。　She　stood　as　quietly　as　she　could；　cringing　at　every　soft　rustle　or　clink　of　her　mail；　and　began　steadily　moving　away。
　　　Halisstra　broke　out　into　the　open　night　much　sooner　than　she　expected…it　seemed　she　had　been　sitting　no　more　than　six　or　seven　feet　from　the　edge　of　the　darkness。　Confident　in　her　invisibility；　she　stood　up　straight　and　looked　around。　The　forest　looked　much　as　it　had　before；　except　there　was　no　sign　of　her　panions　or　the　woodsmen　and　surface　elves　who　had　attacked　them。　The　moon　was　rising；　and　its　brilliant　silver　light　flooded　the　forest　floor。　She　set　off　in　what　she　hoped　was　a　westerly　direction；　moving　as　quickly　and　quietly　as　she　could。
　　　She　soon　came　upon　the　scene　of　a　furious　battle；　if　she　read　the　signs　right。　Several　large；　blackened　circles　in　the　forest　still　smoldered。　In　other　places　the　bodies　of　perhaps　half　a　dozen　surface　elves　and　green…garbed　human　warriors　lay　where　they'd　fallen；　most　bearing　the　marks　of　sword；　mace；　and　talon。　Of　the　drow；　there　was　no　sign。
　　　Halisstra　tried　to　remember　what　she'd　seen　of　the　pale　elves　and　their　human　allies；　deciding　that　there　might　have　been　as　many　as　fifteen　to　twenty　of　the　surface　folk。
　　　〃Where　are　your　rades；　I　wonder？〃　she　asked　the　fallen　warriors　before　moving　on。
　　　Halisstra　only　managed　another　half　mile　through　the　moonlit　forest　before　she　stumbled　into　the　ambush。　One　moment　she　was　stealing　along；　quick　and　confident；　eager　to　catch　up　to　the　rest　of　the　pany　and　the　familiar　perils　of　their　association；　the　next　she　was　surprised　by　the　appearance　of　a　surface　elf　wizard　who　simply　stepped　out　of　a　tree　and　hurled　a　spell　at　her；　barking　words　of　arcane　might　as　he　gestured　with　his　hands。
　　　〃Quick！〃　he　shouted。　〃We　have　her！〃
　　　Halisstra's　invisibility　failed　at　once；　undone　by　the　surface　wizard；　and　from　the　foliage　and　tree　trunks　all　around　her　a　dozen　of　the　pale　elves　and　the　green…clad　humans　abruptly　appeared；　weapons　at　the　ready。　They　leaped　at　her；　murder　in　their　eyes；　filling　the　forest　with　their　war　cries　and　shouts　of　exultation。
　　　Recognizing　the　hopelessness　of　her　plight；　Halisstra　snarled　in　pure　drow　rage　and　charged　to　meet　the　surface　warriors；　determined　not　to　sell　her　life　cheaply。
　　　The　first　foe　in　her　path　was　a　hulking　human　with　a　bristling　black　beard；　fighting　with　a　pair　of　short　swords。　He　launched　into　a　spinning　attack；　stabbing　one　blade　at　her　eyes　to　raise　her　shield　and　slipping　the　other　low　to　gut　her　while　her　guard　was　high。　Halisstra　simply　dodged　aside　and　hammered　down　at　his　extended　left　arm　with　her　mace；　striking　a　heavy　blow　that　cracked　bone　and　jarred　the　blade　from　his　injured　hand。　The　man　grunted　in　pain　but　kept　at　her；　giving　ground　grudgingly　as　he　continued　to　hew　and　slash　with　his　one　remaining　sword。
　　　Three　more　of　his　rades　moved　up　to　engage　Halisstra　from　all　sides；　and　she　was　forced　on　the　defensive；　batting　spear　and　blade　aside　with　her　shield　and　delivering　crushing　parries　with　her　magical　mace。　The　forest　echoed　with　the　sounds　of　steel　on　steel。
　　　〃Take　her　alive　if　you　can；〃　called　the　wizard。　〃Lord　Dessaer　wants　to　find　out　who　these　newers　are　and　where　they　came　from。〃
　　　〃Easier　said　than　done；〃　grunted　the　first　swordsman；　still　holding　his　ground　despite　the　loss　of　his　off…hand　blade。　〃She　does　not　seem　interested　in　surrendering。〃
　　　Halisstra　growled　in　frustration　and　abruptly　turned　on　the　elf　to　her　left；　slipping　inside　the　point　of　his　spear　and　rushing　him。　The　fellow　backstepped　and　brought　in　his　weapon　as　quickly　as　he　could；　but　she　had　him。
　　　With　a　snarl　of　cold　glee　she　smashed　her　mace　hard　at　the　bridge　of　his　nose。　The　weapon　struck　with　a　deadly　crack　of　thunder　and　blew　apart　the　skull　of　her　victim；　who　fell　in　a　nerveless　heap。
　　　She　paid　the　price　for　her　aggressive　move　a　moment　later　when　the　elf　swordsman　behind　her　jammed　the　point　of　his　weapon　into　her　left　shoulder　blade　despite　her　cat…quick　effort　to　twist　away　from　the　attack。　Steel　grated　on　bone；　and　Halisstra　cried　out　in　pain　as　the　strength　fled　from　her　shield　arm。　A　moment　later　an　arrow　fired　from　an　archer　standing　off　a　bit　struck　quivering　in　the　back　of　her　right　calf；　buckling　her　leg。
　　　〃Now　we've　got　her；　lads！〃　called　the　elf　swordsman。
　　　He　raised　his　blade　for　another　stroke；　but　Halisstra　allowed　herself　to　crumple　pletely　to　the　ground　and　rolled　up　under　his　guard；　destroying　his　left　hip　with　another　thundering　blow　of　her　mace。　The　elf　screamed　and　reeled　away　to　collapse　thrashing　in　the　snow。
　　　Halisstra　tried　to　regain　her　feet；　but　the　wizard　hammered　her　with　a　blinding　bolt　of　lightning。　The　force　of　the　spell　literally　picked　her　up　and　flung　her　through　the　air；　depositing　her　in　a　small；　icy　creek　nearby。　Halisstra's　whole　body　jerked　and　ached　from　the　wizard's　energy；　and　she　became　aware　of　the　distinct；　charred　scent　of　her　own　burned　flesh。
　　　She　pushed　herself　up　on　one　arm　and　responded　by　hurling　a　bae'qeshel　song　at　him；　a　deadly；　sharp　chord　that　flayed　the　bark　from　the　trees　and　kicked　up　the　dusting　of　snow　into　a　stinging　storm　of　white。　The　elf　wizard　swore　and　covered　himself　with　his　cloak；　shielding　his　eyes　and　enduring　the　deadly　song。
　　　Halisstra　began　another　song；　but　the　warriors　splashed　up　to　her；　and　the　burly　human　with　the　beard　silenced　her　with　a　hard　kick　to　the　jaw　that　knocked　her　sprawling　again。　All　went　dark　for　an　instant；　and　when　she　could　see　again；　no　less　than　four　deadly　blades　were　poised　over　her。　The　heavy　swordsman　glared　down　at　her　over　the　point　of　his　sword。
　　　〃By　all　means；　continue；〃　he　spat。　〃Our　clerics　can　question　your　corpse　as　easily　as　they　can　question　you。〃
　　　Halisstra　tried　to　clear　her　head　of　the　roaring　pain　and　the　ringing　in　her　ears。　She　looked　around　and　saw　nothing　but　death　in　the　eyes　of　the　surface　dwellers。
　　　I　can　feign　surrender；　she　told　herself。　Quenthel　and　the　others　must　know　I'm　missing；　and　they　will　make　efforts　to　find　me。
　　　〃I　yield；〃　she　said　in　the　human's　brutish　tongue。
　　　Halisstra　allowed　her　head　to　fall　back　against　the　stream　bank　and　her　eyes　to　close。　She　felt　herself　jerked　upright；　her　mail　stripped　from　her；　and　her　hands　bound　roughly　behind　her　back。　The　whole　time　she　studiously　ignored　her　captors；　keeping　her　mind　sequestered　from　her　situation　by　focusing　on　the　exhaustive　catechisms　to　Lolth　she　had　been　obliged　to　learn　as　a　novice。
　　　〃She　must　be　someone　important。　Look　at　this　armor。　I　don't　think　I've　ever　seen　its　equal。〃
　　　〃We've　a　lyre　here；　and　a　couple　of　wands；〃　muttered　the　ranger　with　the　broken　hand　as　he　pawed　through　her　belongings。　〃Be　careful；　lads；　she　may　be　a　bard。　We　ought　to　gag　her　to　be　safe。〃
　　　〃Bring　me　that　healing　potion；　quickly。　Fandar　is　dying。〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　over　at　the　elf　swordsman　whose　hip　she　had　shattered。　Several　of　his　panions　knelt　by　him　in　the　snow　and　mud；　trying　to　fort　him　as　he　writhed　weakly　in　agony。　Bright　blood　flecked　the　snow　nearby。　She　watched　the　scene　absently；　her　mind　a　thousand　miles　distant。
　　　〃Cursed　drow　witch。　Thank　the　gods　they　don't　all　fight　like　that。〃
　　　The　elf　wizard　appeared　in　front　of　her；　his　handsome　face　taut　and　angry。
　　　〃Hood　her；　fellows；〃　he　ordered　the　others。　〃No　sense　letting　her　know　where　she　is。〃
　　　〃Where　are　you　taking　me？〃　Halisstra　demanded。
　　　〃Our　lord　has　some　things　he　would　like　to　know；〃　the　wizard　replied。　His　smile　had　a　distinctly　cold　and　wintry　cast　to　it；　and　his　eyes　were　as　sharp　as　knives。　〃In　my　experience；　most　drow　are　so　venomous　they'd　rather　choke　on　their　own　blood　than　do　anything　sensible　and　useful；　and　I　expect　you'll　prove　no　different。　Lord　Dessaer　will　ask　you　a　few　questions；　you'll　call　him　something　impolite；　and　we'll　take　you　out　back　and　gut　you　like　a　fish。　That's　a　damned　sight　better　than　our　captives　fare　in　your　hands；　after　all。〃
　　　The　hood　came　down　over　Halisstra's　face　and　was　jerked　tight　around　her　neck。
　　　
　　　Ryld　crouched　in　the　shadows　of　a　great　tree　with　a　trunk　so　thick　and　tall　it　might　have　been　the　forest's　Narbondel。　Splitter　rode　between　his　shoulders；　virtually　unused　in　the　pany's　most　recent　battle。　He　leaned　out　a　little　and　carefully　peered　into　the　dappled　moonlight　and　shadow　of　the　forest　floor；　searching　for　a　target。　With　Pharaun　he'd　waited　quietly　to　guard　the　party's　backtrail；　hoping　to　turn　the　tables　on　the　elves　and　humans　who'd　harried　them　so　long。　After　several　valiant　attempts　to　bring　the　drow　to　close　bat；　the　surface　elves　and　their　human　allies　had　learned　to　respect　the　dark　elf　party's　skill　and　ferocity。　They　soon　fought　a　slow　and　stealthy　battle　of　arrows　in　the　dark；　punctuated　with　quick　ambuscades　and　quicker　retreats。
　　　An　arrow　hissed　in　the　dark。　Ryld　jerked　back　just　in　time　to　glimpse　a　white…feathered　shaft　fly　past；　so　close　to　the　tree　trunk　that　its　fletching　kissed　the　bark。　Had　he　relied　on　the　tree　for　cover；　the　expertly　aimed　arrow　would　have　skewered　him　through　the　eye。
　　　〃No　point　waiting　any　longer；　now；〃　Pharaun　whispered。