war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第15部分

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　　　〃No；　just　those　wizards　who　show　up　out　of　nowhere；　claiming　to　want　to　join　our　ranks。〃
　　　The　other　wizard　produced　a　second　wand　and　aimed　it　at　Pharaun。
　　　〃Especially　those　foolish　enough　to　claim…〃
　　　Kraszmyl　Claddath's　words　hung　in　the　air；　unfinished；　as　he　transformed　into　glass。　Of　course；　his　piwafwi；　the　wand；　and　several　other　trinkets　that　adorned　his　body　remained　intact；　but　the　flesh　itself　was　pure；　clear　crystal。
　　　Sighing　in　satisfaction；　Pharaun　pocketed　the　fragment　of　glass。
　　　〃If　you　hadn't　been　so　busy　expounding　on　my　foolishness；　you　might　have　heard　the　words　to　my　spell；〃　he　said　to　the　inert　figure；　moving　closer。
　　　Being　made　of　glass；　the　short；　stocky　drow　was　heavy。　Pharaun　persevered　though；　moving　the　transformed　dark　elf　into　exactly　the　right　position。
　　　〃Now；　let's　see　if　we　can　find　what　we're　looking　for。〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　felt　the　urge　to　hurry；　for　he　doubted　the　menagerie　would　remain　unattended　for　long。　It　would　require　many　first…year　students　to　clean　and　feed　all　the　imprisoned　specimens。
　　　Moving　through　the　aisles　of　cages；　he　looked　around；　trying　to　find　what　he　needed。　Even　in　his　haste；　he　was　truly　impressed　with　the　collection　before　him。　He　caught　sight　of　some　rather　large　cages　in　the　back；　but　he　had　no　time　to　satisfy　his　curiosity。
　　　A　pity；　he　thought；　rounding　a　corner　and　continuing　his　search。　I　would　like　to　spend　a　few　tendays　here。
　　　Finally；　after　several　rows；　he　came　across　the　object　of　his　desire。　Sitting　sullenly；　her　four　arms　sealed　in　some　sort　of　resin　casts；　a　lone　choldrith　glared　up　at　him　with　decidedly　humanoid　silvery…white　eyes。　He　squatted　down　to　examine　her。
　　　She　had　charcoal…gray　skin　and　was　pletely　hairless。　A　set　of　diminutive　mandibles；　so　small　that　Pharaun　doubted　they　were　functional；　flanked　her　more　humanoid　mouth。　Her　ears　jutted　up　beyond　the　top　of　her　head；　similar　to　a　drow's　but　even　more　pronounced。　Pharaun　thought　they　looked　vaguely　like　horns。　From　what　little　he　already　knew　and　had　managed　to　learn　about　the　species；　he　understood　the　necessity　for　the　casts；　to　keep　the　creature　from　casting　spells　and　freeing　herself。
　　　〃I　have　a　proposition　for　you；〃　he　said　in　the　mon　language　of　the　Underdark。　The　choldrith　stared　back　him；　saying　nothing。　〃I　you　can　understand　me　well　enough；　but　just　in　case　。。。〃…he　fumbled　in　his　pockets　for　a　few　items…〃it's　a　good　thing　I　came　prepared；　eh？〃
　　　He　produced　a　tiny　clay　ziggurat　and　a　pinch　of　soot。　Quickly；　Pharaun　wove　a　pair　of　spells；　one　to　speak　her　language　and　the　other　to　understand　it；　then　tried　again。
　　　〃If　you　will　answer　my　questions；　I　will　free　you；〃　he　said。　Her　eyes　widened　with　hope；　then　narrowed　with　suspicion。　〃You　lie；〃　she　said　in　a　strange；　clicking　speech；　like　the　sound　of　a　spider。　〃All　drow　lie　to　us。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　that　is　true　most　of　the　time；　but　in　this；　I　do　not。　I　have　nothing　to　gain　by　keeping　you　here　and　everything　to　gain　by　getting　some　answers。〃
　　　When　she　only　stared　at　Pharaun　again；　he　asked；　〃What　have　you　got　to　lose？　You're　trapped　in　a　cage　in　a　drow　city；　and　your　arms　are　encased　in　resin　to　keep　you　from　calling　on　the　Dark　Mother。　Except　that　doesn't　matter；　because　she；　too；　has　forsaken　you；　hasn't　she？〃
　　　The　choldrith's　eyes　widened　again；　and　Pharaun　knew　it　was　true。　〃You　know　about　the　goddess？〃　the　creature　asked。　〃Yes；　and　I'm　trying　to　find　out　where　she's　gone。〃　The　wizard　wasn't　sure；　but　he　thought　he　might　have　detected　what　would　pass　for　a　smile　on　the　face　of　the　wretched　being。
　　　〃Then　she　does　not　love　the　dark　elves　more；〃　she　said；　apparently　to　herself。　〃She　has　not　abandoned　the　spider　people　in　favor　of　you。〃
　　　〃No；　her　absence　has　been　spread　generously　about　to　all　her　worshipers；　it　would　appear；〃　Pharaun　answered。　〃What　I'm　trying　to　find　out　now　is　why？〃
　　　〃The　Dark　Mother　weaves　her　own　webs。　The　Dark　Mother　seals　herself　away；　but　she　will　return。〃
　　　〃What？　How？　What　tells　you　this？〃
　　　〃I　will　tell　you　no　more；　killer　of　spider　people。　Free　me　or　not；　I　have　answered　your　question；〃
　　　〃So　you　have；〃　Pharaun　acknowledged；　〃and　I　will　let　you　out　of　the　cage；　How　you　find　your　way　home　is　up　to　you。〃
　　　The　wizard　unlocked　the　cage　door　and　stepped　back。　The　choldrith　edged　warily　toward　the　opening；　eyeing　Pharaun；　obviously　expecting　a　trick。　He　gestured　toward　the　exit；　palm　open　and　up；　and　took　another　step　back。　The　creature　darted　out　of　the　cage　and　was　halfway　down　the　hail　before　the　wizard　caught　himself　laughing。　He　wondered　how　she　would　get　the　resin　from　her　hands；　but　it　was　no　longer　his　concern。
　　　〃Now　that　I　know；　it's　time　to　go；〃　he　said　aloud　to　himself。　〃But　first；　I　can't　resist　a　little　peek　。　。　。〃　and　he　turned　to　stroll　toward　the　larger　cages　he　had　seen　earlier。
　　　Many　of　the　larger　cells　were　empty。　It　was　the　ones　that　were　occupied　that　made　Pharaun　gasp。　A　creature　unlike　any　he　had　ever　seen　before　floated　in　one　of　the　magically　sealed　chambers；　something　horrible　and　fascinating　all　at　the　same　time。　Its　body　was　gray　and　soft；　like　the　brain　matter　of　creatures　Pharaun　had　dissected　in　his　younger　days；　with　multiple　tentacles　hanging　down　from　beneath　it。　A　beak　of　some　sort　protruded　from　the　front　of　the　creature；　but　the　wizard　could　not　see　any　discernable　eyes。　It　hovered　in　the　prison；　its　tentacles　hanging　limply。　Pharaun　gazed　at　it　a　moment；　then　moved　on。
　　　The　next　creature　he　encountered　was　very　familiar　to　the　mage。　The　eye　tyrant　was　a　small　specimen；　no　more　than　two　feet　in　diameter。　An　adolescent；　he　surmised。　The　creature's　eyes　were　all　milky…white　and　scarred；　effectively　blinded　and　disabled。　Still；　watching　the　creature；　Pharaun　felt　a　little　sense　of　dread。
　　　From　the　other　side　of　the　great　chamber；　there　was　a　shout；　followed　closely　by　a　great　crash　and　the　sound　of　tinkling　glass。　The　wizard　smiled。　That　would　be　Master　Claddath；　warning　me　that　people　are　ing。　Thank　you　for　the　tour；　Kraszmyl。
　　　The　mage　wondered　what　kind　of　magical　alarms　he　was　triggering　as　he　created　one　of　his　blue　extradimensional　doorways　and　stepped　through　to　the　outside　of　the　Arcanist　Conservatory。
　　　No　matter；　he　thought；　allowing　the　magical　passage　to　wink　out　as　he　floated　between　two　levels　of　web　streets；　near　a　wall　of　the　great　cavern。　They'll　simply　think　my　presence　there　was　an　attack　from　a　rival　institution。　If　anyone　thinks　to　ask　the　sentries；　I　shall　be　famous。
　　　With　that；　Pharaun　drifted　down　to　the　street　below　and　started　on　his　way　back　to　the　Serpent　and　Flame。
　　　He　would　have　accounted　the　stroll　back　to　the　inn　pleasant；　had　the　streets　not　been　so　busy。　All　along　the　way；　he　caught　snatches　of　conversation　that　centered　mainly　on　the　growing　discontent　of　the　citizens；　the　imminence　of　an　attack　from　beyond　the　gates　by　all　manner　of　fiendish　armies；　and　the　conviction　that　Lolth　had　abandoned　the　city　to　its　fate。　More　than　once；　he　witnessed　the　beginnings　of　a　confrontation；　but　each　time　he　saw　trouble　was　beginning　to　brew；　he　wisely　took　a　different　route；　frequently　levitating　either　up　or　down　to　a　different　level　to　avoid　the　brawl。
　　　〃Pharaun；〃　a　voice　called　to　him　as　he　was　making　his　way　through　a　lane　filled　with　cheese　shops；　wishing　the　odors　were　a　bit　less　。　。　。　well；　stale。
　　　Surprised　and　perhaps　a　bit　unnerved　at　being　flagged；　he　stuck　his　hands　in　his　piwafwi；　contemplating　what　sort　of　spell　he　might　use　to　extract　himself　from　trouble。
　　　The　wizard　turned　to　find　himself　gazing　at　a　beautiful　drow　female；　her　silvery　white　hair　in　lustrous　curls　down　to　her　shoulders。　She　arched　one　high　eyebrow　at　him　and　smiled；　and　he　felt　as　though　he　knew　her。　Her　dress　was　a　bit　unusual；　and　it　lacked　any　sort　of　identifying　insignia。　Most　telling　of　all；　though；　were　the　several　auras　of　magic　that　she　radiated；　and　he　knew　that　she　was　not　revealing　everything。
　　　〃I　beg　pardon　。。。　do　I　know　you？〃　Pharaun　asked。　In　response；　she　merely　winked　and　crooked　her　finger　for　him　to　follow。　Wondering　what　dangerous　game　he　might　be　embroiled　in　but　fancying　a　bit　of　fun；　the　wizard　turned　and　sauntered　after　her。　The　female　led　him　along　a　few　streets；　mostly　back　ways；　and　up　a　number　of　sections；　until　they　found　themselves　in　a　residential　area。　The　drow　ducked　into　a　small　abode　and　turned　and　looked　at　him　expectantly。
　　　Pharaun　hesitated　at　the　doorway；　looking　around　the　street　for　any　signs　that　would　clue　him　in。
　　　〃e　on；〃　his　panion　said；　sticking　her　head　back　out。　〃e　inside。〃
　　　〃Why　would　I　want　to　do　that？〃　the　wizard　asked。　〃You've　very　obviously　cloaked　yourself　in　some　obscuring　magic；　so　your　efforts　to　deceive　me　are　only　partially　successful。　I　think　my　well　being　and　I　will　remain　out　here；　thank　you　all　the　same。〃
　　　She　simply　smiled；　and　before　his　eyes　the　cloaking　aura　faded　as　her　hair　grew　from　light　to　dark；　and　her　ebony　skin　transformed　to　the　color　of　purest　alabaster。　The　clothing　she　had　attired　herself　in　was　transformed　as　well；　into　a　black　leather　corset。
　　　Pharaun　smiled　back。
　　　〃Hello；　Aliisza；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Now；　e　inside　so　we　can　talk；〃　the　alu…fiend　said；　motioning　for　the　mage　to　follow　her　and　disappearing　inside。
　　　The　interior　of　the　home　was　small；　if　tidy；　but　it　had　the　look　of　being　lived　in　for　a　long　time。　The　entirety　of　the　place　glowed　with　a　soft　violet　hue；　enough　to　illuminate　the　time…worn　couch　and　table　in　the　front　room。
　　　〃I　daresay　this　is　not　your　place；〃　Pharaun　asked　as　he　watched　Aliisza　slink　across　the　floor　and　settle　provocatively　on　the　couch。
　　　〃No；　I'm　just　borrowing　it　for　a　while；〃　the　demon　said；　reclining　and　propping　a　leg　up。　〃I　won't　be　here　that　long。　Unfortunately；　a　home；　unlike　everything　else　in　this　city；　is　a　bad　investment　at　the　moment。　I　doubt　I　could　find　a　buyer；　even　if　it　did　belong　to　me。〃
　　　Pharaun　grinned　wryly　as　he　settled　into　a　chair　across　the　room　from　the　winged　woman。
　　　〃So　you've　noticed　the　unstable　marketplace；　have　you？〃　he　replied。　〃A　shame；　that；　but　then　it's　not　your　worry；　since　it's　not　your　place。　Where　are　the　owners　at　the　moment？〃
　　　The　alu…fiend　smiled　again；　but　her　green　eyes　sparkled　dangerously　as　she　answered；　〃Oh；　I　don't　think　they'll　be　ing　back。　We've　got　the　place　all　to　ourselves；　you　know。〃
　　　She　turned　over　onto　her　stomach；　propping　herself　up　on　her　elbows　and　letting　her　feet　wave　lazily　in　the　air　above　the　backs　of　her　thighs。
　　　〃Well；　then；　that　holds　promise；〃　Pharaun　said；　his　smile　widen…tng　as　he　leaned　forward。　〃But　a　clever　girl　like　you　must　have　things　to　do；　places　to　go；　Kaanyr　Vhoks　to　see。〃
　　　Aliisza　made　a　face。　〃e　now；　wizard。　You're　not　going　to　plead　honor　or　some　such　nonsense　to　me；　are　you？　Kaanyr　is　a　long　ways　away。〃
　　　〃It's　not　so　much　the　Sceptered　One　I　worry　about；　you　lovely　creature。　It's　me。　My　mother　always　told　me　not　to　get　involved　with　bad　girls；　especially　if　they　had　wings。　I'm　just　a　wandering　wizard；　far　from　home。　You　might　take　advantage　of　me。〃
　　　The　alu…fiend　giggled。
　　　〃Contrary　to　what　your　mother　might　have　told　you；　we　'bad　girls'　aren't　always　looking　to　take　you　home　to　the　Abyss　with　us。　Sometimes；　we　just　like　the　look　of　a　fellow。〃
　　　Pharaun　looked　down　at　his　hands　as　he　said；　〃Sure。　And　you　just　want　to　have　some　fun；　right？　I'd　love　to　stay　and　keep　you　pany；　but　I　really　do　need　to…〃
　　　〃Pharaun；　I　already　know　what's　going　on；〃　Aliisza　said；　her　tone　serious。　〃Your　Spider　Queen　has　vanished　without　a　trace；　leaving　no　scraps　of　magic　for　the　ladies；　and　you　came　all　the　way　from　Menzoberranzan　to　find　out　why。　I　really　couldn't　care　less。　〃Well；　that's　not　entirely　true；　I　can't　wait　to　see　Kaanyr's　face　when　I　tell　him；　but　it　can　wait。　I　just　thought　that　before　I　head　back　to　him　and　you　went　on　your　merry　way　back　to　your　home；　we　might　enjoy　a　little　conversation。〃
　　　She　sat　up；　swinging　her　legs　over　the　side　of　the　couch　to　face　him。
　　　〃Besides；〃　she　added；　reaching　up　and　beginning　to　loosen　the　laces　of　her　corset；　〃you　and　I　didn't　get　to　finish　sharing　magic　tricks。〃
　　　〃No　one's　expecting　me　for　a　bit；〃　Pharaun　chuckled。　〃I　suppose　I　could　stay　for　a　little　while。〃
　　　***
　　　
　　　Ryld　knew　Splitter　would　be　next　to　useless　in　such　tight　quarters；　so　he　had　already　reached　down　and　grasped　his　short　sword。　He　slid　the　blade　smoothly　and　easily　from　its　sheath　in　one　smooth　motion；　remembering　the　feel　of　it　in　his　hand；　the　balance；　even　as　he　brought　it　up　to　defend　against　the　onrushing　half…ogre。　He　parried　die　blow　from　the　creatures　upraised　mace；　then　made　a　neat　slice　across　the　beast's　midsection。
　　　The　half…ogre　jerked　just　the　tiniest　bit　in　surprise；　and　Valas　was　on　the　creature　from　nowhere；　drawing　one　of　his　kukris　across　its　hamstring。　There　was　a　burst　of　light　and　a　crackle　from　the　strangely　curved　blade　as　it　struck　home；　and　the　beast　howled　and　toppled　as　it　clutched　its　gut　and　leg　in　pain。
　　　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Ryld　spotted　sudden　movement；　and　he　ducked　just　in　time　to　avoid　a　hurled　mug。　The　cup　passed　over　his　shoulder　and　hit　the　wall　near　the　table；　shattering　in　a　spray　of　pottery。　Ryld　didn't　waste　the　moment　evaluating　the　source　of　the　attack。　He　slashed　at　another　of　the　half…ogres；　drawing　a　thin　opening　across　its　upper　arm　that　welled　with　blood　as　the　creature　staggered　back；　then　the　warrior　was　spinning　away　and　parrying　a　large　cudgel　that　a　third　foe；　off　to　his　right；　swung　at　him。
　　　The　confrontation　was　drawing　the　attention　of　other　patrons　in　the　taproom；　and　Ryld　could　hear　more　than　a　few　of　them　cheering　the　half…ogres；　cursing　him　and　Valas；　and　perhaps　eyeing　a　chance　to　get　in　on　the　action　themselves。
　　　This　is　about　to　get　really　ugly；　the　warrior　thought；　warily　waving　the　blade　between　himself　and　the　half…ogre　that　blocked　his　way　out。
　　　A　crossbow　bolt　struck　him　in　the　ribs；　but　his　piwafwi　and　breastplate　prevented　the　missile　from　penetrating。　Still；　the　force　of　the　shot　staggered　him　the　slightest　bit；　and　the　cudgel　crashed　down　on　his　left　shoulder　with　a　loud　crunch。　His　entire　arm　went　numb；　and　he　nearly　lost　his　footing　when　something　hooked　his　leg　behind　and　tried　to　topple　him。
　　　This　is　madness；　the　warrior　thought　as　he　scrambled　back　against　the　wall；　shoving　the　table　between　himself　and　the　rest　of　the　patrons。　Valas　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　　　Get　him！〃　someone　snarled　from　the　crowd。
　　　'Kill　the　dark　elves！〃　another　cried。
　　　Yet　no　one　seemed　eager　to　approach　him。
　　　Ryld　kept　his　short　sword　leveled　at　the　threats　in　front　of　him　as　he　scanned　the　room　for　his　panion；　wondering　if　the　scout　had　abandoned　him　in　favor　of　escape。　It　would　hardly　have　been　the　first　time　Ryld　found　himself　in　such　a　position。
　　　When　a　pair　of　quaggoths…huge；　white…furred　humanoids　some…rimes　known　as　deepbears…lunged　at　the　warrior；　Ryld　was　forced　to　return　his　attention　to　the　difficulties　at　hand。　Slashing　with　his　short　sword；　he　parried　the　spear　the　first　creature　tried　to　thrust　through　his　chest；　then　sides