war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第3部分

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rose　up　and　hissed　their　own　displeasure　at　the　wizard；　duplicating　their　mistress's　mood；　as　usual。　Quenthel　yanked　the　scourge　free　of　her　belt　and　took　up　a　position　beside　Pharaun；　waiting。
　　　　　　　The　draegloth　was　right　on　the　haughty　drow's　heels。　Jeggred　bore　not　one　but　two　heavy　bundles；　and　when　the　four…armed　fiend　reached　the　pair　of　dark　elves；　he　tossed　the　supplies　to　the　floor；　apparently　not　the　least　bit　winded　from　bearing　them。　He　flashed　a　savage；　twisted　smile　that　exposed　his　yellowish　fangs　and　turned　around；　advancing　a　few　steps　to　position　himself　between　Quen…chel　and　anything　that　might　e　from　the　other　direction；　a　low　growl　rumbling　deep　in　his　demonic　throat。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　was　in　no　mood　for　putting　up　with　the　high　priestess's　foul　temper；　and　he　grimaced　as　he　considered　several　spells。　Settling　on　one；　he　fished　around　in　his　piwafwi；　fetching　from　a　pocket　inside　the　extravagant　cloak　the　reagents　he　would　need　to　weave　the　chosen　magic。　Eventually；　he　produced　a　bit　of　squid　tentacle。　He　had　warned　them　they　would　be　trapped　if　they　came　this　way；　and　so　had　Valas；　but　Quenthel　had　insisted。　As　usual；　it　was　up　to　Pharaun　to　extricate　them　all。
　　　Faeryl　Zauvirr　was　the　next　to　stumble　into　view；　her　breathing　labored。　The　ambassador　from　Ched　Nasad　spotted　the　blockage　in　the　passage　and　groaned；　sliding　her　pack　from　her　back　and　tossing　it　with　a　thud　to　the　rocky　floor　next　to　the　others'。　She　wearily　produced　a　small　crossbow　from　her　own　piwafwi　and　placed　herself　on　the　wizard's　other　side。
　　　〃They're　right　behind　us；〃　Ryld　Argith　announced　as　he　and　the　last　member　of　the　drow　contingent；　Valas　Hune；　sprinted　from　around　the　curve　of　the　passage。
　　　Past　the　burly　warrior　and　the　diminutive　scout；　Pharaun　could　see　the　red　glow　of　multiple　pairs　of　eyes　advancing　on　the　group's　position。　The　creatures　peered　forward　eagerly；　and　the　wizard　estimated　nearly　two　dozen　tanarukks。
　　　Stooped　forward　as　though　afflicted　with　a　hunched　back；　the　creatures　were　reminiscent　of　ores；　though　their　features　were　decidedly　more　demonic；　with　their　scaled；　sloping　foreheads　and　their　prominent　tusks。　They　wore　little　armor；　for　their　hides　were　scaly　and　tough；　but　the　battle…axes　many　of　them　brandished　were　heavy　and　vicious…looking。
　　　Pharaun　shook　his　head　in　resignation　and　prepared　to　weave　a　spell。
　　　The　tanarukks　howled　in　delight　and　lunged　forward；　eager；　it　seemed；　to　take　the　battle　to　their　cornered　prey。　Several　swarmed　at　Jeggred；　and　the　fiend　bellowed　his　own　war　cry；　crouching　and　slashing　wildly。　He　tossed　one　of　the　tanarukks　aside　effortlessly；　slamming　it　against　the　far　wall；　near　Rylds　position。
　　　Pharaun　gaped　for　a　moment　at　the　unbridled　might　and　ferocity　the　draegloth　displayed；　even　as　two　more　of　the　humanoid　attackers　went　down　before　the　precision　slashing　of　Splitter；　the　enchanted　greatsword　wielded　with　greater　skill　by　Ryld　Argith。　Faeryl　fired　her　crossbow　from　beside　Pharaun　then　stooped　to　reload　it。　Quenthel；　in　the　meantime；　seemed　content　to　watch　her　subordinates　at　work。　More　of　the　tanarukks　swarmed　in；　though；　and　the　wizard　almost　didn't　react　in　time　to　one　that　slipped　through　the　line　of　defense　that　Jeggred　and　Ryld　had　formed。
　　　The　slavering；　green…skinned　tanarukk　leaped　toward　the　wizard；　its　axe　cocked　back　for　a　savage　blow。　Pharaun　was　just　able　to　backpedal　enough　to　avoid　the　slashing　blade　as　it　swooshed　through　the　air　where　his　face　had　been　a　heartbeat　before。　He　considered　calling　the　magical　rapier　from　the　enchanted　ring　that　held　it；　tiny　and　out　of　the　way　until　needed；　but　he　knew　the　effort　would　be　futile。　The　thin　blade　would　never　withstand　the　force　of　the　axe；　and　besides；　he　couldn't　get　enough　room　between　himself　and　the　beast　to　use　the　more　nimble　weapon　effectively；　He　was　quickly　running　out　of　space　to　maneuver。
　　　When　the　tanarukk　arched　its　back　and　howled　in　pain　and　fury；　Pharaun　saw　that　Quenthel　was　behind　it；　already　drawing　her　arm　back　for　another　swipe　with　her　dreaded　whip。　The　tanarukk　whirled　around；　still　screaming　in　anger。　It　raised　its　axe　high　for　a　killing　blow；　but　before　either　it　or　the　high　priestess　could　finish　their　attacks；　a　flash　of　shadow　materialized　at　the　edge　of　Pharaun's　field　of　vision…and　the　shadow　became　Valas　Hune。
　　　The　mercenary　scout　darted　in　low　behind　the　green…skinned　creature　and　pulled　one　of　his　kukris　harshly　across　the　tanarukks　hamstring；　crippling　it　with　the　oddly　curved　knife。　Black　blood　spurted　everywhere　from　the　deep　wound　as　the　beast　sank　to　one　knee；　flailing　feebly　with　its　hands；　trying　to　find　the　source　of　its　torment。　As　quickly　as　Valas　had　appeared；　he　was　gone；　vanished　again　in　the　shadows。
　　　Quenthel　took　the　opportunity　to　bring　the　whip　down　on　the　tanarukk　again；　and　Pharaun　saw　the　fangs　of　the　snake　heads　sink　deeply　into　the　flesh　of　the　creature's　face　and　neck。　Already；　it　was　beginning　to　cough　and　choke；　its　face　and　tongue　bloating；　poisoned　by　the　lashes　from　the　whip。　It　dropped　its　axe　and　crumpled　to　the　floor；　spasming　and　crying　out　in　anguish。
　　　Pharaun　realized　he　was　holding　his　breath　and　exhaled　sharply；　regaining　his　wits。　Disgusted　with　himself　for　being　so　undisciplined；　he　remembered　the　tiny　piece　of　squid　tentacle　that　he　had　in　his　hand。　Righting　himself；　he　made　a　rapid　inspection　of　the　battlefield　in　order　to　determine　where　best　to　place　the　spell　he　had　in　mind。
　　　A　host　of　dead　tanarukks　had　piled　up　around　Jeggred　and　Ryld；　but　still　the　remaining　creatures　fought　their　way　to　get　nearer　the　pair；　snarling　and　leaping　about；　looking　for　an　opening　where　they　could　use　their　axes。　The　wizard　decided　he　could　easily　position　the　magic　behind　those　few　savage　humanoids　that　remained；　but　then　he　paused；　startled。
　　　A　face　had　caught　the　drow　mage's　eye　at　the　far　back　of　the　passage。　He　blinked　and　peered　more　carefully；　not　trusting　his　assumption。　Lurking　in　the　darkness；　watching　the　battle；　was　a　beautiful　woman。　Pharaun　found　her　attractive；　despite　the　fact　that　she　was　not　a　drow　but　appeared　human。　Black　curly　hair　framed　her　face；　and　she　was　dressed　in　a　tight；　shiny　leather　corset　that　hugged　her　curves　like　a　second　skin。　She　seemed　to　be　saying　something　to　the　last　rank　of　humanoids；　giving　them　orders　and　gesturing；　but　when　she　noticed　Pharaun　staring　at　her；　she　smiled；　her　highly　arched　eyebrows　raising　even　farther　in　a　bemused　grin。　That　was　when　the　wizard　also　noticed　the　black；　leathery　wings　sprouting　from　her　back。　She　wasn't　human　after　all。
　　　Pharaun　shook　his　head　in　wonder。　Such　a　gorgeous　creature　manding　a　pany　of　foul…smelling；　enraged　half…fiends　somehow　didn't　seem　right　to　the　wizard。　But；　beautiful　or　not；　she　was　on　the　other　side　of　the　fight。　Sooner　or　later；　he　supposed；　she　would　have　to　be　dealt　with。
　　　Not　here；　though；　not　now。
　　　Snapping　back　to　the　task　at　hand；　Pharaun　finished　casting　the　dweomer　he　had　chosen；　and　a　collection　of　black　tentacles　sprang　up；　situated　between　the　contingent　of　drow　and　the　remaining　tanarukks。　Each　of　the　slimy；　writhing　things　was　as　thick　as　his　thigh　and　squirming　around；　trying　to　locate　anything　to　entangle。　Too　late；　Pharaun　noticed　that　Ryld　had　felled　the　remaining　enemies　that　had　challenged　him　directly　and　was　stepping　forward；　ready　to　confront　the　handful　that　hung　back。
　　　Pharaun　opened　his　mouth　to　shout　a　warning　to　the　weapons　master；　but　before　the　words　were　out　he　saw　Jeggred　reach　over　and　grasp　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　by　the　collar　of　his　breastplate　and　yank　him　back；　out　of　harm's　way。　An　instant　later；　one　of　the　tentacles　wrapped　itself　around　the　lifeless　body　of　a　tanarukk　that　had　been　at　Ryld's　feet　and　quickly　coiled　more　tightly；　constricting　the　corpse。　If　the　weapons　master　had　still　been　there；　it　would　have　been　his　leg　instead。
　　　Numerous　other　tentacles　squirmed　and　lashed　out；　grasping　the　surprised　tanarukks　and　coiling　around　them。　The　creatures　bellowed　and　screamed；　thrashing　and　biting　as　the　tentacles　began　to　crush　the　life　out　of　them。　The　she…demon　on　the　far　side　merely　arched　one　eyebrow　at　the　appearance　of　the　spell；　taking　a　single　step　back　so　that　she　was　clearly　beyond　the　reach　of　the　writhing　black　appendages。　She　seemed　oddly　content　to　watch　as　one　by　one；　her　troops　began　to　grow　silent；　their　breath　lost；　their　ribs　cracked。
　　　Pharaun　didn't　waste　time　waiting　for　the　spell　to　end　and　allow　either　the　beautiful　fiend　or　any　of　her　remaining　minions　to　reach　his　team。　Not　wanting　to　reveal　the　extent　of　his　magic　any　more　than　necessary；　the　wizard　stooped　quickly　and　slapped　at　the　ground　before　him。　He　took　one　last　look　at　the　beautiful　fiend　opposite　him　as　darkness　welled　up　between　them。　The　moment　that　spell　was　finished；　he　began　another；　producing　a　pinch　of　gem　dust　from　another　pocket　and　weaving　a　spell　that　placed　an　invisible　wall　between　the　drow　and　the　tanarukks。
　　　The　magical　barrier　was　impervious　to　any　normal　attack；　would　withstand　most　magical　assaults；　and　would　buy　the　expedition　time　to　find　another　way　out。　The　wall　of　energy　would　not　hold　indefinitely；　but　it　would　last　long　enough　for　them　to　figure　out　how　to　escape　unseen。　Pharaun　dusted　his　hands　as　he　stepped　back　from　the　casting。
　　　〃Well；　a　fine　solution　that　is；〃　Quenthel　sniped；　〃sealing　us　in　here。　We'd　be　better　off　facing　those　filthy　beasts　on　the　other　side　than　just　sitting　here。〃
　　　Ryld　hunched　down　nearby；　breathing　heavily；　cleaning　his　blade　with　a　piece　of　cloth。　Faeryl　slumped；　exhausted；　against　the　far　wall；　trying　to　catch　her　breath。　Only　Jeggred　and　Valas　seemed　unwinded；　both　of　them　standing　easy。　The　scout　moved　to　study　the　blockage；　while　the　draegloth　hovered　near　Quenthel。
　　　〃As　I　tried　to　tell　you；〃　Pharaun　retorted；　running　his　hand　along　the　surface　of　the　damp；　gray　substance　that　prevented　their　passing；　〃this　is　the　Araumycos。　It　could　go　on　for　miles。〃
　　　The　drow　wizard　knew　his　scolding　tone　was　unmistakable；　but　he　didn't　care。　Quenthel　let　out　an　exasperated　sigh　as　she　leaned　against　the　wall　of　the　passage。　A　massive　fungus；　the　Araumycos　resembled　nothing　so　much　as　the　exterior　of　a　brain。　It　pletely　filled　the　passage。
　　　〃At　least　we　can　stop　running　for　a　while；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃I'm　sick　of　carrying　this　damned　thing。〃
　　　She　growled；　kicking　at　the　knapsack　at　her　feet。　She　began　rubbing　her　shoulders。
　　　Pharaun　shook　his　head；　amazed　at　the　high　priestess's　stubbornness。　The　mage　had　tried　to　be　as　deferential　as　possible；　to　let　her　see　the　folly　of　heading　in　this　direction；　but　despite　his　warnings…and　Valas's…the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　had；　with　her　usual　haughty　demeanor；　browbeat　them　into　obeying　her　wishes　anyway。　Now　they　were　pinned　against　the　bloated　growth；　just　as　he　had　predicted；　and　she　was　simply　going　to　ignore　that　fact。
　　　Pharaun　pursed　his　lips　in　vexation　as　he　watched　her　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　She　labored　to　work　the　stiffness　out　of　her　shoulders。　He　could　only　imagine　the　disfort　she　must　be　feeling；　but　he　had　no　pity　for　her　plight。　Despite　the　fact　that　his　own　haversack　was　magically　lightened；　Pharaun's　shoulders　ached；　too。　They　had　gone　far　beyond　sore　and　were；　he　was　certain；　chaffed　raw。
　　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　he　said；　continuing　to　examine　the　spongy　growth；　〃you've　made　it　quite　clear　how　far　beneath　a　Baenre…the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　no　less…it　is　to　。。。　how　did　you　say　it？　。。。　'demean　herself　like　a　mon　slave　lugging　rothé　dung　through　the　moss　beds’。　But；　I　would　respectfully　point　out…again…that　it　was　your　masterful　tactical　decision　to　leave　our　thralls　and　pack　lizards　behind；　tethered　and　bleeding；　in　order　to　facilitate　our　escape　from　those　cloakers。〃
　　　The　wizard　knew　full　well　that　his　cutting　remarks　would　further　sour　her　already　unpleasant　mood；　but　he　truly　didn't　care。　Getting　under　Quenthel's　skin　gave　him　no　end　of　delight；　even　during　trying　circumstances　such　as　these。
　　　〃You　presume　much；　boy〃　the　high　priestess　snapped　as　she　stood　straight　again；　glaring　balefully　at　him。　〃Perhaps　too　much。　。　。　。〃
　　　Still　not　looking　at　her；　Pharaun　rolled　his　eyes　where　she　could　not　see。
　　　〃A　thousand　times　a　thousand　pardons；　Mistress；〃　he　said；　sensing　the　time　was　ripe　to　change　the　subject。　〃So　I　suppose　you　no　longer　intend　to　bother　with　the　goods　you　think　are　stored　in　the　Black　Claw　Mercantile　storehouses　in　Ched　Nasad。　Even　if　they　do　rightfully　belong　to　House　Baenre；　how　are　we　going　to　get　them　back　to　Menzoberranzan？　You　certainly　won't　carry　them；　and　once　word　gets　around　that　you　like　to　use　your　pack　animals　and　drovers　as　bait；　no　one　else　will；　either。〃
　　　Pharaun　stole　a　sidelong　glance　at　the　high　priestess；　mostly　for　the　simple　pleasure　of　observing　her　disgrunded　state。　Quenthel's　scowl　was　particularly　severe；　drawing　out　fully　the　vertical　line　that　ran　between　her　brows　and　giving　her　that　pinched　look　that　the　mage　was　beginning　to　find　unduly　ical。　The　wizard　stifled　a　chuckle。
　　　That　managed　to　get　under　her　skin；　he　thought；　grinning；　but　then　he　noticed　Jeggred　moving　to　stand　between　the　two　of　them。
　　　The　beast　loomed　over　the　wizard；　and　Pharaun's　grin　vanished。　He　held　his　breath　as　the　draegloth　smiled　balefully。　The　fiend's　fetid　panting　cascaded　over　him；　making　his　stomach　turn。
　　　　　　　The　demon　served　Quenthel　unswervingly；　and　at　a　word　from　her；　he　would　gladly　attempt　to　rip　the　wizard…or　anyone　else　in　the　group；　for　that　matter…limb　from　limb　with　malice…laden　glee。　Thus　far；　that　word　had　not　e；　but　Pharaun　did　not　relish　the　possibility　of　having　to　defend　himself　from　the　fiend's　assault；　especially　in　such　close　quarters　where　he　would　have　a　hard　time　getting　clear　to　exercise　his　own　allotment　of　spells。　He　would　prefer　a　large　cavern　to　make　his　stand　against　Jeggred；　but　unfortunately；　there　was　only　this　cramped　passage；　with　no　room　to　stay　clear　of　the　brute's　claws。
　　　　　　　Despite　her　current　foul　humor　and　the　very　ungainly　way　she　had　recently　been　bearing　the　load　on　her　back；　Quenthel　somehow　managed　to　look　regal　as　she　pushed　herself　away　from　the　wall　and　stalked　across　the　corridor　toward　Pharaun；　her　piwafwi　swishing　about　her。　He　understood　that　she　wasn't　merely　ignoring　his　jibes。　She　had　waited　until　her　faithful　servant　had　moved　into　position　to　back　her　up　before　confronting　the　mage。
　　　〃I　know　very　well　what　I　said　and　did；　and　I　do　not　need　you　mimicking　my　words　back　to　me　like　some　idiot　savant；　displayed　in　a　gilded　cage　for　all　to　look　upon　and　laugh　at。〃　She　focused　her　stare　on　him　and　held　it　there。　〃We　are　on　a　diplomatic　mission；　wizard；　but　those　goods　do　belong　to　my　House；　and　they　will　be　returned　there。　I'll　see　to　that。　If　I　can't　hire　a　caravan　to　carry　them　back；　then　you'll　do　it　for　me。　Jeggred　will　make　certain　of　it。〃
　　　She　held　his　gaze　imperiously　for　a　moment　as　Jeggred　smiled　carnally　beside　her。　Finally；　she　straightened；　made　a　subtle　motion　to　the　draegloth；　and　the　fiend　moved　off　to　lick　the　gore　from　his　claws。
　　　〃Find　us　a　way　around　this　。　。　。　thing；〃　Quenthel　said；　jabbing　her　finger　toward　the　massive