war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第32部分

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ve；　he　felt　the　resistance　give；　and　he　was　barreling　upward；　Danifae　clinging　tightly　to　his　legs。　He　soared　toward　the　opening　as　the　room　continued　to　drop；　and　there　was　a　massive　roaring　I　crash　and　a　blinding　cloud　of　dust　as　he　shot　out　through　the　widening　hole。
　　　Once　free　of　the　room；　Pharaun　realized　he　really　wasn't　flying　upward　at　all　but　was　hovering　in　place　as　the　entire　structure　of　House　Melarn　fell　away　beneath　them。　He　saw　it　smash　into　a　web　street　that　stretched　across　beneath　it；　and　when　it　struck　the　thoroughfare　a　glancing　blow；　the　rubble　tumbled　around　so　that　it　was　spinning　as　it　fell。　If　they'd　been　a　moment　longer　in　freeing　themselves；　the　wizard　realized　with　a　shudder；　he　never　would　have　been　able　to　navigate　his　way　out　of　the　hole。　The　room　would　have　spun　and　tumbled　with　him　and　Danifae　trapped　inside。
　　　Both　of　them　watched　for　a　moment；　awed；　as　the　massive　stone　structure　plummeted　downward　toward　the　bottom　of　the　city。　Finally；　with　a　sickening　boom；　it　struck　somewhere　far　below；　and　the　concussive　impact　reverberated　all　the　way　up　to　where　they　hovered。
　　　Pharaun　was　beginning　to　feel　the　strain　of　trying　to　fly　while　holding　so　much　weight。　Struggling　to　see　through　the　thick；　choking　dust　that　had　been　stirred　up；　he　eyed　what　was　left　of　the　web　street　where　House　Melarn　had　been；　portions　of　it　still　aflame；　and　saw　that　chunks　of　it；　too；　were　giving　out。　Instead　of　heading　straight　up　toward　that　spot；　he　veered　to　the　side；　away　from　the　worst　of　the　damage。　Where　the　calcified　webbing　broadened　into　a　plaza　it　was　still　solid　and　firm。　As　he　labored　in　that　direction；　another　major　section　of　the　street　fell　away；　following　House　Melarn　to　the　bottom。　What　was　left　was　just　a　ledge　jutting　out　into　space。
　　　The　mage　pumped　his　wings；　steering　the　two　of　them　toward　the　firmer　pavement；　past　the　ledge；　which　extended　perhaps　ten　feet　from　the　plaza　and　was　twice　as　wide。　When　he　was　over　the　plaza；　he　sank　down　quickly；　flapping　his　wings　to　force　himself　to　fall　off　to　one　side　rather　than　directly　on　top　of　Danifae。　The　drow　female　dropped　right　where　he'd　set　her　down　and　sprawled　there；　drawing　deep；　ragged　breaths。　He　settled　down　next　to　her；　none　too　gently　himself；　and　collapsed。　Little　points　of　light　swam　in　his　vision　as　he　gasped　for　breath　in　the　dust…choked　air。　His　limbs　were　leaden；　and　he　could　do　nothing　but　listen　to　Danifae's　and　his　own　panting。
　　　〃That　was　some　rescue　effort；〃　Ryld　said；　floating　down　next　to　the　wizard。　〃I　don't　know　what　sort　of　terror　you're　supposed　to　be；　but　please　don't　ever　try　to　save　me　looking　like　that。　I'm　liable　to　kill　you　before　I　know　it's　you。〃
　　　Pharaun　opened　one　eye　and　looked　at　the　warrior　as　he　mentally　ended　the　transformation　spell　and　returned　to　his　own　form。
　　　〃Certainly　not；〃　he　answered　between　gasps。　〃You；　my　friend；　would　just　have　to　extract　your　worthless　carcass　from　poor　Danifae's　predicament　yourself；　should　you　ever　find　it　thusly　trapped。　You　haven't　the　beauty　to　warrant　rescuing。〃
　　　The　other　members　of　the　group　were　all　settling　upon　the　plaza　now；　and　as　Halisstra　ascended　next　to　her　battle　captive　attendant；　she　seemed　to　crumple；　covering　her　face　in　her　hands；　Pharaun　supposed　he　could　understand　her　anguish。　After　all；　her　home　was　sitting　at　the　bottom　of　the　chasm。
　　　〃I　owe　you　a　very　large　debt；　wizard；〃　Danifae　said。　〃My　thanks。〃
　　　Pharaun；　propped　up　on　his　elbows；　inclined　his　head　in　acknowledgement；　still　wondering　what　had　possessed　him　to　try　the　stunt　in　the　first　place。　He　certainly　would　have　felt　no　regret　at　seeing　the　female　plunge　to　her　death；　but　in　the　end；　he　supposed；　it　would　have　been　an　awful　waste。
　　　〃I'm　sure　there　are　ways　you　and　I　can　find　for　you　to　repay　me；〃　he　deadpanned；　his　face　smooth。
　　　〃Yes；〃　Halisstra　said；　looking　up。　〃We　both　owe　you。　I　will　make　certain　we　find　a　suitable　reward　for　you。〃
　　　She　attempted　to　offer　a　genuinely　warm　smile　for　Pharaun。　The　wizard　nodded　again；　intrigued　by　the　suggestiveness　of　the　drow's　offer。　He　eyed　the　battle　captive　again；　wondering　just　how　willing　she　was　to　serve　as　repense　for　the　fact　that　she　was　still　breathing。　The　look　in　her　eyes　made　it　clear　she　was　not　pleased；　but　she　didn't　voice　her　displeasure　as　the　Melarn　daughter　then　leaned　in　to　inspect　her　counterpart　in　what　Pharaun　thought　was　a　decidedly　affectionate　manner。　Danifae's　leg　looked　badly　cut　and　bruised　but　not　too　much　the　worse　for　wear。
　　　Quenthel　clicked　her　tongue　in　exasperation　and　said；　〃Now　that　everyone　is　back　from　the　brink　of　death；　I　think　it's　time　to　leave　this　city。　First；　though；　we　must　see　if　we　can　salvage　our　other　supplies　back　at　the　inn。〃
　　　The　others　nodded　in　agreement。
　　　〃Let's　go　quickly；〃　Pharaun　suggested；　aware　of　the　noise　of　fighting；　invisible　through　the　haze　but　definitely　ing　closer。　〃We　don't　want　to　remain　here　for　any　longer　than　we　have　to；　I　think。〃
　　　Pharaun　stood；　dusting　himself　off　and　picking　up　and　replacing　his　piwafwi　from　where　Ryld　had　dropped　it　only　moments　before。　He　gazed　out　across　the　city；　for　the　first　time；　really；　and　the　scene　took　his　breath　away。
　　　〃We　may　already　be　too　late；〃　the　wizard　breathed；　overawed　by　the　devastation　he　could　only　partially　see；　as　so　much　was　obscured　by　a　hazy　glow；　or　cloaked　with　thick　smoke。　The　section　of　Ched　Nasad　where　House　Melarn　had　been　was　alive　with　flames。　Recalling　that　he　and　Danifae　had　just　escaped　perishing　in　the　monumental　occurrence；　he　glanced　down　to　where　Halisstra　and　the　other　dark　elf　sat　huddled　together。　Halisstra　looked　stricken；　staring　off　into　the　vastness　of　the　city　as　her　attendant　huddled　close　to　her　and　whispered　soothing　words。
　　　〃Yes；〃　Quenthel　concurred。　〃This　will　get　worse；　much　worse。　Everyone　stay　alert。　Master　Argith；　give　the　two　of　them　their　weapons；〃　she　said；　gesturing　toward　Halisstra　and　Danifae。　〃I　think　they've　earned　the　right　to　bear　them　after　getting　us　out　of　that　deathtrap。〃
　　　The　weapons　master　pulled　a　black　circle　of　cloth　from　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi；　unfolded　it；　and　threw　it　down　upon　the　stone　paving　of　the　plaza。　It　transformed　into　a　perfectly　round　hole；　large　enough　for　him　to　reach　Into。　He　began　rummaging　around　inside　it。
　　　〃I　think　our　return　to　the　inn　will　have　to　wait　for　later；〃　Valas　said；　pointing。　〃We're　not　in　the　clear　yet。〃
　　　When　Pharaun　turned　his　gaze　toward　where　the　scout　indicated；　he　groaned。　Scores　of　gray　dwarves　were　advancing　in　a　line　toward　them　from　out　of　the　smoke；　faces　grim；　crossbows　and　axes　brandished。　Their　front　rank　had　formed　a　shield　wall；　while　the　second　row　prepared　to　fire　missile　weapons。　They　were　mere　yards　away。
　　　〃Look　out！〃　Halisstra　cried；　pointing　in　the　opposite　direction　with　the　mace　Ryld　had　just　handed　to　her。
　　　A　host　of　drow　soldiers　and　priestesses　appeared　out　of　the　thick　smoke；　surging　forward　to　meet　the　duergar　head　on。
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　　　When　the　fiery；　smoke…choked　estate　finally　ripped　loose　from　the　web　street　and　tumbled　into　the　vast　depths　of　the　city　below；　Aliisza　looked　on　with　a　mixture　of　fascination　and　disappointment。　She　was　certain　the　wizard　was　lost　to　her；　yet　she　marveled　at　the　capacity　for　destruction　the　drow　displayed。　They　were　tearing　apart　their　own　city；　with　the　capable　help　of　several　other　species。　She　wondered　what　any　of　them　hoped　to　gain　from　it；　but　she　didn't　really　care。　She　was　just　sorry　she　couldn't　enjoy　any　more　flings　with　the　mage。
　　　With　her　consort　dead；　the　alu　prepared　to　make　her　way　out　of　the　city。　She　had　no　more　cause　to　be　there；　and　delaying　her　departure　any　longer　would　only　place　her　at　risk；　however　slight。　She　would　rather　not　have　to　confront　a　host　of　drow　or　duergar；　and　she　certainly　didn't　relish　the　thought　of　large　amounts　of　stonework　falling　on　her。
　　　Before　she　could　follow　through　on　her　intentions　to　leave；　though；　Aliisza　spied　movement　a　little　way　down　from　where　the　palatial　abode　had　been　but　moments　before。　She　wasn't　sure；　for　the　air　in　the　vicinity　was　choked　with　smoke　and　dust；　but　she　thought…
　　　There。　Something　was　definitely　hovering　in　the　air；　a　wretched　creature　the　fiend　knew　well　enough…a　bird…woman　known　as　a　harpy…and　it　had　pany；　a　second　form　gripped　in　its　talons。　The　pair　of　them　hovered　in　mid…air；　struggling　to　stay　aloft；　and　the　harpy　veered　up　and　to　the　side；　bearing　its　cargo　with　it。
　　　As　Aliisza　followed　the　pair's　progress；　she　caught　more　movement　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　and　realized　the　harpy　and　the　drow　clinging　to　it　were　being　followed。　It　was　the　wizard's　panions。
　　　The　alu　found　herself　laughing；　realizing　that　Pharaun　must　be　the　harpy　in　a　transmuted　state；　no　doubt　one　of　his　many　spells。　He　really　was　an　impressive　mage；　she　thought。　Somehow；　some　way；　the　entire　group　had　managed　to　free　themselves　from　the　building　just　before　it　collapsed　and　vanished　into　the　bottom　of　the　cavern；　and　along　the　way；　they　had　picked　up　two　additional　members。
　　　Aliisza　moved　cautiously　closer；　wanting　to　get　a　better　look　without　being　seen；　and　when　she　did；　her　eyes　narrowed。　That　wretch　Pharaun　had　rescued　some　tart；　a　beautiful　drow　who；　despite　her　current　disheveled　look；　was　obviously　a　lovely　catch　for　the　wizard。　Even　as　she　watched；　the　mage　transformed　back　into　his　natural　form；　collapsing　beside　the　female；　giving　her　the　eye　even　as　he　caught　his　breath。
　　　Aliisza　was　furious；　watching　the　mage　ogle　the　drow。　She　would　tear　that　trollop's　eyes　out　herself！　She　would…！
　　　Shaking　with　anger；　she　prepared　to　swoop　in　and　make　good　on　her　silent　threats；　but　the　rest　of　the　group　settled　around　the　pair。　Clenching　her　fists　in　fury；　Aliisza　restrained　herself；　but　she　wanted　to　know　what　was　going　on。　Quickly；　she　cast　a　spell　and　began　to　magically　eavesdrop　on　their　conversation。
　　　…must　see　if　we　can　salvage　our　other　supplies　back　at　the　inn。
　　　Then　let's　go　quickly；　she　heard　Pharaun　say。　We　don't　want　to　remain　here　for　any　longer　than　we　have　to；　I　think。
　　　Grinning；　Aliisza　ended　the　spell　and　flew　off；　still　careful　to　avoid　drawing　attention。　She　had　an　idea　forming；　and　she　was　pleased　with　herself　for　thinking　of　it。
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　　　〃Get　off　this　street！〃　Ryld　urged；　pointing　to　a　smaller　thoroughfare　that　ran　past　a　temple　off　to　one　side　where　they　might　avoid　the　worst　of　the　clash。　〃Hurry！〃　the　warrior　manded；　sprinting　toward　the　side　street。
　　　Pharaun　heard　the　call　of　his　friend　and　tried　to　turn　and　scramble　toward　the　side　street　that　Ryld　had　indicated；　but　the　wizard　wasn't　quite　fast　enough　to　avoid　the　press　of　drow　streaming　past　him。　Instead；　he　was　buffeted　along　for　several　feet　in　the　opposite　direction　before　he　finally　managed　to　slip　off　to　the　side；　taking　refuge　against　a　set　of　large　stone　stairs　leading　up　to　some　immense　public　building。　A　moment　later；　Danifae　staggered　alongside　him；　dropping　to　her　knees　and　panting　for　breath。
　　　〃Where　are　the　others？〃　the　wizard　asked　her；　admiring　her　curves　even　as　the　battle　raged　around　them。
　　　〃Don't　know；〃　she　gasped。　〃Were　。　。　。　right　behind　me。〃
　　　〃We　can't　stay　here；〃　Pharaun　told　her。
　　　He　began　to　look　around　for　a　better　vantage　point　upon　which　to　watch　for　his　panions　without　being　in　the　midst　of　the　fighting。
　　　The　battle　was　raging　in　the　plaza　where　Pharaun　and　the　others　had　bee　separated。　A　duergar　stepped　up　to　the　pair　of　them；　smiled　maliciously；　and　raised　a　spiked　warhammer　to　strike　at　the　mage。　Danifae　was　too　quick；　though；　jerking　her　morning　star　around　and　into　the　gray　dwarf's　midsection。　The　stout　creature　gasped　as　the　wind　was　knocked　out　of　him；　and　Pharaun　took　advantage　of　the　delay　to　cast　a　spell。　A　wide　but　thin　fan　of　flame　sprang　from　the　wizard's　fingertips　and　caught　the　humanoid　squarely　across　the　face。　The　duergar　shrieked　and　staggered　backward；　flailing　at　his　burning　beard。　Others　in　the　crowd　shifted　and　moved　to　avoid　ing　into　contact　with　the　blazing　creature；　and　finally　the　duergar　fell　off…balance　and　collapsed；　un…moving；　to　the　paved　street。
　　　〃e　on；〃　Pharaun　insisted；　taking　Danifae　by　the　hand　and　leading　her；　still　limping　from　her　ordeal　back　in　the　collapsing　House；　up　the　stairs　to　the　top　of　the　landing。
　　　A　pair　of　gray　dwarves　started　to　follow　the　two　of　them　then　stopped　about　halfway　up；　aiming　loaded　crossbows。　Pharaun　spun　away　and　yanked　his　piwafwi's　hood　around　him；　using　the　cloak　to　shield　both　himself　and　Danifae。　Two　bolts　smacked　into　the　center　of　his　back；　giving　him　a　vicious　sting。
　　　He　cried　out　from　the　pain；　sinking　down　to　one　knee。　Angrily　freeing　his　magical　rapier；　Pharaun　turned　back　to　face　the　pair　of　duergar；　mentally　directing　the　dancing　weapon　toward　them。　The　wizard　managed　to　engage　the　first　gray　dwarf；　but　the　second　one　scrambled　past　the　enchanted　weapon　and　clambered　up　the　steps　toward　him。
　　　A　blur　of　fur　and　claws　landed　on　the　steps　between　the　mage　and　his　foe；　and　Jeggred　sliced　and　gashed　at　the　duergar；　spraying　gouts　of　blood　in　every　direction。　The　humanoid　staggered　back　from　the　draegloth's　onslaught；　his　arms　held　up　defensively　as　he　was　cut　down。　When　the　first　gray　dwarf　saw　the　fate　of　his　panion；　he　backed　down　the　steps　and　fled　into　the　swirling　maelstrom　of　skirmishing　below。
　　　〃Stay　here；〃　Jeggred　said；　bounding　back　down　into　the　crowd。　〃I　will　get　the　others。〃
　　　Pharaun　considered　whether　to　obey　the　draegloth　or　ignore　the　beast。　He　would　be　much　happier；　he　decided；　if　he　could　get　up　on　top　of　the　building；　but　he　knew　that　Danifae　was　unable　to　follow　him；　should　he　choose　to　levitate　there。　He　decided　to　await　the　return　of　Quenthel's　pet。
　　　〃Back　in　here；〃　he　said　to　Danifae；　stepping　into　the　deeper　darkness　of　the　entryway　and　pulling　her　in　after　him。
　　　From　there；　they　could　watch　the　street　below　without　being　so　exposed。
　　　Danifae　pressed　against　Pharaun；　trying　to　remain　out　of　sight；　but　the　effect　was　very　distracting。　The　mage　found　himself　pressing　right　back；　while　at　the　same　time　wondering　how　he　could　be　so　easily　diverted　during　such　a　time。
　　　It's　not　like　you've　never　enjoyed　the　feel　of　the　flesh　before；　he　chided　himself。
　　　Still；　he　was　glad　that　she　lingered　there；　though　whether　her　contact　with　him　was　purely　happenstance　or　calculated；　he　wasn't　sure。
　　　The　too　of　them　did　not　have　to　wait　long。　Jeggred　reappeared　after　a　code　of　moments；　with　Quenthel　right　behind　him。　Jeggred　cut　a　swath　through　the　crowd　with　his　oversized　claws；　while　the　drow　protected　the　fiend's　back。　As　the　duo　forced　their　way　through　the　throng　more　than　a　few　fell　before　the　draegloth's　fierce　strikes。　Finally；　they　reached　the　stairs　and　hurried　up　to　the　landing。
　　　〃We're　here；〃　Pharaun　said；　gesturing　for　Quenthel　and　Jeggred　to　join　him。　〃We've　got　to　get　to　the　roof；〃　he　said；　pointing　over　their　head；；　〃We　can　see　much　better　from　up　there；　and　stay　out　of　the　fray；〃
　　　Jeggred　nodded　and　grabbed　Danifae。　Together；　they　began　to　levitate　upward；　reaching　a　spot　on　the　roof　that　overlooked　the　sea　of　clashing　bodies　below