war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第36部分

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…at　least　for　the　moment。
　　　Pharaun；　of　course；　could　still　see　the　two　females；　for　he　was　aware　of　the　magic　they　radiated。　It　appeared　to　him　that　Halisstra　was　dragging　Danifae　to　the　side；　out　of　harm's　way；　but　the　spider　somehow　sensed　where　the　two　females　were；　and　it　dipped　its　head　again；　missing　a　direct　bite　but　ing　close　enough　with　its　attack　that　it　grazed　Halisstra；　knocking　her　down。　Shivering　in　delight　at　having　felt　its　prey；　the　spider　raised　up　for　another　attack。
　　　Ryld　had　almost　reached　the　creature；　and　his　long　legs　covered　the　remaining　distance　quickly。　He　leaped　through　the　air；　Splitter　raised　high　overhead。　As　the　warrior　sailed　past　the　hindmost　leg　of　the　giant　spider；　he　swung　the　greatsword　around　with　all　his　might；　cutting　cleanly　through　the　appendage。　Black　blood　spurted　everywhere；　and　the　spider　reared　up；　kicking　with　its　ruined　leg　and　barely　missing　the　weapons　master。
　　　At　nearly　the　same　time；　Jeggred　launched　himself　into　the　air　toward　another　leg；　grabbing　a　hold　of　the　spider　and　climbing　upward。　Pharaun　could　see　the　draegloth's　claws　extended；　and　the　fiend　used　them　to　great　effect　as　he　quickly　ascended　the　creatures　limb。　Fearlessly；　Jeggred　slashed　and　clawed　his　way　to　the　spiders　body　and　began　to　climb　the　slick　black　abdomen；　working　his　way　higher　and　higher。
　　　The　effect　of　the　two　attacks　was　instantaneous。　The　spider　jerked　away　from　its　intended　meal　and　spun　around；　looking　to　bite　whatever　tormented　it。　Its　one　ruined　leg　twitched　erratically；　but　otherwise　the　arachnid　lost　none　of　its　stability。　Ryld　had　rolled　into　a　crouch　after　his　sweeping　sword　strike；　and　he　had　Splitter　up；　ready　to　fend　off　the　spider　as　it　maneuvered　to　face　him。
　　　Pharaun　shook　his　head　and　considered　what　he　could　do　to　aid　in　the　fight。　There　was　really　only　one　choice。　Most　of　his　spells　were　gone；　and　the　few　remaining　to　him　were　not　offensive　in　nature。　He　reached　inside　his　piwafwi　and　produced　a　wand；　a　single　segment　of　iron　that　was　about　as　long　as　his　forearm。　Extending　it　outward；　he　uttered　a　trigger　phrase　and　activated　the　magic　in　the　wand。　Instantly；　a　sizzling　bolt　of　electrical　energy　leaped　forward　from　the　end　of　the　wand；　arcing　through　the　air　and　crackling　across　the　surface　of　the　spider's　head。　The　discharge　caused　the　spider　to　recoil；　chattering　and　quivering；　from　Ryld's　position。　As　the　last　remnants　of　the　bolt　dissipated；　Pharaun　could　see　that　the　spider's　leathery　hide　and　multifaceted　eyes　were　smoldering。
　　　Pharaun　started　when　he　heard　the　twang　of　a　bowstring　strumming；　and　he　glanced　down　to　his　right。　Valas　was　there；　kneeling；　firing　off　a　short　bow。　The　wizard　had　seen　the　diminutive　scout　carrying　the　weapon　all　along；　but　up　until　then；　Valas　had　apparently　had　little　cause　to　use　it。　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　lined　up　and　released　four　shots　in　the　time　it　took　Pharaun　to　assess　the　situation；　and　his　aim　was　true。　The　arrows　embedded　themselves　in　the　nearest　eye　of　the　spider；　one　after　another；　puncturing　the　many…sided　orb　like　a　massive　pin　cushion。　The　spider　thrashed　about　in　response。
　　　At　the　same　time；　Ryld　was　on　his　feet　again；　running　with　the　spider；　looking　to　get　in　another　strike。　This　time；　however；　the　warrior　was　not　so　lucky。　As　the　jerking；　pain…crazed　creature　spasmed　along　the　street；　one　of　its　legs　swept　the　warrior　off　his　feet；　sending　the　burly　drow　tumbling。　Ryld　landed　hard；　losing　his　great…sword　in　the　process。
　　　The　massive　arachnid　was　skittering　straight　toward　Pharaun　and　Valas；　and　the　wizard　could　see　Jeggred　on　top　of　it；　sitting　astride　the　thing's　huge　neck；　slashing　madly　with　his　claws　and　flinging　gobbets　of　flesh　and　black　blood　everywhere　as　the　fiend　sawed　into　the　spider's　head。　The　spider　reared　and　jerked；　trying　to　shake　Jeggred　from　its　body；　but　the　draegloth　clung　tenaciously　to　it；　sinking　his　claws　deeply　into　the　beast's　flesh　to　maintain　his　hold。
　　　The　wizard　took　an　involuntary　step　backward　as　the　onrushing　spider　closed　the　distance　quickly；　its　rapid　steps　making　the　web　street　buck　and　bounce。　Raising　his　wand；　the　mage　fired　off　a　second　lightning　bolt；　letting　it　crackle　over　the　spider's　head；　knowing　Jeggred　would　be　resistant　to　its　destructive　power。
　　　The　electrical　discharge　obviously　hurt　the　massive　beast…　Pharaun　could　clearly　see　scorch　marks　on　its　shiny　black　skin…but　it　didn't　slow　a　whit。　It　ambled　drunkenly　toward　the　mage　and　the　scout　even　as　Valas　pumped　a　dozen　arrows　into　it。
　　　Goddess！　thought　Pharaun；　backing　up　another　step。
　　　He　wanted　to　turn　and　run；　but　he　couldn't　make　himself　stop　watching　the　charging　creature。　Valas　was　back…stepping　too；　still　firing　arrows；　but　they　were　both　in　the　spider's　sight　and　it　was　clearly　targeting　them　as　the　cause　of　its　woes。
　　　Just　as　the　spider　reached　the　pair　of　drow　and　snapped　downward；　Ryld　leaped　into　view；　swinging　Splitter　in　a　huge　arc　and　smashing　the　blade　savagely　across　the　creature's　face。　The　lightning　bolt　had　obviously　bought　the　weapons　master　enough　time　to　retrieve　his　greatsword。
　　　The　arachnid　jerked　backward；　more　blood　dripping　freely　from　the　fresh　wound；　but　it　was　not　to　be　so　easily　deterred。　It　snapped　at　Ryld　once；　twice；　and　the　warrior　fended　the　attacks　off　with　his　greatsword；　laboring　to　keep　the　twitching　mandibles　away　from　him。
　　　Pharaun　scrambled　backward　again；　happy　enough　to　let　the　broad…shouldered　weapons　master　bear　the　brunt　of　the　bat。　Pharaun　raised　his　wand　for　a　third　lightning　strike；　hoping　that　would　fell　the　beast；　but　before　he　could　activate　the　wand　the　spider　snapped　down　at　Ryld　a　third　time；　and　the　warrior's　luck　ran　out。
　　　The　spider's　mandibles　closed　tightly　around　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere；　who　grunted　in　pain　and　nearly　lost　his　grip　on　Splitter。　The　creature　hoisted　him　into　the　air；　squeezing　its　captured　prey　tightly；　trying　to　crush　the　life　out　him。　Ryld　arched　his　back　in　agony　and　began　desperately　hacking　at　the　mandibles　with　his　sword。
　　　Pharaun　hesitated　to　expend　his　magical　bolts　with　Ryld　in　the　way；　and　Valas　likewise　seemed　at　a　loss；　sighting　down　a　drawn…back　arrow　but　faltering。　There　was　no　clear　shot。　Even　so；　Jeggred　continued　to　hew　into　the　spider's　flesh。　The　draegloth's　arms　were　pletely　coated　with　sticky　black　fluid。
　　　Why　won't　the　blasted　thing　die？　Pharaun　thought　in　dismay。
　　　He　was　tempted　to　jolt　the　creature　despite　the　presence　of　his　panions　then　he　remembered　his　other　wand。　Reacting　quickly；　the　wizard　managed　to　fish　the　second　item　from　inside　his　piwafwi　just　as　the　spider　stumbled　into　both　him　and　Valas。　The　scout　went　sprawling；　rolling　into　a　tumble　several　yards　away；　while　Pharaun　managed　to　avoid　the　worst　of　the　blow　by　leaping　out　of　the　way　at　the　last　moment；　aided　by　his　magical　boots。
　　　Landing　to　one　side；　the　wizard　flicked　the　wand　at　the　spider　and　uttered　the　trigger　word；　sending　a　host　of　glowing　projectiles　streaming　from　its　tip　directly　at　the　spider's　eyes。　The　five　missiles　swerved　unerringly　around　Ryld　and　struck　the　creature's　eyes　in　rapid　succession。　The　great　spider　flinched　away；　opening　its　mandibles　to　chatter　in　pain；　dropping　Ryld　in　the　process。
　　　The　weapons　master　fell　limply　toward　the　ground　but　somehow　still　retained　consciousness　enough　to　halt　his　own　descent；　drifting　the　last　couple　of　feet　to　the　pavement。　The　spider；　meanwhile；　reared　up；　its　face　a　bloody　mess；　Jeggred　still　slashing　at　the　top　of　its　head。
　　　There's　no　way　it　can　withstand　much　more；　the　wizard　thought。
　　　〃Finish　it；〃　Quenthel　said；　pointing　past　the　spider。　〃Kill　it　and　be　done　with　it。〃
　　　Pharaun　could　see　the　second　spider　ing　their　way；　so　he　quickly　discharged　a　second　round　of　screaming　projectiles　from　the　wand。　When　they　struck　home；　the　spider　finally　collapsed　in　the　middle　of　the　street；　nearly　landing　atop　the　still…prone　Ryld。　The　creature　didn't　move；　though　its　legs　and　mandibles　spasmed　awkwardly。
　　　〃Withdraw！〃　Quenthel　demanded。　〃The　other　one　is　ing。〃
　　　Pharaun　ran　to　help　Valas　get　Ryld　to　his　feet；　and　the　trio　scurried　as　fast　as　they　could　back　into　the　alley。　Jeggred　leaped　down　from　his　perch　atop　the　dead　arachnid　and　joined　them。　They　all　reached　the　protection　of　the　side　street　simultaneously；　and　Pharaun　turned　back　to　see　what　had　bee　of　the　pair　from　House　Melarn。　Farther　up　the　street；　the　wizard　could　see　the　magical　emanations　of　Halisstra　and　Danifae。　They　were　walking　toward　him　as　quickly　as　the　limping　drow　could　move。
　　　〃They're　almost　here；〃　Pharaun　said；　gesturing　back　to　where　he　knew　only　he　could　see　the　two。　〃Keep　still；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　warned。　〃It　might　sense　vibrations。〃
　　　The　two　groups　waited；　apprehensive。　Halisstra　and　Danifae　stopped　moving；　pressing　against　the　wall　of　the　closest　building　as　the　second　spider　came　closer。　Pharaun　slipped　back　into　the　shadows。
　　　As　the　beast　passed；　Pharaun　prepared　to　cast　the　spell　he'd　considered　earlier；　one　that　would　bring　about　a　heavy　mist；　should　they　need　it；　but　they　did　not。　As　the　giant　arachnid　moved　off；　the　vibrations　grew　calmer。　Pharaun　stole　another　glance　and　saw　that　the　two　females　were　drawing　closer。
　　　〃You　would　openly　defy　me？〃　Quenthel　snarled；　slapping　a　still…woozy　Ryld　across　the　cheek。
　　　Jeggred　rose　up　to　his　full　height　and　moved　to　stand　beside　the　high　priestess；　backing　her　while　she　meted　out　her　discipline。
　　　Ryld　staggered　back　from　the　blow；　and　a　trickle　of　blood　dripped　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth；　but　he　didn't　flinch　from　the　high　priestess's　gaze。
　　　〃They　aren't　so　expendable　as　you　might　think；〃　he　said　weakly　but　with　his　chin　in　the　air。　〃Give　them　a　chance　to　prove　themselves　before　you　abandon　them。　It　might　be　you　she's　rushing　back　to　aid　next　time。〃
　　　Jeggred　growled　and　took　a　step　forward；　but　Quenthel　held　up　her　hand　in　a　signal　for　him　to　be　still。　The　draegloth　glowered　at　Ryld　but　obeyed　his　mistress。
　　　〃Your　days　of　questioning　my　authority　are　nigh　ended；〃　Quenthel　said；　turning　to　face　both　Ryld　and　Pharaun　together。　〃When　we　get　out　of　this　city；　there　will　be　some　changes。　I　am　tired　of　this。〃
　　　As　if　to　mimic　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy's　foul　mood；　the　snakes　of　her　whip　began　to　shimmy　back　and　forth；　hissing　in　vexation。
　　　〃All　I　say　is　that　you　are　too　quick　to　dismiss　them；〃　Ryld　insisted。　〃They　are　more　valuable　than　you　give　them　credit　for。〃
　　　〃He's　right；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃Halisstra　has　demonstrated　some　resourcefulness。　Don't　discount　them　simply　because　they　are　not　from　Menzoberranzan。〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled　at　the　two　of　them　in　turn　then　drew　in　Valas　with　her　gaze　for　good　measure。　Halisstra　and　Danifae　reached　their　position；　still　invisible。
　　　〃I　am　sorry；〃　Halisstra　said　upon　arriving；　〃but　I　could　not　abandon　her。　She　still　has　a　certain　value　to　me。〃
　　　Quenthel　snorted　but　waved　her　hand　in　dismissal；　as　though　minimizing　the　entire　episode。
　　　〃You　are　aware　of　the　conditions　under　which　you　will　be　permitted　to　stay　with　us。　Keep　up；　or　fall　behind。　We　will　not　suffer　you　to　slow　us　down。〃
　　　She　just　doesn't　want　to　let　on　how　much　we　defy　her；　Pharaun　realized。　She's　pretending　that　remaining　and　waiting　was　her　own　act　of　generosity。　The　wizard　smirked　to　himself。
　　　Halisstra　let　Danifae　down　and　produced　a　wand　from　her　belongings。　She　waved　it　over　the　battle　captive's　leg　and　murmured　a　phrase　that　the　wizard　didn't　quite　catch；　but　then　he　saw　that　the　puncture　wound　had　healed。　The　dark　elf　moved　to　Ryld　to　administer　a　similar　healing　effort　to　him；　but　Quenthel　intervened。
　　　〃Where　did　you　get　that？〃　the　high　priestess　demanded。
　　　Halisstra　started；　not　expecting　such　a　venomous　reaction　to　her　charity。
　　　〃It's　mine；〃　she　began　to　explain。　〃I　brought　it…〃
　　　〃Not　anymore；　it　isn't。　Give　it　to　me；〃　Quenthel　insisted。
　　　Halisstra　stared　at　the　high　priestess　but　made　no　move　to　hand　over　her　magical　trinket。
　　　〃If　you　don't　want　Jeggred　to　shred　you　to　several　pieces　right　now；　hand　that　wand　to　me。〃
　　　Slowly；　her　eyes　burning　with　anger；　Halisstra　passed　the　wand　to　Quenthel。
　　　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　examined　the　wand　carefully；　nodding　in　satisfaction。　She　turned　and　used　it　on　Ryld　herself。　As　the　divine　power　of　the　wand　flowed　into　the　warrior；　his　worst　injuries　closed；　though　several　small　scratches　and　bruises　remained。　When　she　was　satisfied　with　the　weapons　masters　condition；　she　tucked　the　wand　away　in　her　own　belongings。
　　　〃Now；〃　Quenthel　said；　turning　her　attention　back　on　Halisstra；　〃we　will　have　no　more　of　this　wasteful　use　of　curing　magic　taking　place。　I　will　be　the　one　who　decides　when　and　if　a　member　of　this　group　receives　divine　aid；　is　that　clear？〃　Halisstra　nodded。
　　　〃Do　you　have　any　mote　magic　secreted　away　that　I　should　know　about？　Believe　me；　I　will　know　if　you　do。〃
　　　Drisinil's　daughter　sighed　and　nodded。　She　produced　an　additional　wand　and　handed　it　over。
　　　〃You　cannot　use　that；　though；〃　Halisstra　mumbled。　〃It's　arcane　in　nature。　I　also　。　。　。　dabble　in　that　sort　of　magic。〃
　　　〃I　see。　Well；　if　it　bees　necessary；　you　might　get　it　back　when　you've　proven　your　worth。　Until　then；　I　keep　them　both。〃
　　　The　high　priestess　turned　and　strolled　a　few　feet　away；　pletely　ignoring　the　drow　female　who　stared　daggers　at　her　back。
　　　〃Halisstra；〃　Pharaun　said；　trying　to　change　the　subject　and　hoping　to　show　Quenthel　that　the　priestess　was　useful　at　the　same　time；　〃both　you　and　Danifae　seemed　to　know　where　these　giant　spiders　came　from。　What　can　you　tell　us？〃
　　　〃They're　guardian　spiders；〃　the　dark　elf　answered；　her　voice　thick　with　anger；　〃summoned　only　in　times　of　great　need。　Those　two　were　so　small　。　。　。　the　matron　mothers　who　conjured　them　must　have　had　a　rather　minor　one　stored　away。〃
　　　〃You　mean　they　get　bigger　than　that？〃　Valas　asked　incredulously。
　　　〃Certainly；〃　Halisstra　replied；　warming　to　the　subject。　〃How　do　you　think　the　webs　of　the　city　first　appeared　here？　Upon　arriving　in　the　cavern；　the　first　high　priestesses；　along　with　their　wizard　counterparts；　summoned　spiders　of　immense　size　to　spin　the　webs　upon　which　the　city　would　rest。　It　was　with　Lolth's　blessing　that　these　sacred　creatures　came　to　us；　and　they　were　magically　stored；　transformed　into　crystalline　statues。　From　time　to　time　they　are　brought　forth　again　to　repair　sections　of　the　city　or　to　defend　the　chamber。　Normally；　though；　they're　controlled　through　a　mental　link　to　do　our　bidding　and　to　gate　in　more　of　their　kind　only　when　we　mand　it。　I　don't　know　exactly　how。　That　is　a　secret　reserved　for　the　matron　mothers。〃
　　　〃Blessed　Dark　Mother；〃　Ryld　said。　〃Do　you　think　the　other　one　will　bring　more？〃
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　the　priestess　replied。　〃I　hope　not。〃
　　　〃Look；〃　Pharaun　said；　glancing　ahead；　where　the　spider　could　still　be　seen　scuttling　along　the　web　street。
　　　A　force　of　gray　dwarves　were　on　a　pathway　above　it；　peering　over　the　side　at　the　spider　below　them。　A　number　of　them　had　begun　throwing　more　of　the　damnable　firepots　at　the　creature。　As　the　little　incendiary　devices　struck　the　arachnid；　they　burst　into　flame；　and　the　colo