war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第37部分

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　creature。　As　the　little　incendiary　devices　struck　the　arachnid；　they　burst　into　flame；　and　the　colossal　spider　reared　up　as　it　began　to　burn；　looking　to　eliminate　the　source　of　the　pain。
　　　More　of　the　clay　pots　were　cast　down；　several　of　them　striking　the　spider　on　the　head　and　abdomen。　Rising　up　on　its　hind　legs；　the　spider　attempted　to　reach　the　duergar；　but　they　were　too　high　overhead。　The　spider　spun　in　place；　turning　its　back　on　its　attackers；　and　fired　a　thick　stream　of　fluid　in　their　direction。
　　　〃Webbing；〃　Pharaun　noted　aloud；　impressed。
　　　The　stream　of　webbing　sailed　accurately；　attaching　to　the　underside　of　the　web　street；　hardening　as　it　did　so。　The　spider　turned　and　began　to　scamper　up　the　strand　of　sticky　filament；　pursuing　the　gray　dwarves；　who　were　desperately　clambering　to　get　out　of　the　way。
　　　〃The　fools；〃　Ryld　said。　〃They　just　managed　to　get　its　attention　focused　on　them。　Fortunate　for　us；　though。〃
　　　〃Enough；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃We　still　need　to　get　our　belongings　from　the　inn　and　leave　this　wretched　city。〃
　　　Pharaun　turned　to　gaze　at　the　high　priestess；　knowing　full　well　that　his　expression　was　one　of　dumbfounded　amazement。
　　　〃You　can't　be　serious！　Look　around；〃　he　said；　gesturing　out　toward　other　parts　of　the　city；　where　the　distant　glows　of　more　and　more　fires　were　visible　through　the　ever…thickening　smoke。　〃The　whole　city　is　in　turmoil。
　　　〃Use　your　ears；〃　he　continued；　gesturing　in　a　different　direction；　where　the　screams　of　the　fighting　and　dying　echoed　off　the　walls　of　the　huge　cavern。　〃We're　running　out　of　time。　I'm　sure　the　whole　city　is　choosing　sides　and　taking　the　battle　to　the　streets；　and　yet　you　want　to　tempt　fate　by　trying　to　go　after　more　of　your　trinkets？　I　think…〃
　　　〃Listen　to　me；　boy〃　Quenthel　spat；　her　face　livid。　〃We　just　went　through　this　with　your　warrior　friend。　You　will　do　as　I　say；　or　you　will　be　left　here　to　die。　If　you've　forgotten　who　I　am；　allow　me　to　remind　you　that　I　am　High　Priestess　Quenthel　Baenre；　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　Mistress　of　the　Academy；　Mistress　of　Tier　Breche；　First　Sister　of　House　Baenre　of　Menzoberranzan；　and　I　will　no　longer　tolerate　your　snide　remarks　and　your　haughty　insubordination。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　　As　if　to　back　up　her　words；　Jeggred　stepped　forward　and　with　a　menacing　growl　took　hold　of　the　collar　of　Pharaun's　piwafwi；　bunching　it　up　in　his　clawed　fist。
　　　The　wizard　glanced　over　to　Ryld；　who　still　looked　weakened　from　his　fight　with　the　spider。　Nonetheless；　he　had　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　Splitter　and　was　stepping　forward；　ready　to　e　between　the　drae…gloth　and　the　mage。　But　Pharaun　could　tell　by　the　warriors　expression　that　he　was　trying　to　determine　just　how　badly　he　really　wanted　to　choose　sides　at　this　juncture。
　　　Jeggred　whipped　his　head　around　and　snarled；　〃Don't　even　think　about　it；　weapons　master。　I　will　tear　out　your　stomach　and　feast　upon　it　if　you　interfere。〃
　　　Ryld's　expression　tightened　as　he　took　offense　at　the　draegloth's　threats；　but　Pharaun　gave　a　quick；　subtle　shake　of　his　head　to　warn　the　warrior　off。
　　　〃Mistress　Quenthel；　since　you　are　so　passionate　about　recovering　your　valuables；〃　Pharaun　said；　trying　to　make　his　voice　sound　jovial；　〃then　let's　make　haste；　before　the　opportunity　is　wasted。〃
　　　Quenthel　smiled；　obviously　pleased　at　having　successfully　asserted　herself　and　regained　the　upper　hand。
　　　〃I　knew　you　would　appreciate　the　importance　of　my　decision；〃　she　replied；　turning　away。
　　　〃So；　wizard；　how　do　you　propose　we　cross　over　to　the　Flame　and　Serpent？〃　she　asked；　appraising　the　devastation　alongside　Pharaun。　〃What　magic　do　you　still　have　up　your　sleeve　that　can　get　us　there　quickly　and　safely？〃
　　　〃None；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　Pharaun　replied　in　all　seriousness。　〃I　have　consumed　over　half　of　my　magic　for　the　day；　and　I'm　not　even　certain　how　we'll　get　out　of　the　city。〃
　　　〃That's　not　good　enough；　Mizzrym。〃
　　　〃I　have　a　counter…suggestion；〃　the　mage　said；　pursing　his　lips。　〃Let　me　go　get　the　goods　while　you　and　the　rest　of　the　group　wait　here　and　rest。　It's　out　of　the　way；　fairly　easily　defended；　and　I　can　find　you　again　when　I　e　back。　I　have　a　spell　to　get　me　to　the　inn　and　back　quickly；　I　just　can't　take　all　of　you　with　me。〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled；　thinking；　and　Pharaun　wondered　if；　as　often　as　she　frowned　so　severely；　the　high　priestess　even　realized　she　was　making　such　a　face。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　Quenthel　said　at　last；　nodding。　〃Do　not　dawdle。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I　don't　intend　to。　The　less　chance　there　is　of　large　chunks　of　this　doomed　city　falling　atop　me；　the　better　off　I'll　feel。〃
　　　Quenthel　turned　and　explained　the　plan　to　the　rest　of　the　group。　Everyone　nodded　in　agreement；　ready　for　a　respite。
　　　Ryld　pulled　Pharaun　aside　and　asked；　〃You　are　ing　back；　aren't　you？〃
　　　Pharaun　cocked　an　eyebrow　and　replied；　〃Besides　having　a　fondness　for　you；　my　brooding　weapons　master；　I　still　truly　desire　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　this　mystery。　My　chances　are　better　with　you　all　than　without。〃
　　　Ryld　looked　at　him　for　a　long　time　before　nodding。
　　　〃Be　careful；〃　he　said；　turning　to　find　a　seat　against　a　wall　of　the　alley；　his　crossbow　out。
　　　〃How　do　you　intend　to　cross　the　city？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　Her　face　was　drawn　and　tired。　Still；　her　eyes　glittered　red；　as　with　some　new　determination。
　　　〃I　have　a　spell　of　flying　that　I　can　use　to　get　there　and　back　again　fairly　quickly；〃　Pharaun　answered。　〃Unfortunately；　I　would　be　much　better　off　if　I　were　not　visible；　but　I　have　already　played　that　particular　trick　today。〃
　　　〃Maybe　I　can　help；〃　the　daughter　of　what　once　was　House　Melarn　said。　〃Mistress　Quenthel；　that　wand　you　just　confiscated　from　me　would　serve　us　well；　with　your　approval。〃
　　　〃What　is　it？〃　the　high　priestess　asked；　seemingly　pleased　by　the　deference　shown　her。
　　　〃A　spell　that　will　render　him　invisible；　even　should　he　attack　a　foe；〃　Halisstra　replied。　〃I　assure　you；　it　will　not　harm　him。〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled　and　looked　at　Pharaun　for　some　sort　of　confirmation。　The　wizard　nodded。　He　still　believed　the　two　females　newly　added　to　the　group　were　trustworthy；　and　they　certainly　wouldn't　be　in　much　of　a　position　to　turn　on　the　rest　of　them　now。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　She　produced　the　wand　and　passed　it　back　to　the　other　female。　Halisstra　took　it；　offering　her　thanks　to　the　high　priestess。　She　targeted　her　wand　at　Pharaun。
　　　〃Wait；〃　the　wizard　said。
　　　He　produced　a　feather　from　inside　his　piwafwi。　Using　the　feather　as　part　of　the　casting；　he　enchanted　himself　with　the　ability　to　fly。
　　　Tucking　the　feather　back　into　its　customary　pocket；　he　turned　to　the　priestess　and　said；　〃All　right；　go　ahead。　It's　always　easier　to　cast　when　you　can　see　your　own　hands。〃
　　　She　smiled　faintly　and　nodded；　then　summoned　the　magical　energy　from　the　wand。　In　but　a　moment；　Pharaun　was　totally　invisible。　Halisstra　offered　the　wand　back　to　Quenthel。
　　　〃No；〃　the　high　priestess　said；　shaking　her　head。　〃You　can　keep　it。　I　think　you　learned　your　lesson。〃
　　　〃Yes；　Mistress；〃　Halisstra　said　with　a　smile　that　did　not　reach　her　eyes。　She　tucked　the　wand　away　and　went　to　sit　down　once　more；　beside　Danifae。
　　　〃I'll　be　back　shortly；〃　Pharaun　said。
　　　He　rose　into　the　air　before　anyone　could　think　to　reply。
　　　***
　　　
　　　Danifae　watched　as　the　wizard　disappeared；　and　she　sensed　when　he　departed　the　alley。　Shaking　her　head；　she　sat　back　and　watched　the　weapons　master　and　the　scout；　both　of　whom　paced；　apparently　eager　to　be　away　from　there。
　　　This　is　a　strange　lot　I've　wound　up　with；　she　decided。　They　are　petent；　and　yet　they　bicker　and　argue　unlike　any　group　of　dark　elves　I've　ever　seen。
　　　The　battle　captive　looked　over　at　Quenthel；　who　was　speaking　quietly　with　the　draegloth；　Jeggred。
　　　She's　certainly　an　interesting　one；　Danifae　decided。
　　　It　wasn't　the　first　time　she'd　encountered　a　female　like　the　high　priestess…confident　yet　blustering　at　everything　and　everyone。
　　　Still；　Danifae　thought；　letting　her　eyes　linger　appreciatively　over　Quenthels　form；　she's　a　fit　leader。
　　　Danifae　turned　her　thoughts　Halisstra。　The　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn　looked　visibly　shaken　at　the　physical　loss　of　her　home；　even　though　Ssipriina　had　already　wrested　possession　of　it　from　her。　Danifae　wondered　how　her　mistress　would　hold　up　under　that　kind　of　duress。　Certainly；　there　was　no　lamenting　the　destruction　of　House　Melarn　on　her　own　part；　but　Danifae　could　imagine　how　it　would　feel　if　her　own　family　had　been　wiped　out　in　such　a　fashion。　House　Yauntyrr　might　well　have　been　destroyed；　for　all　she　knew。　It　had　been　far　too　long　since　she'd　last　seen　it。　She　didn't　even　know　the　fate　of　Eryndlyn　itself　in　the　current　crisis；　much　less　her　own　House。
　　　〃Let　us　e　with　you；〃　Halisstra　said　to　Quenthel。　〃Let　us　help　you　find　the　priest　of　Vhaeraun。〃
　　　Danifae　looked　at　her　mistress　sharply。
　　　〃What　makes　you　think　we're　going　to　try　to　find　the　scout's　friend？〃　Quenthel　asked。
　　　〃I…I　beg　forgiveness；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　Halisstra　stammered。　〃I　merely　assumed…〃
　　　〃Assumptions　are　best　left　to　that　miserable　wretch；　Pharaun；〃　Quenthel　warned。
　　　Halisstra　bowed　her　head。
　　　〃Of　course；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　she　said。　〃Nonetheless；　I　would　humbly　ask　that　you　permit　me　and　my　servant　to　acpany　you。　Our　chances　of　survival　are　much　greater　if　we　stay　together；　and　as　you　know；　I　have　nothing　left　for　me　here。〃
　　　The　dark　elf　pursed　her　lips；　obviously　trying　to　control　her　emotions。　Danifae　thought　it　somewhat　unbeing；　showing　so　much　of　her　passion；　but　she　would　never　say　so；　especially　not　in　front　of　others。
　　　Quenthel　tapped　her　lips　with　her　finger　and　nodded　as　though　she　understood　the　pain　of　Halisstras　plight；　though　Danifae　seriously　doubted　the　high　priestess　held　any　true　passion　for　Halisstras　situation。
　　　〃Yes；　well；　as　long　as　you　can　continue　to　make　yourself　useful；　and　if　you　are　willing　to　do　what　I　say；　then　I　see　no　reason　why　you　cannot　continue　to　travel　with　us。〃
　　　Danifae　cringed。　No　doubt　this　would　take　her　farther　away　from　Eryndlyn；　not　closer。　She　was　going　to　have　find　a　way　to　break　the　binding；　and　soon；　and　she　thought　perhaps　the　wizard　had　that　capability。　It　would　be　easy　enough　for　her　to　manipulate　him　into　helping　her；　the　way　she　caught　him　eyeing　her　all　the　time。　Easy；　indeed。
　　　Halisstra　bowed　her　head　again　in　thanks　and　said；　〃If　it　is　not　too　presumptuous；　Mistress　Baenre；　may　I　ask　what　your　intentions　are？〃
　　　〃Well；　once　we　manage　to　get　out　of　this　city；〃　Quenthel　replied；　emphasizing　the　words　to　show　of　what　a　daunting　task　that　would　be　in　and　of　itself；　〃I　think　we　might　actually　pay　a　visit　to　this　friend　of　the　scout's。　However　infuriating　the　Mizzrym　boy　can　be　in　so　many　other　ways；　he　does　occasionally　have　a　good　idea　or　two。
　　　That's　why　you　can't　afford　to　alienate　him　or　cause　him　bodily　harm；　Danifae　surmised。
　　　It　wasn't　difficult　to　see　that　Pharaun　was　really　the　most　valuable　member　of　the　team。　That　raised　the　question　of　who　was　really　the　leader。　Quenthel　by　default；　but　Pharaun　by　subtle　necessity。
　　　That　will　bear　watching；　Danifae　thought　with　a　smile。
　　　***
　　　
　　　Ssipriina　surveyed　the　troops　she'd　assembled　in　the　courtyard　of　her　estate　and　grimaced。　So　few　remained　of　what　she'd　started　the　day　with。　〃Would　they　be　enough？　She　let　her　gaze　roam　over　them　。　。　。　soldiers；　priestesses；　wizards。　How　many　had　she　lost　in　the　destruction　of　House　Melarn？　How　many　more　in　the　hours　since；　battling　the　rival　Houses；　her　own　duergar　mercenaries；　succumbing　to　the　guardian　spiders？
　　　The　matron　mother　shook　her　head；　thinking　of　that　debacle。　It　was　certainly　a　blunder；　but　she　refused　to　label　it　ill…conceived。　Animating　the　creature　to　fight　for　her　House　had　been　clever；　an　idea　her　allies　had　all　endorsed。　Certainly；　none　of　them　had　been　able　to　foresee　that　the　mental　link　used　to　control　the　spiders　was　in　some　way　tied　to　their　connection　to　Lolth。　Without　the　goddess；　there　was　no　link；　but　once　Ssipriina　and　the　others　had　figured　that　out；　it　was　too　late。　They　had　all　missed　that；　and　she　refused　to　accept　sole　blame　for　it。
　　　Still；　the　damage　could　have　been　contained；　if　only　that　double…crossing　fool　Khorrl　had　done　his　duty。　She　had　paid　him　a　matron　mother's　ransom。　He　should　have　jumped　at　her　every　beck　and　call；　but　instead　he　turned　his　back　on　her；　gathered　his　mercenaries；　and　was　preparing　to　pull　out　of　Ched　Nasad　all　together。　The　loss　of　his　support　was　a　tough　blow；　but　what　galled　her　more　was　how　foolish　he'd　made　her　look…foolish　in　the　eyes　of　her　peers。
　　　The　other　matron　mothers；　upon　hearing　that　the　duergar　were　no　longer　in　House　Zauvirr's　service；　had　washed　their　hands　of　the　alliance；　immediately　withdrawing　their　support　for　Ssipriina's　claims。　They　had　their　own　Houses　to　consider　and　couldn't　afford　to　weaken　themselves　further　in　a　lost　cause。
　　　Lost　cause！　Yes；　she　had　been　made　to　look　foolish；　and　she　would　not　have　that。　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　would　show　them　what　a　lost　cause　was。
　　　Let　the　rest　of　them　distance　themselves　from　her。　Let　them　rot　at　the　bottom　of　the　chasm。　She　was　not　going　to　let　these　setbacks　foil　her　plans。　Half　the　city　might　burn；　but　when　the　smoke　cleared；　House　Zauvirr　would　sit　at　the　top　of　the　heap。
　　　Khorrl　Xornbane　was　going　to　pay　as　well；　but　would　her　remaining　troops　be　enough？　Between　her　own　House　and　those　from　House　Melarn　who　had　switched　allegiance；　she　had　assembled　a　potent　army；　but　so　many　had　been　lost。
　　　That　was　Clan　Xornbane's　fault；　too。　They'd　let　the　battle　around　House　Melarn　get　out　of　control。　It　was　their　horrible　firepots　that　made　the　stone　burn；　that　allowed　the　House　to　fall。　It　was　needless　destruction；　brought　about　after　needless　fighting。
　　　Ssipriina　had　no　doubt　that　the　gray　dwarf　captain　had　spoken　the　truth。　Zammzt　could　very　well　have　been　behind　the　premature　exposure　of　her　mercenaries；　but　why？　Which　matron　mother　was　he　in　league　with？　Which　of　them　had　something　to　gain　by　watching　her　plans　build　up；　then　teeter　to　disaster？　There　were　so　many；　but　she　would　have　to　determine　that　later。
　　　Ssipriina　would　miss　Zammzt。　She　needed　his　efficiency；　his　battle　acumen。　She　didn't　have　enough　strategists　to　put　in　charge　of　the　forces　she'd　assembled。　The　ugly　male　would　have　served　in　that　capacity　nicely。　Faeryl　would　be　a　suitable　replacement；　but　she'd　not　been　seen　since　the　chaos　at　the　end　of　the　gathering　of　matron　mothers。　Ssipriina　suspected　that　her　daughter　had　perished　when　the　estate　crumbled　into　the　bottom　of　the　cavern。
　　　Foolish　girl；　the　matron　mother　thought。　Good　riddance。
　　　Sighing；　Ssipriina　shook　herself　out　of　her　musings　and　swept　her　gaze　one　last　time　over　her　undersized　army。　They　would　have　to　be　enough。　She　would　lead　them　herself；　and　they　would　be　enough。
　　　〃Gather　yourselves；〃　the　matron　mother　said；　moving　to　a　protected　place　in　the　middle　of　the　milling　mass　of　drow。　〃It's　time　to　claim　what's　ours。〃
　　　EIGHTEEN
　　　Pharaun　tried　to　stay　near　the　perimeter　of　the　city　as　he　made　his　way　toward　the　Flame　and　Serpent。　For　one　thing；