war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第4部分

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　　　〃Find　us　a　way　around　this　。　。　。　thing；〃　Quenthel　said；　jabbing　her　finger　toward　the　massive　growth　before　she　turned　and　strode　back　to　her　own　pack　and　sank　down　to　the　floor。
　　　Pharaun　sighed　and　rolled　his　eyes；　knowing　he　had　pushed　the　high　priestess　too　far。　He　would　suffer　more　later　for　his　little　jibes。　He　looked　over　at　Faeryl　to　gauge　her　reaction　to　the　confrontation。　The　ambassador　from　Ched　Nasad　merely　shook　her　head　at　him；　scorn　plain　on　her　mien。
　　　〃I　would　think　you；　of　all　people；　would　be　more　than　a　little　disgruntled　that　she's　planning　to　strip　your　mother's　mercantile　pany　bare；〃　he　said　quietly　to　her。
　　　Faeryl　shrugged　and　said；　〃It's　no　concern　of　mine。　My　House　merely　works　for　her…for　House　Baenre　and　for　House　Melarn。　They　own　Black　Claw　together；　so　if　she　wants　to　steal　from　her　partners；　who　am　I　to　stop　her？　As　long　as　I　get　home　。　。　。〃
　　　Pharaun　was　surprised　to　actually　see　a　wistful　look　on　the　ambassador's　face。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　grunted　at　Faeryl's　response　and　turned　once　more　to　inspect　the　material　that　blocked　their　way。　He　was　both　fascinated　at　seeing　it　in　person　for　the　first　time　and　desperate　to　seek　a　possible　way　around　it。　He　knew　that　the　Araumycos　filled　countless　miles　of　caverns　in　this　part　of　the　Underdark；　but　travelers　had　sometimes　been　able　to　find　ways　around　or　through　it。
　　　Valas　was　already　climbing　up　the　surface　of　the　growth；　pressed　tightly　against　it；　working　his　way　toward　the　upper　reaches。　Pharaun　could　see　that　the　passage　they　had　followed　opened　into　what　must　be　a　larger　cavern；　for　the　ceiling；　like　the　passage　itself；　rose　abruptly。　He　could　see　that　the　scout　was　making　his　way　toward　a　narrow　gap　between　the　growth　and　the　side　of　the　cavern；　perhaps　hoping　that　there　was　a　way　to　squeeze　through；　though　to　where；　Pharaun　had　no　idea。
　　　Pharaun　considered　the　diminutive　mercenary　from　Bregan　D'aerthe　to　be　a　bit　uncouth；　but　nonetheless；　he　was　glad　the　wiry　guide　was　along　for　the　trip。
　　　〃How　long　do　we　have　before　that　gives　out？〃　Faeryl　asked；　staring　back　the　way　they　all　had　e；　back　toward　the　inky　blackness。
　　　Pharaun　was　surprised　that　she　spoke　to　him。　She　was　emboldened；　the　wizard　supposed；　from　their　earlier　conversation。　Not　bothering　to　look　at　the　ambassador；　Pharaun　continued　his　inspection；　producing　a　tiny　flame　at　the　tip　of　his　finger　with　which　he　began　scorching　the　fungus。　Where　the　fire　touched　the　growth；　it　blackened　and　withered；　but　it　did　not　burn　a　hole　through　to　anywhere。
　　　〃Not　long；〃　he　said。
　　　He　sensed　rather　than　saw　her　disfort　at　his　offhand　ment。　The　wizard　smiled　despite　himself　as　he　worked；　bemused　at　the　irony　of　Faeryl's　situation。　It　had　not　been　that　long　ago　that　she　had　been　desperate　to　make　this　journey；　to　return　to　her　home　city。
　　　Desperate　enough　to　try　sneaking　out　of　Menzoberranzan　and　crossing　Triel　Baenre；　the　most　powerful　matron　mother　in　the　city；　in　the　process。　Faeryl　had　failed；　of　course。　She　had　been　captured　at　the　gates；　and　she　had　wound　up　as　Jeggred's　imprisoned　plaything　to　boot。　Pharaun　could　only　imagine　what　the　draegloth　might　have　been　doing　to　her　in　the　name　of　sport；　but　somehow　the　Zauvirr　had　earned　a　reprieve　from　Triel　and　had　been　assigned　to　participate　in　this　little　excursion　to　Ched　Nasad。
　　　In　the　end；　Faeryl　had　achieved　what　she　wanted；　but　the　wizard　wondered　if　she　was　still　glad　of　it；　despite　her　previous　remarks。　Even　if　she　did　get　home；　she　was　faced　with　the　prospect　of　informing　her　mother；　the　matron　mother　of　House　Zauvirr；　that　Quenthel　was　ing　to　take　everything。　Absolutely　everything。　Regardless　of　the　feasibility　of　such　a　move　and　the　contingent's　ability　to　actually　pull　it　off　unmolested　by　House　Melarn；　Faeryl　and　her　mother　would　be　the　ones　caught　in　the　middle。　He　did　not　envy　her　position。
　　　Plus；　every　time　Jeggred　so　much　as　turned　his　gaze　in　her　direction；　she　flinched　and　moved　away。　The　fiend　seemed　to　enjoy　this；　taking　every　opportunity　to　enhance　the　ambassador's　disfort　through　a　suggestive　smile；　a　lick　of　his　lips；　or　a　studied　examination　of　his　razor…sharp　claws。　It　was　clear　to　Pharaun　that　Faeryl　was　close　to　fully　losing　her　posure。　If　that　happened；　he　supposed　they　might　have　to　actually　let　the　draegloth　have　her　and　be　done　with　it。
　　　Then；　of　course；　there　was　the　matter　of　the　supplies。　Faeryl；　like　the　rest　of　the　members　of　the　small　excursion；　had　been　forced　to　carry　her　own　belongings　for　the　better　part　of　a　tenday；　something　no　high…born　dark　elf　was　accustomed　to。　Sedan　chairs　borne　by　slaves　and　porters　was　more　her　style；　as　it　was　Quenthel's。　Leaving　those　thralls　behind　to　stave　off　pursuit　had　been　regrettable　but　necessary；　and　even　with　Jeggred's　ability　to　carry　a　substantial　portion　of　the　load；　the　rest　of　them　still　had　sizable　burdens。　He　could　hardly　blame　Faeryl　if　she　was　wondering　whether　this　journey　was　nothing　more　than　a　huge　mistake。
　　　From　Quenthels　demeanor　it　seemed　she　already　knew　that；　or　perhaps　didn't　care　if　Lolth's　silence　extended　as　far　as　Ched　Nasad　at　least　and　that　their　journey　of　exploration　had　bee　more　akin　to　a　raid。　That　was　fine　with　Pharaun；　but　still　he　suspected　there　would　be　more　to　take　from　Ched　Nasad　than　a　store　of　magical　trinkets。
　　　Glancing　at　his　pack　once　more　and　feeling　the　tension　in　his　own　shoulders；　Pharaun　wished　for　maybe　the　tenth　time　that　day　that　he　could　summon　a　magical　disk　to　bear　their　supplies。　So　many　of　the　drow　noble　Houses　made　steady　use　of　such　a　handy　spell　that　the　matron　mothers　generally　insisted　their　House　wizards　learn　it　while　attending　Sorcere；　the　arcane　branch　of　the　Academy。　Pharaun　had　never　bothered　to　familiarize　himself　with　it；　though；　since　he　had　his　haversack　with　its　magically　roomy　interior。　Even　loaded　up　with　all　of　his　grimoires；　scrolls；　and　more　mundane　supplies；　it　weighed　a　fraction　of　what　a　normal　pack　would。　Besides；　back　at　the　Academy；　if　he　had　ever　had　cause　to　transport　something　with　the　magical　disk；　there　was　always　a　ready　supply　of　students　on　hand　who　could　have　performed　the　task　for　him。　Still　。　。　。
　　　Pharaun　dismissed　the　notion；　reminding　himself　for　the　tenth　time　that　his　magic　was　an　all…too…precious　modity。　With　the　goddess　Lolth　still　strangely　silent；　none　of　her　priestesses　could　gain　the　favor　of　her　divine　magic；　leaving　both　Quenthel　and　Faeryl　severely　hampered　and　limited　in　power。　The　wilds　of　the　Underdark　were　no　place　to　be　while　vulnerable。　Besides；　there　was　no　small　amount　of　satisfaction　in　watching　Quenthel；　the　High　Priestess　of　Arach…Tinilith；　the　clerical　branch　of　the　Academy；　labor　with　her　burden。
　　　Quenthel　sniffed；　startling　Pharaun　out　of　his　reverie。　The　high　priestess　gestured　toward　where　the　scout　was　still　climbing。　Only　his　legs　were　still　visible。　The　rest　of　him　disappeared　into　the　crevice　formed　between　the　wall　of　the　cavern　and　the　fungus。
　　　She　turned　to　Ryld　and　said；　〃Your　friend　is　looking　for　a　way　through。　Stop　daydreaming　and　help　him。〃　Turning　then　to　Pharaun；　she　added；　〃You；　too。〃
　　　Deciding　that　he　had　tormented　her　enough　for　the　moment；　especially　with　Jeggred　so　near；　Pharaun　smiled　and　bowed　low；　flourishing　his　piwafwi；　then　continued　to　examine　the　Araumycos。
　　　As　Ryld　joined　him；　the　wizard　muttered；　〃Its　times　like　these　when　I　find　her　most　charming；　eh？〃
　　　〃You　shouldn't　taunt　her；〃　Ryld　murmured　back；　sliding　along　in　front　of　the　fungus　and　reaching　for　his　short　sword。　〃All　you're　going　to　do　is　cause　us　anguish　later。〃
　　　He　took　an　experimental　swipe　and　sliced　a　section　of　the　growth　away　from　the　main　body。　It　fell　to　the　floor　at　his　feet；　and　he　bent　to　pick　it　up；　but　it　was　already　beginning　to　blacken　and　decay。
　　　〃Oh；　I　think　you　mean　'me；'　my　stout　friend；〃　the　wizard　replied；　removing　a　small　vial　of　acid　from　a　hidden　pocket　in　his　piwafwi　and　pouring　the　contents　on　the　surface　of　the　fungus。　〃I'll　be　inundated　with　enough　anguish　for　the　lot　of　us　before　we　ever　reach　Ched　Nasad；　I　fear。〃
　　　Where　the　liquid　coated　the　growth；　the　fungus　began　to　sizzle　and　blacken。
　　　Ryld　paused　and　cast　a　glance　over　at　his　friend。　The　warrior　looked　taken　aback。　Despite　their　many　years　of　friendship；　Pharaun　knew　that　even　Ryld　still　occasionally　found　the　wizard's　behavior　uncouth。
　　　It's　the　price　I　pay　for　my　winning　personality　and　clever　wit；　Pharaun　told　himself　wryly。
　　　He　watched　as　a　reasonably　sized　hole　was　eaten　through　the　fungus。　There　was　only　more　fungus　beyond　it。
　　　〃We　could　try　to　hack　or　burn　our　way　through　this　stuff　forever；〃　Ryld　grumbled；　moving　farther　along　the　face　of　the　blockage　to　a　point　directly　beneath　where　Valas　had　ascended。　〃There's　no　telling　how　deep　or　how　thick　it　is。〃
　　　〃True；　but　it's　fascinating；　nonetheless。　Thus　far；　I　have　discovered　that　it　can　be　damaged　by　acid；　fire；　and　physical　cuts。　Regardless；　the　pieces　I　remove　simply　dissolve　into　a　dark；　decayed　mass。　Remarkable！　I　wonder　if…〃
　　　〃I　certainly　hope　you　don't　mean　to　tell　me　that　you're　exhausting　all　of　your　potent　wizardly　forces　on　this　thing；〃　Ryld　asked；　glancing　back　at　the　still…darkened　curtain　of　magic　behind　them。　〃We　may　need　your　tricks　far　more　desperately　in　a　moment。〃
　　　〃Don't　be　dull…witted；　my　blade…wielding　panion；〃　Pharaun　answered；　tucking　a　piece　of　rosy　stone　back　into　a　pocket。
　　　〃With　my　talents；　I　have　more　than　enough　to　go　around　for　everyone；　even　our　charming　pursuers。〃
　　　Ryld　grunted；　and　at　that　point　a　large　hunk　of　fungus　hit　the　floor　of　the　cavern　at　Ryld's　feet；　already　in　the　process　of　blackening。　Ryld　took　a　single　step　back；　out　of　the　line　of　fire；　as　several　more　pieces　plopped　down　where　he　had　been　standing。
　　　〃It　would　appear　that　Valas　is　cutting　his　way　through　to　somewhere；〃　Pharaun　observed；　peering　up　to　where　the　scout　had；　until　recently；　been　visible。　〃I　wonder　if　he's　just　experimenting　or　if　he　has　actually　discovered　a　means　of　egress。〃
　　　The　wizard　craned　his　neck；　trying　to　get　a　clearer　view。
　　　〃There's　a　way　through　up　here；〃　Valas　said；　reappearing　in　full。　〃e　on。〃
　　　〃Well；　that　answers　that　question。　Time　to　go；〃　Pharaun　said；　turning　to　the　rest　of　the　group。　He　directed　Quenthel　and　Faeryl　upward；　pointing　to　where　the　scout　was　visible。　〃We　only　have　a　few　more　moments　before　my　wall　of　force　wears　off。〃
　　　The　other　drow　and　the　draegloth　began　floating　upward；　able　to　ascend　through　the　magic　of　their　House　insignias。　One　by　one；　they　disappeared　through　some　unseen　hole　until　only　Pharaun　was　left。　He　began　to　magically　rise　up　himself；　realizing　for　the　first　time　just　how　glad　he　was　that　they　were　not　turning　back　to　fight　more　of　the　tanarukks。
　　　
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　　　Aliisza　smiled　as　she　watched　the　last　of　her　tanarukk　charges　tremble　and　lie　still。　The　black　tentacles　that　had　destroyed　them　still　curled　and　flailed；　looking　for　anything　new　to　latch　onto。　The　alu…fiend　was　careful　to　stay　out　of　reach　of　the　grasping　black　appendages；　though　she　knew　that　she　could　have　removed　them　magically；　if　necessary。　In　fact；　she　could　have　intervened　and　dismissed　the　wizard's　spell；　rescuing　her　charges；　but　she　had　decided　against　it；　and　it　wasn't　because　she　feared　to　waste　the　spell。　She　was　more　curious　than　anything。
　　　Aliisza　knew　that　the　dark　elves　and　their　demon　would　be　more　than　capable；　as　drow　tended　to　be。　She　moved　back　along　the　passage　through　which　she　and　her　squad　of　tanarukks　had　followed　the　drow；　knowing　that　at　least　two　of　them　had　seen　her。　Yet　they　continued　to　turn　away；　as　though　they　were　running；　Aliisza　doubted　the　drow　were　there　for　any　reason　related　to　Kaanyr　Vhok。
　　　The　alu　wasted　no　time　returning　to　the　point　at　which　she　had　set　out　with　only　the　single　squad；　rejoining　the　larger　force　of　which　they　had　been　a　part；　the　force　she　manded。
　　　〃They　have　moved　into　higher　halls；〃　she　announced　to　the　milling　tanarukks；　directing　them　along　a　new　route。　〃We　will　cut　them　off　at　Blacktooth　Rock。　Do　not　tarry。　They　move　fast。〃
　　　With　barely　more　than　a　grumble；　the　horde　of　humanoids　set　off；　and　it　didn't　take　them　more　than　a　few　minutes　to　reach　the　great　intersection　known　to　the　Scourged　Legion　as　Blacktooth　Rock。　It　was　a　large；　multi…leveled　chamber　where　many　different　passages　connected；　and　Aliisza　wasn't　even　sure　what　the　dwarves　who'd　cut　the　chamber　once　used　it　for。　Much　of　it　had　been　filled　with　the　fungus　colony　the　stoutfolk　called　Araumycos。　There　were　still　enough　open　passages　there；　however；　that　patrols　of　the　Scourged　Legion　passed　through　frequently；　and　she　knew　that　unless　they　utilized　some　magic　to　change　their　course；　the　passage　the　drow　had　taken　to　escape　would　ultimately　lead　them　there　as　well。
　　　The　alu…fiend　was　still　considering　what　she　would　do　upon　confronting　the　drow　when　her　small　battalion　of　tanarukks　intercepted　a　second　contingent　of　the　humanoids；　one　she　had　sent　to　cut　off　escape　along　another　route。
　　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　she　asked　the　sergeant；　though　she　was　actually　glad　for　the　reinforcements。　〃I　assigned　you　to　the　Columned　Chamber　to　watch　for　anything　ing　from　the　north。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　the　sergeant　answered。　He　was　a　hulking　specimen　who　stood　a　good　head　taller　than　any　of　his　fellows；　his　speech　thick　due　to　his　prominent　tusks。　〃But　we　got　word　that　a　large　force　of　gray　dwarves　was　spotted　moving　through　the　south　part　of　Am…marindar；　and　a　second　patrol；　one　that　had　been　stationed　farther　to　the　north　and　east；　has　pletely　disappeared。〃
　　　〃By　the　Abyss；〃　Aliisza　whispered。　〃What　is　going　on？〃　She　considered　for　a　moment；　then　issued　orders　for　a　small　squad　of　tanarukks　to　return　to　Vhok's　palace　to　report　the　news；　while　she　and　the　remainder　of　the　force　continued　to　pursue　the　drow。
　　　They　know　something　about　all　this；　she　told　herself　as　they　set　out；　and　I'm　going　to　find　out　what　it　is。
　　　
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　　　Pharaun　no　longer　jumped　whenever　Ryld　silently　returned　after　skulking　along　the　group's　back　trail；　so　he　showed　no　reaction　when　the　warrior　suddenly　materialized　in　the　group's　midst。　Splitter　was　still　sheathed　across　the　master　of　Melee…Magthere's　back；　so　Pharaun　knew　that　they　were　in　no　immediate　danger。　Nonetheless；　he　paid　careful　attention　as　his　old　friend　began　to　convey　a　report　to　Quenthel　in　the　silent　hand　language　of　the　drow。
　　　Our　pursuers　are　on　our　trail　again；　the　burly　warrior　signaled。　Several　squads；　all　closing　the　gap。
　　　The　snake　heads　hissed；　echoing　their　mistress's　irritation　at　this　news　before　Quenthel　quieted　them　with　a　whispered　word。
　　　How　long　before　we　are　overtaken？　she　responded。
　　　In　the　darkness；　Pharaun　saw　Ryld　shrug。　Perhaps　ten　minutes；　no　more。
　　　Quenthel　replied；　We　must　rest；　at　least　for　a　few　moments　longer。　Besides；　Valas　has　not　yet　returned。　Figure　out　which　way　he　went。
　　　She　gestured　at　the　intersection。　Ryld　nodded　and　moved　to　examine　the　walls　near　the　three…way　tunnel。　If　Valas　had　left　some　sign　of　the　direction　he'd　taken；　Ryld　would　find　it；　and　they　could　continue。
　　　Pharaun　sighed；　re