蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第28部分

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om　his　fingertips；　hurtled　across　the　intervening　space；　and　slammed　into　the　cleric's　torso。　She　stumbled　backward　and　collapsed。
A　wiry　male　with　deepset　eyes；　and　a　trace　of　a　scholar's　stoop；　Gelroos　peered　up　the　street　and　called；　〃Master　Mizzrym〃
〃So　much　for　my　ability　to　manufacture　a　nonmagical　disguise；〃　Pharaun　answered；　grinning；　〃but　then　we　do　know　one　another　fairly　well。〃
〃You're　allowed　to　try　to　kill　another　Master　of　Sorcere；〃　said　Gelroos。　〃That's　entirely　proper。　But　you　overstepped　when　you　struck　down　these　youths。　It　was　pointless　and　sloppy；　and　their　mothers　won't　appreciate　the　waste。　They'll　reward　me　for　taking　you　down。〃
〃Does　it　help　if　I　explain　that　all　I　do；　I　do　to　deliver　Menzoberranzan　from　twin　calamities？〃　Pharaun　asked。
Gelroos　raised　his　hands；　preparing　to　conjure；　and　the　remaining　warriors　charged。
〃Ah。　I　thought　not。〃
He　too　began　to　cast。
Gelroos　pleted　his　spell　a　moment　before　Pharaun　finished　his。　Crashing　and　crunching；　the　surface　of　the　lane　spat　stone　in　the　air。　It　was　like　a　geyser；　save　for　the　fact　that　the　chunks　of　rock　didn't　fall　back　to　earth。　Instead；　they　shifted　around　one　another　and　fitted　together；　forming　a　towering；　massive；　and　vaguely　drowlike　form；　like　a　heroic　statue　abandoned　when　the　sculptor　had　barely　begun。　Its　footsteps　shaking　the　ground；　the　creature　lurched　up　the　corridor　between　the　stalls。
Pharaun　was　mildly　impressed。　It　wasn't　easy　to　summon　and　control　an　essential　spirit　of　the　earth—nor　easy　to　fend　one　off；　either—but　the　manifestation　didn't　shake　his　concentration。　He　continued　his　recitation　without　a　flub；　meanwhile　floating　up　into　the　air　to　avoid；　if　only　momentarily；　the　swords　of　the　onrushing　warriors。
He　spoke　the　final　syllable　of　the　conjuration。　A　dagger　made　of　ice　flew　from　his　hand。　Gelroos　dodged　it；　but　the　conjured　blade　exploded；　peppering　its　target　with　frozen　shards。　One　slashed　open　the　mage's　cheek　and　he　stumbled；　but　Pharaun　could　tell　he　wasn't　seriously　hurt。
Below　the　Mizzrym；　some　of　the　warriors　were　readying　their　crossbows。　Others　began　to　levitate。　By　rushing　him；　they'd　drawn　even　with　the　game　merchant's　tent；　and　Ryld　burst　from　underneath　it。　Half　an　hour　earlier；　he'd　purchased　a　scimitar　to　use　in　this　particular　battle；　but　it　was　Splitter；　rendered　visible　by　his　touch；　that　he　currently　clasped　in　his　hands。　He　must　have　decided　that；　since　Gelroos　had　already　called　out　Pharaun's　name；　it　would　be　pointless　to　try　to　conceal　his　own　identity。
The　greatsword　leaped　back　and　forth；　each　stroke　dropping　a　foe　to　the　ground。　Bellowing　for　his　minions　to　turn　and　face　the　new　threat；　Ryld's　fellow　instructor　tried　to　shove　his　way　toward　him。
Stone；　liquid　as　magma；　flowed　upward　from　the　ground　into　the　elemental's　body。　Most　of　the　rock　served　to　grow　the　creature　bigger　and　taller；　but　some　of　it　accumulated　in　the　palm　of　its　hand；　forming　a　spiky　sphere　that　it　no　doubt　intended　to　hurl　at　Pharaun。
The　wizard　snatched　a　tiny　vial　of　water　from　one　of　his　pockets。　Brandishing　it；　he　chanted。　He　felt　the　walls　of　the　cosmos　attenuating；　and　for　a　moment；　sensed　an　infinite　number　of　Pharaun’s　conjuring　in　adjacent　realities；　receding　away　from　him　like　reflections　in　a　mirror；　growing　subtly　less　and　less　like　himself　with　each　step。
A　pulse　of　scarlet　light　struck　him　in　the　chest。　Gelroos　must　have　conjured　it。　The　blaze　of　pain　was　extraordinary。　Pharaun　strained　to　plete　the　last　word　of　power　and　final　mystic　pass　without　a　fumble。
He　wasn't　sure　he'd　succeeded　until　a　vacancy；　a　gap　not　in　matter　but　in　the　medium　that　underlies　it；　opened　under　the　elemental's　feet。　The　creature　cocked　back　its　arm　to　throw；　and　the　animating　force　fell　out　of　the　body　it　had　created　for　itself　and　down　the　hole。　The　wound　in　the　fabric　of　the　world　contracted　and　sealed　itself。　Rumbling　and　thudding；　the　huge　stone　form　fell　apart。
Pharaun　took　stock　of　himself。　It　didn't　look　as　if　the　red　light　had　done　more　than　scrape　and　prick　his　skin。　He　grinned　down　at　Gelroos。
〃Not　quite；　colleague。〃
〃This　time；〃　the　younger　wizard　said　through　gritted　teeth。
He　started　casting；　and　Pharaun　did　the　same。
Force　crackled　around　the　outcast　Mizzrym　but　failed　to　bite　into　his　flesh。　His　own　magic；　launched　from　the　same　round　little　mirror　he　used　to　check　his　appearance；　made　the　air　surrounding　Gelroos　tinkle　like　chiming　crystals。　The　junior　wizard　screamed；　and　in　the　blink　of　an　eye　he　was　transformed　into　an　inert　figure　made　of　cool；　smooth　glass。
Metal　rang　below　Pharaun's　feet。　He　looked　down。　Ryld　appeared　as　if　he　might　be　having　a　difficult　time　of　it；　but　a　conjured　barrage　of　ice；　flung　into　the　midst　of　the　surviving　students；　turned　the　tide。　Ryld　cut　down　his　fellow　Master　of　MeleeMagthere；　whirled　to　do　the　same　to　a　young　spearman；　and　the　fight　was　over。
Pharaun　surveyed　the　battlefield。　Though　burned　and　incapacitated；　some　of　the　warriorsintraining　were　still　alive；　but　that　was　all　right。　The　important　thing　had　always　been　to　murder　his　fellow　instructors。　That　was　what　would　impress　the　rogues。
He　floated　back　down　to　earth。　〃That　wasn't　too　difficult。　Looking　back；　it's　a　pity　we　didn't　slaughter　Greyanna　and　her　allies　in　the　same　fashion。〃
Ryld　grunted；　pulled　up　the　hem　of　a　fallen　fighter's　cloak；　and　wiped　the　blood　from　Splitter。
〃Can　you　shatter　Gelroos　before　we　decamp？〃　Pharaun　asked。　〃Otherwise；　he'll　eventually　revert　to　flesh　and　blood。〃
〃If　you　like。〃　Ryld　hefted　his　blade。
　
Chapter
F　　I　　F　　T　　E　　EN
Wrapped　in　a　plain；　dark　piwafwi；　the　cowl　drawn　over　her　head；　Quenthel　tramped　south　across　the　city。　The　experience　was　strange；　unique　in　her　personal　experience。　She　was　on　foot；　not　mounted　on　a　lizard　or　enthroned　on　a　floating　stone　disk。　She　was　alone；　not　acpanied　by　a　column　of　guards　and　servants；　and　most　strangely　of　all；　no　one　paid　her　any　real　attention。　Oh；　slaves　scurried　out　of　her　path；　and　males　offered　her　a　cursory　show　of　respect；　but　no　one　feared　her　or　cringed　in　awe　of　her。　Indeed；　she　herself　had　to　offer　obeisance　to　the　noble　females　she　encountered　along　the　way；　lest　their　soldiers　chastise　her　for　insolence。
It　was　galling；　unsettling；　and　somehow　tempting　as　well。　In　her　most　private　thoughts；　she'd　imagined　herself　simply　running　away　from　the　implacable　foe　who　worked　so　assiduously　to　kill　her。　It　might　be　the　only　way　she　could　survive。　If　she　opted　to　flee　this　minute；　she　was　already　off　to　a　good　start。　She'd　managed　to　slip　away　from　Tier　Breche　with　no　one；　she　hoped；　the　wiser。
Flight　was　a　cowardly　notion；　though；　unworthy　of　a　Baenre；　and　it　angered　her　when　she　entertained　it　even　for　a　moment。　Until　the　attacks　began；　she　never　had　before。　She　turned　a　corner；　and　Qu'ellarz'orl；　came　into　view。　Her　destination　was　nigh；　and　she　focused　her　thoughts　on　the　task　at　hand。
Sneaking　away　from　the　Academy　had　been　a　little　plicated。　First；　she'd　had　to　surreptitiously　lay　hands　on　nondescript　outerwear　that　would　allow　her　to　pass　for　a　moner。　Such　a　piwafwi　certainly　hadn't　existed　among　her　own　garments；　all　of　which　were　costly　and　bejeweled；　but　she'd　found　it　among　the　effects　of　one　of　the　kitchen　staff。　After　disposing　of　the　cook　lest　the　missing　garment　be　reported；　she　had　to　exit　ArachTinilith　without　anyone　realizing　it　was　her；　including　her　own　watchful　sentries。　Finally；　she　needed　to　skulk　to　the　edge　of　the　plateau　and　float　down　to　the　cavern　floor　below　without　the　guards　at　the　top　of　the　staircase　noticing。
She'd　managed　it；　though；　and　she　was　confident　of　her　ability　to　sneak　back　into　the　Academy；　even　after　the　plateau　had　been　put　on　a　state　of　heightened　security。
A　road　ran　up　the　eminence　that　was　Qu'ellarz'orl　to　the　castles　of　Menzoberranzan's　greatest　families。　It　wasn't　off　limits　to　moners。　Merchants　and　supplicants　used　it　all　the　time；　but　they　were　subject　to　search　and　interrogation　by　House　Baenre　patrols。
Quenthel　started　up　the　twisting　road　and　made　it　better　than　halfway　to　the　top　before　she　heard　the　distinctive　grunt　and　hiss　of　a　riding　lizard。　She　scurried　off　the　path　into　the　forest　of　giant；　phosphorescent　mushrooms；　where　she　crouched　behind　a　particularly　massive　specimen。
The　patrol；　a　mounted　officer　and　a　dozen　foot　soldiers；　marched　by　without　so　much　as　glancing　her　way。　Hiding　from　her　own　troops　was　another　bizarre；　almost　surreal　experience。
When　the　warriors　passed；　she　hurried　on　up　the　slope。　In　another　minute；　she　reached　the　top　of　the　rise。　Before　her　rose　the　most　opulent　fortresses　in　the　city。　At　the　easternmost　end　of　the　expanse；　House　Baenre　towered　on　the　highest　ground　of　all；　dwarfing　every　other　structure。
She　turned　her　steps　toward　the　tall；　slender　spire　known　as　Spelltower　Xorlarrin；　residence　of　the　Fifth　House。　Bands　of　shimmering　faerie　fire　striped　the　iron　walls。
She　climbed　the　steep　steps　to　the　gate　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　the　sentries　on　the　battlements。　Had　she　not　already　known　it；　their　vigilance　would　have　shown　that　she　could　maintain　plete　anonymity　no　longer。
Still；　she'd　do　the　best　she　could。
When　a　sentry　armed　with　spear　and　long　sword　strode　over　to　ask　her　business；　she　said；　〃I'm　going　to　show　you　something　remarkable。　Don't　let　your　amazement　show。〃
He　looked　skeptical。　He　lived　in　the　Spelltower；　after　all；　and　had　seen　his　share　of　marvels。
〃All　right；　ma'am。　Show　me；　if　you　will。〃
She　twitched　open　her　piwafwi；　giving　him　a　glimpse　of　the　Baenre　House　insignia　hanging　at　her　throat。
His　eyes　widened；　but　otherwise；　he　did　a　fair　job　of　doing　as　she'd　bade　him。
〃How　may　I　serve　you？〃　he　asked　softly；　the　slightest　quaver　in　his　voice。
〃I　want　to　enter　the　tower　without　anyone　paying　the　least　attention　to　me；　and　I　want　to　talk　to　your　matron　alone。〃
〃Please；　e　with　me。〃
The　guard　led　her　through　the　gate　and　into　a　confusion　of　service　passages　such　as　every　castle　possessed。　The　corridors　eventually　brought　them　into　a　nicely　appointed　room　with　fortablelooking　sandstone　chairs；　a　carnelianandobsidian　sava　set　awaiting　a　pair　of　players；　and　frescos　of　some　of　Lolth's　attendant　demons　adorning　the　walls。
Her　escort　departed　in　search　of　his　mistress；　leaving　Quenthel　to　prowl　restlessly　about　the　room。　Finally　the　door　opened；　and　Zeerith　Q'Zorlarrin　slipped　through。　Her　features　were　plain　and　nondescript；　but　she　was　notable　for　a　dignified　bearing　and　posure　that　rarely　failed　her　even　in　the　most　extreme　situations。　For　a　matron；　her　costume　was　rather　plain　and　austere。
The　two　princesses　saluted　one　another；　then　Zeerith　ushered　her　guest　to　a　seat。
〃When　Antatlab　told　me　you'd　e　without　a　single　guard；　I　wondered　if　he'd　gone　mad；〃　the　matron　remarked。
〃Can　I　trust　him　not　to　gossip　about　my　visit？〃
〃He's　discreet　enough。　Now；　may　I　ask　why　I'm　so　unexpectedly　enjoying　the　honor　of　your　pany？〃
Quenthel　related　the　events　of　the　past　three　nights。
〃If　I　still　possessed　my　magic；〃　she　concluded。　〃I　could　deal　with　this　matter　easily；　but　as　things　stand　。。。　I　need　help。〃
The　words　galled　her；　but　they　had　to　be　said。
〃Why　have　you　sought　it　here？〃　Zeerith　asked。
〃The　Xorlarrins　have　always　supported　the　Baenre　and　profited　thereby。　Try　as　I　might；　I　can't　think　of　a　pelling　reason　you'd　want　me　dead；　and　your　House　boasts　many　of　the　best　wizards　in　Menzoberranzan。　So；　if　I　must　trust　someone；　you're　a　good　chance。　Will　you　aid　me；　Matron？〃
Zeerith　took　her　time　replying。　Quenthel　knew　the　other　female　was　coldbloodedly　pondering　whether　to　help；　deny；　or　betray　her。　Where　did　the　greatest　advantage　lie？
〃Your　plight　is　an　outrage；〃　the　Xorlarrin　said　at　last；　〃an　affront　to　all　priestesses。　Of　course　I'll　aid　you。　For　ten　thousand　talents　of　gold；　and　your　support　when　my　clan's　dispute　with　House　Agrach　Dyrr　bees　public　knowledge。〃
〃What　dispute？〃
〃The　one　I'll　be　stirring　up　in　a　tenday　or　two。　Do　we　have　a　bargain？〃
Quenthel's　mouth　tightened。　If　she'd　e　to　the　Spelltower　in　the　full　panoply　of　a　Baenre　princess；　Zeerith　would　have　thought　twice　about　making　conditions；　but　by　arriving　incognito　the　mistress　had　shown　her　desperation　and　in　so　doing；　shifted　the　transaction　to　another　level。
〃Yes；〃　she　growled；　〃I　agree。〃
〃I　thank　you　for　your　generosity。　What　do　you　require？〃
〃Every　night；〃　said　Quenthel；　〃a　new　demon　es　to　kill　me；　and　I　fend　it　off　as　best　I　can。　If　this　goes　on；　a　night　will　e　when　the　entity　kills　me　instead。　I　need　to　do　more。　I　need　to　end　the　siege；　and　it's　my　hope　your　mages　know　a　way。　I　confess　I　don't。　I've　ransacked　every　vault；　chest；　and　drawer　in　ArachTinilith　and　found　nothing　that　will　serve。〃
〃So　that's　why　you　came　in　secret。　You　want　a　weapon；　and　you　don't　want　your　foe　to　know　about　it。　Otherwise；　he　might　take　countermeasures。〃
〃Correct。〃
Zeerith　rose。　〃We'll　ask　Horroodissomoth。　He　can　do　it　if　anyone　can；　and　he'll　keep　his　mouth　shut　after。〃
She　opened　the　door　and　directed　Antatlab；　who'd　been　standing　watch　outside；　to　go　and　fetch　her　patron　and　House　wizard。
Horroodissomoth　arrived　shortly　thereafter。　Quenthel　felt　a　little　twinge　of　disgust；　for　the　mage　was　the　antithesis　of　the　typical　vital　dark　elf　male。　His　features　were　lined　and　wrinkled；　and　his　posture；　bent。　Rumor　had　it　that　his　appearance　of　decrepitude　had　resulted　not　from　extreme　age　but　rather　some　dangerous　magical　experimentation。
Moving　stiffly；　all　but　creaking　audibly；　Horroodissomoth　tendered　obeisance　then；　at　Zeerith's　invitation；　settled　in　a　chair　to　listen　to　a　reprise　of　Quenthel's　story。　At　first　the　wizard's　demeanor　was　impassive；　perhaps　even　utterly　disinterested；　but　a　light　came　into　his　rheumy　eyes　when　he　realized　she　was　asking　him　to　solve　a　magical　problem。
〃Hmm；〃　he　said；　〃hmm。　I　think　I　might　have　something　that　will　help。　In　a　way；　I　regret　giving　it　to　you；　because　as　far　as　I　know；　it's　unique。　Even　we　Xorlarrins　don't　know　how　to　make　another。　But　on　the　other　hand；　I've　always　been　curious　to　see　if　it　actually　works。〃
Gossip　whispered　that　at　some　point　in　the　distant　past；　the　females　of　House　Ousstyl　had　interbred　with　humans。　Naturally　the　contemporary　Ousstyls　denied　it　and　would　do　their　meager　best　to　punish　anyone　they　suspected　of　passing　the　rumor。　Still；　as　Faeryl　gazed　across　the　table　atTalindra　Ousstyl；　Matron　Mother　of　the　Fiftysecond　House；　she　could　readily　believe　it。　Talindra　was　tall　and；　for　a　dark　elf；　extraordinarily　rawboned。　Her　jaw　was　too　square；　and　her　ears；　insufficiently　pointed。　Most　telling　of　all　was　the　scatter　of　empty　plates　before　her。　She'd　annihilated　every　morsel　of　her　sevencourse　supper　with　a　lesser　being's　insatiable　voracity。
Talindra　finished　with　a　juicy　belch。
〃Excuse　me。〃
〃Of　course；〃　Faeryl　said。　She　thought　she　heard　a　thump　issuing　from　elsewhere　in　the　ambassadorial　residence。　Inwardly；　she　flinched　but　Talindra　didn't　seem　to　notice　the　sound。
〃Well；〃　the　matron　said；　〃that　was　tasty；　but　I　believe　you　invited　my　brood　to　supper　and　spirited　me　away　to　this　private　room；　because　you　wanted　to　talk　of　something　more　important　than　cuisine。〃
Faeryl　smiled　and　said；　〃You've　found　me　out；　and　I　have　a　confession　to　make。　I　don't　always　devote　myself　to　the　interests　of　Ched　Nasad　as　a　whole。　Occasionally　I　work　solely　to　advance　the　fortunes　of　House　Zauvirr。〃
〃How　coul