蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第43部分

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tion；　his　wealth；　and　his　homeland　at　stake；　Gromph　was　resolved　to　make　this　one　of　those　times。
After　the　mages　chanted　for　fifteen　minutes；　power　began　to　whisper　and　sting　through　the　air。　The　archmage　tapped　the　beater　to　the　gong；　sounding　a　clashing；　shivering　tone。　At　once　a　vaster　note　answered　and　obscured　the　first；　a　booming；　grinding；　deafening　roar。　Gromph's　subordinates　flinched；　but　the　Baenre　smiled　in　satisfaction；　because　the　noise　was　thunder。
Perched　high　in　the　side　cavern；　the　residents　of　Sorcere　had　an　excellent　view　of　what　transpired　next。　The　air　at　the　top　of　the　great　vault；　already　thick　with　smoke；　grew　denser　still　as　masses　of　vapor　materialized。　The　shapeless　shadows　flickered　like　great　translucent　dragons　with　fire　leaping　in　their　bellies。　Following　each　flash；　they　bellowed　that　godlike　hammering　blast；　as　if　the　flames　pained　them。
Gromph　knew　that　many　of　the　folk　in　the　city　below　had　no　idea　what　was　occurring—it　was　possible　that　even　some　of　his　erudite　colleagues　didn't　know—but　whether　they　understood　or　not；　clouds；　lightning；　and　weather　were　paying　a　call　on　the　hitherto　changeless　depths　of　the　Underdark。
As　one；　the　clouds　dropped　torrents　of　water　to　fall　in　frigid　veils。　The　Baenre　could　hear　the　sizzling　sound　as　it　pounded　the　cavern　wall。
〃That's　impressive；〃　said　Guldor；　〃but　are　you　sure　it　will　put　out　the　flames？　The　fire's　magical；　after　all。〃
Gromph's　bruise　gave　him　a　twinge。
〃Yes；　instructor；〃　he　growled；　〃because　I'm　not　an　inpetent　from　a　House　of　no　account。　I'm　a　Baenre　and　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　。　。　。　and　I'm　sure。〃
Before　it　was　over；　Pharaun　lost　track　of　how　many　battles　he　and　his　rades　had　fought。　He　only　knew　they　kept　winning　them；　through　superior　tactics　more　than　anything　else；　and　that　despite　their　losses；　their　numbers　kept　growing；　swelled　by　garrisons　that　had　fought　their　way　out　of　their　castles。
Occasionally　the　ragtag　army　came　upon　a　section　of　the　city　that　had　already　been　pacified；　and　though　he　never　caught　so　much　of　a　glimpse　of　them；　Pharaun　knew　Bregan　D'aerthe　was　fighting　in　concert　with　his　own　pany。　It　was　as　much　a　fort　as　anything　could　be　on　this　fierce　and　desperate　night。
Finally　the　army　from　Tier　Breche　encountered　an　equally　impressive　force　under　Matron　Baenre's　mand。　The　two　panies　united　and　marched　on　Narbondellyn；　where　several　bugbears　with　some　degree　of　martial　experience　had　striven　to　anize　thousands　of　their　fellow　undercreatures　into　a　force　capable　of　withstanding　their　masters'　wrath。
The　great　stone　pillar　of　Narbondel　shone　above　fighting　that　was　wild　and　chaotic。　Miraculously；　partway　through；　the　upper　reaches　of　the　cavern　began　to　storm；　allaying　Pharaun's　greatest　fear。　An　hour　later；　the　drow　swept　in　and　annihilated　the　opposing　force；　and　thus　they　took　their　homeland　back。
In　the　aftermath；　the　wizard　walked　through　the　downpour；　looking　this　way　and　that。　Strands　of　wet　hair　clung　to　his　forehead；　and　his　boots　squelched。　As　a　mage；　he　had　to　concede　the　storm　was　a　glorious　achievement；　to　say　nothing　of　the　salvation　of　Menzoberranzan；　but　it　was　a　pity　his　colleagues　couldn't　have　acplished　the　same　thing　without　wreaking　havoc　on　everyone's　appearance　and　chilling　them　to　the　bone。
The　Mizzrym　grinned。　Neither　Quenthel　nor　Triel　was　anywhere　around。　He'd　taken　direction　from　them　all　night；　willingly　enough；　but　he　wanted　to　mand　the　finale　of　this　extraordinary　affair　himself；　and　their　absence　gave　him　an　excuse　to　proceed　without　consulting　them。
He　cast　about　once　more　and　spied　Welverin　Freth。　The　capable　weapons　master　of　the　Nineteenth　House；　Welverin　excelled　at　bat　despite　the　seeming　impediment　of　a　prosthetic　silver　leg；　and　had　fought　in　tandem　with　Pharaun　several　times　during　the　night。　Currently　he　was　huddled　in　a　doorway　conferring　with　two　of　his　lieutenants。
〃Weapons　Master〃　Pharaun　called。
Welverin　looked　up　and　gave　him　a　nod。　〃How　can　I　help　you；　Master　Mizzrym？〃
〃How　would　you　like　to　help　me　kill　the　creature　responsible　for　this　insurrection？〃
The　warrior's　eyes　narrowed　and　he　said；　〃Is　this　another　of　your　jokes？〃
〃By　no　means。　But　if　we're　going　to　do　this；　we'd　better　do　it　quickly；　before　our　quarry　slinks　away　into　the　Underdark。　I　trust　that　you　and　your　troops　can　ride　aerial　mounts？〃
Pharaun　gestured　to　the　giant　bats；　created　by　some　enchanter；　penned　in　a　nearby　latticework　dome。　It　seemed　a　petty　miracle　they'd　survived　the　rebellion　unsuffocated　and　unburned。
〃Where　do　they　keep　the　tack？〃　Welverin　asked；　peering　at　the　cage。
　
C　h　a　p　t　e　r　　
T　　W　　E　　N　　T　　Y
F　0　U　R
Water　dripping　from　the　hem　of　his　cloak；　Pharaun　found　that　the　layout　of　the　renegades'　fortress　wasn't　quite　so　perplexing　when　he　wasn't　dodging　hunters　and　suffering　the　brainjangling　aftereffects　of　a　psionic　assault。　The　empty；　echoing　rooms　and　corridors　still　seemed　just　as　ominous；　however；　just　as　fitting　an　abode　for　wraiths　and　maledictions。
The　Mizzrym　watched　Welverin　and　the　other　warriors　of　House　Freth　to　see　if　the　place　was　unsettling　them。　It　didn't　look　like　it。　Perhaps　they　were　too　brave。　Or　perhaps　the　fresh；　butchered　corpses　littering　the　floor　turned　their　thoughts　from　shadowy　terrors　to　the　monplace　violence　that　was　their　profession。
They　found　the　bodies；　often　cut　in　two　or　more　pieces；　lying　here　and　there　about　the　castle。　Pharaun　was　astonished　at　the　quantity。　Apparently　poor　wounded　Ryld　had　had　a　nice　long　homicidal　run　of　it　before　the　conspirators　slew　him。　Perhaps　it　had　even　required　Syrzan　to　do　the　job。
In　retrospect；　Pharaun　wondered　why　the　alhoon　hadn't　joined　the　search　for　the　escaped　prisoners　right　from　the　start。　Maybe　giving　the　Call　had　temporarily　depleted　its　strength。
The　Master　of　Sorcere　led　the　soldiers　into　a　long；　spacious　hall　with　a　large　dais　at　the　far　end。　there；　no　doubt；　a　matron　mother　had　held　court　and　also　dined；　judging　by　the　benches　and　trestle　tables　stacked　in　an　alcove。　Carved　and　painted　spiders　crawled　everywhere；　a　sort　of　mask；　Pharaun　supposed；　given　that　the　former　tenants　of　the　keep　had　petitioned　other　deities　in　private。　Sheets　of　genuine　spiderweb　veiled　the　artwork。
Welverin　said；　〃Look。〃
Pharaun　turned　his　head；　then　caught　his　breath　in　surprise。　Ryld　Argith　had　just　stepped　from　the　mouth　of　a　servants'　passage　midway　up　the　lefthand　wall。
The　weapons　master's　strides　were　even　and　sure　despite　his　wounded　leg。　He　was　noticeably　thinner；　as　if　his　body　was　burning　fuel　at　a　prodigious　rate；　and　somehow　he'd　recovered　Splitter。
The　soldiers　aimed　their　crossbows。
〃No〃　Pharaun　said。　Not　yet；　anyway。
Ryld　pivoted　toward　the　newers　and　stalked　forward。　His　eyes　were　intent　yet　somehow　empty；　his　face；　expressionless；　and　he　seemed　indifferent　to　the　weapons　leveled　at　his　burly　frame。　One　warrior　muttered　uneasily；　as　if　he'd　mistaken　the　Master　of　MeleeMagthere　for　a　ghost。　Pharaun　knew　better；　he　recognized　a　deep　trance　when　he　saw　one。　Evidently　his　friend　had　utilized　some　esoteric　martial　discipline　to　keep　himself　alive。
〃Ryld　I　knew　you　could　defeat　Houndaer　and　the　rest　of　those　buffoons。　Otherwise　I　never　would　have　left　you。〃
The　he　sounded　thin　even　to　the　liar。
Certainly　it　didn't　impress　Ryld。　Perhaps　in　his　altered　statue　of　consciousness；　he　hadn't　even　heard　it　or　recognized　his　fellow　master；　either。　He　just　kept　ing。
〃Wake　up〃　the　wizard　said。　〃It's　me；　Pharaun；　your　friend。　I　came　back　to　rescue　you。　These　boys　hail　from　House　Freth；　and　they're　our　allies。〃
Ryld　took　another　gliding　swordsman's　advance；　still　directly　toward　the　Master　of　Sorcere。
I'm　sorry；　Pharaun　thought；　but　this　time　you　bring　it　on　yourself。　He　drew　breath　to　give　the　order　to　shoot；　and　shapes　surged　through　the　three　tall　arched　doorways　at　the　rear　of　the　dais。
In　the　lead　capered　several　humansized　creatures　wrapped　in　lengths　of　clattering　chain。　They　were　kytons；　malign　spirits　whom　mages　could　summon　and　control。　Behind　the　devils　strode　the　surviving　conspirators；　and　Syrzan　in　its　decaying　robes。
Ryld　wheeled　and　oriented　on　the　conspirators。　The　rogues　shot　a　flight　of　whistling　quarrels；　and　the　Freth　warriors　responded　in　kind。　The　renegades　had　the　advantage　of　their　elevated　platform；　and　the　soldiers；　of　numerical　superiority；　but　neither　volley　dropped　more　than　a　smattering　of　its　targets。　The　batants　were　too　well　armored；　by　metal；　magic；　or　both。
Eager　to　see　if　swords　would　serve　where　the　darts　had　failed；　the　Freth　soldiers　howled　a　battle　cry　and　charged。　Most　of　them；　anyway。　In　his　deep；　booming　voice；　Welverin　ordered　some　of　the　troops　back　outside　to　find　their　way　around　to　the　entrances　the　traitors　had　used　and　attack　them　from　the　rear。　Not　a　bad　idea；　but　Pharaun　thought　the　warriors　had　a　good　chance　of　getting　lost　instead
Whirling　loose　lengths　of　chain；　eight　kytons；　each　a　match　for　a　dozen　ordinary　fighters；　leaped　down　off　the　stage　to　meet　the　oning　foe。　The　rogues　remained　on　the　platform　with　Syrzan；　where　they　started　reloading　their　crossbows　with　the　obvious　intention　of　shooting　down　into　the　melee。
Pharaun　decided　he　wouldn't　allow　that。　He　levitated　above　his　rades；　thus　obtaining　a　clear　shot　at　the　dais。
He　felt　a　twinge　in　the　center　of　his　forehead；　but　only　for　a　second。　As　he'd　expected；　Syrzan　had　attacked　first　with　a　psionic　thrust；　not　realizing　its　foe　had　warded　himself　against　such　effects　with　apposite　talismans　and　spells。
This　time；　the　Mizzrym　thought；　you'll　have　to　fight　me　charm　to　charm　and　spell　to　spell。
To　his　surprise；　he　received　an　answer；　a　telepathic　voice　grating　and　buzzing　inside　his　mind。
So　be　it；　mammal；　the　alhoon　said。　Either　way；　I'll　have　revenge　on　the　wretch　who　condemned　me　to　exile　yet　again。
Even　as　he　attended　to　Syrzan's　threat；　Pharaun　was　murmuring　an　incantation　and　manipulating　a　little　steel　tube。　A　bright　pellet　of　flame　hurtled　from　the　open　end；　expanding　into　a　skullsized　orb　as　it　flew。　It　smashed　into　one　of　the　renegades　on　the　dais；　rebounded；　and　struck　another。　It　bounced　and　slashed　back　and　forth　across　the　platform；　sowing　a　zigzag　trail　of　sparks　and　afterimage　in　its　wake；　striking　everyone。　Before　it　winked　out　of　existence；　it　killed　a　good　many　of　the　rogues　or　turned　them　into　reeling；　flailing　living　torches；　whom　their　own　allies　had　to　slay　lest　they　ignite　them　as　well。　Syrzan；　however；　was　unaffected。
Below　his　feet；　Pharaun　glimpsed　the　clash　of　stabbing；　cutting　blades　and　spinning　chains。　As　they　flailed　at　their　adversaries；　the　kytons；　who　resembled　oozing；　festering　corpses　within　their　coiled　armor　of　chains；　altered　their　features。　The　devils　had　the　capacity　to　take　on　the　appearance　of　a　deceased　intimate　from　an　enemy's　past。　Supposedly　svirfneblin　and　their　ilk　found　this　deeply　distressing；　but　it　was　only　slightly　disfiting　to　representatives　of　a　race　that　did　not　love。
Ryld　was　at　the　forefront　of　the　fighting；　sweeping　Splitter　about　with　all　his　accustomed　strength　and　skill。　Pharaun　was　glad　to　see　that　his　friend　was　only　striking　at　the　demons。
Mouth　tentacles　writhing；　bulbous　eyes　glaring；　Syrzan　lifted　its　threefingered　hands　to　conjure。　Around　it；　many　of　the　rogues　who　still　survived　jumped　off　the　dais。　Evidently　they'd　rather　fight　the　Freth　warriors　on　the　floor　than　stand　near　the　alhoon　while　Pharaun　threw　spells　at　it。
The　Master　of　Sorcere　was　surprised　that　so　few　of　the　traitors　simply　tried　to　run　away。　Certainly　loyalty—that　alien　conceit—didn't　hold　them　there。　They　must　have　known　that　with　their　schemes　thwarted；　their　conspiracy　revealed；　they　were　outlaws；　outcast　from　all　they　coveted　and　cherished。　Perhaps　their　plight　filled　them　with　such　rage　that　they　prized　vengeance　above　survival。
As　Syrzan　wove　magic；　its　dark　elf　counterpart　was　hastily　doing　the　same。　The　lich　finished　first。　A　blaze　of　lightning；　kin　to　those　still　twisting　and　forking　through　the　open　air　outside；　leaped　from　its　parched；　scaling　hand；　crackled　entirely　through　Pharaun's　torso；　and　burned　a　black　spot　on　the　ceiling。
Pharaun's　muscles　clenched；　and　his　hair　lifted　away　from　his　head；　but　his　protections　averted　any　real　harm。　Indeed；　the　attack　didn't　even　disrupt　his　own　conjuring。　On　the　final　word；　he　thrust　out　his　hand；　releasing　a　wave　of　cold；　fluttering　shadows　like　ghostly　bats。
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Screeching　and　chattering；　the　phantoms　swooped　and　whirled　about　the　alhoon；　slashing　at　it　with　their　claws。　The　mind　flayer　growled　a　word　in　some　infernal　tongue；　and　a　jagged　crack　snaked　up　one　of　the　walls。　Pharaun's　illusory　minions　vanished。
The　Mizzrym　extracted　five　glass　marbles　from　one　of　his　pockets；　rolled　them　dexterously　in　his　palm；　and　rattled　off　a　brief　tercet。　A　quintet　of　luminous　spheres　appeared　in　the　air　and　shot　toward　Syrzan；　attacking　it　with　fire；　sound；　cold；　acid；　and　lightning　simultaneously。　Surely　at　least　one　of　those　forces　would　pierce　its　defenses。
Syrzan　gave　a　rasping；　clacking　shriek　and　swept　its　hand　through　the　air。　In　an　instant；　the　orbs　reversed　their　courses；　streaking　back　at　their　source　as　fast　as　they'd　sped　away。
Caught　by　surprise；　Pharaun　nonetheless　attempted　to　dodge　in　the　only　manner　possible。　He　restored　his　weight　and　dropped　toward　the　floor　like　a　stone。　Two　of　the　radiant　projectiles　streaked　past　him　to　explode　against　the　ceiling。　Two　more　simply　vanished　when　they　came　into　contact　with　his　piwafwi。　The　fifth　ghosted　into　his　chest。
The　loudest　scream　he'd　ever　heard　shook　his　bones；　jabbed　agony　through　his　ears；　and　smashed　his　thoughts　to　pieces。　Stunned；　he　kept　plummeting　until　he　smashed　down　in　the　midst　of　the　melee。
For　a　moment　he　simply　lay　amidst　scores　of　shifting；　stamping　feet；　then　his　mind　focused；　and　he　realized　he　needed　to　get　off　the　floor　before　somebody　trampled　him。　He　started　to　scramble　up；　and　a　swinging　length　of　chain　struck　him　on　the　temple。
It　was　just　a　glancing　blow；　but　it　knocked　him　back　down。　A　kyton　loomed　over　him；　whirling　its　flexible　weapons　around　for　another　attack。　The　spirit　had　Sabal's　face。
Pharaun　pointed　his　finger　and　rattled　off　a　spell；　realizing　partway　through　that　he　couldn't　hear　himself—or　anything　else。　Seconds　before；　the　battle　had　been　a　hammering　cacophony；　but　it　had　fallen　silent。
Luckily　he　didn't　need　to　hear　his　voice　to　recite　a　spell。　Power　blazed　from　his　fingertip　into　the　devil's　body。　In　a　heartbeat；　the　kyton's　flesh　shriveled　within　its　wrapping　of　chain。　The　links　sliding　and　flopping　around　it；　the　fiend　collapsed。
A　hand　gripped　Pharaun's　shoulder　and　hauled　him　up。　He　turned　and　saw　Welverin。　The　officer's　mouth　moved；　but　the　wizard　had　no　idea　what　he　was　saying。　He　shook　his　head　and　pointed　to　his　ears；　which；　though　useless；　were　far　from　numb。　They　throbbed　and　bled。　His　insides　hurt　as　well；　and　the　pain　made　him　want　to　destroy　Syrzan　all　the　more。
Pharaun　levitated；　only　to　find　himself　mere　feet　from　something　the　illithilich　must　have　conjured　while　its　fellow　age　was　floundering　about　below。　It　was　a　huge；　phosphorescent；　disembodied　illithid　head；　with　mouth　tentacles　longer　than　the　drow　was　tall。　The　members　writhing；　the　squidlike　construct　flew　forward。　Up　close；　it　smelled　fishy。
Pharaun　snatched　a　white　leather　glove　and　a　chip　of　clear　crystal　from　his　cloak