蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第5部分

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Then　came　the　hard　part。　She　and　her　helpers　had　to　abduct　one　of　the　slatecolored　little　males　without　the　knowledge　of　his　fellows；　equip　him　with　a　platinum　amulet　that　her　subordinate　clerics；　mages；　and　her　personal　jeweler　had　created　in　an　amazingly　brief　time；　bind　the　marauder　with　spells　of　fetfulness　and　persuasion；　and　slip　him　back　among　his　friends。
Sabal　found　the　duergar　two　days　later。　After　her　troops　exterminated　the　brigands；　they　looted　the　bodies　and　found　the　brooch；　which　was　valuable；　beautiful；　and；　as　those　wizards　who　were　present　soon　discovered；　conferred　several　useful　magical　abilities。　It　never　occurred　to　Sabal　that　a　treasure　plundered　from　a　dead　dwarf　might　constitute　a　trap　laid　by　a　sister　dark　elf；　and　she　happily　laid　claim　to　that　portion　of　the　spoils。
From　that　day　forward；　Sabal　slowly；　subtly　sickened　in　body；　mind；　and　spirit；　meanwhile　struggling　pathetically　to　hide　any　appearance　of　weakness　from　all　who　might　discern　it　and　decide　to　exploit　it　to　kill　her；　torment　her；　or　strip　her　of　her　rank。　Which；　of　course；　was　pretty　much　everyone　in　Menzoberranzan。
Pharaun　probably　recognized　her　deterioration；　but　he　was　unable　to　arrest　it。　Perhaps　he　didn't　even　know　she　was　constantly　carrying　an　unusual　new　magical　device　about　her　person。　The　curse　that　was　poisoning　her；　that　lay　insidiously　threaded　among　all　the　benign　enchantments；　made　her　cling　to　the　amulet　with　an　obsessive　fascination　and　fear　that　others　would　steal　it　if　she　didn't　keep　it　hidden。
During　the　several　months　of　Sabal's　malaise；　Greyanna　sometimes　wondered　if　Pharaun　would　ally　himself　with　her　if　asked　again。　She　didn't。　She　just　watched　and　waited　for　her　chance　to　finish　Sabal　off。　She'd　learned　her　lesson。　No　matter　how　unlikely　the　possibility　seemed；　she　would　not　leave　her　twin　alive　to　recoup　her　fortunes　yet　again。
One　night；　Pharaun　left　the　castle；　either　on　some　errand　or　simply　because　he　was　finding　the　situation　inside　oppressive。　Later　on；　the　suspicious；　insomniac　Sabal　somehow　slipped　away　from　her　guards　and　servants　and　began　aimlessly　wandering　the　citadel　on　her　own。
Greyanna　and　half　a　dozen　of　her　minions　confronted　Sabal　in　the　fungus　garden；　where　the　topiarist　had　trimmed　the　phosphorescent　growths　into　fanciful　shapes；　fertilized　in　some　cases　with　the　ripe；　diced　remains　of　expired　slaves。　Sabal's　final　moments　might　have　seemed　pitiful；　had　Greyanna　been　susceptible　to　that　crippling　emotion。　Her　addled；　desperate　twin　tried　to　use　the　platinum　amulet　against　its　maker；　but　Greyanna　dispelled　its　powers　with　a　thought。　Then　Sabal　endeavored　to　cast　a　spell；　but　she　couldn't　recite　the　lines　with　the　proper　cadence　or　execute　the　gestures　with　the　necessary　precision。
Laughing；　Greyanna　and　the　other　waylayers　closed　in　on　their　victim；　and　they　didn't　even　have　to　strike　a　blow。　Their　mere　proximity　made　Sabal　wail；　clutch　at　her　heart；　and　fall　over　dead　as　a　stone。　Weak　to　the　last。
For　a　second；　Greyanna　felt　a　bit　cheated；　but　she　shook　the　feeling　off。　Sabal　was　dead；　that　was　the　main　thing；　and　with　a　bit　of　luck；　she　would　still　have　Pharaun　to　torture。
Chanting　words　that　sent　a　cold；　charnel　breeze　moaning　through　the　garden；　she　reanimated　Sabal's　corpse。　She　had　use　for　it；　first　as　a　lure　then　as　an　instrument　of　humiliation。　She　hoped　that　before　his　extermination；　her　brother　might　be　induced　to　spend　one　more　tender　interlude　with　it。
When　Pharaun　returned　to　House　Mizzrym　an　hour　later；　his　hair　and　garments　were　as　immaculate　as　ever；　but　he　reeked　of　wine　and　walked　with　a　slightly　weaving　and　excessively　careful　tread。　Evidently　he'd　been　drinking　his　troubles　away。　Perfect。
As　it　had　been　instructed；　the　zombie　stepped　out　of　a　doorway　at　the　other　end　of　the　hall。　Its　arms　were　extended　in　a　beseeching　gesture。
Pharaun　took　a　few　steps　toward　it　and　faltered。　Drunk　or　not；　he　had　finally　noticed　that；　despite　Greyanna's　efforts　to　keep　it　warm；　it　was　moving　stiffly；　awkwardly；　as　Sabal；　even　in　the　throes　of　her　illness；　never　had。　But　he'd　spotted　the　anomaly　too　late。　He'd　already　advanced　to　the　very　center　of　the　trap。
Greyanna　whispered　a　spell　of　paralysis。　Pharaun　staggered　as　his　muscles　all　clenched　at　once。　The　fighters　swarmed　out　of　their　hiding　places；　surrounded　him；　clubbed　him　repeatedly；　and　threw　him　down　beneath　them。
She　laughed　with　delight。　Then　her　henchmen；　more　or　less　clumped　in　a　pile　on　the　floor；　cried　out　in　surprise　and　consternation。　They　started　to　stand　up；　and　she　saw　that　Pharaun　did　not　lie　crushed；　bloody；　and　helpless　on　the　floor　beneath　them。　Impossible　as　it　seemed；　somehow　he'd　resisted　the　paralysis；　then　used　his　wizardry　to　extricate　himself　from　the　midst　of　his　attackers。
Knowing　that　Sabal　was　dead；　Pharaun　must　likewise　assume　that　without　the　aegis　of　a　high　priestess　he　could　no　longer　survive　in　House　Mizzrym。　Certainly　he　couldn't　count　on　his　vicious　mother；　who　hadn't　bestirred　herself　to　save　one　daughter　from　another；　to　do　more　for　a　paltry　son。　He　was　surely　running　back　toward　the　exit。
〃That　way〃　Greyanna　shouted；　pointing；　goading　her　agents　into　motion。　When　they　rounded　a　corner；　they　saw　Pharaun　sprinting　along　ahead　of　them；　his　piwafwi　billowing　out　behind　him。　He　wasn't　weaving　or　stumbling—evidently　desperation　had　cured　his　intoxication—but　he　was　clutching　his　head；　and　leaving　a　trail　of　bloody　drops　on　the　polished　floor。　Evidently　all　the　bludgeoning　had　done　at　least　a　little　good。
Greyanna's　minions　shot　their　hand　crossbows；　but　the　darts　bounced　off　the　wizard's　cloak；　which　had　obviously　been　enchanted　to　serve　as　armor。　She　stopped　running　long　enough　to　conjure　a　blaze　of　fire　under　Pharaun's　feet。　Her　assassins　cried　out　and　shielded　their　eyes　against　the　glare。　Though　surely　burned；　her　brother　stayed　on　his　feet　and　kept　going。　The　flames　winked　out　behind　him　as　suddenly　as　they'd　appeared。
The　chase　rounded　another　corner。　Ahead　of　Pharaun　was　an　adamantine　double　door；　which　swung　open　seemingly　of　its　own　accord。　In　reality；　Greyanna　knew；　the　wizard　had　used　his　silverandjet　Mizzrym　House　token　to　open　it。　She　tried　to　use　her　own　insignia　to　slam　it　shut　again；　but　she　was　just　out　of　range。
Pharaun　plunged　through　the　exit。　He　was　on　the　landing；　a　sort　of　balcony　from　which　the　occupants　of　the　stalactite　castle　that　was　House　Mizzrym　could　look　down　on　the　city。　As　was　the　custom；　a　pany　of　guards　stood　watch　there；　and　Greyanna　screamed　for　them　to　stop　the　mage。
They　no　doubt　intended　to　be　obey。　She　was　a　high　priestess　and　he；　a　mere　male；　and　manifestly　trying　to　run　away　to　boot。　But　alas；　since　their　primary　function　was　to　look　for　miscreants　trying　to　enter　the　castle；　Pharaun　had　taken　them　by　surprise。　He　had　time　to　conjure　some　sort　of　hindering　spell　and　dash　on。
When　Greyanna　made　it　to　the　door；　she　saw　what　manner　of　hindrance　the　fugitive　had　chosen。　The　guards　were　all　bewildered；　some　standing　stupefied　or　milling　aimlessly；　a　couple　fighting　with　each　other。
A　clattering；　followed　a　split　second　later　by　grunts　and　cries　of　pain；　snapped　her　head　around　to　the　right。　At　the　far　end　of　the　landing；　a　second　contingent　of　sentries　also　looked　at　least　temporarily　incapacitated；　these　because　Pharaun　had　pelted　them　with　a　conjured　barrage　of　ice。　He　disappeared　down　the　exit　they'd　been　guarding；　the　winding　crystal　staircase；　geous　with　magical　luminescence；　which　connected　House　Mizzrym　with　the　cave　floor　below。　Greyanna　felt　a　twinge　of　annoyance；　but　only　that。　Apparently　she　wasn't　going　to　get　a　chance　to　torture　Pharaun；　but　he　was　unquestionably　going　to　die。　He　really　had　nowhere　to　run；　and　if　the　wretch　weren't　mired　in　a　blind　panic；　he'd　know　it。
At　least　she　could　deliver　the　stroke　that　would　seal　his　doom。　She　hurried　to　the　edge　of　the　landing；　saw　that　the　blistered；　bloodyheaded　fool　was　better　than　halfway　down　the　radiant　diamond　steps；　and　pronounced；　as　quickly　as　possible；　the　long；　awkward　arcane　word　that　would　make　the　staircase　vanish。　That　alone　wouldn't　kill　him　unless　he　lost　his　head。　The　ability　to　levitate　granted　by　the　same　brooch　that　allowed　him　to　pass　through　the　Houses　doors　would　keep　him　from　falling。　Limited　to　strictly　vertical　movement；　however；　he　ought　to　make　an　easy　mark　for　spells　and　arrows。
She　spoke　the　final　syllable。　Just　as　the　steps　seemed　to　pop　like　a　bubble；　Pharaun　leaped；　his　long　legs　making　him　look　like　a　pair　of　scissors　spread　to　the　maximum　possible　width。　He　barely　made　it　onto　the　flattened　apex　of　the　gigantic　stalagmite　that　served　as　the　stair's　lower　terminus。
Greyanna　was　impressed。　That　jump　was　an　impressive　display　of　athleticism　for　a　battered　scholar　of　hedonistic　habits。　Not　that　it　would　do　him　any　good。　He　really　had　run　to　the　end　of　his　race。　She　leaned　out　and　shouted　for　the　foulwings　to　kill　him。　Winded；　still　stumbling　offbalance　from　hurdling　across　the　empty　space；　Pharaun　surely　couldn't　fend　off　both　of　them　at　once。
Grotesque　winged　predators　that　monly　reeked　of　their　caustic　ammonia　breath；　the　foulwings　bespoke　the　Mizzrym's　power　and　magical　prowess　and　lent　the　first　step　on　the　path　to　their　citadel　a　certain　style　that　mere　soldiers　could　not　match　They　also　made　terrifying　watch　beasts。　With　a　snap　of　their　clawed；　bat　like　wings；　in　no　wise　hindered　by　their　lack　of　legs；　they　spun　their　longnecked　bodies　around　to　loom　over　Pharaun。　Forked　snouts　with　fanged　jaws　at　the　end　of　either　branch　came　questing　hungrily　down。　From　her　perch；　Greyanna　looked　on　with　a　rapacity　no　less　keen　than　theirs；　albeit　a　rapacity　of　the　soul。
Pharaun　shouted　something。　Greyanna　couldn't　quite　make　it　out；　but　it　didn't　seem　to　be　a　magical　word；　just　a　cry　of　fear　or　a　desperate　plea　for　mercy—a　plea　the　giant　beasts　would　not　heed。
Except　that　they　did。　They　hesitated；　and　he　lifted　his　hands。　Their　deadly　jaws　played　delicately　about　his　fingers；　taking　in　his　scent。
She　cried　again　for　the　brutes　to　kill　him。　They　twisted　their　heads　around　to　look　at　her；　but　he　spoke　to　them　once　more；　and　they　ignored　her　mand。
Greyanna　stared　in　amazement。　Pharaun　had　no　doubt　had　some　limited　contact　with　the　foulwings；　for　after　all；　he　lived　in　the　same　castle　with　them；　but　she　knew　he'd　never　ridden　one。　Only　the　females　of　House　Mizzrym　enjoyed　that　privilege；　and　it　was　only　by　riding　that　you　established　genuine　mastery　over　the　creatures。　How；　then；　could　he　possibly　enjoy　a　rapport　with　them　deeper　than　her　own？
Pharaun　scrambled　onto　a　foulwing's　back；　and　both　it　and　its　fellow　sprang　into　the　air。　Obviously　her　brother　had　managed　to　dissolve　the　enchantment　that　made　the　beasts　want　to　sit　contentedly　at　their　post。
The　wizard　managed　his　mount　more　deftly　than　Greyanna　herself　could　have　done　without　benefit　of　saddle；　bridle；　and　goad。　He　shot　her　a　mocking　grin　as　he　turned　to　flee。　The　other；　rider　less　foulwing　soared　and　swooped　aimlessly；　enjoying　its　liberty。
Greyanna　shook　off　her　stunned　disbelief。　She　still　desperately　wanted　to　know　how　Pharaun　had　learned　to　ride　the　creatures—probably　Sabal　had　taught　him；　but　how　had　they　managed　it　without　anyone　else　finding　out？—but　she　wasn't　going　to　stand　there　pondering　the　question。　The　answer　was　less　important　than　the　kill。
She　turned　and　looked　around。　Those　guards　whom　Pharaun　had　addled　were　disoriented　still；　but　some　of　the　soldiers　he'd　battered　with　hailstones　appeared　to　have　regained　their　posure。
〃Shoot　him〃
With　mendable　haste；　they　obeyed。　They　took　up　their　crossbows；　aimed；　and　the　bolts　leaped　forth　in　a　ragged　clatter。
Pharaun's　foulwing　lurched；　then　plummeted　down　and　down　and　down；　crashing　to　earth　somewhere　amid　the　hollowed　stalagmite　edifices　of　the　city。
〃Got　him；〃　said　the　captain　of　the　guard。
Bigger　and　stronger　than　he；　Greyanna　had　no　difficulty　knocking　the　male　to　the　floor。
〃You　got　the　foulwing；〃　she　said。　〃We　don't　know　that　you　hit　Pharaun　at　all。　We　don't　know　that　he　didn't　use　his　wizardry　or　his　levitation　to　cushion　his　fall。　We　don't　know　that　he　isn't　down　there　alive　and　well　laughing　at　us。　I　need　to　see　his　corpse；　and　one　way　or　the　other；　you　will　fetch　it　for　me。　Turn　out　every　available　priestess；　wizard；　and　warrior—　drow　or　slave。　Jump
Jump　he　did。　It　was　the　last　bit　of　satisfaction　that　was　to　e　her　way。
Her　mortal　agents　flooded　the　streets；　while　she　remained　in　her　personal　sanctum　in　House　Mizzrym；　summoning　spirits　and　casting　divinations　to　aid　the　search。　Astonishingly；　maddeningly；　it　was　all　to　no　avail。　When　light　flowered　in　the　base　of　Narbondel；　signaling　the　advent　of　the　new　day；　she　was　forced　to　admit　that　at　least　for　the　time　being；　Pharaun　had　eluded　her。
A　month　later；　she　learned　that　her　brother　had　somehow　made　his　way　all　the　way　up　to　Tier　Breche　and　begged　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　himself　for　a　place　in　Sorcere；　and；　remembering　the　wizardly　talent　the　younger　male　had　demonstrated　throughout　his　training；　Gromph　had　seen　fit　to　take　him　in。
The　news　came　as　a　considerable　relief。　She'd　feared　her　brother　had　fled　Menzoberranzan　and　placed　himself　permanently　beyond　her　reach。　Instead；　he'd　simply　hopped　up　on　a　shelf　above　the　city。　He　was　bound　to　hop　down　again　eventually；　and　she　would　have　him。
Or　so　she　thought；　until　her　mother　sent　for　her。　Possessed　of　the　same　intelligence　concerning　her　fugitive　son's　whereabouts；　Miz'ri　had　formed　a　very　different　idea　of　what　ought　to　be　done　about　it：　Nothing。
Even　though　they　were　only　males；　the　Masters　of　Sorcere　possessed　both　a　degree　of　practical　autonomy　and　an　abundance　of　mystical　power；　and；　always　weaving　her　labyrinthine　schemes　to　elevate　the　status　of　House　Mizzrym；　Mother　had　decided　not　to　unnecessarily　provoke　the　wizards。　Which　was　to　say；　as　Pharaun　had　obtained　a　place　in　that　cloistered；　manyspired　tower；　he　was　more　significant　in　exile　than　he　had　ever　been　at　home；　and　Greyanna　would　have　to　let　him　live。　She　had　achieved　what　ought　to　have　been　her　primary　goal；　preeminence　among　her　sisters　and　cousins；　but　her　vengeance　would　remain　unfinished。
Through　all　the　decades　that　followed；　it　galled　her。　A　hundred　times　she　planned　to　defy　her　mother's　mand　and　kill　Pharaun　anyway；　only　to　abandon　her　stratagems　just　short　of　implementation。　As　fiercely　as　she　hated　him；　she　feared　Miz'ri's　displeasure　even　more。
Was　it　possible　that　at　long　last　the　matron　mother　had　changed　her　mind？　Or　was　this　some　new　cruelty；　was　Miz'ri　perhaps　going　to　somehow　force　Greyanna　into　an　odious　proximity　with　a　brother　who　was　still　untouchable？
〃It　might　be　nice　to　see　Pharaun　again；〃　the　younger　female　said　in　the　blandest　tone　she　could　muster。
Miz'ri　laughed。　〃Oh；　I　daresay　it　would；　to　see　him　and　kill　him；　isn't　that　the　way　of　it？〃
〃If　you　say　so。　You　know　our　history。　We　played　out　the　whole　sava　game　under　your　nose。〃　I　imagine　you　relished　every　minute　of　it；　she　thought。
〃Yes；　you　did；　and　so　I　know　this　will　interest　you。　Sadly；　a　problem　has　arisen　that　even　supercedes　my　desire　to　get　along　with　the　mages　of　the　Academy。　While　you　were　away；　males　continued　to　desert—〃
〃Pharaun　ran　off　from　Sorcere？〃　Greyanna　interrupted；　her　eyes　narrowed。　〃Were　they　finally　going　to　punish　him　for　getting　those　novices　killed？〃
〃No；