war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第17部分

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the　hovering　mage。
　　　Pharaun　recalled　his　rapier。　Leveling　his　hand　crossbow；　he　looked　back　at　the　ship　of　chaos。　Quenthel　held　one　uridezu　at　bay　with　her　whip　while　another　rushed　her　from　behind。　Pharaun　couldn't　get　a　clear　shot；　so　he　paused；　and　that　was　all　the　time　it　took　for　the　uridezu　behind　her　to　bite　Quenthel　in　the　neck。
　　　Blood　welled　up　around　the　deep　wound；　and　the　high　priestess　gnashed　her　teeth　in　pain。　With　a　hard；　sharp　jerk　of　her　shoulder；　Quenthel　knocked　the　demon　away。　From　a　distance　it　was　difficult　for　Pharaun　to　see；　but　he　was　sure　the　uridezu　left　a　few　teeth　in　the　mistress's　neck。
　　　Movement　from　Jeggred　caught　Pharaun's　eye。　The　draegloth　advanced　on　Raashub。　A　wave　of　panic　coursed　through　the　Master　of　Sorcere。　Attack　or　no　attack；　they　needed　Raashub　to　pilot　the　ship。　Jeggred　had　been　itching　to　kill　the　captain　since　they'd　first　claimed　the　vessel；　and　the　boarding　action　was　excuse　enough　for　him　to　finally　make　good　on　his　many　threats。
　　　Pharaun；　fully　aware　of　the　irony　of　the　situation；　threw　a　spell　that　set　a　wall　of　invisible　force　between　the　uridezu　captain　and　the　advancing　draegloth。　Jeggred　hit　the　wall　hard；　setting　him　back　on　his　heels　for　a　moment。　Raashub　cowered　away　from　the　draegloth　then　started　to　sniff　the　air　in　front　of　him；　as　puzzled　by　his　unexplained；　last…second　reprieve　as　was　Jeggred。
　　　Quenthel　threw　an　elbow　at　the　uridezu　that　had　bitten　her；　but　the　demon　was　able　to　avoid　the　blow。　Quenthel's　attacks　were　spasmodic　and　haphazard；　and　Pharaun　knew　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　the　two　uridezu　she　faced　managed　to　kill　her。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　made　his　way　quickly　through　a　spell　and　sent　its　energy　flowing　out　from　him　to　the　uridezu　that　had　bitten　Quenthel。
　　　An　enormous；　disembodied　black　hand　faded　into　existence　from　the　thin　air；　and　Pharaun　took　control　over　it　with　a　thought。　The　uridezu　that　were　harrying　Quenthel　stepped　back　from　the　hand　but　too　slowly　for　the　demon　that　had　bitten　her。　The　hand　closed　around　the　creature　and　began　to　squeeze。
　　　Taking　stock　of　the　situation　again；　Pharaun　saw　that　Jeggred　had　moved　on　to　another　uridezu；　leaving　Raashub　to　grovel　behind　the　wall　of　force。
　　　The　wizard　had　only　to　will　the　spell…hand　to　squeeze　as　hard　as　it　could　and　he　could　leave　it　to　its　own　devices。　As　the　uridezu　trapped　in　the　hand　started　gasping　for　air；　Pharaun　tightened　his　finger　around　the　trigger　of　his　hand　crossbow　and　sent　the　bolt　whizzing　through　the　air。　The　missile　slammed　into　the　other　demon's　chest。　It　paused　and　turned　to　look　at　the　source　of　the　projectile。
　　　The　uridezu　in　the　hand　had　its　mouth　wide　open；　but　no　sound　came　out。　All　the　air　had　been　squeezed　from　its　lungs。　Pharaun　reloaded　his　hand　crossbow；　and　the　conjured　hand　squeezed　even　tighter。　The　demon's　eyes　bulged；　and　Pharaun　couldn't　help　but　watch。
　　　The　wizard　launched　another　bolt　at　the　demon　that　was　still　managing　to　dodge　the　high　priestess's　whip。　The　missile　slammed　home；　pushing　the　uridezu　toward　Quenthel。　The　rat…man　was　staggered　but　far　from　dead…which　was　more　than　Pharaun　could　say　for　the　creature　in　the　hand。　Its　body　bulged　past　the　breaking　point　then　burst　in　a　torrent　of　blood　and　tissue。　A　few　agonizing　seconds　later　and　it　was　dead。
　　　Pharaun　reloaded　his　hand　crossbow　again　and　watched　the　uridezu　his　last　bolt　had　pushed　toward　Quenthel。　The　high　priestess　advanced　quickly；　scourge　in　one　hand；　the　other　wrapped　into　a　tight　fist。
　　　The　Mistress　of　the　Academy　hit　the　uridezu　that　faced　her　so　hard　its　head　burst　into　several　large　pieces　that　fell　pletely　away　from　its　shoulders。　The　rat…demon's　glistening　gray…and…yellow　brain　came　free　and　went　skipping　out　across　the　still　surface　of　the　lake。　Pharaun　knew　that　her　strength　was　ing　from　a　magic　item；　and　he　made　a　mental　note　to　stop　being　surprised　by　feats　of　strength　from　the　priestess。
　　　Movement　and　light　from　below　him　caught　Pharaun's　attention。　The　uridezu　he'd　frozen　in　place　had　finally　managed　to　break　free；　and　it　was　moving　with　great　whips　of　its　ratlike　tail。　It　swam　up　and　toward　Pharaun；　who　was　still　hovering　and　dripping　above　the　water。
　　　Pharaun　cast　a　spell　that　let　him　push　the　advancing　demon　back　down　into　the　water。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　continued　pushing　until　the　uridezu　slipped　beneath　the　layer　of　silt。　He　pushed　harder　until　the　creature　finally　hit　the　rocky　lake　bed；　four　feet　under　the　drifting　sediment。　He　pressed；　crushing　the　monster　into　the　lake　bed。　He　could　feel　the　thing's　back　break　but　kept　pressing　still。
　　　
　　　Aliisza　held　her　breath　watching　the　drow　fight　off　the　uridezu。　The　rat…demons　weren't　necessarily　the　most　impressive　foes；　but　all　things　considered　the　dark　elves　made　a　fine　show　of　it。　Pharaun　was　especially　alluring；　hanging　in　midair　over　the　water；　so　wet　and　intense。　It　made　Aliisza　all　tingly。
　　　The　invisible　alu…fiend　drifted　in　the　air　over　the　regal　female　drow；　who　had　been　paralyzed　by　the　bite　of　the　uridezu　she'd　dispatched　in　a　messy　and　uncreative　way。
　　　Another　of　the　rat…demons　swayed　before　the　paralyzed　priestess；　its　fangs　bared　and　dripping　with　toxic　spittle。　It　giggled　in　a　shrill；　excited　way　as　it　inched　ever　closer　to　the　helpless　drow　female。
　　　A　low　rumble　drew　Aliisza's　attention　to　the　draegloth。　The　half…demon　growled　in　the　face　of　another　rat…demon　then　slashed　the　thing　across　the　midsection　with　the　razor　claws　of　one　hand。　The　demon　bounced　back　on　its　heels　only　barely　far　enough　to　avoid　having　its　guts　opened　onto　the　deck。　A　hiss　exploded　from　the　uridezu's　quivering　lips；　and　its　tail　lashed　around　at　the　draegloth。　The　half…drow；　half…demon　behemoth　avoided　the　appendage　with　surprising　agility。
　　　The　captain　of　the　ship　of　chaos　rattled　his　chain　but　remained　bound　to　the　deck。　Aliisza　sensed　the　presence　of　an　invisible　wall　separating　the　captain　from　the　rest　of　them。　It　was　as　if　the　air　had　turned　solid　there。　She　could　see　the　magic　shimmering　in　her　Weave…sensitive　eyesight。
　　　Aliisza　didn't　particularly　care　what　became　of　the　uridezu　captain　or　the　uncouth；　unappealing　draegloth；　but　she　couldn't　stand　the　thought　of　the　attractive；　impressive　drow　priestess　being　eaten　alive　while　paralyzed　by　a　creature　as　lowly　as　an　uridezu。　The　alu…fiend　began　to　drain　the　life…force　from　that　particular　rat…creature　while　still　hanging　invisible　in　the　air。
　　　The　uridezu　looked　around。　It　could　feel　that　something　bad　was　happening　to　it。　Maybe　it　felt　cold；　or　weak；　dizzy；　sick。　Aliisza　was　killing　it；　and　it　had　to　know　it　was　dying。　The　rat…demon　drew　its　arms　around　itself；　and　Aliisza　sensed　that　it　was　on　its　way　back　to　the　Abyss…but　something　kept　it　there　on　the　ship。　Aliisza　could　see　that　magic　too；　binding　it　to　the　very　air　around　them。　Only　Pharaun　could　have　been　responsible　for　that。
　　　The　fact　that　the　dark　elf　wizard　had　that　power　made　Aliisza　uneasy。
　　　She　wondered　where　the　invisible　wall　had　e　from　when　she　heard　a　horrid　ripping　sound　and　had　to　dodge　an　arc　of　dark…red　blood。　The　draegloth　ripped　the　arm　off　the　uridezu　that　was　stupid　enough　to　stand　up　to　him。　Aliisza　didn't　like　the　smell　of　the　rat…demon's　blood　。。。　at　least　not　as　much　as　the　draegloth　seemed　to。
　　　The　half…demon　picked　up　the　uridezu's　arm　and　lifted　it　behind　him　until　it　bounced　off　the　invisible　wall。　That　startled　the　draegloth…no；　not　startled；　annoyed　him。　Aliisza　realized　someone　was　trying　to　separate　the　uridezu　captain　and　the　draegloth。
　　　That　had　to　be　Pharaun's　handiwork。　As　the　draegloth　beat　the　rat…demon　to　death　with　its　own　arm；　Aliisza　sorted　out　why　the　wizard　might　be　trying　to　protect　the　captain。
　　　She　whispered　a　quick　spell　and　rose　higher　into　the　air　so　that　no　one　but　Pharaun　would　be　able　to　hear　her。　She　had　to　stop　draining　the　life…force　from　the　last　survivor　of　the　demonic　boarding　party；　but　the　draegloth　had　already　begun　stalking　toward　it。
　　　〃Pharaun；〃　she　whispered　over　the　intervening　yards；　her　voice　ing　to　the　drow　wizard　as　a　whisper　in　his　ear。
　　　She　saw　the　mage　react　and　continued；　〃Yes；　it's　me。　You're　protecting　the　captain　from　your　own　draegloth？〃
　　　〃What　of　it？〃　the　wizard　asked；　his　voice　sounding　as　a　whisper　in　her　ear　too。
　　　〃You　don't　need　him；〃　she　said。
　　　〃Yes；　I　do；〃　replied　the　mage。　〃It's　a　ship　of　chaos；　Aliisza；　and　I'm　a　drow　who　isn't　much　for　boats。　I've　never　piloted　one　of　these　things　before。　Probably　no　drow　in　history　ever　has。〃
　　　〃It's　not　that　hard；〃　she　explained。　〃The　ship　is　alive。　You　simply　will　it　to　go　where　you　want。〃
　　　〃It's　that　easy？〃　Pharaun　asked；　skeptical。
　　　Aliisza　watched　the　draegloth　shred　the　weakened　uridezu　with　a　flurry　of　claws　and　fangs　and　said；　〃After　a　fashion；　yes。〃
　　　Barely　missing　a　beat；　the　half…demon　turned　on　the　invisible　wall　and　went　at　it　with　claw　and　fang；　wild　and　feral。　The　sight　made　Aliisza's　heart　race。
　　　The　uridezu　captain　was　cowering　behind　the　wall。　He　didn't　bother　trying　to　pretend　he　didn't　know　what　the　draegloth　was　going　to　do　to　him　if　he　got　through　the　invisible　barrier。
　　　〃Let　the　draegloth　have　him；　darling；〃　Aliisza　said　as　her　spell　began　to　fade。　〃We　can　pilot　the　ship　together。〃
　　　Pharaun　opened　a　dimensional　rift　and　stepped　through。　In　an　instant　he　was　standing　on　the　deck　of　the　ship　of　chaos　next　to　the　paralyzed　priestess　and　directly　under　the　hovering；　unseen　alu…fiend。　She　began　to　sink　toward　him。
　　　〃Jeggred；〃　the　drow　wizard　said　to　the　draegloth；　〃stop　it。　Stop　it；　now。　We　need　him。〃
　　　The　wizard　turned　to　the　high　priestess；　who　stood；　her　hand　dripping　with　uridezu　gore。　The　snakes　at　the　end　of　her　whip　hissed　at　Pharaun；　warning　him　away。
　　　〃Mistress；〃　he　said　to　her；　〃tell　him　to　stop　it。〃
　　　〃She's　paralyzed；〃　Aliisza　whispered　in　his　ear；　close　enough　then　to　do　it　without　a　spell。
　　　Pharaun　didn't　flinch　but　smiled　and　said；　〃He　won't　listen　to　me。〃
　　　〃I　told　you　it's　all　right；　Pharaun；〃　whispered　the　alu…fiend；　〃we　don't　need　him。〃
　　　〃We？〃　he　asked。
　　　Aliisza　blushed；　though　Pharaun　still　couldn't　see　her。
　　　〃If　Raashub　can　pilot　this　vessel；〃　she　asked；　〃why　can't　we？　Could　it　be　that　hard？〃
　　　Pharaun　drew　in　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　in　a　sigh。
　　　〃He's　only　going　to　keep　defying　me　anyway；　isn't　he？〃　Pharaun　asked。
　　　〃Who　are　you　。　。　。〃　Quenthel　said；　her　joints　jerking　as　she　recovered　from　the　uridezu's　paralyzing　bite；　〃。　。　。　talking　to？〃
　　　〃Wouldn't　you；　in　his　place？〃　Aliisza　whispered；　ignoring　the　high　priestess。
　　　Pharaun　turned　to　her　and　looked　her　in　the　eyes；　though　she　was　sure　he　wasn't　able　to　see　her。　He　winked　at　her　then　turned　back　to　the　priestess。
　　　〃Jeggred　means　to　kill　the　captain；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Let　him；〃　the　priestess　replied　as　she　scanned　the　deck　apparently　looking　for　something　with　which　to　clean　the　blood　off　her。
　　　〃Well；〃　Aliisza　whispered　into　the　wizard's　ear；　〃it's　her　idea　now；　isn't　it？〃
　　　Pharaun　waved　a　hand　and　dropped　the　wall。
　　　The　draegloth　leaped　onto　the　uridezu　captain。　They　both　went　over　the　rail。　The　chain　that　bound　the　uridezu　to　the　deck…and　to　the　material　plane…snapped　as　if　it　were　made　of　mushroom　stem。　There　was　a　huge；　echoing　splash　that　sent　lake　water　rolling　onto　the　deck　to　mingle　with　the　spilled　demon　blood。
　　　Aliisza　hovered　over　them　as　Pharaun　and　Quenthel　ran　to　the　rail　and　looked　over　into　the　black　water。　Bubbles　peppered　the　surface；　and　there　were　ripples　that　made　it　obvious　that　some　violence　was　occurring　below　the　surface。
　　　Then　the　bubbles　stopped。　The　ripples　played　themselves　out；　and　there　was　nothing。
　　　〃Go　after　them；〃　the　priestess　said　to　Pharaun。
　　　Aliisza　caught　herself　before　she　laughed　out　loud。
　　　Pharaun　raised　an　eyebrow；　looked　at　the　priestess；　and　said；　〃I'm　afraid　I　had　to　cancel　the　spell　that　allowed　me　to　breathe　underwater。〃
　　　The　priestess　turned　on　him　angrily；　but　any　further　discussion　was　stopped　by　the　sound　of　another　splash。　Something　arced　out　of　the　water　and　thumped　onto　the　deck。　The　uridezu　captain's　head　rolled　to　the　other　side　of　the　ship　and　came　to　rest　looking　blankly　up　at　nothing。
　　　〃Well；〃　Quenthel　breathed；　glancing　at　Pharaun；　〃never　mind。〃
　　　The　draegloth　climbed　slowly　onto　the　deck　behind　the　two　dark　elves。　The　half…demon　shook　himself　hard；　spraying　water　all　over　Pharaun　and　Quenthel。　The　two　dark　elves　turned　to　regard　the　draegloth。
　　　〃That；〃　the　half…demon　rumbled；　〃was　almost　worth　the　wait。〃
　　　
Chapter　Thirteen
　　　Danifae　wanted　them　to　meet　her　in　a　ruined　temple　on　the　edge　of　a　swamp；　on　the　east　bank　of　which　a　wide　river　emptied　into　a　sea。　Halisstra　spent　the　first　night's　walk　explaining　to　Ryld　what　most　of　those　words　meant。　By　sunrise　the　first　day；　they　had　made　the　coast。　The　sight　of　the　seemingly　endless　expanse　of　cold　gray　water　took　Halisstra's　breath　away。　Like　most　of　the　rest　of　the　World　Above；　it　had　made　Ryld　unfortable；　even　nervous。　Halisstra　was　confident　that　he'd　eventually　get　used　to　it；　even　grow　to　like　it。　He　had　to。
　　　They　followed　the　western　shore　of　what　the　surface　dwellers　called　the　Dragon　Reach　for　two　long　nights'　march；　using　Ryld's　keen　senses；　Halisstra's　bae'qeshel；　and　Eilistraeen　magic　to　avoid　fellow　travelers　and　unexpected　dangers。　In　the　hours　before　sunrise　of　the　third　day　they　stood　at　the　bank　of　the　wide　Lis　river　delta；　the　Dragon　Reach　spreading　out　in　angry；　windswept　white　and　gray　to　their　right。　To　their　left…north…was　the　river　and　intermittent　woods　and　rolling；　snowy　hills。　The　weather　was　dark　and　bitterly　cold；　and　Halisstra　had　to　use　spells　to　keep　them　from　losing　fingers　and　toes。
　　　〃We　have　to　cross　that？〃　Ryld　asked；　though　he　knew　the　answer。
　　　They　were　concealed　in　a　copse　of　sparse；　leafless　trees。　The　river　delta　crawled　with　boats　of　all　sizes。　Halisstra　had　never　seen　such　vessels。　Most　bobbed　on　the　angry　waves；　lanterns　on　their　decks　swaying　in　the　chill　wind。　The　drow　caught　the　occasional　glimpse　of　an　armed　human　pacing　the　decks；　wary　of　what；　Halisstra　couldn't　imagine。
　　　〃It's　an　abandoned　temple；〃　Halisstra　told　him　again。　〃An　old　temple　to　the　filthy　orc　god　Gruumsh。　Danifae　said　it　sits　at　the　western　edge　of　a　vast　swamp　。。。　a　flooded　place　where　water　covers　the　vegetation；　and　many　dangerous　things　hunt。　The　swamp　is　on　the　other　side　of　the　river。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　continued　to　study　the　water　as　the　sun's　glow　began　to　kiss　the　horizon。
　　　〃Would　you　know　how　to　work　one　of　those　boats？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　The　weapons　master　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Then　we'll　need　help　getting　across；〃　said　the　priestess。　〃It's　too　far　and　too　cold　to　swim；　and　we'll　attract　too　much　attention　using　spells。　If　we　keep　our　piwafwis　up　and　over　our　heads；　a　less　observant　ferryman　might　not　mark　us　as　dark　elves。〃
　　　Ryld　let　out　a　sigh　that　told　her　he　doubted　that　was　possible　but　that　he　would　try　anyway。
　　　They　set　out　along　the　river's　edge；　working　their　way　slowly　northward　in　the　pre…dawn　gloom。　Ryld　stopped　her　occasionally　t