war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第25部分

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　thigh。　The　vines　were　still　ing　at　him　one　after　another；　and　Ryld　had　no　way　of　knowing　how　many　there　were　or　if；　let　alone　when；　they　might　finally　give　up　or　he　might　kill　the　last　of　them。　That　and　the　possibility　that　the　draegloth　might　e　at　him　again　made　up　the　weapons　master's　mind。
　　　Ryld　looked　around；　flicking　his　greatsword　to　his　right　to　slice　a　vine　then　in　front　of　him　to　cut　through　another；　letting　the　movement　of　the　vines　in　his　peripheral　vision　chose　his　targets　for　him　while　he　scanned　for　an　escape　route。
　　　To　his　right…he　had　lost　all　sense　of　direction　a　long　time　before　so　had　no　idea　if　he　was　facing　north；　south；　east；　or　west…the　water　gave　way　to　slightly　more　solid　if　not　entirely　dry　land。　Larger　trees　with　long；　whiplike　branches　made　a　forest　of　thin　lines。　Behind　those　hanging　branches；　Ryld　saw　a　scattering　of　orange　lights　that　must　have　been　torches　burning　in　the　distance。
　　　He　knew　there　might　be　any　number　of　sentient　creatures　that　could　have　lit　those　torches；　and　surely　none　of　them　were　drow。　Still；　he　might　be　able　to　use　any　sort　of　habitation　to　his　advantage。　If　Jeggred　chased　him　there；　and　it　was　a　human　town；　an　orc　town；　or　an　elf　town；　they　might　not　like　dark　elves；　but　they'd　be　terrified　by　the　draegloth。　That　could　buy　Ryld　time；　if　not　allies。
　　　Another　vine　managed　to　get　around　his　ankle　and　tug。　Ryld　went　down　to　one　knee；　his　face　almost　falling　under　the　slimy　water　before　he　managed　to　slice　the　vine　off　him。　He　left　a　cut　in　his　boot　that　let　in　the　water；　and　he　shivered。　Free　of　the　vine；　the　weapons　master　ran。　He　didn't　bother　trying　to　be　quiet　but　splashed　headlong　through　the　knee…deep　water。　Behind　him；　Jeggred　surfaced　again；　tore　at　the　vines　still　covering　his　midsection；　roared；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　went　back　down。
　　　Ryld　stepped　onto　dry　ground　and　hopped　in　an　unseemly　fashion　as　a　set　of　vines　worried　at　his　heels。　The　ground　was　slippery　and　muddy；　covered　in　patches　with　slick　moss；　but　Ryld　continued　running；　working　past　the　occasional　loss　of　footing。　From　behind　him　came　the　draegloth's　peculiar　growl　and　a　flurry　of　splashes。　As　Ryld　ran　through　the　stinging；　whiplike　branches；　dodging　between　the　close…set　trees　while　barely　managing　to　keep　on　his　feet；　he　could　hear　the　half…demon　panting；　tearing；　and　growling　behind　him。　Jeggred　had　surfaced　again　and　was　fighting　his　way　free　of　the　vines。
　　　The　weapons　master　ran　on；　and　soon　the　sounds　of　the　struggling　draegloth　were　joined　by　the　faint　echo　of　voices　ahead。　He　came　out　of　the　forest　of　whiplike　branches；　still　at　an　all…out　run。　The　clearing　was　wide　and　relatively　dry。　A　collection　of　stumps　replaced　the　trees；　and　Ryld　jumped　up　onto　one　of　them　then　hopped　to　another　and　another；　making　his　way　toward　the　settlement。　The　stumps　provided　more　even　footing　and　were　less　slippery　than　the　muddy；　mossy　ground。
　　　The　torches　burned　from　long　poles　stuck　into　the　ground　in　a　circle　around　a　collection　of　a　dozen　small　shacks　and　tattered　tents。　Even　Ryld；　who　knew　little　of　the　World　Above；　could　tell　that　the　settlement　was　a　temporary　one　and　not　an　established　village。　The　voices　he　heard　echoing　from　one　of　the　more　permanent…looking　buildings　sounded　human。　The　weapons　master　could　pick　out　the　occasional　word　in　the　human's　mon　trade　language。　He'd　learned　the　language　at　Melee…Magthere　but　had　few　opportunities　to　use　it；　and　many　words　were　still　unfamiliar　to　him。
　　　Off　to　one　side　of　the　settlement　was　a　huge　pile　of　trees；　cut　down；　stripped　of　their　branches；　and　stacked　carefully　in　a　pyramid　almost　ten　feet　tall。　In　Menzoberranzan　it　would　have　been　a　king's　ransom　in　wood。
　　　Ryld　made　his　way　one　stump　at　a　time　toward　the　bigger　building　but　paused　briefly　to　sheathe　Splitter…and　he　was　hit　hard　from　behind。　He　fell　forward　off　the　stump；　the　greatsword　still　in　his　right　hand；　and　pain　blazed　from　his　back。　He　fell　onto　a　stump；　pushed　off；　rolled　forward；　and　saw　the　dark　shape　of　Jeggred　scrambling　up　behind　him。　The　weapons　master　kicked　out　hard　with　both　feet　and　smashed　the　draegloth　between　his　legs。　Jeggred　grunted　and　backed　off；　long　enough　for　Ryld　to　get　to　his　feet。
　　　Splitter　in　both　hands；　Ryld　sent　a　feint　at　the　draegloth's　mid…section。　Jeggred　fell　for　it；　spinning　to　the　side。　The　weapons　master　hopped　back　up　onto　one　of　the　stumps　and　jumped　backward　again　from　stump　to　stump。　The　soaking…wet　draegloth　was　covered　in　slime；　sap；　and　blood。　His　crimson　eyes　blazed　in　the　darkness；　and　steam　poured　from　his　mouth　and　nostrils。
　　　Ryld　tried　to　think　of　something　to　say；　perhaps　to　taunt　the　draegloth；　but　his　mind　was　a　blank。　Pharaun　would　have　had　a　thousand　irritating　quips　on　the　tip　of　his　tongue；　enough　to　drive　his　opponent　to　distraction；　but　Ryld　could　only　keep　his　mouth　closed　and　his　mind　on　the　fight。　The　two　of　them　had　gone　well　beyond　conversation　anyway。
　　　The　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　knew　that　the　building　was　behind　him。　He　could　see　the　orange　firelight　from　the　windows　growing　brighter　and　could　hear　the　voices　growing　louder。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　any　change　in　the　tone　of　the　random　bits　of　conversation　that　drifted　out　the　window。　No　alarm　had　been　raised。
　　　Jeggred　clawed　at　him　with　one　of　his　larger　hands；　and　Ryld　stepped　in　to　cut　his　arm　but　found　out　the　hard　way　that　the　attack　was　a　feint。　The　claws　of　the　draegloth's　remaining　smaller　hand　ripped　across　Ryld's　face。　The　weapons　master　stepped　back；　and　there　were　suddenly　no　more　stumps　behind　him。　He　slipped　on　the　muddy　ground　and　at　the　same　time　slashed　across　his　opponent's　midsection。　The　tip　of　his　greatsword　traced　a　line　of　red　across　Jeggred's　thigh；　and　the　draegloth　drew　away　long　enough　to　allow　Ryld　to　get　his　footing　and　jump　three　long　paces　backward。
　　　Orange　firelight　lit　the　battle…ravaged　draegloth　and　glittered　off　his　massive；　daggerlike　teeth。　With　a　fang…lined　sneer；　the　draegloth　launched　himself　at　Ryld。　All　the　weapons　master　could　do　was　bring　up　his　hands…and　his　sword…to　meet　him。
　　　Jeggred　hit　him　hard　enough　to　drive　the　air　from　Ryld's　lungs　and　push　his　greatsword　into　him　so　hard　it　sliced　into　the　side　of　his　face；　nearly　cutting　the　weapons　master's　ear　off。　Ryld　felt　his　feet　leave　the　ground；　his　body　pletely　at　the　mercy　of　the　draegloth's　inertia。　They　went　through　a　window；　glass　shattering　into　millions　of　tiny　knives　that　cut　them　both　in　a　hundred　places。　Ryld　could　only　close　his　eyes　and　grunt　when　he　hit　a　wood　floor　so　hard　with　the　heavy　draegloth　on　top　of　him　that　at　least　one　of　his　ribs　snapped　like　a　twig。
　　　The　draegloth　rolled；　and　Ryld　pushed　him　off。　Before　he　knew　what　was　happening；　they　were　both　sitting　on　the　floor　of　some　kind　of　ramshackle　tavern　surrounded　by　a　dozen　very　surprised　humans。
　　　
　　　Let　it　in；　Aliisza　whispered　into　Pharaun's　mind；　but　not　too　far。
　　　Pharaun　sat　on　the　deck；　his　tegs　crossed；　his　eyes　closed；　and　his　palms　pressed　down　against　the　pulsating　surface　of　the　living　vessel。　He　tried　to　sort　out　the　sensations　that　were　ing　at　him。　Some　were　physical；　some　were　emotional；　and　some　came　in　forms　Pharaun　had　never　imagined。　He　could　smell　something　like　algae　cakes　being　grilled　over　an　open　fire。　Flashes　of　light　pulsed　behind　his　eyelids　and　left　trails　and　tendrils　in　their　wake。　The　sound　of　the　ship's　pulse　hummed　in　his　ears。　He　grimaced　when　a　horrid　taste　like　rotting　fish　rolled　across　his　tongue。　That　all　happened　at　once　then　changed。
　　　You　will　use　your　body　to　steer　it；　Aliisza　continued；　as　much　as　your　mind。
　　　Pharaun　could　feel　that　she　was　right。　A　wave　of　hopelessness　came　from　nowhere　and　made　his　flesh　crawl。　Almost　at　the　same　time　he　was　charged　with　adrenaline　and　felt　as　if　he　could　lift　the　ship　physically　over　his　head　and　throw　it　across　the　endless　Astral　and　into　the　Abyss　that　way。
　　　Like　that；　Aliisza　whispered。　Yes　。　。　。
　　　It　wasn't　wind　or　water　that　powered　the　ship　of　chaos　but　desire；　entropy；　malice；　and　confusion…those　things　and　others　like　them。
　　　You　will　have　to　gather　the　will　to　move；　Aliisza　went　on；　which　should　be　easy　enough　for　you。　Learn　how　to　channel　it　through　the　ship　and　into　the　planar　medium　around　you。　There's　no　way　to　learn　how　to　do　that。　You　simply　have　to　give　yourself　over　to　it；　while　keeping　it　at　bay　at　the　same　time。　Do　you　understand？
　　　Pharaun　nodded；　not　wanting　to　speak。
　　　Something　entered　his　skin　at　the　wrist…a　thin　tendril　like　a　length　of　string。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　could　feel　it　slip　into　a　vein；　tapping　his　blood。　He　tried　to　jerk　his　hand　away；　but　his　fingers　were　stuck　to　the　deck。
　　　Don't　panic；　Aliisza　sent。　It　won't　take　enough　of　your　blood　to　weaken　you；　but　it　must　have　some　or　the　connection　will　fail。
　　　You're　asking　me　to　trust　it？　Pharaun　asked　her。　To　trust　this　construct　of　demonic　chaos？
　　　He　felt　her　touch　his　cheek；　her　fingers　warm　and　dry；　but　he　couldn't　see　her。　She　remained　invisible；　insisting　that　he　not　reveal　her　presence　to　the　others。　Pharaun　was　content　to　keep　her　a　secret。
　　　Another　wave　of　conflicting　emotions　rolled　through　him；　and　he　rode　it　out。
　　　The　ship　will　feel　what　you　feel；　Aliisza　told　him；　even　as　you　feel　what　it　feels。　It　will　follow　your　mands　now。　When　you're　ready；　will　it　into　the　Shadow　Fringe　and　on　from　there。
　　　Will　it？　asked　the　mage。
　　　The　same　way　you　would　lift　your　arm　or　open　your　eyes；　she　answered。
　　　That　easy？
　　　The　alu…fiend　laughed　and　said；　There　are　three　sentient　creatures　out　of　a　thousand　that　can　do　what　you　have　done；　my　dear。　Bonding　with　a　ship　of　chaos　is　a　dangerous　proposition。
　　　How　so？
　　　If　it　hadn't　accepted　you；　it　would　have　killed　you；　she　replied；　and　in　a　very　ugly；　mean　way。
　　　Pharaun　sighed；　interested　but　not　surprised。
　　　You　would　have　let　it　kill　me？　he　asked。
　　　Aliisza　thought　about　it　for　a　long　time　then　said；　You　have　to　do　this；　one　way　or　the　other。　I　had　faith　in　you。
　　　Pharaun　caught　the　sarcasm　in　her　tone　and　cracked　a　smile。　She　was　an　alu…fiend　and　by　all　rights　on　opposing　sides　of　a　bloody；　ever…unfolding　war。　Why　would　she　care　if　the　ship　of　chaos　killed　him　or　drove　him　mad？
　　　The　tendrils　slipped　out　of　his　wrists；　and　his　palms　came　free　of　the　deck。
　　　Navigating　the　ship　will　require　your　full　attention；　Aliisza　advised；　but　if　you're　adrift　or　on　a　predetermined　course；　you　will　still　be　able　to　speak　with　your　rades　and　even　cast　spells。
　　　Convenient；　the　mage　remarked。
　　　The　ship　of　chaos　was　a　war　ship；　Pharaun；　she　replied。　It　was　created　to　fight；　and　the　tanar'ri　who　built　it　had　no　interest　in　having　the　most　powerful　spellcaster　among　them　bound　to　the　deck；　helpless　and　mute。　The　ship　will　require　a　lot　of　you　but　not　everything。　Don't　give　it　any　more　than　it　needs。
　　　Cryptic；　the　mage　shot　back。　I　like　that。
　　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　a　voice　asked；　and　Pharaun　thought　at　first　that　it　was　Aliisza。
　　　You　know　perfectly　well；　he　thought　to　her；　that　if　I　wasn't　well　I　would　simply…〃
　　　He　realized　that　it　wasn't　Aliisza　who'd　spoken　but　Quenthel。
　　　〃Master　Mizzrym。　。　。　。〃　the　high　priestess　said。
　　　Pharaun　opened　his　eyes　but　had　to　blink　several　times　before　he　could　see　clearly。　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　was　standing　over　him；　arms　folded　across　her　chest；　her　eyes　stern　and　cold　but　distracted。
　　　〃I　am　well；　thank　you；　Mistress；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃I　have　reason　to　believe　that　I　am　fully　in　mand　of　the　vessel　and　that　it　is　suitably　powered。〃
　　　He　looked　around　at　the　others；　who　were　standing　behind　Quenthel；　also　looking　down　at　him。　All　he　saw　were　Valas　and　Danifae。
　　　〃When　the　draegloth　returns；〃　Pharaun　finished；　〃we　can　be　on　our　way。〃
　　　〃We　won't　be　waiting　for　Jeggred；〃　Quenthel　answered；　eliciting　a　sharp　look　from　Danifae　and　a　lift　of　one　eyebrow　from　the　mercenary　scout。
　　　〃Mistress…〃　Danifae　began；　but　Quenthel　held　up　a　hand　to　silence　her。
　　　〃Anyone　who　breaks　off　from　this　expedition；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃without　my　permission　will　be　considered　to　have　deserted　it。〃
　　　〃Surely　that　wasn't　the　intent　of　your　nephew；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃I　think　it　was　hardly　the　intent　of　Master　Argith　either。　Where　we're　going　it　seems　to　me　that　we'll　need　their　str…〃
　　　〃We　won't；〃　the　high　priestess　interrupted。　Looking　off　into　the　darkness　she　continued；　〃They　are　both　strong；　but　where　we're　going　there　will　be　things　around　every　stalactite　that　could　rip　them　both　to　shreds。　We're　not　going　on　a　jaunt　in　the　Dark　Dominion。　What　we'll　encounter　will　not　be　defeated　by　brute　strength　but　with　a　clear　and　steady　mind…the　single…minded　pursuit　of　one's　own　desires。〃
　　　Pharaun　frowned　and　waited　for　one　of　the　others　to　say　something。
　　　Valas　stood　waiting　for　the　females　to　sort　it　out。
　　　〃You　seem　to　know　what　we'll　see；〃　Danifae　said　to　the　high　priestess；　〃but　you　don't　know；　not　for　sure。〃
　　　Pharaun；　surprised　by　the　way　Danifae　had　pinned　the　high　priestess　down；　looked　at　Quenthel；　curious　to　hear　her　answer。
　　　〃I　know　that　I　can't　stay　here　anymore；〃　Quenthel　answered。　The　vipers　writhed　slowly　at　her　hip。　〃This　place　is　killing　me。　We　know　what　needs　to　be　done。　Live　or　die；　we　live　or　die　in　the　Abyss　at　the　side　of　the　Spider　Queen。〃
　　　Pharaun　lifted　an　eyebrow　and　smiled；　glancing　between　the　two　females。
　　　〃We've　not　even　begun；〃　Danifae　warned。　〃There　will　be　much　for　Jeggred　to　do。　We　should　wait。〃
　　　〃That；　my　plaything；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　shot　back；　〃is　not　for　you　to　decide。　You've　presumed　enough。〃
　　　Pharaun　recognized　that　it　took　considerable　effort　for　Danifae　to　look　down；　letting　her　smoldering　red　eyes　linger　on　the　deck　instead　of　boring　into　the　high　priestess。　The　battle…captive　had　e　a　long　way；　and　Pharaun　caught　himself　smiling　at　her。
　　　〃Master　Mizzrym；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃take　us　to　Lolth。　Now。〃
　　　〃I　will　require　a　brief　rest；〃　the　mage　lied。　Even　as　the　words　passed　his　tongue；　he　wondered　why　he　was　lying。　He　didn't　look　at　Danifae。　〃One　more　period　of　Reverie　for　us　all。　We　should　face　the　goddess　rested　and　at　our　best。〃
　　　Quenthel　didn't　answer　but　turned　and　walked　away。　Danifae　lingered。
　　　What　are　you　doing？　Aliisza　whispered　into　his　consciousness；　startling　the　mage。　He'd　forgotten　she　was　there。　That's　not　true。
　　　The　Mistress　of　the　Academy；　he　told　the　alu…fiend；　isn't　thinking　clearly。
　　　Don't　want　to　travel　without　your　draegloth？　Aliisza　asked。
　　　Would　you？
　　　Pharaun　could　feel　her　laugh　in　his　mind。
　　　〃Thank　you；〃　Danifae　said。
　　　Pharaun　looked　up　at　her　with　a　smile。　Quenthel　and　Valas　had　both　wandered　off；　but　he　used　sign　language　to　be　sure　they　weren't　overheard。
　　　Why　should　I　continue　to　help　you？　he　asked。　What　are　you　doing？
　　　She　thought　about　it　for　a　long　time　then　signed　back；　I　want　you　to　promise　me　that　you　wont　leave　without　Jeggred。
　　　And　if　I　do？
　　　Danifae　had　no　answer。
　　　The　Mistress　irritates　me；　the　mage　went　on。　I've　made　no　effort　to　mask　that。　She's　tried　to　kill　me　in　the　past。　She　has　treated　me　with　less　respect