war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第29部分

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ind　the　table；　digging　deep　furrows　into　the　roof　beam　above　him。
　　　The　men　were　grunting　and　coughing。　Ansen　screamed。　Smoke　billowed　up　from　his　hair；　and　the　flesh　around　his　right　eye　was　crisping　and　beginning　to　flake　away。
　　　〃Stop　it；〃　Piet　gasped。
　　　Neither　the　drow　nor　the　demon　even　looked　at　him。
　　　〃Stop　。　。　。〃　he　moaned　and　was　about　to　drop　his　axe　when　the　door　burst　open；　and　five　men　all　but　crawled　over　each　other　to　get　into　the　mon　room。
　　　Piet　knew　them　all：　Nedreg；　the　tall　man　from　Sembia　who　was　one　of　two　men　in　the　camp　who'd　brought　a　sword　with　him。　Kem；　the　short　guy　from　Cormyr　who　also　had　a　sword　and　who　hated　Nedreg　as　much　as　Nedreg　hated　him。　Raula；　the　only　woman　in　the　camp；　had　a　spear　she　said　was　magical　but　no　one　believed　her。　Aynd；　Raula's　husband；　had　a　spear　that　was　so　warped　he　didn't　bother　telling　anyone　it　was　anything　but　an　old　piece　of　Impilturan　army　garbage　he'd　found　on　the　side　of　a　road。
　　　The　first　of　the　five　to　get　into　the　room　was　the　foreman　of　the　camp：　a　big　man　named　Rab　who　claimed　to　have　been　a　sergeant　in　the　Cormyrean　army；　who　was　on　the　battlefield　the　day　King　Azoun　was　killed。　Everyone　believed　what　Rab　told　them…whatever　Rab　told　them…because　everyone　was　afraid　of　him。　Piet　never　liked　Rab；　but　seeing　him　burst　into　the　blood…soaked　tavern　with　his　greataxe　at　the　ready　was　the　most　beautiful　thing　Piet　had　ever　seen。
　　　It　was　then；　for　no　reason　Piet　could　understand；　that　the　dark　elf　finally　attacked　him。　The　greatsword　moved　so　fast　Piet　could　barely　see　it。　Still；　he　managed　to　stagger　back　away　from　the　blade。　He　tried　to　parry　with　his　axe；　but　the　dark　elf　never　touched　it。　His　greatsword　whirled　around　it；　flipped　over　it；　pulled　away　from　it。
　　　Piet　had　taken　maybe　ten　steps　before　he　even　realized　he　was　walking。　He　was　closer　to　the　demon　than　he'd　intended　to　go；　but　the　monster　was　still　pushing　against　the　table　behind　which　Ansen；　Kinsky；　and　Lint　were　trapped。　Ansen　was　still　screaming。　The　tone　of　his　voice　had　taken　on　a　more　desperate；　almost　girlish　quality；　and　Piet　found　himself　wishing　the　man　would　hurry　up　and　die。　It　was　the　only　humane　thing。
　　　The　other　two　men　looked　as　if　they　were　trying　to　scream　but　couldn't。　The　demon…thing　glanced　up　at　the　men　who'd　burst　into　the　room　but　who　were　hesitating　at　the　door　still　trying　to　understand　the　grim　scene。　The　demon　took　advantage　of　their　hesitation　and　pressed　harder。　Piet　could　see　the　thing's　legs　tense　and　the　sharp　claws　on　its　feet　dig　into　the　floor。　Kinsky's　eyes　popped　out　of　his　head；　followed　by　a　waterfall　of　blood。　Lint　coughed　out　a　mouthful　of　blood；　gurgled；　and　died。　Kinsky　tried　to　scream。　The　room　filled　with　a　series　of　loud　cracking　noises；　and　he　went　limp。　Ansen　finally　stopped　screaming；　though　he　continued　to　burn。
　　　Rab　and　the　others　charged　at　the　demon。　Piet　wasn't　even　sure　they　noticed　the　dark　elf。
　　　〃Why？〃　Piet　asked　the　drow；　who　was　watching　the　others　charge　the　demon。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？　Why　are　you　doing　this？　What　do　you　want？〃
　　　The　dark　elf　turned　to　him　and　raised　an　eyebrow；　looking　down　his　nose　at　Piet…though　the　human　was　easily　six　inches　taller。
　　　〃What　do　you　want　here？〃　Piet　asked　again。
　　　〃Nothing；〃　the　drow　said　in　strangely　accented　mon。
　　　Piet　was　aware　of　some　motion　below　him…something　that　looked　as　if　the　dark　elf　had　shrugged…then　he　felt　something　wet　on　his　neck；　warm　liquid　pouring　down　his　chest。　Piet　put　a　hand　to　his　throat　and　his　fingers　met　a　pulsing　jet　of　hot　red　blood　shooting　in　a　four…foot　stream　from　his　throat。　When　he　tried　to　speak；　his　lungs　filled　with　blood；　then　his　eyesight　blurred。
　　　The　dark　elf　turned　away　from　him；　and　as　he　died；　Piet　knew　that　the　drow　would　never　give　him　a　second　thought。　He　didn't　live　long　enough　to　decide　how　he　felt　about　that。
　　　
　　　Ryld　didn't　give　the　dead　human　a　second　thought。　Five　more　of　them　had　e　in；　and　though　Jeggred　had　dispatched　the　first　three　humans　he'd　encountered　with　minimal　effort；　at　least　one　of　the　newers　looked　like　someone　who　could　actually　fight。　Ryld　didn't　entertain　for　a　second　the　thought　that　Jeggred　might　not　be　able　to　handle　the　five　humans…even　the　one　with　the　greataxe…but　the　five　of　them　together　might　slow　the　draegloth　down　a　bit；　and　that　would　have　to　do。
　　　Ryld　sheathed　Splitter；　and　before　the　blade　was　entirely　covered　his　feet　were　off　the　ground。　He　intended　to　jump　through　the　window　and　almost　made　it　when　someone　grabbed　his　foot。　Ryld　knew　before　he　turned　that　it　was　Jeggred。
　　　The　draegloth　pulled　hard　on　Ryld's　foot；　and　the　weapons　master　twisted　in　his　grip　and　kicked　Jeggred　in　the　face。　The　half…demon's　head　snapped　back　into　one　of　the　onrushing　humans…one　armed　with　a　sword…who　took　the　opportunity　to　slice　at　the　back　of　the　draegloth's　head。　The　sword　tangled　in　Jeggred's　still…wet　mane　of　thick　white　hair。
　　　Two　more　of　the　humans　came　up　on　either　side　of　the　half…demon　and　jabbed　their　spearheads　into　Jeggred's　back。　The　spearheads　sank　into　the　draegloth's　flesh；　and　Jeggred　let　out　a　loud　growl。　He　let　go　of　Ryld；　who　landed　on　his　feet；　face　to　face　with　the　draegloth。　The　humans　withdrew　their　spears；　and　Jeggred　and　Ryld　shared　a　look　that　said　Jeggred　wanted　the　human　male　and　female　with　spears。　The　swordsman　drew　his　weapon　back　to　stab　the　draegloth　from　behind。
　　　Jeggred　spun　away；　sending　the　two　humans　with　spears　scattering。　The　human　with　the　sword　was　left　facing　Ryld。
　　　〃The　draegloth　will　kill　you　all；〃　Ryld　said；　reasonably　certain　he　got　the　mon　right。
　　　The　human　seemed　more　frightened　that　Ryld　could　speak　his　language　than　he　was　of　the　dark　elf　himself。　That　was　a　mistake　the　man　wouldn't　make　twice。
　　　〃Don't…〃　Ryld　warned　as　the　human　pulled　his　sword　up　to　hack　down　at　the　dark　elf。
　　　With　an　impatient　sigh；　Ryld　flicked　his　sword　in　a　fast　arc　in　front　of　him　and　took　the　human's　sword　arm。　The　man　staggered　back；　bulging　eyes　fixed　on　the　blood　pumping　out　of　his　stump。　He　looked　at　Ryld；　made　eye　contact　with　him　for　the　space　of　a　heartbeat。　The　human　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　Ryld　to　say　something；　to　explain　why　the　drow　had　taken　his　arm。　Humans　were　an　odd　lot。
　　　Ryld　shrugged。　The　man　opened　his　mouth　to　speak　then　fell　over　dead。
　　　The　female　human　jabbed　at　Jeggred；　and　the　draegloth　grabbed　the　spear。　He　snapped　it　like　a　twig；　and　the　woman　backstepped　away；　her　hands　up　in　front　of　her　face　in　a　feeble　attempt　to　fend　off　the　half…demon。
　　　Ryld　suppressed　the　urge　to　laugh。　Instead；　he　bent　quickly　and　ripped　the　dead　human's　hand　off　the　sword。　He　had　to　break　a　few　of　the　man's　fingers　to　get　the　weapon　free；　but　it　certainly　didn't　matter　to　the　swordsman　anymore。
　　　The　other　spearman　went　for　Jeggred　with　renewed　fury；　his　hopelessly　warped　spear　jabbing　again　and　again　at　the　draegloth；　who　danced　out　of　its　way；　toying　with　the　man。　The　woman　had　her　hands　on　her　mouth；　apparently　concerned　with　what　might　happen　to　the　other　spearman。　There　was　something　about　the　look　on　her　face　that　Ryld　recognized；　and　in　response　he　tossed　her　the　dead　man's　sword。　She　didn't　notice　the　blade　ing　at　her　until　it　was　halfway　there；　but　she　caught　it　just　the　same。
　　　The　woman　met　Ryld's　gaze；　and　the　weapons　master　nodded　at　the　draegloth。
　　　〃Take　the　dark　elf；　girl！〃　the　man　with　the　greataxe　yelled　to　the　woman。
　　　The　man　with　the　greataxe　had　been　barking　orders　all　along；　but　Ryld　hadn't　paid　much　attention。　Hearing　someone　order　his　death　wasn't　an　entirely　alien　experience　for　Ryld；　but　there　was　something　about　the　circumstances　that　frustrated　him。　He'd　just　tossed　her　a　weapon　。。。　so　what　if　he'd　taken　it　out　of　the　severed　limb　of　one　of　her　rades？
　　　The　woman　hesitated；　looked　at　the　sword　as　if　she　wasn't　sure　what　to　do　with　it；　then　looked　at　Jeggred。　The　draegloth　stepped　into　the　man　with　the　spear；　deftly　slipping　past　the　spearhead；　and　grabbed　the　logger's　head　in　one　of　his　huge；　clawed　hands。　With　a　twist　of　the　draegloth's　wrist　and　a　bend　of　his　elbow　the　human　spearman's　head　came　free　of　his　shoulders　in　a　shower　of　blood。
　　　The　woman　screamed；　and　Ryld　was　taken　aback　by　the　sound。　It　was　soaked　with　emotion…a　sound　Ryld　hadn't　heard　often　in　Menzoberranzan。　He　looked　at　her　and　she　met　his　gaze。　Tears　streamed　down　her　face。　She　looked　back　at　the　draegloth；　who　was　meeting　the　advance　of　the　man　with　the　greataxe。
　　　The　woman　dropped　the　sword　and　ran；　rushing　past　Jeggred　and　the　man　with　the　greataxe　to　stumble　out　the　door。　Ryld　heard　her　footsteps　recede　into　the　night。
　　　The　weapons　master　longed　to　follow　her。
　　　
　　　Rab　Shuoc　was　born　in　the　Year　of　the　Striking　Hawk　in　the　Cormyrean　city　of　Arabel。　He　grew　up　there；　the　son　of　a　city　watchman；　and　spent　his　childhood　hunting　rats　with　his　friends　in　the　back　alleys　and　occasionally　following　his　father　on　his　rounds　in　the　wealthier　sections　of　the　city。　It　wasn't　the　slightest　bit　surprising　to　anyone　who　knew　him　when　he　joined　the　army。　Rab　was　fiercely　loyal　to　the　kingdom　of　his　birth　and　the　king　he　admired　more　than　anyone　but　his　father。
　　　He　worked　his　way　up　the　ranks；　slowly；　and　was　a　sergeant　when　the　ghazneths　and　goblins　ravaged　Cormyr　and　all　but　destroyed　Arabel。　He　was　nearly　killed　in　the　same　battle　that　resulted　in　the　death　of　the　king；　and　he　watched　the　city　of　his　birth　burned。　His　father　was　killed　when　part　of　a　building　fell　on　him。　With　the　king　and　his　father　both　dead；　and　no　family　of　his　own　to　tie　him　down；　Rab　simply　walked　away。
　　　He　went　on　to　bee　alternately　a　sellsword；　a　tavern　bouncer；　an　innkeeper；　a　weaponsmith；　then　a　logger。　He　was　strong　and　smart；　so　he　soon　became　foreman。　His　employers　paid　Rab　a　considerable　sum　in　gold　to　gather　crews　to　go　deep　into　some　of　the　most　dangerous　places　in　Faerun　to　find　exotic　woods。　He　quickly　built　a　solid　reputation　among　the　lumber　mill　owners　and　loggers　alike　as　a　fair　but　tough　leader　who　knew　how　to　get　the　job　done；　and　Rab　always　delivered。
　　　During　those　hard　forty…six　years　of　life；　Rab　Shuoc　had　missed　out　on　a　lot。　There　had　been　women　but　never　a　wife　and　never　any　children。　Since　the　war　he　hadn't　even　had　a　home。　He　rarely　worked　with　the　same　men　more　than　one　season　at　a　time　and　had　no　real　friends　to　speak　of。
　　　He　wasn't　the　kind　of　man　who　worried　about　his　own　happiness　or　even　expected　to　be　happy。　He　wanted　to　live；　work；　and　be　left　alone。
　　　When　he　stepped　into　his　mon　room　and　saw　some　of　his　crew　already　dead　at　the　hands　of　a　dark　elf　and　some　kind　of　giant　demon　monster；　he　knew　that　if　he　wanted　to　live；　he　would　have　to　fight　harder　than　he　ever　had　before。　It　was　with　that　thought　foremost　in　his　mind　that　he　stepped　toward　the　two　interlopers　and　got　started　with　the　last　thirty　seconds　of　his　life。
　　　Raula　was　smart　enough　to　tun；　and　Rab　let　her　go。　The　dark　elf　watched　her　go　too；　and　the　demon　ignored　her。　The　huge；　gray…furred　creature　locked　its　blazing　red　eyes　on　Rab　and　advanced　on　him。　Rab　hefted　his　greataxe　and　stepped　into　the　demon's　attack。　He　was　aware　of　the　drow　facing　him　as　well。
　　　The　drow　came　in　faster　than　the　demon；　swinging　his　enormous　greatsword　in　a　wild；　chaotic　fashion。　Rab　was　sure　he　could　parry　the　uncontrolled　assault　with　ease　and　he　held　the　steel　haft　of　his　greataxe　in　both　hands　so　the　greatsword　would　bounce　off　it…but　it　didn't。
　　　The　tip　of　the　greatsword　wasn't　where　it　was　supposed　to　be。　It　didn't　seem　possible　to　Rab　that　someone　could　move　such　a　huge；　heavy　weapon　so　quickly；　but　that　strange　dark　elf　had；　and　it　was　Rab　who　paid　the　price。　The　tip　of　the　sword　drew　a　deep　cut　across　the　logger's　chest。　Pain　flared；　and　blood　poured；　and　in　that　half…second　of　shock；　the　demon　took　his　axe。
　　　He'd　been　disarmed　before　but　he'd　never　had　an　opponent　actually　reach　out　and　take　the　weapon　right　out　of　his　hand。
　　　Rab　was　still　puzzling　over　that　when　something　even　stranger　happened：　the　dark　elf　drew　his　greatsword　across　the　demon's　back；　cutting　it　deeply　enough　that　blood　sprayed　from　the　wound　and　the　creature　roared。　The　drow　said　something　in　a　language　Rab　didn't　even　recognize　let　alone　understand。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　any　anger；　any　emotion　at　all　on　the　drow's　face；　but　he　was　definitely　trying　to　kill　the　demon。
　　　The　huge　creature　spun　on　the　much…smaller　dark　elf；　and　Rab　backed　away。　He　only　got　one　step　back　before　the　demon　reached　around　and　grabbed　him　by　the　shirt；　taking　some　skin　with　it。　The　monster　lifted　Rab；　who　weighed　well　over　two　hundred　pounds；　right　off　the　floor　without　any　sign　of　strain。
　　　Rab　grabbed　at　the　thing's　massive　clawed　hand；　but　the　demon's　skin　was　like　steel　coated　in　coarse　fur。　There　was　nothing　Rab　could　do　but　wonder　at　the　monster's　intentions。　It　whirled　on　the　dark　elf；　who　had　his　sword　ready。　The　demon　still　held　Rab's　greataxe　in　one　hand　but　almost　seemed　to　have　forgotten　it。
　　　The　demon　threw　Rab　at　the　dark　elf。　The　human　barked　out　an　incoherent；　scared　sound　that　might　have　been　a　scream　or　a　shout。　He　didn't　even　know。　It　was　the　sound　a　man　makes　when　he　knows　he's　got　less　than　a　second　to　live　and　there's　nothing　he　can　do　about　it。
　　　Rab　was　impaled　on　the　dark　elf's　greatsword。　He　could　feel　every　inch　of　the　cold　steel　as　it　slid　through　his　chest。　Strangely　enough；　it　didn't　hurt。
　　　
　　　Ryld　held　the　human　up　and　looked　past　him　at　the　draegloth。　The　man　died　trying　to　make　eye　contact　with　him…Ryld　would　never　understand　why　humans　insisted　on　doing　that。　Ryld　tipped　his　sword　down　in　hopes　that　the　man　would　slide　off　but　instead　had　to　quickly　jerk　back　to　avoid　the　blade　of　the　human's　greataxe；　wielded　by　Jeggred；　as　it　chopped　down。
　　　The　greataxe　hit　Splitter　and　sliced　clean　through。　Ryld　felt　his　eyes　bulge　and　his　blood　at　once　boil　and　run　cold。　Splitter　was　broken。　His　greatsword。　The　weapon　he'd　practically　lived　for；　had　developed　his　skills　around　for　years；　was　destroyed。
　　　The　human's　axe　must　have　been　enchanted　after　all。
　　　The　man　fell　away　on　the　remaining　length　of　the　greatsword　blade；　and　the　sudden　loss　of　his　weight　made　Ryld　fall　backward。　He　let　go　of　the　shattered　sword；　and　it　clattered　to　the　floor　next　to　him。
　　　The　weapons　master　reached　for　his　short　sword　and　almost　had　his　fingers　wrapped　around　the　pommel　when　the　axe　blade　came　down　again；　split　his　dwarven　mithral　breastplate　as　if　it　were　made　of　parchment；　and　buried　itself　into　his　chest。　Ryld　could　feel　the　weight　of　it　not　only　on　him　but　in　him。　There　was　no　pain；　just　a　heavy；　even　pressure。
　　　The　draegloth　stood　over　him；　drool　hanging　from　his　exposed　fangs　in　shimmering　tendrils；　his　eyes　aglow　in　the　orange　torchlight。
　　　Ryld　tried　to　breathe　but　he　couldn't。　No　air　was　getting　past　his　throat　at　all。　He　wanted　to　say　something；　but　there　was　no　way　to　form　words。　Besides；　he　didn't　know　what　to　say。　He'd　turned　his　back　on　everything　he　knew　for　a　woman　he　didn't　know　at　all；　a　woman　who　chose　a　path　for　herself　that　would　inevitably　lead　to　her　own　destruction　as　surely　as　it　h