war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第37部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　one　of　two　that　ended　in　a　hideous；　sharp　pincer　claw。　〃They　won't　grow　back。　At　the　very　least；　the　whoreson　owes　me　two　legs。　Give　him　to　me　now；　and　be　on　your　way。〃
　　　〃Everyone；〃　Quenthel　said；　her　voice　faraway　and　bored；　〃step　aside。〃
　　　The　draegloth　growled；　and　Valas　appeared　from　behind　a　pile　of　broken　bricks；　shifting　his　feet　in　an　uncharacteristically　audible　way。　Pharaun　looked　at　Quenthel；　and　she　met　his　gaze　evenly。
　　　〃Are　you　serious？〃　the　wizard　asked。
　　　〃Yes；〃　Quenthel　replied。　〃You　summoned　him；　you　bound　him；　you　froze　him　in　ice。　The　rest　of　this　expedition　is　too　important　to　waste　fighting　every　monster　we　stumble　across…not　anymore　anyway；　and　not　to　settle　vendettas　you　bring　upon　yourself　with　your　own　simpleminded　carelessness。〃
　　　〃Pharaun　summoned　that　demon　on　your　mand；　Mistress；〃　Valas　reminded　her；　but　she　didn't　acknowledge　the　scout　at　all。
　　　Pharaun　looked　at　Belshazu；　who　was　quietly　laughing；　obviously　surprised　that　Pharaun's　panions　had　so　quickly　and　easily　sold　him　out。　The　wizard　scanned　the　glabrezu　quickly　and　found　that　he　was　flying　thanks　to　a　thin　platinum　ring　on　the　little　finger　of　his　left　hand。
　　　〃It's　all　right；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃All　we're　talking　about　here　is　one　legless　glabrezu。　Go　on　ahead；　and　I'll　catch　up　in　a　minute　or　so。〃
　　　The　glabrezu　roared　and　moved　closer。　Pharaun's　first　impulse　was　to　run；　his　second　to　stand　and　swallow。　He　forced　himself　to　do　neither。　Instead　he　prepared　his　first　spell。
　　　Something　drifted　past　Pharaun's　face。　He　leaned　back　a　bit　to　avoid　it；　but　something　else　tapped　him　under　the　chin。　Dust　rose　up　from　the　ground　all　around　him…and　pebbles；　shards　of　petrified　bone；　and　little　bits　of　twisted；　rusted　iron。　He　looked　at　the　glabrezu；　who　was　holding　up　one　of　his　two　proper　hands；　a　knowing　grin　on　his　canine　face。
　　　Pharaun's　stomach　lurched；　and　he　felt　himself　being　pulled　upward。　His　boots　came　off　the　ground；　and　he　was　falling…but　falling　upward　along　with　the　debris　around　him。　The　others　backed　out　of　the　area　where　gravity　had　been　reversed。　Quenthel　watched　with　a　look　of　irritation；　as　if　she　were　disappointed　that　the　demon　was　taking　so　long　to　kill　him。　Valas　drew　his　kukris　but　seemed　unsure　if　he　should　intercede。　Jeggred　looked　at　Danifae；　who　waved　him　off　but　watched　expectantly。
　　　With　a　sigh；　Pharaun　went　to　work。
　　　He　touched　the　Sorcere　insignia　and　used　its　levitation　power　to　counter　the　gravity　reversal。　It　was　disorienting；　but　he　managed　to　hover　at　the　same　level　as　the　glabrezu。　He　then　touched　his　steel　ring　and　brought　forth　the　rapier　held　within　it。
　　　The　weapon　flew　at　the　demon。　As　the　blade　flashed　through　the　air；　the　glabrezu　slashed　at　it　with　his　claws　and　snipped　at　it　with　his　pincers。　The　demon　had　the　advantage　of　being　able　to　fly　with　the　enchanted　blade；　and　they　quickly　matched　speeds　so　that　Belshazu　and　the　rapier　were　evenly　paired。
　　　Pharaun　took　advantage　of　the　stalemate　to　cast　a　spell。　His　stomach　lurched　again；　and　his　levitation　started　to　pull　him　up　instead　of　down。　The　demon's　upside…down　gravity　was　gone。
　　　Belshazu　could　parry　the　animated　sword's　attacks　but　couldn't　hurt　it。　At　the　same　time　the　rapier　nicked　the　demon　here；　slashed　him　there；　and　blood　started　to　drip　onto　the　dead　ground　from　half　a　dozen　cuts。
　　　〃Unfortunate；〃　Belshazu　hissed；　almost　to　himself；　〃but　I　would　have　liked　to　keep　this　one　after　I　kill　you。〃
　　　The　demon　made　a　gesture　difficult　to　define…a　blink；　a　shrug；　a　shudder…and　the　blade　shattered　into　a　thousand　glittering　fragments　of　steel　that　rained　down　onto　the　ancient　battlefield。
　　　Pharaun　felt　his　blood　boil；　his　face　flush；　and　his　breath　stop　in　his　throat。
　　　I　should　have　remembered；　he　scolded　himself。　I　should　have　known　he　could　do　that。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　wanted　to　hurl　a　string　of　invectives　into　the　air；　at　Belshazu　and　the　cold；　uncaring　multiverse；　but　he　swallowed　it。　Still；　he'd　always　liked　that　rapier。
　　　〃I'll　take　the　value　of　that　blade　out　of　your　guts；　demon；〃　Pharaun　threatened。
　　　The　glabrezu's　animal　face　twisted　into　a　feral　grin　again　as　he　rushed　through　the　air　toward　Pharaun。
　　　From　behind　him；　the　mage　heard　Valas　say；　〃You'll　leave　a　fellow　drow　to　a　filthy　demon？　You'll　leave　us　without　a　mage？〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Quenthel　replied　with　an　utter　lack　of　regret　that　Pharaun　actually　found　refreshing。
　　　The　tanar'ri　approached　quickly；　and　Pharaun　pulled　an　old　glove　from　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi。　He　started　the　incantation　even　before　the　glove　came　out　of　the　pocket；　and　by　the　time　the　glabrezu　was　in　striking　range；　the　spell　was　done。
　　　A　hand　the　size　of　a　rothe　appeared　in　the　air　between　the　wizard　and　the　demon。　Though　Belshazu　tried　to　avoid　it；　he　couldn't。　The　hand　opened　and　pushed　him　through　the　air；　forcing　him　away　from　the　wizard　no　matter　how　hard　he　resisted　the　conjured　hand。
　　　Pharaun　turned　to　Quenthel；　who　looked　at　him　blankly　when　he　said；　〃What　I'm　about　to　do；　I　should　do　right　here　and　let　you　all　taste　it；　but　I　won't。　I'll　push　him　away　first　and　keep　you　at　a　safe　distance。　Nonetheless；　I　want　you　to　remember；　Mistress；　that　I　can　do　this　again；　and　by　all　rights　I　should　do　it　again。〃
　　　He　didn't　bother　to　wait　for　a　response…none　came　anyway…instead　he　turned　back　to　the　glabrezu　who　had　been　pushed　by　the　spell　several　paces　away　in　the　air　over　the　ruined　temple　grounds。　Pharaun　started　to　run　over　the　uneven；　debris…scattered　ground；　counting　his　paces　as　he　went。　Belshazu　ripped　and　slashed　at　the　conjured　hand　in　a　mad　flurry　of　uncontrolled；　frustrated　attacks　but　to　no　effect。　The　magic　held。
　　　When　Pharaun　had　gone　twenty　paces　away　from　the　rest　of　the　expedition；　he　stopped。　He　held　the　hand　in　the　air；　no　longer　pushing　the　glabrezu；　but　keeping　him　at　bay。　As　he　ran　he'd　gone　over　in　his　mind　again　everything　he'd　learned　about　tanar'ri　in　general　and　glabrezu　in　particular。　When　he　stopped　he　cast　a　spell…not　a　terribly　plicated　one…that　would　prevent　another　inconvenient　manifestation　of　the　tanar'ri's　natural　magic。　A　ray　of　green　light　leaped　from　Pharaun's　outstretched　hands　and　found　its　way　unerringly　to　the　floating　demon。　The　spell　would　hold　him　to　the　sixty…sixth　layer　of　the　Abyss；　preventing　the　glabrezu　from　teleporting　even　within　the　confines　of　the　plane。
　　　〃Tell　me　the…〃　the　wizard　called　out　to　the　demon；　stopping　when　Belshazu's　huge　pincer　burst　through　the　conjured　hand。
　　　Solidified　magic　burned　away　from　the　surface　of　the　black　fist　like　blood　clouding　in　water。　The　glabrezu　grinned；　grunted；　and　slashed　at　the　hand。　The　great　fingers　twitched；　their　grip　loosening。
　　　The　wizard　had　never　seen　anything　tear　through　that　spell　in　the　same　way。　The　glabrezu　was　more　powerful；　more　uniquely　talented　than　Pharaun　had　given　him　credit　for。　Even　as　those　thoughts　passed　through　his　mind；　the　drow　mage　pulled　another　spell　out　of　the　Weave。
　　　The　demon's　hideous　pincer　broke　through　one　of　the　fingers。　When　it　came　away　from　the　hand；　the　black　magic　burst　like　a　bubble　and　the　finger　was　gone。　Belshazu　pushed　at　the　quivering；　dissipating　hand　with　one　severed　leg　and　his　all…too…intact　arms。　As　Pharaun's　next　spell　began　to　form　in　the　air　above　the　demon；　Belshazu　fell　out　of　the　conjured　hand　and　onto　the　wreckage…strewn　ground。
　　　The　demon　roared　at　him；　and　it　was　all　Pharaun　could　do　to　force　himself　to　appear　unaffected　by　the　deafening；　terrifying　sound。　Belshazu　stood　but　didn't　look　up…didn't　see　the　slab　of　stone　assembling　itself　bit　by　bit　in　the　thin　air　above　him。
　　　〃Tell　me　the　truth。〃　Pharaun　slid　a　loose　strand　of　hair　away　from　his　eyes　and　asked；　〃Can　you　tell　I　haven't　washed　my　hair　in　over　a　tenday？〃
　　　The　glabrezu　growled；　roared　again；　and　leaped　into　the　air…
　　　…just　as　the　wall　of　stone　fell。
　　　The　demon　disappeared　under　it；　and　the　ground　shook。　The　wall　cracked　as　it　came　to　rest　on　the　uneven　surface。　Belshazu　lifted　the　several…ton　slab　off　him　just　enough　to　turn　his　head　and　reveal　burning　eyes　sunk　in　a　bleeding；　animal's　head。
　　　The　look　of　the　battered　creature　made　Pharaun　smile。　The　spell　he'd　had　to　move　so　far　away　from　the　others　to　cast　safely　came　to　his　lips　as　the　tanar'ri　continued　to　slowly　dig　itself　out　from　under　the　stone　slab。　When　he　pleted　the　incantation；　Pharaun　opened　his　mouth　wide　and　screamed。
　　　The　sound　came　not　from　his　lungs；　throat；　or　mouth　but　from　the　Weave　all　around　him　and　inside　him。　The　sound　rolled　up；　louder　and　louder；　then　shot　out　of　him：　a　mad；　keening　shriek　that　smashed　into　the　demon　so　hard　it　even　blew　the　massive　slab　of　stone　into　smoky　vapor；　then　blew　that　smoke　away　into　nothing。　The　sound　crashed　into　the　glabrezu；　shaking　him　and　spinning　him　into　the　air。　Bruises　exploded　on　Belshazu's　tough　red　hide；　and　his　bones　cracked　loudly　one　by　one。　The　demon　couldn't　muster　the　breath　necessary　to　scream；　though　Pharaun　reveled　in　the　obvious　fact　that　he　wanted　to。
　　　Especially　when　pieces　of　him　started　ing　off。
　　　Pharaun　kept　screaming；　continued　pushing　air　out　of　himself。　The　sound　shredded　the　glabrezu；　taking　off　skin；　plates　of　exoskeleton；　divots　of　fur；　claws；　fangs；　eyes；　then　blood　and　entrails。　The　whole　mess　whirled　in　the　air　as　if　it　were　being　stirred　in　a　great　invisible　cooking　pot；　then　all　at　once　the　spell…and　the　hideous　shrieking　scream…was　gone；　and　the　shredded　remains　of　Belshazu　fell　in　a　heap　on　the　battle…scarred　ground。　Blood　continued　to　rain　down　in　tapping　spatters　for　a　minute　after　the　last　big　piece　hit　the　ground。
　　　Pharaun　sighed；　pushed　away　his　errant　hair　again；　and　stepped　gingerly　into　the　mess。　He　kicked　pieces　this　way　and　that　with　the　toe　of　one　boot　until　his　eyes　settled　on　the　thin　platinum　band。　He　bent　and　retrieved　the　ring；　making　some　effort　not　to　touch　the　tanar'ri's　blood。
　　　〃You　owed　me　a　ring；〃　he　said　to　the　demon's　mute　remains　then　slipped　the　ring　on　a　finger　and　turned　back　to　rejoin　the　drow　who　had　been　more　than　happy　to　let　him　face　the　glabrezu　alone。
　　　
　　　〃It　looked　big　from　a　distance；〃　Pharaun　said　as　he　ran　a　hand　along　a　cold；　rusted　metal　rib。　〃It's　even　bigger　from　the　inside。〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　looked　up　along　the　line　of　the　gently　curving　steel　beam　and　tried　to　guess　how　far　above　his　head　it　ended…a　hundred　feet；　maybe　a　hundred　and　fifty？
　　　〃Why　was　this　just　left　here　for　a　thousand　years？〃　asked　Jeggred。　The　draegloth　was　sniffing　the　outer　surface　of　the　great　spider　fortress　and　seemed　dissatisfied。　〃It　should　have　been　cleaned　up。　Wouldn't　the　goddess　want　it　cleared　away？〃
　　　〃It　hasn't　been　here　a　thousand　years；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　was　standing　inside　a　huge　tear　in　the　side　of　the　broken　sphere；　her　arms　crossed　in　front　of　her。　〃I　told　you　all；　I　was　here。〃
　　　〃How　long　ago？〃　asked　Danifae。
　　　The　high　priestess　looked　at　her　with　open　contempt　but　answered；　〃Ten　years。〃
　　　〃Ten　years　ago；〃　Pharaun　asked；　〃was　this　thing　intact　and　moving？〃
　　　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　nodded。
　　　〃How　were　you　here？〃　Danifae　asked。
　　　Quenthel　turned　to　Pharaun　and　said；　〃If　there　is　anyone　alive　in　here；　could　you　sense　them？〃
　　　The　wizard　glanced　at　Danifae；　who　offered　him　a　bored　shrug。
　　　〃There　are　spells；〃　he　answered　Quenthel；　〃that　will　do　that；　yes。　Do　you　think　we'll　find　someone　alive　in　here？　Lolth　herself；　perhaps？〃
　　　〃If　the　Spider　Queen　is　anywhere；〃　said　the　Baenre　priestess；　〃she'll　be　here。　This　is　her　palace。　Still；　I　don't　sense　her　presence。　I　still　can't　feel　her　here　at　all。〃
　　　Pharaun　nodded　and　looked　around　at　the　ruin　again。
　　　〃Far　be　it　from　me　to　argue；　Mistress；〃　he　said　to　Quenthel；　〃but　I　find　it　impossible　to　believe　that　this　construct　was　in　operation　a　mere　ten　years　ago。　I'll　admit　I've　never　seen　materials　like　this…steel　beams　big　enough　to　hold　up　a　building；　a　magical　construct　as　big　as　House　Baenre…but　I've　seen　steel　both　old　and　new；　and　this　steel　has　been　laying　out　here　for　somewhat　longer　than　ten　years。　I　will　accept　that　you're　reluctant　to　tell　us　how　you　came　to　be　here　a　decade　ago；　but。　。　。〃
　　　〃But　what？〃　Quenthel　snarled。
　　　Pharaun　stopped　to　think。　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　watched　him　the　whole　time；　and　finally　he　shrugged　and　shook　his　head。　Quenthel　turned　and　strode　deeper　into　the　wrecked　spider　fortress。
　　　Pharaun　could　feel　someone　looking　at　him；　and　he　turned　to　see　Valas　lurking　at　the　edge　of　a　shadow。　The　scout　was　standing　outside　the　wreck。　Following　Valas's　glances；　Pharaun　watched　Danifae　and　Jeggred　follow　Quenthel　into　the　ruin。　When　the　three　of　them　had　disappeared　into　the　maze　of　twisted　metal；　Valas　stepped　closer。
　　　〃Do　you　really　think　she's　alive　in　there？〃　the　scout　asked。
　　　Pharaun　shrugged　and　said；　〃At　this　point；　my　dear　Valas；　I'm　willing　to　accept　nearly　anything。　Time　seems　to　have　no　meaning　here…a　different　meaning　anyway。　Everything　Quenthel　says　may　be　true；　but　then　here　we　are　at　the　very　heart　of　Lolth's　domain；　and　where　is　she？〃
　　　〃Where　are　the　souls　of　the　dead？〃　asked　the　scout。
　　　〃We　should　be　swarmed　by　departed　ancestors；　shouldn't　we？〃　Pharaun　agreed。　〃There　should　be　all　manner　of　creatures　here：　demons；　driders；　draegloths　。　。　。〃　Pharaun　paused　to　chuckle。　〃All　manner　of　things　that　start　with　'd'　。　。　。　but　all　there　is　is　wreckage　and　ruins；　calcified　bone　and　rotting　stone。　It's　the　stuff　of　an　epic　lament。〃
　　　Valas　stared　into　the　darkness　inside　the　spider　fortress　and　sighed。
　　　〃I　don't　know　my　way　around　in　there；〃　the　scout　said；　his　voice　barely　above　a　whisper；　〃Why　am　I　still　here？〃
　　　〃You　were　hired；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃House　Baenre　pays　Bregan　D'aerthe　。　。　。　everyone　knows　why　you're　here。〃
　　　〃No；　I　said；　why　am　I　still　here？〃　the　scout　asked。　〃I　was　hired　as　a　guide　to　get　this　expedition　through　the　Dark　Domain；　and　I　have　done　that。〃
　　　〃You　have　indeed；〃　Pharaun　replied。
　　　〃I　never　said　I　knew　。　。　。〃　Valas　started；　but　ended　with　a　sigh。
　　　〃You're　out　of　your　element；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃as　are　we　all；　but　we　could　still　certainly　benefit　from　your　skills。〃
　　　〃I　could　have　helped　you　with　the　demon；〃　said　the　scout。
　　　〃Quenthel　wouldn't　allow　it；〃　Pharaun　replied。
　　　〃You　got　us　here；〃　Valas　said；　〃and　as　far　as　I　know；　even　with　the　ship　destroyed；　you're　the　only　one　who　can　get　them　home；　yet　she　risks　you　to　prove　a　point　that　no　one　needs　proven？　Does　that　make　sense　to　you　at　all？〃
　　　Pharaun　smiled　and　shook　his　head；　sliding　an　errant　strand　of　hair　out　of　his　face；　then　said；　〃I　have　been　a　thorn　in　the　high　priestess's　side　since　we　stepped　out　of　Menzoberranzan。　I've　lost　track　of　the　various　different　reasons　why　she　might　want　to　kill　me；　as　I've　stopped　counting　the　reasons　I'd　like　to　see　her　dead；　too。　Still；　perhaps　she　was　confident　that　I　could　handle　the　demon　on　my　own。　I　did；　after　all。〃
　　　〃There　might　have　been　a　time　when　I'd　have　thought　that　was　good　enough；〃　Valas　went　on；　〃but　after　all　this；　I　can't　help　thinking　it's　just　stupid；　and　potentially　wasteful。　Her　behavior　is　erratic。〃