war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第14部分

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oon　he　would　be　a　drow…thing；　transformed　forever　into　a　water…breathing　creature。　The　entire　lake　would　be　his　prison。
　　　Even　though　he　knew　it　was　hopeless；　since　none　of　his　panions　had　healing　magic；　and　since　they'd　probably　mistake　him　for　a　monster　and　kill　him　on　the　spot。　Valas　tied　his　kukri　back　into　its　sheath　and　began　swimming　against　the　current；　He'd　pleted　the　first　part　of　his　duty　as　a　mercenary：　he'd　escaped。　Next　he　would　carry　back　to　his　panions　his　report；　even　though　it　contained　woefully　little；　save　for　a　warning　to　avoid　Zanhoriloch　at　all　cost。
　　　That　report　delivered；　he　would　get　one　of　the　others　to　kill　him。　If　they　refused；　he'd　do　the　job　himself。
　　　
Chapter　Thirteen
　　　Andzrel　Baenre；　weapons　master　of　House　Baenre；　stood　in　the　cavern　directing　his　troops。　Runners　continually　came　and　went　through　the　half…dozen　tunnels　that　connected　to　the　cavern；　carrying　news　of　the　battle　for　the　approaches　to　Menzoberranzan。　Soldiers　from　House　Baenre　were　holding　the　northern　exit　from　Ablonshier's　Cave。
　　　Faintly；　from　the　connecting　tunnel；　Andzrel　could　hear　the　clash　of　steel　on　steel　as　drow　sword　met　tanarukk　battle…axe。　A　group　of　duergar　had　tried　to　force　their　way　through　a　tunnel　that　circled　past　that　exit；　only　to　bee　tangled　in　the　webs　cast　by　the　wizard　attached　to　Andzrel's　pany。　The　latest　report　indicated　that　the　webs　were　on　fire。　The　half…orc；　half…demon　tanarukks；　apparently；　were　trying　to　burn　their　way　through…at　the　expense　of　their　gray　dwarf　allies　caught　in　the　sticky　strands。　The　reek　of　burned　hair　and　flesh　drifted　down　the　tunnel。
　　　In　the　caves　to　the　west　of　where　Andzrel　stood；　Baenre　troops　had　forced　a　group　of　duergar　back　into　a　faerzress　and　hurled　light　pellets　in　after　them。　The　resulting　pyrotechnic　display　had　apparently　been　quite　spectacular；　according　to　the　slingers　who　had　triggered　it…slingers　who　had　been　struck　blind　as　a　result。　More　House　Baenre　fighters；　waiting　in　the　wings　around　a　bend　of　the　tunnel；　had　rushed　past　the　slingers　to　deliver　the　coup　de　grace　to　the　blinded　duergar。
　　　Andzrel　itched　to　be　a　part　of　it。　To　be　crawling　the　jagged　twists　and　turns　of　the　Dark　Dominion's　narrow　passageways；　sword　in　hand；　fighting　his　enemy　face…to…face　in　the　tight　confines　of　the　tunnels。　Instead　he　was　perched　on　a　column　of　broken　stalagmite；　directing　the　troops　that　flowed　past　him　into　battle　while　he　remained　behind。　He　tried　picturing　himself　as　a　spider　at　the　center　of　the　web…sensitive　to　the　vibrations　of　battle　ing　from　all　directions　and　responding　to　them…but　it　didn't　help。　He　wanted　an　excuse　to　draw　his　sword；　for　Lolth's　sake；　to　engage　the　enemy　in　glorious　battle　as　he　had　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　when　he'd　snatched　victory　from　the　fangs　of　deceit。
　　　But　the　defense　of　the　tunnels　was　going　too　well。　Alerted　by　Triel's　warning；　the　matron　mothers　had　poured　troops　into　the　Dark　Dominions　southeast　of　the　city；　forcing　the　enemy　advance　to　grind　to　a　halt。　The　duergar　seemed　to　have　withdrawn；　leaving　only　the　tanarukks　to　fight。　And　while　the　Scoured　Legion　might　have　thousands　of　troops；　forcing　an　army　through　those　narrow　tunnels　was　like　trying　to　shove　a　melon　through　the　neck　of　a　bottle。　Yet　they　continued　to　send　troops　forward。　It　was　almost　as　if　they'd　expected　the　tunnels　to　be　undefended。
　　　Sighing；　Andzrel　allowed　his　attention　to　wander。　His　eye　settled　on　one　of　the　wisps　of　smoke　that　had　had　been　drifting　in　for　some　time　from　the　tunnel　to　his　left。　It　rose　steadily　upward；　drawn　by　air　currents　that　were　surprisingly　swift；　toward　a　narrow　crack　that　ran　the　length　of　the　ceiling。　Then　it　slipped　inside　the　crack　and　was　gone。
　　　It　was　followed；　a　moment　later；　by　another　drift　of　smoke…one　that　was　curiously　shaped；　with　tendrils　that　looked　like　arms　and　legs。　It；　too；　vanished　into　the　crack。　Then　a　third　puff　of　smoke　appeared；　one　with　a　bulge　at　the　front　of　it　that　looked；　for　all　the　world；　like　a　shaggy…
　　　Suddenly　realizing　what　he　was　seeing；　Andzrel　barked　an　order　at　the　junior　officer　who　stood　beside　him。
　　　〃Lieutenant！　The　smoke　。　。　。　shoot　it！〃
　　　With　a　swiftness　born　of　strict　training　and　absolute　obedience；　the　lieutenant　whipped　up　his　arm　and　fired　his　wrist　crossbow　in　the　direction　indicated。　A　poisoned　bolt　whizzed　through　the　air　toward　its　target。
　　　Instead　of　passing　through　the　〃smoke〃　and　striking　the　stone　behind　it；　the　bolt　sank　into　something　soft；　with　a　dull　thud。　An　instant　later；　a　tanarukk　materialized　out　of　thin　air。　It　tumbled；　arms　and　legs　thrashing；　toward　the　floor　of　the　cavern；　the　battle…axe　it　had　been　carrying　landing　with　a　loud　clang　beside　it。　The　tanarukk　was　dead　even　before　it　slammed　into　the　stone　floor；　the　virulent　drow　poison　having　done　its　work。
　　　The　lieutenant　immediately　fitted　another　bolt　into　the　crossbow　at　his　wrist　and　scanned　the　ceiling。
　　　〃Master　Andzrel；〃　he　croaked；　〃where　did　it　e　from？〃
　　　Andzrel　peered　down　the　corridor　from　which　the　two…dimensional　tanarukk　had　e。　No　more　wisps　of　〃smoke〃　appeared。　The　dead　one　seemed　to　have　been　bringing　up　the　rear。
　　　Short　and　stocky；　with　a　prominent　lower　jaw　and　curving　tusks；　the　tanarukk　had　a　ridge　of　horn　across　its　forehead　that　gave　it　a　thick；　unintelligent　look。　The　trick　it　and　its　fellows　had　played　on　the　drow；　however；　was　anything　but　stupid。
　　　〃The　mote　important　question；　lieutenant；　is　where　the　tanarukks　were　headed；〃　Andzrel　said；　〃and　how　many　have　slipped　past　us　already。　If　I　remember　my　geography　correctly；　that　crack　leads　to　the　main　cavern。〃
　　　A　runner　emerged　from　a　side　tunnel。
　　　〃Good　news；　sir；〃　the　man　panted。　〃We're　not　only　holding　them　。　。　。　they　seem　to　be　falling　back。　The　enemy　has　all　but　disappeared。〃
　　　As　Andzrel　cursed…surprising　the　runner；　who'd　obviously　expected　elation　on　his　mander's　part…the　forefront　of　a　pany　from　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo　trotted　into　the　room。　They　were　reinforcements　sent　in　at　last　by　the　Second　House；　only　after　House　Baenre's　troops　had　secured　the　tunnels。
　　　Leaping　down　from　the　broken　stalagmite；　Andzrel　strode　toward　the　captain　who　manded　them；　a　slender　female　in　adamantine　armor　with　white　hair　drawn　up　in　a　topknot。
　　　〃Captain！〃　he　barked；　foregoing　the　usual　bow　that　was　a　ranking　officer's　due…and　the　Barrison　Del'Armgo　captain；　being　female；　certainly　did　outrank　him。　〃Turn　your　pany　around。　March　back　to　the　main　cavern　at　once。〃
　　　The　captain's　eyes　blazed　an　even　deeper　red　as　her　cheeks　flushed　with　anger。　She　jerked　to　a　halt；　and　the　soldiers　following　her　did　the　same。
　　　〃Who　in　the　Nine　Hells　do　you　think　you　are？〃　she　said；　glaring　down　at　him。　〃You　may　be　weapons　master　of　House　Baenre；　but　you're　only　a…〃
　　　〃This　isn't　the　time　for　arguments；〃　Andzrel　said　in　a　tense　voice；　his　intensity　making　up　for　his　lack　of　height。　〃The　enemy　has　slipped　past　us　and　are　about　to　enter　the　city。　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo　lies　directly　in　their　path。　Is　your　pride　really　worth　your　House；　captain？〃
　　　The　other　captain　hesitated；　sword　gripped　in　her　hand；　then　she　spun　on　her　heel。
　　　〃Turn　about！〃　she　barked。　〃Back　to　the　main　cavern。　Double　speed！〃
　　　The　look　she　gave　Andzrel　over　her　shoulder　as　she　sped　away　behind　her　pany；　however；　was　as　sharp　as　a　dagger　point。　When　the　fight　with　the　tanarukks　and　duergar　was　over；　win　or　lose；　Andzrel　knew　he　would　have　a　second　battle　to　face。
　　　He　spun　to　face　the　House　Baenre　lieutenant　and　said；　〃You're　in　charge。　Order　half　of　our　pany　to　fall　back　to　the　main　cavern；　while　the　other　half　continue　to　hold　the　tunnels。〃
　　　The　lieutenant's　white　eyebrows　lifted。　〃And　you；　sir？〃　he　asked。　〃Where　will　you　be？〃
　　　Then；　realizing　his　impertinence；　he　dropped　his　gaze　to　the　floor。
　　　〃I'll　be　making　sure　that　Barrison　Del'Armgo　captain　follows　her　orders；〃　he　said　with　a　grin。　He　drew　his　sword。　〃And　hopefully；　I'll　be　giving　the　tanarukks　a　taste　of　this。〃
　　　
　　　Triel；　flanked　by　her　House　wizard　and　the　priestess　currently　serving　as　her　personal　attendant；　stood　on　the　balcony　that　encircled　the　Great　Mound　at　the　point　where　stalagmite　and　stalactite　met。　From　far　below；　at　the　base　of　the　Qu'ellarz'orl　plateau；　came　the　clash　of　troops　in　battle。　A　band　of　tanarukks　had　somehow　slipped　past　the　troops　she'd　ordered　into　the　tunnels　and　had　reached　the　mushroom　forest。　The　wide　caps　of　the　mushrooms　prevented　Triel　from　seeing　much；　but　every　now　and　then　one　of　the　puffballs　would　explode　as　a　sword　or　axe　struck　it；　filling　the　air　with　a　cloud　of　luminescent　blue　spores。
　　　Among　the　batants；　Triel　could　pick　out　the　silver　uniforms　of　her　own　troops。　The　House　Baenre　pany　under　Andzrel；　together　with　a　pany　from　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo；　were　fighting　a　containing　action；　preventing　the　tanarukks　from　advancing　farther　into　the　main　cavern。　As　the　foot　soldiers　repeatedly　charged　the　tanarukks；　trying　to　drive　them　back　through　the　fence；　two　squadrons　of　House　Baenre's　mounted　troops　made　an　assault　on　the　enemy　flanks；　their　lizards　scurrying　along　the　walls。
　　　The　enemy　was　gradually　forced　back　against　the　wall　of　the　great　cavern。　But　just　when　Triel　was　certain　they　would　either　be　shoved　back　into　the　tunnel　like　a　cork　into　a　bottle　or　smashed　flat　where　they　stood；　the　tanarukks　closest　to　the　tunnel　mouth　parted。　Triel　strained　forward；　expecting　to　see　a　tanarukk　general　stride　through　the　gap　in　their　ranks；　but　what　emerged　instead　from　the　tunnel　mouth　made　her　chuckle。
　　　It　was　a　jade　spider。　Three　times　the　height　of　a　drow；　the　magical　construct　was　one　of　those　that　guarded　each　of　the　entrances　to　Menzoberranzan。　Made　from　magically　treated　jade；　it　moved　with　fluid　grace。　It　was　as　captivating　in　its　beauty　as　it　was　deadly。
　　　〃Now　we'll　see　some　fun；〃　said　the　plump　wizard　standing　next　to　Triel。
　　　Triel　acknowledged　him　with　a　curt　nod。　She　didn't　much　care　for　Nauzhror；　her　first　cousin　once　removed。　He　had　only　been　promoted　to　the　position　of　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　because　Gromph　was　missing；　but　he　wore　the　archmage's　robes　with　a　stuck…up　snobbishness；　as　if　he'd　earned　them。　Triel　instead　directed　her　ment　to　Wilara；　the　priestess　who　stood　on　her　left。
　　　〃The　spiders　will　put　the　fear　of　Lolth　into　them；〃　she　chuckled。
　　　Wilara　laughed　politely　along　with　her　mistress。　Her　laughter　ended　abruptly　a　moment　later；　however；　when　the　jade　spider；　instead　of　attacking　the　tanarukks；　strode　through　the　gap　they'd　created　in　their　ranks。
　　　〃What　in　the　Spider　Queen's　name。　。　。　。〃　the　priestess　whispered。
　　　Wilara's　unfinished　question　was　answered　a　moment　later　as　the　spider　crashed　headlong　into　the　House　Baenre　soldiers。　Plucking　one　of　them　from　the　ground　with　its　mandibles；　it　scissored　the　soldier　in　half。　Then；　letting　the　pieces　fall　to　either　side；　it　continued　to　race　forward；　smashing　its　way　through　mushrooms　and　drow　alike。
　　　〃Lolth　help　us；〃　Nauzhror　said　in　a　strangled　voice。　〃They've　managed　to　get　control　of　one　of　the　constructs。〃
　　　As　the　jade　spider　advanced；　the　drow　fell　back　in　confusion。　One　or　two　prostrated　themselves　before　it…only　to　receive　the　same　treatment　as　the　first　soldier。
　　　The　spider　continued　its　relentless　advance；　and　soon　several　drow　lay　in　bloody　heaps　behind　it。　Within　moments；　the　spider　had　carved　a　gap　through　both　the　mushroom　forest　and　the　troops…a　gap　the　tanarukks　were　quick　to　exploit。
　　　〃Attack；　curse　you！〃　Triel　cried　as　the　enemy　surged　forward。
　　　The　drow　soldiers　were　too　far　away　to　have　heard　her；　but　thankfully　one　of　their　officers…probably　Andzrel；　judging　by　the　black　armor　and　cloak…rallied　them。　They　fell　upon　the　tanarukks　from　either　side　and　quickly　closed　the　gap　the　spider　had　opened。　But　even　as　the　enemy　was　driven　back　once　more　toward　the　cavern　wall；　the　jade　spider　continued　to　advance。　Leaving　the　struggling　foes　and　the　mushroom　forest　behind；　it　scaled　the　slope　that　led　from　Qu'ellarz'orl　up　to　the　House　Baenre　pound。　It　moved　swiftly　and　in　a　few　moments　more　was　at　the　barrier。
　　　It　hesitated　just　outside　the　high　fence　that　enclosed　the　pound　as　if　contemplating　the　magic　that　flowed　through　the　barrier's　glowing　silver　strands；　then　it　turned　toward　one　of　the　stalagmites　to　which　the　fence　was　attached。　As　the　House　guard　on　the　balconies　above　watched　in　confusion；　the　construct　scaled　the　stone　as　easily　as　a　living　spider；　climbing　to　a　point　just　above　the　fence。　It　leaped　down　over　the　barrier；　then　began　moving　toward　the　center　of　the　pound。
　　　Triel's　eyes　narrowed　as　she　saw　where　it　was　headed。　The　jade　spider　was　making　its　way　to　House　Baenre's　central　structure…the　great　domed　temple　of　Lolth。
　　　Wilara　gasped　as　she；　too；　calculated　the　spider's　course。
　　　〃They　dare　attack　our　temple？〃　the　priestess　cried。
　　　Nauzhror；　with　a　sidelong　look　at　Triel；　exploded　with　appropriate　rage。
　　　〃The　insolence！〃　the　interim　archmage　fumed。　〃May　Lolth's　webs　strangle　them！〃
　　　His　familiar…a　fist…sized；　hairy　brown　spider…scuttled　from　one　of　his　shoulders　to　the　other；　disturbed　by　the　mage's　violent　motion。
　　　Triel　pursed　her　lips；　saying　nothing。　The　temple　might　be　the　target；　but　an　attack　on　it　was　not　the　enemy's　chief　aim。　There　was　little　a　single　jade　spider…or　even　a　dozen　of　them　for　that　matter…could　do　to　harm　the　building　itself。　Triel　was　sure　that　the　incursion　was　intended　to　be　a　demonstration；　made　where　all　could　see　it；　that　Lolth　had　turned　her　face　away　from　her　chosen　people。　The　spider　would　have　to　be　stopped…but　anyone　doing　so　outside　the　doors　of　a　building　consecrated　to　Lolth　would　incur　the　goddess's　wrath。
　　　In　ordinary　times；　at　least。
　　　Triel　longed　to　cry　out　to　Lolth；　to　plead　for　the　goddess　to　tell　her　what　to　do；　but　she　knew　what　the　answer　would　be：　silence。　The　Matron　Mother　of　the　First　House　was　on　her　own…and　if　the　jade　spider　wasn't　stopped；　Menzoberranzan's　weakness　would　be　plain　for　all　to　see。　The　males　of　House　Baenre；　fighting　so　valiantly　to　force　the　enemy　back　into　the　tunnels；　might　falter。　If　they　became　convinced　that　Triel　and　the　other　ranking　females　had　lost　Lolth's　favor　for　some　fault　of　their　own　or　that　the　goddess　had　turned　away　from　all　drow　forever；　they　might　even　turn　against　their　matron　mothers。
　　　That　could　not　be。
　　　〃The　enemy　knows　our　weakness；〃　Triel　said　in　a　tense　voice。　〃They　must　believe　that　Lolth　has　fallen　silent　forever　and　hope　to　make　it　plain　for　all　to　see。〃
　　　Beside　her；　Wilara　stiffened。　Then　amazingly；　she　contradicted　her　matron　mother。
　　　〃No；〃　the　priestess　said；　shaking　her　head　and　causing　the　long　braid　that　hung　down　her　back　to　ripple　like　a　snake。　〃The　goddess　will　answer。　She　must。〃
　　　The　vipers　in　Triel's　whip　hissed　their　annoyance；　but　Triel　ignored　them。　Under　the　circumstances；　she　could　allow　Wilara's　outspokenness。
　　　〃Lolth　may　awaken　yet；〃　she　said；　speaking　as　much　to　steady　herself　as　for　the　lesser　priestess's　benefit。　〃My　sister　Quenthel　has　not　yet　given　up；　so　neither　should　we。　But　in　the　meantime；　we　have　to　rely　upon　ourselves。　And　upon　other　f