war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第24部分

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　　　All　that　happened　in　the　space　of　a　few　heartbeats。　Immediately　after　shoving　the　guard　away；　Pharaun　turned…together　with　his　mirror　images…and　cast　a　powerful　enchantment　at　Oothoon。　A　wash　of　magical　energy　stirred　the　water　around　the　aboleth　matriarch；　and　an　instant　later　Pharaun　saw　Oothoon's　tentacles　relax。　Still　wary；　he　spoke　to　Oothoon　in　sign；　testing　the　effects　of　his　charm。　If　the　spell　had　worked；　she　would　be　not　just　willing　but　eager　to　chat　with　her　〃old　friend〃　Pharaun。
　　　I　apologize　for　the　abrupt　intrusion；　he　signed；　but　I　wanted　to　find　out　how　our　little　plan　went。　I　have　heard　that　Quenthel　came　to　you；　and　that　you　consumed　her。　Now　will　you　keep　your　part　of　the　bargain　and　tell　me　where　the　ship　of　chaos　lies？
　　　Oothoon　glanced　at　the　corridor；　bereft　of　its　guard；　then　back　at　the　mage。
　　　〃Your　'priestess'　had　no　magic。〃
　　　Pharaun　had　anticipated　that　response。
　　　I　suppose　you　learned　from　her　memories　that　Lolth　is。　。　。　unavailable；　he　signed。　In　time；　however；　the　goddess　will　awaken；　and　you　will　have　full　use　of　the　spells　you　just　acquired。
　　　〃I　did　not　consume　Quenthel。　She　was　not　worth　eating。〃
　　　Pharaun　blinked。
　　　But　the　one　who　acpanied　her　came　back　to　us　and　told　us　you　consumed　her。　He　saw　you　swallow　her　whole。
　　　〃The　four…armed　one　saw　what　I　wanted　him　to　see；〃　Oothoon　said；　tentacles　quivering　and　mouth　open　in　what　Pharaun　took　to　be　a　wide　grin。
　　　That　made　Pharaun　pause。　He　had　heard　that　aboleths　had　mind　magic　capable　of　creating　illusions。　It　seemed　that　Oothoon　had　used　just　that　talent　on　Jeggred。　Was　she　dulling　Pharaun's　senses　with　an　illusion　even　then？　Were　the　audience　chamber　and　the　corridor　beyond　not　as　empty　of　guards　as　they　seemed？
　　　Pharaun　had　with　him　a　vial　of　ointment　that；　when　rubbed　on　the　eyes；　would　instantly　reveal　the　truth　once　the　words　of　the　spell　that　activated　its　potency　were　spoken…but　using　it　meant　reaching　inside　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi　and　closing　his　eyes　briefly。　If　there　were　illusion…cloaked　guards　nearby；　it　would　be　the　ideal　moment　in　which　to　overpower　him。
　　　No；　he'd　rely　on　the　magic　he'd　already　protected　himself　with。　Seven　of　the　mirror　images　he'd　created　were　still　hovering　in　the　water　next　to　him。　If　a　surprise　attack　came；　there　was　only　a　one…in…eight　chance　that　he　would　be　the　one　who　was　targeted。
　　　Oothoon；　meanwhile；　seemed　relaxed。　The　aboleth　matriarch　rested　easily　in　the　niche；　the　only　sign　of　unease　the　fact　that　the　pearl　was　cupped　protectively　against　her　belly。　Oothoon　hadn't　called　for　more　guards　to　replace　the　one　Pharaun　had　incapacitated　and　hadn't　made　any　threatening　moves。　Pharaun　was　probably　worrying　needlessly。　His　charm　spell　had　obviously　taken　hold。　He　decided　to　test　it　further　by　asking　a　question　the　aboleth　wouldn't　answer　unless　charmed。
　　　Where　is　Quenthel　now？　Pharaun　asked。
　　　〃Gone　in　search　of　the　ship　of　chaos。〃
　　　You　told　her　where　it　was？
　　　The　aboleth　matriarch　just　stared　at　him…but　the　silence　was　answer　enough。
　　　Pharaun　glanced　quickly　around　the　chamber　and　at　last　spotted　the　missing　pieces　of　the　puzzle。　There；　clinging　to　the　doorway；　was　a　handful　of　sticky　strands　that　looked　like　the　remains　of　a　broken　web。　He　also　spotted；　peeking　out　from　the　kelp　on　which　Oothoon's　belly　rested；　the　neck　of　a　wine　bottle。　Not　everything　Jeggred　had　seen　had　been　an　illusion：　Quenthel　had　used　her　wand…deliberately…to　block　him　on　the　other　side　of　the　doorway。　Later；　after　she'd　gotten　the　information　she　wanted　from　Oothoon；　she'd　dissolved　the　barrier　with　alcohol。
　　　Together；　Quenthel　and　Oothoon　had　played　an　elaborate　and　illusion…enhanced　ruse　on　Jeggred…and　Pharaun。　Oothoon　had　been　waiting　for　her　reward　all　the　time。　The　aboleth　matriarch　knew　that　Pharaun；　as　soon　as　he　heard　of　Quenthel's　〃death；〃　would　return…
　　　Pharaun's　hands　rose　to　cast　a　spell；　but　before　he　could　plete　his　incantation；　the　pearl　Oothoon　had　been　holding　appeared　just　in　front　of　him…the　real　him；　not　one　of　his　mirror　images…as　if　out　of　nowhere。　In　the　instant　before　it　struck　his　chest；　Pharaun　realized　what　must　have　happened。　The　aboleth　matriarch　had　put　it　in　her　mouth　and　had　spat　it　at　him；　masking　the　action　with　an　illusion。
　　　The　pearl　struck　his　chest　and　exploded　in　a　rush　of　sound　that　drove　the　water　from　his　lungs　and　made　his　ears　ring。　Stunned；　unable　to　gesture　or　speak；　he　hung　limp　and　alone　in　the　water；　his　mirror　images　dissipated　by　the　force　of　the　blast。　Though　he　was　weak；　dizzy；　too　stunned　to　move；　a　part　of　his　mind　was　still　able　to　note　the　irony　of　what　had　just　happened。　He'd　been　about　to　stun　Oothoon　with　a　spell；　only　to　have　the　aboleth　lay　him　low　with　precisely　the　same　form　of　magic。　What　he'd　mistaken　for　a　〃pearl〃　was　none　other　than　one　of　Quenthel's　magical　beads　of　power。
　　　It　looked　as　though　Oothoon　hadn't　succumbed　to　his　charm　spell；　after　all。　Nor　had　the　aboleth　matriarch　been　fooled　by　his　mirror　images…an　illusion　Oothoon　had　obviously　seen　through；　since　she　managed　to　pick　the　right　Pharaun　to　spit　the　bead　of　power　at。　She'd　been　teasing　him　with　the　truth；　knowing　he'd　soon　be　as　helpless　as　a　flutter　lizard　in　a　web。
　　　Launching　herself　out　of　the　niche；　Oothoon　streaked　toward　the　spot　where　Pharaun　hung　helpless；　jaws　open　wide；　she　sucked　Pharaun　into　her　mouth。　Still　stunned　by　the　blast　of　the　bead；　Pharaun　didn't　even　have　the　strength　to　scream　as　the　jaws　snapped　shut。　Darkness　enveloped　him；　and　razor…sharp　teeth　sawed　into　his　body。
　　　
Chapter　Twenty…two
　　　Halisstra　stood　near　one　of　the　trophy　trees；　the　hilt　of　the　songsword　raised　to　her　lips。　After　she'd　killed　the　phase　spider　two　nights　before；　the　priestesses　had　let　her　keep　the　broken　sword；　as　well　as　Seyll's　shield　and　chain　mail。　They'd　also　given　her　back　her　House　insignia…which　Halisstra　had　tucked　into　a　pocket；　instead　of　pinning　to　her　piwafwi…and　her　other　enchanted　rings　and　devices。　She　also　still　had　her　magical　lyre；　though　she　felt　as　disinclined　to　use　it　as　the　other　things　from　the　Underdark　she　had　set　aside。　Instead　she　practiced　on　the　songsword；　fingers　dancing　as　she　tried　to　create　a　tune　to　suit　the　mood　of　the　snow…dappled　woods　and　the　clouds　drifting　lazily　overhead；　as　white　and　fine…spun　as　hair。
　　　Ryld　sat　cross…legged　on　a　log　a　short　distance　away；　sharpening　his　shortsword。　His　eyes　were　squinted　against　the　morning　sunlight　even　though　he'd　chosen　a　spot　in　deep　shade。　He　sat　with　his　back　against　a　large　boulder；　under　a　canopy　of　tree　branches　that　hung　no　more　than　a　handspan　above　him。　He　was　obviously　still　struggling　with　his　unease　of　open　spaces；　of　having　nothing　but　the　sky　over　his　head。
　　　After　a　while；　the　arrhythmic　rasp　。　。　。　rasp　rasp。　。　。　rasp　of　Ryld's　sharpening　stone　grated　on　Halisstra's　nerves；　forcing　her　to　lower　the　songsword。
　　　〃Ryld；〃　she　said　in　exasperation。　〃If　you　have　to　do　that　here；　could　you　at　least　work　in　time　with　my　music？〃
　　　Startled；　Ryld　looked　up。
　　　〃Fine；〃　he　said。　He　crawled　out　from　under　the　overhanging　branches；　stood；　and　shoved　the　shortsword　back　into　its　sheath。　Scowling　at　the　forest；　he　asked；　〃How　long　do　you　intend　for　us　to　stay　here？〃
　　　〃A　tenday；　a　month　。。。　a　year；　if　need　be；〃　Halisstra　answered。　〃Until　I　learn　everything　I　can　about　Eilistraee's　worship。〃
　　　〃A　lifetime；　you　mean；〃　Ryld　said　sourly。
　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Halisstra　said　with　a　shrug；　then　added；　〃There's　no　one　forcing　you　to　stay；　you　know。　You　could　go　back　to　Menzoberranzan　or　try　to　find　Quenthel　and　the　others…or　go　to　the　Abyss　itself；　if　you　like。〃
　　　Ryld　gave　her　a　stubborn　look　and　said；　〃I　want　to　stay　with　you。〃
　　　Seeing　the　look　in　his　eye…a　human　might　have　called　it　〃love〃…　Halisstra's　temper　cooled。
　　　〃I'm　glad；〃　she　said。　〃And　not　just　for　my　own　sake　but　for　yours；　as　well。　The　Dark　Maiden　will　embrace　you；　if　you　only　let　her。　Eilistraee　can　show　you　a　joy　you've　never　known。　We　drow　have　been　confined　to　the　Underdark　for　too　long；　and　it's　time　we　took　our　rightful　place　in　the　sunlight…and　held　it；　by　the　strength　of　our　swords　if　need　be。〃
　　　Ryld　didn't　answer　but　instead　stared　up　at　the　trophy　tree。　Following　his　gaze；　Halisstra　saw　that　he　was　looking　at　a　deep；　sword…shaped　niche　in　the　trunk　in　which　two　heads　rested；　one　on　top　of　the　other。　They　were　skeletal；　with　only　a　few　clumps　of　black　hair　clinging　to　them；　and　the　jawbone　of　the　top　skull　had　fallen　away。　They　were　human；　by　the　shape　of　them；　though　the　mouth　and　jaw　of　the　bottom　skull　protruded　slightly；　and　the　canine　teeth　were　overly　large。　The　sight　of　them　seemed　to　be　making　the　hardened　warrior　uneasy；　which　was　strange；　since　Ryld　had　undoubtedly　seen　far　more　gruesome　sights　in　his　career　as　a　weapons　master　of　Melee…Magthere。
　　　Ryld　wrenched　his　gaze　away。
　　　〃Why　Eilistraee？〃　he　asked。　〃Why　not　worship　。　。　。　Kiaransalee；　or　Selvetarm？　His　faith；　at　least；　I　could　have　had　some　part　in。　Or　do　you　think　Lolth's　champion　has　suffered　the　same　fate　as　his　mistress？〃
　　　〃Selvetarm　guards　Lolth　still；〃　Halisstra　answered。　〃Vhaeraun　did　not　defeat　him。〃
　　　Ryld's　eyebrows　raised　and　he　asked；　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　　〃Last　night；　Uluyara　led　the　priestesses　in　a　spell…song。　The　scrying　they　performed　penetrated　deep　into　the　Abyss；　and　Uluyara　was　able　to　look　briefly　upon　the　stone　that　sealed　Lolth's　temple。　Selvetarm　was　squatting　in　front　of　it　in　his　spider　form；　wounded；　but　with　sword　and　mace　still　in　hand。　He　may　have　defeated　Vhaeraun…or　perhaps　just　temporarily　driven　the　other　god　off。　Uluyara　was　only　able　to　get　the　briefest　of　glimpses　before　the　water　in　her　font　boiled　away。〃
　　　Ryld　cursed　softly　under　his　breath。
　　　〃Last　night？〃　he　asked。　〃So　that　was　what　all　the　singing　was　about。　Why　didn't　you　tell　me　this　sooner？〃
　　　Halisstra　shrugged　and　said；　〃What　difference　would　it　have　made？　You're　not　thinking　of　reporting　back　to　Quenthel；　are　you？〃
　　　Ryld　gave　her　a　sour　smile。
　　　〃I　couldn't…even　if　I　wanted　to；〃　he　said。　〃She'd　brand　me　a　deserter　and　have　those　vipers　of　hers　sink　their　fangs　into　me。　I'd　be　dead　before　I　could　get　a　single　word　out　in　my　defense。　I　just　wish　you　would　keep　me　informed。〃　He　paused；　then　frowned。　〃How　did　Uluyara　know　that　Lolth's　temple　was　sealed？〃
　　　〃I　told　her；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃I　told　her　everything。　About　our　trip　to　the　Abyss　in　astral　form；　about　Lolth's　silence；　and　about　the　battle　between　Vhaeraun　and　Selvetarm…I　even　told　her　about　the　fall　of　Ched　Nasad。　Everything。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　slowly　and　said；　〃I　shouldn't　be　surprised；　given　your　conversion；　but　I　am。　Revealing　so　much　to　priestesses　who；　until　a　short　time　ago；　you　would　have　counted　as　your　enemies；　seems　like　。　。　。〃
　　　Perhaps　realizing　he　was　speaking　to　a　priestess；　he　lowered　his　eyes。　As　he　hesitated；　either　uncertain　how　to　finish　his　sentence　or　else　unwilling　to　continue　it；　Halisstra　guessed　the　rest。
　　　〃Like　a　betrayal？〃　she　asked。　〃A　traitorous　act？　Well　so　be　it。　Lolth　is　dead…or　will　soon　be。〃
　　　〃And　you've　aligned　yourself　with　what　you　think　will　be　the　winning　side；〃　Ryld　said。　He　nodded。　〃I　suppose　that's　a　sensible　move　to　make。〃
　　　Halisstra　sighed；　wondering　why　Ryld　just　couldn't　understand。
　　　〃It's　more　than　mere　tactics；〃　she　said；　trying　to　explain。　〃Eilistraee　is　the　only　deity　to　offer　the　drow　any　hope。　With　Lolth　missing　and　her　priestesses　unable　to　mount　a　defense；　the　cities　of　the　Underdark　are　going　to　fall；　one　by　one。　Soon　hundreds…if　not　thousands；　or　even　tens　of　thousands…of　drow　will　e　streaming　up　out　of　the　Underdark；　looking　for　refuge。　Eilistraee's　priestesses　will　offer　it　to　them。　They'll　help　guide　our　people　up　into　the　light。　They'll　teach　the　drow　to　take　their　rightful　place　in　the　world…to　not　just　survive　up　here；　but　thrive。　We'll　be　able　to　reclaim　our　birthright。　Just　look　how　much　the　Dark　Ladies　of　Eilistraee　have　done　so　far；　in　terms　of　clearing　this　forest　of　monsters　and　making　it　fit　to　live　in　again。　We're　creating　a　new　home　on　the　World　Above；　one　in　which　the　drow　can　live　in　harmony　with　one　another。　A　home　we'll　defend　with　our　magic…and　our　swords。　What　more　noble　cause　can　there　possibly　be　than　that？〃
　　　Ryld；　staring　at　the　trophy　tree　again；　muttered　something　under　his　breath。　Halisstra　thought　she　heard　the　words　〃just　like　clearing　the　slums；〃　then　decided　she　must　have　been　wrong；　since　the　phrase　made　no　sense。
　　　〃Ryld；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃are　you　sure　you…〃
　　　Quiet！　Ryld　warned；　switching　suddenly　to　silent　speech。　I　hear　voices　in　the　woods。　Human　voices。　They're　ing　this　way。
　　　Halisstra；　worried；　reached　for　the　horn　on　her　belt。　Should　she　sound　it　to　warn　the　priestesses？　That　was　what　she'd　been　sent　out　to　the　perimeter　of　the　temple　grounds　to　do；　after　all：　stand　guard。　Uluyara　had　warned　her　that　human　adventurers　sometimes　ventured　deep　into　the　Velarswood…adventurers　who　made　no　distinction　between　the　worshipers　of　Eilistraee　and　the　drow　of　the　Underdark。　Humans　slew　any　ebony…skinned　elf　they　met　on　sight。
　　　But　blowing　the　horn　would　also　alert　the　humans　to　Halisstra's　presence…and　they　were　close。　Better　to　assess　the　situation　from　hiding　and　deal　with　the　humans　herself；　if　possible。　Ryld　would　back　her　up…and　provide　an　additional　element　of　surprise。
　　　Take　cover；　she　signed　to　him。　I'll　challenge　them。　You　wait。
　　　Nodding；　Ryld　slid　his　greatsword　silently　out　of　its　sheath；　at　the　same　time　flipping　up　the　hood　of　his　piwafwi。　He　stepped　back　into　the　branches　and　stood　utterly　still；　being　no　more　than　another　shadow。　Halisstra；　meanwhile；　quickly　sang　under　her　breath；　casting　a　spell　that　rendered　her　invisible。　Then　she　waited；　songsword　in　hand。
　　　The　humans　were　either　bold…or　stupid。　They　came　through　the　woods　with　heavy；　snow…crunching　footsteps；　not　bothering　to　lower　their　voices；　which；　when　Halisstra　could　finally　hear　them　clearly；　sounded　strained。　Occasionally　they　grunted；　as　if　carrying　a　heavy　load。　As　they　passed　by　the　base　of　the　trophy　tree　and　came　into　sight　through　the　underbrush；　Halisstra　saw　two　of　them；　both　human　males　with　axes　in　sheaths　on　their　backs；　carrying　a　body　on　a　cloak　they　held　stretched　between　them。
　　　The　body　of　a　female　drow。
　　　And　not　just　any　drow；　but　one　who　wore　the　moon…and…sword　emblem　of　Eilistraee　on　a　chain　around　her　neck；　and　a　cluster　of　miniature　swords　that　hung　from　a　ring　on　her　belt　like　keys。
　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Halisstra　called　out；　dropping　her　invisibility　spell。　〃What's　happened　to　this　priestess？〃
　　　She　held　her　songsword　at　the　ready…not　because　the　men　looked　threatening　but　because；　if　the　priestess　was　still　alive；　healing　magic　might　be　needed；　and　quickly。　Stepping　closer；　she　touched　the　woman's　throat；　but　saw　that　it　was　too　late　for　any　spells　she　might　have　offered。　The　priestess's　skin　was　cold；　and　the　rhythm　of　life　had　stilled。　Her　closed　eyes　would　see　no　more。
　　　Both　of　the　humans　were　thin　and　muscular；　with　pale　blond　hair　and　darker　skin　than　most　humans；　suggesting　there　had　been　a　drow　somewhere　among　their　ancestors。　T