war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第32部分

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；　that　was；　that　the　rogues　story　had　been　accurate。
　　　The　fellow　had　claimed　the　vault　still　held　treasure…something　Valas　hadn't　told　his　panions；　since　it　might　have　distracted　them　from　their　mission…but　the　room　was　clearly　empty。　Perhaps　the　rogue　had　been　lying　about　the　wraiths；　as　well。　Neither　the　sudden　appearance　of　a　magic…hewn　tunnel　in　one　wall　of　the　vault　nor　the　divination　Pharaun　had　just　cast　had　brought　them　out　into　the　open。　If　wraiths　had　once　haunted　that　place　where　the　gods　frowned　in　stony　silence；　they　seemed　to　have　gone。
　　　But　that　didn't　mean　Valas　wouldn't　take　precautions。　Hanging　around　his　neck　on　a　delicate　gold　chain　was　an　amulet　crafted　by　the　surface　elves　and　shaped　like　a　golden　sun。　He　pulled　it　out　from　under　his　armor　and　kissed　it；　then　let　it　hang　free　against　his　chest；　ignoring　Pharaun's　raised　eyebrows。　If　any　wraiths　did　turn　up；　it　would　protect　him。
　　　For　a　while；　at　least。
　　　You　and　the　others　should　make　a　run　for　it；　he　signed。　With　a　running　start　and　a　leap；　you　should　be　able　to　levitate　down　onto　the　portal　without　touching　anything　in　the　room。　I'll　use　my　amulet　to　make　the　jump。　With　luck；　the　wraiths…if　there　are　any…won't　even　know　we're　here。
　　　You're　forgetting　that　Danifae　can't　levitate；　Pharaun　signed。
　　　Valas　groaned…softly。　Was　he　the　only　one　capable　of　tactical　thinking？
　　　Use　one　of　your　spells　on　her…the　one　that　enables　you　to　leap　around　like　a　flea。　She'll　be　able　to　make　the　portal　in　one　or　two　jumps。　He　paused；　then　added；　Just　make　sure　she　goes　last。　She'll　be　the　clumsiest…if　there　are　wraiths　here；　it　will　be　her　noise　that　attracts　them。
　　　Pharaun　frowned　at　that　but　made　no　ment。　Instead　he　raised　a　hand　to　his　lips　and　pointed　back　down　the　tunnel；　where　Quenthel；　Danifae；　and　Jeggred　waited。
　　　〃We're　through；〃　he　breathed；　his　spell　carrying　his　whispered　words　to　Quenthel。　〃The　portal　looks　clear…and　active。　e　quickly；　but　quietly。〃
　　　Valas；　still　intently　watching　the　room　below；　heard　a　faint　clink　of　armor　from　the　far　end　of　the　tunnel…Danifae　and　Quenthel　moving　along　it…and　the　faint　click…click　of　Jeggred's　elongated　toe…nails　on　the　stone。　He　gritted　his　teeth；　praying　that　his　panions　would　learn　the　value　of　moving　silently…and　learn　it　soon。　Then　he　heard　the　clicking　pause　and　the　sound　of　a　low　growl。
　　　His　patience　at　an　end；　Valas　spun　around；　an　oath　on　his　lips。　He　saw　Quenthel　moving　toward　him；　leading　the　others　down　the　corridor。　Danifae　was　just　behind　her；　but　Jeggred　was　lagging　several　paces　to　the　rear　and　was　looking　back　over　his　shoulder；　still　growling。
　　　Mistress！　Valas　signed　angrily。　Tell　Jeggred　to　keep…
　　　Before　he　could　finish；　the　relative　silence　was　split　by　a　fierce　roar。　Jeggred　launched　himself　back　down　the　tunnel；　bellowing　his　battle　howl　as　his　claws　scrambled　on　the　floor。　In　another　instant；　Valas　saw　what　had　triggered　the　draegloth's　attack。
　　　Two　twisted　caricatures　that　had　once　been　duergar；　with　claws　as　long　as　Jeggred's　own　and　mouths　filled　with　needle…sharp　teeth；　were　stalking　up　behind　them。　Rotted　clothing　hung　from　them　in　tatters；　and　their　hair　was　a　tangled　mass；　crusted　with　dirt。　Their　eyes　blazed　with　the　malevolence　with　which　all　undead　regarded　the　living。　Unlike　the　drow　they'd　been　stalking；　the　two　wights　moved　in　utter　silence。　Seeing　they　had　been　spotted；　they　ran　forward　to　meet　Jeggred's　charge。
　　　Jeggred　crashed　headlong　into　the　first　wight；　smashing　it　against　one　wall　with　a　powerful　swipe　of　his　fighting　arm；　then　ripping　its　belly　open　with　a　rake　of　the　claws　on　one　foot　as　he　stomped　on　it。　As　the　pungent　odor　of　death　and　rot　filled　the　air；　the　second　wight　darted　under　Jeggred's　other　arm　and　casually　slapped　Jeggred's　chest。　The　draegloth　grunted　and　clutched　one　of　his　lesser　hands　against　him…the　first　time　Valas　had　heard　him　express　pain　aloud…and　he　staggered　slightly。　An　instant　later；　however；　he　recovered。　Roaring　fiercely；　the　draegloth　grasped　the　wight's　face　with　a　fighting　hand　and；　wrenching　violently；　tore　the　head　from　its　neck。
　　　The　first　wight　was　still　moving；　crawling　furiously　after　Jeggred　with　its　rotted　entrails　dragging　along　behind　it。　Before　it　could　reach　him；　Danifae　rushed　forward；　morningstar　in　hand。　There　wasn't　much　room　to　swing　the　weapon　in　the　low…ceilinged　corridor；　but　she　managed　an　abbreviated　downward　smash。　The　spiked　ball　of　the　morningstar　connected　with　the　wight's　head　in　a　blaze　of　magical　sparks；　filling　the　air　with　a　sharp　ozone　tang。　The　wight　dropped　and　laid　still。
　　　Pharaun　stared　at　Danifae　with　a　look　of　open　admiration。　He　held　a　tiny　leather　pouch　in　one　hand；　which　he'd　drawn　from　his　pocket　as　the　wights　attacked。
　　　〃Well　done；〃　he　said；　tucking　it　back　into　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi。
　　　Quenthel　looked　past　Danifae。
　　　〃Are　there　more？〃　she　asked　Jeggred。
　　　Jeggred　stood　panting；　head　turning　from　side　to　side　as　he　searched　for　the　scent　of　additional　foes。　As　his　chest　rose　and　fell；　Valas　noted　the　wound　the　wight　had　inflicted　on　the　draegloth。　It　was　little　deeper　than　a　scratch；　but　it　was　causing　Jeggred　to　wheeze　as　if　each　breath　was　painful。　After　a　moment；　Jeggred　shook　his　head。
　　　〃No　more；〃　he　concluded；　〃just　these　two。〃
　　　Valas　cleared　his　throat。
　　　〃Wights　are　the　least　of　our　worries；〃　he　reminded　the　others。　〃We　should　get　moving。　The　portal　is　just　ahead；　at　the　center　of　the　vault；　about　seventy…five　paces　into　the　room。　Pharaun's　marked　it　with　a　spell。　Quickly　now；　and　one　at　a　time。　Take　a　run　and　leap　out　from　the　end　of　the　tunnel；　then　levitate　down。　Touch　nothing　in　the　room。　You　first；　Quenthel；　then　Jeggred；　while　Pharaun　casts　a　spell　on　Danifae。　Then　Pharaun；　followed　by　Danifae。　I'll　go　last。〃
　　　That　said；　he　flattened　against　the　wall　and　motioned　the　others　forward。　As　he　did；　he　scanned　the　vault　one　last　time；　searching　for　signs　of　movement；　in　case　any　wights　had　entered　it　while　his　back　was　turned。
　　　They　hadn't。
　　　Quenthel　moved　forward　to　glance　down　into　the　room；　then；　after　muning　silently　with　her　whip　vipers；　she　nodded。　She　backed　down　the　corridor；　then　sprinted　past　Valas　and　leaped　into　the　air。　A　heartbeat　later　Jeggred　rushed　after　her；　arms　flailing。
　　　As　the　pair　drifted　down　through　the　empty　room　toward　the　portal；　Valas　glanced　up　at　the　ceiling。　Were　the　gods　in　the　mural　scowling　a　bit　more　fiercely？　He　stared　back　at　them　a　moment；　then　decided　it　must　have　been　his　imagination。　Meanwhile；　Quenthel　had　ignored　his　instructions　and　was　hovering　above　the　portal。　Jeggred；　floating　in　the　air　beside　her；　kept　glancing　back　and　forth　between　his　mistress　and　the　portal；　a　confused　look　on　his　face。
　　　Valas　turned　to　warn　Pharaun　that　something　was　delaying　the　pair；　but　the　mage　was　just　pleting　the　spell　he　was　casting　on　Danifae；　tracing　an　invisible　symbol　on　each　of　her　knees　with　something　he　held　pinched　in　his　fingers。　Finishing；　he　gave　Danifae　a　quick　smile　of　encouragement；　then　he　turned　and　sprinted　down　the　corridor　past　Valas；　leaping　into　the　vault。
　　　He　levitated　to　a　halt　just　above　Quenthel　and　Jeggred　and　motioned　furiously　for　them　to　go　through　the　portal。　Quenthel；　however；　shook　her　head。
　　　〃You　first；〃　she　ordered。
　　　Pharaun；　hovering　in　the　air；　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest。
　　　〃e　on；　Danifae！〃　he　shouted　up　at　the　tunnel。　〃We're　all　waiting。〃
　　　Valas　shook　his　head。　The　scuffle　with　the　wights　had　already　caused　enough　noise　to　wake　the　undead；　and　with　all　the　shouting　they'd　never　hear　if　more　approached。　Impatiently；　he　beckoned　Danifae　forward。
　　　As　she　crouched　on　the　lip　of　the　tunnel；　he　noticed　that　her　legs　were　articulated　the　wrong　way。　She　leaped…in　a　jump　that　carried　her　halfway　across　the　room。　She　looked　confident　and　to　all　appearances　was　about　to　land　easily　on　the　bare　floor…but　then；　when　she　was　still　about　a　pace　above　the　floor；　she　suddenly　stumbled　and　pitched　over　to　one　side。　As　she　did；　Valas　heard　a　noise　that　sounded　like　pebbles　shifting。
　　　Danifae　wound　up　on　her　hands　and　knees…but　not　on　the　floor。　Instead　she　seemed　to　have　landed　on　something　that　held　her　at　arm's　length　from　it。　Something　invisible…or　something　cloaked　by　an　illusion。　Something　that　kept　shifting。
　　　Pharaun；　too；　saw　her　stumble。　One　of　his　hands　whipped　into　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi；　and　a　moment　later　he　was　smearing　something　across　his　eyes　as　he　chanted　a　spell。　As　Danifae　struggled　to　her　feet　on　the　shifting　surface…causing　that　pebble　noise　again…Pharaun's　eyes　widened。
　　　〃Danifae！〃　he　shouted。　〃You're　standing　on　a　rotted　chest　that's　spilling　gems…but　more　importantly；　there's　a　wand　just　to　your　right。　Grab　it！〃
　　　Quenthel's　head　snapped　up；　and　she　asked；　〃A　wand？〃
　　　Danifae　began　patting　the　still…invisible　pile　on　which　she　stood。　Valas；　meanwhile　felt　a　growing　sense　of　unease。　Someone；　or　something；　was　watching。　Once　again；　his　eyes　flicked　up　to　the　ceiling。
　　　The　scout　saw　that　his　intuition　had　been　right。　The　eyes　of　the　gods　in　the　mural　were　different。　They'd　been　dull；　flat　stones　a　short　time　before；　but　had　begun　too　glow　red；　like　angry　coals。
　　　Then　they　blinked。
　　　〃Venom's　kiss；〃　Valas　swore　under　his　breath。　Then；　as　two　pairs　of　glowing　red　eyes　detached　themselves　from　the　ceiling　and　drifted　down　into　the　room；　he　shouted。　〃Pharaun！　Quenthel！　Above　you…wraiths！〃
　　　Jeggred　was　the　first　to　react。　Grasping　Quenthel's　shoulders；　he　gave　her　a　shove　that　forced　her　down　into　contact　with　the　floor。　Her　feet　touched　the　portal　and　she　disappeared。　The　draegloth　then　turned　and　tried　to　do　the　same　to　Pharaun　but　the　mage　twisted　out　of　his　grasp；　kicking　Jeggred。　The　blow　forced　the　draegloth　into　the　portal；　and　he　too　disappeared。
　　　Valas　grunted；　Jeggred's　actions　had　been　too　deliberate…and　too　disrespectful…to　have　been　anything　but　Quenthel's　orders。　Quenthel　had　obviously　briefed　him　well　in　advance　about　what　to　do　should　wraiths　attack…and　her　tactics　were　sound。　She　and　Pharaun　were　vital　to　the　quest；　but　the　others　could　be　sacrificed。　Pharaun；　however；　had　guessed　what　was　ing…and　had　decided；　wisely　or　not；　to　stay　and　fight。
　　　The　mage　yanked　from　his　pocket　the　tiny　pouch　he'd　been　reaching　into　earlier。　With　a　serpent…fast　motion；　he　pulled　from　it　a　pinch　of　diamond　dust　and　flung　it　into　the　air。　As　a　pair　of　wraiths　swooped　in　to　attack　him…their　location　revealed　only　by　their　glowing　eyes…Pharaun　shouted　his　incantation。　Unable　to　stop　themselves　in　time；　the　two　wraiths　plunged　into　the　diamond　dust。　As　they　struck　it　they　wailed…a　hollow；　anguished　sound　that　raised　the　hair　on　the　back　of　Valas's　neck。　Their　eyes　winked　out　as　the　powerful　spell　snuffed　out　the　necromantic　magic　that　had　sustained　them。
　　　Unfortunately；　there　were；　as　the　rogue　had　correctly　warned；　more　than　just　those　two。　Dozens　of　glowing　red　eyes　erupted　from　the　ceiling　and　descended　into　the　room　like　tiny；　paired　embers　falling　from　a　burning　building。
　　　Seeing　that；　Pharaun　glanced　quickly　between　the　wraiths　and　Danifae。　What　he　was　thinking　was　plainly　written　on　his　face。　Should　he　save　his　own　skin　by　escaping　through　the　portal…or　should　he　stay　and　protect　her？
　　　The　wizard　began　to　levitate　down　coward　the　portal；　then　paused　abruptly　and　stared　hard…not　at　Danifae　but　at　something　near　her　feet。　Instead　of　fleeing；　he　reached　into　his　pouch　for　another　pinch　of　dust。
　　　The　hesitation　nearly　cost　him　his　life。　Unseen；　one　of　the　wraiths　swooped　down　behind　him　and；　with　a　hollow　death…rattle　of　laughter；　swept　through　his　body。　As　its　glowing　red　eyes　erupted　out　of　Pharaun's　chest　the　Master　of　Sorcere　shuddered；　his　face　slate　gray。
　　　Three　more　of　the　wraiths　descended　with　murderous　purpose　toward　Danifae。　Raising　her　morningstar；　she　braced　herself　to　meet　them；　even　though　she　must　have　known　the　futility　of　it。　The　magical　weapon　might　account　for　one　of　the　ghostly　undead；　but　the　other　two　would　almost　certainly　kill　her　a　heartbeat　later。
　　　Acting　purely　on　his　soldier's　instincts；　Valas　touched　the　nine…pointed　star　pinned　to　his　chest　and　stepped　between　the　dimensions。　He　materialized　beside　Danifae　just　as　the　ball　of　her　mace　whistled　past　his　head；　exploding　with　sparks　as　it　struck　a　wraith。　Losing　her　balance　as　her　weapon　met　no　resistance；　Danifae　stumbled。
　　　Seizing　the　opportunity；　the　other　two　wraiths　rushed　forward。　Before　they　could　close　with　Danifae；　however；　Valas　leaped　into　the　air；　his　magical　boots　propelling　him　upward。　Arms　wide；　he　drove　the　points　of　his　kukris　into　the　wraiths。　As　Danifae's　mace　had；　the　blades　passed　through　the　bodies　of　the　wraiths　without　stopping。　The　one　in　his　right　hand　exploded　with　magical　energy；　but　the　one　in　his　left　merely　tore　a　rent　in　the　keening　wraith's　mistlike　body。
　　　Unable　to　avoid　following　through　on　his　knife　thrusts；　Valas　found　both　arms　engulfed　by　wraiths。　A　shudder　passed　through　him；　and　he　fell　back　to　the　ground　in　a　barely　controlled　landing；　stumbling　on　the　invisible；　shifting　gems。　He　thought　his　heart　was　going　to　falter　and　stop　as　the　ache　that　chilled　him　to　the　bone　was　drawn　upward　into　his　chest。　Then　it　was　gone；　absorbed　by　the　amulet　that　hung　around　his　neck；　which　suddenly　felt　much　heavier。
　　　Having　driven　the　wraiths　away　from　Danifae；　Valas　expected　her　to　make　her　escape。　Surely　she　was　smart　enough　to　realize　that　Pharaun　had　paused　not　for　her　but　for　the　wand　which　only　he　could　see。　Three　more　wraiths　were　nearly　on　them；　and　others　were　descending　through　the　ceiling　every　instant。　But　instead　of　fleeing　toward　the　portal；　Danifae　dropped　to　her　knees　and　began　patting　the　ground。
　　　〃Protect　me；〃　she　barked　up　at　Valas；　not　even　bothering　to　look　up。
　　　Valas　considered　for　a　heartbeat…battle…captive　or　no；　Danifae　was　a　priestess　of　Lolth；　and　her　word　was　his　mand…then　he　shook　his　head。
　　　〃No　time；〃　he　bellowed。　〃Jump！〃
　　　Ducking　just　in　time　as　a　wraith　swooped　past；　he　called　upon　the　magic　of　his　star…shaped　amulet　and　stepped　between　the　dimensions　a　second　time；　arriving　at　the　portal。　He　paused　just　long　enough　to　observe　Danifae　suffer　the　same　fate　as　Pharaun；　her　face　blanching　to　a　pale　gray　as　the　wraiths　swept　through　her　body。　Meanwhile　Pharaun　had　managed　to　dispatch　another　wraith　with　his　dust…leaving　his　pouch　empty。
　　　Glancing　up　at　a　wraith　descending　through　a　tangle　of　exposed　tree　root；　Valas　suddenly　realized　something。　The　surface　could　be　no　more　than　a　few　paces　above　the　ceiling。　After　a　quick　calculation　of　the　time；　he　realized　he　had　overlooked　one　of　the　most　powerful　weapons　of　all。　He　pointed　up　at　the　ceiling　with　one　of　his　daggers…goring　a　low…flying　wraith　in　the　process…and　shouted　to　Pharaun。
　　　〃There's　daylight　above…use　it！〃
　　　〃Ah！〃　Pharaun　exclaimed；　understanding　instantly。
　　　One　hand　darted　to　his　pocket。　He　barked　out　a　spell；　flicking　a　pinch　of　seeds　into　the　air。　Even　as　he　did；　six　wraiths　dived　down　toward　him　and　another　four　at　Valas；　eyes　blazing。　Then；　like　a　cork　being　pulled　from　a　wine　bottle；　a　portion　of　the　ceiling　dis