war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第35部分

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　　　As　the　worm　continued　to　thrash　he　rolled　nimbly　back；　then　leaped　forward　again　to　strike　a　second　blow　in　another　portion　of　the　worm's　body。　As　the　monster's　head　whipped　around　in　an　attempt　to　bite　him；　Ryld　did　the　unexpected。　He　leaped　backward；　and　levitated。
　　　The　worm's　mouth　crashed　down　into　the　spot　where　Ryld　had　been　standing；　teeth　splintering　on　the　stone　floor。　An　instant　later　the　head　reared　up　again；　mouth　gaping　as　it　lunged　upward。　Instantly　negating　his　levitation　magic；　Ryld　plummeted　to　the　ground；　landing　lightly　on　bent　legs　and　bounding　aside。　That　brief　glimpse　into　the　worm's　mouth　and　throat…which　were　empty…told　him　that　his　fears　had　been　realized。
　　　The　monster　had　swallowed　Halisstra　whole。
　　　Rage　seized　him　then；　stronger　and　fiercer　than　any　battle　had　ever　provoked　before。　He　found　himself　howling　in　an　anguished　voice；　eyes　hot　with　tears。
　　　〃Halisstra！〃　he　cried。
　　　Rushing　forward；　he　slashed　at　the　worm's　throat。　If　only　he　could　kill　it　quickly；　there　might　still　be　time　to　cut　Halisstra　free　before　the　worm's　digestive　acids　killed　her…she　would　be　disfigured；　but　she　would　live。　And　that　was　all　that　mattered。
　　　Howling　with　each　sword　stroke；　Ryld　slashed　deep　rents　in　the　worm's　body。　The　creature　had　enough　intelligence…instinct　at　least…to　jerk　its　head　and　neck　back；　keeping　them　out　of　range　of　the　sword；　but　with　each　fresh　wound　to　its　side　it　slowed。　Encouraged；　Ryld　pressed　his　attack　home；　aware　that　each　passing　moment　was　lessening　Halisstra's　chances。　Stupidly；　the　worm　lowered　its　head；　giving　Ryld　a　clear　swing　at　its　throat。　Moving　forward；　he　obliged　it…then　realized　a　heartbeat　later　that　it　had　been　a　clever　feint。
　　　Even　as　Ryld　leaped　in　to　attack；　the　worm　whipped　its　tail　forward；　revealing　a　stinger　in　its　tail　that　Ryld　hadn't　seen　before。　The　stinger　glanced　off　the　bottom　of　Ryld's　breastplate　and　plunged　into　his　stomach　with　the　force　of　a　knife　blow；　burying　itself　in　his　gut。　Nearly　blinded　by　the　sudden　rush　of　pain；　he　flailed　backward；　pulling　himself　free　of　the　deadly　barb。　For　two　or　three　staggering　steps　he　managed　to　hang　onto　Splitter；　but　with　the　pain　of　the　wound　came　a　rush　of　agony　that　felt　like　fire；　sweeping　in　an　instant　from　his　wounded　gut　to　the　tips　of　his　fingers　and　toes。　In　that　terrible　moment；　Ryld　knew　that　he　had　been　poisoned。　Suddenly　too　weak　to　hold　his　greatsword；　he　let　it　fall。
　　　He　heard　the　clank　of　metal　striking　stone　dimly；　through　ears　filled　with　the　sound　of　a　labored；　pounding　heart。　The　pain　was　as　intense　as　if　someone　had　filled　his　gut　with　boiling　water。　He　crashed　to　the　ground；　barely　managing　to　break　his　fall　with　one　outstretched　arm。　Clenching　his　stomach　with　his　other　hand　he　slowly　forced　his　head　up；　intending　to　look　the　worm　in　the　eye　before　it　swallowed　him　whole。
　　　At　least；　he　thought　as　the　poison　pounded　in　his　temples；　he　would　pay　with　his　own　life　for　having　caused　Halisstra　to　lose　hers。　He　would　die　beside　her…a　slow；　painful　death　was　exactly　what　he　deserved。
　　　To　his　surprise；　he　saw　that　the　worm　was　not　pressing　its　attack　but　had　drawn　back　against　the　far　wall。　He　must　have　wounded　it　more　grievously　than　he'd　thought。　Then；　to　his　horror；　he　saw　a　bulge　form　in　the　worm's　side…and　disappear。　A　bulge　that　could　only　have　been　made　by　a　creature　moving　inside　it。
　　　Halisstra！　She　was　still　alive！
　　　He　saw　that　the　tip　of　the　songsword　was　still　protruding　from　the　worm's　cheek　and　he　realized　she　had　nothing　to　save　herself　with。
　　　Ryld　tried　to　rise；　tried　feebly　to　reach　for　Splitter；　but　found　that　his　body　no　longer　obeyed　his　will。　Each　breath　only　increased　the　roiling　agony　in　his　gut；　and　the　air　around　him　seemed　to　have　bee　tinged　with　gray。　The　arm　he　was　using　to　support　himself　collapsed；　and　the　floor　rushed　up　to　strike　his　face。　The　stone；　he　noticed　dully；　felt　cool　against　his　burning　cheek。
　　　
Chapter　Thirty…one
　　　Pharaun　peered　in　the　direction　Valas　was　pointing　and　at　last　saw　what　had　prompted　the　mercenary's　warning。　Far　across　the　Lake　of　Shadows；　a　storm　was　churning　the　surface。　The　water　twisted　in　an　enormous　circle；　as　if　flowing　down　a　drain。　Above　the　whirlpool　was　a　waterspout　that　must　have　been　a　hundred　paces　high。　The　top　of　it　bobbed　up　and　down　against　the　ceiling；　scattering　clouds　of　bats　with　each　touch。
　　　The　storm　was　still　some　distance　away　but　was　approaching　rapidly。　Pharaun　measured　its　progress　as　it　passed　through　one　of　the　beams　of　sunlight；　and　estimated　its　advance　at　the　speed　of　a　riding　lizard　running　full　out。　Already　he　could　hear　the　low　rush　of　spinning　water。　That　the　storm　was　magical　he　had　no　doubt。　Had　it　always　been　there…or　had　something　triggered　it？　Their　use　of　the　portal；　perhaps？
　　　The　others　had　spotted　it　as　well。　Quenthel　stared　at　the　storm　with　a　clenched　jaw；　the　serpents　at　her　hip　softly　swaying。　Jeggred　turned　his　head　from　side　to　side；　sniffing　the　humid　air。　Danifae　took　one　look　at　the　storm；　then　glanced　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　at　Quenthel；　Valas；　and　Jeggred　in　turn。　Pharaun　noted　where　those　glances　lingered：　on　the　amulets　each　wore　that　would　allow　them　to　either　levitate　up　through　one　of　the　holes　in　the　cavern　ceiling　or…in　Valas's　case…step　through　the　dimensions　to　escape　the　storm。
　　　Catching　her　eye；　Pharaun　held　his　hand　up　in　a　reassuring　gesture　and　signed；　Wait。
　　　Then　he　turned　to　Valas　and　asked；　〃Did　the　rogue　who　told　you　about　the　portal　mention　anything　about　this？〃
　　　Valas　shook　his　head。　〃He　didn't　linger　here。　As　soon　as　he　reached　the　cavern　he　levitated　straight　up　and　out。〃　As　he　spoke　he　glanced　up　at　the　nearest　of　the　sunlight…limned　holes　in　the　ceiling　as　if　measuring　the　distance　to　it。　Then　he　gave　a　resigned　sigh　and　stared　grimly　at　the　approaching　storm。
　　　Quenthel；　meanwhile；　had　turned　her　attention　to　the　wand　Danifae　had　recovered　from　the　treasure　vault　and　was　experimenting　with　different　mand　words。　Jeggred；　crouching　beside　her；　pawed　at　her　sleeve　and　muttered　something…and　received　a　backhanded　slap　for　disturbing　his　mistress。　The　draegloth　prostrated　himself　at　her　feet；　whimpering　his　apologies。　Quenthel　ignored　him　and　continued　to　try　to　find　the　wand's　mand　word。
　　　Pharaun　rolled　his　eyes。　At　the　moment；　the　storm　was　a　more　pressing　problem　than　trying　to　find　the　ship　of　chaos；　but　Quenthel's　muttering　was　getting　on　his　nerves。
　　　〃It's　probably　a　word　in　the　duergar　tongue；〃　he　told　her。　〃Try　'treasure；'　or　'seek'　or　something　like　that。　And　turn　the　wand　around…you　have　to　hold　the　forked　end　for　it　to　work。〃
　　　Quenthel's　serpents　hissed　with　irritation；　but　she　did　as　he　suggested；　turning　the　wand　and　switching　to　the　guttural　tongue　of　the　duergar。　Meanwhile；　the　storm　whirled　ever　closer。　The　sound　of　it　had　grown　loud　enough　that　they　had　to　raise　their　voices　slightly；　and　its　breeze　stirred　Pharaun's　hair。
　　　Danifae　shifted　nervously。
　　　〃If　we're　still　here　when　the　storm　hits；　we'll　be　smashed　against　the　rocks；〃　she　said。
　　　〃Or　drowned；〃　Valas　muttered；　glancing　below　at　the　waves　that　were　already　starting　to　lap　against　the　bottom　of　the　cliff。
　　　〃You're　forgetting　my　teleport　spell；〃　he　told　them。　〃One　quick　incantation；　and　we'll　be　back　in　the　World　Above。　The　only　question　is；　where　to　go？〃
　　　Valas　squinted　against　the　swirl　of　mist　that　was　starting　to　strike　the　ledge。
　　　〃In　a　few　moments；〃　the　scout　said；　〃anywhere　is　going　to　be　better　than　here。〃
　　　Beside　him；　Quenthel　gave　a　gasp　of　satisfaction　as　the　wand　came　to　life　in　her　hands。　The　end　of　it　trembled　and　jerked　back　and　forth　like　the　head　of　a　lizard　that　smelled　blood；　and　a　loud　whine　filled　the　air。　As　Quenthel　moved　the　wand　in　a　wide；　horizontal　arc　the　whining　noise　rose；　then　fell…then　rose　again　as　she　swung　the　wand　so　that　it　pointed　at　the　waterspout。
　　　As　the　storm　grew　nearer；　filling　the　air　with　a　spray　of　water　and　an　even　louder　roar；　she　shouted　exultantly；　〃There！　The　ship　of　chaos　is　inside　the　whirlpool！〃
　　　Pharaun　squinted　at　the　storm。
　　　〃Yes；〃　he　told　Quenthel。　〃I　can　see　it　now。〃
　　　And　there　really　was　something　there…a　dim；　dark　shape　at　the　eye　of　the　storm。　For　once；　the　high　priestess　seemed　to　have　gotten　something　right。　Belshazu　had　told　them　the　ship　was　lost　in　a　〃terrible　storm〃　and　they　were　looking　at　just　that…a　storm　that　had　raged　for　centuries。
　　　The　ship　of　chaos　might　have　been　whole　when　the　surviving　demon　swam　away　from　it；　but　after　centuries　of　being　buffeted　by　wind　and　water　it　seemed　unlikely　that　it　would　still　be　intact。　The　storm　had　yet　to　hit　them　fully；　but　already　the　wind　of　it　was　tearing　at　Pharaun's　piwafwi　and　pelting　him　with　spray。　Just　being　at　the　outer　edge　of　the　storm　was　like　being　struck；　repeatedly；　by　water　thrown　from　a　bucket。　Pharaun　pulled　his　piwafwi　tighter　around　him；　making　sure　it　covered　the　backpack　in　which　his　spellbooks　were　stored。
　　　〃We've　got　to　get　a　look　inside　that　whirlpool；〃　Quenthel　shouted；　oblivious　to　the　drops　of　water　striking　her　face。
　　　〃And　how　do　you　propose　we　do　that？〃　Pharaun　asked。　〃Dig　our　claws　into　the　rock　and　hang　on；　as　Jeggred's　doing；　then　dive　into　the　eye　of　the　storm？〃
　　　To　his　surprise；　Quenthel　nodded　vigorously。
　　　〃Yes；〃　she　replied。　〃Valas　can　do　it。〃
　　　The　mercenary's　eyes　widened。
　　　〃Dispel　your　polymorph　spell；〃　Quenthel　shouted　back。　〃Valas　can　swim　into　the　whirlpool　and　take　a　look。〃
　　　Valas's　eyebrows　rose　even　higher。
　　　〃Swim？〃　he　protested；　staring　at　the　violently　spiraling　water。　〃Through　that？〃
　　　He　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest；　ignoring　the　angry　twitching　of　Quenthel's　serpents　as　she　drew　her　whip。　His　eyes…which　for　once　he　did　not　lower　under　her　glare…said　it　all。　He'd　rather　die　by　her　lash　than　embark　on　such　a　suicidal　mission。
　　　Danifae；　meanwhile；　gripped　Pharaun's　arm。
　　　〃We're　wasting　time；〃　she　whispered。　〃Leave　these　fools　behind。　Cast　your　teleportation　spell。〃
　　　Pharaun　plucked　her　hand　free…earning　a　wrathful　glare　from　the　battle…captive…and　he　reached　into　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi。　Pulling　out　his　last　pinch　of　seeds；　he　held　them　tightly　between　thumb　and　forefinger；　wary　lest　the　storm　pluck　them　away。　Squeezing　past　the　others；　he　walked　to　one　end　of　the　narrow　ledge　to　a　spot　he　judged　to　be　well　beyond　the　portal。
　　　〃I've　got　a　better　idea；〃　he　told　them　all。
　　　Releasing　the　seeds；　he　barked　out　the　words　of　his　spell　and　stabbed　a　finger　toward　the　rock。　A　tunnel　opened　in　the　wall…at　an　angle；　running　in　the　direction　the　wind　had　carried　his　seeds。　Stepping　inside　it；　he　motioned　for　the　others　to　join　him。
　　　They　needed　no　urging。　The　storm　was　upon　them；　whipping　their　hair　and　piwafwis　and　soaking　them　with　sheets　of　water。　Stumbling　along　the　slippery　ledge；　they　hurried　inside；　Quenthel　and　Jeggred　shoving　their　way　past　Danifae　and　causing　her　to　slip　on　the　bat　guano　that　had　been　soaked　by　the　storm。　Pharaun　reached　out　to　steady　her；　but　Valas　was　quicker。　Grabbing　Danifae's　arm；　he　shoved　her　forward　into　the　tunnel。
　　　Pharaun　tried　to　convey　his　apologies　in　a　glance；　but　Danifae　ignored　him。　Sighing；　he　waved　the　others　to　the　back　of　the　tunnel；　then　pulled　out　his　cone　of　glass。　Pointing　it　at　the　open　mouth　of　the　tunnel；　he　hurriedly　cast　a　second　spell。　A　blast　of　bitterly　cold　air　erupted　from　the　glass　cone；　turning　the　water　that　was　spraying　into　the　tunnel　into　pellets　of　hail。　A　sheet　of　water　crashed　full…on　into　the　ledge　outside…and　was　instantly　turned　to　solid　ice；　sealing　the　tunnel。　Pharaun　held　the　spell　for　a　moment　or　two　longer；　until　the　ice　wall　had　thickened　sufficiently；　then　he　lowered　his　hand。
　　　Turning　to　Quenthel；　he　bowed；　then　swept　a　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　plug　of　ice。
　　　〃Won't　you　step　up　to　the　viewing　platform；　Mistress？〃　he　asked。　〃I'm　sure　the　ship　of　chaos　will　be　along　directly。〃
　　　Quenthel　stared　at　him　for　a　long　moment　as　if　trying　to　decide　whether　or　not　she　was　being　mocked。　Her　whip　vipers　snapped　at　each　other；　then　relaxed。　Nose　in　the　air；　Quenthel　strode　past　Pharaun　and　stared　out　through　the　ice；　leaning　this　way　and　that　as　she　tried　to　see　beyond　the　water　that　crashed　against　the　other　side　of　it。　The　air　inside　the　tunnel　was　bitterly　cold；　and　her　breath　misted　in　the　air。　She　shivered　in　her　wet　clothes。　Even　so；　the　high　priestess　peered　with　rapt　attention…then　stiffened。
　　　At　that；　the　others　crowded　forward。　Even　Jeggred　loped　up　to　crouch　and　peer　out　past　his　mistress's　legs。
　　　〃That　figure；〃　Quenthel　gasped。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　　Pharaun　leaned　forward　for　a　better　look。　The　wall　of　ice　he　was　staring　through　was　half　as　thick　as　his　forearm　was　long；　and　beyond　it　was　the　waterspout；　several　paces　thick　at　that　point　and　filled　with　whirling　spray。　Dimly；　at　the　very　eye　of　the　storm；　he　could　see　a　twisting　shape。　It　was　proportioned　like　a　drow；　with　head；　arms；　and　legs；　but　twice　the　height　of　the　tallest　female　and　with　a　whiplike　tail。　It　appeared　to　be　naked；　its　skin　a　pale　gray。　Pharaun　thought　it　was　flailing　against　the　wind；　raking　the　air　around　it　with　wide　sweeps　of　its　claws；　but　then　he　realized　that　it　was　spinning　in　place。　The　creature　itself　wasn't　moving…not　a　muscle。　It　looked　as　though　it　had　been　rendered　immobile　by　magic；　by　a　spell　that　must　have　been　cast　centuries　before。
　　　Beside　him；　Danifae　gasped。
　　　〃The　uridezu；〃　the　battle…captive　whispered。
　　　Pharaun　nodded。
　　　〃And　the　ship！〃　Valas　exclaimed；　standing　on　tiptoes　to　peer　down　over　the　lip　of　the　ledge　outside　and　pointing。
　　　Pharaun　looked　down　at　the　point　where　the　waterspout　met　the　whirlpool。　The　ship　was　indeed　there；　its　hull　stuck　fast　in　the　water　that　formed　the　inner　wall　of　the　whirlpool　and　its　masts　angled　in　toward　the　eye　of　the　storm。　It　was　difficult　to　make　out　details　through　the　wall　of　ice　and　the　spray　whipping　horizontally　past　outside；　but　Pharaun　could　see　enough　to　confirm　that　it　must；　indeed；　be　the　ship　of　chaos。
　　　The　hull　was　bone…white　in　color；　as　were　the　three　masts；　from　which　hung　tattered　sails。
　　　Quenthel　laughed；　shattering　the　tense　silence。
　　　〃I've　done　it！〃　she　said。　〃The　ship　of　chaos　is　mine。〃　Abruptly；　she　turned　to　Pharaun。　〃Prepare　a　binding　spell。〃
　　　〃The　demon　already　appears　to　be　'bound；'　〃　observed　Pharaun；　nodding　at　the　scene　outside　the　ice　wall。　〃Albeit　not　in　the　conventional　manner。　My　guess　is　that　it　was　caught　in　a　temporal　stasis　spell…a　powerful　one　that　I'll　have　to　break　once　I've　imposed　a　binding　of　my　own。　And　there's　the　little　problem　of　the　storm。〃
　　　Quenthel　flicked　wet　hair　out　of　her　face；　then　glowered　down　the　ship　of　chaos；　still　whipping　around　in　circles　in　the　whirlpool。
　　　〃We're　not　teleporting　away；〃　she　told　him；　a　dangerous　light　in　her　eye。　〃Not　now；　when　we're　so　close。〃
　　　〃No；〃　Pharaun　sighed。　〃I　suppose　not。　But　to　be　quite　frank；　I'm　not　sure　what　to　do　next。　The　storm's　obviously　magical。　If　a　spell　created　it；　the　incantation　was　powerful…and　permanent。　Even　I　couldn't　control　that　volume　of　water…which　means　any