war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第21部分

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abyrinth　from　the　east；　as　we　have。〃　The　scout　stepped　a　little　ahead　and　brushed　his　hand　against　the　wall；　near　the　place　where　the　other　tunnel　opened　up。　Old；　strange　symbols　glowed　with　a　greenish　light　beneath　his　fingertips。　〃Fortunately；　the　builders　carved　runes　to　identify　their　secret　ways。　It's　a　code　of　markings　that　holds　true　throughout　the　Labyrinth。　I　solved　the　puzzle　when　I　last　journeyed　here。　We're　not　in　tunnels　I　traveled　before；　but　I　think　I　know　how　to　reach　them　from　here。〃
　　　〃You　are　a　lad　of　many　talents；〃　Pharaun　observed。
　　　〃Who　carved　these　tunnels？〃　Halisstra　asked。　〃If　this　place　is　as　big　as　you　say；　it　must　have　been　a　powerful　realm　in　its　day；　but　I　can　tell　at　a　glance　those　marks　aren't　ours。　Nor　are　they　duergar；　illithid；　or　aboleth。〃
　　　〃Minotaurs；〃　Valas　replied。　〃I　don't　know　how　long　ago　their　realm　rose　or　fell；　but　there　was　a　great　kingdom　of　them　here　at　some　point　in　the　past。〃
　　　〃Minotaurs？〃　Quenthel　sneered。　〃They're　bestial　savages。　They　could　hardly　have　the　wits　or　the　patience　to　undertake　work　of　this　scope；　let　alone　build　a　great　realm。〃
　　　Valas　shrugged　and　said；　〃That　may　be　true　now；　but　a　thousand　years　ago；　who　knows？　I've　found　plenty　of　their　artifacts　and　remains　scattered　through　this　region。　The　horned　skulls　are　quite　distinctive。　My　friends　among　House　Jaelre　told　me　that　many　minotaurs　still　roam　the　wild　places　and　disused　passages　of　the　Labyrinth；　including　demonic　beasts　armed　with　powerful　sorcery。　Their　patrols　skirmished　with　the　monsters　regularly。〃
　　　〃One　wonders　whether　we　might　at　some　point　in　our　journey　happen　to　pass　through　a　realm　filled　with　cheerful；　civilized　folk　genuinely　concerned　for　our　well…being　and　eager　to　help　us　on　our　way；〃　Pharaun　muttered。　〃I　am　beginning　to　think　our　fair　city　lies　at　the　bottom　of　a　barrel　of　venomous　snakes。〃
　　　〃If　so；　we're　quicker；　stronger；　and　more　venomous　than　any　other　snake　in　the　barrel；〃　Quenthel　said　with　a　smile。　〃e；　let's　continue。　If　there　are　any　minotaurs　about；　they　would　be　well…advised　not　to　show　themselves　where　the　children　of　Menzoberranzan　choose　to　walk。〃
　　　The　pany　continued　on　for　several　hours　more　through　endless　gloomy　halls　and　contorted　passages　before　calling　a　halt　to　rest　and　replenish　their　strength。　The　stretch　of　the　Labyrinth　they　wandered　seemed　to　be　quite　deserted。　They　found　few　signs　that　anything；　even　the　mindless　predatory　creatures　of　the　Underdark；　had　passed　that　way　in　many　years。　The　air　was　preternaturally　still　and　silent。　Whenever　their　whispered　conversation　died　away　for　a　moment；　the　quiet　of　the　place　seemed　to　rush　in　upon　them；　pressing　close　with　a　strangely　hostile　quality；　as　if　the　very　stone　resented　their　presence。
　　　After　Valas　and　Ryld　had　been　set　to　watch；　the　rest　wrapped　themselves　in　their　piwafwis　and　made　themselves　as　fortable　as　possible　on　the　cold　stone　floor　of　the　cavern。　Halisstra　let　her　eyes　fall　half…closed　and　drifted　off　into　a　deep　Reverie；　dreaming　about　endless　tunnels　and　strange　old　secrets　buried　in　mold。　In　her　dream　she　thought　she　could　make　out　a　faint；　distant　rustling　or　whisper　in　the　quiet；　as　if　she　might　hear　something　more　if　only　she　moved　a　little　ways　off　from　the　others；　out　into　the　darkness　alone。　Despite　the　fact　that　the　air　was　pletely　still　and　motionless；　she　discerned　the　distant　deep　sighing　of　wind　far　off　in　the　tunnels；　a　low　moaning　sound　that　tickled　at　the　edge　of　her　awareness；　like　something　important　she　had　forgotten。　Lolth's　whispers　sometimes　came　to　one　in　that　fashion；　a　sibilant　sigh　of　wordless　intent　filling　a　priestess　with　knowledge　of　the　demon　queen's　desires。
　　　Hope　and　fear　stirred　in　Halisstra's　heart　and　she　came　closer　to　wakefulness。
　　　What　is　your　wish；　Goddess？　she　cried　out　in　her　mind。　Tell　me　how　House　Melarn　might　win　your　favor　again。　Tell　me　how　Ched　Nasad　might　be　made　whole。　I　will　do　anything　you　mand　of　me！
　　　Faithless　daughter；　the　wind　whispered　back　to　her。　Foolish　weakling。
　　　Horror　jolted　Halisstra　from　her　Reverie　and　she　sat　up　straight；　her　heart　pounding。
　　　Only　a　dream；　she　told　herself。　I　dreamed　of　what　I　wished　to　happen；　and　what　I　feared　might　e；　but　nothing　more。　The　Spider　Queen　has　not　spoken。　She　has　not　condemned　me。
　　　Nearby；　the　others　lay　on　the　cold　stone　floor　or　sat　wrapped　deep　in　their　own　meditations；　taking　their　rest；　while　a　little　distance　away　Ryld　stood　guard；　a　broad…shouldered　shape　motionless　in　the　dark。　The　daughter　of　House　Melarn　lowered　her　eyes　and　listened　to　the　curious　sound　of　the　wind；　surrounded　in　the　darkness　her　people　had　made　theirs。
　　　〃Lolth　does　not　speak；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　heard　only　the　wind；　nothing　else。〃
　　　Why　has　the　Goddess　abandoned　us？　Why　did　she　allow　Ched　Nasad　to　fall？　How　did　we　incur　her　wrath？　Halisstra　wondered。　Her　eyes　stung　with　bitter　tears。　Were　we　unworthy　of　her？
　　　The　wind　rose　again；　this　time　closer；　louder。　It　was　not　a　whistling；　or　even　a　rushing　sound。　It　reminded　her　of　the　call　of　a　deep…voiced　horn　far　off；　perhaps　many　horns；　and　it　was　growing。　Halisstra　frowned；　puzzled。　Was　this　some　strange　phenomenon　of　the　Labyrinth；　a　rush　of　air　through　pipelike　tunnels　in　the　dark？　Such　things　were　not　unknown　in　other　places　of　the　Underdark。　In　some　cases　the　winds　could　scour　a　tunnel　bare　of　life；　they　were　so　sudden　and　powerful。　This　one　muttered　and　babbled　and　thrummed　as　she　listened；　many　great　horns　roaring　at　once…
　　　Halisstra　leaped　to　her　feet。　Ryld　stood　staring　back　the　way　they　had　e；　Splitter　gleaming　in　his　hand。
　　　〃Do　you　hear　them？〃　she　called　to　Ryld。　〃The　minotaurs　are　ing！〃
　　　〃I　thought　it　was　the　wind；〃　the　fighter　growled。　〃Rouse　the　others。〃
　　　He　sprinted　down　the　passageway　toward　the　approaching　host；　shouting　for　Valas　to　join　him　from　his　post　in　the　other　direction。　Halisstra　snatched　up　her　pack　and　shouldered　it　quickly；　rousing　the　rest　of　the　pany　with　shouts　of　alarm　and　the　occasional　quick　kick　for　those　who　were　slow　to　shake　off　their　deep　trances。
　　　She　readied　her　crossbow；　loading　a　quarrel　as　she　peered　down　the　tunnel　behind　them。
　　　The　floor　quivered　beneath　her　feet。　Great　footfalls　as　hard　as　rock　came　in　a　stamping　rush；　and　deep　bellows　and　snorts　echoed　and　echoed　again　in　a　roiling　cacophony　that　filled　the　passage。　Hot　animal　stink　assaulted　her　nostrils；　and　she　saw　them…an　onrushing　mob　of　dozens　of　the　hulking　brutes；　huge　bull…headed　monsters　with　shaggy　pelts　and　massive　hooves；　clutching　mighty　axes　and　flails　in　their　thickly　muscled　fists。
　　　Before　that　storm　Ryld　and　Valas　skipped　and　darted　like　sparrows　blown　before　a　gale；　battling　furiously　for　their　lives　against　the　bloodthirsty　savages。　Halisstra　took　aim　quickly　and　shot　one　monster　in　the　chest　with　her　powerful　crossbow；　but　the　creature　was　so　blood…maddened　it　simply　ignored　the　bolt　buried　in　its　thick　torso。　She　laid　in　another　quarrel　as　the　bow's　magic　cocked　it　again；　only　to　have　her　shot　spoiled　by　Jeggred's　rush　into　the　fray。
　　　〃Jeggred；　you　idiot；　there　are　too　many　to　fight！〃　she　cried。
　　　The　draegloth　ignored　her　and　threw　himself　against　the　horde。　For　a　moment　the　half…demon's　size　and　fury　held　up　the　minotaurs'　charge；　but　over　Jeggred's　white…furred　shoulders　and　the　flashing　blades　of　Ryld　and　Valas；　Halisstra　could　make　out　dozens　more　of　the　hirsute　monsters；　fanged　mouths　bellowing　challenges；　eyes　glowing　red　with　rage。　Several　had　fallen　before　Splitter；　Valas's　curved　knives；　and　Jeggred's　talons；　but　battle…frenzied　minotaurs　shrugged　off　all　but　the　most　grievous　of　injuries；　clawing　over　each　other　to　get　at　the　drow　invaders。
　　　Halisstra　shifted　to　one　side　and　shot　again；　while　Danifae　joined　her　with　her　own　crossbow。　Quenthel　danced　just　behind　Jeggred；　flicking　her　deadly　scourge　at　monsters　threatening　to　swarm　over　the　draegloth；　and　Pharaun　shouted　an　arcane　word　that　hurled　a　bright　globe　of　crackling　energy　into　the　midst　of　the　minotaur　ranks。　The　sphere　detonated　with　a　clap　of　thunder　and　blasted　bright　arcs　of　lightning　across　the　tunnel；　charring　some　minotaurs　into　cinders；　and　burning　great　black　wounds　in　others。
　　　In　the　searing　light　of　the　lightning　ball；　Halisstra　saw　something　taller　and　lankier　than　the　minotaurs；　behind　the　front　ranks；　a　demonic　presence…no；　several　demons…driving　the　angry　monsters　on。　Huge　black　wings　shrouded　the　things　in　shadow；　and　their　dark　horns　glowed　red　with　heat。
　　　Roars　and　bellows　filled　the　passage　with　rage；　while　the　ring　of　steel　on　steel　came　so　fast　and　hard　that　Halisstra　could　barely　hear　herself　shout；　〃There　are　demons　back　there！〃
　　　〃I　see　them；〃　Quenthel　replied。　She　fell　back　a　couple　of　steps　and　seized　Pharaun　by　the　arm。　〃Can　you　dismiss　them？〃
　　　〃I　have　no　such　spell　ready；〃　the　wizard　replied。　〃Besides；　getting　rid　of　the　demons　isn't　going　to　get　us　out　of　this　little　imbroglio。　I　think　we…〃
　　　〃I　don't　care　what　you　think！〃　Quenthel　screamed。　〃If　you　can't　banish　the　demons；　then　bar　the　passage！〃
　　　Pharaun　grimaced；　but　he　plied　by　beginning　another　spell。　Halisstra　reloaded　and　searched　for　another　clear　shot。　Ryld　crouched　low　and　hamstrung　a　minotaur　attacking　him　with　an　axe　big　enough　to　split　an　anvil；　and　gutted　the　creature　with　an　upward　draw　cut　across　its　belly。　Valas　was　upended　by　a　flailing　chain　that　yanked　his　feet　out　from　under　him。　The　scout　rolled　away；　narrowly　escaping　having　his　skull　pulped。
　　　One　or　more　of　the　demons　behind　the　battling　minotaurs　hurled　a　barrage　of　green；　fiery　bolts　at　the　dark　elves。　One　dissipated　against　Quenthel's　inborn　resistance　to　magic；　while　two　others　burned　Pharaun　and　Danifae　with　vitriolic　fire。　Somehow　the　wizard　managed　to　plete　his　spell。
　　　What　Halisstra　assumed　was　some　sort　of　invisible　barrier　forced　most　of　the　minotaurs　and　their　demonic　masters　back；　while　a　pair　of　the　frontline　fighters　found　themselves　suddenly　cut　off　from　their　allies。　While　the　main　host　of　the　bull　creatures　hurled　themselves　against　Pharaun's　invisible　wall　and　tried　vainly　to　batter　their　way　through　with　their　crude；　clumsy　weapons；　the　dark　elves　quickly　cut　down　the　minotaurs　unfortunate　enough　to　have　been　caught　on　the　drow's　side。
　　　In　a　few　moments　the　screams　and　impacts　of　the　fight　had　died　away　to　the　dull；　attenuated　bellowing　of　the　minotaurs　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall；　milling　about　and　shaking　their　weapons　in　anger　at　the　drow。　The　minotaurs　turned　away　all　at　once　and　darted　back　the　way　they'd　e；　running　hard。　A　dozen　or　more　hulking　carcasses　remained　scattered　on　the　floor。
　　　Ryld　backed　away　carefully；　helping　Valas　to　his　feet。　Jeggred　stood　panting；　bleeding　from　a　dozen　small　wounds。
　　　〃How　long　will　that　wall　hold？〃　Quenthel　asked。
　　　〃No　more　than　a　quarter　of　an　hour；〃　Pharaun　answered。　〃The　demons　can　probably　get　through　it　if　they　wish；　but　I　suspect　that　they're　leading　those　minotaurs　around　through　other　tunnels　to　e　at　us　from　the　other　side。　May　I　suggest　we　remove　ourselves　from　the　vicinity　before　we　find　out　how　they　mean　to　circumvent　my　barrier？〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled；　grabbed　her　pack；　and　said；　〃Fine。　Let's　go。〃
　　　
　　　If　it　had　been　in　his　nature　to　show　alarm　by　pacing　back　and　forth　across　his　sanctum；　Gromph　Baenre　would　have　spent　most　of　the　previous　hour　doing　so。　Instead；　he　peered　into　the　great　crystal　ball　that　rested　in　the　center　of　his　scrying　sanctum；　confirming　Pharaun's　report。　How　exactly　had　the　Master　of　Sorcere　worded　it？
　　　Felicitations；　mighty　Gromph。　It　may　interest　you　to　learn　that　the　army　of　Gracklstugh　now　marches　on　Menzoberranzan。　We　continue　on　our　course。　Good　luck！
　　　〃Arrogant　popinjay；〃　Gromph　muttered　to　himself。　The　boy　had　no　respect　for　his　elders。
　　　Before　dashing　off　to　the　matron　mothers　in　a　panic；　Gromph　had　of　course　decided　to　investigate　Pharaun's　report　with　his　own　careful　scrying　and　study。　The　milky　orb　revealed　a　fine　scene　for　the　archmage's　eyes；　a　long　column　of　marching　duergar　warriors　winding　through　the　Underdark。　Huge　pack　lizards　carried　heavy　bundles　of　supplies　and　various　infernal　devices　of　war。　Siege　engines　trundled　along　behind　long　lines　of　ogre　slaves。
　　　Gaining　even　that　glimpse　of　the　army　on　the　move　was　difficult；　as　duergar　wizards　sought　to　conceal　the　movements　of　their　prince's　army　from　the　scrying　efforts　of　hostile　mages。　Gromph；　however；　was　an　extraordinarily　capable　diviner。　It　had　taken　him　some　time；　but　he　had　eventually　pierced　the　duergar　wizards'　defenses。
　　　Gromph　examined　the　scene　closely；　seeking　out　the　most　minute　details…the　insignia　of　marching　soldiers；　the　exact　size　and　condition　of　the　tunnels　they　passed　through；　the　cadence　of　the　Dwarvish　marching　chants。　He　wanted　to　be　absolutely　certain　he　understood　the　scope　and　immediacy　of　the　threat　before　he　brought　his　news　to　the　attention　of　the　Council；　as　the　matron　mothers　would　doubtless　expect　him　to　have　already　divined　the　answers　to　any　questions　they　might　think　of。　The　most　disturbing　question；　of　course；　was　how　long　it　might　have　taken　him　to　learn　of　the　marching　army　if　Pharaun　Mizzrym　hadn't　been　passing　through　Gracklstugh。　The　duergar　might　have　covered　half　the　distance　between　the　cities　before　an　outpost　or　a　far…ranging　patrol　detected　the　army。
　　　〃Damnation；〃　the　archmage　growled。
　　　Whether　or　not　Menzoberranzan　was　ready；　the　next　challenge　to　the　city　gathered　in　the　smoky　pits　of　the　duergar　realm　a　hundred　miles　to　the　south。　Gromph　sighed　and　decided　that　he　might　as　well　deal　with　the　unpleasant　business　of　telling　the　Council　what　he'd　seen　sooner　rather　than　later。　He　rose　with　one　smooth　motion；　arranged　his　robes；　and　took　up　his　favorite　staff。　It　would　not　do　to　appear　before　the　matron　mothers　in　anything　less　than　plete　and　total　self…assurance；　especially　when　bringing　such　dire　news　to　them。
　　　He　was　just　about　to　step　into　the　stone　shaft　at　the　rear　of　the　chamber　and　descend　to　his　apartments　in　Sorcere　when　he　felt　a　familiar；　crawling　sensation。　Someone　was　scrying　upon　him…an　acplishment　of　no　small　skill；　considering　the　steps　he　took　to　prevent　such　occurrences。　Gromph　started　to　work　a　spell　to　sever　the　magical　spying；　but　stopped　himself。　He　was　engaged　in　nothing　he　cared　to　conceal；　and　he　was　curious　to　discover　whether　a　duergar　wizard　had　managed　to　detect　his　own　scrying。
　　　〃Do　you　have　anything　you　wish　to　say　to　me；〃　he　asked　the　air；　〃or　shall　I　simply　strike　you　blind　where　you　sit？〃
　　　Save　your　spell；　came　a　cold；　rasping　voice　in　his　head。　As　I　haven't　had　eyes　in　my　skull　in　over　a　thousand　years；　I　doubt　you　could　do　them　much　harm。
　　　〃Lord　Dyrr；〃　Gromph　said；　frowning。　〃To　what　do　I　owe　the　honor　of　your　attentions？〃
　　　And　how　did　you　find　me？　he　wondered；　though　he　was　careful　not　to　voice　the　question。
　　　I　wish　to　continue　the　conversation　we　began　a　few　days　past；　young　Gromph；　the　lich's　voice　replied。　I　intend　to　expand　upon　my　earlier　offer　by　describing　in　greater　detail　some　of　the　schemes　I　have　in　mind。　After　all；　if　I　am　to　ask　you　to　trust　me；　then　I　suppose　I　must　extend　you　a　token　of　trust　fir