war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第37部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　　　〃Indeed　they　are；〃　Tzirik　said。　He　offered　a　cold　smile。　〃One　thing　at　a　time；　though。　I　see　you　wear　the　arms　of　a　priestess　of　Eilistraee。　How　did　you　e　by　them？〃
　　　〃As　I　told　your　warriors；　my　pany　was　attacked　by　surface　elves　some　distance　away　from　here　five　days　ago。　My　panions　escaped　the　attack；　but　I　was　captured　and　taken　to　a　place　called　Elventree。　There；　a　female　who　called　herself　Seyll　Auzkovyn　called　on　me　in　my　cell；　and　sought　to　indoctrinate　me　in　the　ways　of　Eilistraee。〃
　　　〃A　rather　simpleminded　notion；〃　Tzirik　observed。　〃Continue；　please。〃
　　　〃I　allowed　her　to　believe　I　might　be　swayed；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃She　offered　to　take　me　to　a　rite　they　were　to　hold　two　nights　ago　out　in　the　forest。　I　found　an　opportunity　to　escape　as　we　traveled　to　their　ceremony。〃
　　　She　glanced　down　at　the　mail　and　weapons　she　wore。　The　naivete　of　the　female　still　surprised　Halisstra。　Seyll　had　not　seemed　like　a　stupid　drow；　not　by　any　stretch　of　the　imagination；　and　yet　she　had　fatally　misjudged　Halisstra。
　　　〃In　any　event；〃　she　finished；　〃I　took　the　liberty　of　borrowing　some　things　Seyll　had　no　more　use　for；　since　the　good　people　of　Elventree　confiscated　my　own　weapons　and　armor。〃
　　　〃And　now　you　would　like　to　be　reunited　with　your　rades？〃
　　　〃Provided　they're　not　dead　or　imprisoned；　yes；〃　she　replied。
　　　〃Nothing　like　that；〃　said　the　priest。　〃They　asked　me　to　provide　an　unusual　service　for　them；　so　I　thought　of　something　they　could　do　for　me　by　way　of　pensation　for　my　time　and　trouble。　If　they　succeed；　they　should　return　in　a　day　or　two。　The　question　is；　will　you　be　here　to　greet　them？〃
　　　Halisstra　narrowed　her　eyes　and　remained　silent。　The　high　priest　paced　over　by　the　fire　and　took　a　poker　from　a　stand　by　the　hearth。　He　prodded　at　the　crackling　logs。
　　　〃The　rades　who　abandoned　you　to　captivity　among　the　surface　folk　told　me　a　very　unusual　story；〃　said　the　priest。　〃Doubtless　you're　thinking　to　yourself；　'How　can　I　know　how　much　they　told　Tzirik？'　You　can't；　of　course；　so　the　wisest　thing　to　do　would　be　to　tell　me　everything。〃
　　　〃My　panions　may　not　appreciate　that　when　they　return；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　〃Your　panions　will　never　know　you　were　here　if　you　fail　to　satisfy　my　curiosity；　Mistress　Melarn；〃　Tzirik　said。　He　set　down　the　poker；　and　lowered　himself　into　a　seat　by　the　fire。　〃Now；　why　don't　you　start　at　the　beginning？〃
　　　
　　　Ryld　crouched　in　the　thick　embrace　of　a　deadly；　acidic　fog；　trying　hard　not　to　draw　breath　despite　the　fact　that　he　panted　for　air。　His　skin　burned　as　if　liquid　fire　had　been　poured　over　his　body；　and　ugly　welts　were　already　rising　wherever　his　ebon　skin　was　exposed　to　the　air。　To　stay　where　he　was　invited　nothing　less　than　a　slow；　agonizing　death；　but　the　vapors　clung　to　his　limbs　like　soft　white　hands；　impeding　his　every　movement。　The　cursed　beholder　lurked　somewhere　in　the　chamber；　but　where？
　　　A　brilliant　bolt　of　lightning　illuminated　the　white　murk；　lashing　out　with　a　dozen　crackling　arcs　as　it　plowed　through　the　mist。　The　weapons　master　threw　himself　aside　and　fell　slowly　to　the　floor；　cushioned　by　the　clinging　mists；　as　a　mighty　thunderclap　shook　the　stones　of　the　chamber　and　rattled　his　teeth　in　his　head。
　　　〃Pharaun！〃　he　shouted。　〃Where　is　the　damned…？〃
　　　He　instantly　regretted　speaking；　as　needles　of　hot　pain　filled　his　nose　and　throat。
　　　〃Against　the　east　wall！〃　the　wizard　replied　from　some　distance　away。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　fell　at　once　into　another　spell；　rushing　his　words　as　he　tried　to　cast　as　quickly　as　possible。　Meanwhile　the　beholder　mage　droned　its　horrid　spell…song；　muttering　the　black　words　of　half　a　dozen　incantations　at　once。　Lightning　flashed　again；　followed　by　the　whining　shrieks　of　conjured　missiles　arrowing　for　their　targets；　and　the　cries；　shouts；　and　curses　of　his　panions。
　　　Ryld　finally　reached　the　floor；　where　he　found　himself　fetched　up　against　one　curving　stone　wall…the　only　landmark　he　could　make　out　in　the　horrible　mist。　Without　pausing　for　thought；　he　scrabbled　forward　at　the　best　speed　he　could；　hoping　to　emerge　from　the　acidic　fog　before　it　burned　the　flesh　from　his　face。
　　　Goddess；　what　a　mess！　he　thought；　slashing　and　cleaving　at　the　thick　tendrils　of　fog　with　Splitter。
　　　The　beholder　had　been　waiting　for　them　to　resort　to　magic　to　ascend　the　shaft；　and　it　had　scoured　the　pany　with　every　spell　at　its　mand。
　　　〃The　devils　are　ing　up　after　us！〃　Jezz　shouted　from　somewhere　beyond　the　burning　fog。　〃Finish　this　thing　quickly　so　that　we　can　get　what　we　came　for　and　leave！〃
　　　Finish　it　quickly；　Ryld　thought　with　a　grimace。　That's　a　novel　idea。
　　　He　surged　forward　and　suddenly　found　himself　free　of　the　deadly；　clinging　fog。　No　one　else　stood　nearby；　though　he　could　hear　his　panions　battling　in　the　mists　behind　him。
　　　〃Damnation！〃　he　muttered。
　　　Clear　of　the　unnatural　fog；　it　was　apparent　that　the　whole　floor　of　the　tower　had　once　been　a　royally　appointed　suite　of　rooms。　A　thick　red　haze　of　dust　on　the　floor　might　have　once　been　a　plush　carpet；　and　the　walls　were　finished　in　patterns　of　orange　and　gold　tile　to　form　the　image　of　a　surface　forest　with　its　normally　green　leaves　for　some　reason　rendered　in　reds；　oranges；　and　yellows。　Ryld　coughed；　his　eyes　streaming　from　contact　with　the　noxious　fumes。　Evidently　he'd　blundered　through　an　archway　into　a　different　chamber；　but　another　doorway　led　out　of　the　room　on　the　far　side。
　　　〃Where　in　all　the　screaming　hells　am　I？〃
　　　Something　screeched　in　rage　ahead；　and　the　room　beyond　the　arch　flared　brightly　with　magical　fire。　Ryld　hefted　Splitter　and　dashed　into　the　next　room；　right　into　the　middle　of　a　fierce　skirmish。
　　　Danifae　and　Jezz　battled　against　a　pair　of　lean；　scaly　devils　almost　ten　feet　tall；　horrible　fiends　with　huge　wings　who　fought　with　razor…sharp　scourges　and　barbed　tails　that　dripped　with　green　venom。　Several　lesser　devils　hissed　and　surged　behind　the　two　already　in　the　room；　pressing　forward　and　looking　for　a　chance　to　join　the　fight。
　　　〃The　devils　are　upon　us！〃　Jezz　cried。
　　　The　Jaelre　fought　with　a　curved　knife　in　one　hand；　and　a　deadly　white　spell…flame　wreathing　the　other。　One　of　the　big　devils　sprang　at　Jezz　and　hammered　its　iron　chains　past　the　Jaelre's　defenses；　spinning　the　surface　drow　to　the　floor。　The　creature　stooped　over　the　dazed　Jaelre　and　reached　for　his　throat。
　　　Ryld　glided　forward；　feinted　high　to　bring　the　devil's　weapon　up　to　guard　its　face；　and　crouched　low　to　take　off　its　leg　at　the　knee。　The　huge　fiend　roared　in　pain　and　toppled；　its　wings　fluttering　awkwardly　as　black　blood　spurted　from　the　horrible　wound。　Ryld　moved　in　close　and　reversed　his　grip　on　Splitter　to　finish　the　monster　on　the　ground；　but　it　replied　with　a　flurry　of　slashing　claws　and　snapping　teeth；　while　lashing　its　barbed　tail　at　him　so　quickly　that　only　the　stoutness　of　his　dwarven　breastplate　saved　him　from　being　spitted　on　the　wounded　devil's　sting。
　　　Ryld　parried　furiously；　battling　for　his　life；　as　yet　more　devils…a　group　posed　of　man…sized　creatures　who　were　armed　with　knifelike　barbs　jutting　from　their　scaly　bodies…swarmed　closer；　their　fanged　faces　twisted　in　hellish　glee。
　　　〃Dark　elves　to　feast　on！〃　they　gloated。　〃Drow　hearts　to　eat！〃
　　　〃We've　got　to　get　out　of　here！〃　Danifae　cried。　〃We　can't　hold　them！〃
　　　She　whirled　her　morningstar　with　skill　and　strength；　dueling　the　other　big　devil　and　a　pair　of　the　smaller　ones　who　snatched　at　her　from　her　flanks。
　　　〃There's　no　place　to　go；〃　Ryld　snapped。　〃The　beholder's　behind　us！〃
　　　He　could　feel　deadly　spells　flying　in　the　chamber　behind　him；　the　reverberations　of　thunderbolts　and　the　soul…searing　chill　of　slaying　spells　that　made　his　flesh　crawl。
　　　This　isn't　working；　he　thought。　We're　split　in　two；　fighting　two　dangerous　enemies。
　　　They　needed　to　regroup　and　focus　on　one　foe　or　the　other；　or　abandon　the　field　all　together　and　try　again　later。　Presuming；　of　course；　that　the　denizens　of　Myth　Drannor　allowed　them　to　retreat　at　all。　More　than　likely；　they'd　all　die　here；　surrounded　and　overwhelmed　by　endless　hordes　of　bloodthirsty　demons。　Quenthel　and　Valas　were　likely　dead　already。
　　　Enough；　Ryld　snarled　to　himself。　We　didn't　e　all　this　way　to　be　defeated　here！
　　　He　redoubled　his　attack；　stepped　inside　the　big　devil's　reach；　and　drove　Splitters　point　through　the　creature's　scaly　neck。　It　flailed　violently　at　him；　but　it　was　dying；　and　its　convulsions　gouged　stone　and　clawed　at　the　air　instead　of　mauling　Ryld。　The　weapons　master　leaped　over　the　creature's　body　to　engage　the　smaller　barbed　devils　already　moving　toward　him。
　　　Jezz　rejoined　the　fray；　pulling　out　a　scroll　from　his　belt　and　hurriedly　reading　off　an　abjuration　that　blasted　several　of　the　lesser　devils　back　to　whatever　infernal　realm　they　had　crawled　out　of。
　　　Two　more　instantly　replaced　their　banished　rades。
　　　〃We　have　to　move！〃　the　Jaelre　cried。　〃The　beholder　is　our　enemy。　The　devils　are　just　a　distraction！〃
　　　Ryld　grimaced　again。　If　they　tried　to　flee；　they'd　be　pulled　down　from　behind。　Still；　he　started　backing　his　way　toward　the　door　leading　to　the　beholder；　praying　that　the　creature　was　not　in　a　position　to　see　them。　He　gave　ground　grudgingly；　unwilling　to　blunder　into　another　fight　while　one　still　raged。
　　　To　his　surprise；　one　of　the　devils　on　the　other　side　of　the　chamber　dropped　out　of　view；　and　another　one　shrieked　as　a　serpent…headed　scourge　sank　its　fangs　into　the　back　of　its　neck。　Struggling　through　the　ranks　of　the　devils；　Valas　and　Quenthel　limped　into　sight。　The　scout　supported　the　badly　injured　priestess；　warding　her　side　with　one　of　his　kukris　while　she　lashed　and　flailed　with　her　deadly　scourge。
　　　Danifae　and　Ryld　took　advantage　of　the　devils'　momentary　disadvantage　to　press　home　attacks　against　their　immediate　foes。　Quenthel　slumped　to　one　wall；　fumbling　with　Halisstra's　healing　wand　at　her　side；　while　Valas　drew　his　second　knife　and　darted　into　the　fray；　slashing　and　stabbing　the　devils　from　behind。
　　　〃Hurry！〃　Quenthel　gasped。　〃A　pit　fiend　and　a　dozen　more　devils　are　just　behind　us。〃
　　　Ryld　cut　down　another　of　the　barbed　devils；　while　Danifae　splattered　the　brains　of　a　second　across　the　chamber　wall　with　a　two…handed　blow　of　her　morningstar。　In　the　space　of　a　few　moments；　the　dark　elves　cleared　the　room　of　devils。　Jezz　produced　another　scroll　and　quickly　read　off　a　spell；　sealing　the　doorway　behind　Quenthel　and　Valas　with　a　crackling　sheet　of　sparking　yellow　energy。
　　　〃That　will　only　hold　the　creature　for　a　moment；〃　he　cautioned。
　　　The　Baenre　looked　around　the　chamber。　The　fall　in　the　shaft　must　have　hurt　her　badly。　Blood　caked　the　side　of　her　head；　and　her　eyes　didn't　seem　to　want　to　focus。　One　arm　hung　limp　at　her　side；　but　she　held　herself　upright。
　　　〃Where's　the　beholder；〃　she　asked；　〃Pharaun；　and　Jeggred？〃
　　　Ryld　jerked　his　head　at　the　archway　behind　him。　Another　spell　rumbled　through　the　air。
　　　〃Back　there　somewhere；〃　he　said。　〃The　beholder…〃
　　　He　was　interrupted　by　the　sudden；　sickening　awareness　of　an　overwhelming　presence　approaching　Jezz's　barrier；　something　unseen　that　seemed　to　shake　the　very　stones　of　the　tower　with　its　footfalls。
　　　〃The　pit　fiend　es；〃　Danifae　reported；　panting　for　breath；　her　eyes　wide　with　alarm。
　　　〃Go；〃　Quenthel　said；　waving　them　forward　with　her　good　arm。
　　　Without　another　word；　the　dark　elves　scrambled　for　the　other　exit；　plunging　into　the　next　room　heedless　of　the　spells　that　thundered　and　crawled　in　the　space　beyond。
　　　
　　　Triel　Baenre　stood　on　a　high　bridge　of　House　Baenre；　gazing　toward　Narbondel。　The　creeping　ring　of　radiance　that　slowly　climbed　the　mighty　stone　column　marked　the　passage　of　time　in　Menzoberranzan。　The　glow　stood　near　the　pillar's　upper　end；　which　meant　that　the　day　would　soon　be　done。　Not　for　the　first　time　it　struck　her　as　ironic　that　a　race　that　had　been　driven　from　the　world　of　light　almost　ten　thousand　years　in　the　past　would　have　the　slightest　use　for　marking　the　passage　of　days　and　nights　in　the　manner　of　the　surface　folk；　when　the　night　was　eternal　and　changeless　in　the　Underdark；　but　it　had　proven　somewhat　useful　over　the　years　to　remember　the　endless　march　of　unseen　days　in　the　world　above。　It　helped　in　dealing　with　those　who　had　more　use　for　the　custom；　such　as　merchants　who　brought　a　few　of　the　surface's　more　exotic　and　desirable　goods　down　to　the　City　of　the　Spider　Queen。
　　　Not　that　many　of　those　had　visited　Menzoberranzan　of　late。　War　was　hard　on　merce。
　　　The　other　question　that　came　to　Triel's　mind　as　she　looked　out　over　Narbondel　and　the　city　below　was　somewhat　less　abstract：　Who　would　be　ing　in　an　hour　or　two　to　cast　the　spells　that　renewed　Narbondel's　fiery　ring？　The　office　of　archmage　still　belonged　to　her　brother　Gromph；　missing　for　more　than　a　tenday；　but　the　Masters　of　Sorcere　would　not　permit　the　high　seat　to　remain　empty　for　much　longer。　She'd　learned　that　several　of　the　more　ambitious　masters　already　maneuvered　for　the　post。　Doubtless　Pharaun　Mizzrym　would　have　been　among　them　if　he　had　remained　in　the　city；　but　the　errand　to　Ched　Nasad　had　fortunately　removed　the　hero　of　the　hour　from　Menzoberranzan　at　the　very　moment　that　he　might　have　put　his　fame　to　its　best　use。　She　turned　her　head　slightly　and　spoke　over　her　shoulder　to　the　loyal　Baenre　guards　who　stood　a　respectful　distance　behind　her。
　　　〃Send　for　Nauzhror；〃　she　said。　〃Tell　him　I　desire　his　counsel　on　a　matter　of　some　importance。　He　may　attend　me　in　the　chapel。〃
　　　Triel　made　her　way　to　the　great　temple　of　Lolth　that　lay　in　the　center　of　House　Baenre's　Great　Mound；　her　attention　far　from　her　surroundings　as　she　contemplated　the　multiplicity　of　troubles　that　had　descended　over　the　city　in　the　past　few　months。　She　was　almost　grateful　to　the　duergar　for　providing　her　with　a　cause　to　which　she　could　rally　the　Council；　and　through　them　the　dozens　of　lesser　Houses　that　prised　Menzoberranzan's　strength。　A　victory　in　the　tunnels　south　of　the　city　would　do　much　to　restore　House　Baenre's　preeminence。
　　　On　the　other　hand；　another　setback　could　be　disastrous。　Even　if　Baenre　remained　the　wealthiest　and　most　powerful　House；　the　Council　might　see　fit　to　remove　House　Baenre　as　the　First　House。　None　of　them　alone；　perhaps　not　even　any　two　of　them　together；　could　hope　to　defeat　House　Baenre；　but　what　if　all　seven　of　the　other　Houses　on　the　Council　agreed　that　it　was　time　to　pull　down　the　strongest　among　them？
　　　〃Lolth　preserve　us；〃　Triel　muttered；　and　shivered　with　true　fear。
　　　In　terms　of　numbers　of　troops；　magical　might；　and　sheer　wealth；　the　other　Houses　had　always　possessed　the　wherewithal　to　destroy　House　Baenre　if　they　chose　to　unite　against　the　First　House。　What　they　had　never　possessed　was　the　blessing　of　the　goddess　for　an　act　of　such　impropriety。　If　the　Spider　Queen　returned　her　attention　to　Menzoberranzan　and　destroyed　the　Second　through　the　Eighth　Houses　for　their　presumption　the　day　after　they　obliterated　House　Baenre；　well；　Baenre　would　hardly　be　helped　by　it。　Without　Lolth's　wrath　to　deter　the　ambitions　of　the　other　great　Houses；　a　unified　attack　against　Baenre　seemed　more　like　an　inevitability　than　a　possibility。
　　　The　trick；　mused　Triel；　is　to　keep　the　other