war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第41部分

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ar。〃
　　　Nimor　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　battle。　The　Agrach　Dyrr　riders；　well　clear　of　the　Pillars；　charged　madly　in　a　circle；　skirting　the　perimeter　of　the　cave　and　avoiding　the　main　mass　of　the　Menzoberranyr　army。　Their　task　was　to　get　to　the　rear　and　aid　the　Agrach　Dyrr　infantry　in　sealing　the　tunnel　through　which　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　had　just　e。
　　　Duergar　cavalry　streamed　up　and　through　the　gap；　overrunning　the　positions　that　had　been　supposedly　held　against　them　and　spilling　out　onto　the　cavern　floor。　Several　of　the　House　contingents　in　the　van　of　the　march　milled　about　in　evident　disorder；　surprised　to　find　themselves　suddenly　faced　with　a　thundering　charge　in　an　open　field　instead　of　siege…work　and　camp…building　behind　a　stout　line。
　　　Other　Houses　responded　to　the　sudden　assault　with　adroitness　and　valor。　The　huge　Baenre　contingent　raised　a　fierce　war　cry　of　their　own；　and　dashed　forward　to　seize　the　pass　before　any　more　duergar　could　flood　through　it。
　　　〃A　bold　move；　Andzrel；〃　Nimor　said；　not　without　admiration。　〃Unfortunately；　I　think　it's　too　late　to　put　the　cork　back　in　that　bottle。〃
　　　Nimor　flicked　his　war…lizard's　reins　and　positioned　himself　for　a　better　view　of　the　cavern　center。　He'd　expected　the　mad　rush　of　motion；　the　sight　of　armored　ranks　surging　forward　to　crash　and　retreat　like　the　bloody　surf　of　an　iron　sea；　but　the　sound　of　the　battle　was　intolerable。　Caught　by　rock　above；　below；　and　to　all　sides；　the　roars；　screams；　and　clang　of　weapons　on　shields　became　pletely　indistinguishable；　growing　into　a　single　great　thundering　sound　that　continued　to　build　and　build　as　more　and　more　warriors　became　embroiled　in　the　fighting。
　　　〃The　noise　will　stand　to　our　advantage；〃　he　cried　over　his　shoulder　to　Horgar；　though　he　could　not　hear　his　own　words。　〃The　manders　of　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　must　decide　how　to　respond；　and　give　the　appropriate　orders。〃
　　　〃Aye；〃　the　gray　dwarf　monarch　answered。　Nimor　had　to　strain　to　understand　him。　〃The　middle　of　a　fight　is　hardly　the　best　time　to　draw　up　your　plan　of　battle！〃
　　　A　brilliant　lightning　bolt　tore　into　the　duergar　ranks；　followed　by　a　thunderclap　audible　even　over　the　din　of　the　battle。　Exploding　balls　of　fire　and　scathing　sheets　of　flame　streaked　across　the　battlefield；　as　wizards　on　each　side　began　to　make　their　presence　felt。
　　　Nimor　frowned。　A　handful　of　powerful　wizards　could　decide　the　issue；　even　in　the　teeth　of　the　ferocious　duergar　assault　and　the　duplicity　of　his　allies　in　Agrach　Dyrr；　but　there　were　wizards　among　the　duergar　troops；　too；　many　of　them　disguised　as　mon　riders　and　infantrymen。　As　the　drow　mages　struck　at　the　attacking　gray　dwarves；　they　gave　away　their　own　positions。　Duergar　wizards　answered　each　bolt　of　lightning；　each　blast　of　fire；　in　kind；　and　in　moments　the　cavern　was　filled　with　flashes　of　painful　light　and　ruddy　fire；　the　air　hot　and　acrid　with　the　mighty　magic　thrown　heedlessly　from　one　side　to　the　other。
　　　Try　as　he　might；　Nimor　couldn't　tell　whose　magic　would　prevail；　as　the　whole　terrible　scene　descended　into　plete　anarchy。　In　the　space　of　a　few　dozen　heartbeats；　the　sheer　mass　of　Menzoberranyr　troops　in　the　middle　of　the　cavern　checked　the　initial　rush　of　the　duergar　charge；　the　two　armies　tangling　in　a　long　line　of　contact　that　snaked　across　the　cavern　floor　for　hundreds　of　yards。　Standards　waved　and　fell；　war…lizards　reared　and　plunged；　as　the　great　charge　bogged　down　into　a　thousand　individual　duels。
　　　Rushing　columns　of　heavily　armored　duergar　pressed　through　the　seams　where　dark　elf　Houses　met；　streaming　in　and　around　their　desperately　battling　foes。　Nimor　smiled　grimly。　The　dark　elves　had　very　little　notion　of　how　to　weld　their　panies　together　to　make　an　army　into　a　single　weapon；　but　each　House　contingent　was　a　small　army　of　deadly；　seasoned　veterans　by　itself。　The　duergar　assault　had　smashed　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　into　twenty　smaller　forces　that　swarmed　and　stung　back　like　a　basket　of　scorpions　that　had　been　kicked　over。
　　　〃Our　victory　is　still　in　question；　Nimor；〃　Horgar　called　from　above。　〃The　cursed　wizards　have　checked　our　first　assault！〃
　　　〃Yes；　but　you　have　forced　the　Pillars；　have　you　not？〃　Nimor　shouted　back。　〃I'd　thought　the　initial　charge　would　break　the　Menzoberranyr　outright；　but　it　seems　the　House　armies　are　not　so　easily　swept　away。〃
　　　As　he　surveyed　the　battle；　Nimor　thought　the　gray　dwarves；　with　advantage　of　surprise；　would　most　likely　be　able　to　defeat　the　Houses　of　Menzoberranzan　in　detail；　but　it　would　be　a　long　hard　day　of　fighting　to　reduce　the　dark　elf　force。　House　Baenre；　in　particular；　had　managed　to　close　the　Pillars　of　Woe　for　the　moment；　and　the　longer　Andzrel　held　the　pass；　the　better　the　dark　elves'　chances　were。
　　　Fortunately；　Nimor　had　taken　steps　against　this　very　possibility。　The　Menzoberranyr　seemed　heavily　engaged　to　the　front　with　the　gray　dwarf　assault。　It　was　time　to　slip　his　knife　between　Menzoberranzan's　ribs　while　their　swords　were　locked。
　　　〃Now；　Aliisza；〃　he　said　into　the　raging　air。
　　　Nimor　wheeled　his　mount　around；　drew　his　sword；　and　spurred　his　war…lizard　down　into　the　confused　fray。　Mez'Barris　Armgo　and　Andzrel　Baenre　were　somewhere　near　the　center　of　the　fight；　and　he　intended　to　make　sure　they　did　not　escape　the　destruction　of　their　army。
　　　
　　　A　little　less　than　half　a　mile　away；　crowded　into　a　small　tunnel　that　descended　from　the　east　toward　the　upper　field　at　the　head　of　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　Aliisza　stood　with　her　eyes　closed；　her　mind　focused　on　the　spell　that　allowed　her　to　observe　Nimor。　By　virtue　of　the　magic　she　used；　she　heard　his　every　word　as　if　he'd　spoken　clearly　in　a　quiet　room。　She　shook　herself　and　allowed　the　spell　to　dissipate。
　　　〃It's　time；〃　she　said　to　Kaanyr　Vhok。
　　　〃Good；〃　the　warlord　said。　His　pointed　teeth　were　bared　in　a　fierce　smile；　anticipating　battle。　He　glanced　at　the　assassin　Zammzt；　who　stood　nearby。　〃Well；　renegade；　I　suppose　this　is　your　lucky　day。　I　will　throw　my　warriors　against　the　dark　elves；　not　your　duergar　allies。〃
　　　Zammzt　inclined　his　head　and　replied；　〃I　assure　you；　you　will　not　regret　it；　Warlord。　Destroy　this　army；　and　Menzoberranzan　will　lie　naked　before　you。〃
　　　Kaanyr　strode　past　the　alu…fiend　and　the　dark　elf　to　the　place　where　his　standard…bearers　stood。
　　　〃Sound　the　charge！〃　he　cried。
　　　Instantly；　a　dozen　bugbear　drummers　struck　their　instruments；　sounding　a　simple　three…beat　ruffle；　repeating　three　times。　Thronging　the　tunnel　below；　the　tanarukks　of　Kaanyr　Vhok's　Scoured　Legion　howled　in　bloodlust　and　pressed　forward；　stamping　their　feet　and　clashing　their　axes　as　they　poured　down　the　tunnel。　Kaanyr　drew　his　own　molten　sword　and　joined　his　charging　troops；　as　his　guards　and　standard…bearers　hurried　to　keep　up。　Aliisza　caught　her　breath　at　the　sight；　and　took　to　the　air　to　wing　after　Kaanyr's　standard。　A　battle　like　this　didn't　e　along　every　day；　after　all。
　　　Ahead　of　the　charging　tanarukks；　one　of　the　cavern　walls　on　the　flank　of　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　seemed　to　shimmer；　and　abruptly　vanished；　revealing　a　gaping　tunnel　mouth　that　had　been　concealed　by　a　clever　illusion。　The　screaming　horde　of　slavering　tanarukks　poured　from　the　hidden　roadway；　streaming　out　to　take　the　drow　army　from　behind　while　the　great　Houses　were　engaged　by　the　duergar　riders　who　had　e　up　through　the　Pillars　of　Woe。　Aliisza　glimpsed　Kaanyr's　red　banner　flying　proudly　at　the　head　of　the　force；　and　the　Scoured　Legion　slammed　into　the　battle。
　　　Only　a　handful　of　minor　Houses　stood　in　the　path　of　the　onrushing　horde。　The　wave　of　bloodthirsty　orc…demons　overran　them；　a　spear　of　red…hot　iron　punching　deep　into　the　army's　flank。　Aliisza　found　herself　whooping　in　exultation　and　terror；　gripped　by　the　terrible　spectacle　and　helpless　to　express　her　excitement　in　any　other　way。　The　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　was　hopelessly　entangled　in　the　very　battle　it　did　not　want　to　fight；　a　wild　melee　in　open　terrain　against　the　bined　armies　of　Gracklstugh　and　Kaanyr　Vhok。　Like　islands　in　a　swirling　sea　of　foes；　each　House　of　Menzoberranzan　stood　alone　against　a　tide　of　steel　and　spell；　battling　for　its　life。
　　　The　alu…fiend　alighted　atop　a　blunt　stalagmite　and　stared　down　at　the　battle　below　her。
　　　Ah；　Nimor；　she　thought。　What　a　great　and　terrible　thing　you　have　done！
　　　
　　　Nimor　Imphraezl；　Anointed　Blade　of　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin；　waded　through　a　scene　such　as　all　the　devils　in　all　the　hells　could　hardly　have　imagined。　The　blood　of　dozens　of　highborn　drow　mingled　on　his　rapier　and　splattered　his　black　mail。　His　war…lizard　was　long　gone；　burned　out　from　under　him　by　a　lightning　bolt　hurled　by　a　Tuin'Tarl　wizard；　and　his　limbs　ached　with　fatigue　and　a　dozen　minor　wounds；　but　Nimor　grinned　savagely；　giddy　with　the　results　of　his　deadly　work。
　　　〃Who　has　acplished　something　now；　Revered　Grandfather？〃　he　laughed　aloud。　〃Zammzt　may　have　delivered　Ched　Nasad　into　your　hands；　but　I　have　brought　low　the　favored　city　of　the　Spider　Queen！〃
　　　The　battle　had　raged　for　several　hours。　Instead　of　holding　an　impregnable　line　between　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　had　found　itself　beset　on　all　sides　by　a　foe　who'd　picked　the　terrain　and　the　moment　to　strike。　Of　course；　like　a　great　dumb　beast　with　a　mortal　wound　in　its　belly；　a　broken　army　could　take　a　long　time　to　die；　thrashing　and　convulsing　for　hours　as　its　blood　slowly　ran　out。　In　the　battles　of　the　World　Above；　perhaps　the　defeated　drow　would　have　thrown　down　their　arms　and　hoped　for　good　terms　from　the　victors。　In　the　ruthless　calculus　of　warfare　in　the　Underdark；　quarter　was　neither　given　nor　asked。　The　gray　dwarves　had　no　intention　of　allowing　a　single　dark　elf　to　survive　the　day。　The　warriors　of　Menzoberranzan　knew　that；　and　they　fought　to　the　death。
　　　Some　of　the　smaller　Houses　were　smashed　apart　and　scattered　throughout　the　cavern；　leaving　drow　in　pairs　or　threes　to　sell　their　lives　as　dearly　as　they　could。　Bands　of　duergar；　bugbears；　ogres；　and　other　soldiers　loyal　to　the　Crown　Prince　of　Gracklstugh　roamed　the　cavern；　drunk　on　slaughter　as　they　hunted　the　wretched　drow　whose　panies　had　been　scattered　by　the　assault。　Some　Houses　stood　where　they　were　in　the　great　cavern；　fighting　furiously　as　the　duergar　tide　rose　higher　and　higher；　assailing　them　from　all　sides；　and　some　of　the　Houses　held　together　and　tried　to　cut　their　way　out　of　the　fray；　hoping　to　snatch　survival　from　the　specter　of　a　catastrophic　defeat。
　　　The　soldiers　of　Barrison　Del'Armgo　had　been　driven　into　a　narrow；　twisting　side…tunnel；　and　forced　from　the　field。　Retreating　through　a　passage　only　twenty　feet　wide；　the　proud　warriors　of　the　Second　House　held　off　repeated　duergar　assaults。　Mez'Barris　was　penned　in　and　unable　to　join　with　any　other　Houses；　while　her　supplies　burned　along　with　the　rest　of　the　train；　fired　by　the　Agrach　Dyrr　infantry　who　had　brought　up　the　rear　of　the　day's　march。　Del'Armgo　would　have　a　long　and　hungry　march　home。
　　　House　Xorlarrin's　pany；　well　stocked　with　the　potent　wizards　the　House　was　famed　for；　was　caught　near　the　center　of　the　cavern；　far　from　any　place　of　relative　security。　The　Xorlarrin　mages　kept　five　times　their　number　of　duergar　at　arm's　length　for　most　of　the　day　by　raising　walls　of　fire　and　ice；　and　lashing　out　with　sweeping　blasts　of　destructive　energy…but　their　wizards　were　tiring；　exhausting　their　spells。　Hundreds　of　duergar　lancers　mounted　on　war…lizards　waited　for　the　chance　to　ride　down　the　Xorlarrins　when　their　arcane　defenses　failed。
　　　The　proud　pany　of　House　Baenre；　more　than　five　hundred　strong；　stood　like　a　rock　as　lesser　Houses　were　shattered　and　pulled　down　around　them。　As　Nimor　had　predicted；　Andzrel　Baenre　had　been　forced　to　relinquish　the　Pillars　of　Woe　soon　after　seizing　them；　and　his　forces　had　slowly　battled　their　way　across　the　cavern　to　the　tunnel　mouth　through　which　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　had　marched　only　hours　before。　The　Baenre　turned　their　full　attention　on　the　Agrach　Dyrr　who　barred　escape　back　down　the　path　of　the　march。　Quarrels；　javelins；　and　deadly　spells　flew　thick　and　fast　as　the　two　Houses　battled　furiously。　While　the　Baenre　outnumbered　the　treacherous　Agrach　Dyrr　more　than　two　to　one；　the　warriors　of　the　First　House　were　obliged　to　defend　themselves　against　attacks　on　all　sides　while　they　tried　to　cut　their　way　through　to　escape。
　　　Nimor　stalked　toward　the　thick　of　the　fighting；　picking　his　way　past　the　dead　and　the　dying。　Fortunately；　he'd　readied　several　spells　of　invisibility　for　the　day；　otherwise　he　would　have　been　waylaid　time　and　time　again　by　raging　tanarukks　or　grim　duergar　anxious　to　slay　any　drow　they　encountered。　Hundreds　of　Horgar's　Stone　Guards　clashed　with　the　Baenre　footsoldiers　ahead　of　him；　while　the　Agrach　Dyrr　barricaded　the　mouth　of　the　main　tunnel　on　the　opposite　side。　Nimor　carefully　skirted　the　fight；　catching　sight　of　Andzrel　and　Zal'therra　beneath　the　Baenre　banner。
　　　The　Baenre　leaders　led　their　soldiers　into　the　thick　of　the　battle　against　the　Agrach　Dyrr；　slowly　but　surely　cutting　their　way　through　the　warriors　of　the　treacherous　House。　A　tight　knot　of　bodyguards　surrounded　them。
　　　The　assassin　grinned；　seeing　his　opportunity。　The　Baenre　leaders　had　mitted　themselves　to　the　fray。　If　he　could　destroy　them；　he　would　decapitate　the　Baenre　contingent；　and　if　their　force　disintegrated；　there　was　an　excellent　chance　that　nothing　of　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　would　survive　the　day。
　　　Nimor　spotted　Jazzt　Dyrr；　who　stood　back　from　the　melee；　directing　the　Agrach　Dyrr　soldiers。　The　nobleman　held　his　hand　to　a　bloody　slash　across　his　ribs。　The　assassin　hurried　over　and　released　his　invisibility。
　　　〃A　job　well　done；　my　kinsman；〃　he　shouted　to　Jazzt。　〃Continue　to　hold　the　Baenre　on　this　side；　and　the　crown　prince's　guard　will　grind　them　to　nothing。〃
　　　Jazzt　looked　up。　Fatigue　and　pain　faded　from　his　face　as　he　surveyed　the　fight。
　　　〃Easier　said　than　done；〃　he　said。　〃The　Baenre　fight　like　demons；　and　more　than　a　few　of　our　own　lads　won't　be　going　home。〃　He　straightened；　and　offered　Nimor　his　hand。　〃I　had　my　misgivings　about　you；　Zhayemd；　but　your　plan　seems　to　be　unfolding　well　enough。　I'd　say　we　could　use　you　here；　but　I　take　it　from　the　blood　all　over　you　that　you're　keeping　yourself　busy。〃
　　　〃The　great　Houses　still　hold　in　the　center　of　the　cavern　floor；　but　this　is　the　spot　of　decision；〃　Nimor　replied。　His　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　Baenre　banner。　〃Lend　me　whatever　lads　you　can。　I　mean　to　kill　the　Baenre　manders。〃
　　　〃Good；　we　need　the　help；〃　Jazzt　replied。　He　gestured　sharply；　and　brought　up　a　reserve　of　a　dozen　seasoned　warriors。　〃You　lads；　you　go　with　Zhayemd。　Take　the　Baenre　banner！〃
　　　Nimor　readied　his　rapier　and　dagger　while　the　fresh　fighters　gathered　behind　him。　The　melee　edged　closer；　as　the　Baenre　continued　to　claw　their　way　toward　escape。　He　could　see　the　Baenre　standard；　waving　above　the　center　of　the　fight。　Andzrel　himself　stood　near　the　forefront；　surrounded　by　the　best　House　Baenre　had　to　offer；　while　Zal'therra　hobbled　along　a　few　steps　back。　The　priestess　was　struggling　with　a　bad　wound　in　her　hip；　and　she　had　her　arm　around　another　Baenre　as　the　line　advanced。
　　　Nimor　waited　until　the　leading　Baenre　guardsmen　were　w