war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第44部分

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　　　Halisstra　raised　her　hand　to　her　face　in　an　unconscious　desire　to　shield　her　eyes；　and　she　noticed　that　her　eyesight　was　preternaturally　keen。　Each　link　of　her　mailed　gauntlet　leaped　out　in　perfect　symmetry；　its　edges　boldly　defined；　the　leather　of　her　gloves　gleaming　with　discrete　layers　of　oils　and　stains。
　　　Words　failed　her。
　　　〃You　have　not　ventured　here　before；　Mistress　Melarn？〃　said　Tzirik　from　somewhere　behind　her。
　　　Halisstra　craned　her　neck　back　to　look　for　him；　but　in　response　the　entire　vista　seemed　to　revolve　and　spin　in　one　quick；　smooth　motion；　bringing　into　her　view　the　floating　forms　of　her　panions。　The　Vhaeraunite　priest　stood…no；　that　was　not　right；　floated　was　better…a　dozen　yards　from　her；　his　armor　as　sharp　as　the　edge　of　a　knife；　his　cloak　rippling　softly　in　a　breeze　Halisstra　could　not　feel。　He　spoke　softly；　yet　his　voice　carried　with　a　marvelous　clarity　and　precision　that　made　it　seem　that　he　stood　within　arm's　reach。
　　　〃I　would　have　expected　a　priestess　of　your　stature　to　be　familiar　with　the　astral　realm；〃　the　priest　added。
　　　〃I　know　something　of　what　to　expect；　but　I　have　never　had　the　occasion　to　journey　to　other　planes；〃　she　replied。　〃My　knowledge　of　this　place　is　only　。　。　。　theoretical。〃
　　　She　noted　that　each　of　her　rades　seemed　every　bit　as　sharply　defined；　as　tangible　and　real；　as　Tzirik　himself。　From　some　spot　she　could　not　easily　perceive…somewhere　in　the　middle　of　their　backs；　or　perhaps　the　napes　of　their　necks…sprang　a　slender；　gleaming　tendon　of　silver　light。
　　　Halisstra　reached　around　behind　her　head　and　felt　her　own　cord。　The　warm；　pulsing　artery　vibrated　with　energy；　and　when　her　fingers　brushed　it；　a　powerful　jolt　quivered　through　her　torso　as　if　she'd　just　plucked　the　heartstring　of　her　own　soul。　She　jerked　her　hand　back；　and　resolved　not　to　try　to　touch　her　cord　again。
　　　〃Your　silver　cord；〃　Tzirik　explained。　〃A　nigh　indestructible　bond　that　ties　your　soul　to　its　rightful　home：　your　body；　back　in　Minauthkeep。〃　The　priest　offered　a　cruel　smile。　〃You　will　want　to　be　careful　of　it。　There　are　few　things　that　can　part　an　astral　traveler's　cord；　but　if　something　did；　that　traveler　would　be　destroyed　in　an　instant。〃
　　　Halisstra　watched　as　Ryld　felt　for　his　own　cord　and　touched　it。　His　eyes　widened　and　he　snatched　his　hand　back　just　as　swiftly　as　she　had　withdrawn　her　own。
　　　〃How　long　do　these　things　get？〃　the　weapons　master　asked。
　　　〃They　are　infinite；　Master　Argith；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃Don't　worry；　they　fade　to　intangibility　within　a　foot　or　two　of　your　skin；　so　you　won't　be　tripping　over　your　own　cord。　In　fact；　it　has　the　habit　of　keeping　itself　out　of　your　way；　quite　without　a　thought　on　your　part。〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　around　the　pany；　watching　as　the　Menzoberranyr　struggled　to　adjust　themselves　to　their　new　environment。　Ryld　and　Valas　flailed　their　limbs　slowly　as　if　trying　to　tread　water。　Quenthel　held　herself　as　stiff　as　a　blade；　her　limbs　locked　tight　to　her　sides；　while　Danifae　drifted　languidly；　her　long　white　hair　streaming　behind　her。　Pharaun　merely　waited；　his　eyes　sparkling　with　dark　amusement　as　he　watched　the　efforts　of　his　panions。　Tzirik　glanced　around；　studying　their　surroundings；　and　nodded。
　　　〃This　is　something　of　a　timeless　place；〃　he　said；　〃but　time　does　pass　here；　so　I　suppose　we　should　begin　our　journey。　Follow　me；　and　stay　close。　You　may　think　you　can　see　forever　from　here；　but　things　have　a　way　of　vanishing　in　the　mists。〃
　　　He　glided　off　without　moving；　arms　folded；　his　cloak　whipping　silently　behind　him。
　　　Follow　him　how？　Halisstra　wondered；　watching　the　priest　go；　but　somehow　in　conceiving　the　desire　to　keep　the　priest　close　by；　she　found　herself　leaping　forward　with　such　alacrity　that　her　next　impulse　was　to　yelp　out　loud；　if　only　to　herself；　〃Stop！〃
　　　And　she　did；　so　quickly　and　with　so　perfect　an　end　to　motion　that　her　mind　told　her　she　must　lurch　forward；　as　if　she　had　tried　to　stop　too　suddenly　from　a　run。　She　managed　to　throw　herself　into　a　violent　circle　before　she　stopped　pletely。　Fortunately；　she　was　not　the　only　one　having　trouble。
　　　Danifae　scowled　prettily　as　she　tried　to　make　herself　go　anywhere　at　all；　and　Ryld　and　Valas　had　somehow　collided　with　each　other　and　clung　together；　unwilling　to　trust　themselves　to　the　void　again。
　　　〃Oh；　in　the　name　of　the　goddess！〃　Quenthel　growled；　watching　them。　〃Simply　clear　your　minds　and　think　of　where　you　want　to　go。〃
　　　〃With　all　due　respect；　Mistress；　where　is　it　that　we　should　desire　to　go？〃　Valas　asked　as　he　disentangled　himself　from　Ryld。
　　　〃Concentrate　on　following　the　priest；〃　the　Baenre　replied。　〃He　cast　the　spell；　so　he　will　be　able　to　find　the　portal　leading　into　the　Demonweb　Pits。　It　may　take　many　hours；　but　you　will　find　that　time　passes　strangely　here。〃
　　　With　that；　Quenthel　moved　off　in　pursuit　of　Tzirik。
　　　Halisstra　closed　her　eyes；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　concentrated　on　trailing　the　priest　at　a　fortable　distance。　She　closed　up　quickly　and　smoothly；　and　this　time　she　didn't　allow　herself　to　react　in　panic。　Soon　enough　the　rest　of　the　pany　sailed　along　beside　her；　keeping　together　easily　as　they　became　more　and　more　accustomed　to　the　strangeness　of　the　Astral　Plane。　Halisstra　indulged　herself　by　experimenting　with　her　mode　of　lootion；　at　first　orienting　herself　horizontally　so　that　she　felt　like　she　flew　like　a　bird　through　the　pearly　void；　then　trying　to　face　her　direction　of　travel　so　that　she　felt　as　if　she　was　walking　swiftly　without　moving　her　legs。
　　　As　it　turned　out；　it　didn't　really　matter　what　she　did　with　her　body　as　long　as　her　mind　remained　focused　on　staying　near　her　panions；　and　the　true　immateriality　of　the　astral　sea　began　to　seep　into　her　understanding。　She　was　only　a　spirit；　weightless；　perfect；　yet　she　was　in　a　place　where　spirits　became　tangible。　Somewhere　beyond　the　endless　pearly　expanse　that　met　her　eye　lay　the　realms　of　the　gods；　a　thousand　infinite　concepts　of　existence　where　the　divine　beings　who　ruled　over　the　fate　of　all　Faerun…of　all　the　worlds；　for　that　matter…had　their　abodes。　She　could　spend　a　hundred　drow　lifetimes　exploring　the　domains　that　touched　on　the　astral　sea；　and　not　even　e　close　to　seeing　them　all。
　　　The　thought　made　her　feel　small；　almost　insignificant；　and　she　pushed　it　from　her　mind。　Lolth　had　not　called　her　to　the　Demonweb　Pits　for　her　to　be　overawed　by　the　silver　void　of　the　Astral　Plane。　She　had　called　Halisstra　and　the　others　to　stand　before　her；　capable　and　confident；　to　profess　their　faith　and　adoration。　For　what　other　purpose　could　the　goddess　have　done　all　that　she　had　done　by　withdrawing　her　power　from　her　faithful；　by　permitting　the　fall　of　Ched　Nasad；　by　causing　the　endless　toils　and　tribulations　that　had　assailed　the　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn？
　　　There　is　a　purpose；　Halisstra　told　herself；　a　purpose　that　will　be　made　clear　to　me　soon；　if　I　keep　my　faith　strong　and　do　not　falter。
　　　The　Queen　of　the　Demonweb　Pits　has　brought　us　this　far。　She　will　bring　us　a　little　farther。
　　　
　　　How　long　it　took　them　to　cross　the　Astral　Plane；　Halisstra　could　not　begin　to　say。　She'd　never　realized　before　the　extent　to　which　the　routine　processes　of　one's　body　measured　the　days。　Her　astral　form　didn't　grow　tired　or　hungry；　and　didn't　know　thirst　or　disfort　of　any　sort。　Without　the　minor　actions　of　looking　after　the　body's　needs…taking　a　sip　from　a　waterskin　when　thirsty；　halting　to　take　a　meal　during　their　day's　march；　or　even　stopping　to　sink　deep　into　Reverie　and　while　away　the　bright　hours　of　daylight…time　simply　lost　its　doleful　count。
　　　From　time　to　time　they　caught　glimpses　of　phenomena　other　than　the　endless　pearly　clouds　and　twisting　gray　vortices　that　streaked　the　surrounding　sky。　Strange　bits　of　matter　drifted　through　the　astral　sea。　On　several　occasions　they　passed　boulders　or　hillocks　of　rock　and　dirt　that　hovered　in　space　like　miniature　worlds；　some　nearly　the　size　of　mountains；　others　only　a　few　yards　across。　Weird；　empty　ruins　graced　the　larger　of　them；　the　abodes　of　astral　sojourners　or　long　gone　residents。　The　strangest　things　they　came　across　were　whirling　pools　of　color　slowly　revolving　in　the　astral　medium。　The　hues　ranged　from　bright；　shining　silver　to　blackest　midnight　shot　with　angry　purple　streaks。
　　　〃Don't　stray　too　close　to　any　of　the　color　pools；〃　Tzirik　had　said。　〃If　you　enter　one　you　will　be　ejected　into　a　different　plane　of　existence；　and　I　have　no　desire　to　wander　into　strange　worlds　looking　for　a　careless　traveling　panion。〃
　　　〃How　will　we　know　which　one　will　lead　us　to　the　Abyss？〃　Valas　Hune　asked。
　　　〃Do　not　worry；　my　friend；　the　spell　Vhaeraun　has　granted　me　also　confers　a　certain　affinity　for　the　destination　I　conceived　when　I　shifted　my　spirit　to　this　plane；　and　I　am　leading　us　more　or　less　directly　to　the　nearest　color　pool　that　will　serve　our　purposes。〃
　　　〃How　much　longer　must　we　travel？〃　Quenthel　asked。
　　　〃We　are　drawing　near；〃　the　priest　answered。　〃It's　hard　to　tell　here；　of　course；　but　I　would　guess　we　are　within　four　or　five　hours　of　our　destination。　We've　already　traveled　for　almost　two　days。〃
　　　Two　days？　Halisstra　thought。　It　seemed　much　less。
　　　She　found　herself　wondering　what　might　have　transpired　back　in　Faerun　in　two　days。　Did　Jeggred　still　maintain　his　vigil　over　their　inert　bodies？　He　couldn't　have　been　entirely　remiss　in　his　duties；　as　they　were　all　still　alive；　but　how　many　more　days　would　pass　before　they　reached　their　destination；　beseeched　the　goddess　for　an　audience；　and　managed　to　return　to　their　native　plane？
　　　Absorbed　in　her　own　thoughts；　Halisstra　kept　to　herself　for　the　balance　of　the　journey；　scarcely　noticing　that　her　panions　did　the　same。　It　came　as　a　surprise　to　her　when　Tzirik　slowed　his　effortless　flight　and　finally　arrested　his　motion　all　together；　facing　a　whirlpool　of　black　with　silver　streaks　that　slowly　churned　in　the　astral　medium　a　short　distance　from　the　travelers。
　　　〃The　entrance　to　the　Sixty…sixth　Layer　of　the　Abyss；〃　the　priest　of　Vhaeraun　said。　〃So　far　our　journey　has　been　uneventful；　but　once　we　set　foot　within　Lolth's　domain　that　is　bound　to　change。　If　you　have　any　second　thoughts　about　this　quest；　Mistress　Baenre；　this　would　be　the　time　to　express　them。〃
　　　〃I　have　no　reason　to　fear　the　Demonweb　Pits；〃　Quenthel　sneered。　〃I　intend　to　do　what　I　came　here　to　do。〃
　　　Without　waiting　for　the　priest　she　arrowed　forward　and　plunged　herself　into　the　whirling；　inky　blot。　In　the　blink　of　an　eye　her　gleaming　astral　form　was　lost　to　view；　swallowed　by　the　maelstrom。
　　　〃Impatient；　isn't　she？〃　Tzirik　remarked。
　　　He　shrugged　and　moved　into　the　color　pool　himself。　Like　Quenthel；　Halisstra　sensed　a　certainty　in　the　moment；　and　she　did　not　mean　to　let　any　quailing　sway　her　from　her　intended　course。　She　entered　the　pool　of　swirling　night　a　heartbeat　behind　Tzirik；　her　teeth　bared　in　a　defiant　snarl。
　　　There　was　no　sensation　at　first；　though　the　pool　swallowed　her　sight　pletely　the　moment　she　plunged　within　it。　The　medium　seemed　much　the　same　as　the　rest　of　the　Astral　Plane…a　weightless；　cool；　perfect　nothingness…but　the　swirling　current　of　the　revolving　pool　caught　her　at　once；　tugging　on　her　with　some　strange　nondimensional　feeling　of　attraction　or　acceleration　that　dragged　her　psychic　form　in　a　direction　she　couldn't　even　begin　to　prehend。　It　didn't　hurt；　but　it　felt　so　alien；　so　dislocating；　that　Halisstra　gasped　in　shock　and　distress；　shuddering　violently　in　the　grip　of　the　astral　maelstrom。
　　　Goddess；　help　me！　she　pleaded　in　the　silence　of　her　own　mind；　as　she　flailed　her　arms　and　tried　to　extricate　herself　from　the　spinning　mass。　There　was　another　long　moment　of　indescribable　motion；　and…
　　　She　was　through。
　　　Halisstra　swayed　drunkenly　with　the　return　of　gravity　and　struggled　to　catch　her　balance。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　found　herself　standing　on　something　silver…gray；　a　steeply　sloping　ramp　or　wall　top　that　dropped　away　an　incredible　distance　before　her。　The　rest　of　the　party　stood　close　by；　looking　around　in　silence　as　they　rubbed　their　limbs　nervously　or　fingered　their　weapons。
　　　All　around　there　was　nothing　but　a　black；　smothering　emptiness　darker　and　more　forbidding　than　the　blackest　chasm　of　the　Underdark。　Her　nostrils　filled　with　a　foul；　acrid　scent；　and　a　soft　muttering　updraft　streamed　constantly　from　below。　Halisstra　glanced　into　the　abyss　at　her　left　hand　and　saw　something　gleaming　there；　a　dull　silver　strand　several　miles　away　that　sloped　down　through　the　darkness。　Lesser　strands　intersected　it　at　odd　intervals；　and　as　she　followed　some　of　them　with　her　eyes　she　saw　that　they　climbed　back　up　slowly　and　met　the　very　ramp　or　buttress　on　which　she　stood。　The　hot；　stinking　breeze　grew　momentarily　stronger　and　actually　managed　to　induce　a　great；　gentle　swaying　in　the　monstrous　strand。
　　　〃It's　a　spiderweb；〃　Ryld　muttered。　〃A　gigantic　spiderweb。〃
　　　〃This　surprises　you？〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　sardonic　smirk。
　　　Danifae　took　a　couple　of　cautious　steps　down　the　surface　of　the　strand。　The　whole　thing　was　easily　thirty　or　forty　yards　in　diameter；　yet　because　its　surface　was　round；　it　was　difficult　to　feel　fortable　walking　more　than　a　dozen　feet　or　so　from　the　centerline　of　the　strand。　She　knelt　and　brushed　her　fingers　over　the　strand's　surface；　and　grimaced。
　　　〃Sticky；　but　not　dangerously　so…and　we　appear　to　be　pletely　physical　again。〃　She　straightened；　and　stretched　languidly。　〃Do　I　have　two　bodies　now？　One　here；　and　one　back　in　the　Jaelre　castle？〃
　　　〃In　fact；　you　do；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃When　one　leaves　the　astral　sea　and　enters　another　plane；　the　traveling　spirit　constructs　for　itself　the　physical　body　it　expects。　You　might　say　that　your　spirit　must　undergo　a　sort　of　condensation　to　resume　a　physical　existence　on　another　plane。　When　you　leave　this　place；　your　spirit　will　return　to　the　Astral　Plane；　while　this　shell　you　have　created　for　yourself　will　simply　fade　away　into　nothingness。〃
　　　〃You　seem　well　acquainted　with　the　rigors　of　planar　travel；〃　Halisstra　observed。
　　　〃Vhaeraun　has　called　me　to　his　service　in　the　planes　beyond　Faerun　on　several　occasions；〃　Tzirik　admitted。　〃In　fact；　I　have　been　in　the　Demonweb　Pits　before　now。　All　the　gods　of　our　race　reside　here；　each　in　their　own　domain　within　this　great　chasm　of　webbing。　My　previous　business　did　not　take　me　to　Lolth's　domain；　though；　and　that　was　a　good　many　years　ago。〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled　and　said；　〃All　of　the　Demonweb　Pits　are　Lolth's　domain；　heretic。　She　is　the　queen　of　this　entire　layer　of　the　Abyss；　and　the　other　so…called　gods　of　our　people　exist　here　only　at　her　sufferance。〃
　　　〃I　am　certain　you　have　correctly　parroted　your　faith's　beliefs　on　the　matter；　and　so　I　will　not　argue　the　point　with　you；　priestess　of　Lolth。　For　our　purposes；　the　exact　relationship　of　our　pantheon's　deities　is　not　very　important。〃
　　　Tzirik　turned　his　back　on　Quenthel　and　surveyed　the　black　gulf　surrounding　the　party。　He　waved　his　hand　in　a　sweeping　gesture。
　　　〃Somewhere　below　us　we　will　find　some　kind　of　gate　or　border　marking　the　place　where　this　entryway　opens　to　Lolth's　own　domain…which；　as　I　understand　it；　is　much　like　the　rest　of　the　Demonweb　Pits；　except　subject　to　her　every　whim　and　caprice。〃
　　　〃If　the　plane