蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第43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！

。
The　spirit　was　entirely　solid。　If　not　for　the　Robes　of　the　Archmage　and　his　other　protections；　the　long　blade　of　shadow　stuff　would　surely　have　impaled　Gromph。　As　it　was；　it　picked　him　up　and　tossed　him　across　the　room。　In　midair；　he　strained　to　throw　off　the　numbing　shock　and　activate　the　powers　of　levitation　in　his　House　insignia。
The　power　woke　with　a　sort　of　sickening　pang；　but　wake　it　did。　He　floated　down　as　light　as　a　wisp　of　spider　silk；　avoiding　what　might　have　been　a　boneshattering　fall。
As　soon　as　he　got　his　feet　under　him；　he　snatched　a　polished　wooden　wand　from　its　sheath　on　his　left　hip；　pointed　it；　and　murmured　the　trigger　word。　A　bubble　of　pungent　brown　acid　swelled　on　the　end；　then　hurtled　at　the　spirit。　It　plunged　into　the　being's　cyclopean　mask；　but　apparently　without　inflicting　any　harm。
The　spirit　charged。　Gromph　stood　in　place　until　his　foe　was　nearly　on　top　of　him；　then　he　spoke　a　single　word。　A　minor　teleportation　shifted　him　instantaneously　to　the　other　end　of　the　circular　room；　behind　his　attacker's　back。
K'rarza'q　skidded　to　a　halt　and　cast　about　in　confusion。　Gromph　had　bought　himself　a　second；　no　more。　He　quickly　dropped　the　wand　of　acid；　snatched　a　spiralcut　staff　of　polished　carnelian　from　its　place　on　a　rack　of　wizard's　tools；　lifted　it　over　his　head；　and　began　to　chant。　The　rod　possessed　special　virtues　against　beings　from　other　levels　of　reality。　Perhaps　with　it　in　his　hand；　he　could　finally　drive　a　spell　through　his　foe's　defenses。
The　netherspirit　heard　his　voice；　turned；　and　hurtled　toward　him。　This　time　it　charged　without　moving　its　limbs；　simply　shifting　over　the　distance　with　terrifying　speed。　Preserving　the　cadence　and　intonation　as　only　a　master　wizard　could；　Gromph　picked　up　the　pace　of　his　incantation。　He　very　much　wanted　to　finish　before　the　creature　closed　with　him　again。
He　succeeded；　though　only　barely。　K'rarza'q　was　nearly　within　arm's　reach　when　the　magic　blazed　into　existence。　A　lance　of　dazzling　glare　plunged　into　the　nether　spirit’s　eye。
The　reeking　creature　dropped　to　the　floor；　its　substance　unraveling　into　shapeless　clumps　and　tatters。　Gromph　smiled；　and　a　dozen　strands　of　spiritstuff　reared　up　at　him　like　the　vipers　in　his　cursed　sister's　whip。
The　Archmage　gripped　the　scarlet　staff　with　both　hands；　just　as　a　Master　of　MeleeMagthere　had　taught　him　centuries　before；　during　the　six　months　every　student　mage　was　obliged　to　spend　in　the　warriors'　pyramid。　Wielding　the　implement　like　a　mon　spear；　he　thrust　one　end　of　it　into　what　seemed　to　be　K'rarza'q's　ragged；　squirming　core。
The　netherspirit　burst　into　inert　flecks　of　grayblack　slime。　Gromph's　protective　enchantments　prevented　any　of　the　splatter　from　fouling　his　own　person。
He　felt　a　certain　satisfaction　at　his　victory；　but　it　withered　quickly　because　he　hadn't　killed　the　object　of　his　hatred；　merely　preserved　himself　from　the　result　of　another　failed　attempt；　and　in　the　process　discovered　he'd　utterly　failed　to　prehend　Quenthel's　resources　and　capacities。
What　was　that　bone　wand？　Where　had　it　e　from；　and　how　did　it　work？　Had　it　merely　broken　his　own　control；　or　had　it　summarily　placed　his　minion　under　his　enemy's　dominance？
He　glumly　concluded　that　until　he　knew　more；　it　would　be　foolish　to　continue　attacking　a　foe　seemingly　capable　of　turning　his　own　potent　wizardry　against　him。
So　he'd　break　off　hostilities。
And；　he　thought；　with　a　sudden　pang　of　uneasiness；　hope　his　sister　didn't　guess　who'd　engineered　her　recent　perils。
　
　
Chapter
S　　E　　V　　E　　N　　T　　E　　E　　N
All　the　undercreatures　gawked　when　Pharaun　and　Ryld　strolled　into　the　cellar；　and　why　not？　The　mage　doubted　this　foul　little　drinking　pit　had　ever　seen　such　an　elegant　figure　as　himself；　an　aristocrat　of　graceful　carriage；　exquisite　ornaments；　dress；　and　coiffure　。　。　。　well；　he　hoped　that；　after　some　emergency　adjustments；　his　hair　was　at　least　passable。
In　any　case；　it　was　plain　the　goblins；　ores；　and　whatevers　had　little　interest　in　aesthetic　appreciation。　They　whispered；　glowered；　and　fingered　their　weapons　whenever　they　thought　the　two　dark　elves　weren't　looking　at　them；　and　the　fear　and　hate　in　the　sweltering；　lowceilinged　room　were　palpable。　Pharaun　supposed　that　considering　what　Greyanna　and　her　hunters　had　wrought　in　the　Braeryn　the　previous　night；　a　measure　of　surliness　was；　if　not　good　form；　at　least　understandable。
He　wondered　how　they'd　react　if　they　discovered　his　sister　had　slaughtered　their　fellows　by　the　score　merely　to　create　an　opportunity　to　kill　him。　Perhaps　it　was　a　question　best　left　in　the　realm　of　the　hypothetical。
Knowing　that　Ryld　was　watching　his　back；　the　Master　of　Sorcere　sauntered　to　the　bar　and；　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm；　scattered　clattering　coins　across　it。　The　currency　was　the　usual　miscellany　encountered　in　Menzoberranzan—rounds；　squares；　triangles；　rings；　spiders；　and　octagons—　half　of　it　minted　by　the　dozen　or　so　greatest　noble　Houses　and　the　rest　imported　from　other　lands　in　the　Underdark　and　even　the　World　Above。　It　was　all　silver；　platinum；　or　gold；　though；　more　precious　metal　than　this　squalid　hole　probably　saw　in　a　decade。
〃Tonight；〃　Pharaun　announced；　〃this　pany　of　boon　panions　drinks　at　my　expense〃
The　taverner；　a　squat　ore　with　a　twisted；　oozing　mouth　and　a　mangy　scalp；　stared　for　a　heartbeat　or　two；　scooped　up　the　coins；　and　began　dipping　some　foulsmelling　brew　from　a　filthy　tub。　Cursing　and　threatening　one　another；　the　rest　of　the　undercreatures　shoved　forward　to　get　it。　The　wizard　noted　that　no　one　thanked　him。
After　looking　around　for　another　moment；　Pharaun　spotted　another　dark　elf　slouched　in　a　corner；　evidently　one　of　the　wretches　who'd　sunk　so　low　the　goblinoids　accepted　him　as　one　of　their　own。
〃e　here；　my　friend；〃　the　wizard　beckoned。
The　outcast　flinched。　〃Me？〃
〃Yes。　What's　your　name？〃
The　fellow　hesitated；　then　said；　〃Bruherd；　once　of　House　Duskryn。〃
〃Indeed；　until　your　noble　kin　kicked　you　out。　We　have　much　in　mon；　Bruherd；　for　I　myself　am　outcast　twice　over。　Now　e　advise　me　on　a　matter　of　vital　importance。〃
〃I'm；　uh；　all　right　where　I　am。〃
〃I　know　you　don't　mean　to　be　unsociable；〃　said　Pharaun；　setting　blue　sparks　dancing　on　his　fingertips。
The　Duskryn　sighed；　and；　limping　in　a　manner　that　betrayed　some　chronic　pain；　did　as　Pharaun　had　bade　him。　He　was　gaunt；　and　half　a　dozen　boils　studded　his　neck　and　jaw。　He'd　evidently　parted　with　his　piwafwi　at　some　point　during　his　decline；　but　he　still　wore　a　filthy　robe　that；　the　Mizzrym　noted　with　mild　surprise；　had　once　been　a　wizard's。　With　the　aid　of　the　silver　ring；　he　could　see　that　the　dozens　of　pockets　no　longer　held　the　slightest　trace　of　magic。
〃They　may　kill　me　for　this；〃　Bruherd　said；　subtly　indicating　the　goblins。
〃They　only　tolerate　me　because　they　believe　me　cut　off　from　my　own　race。〃
〃I'll　pray　for　your　welfare；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃Meanwhile；　what　I　need　to　know　is　this：　Of　all　the　libations　laid　up　in　our　host's　no　doubt　vast　and　wellstocked　cellar；　which　is　the　least　vile？〃
〃Vile？〃　Bruherd's　lip　twitched。　〃You　get　used　to　them。〃
〃One　hopes　not。〃
Pharaun　handed　the　other　drow　a　gold；　hammershaped　coin　minted　in　some　dwarf　enclave。
〃Tell　the　barkeep　you　want　the　stuff　that　bubbles；〃　Bruherd　advised。
'The　stuff　that　bubbles。'　Charming。　Clearly；　I've　fallen　among　connoisseurs。〃
〃It'll　do；〃　said　Ryld；　still　unobtrusively　studying　the　crowd。　〃The　important　thing　is　that　we　toast　our　victory。〃
Pharaun　waited　a　beat；　then　chuckled。　〃You're　supposed　to　ask　him　what　he's　talking　about；〃　he　said　to　Bruherd；　〃thus　affording　us　a　graceful　way　to　mence　boasting　of　our　triumph。〃
The　lip　twitched　again。　〃I　don't　think　much　about　victories　or　triumphs　anymore。〃
Pharaun　shook　his　head。　〃So　much　bitterness　in　the　world　It　weighs　on　the　heart。　Would　it　cheer　you　to　learn　I've　avenged　us　in　some　small　measure？〃
〃Us？〃　Bruherd　grunted。
Across　the　room；　a　scuffle　erupted　between　a　shaggy　hobgoblin　and　a　wolffaced　gnoll。　As　the　batants　rolled　about　the　floor；　somebody　tossed　them　a　knife；　apparently　just　out　of　curiosity　as　to　which　would　manage　to　grab　it　first。
〃Hark　to　the　glad　tidings；〃　said　the　Master　of　Sorcere。　〃I'm　Pharaun　Mizzrym；　expelled　first　from　the　Seventh　House　and　now　Tier　Breche；　neither　time　for　any　rational　cause。　Incensed；　I　chose　to　take　vengeance　on　the　Academy。　With　the　aid　of　my　similarly　disgruntled　friend　Master　Argith；　I　destroyed　a　patrol　in　the　Bazaar　earlier　today。　You　may　have　heard　something　about　it。〃
Bruherd　stared。　The　kobold　and　goblins　within　earshot　did　the　same。
〃It's　true；〃　said　Ryld。
〃That　was　you？〃　Bruherd　said。　〃And　you're　bragging　about　it？　Are　you　insane？　They'll　hunt　you　down〃
Pharaun　said；　〃They　were　trying　anyway。〃　The　entire　cellar　was　falling　quiet。　〃I've　heard　rumors　of　an　agency　that　will　spirit　a　drow　boy　away　if　he's　well　and　truly　discontent　with　his　lot　in　life；　as　I　trust　Ryld　and　I　have　shown　we　are。〃
Bruherd　said；　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃
〃Well；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃they　probably　have　to　think　you　can　be　of　some　use　to　them；　and　if　you'll　five　my　saying　so　。　。　。〃
He　caught　a　flash　of　movement　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　and　turned　just　in　time　to　see　the　taverner　fall　back　in　two　pieces。　Evidently　he'd　been　in　the　process　of　climbing　silently　over　the　bar　with　a　short　sword　in　hand；　and　Ryld；　sensing　him；　had　pivoted　and　cut　him。　The　drow　warrior　spun　smoothly　back　around；　Splitter　at　the　ready。
Pharaun　turned　back　as　well；　just　in　time　to　see　a　mass　of　undercreatures　rushing　him。　He　snatched　three　smooth　gray　stones　from　a　pocket　and　started　to　recite　a　spell。　Ryld's　greatsword　flicked　across　the　wizard's　field　of　vision；　killing　two　gnolls　that　sought　to　engage　him；　allowing　him　to　finish　the　incantation　unmolested。
A　cloud　of　vapor　boiled　into　existence　in　front　of　him。　Those　ores　and　goblins　caught　in　the　fumes　collapsed。　Others　recoiled　to　avoid　their　touch。
The　fog　blinked　out　of　existence　a　heartbeat　later。
〃I'm　afraid　I　can't　permit　you　to　kill　us　and　sell　the　corpses　to　the　authorities；〃　Pharaun　told　the　crowd；　〃and　I'm　shocked—shocked—you　would　even　try。　Aren't　you　pleased　we　massacred　a　patrol？〃
〃They　don't　want　the　priestesses　to　find　you　here；〃　said　Bruherd。　He　hadn't　made　a　move　during　the　skirmish。　Perhaps　he'd　frozen；　or　maybe　he'd　figured　his　best　hope　of　survival　lay　in　passivity。　〃I　don't；　either。　They're　liable　to　kill　us；　too。〃
〃How　disappointing；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃And　here　I　thought　Ryld　and　I　had　found　a　cozy　enclave　of　kindred　spirits。　But　of　course　we　won't　force　our　pany　on　those　who　lack　the　rarified　sensibility　to　appreciate　it。　Neither；　however；　will　we　quit　this　place　before　we　slake　our　thirst。　You　goblins　and　whatnot　will　have　to　withdraw。　Good　evening。〃
The　undercreatures　glowered。　The　mage　could　tell　what　they　were　thinking。　They　were　many；　and　the　intruders　only　two。　Yet　they'd　seen　what　those　two　could　do；　and　after　a　few　seconds；　they　started　trudging　out；　leaving　their　unconscious　rades　sprawled　on　the　floor。
〃You're　crazy；〃　Bruherd　told　the　masters。　〃You　need　to　keep　your　heads　down　very　low　for　a　few　years。　Give　the　matrons　and　the　Academy　time　to　fet。〃
〃Alas；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃I　suspect　I'm　unfettable。　You　too　may　depart　if　you　can　bear　to　tear　yourself　away。〃
〃Crazy；〃　the　outcast　repeated。
He　limped　for　the　stairs　and