war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第32部分

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　attacked；　then　skittering　invisibly　away　to　reappear　somewhere　else　a　moment　later。　One　of　those　times　Halisstra　would　guess　wrong　and　it　would　wind　up　behind　her。　Unseen；　it　would　inject　its　deadly　poison　and　take　its　time　as　it　sucked　her　dry。
　　　There　was；　however；　one　thing　she　could　fall　back　on：　her　bae'qeshel　magic。　Her　voice　shaking　slightly；　she　chanted　a　song。　It　should　have　charmed　the　spider；　rooting　it　to　the　spot　in　fascination；　but　nothing　happened。　The　spider　appeared；　attacked；　then　disappeared　again；　forcing　Halisstra　to　constantly　whirl　and　defend　herself　with　her　sword。　She　cursed　her　luck；　under　her　breath。　Had　she　mispronounced　a　word…or　were　phase　spiders　simply　resistant　to　the　form　of　enchantment　she'd　attempted？
　　　Dodging　the　spider　once　more　she　slipped　on　a　patch　of　snowy　ground　and　fell。　The　spider　stepped　on　her　sword；　forcing　Halisstra　to　release　the　weapon　and　roll　to　the　side　to　avoid　its　jaws。　When　the　spider　disappeared　once　more；　she　sprang　to　her　feet　and　snatched　the　songsword　up　again。　To　her　dismay；　she　saw　that　the　tip　of　the　blade　had　been　snapped　off；　rendering　the　blade　useless　as　a　thrusting　weapon。　But　perhaps　there　was　still　hope。
　　　Remembering　how　she'd　used　the　songsword　to　augment　the　spell　that　had　knocked　the　stirges　from　the　sky；　she　quickly　reversed　the　weapon　and　raised　the　hilt　to　her　lips。　The　spell　might　not　be　enough　to　stun　a　creature　as　large　as　the　phase　spider；　but　at　least　she　could　try。　Her　fingers　found　the　same　holes　that　they　had　before；　and　she　blew…hard　and　long；　expecting　the　same　shrill　note…but　nothing　happened。　The　only　sound　the　hilt…flute　emitted　was　a　sour　phht。　Slushy　mud　sprayed　out　of　the　hole。
　　　Once　again；　the　spider　lunged；　and　Halisstra　leaped　away…but　more　clumsily。　Frightened；　she　realized　that　she　was　tiring。　The　long　sword　felt　heavy　in　her　hand；　its　hilt　gritty　in　her　sweating　palm。　The　next　time　the　spider　lunged　forward；　Halisstra　was　barely　able　to　twist　aside。　Its　jaws　caught　and　held　Eilistraee's　symbol；　yanking　on　the　disk　and　pulling　the　chain　tight　around　Halisstra's　waist。　Dragged　forward；　she　flailed　at　the　spider　with　her　sword。　Then　the　spider　became　ethereal　once　more；　allowing　her　to　stagger　back。
　　　If　only　she　still　had　her　clerical　magic；　she　could　have　blasted　the　creature　with　a　column　of　flame　or　held　it　at　bay　with　a　wall　of　wind。　But　those　spells；　like　the　charm　she'd　already　tried；　would　in　all　likelihood　also　have　failed。　Lolth　would　hardly　have　granted　one　of　her　priestesses　the　power　to　kill　one　of　her　beloved；　arachnid　children；　after　all。
　　　Eilistraee；　however；　would　kill　a　spider　without　the　slightest　qualm。　And　if　indeed　the　goddess　was　watching　the　battle…as　Uluyara　and　Feliane　almost　certainly　were…she　just　might　grant　her　most　recent　convert　the　magic　she　needed　to　save　her　own　life　by　restoring　her　spells　to　her。
　　　Swept　up　in　that　revelation；　that　hope；　Halisstra　nearly　missed　spotting　the　phase　spider　when　it　re…appeared　suddenly　on　a　tree　branch　above　her　and　dropped　silently　down　in　a　direct　line　with　her　head。　Only　the　slight　creak　of　the　branch　warned　her。
　　　Just　in　time　she　threw　herself　to　the　side。　Halisstra　scrambled　across　the　ground　on　hands　and　knees；　dragging　her　sword　behind　her；　then　struggled　to　her　feet　again。
　　　The　spider；　sensing　that　she　was　tiring；　walked　slowly　across　the　clearing　toward　her；　taking　its　time。　Venom　dripped　onto　the　ground　between　its　feet　as　its　jaws　opened　and　shut；　anticipating　the　meal　it　would　soon　have。
　　　Knowing　it　might　be　her　only　chance；　Halisstra　grasped　the　hilt　of　Seyll's　sword　in　both　hands　and　raised　it　above　her　head…not　in　preparation　to　swing　it　but　instead　to　point　it　at　the　moon。
　　　〃Eilistraee；　hear　me！〃　she　cried。　〃From　this　night　on；　I　forsake　Lolth　and　swear　to　be　your　humble　servant。　If　you　deem　me　worthy；　I　beseech　you。　Will　you　have　me？　If　so；　give　me　the　magic　I　need　to　prove　the　truth　of　my　words　by　slaying　this　symbol　of　Lolth。　Give　me　the　power　to　cast　spells　in　your　name…and　to　your　everlasting　glory！〃
　　　Her　words　rang　out　with　the　power　and　clarity　of　a　song　that　was　perfectly　in　tune　and　in　harmony　with　her　heart。
　　　And　she　was　answered。
　　　The　spell　Eilistraee　sent　her　looked　like　Lolth's　flame　strike；　except　that　the　vertical　column　of　divine　energy　was　silvery…white　in　color　and　seemed　to　rush　down　from　the　moon　itself。　It　struck　the　phase　spider　when　the　creature　was　no　more　than　a　pace　away　from　Halisstra；　enveloping　it　in　a　beam　of　blindingly　bright；　absolutely　silent　light。　One　moment　the　spider　was　there；　rearing　up　to　rake　impotently　at　the　magical　fire　with　its　legs　as　it　was　enveloped　in　flickering　white　flames；　the　next；　it　was　lying　in　a　crumpled　heap；　bleached　bone…white　by　the　moonlight。
　　　Eyes　wide　with　wonder；　Halisstra　nudged　the　dead　creature　with　the　broken　tip　of　her　sword。　The　spider；　burned　instantly　to　ash　by　the　cold　magical　moonfire；　broke　apart　into　pieces；　which　in　turn　collapsed；　leaving　only　an　outline　of　ash　on　the　ground。　A　moment　later；　the　wind　blew　it　away。
　　　Sensing　someone　staring　at　her；　Halisstra　glanced　up；　expecting　to　see　either　Uluyara　or　Feliane。　Instead　it　was　Ryld　who　gaped　at　her　from　the　far　side　of　the　clearing。　He　was　holding　his　greatsword　in　both　hands；　but　the　tip　of　its　blade　rested　on　the　ground　in　front　of　him　as　if　the　weapons　master　had　forgotten　how　to　use　it。　His　eyes　were　wide；　his　mouth　open　and　panting。　He'd　obviously　e　at　the　run。　After　a　moment；　he　seemed　to　remember　how　to　speak。
　　　〃Halisstra；〃　he　whispered。　〃What　have　you　done？　You　can　never　go　back　now。　Never。〃
　　　Halisstra　stared　at　Ryld　across　the　space　where　the　spider　had　just　died；　conflicting　emotions　warring　within　her。　She　felt　irritation　at　the　fact　that　he　had　disobeyed　her　and　followed　her…and；　at　the　same　time；　joy　that　he　had　cared　about　her　enough　to　do　so。
　　　At　last　she　sighed　and　said；　〃That's　true；　Ryld；　but　you　can　go　back。　You　still　have　a　choice；　a　choice　between　the　Underdark　and　Lolth…who　is　obviously　as　dead　as　this　spider…and　Eilistraee；　who　smiles　down　upon　us　now。　Which　will　you　choose？〃
　　　Ryld　stood　silently　for　several　long　moments；　then　lifted　his　greatsword　and　shoved　it　into　the　sheath　on　his　back。
　　　〃I　choose　you；〃　he　said；　staring　at　Halisstra。　〃If　you　will　have　me。〃
　　　Before　Halisstra　could　answer；　Uluyara　and　Feliane　stepped　out　of　the　forest。　Feliane　was　smiling　at　Halisstra；　a　look　of　rapturous　joy　on　her　face；　but　Uluyara　kept　a　keen　eye　on　Ryld；　as　if　watching　to　make　sure　he　wasn't　going　to　draw　his　sword。
　　　〃If　Eilistraee　will　have　you；　then　you　are　wele　among　us；〃　Uluyara　told　him。　〃If　not；　then　you　will　have　to　leave。〃　A　wry　smile　played　about　her　lips。　〃Permanently；　this　time。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　said；　〃Understood。〃
　　　Uluyara　turned　to　Halisstra。
　　　〃e；　priestess；〃　she　said。　〃There　is　much；　yet；　that　you　must　learn。　And　much　that　you　must　do。　This　is　only　the　first　of　the　trials　the　goddess　has　ordained　for　you。〃
　　　Halisstra　bowed；　acknowledging　her　new　mistress。　At　the　same　time；　her　mind　whirled　at　the　wonder　of　it　all。　She'd　fled　from　Ched　Nasad　as　a　homeless　refugee；　hoping　to　find　out　if　her　goddess　was　alive　or　dead；　only　to　have　her　hopes　dashed　against　the　black　stone　monolith　that　sealed　Lolth's　temple。　But　in　the　alien　forests　of　the　World　Above；　she'd　found　something　entirely　unexpected；　a　new　home…and　a　new　goddess。　In　gratitude；　Halisstra　knew　she　would　serve　Eilistraee　faithfully　from　that　night　forward。　Whatever　the　goddess　asked　of　her；　Halisstra　would　give　it。
　　　Rising　from　her　bow；　she　glanced　at　Ryld；　silently　contemplating　the　warrior。　Would　he　do　the　same？　Or　would　ing　up　into　Eilistraee's　light　prove　too　much　for　Ryld；　too　far　at　odds　with　the　ways　he　had　always　known？
　　　Only　time　would　tell。
　　　
Chapter　Twenty
　　　Quenthel　stared　thoughtfully　at　Danifae's　submissively　bowed　back。　If　the　lesser　priestess　was　to　be　believed；　Pharaun　was　at　last　making　his　move。　After　endless　petty　insubordination；　the　infuriating　male　had　finally　worked　up　the　courage　to　inflict　the　killing　bite。　Except　that　he　didn't　have　the　strength　of　will　to　kill　Quenthel　himself。　Instead；　he　would　let　the　aboleth　do　her　in。　That　way；　he　could　report　back　to　the　matron　mother…honestly…that　Quenthel　had　died　at　the　hands　of　another；　hostile　race；　in　the　pursuit　of　her　quest。
　　　A　quest　he　obviously　hoped　to　make　his　own；　in　order　to　steal　what　should　rightfully　be　Quenthel's　glory。
　　　Quenthel　stroked　the　sinuous　bodies　of　her　vipers；　which　shuddered　softly　as　they　shared　her　thoughts。
　　　She　must　be　telling　the　truth；　Yngoth　said；　staring　fixedly　at　the　top　of　Danifae's　lowered　head。　I　can　see　no　reason　for　her　to　make　up　such　a　story。
　　　Nor　can　I；　Quenthel　thought　back。
　　　Danifae　is　your　loyal　servant。　Mistress！　said　K'Sothra；　squirming　with　delight。
　　　Quenthel　sighed　and　stroked　the　smaller　viper's　head。　K'Sothra　was　pretty；　but　she　wasn't　very　bright。　She　took　everything　at　face　value；　pletely　missing　the　subtle　nuances　of　deceit　that　usually　lay　just　beneath　the　surface　of　so　blatant　a　betrayal。　But　Quenthel　thought　that　the　naive　snake　might　actually　be　correct。　Danifae's　motivation　seemed　clear　as　quartz　crystal。　The　lesser　priestess　had　everything　to　gain　by　betraying　Pharaun's　plans　to　Quenthel　and　nothing　to　lose。　When　Lolth　reawakened；　Danifae　would　no　doubt　attempt　to　claim　a　prominent　place　in　Arach…Tinilith。
　　　Quenthel　shifted　the　whip　to　her　left　hand…smiling　when　Danifae　flinched　as　the　serpents　passed　over　her　head…and　she　curled　the　fingers　of　her　right　hand。　She　rested　her　fingertips　lightly　on　Danifae's　bowed　head。
　　　〃You　will　be　rewarded；〃　she　told　the　lesser　priestess。　〃Now　go。　Return　to　Pharaun；　before　he　suspects　what　you've　been　doing。〃
　　　Danifae　rose；　smiling；　and　turned　to　leave　the　narrow　cavern。　Jeggred；　who　had　been　hunkered　by　the　entrance　the　whole　time；　watching　the　tunnel　beyond　for　signs　of　danger；　flexed　the　claws　of　his　fighting　hands　and　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder　at　Quenthel。　She　gave　a　slight　shake　of　her　head；　and　Jeggred　flattened　against　the　wall　to　let　Danifae　pass。