war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第47部分

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　　　〃Won't　any　of　the　other　priestesses　be　ing　with　me？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　〃Most　have　already　left　to　search　for　the　yochlol　that　killed　Breena。　The　one　or　two　who　remain　have　other；　equally　pressing　matters　to　attend　to。　I　don't　know　if　they　can　be　spared。〃
　　　Halisstra's　eyes　narrowed；　and　she　asked；　〃You　don't　really　expect　me　to　find　it；　do　you？〃
　　　〃It　isn't　that；　child；〃　Uluyara　answered　softly。　〃It's　just　that　some　journeys　must　be　taken　alone。〃　Her　gaze　drifted　up　toward　the　tree…tops。　The　singing　had　stopped。　Breena's　body　had　been　laid　to　rest。
　　　The　night　air　was　cold；　but　Halisstra　felt　a　fire　begin　to　smolder　inside　her。
　　　〃I'll　find　the　Crescent　Blade；〃　she　vowed。　〃On　my　own。　I　don't　need　help　from　anyone。〃
　　　She　turned　and　strode　into　the　forest；　back　to　the　shelter　she　shared　with　Ryld。　Uluyara　might　not　have　faith　in　Halisstra；　but　there　was　one　greater　who　did。
　　　Eilistraee。
　　　
Chapter　Twenty…eight
　　　Valas　waited；　a　kukri　in　each　hand；　at　the　end　of　the　tunnel　that　Pharaun　had　bored　through　solid　stone　with　his　magic　a　moment　before。　Perfectly　smooth　and　slightly　oval　in　shape；　the　tunnel　was　not　quite　high　enough　for　Valas　to　stand　fully　upright。　He　stood　with　shoulders　hunched；　his　hair　brushing　the　magic…warmed　stone。
　　　Pharaun；　a　pace　behind　him；　chanted　softly；　holding　the　tiny　seeds　that　were　the　spell's　material　ponent　between　forefinger　and　thumb。　The　mage　had　prepared　well　over　the　course　of　the　four　days　it　took　them　to　reach　the　portion　of　the　Underdark　that　lay　beneath　Myth　Drannor。　He'd　already　cast　the　spell　several　times；　extending　the　tunnel　until　it　was　more　than　a　hundred　paces　long。　If　the　rogue　who'd　told　Valas　about　the　portal　had　been　accurate　in　his　estimates；　the　distance　between　the　corridor　behind　them　and　the　vault　they　hoped　to　reach　was　close　to　that　figure。　The　next　spell　should　see　them　through　the　intervening　rock。
　　　As　Pharaun　pleted　his　spell；　flicking　the　seeds　at　the　tunnel's　end　wall　and　pointing　with　his　forefinger；　Valas　braced　himself。　The　stone　before　him　shimmered；　then　seemed　to　melt　away　in　front　of　Pharaun's　finger；　revealing　a　large　room　about　ten　paces　ahead。　A　rush　of　stale　air　came　back　along　the　tunnel；　carrying　with　it　the　smell　of　dust　and　desiccated　flesh。
　　　Quiet　as　a　spider；　Valas　crept　forward　and　peered　into　the　ancient　treasure　vault。　It　was；　as　the　rogue　had　described；　immense。　Circular　in　shape；　it　was　perhaps　a　hundred　and　fifty　paces　across　and　fifty　paces　high；　with　a　domed　roof　whose　ceiling　was　inlaid　with　intricate　mosaics。　Those；　wrought　in　polished　pebbles…many　of　them　semiprecious　stones…depicted　a　number　of　the　surface　elves'　gods；　bows　in　hand　with　arrows　nocked。　Portions　of　the　mosaic　had　fallen　away　in　spots　where　tree　roots　had　grown　down　through　the　ceiling；　bulging　its　masonry　inward。　Chunks　of　stone　and　a　scattering　of　earth　lay　on　the　floor　below。　The　gods　that　remained　in　the　mosaic　frowned　down　into　the　empty　room　as　if　angered　by　its　decrepit　state。
　　　At　floor　level…about　five　paces　below　the　tunnel　in　which　Valas　crouched…were　three　doors；　set　at　equal　distances　from　each　other。　The　one　immediately　below　Valas　and　to　his　right　looked　as　though　it　had　been　blasted　off　its　hinges。　Thar　was　how　the　rogue　and　his　panions　had　entered；　after　negotiating　a　corridor　filled　with　more　traps　than　a　spider's　nest　had　eggs。　Wisely；　Quenthel…or　rather　Pharaun；　who　had　subtly　persuaded　her…had　chosen　not　to　try　that　route。
　　　Valas　stared　into　the　darkened　room；　listening　intently。　Of　the　wraiths　there　was　no　sign；　but　that　was　not　unusual。　Wraiths　could　pass　through　walls；　and　they　might　appear　at　any　moment。　Nor　was　there　any　sign　of　the　bodies　of　the　rogue's　panions。　Again；　that　was　not　surprising。　Risen　again　as　wights；　they　probably　left　through　the　ruined　door　in　search　of　fresh　meat…only　to　be　cut　to　pieces　by　the　blade　traps　that　lined　the　corridor。　Their　stench；　however；　lingered　in　the　still　air。。。　or　did　it？
　　　Glancing　up　at　the　ceiling　again；　Valas　saw　a　skull　nested　in　one　of　the　tangles　of　tree　root　that　bulged　down　into　the　room。　The　vault　must　have　been　built　under　a　graveyard。　The　surface　elves　were　known　for　planting　trees　atop　the　graves　of　their　dead。　With　all　of　the　moldering　corpses　that　lay　just　above　the　ceiling；　it　was　no　wonder　wraiths　were　drawn　to　the　place。
　　　Pharaun　crept　up　behind　Valas　and　stared　down　into　the　vault。
　　　See　anything？　the　Master　of　Sorcere　signed。
　　　Transferring　both　daggers　into　one　hand；　Valas　shook　his　head　and　replied；　I　see　no　sign　of　the　wraiths…or　of　the　portal。
　　　If　it's　here；　you　soon　will；　Pharaun　signed　back。
　　　The　wizard　began　whispering　the　words　to　a　spell。　He　passed　a　hand　through　the　air；　palm　toward　the　room。　After　a　moment；　a　circle　at　the　center　of　the　room　began　to　glow　a　faint　purple。
　　　There；　he　signed；　pointing。
　　　Valas　made　a　mental　note　of　the　spot；　then　continued　watching　and　waiting。　Since　magic　had　disturbed　the　air　of　the　vault；　the　wraiths　would　likely　appear　that　much　sooner。　Assuming；　that　was；　that　the　rogues　story　had　been　accurate。
　　　The　fellow　had　claimed　the　vault　still　held　treasure…something　Valas　hadn't　told　his　panions；　since　it　might　have　distracted　them　from　their　mission…but　the　room　was　clearly　empty。　Perhaps　the　rogue　had　been　lying　about　the　wraiths；　as　well。　Neither　the　sudden　appearance　of　a　magic…hewn　tunnel　in　one　wall　of　the　vault　nor　the　divination　Pharaun　had　just　cast　had　brought　them　out　into　the　open。　If　wraiths　had　once　haunted　that　place　where　the　gods　frowned　in　stony　silence；　they　seemed　to　have　gone。
　　　But　that　didn't　mean　Valas　wouldn't　take　precautions。　Hanging　around　his　neck　on　a　delicate　gold　chain　was　an　amulet　crafted　by　the　surface　elves　and　shaped　like　a　golden　sun。　He　pulled　it　out　from　under　his　armor　and　kissed　it；　then　let　it　hang　free　against　his　chest；　ignoring　Pharaun's　raised　eyebrows。　If　any　wraiths　did　turn　up；　it　would　protect　him。
　　　For　a　while；　at　least。
　　　You　and　the　others　should　make　a　run　for　it；　he　signed。　With　a　running　start　and　a　leap；　you　should　be　able　to　levitate　down　onto　the　portal　without　touching　anything　in　the　room。　I'll　use　my　amulet　to　make　the　jump。　With　luck；　the　wraiths…if　there　are　any…won't　even　know　we're　here。
　　　You're　forgetting　that　Danifae　can't　levitate；　Pharaun　signed。
　　　Valas　groaned…softly。　Was　he　the　only　one　capable　of　tactical　thinking？
　　　Use　one　of　your　spells　on　her…the　one　that　enables　you　to　leap　around　like　a　flea。　She'll　be　able　to　make　the　portal　in　one　or　two　jumps。　He　paused；　then　added；　Just　make　sure　she　goes　last。　She'll　be　the　clumsiest…if　there　are　wraiths　here；　it　will　be　her　noise　that　attracts　them。
　　　Pharaun　frowned　at　that　but　made　no　ment。　Instead　he　raised　a　hand　to　his　lips　and　pointed　back　down　the　tunnel；　where　Quenthel；　Danifae；　and　Jeggred　waited。
　　　〃We're　through；〃　he　breathed；　his　spell　carrying　his　whispered　words　to　Quenthel。　〃The　portal　looks　clear…and　active。　e　quickly；　but　quietly。〃
　　　Valas；　still　intently　watching　the　room　below；　heard　a　faint　clink　of　armor　from　the　far　end　of　the　tunnel…Danifae　and　Quenthel　moving　along　it…and　the　faint　click…click　of　Jeggred's　elongated　toe…nails　on　the　stone。　He　gritted　his　teeth；　praying　that　his　panions　would　learn　the　value　of　moving　silently…and　learn　it　soon。　Then　he　heard　the　clicking　pause　and　the　sound　of　a　low　growl。
　　　His　patience　at　an　end；　Valas　spun　around；　an　oath　on　his　lips。　He　saw　Quenthel　moving　toward　him；　leading　the　others　down　the　corridor。　Danifae　was　just　behind　her；　but　Jeggred　was　lagging　several　paces　to　the　rear　and　was　looking　back　over　his　shoulder；　still　growling。
　　　Mistress！　Valas　signed　angrily。　Tell　Jeggred　to　keep…
　　　Before　he　could　finish；　the　relative　silence　was　split　by　a　fierce　roar。　Jeggred　launched　himself　back　down　the　tunnel；　bellowing　his　battle　howl　as　his　claws　scrambled　on　the　floor。　In　another　instant；　Valas　saw　what　had　triggered　the　draegloth's　attack。
　　　Two　twisted　caricatures　that　had　once　been　duergar；　with　claws　as　long　as　Jeggred's　own　and　mouths　filled　with　needle…sharp　teeth；　were　stalking　up　behind　them。　Rotted　clothing　hung　from　them　in　tatters；　and　their　hair　was　a　tangled　mass；　crusted　with　dirt。　Their　eyes　blazed　with　the　malevolence　with　which　all　undead　regarded　the　living。　Unlike　the　drow　they'd　been　stalking；　the　two　wights　moved　in　utter　silence。　Seeing　they　had　been　spotted；　they　ran　forward　to　meet　Jeggred's　charge。
　　　Jeggred　crashed　headlong　into　the　first　wight；　smashing　it　against　one　wall　with　a　powerful　swipe　of　his　fighting　arm；　then　ripping　its　belly　open　with　a　rake　of　the　claws　on　one　foot　as　he　stomped　on　it。　As　the　pungent　odor　of　death　and　rot　filled　the　air；　the　second　wight　darted　under　Jeggred's　other　arm　and　casually　slapped　Jeggred's　chest。　The　draegloth　grunted　and　clutched　one　of　his　lesser　hands　against　him…the　first　time　Valas　had　heard　him　express　pain　aloud…and　he　staggered　slightly。　An　instant　later；　however；　he　recovered。　Roaring　fiercely；　the　draegloth　grasped　the　wight's　face　with　a　fighting　hand　and；　wrenching　violently；　tore　the　head　from　its　neck。
　　　The　first　wight　was　still　moving；　crawling　furiously　after　Jeggred　with　its　rotted　entrails　dragging　along　behind　it。　Before　it　could　reach　him；　Danifae　rushed　forward；　morningstar　in　hand。　There　wasn't　much　room　to　swing　the　weapon　in　the　low…ceilinged　corridor；　but　she　managed　an　abbreviated　downward　smash。　The　spiked　ball　of　the　morningstar　connected　with　the　wight's　head　in　a　blaze　of　magical　sparks；　filling　the　air　with　a　sharp　ozone　tang。　The　wight　dropped　and　laid　still。
　　　Pharaun　stared　at　Danifae　with　a　look　of　open　admiration。　He　held　a　tiny　leather　pouch　in　one　hand；　which　he'd　drawn　from　his　pocket　as　the　wights　attacked。
　　　〃Well　done；〃　he　said；　tucking　it　back　into　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi。
　　　Quenthel　looked　past　Danifae。
　　　〃Are　there　more？〃　she　asked　Jeggred。
　　　Jeggred　stood　panting；　head　turning　from　side　to　side　as　he　searched　for　the　scent　of　additional　foes。　As　his　chest　rose　and　fell；　Valas　noted　the　wound　the　wight　had　inflicted　on　the　draegloth。　It　w