war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第6部分

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e。
　　　With　a　hissing　roar；　the　line　of　flowing　blood　tumbled　into　the　boiling　water　and　was　gone。
　　　The　hexagram　was　broken。
　　　〃Wizard…you　are　mine！〃
　　　Roaring　his　triumph；　Belshazu　waded　through　the　boiling　water　toward　Pharaun；　eyes　blazing　violet　fury　at　the　mage　who　had　so　foolishly　dared　to　attempt　to　bind　him。
　　　
Chapter　Four
　　　Ryld　pulled　the　bag　of　sand　out　of　the　pocket　of　his　piwafwi　and　placed　it　on　a　ridge　in　the　rock　wall　at　the　point　where　the　tunnel　forked；　then　carefully　balanced　a　large　stone　on　top　of　it。　He　pulled　from　his　quiver　one　of　the　crossbow　bolts　Halisstra　had　taken　from　the　surface　elves　and　checked　its　barbed　head　for　traces　of　poison。　Seeing　none；　he　used　it　to　cut　his　palm。　He　smeared　blood　on　the　tunnel　wall；　then　snapped　the　point　off　the　bolt。　As　he　placed　the　broken　bolt　on　the　tunnel　floor；　he　glanced　nervously　back　down　the　fork　that　led　to　the　cavern；　worried　that　someone　might　have　heard　the　sound。
　　　Silence。　The　noise　had　been　slight；　and　no　one　was　ing　to　investigate。
　　　He　balled　his　hand　around　a　rag　to　staunch　the　flow　of　blood；　then　dropped　it　to　the　floor　beside　the　broken　crossbow　bolt。　Then　he　pulled　his　portable　hole　out　of　a　pocket　and　flipped　the　folded　piece　of　phase…spider　silk　open；　laying　it　on　the　ground　just　below　the　sand…filled　bag。　Carefully；　he　loosened　the　bag's　drawstrings　until　just　a　trickle　of　sand　began　to　fall　from　it　into　the　portable　hole。　Then　he　hurried　back　down　the　steeply　sloping　corridor　to　the　cavern　where　the　others　were。
　　　He'd　been　worried　that　Jeggred　would　smell　the　fresh　blood　on　his　palm；　but　the　draegloth　seemed　to　have　been　doing　a　little　bloodletting　of　his　own。　It　was　Danifae　who　stared　at　him　as　he　returned。
　　　Ryld　paid　little　attention　as　Pharaun　summoned　the　demon；　his　mind　instead　focused　on　the　silent　count　he'd　begun　after　leaving　the　bag。　He　did　glance　down　in　alarm；　however；　when　the　demon　told　Pharaun　there　was　a　gate　to　the　Abyss　directly　under　the　frozen　pond。　It　was　obviously　a　ploy　of　some　kind；　but　Pharaun　didn't　question　it。　Instead；　when　the　demon's　hands　flared　with　fire　for　the　second　time；　Pharaun　merely　stood　and　watched；　as　if　curious　to　see　what　the　demon　would　do。
　　　Ryld　concentrated　on　his　count：　fifteen；　fourteen；　thirteen　。　。　。　almost　time。
　　　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　touching　Danifae's　arm。　〃Do　you　hear　that？〃
　　　Danifae　gave　him　a　suspicious　look。　Then；　from　farther　up　the　tunnel；　came　the　sound　or　a　dislodged　stone　hitting　the　tunnel　floor　and　rolling　toward　them。　Danifae's　eyes　widened　slightly。
　　　〃Someone　is…〃
　　　Her　words　were　cut　off　by　a　violent　hiss　of　steam　from　the　cavern　below。　Glancing　down；　Ryld　saw　that　the　demon　was　melting　the　ice。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　shout　a　warning…
　　　…then　he　pursed　his　lips　shut。　The　demon　was　Pharaun's　problem。
　　　Ryld　shifted　to　sign　language；　in　order　to　speak　over　the　hissing　roar　of　boiling　water。
　　　Whoever　it　is；　I'm　going　to　make　them　sorry　they　followed　us。　Tell　Quenthel　where　I've　gone。
　　　You're　running　off　after　Halisstra；　Danifae　accused。
　　　Ryld；　startled；　was　surprised　by　her　bluntness…and　by　the　approval　he　saw　in　her　eyes。　Was　she　glad　that　her　mistress　would　have　someone　to　protect　her；　after　all？
　　　No；　he　told　her；　determined　to　keep　up　his　bluff。　I'll　be　back。　As　proof　you　can　keep　this。
　　　He　pulled　the　lesser　of　his　two　magical　rings　from　his　finger　and　passed　it　to　Danifae；　intentionally　dropping　it。　The　ring　bounced　off　a　rock　and　began　to　roll　down　the　slope　toward　where　the　others　stood。　Danifae　scrambled　after　it；　trying　to　grab　the　ring　before　Quenthel　or　one　of　the　others　claimed　it。
　　　Ryld　turned　to　hurry　back　the　way　they　had　e。　He　saw　Valas　shoot　him　a　quick；　questioning　glance。　Then　Quenthel　shouted　a　warning　to　Pharaun。　An　instant　later　a　roar　of　triumph　filled　the　cavern。　The　demon　was　free。
　　　Ryld　was　already　several　paces　away；　climbing　swiftly　up　the　narrow　tunnel　that　had　led　them　to　the　cavern。　Behind　him　he　could　hear　more　roaring；　violent　splashing；　and　terrified　shouts。　An　explosive　rush　of　cold　air　whooshed　past　him…the　blast　of　a　spell。　There　was　no　way　to　tell　whether　it　was　one　of　Pharaun's…or　one　cast　by　the　demon。　Then　a　male　voice　screamed　in　mortal　agony。　Pharaun's？
　　　For　a　heartbeat　or　two；　he　actually　considered　turning　around。　Then　he　decided　against　it。　Pharaun　deserved　to　know　what　it　felt　like　not　to　be　able　to　count　on　a　friend。
　　　He　climbed　upward；　ignoring　the　sounds　of　battle　behind　him　until　he　reached　the　flattened　bag；　which　he　plucked　from　its　ledge。　He　dropped　it　into　the　portable　hole；　then　folded　the　hole　shut。　He'd　shake　it　out　later　when　he　reached　the　surface。　If　the　others　survived　the　demon　attack　and　came　looking　for　him；　there　would　be　no　clues　to　alert　them　to　the　trick　he'd　played。
　　　Ryld　pressed　on；　retracing　the　route　they'd　taken　from　the　surface。　He'd　taken　careful　mental　notes　as　they　descended；　pausing　several　times　to　turn　around　to　view　landmarks　from　the　opposite　direction。
　　　He　passed　the　place　where　they'd　been　forced　to　crawl　over　a　jumble　of　rock　because　the　ceiling　had　partially　collapsed；　then　the　long；　narrow　cavern　where　a　trickle　of　water　had　encouraged　a　faintly　glowing　patch　of　lichen　to　grow。　Next　came　the　natural　chimney　that　rose　more　than　a　hundred　paces　above　and　below　to　dead　ends；　with　several　narrow　tunnels　opening　onto　it。
　　　Reaching　it；　Ryld　looked　up　the　chimney　and　counted。　The　third　tunnel　above　and　slightly　to　the　right　was　the　one　they'd　e　through。　Touching　the　magical　brooch　pinned　to　his　shirt；　Ryld　stepped　out　into　the　chimney　and　levitated　toward　it。
　　　As　he　drew　closer　to　the　tunnel　mouth；　he　heard　a　faint　clink　from　somewhere　inside　it。　Instantly　recognizing　the　sound　of　chain　mail　links　clinking　against　each　other；　he　whipped　up　the　hood　of　his　piwafwi　and　drew　his　feet　up　under　its　hem。　The　magic　of　his　cloak　enfolded　him；　throwing　his　body　into　shadow。　He　drifted　past　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel　he'd　been　heading　for…to　one　side　of　it；　so　the　person　he'd　just　heard　wouldn't　spot　the　movement　of　shadowed　gray　against　shadowed　gray…then　he　halted　the　equivalent　of　a　dozen　paces　above　the　opening。　He　hung　there；　carefully　controlling　his　breathing　so　that　not　even　a　whisper　of　sound　escaped　his　lips。　He　waited。
　　　A　moment　later；　a　dark　face　appeared　in　the　tunnel　mouth。　The　strange　drow's　ebony　skin　blended　with　the　darkness　of　the　tunnel　behind　it；　as　did　the　black　mask　that　hid　his　lower　face…the　symbol　of　a　cleric　of　Vhaeraun…but　his　white　hair　and　faintly　glowing　red　eyes　stood　out　in　sharp　relief。　He　peered　up　at　where　Ryld　floated。　A　chimney　was　a　natural　place　to　expect　an　ambush。
　　　Slowly；　Ryld　slid　his　finger　into　the　trigger　of　the　crossbow　that　was　strapped　to　his　wrist；　but　the　cleric　didn't　appear　to　have　spotted　him。
　　　After　a　quick　scan　of　the　chimney　above；　the　cleric　turned　his　attention　downward。　Pulling　a　forked　bit　of　bone　out　of　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi；　he　grasped　it　with　the　thumb　and　forefinger　of　each　hand　and　held　it　over　the　chimney；　then　spoke　the　words　of　a　spell。　The　bone　glowed　with　a　soft　purple　light。　A　moment　later；　the　light　coalesced　at　the　point　of　the　V…shaped　bone；　then　erupted　into　a　sizzling　purple　spark。　The　spark　began　to　drift　up；　then　hesitated　and　drifted　slowly　and　steadily　downward。　It　came　to　a　halt　in　front　of　the　tunnel　Ryld　had　just　climbed　out　of　before　it　winked　out。
　　　The　priest　turned　and　signed　to　someone　in　the　tunnel　behind　him；　They　went　this　way。
　　　That　seen；　Ryld's　suspicions　were　confirmed。　The　cleric　was　from　House　Jaelre　and　was　seeking　vengeance　for　the　death　of　his　high　priest。
　　　Ryld　watched　in　silence　as　the　cleric　and　two　well…armed　males　descended　toward　the　tunnel。　The　cleric　and　one　of　the　warriors　simply　stepped　out　of　the　tunnel　and　drifted　magically　downward；　but　the　second　warrior　was　forced　to　climb　down　the　narrow　corner　of　the　chimney；　his　back　braced　against　one　wall；　hands　and　feet　against　the　other。　Tactically；　that　was　the　moment　for　Ryld　to　strike…or　to　flee；　since　the　grunts　and　scuffing　noises　the　climbing　male　was　making　would　cover　the　sound　of　him　entering　the　tunnel　they'd　just　left。
　　　Ryld　didn't　care　about　Quenthel　Baenre。　He　had　acpanied　her　because　he'd　been　ordered　to。　Valas　could　take　care　of　himself　in　a　fight；　and　Danifae　was　from　another　city；　and　no　concern　of　Ryld's。　But　Pharaun；　even　though　he　was　a　powerful　mage；　had　just　been　in　a　fight　with　a　demon。　He　would　be　easy　pickings　for　those　three。　。　。　。
　　　Flipping　back　his　piwafwi；　Ryld　shot　his　crossbow　at　the　cleric。　The　tiny　bolt　struck　the　drow's　cheek；　plowing　a　furrow　of　red　across　it。　As　the　powerful　poison　on　the　barb　entered　his　bloodstream；　the　cleric　sagged　in　mid…air　and　was　forced　to　grab　at　the　mouth　of　one　of　the　tunnels　as　his　levitation　magic　failed　him。　Crawling　into　it；　he　lay　trembling　on　its　stone　floor；　his　lips　moving　in　whispered　prayer。
　　　Ryld　touched　his　brooch　and　dropped　like　a　stone。　He　twisted　as　he　fell；　simultaneously　drawing　his　short　sword　and　lashing　out　with　a　foot　as　he　passed　the　climbing　drow。　Braced　against　the　rock　as　he　was；　the　man　could　do　nothing　but　close　his　eyes　against　the　kick　Ryld　aimed　at　his　face。　The　blow　rocked　his　head　back；　smashing　it　into　the　wall　with　a　loud　crack。　An　instant　later；　his　unconscious　body　tumbled　after　Ryld。
　　　Pushing　off　from　a　wall；　Ryld　activated　the　magic　of　his　brooch　a　second　time；　checking　his　fall。　The　unconscious　drow　tumbled　past；　landing　with　a　bone…snapping　thud　against　the　floor　far　below。　In　the　meantime；　the　levitating　warrior　had　drawn　his　weapon：　a　spiked　mace。
　　　Ryld　floated　down　toward　him；　short　sword　at　the　ready。　His　opponent　shouted　something…a　mand　word…and　the　head　of　his　mace　burst　into　bright；　magical　light。　Blinded　by　the　sudden　brilliance；　Ryld　instinctively　twisted　aside…and　heard　the　mace　strike　a　shattering　blow　against　the　wall　beside　his　head。　His　foot　lashed　out　a　second　time　but　missed　its　target。　The　warrior　was　used　to　fighting　in　sunlight　and　had　easily　avoided　the　kick。
　　　Cursing；　Ryld　summoned　a　magical　darkness　that　filled　t