war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第26部分

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　　　Valas　finished　his　knots　and　stepped　close；　setting　his　right　foot　in　one　bottom　loop　and　crooking　his　right　arm　through　the　topmost。
　　　〃Stay　close　to　this　stalagmite　as　you　ascend；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　want　the　cover。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　reached　up　absently　to　touch　the　insignia　pinned　to　his　breast。　It　identified　him　as　a　Master　of　Melee…Magthere；　and　like　the　clasps　and　brooches　of　many　noble　Houses；　it　was　enchanted　with　the　power　of　levitation。　Valas　didn't　doubt　that　Ryld　had　fought　long　and　hard　to　win　the　right　to　wear　it。
　　　As　he'd　hoped；　the　enchantment　proved　strong　enough　to　support　both　Ryld's　weight　and　the　Bregan　D'aerthe's。　Effortlessly　they　glided　up　into　the　smoke　and　gloom　of　Gracklstugh's　upper　reaches；　until　the　fumes　obscured　the　streets　below。　From　the　top　of　the　great　cavern；　the　floor　seemed　shrouded　in　haze　and　smoke；　glaring　firelight　making　bright　circles　of　glowing　red　mist　in　a　hundred　spots　around　them。
　　　〃This　is　better　than　I　thought；〃　Valas　said。　〃The　smoke　and　fumes　give　us　some　concealment。〃
　　　〃And　they　make　my　eyes　water；〃　Ryld　said。　He　reached　the　ceiling　and　found　that　the　cavern　roof　was　rough　and　pitted。　〃Which　way？〃
　　　〃To　your　right。　Yes；　that's　it。〃
　　　Valas　indicated　the　northern　wall　of　the　city　with　a　jerk　of　his　chin；　keeping　his　foot　and　arm　secure　in　the　rope　stirrups　he'd　fashioned。　Carefully；　Ryld　turned　to　face　the　ceiling　more　evenly；　and　he　pulled　himself　along　hand　over　hand　as　if　he　were　climbing　a　vertical　wall　of　rock。　The　scout　shifted　to　secure　his　grip；　and　kept　his　own　eyes　down　at　the　cavern　floor　below；　directing　the　weapons　master　in　his　progress。
　　　〃One　gray　dwarf　wizard　with　a　spell　of　cancellation　would　certainly　ruin　our　day；〃　Ryld　remarked。　〃Aren't　you　a　little　nervous　in　that　arrangement？〃
　　　〃I've　always　had　a　good　head　for　heights；　but　let's　not　talk　about　it　anymore。〃
　　　Ryld　chuckled。
　　　For　days；　the　journey　had　been　simply　uneventful　and　dreary。　The　tactical　challenge　of　spying　in　the　heart　of　the　duergar　city；　though；　fully　engaged　them　both。
　　　〃Head　more　to　your　left；〃　Valas　said；　interrupting　his　own　thoughts。　〃There's　a　bit　of　a　ledge　on　the　cavern　wall　that　should　run　the　way　we　want　to　go。〃
　　　Ryld　plied；　and　the　two　of　them　carefully　leveled　off　and　descended　along　the　sloping　roof　of　the　cavern　until　they　found　the　place　where　it　dropped　more　or　less　straight　down　and　became　the　wall。　There；　an　old　weathered　seam　circled　the　cavern　like　the　eaves　of　an　old　tavern。　The　weapons　master　looked　at　it　dubiously；　but　as　they　drew　close　Valas　disentangled　himself　and　leaped　lightly　down　to　crouch　in　the　space　like　a　skinny　spider。
　　　Ryld　followed；　somewhat　more　awkwardly。　He　could　manage　it；　barely；　but　he　was　lucky　to　have　the　magic　of　his　insignia　to　fall　back　on　if　his　footing　or　grip　failed　him。
　　　Valas　moved　confidently　forward；　following　the　seam　as　it　descended　sharply　and　disappeared　around　a　sharp　bend　overlooking　a　side　cavern。
　　　Ryld　scrambled　down　after　him；　cursing　silently　as　his　foot　dislodged　some　loose　rock　and　sent　it　clattering　down　the　clifflike　wall。　The　forges　and　hammers　of　Gracklstugh　covered　the　sound　fairly　well；　though；　and　they　were　still　above　Laduguer's　Furrow。　The　rock　skittered　into　the　abyss　and　vanished。
　　　Valas　glanced　back　from　his　perch　at　the　bend。
　　　Carefully；　he　signed。　e　up　here　and　see　this。
　　　Ryld　worked　his　way　up　beside　the　scout；　finally　stretching　out　on　his　belly　to　stay　on　the　ledge。　The　seam　ran　down　to　a　side　cave　and　turned　in　sharply。　From　their　vantage　a　hundred　feet　or　more　above　the　floor；　they　could　see　a　good…sized　cavern；　perhaps　three　or　four　hundred　yards　long　and　about　half　that　wide。　The　walls　were　hewn　into　barracks　rooms；　enough　to　house　quite　a　large　number　of　soldiers；　but　the　floor　of　the　place　was　level　and　open；　a　good　drilling　ground　for　bodies　of　troops。
　　　From　end　to　end；　it　was　crowded　with　wagons　and　pack　lizards。　Hundreds　of　duergar　swarmed　over　the　scene；　securing　great　panniers　to　the　ugly　reptiles；　loading　wagons；　and　preparing　siege　engines　for　travel。　The　noxious　reek　of　the　city's　smelters　didn't　suffice　to　mask　the　heavy　smell　of　animal　dung　in　the　large　chamber；　and　the　lizards'　hisses　and　rasping　croaks　filled　the　air。
　　　Valas　began　counting　wagons　and　pack　beasts；　trying　to　estimate　the　size　of　the　force　that　might　be　on　the　march。　After　a　few　minutes；　he　finally　tore　his　eyes　away。
　　　Somewhere　between　two　and　three　thousand？　Ryld　said。
　　　The　scout　frowned　and　replied；　I　think　somewhat　more；　maybe　four　thousand　all　together；　but　there　may　be　more　trains　gathering　in　other　caverns　nearby。
　　　Is　there　any　reason　to　think　they're　not　bound　for　Menzoberranzan？　Ryld　asked。
　　　We're　not　their　only　enemies。　Still；　I　don't　like　the　timing。
　　　〃I　don't　believe　in　coincidences；　either；〃　Ryld　whispered。　He　carefully　began　to　worm　his　way　back　from　the　edge；　taking　great　pains　to　dislodge　no　more　rocks。　〃I　would　suggest　checking　the　other　caves　for　more　soldiers；　but　I　think　we've　seen　more　than　the　duergar　would　want　already；　and　I　don't　feel　like　pressing　my　luck。　We'd　best　get　back　and　report　this　to　the　others。〃
　　　
　　　〃We　should　just　leave；〃　growled　Jeggred。　His　white　fur　was　streaked　with　red　wine；　and　hot　grease　from　a　roast　of　rothe　meat　stained　his　muzzle。　The　draegloth　didn't　take　well　to　long　waits；　and　two　days　of　confining　himself　to　the　Cold　Foundry　had　been　hard　for　him。　〃We　could　be　out　of　the　city　before　they　knew　we'd　gone。〃
　　　〃I　fear　it　wouldn't　be　as　simple　as　you　make　it　sound；〃　Ryld　said。　He　knelt　by　his　pack；　stuffing　sacks　with　the　least　perishable　items　from　the　buffet。　He　dropped　the　sacks　into　a　yawning　black　circle　beside　him…a　magical　hole　that　could　be　picked　up　and　carried　as　if　it　was　nothing　but　a　piece　of　dark　cloth。　It　could　hold　hundreds　of　pounds　of　gear　and　supplies；　but　weighed　nothing　at　all。　〃You　may　not　have　noticed；　but　I'm　sure　I'm　not　the　only　one　who　marked　the　spies　watching　this　inn。　We　wouldn't　make　a　quarter　mile　before　we　were　swarmed　under　duergar　soldiers。〃
　　　〃So？〃　the　draegloth　demanded。　〃I　fear　no　dwarf！〃
　　　〃Duergar　aren't　goblins　or　gnolls；　too　stupid　to　use　their　numbers　well；　too　clumsy　and　crude　to　stand　a　chance　in　a　one…on…one　duel。　I've　met　duergar　swordsmen　nearly　as　good　as　I　am。　I　have　no　doubt　that　a　number　of　such　formidable　fellows　would　be　banded　together　against　us；　and　the　duergar　count　skilled　wizards　and　clerics　among　their　ranks；　too。〃
　　　〃We　should　have　known　better　than　to　march　into　a　duergar　city；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃What　a　miserable　piece　of　timing。〃
　　　She　hurried　to　don　her　armor；　a　suit　of　highly　enchanted　chain　mail　that　carried　the　arms　of　House　Melarn　on　its　breast。　She　wondered　if　the　best　strategy　would　be　to　simply　wait　a　few　more　days　and　allow　the　gray　dwarves　to　relax　their　vigilant　stance。　On　the　other　hand；　if　they　delayed　too　long；　there　was　always　the　chance　that　the　merchant　she'd　charmed　to　part　with　Danifae's　new　arms　would　recover　his　wits　and　report　the　incident　to　the　authorities。　Had　they　simply　murdered　the　merchants　。　。　。　but　no；　if　they'd　been　caught　at　that；　they　would　already　have　paid　with　their　lives。
　　　She　tugged　at　the　long　hem　of　the　mail　hauberk　and　wriggled　to　settle　it　better　on　her　shoulders。
　　　〃Master　Argith；　how　long　will　it　take　the　duergar　army　to　march？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　〃Soon；〃　Ryld　said。　〃They　can't　keep　that　many　pack　lizards　in　harness　for　long。　The　question　is　how　long　after　the　army　sallies　before　they　allow　travel　to　resume。　If　we　wait　them　out；　we　might　be　delayed　for　days。〃
　　　〃Delayed…or　disposed　of；〃　Danifae　warned。
　　　〃We　will　set　out　at　once；〃　Quenthel　said；　putting　a　halt　to　the　debate。
　　　The　Mistress　of　the　Academy　dressed　for　battle；　her　face　set　in　a　black　scowl；　her　whips　writhing　in　agitation。
　　　〃That　begs　the　question　that　was　raised　a　moment　ago…which　way　do　we　go？〃　asked　Ryld。
　　　The　weapons　master　finished　with　his　supplies　and　picked　up　the　hole；　rolling　it　tightly　and　slipping　it　into　his　pack。
　　　〃I　can　retrace　our　steps　back　to　Mantol…Derith；〃　Pharaun　offered；　〃but　it　will　be　difficult　to　move　forward　from　here。　I　don't　know　the　way　to　the　Labyrinth；　so　any　stroll　we　took　on　the　Plane　of　Shadow　would　doubtless　lead　us　to　a　strange　and　cheerless　end。　There　are　too　many　of　you　for　me　to　teleport　us　all　together；　so　unless　someone　feels　like　answering　to　the　gray　dwarves　for　the　rest　of　the　pany's　sudden　departure；　I　suppose　that's　out　as　well。〃
　　　〃What　about　a　spell　to　conceal　our　identities？〃　Ryld　asked。
　　　〃Regrettably；〃　the　wizard　replied；　〃gray　dwarves　are　notoriously　resistant　to　illusions　of　any　kind。〃
　　　Halisstra　added；　〃If　only　one　saw　through　a　disguise　and　saw　a　party　of　dark　elves。　。。。〃
　　　〃Better　to　simply　render　us　all　invisible；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　said。　〃Yes；　that　would　be　the　most　expedient　solution　to　this　little　conundrum。　It　quite　reminds　me　of　a　time　when…〃
　　　〃Enough。〃　Quenthel　shifted　in　her　seat　and　asked　Valas；　〃Do　we　need　to　set　out　for　the　Labyrinth　from　here；　or　could　you　find　a　way　around　Gracklstugh　if　we　retraced　our　steps　a　bit？〃
　　　〃It　will　take　several　more　days　to　circle　the　city；〃　the　scout　answered；　〃but　I　could　guide　you　past　Gracklstugh's　borders。〃
　　　〃Fine；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃We　will　head　back　for　the　docks　and　make　use　of　Coalhewer's　boat。　It's　the　most　direct　route　out　of　the　city　from　here；　and　unless　I　miss　my　guess；　the　lakeside　will　be　less　heavily　guarded　than　the　tunnels。　Is　everybody　armed？〃　She　looked　around　quickly。　No　one　requested　more　time　to　prepare；　so　the　Baenre　priestess　nodded　with　a　small　gesture　of　approval　and　turned　to　Pharaun。　〃What　must　we　do　for　your　spell　to　succeed？〃
　　　〃Join　hands　and　stay　close　to　me；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃or　wander　off　if　you　like；　in　which　case　you　will　find　yourself　inconveniently　visible。　I　will　not　be　held　responsible　for　any　difficulties　that　ensue。〃
　　　Fully　armed　and　armored；　packs　shouldered；　all　but　Valas　joined　hands　and　waited。　The　Master　of　Sorcere；　standing　in　their　center；　hissed　out　a　sibilant　string　of　arcane　words　and　wove　hi