war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第50部分

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ot　at　the　two　drow。
　　　One　of　the　duergar　nudged　his　panion　and　pointed　to　the　priestess。　Together；　they　swung　their　crossbows　around　to　put　her　in　their　sights；　and　Halisstra　took　refuge　behind　her　shield。　She　felt　one　bolt　strike　her　shield；　but　the　other　embedded　itself　in　her　shoulder。　She　grunted　in　pain　and　staggered　backward；　unable　to　keep　her　shield　raised　high　enough　for　solid　protection。
　　　Another　gray　dwarf　circled　to　Halisstra's　shield　side；　seeing　that　her　defenses　were　down；　and　brought　his　axe　high　for　a　new　strike。　She　did　her　best　to　spin　and　face　the　duergar　without　exposing　Ryld's　flank；　and　she　managed　to　parry　the　blow　with　her　mace；　but　the　crushing　force　of　it　made　her　stumble　to　one　knee。
　　　〃Ryld！　Help　me！〃　she　cried　out；　and　as　though　sensing　she　was　in　trouble；　the　warrior　was　in　front　of　her；　battling　all　four　of　the　foes　at　once。
　　　The　priestess　risked　a　glance　over　at　the　gray　dwarves　who　were　reloading　their　crossbows。　They　were　also　pointing　at　her　and　grinning。　Or　rather；　they　were　pointing　over　her　head；　Halisstra　realized。
　　　The　priestess's　heart　sank　as　she　took　a　peek　above。　More　of　the　gray　dwarves　had　already　taken　the　roof；　and　these　had　thrown　nets　across　the　opening　while　she　and　Ryld　had　been　engaged　in　the　battle。　They　were　trapped　inside　the　alley；　unable　to　escape。　The　duergar　on　the　roofs　also　had　crossbows；　and　as　one　of　them　fired　at　her；　Halisstra　flinched。　The　crossbow　bolt　whisked　across　her　face；　grazing　her　cheek。　She　felt　wetness。
　　　〃Ryld！〃　she　cried　out　as　she　stumbled　to　her　feet　again。　〃They're　above　us；　too。　We're　trapped。〃
　　　The　warrior　never　acknowledged　Halisstra's　cry；　so　busy　was　he　fending　off　four　duergar。　Slowly；　he　was　being　forced　back；　bloody　gashes　across　his　body；　having　to　retreat　a　little　at　a　time　to　keep　the　gray　dwarves　from　surrounding　him。
　　　Gritting　her　teeth；　Halisstra　tested　the　end　of　the　crossbow　bolt　that　protruded　from　her　arm　and　almost　wretched　from　the　pain　that　doing　so　produced。　Her　shield　arm　useless；　the　priestess　rose　to　her　feet　anyway；　gripping　her　mace　and　moving　next　to　the　warrior　once　more。　She　tried　to　stay　beside　him；　to　guard　his　flank　and　enjoy　a　similar　protection。
　　　One　of　the　four　gray　dwarves　was　dead；　but　Ryld　was　breathing　heavily。　A　duergar　slipped　around　to　Halisstra's　side；　trying　to　get　inside　her　defenses。　She　swung　her　mace　hard　and　caught　the　duergar　closing　in　on　her　on　the　shoulder；　feeling　the　satisfying　crunch　of　metal　on　bone。　The　gray　dwarf　growled　in　anguish　as　he　dropped　his　axe　and　fell　back　out　of　Ryld's　reach。
　　　Two　more　stepped　in　to　take　the　wounded　one's　place；　and　Halisstra　had　to　press　in　too　closely　to　Ryld　to　avoid　being　struck　down。　Her　movement　hampered　the　weapons　master's　ability　to　fight；　and　he　took　a　cut　across　his　forearm　as　a　result。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mother；〃　Ryld　snarled；　whipping　Splitter　around　to　cleave　the　offending　gray　dwarf's　head　pletely　off。
　　　The　body　flopped　to　the　ground　as　the　head　rolled　away；　past　another　duergar；　who　watched　it　pass　him　with　a　look　of　horror　on　his　face。
　　　Another　crossbow　bolt　clacked　against　the　stone　of　the　street　near　Halisstra；　and　two　more　struck　her　armor；　bouncing　off。　Ryld　jerked　as　a　bolt　flew　close　to　him；　but　he　never　turned　his　attention　away　from　his　adversaries；　never　deviated　from　his　fluid　motion　and　quick；　precise　strikes。　Still；　he　and　Halisstra　were　being　backed　into　a　corner；　the　priestess　saw；　and　they　would　make　easy　prey　for　the　snipers　on　the　roof。
　　　The　first　firepot　exploded　right　behind　Halisstra；　making　her　jump　and　nearly　get　her　head　taken　off　by　an　axe。　She　scrambled　away　from　the　flames　as　she　warded　off　another　blow　from　the　axe…wielding　enemy　in　front　of　her　with　her　mace；　feeling　the　vibration　of　the　blow　all　the　way　up　her　arm。　Two　more　of　the　flaming　contraptions　smacked　against　the　end　of　the　street；　the　clay　pots　shattering　and　spilling　fire　everywhere。　She　risked　a　glance　up　and　saw　another　one　hurtling　toward　her。　Somehow；　her　wounded　shoulder　screaming　in　agony；　she　managed　to　bring　her　shield　up　with　both　hands　and　deflected　the　pot　so　that　it　skipped　off　and　hit　the　pavement　between　her　and　her　opponent。
　　　The　gray　dwarves　fighting　with　them　began　backing　up；　and　Halisstra　saw　that　the　duergar　on　the　roof　were　creating　a　fire　screen　to　seal　her　and　Ryld　off；　trap　them　between　the　flames　and　the　wall。　She　knew　that　they　intended　to　pin　the　two　drow　down；　and　pick　them　off　at　their　leisure。　There　was　nowhere　for　the　dark　elves　to　go。　They　were　going　to　die。
　　　SIXTEEN
　　　The　second　time　he　got　no　reply　from　the　distant　wizard；　Gromph　slammed　his　fists　down　atop　his　bone　desk　in　frustration。　Two　sendings；　and　nothing。　What　had　happened　to　Pharaun？　Why　wouldn't　he　answer？　The　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　rose　up　and　began　to　pace。
　　　Two　different　spies　had　already　contacted　him　with　reports　of　heavy　fighting　in　Ched　Nasad。　The　matron　mothers　were　squabbling　over　something；　it　appeared；　and　like　it　or　not；　the　team　from　Menzoberranzan　appeared　to　be　in　the　thick　of　it；　but　Gromph　couldn't　get　any　confirmation　from　the　team　itself　He　considered　whether　or　not　he　should　try　one　last　time。
　　　Realizing　he　couldn't　force　the　wizard　to　answer…Pharaun　might　be　receiving　the　magical　whispers　and　was　simply　unable　to　reply…　Gromph　decided　against　any　further　waste　of　magic。　It　was　possible　that　Pharaun　was　unwilling　to　give　himself　away　in　the　pany　of　others　who　didn't　know　the　full　extent　of　what　he　was　up　to。
　　　Or　he's　dead；　Gromph　thought。
　　　It　was　a　possibility；　however　unlikely　that　seemed。　Pharaun　Miz…zrym　had　a　knack　for　keeping　himself　out　of　the　worst　sorts　of　trouble；　and　coupled　with　Quenthel　and　the　others；　the　archwizard　had　a　difficult　time　imagining　that　they'd　succumbed　to　whatever　violence　inundated　the　streets　of　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs。　Still；　it　wasn't　impossible。
　　　If　the　team　was　dead　Gromph　felt　no　remorse。
　　　Gromph　sighed　and　reached　into　one　of　the　drawers　of　his　desk；　extracting　a　scroll　tube。　Pulling　the　bundle　of　rolled　parchment　free　of　the　tube；　he　found　the　page　he　was　looking　for　and　tucked　the　others　away　again。　Spreading　his　selected　sheet　out　on　the　desktop；　the　archwizard　took　a　deep　breath　and　scanned　through　the　spell　once　before　preparing　to　cast　it。　He　was　just　about　to　begin　the　incantation　to　try　once　more　to　reach　the　wizard　when　a　thought　struck　him。
　　　Just　because　he'd　been　municating　exclusively　with　Pharaun　didn't　mean　he　had　to　continue　that　way。　Why　not　try　some　of　the　other　members　of　the　team？　It　was　possible　Pharaun　was　dead　or　incapacitated；　but　that　didn't　necessarily　mean　that　all　of　them　were。　Quenthel　was　the　most　likely　choice；　but　he　didn't　relish　the　thought　of　talking　to　her。　Who　would　his　next　choice　be？　Ryld　Argith。
　　　Nodding　to　himself；　Gromph　read　through　the　arcane　words　on　the　scroll；　weaving　the　magic　that　would　allow　him　to　contact　the　warrior。　He　pleted　the　phrases　and　felt　the　magic　coalesce。
　　　〃Ryld；　this　is　Gromph　Baenre。　No　word　from　Pharaun。　Give　me　an　update　on　the　situation。　Whisper　a　reply　at　once。〃
　　　Gromph　sat　back　and　waited　for　a　response。　It　was　deathly　quiet　in　his　secret　chamber。　If　Ryld　Argith　answered；　the　archwizard　would　undoubtedly　hear　it。　The　silence　seemed　to　stretch　on；　and　Gromph　was　just　about　to　throw　up　his　hands　in　frustration　and　despair　when　the　reply　came。　When　he　heard　it；　his　blood　actually　ran　cold。
　　　I'm　separated　from　Pharaun　and　the　others；　don't　know　where　they　are。　Duergar　are　everywhere。　The　whole　city　is　burning。　We're　cut　off；　no　way…
　　　Gromph　slumped　in　his　chair；　sighing　long　and　loudly；　shaking　his　head　in　displeasure。
　　　Triel　is　going　to　spit　rocks　when　she　hears　this；　he　thought。　How　long　can　I　hold　off　telling　her？　On　the　other　hand；　maybe　Quenthel　is　dead。
　　　The　archmage　caught　himself　smiling　as　he　rose　from　his　desk　to　go　find　his　sister。
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　As　Pharaun　ended　his　descent　at　the　steps　of　the　building；　he　could　see　a　sizable　force　of　duergar；　waiting　and　watching。　Without　hesitating；　he　took　a　couple　steps　forward　then　crouched　and　smacked　his　hand　against　the　stone；　summoning　a　sphere　of　darkness。　Quickly；　he　retreated　back　up　the　steps　just　as　Jeggred　settled　to　the　ground　next　to　him；　with　Quenthel　on　his　other　side。　A　couple　crossbow　bolts　whizzed　by；　but　he　ignored　the　missiles；　motioning　the　other　three　to　move　into　the　protection　of　the　porch　where　he　and　Danifae　had　taken　refuge　before。　It　was　a　small　space；　especially　with　the　draegloth　in　attendance；　but　they　all　fit　and　when　crouched　down　were　at　least　partially　shielded　from　the　duergar　on　the　street　below。　More　importantly；　they　were　out　of　sight　of　the　spider。
　　　Danifae　sank　to　the　stone　floor；　and　the　wizard　could　see　that　she　was　bleeding　steadily　from　the　wound　in　her　leg。　The　battle　captive　opened　her　own　pack　and　pulled　out　a　strip　of　cloth。　Wrapping　the　makeshift　bandage　around　her　leg；　she　held　it　there　as　Pharaun　assisted　her　by　tying　it　off。　Quenthel　looked　on　impassively。
　　　Pharaun　stole　a　glance　at　Quenthel　and　signed；　where　Danifae　could　not　see；　If　you　heal　her；　we　can　move　much　faster。
　　　Quenthel　shrugged　and　replied；　She　is　not　a　necessary　part　of　this　group。　I　will　not　waste　the　magic　on　her。　There　might　not　be　any　left　later　for　you；　if　I　did。
　　　Pharaun　pursed　his　lips；　wondering　what　It　would　take　to　convince　Quenthel　that　the　battle　captive　was　an　asset　they　could　not　do　without。　He　turned　his　attention　back　to　Danifae。
　　　〃Can　you　walk　on　it？〃　he　asked　her。
　　　〃Yes；〃　she　answered。　〃I　can　keep　up。〃
　　　〃We　will　not　wait　for　you；　if　you　cannot；〃　Quenthel　said　sharply；　〃and　I　will　not　permit　Jeggred　to　be　slowed　down　by　carrying　you。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　　〃Yes；　Mistress；〃　Danifae　said。
　　　Pharaun　saw　that　her　eyes　narrowed　a　bit。　He　gestured　with　his　palms　down　where　Quenthel　could　not　see；　indicating　for　Danifae　to　be　patient。　He　was　not　about　to　abandon　her；　even　if　he　knew　full　well　that　she　was　playing　upon　his　desires　just　to　save　her　own　hide。
　　　At　that　moment；　a　single　massive　spider　leg　settled　on　the　stone　b