war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第51部分

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just　to　save　her　own　hide。
　　　At　that　moment；　a　single　massive　spider　leg　settled　on　the　stone　between　the　alcove　and　the　shield　of　magical　darkness　that　the　mage　had　summoned；　and　a　portion　of　the　arachnid's　body　hove　into　view。　It　was　the　underside　of　the　creature；　Pharaun　noted；　holding　his　breath　as　he　felt　the　tremor　of　it　settling　its　weight　on　the　web　street。　Beside　him；　the　two　females　were　wide…eyed；　and　Jeggred　watched　the　scene　warily；　but　none　of　them　moved。　As　the　spider　glided　down　and　away　from　their　hiding　place；　the　wizard　sighed　softly　in　relief。　It　had　not　noticed　them。
　　　Out　beyond　the　protective　blackness；　Pharaun　could　hear　the　shouts　of　duergar…cries　of　terror…as　the　spider　moved　quickly　away　from　the　building　where　the　mage　and　his　panions　were　hiding。　The　vibrations　of　its　steps　grew　ever　softer　as　it　departed。
　　　Good；　Pharaun　thought。　Chase　them　for　a　while。
　　　〃What　in　the　Abyss　is　a　guardian　spider？〃　he　asked　aloud。
　　　Danifae　shrugged　and　said；　〃I　don't　know　as　much　about　them　as　Halisstra。　You'll　have　to　ask　her　if　you　want　the　details；　but　I　can　tell　you　that　the　matron　mothers　have；　in　the　past；　brought　these　creatures　forth　for　various　purposes。　They　must　have　conjured　one　today；　maybe　to　turn　the　tide　of　the　fighting。〃
　　　Quenthel　sighed　and　shook　her　head。
　　　〃Madness；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃The　matron　mothers　of　this　city　pick　the　most　foolish　time　to　war　with　one　another。〃
　　　〃I　wouldn't　limit　the　appellation　of　foolish　solely　to　the　matron　mothers　of　this　city；〃　Pharaun　muttered　under　his　breath。
　　　Quenthel　glanced　at　him；　but　he　simply　smiled；　and　she　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　unseen　ruckus　beyond　the　sphere　of　darkness；　apparently　not　having　clearly　heard　his　remarks。
　　　〃Dispel　the　darkness；〃　the　high　priestess　ordered　the　wizard。　〃I　want　to　see　what's　happening。〃
　　　As　I　said；　Pharaun　thought；　shaking　his　head。
　　　Sighing；　the　mage　gestured　and　the　sphere　of　blackness　vanished；　revealing　the　street　beyond。　The　spider　was　out　of　sight　for　the　moment。　In　the　street；　nothing　moved；　though　there　were　plenty　of　dead　strewn　about；　duergar　and　drow　alike。
　　　〃It　seems　to　have　wandered　off；〃　Quenthel　observed；　rising　to　her　feet。　〃We　should　be　going；　too；　before　it　es　back；〃
　　　〃Let's　give　it　another　couple　of　moments；〃　Pharaun　suggested；　still　unnerved　at　the　appearance　of　the　giant　creature。　〃Just　to　make　sure　it's　pletely　gone。〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled　at　the　wizard　then　turned　to　the　draegloth　and　said；　〃Go　see。〃
　　　Smiling；　the　fiend　bounded　out　from　their　hiding　place　to　peer　in　both　directions。
　　　At　that　moment　the　duergar　chose　to　e　out　of　hiding。
　　　Scores　of　them　poured　out　from　around　the　corner　and　from　the　building　across　the　street；　as　though　they　had　been　waiting　for　the　drow　to　emerge　from　their　hiding　place。
　　　〃Get　'em！〃　one　of　the　gray　dwarves　shouted。
　　　The　duergar　formed　up　a　semicircle；　surrounding　the　dark　elves'　position；　and　Jeggred　leaped　back　into　the　alcove　as　the　first　volley　of　crossbow　bolts　peppered　the　walls　around　them。
　　　Cursing；。　Pharaun　ducked　low；　using　the　elevation　of　the　porch　as　a　screen。　He　pointed　his　finger　toward　the　street　and　spoke　the　arcane　phrase　that　would　trigger　one　of　his　spells。　At　once；　a　cloud　of　roiling　smoke；　shot　through　with　white…hot　embers；　formed　beneath　him　and　began　to　flow　away　from　the　building　and　across　the　street。　The　duergar；　many　of　whom　had　their　crossbows　loaded　again　and　were　aiming　at　the　small　group；　eyed　the　fiery　haze　warily　as　it　appeared　and　began　to　churn　toward　them。　As　it　reached　those　in　the　front　ranks　and　engulfed　them；　they　began　to　scream　and　flail；　scorched　by　the　embers。
　　　Gray　dwarves　fell　back　before　the　cloud　as　it　burned　their　kin　where　they　stood。　The　smoke　was　thick　and　black。　It　moved　away　from　the　building；　and　the　screams　of　the　duergar　intensified　as　more　and　more　of　them　succumbed　to　the　scorching　heat。
　　　Pharaun　crept　out　a　little　way　to　watch　his　handiwork。　Jeggred　stood　beside　him；　unafraid　of　a　stray　missile；　eyeing　the　cloud　with　delight。
　　　〃Can　any　of　them　survive？〃　the　fiend　asked。
　　　〃Not　if　you　go　dance　among　them；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　replied。　〃The　fire　can't　hurt　you；　right？〃
　　　〃That　is　correct；〃　the　draegloth　answered；　and　he　bounded　into　the　smoky　fog。
　　　The　incendiary　cloud　had　pushed　across　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　street。　Bodies　of　duergar　were　scattered　across　its　surface；　charred　and　smoking。　Several　of　them　were　openly　burning。　Jeggred　emerged　from　within　the　roiling　smoke；　which　Pharaun　redirected　to　flow　down　the　street；　in　the　direction　opposite　they　wished　to　go。　It　would　continue　of　its　own　accord　for　some　minutes　before　dissipating；　ensuring　that　another　horde　of　the　enemy　couldn't　e　up　behind　them。　The　draegloth　was　dripping　with　blood　but　had　a　very　satisfied　look　on　his　face。　He　had　an　amputated　arm　in　his　hand　and　was　chewing　on　it　as　he　trotted　back　to　where　the　three　drow　were　crouched。
　　　Pharaun　studiously　ignored　the　fiend's　dining　habits　as　Quenthel　asked；　〃Are　they　all　dead？〃
　　　〃Either　dead　or　running；〃　the　draegloth　answered。　〃The　street　is　clear。〃
　　　〃Then　we　should　proceed。　The　spider　could　return　at　any　moment；　and　we　have　no　time　to　waste。　Where　did　you　say　the　others　went？〃　the　high　priestess　asked　Pharaun。
　　　The　wizard　pointed　toward　the　alleyway　where　he　had　seen　Ryld　vanish　moments　before。
　　　〃The　weapons　master　went　in　there；〃　he　said。　〃It's　possible　that　one　or　both　of　the　others　joined　him。〃
　　　Before　Pharaun　could　take　more　than　a　couple　of　steps；　though；　the　street　heaved　and　shook。
　　　〃Damnation！〃　he　heard　Quenthel　cry　out；　and　the　mage　risked　a　glance　back。
　　　The　spider　had　spotted　them　and　was　skittering　along　the　street；　easily　stepping　over　the　roiling　cloud　of　flame　Pharaun　had　sent　in　that　direction。　The　arachnid　came　toward　them；　and　fast；　its　mandibles　flexing　eagerly。
　　　Pharaun　turned　and　fled　from　it。
　　　***
　　　
　　　〃I'm　telling　you；　I　want　that　thing　killed；　now！〃　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　screamed。　〃If　you　don't　do　it；　we　are　all　in　a　midden　heap　of　trouble！〃
　　　She　loomed　over　Khorrl　Xornbane　as　the　two　stood　on　the　steps　of　an　upscale　fashion　shop；　abandoned　in　the　fighting；　situated　in　the　interior　of　the　gray　dwarves'　position　on　the　plaza。　The　shop　was　well　back　from　the　lines　of　battle；　but　Khorrl　could　plainly　see　the　spider　in　the　distance　as　the　matron　mother　pointed　at　it。　The　massive　creature　clambered　over　a　building　near　where　Clan　Xornbane　was　locked　in　a　pitched　battle　with　a　force　of　antagonistic　drow。
　　　〃And　I'm　telling　you；　I'm　not　sending　my　boys　to　fight　that　thing！〃　Khorrl　snarled　back；　losing　patience　with　this　haughty　dark　elf。　〃You　hired　me　to　win　you　a　seat　on　your　blessed　council　by　defeating　your　adversaries；　not　to　clean　up　your　mistakes。　You　and　your　cronies　brought　it　here；　so　you　and　your　cronies　can　figure　out　how　to　stop　it。　It's　not　my　fault　you　can't　control　it！〃
　　　〃My　mistakes？　Let's　talk　about　mistakes；　Captain。　Let's　talk　about　you　and　your　mercenary　rabble　taking　to　the　streets　prematurely；　ruining　my　well…laid　plans　for　ascension　to　the　Council　in　one　foolish　moment。　Mistakes；　indeed！　We　wouldn't　even　be　in　this　position　if　you　had　followed　simple　orders。〃
　　　Khorrl　wanted　to　slice　the　offensive　drow　in　half　right　then。　If　she　hadn't　brought　a　retinue　of　bodyguards　with　her；　he　would　have；　but　he　was　outnumbered；　and　he　knew　that　even　if　he　got　in　the　killing　blow　he　would　be　taken　down　shortly　thereafter。　Instead；　he　squeezed　his　grip　on　his　axe　and　sucked　in　a　deep　breath；　trying　to　still　the　trembling　rage　that　coursed　through　his　body。
　　　〃Prematurely？〃　he　said　through　clenched　teeth。　〃I　received　direct　orders　from　your　boy　Zammzt。　If　he　didn't　have　the　word　from　you；　go　talk　to　him。　Either　way；　stop　wasting　my　timer　he　finished　with　a　roar。　〃I　am　not　sacrificing　my　lads　needlessly　to　kill　your　spider。　In　fact；　we're　done；　here。
　　　〃Forghel！〃　he　called　out；　looking　for　his　aide。　〃Forghel；　sound　the　retreat。　We're　pulling　out。〃
　　　Khorrl　knew　he　played　a　dangerous　game；　turning　his　back　on　the　dark　elf；　but　he　wanted　to　bait　her；　see　if　she　would　lose　her　temper。
　　　〃Liar！〃　Ssipriina　screamed　once　more。　〃Don't　you　blame　your　foolish　gaffes　on　my　House。　You　will　not　abandon　your…Don't　you　walk　away　from　me！
　　　〃To　the　Abyss　with　you。　Kill　him？　she　screamed。
　　　Smiling　to　himself；　Khorrl　gave　a　shrill　whistle；　and　instantly；　a　host　of　his　boys　banished　their　invisibility　and　magically　appeared；　surrounding　him；　axes　and　crossbows　ready。　The　captain　turned　back　to　face　the　advancing　retinue　of　drow；　looking　specifically　for　Ssipriina。
　　　The　dark　elf's　bodyguards　had　begun　to　chase　him　down；　but　when　the　additional　duergar　materialized；　the　drow　soldiers　faltered　a　moment。　That　was　all　the　Clan　Xornbane　troops　needed。　Charging　forward；　Khorrl's　boys　took　the　fight　to　the　drow。
　　　Of　course；　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　was　not　foolish　enough　to　remain　too　close　to　the　fighting；　but　she　gave　the　captain　one　last　baleful　glare　as　she　turned　and　retreated　back　down　the　steps　in　the　opposite　direction。
　　　Grabbing　up　a　crossbow　from　one　of　his　gray　dwarves　who　was　standing　close　to　him；　Khorrl　sighted　down　the　weapon；　taking　aim　at　the　withdrawing　matron　mother。　He　fired；　but　the　bolt　clacked　loudly　off　a　stone　column　at　the　corner　of　the　building　as　Ssipriina　rounded　it　and　disappeared。　She　would　be　back；　though；　the　captain　knew；　and　she　would　bring　more　of　her　damnable　soldiers　with　her。
　　　''Sir；　look；〃　Forghel　said；　running　up　beside　Khorrl。
　　　The　captain　turned　and　looked　back　the　way　his　aide　was　pointing；　and　his　heart　sank。　The　immense　spider　was　positioned　in　the　middle　of　the　street；　rearing　up　on　its　back　legs；　while　its　front　appendages　fluttered　oddly　in　the　air。　A　bluish　line　appeared　in　the　air；　as　tall　as　the　spider　itself；　and　widened　into　an　odd…shaped　field　of　blue　light。　A　second　spider　stepped　through　the　magical　opening；　equally　as　large　as　the　first。　It　had　somehow　summoned　a　mate。
　　　***
　　　
　　　Ryld　was　growing　tired。　He　didn't　know　how　much　longer　he　could　d