war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第63部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


sible　but　solid。　Pharaun　could　see　that　it　radiated　some　sort　of　magic　and　reported　such。
　　　〃If　I　had　the　proper　type　of　magic　at　my　disposal；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　said；　〃I'd　be　able　to　bring　it　down　in　mere　seconds；　but　as　it　is；　I　can't　do　so　until　I've　had　a　chance　to　rest　and　regroup。〃
　　　〃Do　you　have　another　magical　doorway　at　your　disposal？〃　Quenthel　asked　Halisstra。
　　　The　priestess　shook　her　head　miserably；　reaching　out　to　steady　herself　against　a　wall　as　another　rumble　rocked　the　room　and　everyone　in　it。
　　　〃Well；　then；　wizard；　what　are　we　going　to　do？〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　asked。　〃We　can't　sit　in　here　while　you　recharge　your　magical　energies。〃
　　　〃Quite　true；〃　the　mage　replied。　〃Give　me　a　moment。〃
　　　〃Mizzrym；　we　don't　have　a　moment！〃
　　　As　Pharaun　studied　their　predicament；　the　building　shook　again；　even　more　roughly。　Everyone　was　pitched　to　the　floor；　and　behind　them　a　large　portion　of　the　ceiling　collapsed；　with　shards　of　stone　showering　down。
　　　〃Thar　is　getting　tiresome；〃　Quenthel　plained；　regaining　her　feet　with　a　horrid　scowl　on　her　face。　〃I　will　not　die　trapped　in　a　cage　like　some　animal。　Not　after　all　I've　been　through。〃
　　　Growling　deeply；　Jeggred　bounded　across　to　the　door　and　began　to　attack　the　invisible　opening；　raking　his　claws　ineffectually　against　the　barrier。　A　crackle　of　electrical　energy　raked　over　his　body；　but　it　didn't　stop　him　from　throwing　himself　at　it　again　and　again。　His　efforts　were　fruitless。
　　　〃Jeggred；　stop　it！〃　Quenthel　said　at　last。　〃You're　not　helping。〃
　　　With　another　deep…throated　growl；　the　draegloth　backed　off。
　　　〃If　we　don't　get　through　there；〃　Danifae　said　to　Pharaun；　measuring　each　word　for　emphasis；　〃we're　all　going　to　be　pulverized。　Do　something！〃
　　　〃All　right；　all　right；〃　the　mage　replied；　holding　up　a　hand；　〃The　problem　is；　we　have　no　way　to　open　the　door　from　the　inside。　The　magic　that　seals　us　out　here　keeps　me　from　using　even　a　simple　spell。　If　I　was　over　there；　I　could　simply　remove　the　barrier　manually；　but　that's　easier　said　than　done。　That's　all。　Such　a　simple　trick；　and　yet　impossible　。　。　。〃
　　　He　looked　at　them　all　miserably。
　　　〃Wait；〃　Ryld　said；　stepping　over　near　the　wizard。　〃Move　back。〃
　　　Raising　Splitter　high　over　his　head；　the　weapons　master　swung　the　blade　down　hard　against　the　barrier。　The　enchanted　weapon　sliced　into　it　with　a　flash　of　light；　and　Pharaun　saw　the　magical　emanations　from　the　seal　fade　from　view。　The　blade　had　dissipated　the　magic。
　　　〃Thank　the　Dark　Mother；〃　someone　said　as　the　entire　group　rushed　into　the　chamber　beyond。
　　　〃All　right；　wizard；　lead　us　out　of　here；〃　Quenthel　said；　sounding　desperate；　〃and　hurry！〃
　　　〃We'll　be　departed　in　a　moment；〃　Pharaun　said；　gesturing　for　Q'arlynd　to　show　him　the　way。
　　　The　Melarn　wizard　led　the　group　into　the　large　chamber；　which　looked　like　a　library；　though　all　the　shelves　were　empty。　Several　statues　lined　the　walls。　Q'arlynd　headed　toward　a　spot　on　one　wall；　near　the　back　of　the　room。　It　was　an　archway；　but　it　led　nowhere　at　the　moment；　filled　instead　with　worked　stone　blocks。　It　did；　however；　glow　with　faint　dweomers　of　transference。
　　　〃Here；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Excellent！〃　Pharaun　replied；　grinning　as　he　studied　the　spot　more　closely。　〃Now；　I'll　just　need　a　moment　to…〃
　　　The　mage's　words　were　cut　off　by　yet　another　tremor　in　the　floor。　This　was　followed　by　another；　and　another；　again　definitely　different　than　the　previous　rumbling。　Turning　to　look　over　his　shoulder；　Pharaun　groaned。　A　massive　statue　of　iron　was　striding　slowly　but　inexorably　toward　them；　and　with　each　step　the　floor　trembled　under　its　weight。
　　　〃Lolth　preserve　us；〃　Ryld　said；　dropping　into　a　defensive　crouch。　〃What　is　that？〃
　　　〃Its　a　magical　construct；〃　Pharaun　answered。　〃A　golem。　I　can't　do　anything　about　it。〃
　　　Ryld　leaped　forward　to　slice　at　the　huge　thing。　His　blade　struck　against　the　side　of　the　construct　and　skittered　off。
　　　Pharaun　shouted；　〃If　it　exhales；　don't　breathe　the　vapors！〃
　　　Jeggred　snarled　and　leaped　at　the　golem；　slashing　at　it。　In　response；　the　huge　construct　swung　one　massive　fist　around　and　caught　the　draegloth　squarely　in　the　ribs；　sending　him　flying　across　the　room　with　a　painful　grunt。　Jeggred　was　down　on　his　hands　and　knees；　shaking　his　head。
　　　Ryld　moved　in　again；　wary　of　the　huge　sword　in　the　golem's　other　hand。　When　the　weapons　master　found　an　opening；　he　lunged　forward；　swiping　at　the　metallic　hide　of　the　construct。　Sparks　flew　as　Splitter　cut　a　deep　furrow　across　the　golems　flank。　Ryld　spun　and　ducked　down；　trying　to　stay　behind　the　thing。
　　　Another　tremor　rocked　the　chamber；　and　part　of　the　ceiling　collapsed　behind　the　golem；　sending　bookshelves　flying　as　shards　of　wood。　Pharaun　went　down　on　one　knee　from　the　shaking；　then　looked　up　to　see　that　part　of　the　room　on　the　far　side　had　not　just　collapsed　but　had　pletely　broken　away　and　disappeared。　The　Dangling　Tower　was　ing　apart　around　them；　just　as　House　Melarn　had　done。　Beyond　the　jagged　edge　of　the　room；　Pharaun　could　see　the　smoky　glow　of　the　burning　city。　They　were　indeed　running　out　of　time。
　　　〃Forget　the　fight；〃　Quenthel　said；　grabbing　the　wizard　by　the　collar　of　his　piwafwi　and　spinning　him　to　face　her。　〃Just　get　that　portal　open。　Now？
　　　Pharaun　nodded　and　turned　away　as　Jeggred　leaped　back　in　beside　Ryld。　Valas；　Halisstra；　and　Q'arlynd　also　circled　the　construct；　each　of　them　waiting　until　the　thing　turned　its　attention　to　another　before　sliding　in　to　gain　an　attack。　Ignoring　the　fight　behind　him；　Pharaun　concentrated　on　studying　the　magical　glows　from　the　portal。　He　needed　a　few　moments　to　determine　the　key　that　would　activate　the　thing。
　　　〃Hurry！〃　Quenthel　said；　watching　him　over　his　shoulder。
　　　Pharaun　gave　the　high　priestess　a　very　deliberate　look。
　　　〃Don't　rush　me；〃　he　said　flatly；　and　continued　studying。
　　　Behind　the　mage　came　a　deep　grunt；　and　Ryld　slid　up　against　the　wall　in　a　heap。　The　weapons　master　shook　his　head；　apparently　trying　to　clear　the　cobwebs；　and　regained　his　feet。
　　　〃Hurry；〃　the　weapons　master　hissed；　〃I　don't　know　how　long　we　can　keep　this　thing　off　you。〃
　　　Pharaun　rolled　his　eyes　and　bent　to　his　task　once　more。　He　tumbled　onto　his　side　as　the　floor　bucked　with　another　foundation…crumbling　shudder。
　　　〃I've　just　about　got　it；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　said；　when　half　the　wall　next　to　the　portal　exploded　in　a　shower　of　rock　and　dust。
　　　Fragments　of　debris　smacked　into　the　wizard；　knocking　the　breath　from　him　as　he　went　sprawling。　He　felt　the　floor　shift；　not　just　from　buckling　but　because　the　whole　building　was　tipping。　He　knew　it　was　going　to　break　away　soon；　and　their　chances　for　escaping　the　city　would　disappear　with　it。
　　　The　mage　struggled　up　into　a　sitting　position　and　looked　around。　What　was　left　of　the　room　was　considerably　smaller　than　before。　The　iron　golem　teetered　near　the　edge　of　the　floor；　then　took　a　step　toward　its　nearest　foe；　causing　the　stone　beneath　its　feet　to　groan。　Everyone　in　the　group　lay　sprawled；　half　buried　in　rubble　and　dust；　and　just　beyond　Valas；　the　floor　was　gone；　replaced　by　the　void　of　the　city。　The　rock　groaned　and　shifted　again　as　the　golem　took　a　step　toward　the　scout；　and　Valas　rolled　toward　the　opening。
　　　〃Jeggred；〃　Pharaun　yelled；　〃grab　Valas！〃
　　　Even　as　the　words　left　his　mouth；　Valas；　who　seemed　considerably　dazed；　tumbled　the　rest　of　the　way　over　and　dropped　over　the　edge；　disappearing　from　sight。
　　　The　draegloth；　who　had　been　caught　beneath　a　large　section　of　collapsing　rubble；　let　out　a　snarl　of　fury　so　unearthly　that　it　chilled　Pharauns　blood。　Shoving　his　way　out　of　the　debris；　the　enraged　fiend　leaped　across　the　distance　and　dived　over　the　edge　after　the　scout。
　　　The　golem　swung　its　sword　toward　the　demon；　but　it　was　too　slow。　With　Jeggred　out　of　sight；　the　golem　focused　its　attention　on　its　next　victim。　Q'arlynd　Melarn　lay　facedown；　unmoving；　close　to　it。　Nearby；　Danifae　was　sprawled　across　the　shattered　remains　of　a　bookcase；　the　wound　on　her　forehead　bleeding　freely。　The　golem　took　another　step；　and　Pharaun　nearly　fell　as　the　stone　floor　popped　and　protested。
　　　We're　not　going　to　make　it；　the　mage　thought；　trying　to　figure　out　a　way　to　distract　the　golem　from　killing　the　unconscious　pair。
　　　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Pharaun　saw　Ryld　regain　his　feet。
　　　〃Help　them！〃　the　wizard　shouted　to　his　friend；　pointing　to　Danifae　and　Q'arlynd。
　　　The　weapons　master　had　a　deep　gash　across　his　forehead；　but　his　red　eyes　seemed　clear；　and　when　he　spotted　the　forms　of　the　battle　captive　and　the　Melarn　mage；　and　the　golem　moving　toward　them；　he　nodded。
　　　The　room　tilted　over　some　more；　and　Pharaun　slid　across　the　floor　a　few　feet。　The　blackness　of　the　vast　cavern　of　the　city　yawned　before　him。　He　ignored　it　and　looked　to　Ryld。
　　　The　weapons　master　measured　his　distance　from　the　golem；　who　had　gotten　close　enough　to　Danifae　that　it　raised　its　sword　high；　preparing　to　deliver　a　killing　blow。　Ryld　sprang　forward；　charging　as　fast　as　he　could；　aided　by　the　downhill　slope　of　the　floor。　When　he　was　within　a　few　feet　of　the　construct；　he　leaped　into　the　air；　extended　both　feet；　and　hit　the　golem　with　a　pile…driving　kick　to　its　midsection。　The　force　of　the　blow　drove　Ryld　back　up　the　slope　of　the　floor；　and　the　golem　barely　seemed　to　move。
　　　But　then　Pharaun　saw　that　it　was　teetering。　The　construct　took　a　step　back　to　steady　itself；　and　had　the　floor　been　level；　it　probably　would　have　worked；　but　the　weight　of　the　golem；　coupled　with　the　slope　of　the　floor；　caused　it　to　overbalance。　Another　step　backward　brought　the　toppling　construct　near　the　edge　of　the　floor；　and　the　room　shifted　more；　sinking　and　increasing　the　slope。　Then；　with　one　final　off…balance　step；　the　golem　shifted　forward　again；　falling　up　the　slope　rather　than　down。　It　dropped　to　one　knee　and　reached　out　for　Q'arlynd；　who　was　shaking　his　head　as　he　returned　to　consciousness。
　　　The　fractured　stone　could　no　longer　hold　the　constructs　weight；　and　it　gave　out　beneath　the　golem。　Even　then；　the　construct　latched　on　to　the　wizard；　gripping　him　tightly。　Q'arlynd　screamed　in　agony。　Ryld　took　two　steps　for