war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第59部分

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　　　〃Then　let's　just　concentrate　on　getting　out　of　Ched　Nasad　and　worry　about　that　later；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃As　soon　as　Valas　returns；　we'll　see　what　he's　discovered　and　make　appropriate　plans。〃
　　　〃The　news　isn't　good；〃　the　scout　said；　appearing　is　if　on　cue。　He　climbed　up　and　over　the　wall　against　which　they'd　been　sitting。　〃Every　major　gate　seems　to　be　either　heavily　guarded　or　under　attack；　and　the　other　places　Halisstra　mentioned　are　inaccessible　at　the　moment。　There's　no　way　out　of　the　city。〃
　　　〃Nonsense；〃　Quenthel　said　firmly。　〃Pharaun；　do　you　have　any　means　at　all　of　transporting　us？　Some　spell　that　would　open　a　gate？　Anything？〃
　　　The　wizard　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Then　we'll　just　have　to　clear　a　path　through　one　of　the　gates。　I'm　sure　that　with　the　seven　of　us　we　can　acplish　this。〃
　　　〃There　is　only　one　way　to　find　out；〃　the　mage　answered。　He　studied　their　position　for　a　moment　then　turned　to　Valas。　〃We　need　to　get　up　higher；　above　those　duergar；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　Valas　nodded　and　said；　〃The　fighting　is　still　heavy　over　in　that　direction。　If　we　can　avoid　that；　all　the　better。〃
　　　〃Let's　not　dawdle　any　longer；〃　Pharaun　agreed。　〃We　go　up。〃
　　　Quenthel　nodded　her　assent　to　the　plan；　and　everyone　prepared　to　depart。
　　　As　Ryld　assembled　his　gear；　he　realized　that　he　was　exhausted。　Between　his　exploits　with　Valas　at　the　taverns；　fighting　their　way　into　and　out　of　House　Melarn；　and　dealing　with　both　the　duergar　and　the　spiders；　the　warrior　hadn't　rested　in　over　a　day。
　　　It　has　to　be　almost　morning；　he　realized；　and　we're　not　even　close　to　being　finished；　yet。　Let's　hope　we　can　find　a　relatively　painless　way　to　slip　past　the　gate　forces。
　　　The　team　set　out；　but　they　had　to　move　in　shifts；　for　Jeggred　had　to　carry　both　Valas　and　Danifae　to　higher　ground；　and　the　draegloth；　despite　his　immense　strength；　could　only　transport　one　of　the　dark　elves　at　a　time。　Thus；　half　the　group　rose　to　the　next　web　street　overhead　as　Jeggred　conveyed　one　drow；　while　the　remainder　waited　with　the　other　for　the　fiend　to　return。
　　　The　first　team；　consisting　of　Pharaun；　Quenthel；　and　Jeggred　carrying　Danifae；　alit　atop　a　web　street　and　discovered　that　it　was　actually　being　defended　by　drow　troops。　Several　of　the　dark　elves　leveled　hand　crossbows　at　the　four　of　them；　and　when　they　saw　the　draegloth；　they　nearly　panicked。
　　　〃What　in　the　Nine　Hells　is　that？〃　one　of　the　soldiers；　an　older　male　with　plenty　of　battle　scars；　called　out；　pointing　to　Jeggred　with　his　crossbow。
　　　The　fiend　growled　low；　turning　to　face　his　would…be　assailants；　but　Pharaun　stepped　between　the　draegloth　and　the　others。
　　　〃Easy；　there；〃　the　wizard　said；　his　hands　out；　palms　up　in　a　placating　manner。　〃We're　just　passing　through。　No　need　to　get　jumpy。〃
　　　Beside　him；　Quenthel　sniffed；　but　when　the　drow　soldiers　saw　that　she　seemed　unconcerned　by　the　fiend's　presence；　they　quieted　down；　returning　their　attention　below　them；　where　the　fighting　was　still　taking　place。　Jeggred　departed　to　retrieve　Valas。
　　　Pharaun　found　a　spot　to　take　a　seat　and　did　so；　reclining　against　a　wall　to　rest　for　a　few　moments。
　　　〃Might　as　well　get　fortable；〃　he　said　to　the　two　females　with　him。　〃Rest　when　you　can。〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled　but　consented　to　sit　across　from　the　wizard；　and　Danifae　settled　down；　too。
　　　The　trio's　rest　was　short…lived；　though；　for　soon；　shouts　emerged　from　farther　along　the　street。　All　the　drow　around　them　grew　restless　as　word　spread　that　dark　elves　from　an　enemy　House　were　heading　their　way。
　　　A　priestess　of　middling　rank　came　stalking　down　the　street；　acpanied　by　a　pair　of　male　wizards。　They　were　cajoling　the　troops　to　form　up。
　　　〃On　your　feet！　It's　time。　Get　up；　you　worthless　rothé；　and　fight！　Fight　for　House　Maerret！〃
　　　When　she　reached　Pharaun　and　the　others；　she　stopped　and　stared　at　them。
　　　〃What　are　you　three　doing　here？　You're　not　part　of　this　unit。　Who　are　you？〃
　　　Pharaun　gave　the　priestess　that　same　placating　motion　that　he'd　used　earlier　and　said；　〃We're　just　passersby；　not　here　to　cause　any　trouble。〃
　　　〃Well；　you'll　join　ranks；　then。　Get　forward　and　help　the　other　wizards。〃
　　　〃We　thought　we'd　better　serve　the　cause　by　helping　to　watch　this　end　of　road；〃　Pharaun　replied；　smiling　broadly。　〃You　never　know　when　those　pesky　grays　will　try　to　circumnavigate　our　flank　and　surprise　us。〃
　　　〃Get　on　your　feet；　wizard；　and　go　join　the　other　spellcasters。　And　you　two！　You　can　help　me　rally　the　troops　and　keep　order。　Up　off　your　hind　ends…now？
　　　Pharaun　could　see　that　Quenthel　was　about　to　lash　out　at　the　priestess；　so　before　she　could　cause　a　scene；　he　pulled　the　drow　mander　to　the　side。
　　　〃Listen；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃We're　actually　working　on　a　special　assignment　for　Matron　Mother　Drisinil　Melarn。　We've　got　permission　to　avoid　the　fighting　while　we　take　care　of　a　very　important　mission。〃
　　　〃Oh；　is　that　so？〃　one　of　the　male　wizards　replied　coldly。　〃Well；　Drisinil　Melarn　was　my　mother；　and　I　happen　to　know　that　she　was　murdered　by　traitors　before　this　civil　war　even　started。　Since　you　don't　wear　a　House　insignia；　I'm　guessing　you're　the　spies　who　were　accused　of　collaborating　with　her。　Maybe　it's　time　you　died。〃
　　　The　Melarn　wizard　stepped　back；　reaching　into　his　piwafwi；　but　before　Pharaun　could　react；　a　voice　drifted　from　behind　him。
　　　〃Hello；　Q'arlynd；〃　Halisstra　said　as　she　and　the　others　floated　up　over　the　side　of　the　web　street。
　　　The　Melarn　wizard　stopped；　peering　at　the　priestess　for　a　moment。　Then　he　broke　into　a　broad　grin。
　　　〃Dear　sister；〃　he　said。　〃I　thought　you　were　dead。〃
　　　NINETEEN
　　　〃When　the　fighting　got　worse；　several　of　the　matron　mothers；　including　Maerret；　came　to　the　Dangling　Tower　and　asked　us　to　aid　them；〃　Q'arlynd　explained。　〃They　said　it　was　a　full…scale　civil　war　and　the　rebels　were　going　to　tear　the　city　apart　if　we　didn't　stop　them。　Matron　Mother　Lirdnolu　explained　to　me　what　had　happened　to　House　Melarn。　I　knew　Mother　was　dead；　and　we'd　heard　that　she　was　killed　by　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　with　collaborators　from　the　outside　who　wanted　to　see　the　downfall　of　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　〃And　you　thought　I'd　perished；　too；〃　Halisstra　said；　squatting　down　beside　her　brother。
　　　〃Yes；　either　at　the　same　time　Mother　was　murdered　or　in　the　fall　of　our　House。　Is　it　really　gone？〃　the　Melarn　wizard　asked。
　　　Halisstra　only　nodded。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mother；〃　he　breathed。
　　　〃Well；　the　family　reunion　is　nice　and　all；　but　we　still　need　to　get　out　of　this　city；〃　Pharaun　said；　standing。　〃What's　the　situation？　Where's　the　closest　way　out　that　we　can　get　through？〃
　　　Q'arlynd　shook　his　head　and　said；　〃There　are　none；　so　I've　heard。　All　the　gates　have　either　been　mandeered　by　rebel　forces　or　hordes　of　escaped　slaves　or　they've　collapsed　outright　because　of　the　fighting。　This　alchemical　fire　that　burns　through　stone　is　wreaking　havoc　on…〃
　　　〃Believe　me；　we　know；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　interrupted；　〃but　your　report　doesn't　leave　us　with　many　options。　We've　got　to　find　a　way　to　get　free　of　the　city。〃
　　　Quenthel　had　just　opened　her　mouth；　most　likely　to　mand　Pharaun　to　figure　out　a　method　of　escaping　Ched　Nasad；　the　wizard　imagined；　when　a　motion　broke　out　from　farther　down　the　boulevard。　Pharaun　turned　and　looked　just　in　time　to　see　a　jumble　of　dark　elves　stumbling　to　their　feet　in　disarray。　Many　of　them　fell　again　just　as　quickly；　cut　down　by　a　growing　horde　of　gray　dwarves　who　were　emerging　through　a　magical　doorway　hovering　in　the　air　only　a　couple　of　feet　above　the　street。　The　duergar　were　streaming　through　as　fast　as　they　could；　firing　off　crossbows　at　any　drow　targets　they　could　find　before　casting　the　missile　weapons　aside　and　pulling　out　axes；　hammers；　and　the　occasional　mace。
　　　〃Attack！　We're　under　attack！〃　the　cry　went　up　as　more　drow　surged　to　their　feet；　moving　to　stop　the　advance　of　the　gray　dwarves。
　　　〃e　on；　you　flat…footed；　sorry　excuses　for　soldiers…get　up　there　and　fight　before　they　split　us　down　the　middle！〃　the　battle　priestess　yelled；　returning　from　the　far　end　of　the　street　and　shoving　troops　forward　as　fast　as　she　could　get　to　them。　〃Wizard！　Throw　a　spell！　Drive　them　back。　If　they　reach　the　square；　we're　done　for。〃
　　　Pharaun　sighed　and　nodded；　grabbing　the　battle　priestess　and　spinning　her　around　to　face　him。　His　smile　was　gone。
　　　〃Tell　your　troops　to　fall　back　to　this　point；〃　he　said。
　　　〃What？　And　let　them　e　at　us　unopposed？　I　think　not。〃
　　　〃Do　it；　or　they　will　be　trapped。　Set　up　three　positions　of　missile　fire；　here…〃　he　pointed　to　several　positions　in　the　street…〃there；　and　there。〃
　　　The　battle　priestess　looked　at　the　mage　as　though　he　were　crazy　but　finally　nodded　and　shouted　for　an　organized　retreat。
　　　Pharaun　rolled　his　eyes　at　the　battle　priestess's　short…sightedness　and　began　organizing　the　drow　soldiers　himself；　sorting　them　into　groups　of　crossbowmen；　stationing　them　where　he'd　pointed　earlier。　As　more　and　more　of　the　dark　elves　dropped　back　from　the　duergar；　they　fell　in　with　the　others　already　positioned。　As　a　unit；　they　began　to　fire　into　the　mass　of　milling　gray　dwarves；　who　were　slaughtering　the　few　remaining　stragglers。
　　　They're　lost　to　us；　the　wizard　said　to　himself。
　　　He　cast；　and　a　great　mass　of　webs　appeared；　spanning　the　width　of　the　street；　anchored　to　the　pavement　and　the　buildings　on　either　side。　A　handful　of　the　dark　elves　were　caught　in　the　sticky　strands；　and　perhaps　a　dozen　or　so　were　trapped　on　the　other　side；　but　the　gray　dwarves　were　effectively　sealed　off　from　advancing；　at　least　until　they　penetrated　the　webs　or　the　spell　wore　off。
　　　〃e　on；〃　Q'arlynd　said；　motioning　upward　as　he　began　to　levitate。
　　　Pharaun　followed　the　other　wizard　upward　to　a　position　where　they　could　see　over　the　top　of　his　webs；　down　into　the　field　of　battle　where　the　gray　dwarves　had　quickly　killed　the　few　remaining　drow　who　had　been　trapped　with　them。　The　duergar　were　milling　about；　seemingly　unsure　what　to　do。　Halisstra's　brother　had　ponents　out；　ready　to　cast　a　spell；　and　one　look　at　the　lump　of　bat　guano　in　his　hand　told　Pharaun　what　the　wizard　planned。
　　　〃Hold　on；〃　Pharaun　said；　laying　a　hand　on　Q'arlynd's　a