war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第12章
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！
The she…fiend's smile faded； and she pursed her lips in irritation。
〃They are surrounded； you know；〃 she said； pausing in her advance。 〃This is； at least for the moment； still an amicable offer。 Go to them； convince them to return with me to Kaanyr's palace； and I promise you that the meeting will be cordial。 My forces below have been instructed merely to hold their positions and prevent you and your friends from departing until I have a chance to make the offer to you。 Will you do that？〃
Pharaun smiled。 〃How well do you know Kaanyr Vhok？〃 he asked； his tone suggestive。
Her smile deepened； and her eyes glittered with what was definitely lust。
〃Quite well；〃 she answered； 〃but then again； he's terribly busy； so not as well as I would like。 e back to his palace with me。〃
Pharaun's own smile widened； and he asked。 〃What's your name？〃
The she…fiend giggled once in amusement and said； 〃I almost forgot to tell you！ I'm Aliisza。 Now； will you e with me？〃
〃It's a delight to meet you； Aliisza； I'm Pharaun； and I'd love to acpany you； but for the moment； duty calls。 Am I to assume that we will meet with resistance down there？ Or has our discussion set your mind at ease to such an extent that we might pass out of Ammarindar unhindered today？〃
Aliisza grinned and said； 〃I had my orders； dear。 You were not to pass beyond the borders without a fight； but I tell you what 。 。 。 I'll give you a sporting chance； just because I like you。〃 Her voice had turned husky again。 〃Just this once； I'll stay out of it。 A few hundred tanarukks shouldn't cause you undue trouble； should they？〃
Pharaun cocked his head to one side； as if considering that； then said； 〃Well； they will be a substantially greater difficulty than if we could move on unmolested； but as you say； it's a sporting chance。 Until the next time we meet； then。〃
In answer； Aliisza nodded and smiled。
The mage leaned backward and dropped over the side of the precipice。
At Valas's distant shout； Quenthel looked up from where she had been staring absently at Jeggred's back； following the draegloth through the massive chamber。 She spied the scout hurrying back from where he'd ventured ahead； and the high priestess spotted the hordes of tanarukks behind him； emerging from the sculpted tunnel wall。 She swore under her breath； and the five snakes on her whip writhed in mimicry of her displeasure。
〃We are cut off again； Mistress！〃 K'Sothra hissed。 〃Perhaps there is another way？〃
〃No； let us destroy them； taste their flesh and be done with them；〃 Zinda argued； her own long black body straining forward eagerly。
〃That's enough；〃 Quenthel snapped； starting forward again to join with Valas。
The vipers quieted somewhat； but they still strained to pay attention to their mistress's surroundings； trying to sense any other possible dangers。
The tanarukks did not follow the scout but instead fanned out into a defensive formation。 It seemed they were content to wait until the drow came to them。
So much the better； Quenthel thought grimly。 They can line themselves up so that the wizard can decimate them most efficiently。
〃What are they about？〃 Faeryl asked； trotting beside Quenthel。 〃Why aren't they chasing the male？〃
She gestured toward Valas； who was only perhaps fifty paces from them。
〃Why should they？〃 Quenthel countered； letting her long strides quickly close the gap between herself and Valas。 〃They somehow know we must go that way。 It seems they're content to wait until we e to them。〃
Faeryl sniffed at this but said nothing more。 We should wade through them and slice them； let their blood stain our feet as we tread upon their corpses；〃 Jeggred suggested； his own long strides easily matching Quenthel's quicker ones。
The Mistress of Tier Breche looked over at the draegloth and saw him lick his feral lips in anticipation。
〃Nonsense；〃 she said crisply。 〃There's no need to get messy when they seem willing to oblige us by standing over there and letting Pha…raun dispatch them with a well…placed spell or two。 Right； wizard？〃
When there was no answer； Quenthel spun to face him…only to discover that he was not behind her。 Only Ryld kept pace with the two females and the draegloth。
〃Where in the Abyss is that damnable mage？〃 Quenthel growled at Ryld； who raised an eyebrow in surprise and turned to look back。
〃He was right behind me；〃 the warrior replied； letting his gaze sweep back and upward； toward the tunnel through which they had originally entered。 〃I don't know…there！〃
The weapons master pointed high up the wall； and Quenthel had to stop in order to turn around sufficiently to see where Ryld was pointing。 When she spotted Pharaun； she muttered an invective under her breath。 He wasn't alone。 There was someone； a woman； in conversation with him。
〃Who is that with him？ What is he doing？〃 the high priestess asked no one in particular。
Ryld shrugged and said； 〃I have no idea； Mistress。 I never heard him stop。〃
〃Well； get him down here； now！ I need him；〃 Quenthel ordered。
Ryld made as if to protest； then shrugged； turned back； and broke into a rapid jog back along the thoroughfare。 When she turned back； Valas had reached their position。
〃So？〃 she asked the scout。
Valas took one deep； calming breath and explained； 〃They've cut off our route again； and they've made sure this time that we won't go around their flank。〃
The scout pointed to several other exits from the large chamber。
Quenthel could see already that more of the tanarukks were there； each group similar in size to the one directly in front of them。 They were gathering on the ledges and ramps； just on their side of the tunnel openings。 It wasn't hard to see that they were intentionally halting the drow's progress； trying to force them to turn back。
〃Obviously； they aren't here merely to attack us；〃 she said； thinking aloud； 〃so they must want something else。〃
〃Perhaps I can explain；〃 Pharaun said； materializing out of a shimmering blue doorway that hung in the open air only a few feet away。 The portal snapped out of existence as the wizard primped himself a bit； straightening his piwafwi and adjusting his pack。 〃We've been invited to join Kaanyr Vhok； the master of those fellows； for a discussion。〃
〃What are you talking about？ Who was that woman you were speaking with back there？〃 Quenthel demanded； seething at how Pharaun seemed so full of himself all the time。
The fact that he could still freely use his magic； while she could not； continually galled her。 Though he might never say anything； she knew he loved flaunting the fact of it in front of her every chance he could。 To add insult to injury； he seemed taken with showing unbridled politeness toward her。 She narrowed her eyes suspiciously。 He wanted something； she was sure。
〃We thought you were in trouble。 I sent Ryld back to look into it；〃 Quenthel said。 She jabbed a single finger outward； pointing at the distant figure of the weapons master。 〃Now I'll have to send Jeggred to catch up with him while you stay here and explain to me what this is all about。〃
Before the high priestess could direct the draegloth to do her bidding； though； Pharaun cut in。 〃Oh； that's not necessary。 Allow me but a moment。〃 The wizard turned and faced Ryld； pointed his finger； and began to whisper。 〃Ryld； my dear friend； I appreciate your concern for me； but I am quite fine and standing here among our esteemed panions。 You can return from your quest to rescue me。〃
In the distance； Quenthel saw the warrior start and straighten。 He turned around as Pharaun spoke。 Ryld seemed to shake his head in consternation； and Quenthel thought she heard him sigh； though of course it was only a whisper。 By the time the mage was finished； Ryld was already trudging back in their direction。
Very clever； mage；〃 Quenthel said； clenching her teeth。 〃Now why don't you be as useful in other ways and tell me what you were doing up there。〃
Of course。 That was Aliisza； a charming and somewhat gregarious representative of Master Vhok's。 She was lurkin
