war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第42章

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me　order。
　　　Considering　quickly；　the　wizard　dug　out　a　bit　of　fleece　from　one　of　his　pockets。　With　it　he　manufactured　another　spell。　This　one　he　cast　at　Ryld；　creating　a　little　enhancement　to　the　warrior's　hiding　place。　When　he　was　done；　a　new；　illusory　statue　stood　where　Ryld　was；　further　concealing　him。
　　　Pharaun　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　center　of　the　room；　where　several　wizards　were　standing；　some　of　them　casting。　Another　was　carefully　turning；　peering　in　every　direction；　and　Pharaun　could　see　that　magic　emanated　from　the　drow。
　　　They're　looking　for　us；　the　Master　of　Sorcere　realized。
　　　Fumbling　around　in　his　pockets；　Pharaun　found　what　he　was　looking　for：　a　tiny　hammer　and　bell；　both　made　of　silver。　Striking　the　hammer　against　the　bell；　the　wizard　produced　another　magical　effect。　This　time；　the　results　were　flashy。
　　　A　horrid　vibration　beat　through　the　floor　beneath　the　wizards'　feet；　causing　them　to　clap　their　hands　over　their　ears　and　stumble　about。　Even　the　one　who'd　been　scanning　the　room　seemed　startled；　though　he　planted　his　feet　and　continued　searching。　As　the　vibration　reached　a　crescendo；　the　stone　of　the　floor　itself　could　no　longer　stand　the　strain　and　began　to　fracture。　A　thousand　spiderwebbing　cracks　shot　through　the　floor；　making　footing　unstable　and　knocking　many　of　the　wizards　down。　The　floor　continued　to　fracture　until　it　was　nothing　but　pulverized　powder；　half　a　foot　deep。　The　downed　wizards　kicked　up　dust　as　they　flailed　about；　trying　to　regain　their　footing。　Several　of　them　didn't　move　at　all。
　　　Excellent；　Pharaun　thought；　but　his　elation　was　short…lived。　Ryld　had　been　discovered　and　was　engaged　in　a　fierce　battle　with　several　House　Melarn　soldiers　and　at　least　two　priestesses。　Though　blood　streamed　from　a　gash　across　one　arm；　the　warrior　was　otherwise　holding　his　own；　but　Pharaun　knew　that　it　wouldn't　last　long　if　anyone　was　able　to　bring　magic　into　play。　Already；　the　mage　could　see　a　priestess　unfurling　a　scroll。　Before　he　could　act；　though；　Valas　stepped　up　behind　her；　seemingly　from　nowhere…How　does　he　do　that？　Pharaun　marveled…and　plunged　one　of　his　two　curved　daggers　into　the　small　of　her　back。　As　the　cleric　dropped　woodenly　to　the　floor；　the　scout　was　turning　away；　and　Pharaun　lost　sight　of　him　again　when　the　wizard　turned　his　attention　for　a　moment　to　the　other　side　of　the　room。
　　　There；　several　of　the　matron　mothers　had　e　together；　protected　by　a　significant　portion　of　their　entourage；　and　were　huddled　around　something　Pharaun　couldn't　see。　He　considered　whether　to　strike　at　them　while　they　were　in　such　close　proximity　but　dismissed　the　idea。
　　　Don't　want　to　draw　any　more　attention　to　myself　than　necessary；　he　decided。
　　　Pharaun　felt　the　tingle　of　magic　being　cast　at　him；　and　he　saw　another　wizard　with　his　finger　pointed　in　his　direction。　Somehow；　they'd　discovered　his　position。　Pharaun　realized　he　was　glowing　with　a　pale　violet　flame；　despite　his　invisible　state。　Already；　several　other　wizards　were　looking　in　his　direction；　and　a　handful　of　soldiers　were　arming　crossbows。
　　　Damnation！　the　mage　thought。
　　　He　quickly　pulled　his　piwafwi　around　himself　and　turned　away　as　the　first　volley　of　bolts　crashed　into　the　ceiling　around　him。　He　felt　a　pair　of　the　missiles　strike　his　back；　but　the　piwafwi　did　its　job。　There　was　no　way　he　could　eliminate　the　faerie　fire　around　himself　without　also　dismissing　the　invisibility；　he　knew；　but　if　he　simply　let　himself　be　a　target；　he　would　wind　up　a　pincushion。　Shaking　his　head　in　consternation；　Pharaun　quickly　dropped　from　his　position；　pulling　up　just　short　of　hitting　the　floor。
　　　The　contingent　of　wizards　and　soldiers　had　followed　Pharaun's　descent　and　were　moving　to　close　with　him。　Two　soldiers　brandishing　long　swords　came　at　him　from　opposite　sides；　and　though　he　was　able　to　duck　the　first　attack　cleanly；　the　other　one　caught　him　flush　across　the　arm；　penetrating　his　piwafwi。　Blood　spurted　from　the　gash　as　the　mage　cried　out　in　pain。　A　heartbeat　later；　he　and　his　two　adversaries　were　engulfed　in　a　torrent；　as　though　they　had　danced　their　dance　into　the　center　of　a　waterfall…only　it　wasn't　water。　It　burned　like　fire；　and　both　of　the　sword　wielders　shrieked　and　thrashed　as　their　skin　blistered　and　reddened。　Pharaun　felt　his　own　skin　bubbling　and　boiling　as　he　flung　his　piwafwi　up　to　shield　his　face　and　threw　himself　clear；　moving　at　an　unnaturally　rapid　pace；　thanks　to　the　magic　of　his　boots。
　　　Rolling　free　of　the　downpour　of　acid；　Pharaun　summoned　his　rapier　as　he　leaped　to　his　feet；　continuing　his　forward　progress　right　at　two　more　soldiers。　He　used　the　hovering；　dancing　rapier　to　hold　the　pair　of　drow　at　bay　just　enough　so　he　could　pass　between　them　before　they　even　knew　he　was　ing。　Once　he　was　through；　he　headed　in　the　direction　of　Ryld；　while　more　crossbow　bolts　and　a　couple　of　streaking　missiles　of　light　and　fire　fizzled　out　as　they　reached　his　form。
　　　Valas　had　hidden　himself　away　again；　but　Ryld　was　hard　at　work；　surrounded　by　no　less　than　six　opponents。　With　each　swing　of　Splitter；　the　burly　warrior　parried　several　weapons　at　once。　His　chest　was　heaving；　and　he　was　covered　in　blood　from　a　dozen　small　wounds。　He　didn't　appear　capable　of　going　on　the　offensive　with　so　many　foes　surrounding　him。
　　　As　Pharaun　closed　with　his　panion；　he　had　the　magical　rapier　slash　at　the　back　of　one　of　Ryld's　adversaries。　The　blade　jabbed　into　the　drow　soldier　from　behind；　causing　the　poor　fellow　to　arch　his　back　in　agony　and　crumple　to　the　ground。　Grimly；　Pharaun　ordered　the　rapier　to　return　and　protect　him　as　he　began　to　conjure　another　spell。
　　　Backing　himself　into　a　defensive　position　near　the　same　statues　that　Ryld　had　used　to　hide　himself　earlier；　the　Master　of　Sorcere　extracted　a　second　pinch　of　the　powdered　diamond。　This　time；　though；　the　spell　he　wove　created　an　invisible　barrier　between　himself　and　the　dozen　or　so　soldiers　and　wizards　who　had　been　pursuing　him。　The　location　where　Ryld　had　chosen　to　hide　was　more　or　less　in　a　corner　of　the　great　audience　chamber；　and　Pharaun　took　advantage　of　that　by　stretching　his　invisible　wall　at　an　angle；　sealing　himself　and　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　off　from　most　of　the　rest　of　the　chamber；　with　only　the　five　drow　who　were　still　surrounding　Ryld　to　contend　with。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　turned　his　attention　to　aiding　Ryld　as　the　other　soldiers　painfully　discovered　his　magical　wall。　He　ignored　the　thumps　they　made　as　the　first　two　or　three　slammed　into　the　barrier；　but　he　couldn't　help　but　smile。　Ryld　had　fatally　wounded　a　second　foe；　a　priestess　who　was　writhing　on　the　floor　in　a　growing　pool　of　blood。　Pharaun　drew　out　his　own　crossbow　and　loaded　the　weapon　even　as　he　brought　his　dancing　rapier　to　bear　on　a　drow　male　who　was　trying　to　get　in　behind　Ryld。
　　　The　rapier　slashed；　grazing　the　guard's　shoulder；　and　as　the　soldier　turned　to　protect　himself　from　this　new　threat；　Pharaun　fired　his　crossbow；　striking　true。　The　soldier　grunted　in　surprise　and　pain　as　the　bolt　took　him　in　the　shoulder　of　his　weapon　arm。　He　dropped　his　long　sword　and　staggered　backward；　eyeing　the　rapier　as　it　flitted　about　in　front　of　him。　Pharaun　reloaded　the　crossbow　and　was　taking　aim　when　Valas　stepped　from　a　shadow　and　finished　the　guard　from　behind。　Eyes　wide；　the　drow　gasped　and　tried　to　say　something；　seemed　confused　that　his　words　wouldn't　form；　then　died；　sliding　to　the　floor　as　the　scout　freed　his　kukri　from　its　victim。
　　　〃I　assume　that's　you；　wizard？　What's　the　point　of　being　invisible　if　you're　going　to　glow　all　purple　like　that？〃
　　　〃I'm　glad　to　see　you　wound　up　on　the　right　side　of　things；〃　Pharaun　said；　then　staggered　as　another　rumble　shook　the　building。　〃By　the　Dark　Mother；　what　is　going　on　out　there？〃　he　said；　steadying　himself　from　the　aftershocks。
　　　〃Whatever　it　is；　I　don't　know　if　it's　better　to　be　out　there　or　in　here；〃　Valas　replied；　wiping　his　curved　dagger　clean　on　the　dead　draw's　piwafwi。　〃We've　got　to　get　out　of　here。〃
　　　Pharaun　nodded；　forgetting　that　the　scout　couldn't　see　him；　then　he　said；　〃I　agree〃　before　turning　to　see　how　Ryld　had　fared。
　　　The　warrior　was　facing　only　a　single　opponent；　stepping　warily　arou