war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第136章

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〃Do　you　think　we　trust　the　beast？〃　the　Tuin'Tarl　sneered。　〃We're　not　idiots。　It'll　serve　its　purpose；　and　we'll　dispose　of　it。〃
〃So　you　intend；　but　what　if　Syrzan's　already　working　on　subjugating　you；　so　subtly　you　don't　even　know　it？　What　if；　when　the　time　es…〃
Houndaer　punched　his　former　teacher　in　the　mouth；　dashing　his　head　against　the　calcite　wall。
〃Shut　up；〃　the　noble　said。　〃You　fooled　me　once　and　made　me　look　like　an　imbecile。　It's　not　going　to　happen　again。〃
The　rogues　made　their　departure。　With　his　spidery　lower　body；　Tsabrak　had　to　squeeze　through　the　door。　The　last　one　out；　the　bard　gave　Ryld　a　wry　smile　and　a　shrug。　The　door　slammed　shut。
Ryld　licked　the　salty　taste　of　blood　from　his　gashed　lower　lip。
〃Pharaun；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone。　〃Are　you　truly　unconscious；　or　is　it　a　trick？〃
Slumped　with　the　steel　harness　clamped　around　his　head；　the　Master　of　Sorcere　didn't　respond。　If　not　for　the　rise　and　fall　of　his　chest；　Ryld　would　have　feared　him　dead。
The　swordsman　tried　to　go　to　Pharaun；　but　his　chains　were　too　short。　He　undertook　an　examination　of　the　shackles。　The　cuffs　fit　tightly；　and　the　locks　were　strong。　The　links　were　heavy；　well　forged；　and　anchored　senotcurely　in　the　wall。　Ryld　had　broken　free　of　bonds　a　time　or　two　in　his　turnotbulent　early　years；　but　without　tools　or　a　miracle；　he　wouldn't　be　sundering　these。
Nor；　denied　the　use　of　his　voice　and　hands；　was　Pharaun　likely　to　fare　any　better。　Still；　Ryld　suspected　the　mage　was　his　only　hope。　Pharaun　was　clever。　Perhaps　he　could　think　of　a　workable　ploy；　if　only　he　was　conscious。
〃　Wake　upr　Ryld　roared。　〃Wake　up；　curse　it。　You've　got　to　get　us　out　of　here！〃
To　add　to　the　din；　he　beat　a　length　of　chain　against　the　wall。
To　no　avail。　He　shouted　until　his　throat　was　raw；　but　Pharaun　didn't　stir。
〃Bleed　it！〃　the　weapons　master　swore。
He　hunkered　down　on　the　floor　and　tried　to　work　up　some　saliva　to　wash　away　the　dryness　in　his　mouth。　As　the　renegades　hadn't　bothered　to　provide　a　water　jug；　spit　was　the　best　he　could　do。
〃You　have　to　wake　up；〃　he　said　in　a　softer　voice。　〃Otherwise；　they've　beaten　us；　and　we've　never　let　anyone　do　that。　Do　you　remember　when　we　hunted　that　cloaker　lord？　We　found　out　too　late　that　it　had　sixty…seven　other　chasm　rays　in　its　raiding　party；　many　more　than　our　little　band　of　third…year　students　was　prepared　to　confront。　But　you　said；　'It's　all　right；　it　just　takes　the　proper　spells　to　even　the　odds。'　First　you　conjured　a　wall　of　fire　。　。　。〃
Ryld　rambled　on　for　hours；　talking　his　throat　raw；　recounting　their　shared　experiences　as　they　occurred　to　him。　Perhaps　the　stories　would　strike　a　spark　in　Pharaun's　unconscious　mind；　and　in　any　case；　it　was　better　than　just　sitting　and　wondering　what　life　would　be　like　after　Syrzan　cornotrupted　his　mind。
Finally　the　wizard's　chin　jerked　up　off　his　chest。　His　eyes　were　wild；　and　he　tried　to　cry　out。　The　bit　turned　the　sound　into　a　strangled　gurgle　even　as　it　cut　into　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　Beads　of　blood　blossomed　from　the　wounds。
〃It's　all　right；〃　Ryld　said。　〃Whatever　the　lich　did　to　you；　it's　over。〃
Pharaun　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly。　Rationality　returned　to　his　eyes。　Ryld　got　the　feeling　that　if　not　for　the　harness；　the　wizard　would　have　smiled　his　usual　cheery　smile。　He　nodded　to　the　weapons　master；　thanking　him　for　the　reassurance；　then　he　inspected　the　sheath　constraining　his　hands。　He　bashed　it　on　the　floor　a　few　times　to　see　if　he　could　jolt　the　catches　open。　They　held　with　nary　a　rattle。　He　shook　his　head；　sat　still　for　several　seconds；　then　closed　his　eyes　and　settled　back　against　the　wall；　no　doubt　pondering　their　plight。
After　several　minutes；　the　wizard　straightened　up。　He　started　scraping　the　heel　of　one　boot　against　the　side　of　the　other。
Ryld　felt　a　stir　of　excitement。　He　could　only　assume　his　fellow　master　had　a　talisman　hidden　inside　the　footwear。　It　was　odd　the　wizard　hadn't　renotmembered　until　then；　but　perhaps　it　was　a　result　of　the　seizure。
Like　all　drow　boots；　Pharaun's　were　high　and　fit　snugly。　By　the　time　it　slid　off　the　mage's　foot；　Ryld　was　avid　with　curiosity　to　see　。　。　。　nothin