war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第137章

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th　curiosity　to　see　。　。　。　nothing。　Nothing　but　trews　and　a　stocking。
Pharaun　set　to　work　shoving　off　the　other　boot。　Ryld　wished　he　knew　what　his　friend　had　in　mind；　but　knew　it　would　be　pointless　to　ask。　With　his　hands　concealed；　the　spellcaster　couldn't　answer　even　in　the　silent　drow　sign　language。
Eventually　the　second　boot　slipped　free；　whereupon　Pharaun　pushed　off　his　socks。　His　bare　feet　were　of　a　piece　with　his　hands；　slender　and　long；　the　digits　included。
The　wizard　lifted　his　right　foot；　stared　at　it　intently；　and　started　curling　and　crossing　the　toes。　He　fumbled　through　a　sequence　of　moves；　then　renotpeated　it。　It　took　Ryld　another　few　moments　to　prehend；　and　he　didn't　know　whether　to　laugh　or　cry。
In　point　of　fact；　the　Underdark　abounded　in　creatures；　Syrzan　included；　whose　extremities　differed　notably　from　a　dark　elf's；　yet　who　worked　magic　nonetheless。　So　maybe　Pharaun　had　a　chance。　Maybe　he　could　cast　one　of　those　spells　that　only　required　movement；　not　an　incantation　or　material　ponents。
But　only　if　he　could　shift　his　feet　and　toes　through　the　proper　patterns；　those　precise　and　intricate　passes　he'd　spent　years　learning　to　execute　with　his　hands。
When　the　toes　of　his　right　foot　grew　tired；　he　started　working　with　those　of　his　left。　After　that；　he　shifted　his　weight　back；　lifted　his　legs；　and　practiced　twining　them　together。　Ryld　might　have　found　it　quite　a　inotcal　spectacle　had　his　life　not　depended　on　the　mage's　success。
Soon　Pharaun　began　to　sweat　and　occasionally　to　tremble；　which　always　forced　him　to　stop　and　rest　for　a　bit。　After　an　hour；　he　moved　on　to　the　next　phase　of　his　experiment：　putting　the　elements　of　the　spell　tonotgether；　moving　everything　at　the　same　time　with　the　proper　sequence　and　timing。
Ryld　watched　the　process　intently。　He　was　no　wizard；　but　to　his　untunottored　eye；　it　appeared　that　after　a　while；　Pharaun　was　producing　exactly　the　same　pattern　two　times　out　of　three。　The　rest　he　fumbled　in　one　way　or　another。
Finally；　breathing　hard；　he　looked　at　the　weapons　master　and　shrugged。
〃That's　all　right；〃　the　swordsman　replied。　〃Two　out　of　three　is　good　odds。〃
Pharaun　slumped　back　and　spent　the　next　few　minutes　resting。　When　he　sat　up　and；　heedless　of　the　fresh　blood　that　started　from　the　corners　of　his　mouth；　he　growled　through　the　mask。　He　banged　the　box　encasing　his　hands　twice　against　the　floor；　then　looked　at　Ryld。
〃I　understand；〃　the　warrior　said。　〃Make　noise。　Bring　someone。〃
Pharaun　nodded。　The　cage　around　his　head　clinked。
〃Ho！〃　Ryld　shouted。　〃Somebody；　e　here！　I'm　a　Master　of　Melee…Magthere。　I　know　secrets　about　the　defenses　of　the　great　Houses；　secrets　you　must　know　for　your　plans　to　succeed。　I'll　trade　them　for　my　freedom！〃
He　continued　in　the　same　vein　for　several　minutes；　clashing　his　chains　against　the　wall　for　emphasis。　Meanwhile　Pharaun　lay　motionless；　as　if　he　were　still　unconscious。
Finally；　eyes　appeared　at　the　little　barred　window　in　the　door。
〃What？〃　the　newer　snarled。　It　wasn't　a　voice　Ryld　had　heard　before。
〃I　need　to　talk　to　you；〃　the　weapons　master　said。
〃I　heard；〃　said　the　other　drow。　〃You　have　secrets。　The　alhoon　will　rip　them　out　of　you；　no　bargain　required。〃
〃Syrzan　said　it　would　take　time　to　turn　us　into　mind…slaves；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃I　have　information　you　need　before　you　unleash　the　under…creatures。　Their　rebellion　will　do　you　no　good　if　the　weapons　masters　strike　them　all　dead　before　they　even　get　started。〃
〃How　could　the　masters…of…arms　do　that？〃　asked　the　rogue。
〃A　secret；〃　said　Ryld；　〃that　we　brothers　of　the　pyramid　teach　to　a　chosen　few。〃
〃I　don't　believe　you。〃
〃We've　been　studying　war　for　millennia。　Do　you　think　we　impart　all　we　know　to　every　young　dullard　who　enrolls　in　the　Academy；　or　is　it　likely　we　hold　greater；　deadlier　mysteries　in　reserve？〃
The　rogue　hesitated。
〃All　right；　tell　me。　If　there's　anything　to　it；　I'll　set　you　free。〃
Ryld　shrugged；　rattling　his　fetters。　They　were　already　rubbing　his　wrists　raw。
〃Shout　it　through　a　closed　door？〃　the　weapons　master　asked。　〃Is　that　what　you　really　want？〃
〃Wait。〃
The　contempt　in　the　prisoner's　tone　had　reminded　the　rogue　of　a　b