war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第142章

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　the　bargain。
The　weapons　master　started　to　riposte　with　a　chest　cut；　then　sensed　movement　on　his　flank。　He　pivoted。　Hoping　to　take　him　unawares；　the　rogue　next　to　Urlryn　was　swinging　an　axe　at　his　knee。　It　was　how　warriors　fought　in　a　line。　You　killed　the　male　who　was　focused　on　your　neighbor。
Ryld　leaped　over　the　attack。　When　he　landed；　his　leg　screamed　with　pain　and　threatened　to　buckle　beneath　him。　Shouting；　he　made　it　hold　and　cut　at　the　axeman's　belly。　The　broadsword　crunched　through　mail；　and　the　rogue　toppled。
Ryld's　blade　was　still　buried　in　the　axeman's　guts　when　Urlryn　and　the　other　surviving　warrior　rushed　him。　The　master　floundered　backward；　dragging　the　broadsword　free。　Swords　flashed　at　him；　and　somehow；　even　off…balance；　he　dodged　them；　but　in　so　doing；　fell　on　his　rump。
The　rogues　scrambled　forward　to　finish　him。　He　surprised　the　other　stranger　with　a　bone…shattering　kick　to　the　ankle；　knocking　him　reeling　backward；　then　reared　up　on　one　knee；　his　sword　raised　in　a　high　guard　for　what　he　knew　was　ing。
Urlryn's　blade　crashed　down　on　his　own；　and　he　felt　the　jolt　all　the　way　to　his　shoulder。　With　both　feet　planted　beneath　him；　the　renegade　could　bring　all　his　strength　to　bear。　Ryld　couldn't。
But　he　was　bigger　and　more　powerful　than　his　adversary　and　was　nicely　positioned　to　hamstring　other　drow。　Teeth　gritted；　he　maintained　his　denotfense　until　his　enemy　faltered；　then　whipped　the　broadsword　behind　the　rogue's　leg　for　a　drawing　cut。
Urlryn　let　out　a　shrill　cry　and　staggered　sideways。　Ryld　heaved　himself　up　and　turned　toward　the　wizard；　only　to　discover　he　could　no　longer　see　him。　Deprived　of　his　wall　of　warriors；　the　spellcaster　had　conjured　another　defender；　a　vaguely　bearish　thing　with　folded　bat　wings　and　luminous　crimson　eyes；　so　huge　it　nearly　filled　the　corridor。
Ryld　had　watched　Pharaun　exercise　the　famous　Mizzrym　talent　for　illunotsion　on　numerous　occasions；　and　his　experiences　stood　him　in　good　stead。　He　sensed；　though　he　couldn't　say　how；　that　the　demon　bear　was　just　a　phantasm。　He　limped　forward；　flicked　the　broadsword　at　it；　and　it　popped　like　a　fungus　discharging　a　cloud　of　spores。　It　was　strange　to　think　that；　had　he　believed　in　it；　it　could　have　torn　him　to　shreds。
The　rogue　mage　turned　tail。　Ryld　didn't　want　the　bastard　to　reappear　and　try　to　kill　him　again　later；　so　he　gave　chase。　His　head　and　wounded　leg　seemed　to　scream　in　unison；　and　he　had　to　stop。　The　sorcerer　scuttled　round　a　corner　and　disappeared。　
As　Ryld　waited　for　the　pain　to　subside；　he　realized　he　couldn't　survive　many　more　fights　in　his　present　condition。　He　either　had　to　escape　his　foes　posthaste　or　shed　his　disabilities。
Sadly；　he　had　just　about　e　to　the　conclusion　that　he　was　fated　to　wander　through　the　castle；　ducking　his　enemies　the　while；　until　pure　luck　led　him　to　an　exit。　That　could　take　hours。
He　had　reason　to　hope　he　wouldn't　need　nearly　as　long　to　revitalize　himnotself；　but　he'd　leave　himself　vulnerable　during　the　process。　He　wouldn't　be　able　to　sneak　in　the　opposite　direction　whenever　he　detected　a　party　of　hunters。　He'd　have　to　stay　in　one　place。　Still；　it　seemed　the　better　option。
He　skulked　along　the　corridor；　peering　into　doorways。　One　led　to　a　desnotolate　training　hall。　The　target　mannequins　looked　like　ghosts　in　their　shrouds　of　spiderweb。
Near　the　right…hand　wall　were　tiers　of　seats；　from　which　spectators　could　watch　the　warriors　train。　If　Ryld　crouched　down　behind　the　structure；　no　one　would　see　him　without　making　a　careful　search　of　the　entire　room。
Besides；　the　master　thought；　going　to　ground　in　a　salle　might　bring　him　luck。　The　dark　powers　knew；　he　needed　it。
He　limped　behind　the　sculpted　seats　and　sat　down　on　the　floor　with　his　legs　crossed。　He　rested　his　hands　on　his　thighs；　closed　his　eyes；　and　notmenced　a　breathing　exercise。
Spellcasters　smugly　imagined　they　were　the　only　folk　who　truly　knew　how　to　meditate。　They　were　mistaken。　The　brothers　of　Melee…Magthere　had　mastered　the　practice　as　well。　It　helped　them　reach　the　highest　level　of　martial　proficiency。
Spellcasters。　The　thought　reminded　him　of　Pharaun。　It　brought　the　shock　and　a