war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第149章
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Then; seemingly without any windup; just a sudden extension of his arm; Ryld threw his sword。 Though the weapon wasn't intended for such an action; it streaked through the air as straight and sure as an arrow。 The point plunged into Tsabrak's chest。
The drider's eyes widened。 He coughed blood; then flopped forward at the waist; dropping his sword。 His spider half; slower to die than the upper portion; continued to limp forward。
It was all right; though; because Ryld had no melee weapon save for a dagger; which would surely be of little use against a blade as long as the greatsword。 Houndaer rushed in to deliver the finishing stroke。
〃Tuin'Tarir he screamed。
His face still as blank as a zombie's; the weapons master dodged to the side。
Houndaer turned; following the target; and saw that Ryld had ducked behind one of a row of wooden mannequins。 Up close; the crudely carved dummies were oddly disquieting figures; smirking identical smiles despite their countless stigmata of dents and gashes。
Ryld stood poised; waiting; and Houndaer discerned the spy's intent。 When his adversary lunged around one side of the dummy; the master would circle in the opposite direction; thus maintaining a barrier between them。
Houndaer saw no reason to play that game; not if his new sword was as keen as it was supposed to be。 He brought the blade around in a low arc。 It tore away the mannequin with scarcely a jolt; depriving Ryld of his pitinotful protection。
Unfortunately; the weapons master sprang forward at the very same innotstant; before Houndaer could pull the greatsword back for another cut。 Ryld slashed at the noble's throat。
Houndaer frantically wrenched himself back; interposing his weapon between himself and the spy; before recognizing that the cut had been more of a feint than anything else。 Ryld had tricked him into assuming a pletely defensive attitude; then seized the opportunity to dash past him。 Houndaer cut at the master's back but only managed to tear his bilnotlowing cloak。
The Tuin'Tarl gave chase; and Tsabrak; dying or dead but still mindnotlessly ambulatory; staggered into his path。 Houndaer shouted in frustranottion and cut the drider down。
When the hybrid fell; the noble could see what was happening behind him。 Ryld had reached Tsabrak's fallen sword。 Heedless of the venom drying on the blade; the teacher slipped his toe under the weapon; flipped it into the air; and caught it neatly by the hilt。 His expression as unfathnotomable as ever; he came on guard and advanced。
I can still kill him; Houndaer thought; I still have the reach on him。
Aloud; he shouted; 〃Here! I've got one of the masters here!〃
Ryld stepped to the verge of the distance; then hovered there。 Confident in his ability to defend; he wanted Houndaer to strike at him。 A fencer couldn't attack without opening himself up。
At first; the noble declined to oblige。 He intended to wait his opponent out。 Ryld beat his blade。
The clanging impact startled a response out of him; but at least it was a posed attack。 Feint to the chest; feint to the flank; cut low and hack the opponent's legs out from underneath him。
Even as he flowed into the final count; he remembered Ryld teaching him the sequence; and sure enough; the instructor wasn't fooled。 He parnotried the genuine low…line attack; then riposted to Houndaer's wrist。 The broadsword bit through his gauntlet and into the flesh beneath。
Ryld pulled his weapon free in a spatter of gore。 He drove deeper; cutting at Houndaer's torso。 The Tuin'Tarl floundered backward out of the distance; meanwhile heaving the greatsword back into a threatening position。
His bloody wrist throbbed; and the huge blade trembled。 It was brutally hard to hold it up; its enchantments notwithstanding。 He choked up on it; his weakened hand clutching the ricasso; but that only helped a little。 He listened for the sound of another party of rogues rushing to his aid。 He didn't hear it。
〃Well done; Master Argith!〃 Houndaer declared。 〃I declare myself beaten。 I yield。〃
Ryld stalked forward; broadsword at the ready。
〃Please!〃 said the Tuin'Tarl。 〃We always got along; didn't we? I