war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第156章

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themnotselves　and　the　undercreatures；　then　fell　back。
One　of　the　Mizzrym　warriors　herded　the　shopkeepers　farther　from　the　threat。　The　rest；　Greyanna　included；　scrambled　to　form　a　line　at　a　narrow　place　three　yards　behind　the　intangible　barrier。　The　princess　pulled　a　little　silver　vial　from　her　belt　pouch　and　guzzled　the　bitter；　lukewarm　contents　down。　She　shuddered　and　doubled　over　as　her　muscles　cramped；　and　the　disfort　gave　way　to　a　tingling　warmth。
Hobgoblins　strode　from　the　darkness。　They'd　dwelled　among　dark　elves　too　long　for　the　trick　to　deter　them　more　than　a　few　seconds。
At　least　the　blinding　veil　precluded　their　advancing　in　anything　resemnotbling　a　coherent　formation。　They　screamed　and　charged　in　a　gapped　and　formless　wave；　which　looked　murderous　even　so。
The　first　hobgoblin　to　lunge　at　Greyanna　was　particularly　large　and；　in　marked　contrast　to　his　fellows；　hairless　from　the　shoulders　up。　A　mistress　or　master　had　depilated　the　slave　to　prepare　the　canvas　for　a　work　of　art；　hundreds　of　tiny　round　burn　scars　arranged　in　a　plex　swirling　pattern。
The　thrall　cut　at　Greyanna's　head。　Under　other　circumstances；　she　would　have　retreated　out　of　range；　but　that　would　break　the　line。　Wishing　she'd　brought　a　shield　to　the　revel；　she　lifted　her　mace　in　a　high　parry。　The　hobgoblin's　broadsword　rang　against　the　stone　haft　of　the　war　club　and　skipped　off。
At　once　she　riposted　with　a　strike　to　the　flank；　and　the　undercreature　whipped　his　targe　around　to　block。　The　blow　bashed　a　dent　in　the　round　steel　shield　and　knocked　the　hobgoblin　reeling　back；　his　slanted　eyes　wide　with　surprise。　He　didn't　know　about　the　potion　that　had　lent　her　an　ogre's　strength。
Greyanna　struck　to　the　side；　slaying　the　slave　who　was　menacing　her　neighbor；　then　her　own　bald　adversary　came　edging　back。　He　hovered　a　second；　then　feinted　to　the　flank　and　finished　with　a　cut　to　the　chest。　Disnotcerning　the　true　threat；　she　half…stepped　inside　the　arc　of　the　attack　and　swung　at　his　jaw。　The　blow　crunched　home；　and　he　toppled　backward　with　a　shattered；　bloody　chin　and　a　broken　neck。
She　killed　two　more　hobgoblins；　then　something　prodded　her　shin；　a　thrust　that　failed　to　penetrate　her　boot。　She　looked　down；　and　it　was　a　kobold；　armed　with　a　fireplace　poker；　who　had　apparently　been　scurrying　about　the　feet　of　the　larger　slaves。　Greyanna　killed　the　reptilian　imp　with　a　roundhouse　kick。
She　cast　about　for　her　next　adversary。　She　didn't　seem　to　have　one。　The　fight　was　over；　and　the　few　surviving　hobgoblins　were　running　away。
〃Form　up！〃　she　shouted。　〃I　want　a　column　with　the　traders　in　the　middle。　Fast！〃
Once　the　procession　was　under　way；　Aunrae；　striding　along　at　Greynotanna's　side；　asked；　〃May　I　know　where　we're　going？　An　ally's　castle？〃
〃No；〃　Greyanna　replied。　〃I　suspect　we　couldn't　get　in。　We're　going　to　hide　our　charges　in　Bauthwaf。〃
The　column　crept　past　corpses　and　burning　stone；　and　as　they　made　their　way　to　the　cavern　wall；　other　moners　came　running　out　of　their　homes　to　join　the　procession。　Greyanna's　first　impulse　was　to　turn　away　those　without　ties　to　House　Mizzrym；　but　she　thought　better　of　it。　Many　of　the　newers　carried　swords；　and　she　could　press　the　dolts　into　marnottial　service　if　needed。
Occasionally　someone　collapsed；　coughing　feebly；　poisoned　by　the　stinging　smoke。　The　rest　stepped　over　her　and　pressed　on。
Someone　gave　a　thin；　high　cry；　as　if　at　an　unexpected　pain。　Greyanna　spun　around。　The　goblins　weren't　attacking。　Her　client　the　canoe　maker　had　simply　seized　his　opportunity　to　knife　another　male　in　the　back。
〃A　petitor；〃　the　craftsman　explained。
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The　labyrinthine　fortress　known　as　the　Great　Mound　contained　a　number　of　magically　sealed　areas。　Unbelievably；　the　rebellious　slave　troops　penetrated　everywhere　else。　The　Baenre　fought　the　goblinoids　in　the　stanotlagmite　towers；　across　the　aerial　bridges　that　connected　them；　and　through　the　tunnels　beneath　them；　even　along　the　balconies　and　skywalks　of　the　stalactite　bastions；　reclaiming　their　domain　a　bloody　inch　at　a　time。
The　thralls　made　their　final　stand　in　the　courtyard；　a　spacious　area　surnotrounded　by　a　web　like　iron　fence。