war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第17章

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his　hair　and　garments　were　as　immaculate　as　ever；　but　he　reeked　of　wine　and　walked　with　a　slightly　weaving　and　excessively　careful　tread。　Evidently　he'd　been　drinking　his　troubles　away。　Perfect。
As　it　had　been　instructed；　the　zombie　stepped　out　of　a　doorway　at　the　other　end　of　the　hall。　Its　arms　were　extended　in　a　beseeching　gesture。
Pharaun　took　a　few　steps　toward　it　and　faltered。　Drunk　or　not；　he　had　finally　noticed　that；　despite　Greyanna's　efforts　to　keep　it　warm；　it　was　moving　stiffly；　awkwardly；　as　Sabal；　even　in　the　throes　of　her　illness；　never　had。　But　he'd　spotted　the　anomaly　too　late。　He'd　already　advanced　to　the　very　center　of　the　trap。
Greyanna　whispered　a　spell　of　paralysis。　Pharaun　staggered　as　his　muscles　all　clenched　at　once。　The　fighters　swarmed　out　of　their　hiding　places；　surrounded　him；　clubbed　him　repeatedly；　and　threw　him　down　benotneath　them。
She　laughed　with　delight。　Then　her　henchmen；　more　or　less　clumped　in　a　pile　on　the　floor；　cried　out　in　surprise　and　consternation。　They　started　to　stand　up；　and　she　saw　that　Pharaun　did　not　lie　crushed；　bloody；　and　helpnotless　on　the　floor　beneath　them。　Impossible　as　it　seemed；　somehow　he'd　renotsisted　the　paralysis；　then　used　his　wizardry　to　extricate　himself　from　the　midst　of　his　attackers。
Knowing　that　Sabal　was　dead；　Pharaun　must　likewise　assume　that　withnotout　the　aegis　of　a　high　priestess　he　could　no　longer　survive　in　House　Miznotzrym。　Certainly　he　couldn't　count　on　his　vicious　mother；　who　hadn't　bestirred　herself　to　save　one　daughter　from　another；　to　do　more　for　a　paltry　son。　He　was　surely　running　back　toward　the　exit。
〃That　way！　Fast！〃　Greyanna　shouted；　pointing；　goading　her　agents　into　motion。　When　they　rounded　a　corner；　they　saw　Pharaun　sprinting　along　ahead　of　them；　his　piwafwi　billowing　out　behind　him。　He　wasn't　weaving　or　stumbling…evidently　desperation　had　cured　his　intoxication…but　he　was　clutching　his　head；　and　leaving　a　trail　of　bloody　drops　on　the　polished　floor。　Evidently　all　the　bludgeoning　had　done　at　least　a　little　good。
Greyanna's　minions　shot　their　hand　crossbows；　but　the　darts　bounced　off　the　wizard's　cloak；　which　had　obviously　been　enchanted　to　serve　as　armor。　She　stopped　running　long　enough　to　conjure　a　blaze　of　fire　under　Pharaun's　feet。　Her　assassins　cried　out　and　shielded　their　eyes　against　the　glare。　Though　surely　burned；　her　brother　stayed　on　his　feet　and　kept　going。　The　flames　winked　out　behind　him　as　suddenly　as　they'd　appeared。
The　chase　rounded　another　corner。　Ahead　of　Pharaun　was　an　adamannottine　double　door；　which　swung　open　seemingly　of　its　own　accord。　In　realnotity；　Greyanna　knew；　the　wizard　had　used　his　silver…and…jet　Mizzrym　House　token　to　open　it。　She　tried　to　use　her　own　insignia　to　slam　it　shut　again；　but　she　was　just　out　of　range。
Pharaun　plunged　through　the　exit。　He　was　on　the　landing；　a　sort　of　balnotcony　from　which　the　occupants　of　the　stalactite　castle　that　was　House　Miznotzrym　could　look　down　on　the　city。　As　was　the　custom；　a　pany　of　guards　stood　watch　there；　and　Greyanna　screamed　for　them　to　stop　the　mage。
They　no　doubt　intended　to　be　obey。　She　was　a　high　priestess　and　he；　a　mere　male；　and　manifestly　trying　to　run　away　to　boot。　But　alas；　since　their　primary　function　was　to　look　for　miscreants　trying　to　enter　the　castle；　Phanotraun　had　taken　them　by　surprise。　He　had　time　to　conjure　some　sort　of　hindering　spell　and　dash　on。
When　Greyanna　made　it　to　the　door；　she　saw　what　manner　of　hindrance　the　fugitive　had　chosen。　The　guards　were　all　bewildered；　some　standing　stupefied　or　milling　aimlessly；　a　couple　fighting　with　each　other。
A　clattering；　followed　a　split　second　later　by　grunts　and　cries　of　pain；　snapped　her　head　around　to　the　right。　At　the　far　end　of　the　landing；　a　second　contingent　of　sentries　also　looked　at　least　temporarily　incapacinottated；　these　because　Pharaun　had　pelted　them　with　a　conjured　barrage　of　ice。　He　disappeared　down　the　exit　they'd　been　guarding；　the　winding　crysnottal　staircase；　gorgeous　with　magical　luminescence；　which　connected　House　Mizzrym　with　the　cave　floor　below。　Greyanna　felt　a　twinge　of　annoyance；　but　only　that。　Apparentl