war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第8章

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　　　〃Lolth　protect　us；〃　murmured　Gromph；　sickened　at　the　sight。
　　　He　had　no　particular　love　for　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs；　but　whatever　misfortune　had　befallen　Ched　Nasad　might　visit　Menzoberranzan　in　time。　Ched　Nasad　had　been　a　city　nearly　as　large　and　as　powerful　as　Menzoberranzan　itself；　but　Gromph　could　see　with　his　own　eyes　the　pleteness　of　its　ruin。　If　one　building　in　twenty　of　the　city　remained；　he　would　have　been　surprised。
　　　Gromph　shifted　his　orb's　vision；　searching　as　best　he　could　for　some　sign　of　survivors；　but　the　main　cavern　was　largely　deserted。　He　saw　more　than　a　few　burned　bodies　among　the　smoldering　debris；　but　any　drow　who'd　lived　through　the　burning　of　the　city　were　clearly　sheltering　in　the　nearby　caverns。　Gromph　was　unable　to　bring　them　into　the　view　of　his　scrying　device；　so　after　a　time　he　decided　that　the　effort　was　irrelevant　and　allowed　the　crystal　orb　to　go　dim　again。　He　sat　for　a　long　time　in　silence；　gazing　absently　at　the　darkened　orb。
　　　〃Now；　do　I　need　to　share　this　with　dear　Triel？〃　he　asked　himself　when　he　finally　stirred　from　his　reverie。
　　　He　knew　something　that　the　matron　mothers　presumably　did　not；　and　that　was　always　the　sign　of　possibility。　The　trouble　was；　Gromph　had　no　idea　what　possible　advantage　he　could　derive　from　hoarding　the　knowledge；　and　the　risks　of　failing　to　municate　what　he　had　learned　were　all　too　clear。　Knowing　that　Lolth's　silence　extended　beyond　Menzoberranzan；　he　might　mount　a　direct　challenge　to　the　priestesses…if　he　were　inclined　to　do　so…but　even　if　he　brought　the　full　strength　of　Sorcere　against　the　ruling　Houses　of　the　city；　what　would　be　left　if　he　did　succeed？　The　smoldering　wreckage　of　Ched　Nasad　seemed　a　likely　result。　Most　likely　the　House　loyalties　among　the　masters　of　the　wizards'　school　would　cripple　any　such　nonsense　from　the　start。
　　　No；　Gromph　decided。　I　am　no　revolutionary　anxious　to　sweep　away　the　old　order…not　yet；　anyway。
　　　Besides；　the　most　likely　cause　of　all　the　trouble　was　some　insidious　new　snare　of　Lolth's　devising。　Gromph　wouldn't　put　it　past　the　Spider　Queen　to　fall　pletely　and　inexplicably　silent；　just　to　see　who　might　slink　out　of　the　shadows　in　order　to　take　advantage　of　her　priestesses'　temporary　〃weakness。〃　That　meant　that　sooner　or　later；　Lolth　would　tire　of　her　game　and　restore　her　favor　to　her　clerics。　When　that　happened；　woe　to　anyone　foolish　enough　to　have　shown　the　shallowness　of　his　allegiance　to　the　established　order。　No；　the　wisest　thing　to　do　was　to　pass　along　to　Triel　what　he'd　learned；　and　to　make　sure　Matron　Baenre　didn't　hoard　the　knowledge　to　herself。　Pharaun's　words　indicated　in　a　few　quick　brushstrokes　a　very　grave　danger　to　Menzoberranzan；　and　Gromph　refused　to　be　remembered　as　the　archmage　who　allowed　his　city　to　be　razed。
　　　With　a　sigh；　he　stood　and　dropped　silently　back　down　the　shaft。　He　rather　hoped　Triel　was　in　the　middle　of　something　awkward；　so　that　he　could　savor　the　petty　pleasure　of　interrupting　her　with　news　that　could　not　wait。
　　　
　　　〃The　question　is　not　where　we　should　go　next；〃　observed　Pharaun　with　a　wry　grimace。　〃The　question　is　how　we　shall　escape　Hlaungadath　alive。〃　The　Master　of　Sorcere　was　exhausted。　Dust　plastered　the　blood　and　sweat　on　his　face；　and　he　was　so　tired　he　could　do　no　more　than　collapse　into　the　shadow　of　a　long；　crumbling　wall。　Having　long　since　exhausted　any　spells　useful　in　battle；　he　wielded　a　wand　of　thin　black　iron　from　which　he　called　forth　bolts　of　lightning。　Pharaun　glanced　up　at　the　sky　as　if　to　gauge　how　much　more　daylight　remained；　and　he　quickly　winced　away。　〃Will　the　cursed　sun　never　set？〃
　　　〃Get　up；　wizard；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃If　we　rest；　we　die。〃
　　　She；　too；　trembled　with　exhaustion；　but　she　stayed　on　her　feet。　The　long　snake…headed　whips　she　carried　still　coiled　and　hissed　dangerously；　covered　with　gore；　but　blood　trickled　from　a　nasty　cut　above　her　left　eye；　and　two　furrows　of　broken　and　twisted　links　in　her　mail　shirt　showed　just　how　close　she'd　e　to　dying　under　the　claws　of　some　hulking　monstrosity　of　gray　skin　and　spiderlike　eyes。
　　　〃You're　more　vulnerable　to　the　lamias'　powers　of　suggestion　and　illusion　while　you're　fatigued；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃Better　to　die　fighting　than　to　fall　under　the　dominion　of　such　a　creature。〃
　　　She　was　in　much　the　same　condition　as　the　others。　Since　she　and　Danifae　had　survived　their　initial　encounter　with　the　monsters；　it　had　been　an　hours…long　running　battle　through　the　streets　and　empty　buildings　of　the　ruins。　First；　a　large　pride　of　lamias　had　tried　to　overwhelm　the　party　with　their　beguiling　powers；　but　drow　on　guard　for　such　magical　tricks　were　no　easy　prey。　Halisstra　and　the　others　steeled　themselves　for　a　fight　against　the　lion…bodied　monsters；　but　the　lamias…deceitful　and　cowardly　things　that　they　were…withdrew　from　the　battle　and　instead　hurled　wave　after　wave　of　beguiled　thralls　at　the　drow　party。　Lamias　might　have　lacked　for　physical　courage；　but　the　manticores；　asabis；　gargoyles；　and　other　assorted　creatures　under　their　control　certainly　did　not。
　　　〃Neither　option　appeals　to　me；〃　Quenthel　growled。　She　turned　slowly；　studying　the　walls　and　structures　around　them；　seeking　escape。　〃There。　I　can　see　the　open　desert　just　beyond　those　buildings。　Maybe　they'll　abandon　the　chase　if　we　leave　the　city。〃
　　　〃Unwise；　Mistress；〃　said　Valas。　He　crouched　by　an　archway　leading　into　their　temporary　refuge；　watching　for　the　next　assault。　〃Once　we　leave　the　shelter　of　the　walls；　they'll　know　exactly　where　we　are。　We'd　be　visible　for　miles　out　in　the　open；　even　with　our　piwafwis…they　weren't　made　to　hide　us　in　bright　daylight　on　an　open　plain。　Concealment　is　our　best　defense。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　wearily。　He　stood　by　another　doorway；　his　greatsword　resting　on　his　shoulder。
　　　〃They　would　surround　us　and　drag　us　down　out　there；〃　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　said。　〃Best　to　try　to　keep　moving　within　the　ruins；　and　hope　the　lamias…ah；　damn。　We've　got　more　pany。〃
　　　Rubble　shifted　somewhere　in　the　maze　of　crumbling　walls　beyond　their　refuge　as　something　large　padded　closer。
　　　〃Watch　out　for　illusions；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　She　balanced　her　mace　in　her　hand　and　tugged　at　her　shield；　making　sure　it　was　strapped　securely　to　her　arm。　Behind　her；　Danifae　crouched；　a　long　dagger　in　her　hand。　Halisstra　wasn't　happy　about　arming　her　battle　captive；　but　at　the　moment　they　needed　all　the　help　they　could　get；　and　it　was　plainly　in　Danifae's　best　interests　to　make　sure　they　didn't　all　fall　prey　to　the　denizens　of　Hlaungadath。
　　　The　lamias　tried　something　new。　Against　the　gap　in　the　wall　that　Jeggred　guarded；　the　monsters　hurled　a　wave　of　lizardlike　asabis；　savage　creatures　that　hissed　in　anger　as　they　threw　themselves　against　the　draegloth　with　scimitars　and　falchions　clutched　in　their　scaly　hands。　Three　more　challenged　Valas　while　a　pair　of　gargoyles　streaked　over　the　walls　and　dropped　into　the　midst　of　the　ruined　building　behind　Ryld；　their　great　black　wings　raising　huge　clouds　of　dust　with　every　beat。　The　weapons　master　whirled　to　face　the　threat　behind　him；　cursing。
　　　Jeggred　howled　in　rage　and　leaped　to　meet　the　rush　of　the　asabis；　batting　aside　flashing　blades　and　snapping　jaws　while　he　tore　at　the　lizard　warriors　with　his　great　talons。　The　white…haired　demon　used　his　four　arms　to　wreak　terrible　carnage；　but　even　Jeggred　was　tiring。　Blows　he　would　have　eluded　with　his　freakish　speed　landed　awkwardly。　He　blocked　one　slashing　scimitar　badly　with　his　left　outer　arm；　and　suffered　a　long　bloody　cut　halfway　from　elbow　to　wrist。　Another　blade　scored　his　torso；　starting　a　stream　of　red　across　his　white…pelted　chest。　The　draegloth　roared　in　rage　and　redoubled　his　efforts。
　　　Ryld　slashed　at　the　gargoyles　while　Halisstra　and　Quenthel　ran　to　his　side。　Quenthel　lashed　at　one　with　her　whip。　The　snake　heads　wound　around　the　creature's　taloned　legs　and　sank　fangs　into　stony　flesh；　but　the　gargoyle　beat　furiously　for　height　and　dragged　the　priestess　off　her　feet　and　across　the　dusty　structure。　Pharaun　raised　his　wand　to　blast　the　monsters　with　deadly　lightning；　but　spun　in　a　half…circle　and　fell；　a　crossbow　bolt　transfixing　his　right　forearm。　The　wand　flew　from　his　hands。