war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第29部分

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slightest　bit；　and　the　cudgel　crashed　down　on　his　left　shoulder　with　a　loud　crunch。　His　entire　arm　went　numb；　and　he　nearly　lost　his　footing　when　something　hooked　his　leg　behind　and　tried　to　topple　him。
　　　This　is　madness；　the　warrior　thought　as　he　scrambled　back　against　the　wall；　shoving　the　table　between　himself　and　the　rest　of　the　patrons。　Valas　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　　　Get　him！〃　someone　snarled　from　the　crowd。
　　　'Kill　the　dark　elves！〃　another　cried。
　　　Yet　no　one　seemed　eager　to　approach　him。
　　　Ryld　kept　his　short　sword　leveled　at　the　threats　in　front　of　him　as　he　scanned　the　room　for　his　panion；　wondering　if　the　scout　had　abandoned　him　in　favor　of　escape。　It　would　hardly　have　been　the　first　time　Ryld　found　himself　in　such　a　position。
　　　When　a　pair　of　quaggoths…huge；　white…furred　humanoids　some…rimes　known　as　deepbears…lunged　at　the　warrior；　Ryld　was　forced　to　return　his　attention　to　the　difficulties　at　hand。　Slashing　with　his　short　sword；　he　parried　the　spear　the　first　creature　tried　to　thrust　through　his　chest；　then　sidestepped　the　second　one's　attack；　which　came　very　near　to　gashing　his　throat。　A　second　crossbow　bolt　thunked　against　the　wall　near　him；　shattering　against　the　stone。
　　　At　the　same　moment；　Valas　flashed　into　view　again；　having　been　hiding　somehow　in　the　middle　of　the　crowd。　The　scout　plunged　both　kukris　into　the　back　of　the　first　quaggoth。　Ryld　blinked　in　surprise　but　took　advantage　of　the　opportunity　to　spin　and　slash　low；　cutting　the　second　deepbear　across　both　knees。　Both　creatures　collapsed　in　sprays　of　blood　as　Valas　joined　Ryld　against　the　wall。
　　　〃That　was　impressive；〃　Ryld　said　as　he　and　the　scout　kept　the　shouting；　cursing　throng　at　bay　with　their　weapons。
　　　〃When　those　two　came　for　you；　I　saw　a　chance　and　took　it。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　want　to　get　out　of　here？〃　Ryld　asked；　surveying　the　room　for　any　signs　of　escape。　〃Just　fight　our　way　through？〃
　　　〃I　don't　know　about　you；　but　I've　already　got　a　means　of　escape；〃　Valas　replied。　〃See　you　on　the　outside。〃
　　　With　that；　the　scout　backed　into　a　shimmering　blue　doorway　that　had　suddenly　appeared　at　his　back。　Ryld　had　no　time　to　gape　as　the　door　vanished　from　sight；　leaving　him　alone　against　the　horde　of　angry　tavern　patrons。　A　hobgoblin　was　closing　warily　from　the　right；　while　an　ore　and　a　strange　lizard　creature　closed　from　the　center　and　left；　respectively。
　　　Typical；　he　thought。　Everyone　but　me　must　be　able　to　blink　in　and　out　with　those　damnable　doorways。
　　　Ryld　lunged　in　and　cut　high　at　the　ore　before　spinning　to　deflect　a　blow　from　the　lizard　creature's　short　blade。　The　warrior　kicked　out　at　the　hobgoblin　and　slashed　again　at　the　ore；　this　time　catching　his　foe　right　across　the　cheek。　Blood　spattered；　and　Ryld　began　to　work　his　way　through　the　crowd；　knowing　he　couldn't　remain　against　the　wall　and　hope　to　survive。
　　　As　he　got　in　among　the　crowd　and　his　opponents　swirled　around　him；　Ryld　had　an　idea。　Dropping　to　one　knee；　he　made　a　couple　of　defensive　thrusts　as　he　reached　down　with　his　other　hand　and　slapped　the　floor；　calling　up　magical　darkness。　Nearly　the　entire　taproom　was　engulfed　in　the　inky　blackness；　and　the　battle　cries　of　the　crowd　changed　to　the　noise　of　confusion　and　panic。　The　darkness　didn't　bother　Ryld。　He　was　used　to　fighting　blind；　feeling　and　hearing　his　foes　as　easily　as　he'd　watched　them　before。
　　　The　reaction　of　the　pressing　throng　was　exactly　what　Ryld　had　hoped　for。　Not　eager　to　attack　a　foe　they　couldn't　see　and　unwilling　to　get　hit　themselves；　the　crowd　edged　away　from　the　warrior；　giving　him　ample　room。　Reaching　up；　he　slid　Splitter　off　his　back。　With　Valas　gone；　he　no　longer　had　to　worry　about　controlling　or　shortening　his　swing。　With　the　greatsword；　he　would　be　able　to　cut　his　way　out　much　more　quickly。
　　　Not　waiting　for　the　unruly　patrons　to　regain　their　wits；　Ryld　began　slashing　and　cutting　with　bold　stokes；　clearing　a　path　toward　the　door。　The　screams　emanating　from　around　the　weapons　master　were　unnerving　to　the　rest　of　the　brawlers。　Quickly　enough；　Ryld　emerged　from　the　darkness；　finding　himself　near　the　exit　of　the　establishment。　A　couple　more　onlookers　stood　by　the　doorway；　but　when　they　saw　the　burly　warrior　appear　with　his　great…sword　leveled　at　them；　they　quickly　scattered。　Bruised　and　bleeding　from　several　small　cuts；　Ryld　darted　through　the　exit　and　out　onto　the　street。
　　　Valas　was　leaning　against　a　wall　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　street；　watching　for　him。
　　　When　Ryld　saw　the　scout；　he　pursed　his　lips　in　displeasure；　but　before　he　could　voice　his　anger；　Valas　nodded　and　said；　〃A　lot　easier　to　cut　your　way　out　of　there　without　worrying　about　hitting　me；　wasn't　it？〃
　　　Ryld　opened　his　mouth　to　retort；　realized　that　Valas　was　right；　and　snapped　it　shut　again。
　　　Finally；　after　the　two　of　them　began　making　their　way　down　the　thoroughfare；　the　warrior　said；　〃The　next　place　we　try；　we're　taking　a　table　near　the　front　door。〃
　　　It　was　only　after　Ryld　realized　that　they　weren't　having　to　push　their　way　through　the　crowds　on　the　street；　who　parted　for　them　warily；　did　he　realize　that　he　was　still　carrying　Splitter　in　his　hand；　the　blade　dripping　with　blood。
　　　EIGHT
　　　〃Yes；　Captain　Xornbane；　by　all　means；　dispatch　diem；〃　Faeryl's　mother　said　as　the　gray　dwarves　closed　in　on　both　Drisinil　and　Quenthel。
　　　The　two　drow　and　the　draegloth；　unable　to　flee；　stared　about　themselves。　While　Jeggred　merely　seethed　with　rage；　straining　to　break　free　of　the　magical　hold　over　him；　Quenthel　and　Drisinil　looked　wild；　desperate。　The　duergar　who　had　spoken　motioned；　and　several　of　the　other　gray　dwarves　moved　in；　axes　lifted。
　　　〃Wait！〃　Faeryl　exclaimed；　then　leaned　in　close　to　whisper　with　Ssipriina　privately　for　a　moment。　〃Mother；　let's　not　kill　the　two　Men…zoberranyr　yet。　I'd　like　to　keep　them　for　a　while。〃
　　　〃I　think　that　would　be　an　extraordinarily　bad　idea；〃　one　of　the　males　near　her　mother　said；　also　leaning　in。
　　　Faeryl　glared　at　the　impertinent　male；　whom　she　seemed　to　recall　was　not　of　the　family　but　had　worked　diligently　as　an　aid　for　a　number　of　years。　Zammzt；　she　thought　his　name　was。　She　wrinkled　her　nose　slightly；　for　he　was　far　from　pretty。
　　　〃Do　you　always　butt　into　conversations　you　were　not　meant　to　hear？〃　the　ambassador　asked。
　　　Zammzt　merely　bowed　in　acquiescence　and　said；　〃Forgive　me；　but　I　am　only　looking　after　the　House's　best　interests。　If　this　plan　of　subversion　and　surprise　is　to　succeed　in　overthrowing　House　Melarn；　then　no　one　who　knows　the　truth　can　be　allowed　to　live。　If　the　drow　or　the　fiend　are　able　to　relay　to　anyone…anyone　at　all…what　transpired　here　today；　you　will　lose　your　backing　from　the　other　Houses。　No　one　will　support　your　rise　to　the　council；　Matron　Mother。　It's　an　unnecessary　risk。〃
　　　Matron　Mother　Zauvirr　studied　her　daughter　carefully　for　a　moment　then　said；　〃He　does　have　a　point。〃
　　　〃Mother；　believe　me；〃　Faeryl　replied；　〃they　will　never　get　the　chance　to　talk　to　anyone。　I　will　make　sure　of　it。〃
　　　Ssipriina　finally　nodded　and　said；　〃All　right；　you've　earned　the　chance　to　extract　a　little　revenge；　I　suppose；　but　you　must　make　certain　that　they　do　not　talk　to　anyone；　especially　not　Halisstra。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　　Zammzt　clicked　his　tongue　in　consternation；　but　he　apparently　knew　better　than　to　argue　further。　He　had　made　his　case　and　had　lost。　He　moved　off　to　engage　in　conversation　with　some　of　the　House　wizards。
　　　Faeryl；　elated；　said；　〃Of　course；　Mother。　I　understand　all　too　well。　If　our　plan　is　to　succeed；　everyone　must　think　these　two　were　plotting　together。〃
　　　〃Precisely。　Now；　I　must　go　and　prepare。　We　still　have　a　lot　of　work　to　do。〃
　　　With　that；　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　departed；　Zammzt　falling　in　beside　her；　his　head　leaning　in　close　to　discuss　issues　privately。
　　　The　ambassador　moved　back　over　to　Quenthel　once　more。
　　　〃You　see；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　she　said；　trying　to　emphasize　the　honorific　to　the　point　of　sounding　absurd；　〃we　didn't　really　steal　the　Black　Claw　merchandise。　You　did。　Or　at　least；　that's　how　it　will　appear　when　we　report　finding　members　of　two　powerful　Houses　meeting　in　secret；　having　already　smuggled　des