war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第48部分

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　　　Pharaun　sighed；　chagrinned　that　he　had　raised　his　voice　enough　to　be　overheard。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　he　said。　〃We　will　attempt　to　find　her　before　we　depart；　but　remember　what　I　said。　If　the　House　falls　down　around　our　ears；　I　will　personally　blame　both　of　you。〃
　　　He　smiled；　hoping　a　little　levity　would　ease　the　tensions。　Ryld　still　scowled　but　nodded　curtly　once　the　decision　was　made。
　　　Another　rumbling　shock　wave　rocked　House　Melarn　and　forced　everyone　to　shift　their　feet　in　order　to　keep　their　balance。　Halisstra　looked　around　with　no　small　level　of　concern　in　her　eyes。
　　　〃If　you　want　to　find　your　high　priestess；　then　let　me　take　you　to　her；〃　she　said。　〃Danifae　and　I　have　no　quarrel　with　you；　as　I　admitted　before；　and　everything　I've　told　you　thus　far　is　the　truth。　We　have　no　allies　here；　and　neither　do　you。　Joining　together　could　be　mutually　beneficial。〃
　　　〃All　right；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃We'll　suppose　for　the　moment　that　we're　going　to　trust　you　to　take　us　to　her。　It　will　make　our　chances　of　getting　out　of　here　in　one　piece　markedly　better；　but　just　to　make　certain　you　don't　consider　trying　anything；　shall　we　say；　troublesome；　I　think　Danifae　here　will　acpany　us　with　her　arms　bound　behind　her。　Valas　and　I　will　keep　a　good　eye　on　her　while　you　and　Ryld　keep　to　the　front。〃
　　　Danifae's　eyes　widened　the　slightest　bit　in　protest　at　the　suggestion；　but　Halisstra　nodded　after　only　a　moment's　consideration。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　agreed。　〃We'll　do　it　your　way…for　now。　First；　you　must　do　something　for　me。　You　must　answer　a　question；　if　you　can。　What　is　the　state　of　things　out　on　the　streets？　I　have　not　had　a　chance　to　find　out　for　myself　since　the　shock　waves　began。〃
　　　Pharaun　shrugged　helplessly。
　　　〃I　fear　I　cannot　tell　you　with　any　degree　of　accuracy；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　in　the　audience　chamber　when　the　attacks　began　and　heard　the　warning　cry。　These　duergar　appear　to　be　organized；　though。　My　suspicion　is　that　someone　else；　someone　powerful；　is　behind　them。〃
　　　Halisstra　looked　sharply　at　the　wizard　and　asked；　〃What　gives　you　that　impression？〃
　　　〃The　blasts　we're　feeling　are　due　to　incendiary　alchemy。　We　encountered　similar　destruction　back　home　recently。　Whoever　is　supplying　the　duergar　with　them　may　be　associated　with　the　forces　we　dealt　with　in　Menzoberranzan；　and　I　will　warn　you　now；　the　stone　does　indeed　burn。　We　will　be　at　risk　as　long　as　we　remain　inside　your　House。〃
　　　Halisstra　looked　fearful；　but　she　nodded　in　thanks。
　　　〃Then　the　sooner　I　can　get　you　what　you　want；　the　sooner　we　can　get　outside　and　find　out　for　sure。　Danifae；　I　want　you　to　ply　with　their　instructions。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　With　a　small　sigh；　the　other　drow　female　nodded。
　　　〃Yes；　Mistress；〃　she　answered　then　moved　over　so　that　Valas　could　use　a　length　of　cord　to　bind　her　hands　securely　behind　her　back。
　　　〃Wonderful。　It's　nice　to　see　how　we're　all　getting　along　so　well　together；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃Now；　Halisstra　Melarn；　why　don't　you　lead　the　way？〃
　　　〃Before　I　do；　allow　me　to　help　you　in　a　more　immediate　way。　Let　me　heal　your　injuries。〃
　　　Pharaun　glanced　over　at　Ryld；　who　subtly　shook　his　head；　frown…ing。　Shrugging；　the　wizard　decided　to　ignore　his　panion's　con…cerns。　His　face　hurt　where　the　acid　had　burned　him。
　　　〃All　right；〃　he　answered；　〃you　can　tend　to　me。　But　if　this　is　a　trick；　my　two　patriots　here　will　see　to　it　that　it　never　happens　again。〃
　　　〃I　understand；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃I'm　just　going　to　pull　a　wand　out；　so　please　don't　get　jumpy；　all　right？〃
　　　Pharaun　nodded　and　waited　as　the　daughter　of　Drisinil　Melarn　produced　the　wand　and　utilized　it。　The　mage　immediately　felt　the　effects　of　the　divine　magic　and　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。
　　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said。
　　　Quickly　enough；　Halisstra　similarly　healed　both　Ryld　and　Valas。
　　　〃There　。　。　。　you　see？〃　she　said；　tucking　the　wand　away　again。　〃We　really　are　on　your　side。〃
　　　〃Indeed；〃　Pharaun　replied　nonmittally。　〃We'll　just　develop　the　trust　slowly；　I　think。　If　you　please？〃　he　said；　gesturing　down　the　hallway。
　　　Halisstra　eyed　the　wizard　for　a　moment；　as　if　assessing　whether　or　not　she　was　making　a　mistake；　then　turned　and　set　off　down　the　corridor。　Ryld　walked　close　by　her　side；　Splitter　hovering　protectively　close　to　her。
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　　　Aliisza　was　not　certain　exactly　when　the　battle　outside　the　noble　House　had　gotten　so　out　of　hand；　but　it　was　clearly　being　a　major　engagement；　drawing　the　attention　of　the　entire　city。
　　　Sitting　on　the　edge　of　a　building　that　hung　off　the　side　of　a　web　street　several　street　levels　above　the　raging　bat；　her　feet　dangling　off　into　space；　she　watched　anxiously　as　yet　another　wave　of　goblins　and　kobolds　crashed　into　the　ranks　of　duergar　positioned　around　the　spacious　structure。
　　　The　alu　wasn't　sure　why　she　felt　worry　over　the　oute　of　the　clash。　Oh；　she　understood　well　enough　that　she　actually　felt　concern　for　Pharaun's　well…being。　She　just　didn't　understand　why　she　did。　She　wouldn't　have　imagined　that　she　would　care　at　all　for　the　drow；　and　indeed　her　feelings　were　nothing　close　to　true　affection。　Still；　she　found　him　clever　and　amusing；　and　she　had　enjoyed　her　time　with　him　earlier　in　the　day。
　　　I　guess　I'm　just　not　through　with　him；　she　decided。
　　　So　she　waited　and　watched；　wondering　if　he　was　going　to　get　out　alive。　She　knew　he　might　have　managed　to　transport　himself　and　his　two　panions　someplace　else　by　means　of　an　extradimensional　doorway　or　similar　magic。　That　was　the　most　likely　possibility；　actually；　and　she　doubted　he　was　still　inside。　For　some　reason；　though；　she　felt　pelled　to　stay　and　watch。　Something　in　the　back　of　her　mind　told　her　that　the　wizard　was　still　there。
　　　At　least　the　battle　is　interesting；　Aliisza　mused。
　　　The　gray　dwarves　had　soundly　defeated　the　initial　force　of　drow；　pinning　the　dark　elves　between　the　two　lines　of　attackers　like　steel　caught　between　hammer　and　anvil。　The　dark　elves　were　flattened　and　slaughtered　in　a　matter　of　moments。　Some　lucky　few　had　managed　to　get　inside　the　front　door　of　the　manse；　but　the　duergar　were　in　the　process　of　battering　that　down。　Aliisza　doubted　the　portal　would　hold　much　longer。
　　　Beyond　the　walls　of　the　estate；　more　drow　marched　to　relieve　the　siege　or　perhaps　to　gain　their　fair　share　of　the　spoils。　Arriving　quickly；　driving　slave　troops　before　them；　the　new　force　was　larger　than　the　duergar's；　and　the　gray　dwarves　found　their　position　reversed；　defending　the　house　rather　than　attacking　it。　Though　the　goblins　and　kobolds　outnumbered　the　duergar　by　a　substantial　ratio；　they　were　no　match　for　the　gray　dwarves'　battle　tactics　and　incendiary　pots。　Three　times；　the　drow　had　forced　their　army　of　lesser　beings　to　assault　the　walls；　and　three　times　they　had　been　repulsed；　suffering　heavy　casualties。
　　　Aliisza　understood　the　tactic　all　too　well；　though。　The　duergar　were　forced　to　expend　magic　to　defend　themselves；　and　the　drow　were　happy　to　sacrifice　their　shock　troops　in　exchange　for　draining　the　gray　dwarves'　reserves　of　magic。　They　were　only　slaves；　after　all。　A　few　more　waves；　and　perhaps　the　duergar　would　begin　to　break。
　　　The　only　problem；　Aliisza　realized；　was　that　the　duergar　had　utilized　such　a　large　quantity　of　the　incendiary　clay　pots　that　most　of　the　plaza　was　burning。　The　air　was　getting　thick　with　smoke；　and　the　drow　were　forced　to　stay　back　from　the　spreading　conflagration。　In　several　places；　the　palatial　house　was　burning　too；　and　Aliisza　wondered　how　much　damage　the　building　could　sustain　before　it　began　to　break　apart。　Though　she　knew　the　stone…shaping　forces　used　to　build　the　city　had　made　the　web　streets　and　their　attached　structures　as　strong　as　steel；　the　abode　was　still　precariously　perched。　If　enough　of　the　stone　burned；　the　whole　house　might　break　away。
　　　That　would　be　a　sight　to　see。
　　　Aliisza　spotted　a　motion　down　a　side　street；　not　far　from　the　plaza　where　the　bulk　of　the　fighting　had　been　taking　place。　There　were　a　handful　of　drow　there；　but　little　else。　The　alu　supposed　they　might　have　been　a　scouting　or　screening　force。
　　　The　fiend　decided　to　move　in　for　a　closer　look。　She　stepped　over　the　side　of　the　roof　and　dro