war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第64部分

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　　　Pharaun　crept　out　a　little　way　to　watch　his　handiwork。　Jeggred　stood　beside　him；　unafraid　of　a　stray　missile；　eyeing　the　cloud　with　delight。
　　　〃Can　any　of　them　survive？〃　the　fiend　asked。
　　　〃Not　if　you　go　dance　among　them；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　replied。　〃The　fire　can't　hurt　you；　right？〃
　　　〃That　is　correct；〃　the　draegloth　answered；　and　he　bounded　into　the　smoky　fog。
　　　The　incendiary　cloud　had　pushed　across　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　street。　Bodies　of　duergar　were　scattered　across　its　surface；　charred　and　smoking。　Several　of　them　were　openly　burning。　Jeggred　emerged　from　within　the　roiling　smoke；　which　Pharaun　redirected　to　flow　down　the　street；　in　the　direction　opposite　they　wished　to　go。　It　would　continue　of　its　own　accord　for　some　minutes　before　dissipating；　ensuring　that　another　horde　of　the　enemy　couldn't　e　up　behind　them。　The　draegloth　was　dripping　with　blood　but　had　a　very　satisfied　look　on　his　face。　He　had　an　amputated　arm　in　his　hand　and　was　chewing　on　it　as　he　trotted　back　to　where　the　three　drow　were　crouched。
　　　Pharaun　studiously　ignored　the　fiend's　dining　habits　as　Quenthel　asked；　〃Are　they　all　dead？〃
　　　〃Either　dead　or　running；〃　the　draegloth　answered。　〃The　street　is　clear。〃
　　　〃Then　we　should　proceed。　The　spider　could　return　at　any　moment；　and　we　have　no　time　to　waste。　Where　did　you　say　the　others　went？〃　the　high　priestess　asked　Pharaun。
　　　The　wizard　pointed　toward　the　alleyway　where　he　had　seen　Ryld　vanish　moments　before。
　　　〃The　weapons　master　went　in　there；〃　he　said。　〃It's　possible　that　one　or　both　of　the　others　joined　him。〃
　　　Before　Pharaun　could　take　more　than　a　couple　of　steps；　though；　the　street　heaved　and　shook。
　　　〃Damnation！〃　he　heard　Quenthel　cry　out；　and　the　mage　risked　a　glance　back。
　　　The　spider　had　spotted　them　and　was　skittering　along　the　street；　easily　stepping　over　the　roiling　cloud　of　flame　Pharaun　had　sent　in　that　direction。　The　arachnid　came　toward　them；　and　fast；　its　mandibles　flexing　eagerly。
　　　Pharaun　turned　and　fled　from　it。
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　　　〃I'm　telling　you；　I　want　that　thing　killed；　now！〃　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　screamed。　〃If　you　don't　do　it；　we　are　all　in　a　midden　heap　of　trouble！〃
　　　She　loomed　over　Khorrl　Xornbane　as　the　two　stood　on　the　steps　of　an　upscale　fashion　shop；　abandoned　in　the　fighting；　situated　in　the　interior　of　the　gray　dwarves'　position　on　the　plaza。　The　shop　was　well　back　from　the　lines　of　battle；　but　Khorrl　could　plainly　see　the　spider　in　the　distance　as　the　matron　mother　pointed　at　it。　The　massive　creature　clambered　over　a　building　near　where　Clan　Xornbane　was　locked　in　a　pitched　battle　with　a　force　of　antagonistic　drow。
　　　〃And　I'm　telling　you；　I'm　not　sending　my　boys　to　fight　that　thing！〃　Khorrl　snarled　back；　losing　patience　with　this　haughty　dark　elf。　〃You　hired　me　to　win　you　a　seat　on　your　blessed　council　by　defeating　your　adversaries；　not　to　clean　up　your　mistakes。　You　and　your　cronies　brought　it　here；　so　you　and　your　cronies　can　figure　out　how　to　stop　it。　It's　not　my　fault　you　can't　control　it！〃
　　　〃My　mistakes？　Let's　talk　about　mistakes；　Captain。　Let's　talk　about　you　and　your　mercenary　rabble　taking　to　the　streets　prematurely；　ruining　my　well…laid　plans　for　ascension　to　the　Council　in　one　foolish　moment。　Mistakes；　indeed！　We　wouldn't　even　be　in　this　position　if　you　had　followed　simple　orders。〃
　　　Khorrl　wanted　to　slice　the　offensive　drow　in　half　right　then。　If　she　hadn't　brought　a　retinue　of　bodyguards　with　her；　he　would　have；　but　he　was　outnumbered；　and　he　knew　that　even　if　he　got　in　the　killing　blow　he　would　be　taken　down　shortly　thereafter。　Instead；　he　squeezed　his　grip　on　his　axe　and　sucked　in　a　deep　breath；　trying　to　still　the　trembling　rage　that　coursed　through　his　body。
　　　〃Prematurely？〃　he　said　through　clenched　teeth。　〃I　received　direct　orders　from　your　boy　Zammzt。　If　he　didn't　have　the　word　from　you；　go　talk　to　him。　Either　way；　stop　wasting　my　timer　he　finished　with　a　roar。　〃I　am　not　sacrificing　my　lads　needlessly　to　kill　your　spider。　In　fact；　we're　done；　here。
　　　〃Forghel！〃　he　called　out；　looking　for　his　aide。　〃Forghel；　sound　the　retreat。　We're　pulling　out。〃
　　　Khorrl　knew　he　played　a　dangerous　game；　turning　his　back　on　the　dark　elf；　but　he　wanted　to　bait　her；　see　if　she　would　lose　her　temper。
　　　〃Liar！〃　Ssipriina　screamed　once　more。　〃Don't　you　blame　your　foolish　gaffes　on　my　House。　You　will　not　abandon　your…Don't　you　walk　away　from　me！
　　　〃To　the　Abyss　with　you。　Kill　him？　she　screamed。
　　　Smiling　to　himself；　Khorrl　gave　a　shrill　whistle；　and　instantly；　a　host　of　his　boys　banished　their　invisibility　and　magically　appeared；　surrounding　him；　axes　and　crossbows　ready。　The　captain　turned　back　to　face　the　advancing　retinue　of　drow；　looking　specifically　for　Ssipriina。
　　　The　dark　elf's　bodyguards　had　begun　to　chase　him　down；　but　when　the　additional　duergar　materialized；　the　drow　soldiers　faltered　a　moment。　That　was　all　the　Clan　Xornbane　troops　needed。　Charging　forward；　Khorrl's　boys　took　the　fight　to　the　drow。
　　　Of　course；　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　was　not　foolish　enough　to　remain　too　close　to　the　fighting；　but　she　gave　the　captain　one　last　baleful　glare　as　she　turned　and　retreated　back　down　the　steps　in　the　opposite　direction。
　　　Grabbing　up　a　crossbow　from　one　of　his　gray　dwarves　who　was　standing　close　to　him；　Khorrl　sighted　down　the　weapon；　taking　aim　at　the　withdrawing　matron　mother。　He　fired；　but　the　bolt　clacked　loudly　off　a　stone　column　at　the　corner　of　the　building　as　Ssipriina　rounded　it　and　disappeared。　She　would　be　back；　though；　the　captain　knew；　and　she　would　bring　more　of　her　damnable　soldiers　with　her。
　　　''Sir；　look；〃　Forghel　said；　running　up　beside　Khorrl。
　　　The　captain　turned　and　looked　back　the　way　his　aide　was　pointing；　and　his　heart　sank。　The　immense　spider　was　positioned　in　the　middle　of　the　street；　rearing　up　on　its　back　legs；　while　its　front　appendages　fluttered　oddly　in　the　air。　A　bluish　line　appeared　in　the　air；　as　tall　as　the　spider　itself；　and　widened　into　an　odd…shaped　field　of　blue　light。　A　second　spider　stepped　through　the　magical　opening；　equally　as　large　as　the　first。　It　had　somehow　summoned　a　mate。
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　　　Ryld　was　growing　tired。　He　didn't　know　how　much　longer　he　could　defend　himself　and　Halisstra　from　the　crowd　of　gray　dwarves　that　slowly；　inexorably；　pressed　in　at　them　from　all　sides。　He　knew　he　was　running　out　of　room　to　retreat。　Soon；　he　would　find　his　back　against　a　wall；　and　there　would　be　no　more　running。
　　　Fire　began　to　spill　from　above。　The　clay　pots　exploded　all　around　him；　and　he　knew　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　one　of　them　found　him。
　　　Well；　this　is　a　fine　way　to　go；　the　weapons　master　thought；　ducking　beneath　a　badly　overswung　hammer　strike　and　cutting　the　duergar　across　his　midsection。　Backed　into　a　corner　in　an　alley；　trapped　like　a　rat　in　a　cage；　and　burned　to　death。　Well；　you　wanted　to　get　out　of　Menzoberranzan　and　find　a　little　excitement；　fool。　I　guess　this　will　have　to　do。
　　　Surprisingly；　the　gray　dwarves　backed　away　from　him；　maintaining　their　guard　as　they　retreated；　and　Ryld　let　them　go。　He　was　breathing　heavily；　his　lungs　feeling　scorched　from　the　acrid　smoke　that　was　all　around　him。　A　dozen　or　more　insignificant　gashes　covered　his　arms　and　torso；　burning　like　the　stings　of　a　viper。
　　　If　they　don't　want　to　fight；　I'm　not　going　to　argue　with　them；　he　thought　gratefully。
　　　He　kept　his　sword　level　as　a　threat　but　risked　a　quick　glance　up　to　the　rooftops。
　　　Sure　enough；　just　as　Halisstra　had　claimed；　more　of　the　foul　dwarves　had　stretched　netting　across　the　way；　preventing　the　two　of　them　from　escaping　by　that　route。　Ryld　was　certain　he　could　pick　them　off　with　his　crossbow　but　not　if　he　had　to　dodge　ground　troops　and　firepots　at　the　same　time。　He　saw　the　duergar　overhead　hurl　several　more　of　the　horrid　things　down；　but　instead　of　aiming　at　him；　they　threw　wide；　so　that　the　bursts　of　flame　erupted　between　Ryld　and　his　foes　on　the　ground。
　　　They're　trying　to　seal　us　in；　the　weapons　master　realized。　Trap　us　and　kill　us　without　risk　to　themselves。
　　　He　was　judging　the　width　of　the　flames；　trying　to　determine　if　he　could　leap　ac