war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第68部分

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　　　〃You　are　aware　of　the　conditions　under　which　you　will　be　permitted　to　stay　with　us。　Keep　up；　or　fall　behind。　We　will　not　suffer　you　to　slow　us　down。〃
　　　She　just　doesn't　want　to　let　on　how　much　we　defy　her；　Pharaun　realized。　She's　pretending　that　remaining　and　waiting　was　her　own　act　of　generosity。　The　wizard　smirked　to　himself。
　　　Halisstra　let　Danifae　down　and　produced　a　wand　from　her　belongings。　She　waved　it　over　the　battle　captive's　leg　and　murmured　a　phrase　that　the　wizard　didn't　quite　catch；　but　then　he　saw　that　the　puncture　wound　had　healed。　The　dark　elf　moved　to　Ryld　to　administer　a　similar　healing　effort　to　him；　but　Quenthel　intervened。
　　　〃Where　did　you　get　that？〃　the　high　priestess　demanded。
　　　Halisstra　started；　not　expecting　such　a　venomous　reaction　to　her　charity。
　　　〃It's　mine；〃　she　began　to　explain。　〃I　brought　it…〃
　　　〃Not　anymore；　it　isn't。　Give　it　to　me；〃　Quenthel　insisted。
　　　Halisstra　stared　at　the　high　priestess　but　made　no　move　to　hand　over　her　magical　trinket。
　　　〃If　you　don't　want　Jeggred　to　shred　you　to　several　pieces　right　now；　hand　that　wand　to　me。〃
　　　Slowly；　her　eyes　burning　with　anger；　Halisstra　passed　the　wand　to　Quenthel。
　　　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　examined　the　wand　carefully；　nodding　in　satisfaction。　She　turned　and　used　it　on　Ryld　herself。　As　the　divine　power　of　the　wand　flowed　into　the　warrior；　his　worst　injuries　closed；　though　several　small　scratches　and　bruises　remained。　When　she　was　satisfied　with　the　weapons　masters　condition；　she　tucked　the　wand　away　in　her　own　belongings。
　　　〃Now；〃　Quenthel　said；　turning　her　attention　back　on　Halisstra；　〃we　will　have　no　more　of　this　wasteful　use　of　curing　magic　taking　place。　I　will　be　the　one　who　decides　when　and　if　a　member　of　this　group　receives　divine　aid；　is　that　clear？〃　Halisstra　nodded。
　　　〃Do　you　have　any　mote　magic　secreted　away　that　I　should　know　about？　Believe　me；　I　will　know　if　you　do。〃
　　　Drisinil's　daughter　sighed　and　nodded。　She　produced　an　additional　wand　and　handed　it　over。
　　　〃You　cannot　use　that；　though；〃　Halisstra　mumbled。　〃It's　arcane　in　nature。　I　also　。　。　。　dabble　in　that　sort　of　magic。〃
　　　〃I　see。　Well；　if　it　bees　necessary；　you　might　get　it　back　when　you've　proven　your　worth。　Until　then；　I　keep　them　both。〃
　　　The　high　priestess　turned　and　strolled　a　few　feet　away；　pletely　ignoring　the　drow　female　who　stared　daggers　at　her　back。
　　　〃Halisstra；〃　Pharaun　said；　trying　to　change　the　subject　and　hoping　to　show　Quenthel　that　the　priestess　was　useful　at　the　same　time；　〃both　you　and　Danifae　seemed　to　know　where　these　giant　spiders　came　from。　What　can　you　tell　us？〃
　　　〃They're　guardian　spiders；〃　the　dark　elf　answered；　her　voice　thick　with　anger；　〃summoned　only　in　times　of　great　need。　Those　two　were　so　small　。　。　。　the　matron　mothers　who　conjured　them　must　have　had　a　rather　minor　one　stored　away。〃
　　　〃You　mean　they　get　bigger　than　that？〃　Valas　asked　incredulously。
　　　〃Certainly；〃　Halisstra　replied；　warming　to　the　subject。　〃How　do　you　think　the　webs　of　the　city　first　appeared　here？　Upon　arriving　in　the　cavern；　the　first　high　priestesses；　along　with　their　wizard　counterparts；　summoned　spiders　of　immense　size　to　spin　the　webs　upon　which　the　city　would　rest。　It　was　with　Lolth's　blessing　that　these　sacred　creatures　came　to　us；　and　they　were　magically　stored；　transformed　into　crystalline　statues。　From　time　to　time　they　are　brought　forth　again　to　repair　sections　of　the　city　or　to　defend　the　chamber。　Normally；　though；　they're　controlled　through　a　mental　link　to　do　our　bidding　and　to　gate　in　more　of　their　kind　only　when　we　mand　it。　I　don't　know　exactly　how。　That　is　a　secret　reserved　for　the　matron　mothers。〃
　　　〃Blessed　Dark　Mother；〃　Ryld　said。　〃Do　you　think　the　other　one　will　bring　more？〃
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　the　priestess　replied。　〃I　hope　not。〃
　　　〃Look；〃　Pharaun　said；　glancing　ahead；　where　the　spider　could　still　be　seen　scuttling　along　the　web　street。
　　　A　force　of　gray　dwarves　were　on　a　pathway　above　it；　peering　over　the　side　at　the　spider　below　them。　A　number　of　them　had　begun　throwing　more　of　the　damnable　firepots　at　the　creature。　As　the　little　incendiary　devices　struck　the　arachnid；　they　burst　into　flame；　and　the　colossal　spider　reared　up　as　it　began　to　burn；　looking　to　eliminate　the　source　of　the　pain。
　　　More　of　the　clay　pots　were　cast　down；　several　of　them　striking　the　spider　on　the　head　and　abdomen。　Rising　up　on　its　hind　legs；　the　spider　attempted　to　reach　the　duergar；　but　they　were　too　high　overhead。　The　spider　spun　in　place；　turning　its　back　on　its　attackers；　and　fired　a　thick　stream　of　fluid　in　their　direction。
　　　〃Webbing；〃　Pharaun　noted　aloud；　impressed。
　　　The　stream　of　webbing　sailed　accurately；　attaching　to　the　underside　of　the　web　street；　hardening　as　it　did　so。　The　spider　turned　and　began　to　scamper　up　the　strand　of　sticky　filament；　pursuing　the　gray　dwarves；　who　were　desperately　clambering　to　get　out　of　the　way。
　　　〃The　fools；〃　Ryld　said。　〃They　just　managed　to　get　its　attention　focused　on　them。　Fortunate　for　us；　though。〃
　　　〃Enough；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃We　still　need　to　get　our　belongings　from　the　inn　and　leave　this　wretched　city。〃
　　　Pharaun　turned　to　gaze　at　the　high　priestess；　knowing　full　well　that　his　expression　was　one　of　dumbfounded　amazement。
　　　〃You　can't　be　serious！　Look　around；〃　he　said；　gesturing　out　toward　other　parts　of　the　city；　where　the　distant　glows　of　more　and　more　fires　were　visible　through　the　ever…thickening　smoke。　〃The　whole　city　is　in　turmoil。
　　　〃Use　your　ears；〃　he　continued；　gesturing　in　a　different　direction；　where　the　screams　of　the　fighting　and　dying　echoed　off　the　walls　of　the　huge　cavern。　〃We're　running　out　of　time。　I'm　sure　the　whole　city　is　choosing　sides　and　taking　the　battle　to　the　streets；　and　yet　you　want　to　tempt　fate　by　trying　to　go　after　more　of　your　trinkets？　I　think…〃
　　　〃Listen　to　me；　boy〃　Quenthel　spat；　her　face　livid。　〃We　just　went　through　this　with　your　warrior　friend。　You　will　do　as　I　say；　or　you　will　be　left　here　to　die。　If　you've　forgotten　who　I　am；　allow　me　to　remind　you　that　I　am　High　Priestess　Quenthel　Baenre；　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　Mistress　of　the　Academy；　Mistress　of　Tier　Breche；　First　Sister　of　House　Baenre　of　Menzoberranzan；　and　I　will　no　longer　tolerate　your　snide　remarks　and　your　haughty　insubordination。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　　As　if　to　back　up　her　words；　Jeggred　stepped　forward　and　with　a　menacing　growl　took　hold　of　the　collar　of　Pharaun's　piwafwi；　bunching　it　up　in　his　clawed　fist。
　　　The　wizard　glanced　over　to　Ryld；　who　still　looked　weakened　from　his　fight　with　the　spider。　Nonetheless；　he　had　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　Splitter　and　was　stepping　forward；　ready　to　e　between　the　drae…gloth　and　the　mage。　But　Pharaun　could　tell　by　the　warriors　expression　that　he　was　trying　to　determine　just　how　badly　he　really　wanted　to　choose　sides　at　this　juncture。
　　　Jeggred　whipped　his　head　around　and　snarled；　〃Don't　even　think　about　it；　weapons　master。　I　will　tear　out　your　stomach　and　feast　upon　it　if　you　interfere。〃
　　　Ryld's　expression　tightened　as　he　took　offense　at　the　draegloth's　threats；　but　Pharaun　gave　a　quick；　subtle　shake　of　his　head　to　warn　the　warrior　off。
　　　〃Mistress　Quenthel；　since　you　are　so　passionate　about　recovering　your　valuables；〃　Pharaun　said；　trying　to　make　his　voice　sound　jovial；　〃then　let's　make　haste；　before　the　opportunity　is　wasted。〃
　　　Quenthel　smiled；　obviously　pleased　at　having　successfully　asserted　herself　and　regained　the　upper　hand。
　　　〃I　knew　you　would　appreciate　the　importance　of　my　decision；〃　she　replied；　turning　away。
　　　〃So；　wizard；　how　do　you　propose　we　cross　over　to　the　Flame　and　Serpent？〃　she　asked；　appraising　the　devastation　alongside　Pharaun。　〃What　magic　do　you　still　have　up　your　sleeve　that　can　get　us　there　quickly　and　safely？〃
　　　〃None；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　Pharaun　replied　in　all　seriousness。　〃I　have　consumed　over　half　of　my　magic　for　the　day；　and　I'm　not　even　certain　how　we'll　get　out　of　the　city。〃
　　　〃That's　not　good　enough；　Mizzrym。〃
　　　〃I　have　a　counter…suggestion；〃　the　mage　said；　pursing　his　lips。　〃Let　me　go　get　the　goods　while　you　and　the　rest　of　the　group　wait　here　a