war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第2部分

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　　　〃I　wonder　if　any　of　the　others　have　found　a　way　down　yet；〃　Pharaun　muttered。
　　　As　if　in　answer；　Valas　Hune　appeared　from　out　of　the　forest；　emerging　from　a　tangled　clump　of　underbrush　with　a　silence　that　was　only　in　part　due　to　the　enchanted　chain　mail　the　scout　wore。　A　pair　of　magical；　curved　kukri　daggers　hung　at　his　hip；　and　to　his　vest　was　pinned　a　miscellany　of　enchanted　talismans　fashioned　by　more　than　one　Underdark　race。　The　mercenary；　his　amber　eyes　watering　slightly　as　he　squinted　against　the　sunlight；　had　a　squared…off　jaw　that　seemed　permanently　clenched。　He　habitually　held　himself　tensed　and　ready；　as　if　he　expected　to　take　a　punch。　His　ebony　skin　was　crisscrossed　with　dozens　of　faint　gray　lines；　fading　legacies　of　two　centuries'　worth　of　battles。
　　　Valas　jerked　his　head　in　the　direction　from　which　he'd　just　e　and　said；　〃There's　a　ruined　temple　a　short　distance　away。　It's　built　around　a　cave。〃
　　　Quenthel's　eyes　glittered；　and　the　serpents　in　her　whip　froze　in　rapt　attention。
　　　〃Does　it　lead　to　the　Realms　Below？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃It　does；　Mistress；〃　Valas　said；　offering　a　slight　bow。
　　　Pharaun　strode　forward　and　clapped　an　arm　around　the　scout's　shoulders。
　　　〃Well　done；　Valas；〃　he　said　in　a　hearty　voice。　〃I　always　said　you　could　smell　a　tunnel　a　mile　away。　Lead　on！　We'll　be　back　in　Menzoberranzan　in　no　time；　quenching　our　well…earned　thirst　with　the　finest　wines　that…〃
　　　〃I　think　not。〃　Quenthel　stood　with　hands　on　her　hips；　the　serpents　in　her　whip　matching　her　venomous　stare。　〃The　goddess　is　missing；　possibly　under　attack。　We　must　find　her。〃　Her　eyes　narrowed。　〃You　are　not　suggesting；　are　you；　Pharaun；　that　we　turn　our　backs　on　Lolth？　If　so；　I'm　sure　the　matron　mother　will　see　to　it　you　receive　proper　punishment。〃
　　　Valas　glanced　between　Pharaun　and　Quenthel；　then　took　a　slight　step　to　the　side；　dislodging　Pharaun's　arm　from　his　shoulder。
　　　〃Turn　my　back　on　Lolth？〃　Pharaun　asked；　chuckling　to　hide　his　nervousness。　〃Not　at　all。　I'm　merely　suggesting　we　follow　the　matron　mother's　orders。　She　bade　us　find　out　what's　happened　to　Lolth；　and　we　have。　We　may　not　have　all　of　the　answers　yet；　but　we　have　some　pretty　important　pieces　of　the　puzzle。　The　matron　mother　will　no　doubt　want　us　to　report　what　we've　found　out　so　far。　Since　the　archmage　is　no　longer　answering　my　sendings；　we　can't　be　certain　he's　receiving　our　reports。　I　assumed　we　would　report　in　person。〃
　　　〃Only　one　of　us　need　go；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃But　it　won't　be　you。　There　are　other；　more　important　things　for　you　to　be　doing。〃　She　paused　for　a　moment；　thinking。　〃You　have　the　ability　to　summon　demons；　do　you　not？〃
　　　Pharaun　raised　an　eyebrow。
　　　〃I　have　summoning　spells；　yes；〃　he　said。　〃But　what　does　that　have　to　do　w…〃
　　　〃We　will　return　to　the　Demonweb　Pits…in　the　flesh；　this　time；〃　answered　Quenthel。　〃And　with　a　more　trustworthy　guide　than　Tzirik。〃
　　　Valas　shuddered　and　asked；　〃A　demon？〃　The　normally　taciturn　scout　saw　Quenthel's　glare；　seemed　suddenly　to　realize　he'd　spoken　aloud；　and　bowed。　〃As　you　mand；　Mistress。〃
　　　〃Assuming　I　do　summon　a　demon；　how　can　we　possibly　hope　to　prevent　it　from　tearing　us　limb　from　limb；　let　alone　coerce　it　into　being　a　tour　guide　for　some　little　jaunt　to　the　Abyss？　Even　Archmage　Gromph　wouldn't　think　of　whistling　up　a　demon　without　a　golden　pentacle　to　bind　it。　We're　in　the　wilderness…in　the　Realms　of　Sunlight；　in　case　you　hadn't　noticed。　Where　am　I　supposed　to　get　the　spell　ponents　to…〃
　　　〃Jeggred。〃
　　　Pharaun　blinked；　wondering　if　he'd　heard　Quenthel　correctly。
　　　〃Jeggred；〃　she　repeated。　〃We'll　use　his　blood。　You　can　draw　the　summoning　diagram　with　that。〃
　　　〃Ah　。　。　。〃　Pharaun　cursed　silently　as　he　realized　that　Quenthel　was；　unfortunately；　right。　The　blood　of　a　draegloth　could　indeed　bind　a　demon；　but　only　one：　the　demon　who　had　sired　Matron　Mother　Baenre's　half…demon　son。　The　demon　that　was　Jeggred's　father。
　　　Pharaun　had　no　desire　to　meet　him；　in　the　flesh　or　otherwise；　but　he　could　see　he　had　little　choice　in　the　matter。　Not　if　he　wanted　to　maintain　his　delicate　balancing　act　of　apparent　loyalty　to　Lolth…necessary　if　he　was　to　keep　his　position　as　Master　of　Sorcere。　Just　as　Valas　had　done；　Pharaun　bowed。
　　　〃As　you　mand；　Mistress；〃　he　said…with　just　enough　of　a　sarcastic　twist　on　the　final　word　to　remind　her　that　her　title　was　a　hollow　one。　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　she　might　be；　back　in　Menzoberranzan；　but　he　was　hardly　one　of　her　quivering　initiates。　He　swept　a　hand　in　the　direction　Valas　had　indicated　earlier。　〃Let's　do　the　spellcasting　below　ground；　shall　we？　I'd　like　to　get　out　of　this　wretched　sunshine。〃
　　　As　Valas　and　Quenthel　set　off；　Pharaun　pretended　to　follow　them。　He　paused；　picked　up　a　twig；　and　used　it　to　collect　a　bit　of　spiderweb　from　the　trail。　Lolth　might　be　silent；　but　the　sticky　nets　woven　by　her　children　were　still　useful；　spiderweb　was　a　ponent　in　more　than　one　of　his　spells。　Tucking　the　web…coated　twig　into　a　pocket；　he　hurried　after　the　others。
　　　
Chapter　Two
　　　Halisstra　stood　on　top　of　the　bluff；　staring　out　across　the　forest。　Snow…blanketed　trees　stretched　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see　in　every　direction；　here　and　there　dimpled　by　a　lake　of　an　impossibly　bright　blue　or　divided　by　a　road　as　neat　and　straight　as　a　part　through　hair。　For　the　first　time；　Halisstra　understood　what　the　word　〃horizon〃　meant。　It　was　that　distant　line　where　the　dark　green　of　the　forest　met　the　eye…hurting；　white…streaked　blue　of　the　sky。
　　　Beside　her；　Ryld　shivered。
　　　〃I　don't　like　it　up　here；〃　he　said；　holding　a　hand　to　his　eyes　to　shade　them。　〃It　makes　me　feel　。　。　。　exposed。〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　at　the　sweat　trickling　down　Ryld's　ebony　temple　and　shivered　herself　as　the　chill　winter　wind　blew　against　her　face。　The　climb　had　been　a　long；　hot　one；　despite　the　age…worn　stairs　they'd　found　carved　into　the　rock　at　one　side　of　the　bluff。　She　couldn't　explain　what　had　pelled　her　to　lead　Ryld　up　there；　nor　could　she　explain　why　she　felt　none　of　the　apprehensions　the　weapons　master　did。　Yet　despite　his　anxiety；　Ryld…who　stood　fully　as　tall　as　Halisstra　herself；　even　though　he　was　a　male…was　in　every　respect　a　warrior。　He　wore　a　greatsword　strapped　across　his　back；　a　cuirass　with　a　breastplate　wrought　of　dwarven　bronze；　and　vambraces；　articulated　at　the　elbows；　that　sheathed　his　lean；　muscled　arms　in　heavy　steel。　A　short　sword　for　fighting　at　close　quarters　hung　in　a　scabbard　at　his　hip。　His　hair　was　cut　close　to　his　scalp　so　that　enemies　could　not　grab　it　during　bat。　Only　a　fine　stubble　remained：　hair　as　white　as　Halisstra's　own　shoulder…length　locks。
　　　〃There　was　a　surface　dweller…a　human　mage…who　dwelt　for　a　short　time　in　Ched　Nasad；〃　Halisstra　said。　The　vastness　of　the　sky　above　them　made　her　speak　softly；　it　felt　as　if　the　gods　were　lurking　up　there　just　behind　the　clouds；　watching。　〃He　spoke　of　how　our　city　made　him　feel　like　he　was　living　in　a　room　with　too　low　a　ceiling…that　he　was　always　aware　of　the　roof　of　the　cavern　over　his　head。　I　laughed　at　him；　how　could　anyone　feel　enclosed　in　a　city　that　was　so　loosely　woven…a　city　balanced　on　the　thin　lines　of　a　calcified　web？　But　now　I　think　I　understand　what　he　meant。〃　She　gestured　up　at　the　sky。　〃This　all　feels　so　。。。　open。〃
　　　Ryld　grunted　and　asked；　〃Have　you　seen　enough？　We're　not　going　to　find　an　entrance　to　the　Underdark　up　here。　Let's　climb　back　down　and　get　out　of　the　wind。〃
　　　Halisstra　nodded。　The　wind　found　its　way　inside　the　armor　she　wore；　even　through　the　thickly　padded　chain　mail　tunic　that　covered　her　from　neck　to　knees；　and　from　shoulders　to　elbows。　A　silver　plate　attached　to　the　tunic's　chest　was　embossed　with　the　symbol　of　a　sword；　standing　point…up　across　a　full　moon　surrounded　by　a　nimbus　of　silvery　filaments。　It　was　the　holy　symbol　of　Eilistraee；　goddess　of　the　surface…dwelling　drow。　The　padding　of　the　chain　mail　still　smelled　of　blood…that　of　the　priestess　Halisstra　had　dispatched。　The　smell　haunted　the　armor　like　a　lingering　ghost；　even　though　the　blood　was　several　days　old。
　　　Halisstra　had　not　only　claimed　the　armor　from　Seyll　after　her　own　armor　was　stolen；　but　also　Seyll's　shield　and　weapons…including　a　sl