war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第12部分

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ying　right　under　Nimor。
　　　With　a　touch　to　a　brooch　that　bore　the　sign　of　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin；　Nimor　dropped　slowly；　still　hidden　from　sight　by　magic。　As　he　descended；　Nimor　drew　his　dagger…a　very　special　dagger…and　when　he　came　to　rest　on　the　spider；　inches　behind　the　cavalry　leader；　he　flicked　the　blade　across　the　back　of　the　drow　warrior's　neck。　There　was　a　perfect　space　there　between　his　helm　and　his　pauldron。
　　　The　spider　rider　flinched　and　turned　in　his　saddle。　Nimor；　still　invisible；　grabbed　the　drow　around　his　neck　and　held　the　poisoned　blade　to　his　throat。
　　　The　spider　rider　couldn't　see　him；　but　he　could　hear　Nimor　whisper　in　his　ear；　〃What　is　your　name；　Shobalar？〃
　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　the　warrior　asked；　and　Nimor　cut　him　again…not　too　deeply…in　response。
　　　The　drow　grunted；　and　Nimor　could　feel　his　body　stiffen；　jerk；　and　quiver。
　　　〃Yes；〃　Nimor　hissed　into　the　slowly　dying　officer's　ear；　〃it　is　poison。　Very；　very　elegant　poison。　It　will　paralyze　you；　twist　your　throat　closed；　squeeze　the　last　gasp　of　air　from　your　lungs；　and　keep　you　from　screaming　while　you　suffocate。〃
　　　The　drow　growled　and　said；　his　voice　already　quiet　and　tight；　〃My　House　will　avenge　me。〃
　　　〃Your　House　will　burn；　Captain　。　。　。　？〃
　　　〃Vilto'sat　Shobalar；〃　the　drow　answered　even　as　his　throat　squeezed　shut；　〃of　the　Spider　Riders　of　House　Sh…〃
　　　Smiling　all　the　while；　Nimor　held　the　dying　drow　upright　in　his　saddle　as　he　suffocated。　The　Anointed　Blade　of　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　waited　until　Captain　Vilto'sat　Shobalar　quivered　through　his　last　attempt　at　a　breath　and　his　magenta　eyes　glazed　over。　Then　Nimor　levitated　up　and　away　from　the　suddenly　uncontrolled；　feral　war…spider。
　　　The　arachnid　went　berserk；　chewing　through　duergar　after　duergar　then　turning　on　another　of　its　kind。　The　rider　of　that　spider　turned　his　attention　to　protecting　his　mount　from　the　wild　arachnid…just　long　enough　for　a　particularly　enthusiastic　duergar　footman　to　take　his　head　with　a　poleaxe。
　　　Nimor　killed　eight　more　drow　himself　over　the　next　ten　minutes　or　so；　while　the　duergar　claimed　three。　The　rest　finally　turned　and　ran　back　through　the　tunnel；　past　the　outer　siege　line　and　back　into　Menzoberranzan。　They　had　taken　back　nothing；　and　Nimor　had　four　of　their　spiders　and　the　dead　drow。
　　　Nimor　ordered　up　more　duergar　to　resecure　the　position；　had　the　spiders　bound　and　made　ready　for　travel；　and　went　back　to　his　mand　post　with　the　corpse　of　Captain　Vilto'sat　Shobalar。
　　　Spoils　of　war。
　　　
Chapter　Five
　　　Valas　could　tell　that　Danifae　didn't　know　the　drake　was　behind　her　until　the　second　his　arrow　sliced　through　the　fine　membrane　of　its　wing；　surprising　it。　It　made　a　noise　deep　in　its　throat；　the　arrow　made　a　wet　ripping　sound　as　it　entered；　and　the　drake's　smooth　motion　ended　in　a　jerk。　All　that　was　enough　for　anyone　to　sense　some　disturbance　behind　her　and　turn…and　it　was　that　simple　reflex　that　saved　Danifae's　life。
　　　Though　the　drake　forgot　its　intended　target；　it　landed　hard　in　a　skidding　roll　and　would　have　bowled　her　over　if　she　hadn't　jumped　clear…and　she　barely　managed　that。
　　　The　portal　drake　whirled　in　the　direction　from　which　Valas's　arrow　had　e。　Saliva　dripped　from　its　open　mouth；　curling　around　jagged　teeth　and　collecting　on　the　cave　floor　in　steaming　pools。　Valas　saw　the　intelligence　in　the　thing's　eyes；　the　great　age…centuries　spent　stalking　the　alluring　magical　portals　of　the　Underdark…and　the　cold；　hard　anger。
　　　The　drake　searched　the　darkness　for　him；　but　Valas　knew　it　wouldn't　see　him。　Valas　didn't　want　to　be　seen；　it　was　that　simple。
　　　Behind　the　creature；　Danifae　scrambled　to　her　feet；　drawing　her　morningstar　at　the　same　time。　Valas　already　had　another　arrow　in　his　hand；　and　as　he　slipped　sideways　along　the　edge　of　a　deep　shadow　he　set　it　to　his　bow　and　drew　back　the　string。　The　drake　mirrored　that　expansive　movement　by　drawing　air　into　its　lungs。　It　couldn't　see　Valas；　but　it　had　apparently　concluded　that　all　it　had　to　do　was　get　close。　It　was　a　conclusion　with　which　Valas　could…unfortunately…find　no　fault。
　　　After　taking　a　heartbeat　to　aim；　Valas　let　the　arrow　fly。　The　drake　exhaled；　releasing　a　billowing　cloud　of　greasy　green　vapor　into　the　air。　It　rolled　and　expanded　as　it　left　the　dragon's　mouth。　The　drake　began　to　strain　to　get　it　all　out。
　　　Danifae　struck　with　her　morningstar…a　weapon　enchanted　with　the　power　of　lightning…from　behind；　and　the　portal　drake　jerked　forward。　Valas's　arrow　bit　deeply　into　its　chest；　finding　the　half　inch　it　needed　between　two　hard　scales。　The　thing's　armored　skin　quivered；　and　muscles　rippled　and　jerked。　The　breath　caught　in　its　throat；　and　its　cloud　was　cut　short。　Still　the　gas　rolled　in　Valas's　direction。
　　　The　scout　could　see　it　ing。　It　was　aimed　toward　rather　than　at　him；　so　he　flipped　backward　away　from　it。　He　had　no　way　to　protect　himself　from　poison　gas。　It　was　a　weakness　in　that　situation　that　Valas　found　frustrating。　All　he　could　do　was　avoid　the　gas；　and　avoidance；　at　least；　was　something　he　was　well　versed　in。
　　　〃Hide　in　the　dark　there　if　you　wish；　drow；〃　the　portal　drake　hissed　in　Undermon。　Its　voice　was　cold　and　sharp；　almost　mechanical；　and　it　echoed　in　the　high…ceilinged　chamber　with　a　sound　like　glass　breaking。　〃I　can't　see　you。〃
　　　The　creature　turned　to　face　Danifae；　who　was　whirling　her　morningstar；　looking　him　in　the　eye。　She　was　backing　up。
　　　〃But　I　can　see　her；〃　the　drake　said。
　　　Danifae　smiled；　and　the　expression　sent　a　chill　down　Valas's　spine。　He　stopped；　noting　the　sensation　but　utterly　confused　by　it。
　　　When　the　battle…captive　lashed　out　with　the　enchanted　morningstar　again；　the　drake　dodged　it　easily。
　　　〃What　are　you　expecting；　lizard？〃　Danifae　asked　the　drake。　〃Do　you　think　he'll　reveal　himself　to　save　me？　Have　you　never　met　a　dark　elf　before？〃
　　　Valas；　about　to　draw　another　arrow；　let　it　drop　silently　back　into　his　quiver。　He　slipped　the　bow　over　his　shoulder　and　made　his　way　around　the　back　of　the　drake；　skirting　the　edge　of　the　cavern　wall　toward　the　giant　face。　He　quickly　estimated　the　number　of　steps；　the　number　of　seconds；　and　gauged　the　background　noise　for　sound　cover。
　　　〃Dark　elves？〃　the　drake　said。　〃I've　eaten　one　or　two　in　my　years。〃
　　　Danifae　tried　to　hit　him　again；　and　the　drake　tried　to　bite　her。　They　dodged　at　the　same　time；　which　ruined　both　their　attacks。
　　　〃Let　us　pass；〃　Danifae　said；　and　her　voice　had　an　air　of　mand　to　it　that　got　Valas's　attention　as　well　as　the　drake's。
　　　〃No；〃　the　drake　answered；　and　Danifae　stepped　in　faster　than　Valas　would　have　thought　her　capable　of。
　　　The　morningstar　came　down　on　the　portal　drake's　left　side；　and　Valas　blinked　at　the　painfully　bright　flash　of　blue…white　light。　The　burning　illumination　traced　patterns　in　the　air　like　glowing　spider…webs。　The　creature　flinched　and　growled　again；　its　anger　and　pain　showing　in　the　way　its　lips　pulled　back　from　its　teeth。
　　　Danifae　stepped　back；　setting　her　morningstar　spinning　again。　The　drake　crouched；　and　Valas　stopped　and　stiffened。　The　drake　didn't　lunge　at　her…it　burst　into　the　air　with　the　deafening　beat　of　wings。　In　less　than　a　second　it　was　high　enough　to　disappear　into　the　gloom　up　in　the　cathedral…like　space。
　　　Valas　stepped　forward　and　let　his　toes　scrape　loose　gravel　on　the　floor。　Danifae　looked　up　at　him。
　　　Run　back　to　the　tunnel；　Valas　traced　in　sign　language。　Go！
　　　Danifae　saw　him；　didn't　bother　to　nod；　and　turned　to　run。　Valas　slipped　back　into　the　darkness；　drew　his　piwafwi　up　over　his　head；　and　rolled　on　the　floor　until　he　knew　he　was　back　in　a　place　where　no　one　would　be　able　to　see　him。
　　　Valas　watched　the　battle…captive　run；　knowing　she　wouldn't　be　able　to　see　the　portal　drake。　He　drew　another　arrow　slowly　so　that　it　wouldn't　make　a　sound　as　it　came　free　of　the　quiver。　He　turned　and　twisted　a　fraction　of　an　inch　here；　a　hair's　breadth　there；　so　the　steel　tip　would　reflect　no　light。　Breathing　slowly　through　his　mouth；　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　waited…but　didn't　have　to　wait　for　long。
　　　The　sound　of　the　portal　drake's　wings　echoed　from　above；　doubled；　then　doubled　again；　and　more…not　just　echoes