war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第14部分

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ilent　goddess；　groveling　before　Lolth；　no　doubt　beseeching　the　Spider　Queen　to　restore　her　favor　to　the　House。　No　one　else　waited　within。　Apparently　the　matron　mother　felt　that　her　guards　and　servants　did　not　need　to　see　her　and　her　daughters　prostrate　themselves　in　their　private　adorations。　Nimor's　information　on　Faen　Tlabbar　had　once　again　been　proven　accurate。
　　　The　assassin　silently　drew　his　rapier　and　advanced；　eyeing　his　prey。　Ghenni　was　a　striking　dark　elf；　a　female　with　a　voluptuous　body　and　a　sinuous　grace　that　allowed　her　to　carry　her　years　better　than　many　females　a　hundred　years　younger。　He　noted　the　dark　glint　of　mail　beneath　her　emerald　robes；　and　smiled。　Apparently　even　the　matron　mother　of　a　strong　House　didn't　feel　entirely　safe　in　her　own　home　without　the　Spider　Queen's　protection。
　　　The　matron　mother　paused　in　her　observances；　warned　by　something…a　small　sound；　the　flicker　of　a　shadow；　possibly　just　intuition。　She　raised　herself　up　to　her　knees　and　looked　around；　wariness　plain　on　her　face。
　　　〃Sil'zet；　Vadalma；〃　she　hissed。　〃We　are　not　alone。〃
　　　The　two　girls　halted　at　once；　still　stretched　out　on　the　cold　stone　floor。　They　glanced　about　warily。　Ghenni　stood　carefully；　reaching　for　a　wand　at　her　belt。
　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　she　demanded。　〃Who　dares　intrude　on　our　devotions？〃
　　　Nimor　made　no　answer　but　glided　closer。　The　matron　mother　didn't　see　him；　he　was　certain　of　that；　but　just　as　he　drew　within　sword　reach；　he　felt　a　presence　coalesce　in　the　room。　An　unseen　demonic　force　took　shape　in　the　air　near　the　top　of　the　dome。
　　　〃Beware；　Matron；〃　a　cold　voice　hissed。　〃An　assassin　approaches　you　unseen。〃
　　　To　her　credit；　the　Matron　Mother　of　House　Faen　Tlabbar　did　not　quail。　As　her　daughters　scrambled　to　their　feet；　Ghenni　took　two　steps　back　and　quickly　gestured　with　her　wand；　snapping　out　a　word　of　mand。　A　sphere　of　roiling　blackness　hurled　forth　from　the　wand　and　burst　behind　Nimor　in　an　inky　blot　of　frigid　shadows　that　lashed　out　like　living　things　hungry　for　prey。　The　assassin　ignored　the　spell；　as　he　was　already　leaping　forward。　With　a　precise　thrust；　he　ran　the　Faen　Tlabbar　through　with　his　rapier。　The　blade　was　as　black　as　night；　a　long　stiletto　of　intangible　shadowstuff　that　simply　glided　through　the　matron　mother's　mail　shirt　as　if　the　armor　wasn't　even　there。　Its　effect　on　the　priestess　was　as　lethal　as　one　might　expect。　He　twisted　the　blade　in　her　heart　and　grinned；　though　she　still　could　not　see　him。
　　　〃Greetings；　Matron　Mother；〃　he　hissed　aloud。　〃Perhaps　you　will　find　the　answers　you　were　seeking　when　you　reach　Lolth's　black　hells。〃
　　　Ghenni　gasped　once　and　coughed　blood。　She　staggered　back；　clutching　at　the　blade　in　her　heart；　and　her　eyes　rolled　up　in　her　head　and　she　toppled　to　the　floor。　Nimor　withdrew　his　rapier　and　whirled　on　the　daughter　on　the　left；　Sil'zet；　while　the　demon　took　shape　over　Ghenni's　body。　It　was　a　skeletal　creature　wrapped　in　green　flames；　armed　with　a　black…glowing　scimitar　of　pale　bone。
　　　The　demon　evidently　could　see　him　perfectly；　for　it　set　on　Nimor　at　once。　It　aimed　a　ferocious　cut　at　his　head；　which　he　simply　ducked；　but　the　creature　reversed　its　blade　with　surprising　speed　and　backhanded　a　second　cut　waist　high。　Nimor　scowled　and　skipped　back；　momentarily　thwarted。　Behind　the　demon；　he　saw　Sil'zet　unrolling　a　scroll　to　read；　while　Vadalma　held　her　ground；　stooping　to　retrieve　her　mother's　wand　while　guarding　herself　with　a　dagger。
　　　〃You　will　not　escape　this　room　with　your　life；　assassin；〃　Vadalma　cried。　〃Guards！　To　me！〃
　　　Nimor　heard　the　guards　outside　fumbling　at　the　chapel　door。　He　ducked　and　darted；　keeping　away　from　the　bone　demon；　but　unwilling　to　engage　it。　Slaying　a　guardian　demon　was　pointless；　after　all。　He　had　only　a　few　moments　more；　and　he　wanted　to　make　the　most　of　them。　The　assassin　took　one　quick　step　and　rolled　beneath　the　demon's　guard；　ing　up　beside　Sil'zet　as　she　declaimed　the　words　of　her　scroll。　He　rammed　his　dagger　into　the　small　of　her　back　while　parrying　the　bone　demon's　scimitar　with　his　own　black　rapier。　Sil'zet　shrieked　in　agony　and　wrenched　away；　but　Nimor　tripped　her　expertly。　She　sprawled　to　the　ground　and　writhed。　Nimor　followed　her　and　sank　the　point　of　his　rapier　into　the　notch　of　her　collarbone。
　　　This　time；　the　demon　made　him　pay　for　ignoring　it。　Screeching　in　rage；　it　flailed　at　him　with　its　bone　sword；　cutting　a　long；　burning　gash　across　his　shoulder　blade　as　he　tried　to　spin　out　of　the　way。　Nimor　gritted　his　teeth　against　the　pain　and　rolled　away　before　the　creature　could　cut　him　in　two。
　　　Vadalma　barked　out　the　mand　word　for　her　mother's　wand　and　blasted　blindly　with　the　shadow　sphere　in　Nimor's　direction；　flaying　the　assassin's　flesh　with　ebon　tendrils　as　cold　and　as　sharp　as　razors。
　　　The　door　guards　burst　in　with　blades　bared；　their　faces　cold　and　expressionless。　They　closed　with　uncanny　swiftness；　sword　points　weaving　as　they　groped　closer　to　Nimor；　following　him　with　quick　jerks　of　their　heads　as　if　the　scuffle　of　his　boots　and　panting　of　his　breath　betrayed　him。
　　　I've　done　what　I　came　for；　Nimor　decided。
　　　Ghenni　was　dead；　and　Sil'zet　clearly　dying。　Her　heels　drummed　on　the　marble　floor　as　she　drowned　in　her　own　blood。　He　would　have　liked　to　have　killed　Vadalma　as　well；　but　the　demon　and　the　door　guards…whatever　they　actually　were…simply　plicated　matters　beyond　practical　resolution。
　　　With　a　grimace　of　resignation；　Nimor　backed　off　several　steps　and　blinked　away　with　the　power　of　his　ring；　emerging　an　instant　later　near　the　balcony　where　he　had　first　entered　the　castle。　The　forbidding　kept　him　from　escaping　in　a　single　dimensional　leap；　but　the　assassin　simply　seized　the　body　of　the　Tlabbar　wizard　he'd　left　by　the　door　and　darted　outside　again。　The　cut　across　his　shoulders　burned　abominably；　and　his　legs　ached　where　the　icy　tendrils　of　the　sphere　had　lashed　him；　but　Nimor　drew　in　a　deep　breath　and　allowed　himself　a　feral　grin　of　triumph。
　　　〃Fortunate　fellows；〃　he　said　to　the　dead　males　at　his　feet。　〃When　the　Tlabbars　determine　that　you　guarded　the　door　through　which　I　came；　you　will　be　glad　that　you　are　dead。〃
　　　The　bodies　made　no　response；　of　course。　They　never　did。
　　　He　glanced　out　at　the　faerielight　glimmering　over　the　battlements　of　the　castle；　listening　to　the　alarms　and　cries　of　dismay　rising　from　within。　He　would　have　liked　to　savor　the　sounds　for　a　long　time；　but　pursuit　could　not　be　far　behind。　With　a　sigh；　he　clenched　his　fist　around　his　black　ring　and　willed　himself　away。
　　　
　　　Halisstra　and　Ryld　played　two　games；　using　a　small　traveling　board　the　weapons　master　kept　in　a　pouch　at　his　belt。　Ryld　Argith　won　both　games；　though　Halisstra　pressed　him　hard　in　both。　She'd　always　had　a　knack　for　sava；　though　she　could　tell　early　on　that　she　was　playing　a　master。　Long；　silent　hours　passed　in　the　darkness；　with　no　sign　that　the　lamias　had　discovered　their　hiding　place。
　　　I　can't　believe　they　haven't　followed　us；　Halisstra　remarked　at　the　end　of　the　second　game。
　　　We　slew　many　of　their　favorite　thralls；　I　guess。　The　lamias　were　careless　of　the　lives　of　their　slaves；　and　perhaps　do　not　have　enough　left　to　do　a　proper　job　of　searching　the　city　for　us。　Ryld　smiled　coldly。　For　that　matter；　we　slew　a　few　lamias；　too。　Perhaps　they're　not　very　anxious　to　find　us。
　　　As　long　as　they　leave　us　be；　Halisstra　replied。
　　　With　the　sava　game　no　longer　holding　her　interest；　she　realized　that　she　was　dreadfully　hungry。　They'd　eaten　a　thin　breakfast　before　sunrise　from　the　few　supplies　they'd　brought　from　Ched　Nasad；　but　Halisstra　was　certain　that　the　day　was　drawing　down。　Drow　could　stand　privation　better　than　most；　but　hard　bat　followed　by　hours　of　vigilance　had　left　her　physically　exhausted。
　　　I'm　starving；　she　flashed　at　Ryld。　Things　seem　quiet。　I'm　going　to　slip　back　to　the　camp　and　break　out　some　stores。　Stay　alert。
　　　The　weapons　master　nodded；　and　whispered；　〃Hurry　back。〃
　　　Halisstra　rose　and　wrapped　her　piwafwi　close　around　her。　The　hall　was　still　and　dark；　as　it　had　been　for　hours。　She　stole　quietly　back　to　the　chamber　where　the　others　waited　for　Pharaun　to　ready　his　spells；　using　all　the　stea