war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第42部分

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through　the　dancing　globe　of　color　and　grasped　the　archmage　by　one　arm。　Gromph　shrieked　in　dismay　as　the　power　of　the　lich's　spell　struck　full　upon　him；　blasting　his　defensive　globe　to　motes　of　winking　light　and　locking　his　every　muscle　into　an　absolute　rigidity。
　　　〃Gromph　Baenre；　thou　art　encysted；〃　Dyrr　intoned；　his　naked　teeth　gleamed　against　the　great　and　terrible　blackness　within　his　skull。
　　　The　archmage　had　one　long　glimpse　at　the　triumphant　lich　standing　over　him；　then　he　started　to　fall。　Gromph；　unable　to　move；　plummeted　straight　down　through　the　floor；　through　the　flickering　rooms　and　chambers　of　Sorcere；　through　a　vast　distance　into　the　yawning　black　rock　below　the　tower；　the　city；　the　world。　For　one　terrible　instant　Gromph　felt　himself　at　the　bottom　of　a　measureless　well；　staring　up　through　uncounted　miles　of　darkness　at　the　pinprick　figure　of　his　nemesis　above。　The　darkness　fell　in　upon　him　and　smothered　him　in　its　embrace。
　　　
　　　In　the　archmage's　chambers　in　Sorcere；　the　lich　Dyrr　stood；　looking　down　at　the　spot　in　the　floor　where　he　had　condemned　Gromph　Baenre。　Had　he　been　a　living　mage　Dyrr　might　have　panted　for　breath；　trembled　with　fatigue；　or　perhaps　even　collapsed　from　mortal　wounds　sustained　in　the　fierce　duel；　but　the　dark　magic　binding　his　undead　sinews　and　bones　together　was　not　subject　to　the　weaknesses　of　the　living。
　　　〃Bide　there　a　time；　young　Gromph；〃　he　said　to　the　empty　place。　〃I　may　find　a　use　for　you　yet；　perhaps　in　a　century　or　two。〃
　　　He　made　a　curt　gesture　and　vanished　from　the　conjury。
　　　
　　　The　great　peals　of　a　thunderclap　echoed　through　the　black　stone　passageways；　a　rumbling　so　deep　and　visceral　that　Halisstra　could　feel　it　more　than　hear　it。　She　crouched　in　the　shadow　of　a　great　stone　arch　and　risked　a　quick　glance　across　the　great　hall。　On　the　far　side；　below　the　drow　party；　a　handful　of　hulking　monsters　picked　themselves　up　off　the　floor　and　sought　cover。　Several　more　lay　still　in　the　rubble　and　wreckage　of　the　lower　portion　of　the　hall。
　　　〃That　broke　their　rush；〃　Halisstra　called　out　to　her　panions。　〃They're　regrouping；　though。〃
　　　〃Determined　bastards；〃　Pharaun　said。
　　　The　wizard　sheltered　behind　a　towering　pillar　of　stone；　grimacing　with　fatigue。　Over　the　previous　day　and　a　half　the　pany　had　marched　at　least　thirty　miles　through　the　endless　corridors　of　the　Labyrinth；　pursued　at　every　turn　by　seemingly　endless　hordes　of　minotaurs　and　baphomet　demons。　On　two　occasions　the　dark　elves　had　narrowly　avoided　fiendishly　clever　efforts　to　trap　them　by　closing　off　the　tunnels　they　were　fleeing　through。
　　　〃I　have　few　spells　of　that　sort　left；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃We　need　to　find　a　place　where　I　can　rest　and　ready　more　spells。〃
　　　〃You'll　rest　when　we　all　do；　wizard；〃　Quenthel　growled。　The　Baenre　and　her　whip　were　splattered　with　gore；　and　her　armor　showed　more　than　one　ugly　rent　where　a　deadly　blow　had　barely　been　turned。　〃We're　close　to　the　Jaelre。　We　must　be。　Let's　move　again　before　the　minotaurs　organize　another　charge。〃
　　　The　other　drow　exchanged　looks；　but　they　pushed　themselves　to　their　feet　and　followed　Quenthel　and　Valas　into　another　passage。　This　ran　for　perhaps　four　hundred　yards　before　opening　into　another　great　hall；　this　one　featuring　tall；　fluted　columns　and　a　floor　paved　with　well…fitted　flagstones。　Graceful；　winding　staircases　rose　up　along　the　cavern　walls　to　meet　long；　sheltered　galleries　where　dim　faerie　fire　burned；　illuminating　chambers　that　might　once　have　been　workshops；　merchant　houses；　or　simply　the　modest　homes　of　soldiers　and　artisans。
　　　〃Drow　work　again；〃　Ryld　observed。　〃And　again；　abandoned。　You're　certain　this　is　the　place；　Valas？〃
　　　The　scout　nodded　wearily；　his　right　hand　clamped　over　a　shallow　but　bloody　wound　on　his　left　shoulder。
　　　〃I　have　been　in　this　very　cavern　before；〃　he　replied。　〃These　are　Jaelre　dwellings。　Up　there　a　number　of　armorers　lived；　and　over　on　that　wall　was　an　inn　I　stayed　at。　The　palace　of　the　Jaelre　nobles　lies　just　through　the　next　passage。〃
　　　Quenthel　leaped　up　a　short；　curving　stairway　and　glanced　into　some　kind　of　shop；　its　windows　dark　and　empty。　She　swore　and　moved　past　several　others；　looking　into　each　in　turn　before　descending　back　to　the　floor　of　the　main　hall。
　　　〃If　these　are　the　Jaelre　dwellings；　then　where　in　all　the　screaming　hells　are　the　Jaelre？〃　she　demanded。　〃Did　the　accursed　minotaurs　slay　them　all？〃
　　　〃I　doubt　it；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃No　battle　was　fought　here…we　would　have　seen　the　signs。　Even　if　the　minotaurs　had　carried　off　all　the　bodies　over　the　years；　there　would　be　scorch　marks；　broken　flagstones；　the　remnants　of　ruined　weapons。　I　think　the　Jaelre　left　this　place　of　their　own　accord。〃
　　　〃How　long　ago　was　it　that　you　were　here；　Valas？〃　asked　Ryld。
　　　〃Almost　fifty　years；〃　the　scout　said。　〃Not　that　long　ago；　really。　The　Jaelre　skirmished　frequently　with　the　minotaurs　back　then；　and　these　caverns　were　guarded　by　both　physical　and　magical　defenses。〃　He　studied　the　great　chamber　carefully。　〃Let　me　proceed　ahead　a　little　ways。　I　will　see　if　I　can　find　anything　in　the　palace　that　might　illuminate　this　riddle。〃
　　　〃Should　we　all　go？〃　Ryld　asked。
　　　〃Best　not。　There　is　only　one　entrance　to　the　palace；　and　we　could　be　trapped　inside　if　the　minotaurs　return　in　numbers。　Remain　outside；　so　that　you　can　escape　if　you　need　to。　I　will　return　in　a　few　minutes。〃
　　　The　scout　slipped　off　into　the　darkness；　leaving　the　pany　in　the　abandoned　hall。
　　　〃I　think　I　agree　with　Mistress　Melarn；〃　Ryld　said。　〃It　seems　the　Jaelre　carried　away　everything　of　value　and　left　this　place。〃
　　　〃A　great　deal　of　trouble　for　nothing；　then；〃　Pharaun　remarked。　〃If　there's　anything　so　disappointing　as　fruitless　toil　and　hardship；　I'm　not　sure　what　it　is。〃
　　　The　pany　stood　in　silence　a　moment；　each　occupied　with　his　own　thoughts。
　　　Halisstra　ached　with　exhaustion；　her　legs　as　weak　as　water。　She　had　avoided　any　serious　injury；　but　on　the　other　hand　she　had　almost　pletely　exhausted　her　reservoir　of　magical　strength　over　the　past　few　hours；　wielding　her　bae'qeshel　songs　to　confuse　the　attacking　hordes；　strengthen　her　panions；　and　staunch　the　worst　of　her　panions'　wounds。
　　　Jeggred；　lurking　at　the　rear　of　the　band　near　the　tunnel　leading　back　to　the　previous　room；　broke　the　silence。
　　　〃If　the　mercenary　does　not　return　soon；　we　will　be　fighting　again；〃　the　draegloth　said。　〃I　do　not　hear　the　minotaurs　behind　us　any　longer；　which　means　they're　probably　circling　around　to　e　at　us　from　another　direction。〃
　　　〃We've　taught　them　not　to　e　at　us　down　long；　straight　tunnels；　I　suppose；〃　Ryld　observed。　He　studied　the　Jaelre　cavern　with　a　practiced　eye。　〃Best　not　to　let　them　catch　us　in　the　open　like　this。　They　might　overwhelm　us　with　sheer　numbers。〃
　　　Danifae　asked　quietly；　〃What　if　this　is　a　dead　end？〃
　　　〃It　can't　be；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃Somewhere　in　these　caverns　we'll　discover　where　it　is　the　Jaelre　have　fled　to；　and　we　will　follow。　I　have　e　too　far　to　return　to　Menzoberranzan　empty…handed。〃
　　　〃That's　all　very　good；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃However；　I　feel　constrained　to　point　out　that　we　are　exhausted　and　have　almost　used　up　our　magical　strength。　Blundering　through　these　halls　and　corridors　until　the　minotaurs　manage　to　trap　and　kill　us　is　sheer　stupidity。　Why　don't　we　lie　low　in　one　of　those　artisan　homes…say；　in　that　gallery　over　there…and　rest　until　we're　ready　to　continue？　I　believe　I　can　conceal　our　presence　from　our　pursuers。〃
　　　Quenthel's　eyes　flashed　with　fire　as　she　said；　〃We　will　rest　when　I　see　fit。　Until　then；　we　keep　moving。〃
　　　〃I　do　not　believe　you　understand　what　I　am　saying…〃　Pharaun　began；　rising　to　his　feet　and　speaking　with　short；　clipped　words。
　　　〃I　do　not　believe　you　understand　what　I　am　manding　you　to　do！〃　Quenthel　snapped。　She　whirled　on　the　wizard　and　stepped　close；　her　whips　writhing　in　agitation。　〃You　will　cease　your　incessant　questioning　of　my　leadership。〃
　　　〃When　you　begin　to　lead　intelligently；　I　will；〃　Pharaun　retorted；　his　calm　demeanor　finally　cracking。　〃Now；　listen…〃
　　　Jeggred　rose　with　a　feral　snarl　and　grasped　the　wizard　around　the　upper　arms　with　his　huge　fighting　claws；　pu