war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第52部分

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e　been　her；　Pharaun　signed。
　　　〃There　it　is；　then；〃　Valas　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃Well；　e　on　then。　The　others　are　waiting；　and　if　we　can't　ambush　our　pursuers；　we　might　as　well　keep　moving。　The　longer　they　keep　us　here；　the　more　likely　it　is　that　more　of　them　will　show　up　and　join　the　fight。〃
　　　The　scout　led　the　way　as　he　hurried　through　the　trees　and　brush；　moving　swiftly　and　silently。　Pharaun　and　Ryld　could　not　match　the　softness　of　his　steps；　but　the　wizard's　magic　seemed　an　adequate　ruse；　since　they　encountered　no　more　hidden　archers　or　spearmen。　In　a　few　hundred　yards　they　came　to　a　small；　steep　ravine；　well　screened　by　thick　brush　and　large　boulders。　There　they　found　Quenthel；　Danifae；　and　Jeggred　lying　low；　watching　vigilantly　for　any　sign　of　a　renewed　attack。
　　　〃Did　you　surprise　the　archers？〃　Quenthel　asked。
　　　〃No。　They　located　us　quickly；　and　avoided　a　fight；〃　Ryld　replied。　He　ran　a　hand　over　his　stubbled　scalp　and　sighed。　〃This　is　not　a　good　battlefield　for　us。　We　can't　bring　the　surface　elves　to　grips；　not　with　the　advantage　they　have　in　this　terrain；　but　if　we　don't　do　anything；　they'll　eventually　surround　us　and　cut　us　to　pieces　with　arrows。〃
　　　Valas　nodded　in　agreement　and　added；　〃They're　working　to　find　and　flank　us　now。　We've　got　a　few　minutes　here；　but　we're　going　to　have　to　move　or　fight　soon。　Ten　minutes　or　less；　I　think。〃
　　　〃Let　them　e；〃　rumbled　Jeggred。　〃We　killed　a　dozen　of　them　not　an　hour　ago　when　they　stole　up　on　us　from　behind。　Now　that　we　know　the　day…walkers　are　out　there；　we'll　slaughter　them　in　heaps。〃
　　　〃The　next　assault　will　most　likely　consist　of　a　rain　of　arrows　from　archers　we　won't　even　be　able　to　see；〃　Valas　said。　〃I　doubt　that　the　surface　dwellers　will　oblige　us　by　lining　up　for　us　to　kill。　Worse　yet；　what　if　the　rangers　sent　for　help？　The　next　attack　might　e　at　daybreak　with　two　or　three　times　the　numbers　we've　seen　so　far。　I　don't　relish　the　thought　of　being　showered　with　arrows　and　spells　after　the　sun　es　up　and　our　opponents　suddenly　begin　to　see　much　better　than　we　do。〃
　　　〃Fine；〃　Jeggred　snarled。　〃So　what　would　you　do；　then？〃
　　　〃Withdraw；〃　Ryld　answered　for　the　scout。　〃Make　the　best　speed　we　can　and　keep　moving。　With　luck　we'll　outdistance　our　pursuers　before　the　sun　es　up；　and　maybe　we'll　find　a　good　place　to　hide。〃
　　　〃Or　maybe　we'll　reach　territory　controlled　by　the　Jaelre；〃　Valas　added。
　　　〃Which　may；　of　course；　prove　to　be　even　more　dangerous　than　playing　cat…and…mouse　with　our　friends　the　surface　dwellers；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃If　the　Jaelre　aren't　fond　of　visitors。　。　。　。〃
　　　〃It　doesn't　matter　if　they　are　or　not；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃We　came　to　speak　to　their　priest；　and　we　will　do　so；　even　if　we　have　to　cut　our　way　through　half　their　House　to　do　it。〃
　　　〃Your　suggestion　is　not　very　encouraging；　Master　Hune；〃　Danifae　said。　She　bled　freely　from　a　wound　in　her　right　arm；　where　a　hard…driven　arrow　had　actually　punched　through　her　mail　and　transfixed　her　upper　arm。　As　she　spoke　she　worked　awkwardly　with　one　hand　to　bind　the　wound。　〃What　happens　if　we　fail　to　outpace　our　enemies？　They　seem　well　able　to　keep　up　with　us　in　these　damnable　woods。〃
　　　〃One　moment；〃　Ryld　said。　〃What　about　Mistress　Melarn？　She's　back　there　somewhere。〃
　　　〃Most　likely　dead　already；〃　Valas　said　with　a　shrug。　〃Or　a　prisoner。〃
　　　〃Shouldn't　we　make　sure　of　that　before　we　leave　her？〃　the　weapons　master　replied。　〃Her　healing　songs　are　the　only　magic　of　that　sort　we　have　left　to　us。　mon　sense　dictates…〃
　　　〃mon　sense　dictates　that　we　don't　waste　time　and　blood　on　a　corpse；〃　Quenthel　interrupted。　〃No　one　came　after　me　when…〃
　　　She　stopped　herself；　then　stood　and　walked　over　to　help　Danifae　cinch　her　bandage。
　　　〃Our　mission　lies　ahead　of　us；　not　behind；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　said。　〃The　quest　is　more　important　than　any　one　drow。〃
　　　Ryld　rubbed　his　hand　over　his　face　and　glanced　around　the　pany。　Valas　looked　away；　busying　himself　with　some　unimportant　fastening　of　his　armor。　Pharaun　stared　at　Quenthel　with　an　expression　that　made　it　clear　the　wizard　noted　the　priestess's　hypocrisy；　if　nothing　else。　She　had；　after　all；　spent　more　time　in　Ched　Nasad　hoping　to　empty　Baenre　storehouses　of　their　goods　than　seeking　the　renewed　attention　of　Lolth。
　　　Danifae　stared　off　into　the　woods　behind　them；　her　brow　furrowed　with　concern；　but　obviously　unwilling　to　argue　the　point　on　behalf　of　her　mistress。
　　　Finally　Quenthel　turned　to　Pharaun　and　said；　〃Perhaps　our　skilled　wizard　has　some　magic　that　might　help　us　discourage　these　cursed　day…walkers　from　following　too　closely？〃
　　　Pharaun　stroked　his　chin；　and　thought。
　　　〃Our　chief　difficulty　in　these　circumstances；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　said　at　length；　〃lies　in　the　fact　that　our　antagonists　are　able　to　use　this　terrain　to　their　advantage；　and　our　disadvantage。　Should　a　forest　fire　suddenly　arise；　the　smoke　and　flames　would…〃
　　　Valas　laughed　and　interrupted；　〃I'm　afraid　you　know　little　of　surface　forests；　Master　Mizzrym。　These　trees　are　far　too　wet　to　oblige　you　with　a　forest　fire　now。　Try　again　in　a　few　months；　after　summer　has　dried　them　out。〃
　　　〃Oh；〃　the　wizard　replied；　〃I　can　see　that's　true　for　mundane　fire。〃
　　　〃You　won't　be　able　to　prevent　fire　from　sweeping　back　on　us；〃　Ryld　said；　the　idea　giving　him　some　anxiety。
　　　〃Well；　I　can't　be　certain　they　won't；　but　my　fires　will　burn　in　the　manner　I　choose；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃As　Master　Hune　observed；　the　forest　is　damp　enough　that　the　trees　won't　catch　unless　directly　affected　by　my　spell。　We　will；　of　course；　have　the　advantage　of　knowing　how　and　when　the　fires　begin。〃
　　　Quenthel　thought　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Very　well；　you　may　proceed。〃
　　　Ryld　felt　his　throat　tighten　and　he　stepped　away　from　the　group；　quickly　regaining　control　of　himself。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　stood　and　reached　into　a　pouch　at　his　belt　to　withdraw　a　tiny　silk　purse。　He　emptied　it　into　his　hand。　Red　dust　glittered　in　the　moonlight。　Pharaun　studied　the　forest；　turned　to　sense　the　wind；　and　spoke　his　spell　quickly；　casting　the　powder　into　the　air。　Bright　crimson　sparks　appeared　amid　the　falling　dust；　growing　brighter　and　more　numerous　moment　by　moment。　With　another　gesture；　Pharaun　scattered　the　burning　motes　across　a　great；　wide　arc　of　the　forest　before　him。
　　　As　each　tiny　mote　settled　to　the　ground；　it　flared　into　life；　growing　into　a　spiderlike　shape　fully　as　large　as　a　man's　head。　Wreathed　in　crimson　flame；　the　fire　spiders　scuttled　across　the　ground；　moving　deeper　into　the　trees。　Whatever　they　touched　smoldered　at　first；　then　burst　into　flame。　The　wood　was　indeed　wet；　and　the　flames　were　smoky　and　slow　to　spread…but　Pharaun　had　conjured　hundreds　of　the　spider　creatures。　The　living　motes　of　fire　seemed　to　set　upon　the　moss…grown　trunks　with　a　peculiarly　savage　ferocity；　almost　as　if　the　presence　of　so　much　timber　had　provoked　them　into　a　frenzy　of　fiery　destruction。
　　　〃Good；　good；〃　Pharaun　murmured。　〃They　like　trees　。　。。　they　truly　do。〃
　　　〃The　fire's　too　slow　to　burn　our　pursuers；〃　Quenthel　observed。
　　　〃I've　never　heard　of　a　surface　elf　who'd　allow　a　fire　such　as　this　to　burn　unchecked　in　his　precious　forest；〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　smile。　〃They'll　be　busy　chasing　down　my　spiders　and　extinguishing　the　flames　for　some　time。〃
　　　Quenthel　watched　the　blaze　a　moment　longer；　and　smiled。
　　　〃It　may　serve；　then；〃　she　said。　〃Master　Hune；　take　the　lead。　I　mean　to　reach　House　Jaelre　before　we're　troubled　by　the　surface　dwellers　again。〃
　　　
　　　Kaanyr　Vhok　folded　his　well…muscled　arms　and　frowned。
　　　〃How　many　this　time？〃　he　asked。
　　　Kaanyr　surveyed　the　aftermath　of　a　battle　between　the　tanarukks　of　his　vanguard　and　a　titanic　purple　worm；　a　carnivorous　giant　over　a　hundred　feet　in　length。　The　worm　was　dead；　hacked　to　death　by　dozens　of　the　half…demons　soldiers；　but　a　handful　of　the　Sceptered　One's　troops　lay　torn　and　crushed　by　the　monster　they　had　killed。
　　　〃Seven；　my　lord；　but　we　slew　the　beast；　as　you　can　see。〃
　　　The　tanarukk　captain　called　Ruinfist　leaned　on　his　huge　greataxe；　spattered　with　the　foul　juices　of　the　creature。　The　orc…demon's　left　hand　had　been　mangled　in　some　battle