war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第79部分

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pected　its　blade　would　be　unbearable　to　any　fell　creature　who　felt　its　bite。　Considering　the　fact　that　she　intended　to　descend　into　the　Abyss　itself；　where　such　creatures　would　likely　set　upon　the　pany　in　numbers；　she　was　willing　to　endure　the　sword's　distasteful　enchantment　for　a　time。
　　　Tzirik　had　donned　a　suit　of　black　mithral　plate　armor　decorated　with　grotesque　demonic　figures　and　chased　with　gold　filigree。　A　wickedly　spiked　mace　hung　at　his　belt；　and　he　wore　a　great　masked　helm　in　the　shape　of　a　demon's　skull。　He　radiated　confidence　and　energy；　as　if　he'd　waited　a　long　time　for　the　opportunity　to　serve　his　god　with　worthwhile　stakes　at　hand。
　　　〃As　you　know；〃　said　the　priest；　〃there　is　more　than　one　way　to　leave　this　plane　of　existence　and　venture　into　the　dimensions　beyond。　I　have　examined　the　issue　at　length；　and　I　have　decided　that　we　shall　travel　in　astral　form。　Now；　if…〃
　　　〃That　would　require　us　to　leave　our　bodies　atose　while　our　spirits　journeyed　to　the　Abyss；〃　Quenthel　interrupted。　〃Why　would　you　even　hope　I　might　consent　to　that？〃
　　　〃Betrayal；〃　Jeggred　rumbled。　〃He　intends　to　have　his　rades　slit　our　throats　while　our　bodies　lie　uninhabited。〃
　　　The　draegloth　took　a　step　forward；　baring　his　fangs　at　the　Vhaeraunite　priest。
　　　〃I　choose　to　travel　in　astral　form　for　two　reasons；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　Tzirik　replied；　ignoring　Jeggred。　〃First；　it　is　marginally　safer；　in　that　if　someone's　roving　spirit　happened　to　be　killed　while　visiting　the　Demonweb　Pits；　that　person　would　not　truly　be　dead…he　would　awaken　here；　unharmed。　A　spirit　is　a　difficult　thing　to　destroy；　after　all。　Second；　as　far　as　I　can　tell；　we　have　no　real　alternative。　I　have　already　attempted　to　plane　shift　bodily　to　the　Demonweb　Pits；　and　the　spell　failed　outright。　I　believe　the　barrier　or　seal　of　which　the　Masked　Lord　spoke　prevented　the　direct　transference　of　a　physical　body　into　Lolth's　demesnes。〃
　　　〃Yet　you　believe　you'll　be　able　to　carry　our　astral　forms　there；　when　the　realm　is　still　sealed？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　〃I　know　of　only　two　ways　to　take　you　to　the　Demonweb　Pits；　and　if　one　doesn't　work；　the　other　must；〃　Tzirik　said　with　a　shrug。　〃The　Masked　Lord　himself　has　instructed　me　to　take　you　there；　so　there　must　be　a　way。　Still；　if　you　happen　to　know　of　any　permanent　gates　or　portals　connecting　our　world　with　the　Abyss；　or　the　Demonweb　Pits　itself；　I　suppose　you　could　make　use　of　such　a　device。〃
　　　〃Show　me　that　physical　travel　will　not　work；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　〃Step　close；〃　Tzirik　said　from　behind　his　mask；　his　voice　carrying　a　certain　dry　amusement；　〃and　join　hands　with　me。〃
　　　The　drow　shuffled　close　and　joined　hands　in　a　circle　with　Tzirik；　who　took　a　place　between　Quenthel　and　Danifae；　laying　his　left　hand　over　their　joined　hands　and　leaving　his　right　free　to　make　the　gestures　necessary　for　the　spell。　He　collected　himself；　then　chanted　out　a　rolling；　powerful　prayer　whose　unholy　words　filled　the　air　with　a　nearly　tangible　darkness。
　　　Halisstra　watched　carefully　to　make　certain　that　the　priest　cast　the　spell　correctly；　and　as　far　as　she　could　tell；　he　did。　For　a　moment　she　thought　it　would　work；　as　the　Jaelre　chapel　grew　misty　and　faint　around　them；　and　her　body　seemed　to　somehow　drop　away　from　the　world　without　moving　an　inch…but　then　she　sensed　through　some　preternatural　perception　an　impediment；　a　barrier　that　prevented　the　pany　from　materializing　again　in　a　new　place　and　seemed　to　almost　jolt　them　back　to　Minauthkeep。　She　reeled　drunkenly　as　her　senses　whirled。
　　　〃That　happened　the　last　time　I　tried　it；〃　Tzirik　said。
　　　Thunder　gathered　in　Quenthel's　brow；　but　she　managed　to　keep　her　calm　as　she　detached　her　hand　from　Danifae's　and　steadied　herself　against　Jeggred。
　　　〃Pharaun；〃　the　high　priestess　said；　〃what　did　you　observe？〃
　　　The　wizard　raised　an　eyebrow；　perhaps　surprised　to　be　consulted　by　the　Baenre；　and　said；　〃It　seems　plausible　enough。　If　we　travel　by　projecting　our　spirits　into　the　Astral　Plane；　we　won't　be　going　directly　from　this　plane　of　existence　to　the　Abyss。　We'd　actually　traverse　the　astral　sea　and　approach　Lolth's　domain　as　spirits。　It　may　be　that　the　mysterious　barrier　we　encountered　does　not　bar　such　an　approach。〃　The　wizard　smoothed　his　robes；　considering。　〃And　that　might　explain　why　our　conjured　demons　couldn't　manage　the　trick　either。　They　do　not　travel　between　planes　by　astral　projection；　as　they　have　no　souls。〃
　　　Quenthel　muttered　something　to　herself；　folded　her　arms；　and　turned　back　to　Tzirik。
　　　〃Fine；〃　she　said。　〃You　have　convinced　me。　Where　do　you　intend　to　leave　our　bodies？〃
　　　Tzirik　walked　over　to　one　wall　of　the　chapel　and　depressed　a　hidden　stud；　revealing　a　secret　chamber　behind　the　bronze　mask　of　Vhaeraun。　It　was　not　large；　but　eight　elegant　old　divans…furnishings　that　might　have　dated　back　to　the　castle's　days　as　a　home　to　the　surface　elves　of　Cormanthyr…were　arranged　in　a　tight　circle　in　the　room；　heads　together；　feet　outward。
　　　〃Only　a　handful　of　my　people　know　of　this　room's　existence；〃　said　the　priest；　〃and　I　have　instructed　them　to　make　no　intrusion　for　as　long　as　may　prove　necessary。　You　need　not　fear　any　harm　here。〃
　　　Ryld；　who　stood　a　little　behind　Jeggred；　turned　away　from　Tzirik　and　gestured　subtly　to　Pharaun　and　Halisstra；　So　if　our　spirits　are　defeated　while　we　are　astral；　we　return　to　our　bodies。　What　happens　to　our　spirits　if　someone　sticks　a　knife　in　our　bodies？
　　　Death；　the　wizard　replied。　A　cautious　fellow　would　make　sure　his　body　was　someplace　safe　and　guarded　by　trustworthy　sorts　before　sending　his　spirit　off　to　some　other　plane。
　　　Ryld　grimaced；　but　made　no　other　reply。
　　　The　pany　followed　Tzirik　into　the　small　room。　Halisstra　stared　with　some　trepidation　at　the　old　couch　in　front　of　her；　knowing　that　she　was　doing　so　but　unable　to　look　away。　She　wasn't　the　only　member　of　the　pany　regarding　the　divans　like　a　collection　of　coffins；　Quenthel　must　have　been　having　the　same　thoughts。
　　　She　looked　up　from　the　couch　to　Tzirik　and　said；　〃We　will　leave　behind　a　guard。　Someone　I　trust　will　be　here　to　watch　over　our　bodies　until　I　return；　just　as　someone　you　trust　will　be　watching　over　you。〃
　　　〃Ah；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃You　are　a　dark　elf　indeed。　Do　as　you　will。〃
　　　〃He　might　mean　to　have　this　whole　castle　descend　upon　whomever　we　leave　behind；〃　Jeggred　snarled。　〃Best　leave　two；　maybe　three。〃
　　　〃Our　sentry's　only　duty　will　be　to　cut　Tzirik's　throat　before　he's　overwhelmed；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃The　question　is；　who　stays？〃
　　　Quenthel　glanced　at　Ryld；　then　her　eyes　slid　toward　Halisstra。　For　a　moment　Halisstra　feared　that　Quenthel　meant　to　leave　her　behind　in　order　to　deny　her　the　audience　she　sought　with　Lolth；　but　even　as　her　heart　thudded　in　apprehension　she　realized　that　the　last　thing　the　Baenre　would　want…if　she　truly　viewed　Halisstra　as　a　threat；　anyway…would　be　a　Melarn　conscious　and　alone　with　her　own　helpless　body。　Quenthel's　eyes　narrowed　as　she　weighed　the　same　considerations；　and　she　turned　to　Jeggred。
　　　〃You　must　stay　here；〃　she　said　to　the　draegloth。
　　　Jeggred　contorted　himself　in　a　spasm　of　anger。
　　　〃I　am　not　going　to　sit　here　staring　at　your　living　corpses　while　you　face　the　perils　of　the　goddess's　realm！　Mother　told　me　to　guard　you。　How　can　I　do　that　when　you　leave　me　behind？〃
　　　〃You　will　be　guarding　me；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃No　harm　can　e　to　me　in　astral　form。　It　is　here　that　I　will　be　vulnerable；　and　I　trust　no　one　else　with　the　task。　It　must　be　you；　Jeggred。〃
　　　The　draegloth　waved　all　four　arms　in　protest　and　said；　〃You　of　all　people　know　what　awaits　you　in　the　Demonweb　Pits；　Mistress。　You　will　need　my　strength　there。〃
　　　〃Cease　this　at　once；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　manded。　Her　eyes　flashed；　and　her　whip　rippled　and　spat。　〃It　is　not　for　you　to　question　me；　nephew。　You　will　discharge　your　obligation　in　the　manner　I　direct。〃
　　　Jeggred　subsided　into　a　sulking　silence。　In　disgust　he　turned　away　and　threw　himself　down　on　the　stone　floor；　shucking　his　pack　and　bandoleer。　Quenthel　glanced　at　the　others；　and　nodded　at　the　couches。
　　　〃e；〃　she　said。　〃The　goddess　awaits。〃
　　　Tzirik　waited　while　the　Menzoberranyr　chose　divans　and　str