war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第52章

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　　　A　crossbow　bolt　smacked　into　Pharaun's　chest；　somehow　managing　to　slip　through　the　part　in　the　piwafwi's　fabric；　and　embedded　itself　in　his　shoulder。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　grunted　and　stumbled　back　into　the　room；　spinning　away　so　that　his　back　was　to　his　assailant　and　he　was　more　pletely　protected　by　the　piwafwi。　He　looked　down　to　see　that　it　was　a　drow　bolt；　and　he　realized　his　magical　invisibility　had　worn　off。
　　　Pharaun　staggered　over　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　room；　dropping　the　two　satchels　as　he　scrambled　to　find　cover。　There　were　really　only　two　good　places　he　could　go：　behind　the　Reverie　couch　or　into　an　armoire。　As　he　rushed　past　the　armoire；　he　grabbed　the　door　and　yanked　it　open；　then　shoved　it　shut　again　as　he　slumped　behind　the　Reverie　couch。　The　door　to　the　oversized　cabinet　slammed　shut　just　as　two　pairs　of　boots　darted　into　the　room；　which　Pharaun　observed　from　beneath　the　couch。　The　mage　stayed　low；　on　his　knees；　watching　under　the　couch　as　the　two　pairs　of　boots　spread　apart；　both　slowly　headed　toward　the　armoire；　their　owners　presumably　covering　the　room。
　　　〃He　went　into　the　cabinet；〃　one　of　the　creatures　said　in　the　language　of　the　drow。
　　　The　crossbow　bolt　set　his　shoulder　throbbing；　but　Pharaun　quietly　watched　for　his　assailants　to　appear。　He　blinked；　unable　to　focus　clearly；　and　he　suddenly　began　to　feel　lightheaded。　He　kept　thinking　that　if　he　could　just　cast　a　spell；　this　would　all　be　over；　but　a　decision　about　which　one　or　how　to　go　about　doing　it　eluded　him。　The　crossbow　bolt　wound　had　begun　to　burn；　and　Pharaun　realized　that　he　was　growing　weak。　The　bolt　had　been　coated　with　poison。　He　would　have　to　hurry　to　get　back　to　the　others　before　it　overwhelmed　him；　and　he　only　hoped　they　had　a　means　of　treating　the　toxin。
　　　As　his　foes　both　came　into　Pharaun's　line　of　view；　crossbows　held　up　and　ready；　he　could　see　why　they'd　attacked　him　on　sight。　They　were　both　dark　elves；　and　they　wore　the　livery　of　House　Zauvirr。　Mentally　kicking　himself　for　not　considering　the　possibility　that　Ssipriina　might　send　someone　to　their　inn　on　the　expectation　that　he　or　others　in　the　group　might　return；　Pharaun　tried　to　phrase　the　arcane　words　of　a　spell；　but　they　wouldn't　e。　The　two　drow　were　grinning　as　they　sighted　down　their　crossbows　at　him。
　　　Pharaun　closed　his　eyes；　wondering　if　it　would　hurt　much　to　die；　and　pondered　whether　or　not　he　could　work　his　rapier　free；　when　he　heard　a　noise。　The　expected　twang　of　crossbows　being　fired　it　was　not。　Instead；　he　heard　a　woman's　voice…a　familiar　voice…uttering　a　quick　phrase。　The　wizard　squinted；　his　vision　blurry；　as　a　spray　of　intertwined；　multicolored　beams　of　light　cascaded　over　his　two　foes。
　　　Both　drow　reeled　backward　from　the　sudden；　bright　assault；　crying　out　and　flinging　up　their　hands　to　cover　their　eyes。　The　first　one　spasmed　as　crackles　of　electricity　raked　over　his　body　from　the　yellow　ray　of　light；　while　the　second　drow　was　engulfed　in　flames　upon　ing　into　contact　with　the　red　beam。
　　　Pharaun　watched　as　the　two　soldiers　crumpled　to　the　ground。　Whether　either　or　both　of　them　were　dead　or　not；　he　didn't　know；　nor　did　he　care。　He　was　growing　intolerably　weak　from　the　effects　of　the　poison。
　　　〃Hello；　Pharaun；〃　the　voice　purred。
　　　With　an　effort；　Pharaun　opened　his　eyes　again　and　looked　up；　realizing　who　it　was。
　　　〃Aliisza；〃　he　slurred；　relaxing　as　the　alu　came　around　the　couch　toward　him。　〃How　did　you　find…〃
　　　The　fiend's　slap　across　Pharaun's　face　stung　immensely　and　he　jerked；　alert；　his　eyes　watering。
　　　〃What　the…〃　the　wizard　grunted；　rubbing　his　cheek　as　Aliisza　squatted　down　beside　him；　her　hand　upraised。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃
　　　He　again　wondered　if　he　could　produce　the　rapier。
　　　〃How　dare　you！〃　the　alu　growled；　one　eyebrow　arched；　but　without　the　acpanying　smile。　〃How　could　you　be　interested　in　that　trollop　after　sharing　my　bed？〃
　　　Pharaun　blinked；　thoroughly　confused。　Trollop？
　　　〃Who　in　the　blazes　are　you　talking　about？〃　he　demanded；　feebly　raising　his　good　arm　to　ward　off　the　impending　slap。
　　　〃Don't　you　play　dumb　with　me；　you　wretched　excuse　for　a　dark　elf。　You　know　the　one　I　mean。　The　pretty　you　pulled　from　that　collapsing　house。　I　should　have　gouged　her　eyes　out！〃
　　　〃Oh；　by　the　Dark　Mother；〃　Pharaun　muttered；　understanding　at　last。　〃It's　not　what　you　think。　。　。　。〃
　　　〃Ooh！　You　males　always　say　that。　According　to　your　gender；　it　never　is。　I　don't　want　to　hear　it。〃
　　　Aliisza　reached　down；　grabbed　the　wizard　by　both　lapels　of　his　piwafwi；　and　drew　him　up　to　her。　She　crushed　his　mouth　to　hers　in　a　rough　kiss；　biting　his　lip　so　hard　he　was　sure　she　drew　blood。　In　fact；　he　decided；　it　felt　not　so　much　like　a　kiss　as　like　the　fiend　was　marking　her　territory。
　　　〃That's　so　you　won't　forget　me　so　easily。　If　you　stray；　I'll　know　it。　I'll　smell　her　on　you；　and　I　will　not　be　happy。　I'm　not　through　with　you　yet；　wizard；〃　Aliisza　warned；　looking　him　in　the　eyes。
　　　She　blinked；　and　that　sardonic　smile　was　back。
　　　〃Well；　I　guess　I'd　better　get　you　to　some　help；〃　she　said　lightly；　hefting　Pharaun　up　and　slinging　him　over　her　shoulder；　careful　of　his　chest；　where　the　crossbow　bolt　still　protruded。
　　　The　wizard　felt　the　utter　fool；　being　toted　like　a　sack　of　mushrooms；　but　he　could　hardly　protest。　His　entire　body　felt　。　。　。　well；　〃fuzzy〃　was　the　best　word　he　could　think　of　to　describe　it。
　　　〃The　satchels；〃　he　mumbled　into　the　alu's　shoulder。　〃Don't　forget　the　satchels。〃
　　　Scooping　up　both　Quenthel's　and　Faeryl's　bags；　Aliisza　carried　Pharaun　across　the　room；　out　the　hole　he'd　made　in　the　wall；　down　the　hallway；　and　back　into　his　own　room。　She　set　the　wizard　down　on　the　Reverie　couch。　Taking　the　satchels；　she　moved　to　the　window　and　leaned　out；　bracing　her　feet　against　the　rock　wall　of　the　chasm。　Pharaun　watched　helplessly　as　she　tossed　the　packs　onto　the　roof。
　　　The　alu　returned　and　scooped　the　wizard　up　once　more　and　hauled　him　out　into　the　gap　between　the　building　and　the　wall；　shoving　him　upward　above　her。　He　felt　the　bolt　in　his　shoulder　ram　against　the　side　of　the　inn；　but　the　pain　was　strangely　diminished。　Still；　it　was　forceful　enough　to　make　him　grunt。
　　　〃By　the　Abyss；　can't　you　help　at　all？〃　she　puffed；　working　the　mage　to　the　roof。
　　　Pharaun　didn't　answer。　His　face　was　going　numb；　and　everything　was　fading　to　black。
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　　　Ryld　was　sitting　on　the　roof　of　a　building　that　bordered　the　alley；　with　his　legs　dangling　over　the　side；　his　crossbow　in　his　hands；　watching　parts　of　Ched　Nasad　burn。　Finally　having　a　chance　to　really　study　the　layout　of　the　city；　he　could　see　what　was　happening　with　greater　clarity。　The　fighting　had　diminished　in　the　highest　reaches；　though　he　could　still　hear　the　sounds　of　bat　from　a　couple　of　streets　over。　It　was　mostly　the　lower　sections　of　the　city　that　seemed　to　be　receiving　the　worst　of　it；　those　areas　where　the　lesser　races　were　most　numerous。　He　supposed　that　the　violence　down　there　took　the　form　a　general　rioting；　just　a　byproduct　of　the　tensions　of　the　city　coupled　with　the　more　severe　military　maneuvers　that　had　played　out　higher　up。　Of　course；　he　supposed；　having　a　large　chunk　of　the　city　fall　from　above　wasn't　going　to　help　calm　things。
　　　Halisstra　sat　down　beside　the　weapons　master　and　stared　forlornly　out　at　her　homeland。
　　　〃Valas　has　gone　to　see　what　chance　we　have　of　getting　out　through　any　of　the　city　gates；〃　she　told　Ryld。　〃I　told　him　about　one　or　two　places　where　we　might　be　able　to　depart　unseen；　and　he's　going　to　see　if　they're　secure。〃
　　　Ryld　only　nodded。　If　anyone　could　sneak　through　the　city　unchallenged；　it　was　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout。　He　doubted　seriously　if　any　exits　had　been　left　unguarded；　though。
　　　〃How　could　this　have　happened？〃　Halisstra　muttered　softly。　〃So　much　destruction。〃
　　　〃We　have　grown　placent；〃　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　answered。　〃The　drow　race　has　been　squabbling　in　a　controlled　manner　for　so　long；　we　never　expected　that　our　own　little　games　would　get　out　of　hand。　And　they…〃　the　weapons　master　gestured　downward；　in　the　direction　of　the　slums…〃just　feed　off　of　it；　now。〃
　　　〃But　the　fire。　How　is　it　possible　to　burn　down　a　city　made　of　stone？〃
　　　〃Alchemy；　I　suppose。　We　saw　the　same　thing　in　Menzoberranzan。　It's　more　devastating　here；　because　your　whole　city　is　suspended　on　stone　webbing。　They　were　very　clever　to　bring　the　firepots　here。〃
　　　〃Of　course；〃　the　drow　maiden　breathed。　〃Set　the　webs　on　fire；　and　everything　attached　to　them　falls　to　its　destruction。　Including　House　Melarn。〃
　　　Ryld　glanced　over　at　the　dark　elf　beside　him。　Her　face　was　one　of　sorrow；　and　her　red　eyes　glistened　with　uncharacteristic　tears。　It　was　not　often　that　he　saw　a　drow　cry。　It　was　considered　a　sign　of　weakness。　He　found　it　refreshingly　honest　in　the　priestess。
　　　〃I　am　sorry　for　your　loss。　Perhaps　we　will　learn　from　this。　If　we　survive。〃
　　　Something　caught　Ryld's　eye；　and　he　had　his　crossbow　up　and　was　sighting　down　the　shaft　in　an　instant。　A　winged　figure；　bobbing　and　weaving　haphazardly；　emerged　from　the　smoke；　ing　for　their　position。　It　was　a　drow；　possibly；　though　it　had　wings；　and　it　bore　a　rather　large　bundle。　The　warrior　could　tell　something　was　wrong　by　the　erratic　way　it　was　flying。　Suddenly；　he　recognized　it…the　demon　from　Ammarindar！
　　　He　had　his　finger　on　the　trigger；　ready　to　fire　a　bolt　through　her　heart；　before　he　realized　she　was　carrying　Pharaun。
　　　As　the　demon　closed　in　on　the　edge　of　the　building；　she　seemed　to　lose　her　balance；　and　Ryld　literally　had　to　reach　out　and　grab　her　as　she　went　by。　All　three　of　them　tumbled　to　the　stone　in　a　heap　at　Jeggred's　feet。　The　draegloth　stepped　between　the　beautiful　creature　and　the　rest　of　the　team。
　　　〃You！〃　Quenthel　hissed；　her　scourge　raised；　ready　to　strike。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　　The　fiend；　whom　Pharaun　referred　to　as　Aliisza；　Ryld　remembered；　eyed　both　Jeggred　and　the　high　priestess　warily　as　she　panted　where　she'd　fallen。　She　made　no　move　to　defend　herself。
　　　〃Bringing　your　precious　wizard　back　to　you；　drow；〃　she　muttered。　〃I　know　how　fond　you　are　of　him。〃
　　　〃He's　hurt；〃　Ryld　said；　turning　the　mage　over。
　　　Everyone　but　Jeggred　gathered　around　as　the　weapons　master　began　to　examine　Pharaun。　It　didn't　take　him　long　to　find　the　puncture　wound　in　the　wizard's　shoulder；　a　portion　of　a　crossbow　bolt　still　lodged　in　it。　Most　of　the　shaft　had　snapped　off　during　his　crash　landing。
　　　〃The　bolt　is　poisoned；〃　Quenthel　said；　standing　over　Pharaun's　prone　body。　〃Healing　him　won't　do　a　bit　of　good　unless　we　get　the　poison　out　of　his　blood　first。　If　we　don't；　he'll　die。〃
　　　〃I　could　have　told　you　that；〃　Aliisza　said；　sitting　up；　though　she　was　still　breathing　heavily　from　her　ordeal。　〃Here　。。。　he　insisted　we　bring　these。〃
　　　She　tossed　two　backpacks　at　Quenthel's　feet。
　　　〃So；　how　do　we　remove　the　poison？〃　Ryld　asked　Quenthel；　looking　up　from　where　he　was　tending　to　the　Master　of　Sorcere。　〃Do　any　of　you　have　the　magic　to　do　so？〃
　　　Quenthel　shook　her　head。
　　　〃Yngoth　can　sense　it　in　his　body；〃　she　said；　patting　the　whip　that　was　once　again　hanging　from　her　hip；　〃but　my　spells　are；　of　course；　lost。〃
　　　Ry