war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第13部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


rge　silver　disk　and　a　curved　hunter's　horn。　She　moved　at　a　full…out　sprint；　holding　above　her　head　a　sword　whose　blade　glowed　with　leaping　silver　flames。　With　a　piercing；　high…pitched　shout　that　sounded　like　a　single　note　in　a　song；　strong　and　true；　she　slashed　down　with　her　sword。
　　　The　blade　bit　deep　into　the　troll's　shoulder；　then　flared。　Silver　fire　spread　instantly　across　the　troll's　body；　blinding　Ryld。　He　winced；　expecting　to　be　burned　himself；　but　the　wave　of　heat　he'd　been　anticipating　never　came。　The　flames　seemed　to　emit　song　rather　than　heat；　dancing　to　their　own　rhythm　as　they　licked　over　the　troll's　rubbery　skin。
　　　Bellowing；　its　flesh　blackening　under　the　magical　fire；　the　troll　sagged　to　its　knees。　Ryld；　suddenly　able　to　breathe　again　as　the　massive　hand　fell　away　from　his　neck；　gasped　in　a　lungful　of　air。　Though　fouled　by　the　stench　of　burning　flesh；　it　had　never　tasted　so　sweet。　He　watched；　dumbfounded；　as　the　troll's　body　crumpled　in　on　itself；　the　magical；　silvery　flames　destroying　it　in　a　matter　of　heartbeats。
　　　〃I　thank　you；　my　lady；〃　he　told　the　drow…obviously　a　mage　or　a　cleric；　and　a　powerful　one。　He　bowed　deeply　before　her。　〃You　have　saved　both　our　。　。　。〃
　　　His　voice　trailed　off　as　he　saw　the　look　on　the　woman's　face。　She　was　staring　at　Halisstra　with　a　look　of　surprise…and　bitter　anger。　Ryld　finally　recognized　the　symbol　on　the　silver　disk　that　hung　from　the　chain　at　her　waist。　It　was　a　sword；　set　against　a　haloed　circle。　The　symbol　of　Eilistraee。
　　　〃That's　Seyll's　armor；〃　the　cleric　said；　eyes　blazing　as　she　stared　at　the　chain　mail　Halisstra　was　wearing。　〃You're　the　one　who　killed　her。〃
　　　The　stranger　wrenched　the　horn　from　her　belt　and　blew　a　single；　prolonged　note。　An　instant　later；　the　horns　of　her　fellow　hunters　answered。
　　　
Chapter　Seven
　　　
　　　Nimor　leaned　over　the　map　of　Menzoberranzan　that　had　been　laid　on　the　floor　of　the　mine；　its　corners　weighted　with　jagged；　fist…sized　chunks　of　silver。　He　gestured　with　his　rapier。
　　　〃The　spider　we　hope　to　slay　has　two　heads；〃　the　drow　told　the　five　others…three　duergar　and　two　demons…that　had　gathered　around　the　map。　〃Cut　off　either；　and　the　body　dies。〃　The　point　of　his　blade　pricked　the　southern　edge　of　the　city。　〃One　head　is　here：　Qu'ellarz'orl；　the　plateau　where　the　First　House　stands。〃　He　moved　the　rapier；　pointing　to　a　spot　on　the　northern　edge　of　the　city　where　a　smaller　cavern　bulged　off　the　main　one。　〃The　other　is　Tier　Breche；　the　cavern　that　houses　three　of　the　most　important　institutions　in　Menzoberranzan：　Sorcere；　Melee…Magthere；　and；　most　importantly　of　all；　the　great　temple　of　Lolth；　Arach…Tinilith。〃
　　　〃Tough　stones　to　crack；　both　one　of　them；〃　said　Horgar；　who　stood　immediately　to　Nimor's　left。
　　　The　gray　dwarf　prince　came　barely　to　the　draw's　waist　but　had　wider　shoulders　than　the　slender　Nimor。　He　scowled　down　at　the　map；　absently　rubbing　his　bald　head　with　stubby　fingers。　His　two　guards…duergar　like　himself；　one　of　them　with　a　scar　that　stretched　from　chin　to　ear　along　the　cheekbone…kept　a　wary　eye　on　the　pair　of　half…demons　that　stood　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　map。
　　　〃Quite　so；　Crown　Prince；〃　replied　Nimor。　〃Which　is　why　I　want　the　duergar　to　lead　the　assault　on　Tier　Breche。　A　frontal　assault　down　the　tunnel　from　the　north。　Your　troops　will　establish　a　siege　wall；　then；　from　behind　it；　use　catapults　to　lob　stonefire　bombs　into　Sorcere　and　Arach…Tinilith；　reducing　them　to　a　smoking　ruin。
　　　〃Easily　said；〃　Horgar　challenged；　〃but　not　easily　done。　That　tunnel　will　be　thick　with　jade　spiders。　We　may　be　able　to　smash　our　way　through　one　or　two　of　them　but　not　all。〃
　　　Chuckling；　Nimor　reached　into　a　pocket　and　pulled　out　half　a　dozen　flat　ovals　of　green　jade；　each　pierced　by　a　hole　through　which　a　silver　chain　had　been　threaded　and　inscribed　with　a　name。　Holding　them　by　their　chains；　Nimor　jiggled　them　so　they　tinkled　together。
　　　〃Thanks　to　an　associate　who's　managed　to　penetrate　deep　into　Menzoberranzan；　I'm　able　to　guarantee　you　they　won't　be　a　problem；〃　he　told　the　duergar。
　　　The　scarred　prince　snorted　and　said；　〃And　where　will　the　tanarukks　be　while　we're　making　our　attack？　Bravely　bringing　up　the　rear？〃
　　　This　elicited　a　growl　from　Kaanyr　Vhok；　who　bared　perfect　teeth　and　thumped　the　hilt　of　the　rune…inscribed　sword　he　held　against　his　golden　breastplate。
　　　〃My　Scoured　Legion　could　outfight　your　mushroom…men　any　day；〃　he　growled；　glaring　angrily　across　the　map　at　the　scarred　duergar。　〃Why；　even　our　orcs　would　be　a　match　for…〃
　　　A　tug　on　his　arm　from　Aliisza　stopped　him　in　mid　bluster。　He　glared　at　her　but　listened　as　she　whispered　in　his　ear；　then　slowly　lowered　his　sword。
　　　〃Gentlemen；　please；〃　Nimor　said。　〃Hear　me　out。〃　He　turned　to　Vhok。　〃The　Scoured　Legion　will　indeed　be　involved　in　the　fight。　You　will　rake　Donigarten；　the　city's　food　and　water　supply；　then　fall　upon　Qu'ellarz'orl　from　the　east。　That　will　cause　the　matron　mothers　to　withdraw　their　defenders　south；　allowing　the　duergar　to　take　up　positions　in　the　north。　But　not　all　of　the　duergar。　One　pany；　at　least；　must　march　together　with　the　tanarukks；　spread　amongst　their　ranks　to　give　the　impression　that　our　force　as　a　whole　is　mitted　to　an　attack　on　Menzoberranzan's　First　House。〃
　　　Vhok　narrowed　his　eyes　and　asked；　〃We　are　to　be　a　mere　distraction？〃
　　　〃Not　at　all；〃　Nimor　assured　him；　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。　〃You　also　have　a　chance　at　victory…an　excellent　chance。　I've　taken　steps　to　take　House　Baenre　out　of　the　fight　with　a　little　surprise　that　I've　got　planned　for　its　matron　mother。　Once　Triel　is　eliminated；　the　other　females　of　House　Baenre　will　begin　vying　for　her　throne。　The　panies　each　mands　will　begin　fighting　each　other…which　will　keep　them　too　busy　to　bother　about　something　so　insignificant　as　defending　their　city。
　　　〃When　the　other　noble　Houses　see　Baenre　in　disarray；　they'll　sense　its　weakness　and　strike。　One　or　more　of　them　will　try　to　usurp　Baenre's　position　as　First　House。　While　they're　busy　fighting　each　other；　Lord　Vhok's　troops　can　swoop　in　and　seize　Qu'ellarz'orl。〃
　　　Vhok　scowled　and　said；　〃An　interesting　theory。〃
　　　〃It's　not　just　theory；〃　Nimor　countered。　He　paused　to　brushed　rock　dust　off　the　sleeve　of　his　immaculately　tailored　gray　shirt。　〃It's　drow　nature。　We're　like　spiders　reacting　to　the　twitching　of　a　web。　When　we　think　we　have　our　prey　at　our　mercy；　we　strike。
　　　〃Only　this　time；〃　Nimor　said；　〃the　prey　will　be　the　drow　themselves。　Menzoberranzan　will　fall。　I　guarantee　it。〃
　　　
　　　Triel　coldly　regarded　the　prisoner　who　had　been　brought　before　her：　a　young　male　drow。　He　lay　on　his　back　on　the　floor　of　her　audience　chamber；　wrists　bound　tightly　behind　him　and　ankles　likewise　tied　above　his　bare　feet。　His　black　pants　and　shirt　hung　in　tatters；　the　slashes　revealing　a　myriad　of　lacerations　that　dribbled　blood　onto　the　floor。　The　hair　on　one　side　of　his　head　had　been　burned　down　to　stubble；　and　his　face　was　covered　in　blisters。　One　eye　was　fused　shut；　its　eyelid　blistered　and　weeping；　but　the　other　glared　up　at　Triel　with　undiminished　defiance。
　　　Triel　crinkled　her　nose　at　the　stench　of　burned　hair　and　flesh　and　toyed　with　a　perfectly　balanced　throwing　dagger…the　only　one　still　in　the　fellow's　bandoleer　when　he　was　captured。　She　could　tell　by　the　tingle　it　sent　through　her　fingers　that　it　was　magic…as　had　been　the　blades　that　had　killed　four　of　her　elite　guard。
　　　〃This　is　an　assassin's　weapon；〃　she　observed；　handing　it　to　one　of　the　females　who　stood　on　either　side　of　her：　two　of　the　House　guard　who　attended　her　at　all　times；　magical　shields　and　maces　at　the　ready。
　　　A　third　member　of　the　guard…an　officer…stepped　forward　to　conclude　her　report。
　　　〃The　intruder　was　captured　on　the　fifth　level；　Matron　Baenre；〃　she　said。　〃We　believe　he　was　trying　to　reach　your　private　quarters。〃
　　　Triel　stared　at　the　officer；　who；　despite　all　that　was　happening；　looked　as　if　she　was　freshly　turned　out　for　inspection。　Her　adamantine　chain　mail　was　a　glossy　black；　her　long　white　hair　neatly　braided。　She　stood　at　rigid　attention；　a　polished　mace　hanging　from　her　belt　and　a　hand　crossbow　strapped　to　the　back　of　each　wrist。　Fiv