war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第26部分

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　　　Andzrel　peered　down　the　corridor　from　which　the　two…dimensional　tanarukk　had　e。　No　more　wisps　of　〃smoke〃　appeared。　The　dead　one　seemed　to　have　been　bringing　up　the　rear。
　　　Short　and　stocky；　with　a　prominent　lower　jaw　and　curving　tusks；　the　tanarukk　had　a　ridge　of　horn　across　its　forehead　that　gave　it　a　thick；　unintelligent　look。　The　trick　it　and　its　fellows　had　played　on　the　drow；　however；　was　anything　but　stupid。
　　　〃The　mote　important　question；　lieutenant；　is　where　the　tanarukks　were　headed；〃　Andzrel　said；　〃and　how　many　have　slipped　past　us　already。　If　I　remember　my　geography　correctly；　that　crack　leads　to　the　main　cavern。〃
　　　A　runner　emerged　from　a　side　tunnel。
　　　〃Good　news；　sir；〃　the　man　panted。　〃We're　not　only　holding　them　。　。　。　they　seem　to　be　falling　back。　The　enemy　has　all　but　disappeared。〃
　　　As　Andzrel　cursed…surprising　the　runner；　who'd　obviously　expected　elation　on　his　mander's　part…the　forefront　of　a　pany　from　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo　trotted　into　the　room。　They　were　reinforcements　sent　in　at　last　by　the　Second　House；　only　after　House　Baenre's　troops　had　secured　the　tunnels。
　　　Leaping　down　from　the　broken　stalagmite；　Andzrel　strode　toward　the　captain　who　manded　them；　a　slender　female　in　adamantine　armor　with　white　hair　drawn　up　in　a　topknot。
　　　〃Captain！〃　he　barked；　foregoing　the　usual　bow　that　was　a　ranking　officer's　due…and　the　Barrison　Del'Armgo　captain；　being　female；　certainly　did　outrank　him。　〃Turn　your　pany　around。　March　back　to　the　main　cavern　at　once。〃
　　　The　captain's　eyes　blazed　an　even　deeper　red　as　her　cheeks　flushed　with　anger。　She　jerked　to　a　halt；　and　the　soldiers　following　her　did　the　same。
　　　〃Who　in　the　Nine　Hells　do　you　think　you　are？〃　she　said；　glaring　down　at　him。　〃You　may　be　weapons　master　of　House　Baenre；　but　you're　only　a…〃
　　　〃This　isn't　the　time　for　arguments；〃　Andzrel　said　in　a　tense　voice；　his　intensity　making　up　for　his　lack　of　height。　〃The　enemy　has　slipped　past　us　and　are　about　to　enter　the　city。　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo　lies　directly　in　their　path。　Is　your　pride　really　worth　your　House；　captain？〃
　　　The　other　captain　hesitated；　sword　gripped　in　her　hand；　then　she　spun　on　her　heel。
　　　〃Turn　about！〃　she　barked。　〃Back　to　the　main　cavern。　Double　speed！〃
　　　The　look　she　gave　Andzrel　over　her　shoulder　as　she　sped　away　behind　her　pany；　however；　was　as　sharp　as　a　dagger　point。　When　the　fight　with　the　tanarukks　and　duergar　was　over；　win　or　lose；　Andzrel　knew　he　would　have　a　second　battle　to　face。
　　　He　spun　to　face　the　House　Baenre　lieutenant　and　said；　〃You're　in　charge。　Order　half　of　our　pany　to　fall　back　to　the　main　cavern；　while　the　other　half　continue　to　hold　the　tunnels。〃
　　　The　lieutenant's　white　eyebrows　lifted。　〃And　you；　sir？〃　he　asked。　〃Where　will　you　be？〃
　　　Then；　realizing　his　impertinence；　he　dropped　his　gaze　to　the　floor。
　　　〃I'll　be　making　sure　that　Barrison　Del'Armgo　captain　follows　her　orders；〃　he　said　with　a　grin。　He　drew　his　sword。　〃And　hopefully；　I'll　be　giving　the　tanarukks　a　taste　of　this。〃
　　　
　　　Triel；　flanked　by　her　House　wizard　and　the　priestess　currently　serving　as　her　personal　attendant；　stood　on　the　balcony　that　encircled　the　Great　Mound　at　the　point　where　stalagmite　and　stalactite　met。　From　far　below；　at　the　base　of　the　Qu'ellarz'orl　plateau；　came　the　clash　of　troops　in　battle。　A　band　of　tanarukks　had　somehow　slipped　past　the　troops　she'd　ordered　into　the　tunnels　and　had　reached　the　mushroom　forest。　The　wide　caps　of　the　mushrooms　prevented　Triel　from　seeing　much；　but　every　now　and　then　one　of　the　puffballs　would　explode　as　a　sword　or　axe　struck　it；　filling　the　air　with　a　cloud　of　luminescent　blue　spores。
　　　Among　the　batants；　Triel　could　pick　out　the　silver　uniforms　of　her　own　troops。　The　House　Baenre　pany　under　Andzrel；　together　with　a　pany　from　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo；　were　fighting　a　containing　action；　preventing　the　tanarukks　from　advancing　farther　into　the　main　cavern。　As　the　foot　soldiers　repeatedly　charged　the　tanarukks；　trying　to　drive　them　back　through　the　fence；　two　squadrons　of　House　Baenre's　mounted　troops　made　an　assault　on　the　enemy　flanks；　their　lizards　scurrying　along　the　walls。
　　　The　enemy　was　gradually　forced　back　against　the　wall　of　the　great　cavern。　But　just　when　Triel　was　certain　they　would　either　be　shoved　back　into　the　tunnel　like　a　cork　into　a　bottle　or　smashed　flat　where　they　stood；　the　tanarukks　closest　to　the　tunnel　mouth　parted。　Triel　strained　forward；　expecting　to　see　a　tanarukk　general　stride　through　the　gap　in　their　ranks；　but　what　emerged　instead　from　the　tunnel　mouth　made　her　chuckle。
　　　It　was　a　jade　spider。　Three　times　the　height　of　a　drow；　the　magical　construct　was　one　of　those　that　guarded　each　of　the　entrances　to　Menzoberranzan。　Made　from　magically　treated　jade；　it　moved　with　fluid　grace。　It　was　as　captivating　in　its　beauty　as　it　was　deadly。
　　　〃Now　we'll　see　some　fun；〃　said　the　plump　wizard　standing　next　to　Triel。
　　　Triel　acknowledged　him　with　a　curt　nod。　She　didn't　much　care　for　Nauzhror；　her　first　cousin　once　removed。　He　had　only　been　promoted　to　the　position　of　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　because　Gromph　was　missing；　but　he　wore　the　archmage's　robes　with　a　stuck…up　snobbishness；　as　if　he'd　earned　them。　Triel　instead　directed　her　ment　to　Wilara；　the　priestess　who　stood　on　her　left。
　　　〃The　spiders　will　put　the　fear　of　Lolth　into　them；〃　she　chuckled。
　　　Wilara　laughed　politely　along　with　her　mistress。　Her　laughter　ended　abruptly　a　moment　later；　however；　when　the　jade　spider；　instead　of　attacking　the　tanarukks；　strode　through　the　gap　they'd　created　in　their　ranks。
　　　〃What　in　the　Spider　Queen's　name。　。　。　。〃　the　priestess　whispered。
　　　Wilara's　unfinished　question　was　answered　a　moment　later　as　the　spider　crashed　headlong　into　the　House　Baenre　soldiers。　Plucking　one　of　them　from　the　ground　with　its　mandibles；　it　scissored　the　soldier　in　half。　Then；　letting　the　pieces　fall　to　either　side；　it　continued　to　race　forward；　smashing　its　way　through　mushrooms　and　drow　alike。
　　　〃Lolth　help　us；〃　Nauzhror　said　in　a　strangled　voice。　〃They've　managed　to　get　control　of　one　of　the　constructs。〃
　　　As　the　jade　spider　advanced；　the　drow　fell　back　in　confusion。　One　or　two　prostrated　themselves　before　it…only　to　receive　the　same　treatment　as　the　first　soldier。
　　　The　spider　continued　its　relentless　advance；　and　soon　several　drow　lay　in　bloody　heaps　behind　it。　Within　moments；　the　spider　had　carved　a　gap　through　both　the　mushroom　forest　and　the　troops…a　gap　the　tanarukks　were　quick　to　exploit。
　　　〃Attack；　curse　you！〃　Triel　cried　as　the　enemy　surged　forward。
　　　The　drow　soldiers　were　too　far　away　to　have　heard　her；　but　thankfully　one　of　their　officers…probably　Andzrel；　judging　by　the　black　armor　and　cloak…rallied　them。　They　fell　upon　the　tanarukks　from　either　side　and　quickly　closed　the　gap　the　spider　had　opened。　But　even　as　the　enemy　was　driven　back　once　more　toward　the　cavern　wall；　the　jade　spider　continued　to　advance。　Leaving　the　struggling　foes　and　the　mushroom　forest　behind；　it　scaled　the　slope　that　led　from　Qu'ellarz'orl　up　to　the　House　Baenre　pound。　It　moved　swiftly　and　in　a　few　moments　more　was　at　the　barrier。
　　　It　hesitated　just　outside　the　high　fence　that　enclosed　the　pound　as　if　contemplating　the　magic　that　flowed　through　the　barrier's　glowing　silver　strands；　then　it　turned　toward　one　of　the　stalagmites　to　which　the　fence　was　attached。　As　the　House　guard　on　the　balconies　above　watched　in　confusion；　the　construct　scaled　the　stone　as　easily　as　a　living　spider；　climbing　to　a　point　just　above　the　fence。　It　leaped　down　over　the　barrier；　then　began　moving　toward　the　center　of　the　pound。
　　　Triel's　eyes　narrowed　as　she　saw　where　it　was　headed。　The　jade　spider　was　making　its　way　to　House　Baenre's　central　structure…the　great　domed　temple　of　Lolth。
　　　Wilara　gasped　as　she；　too；　calculated　the　spider's　course。
　　　〃They　dare　attack　our　temple？〃　the　priestess　cried。
　　　Nauzhror；　with　a　sidelong　look　at　Triel；　exploded　with　appropriate　rage。
　　　〃The　insolence！〃　the　interim　archmage　fumed。　〃May　Lolth's　webs　strangle　them！〃
　　　His　familiar…a　fist…sized；　hairy　brown　spider…scuttled　from　one　o