war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第59部分

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　　　Glancing　up　at　the　ceiling　again；　Valas　saw　a　skull　nested　in　one　of　the　tangles　of　tree　root　that　bulged　down　into　the　room。　The　vault　must　have　been　built　under　a　graveyard。　The　surface　elves　were　known　for　planting　trees　atop　the　graves　of　their　dead。　With　all　of　the　moldering　corpses　that　lay　just　above　the　ceiling；　it　was　no　wonder　wraiths　were　drawn　to　the　place。
　　　Pharaun　crept　up　behind　Valas　and　stared　down　into　the　vault。
　　　See　anything？　the　Master　of　Sorcere　signed。
　　　Transferring　both　daggers　into　one　hand；　Valas　shook　his　head　and　replied；　I　see　no　sign　of　the　wraiths…or　of　the　portal。
　　　If　it's　here；　you　soon　will；　Pharaun　signed　back。
　　　The　wizard　began　whispering　the　words　to　a　spell。　He　passed　a　hand　through　the　air；　palm　toward　the　room。　After　a　moment；　a　circle　at　the　center　of　the　room　began　to　glow　a　faint　purple。
　　　There；　he　signed；　pointing。
　　　Valas　made　a　mental　note　of　the　spot；　then　continued　watching　and　waiting。　Since　magic　had　disturbed　the　air　of　the　vault；　the　wraiths　would　likely　appear　that　much　sooner。　Assuming；　that　was；　that　the　rogues　story　had　been　accurate。
　　　The　fellow　had　claimed　the　vault　still　held　treasure…something　Valas　hadn't　told　his　panions；　since　it　might　have　distracted　them　from　their　mission…but　the　room　was　clearly　empty。　Perhaps　the　rogue　had　been　lying　about　the　wraiths；　as　well。　Neither　the　sudden　appearance　of　a　magic…hewn　tunnel　in　one　wall　of　the　vault　nor　the　divination　Pharaun　had　just　cast　had　brought　them　out　into　the　open。　If　wraiths　had　once　haunted　that　place　where　the　gods　frowned　in　stony　silence；　they　seemed　to　have　gone。
　　　But　that　didn't　mean　Valas　wouldn't　take　precautions。　Hanging　around　his　neck　on　a　delicate　gold　chain　was　an　amulet　crafted　by　the　surface　elves　and　shaped　like　a　golden　sun。　He　pulled　it　out　from　under　his　armor　and　kissed　it；　then　let　it　hang　free　against　his　chest；　ignoring　Pharaun's　raised　eyebrows。　If　any　wraiths　did　turn　up；　it　would　protect　him。
　　　For　a　while；　at　least。
　　　You　and　the　others　should　make　a　run　for　it；　he　signed。　With　a　running　start　and　a　leap；　you　should　be　able　to　levitate　down　onto　the　portal　without　touching　anything　in　the　room。　I'll　use　my　amulet　to　make　the　jump。　With　luck；　the　wraiths…if　there　are　any…won't　even　know　we're　here。
　　　You're　forgetting　that　Danifae　can't　levitate；　Pharaun　signed。
　　　Valas　groaned…softly。　Was　he　the　only　one　capable　of　tactical　thinking？
　　　Use　one　of　your　spells　on　her…the　one　that　enables　you　to　leap　around　like　a　flea。　She'll　be　able　to　make　the　portal　in　one　or　two　jumps。　He　paused；　then　added；　Just　make　sure　she　goes　last。　She'll　be　the　clumsiest…if　there　are　wraiths　here；　it　will　be　her　noise　that　attracts　them。
　　　Pharaun　frowned　at　that　but　made　no　ment。　Instead　he　raised　a　hand　to　his　lips　and　pointed　back　down　the　tunnel；　where　Quenthel；　Danifae；　and　Jeggred　waited。
　　　〃We're　through；〃　he　breathed；　his　spell　carrying　his　whispered　words　to　Quenthel。　〃The　portal　looks　clear…and　active。　e　quickly；　but　quietly。〃
　　　Valas；　still　intently　watching　the　room　below；　heard　a　faint　clink　of　armor　from　the　far　end　of　the　tunnel…Danifae　and　Quenthel　moving　along　it…and　the　faint　click…click　of　Jeggred's　elongated　toe…nails　on　the　stone。　He　gritted　his　teeth；　praying　that　his　panions　would　learn　the　value　of　moving　silently…and　learn　it　soon。　Then　he　heard　the　clicking　pause　and　the　sound　of　a　low　growl。
　　　His　patience　at　an　end；　Valas　spun　around；　an　oath　on　his　lips。　He　saw　Quenthel　moving　toward　him；　leading　the　others　down　the　corridor。　Danifae　was　just　behind　her；　but　Jeggred　was　lagging　several　paces　to　the　rear　and　was　looking　back　over　his　shoulder；　still　growling。
　　　Mistress！　Valas　signed　angrily。　Tell　Jeggred　to　keep…
　　　Before　he　could　finish；　the　relative　silence　was　split　by　a　fierce　roar。　Jeggred　launched　himself　back　down　the　tunnel；　bellowing　his　battle　howl　as　his　claws　scrambled　on　the　floor。　In　another　instant；　Valas　saw　what　had　triggered　the　draegloth's　attack。
　　　Two　twisted　caricatures　that　had　once　been　duergar；　with　claws　as　long　as　Jeggred's　own　and　mouths　filled　with　needle…sharp　teeth；　were　stalking　up　behind　them。　Rotted　clothing　hung　from　them　in　tatters；　and　their　hair　was　a　tangled　mass；　crusted　with　dirt。　Their　eyes　blazed　with　the　malevolence　with　which　all　undead　regarded　the　living。　Unlike　the　drow　they'd　been　stalking；　the　two　wights　moved　in　utter　silence。　Seeing　they　had　been　spotted；　they　ran　forward　to　meet　Jeggred's　charge。
　　　Jeggred　crashed　headlong　into　the　first　wight；　smashing　it　against　one　wall　with　a　powerful　swipe　of　his　fighting　arm；　then　ripping　its　belly　open　with　a　rake　of　the　claws　on　one　foot　as　he　stomped　on　it。　As　the　pungent　odor　of　death　and　rot　filled　the　air；　the　second　wight　darted　under　Jeggred's　other　arm　and　casually　slapped　Jeggred's　chest。　The　draegloth　grunted　and　clutched　one　of　his　lesser　hands　against　him…the　first　time　Valas　had　heard　him　express　pain　aloud…and　he　staggered　slightly。　An　instant　later；　however；　he　recovered。　Roaring　fiercely；　the　draegloth　grasped　the　wight's　face　with　a　fighting　hand　and；　wrenching　violently；　tore　the　head　from　its　neck。
　　　The　first　wight　was　still　moving；　crawling　furiously　after　Jeggred　with　its　rotted　entrails　dragging　along　behind　it。　Before　it　could　reach　him；　Danifae　rushed　forward；　morningstar　in　hand。　There　wasn't　much　room　to　swing　the　weapon　in　the　low…ceilinged　corridor；　but　she　managed　an　abbreviated　downward　smash。　The　spiked　ball　of　the　morningstar　connected　with　the　wight's　head　in　a　blaze　of　magical　sparks；　filling　the　air　with　a　sharp　ozone　tang。　The　wight　dropped　and　laid　still。
　　　Pharaun　stared　at　Danifae　with　a　look　of　open　admiration。　He　held　a　tiny　leather　pouch　in　one　hand；　which　he'd　drawn　from　his　pocket　as　the　wights　attacked。
　　　〃Well　done；〃　he　said；　tucking　it　back　into　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi。
　　　Quenthel　looked　past　Danifae。
　　　〃Are　there　more？〃　she　asked　Jeggred。
　　　Jeggred　stood　panting；　head　turning　from　side　to　side　as　he　searched　for　the　scent　of　additional　foes。　As　his　chest　rose　and　fell；　Valas　noted　the　wound　the　wight　had　inflicted　on　the　draegloth。　It　was　little　deeper　than　a　scratch；　but　it　was　causing　Jeggred　to　wheeze　as　if　each　breath　was　painful。　After　a　moment；　Jeggred　shook　his　head。
　　　〃No　more；〃　he　concluded；　〃just　these　two。〃
　　　Valas　cleared　his　throat。
　　　〃Wights　are　the　least　of　our　worries；〃　he　reminded　the　others。　〃We　should　get　moving。　The　portal　is　just　ahead；　at　the　center　of　the　vault；　about　seventy…five　paces　into　the　room。　Pharaun's　marked　it　with　a　spell。　Quickly　now；　and　one　at　a　time。　Take　a　run　and　leap　out　from　the　end　of　the　tunnel；　then　levitate　down。　Touch　nothing　in　the　room。　You　first；　Quenthel；　then　Jeggred；　while　Pharaun　casts　a　spell　on　Danifae。　Then　Pharaun；　followed　by　Danifae。　I'll　go　last。〃
　　　That　said；　he　flattened　against　the　wall　and　motioned　the　others　forward。　As　he　did；　he　scanned　the　vault　one　last　time；　searching　for　signs　of　movement；　in　case　any　wights　had　entered　it　while　his　back　was　turned。
　　　They　hadn't。
　　　Quenthel　moved　forward　to　glance　down　into　the　room；　then；　after　muning　silently　with　her　whip　vipers；　she　nodded。　She　backed　down　the　corridor；　then　sprinted　past　Valas　and　leaped　into　the　air。　A　heartbeat　later　Jeggred　rushed　after　her；　arms　flailing。
　　　As　the　pair　drifted　down　through　the　empty　room　toward　the　portal；　Valas　glanced　up　at　the　ceiling。　Were　the　gods　in　the　mural　scowling　a　bit　more　fiercely？　He　stared　back　at　them　a　moment；　then　decided　it　must　have　been　his　imagination。　Meanwhile；　Quenthel　had　ignored　his　instructions　and　was　hovering　above　the　portal。　Jeggred；　floating　in　the　air　beside　her；　kept　glancing　back　and　forth　between　his　mistress　and　the　portal；　a　confused　look　on　his　face。
　　　Valas　turned　to　warn　Pharaun　that　something　was　delaying　the　pair；　but　the　mage　was　just　pleting　the　spell　he　was　casting　on　Danifae；　tracing　an　invisible　symbol　on　each　of　her　knees　with　something　he　held　pinched　in　his　fingers。　Finishing；　he　gave　Danifae　a　quick　smile　of　encouragement；　then　he　turned　and　sprinted　down　th