war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第72部分

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　　　Ryld　could　see　dozens　of　the　ghostly　figures；　moving　in　the　same　direction　he　and　Halisstra　had　been。　He　caught　only　glimpses　of　them…like　the　first　soldier；　they　seemed　to　be　shifting　between　solid　and　mistlike　form…but　those　glimpses　were　enough　to　tell　him　that　it　was　an　army　in　retreat。　Shoulders　slumped　and　eyes　staring　dully　at　the　ground；　the　soldiers　listlessly　dragged　their　weapons　behind　them。　Every　now　and　then　a　ghostly　animal　of　the　Surface　Realms　would　race　past；　the　rider　on　its　back　whipping　it　frantically。　Whenever　that　happened　the　foot　soldiers　would　glance　fearfully　over　their　shoulders　as　if　looking　to　see　what　was　pursuing　the　rider；　and　some　would　break　into　a　run。　After　a　few　stumbling　steps；　however；　they　slowed　to　a　trudge　again；　some　of　them　falling　and　failing　to　rise；　their　ghostly　forms　sinking　into　the　snow。
　　　The　army　of　ghosts　took　little　notice　of　Ryld　and　Halisstra。　The　soldiers　seemed　to　sense；　somehow；　that　the　drow　were　also　walking　wounded…that　they　too　were　trying　to　retreat　from　that　cold；　lifeless　plain。　One　of　the　soldiers…a　standard…bearer　who　still　carried　an　iron　pole　topped　with　a　pennant　emblazoned　with　the　tree　emblem…crumpled　to　the　ground　right　in　front　of　Ryld；　taking　no　notice　of　him。　Though　the　pennant　brushed　Ryld's　arm　as　it　fell　toward　the　snow；　the　pole　itself　made　no　mark　in　the　smooth　white　surface。　Like　the　standard…bearer's　body；　it　sank　into　the　snow　without　a　trace。
　　　Ryld　noticed　that　the　snow　in　front　of　him　was　slightly　humped。　Curious；　he　reached　into　its　cold　depths　and　felt　a　skeleton；　and　beside　it　a　cold　metal　pole；　its　surface　flaked　with　rust。　Like　the　ghostly　officer　Ryld　had　met　earlier；　the　soldier　had　acted　out　the　final　moments　of　his　life；　crumpling　once　again　in　the　same　spot　where　he　had　died；　centuries　gone　by。
　　　Ryld；　feeling　the　pain　in　his　gut　start　to　grow；　wondered　if　he　was　about　to　join　him。
　　　Halisstra　touched　the　symbol　of　Eilistraee　that　hung　from　her　belt。
　　　〃The　s…s…spell；〃　she　said；　shivering　violently；　then　switching　to　sign　language。　I　should　cast　it　soon。
　　　Ryld's　attention；　however；　was　focused　on　a　ghostly　rider　racing　toward　them　on　one　of　the　surface　mounts…a　〃horse；〃　Ryld　suddenly　remembered　it　was　called。　The　horse's　feet　did　not　disturb　the　snow；　yet　Ryld　could　hear…faintly…the　sound　of　hooves　striking　the　ground。　The　horse　was　still　strong；　still　capable　of　running　swiftly…and　was　corporeal；　at　least　for　the　moment。　And　that　gave　him　an　idea。
　　　Grasping　the　fallen　standard…bearer's　pole；　he　wrenched　it　up　out　of　the　snow　and　stood　as　straight　as　the　wracking　pain　in　his　gut　would　allow。
　　　〃In　the　name　of　Lord　Velar；　halt！〃　he　shouted。　〃I　bear　a　message　that　must　reach　your　mander's　ears。〃
　　　For　an　anxious　moment；　Ryld　thought　his　ruse　wasn't　going　to　work。　The　standard　in　his　hands　was　ancient　and　rusted；　the　pennant　long　since　rotted　away。　But　the　officer　seemed　to　see　it　as　it　once　had　been。　Immediately；　the　ghost　pulled　up　its　mount。　Fully　corporeal；　the　dead　man　stared　down　at　Ryld。　Its　horse　mirrored　the　ghost's　apprehension　as　it　flared　its　nostrils　and…perhaps　catching　scent　of　a　dragon　that　was　long…since　dead　in　Ryld's　time…whinnied　nervously。
　　　The　undead　officer's　eyes　narrowed；　however；　as　it　glanced　between　Ryld　and　Halisstra。
　　　〃You　aren't　soldiers；〃　the　ghost　said。　〃You're　not　even　human。〃
　　　〃We're　drow；〃　Ryld　said　quickly；　silently　praying　that　his　race　had　not　been　at　war　with　those　humans　in　their　day。　〃Dark　elves　from　the　Realms　Below　who　have　e　to　fight　beside　Lord　Velar。〃
　　　〃You're　too　late。　Look　around　you。　Lord　Velar's　army　is　defeated。　The　dragons　。　。　。〃
　　　The　ghost　shuddered；　unable　to　go　on。
　　　〃Yes；　I　know。〃　Ryld　raised　his　left　hand；　drawing　the　officer's　eye　to　the　dragon…shaped　ring　of　Melee…Magthere　on　his　finger。　〃I　am　quite　familiar　with　dragons；　and　I　know　how　terrible　a　weapon　they　can　be。　I　have　knowledge　that　can　help　Lord　Velar　defeat　them…if　I　can　reach　him　in　time。　Loan　me　your　horse；　and　this　defeat　may　yet　be　turned　into　a　victory。〃
　　　Behind　Ryld；　Halisstra　stood　shivering；　her　arms　tucked　tight　to　her　chest。
　　　The　officer　gave　one　last　nervous　glance　over　his　shoulder；　then　swung　down　out　of　the　saddle。
　　　〃Take　her；〃　the　apparition　said；　thrusting　the　reins　into　Ryld's　hand。　The　ghost　drew　its　sword　and　turned　back　toward　the　direction　from　which　it　had　ridden。　〃　'Better　to　die　proud　than　live　in　shame；'　〃　it　said；　reciting　the　words　like　a　quote。
　　　The　ghost　officer　strode　away；　dissolving　into　a　swirl　of　mist　amidst　the　thickly　falling　snow。
　　　The　horse；　however；　remained。　As　it　shifted　its　weight；　its　legs　ploughed　a　furrow　in　the　snow。　Reaching　up　to　stroke　its　neck　and　steady　it；　Ryld　found　that　he　could　smell　the　sweat　and　dust　that　clung　to　its　hair。　The　animal's　body　gave　off　a　wele　heat…one　that　Halisstra；　shivering　violently；　could　use　to　stay　alive。
　　　〃Can　you　ride　it？〃　he　asked　her…a　bit　belatedly；　he　realized。
　　　Halisstra　gave　a　shiver　that　might　have　been　a　nod。
　　　〃I've　r…r…ridden　lizards。　This　beast　sh…shouldn't　b…b…be　any　more　d…difficult。　Wh…what　is　it？〃
　　　〃It's　called　a　horse。　I　saw　one　for　sale　in　the　Bazaar　in　Menzoberranzan　a　few　years　ago。　Heard　it　fetched　a　pretty　penny　but　only　lived　a　couple　days；〃　he　said；　then　realized　again　that　time　was　of　the　essence。　〃Sit　in　the　saddle；　and　I'll…〃
　　　A　wave　of　pain　flowed　through　Ryld's　gut；　forcing　him　to　gasp。
　　　Halisstra　gave　him　a　worried　look。
　　　Ryld；　irritated　by　his　lack　of　control；　forced　the　pain　out　of　his　awareness。　He　gave　Halisstra　a　tight　smile　as　he　handed　her　the　reins。
　　　〃You　ride；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　hold　on；　levitating　behind。　The　animal　will　be　able　to　move　faster　that　way。　With　luck；　we'll　reach　the　forest　and　make　contact　with　the　priestesses　before　the　spell　you　cast　on　me　runs　out。〃
　　　〃Not　luck；〃　Halisstra　chastised。　〃With　the　b…blessing　of　the　g…g…goddess。〃
　　　She　gave　him　a　brief　kiss…with　lips　that　seemed　as　cold　as　those　of　the　dead…then　she　climbed；　still　shivering；　into　the　saddle。
　　　
Chapter　Thirty…five
　　　An　instant　before　the　demon　reached　Pharaun；　the　spell　activated；　and　an　enormous　glowing　hand　interposed　itself　between　them。　The　hand　slammed　into　the　demon；　smashing　it　down　against　the　deck　and　dragging　it　across　the　bone…white　boards　away　from　Pharaun。　Squeaking　with　fury；　the　demon　tried　to　squirm　free；　but　the　magical　hand　was　too　strong　for　it。
　　　As　the　uridezu　struggled；　unable　to　move；　Pharaun　cautiously　approached　and　grasped　the　two　ends　of　the　broken　chain。　Holding　them　together；　he　cast　a　cantrip；　glad　that　he　had　been　forced　to　use　that　form　of　binding。　A　pentagram；　once　broken；　had　to　be　redrawn　entirely；　but　a　chain　used　in　a　binding　spell　could　always　be　restored　with　a　simple　mending…assuming　one　had　the　magic　to　actually　restrain　the　demon；　first。
　　　The　instant　the　chain　mended　itself；　Pharaun　stepped　back　and　dispelled　the　magic　hand。　The　demon　leaped　to　its　feet；　eyes　slitted　with　fury。　As　it　yanked；　futilely；　on　the　chain；　Pharaun　turned　to　look　for　Quenthel　and　Jeggred。　He　spotted　them　a　moment　later…they'd　managed　to　escape　from　the　whirlpool　by　levitating　and　were　floating　in　the　eye　of　the　storm。　Unable　to　reach　the　ship；　they　were　rapidly　being　left　behind。　Quenthel　shouted　something　at　him；　but　Pharaun　couldn't　hear　her　over　the　crash　of　waves　and　the　howl　of　the　wind。　Her　message　was　plain　enough；　however；　from　the　waving　of　her　arms。　She　wanted　Pharaun　to　use　his　magic　to　fetch　them　back　to　the　ship。
　　　Pharaun　made　a　show　of　cupping　his　ear　and　shrugged　theatrically。　Then　he　turned　away；　chuckling。　He　stared　at　the　demon；　which　once　again　had　lapsed　into　surly　submission。
　　　〃Now　then；　demon；〃　he　told　it。　〃You　said　the　mouth　was　in　the　ship's　hold？〃
　　　The　demon　snarled　and　said；　〃Go　see　for　yourself。〃
　　　Pharaun　took　a　step　toward　the　open　hatch；　watching　the　demon　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　When　it　tensed　expectantly；　he　paused。
　　　〃I　think　not；〃　he　said。
　　　Instead　he　pulled　from　his　pocket　the　jar　of　ointment　and　rubbed　a　little　of　it　on　his　eyelids。　When　he　o