war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第43章

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o　see　how　Ryld　had　fared。
　　　The　warrior　was　facing　only　a　single　opponent；　stepping　warily　around　the　slick　pools　of　blood　as　he　feinted　a　few　times。　His　ploys　weren't　terribly　effective；　and　he　was　gasping　for　breath。　His　close…cropped　white　hair　was　matted　red　with　blood。
　　　Valas　crept　forward；　ready　to　get　in　another　attack　from　behind　the　moment　an　opportunity　presented　itself；　so　the　mage　turned　his　attention　back　to　his　magical　wall；　confident　his　two　panions　had　the　situation　well　in　hand。
　　　On　the　other　side　of　the　barrier；　several　of　the　drow　wizards　were　levitating；　testing　to　see　if　Pharaun　had　left　any　gaps　along　the　ceiling。　Another　wizard　was　obviously　casting；　trying　to　find　something　that　would　dispel　the　effect。　Soldiers　stood　at　the　ready；　fingering　their　weapons　and　eyeing　Pharaun　and　his　two　panions　balefully。　Pharaun　knew　by　sense　that　the　magical　partition　still　held；　but　it　would　only　be　a　matter　of　time　before　their　enemies　would　find　the　right　bination　of　magic　to　bring　it　down。
　　　At　that　moment；　Pharaun　noted　the　smoke　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　It　was　where　the　matron　mothers　had　been；　but　they　were　no　longer　there。
　　　Of　course　not；　the　mage　thought　sardonically。　They're　not　going　to　e　out　until　they　know　we're　in　custody　again。
　　　The　smoke；　however；　was　thick　and　black　and　seemed　to　be　pouring　into　the　room　through　a　hole　in　the　wall。　He　could　see　flames　licking　the　stone；　and　he　realized　what　was　going　on。
　　　〃We've　definitely　got　to　get　out　of　here；〃　the　mage　said　to　Valas。
　　　〃That's　what　I　said；〃　Valas　replied；　〃but　you　seem　to　have　sealed　us　in　here。〃
　　　Ryld　had　dispatched　his　final　adversary　and　sank　down　to　one　knee；　trying　to　regain　his　breath。
　　　〃Hello；　Pharaun。　It's　good　to　'see'　you。　You　two　aren't　going　to　walk　through　walls　again；　are　you？〃　Ryld　asked；　heaving　himself　to　his　feet　again。
　　　On　the　other　side　of　the　barrier；　some　of　the　House　Melarn　delegation　had　lost　interest　in　them；　turning　and　pointing　back　at　the　smoke　or　running　toward　it。　〃Whatever　was　happening　in　the　obscured　side　of　the　audience　chamber；　they　were　very　agitated。
　　　〃Alas；〃　Pharaun　answered　the　warrior；　〃I　have　exhausted　my　quota　of　wall…walking　for　the　day。　I'll　have　to　rely　on　more　conventional　means　of　egress；　I'm　afraid。　Still；　we　shouldn't　tarry。　That　smoke　is　from　the　same　stuff　we　had　to　deal　with　during　the　insurrection　back　in　Menzoberranzan。〃
　　　〃The　fire　bombs　that　burned　the　very　stone？〃　Valas　asked。
　　　〃Then　that　means　。　。　。〃　Ryld　added。
　　　〃Precisely。　We　may　be　contending　with　associates　of　Syrzan；　or　others；　who　are　inciting　the　populace　to　riot　and　arming　them　with　the　same　tools　of　destruction。〃
　　　〃I　thought　you　said　the　alhoon　was　operating　alone；　an　outcast　from　its　own　kind；〃　Ryld　said；　turning　in　circles　and　analyzing　every　nook　and　cranny　of　the　corner　of　the　room。
　　　〃I　did；〃　Pharaun　admitted。　〃In　my　conversation　with　the　thing　during　our　captivity；　it　claimed　that　very　thing。　Perhaps　whoever　supplied　it　or　its　minions　with　the　alchemical　incendiary　jugs　is　serving　multiple　fronts。〃
　　　〃Regardless　of　who's　doing　it；　we　know　how　grave　the　situation　is；〃　Valas　said。　〃We　need　to　get　out　of　the　city。〃
　　　〃Again；　I　agree；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃I　suggest　we　make　a　run　for　it　once　I　lower　the　barrier。〃
　　　〃Into　that　mob？〃　Ryld　countered。　〃We　should　try　to　find　another　way　out。〃
　　　〃But　that's　the　quickest　way　to　the　streets。　We　don't　know　our　way　around　in　here；　and　House　Melarn　could　be　an　inferno　before　long。〃
　　　〃Look；〃　Ryld　argued；　〃you　may　be　feeling　fine；　but　I　can't　take　another　stand…up　fight　right　now。〃　He　gestured　at　his　own　bloody　form。　〃There's　got　to　be　other　ways　out　of　this　House。　Let's　go　find　one。〃　The　warrior　gestured　toward　a　door　in　the　corner　and　added；　〃Leave　your　barrier　up　and　let's　go。〃
　　　Valas　nodded　and　said；　〃Ryld　is　right。　We　can't　fight　through　all　of　them。　Let's　try　another　route。〃
　　　〃Very　well；〃　Pharaun　sighed；　〃but　if　the　House　falls　down　around　our　ears；　I　will　personally　blame　both　of　you。〃
　　　He　gestured　toward　the　door；　inviting　Valas　to　lead　the　way。
　　　***
　　　
　　　For　the　first　few　minutes；　the　halls　of　House　Melarn　were　remarkably　empty　as　Ryld；　Pharaun；　and　Valas　limped　their　way　through　them。　Occasionally；　the　trio　heard　running　footsteps　in　the　twisting；　winding　passages　that　threaded　their　way　through　the　massive　structure；　but　they　were　able　to　avoid　confrontations　by　cither　taking　a　detour　or　momentarily　hiding。　It　appeared　to　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　that　most　of　the　inhabitants　were　focusing　their　attention　outside；　where　the　bulk　of　the　fighting　was　taking　place。
　　　As　they　reached　an　intersection；　Valas　held　up　his　hand　for　a　halt；　and　the　scout　slunk　off　in　one　direction；　investigating　the　route　ahead。　Ryld　and　Pharaun　pressed　themselves　against　the　wall；　trying　to　remain　out　of　sight。　The　wizard　was　no　longer　invisible；　nor　was　he　glowing　with　that　annoying；　flickering　purple　hue。　Ryld　had　taken　care　of　that　with　a　pass　of　his　enchanted　blade。　The　warrior　could　see　that　his　panion's　skin　was　blistered；　and　he　imagined　that　Pharaun　was　in　considerable　pain。　His　own　wounds　troubled　him　only　when　he　thought　about　them。
　　　Don't　you　have　some　son　of　magic　that　can　help　us　locate　an　exit？　Ryld　flashed　to　the　wizard　as　they　waited。
　　　Pharaun　shook　his　head。
　　　Such　spells　exist；　but　I　don't　know　them；　he　silently　replied。　Without　knowing　the　way；　we　could　be　down　here　forever。　This　is　a　fool's　errand；　Ryld。
　　　Then　perhaps　we　should　just　follow　the　soldiers。　They　can　unwittingly　lead　us　out　of　here。
　　　Pharaun　waved　away　the　warrior's　suggestion；　though　whether　it　was　in　exasperation　or　acceptance；　Ryld　wasn't　sure。
　　　The　risk　of　discovery　or　disaster　is　greater　if　we　do　that。
　　　Ryld　shrugged　but　gave　no　other　reply。　Instead；　he　turned　to　Watch　for　Valas's　return。
　　　Why　do　I　bother　arguing？　the　weapons　master　thought　as　his　listened　for　telltale　sounds。　He's　already　made　up　his　mind。
　　　Valas　returned　at　that　moment；　gesturing　for　them　to　follow　him。　Together；　they　crept　forward　into　a　new　corridor；　and　Valas　pointed　to　a　doorway　on　the　opposite　side。
　　　That's　a　kitchen；　he　signaled；　and　beyond　it　is　a　pantry。　On　the　other　side；　here…the　scout　pointed　to　a　door　near　the　trio…is　a　mess　hall。　I　think　we're　in　the　barracks　section。
　　　Well；　that's　not　a　good　place　to　be；　Pharaun　gestured。　We　want　to　avoid　the　guards；　not　e　bunk　with　them。
　　　Valas　gave　Pharaun　a　baleful　look　and　motioned　for　the　other　two　to　follow　him。　I　think　there's　a　stairwell　leading　up　just　past　this　area；　he　flashed　as　he　led　the　way　through　the　passage。
　　　Ryld　thought　they　might　actually　get　lucky　and　get　through　the　guards'　quarters　unnoticed；　but　as　they　neared　the　opposite　end　of　the　passageway　that　bisected　the　barracks　and　the　mess；　they　heard　the　approach　of　a　large　contingent　from　ahead　of　them。　As　one；　the　three　drow　turned　to　scamper　back　in　the　other　direction；　but　at　that　moment　several　House　Zauvirr　soldiers　appeared　at　the　other　end。　They　were　pinned　between　the　two　forces。
　　　〃Damn！〃　Pharaun　growled　as　he　reached　inside　his　piwafwi。　〃Hold　them　off　while　I　see　what　I　can　do。〃
　　　Nodding；　Ryld　slipped　Splitter　free　and　approached　the　group　ing　from　where　Valas　had　indicated　stairs。
　　　If　we　can　cut　through　them；　the　warrior　reasoned；　at　least　we　can　continue　the　way　we　want　to　go。
　　　The　soldiers；　numbering　four；　gave　a　shout　of　warning　and　unsheathed　their　weapons。
　　　〃e　on；　you　son　of　a　drider；〃　one　of　them　snarled；　stepping　in　with　a　long　sword　and　a　short　sword　together；　one　in　each　hand。
　　　The　other　three　fanned　out；　looking　for　a　chance　to　flank　the　burly　intruder。　Ryld　kept　his　blade　level　and　loose；　waiting　and　watching；　shifting　from　foot　to　foot　in　hopes　of　preventing　any　of　his　foes　from　getting　past　him　and　to　his　back；　or　reaching　Pharaun。　He　worried　that　his　hands；　still　covered　with　drying　blood；　would　be　too　slick　to　wield　his　blade　properly。
　　　The　first　opponent　stepped　in；　slashing　with　his　short　sword　up　high；　then　bringing　his　long　sword　through