war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第66章

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ew。　He　sucked　in　his　breath；　feeling　his　knees　go　weak。
　　　〃Oh；　no。〃
　　　***
　　　
　　　Pharaun　knew　that　with　his　magically　enhanced　boots　he　could　easily　outrun　the　other　drow；　and　that's　precisely　what　he　did。　The　wizard　sprinted　ahead；　careful　to　maintain　his　balance　on　the　quivering　web　street　as　the　colossal　spider　pursued　them。　He　had　but　a　handful　of　spells　left；　and　there　was　little　if　anything　left　in　his　repertoire　that　might　affect　the　huge　arachnid。　A　far　better　bet；　he　decided；　was　to　misdirect　the　creature；　perhaps　conjure　an　obscuring　mist　that　would　allow　him　and　the　others　to　hide　and　sneak　away　while　the　spider　was　distracted…but　he　didn't　dare　stop　to　weave　the　spell。
　　　〃Pharaun！〃　someone　shouted　from　ahead；　and　the　wizard　glanced　over　in　time　to　see　Ryld；　Valas；　and　Halisstra　standing　in　the　mouth　of　a　side　street；　gawking　slack…jawed　at　the　massive　spider　behind　him。
　　　He　veered　in　their　direction　and　darted　into　the　shadow　of　the　alley。　Only　then　did　he　stop　to　catch　his　breath。
　　　〃I've　never　。　。　。　seen　anything　。　。　。　like　it；〃　the　wizard　panted。　〃Danifae　called　it　a　。。。　guardian　spider。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Halisstra　said　softly；　still　staring　at　it。　〃The　matron　mothers　must　have　called　i…Oh；　by　the　Dark　Mother　。　。　。　it's　summoning　another　one！〃
　　　Pharaun　turned　to　see　what　Halisstra　was　talking　about；　looking　past　Jeggred　and　Quenthel　as　they　came　into　view；　running　for　all　they　were　worth；　with　Danifae　limping　behind　them。　The　spider　had　stopped　pursuing　them；　and　was　rearing　up　on　its　hind　legs；　flailing　about　with　its　front　limbs　in　the　air。　The　wizard　gasped　when　an　enormous　gate　opened　up　in　front　of　the　spider；　as　large　as　the　creature　itself。　Through　the　hazy　murk　of　the　bluish…white　portal；　the　wizard　watched；　aghast；　as　a　second　massive　spider　clambered　through　and　onto　the　street。　The　portal　shut　quickly　behind　it。
　　　〃Oh；　no；〃　Quenthel　murmured。　〃How　many　times　can　they　do　that？〃
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Halisstra　said　from　somewhere　behind　the　wizard。
　　　〃Once　is　too　many；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃We've　got　to　get　out　of　here。〃
　　　He　spun　away　from　the　massive　arachnids；　ready　to　sprint　in　the　opposite　direction。
　　　〃Wait！〃　Halisstra　cried；　pointing。
　　　The　mage　glanced　back　once　more。
　　　Danifae　was　still　limping　badly　and　had　not　been　able　to　keep　up。　As　the　second　spider　passed　through　the　portal；　it　appeared　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　battle　captive。　She　was　trapped　between　the　two　creatures；　and　was　sprawled　in　the　middle　of　the　street　as　well。
　　　〃She's　hurt！〃　Halisstra　cried。
　　　She　took　a　tentative　step　forward　to　go　to　the　aid　of　her　attendant。
　　　〃Don't　be　a　fool；〃　Ryld　said；　grabbing　the　priestess　by　the　arm　as　Jeggred　and　Quenthel　joined　them。　〃You'll　only　get　yourself　killed；　too。〃
　　　Halisstra　jerked　herself　free　and　took　another　step　out　into　the　open。
　　　〃I　don't　care；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　going　to　help　her。〃
　　　With　that；　the　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn　dashed　across　the　open　area　to　where　her　servant　was　struggling　to　regain　her　feet。
　　　The　spiders　sensed　the　movement；　and　both　of　them　began　to　close　in。
　　　
　　　SEVENTEEN
　　　Pharaun　cursed　and　took　a　step　after　Halisstra；　thinking　he　might　have　to　magically　cloak　the　two　of　them　In　order　to　save　them。
　　　〃Don't；〃　Quenthel　ordered。　〃Danifae　was　unlucky　enough　to　be　wounded。　I　will　not　exhaust　either　resources　or　time　saving　her。　Let's　go　while　the　spiders　are　distracted。〃
　　　〃But…〃　Pharaun　began；　but　when　he　saw　the　look　in　the　high　priestess's　eyes；　he　shook　his　head　and　stepped　back　into　the　alley。　He　regretted　the　idea　of　losing　them…or　at　least；　losing　the　beautiful　Danifae。　〃Very　well；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I'm　not　leaving；〃　Ryld　said；　and　he　turned　to　sprint　out　into　the　street；　following　Halisstra。
　　　〃No！〃　Quenthel　shouted　at　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere；　but　it　was　too　late。　Ryld　was　already　ten　steps　away；　removing　Splitter　from　its　sheath　on　his　back　as　he　charged　toward　the　closest　of　the　two　spiders。　〃Damn　you　all　to　the　Abyss！〃　Quenthel　raged。
　　　Shrugging；　Pharaun　turned　and　followed　the　weapons　master。
　　　〃Go　after　them！〃　Quenthel　growled　from　behind　the　wizard。
　　　Pharaun　could　only　assume　she　was　talking　to　him；　though　why　she　was　ordering　him　to　do　something　he　had　already　made　up　his　mind　to　acplish；　he　couldn't　fathom。　Soon　enough；　though；　the　draegloth　flashed　past　him；　sprinting　down　the　street　in　the　direction　he　also　traveled。
　　　The　mage　pulled　up　a　few　yards　from　the　closest　spider；　watching　as　Halisstra　reached　her　servant　and　knelt　down。　Somehow；　along　the　way；　she　had　fumbled　a　wand　free　from　her　cloak；　and　she　quickly　utilized　it；　causing　both　drow　to　disappear。　The　spider；　looming　over　the　spot　where　the　pair　had　just　been　visible；　snapped　down　once；　clacking　its　mandibles　together　in　obvious　frustration。　The　beast　began　moving　its　head　back　and　forth；　trying　to　find　its　prey。　In　the　distance；　the　second　spider　had　turned　its　attention　to　something　else。　Fortunately；　it　was　not　ing　their　way…at　least　for　the　moment。
　　　Pharaun；　of　course；　could　still　see　the　two　females；　for　he　was　aware　of　the　magic　they　radiated。　It　appeared　to　him　that　Halisstra　was　dragging　Danifae　to　the　side；　out　of　harm's　way；　but　the　spider　somehow　sensed　where　the　two　females　were；　and　it　dipped　its　head　again；　missing　a　direct　bite　but　ing　close　enough　with　its　attack　that　it　grazed　Halisstra；　knocking　her　down。　Shivering　in　delight　at　having　felt　its　prey；　the　spider　raised　up　for　another　attack。
　　　Ryld　had　almost　reached　the　creature；　and　his　long　legs　covered　the　remaining　distance　quickly。　He　leaped　through　the　air；　Splitter　raised　high　overhead。　As　the　warrior　sailed　past　the　hindmost　leg　of　the　giant　spider；　he　swung　the　greatsword　around　with　all　his　might；　cutting　cleanly　through　the　appendage。　Black　blood　spurted　everywhere；　and　the　spider　reared　up；　kicking　with　its　ruined　leg　and　barely　missing　the　weapons　master。
　　　At　nearly　the　same　time；　Jeggred　launched　himself　into　the　air　toward　another　leg；　grabbing　a　hold　of　the　spider　and　climbing　upward。　Pharaun　could　see　the　draegloth's　claws　extended；　and　the　fiend　used　them　to　great　effect　as　he　quickly　ascended　the　creatures　limb。　Fearlessly；　Jeggred　slashed　and　clawed　his　way　to　the　spiders　body　and　began　to　climb　the　slick　black　abdomen；　working　his　way　higher　and　higher。
　　　The　effect　of　the　two　attacks　was　instantaneous。　The　spider　jerked　away　from　its　intended　meal　and　spun　around；　looking　to　bite　whatever　tormented　it。　Its　one　ruined　leg　twitched　erratically；　but　otherwise　the　arachnid　lost　none　of　its　stability。　Ryld　had　rolled　into　a　crouch　after　his　sweeping　sword　strike；　and　he　had　Splitter　up；　ready　to　fend　off　the　spider　as　it　maneuvered　to　face　him。
　　　Pharaun　shook　his　head　and　considered　what　he　could　do　to　aid　in　the　fight。　There　was　really　only　one　choice。　Most　of　his　spells　were　gone；　and　the　few　remaining　to　him　were　not　offensive　in　nature。　He　reached　inside　his　piwafwi　and　produced　a　wand；　a　single　segment　of　iron　that　was　about　as　long　as　his　forearm。　Extending　it　outward；　he　uttered　a　trigger　phrase　and　activated　the　magic　in　the　wand。　Instantly；　a　sizzling　bolt　of　electrical　energy　leaped　forward　from　the　end　of　the　wand；　arcing　through　the　air　and　crackling　across　the　surface　of　the　spider's　head。　The　discharge　caused　the　spider　to　recoil；　chattering　and　quivering；　from　Ryld's　position。　As　the　last　remnants　of　the　bolt　dissipated；　Pharaun　could　see　that　the　spider's　leathery　hide　and　multifaceted　eyes　were　smoldering。
　　　Pharaun　started　when　he　heard　the　twang　of　a　bowstring　strumming；　and　he　glanced　down　to　his　right。　Valas　was　there；　kneeling；　firing　off　a　short　bow。　The　wizard　had　seen　the　diminutive　scout　carrying　the　weapon　all　along；　but　up　until　then；　Valas　had　apparently　had　little　cause　to　use　it。　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　lined　up　and　released　four　shots　in　the　time　it　took　Pharaun　to　assess　the　situation；　and　his　aim　was　true。　The　arrows　embedded　themselves　in　the　nearest　eye　of　the　spider；　one　after　another；　puncturing　the　many…sided　orb　like　a　massive　pin　cushion。　The　spider　thrashed　about　in　response。