war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第8章

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es；　though　she　knew　that　she　could　have　removed　them　magically；　if　necessary。　In　fact；　she　could　have　intervened　and　dismissed　the　wizard's　spell；　rescuing　her　charges；　but　she　had　decided　against　it；　and　it　wasn't　because　she　feared　to　waste　the　spell。　She　was　more　curious　than　anything。
　　　Aliisza　knew　that　the　dark　elves　and　their　demon　would　be　more　than　capable；　as　drow　tended　to　be。　She　moved　back　along　the　passage　through　which　she　and　her　squad　of　tanarukks　had　followed　the　drow；　knowing　that　at　least　two　of　them　had　seen　her。　Yet　they　continued　to　turn　away；　as　though　they　were　running；　Aliisza　doubted　the　drow　were　there　for　any　reason　related　to　Kaanyr　Vhok。
　　　The　alu　wasted　no　time　returning　to　the　point　at　which　she　had　set　out　with　only　the　single　squad；　rejoining　the　larger　force　of　which　they　had　been　a　part；　the　force　she　manded。
　　　〃They　have　moved　into　higher　halls；〃　she　announced　to　the　milling　tanarukks；　directing　them　along　a　new　route。　〃We　will　cut　them　off　at　Blacktooth　Rock。　Do　not　tarry。　They　move　fast。〃
　　　With　barely　more　than　a　grumble；　the　horde　of　humanoids　set　off；　and　it　didn't　take　them　more　than　a　few　minutes　to　reach　the　great　intersection　known　to　the　Scourged　Legion　as　Blacktooth　Rock。　It　was　a　large；　multi…leveled　chamber　where　many　different　passages　connected；　and　Aliisza　wasn't　even　sure　what　the　dwarves　who'd　cut　the　chamber　once　used　it　for。　Much　of　it　had　been　filled　with　the　fungus　colony　the　stoutfolk　called　Araumycos。　There　were　still　enough　open　passages　there；　however；　that　patrols　of　the　Scourged　Legion　passed　through　frequently；　and　she　knew　that　unless　they　utilized　some　magic　to　change　their　course；　the　passage　the　drow　had　taken　to　escape　would　ultimately　lead　them　there　as　well。
　　　The　alu…fiend　was　still　considering　what　she　would　do　upon　confronting　the　drow　when　her　small　battalion　of　tanarukks　intercepted　a　second　contingent　of　the　humanoids；　one　she　had　sent　to　cut　off　escape　along　another　route。
　　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　she　asked　the　sergeant；　though　she　was　actually　glad　for　the　reinforcements。　〃I　assigned　you　to　the　Columned　Chamber　to　watch　for　anything　ing　from　the　north。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　the　sergeant　answered。　He　was　a　hulking　specimen　who　stood　a　good　head　taller　than　any　of　his　fellows；　his　speech　thick　due　to　his　prominent　tusks。　〃But　we　got　word　that　a　large　force　of　gray　dwarves　was　spotted　moving　through　the　south　part　of　Am…marindar；　and　a　second　patrol；　one　that　had　been　stationed　farther　to　the　north　and　east；　has　pletely　disappeared。〃
　　　〃By　the　Abyss；〃　Aliisza　whispered。　〃What　is　going　on？〃　She　considered　for　a　moment；　then　issued　orders　for　a　small　squad　of　tanarukks　to　return　to　Vhok's　palace　to　report　the　news；　while　she　and　the　remainder　of　the　force　continued　to　pursue　the　drow。
　　　They　know　something　about　all　this；　she　told　herself　as　they　set　out；　and　I'm　going　to　find　out　what　it　is。
　　　
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　　　Pharaun　no　longer　jumped　whenever　Ryld　silently　returned　after　skulking　along　the　group's　back　trail；　so　he　showed　no　reaction　when　the　warrior　suddenly　materialized　in　the　group's　midst。　Splitter　was　still　sheathed　across　the　master　of　Melee…Magthere's　back；　so　Pharaun　knew　that　they　were　in　no　immediate　danger。　Nonetheless；　he　paid　careful　attention　as　his　old　friend　began　to　convey　a　report　to　Quenthel　in　the　silent　hand　language　of　the　drow。
　　　Our　pursuers　are　on　our　trail　again；　the　burly　warrior　signaled。　Several　squads；　all　closing　the　gap。
　　　The　snake　heads　hissed；　echoing　their　mistress's　irritation　at　this　news　before　Quenthel　quieted　them　with　a　whispered　word。
　　　How　long　before　we　are　overtaken？　she　responded。
　　　In　the　darkness；　Pharaun　saw　Ryld　shrug。　Perhaps　ten　minutes；　no　more。
　　　Quenthel　replied；　We　must　rest；　at　least　for　a　few　moments　longer。　Besides；　Valas　has　not　yet　returned。　Figure　out　which　way　he　went。
　　　She　gestured　at　the　intersection。　Ryld　nodded　and　moved　to　examine　the　walls　near　the　three…way　tunnel。　If　Valas　had　left　some　sign　of　the　direction　he'd　taken；　Ryld　would　find　it；　and　they　could　continue。
　　　Pharaun　sighed；　regretting　ever　having　suggested　they　e　this　way　to　reach　Ched　Nasad。　Passing　through　the　domain　of　Kaanyr　Vhok　had　been　a　risky　choice；　but　one　that　Quenthel　had　finally　insisted　on；　preferring　speed　over　safety。　So；　the　group　moved　through　the　Ammarindar；　the　ancient　holdings　of　an　even　more　ancient　dwar…ven　nation；　long　since　wiped　out。
　　　Pharaun　knew　that　Kaanyr　Vhok　had　laid　claim　to　the　area　since　the　fall　of　Hellgate　Keep；　which　stood　somewhere　overhead　in　the　World　Above。　Vhok；　a　marquis　cambion　demon；　was　an　intensely　unpleasant　host；　as　Pharaun　recalled。　Most　caravans　generally　avoided　his　little　patch　of　the　Underdark；　so　the　passages　they　traversed　had　been　little　traveled；　which　Pharaun　had　hoped　would　help　maintain　the　group's　secrecy。
　　　Even　moving　as　surreptitiously　as　possible；　the　team　was　unable　to　avoid　attracting　the　attention　of　Vhok's　minions；　and　several　of　the　cambion's　patrols　were　once　again　relentlessly　pursuing　them。　Pharaun　had　hoped　that　sneaking　through　the　Araumycos　would　have　thrown　the　tanarukks　off；　but　he　realized　that　they…or　rather；　the　she…fiend；　he　supposed…knew　exactly　where　the　expedition　was　headed；　even　if　they　themselves　did　not。　He　had　no　doubt　that　even　more　were　moving　to　outflank　them；　cut　them　off　before　they　could　move　out　of　the　region　and　beyond　Vhok's　reach。　The　question　was；　could　they　stay　ahead　of　the　patrols　this　time？
　　　The　Menzoberranyr　couldn't　afford　to　have　to　deal　with　the　demon　lord。　With　the　news　they　carried；　avoiding　drawing　attention　to　themselves　from　any　of　the　great　races　of　the　Underdark　was　paramount。　And　yet；　Pharaun　had　the　sinking　feeling　that　was　going　to　be　no　easy　matter。　No　part　of　the　journey　to　Ched　Nasad　was　going　to　be　easy；　he　was　certain。　There　was　risk　in　every　move；　just　like　on　the　sava　board。
　　　In　its　own　way；　Quenthel's　decision　to　relieve　the　group　of　extra　baggage…and　baggage　bearers…had　been　fortuitous。　They　could　set　a　faster　pace　without　all　the　extras　the　high　priestesses　had　initially　insisted　they　bring　along。　The　mage　glanced　at　Quenthel；　knowing　she　struggled　between　the　notion　of　setting　a　faster　pace　and　being　sick　to　death　of　carrying　a　load　that　made　her　shoulders　slump　when　she　thought　no　one　was　watching。　Pharaun　suspected　they　could　have　gotten　by　with　even　less；　and　Quenthel　might　yet　lighten　her　load；　discarding　more　unnecessary　provisions；　before　they　reached　the　City　of　Webs。　If　they　found　themselves　in　another　running　fight　with　Vhok's　hordes；　it　might　be　sooner　rather　than　later。
　　　Almost　as　if　he　knew　time　was　growing　short；　Valas　appeared；　followed　by　Ryld　and　Jeggred。　The　drow　scout　trotted　into　the　intersection　and　hunkered　down　against　one　wall　of　the　passage；　absently　fingering　one　of　the　many　outlandish　trinkets　that　adorned　his　vest。
　　　As　Pharaun　and　Quenthel　moved　closer；　Valas　began　flashing　hand　signals。
　　　Our　route　takes　us　into　a　large　chamber　ahead。
　　　Valas　gestured　along　the　passage　from　which　he　had　just　returned。
　　　What's　there？　Quenthel　signaled　impatiently。
　　　The　scout　shrugged　then　signed；　More　of　the　fungus；　but　it　doesn't　block　our　path　this　time。　We're　almost　beyond　Vhok's　reach。
　　　Then　let's　go；　Quenthel　replied。　I'm　sick　of　this　place。
　　　Valas　nodded；　and　the　group　set　off　again。　The　passages　through　which　the　scout　led　them　were　once　again　wide　and　smooth；　cut　from　the　rock　of　the　Underdark　by　skilled　dwarf　hands。　They　seemed　to　be　making　headway　in　the　direction　they　wanted　to　go；　as　Faeryl　mented　more　than　once　that　things　were　starting　to　look　familiar　to　her。　With　any　luck；　they　would　be　out　of　Kaanyr　Vhok's　domain　and　into　the　outskirts　of　Ched　Nasad's　patrolled　regions　in　short　order。　Quenthel　seemed　content　this　time　to　let　Valas　and　Ryld　interpret　the　ancient　Dethek　runes　inscribed　on　the　thoroughfares　of　the　long…abandoned　dwarven　city　and　go　where　they　suggested；　for　which　Pharaun　was　intensely　grateful。　The　sooner　they　reached　the　forts　of　Ched　Nasad；　the　better　he'd　feel；　at　least　physically。
　　　The　mage　had