war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第3章

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　　　〃Scream　if　you　have　to；　Archmage；〃　his　nephew　whispered　into　his　ear；　barely　audible　over　the　sound　of　the　feeding　rat。　〃There　is　no　shame　in　it。〃
　　　Gromph　grunted；　trying　to　speak；　but　kept　his　jaw　clamped　shut。　The　young　apprentice　had　no　idea　what　shame　was；　but　even　in　his　maddening　agony；　Gromph　promised　himself　that　his　nephew　would　learn　and　that　would　be　the　last　time　Prath　Baenre　offered　his　uncle　advice。
　　　Gromph　didn't　scream；　even　when　the　rat　moved　on　to　the　other　eye。
　　　
Chapter　Two
　　　The　demon　steered　them　to　the　darkest　part　of　the　lake；　and　not　one　of　the　drow　thought　anything　of　it。　Bobbing　at　anchor　in　the　deep　gloom　of　the　Lake　of　Shadows；　the　ship　of　chaos…Raashub's　ship　of　chaos…stood　out　stark　white　against　the　inky　darkness。　The　water　itself　was　a　black　matched　only　by　the　deep　ebony　of　his　drow　master's　skin。　The　wizard；　the　one　they　called　Pharaun；　had　found　him；　bound　him；　chained　him　to　his　own　deck；　and　had　done　so　with　no　humility；　no　respect；　and　no　fear。　The　thought　of　it　made　the　wiry　black　hairs　that　dotted　the　demon's　wrinkled　gray　flesh　stand　on　end。　For　a　few　moments；　the　demon　stood　reveling　in　the　hatred　he　felt　for　that　drow　and　his　haughty　kin。
　　　The　drow　had　been　gating　in　one　servile；　simpering；　weak…willed　mane　after　another。　The　damned　souls　of　petty　sinners　were　food　in　the　Abyss；　and　they　were　food　for　the　ship　of　chaos。　The　uridezu　took　note　of　the　number　of　manes　the　drow　wizard　brought　in　at　any　given　time　in　hopes　of　gauging　the　dark　elf's　power。　If　it　was　an　exact　science；　the　gating　in　of　lesser　demons；　Raashub　didn't　know　its　finer　points；　but　so　many　of　them　were　ing　through　there　could　be　no　doubt　that　the　drow　was　skilled。　Raashub　wasn't　helping　the　drow　and　was　happy　to　let　them　not　only　feed　his　ship　but　exhaust　their　spells；　efforts；　and　attention　in　the　process。　The　presence　of　all　those　wailing；　miserable　demons　must　have　clouded　the　drow　priestess's　senses　enough　that　at　times　Raashub　could　push　the　boundaries　of　his　captivity。
　　　A　rat's　primitive　consciousness　intruded　on　his　own；　and　Raashub　sent　only　the　tiniest　hint　of　a　glance　its　way。　He'd　been　calling　them；　subtly；　for　two　days…ever　since　the　drow　had　first　e　aboard。　The　rodents　swam　the　surface　of　the　Lake　of　Shadows；　and　they　inhabited　the　spaces　between　decks　and　under　steps　on　the　ship　of　chaos　the　same　way　rats　everywhere　swam；　hid；　and　survived。　Raashub；　an　uridezu；　was　as　much　rat　as　anything　else　a　mundane　prime　could　understand；　and　he　knew　the　rats　of　the　Underdark　as　he　knew　rats　in　every　corner　of　the　endless　planes。
　　　The　rodent　responded　to　Raashub's　glance　with　a　silent　twitch　of　its　whiskers；　a　gesture　the　uridezu　felt　more　than　saw。　It　scurried　behind　the　thick　base　of　the　main　mast　and　crept　cautiously　toward　the　draegloth。
　　　They　called　the　half…breed　Jeggred。　As　draegloths　went　he　was　an　average　specimen。　If　Raashub　were　stupid　enough　to　engage　him；　the　draegloth　would　win　a　one…on…one　fight；　but　the　uridezu　would　never　be　that　stupid。　He　would　never　be　as　stupid　as　the　draegloth。
　　　The　rat　didn't　want　to　bite　the　half…demon；　and　Raashub　had　to　silently　insist。　It　was　a　gamble；　but　the　uridezu　didn't　mind　the　odd　risk　for　the　odder　reward。　His　psychic　urging　drew　the　attention　of　one　of　the　female　drow　again；　though；　and　the　uridezu　backed　off；　looking　away　before　they　made　eye　contact。　All　of　the　drow　deferred；　if　grudgingly；　to　the　female　named　Quenthel；　who　was　apparently　some　high　priestess　of　the　drow　spider…bitch　Lolth。　That　one　was　as　conceited　and　as　unworthy　of　that　conceit　as　the　rest　of　them；　but　she　was　sensitive。　Raashub　worried　that　she　could　actually　hear　him　when　he　didn't　want　her　to。
　　　Darting　in　fast；　the　rat　nipped　at　the　draegloth's　ankle。　The　half…demon　swatted　it　away　with　a　grunt；　and　the　tiny　rodent　flew　through　the　air；　out　into　the　darkness。　The　splash　was　almost　too　far　away　to　hear。　The　draegloth；　whose　skin　was　unmarred　by　the　puny　creature's　teeth；　locked　his　eyes　on　Raashub's　and　glared　at　him。
　　　The　draegloth　had　been　doing　little　the　past　two　days　but　glare　at　him。
　　　Annoying　little　vermin；　Raashub　sent　into　the　draegloth's　mind；　aren't　they；　Jeggred？
　　　The　draegloth　blew　a　short；　vile…smelling　breath　out　of　his　nostrils　and　his　lips　peeled　slowly　back　to　reveal　fangs…rows　of　dagger　blades　as　sharp　as　razors　and　as　piercing　as　needles。　The　half…demon　hissed　his　anger；　and　boiling　spittle　sizzled　on　his　lips。
　　　Pretty；　Raashub　taunted。
　　　The　draegloth's　eyes　narrowed　in　confusion。　Raashub　allowed　himself　to　laugh。
　　　The　high　priestess　turned　and　looked　at　them　both。　Again；　Raashub　avoided　eye　contact。　He　moved　his　foot　enough　to　let　the　chain　that　bound　him　rattle　against　the　single　dragon　bone　that　prised　most　of　the　deck　of　his　ship。　Above　him；　the　tattered　sails　of　human　skin　hung　limp　in　the　still　air。　The　demon　heard　Jeggred　turn。　Raashub　liked　the　game…they　were　both　caught　by　a　sternly　disapproving　mother　in　their　boyish　mischief。
　　　Quenthel　looked　away；　and　Jeggred　locked　his　eyes　on　Raashub　again。　The　uridezu　didn't　bother　taunting　him　anymore　that　day。　It　was　being　boring。　Instead；　the　demon　contented　himself　with　standing　quietly；　occasionally　nudging　the　ship　a　little　closer　to　the　deeper　gloom　along　the　cavern　wall。
　　　Patience　was　not　normally　a　quality　enjoyed　by　his　kind；　but　Raashub　had　been　trapped　in　the　Lake　of　Shadows　for　a　long　time。　The　appearance　of　the　drow　had　been　something　of　a　godsend…though　by　the　tone　of　their　conversations　and　the　snippets　of　facts　regarding　their　mission　the　drow　had　let　slip；　Raashub　knew　it　was　hardly　a　god　or　goddess　who'd　sent　them。　They　had　managed　to　release　his　ship　and　release　him。　If　he　was　anything　but　an　uridezu；　a　demon　born　in　the　whirling　chaos　of　Mother　Abyss；　he　might　have　been　。　。　。　ah；　what　was　the　word？　Grateful？　Instead；　he　was　patient；　a　little　patient　for　a　little　longer。
　　　Soon　the　drow　would　slip　into　their　Reverie；　their　meditative　trance　so　like　sleep；　and　the　high　priestess　would　look　inward。　When　that　time　came　and　she　couldn't　sense　what　he　was　doing；　Raashub　would　bring　another　of　his　kind　across　the　limitless　infinity　between　planes。　He　had　already　called　one　of　them　the　day　before。　The　drow；　over…confident　in　their　measure　of　control　over　him；　hadn't　sensed　him　calling；　failed　to　notice　his　cousin　Jaershed　cross　from　the　Abyss；　and　still　didn't　realize　that　the　other　uridezu　was　even　then　clinging　to　the　keel；　wrapped　in　conjured　darkness；　waiting。
　　　Jaershed　hadn't　learned　patience　the　way　Raashub　had；　and　the　lust　for　blood　and　chaos　sometimes　came　out　of　him　in　waves。　When　it　did　the　damnable　high　priestess　would　look　around　as　if　she'd　heard　something；　as　if　she　thought　she　were　being　watched。　Raashub　would　silently　wail；　then；　adding　his　mental　voice　to　the　anguished　moans　of　the　parade　of　manes　they　brought　in　and　led　into　the　hold　one　by　one。　Quenthel　would　be　curious；　disturbed　even；　but　she　would　ultimately　believe。
　　　The　dark　elves　had　bested　Raashub　after　all。　Their　powerful　mage　had　trapped　him　on　that　miserable　plane；　chained　him　to　his　own　deck；　cowed　him；　enslaved　him　。　。　。　and　none　of　them　could　imagine　that　as　true　as　that　was；　nothing…not　in　the　Abyss；　the　Underdark；　the　Lake　of　Shadows；　or　aboard　a　ship　of　bone　and　chaos…lasted　forever。
　　　Raashub　closed　his　eyes；　suppressed　his　anticipation；　and　smiled。
　　　
　　　Ryld　Argith　peered　into　the　darkness　of　the　Velarswood　night　and　sighed。　In　the　places　where　the　trees　were　tall　enough　and　close　enough　together　to　block　out　the　star…spattered　sky；　it　almost　felt　fortable　for　him；　but　those　times　were　few　and　far　between　in　what　the　weapons　master　had　e　to　learn　was　a　relatively　small　forest。　The　sounds　didn't　help…whistles　and　rustling　all　the　time　from　every　direction；　often　not　echoing　at　all。　His　hearing；　sensitized　by　decades　of　training　at　Melee…Magthere；　was　tuned　to　the　peculiarities　of　the　Underdark；　but　in　the　World　Above；　it　was　making　him　a　nervous　wreck。　The　forest　seemed　always　alive　with　enemies。
　　　He　turned　to　scan　the　darkness　for　the　source　of　some　random　twittering…something　he'd　been　told　was　a　〃night　bird〃…and　instead　he　caught　Halisstra's　eye。　She　knew　what　he　was　doing…startling　at　every　sound…and　she　smiled　at　him　in　a　way　that　only　days　before　Ryld　would　have　taken　as　a　sign　that　she'd　identified　a　weakness　in　him；　one　that　she'd　surely　exploit　later。　The　twinkle　in　her　crimson　eyes　seemed　to　imply　the　opposite。
　　　Halisstra　Melarn　had　confused　Ryld　from　the　beginning　of　their　acquaintance。　The　First　Daughter　of　a　noble　House　from　Ched　Nasad；　at　first　she　had　been　every　inch　the　haughty；　self…possessed　priestess　she'd　been　raised　to　be；　but　as　her　goddess　turned　her　back　on　her；　her　House　fell；　then　her　city　crumbled　around　it；　Halisstra　had　changed。　Ryld　abandoned　his　long…time　ally　Pharaun　and　the　rest　of　the　Menzoberranyr　to　go　with　her；　and　he　didn't　regret　that；　but　he　wasn't　sure　he　could　turn　his　back　forever　on　the　Underdark　the　way　she　so　obviously　had。　Ryld　still　had　a　home　in　Menzoberranzan…at　least　he　assumed　he　did；　absent　any　news　from　the　city　that　was　already　feeling　the　effects　of　Lolth's　Silence　when　they'd　left。　When　he　thought　about　it；　he　felt　certain　that　someday　he　would　return　there。　When　he　looked　at　Halisstra　he　saw　a　dark　elf　like　him　but　also　unlike　him。　He　knew　that　she　would　never　be　able　to　go　back；　even　if　she　had　a　House　to　go　back　to。　She　was　different；　and　Ryld　knew　that　eventually　he　would　have　to　change　too　or　go　home　without　her。
　　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　she　asked　him；　her　voice　a　wele　respite　from　the　cacophony　of　the　forest。
　　　He　met　her　eyes　but　wasn't　sure　how　to　answer。　Thanks　to　the　Eilistraeen　priestesses　Uluyara　and　Feliane；　he　was　not　only　alive　but　unwounded。　The　poison　that　had　nearly　claimed　him　had　been　pulled　from　his　blood　by　their　magic；　and　his　wounds　and　Halisstra's　had　been　healed；　leaving　not　even　scars　to　mark　their　passage。　The　alien　goddess　of　the　surface　drow　had　granted　him　his　life；　and　Ryld　was　still　waiting　for　her　or　her　followers　to　present　a　bill。
　　　〃Ryld？〃　Halisstra　prompted。
　　　〃I'm…〃
　　　He　stopped；　turned　his　head；　and　when　he　heard　Halisstra　inhale　to　speak　again；　he　held　up　a　warning　hand　to　silence　her。
　　　Something　was　moving；　and　it　was　close。　It　was　on　the　ground；　and　it　was　moving　toward　them。　He　knew　that　Feliane　had　gone　ahead　of　them…the　Eilistraeeans　were　always　sensitive　about　giving　the　two　newers　time　alone…but　she　was　farther　away　and　in　a　different　direction。
　　　Behind　you；　he　signaled　to　Halisstra；　and　to　the　left。
　　　Halisstra　nodded；　and　her　right　hand　moved　to　the　enchanted　blade　at　her　hip。　Ryld　watched　her　turn；　slowly；　and　as　he　drew　his　own　mighty　greatsword　from　his　back；　he　took　the　briefest　moment　to　admire　the　curve　of　Halisstra's　hip；　her　mail　glittering　in　the　starlight　against　the　dark　background　of　the　forest。　Her　feet　whispered　in　the　snow；　and　Ryld　tracked　the　sounds。　Whatever　it　was　wasn't　moving　in　a　very　deliberate　way；　and　it　sounded　as　if　there　was　more　than　one；　though　the　lack　of　echoes　still　made　it　hard　for　him　to　be　sure。　He　didn't　de