war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第30章

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but　some　kind　of　furred　surface　animal。　Ryld　had　seen　similar　animals：　cats。　The　one　that　was　trying　to　kill　him　was　huge；　ten　feet　from　nose　to　tail。　Mottled　gray　fur　rippled　over　rolling　muscles。　Its　tall；　pointed　ears　twitched　and　moved　independently　of　each　other　to　track　Ryld　as　it　circled　him；　and　the　weapons　master　turned　to　keep　the　animal　in　sight　at　all　times。　Steam　puffed　from　its　nostrils　into　the　cold　air。
　　　Ryld　felt　a　chill　run　through　the　undersides　of　his　arms。　He　had　a　strange　feeling　of　relief　that　he　was　only　being　hunted…again…by　a　native　surface　animal。　Danifae　hadn't　taken　her　revenge　after　all；　certainly　not　with　Jeggred　as　her　second。　The　weapons　master　briefly　entertained　the　idea　that　Halisstra　was　right　about　her　former　servant；　but　the　reality　of　his　situation　intruded　once　again。
　　　The　animal　leaped　at　him；　and　Ryld　was　ready　for　it。　He　had　Splitter　up　and　to　the　side　and　had　just　tensed　his　arms　in　preparation　for　a　downward　slice　across　his　chest　to　dig　at　the　animal's　head　when　the　thing　stopped。　The　animal　halted　in　midair　for　a　heartbeat　then　fell。　It　made　a　sound　that　was　halfway　between　a　growl　and　a　whimper　when　it　hit　the　ground；　already　scrambling　to　regain　its　feet。
　　　The　weapons　master　hopped　back；　bringing　Splitter　quickly　in　front　of　him　to　guard　against…
　　　〃Jeggred；〃　Ryld　said。
　　　The　draegloth　held　the　huge　cat　by　its　tail；　his　eyes　glowing　red　in　the　darkness。　Even　as　the　animal　turned　on　him；　Jeggred's　lips　pulled　back　over　his　teeth　in　a　feral；　hate…filled　smile。
　　　
　　　Halisstra　stepped　off　the　stairs　onto　what　she　assumed　was　the　highest　floor　of　the　slowly　crumbling　structure　and　there　she　saw　Danifae。　A　gasp　passed　across　her　parted　lips　at　the　sight　of　her　former　servant。　Danifae　had　always　been　beautiful…that　was　part　of　what　made　her　such　a　desirable　possession…but　though　it　hardly　seemed　possible；　the　girl　had　grown　even　more　attractive。　The　ample　curves　of　her　strong　body　made　an　alluring　silhouette　in　the　dark　space；　and　her　bright　white　hair　framed　her　round；　beautiful　face　in　a　way　Halisstra　had　never　seen　on　her　normally　pragmatic　and　simple　battle…captive。
　　　〃What's　wrong？〃　Danifae　asked；　her　voice　quiet。　〃Do　I　look　different？〃
　　　Halisstra　nodded　and　stepped　away　from　the　top　of　the　stairs；　careful　to　keep　her　back　to　the　wall。
　　　〃Yes；　you　do。　Freedom　agrees　with　you；　Danifae。〃
　　　〃Yes；　Halisstra；〃　Danifae　replied。　Halisstra　did　not　fail　to　miss　the　fact　that　Danifae　had　called　her　by　name。　〃Freedom　does　agree　with　me；〃　she　continued；　〃but　there　is　much　to　discuss　and　precious　little　time。〃
　　　Halisstra　arced　an　eyebrow　and　let　a　hand　slip　to　the　hilt　of　the　Crescent　Blade。
　　　〃You　are　in　danger　here；〃　Danifae　warned；　her　eyes　darting　to　Halisstra's　weapon。　〃I　was　careless　and　was　found　out。〃
　　　Halisstra's　blood　went　cold；　and　she　said；　〃Found　out？〃
　　　〃I　was　gone　too　long；〃　said　Danifae。　〃I　was　questioned　by　the　high　priestess　and　the　mage；　and　they　。　。　。　did　things　to　me　to　make　me　tell　them　about　you；　about　Ryld；　and　all　of　it。　All　of　it　that　I　know。〃
　　　Halisstra　tried　to　take　a　deep　breath　but　found　her　chest　tight　with　anxiety。
　　　〃Where　are　they？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　〃Far　away；〃　replied　Danifae；　〃and　well　prepared　for　their　journey　to　the　Abyss；　but　they　sent　Jeggred　back　with　me。〃
　　　Halisstra's　blood　ran　even　colder；　and　she　said；　〃The　draegloth？　Why？〃
　　　〃To　kill　you　both。〃
　　　Halisstra　looked　madly　around　the　ruin　and　found　the　crack　in　the　wall　she'd　earlier　seen　Danifae　standing　in。　Though　it　meant　turning　her　back　on　Danifae；　Halisstra　ran　to　the　crack　and　began　wildly　scanning　the　dark　swamp　below　for　any　sign　of　Ryld。　There　was　a　pain　in　her　chest　she'd　never　felt　before。　She　couldn't　see　either　the　weapons　master　or　the　draegloth。
　　　〃He's　out　there；　I　assure　you；〃　said　Danifae。
　　　〃So　you　drew　me　here？〃　Halisstra　asked；　not　turning　from　her　fruitless　search　of　the　swamp　below。　〃You　drew　us　both　into　a　trap？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　did；〃　said　the　former　battle…captive；　〃but　I　can　save　you。　I　can　save　you；　but　I　can't　save　you　both。〃
　　　〃How　can　you　stop　a　draegloth　that　has　been　sent　to　kill？〃　Halisstra　asked。　She　scowled；　still　scanning　the　swamp。　There　were　spaces　where　the　trees　were　tall　and　thick　enough　to　hide　the　surface　all　together。
　　　Ryld　must　have　gone　in　there；　Halisstra　thought；　perhaps　lured　in　by　Jeggred。
　　　〃I　can't　stop　a　draegloth；〃　Danifae　admitted。　〃If　Jeggred　means　to　kill　you　both；　he　will；　or　Ryld　will　kill　him；　or　I　will　kill　him。　Either　way；　there　will　be　deaths　tonight。〃
　　　Halisstra　sighed；　not　sure　what　to　do　and　afraid　that　Ryld　was　already　dead。
　　　〃I　don't　have　to　stop　Jeggred；〃　Danifae　continued；　〃or　kill　him。　Just　go；　and　leave　the　rest　to　Ryld　and　me。　If　the　weapons　master　can　best　the　draegloth；　fine。　If　not；　I　can　convince　Jeggred　that　I　killed　you。〃
　　　〃Why　would　he　trust　you？〃　asked　Halisstra。　〃He'll　want　to　see　my　body　。。。　or　part　of　it　at　least。　And　what　of　Ryld？〃
　　　〃Let　me　get　you　out　of　here；〃　the　former　battle…captive　said。　〃Get　enough　distance　between　yourself　and　the　draegloth　while　he's　still　engaged　with　the　weapons　master　and　we　can　e　to　some　arrangement。　We'll　have　time　to　sort　something　out。〃
　　　Halisstra　shook　her　head　and　stepped　away　from　the　crack　in　the　wall。
　　　〃I　won't　leave　Ryld。〃
　　　Halisstra　smiled　at　the　finality　of　her　statement　and　the　feeling　that　went　with　it。
　　　〃I　can　get　you　out　of　here　fast；〃　Danifae　said；　〃and　I　can　move　Ryld　almost　as　easily；　but　it　has　to　be　one　at　a　time。　e　with　me　now；　and　I'll　go　back　for　the　weapons　master。〃
　　　Halisstra　studied　her　former　servant's　face　and　saw　nothing。　Danifae　didn't　seem　to　be　lying；　but　at　the　same　time　she　didn't　seem　to　be　telling　the　truth。　It　was　as　if　all　expression　had　been　sanded　from　her　face。　She　was　blank；　impenetrable。　That　scared　Halisstra。
　　　〃You've　trusted　me　this　far；　Mistress。〃
　　　Halisstra　registered　the　return　of　the　traditional　title。
　　　Danifae　held　out　a　hand　to　her　former　mistress；　and　said；　〃Trust　me；　Halisstra。〃
　　　Confused；　the　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn　shook　her　head。
　　　The　former　servant　said；　〃The　longer　we　do　this；　the　longer　your　weapons　master　fights　the　draegloth　。　。　。　alone。〃
　　　There　was　a　brief　moment　of　silence。　Halisstra　sighed；　stepped　toward　Danifae；　and　took　her　hand。　Eilistraee　had　been　pushing　her　along　for　some　time。　Halisstra　knew　that；　and　she　felt　pushed　again。　She　tried　to　remind　herself　of　what　she'd　told　Ryld；　that　Eilistraee　was　guiding　her　but　no　goddess　was　guiding　Danifae。
　　　As　the　interior　of　the　ruined　temple　faded　in　a　wave　of　vertigo　and　purple　light　to　be　replaced　by　a　strange　place　somewhere　that　smelled　and　felt　like　the　Underdark；　Halisstra　tried　so　hard　to　trust　in　Eilistraee　that　her　head　started　to　hurt。　She　thought　about　Ryld　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。
　　　
　　　The　animal　turned　on　Jeggred；　and　it　was　all　claws　and　fangs。
　　　The　swamp　creature　ripped　a　deep　furrow　in　Jeggred's　abdomen　with　its　foreclaws。　Blood　welled　up　in　the　wound。　Jeggred　didn't　flinch　or　cry　out。　Only　a　subtle　narrowing　of　the　half…demon's　blazing　red　eyes　indicated　he'd　felt　the　cut　at　all。　The　draegloth　stepped　in；　slashing　with　two　of　his　four　sets　of　claws；　but　the　cat　leaped　to　the　side；　avoiding　the　attack；　and　at　the　same　time　stepped　in　again；　forcing　Jeggred　to　defend　himself。
　　　The　cat　was　making　a　good　showing　of　it；　and　Ryld　knew　it　was　the　best　chance　he　would　have　to　run。　By　the　time　Jeggred　managed　to　dispatch　the　beast…if　he　was　able　to　at　all…Ryld　could　be　long　gone。　Even　if　he　could　leave　Halisstra；　wherever　he　went　Jeggred　would　follow。　If　the　draegloth　had　been　sent　to　kill　him；　that's　what　he　would　do。
　　　The　cat　bit　at　Jeggred；　and　the　draegloth　moved　his　arm　in　and　allowed　the　creature　to　fasten　its　powerful　jaws　on　his　upper　right　wrist。　The　fangs　dented　the　draegloth's　skin　but　didn't　puncture　it。　Smiling；　steam　pouring　from　his　nostrils　into　the　cold　air；　Jeggred　drew　the　claws　of　both　of　his　left　hands　along　the　cat's　flanks。　The　animal　opened　its　mouth　to　howl　in　pain；　and　the　half…demon's　arm　came　free。
　　　Jeggred　let　the　animal　cut　him。　Four　parallel　lines　of　deep　red　blood　traced　behind　the　cat's　raking　claws。　The　animal　was　trying　to　hurt　the　draegloth　in　any　way　it　could；　but　it　was　wounded　and　desperate　and　was　making　rash　decisions。　On　the　other　hand；　Jeggred　only　appeared　feral。　He　was　in　control　of　himself。　Ryld　could　see　it　in　every　twitch　of　the　draegloth's　eyes　that　anticipated　the　cat's　attacks　three　or　four　moves　ahead。　Though　the　animal　clawed　him；　Jeggred　got　in　closer　and　wrapped　one　of　his　bigger；　stronger　arms　around　the　animal's　belly。　The　draegloth's　claws　made　a　popping　sound　when　they　punctured　the　cat's　flesh；　then　a　ripping　sound　as　they　opened　its　underside　in　three　deep；　ragged　incisions。
　　　Things　started　spilling　out　of　the　madly　writhing　animal。　Long　ropes　of　intestines；　things　that　must　have　been　its　kidneys；　and　other　organs　rode　a　torrent　of　steaming　blood　onto　the　spongy　moss。　Jeggred　held　the　animal　close　to　him　and　squeezed　until　more　came　out　and　kept　squeezing　until　the　cat　was　dead。
　　　Ryld　stood　a　few　paces　away；　watching；　ready。　He　thought　back　on　his　training　and　the　single　overriding　principal　of　defending　against　claws。　Things　with　claws…any　number　of　demons；　trolls；　and　the　like…stabbed　then　pulled　down。　Claw　attacks　always　came　high　and　ripped　down。　All　he　had　to　do　was　be　ready　for　that。　There　was　the　fact　that　anything　that　attacked　with　claws　would　never　parry。　If　Ryld　set　his　blade　against　Jeggred's　attack；　the　draegloth　would　avoid　contact　with　the　keen　edge　or　risk　dismemberment。　Ryld　could　use　that　to　his　advantage　simply　by　defending　against　the　draegloth's　arms　as　if　they　were　swords。　Jeggred　would　be　put　on　the　defensive　by　being　unable　to　defend；　and　he　wouldn't　parry　Ryld's　attacks；　but　he　would　dodge。
　　　The　draegloth　looked　up　from　his　still…quivering　kill　and　bared　his　knifelike　fangs　at　Ryld。　The　weapons　master　stood　his　ground。　He　wasn't　as　strong　as　Jeggred；　and　he　might　not　be　as　fast；　but　he　was　smarter　and　better　trained。
　　　That　might　be　enough。
　　　〃Why　are　you　here？〃　Ryld　asked　the　draegloth。　〃Surely　you　didn't　e　all　this　way　just　to　save　me　from　that　cat。〃
　　　The　half…demon；　covered　in　the　animal's　still…hot　blood；　was　steaming。
　　　〃I　was　told　things　about　you；　weapons　master；〃　Jeggred　growled。　〃Disturbing　things。〃
　　　Ryld　held　Splitter　in　both　hands　in　front　of　him　and　said；　〃I　can　only　imagine。〃
　　　〃The　priestess　I　can　understand；〃　said　the　draegloth。　He　took　a　wide；　slow　step　sideways；　moving　away　from　the　dead　animal。　〃They're　feeling　particularly　betrayed　by　Lolth。　They　seek　power　and　munion；　so　it　seems　only　fitting　that　if　one　goddess　turns　her　back　on　them；　they　might　seek　the　embrace　of　another；　but　you？〃
　　　〃I　can't　seek　the　embrace　of　a　goddess？〃　asked　Ryld；　stalling　as　he　examined　the　half…demon　for　wounds　and　weaknesses。
　　　〃Why　would　you；〃　asked　the　draegloth；　〃when　you　can　have　the　embrace　of　a　flesh　and　blood　female？〃
　　　〃You　have　me　all　figured　out；〃　the　weapo