war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第46章

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　　　〃I　was　wrong；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　said。　He　could　feel　the　others　looking　at　him；　could　sense　their　surprise；　but　he　didn't　look　up。　〃This　didn't　happen　a　century　ago。　This　place　was　destroyed　。　。　。　no；　a　battle　was　fought　here；　and　it　was　fought　a　millennium　past　at　least。　At　least。〃
　　　〃How　can　you　say　that；　wizard？〃　asked　the　draegloth。　〃You　were　just　here。　Weren't　you？　Isn't　this　the　same　place　Tzirik　brought　you？
　　　Pharaun。　nodded　and　said；　〃It　is　indeed；　Jeggred；　but　the　fact　remains　that　what　we　see　all　around　us　is　an　ancient　ruin；　the　corpse　of　a　battlefield　that's　lain　cold　for　a　thousand　years　or　more。〃
　　　〃We　were　only　just　here；〃　said　Valas。
　　　〃We　aren't　in　the　Underdark　anymore；　Master　Hune；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃Time　might　move　very　differently　here；　in　fits　and　starts　like　distance　in　the　Shadow　Deep。　This　could　all　be　more　illusion　than　real；　the　whim　of　Lolth　or　some　other　godly　power。　It　could　be　that　we　simply　see　a　ruin　where　there　is　nothing；　see　a　ruin　where　there　is　in　fact　an　intact　temple；　or　everything　we　see　is　real　and　made　a　millennium　old　by　a　power　so　vast　that　it　can　manipulate　time　and　matter　and　the　aether　itself。〃
　　　〃The　Spider　Queen　isn't　here；〃　Valas　added。
　　　〃If　the　priestesses　say　that　she　is　not　here；〃　Pharaun　replied；　〃then　I'm　content　to　believe　that's　true。〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　looked　up　at　the　enormous　open　doorway；　big　enough　for　House　Baenre　to　pass　through　it　intact。　The　others　followed　his　gaze。
　　　〃These　doors　were　sealed　shut　before；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃but　now　they're　open。　Why？〃
　　　〃Because　Lolth　wants　us　to　step　through　them；〃　Danifae　said；　her　voice　carrying　a　certainty　that　surprised　Pharaun。　〃Who　else　could　have　opened　them？〃
　　　Pharaun　shrugged　and　looked　at　Quenthel；　who　was　nodding　slowly。
　　　〃We　go　on；〃　the　high　priestess　said。
　　　Without　a　glance　at　the　others；　Quenthel　walked　toward　the　mammoth　doorway。　One　by　one　the　others　followed：　Danifae；　then　Jeggred；　then　Pharaun；　and　Valas　at　the　rear。　Each　stepped　more　reluctantly　than　the　last。
　　　
　　　On　the　planes　of　chaos　there　were　so　many　names　for　it；　Aliisza　didn't　remember　them　all：　temporal　flux　zones；　slipped　time　layers；　millennia　sinks。　。。。　It　had　been　a　very　long　time　since　she'd　seen　one；　and　it　took　her　almost　as　long　to　realize　what　was　happening。
　　　The　sixty…sixth　layer　of　the　Abyss　had　been　abandoned。　The　glue　that　held　the　planes　together　was　the　gods　themselves；　and　in　the　planes　of　chaos；　just　as　in　the　planes　of　law；　when　all　the　gods　left　a　particular　place；　entropy　progressed　in　fits　and　starts；　and　even　chaos　itself　spiraled　out　of　control。
　　　In　the　case　of　the　sixty…sixth　layer；　there　was　the　rest　of　the　Abyss　to　hold　it　together　and　to　provide　echoes　of　its　past　that　were　strong　enough　to　keep　its　physical　form…in　that　there　still　was　a　sixty…sixth　layer。　Time　was　moving　forward　faster　at　times；　then　slower；　then　it　might　reverse　itself。　It　was　impossible　to　pin　down；　even　for　a　tanar'ri　like　Aliisza。　Places　like　that　were　better　left　alone；　better　avoided；　better　forgotten。
　　　She　watched　Pharaun　and　his　panions　walk　through　the　massive　temple　gates　with　a　heavy　heart。　She　didn't　know　exactly　what　they　would　find　in　there；　but　she　was　sure　that　whatever　it　was　it　would　be　disappointing　for　them。　They　had　traveled　to　the　sixty…sixth　layer　to　find　Lolth；　but　Lolth　wasn't　there。　It　was　a　guess　on　her　part；　but　an　educated　one：　the　plane　had　been　abandoned　for　longer　than　anyone　imagined…longer　than　Lolth　had　been　silent。
　　　〃There's　a　lot　you　never　told　them；〃　Aliisza　whispered　to　the　Spider　Queen。
　　　If　the　goddess　could　hear　her…and　Aliisza　had　no　reason　to　believe　she　could…Lolth　didn't　answer。
　　　The　alu…fiend　absently　scratched　a　doodle　in　the　brown　dust　on　the　underside　of　the　massive　web　strand　onto　which　she　clung：　a　bit　of　graffiti　no　eyes　would　ever　see。　Her　mind　was　racing；　she　had　a　lot　to　think　about。
　　　Aliisza　had　abandoned　Pharaun　and　the　others；　leaving　them　to　crash　into　the　Plain　of　Infinite　Portals　simply　on　a　whim。　It　pleased　her　that　Pharaun　survived；　but　she　didn't　give　the　others　a　second　thought。　Still；　Aliisza　had　made　her　choice；　and　it　was　an　obvious　one。　She　chose　Kaanyr　Vhok。
　　　Though　she　knew　she　would　go　back　to　him；　she　also　knew　that　she　had　helped　Pharaun　and　his　expedition　along　a　bit　more　effectively　than　Vhok　would　have　approved　of。　He　might　not　have　asked　her　to　stop　them；　but　he　certainly　hadn't　asked　her　to　help　them。　Aliisza　knew　the　cambion　well　enough；　though；　to　know　that　the　more　she　came　back　with；　the　more　forgiving　he　would　be。
　　　Pharaun　and　the　other　drow　disappeared　into　the　abandoned　ruin；　and　Aliisza　closed　her　eyes。
　　　She　was　a　tanar'ri　and　as　such　could　move　about　the　planes　with　a　bit　more　ease　than　most。　With　a　thought　she　was　back　in　the　Astral；　floating　free　in　the　endless　aether。
　　　〃You　left　the　Abyss；〃　Aliisza　whispered　to　herself；　though　she　addressed　Lolth；　〃before　you　fell　silent；　so　。　。　。〃
　　　She　didn't　bother　finishing　the　thought；　only　concentrated　on　a　name：　Lolth。
　　　She　closed　her　eyes　again　and　let　the　name　roll　over　and　over　again　in　her　mind；　and　after　a　time；　her　body　began　to　move。　Any　god's　name　has　power；　if　you　know　how　to　use　it。
　　　When　she　opened　her　eyes　she　was　surrounded　by　ghosts。
　　　Translucent　gray　shades　floated　all　around　her；　all　of　them　with　similar　features：　the　pointed　ears；　almond…shaped　eyes；　and　thin；　aristocratic　faces　of　the　dark　elves。　There　were　a　lot　of　them…a　war's　worth…and　they　were　all　headed　across　the　Astral　Plane　toward　the　same　destination。
　　　Aliisza　drifted　in　front　of　one　of　them；　a　strong…looking　male　dressed　for　battle；　regal　in　his　armor　and　helm。
　　　〃Can　you　hear　me？〃　she　asked　the　spirit。　〃Can　you　see　me？〃
　　　The　dead　drow　looked　right　at　her　and　lifted　an　eyebrow。　He　stood　stock　still；　but　his　body　continued　to　drift　through　the　endless　expanse；　unerringly　falling　sideways　toward　its　final　destination。
　　　〃My　name　is　Aliisza；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　know　where　you　are？〃
　　　Yes；　the　drow　answered　directly　into　her　mind。　His　mouth　was　open；　but　his　lips　didn't　move。　I　can　feel　it。　I'm　dead。　I　died。　I　was　killed。
　　　〃What　is　your　name？〃
　　　I　was　Vilto'sat　Shobalar；　the　soldier　answered；　but　now　I　am　nothing。　My　body　rots　away；　my　House　forgets　me；　and　I　pass　on。　Are　you　here　to　torment　me？
　　　〃I'm　sorry？〃　the　alu…fiend　asked；　confused　by　the　drow　spirit's　sudden　change　of　subject。
　　　You're　a　demon；　he　said。　Are　you　here　to　torment　me？　For　my　failure　on　the　battlefield　or　simply　to　satisfy　your　cruel　nature？
　　　Aliisza's　hackles　rose；　and　she　couldn't　help　but　sneer　at　the　dead　drow。　He　had　obviously　mistaken　her　for　a　different　sort　of　tanar'ri　altogether；　and　she　didn't　find　it　flattering　in　the　least。
　　　〃If　I　was　here　to　torment　you；〃　she　said；　〃you'd　know　it；　mushroom　farm。〃
　　　Vilto'sat　Shobalar　turned　away　from　her　with　a　look　of　haughty　contempt　that　was　the　only　thing；　apparently；　dark　elves　took　to　the　grave。
　　　Aliisza　moved　on　along　the　line　of　dead　drow；　and　as　she　progressed　in　the　direction　of　their　travel；　moving　faster　than　the　wandering　souls；　the　density　of　the　ghosts　increased；　as　if　they　had　been　stacking　up；　one　after　another；　for　a　long　time。　Finally；　her　curiosity　getting　the　better　of　her；　she　stopped　another　drow　spirit：　a　female　dressed　in　finery　that　made　the　alu…fiend　momentarily　jealous。
　　　〃Lady；〃　she　said；　sketching　an　overwrought　bow　that　the　dead　dark　elf　seemed　to　find　insulting；　〃may　I　speak　with　you　briefly　as　you　plete　your　journey？〃
　　　There's　nothing　you　can　do　to　torment　me；　demon；　the　shade　said　into　Aliisza's　mind；　so　move　on　and　let　me　be　dead　in　peace。
　　　Aliisza　hissed　and　almost　reached　out　to　grab　the　female　by　her　throat　then　realized　that　her　hands　would　pass　through　the　priestess。　The　dead　female　would　have　no　physical　form　again　until　she　arrived　at　her　final　destination。　The　Astral　Plane　was　only　a　way　to　get　from　one　universe　to　another。　There；　the　dead　drow　were　incorporeal　ghosts。
　　　〃I'm　not　here　to　torment　you；　bitch；〃　Aliisza　said；　〃but　I　will　if　you　don't　answer　a　question　or　two。〃
　　　Lolth　has　turned　her　back　on　us；　the　priestess　replied。　What　worse　could　you　do？
　　　〃I　could　leave　you　in　the　Astral　forever；〃　Aliisza　replied…a　hollow　threat；　but　the　ghost　didn't　need　to　know　that。
　　　What　do　you　want？　the　drow　replied。
　　　〃Who　are　you；〃　she　asked；　〃and　how　long　have　you　been　here；　awaiting　Lolth's　grace？〃
　　　I　am　Greyanna　Mizzrym；　the　ghost　replied…and　Aliisza　thought　something　about　the　name　was　oddly　familiar。　I　have　no　idea　how　long　I've　been　here；　but　I　can　feel　myself　moving。　That　only　just　started。　Is　Lolth　ready　to　take　us　in？　Has　she　sent　you？
　　　〃Can　you　feel　her？〃　Aliisza　asked；　ignoring　he　dark　elf's　questions。　〃Does　she　call　you？〃
　　　The　priestess　looked　away；　as　if　listening　for　something；　then　she　shook　her　head。
　　　I'm　moving　toward　something；　Greyanna　said。　I　can　feel　it；　but　I　do　not　hear　Lolth。
　　　Aliisza　turned　to　look　in　the　direction　the　line　of　drow　souls　were　moving。　At　the　end　of　the　very　long　line　was　a　whirlpool　of　red　and　black…a　gateway　to　the　outer　planes　that　was　drawing　the　souls　in。
　　　〃That's　not　the　Abyss；〃　Aliisza　said。
　　　It's　home；　whispered　the　bodiless　soul　of　Greyanna　Mizzrym。　I　can　feel　it。　It　is。　It's　the　Demonweb　Pits。
　　　Aliisza's　heart　raced。
　　　〃The　Demonweb　Pits；〃　the　alu…fiend　repeated；　〃but　not　the　Abyss。〃
　　　Aliisza　stopped　herself　and　hung　in　the　gray　expanse　off　to　one　side　of　the　procession　of　dead　drow。
　　　〃Well；〃　Aliisza　whispered　to　an　unhearing　Lolth；　〃moving　up　in　the　world；　aren't　we？〃
　　　The　alu…fiend　closed　her　eyes　and　concentrated　on　Kaanyr　Vhok。　She　let　her　consciousness　travel　through　the　Astral　and　back　to　the　cold；　hard　Underdark。　There　she　found　her　lover's　mind　and　dropped　a　message　into　it。
　　　Something　is　happening　with　the　Demonweb　Pits；　she　sent。　It's　a　plane　unto　itself　now；　and　the　gates　are　open。　Lolth　weles　home　the　dead。　She　lives。
　　　That　was　all　she　could　say；　and　she　hoped　it　would　be　warning　enough。　Aliisza　could　have　shifted　back　to　the　Underdark　in　an　instant　and　been　by　her　lover's　side；　but　she　didn't。　She　wanted　to　stay　where　she　was；　though　she　didn't　know　why。
　　　
　　　Nimor　had　given　up　trying　to　claw　Gromph。　Instead；　he　started　to　work　on　forcing　the　archmage　to　attack　him；　but　the　drow　wouldn't　oblige。　The　feeling　Nimor　had　that　Gromph　somehow　knew　what　he　was　thinking…maybe　before　he　even　thought　it…grew　stronger　and　stronger　and　made　Nimor　start　to　second…guess　himself。　It　was　no　way　to　fight。
　　　Nimor　stepped　back　and　so　did　Gromph。　The　assassin　could　see　Dyrr　slowly　circling　them　both　from　a　safe…some　would　say　cowardly…distance。　The　assassin　was　about　to　speak　when　a　familiar　nettling　buzzed　in　his　skull。
　　　Aliisza　is　in　the　Demonweb　Pits；　the　voice　of　Kaanyr　Vhok　sounded　in　his　head。　Something　is　happening；　and　it　will　be　bad　for　us　all。　I'm　not　waiting　to　find　out　how　bad。
　　　For　the　first　time　in　a　very；　very　long　time；　Nimor's　blood　ran　cold。
　　　Gromph　twitched；　alm