war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第47章

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　　　For　the　first　time　in　a　very；　very　long　time；　Nimor's　blood　ran　cold。
　　　Gromph　twitched；　almost　gasped；　and　Nimor　couldn't　help　but　look　at　him。　Their　eyes　locked；　and　an　instant　of　understanding　passed　between　them。　Nimor　stepped　back；　and　Gromph　nodded。　The　archmage　still　kept　the　ghostly　battle…axe　in　front　of　him　but　didn't　advance。　He　breathed　heavily；　sweat　running　down　the　sides　of　his　face　and　matting　his　snow…white　hair　to　his　forehead。
　　　Again；　Nimor　was　about　to　speak；　and　again　he　was　interrupted。
　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　the　lichdrow　demanded。　〃Kill　him！〃
　　　Nimor　let　a　long；　steady　breath　hiss　out　through　clenched　teeth。　It　was　bad　enough　that　a　key　ponent　of　his　alliance　was　abandoning　the　cause；　worse　still　that　Lolth　was　somehow；　for　some　reason　he　might　never　understand；　choosing　that　moment　to　finally　return…or　do　something　that　scared　Kaanyr　Vhok；　anyway；　and　the　cambion　wasn't　the　type　to　scare　easily。　All　that；　an　opponent　he　should　have　been　able　to　dispatch　with　nary　a　thought　but　who　was　able　to　out…think　and　outfight　him　at　every　turn；　and　the　damned　lich　was　barking　orders　at　him。
　　　Dyrr　began　shouting　again；　but　Nimor　didn't　understand　what　he　was　saying。
　　　〃I　can't…〃　the　Anointed　Blade　started　to　say　then　stopped　when　he　realized　that　the　lich　was　casting　a　spell。
　　　Gromph　heard　him　too。　With　one　hand　still　holding　the　axe　in　front　of　him；　the　archmage　tapped　his　staff　on　the　pockmarked　floor　of　the　smoldering　Bazaar　and　was　instantly　enveloped　in　a　globe　of　shimmering　energy。　No　sooner　did　the　globe　appear　than　Dyrr　finished　his　muttering；　and　the　sound　of　the　lich's　voice　was　replaced　by　a　low；　echoing　buzz。
　　　Nimor；　eyes　still　locked　on　Gromph's；　blinked。　The　archmage　glanced　over　at　the　lich；　and　one　side　of　his　mouth　curled　up　into　the　beginning　of　a　smile。　Nimor　had　to　look；　and　he　knew　that　Gromph　had　no　intention　of　attacking　him　anyway。
　　　The　buzzing　sound　grew　louder；　escalating　to　an　almost　deafening　roar。　Nimor　saw　what　looked　like　a　cloud　of　black　smoke　winding　through　the　air　at　him；　and　it　was　a　few　seconds　before　he　realized　it　wasn't　smoke。　The　cloud　wasn't　a　cloud　at　all；　but　a　swarm　of　tiny　insects…perhaps　tens；　even　hundreds　of　millions　of　them。
　　　The　swarm　descended　over　Gromph；　but　they　didn't　penetrate　the　globe　that　surrounded　the　archmage。　Nimor　had　to　assume　they　were　being　directed　by　Dyrr；　so　when　the　insects　turned　on　him；　he　took　it　personally。
　　　Before　the　first　of　them　could　land　on　him；　sting　him；　bite　him；　or　do　whatever　they　were　meant　to　do　to　him；　Nimor　stepped　into　the　Shadow　Fringe。　The　act　was　second　nature　to　him。　He　was　there　in　the　Bazaar；　then　he　wasn't。　The　swarm　became　a　shadow；　the　Bazaar　a　dull　world；　barely　corporeal；　drenched　in　blackness。
　　　Nimor　looked　at　his　claws。　His　mind　was　strangely　blank；　his　mood　impossibly　serene。
　　　〃Is　that　it？〃　he　said　aloud　into　the　unhearing　shadows。　〃Have　I　lost？〃
　　　He　closed　his　eyes　and　thought　of　the　lich　。　。　。　and　stepped　back　into　the　solid　world　right　behind　him。
　　　Nimor　grabbed　the　spindly　undead　mage　from　behind　and　beat　his　wings　hard　to　pull　him　up　and　away　from　the　floor　of　the　Bazaar。　The　lich　stiffened　and　drew　in　a　breath…perhaps　to　cast　a　spell…but　was　wise　enough　to　stop　when　Nimor　pressed　one　razor…sharp　talon　into　the　lich's　desiccated　throat。
　　　〃You　might　not　bleed；　lich；〃　Nimor　whispered　into　the　lichdrow's　ear；　〃but　if　your　head　es　away　from　your　neck　。　。　。〃
　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Dyrr　asked；　his　voice　a　thin；　reedy　hiss。　〃You　could　kill　him。　Our　moment　is　at　hand；　and　you　turn　on　me？　Me？〃
　　　〃You？〃　Nimor　sneered。　〃Yes；　you。　I　should　kill　you　now；　but　then　you're　already　dead；　aren't　you；　lich？　All　you　did　was　waste　my　time；　and　now　the　Spider　Queen　is　rattling　in　her　cage；　and　our　time　together　is　spent。〃
　　　〃What？〃　Dyrr　asked；　honestly　confused。　〃What　are　you　saying？〃
　　　〃Not　that　you　deserve　to　know　it　before　I　let　Gromph　Baenre　kill　you；〃　Nimor　replied；　〃but　it's　over。〃
　　　〃No！〃　the　lich　shouted。
　　　Nimor　grunted　when　something　pushed　hard　against　his　chest　His　hand　came　away　from　the　lich's　throat；　and　he　was　forced　backward；　driven　through　the　air　by　some　unfathomable　force。　Despite　any　attempt　to　fly；　Nimor　was　repulsed。
　　　The　assassin　spared　a　glance　down　at　Gromph；　who　had　put　away　his　stolen　duergar　battle…axe　and　was　looking　up　at　them；　laughing。
　　　Nimor　laughed　too。　Why　not？
　　　〃We　failed；　lich；〃　Nimor　called　to　Dyrr；　〃but　at　least　for　me　there　will　be　another　chance。〃
　　　〃We　failed？〃　the　lich　wailed。　〃We？　No；　you　wretched　son　of　a　wyrm；　you　failed。　You'll　go　back　to　the　Shadow　with　your　dragon's　tail　between　your　legs；　repeating　your　feeble　excuses　to　yourself　over　and　over　again。　Blame　me　if　you　wish；　Nimor；　but　I'm　still　here。　Live　or　die；　I'll　still　be　here；　in　Menzoberranzan；　fighting。〃
　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Nimor　said；　the　first　waves　of　a　profound　exhaustion　beginning　to　soften　his　tired　muscles；　〃but　not　for　long。〃
　　　The　lich　screamed　his　name；　but　Nimor　didn't　hear　the　first　echo　before　he　drifted　into　the　Shadow　Fringe　and　was　gone　from　Menzoberranzan　forever。
　　　
Chapter　Twenty…four
　　　Inside　the　temple　walls　was　a　city　twenty　times　the　size　of　Menzoberranzan。　Like　the　walls　and　the　surrounding　plazas；　the　city　was　a　battered；　war…ravaged　ruin　that　looked　to　Pharaun　as　if　it　had　been　abandoned　for　a　thousand　years　or　more。
　　　The　architecture　throughout　mimicked　all　manner　of　dark　elven　dwellings；　from　the　calcified　webs　of　Ched　Nasad　to　the　hollowed…out　stalagmites　of　Menzoberranzan。　The　only　thing　the　structures　had　in　mon　was　that　they　were　all　at　least　partially　collapsed　and　they　were　devoid　of　life。
　　　Valas　appeared　behind　the　mage　as　he　always　did；　as　if　by　magic。　Pharaun　didn't　bother　trying　to　pretend　the　scout's　sudden　appearance　hadn't　startled　him。　The　time　for　keeping　up　appearances　and　jockeying　for　position　in　the　party　had　e　and　gone。
　　　Valas　nodded　once　to　the　Master　of　Sorcere　and　said；　〃There's　more　metal　the　deeper　in　we　go。〃
　　　Pharaun　found　himself　shaking　his　head；　unsure　at　first　what　the　scout　was　trying　to　tell　him。　He　looked　around　more　closely　and　saw　that　Valas　was　right。　Though　they　had　seen　jagged；　twisted　chunks　of　rusted　iron　and　scorched　steel　in　the　plaza　outside；　the　deeper　into　the　temple　they　walked；　the　more　they　all　had　to　step　around　larger　and　larger　pieces。
　　　Valas　stopped　and　reached　out　to　touch　a　gently　curving　wall　of　steel　three　times　the　scout's　height。
　　　〃It　looks　like　it　was　ripped　off　of　a　larger　piece；〃　the　scout　said。　〃I've　never　seen　this　much　steel。〃
　　　Pharaun　nodded；　examining　the　relic　from　a　distance。
　　　〃It　looks　like　a　piece　of　a　giant's　suit　of　armor；〃　the　wizard　mented；　〃a　giant　bigger　than　any　you　might　find　on　the　World　Above；　but　this　is　the　Abyss；　Valas。　There　could　be　such　a　creature　here。〃
　　　〃Or　a　god；〃　the　scout　replied。
　　　〃Selvetarm　was　that　big；〃　Danifae　said。　Both　the　males　turned　to　look　at　her；　surprised　that　she'd　stopped　to　join　the　conversation。　The　former　battle…captive　had　been　walking　in　silence　with　the　draegloth　never　far　from　her　side；　apparently　unfazed　by　her　surroundings。　〃So　was　Vhaeraun。〃
　　　Valas　nodded　and　said；　〃There　are　other　pieces；　though；　and　there　are　things　that　don't　look　like　armor。〃
　　　〃The　mechanical　bits；〃　Pharaun　interjected。　〃I've　noticed　those　too。〃
　　　〃Mechanical　bits？〃　the　young　priestess　asked。
　　　Pharaun　continued　walking　as　he　said；　〃The　odd　moving　part。　I've　seen　hinges　and　things　that　seem　to　act　almost　like　a　joint；　like　a　shoulder　or　knee　joint　in　a　drow's　body　but　with　wires　or　other　contraptions　in　place　of　muscles。〃
　　　〃Now　that　you　mention　it；〃　Valas　said；　〃some　of　them　did　look　like　legs　or　arms。〃
　　　〃Who　cares？〃　the　draegloth　grumbled。　〃Are　you　two　really　wasting　your　time　examining　the　garbage？　Do　you　have　no　understanding　of　what's　happened　here？〃
　　　〃I　think　we　have　at　least　a　rudimentary　understanding　of　what's　gone　on　here；　Jeggred；　yes；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃By　'examining　the　garbage；'　as　you　so　eloquently　put　it；　we　might　gain　some　understanding　beyond　the　point　where　it　can　still　be　described　as　rudimentary。　Alas；　that's　not　a　state　of　mind　with　which　you　tend　to　be　familiar　with　yourself；　but　those　of　us　with　higher…〃
　　　The　air　was　forced　out　of　Pharaun's　lungs　in　a　single　painful　grunt。　The　draegloth　was　on　top　of　him；　smashing　him　into　a　crumbling　pile　of　bricks　that　had　once　been　part　of　a　soaring　cathedral。　The　wizard　brought　to　mind　a　spell　that　didn't　require　speech　but　stopped　himself　from　casting　it　when　Danifae's　voice　echoed　across　the　temple　grounds。
　　　〃Jeggred；〃　she　manded；　〃leave　it。〃
　　　It　was　a　mand　someone　might　give　a　pet　rat　distracted　by　a　cave　beetle。　As　the　draegloth　withdrew　and　Pharaun　struggled　to　his　feet；　he　wondered　which　was　a　greater　insult；　Jeggred　smashing　him　to　the　ground　or　Danifae's　rude　remark。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　brushed　off　his　piwafwi；　did　his　best　with　the　wild　mop　his　hair　had　bee；　and　cleared　his　throat。
　　　〃Ah；　Jeggred；　my　boy；〃　the　wizard　said；　letting　the　sarcasm　drip　freely；　〃was　it　something　I　said？〃
　　　〃Next　time　you　talk　to　me　like　that；　mage；〃　he　draegloth　growled；　〃your　heart　will　follow　Ryld　Argith's　through　my　bowels。〃
　　　Pharaun　tried　not　to　laugh　and　said；　〃Charming　as　always。〃
　　　〃e；　Jeggred；〃　Danifae　said；　waving　the　draegloth　into　step　behind　her。
　　　Pharaun　finished　assembling　himself；　and　as　he　was　about　to　move　on　he　stopped　and　turned；　having　caught　someone　looking　at　him　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　Quenthel　Baenre　stood　partially　blocked　by　another　huge；　jagged　hunk　of　steel。　The　look　the　wizard　saw　on　her　face　was　ice　cold；　and　if　they　had　been　back　in　Menzoberranzan　it　would　surely　have　presaged　Danifae's　death。
　　　
　　　After　the　echoes　from　Dyrr's　last；　barely…coherent　shout　finally　died　away；　came　a　moment　of　almost　plete　silence。　The　lich　hung　in　the　still　air；　trembling　with　rage。　Gromph　took　a　moment　to　survey　the　ruined　Bazaar。
　　　The　fires　had　burned　themselves　out；　and　the　smoke　slowly　dissipated。　Dozens　of　stalls；　tents；　and　carts　were　ruined…burned　or　shattered。　Great　cracks　and　pits　had　been　dug　into　the　stone　floor；　which　was　scorched　in　large　swaths　of　dusty　black。
　　　A　few　whispered　words　drifted　across　the　otherwise　quiet　space；　and　Gromph　saw　a　few　inquisitive…and　unwise…drow　beginning　to　wander　into　the　edges　of　the　ruined　marketplace。　They　had　sensed　that　the　duel　had　e　to　an　end；　but　Gromph　knew　how　wrong　they　were。　Something；　and　it　wasn't　only　Gromph's　ability　to　outthink　him；　had　scared　Nimor　off；　had　given　the　Anointed　Blade　the　impression　that　he　had　lost。
　　　Why　did　Nimor　abandon　the　fight；　Archmage？　Nauzhror　asked。　What　does　he　know？
　　　Find　out；　Gromph　ordered　then　turned　his　attention　to　Dyrr。
　　　〃We　can　finish　this　now；　if　you　like；〃　Gromph　said。
　　　The　lich　took　a　deep；　shuddering　breath　and　shook　his　head。
　　　〃It's　as　it　should　be；〃　the　archmage　added。
　　　〃I　suppose　it　is；　my　young　friend；〃　the　lich　answered；　his　voice　steady。　〃You；　the　highest　ranking　wizard　in　Menzoberranzan；　and　me；　the　most