war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第48章

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Menzoberranzan；　and　me；　the　most　powerful。　It's　only　symmetrical　that　we　eventually　face　each　other。　Power　abhors　that　sort　of　imbalance。〃
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Gromph　answered　with　a　shrug。　〃I　don't　consider　balance。　I　worship　a　demon。　I　serve　chaos。〃
　　　Dyrr's　answer　was　to　begin　casting　a　spell。　Gromph　stepped　back　and　used　his　staff　to　levitate；　hopping　a　dozen　feet　up　into　the　air　and　hovering　there。　He　looked　down　and　could　see　a　small　group　of　drow…fifteen　or　twenty　and　mostly　older　males…begin　sifting　through　the　ruined　stalls。　They　must　have　been　the　merchants　themselves；　finally　unable　to　stay　away；　not　knowing　the　fate　of　their　livelihoods。
　　　Gromph　thought　to　warn　them　off　but　didn't。　He　didn't　want　to。
　　　Dyrr　finished　his　spell；　and　at　first　it　looked　as　if　the　lich　burst。　He　grew；　ballooning　up　to　twice；　then　three；　then　four　times　his　normal　size　and　bigger。　He　changed　in　every　conceivable　physical　way　and　dropped　from　the　air　with　a　resounding　crash　that　made　the　merchants　scatter　back　past　the　edges　of　the　Bazaar。　Gromph　watched　the　bystanders　gape　in　awe　and　fear　at　what　Dyrr　had　bee。
　　　It's　a　gigant；　Nauzhror　said。　A　blackstone　gigant。
　　　Gromph　sighed。　He　knew　what　it　was　that　Dyrr　had　turned　himself　into。
　　　Under　normal　circumstances；　a　blackstone　gigant　was　a　construct；　created　by　priestesses　of　any　number　of　dark　faiths　to　be　used　as　servants；　guardians；　assassins；　or　instruments　of　war。　Carved　from　solid　blocks　of　stone；　they　were　formidable　creatures　that　could　destroy　a　whole　city　if　left　unchecked。　What　Dyrr　had　done　was　change　his　form　from　his　normally　thin；　aged　drow　frame　to　the　form　of　a　gigant。　In　the　process　he　had　bee；　for　all　intents　and　purposes；　that　new　creature。
　　　The　gigant　was　easily　forty　feet　long　from　the　top　of　its　massive；　drowlike　head　to　the　tip　of　its　curling；　wormlike　tail。　It　had　four　sets　of　long　arms　with　drowlike　hands　big　enough　to　close　over　Gromph　entirely；　though　the　hands　were　oddly　twisted　with　three　multi…jointed　fingers　ending　in　black　talons　not　unlike　Nimor's。　The　lich　had　opted　to　retain　his　black　coloration；　but　the　creature's　eyes　blazed　a　bright　blue。　Shafts　of　light　extended　from　them；　cutting　through　the　haze　of　smoke　that　still　hung　in　the　air。　It　opened　its　mouth　and　revealed　fangs　the　size　of　short　swords；　set　in　rows。　Slime　dripped　from　its　twisted　lower　lip。　It　was　in　constant　motion；　twitching　and　squirming　like　a　maggot。　The　weight　of　it　dragged　ragged　scars　in　the　floor；　and　the　sound　of　grinding；　cracking　stone　overwhelmed　all　other　sounds。
　　　The　creature　started　to　destroy　everything　it　could　reach；　and　it　could　reach　a　lot。　What　merchants'　stalls　were　still　intact　and　unburned　were　ground　to　splinters　under　the　colossal　beast's　raw　tonnage。　The　once　curious　merchants　ran　for　their　lives；　but　as　the　gigant　writhed　across　the　Bazaar；　it　rolled　over　one　fleeing　drow　after　another。　When　it　rolled　on　to　reveal　them　once　again；　instead　of　the　mass　of　unrecognizable　paste　Gromph　expected　to　see；　there　was　left　behind　an　array　of　what　looked　at　first　like　statues。　The　petrified　forms　of　a　score　of　drow　lay　perfectly　still；　scattered　across　the　ruined　Bazaar。　The　touch　of　the　gigant　had　turned　them　to　stone。
　　　Its　fit　of　destructive　rage　finished；　the　gigant　turned　its　attention　to　Gromph。　The　shafts　of　light　from　its　eyes　fell　on　the　archmage；　illuminating　him　where　he　hovered　a　dozen　yards　above　the　floor　of　the　Bazaar。
　　　Gromph　cast　a　spell　as　the　gigant　came　at　him；　gnashing　its　massive　fangs　and　petrifying　a　handful　more　of　the　careless　drow　merchants。　The　spell　made　Gromph　difficult　to　see。　His　form　became　cloudy；　indistinct；　and　he　dropped　quickly　to　the　ground。　The　boots　he　was　wearing　would　help　him　run　faster　than　any　drow。　Difficult　to　see　and　moving　fast；　Gromph　managed　to　stay　out　of　the　raging　gigant's　way。
　　　〃Can　you　hear　me；　Dyrr？〃　Gromph　called　out。
　　　The　lich　didn't　answer。　Gromph　wasn't　sure　if　he　could　in　his　current　state。　The　gigant　growled　and　gnashed　its　teeth　and　came　at　him　again。　Gromph　literally　ran　in　circles　in　an　effort　to　contain　the　dangerous　beast　in　the　Bazaar。　Any　living　thing　it　touched　turned　to　stone；　and　too　many　Menzoberranyr　had　perished　already。　If　the　siege　truly　was　ing　to　an　end；　it　was　time　for　the　wasteful　killing　to　stop　too。
　　　〃Dyrr；　answer　me；〃　Gromph　tried　again；　but　again　there　was　no　response。
　　　Instead；　the　gigant　glanced　down　at　the　petrified　drow　left　in　its　wake。　When　the　beam　of　light　from　its　eyes　played　on　their　stone　forms；　the　rock…hard　drow　lurched　into　motion。　The　petrified　merchants　drew　themselves　up；　staggering　slowly　like　zombies；　and　each　one　turned　its　head　up　to　regard　the　gigant　as　if　listening　for　orders。　Dust　fell　from　them　in　gently　wafting　clouds。
　　　The　gigant　hissed　at　each　of　them；　and　as　it　did　so　one　after　another　of　the　animated　statues　turned　to　face　Gromph　and　began　to　stagger　slowly　toward　him。
　　　Gromph　could　move　many　times　faster　than　the　petrified　drow；　but　there　were　a　lot　of　them：　a　dozen；　then　more；　and　he　knew　that　eventually　he　would　have　to　do　something　about　the　blackstone　gigant　and　its　cadre　of　animated　statues　in　the　heart　of　Menzoberranzan。
　　　The　lich　isn't　answering　you；　Master；　Nauzhror　said。　Perhaps　he　can't。　Perhaps　he's　more　gigant　now　than　lich。
　　　What　does　that　mean？　Prath　asked。
　　　It　means；　Gromph　answered；　that　what　a　lich　might　be　normally　capable　of；　normally　resistant　to；　may　no　longer　apply。
　　　Like　what？　Prath　asked。
　　　Gromph　and　Nauzhror　projected　the　same　word　at　precisely　the　same　time：　Necromancy；
　　　
　　　〃That's　impossible；〃　Valas　said。　〃It's　the　size　of　a　castle。〃
　　　Pharaun　shrugged；　nodding；　looking　up　at　the　enormous　wreck。
　　　〃Bigger；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　replied；　〃but　it　walked。〃
　　　The　wreck　was　once　a　sphere　of　polished　steel　three　hundred　feet　or　more　in　diameter。　It　lay　amid　the　ruins　of　half　a　dozen　smaller　stone　and　web　buildings；　one　side　of　it　gone　pletely。　On　the　whole　it　resembled　a　discarded　eggshell；　but　in　fact　it　had　once　been　a　walking　fortress。　Pharaun　tried　to　imagine　the　sight　of　the　thing　intact；　standing　on　legs　that　were　left　bent　and　torn　underneath　its　bulk。
　　　〃Some　kind　of　clockwork　contraption；〃　Valas　persisted；　〃that　big　。。。　It　would　have　to　have　been　built　by　a　。　。　。〃
　　　〃A　god？〃　Pharaun　finished　for　him；　when　he　sensed　Valas　hesitating　to　draw　the　same　conclusion。　〃Or　in　this　case　a　goddess。　Why　not？〃
　　　〃What　would　you　use　something　like　that　for？〃　asked　Danifae。
　　　〃War；〃　Jeggred　offered；　though　there　was　enough　of　a　lilt　in　his　voice　to　make　it　almost　sound　like　a　question。　〃It's　a　war　machine。〃
　　　〃It's　a　fortress；〃　Quenthel　said。　There　was　a　finality；　a　certainty　in　her　voice　that　made　the　others　turn　to　look　at　her。　〃It's。。。　it　was　Lolth's　own　fortress。　It　once　resembled　a　clockwork　spider；　and　from　within　Lolth　herself　could　traverse　the　Demonweb　Pits；　protected　and　armed　with　weapons　the　likes　of　which　no　drow　has　yet　imagined。〃
　　　〃I　think　。　。　。〃　Danifae　said。　〃I　think　I　remember　reading　something　about　that　but　always　thought　it　a　fantasy；　a　bit　of　harmless　heresy　to　thrill　the　uninitiated。〃
　　　〃You　know　this　for　sure？〃　Pharaun　asked　Quenthel；　though　he　could　see　in　her　face　that　she　had　no　doubts。
　　　The　high　priestess　looked　the　Master　of　Sorcere　in　the　eye　and　said；　〃I've　been　inside　it。　I've　seen　it　move。　It　was　inside　that　spider　fortress　that　I　first　came　before　the　Spider　Queen　herself。〃
　　　Pharaun　turned　from　Quenthel's　gaze　to　look　at　the　massive　wreck　again。
　　　〃She　seldom　left　its　confines；〃　Quenthel　went　on；　her　voice　growing　softer　and　softer　as　if　she　were　receding　over　a　great　distance。　〃I　don't　think　I　ever　saw　her　leave　it；　in　fact；　in　all　the　years　I。。。〃
　　　Pharaun　didn't　turn　back　to　look　at　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　when　he　said；　〃We　should　go　inside。　If　Lolth　never　left　that　fortress；　perhaps　she's　still　in　there。〃
　　　〃She　isn't　there；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　〃The　mistress　is　right；〃　said　Danifae。　〃I　can　feel　it…or；　rather；　I　can't　feel　her。〃
　　　〃She　might　still　be　inside　there；〃　the　wizard　said；　knowing　that　he　was　taking　his　life　in　his　own　hands　again　by　suggesting　the　possibility…even　though　he　was　sure　each　one　of　them　had　at　least　briefly　considered　it。　〃Her　body　might　be；　anyway。〃
　　　No　one　said　anything　in　response；　but　they　did　follow　when　Pharaun　began　the　long　walk　to　the　fallen　spider　fortress。
　　　As　minutes　dragged；　the　walk　grew　increasingly　difficult。　Fatigue　had　long　since　made　itself　known；　and　though　they　occasionally　stopped　to　eat　and　drink　from　the　supplies　that　Valas　had　given　each　of　them　from　his　dimensional　containers　they　were　all　hungry；　thirsty；　and　ready　to　drop。　That；　coupled　with　an　increasing　denseness　in　debris　and　intervening　walls　of　stone；　web；　bricks；　or　steel；　reduced　their　speed　to　a　quarter　of　what　they　hoped　for。
　　　Still；　the　draegloth　managed　to　get　close　to　Pharaun's　side。　The　mage　was　reasonably　confident　that　the　defenses　he　already　had　running　would　prevent　the　half…demon　from　taking　him　down　before　he　could　defend　himself；　so　he　didn't　stop　and　challenge　the　draegloth。
　　　〃You　would　like　it；〃　Jeggred　whispered　to　Pharaun。　The　draegloth's　whisper　was　as　loud　as　a　drow's　normal　volume；　but　still　no　one　seemed　to　have　heard　him。　〃If　Lolth　is　dead　in　there　and　all　we　find　is　a　skeleton；　you'd　be　happy。　Admit　it。〃
　　　〃I　admit　nothing；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　replied。　〃As　a　matter　of　policy；　actually。　Still；　in　this　case　I　truly　hope　we　don't　find　Lolth　dead　in　there。　If　I　did；　what　would　you　care　anyway；　draegloth？　Would　you　run　and　tell　your　mistress　on　me？　Which　of　your　two　mistresses　would　you　tell　first？　Or　would　you　even　tell　Quenthel　at　all？　Honestly；　Jeggred；　you're　acting　as　if　you　expect　never　to　see　Menzoberranzan　again。〃
　　　〃Am　I？〃　the　draegloth　asked。　He　was　fundamentally　incapable　of　sarcasm。　〃How　so？〃
　　　〃You're　ignoring　the　wishes　of　Quenthel　Baenre…〃　the　wizard　stressed　that　House　name…〃in　favor　of　the　whims　of　a　servant。　Here；　in　the　very　heart　of　Lolth's　power。〃
　　　〃Danifae　is　a　servant　no　longer；〃　the　draegloth　said。　〃I　have　seen　many…〃
　　　Fire。
　　　The　word　formed　in　Pharaun's　mind　even　as　his　skin　blistered　and　his　clothing　threatened　to　catch。　The　flames　came　at　them　in　a　wave；　engulfing　all　five　of　them　in　blinding　tongues　of　orange；　red；　and　blue。　Pharaun　could　hear　his　defensive　spells　crackling　to　hold　out　the　heat；　and　though　he　was　still　burned；　he　survived　it。　Not　all　of　the　others　were　in　as　good　shape；　though；　and　Pharaun　immediately　searched　his　mind　for　a　spell　that　would　protect　them　all…and　if　not　them　all　then　Valas；　Quenthel　（she　was　the　sister　of　the　archmage；　after　all）；　Danifae；　and　Jeggred　。。。　in　that　order。
　　　He　didn't　have　a　chance　to　bring　any　spell　to　mind；　though；　before　another　wall　of　fire　passed　him；　burning　him　even　worse　as　it　went。
　　　Foul；　coughing　laughter　echoed　down　from　above；　and　Pharaun　looked　up　to　see　a　vicious　tanar'ri　hanging；　by　dint　of　at　least　some　simple　magic；　in　midair　above　them。　The　thing　was　like　some　kind　of　mad；　twisted　bull；　and　it　lacked　feet。
　　　Phar