war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第28章

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　with　embers　left　from　the　fireball　Pharaun　had　hurled　at　it；　nosed　through　the　deadly　mists。　The　dark　elves　drew　their　piwafwis　close　around　them　and　held　still；　watching　as　the　duergar　stirred　and　broke　from　whatever　shelters　they'd　managed　to　find　from　the　acidic　fog。
　　　One　of　the　gray　dwarves　pointed　and　shouted；　and　the　others　joined　the　clamor。　Turning　sharply　in　the　water；　they　slewed　around　the　ship's　bow　and　set　off　after　Coalhewer's　vanishing　boat。
　　　Good；　signed　Pharaun。　I　was　afraid　they　were　using　magic　to　follow　us。　It　seems　that　Master　Coalhewer　will　render　us　one　last　service　after　all。
　　　What　do　you　think　will　happen　when　they　catch　him？　Ryld　asked。
　　　The　duergar　boats　pulled　out　of　earshot。
　　　〃I　suppose　it　depends　on　whether　or　not　he　can　swim；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　
　　　A　long　day's　march　later；　pausing　only　long　enough　to　allow　Pharaun　to　finally　craft　a　sending　to　pass　news　of　Gracklstugh's　army　to　Gromph；　the　pany　came　to　the　Labyrinth。　They　emerged　from　winding；　unexplored　passageways　into　a　series　of　miles…long　natural　tunnels　interspersed　with　long；　hewn　ways　and　small；　square　chambers。　Coalhewer；　his　boat；　and　the　pursuit　from　Gracklstugh　they'd　left　twenty　miles　or　more　behind　them。
　　　The　tunnels　were　black　basalt；　cold　and　sharp；　the　frozen　remnants　of　great　fires　from　the　beginning　of　the　world。　From　time　to　time　the　party　encountered　great　vertical　rifts　hundreds　of　feet　high；　where　tunnels　ended　in　blank　walls　with　rough；　perilous　steps　cut　up　or　down　to　a　different　level　where　the　path　continued。　Whole　sheets　of　the　world's　crust　had　sunk　or　fractured　in　places；　shearing　off　the　old　lava　tunnels　and　leaving　behind　vast；　lightless　chasms　deep　in　the　earth。　A　few　of　these　places　were　spanned　by　slender　bridges　of　stone；　or　circled　by　crude　paths　hacked　from　the　hard　rock　of　the　walls。　Everywhere　they　turned；　more　square　passages　and　twisting；　smooth…floored　tunnels　branched　from　their　line　of　march；　so　that　in　the　space　of　an　hour　Halisstra　was　forced　to　concede　that　she'd　bee　hopelessly　lost。
　　　〃I　see　why　they　call　this　place　the　Labyrinth；〃　she　said　softly；　as　the　pany　threaded　its　way　along　a　narrow　ledge　overlooking　another　of　the　chasms。　〃This　place　is　truly　a　maze。〃
　　　〃It's　worse　than　you　think；〃　Valas　replied　from　the　front　of　the　party。　He　paused　to　examine　the　path　ahead；　and　another　of　the　ubiquitous　openings　on　one　side。　〃It's　close　to　two　hundred　miles　from　north　to　south；　and　almost　half　that　from　east　to　west。　Most　of　it　is　exactly　like　this；　a　confusion　of　lava　tubes　and　hand…cut　tunnels　with　thousands　of　branching　turns　and　twists。〃
　　　〃How　can　you　hope　to　find　House　Jaelre　in　all　this？〃　Ryld　asked。　〃Do　you　know　this　place　so　well　that　you've　mastered　it？〃
　　　〃Mastered　it？　Hardly。　You　could　spend　a　lifetime　here　and　never　see　the　whole　thing；　but　I　do　know　something　of　its　ways。　Several　well…traveled　caravan　routes　exist　along　some　of　the　straighter　paths；　though　we're　not　near　any　of　those。　Few　travelers　approach　the　Labyrinth　from　the　east；　as　we　have。〃　The　scout　stepped　a　little　ahead　and　brushed　his　hand　against　the　wall；　near　the　place　where　the　other　tunnel　opened　up。　Old；　strange　symbols　glowed　with　a　greenish　light　beneath　his　fingertips。　〃Fortunately；　the　builders　carved　runes　to　identify　their　secret　ways。　It's　a　code　of　markings　that　holds　true　throughout　the　Labyrinth。　I　solved　the　puzzle　when　I　last　journeyed　here。　We're　not　in　tunnels　I　traveled　before；　but　I　think　I　know　how　to　reach　them　from　here。〃
　　　〃You　are　a　lad　of　many　talents；〃　Pharaun　observed。
　　　〃Who　carved　these　tunnels？〃　Halisstra　asked。　〃If　this　place　is　as　big　as　you　say；　it　must　have　been　a　powerful　realm　in　its　day；　but　I　can　tell　at　a　glance　those　marks　aren't　ours。　Nor　are　they　duergar；　illithid；　or　aboleth。〃
　　　〃Minotaurs；〃　Valas　replied。　〃I　don't　know　how　long　ago　their　realm　rose　or　fell；　but　there　was　a　great　kingdom　of　them　here　at　some　point　in　the　past。〃
　　　〃Minotaurs？〃　Quenthel　sneered。　〃They're　bestial　savages。　They　could　hardly　have　the　wits　or　the　patience　to　undertake　work　of　this　scope；　let　alone　build　a　great　realm。〃
　　　Valas　shrugged　and　said；　〃That　may　be　true　now；　but　a　thousand　years　ago；　who　knows？　I've　found　plenty　of　their　artifacts　and　remains　scattered　through　this　region。　The　horned　skulls　are　quite　distinctive。　My　friends　among　House　Jaelre　told　me　that　many　minotaurs　still　roam　the　wild　places　and　disused　passages　of　the　Labyrinth；　including　demonic　beasts　armed　with　powerful　sorcery。　Their　patrols　skirmished　with　the　monsters　regularly。〃
　　　〃One　wonders　whether　we　might　at　some　point　in　our　journey　happen　to　pass　through　a　realm　filled　with　cheerful；　civilized　folk　genuinely　concerned　for　our　well…being　and　eager　to　help　us　on　our　way；〃　Pharaun　muttered。　〃I　am　beginning　to　think　our　fair　city　lies　at　the　bottom　of　a　barrel　of　venomous　snakes。〃
　　　〃If　so；　we're　quicker；　stronger；　and　more　venomous　than　any　other　snake　in　the　barrel；〃　Quenthel　said　with　a　smile。　〃e；　let's　continue。　If　there　are　any　minotaurs　about；　they　would　be　well…advised　not　to　show　themselves　where　the　children　of　Menzoberranzan　choose　to　walk。〃
　　　The　pany　continued　on　for　several　hours　more　through　endless　gloomy　halls　and　contorted　passages　before　calling　a　halt　to　rest　and　replenish　their　strength。　The　stretch　of　the　Labyrinth　they　wandered　seemed　to　be　quite　deserted。　They　found　few　signs　that　anything；　even　the　mindless　predatory　creatures　of　the　Underdark；　had　passed　that　way　in　many　years。　The　air　was　preternaturally　still　and　silent。　Whenever　their　whispered　conversation　died　away　for　a　moment；　the　quiet　of　the　place　seemed　to　rush　in　upon　them；　pressing　close　with　a　strangely　hostile　quality；　as　if　the　very　stone　resented　their　presence。
　　　After　Valas　and　Ryld　had　been　set　to　watch；　the　rest　wrapped　themselves　in　their　piwafwis　and　made　themselves　as　fortable　as　possible　on　the　cold　stone　floor　of　the　cavern。　Halisstra　let　her　eyes　fall　half…closed　and　drifted　off　into　a　deep　Reverie；　dreaming　about　endless　tunnels　and　strange　old　secrets　buried　in　mold。　In　her　dream　she　thought　she　could　make　out　a　faint；　distant　rustling　or　whisper　in　the　quiet；　as　if　she　might　hear　something　more　if　only　she　moved　a　little　ways　off　from　the　others；　out　into　the　darkness　alone。　Despite　the　fact　that　the　air　was　pletely　still　and　motionless；　she　discerned　the　distant　deep　sighing　of　wind　far　off　in　the　tunnels；　a　low　moaning　sound　that　tickled　at　the　edge　of　her　awareness；　like　something　important　she　had　forgotten。　Lolth's　whispers　sometimes　came　to　one　in　that　fashion；　a　sibilant　sigh　of　wordless　intent　filling　a　priestess　with　knowledge　of　the　demon　queen's　desires。
　　　Hope　and　fear　stirred　in　Halisstra's　heart　and　she　came　closer　to　wakefulness。
　　　What　is　your　wish；　Goddess？　she　cried　out　in　her　mind。　Tell　me　how　House　Melarn　might　win　your　favor　again。　Tell　me　how　Ched　Nasad　might　be　made　whole。　I　will　do　anything　you　mand　of　me！
　　　Faithless　daughter；　the　wind　whispered　back　to　her。　Foolish　weakling。
　　　Horror　jolted　Halisstra　from　her　Reverie　and　she　sat　up　straight；　her　heart　pounding。
　　　Only　a　dream；　she　told　herself。　I　dreamed　of　what　I　wished　to　happen；　and　what　I　feared　might　e；　but　nothing　more。　The　Spider　Queen　has　not　spoken。　She　has　not　condemned　me。
　　　Nearby；　the　others　lay　on　the　cold　stone　floor　or　sat　wrapped　deep　in　their　own　meditations；　taking　their　rest；　while　a　little　distance　away　Ryld　stood　guard；　a　broad…shouldered　shape　motionless　in　the　dark。　The　daughter　of　House　Melarn　lowered　her　eyes　and　listened　to　the　curious　sound　of　the　wind；　surrounded　in　the　darkness　her　people　had　made　theirs。
　　　〃Lolth　does　not　speak；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　heard　only　the　wind；　nothing　else。〃
　　　Why　has　the　Goddess　abandoned　us？　Why　did　she　allow　Ched　Nasad　to　fall？　How　did　we　incur　her　wrath？　Halisstra　wondered。　Her　eyes　stung　with　bitter　tears。　Were　we　unworthy　of　her？
　　　The　wind　rose　again；　this　time　closer；　louder。　It　was　not　a　whistling；　or　even　a　rushing　sound。　It　reminded　her　of　the　call　of　a　deep…voiced　horn　far　off；　perhaps　many　horns；　and　it　was　growing。　Halisstra　frowned；　puzzled。　Was　this　some　strange　phenomenon　of　the　Labyrinth；　a　rush　of　air　through　pipelike　tunnels　in　the　dark？　Such　things　were　not　unknown　in　other　places　of　the　Underdark。　In　some　cases　the　winds　could　scour　a　tunnel　bare　of　life；　they　were　so　sudden　and　powerful。　This　one　muttered　and　babbled　and　thrummed　as　she　listened；　many　great　horns　roaring　at　once…
　　　Halisstra　leaped　to　her　feet。　Ryld　stood　staring　back　the　way　they　had　e；　Splitter　gleaming　in　his　hand。
　　　〃Do　you　hear　them？〃　she　called　to　Ryld。　〃The　minotaurs　are　ing！〃
　　　〃I　thought　it　was　the　wind；〃　the　fighter　growled。　〃Rouse　the　others。〃
　　　He　sprinted　down　the　passageway　toward　the　approaching　host；　shouting　for　Valas　to　join　him　from　his　post　in　the　other　direction。　Halisstra　snatched　up　her　pack　and　shouldered　it　quickly；　rousing　the　rest　of　the　pany　with　shouts　of　alarm　and　the　occasional　quick　kick　for　those　who　were　slow　to　shake　off　their　deep　trances。
　　　She　readied　her　crossbow；　loading　a　quarrel　as　she　peered　down　the　tunnel　behind　them。
　　　The　floor　quivered　beneath　her　feet。　Great　footfalls　as　hard　as　rock　came　in　a　stamping　rush；　and　deep　bellows　and　snorts　echoed　and　echoed　again　in　a　roiling　cacophony　that　filled　the　passage。　Hot　animal　stink　assaulted　her　nostrils；　and　she　saw　them…an　onrushing　mob　of　dozens　of　the　hulking　brutes；　huge　bull…headed　monsters　with　shaggy　pelts　and　massive　hooves；　clutching　mighty　axes　and　flails　in　their　thickly　muscled　fists。
　　　Before　that　storm　Ryld　and　Valas　skipped　and　darted　like　sparrows　blown　before　a　gale；　battling　furiously　for　their　lives　against　the　bloodthirsty　savages。　Halisstra　took　aim　quickly　and　shot　one　monster　in　the　chest　with　her　powerful　crossbow；　but　the　creature　was　so　blood…maddened　it　simply　ignored　the　bolt　buried　in　its　thick　torso。　She　laid　in　another　quarrel　as　the　bow's　magic　cocked　it　again；　only　to　have　her　shot　spoiled　by　Jeggred's　rush　into　the　fray。
　　　〃Jeggred；　you　idiot；　there　are　too　many　to　fight！〃　she　cried。
　　　The　draegloth　ignored　her　and　threw　himself　against　the　horde。　For　a　moment　the　half…demon's　size　and　fury　held　up　the　minotaurs'　charge；　but　over　Jeggred's　white…furred　shoulders　and　the　flashing　blades　of　Ryld　and　Valas；　Halisstra　could　make　out　dozens　more　of　the　hirsute　monsters；　fanged　mouths　bellowing　challenges；　eyes　glowing　red　with　rage。　Several　had　fallen　before　Splitter；　Valas's　curved　knives；　and　Jeggred's　talons；　but　battle…frenzied　minotaurs　shrugged　off　all　but　the　most　grievous　of　injuries；　clawing　over　each　other　to　get　at　the　drow　invaders。
　　　Halisstra　shifted　to　one　side　and　shot　again；　while　Danifae　joined　her　with　her　own　crossbow。　Quenthel　danced　just　behind　Jeggred；　flicking　her　deadly　scourge　at　monsters　threatening　to　swarm　over　the　draegloth；　and　Pharaun　shouted　an　arcane　word　that　hurled　a　bright　globe　of　crackling　energy　into　the　midst　of　the　minotaur　ranks。　The　sphere　detonated　with　a　clap　of　thunder　and　blasted　bright　arcs　of　lightning　across　the　tunnel；　charring　some　minotaurs　into　cinde