war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第55章

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wizard　of　some　acplishment　who　happens　to　know　the　right　spells；　and　persuade　him　to　share　one　with　me。〃
　　　〃That　will　not　be　necessary；　Master　Pharaun；〃　Tzirik　said。　He　stood　up　from　his　seat　and　descended　the　dais；　powerful　and　confident。　〃As　it　so　happens；　my　god　has　not　seen　fit　to　deprive　me　of　my　spells。　I　have　an　interest　in　seeing　for　myself　what　transpires　in　Lolth's　domain。　We　can　leave　as　soon　as　tonight；　if　you　like。〃
　　　
　　　pany　by　pany；　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　marched　proudly　into　the　open　cavern　behind　the　Pillars　of　Woe。　It　was　nothing　pared　to　the　vast　cavern　of　Menzoberranzan；　or　the　inprehensible　gulf　of　the　Darklake；　but　the　plain　at　the　head　of　the　gorge　was　still　impressive；　an　asymmetrical　space　perhaps　half　a　mile　across；　its　ceiling　rising　a　couple　of　hundred　feet　overhead。　Innumerable　columns　supported　its　roof；　and　shelflike　side　caverns　twisted　away　on　all　sides　like　highways　beckoning　in　the　dark。
　　　Nimor　surveyed　the　place　from　astride　his　war…lizard；　watching　as　the　great　Houses　of　Menzoberranzan　filed　into　the　cavern；　forming　up　in　glittering　squares　beneath　a　dozen　different　banners。　He'd　had　more　than　two　days　to　reconnoiter　the　various　crevices；　caves；　and　passages　leading　to　the　open　spot。　The　strategic　value　of　the　Pillars　of　Woe　was　obvious。　Only　one　road　lead　south　through　a　torturous　canyon；　yet　several　tunnels　met　where　he'd　led　the　drow；　each　leading　into　Menzoberranzan's　Dark　Dominion。
　　　〃A　good　place　for　a　battle；〃　he　said；　nodding　to　himself　with　satisfaction。
　　　His　mount；　vicious　and　stupid　beast　that　it　was；　still　seemed　to　dully　sense　the　impending　conflict。　It　hissed　and　pawed　at　the　pebble…strewn　floor；　its　tail　twitching　in　agitation。
　　　Nimor　waited　near　the　center　of　the　scout　line　holding　the　gap　between　the　Pillars；　at　the　head　of　a　force　of　almost　a　hundred　Agrach　Dyrr　riders。　Those　among　his　scout　force　who　had　any　other　House　allegiance　lay　sprawled　among　the　rocks　and　crevices　of　the　gorge　below；　where　Nimor　and　his　men　had　slaughtered　them　soon　after　reaching　the　Pillars　of　Woe。
　　　Nimor　ached　to　go　riding　up　to　greet　Mez'Barris　Armgo；　Andzrel　Baenre；　and　the　rest　of　the　army's　priestesses　and　manders。　He　could　see　their　pavilion；　already　rising　in　the　center　of　the　cavern。
　　　The　difficulty　with　a　betrayal　spanning　a　whole　battlefield；　he　thought；　is　that　one　simply　can't　be　everywhere　at　once　to　savor　the　moment　in　its　entirety。
　　　He　noted　a　lean　runner…lizard　pelting　from　the　mand　pavilion　toward　where　his　pany　waited。
　　　〃It　seems　I　am　wanted；　lads；〃　he　called　to　the　Agrach　Dyrr　soldiers　waiting　behind　him。　〃You　know　what　to　do。　Wait　for　the　signal。　When　it　es；　hold　nothing　back。〃
　　　Nimor　kicked　his　war…lizard　into　motion　and　rode　back　a　short　distance　to　meet　the　messenger。　The　rider　was　a　young　fellow　in　the　livery　of　House　Baenre…no　doubt　a　favored　nephew　or　cousin；　given　a　relatively　safe　task　in　order　to　gain　a　blooding　without　too　much　risk。　He　wore　no　helmet；　allowing　his　hair　to　stream　out　behind　him　like　a　mane。　A　bright　red　banner　fluttered　from　a　harness　secured　to　his　saddle。
　　　〃You　are　Captain　Zhayemd？〃　he　called；　slowing　his　lizard　to　greet　Nimor。
　　　〃I　am。〃
　　　〃Your　presence　is　requested　at　the　mand　pavilion　immediately；　sir。　Matron　Del'Armgo　wants　to　know　where　the　gray　dwarves　are；　and　how　best　to　dispose　the　troops。〃
　　　〃I　see；〃　Nimor　replied。　〃Well；　ride　on　back　and　tell　her　I'll　be　along　presently。〃
　　　〃With　respect；　sir；　I　am　to…〃
　　　Three　great　horn　blasts；　two　short　followed　by　one　long；　bellowed　up　from　the　space　between　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　echoing　so　loudly　it　seemed　the　rock　itself　had　given　voice　to　the　cry。　The　messenger　broke　off　and　twisted　his　mount　around；　padding　past　Nimor　to　peer　back　toward　the　Pillars。
　　　〃Lolth's　wrath；　what　was　that？〃　he　said。
　　　〃That；〃　said　Nimor；　〃would　be　the　signal　for　the　duergar　attack。〃
　　　From　the　depths　of　the　gorge　beneath　the　Pillars　of　Woe　came　the　ground…shaking　rumble　of　an　army　on　the　move。　Below　Nimor's　line　of　scouts；　hundreds　of　duergar　lizard　riders　suddenly　rose　from　beneath　carefully　arranged　blankets　of　camouflage　and　pelted　up　and　into　the　gap　Nimor's　scouts　were　supposed　to　hold。　Behind　the　duergar　cavalry；　rank　upon　rank　of　duergar　infantry　ran　forward；　shouting　their　uncouth　war　cries；　hammers　and　axes　raised　high。　The　Agrach　Dyrr　riders　scrambled　to　their　saddles；　taking　position　to　bottle　up　the　charge　between　the　mammoth　columns　of　rock…and；　as　arranged；　they　wheeled　in　unison　and　dashed　to　one　side；　leaving　the　line　unguarded。
　　　〃The　Agrach　Dyrr！　They　betray　us！〃　the　messenger　shouted；　horror　and　shock　on　his　face。
　　　He　wrenched　his　mount　around；　but　Nimor　leaned　out　from　his　saddle　and　ran　the　boy　through。　The　young　Baenre　clutched　at　his　wound；　swaying；　and　toppled　from　the　saddle。　Nimor　slapped　his　sword　against　the　lizard's　rump　and　sent　the　beast　bolting　off　back　into　the　main　cavern；　the　dead　messenger　dragging　behind　it　with　his　feet　tangled　in　the　stirrups。
　　　Nimor　spurred　his　mount　up　onto　an　uneven　shelf　of　rock　about　fifteen　feet　above　the　cavern　floor；　overlooking　the　Pillars。　From　that　vantage　he　could　see　most　of　the　cavern。
　　　〃A　good　view　of　the　fray；　my　prince！〃　he　called。　〃What　a　magnificent　day　for　your　triumph；　eh？〃
　　　〃I'll　tell　you　in　a　quarter…hour　if　we　have　a　victory　or　not。〃
　　　From　the　shadows　at　the　back　of　the　ledge；　Horgar　Steelshadow　emerged。　He　and　his　personal　guards　were　warded　by　a　well…crafted　illusion；　invisible　to　anyone　below；　unless　one　knew　precisely　where　to　find　them。
　　　〃Do　not　e　closer；　Nimor；〃　the　crown　prince　said。　〃I　do　not　wish　someone　below　to　notice　you　disappearing　into　a　wall；　and　bee　overly　curious　about　what　might　be　up　here。〃
　　　〃Surely　you　mean　to　join　the　battle；　Prince　Horgar？　I　know　you　are　a　dwarf　of　no　small　valor。〃
　　　〃I　will　venture　into　the　fray　when　I'm　certain　I　will　not　need　to　issue　any　more　orders；　Nimor。　In　another　few　moments　you　won't　be　able　to　hear　a　fellow　shouting　in　your　ear。〃
　　　Nimor　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　battle。　The　Agrach　Dyrr　riders；　well　clear　of　the　Pillars；　charged　madly　in　a　circle；　skirting　the　perimeter　of　the　cave　and　avoiding　the　main　mass　of　the　Menzoberranyr　army。　Their　task　was　to　get　to　the　rear　and　aid　the　Agrach　Dyrr　infantry　in　sealing　the　tunnel　through　which　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　had　just　e。
　　　Duergar　cavalry　streamed　up　and　through　the　gap；　overrunning　the　positions　that　had　been　supposedly　held　against　them　and　spilling　out　onto　the　cavern　floor。　Several　of　the　House　contingents　in　the　van　of　the　march　milled　about　in　evident　disorder；　surprised　to　find　themselves　suddenly　faced　with　a　thundering　charge　in　an　open　field　instead　of　siege…work　and　camp…building　behind　a　stout　line。
　　　Other　Houses　responded　to　the　sudden　assault　with　adroitness　and　valor。　The　huge　Baenre　contingent　raised　a　fierce　war　cry　of　their　own；　and　dashed　forward　to　seize　the　pass　before　any　more　duergar　could　flood　through　it。
　　　〃A　bold　move；　Andzrel；〃　Nimor　said；　not　without　admiration。　〃Unfortunately；　I　think　it's　too　late　to　put　the　cork　back　in　that　bottle。〃
　　　Nimor　flicked　his　war…lizard's　reins　and　positioned　himself　for　a　better　view　of　the　cavern　center。　He'd　expected　the　mad　rush　of　motion；　the　sight　of　armored　ranks　surging　forward　to　crash　and　retreat　like　the　bloody　surf　of　an　iron　sea；　but　the　sound　of　the　battle　was　intolerable。　Caught　by　rock　above；　below；　and　to　all　sides；　the　roars；　screams；　and　clang　of　weapons　on　shields　became　pletely　indistinguishable；　growing　into　a　single　great　thundering　sound　that　continued　to　build　and　build　as　more　and　more　warriors　became　embroiled　in　the　fighting。
　　　〃The　noise　will　stand　to　our　advantage；〃　he　cried　over　his　shoulder　to　Horgar；　though　he　could　not　hear　his　own　words。　〃The　manders　of　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　must　decide　how　to　respond；　and　give　the　appropriate　orders。〃
　　　〃Aye；〃　the　gray　dwarf　monarch　answered。　Nimor　had　to　strain　to　understand　him。　〃The　middle　of　a　fight　is　hardly　the　best　time　to　draw　up　your　plan　of　battle！〃
　　　A　brilliant　lightning　bolt　tore　into　the　duergar　ranks；　followed　by　a　thunderclap　audible　even　over　the　din　of　the　battle。　Exploding　balls　of　fire　and　scathing　sheets　of　flame　streaked　across　the　battlefield；　as　wizards　on　each　side　began　to　make　their　presence　felt。
　　　Nimor　frowned。　A　handful　of　powerful　wizards　could　decide　the　issue；　even　in　the　teeth　of　the　ferocious　duergar　assault　and　the　duplicity　of　his　allies　in　Agrach　Dyrr；　but　there　were　wizards　among　the　duergar　troops；　too；　many　of　them　disguised　as　mon　riders　and　infantrymen。　As　the　drow　mages　struck　at　the　attacking　gray　dwarves；　they　gave　away　their　own　positions。　Duergar　wizards　answered　each　bolt　of　lightning；　each　blast　of　fire；　in　kind；　and　in　moments　the　cavern　was　filled　with　flashes　of　painful　light　and　ruddy　fire；　the　air　hot　and　acrid　with　the　mighty　magic　thrown　heedlessly　from　one　side　to　the　other。
　　　Try　as　he　might；　Nimor　couldn't　tell　whose　magic　would　prevail；　as　the　whole　terrible　scene　descended　into　plete　anarchy。　In　the　space　of　a　few　dozen　heartbeats；　the　sheer　mass　of　Menzoberranyr　troops　in　the　middle　of　the　cavern　checked　the　initial　rush　of　the　duergar　charge；　the　two　armies　tangling　in　a　long　line　of　contact　that　snaked　across　the　cavern　floor　for　hundreds　of　yards。　Standards　waved　and　fell；　war…lizards　reared　and　plunged；　as　the　great　charge　bogged　down　into　a　thousand　individual　duels。
　　　Rushing　columns　of　heavily　armored　duergar　pressed　through　the　seams　where　dark　elf　Houses　met；　streaming　in　and　around　their　desperately　battling　foes。　Nimor　smiled　grimly。　The　dark　elves　had　very　little　notion　of　how　to　weld　their　panies　together　to　make　an　army　into　a　single　weapon；　but　each　House　contingent　was　a　small　army　of　deadly；　seasoned　veterans　by　itself。　The　duergar　assault　had　smashed　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　into　twenty　smaller　forces　that　swarmed　and　stung　back　like　a　basket　of　scorpions　that　had　been　kicked　over。
　　　〃Our　victory　is　still　in　question；　Nimor；〃　Horgar　called　from　above。　〃The　cursed　wizards　have　checked　our　first　assault！〃
　　　〃Yes；　but　you　have　forced　the　Pillars；　have　you　not？〃　Nimor　shouted　back。　〃I'd　thought　the　initial　charge　would　break　the　Menzoberranyr　outright；　but　it　seems　the　House　armies　are　not　so　easily　swept　away。〃
　　　As　he　surveyed　the　battle；　Nimor　thought　the　gray　dwarves；　with　advantage　of　surprise；　would　most　likely　be　able　to　defeat　the　Houses　of　Menzoberranzan　in　detail；　but　it　would　be　a　long　hard　day　of　fighting　to　reduce　the　dark　elf　force。　House　Baenre；　in　particular；　had　managed　to　close　the　Pillars　of　Woe　for　the　moment；　and　the　longer　Andzrel　held　the　pass；　the　better　the　dark　elves'　chances　were。
　　　Fortunately；　Nimor　had　taken　steps　against　this　very　possibility。　The　Menzoberranyr　seemed　heavily　engaged　to　the　front　with　the　gray　dwarf　assault。　It　was　time　to　slip　his　knife　between　Menzoberranzan's　ribs　while　their　swords　were　locked。
　　　〃Now；　Aliisza；〃　he　said　into　the　raging　air。
　　　Nimor　wheeled　his　mount　around；　drew　his　sword；　and　spurred　his　war…lizard　down　into　the　c