war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第31章

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　　　〃Why　would　you；〃　asked　the　draegloth；　〃when　you　can　have　the　embrace　of　a　flesh　and　blood　female？〃
　　　〃You　have　me　all　figured　out；〃　the　weapons　master　said；　surprised　that　the　draegloth　seemed　to　have　done　just　that。
　　　〃My　mistress　has；〃　Jeggred　said　with　a　shrug。　He　stepped　to　the　side　again；　beginning　to　circle　Ryld。　〃She　even　now　stands　over　the　corpse　of　your　traitor　priestess。　I　get　the　pleasure　of　ending　your　life。〃
　　　〃It'll　be　a　particularly　painful　and　violent　death；　no　doubt；〃　Ryld　said；　irony　absent　from　his　voice。
　　　The　draegloth　smiled；　coughed　out　a　laugh；　and　charged。
　　　The　big　claws　came　in　first；　high；　aimed　for　his　chest。　Ryld　whirled　Splitter　in　front　of　him　then　abruptly　stopped　the　blade's　spin　and　sliced　up　to　parry　the　draegloth's　right　arm。　As　he　expected；　Jeggred　drew　his　arm　back　sharply　in　an　effort　to　avoid　the　enchanted　greatsword。　Ryld　quickly　changed　direction；　tucking　the　blade　in；　stepping　back；　and　stabbing　at　the　dodging　half…demon。　The　tip　of　Ryld's　sword　penetrated　the　draegloth's　furred　hide　under　his　shoulder　blade　to　a　depth　of　an　inch　or　two。　The　half…demon；　bleeding；　hopped　back；　sliding　off　the　blade。
　　　Ryld　stepped　back　too；　rolling　the　greatsword　in　both　hands　in　a　slow　figure　eight　in　front　of　him。
　　　Soon；　one　of　them　would　be　dead。
　　　
Chapter　Seventeen
　　　〃Where　is　he？〃　Quenthel　asked；　her　red　eyes　wild　with　barely　contained　fury。
　　　〃He's　gone　to　kill　them；〃　Danifae　answered。
　　　Pharaun　watched　the　exchange　from　a　distance。　He　had　sat　cross…legged　in　the　exact　center　of　the　deck；　right　in　front　of　the　mainmast；　precisely　where　Aliisza　had　told　him　to　sit。　He　could　feel　the　ship　of　chaos　vibrating　beneath　him；　reacting　to　the　power　he　was　exerting　over　it。
　　　〃On　whose　mand？〃　the　high　priestess　asked。
　　　〃On　yours；　Mistress；〃　Danifae　answered；　〃through　me。〃
　　　〃Through　you？〃　Quenthel　repeated。　〃Through　you？〃
　　　Pharaun　pressed　one　of　his　hands　against　the　deck　and　felt　the　pulse　in　a　cluster　of　veins　that　was　growing　there。
　　　The　high　priestess　slapped　Danifae　across　the　face；　but　the　battle…captive　stood　her　ground。
　　　〃Halisstra　Melarn　and　Ryld　Argith　are　traitors；〃　Danifae　said。　〃They　are　traitors　to　this　expedition；　traitors　to　Lolth；　and　traitors　to　drow　civilization。　You　know　that；　I　know　that；　and　Jeggred　knows　that。　That's　why　he's　there。〃
　　　〃On　your　mand；〃　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　pressed；　〃not　mine。〃
　　　〃He's　doing　what　has　to　be　done；〃　Danifae　replied；　her　voice　finally　showing　some　emotion：　anger　and　impatience。　〃You　weren't　able　to　give　him　the　order；　so　I　did　it　for　you。〃
　　　Pharaun　laughed　at　the　exchange　and　at　the　thrill　of　the　ship　reacting　to　his　thoughts　and　touch。　He　found　Danifae's　hijacking　of　the　draegloth　fascinating。
　　　〃We　have　the　time；　Mistress；〃　Pharaun　offered　in　Danifae's　defense…if　only　for　the　sport　of　it。　〃Why　not　let　the　draegloth　clean　up　some　messes？　If　Mistress　Melarn　is　indeed　a　traitor；　and　after　watching　her　in　the　face　of　Lolth's　temple　that's　hardly　a　surprise；　consider　it　a　favor　from　a　loyal　young　priestess　in　your　service。　Master　Argith；　on　the　other　hand；　is　likely　not　a　traitor　to　the　City　of　Spiders。　He　lacks　the　necessary　spark　for　rebellion；　I'm　afraid。　If　you　wish　to　be　concerned　with　anything　it　should　be　that　the　weapons　master　might　actually　kill　your　nephew。〃
　　　Quenthel　looked　over　at　Pharaun；　who　met　her　gaze　for　a　moment　then　returned　his　attention　to　the　ship。　The　high　priestess　glanced　at　Danifae；　who　stood　tall　and　resolute；　giving　no　ground。　The　Mistress　of　the　Academy　held　her　scourge　in　one　hand；　and　the　vipers　curled　around　the　fingers　of　her　other。　She　looked　down　at　the　vipers　then　back　at　Danifae。　Pharaun　watched　the　whole　thing　while　feeling　the　ship's　pulse　momentarily　quicken。
　　　Quenthel　took　a　step　away　and　turned　her　back　on　Danifae；　who　sighed。　Pharaun　thought　the　battle…captive　might　have　been　disappointed。
　　　〃That；〃　Danifae　said　to　Quenthel's　back；　〃is　why　Jeggred　serves　me　now。〃
　　　
　　　They　began　to　circle　each　other；　testing　their　steps　on　the　spongy；　uneven　moss。　Jeggred　looked　down　and　considered　the　puncture　wound。　He　lifted　one　eyebrow　in　a　sort　of　grudging　salute　then　let　his　tongue　unroll　from　his　mouth。　The　black；　rough　tongue　slowly　licked　the　wound。　When　he　smiled　next；　Jeggred's　own　blood　stained　his　razor…sharp　fangs。
　　　Just　keep　your　distance；　Ryld　told　himself。　Keep　your　distance　and　go　for　the　hands。
　　　The　draegloth　charged　again；　and　again　his　claws　came　in　high　at　first。　Ryld　had　the　wide；　heavy　blade　of　Splitter　parallel　to　the　ground。　All　he　had　to　do　was　bend　his　knees；　step　in；　then　stand；　and　he　met　the　draegloth's　descending　rake。
　　　The　weapons　master　stepped　into　the　attack　and　parried　precisely　as　if　the　huge　claw　was　a　sword　blade。　Jeggred　brought　his　smaller　claws　down　fast　and　hard　so　that　Ryld　barely　had　to　press　the　parry。　The　draegloth　drove　his　own　arm　down　onto　the　blade。　Ryld　felt　a　tug；　then　release。　Blood　sprayed。　Jeggred's　right；　smaller　hand　tumbled　through　the　air　and　bounced　once　when　it　hit　the　moss。
　　　Ryld　didn't　allow　himself　the　time　to　celebrate　having　cut　off　one　of　the　draegloth's　hands。　He　stepped　back　away　from　the　blood　that　was　spraying　from　the　half…demon's　stump。　Jeggred　screamed…an　unsettling；　ear…rattling　sound…and　he　started　backing　quickly　away。
　　　Well　aware　that　the　half…demon　could　change　direction　very　quickly；　Ryld　stepped　back　too；　though　not　quite　as　far。
　　　〃You　will　pay　for　that　with　your　hands　and　feet；　whelp；〃　Jeggred　hissed　around　clenched　teeth。　〃I　was　following　orders　when　I　came　here　to　kill　you；　but　now…〃　he　held　up　the　stump　from　which　blood　was　still　pumping…〃it's　personal。〃
　　　
　　　A　refreshing　cycle　of　darkness　had　passed　during　which　Gromph　alternated　between　brief　periods　of　Reverie；　infuriating　sessions　with　the　same　handful　of　winged　halflings；　and　the　casting　of　powerful　divinations。
　　　The　darkness　was　a　wele　fort　to　the　archmage's　light…ravaged　eyes。　He　had　spent　nights　under　the　open　sky　before…though　not　many…and　he　had　seen　stars。　The　stars　in　the　Green　Fields　seemed　a　little　brighter　than　those　visible　from　Faerun。　Gromph　wasn't　familiar　enough　with　either　to　sense　any　difference　between　the　number　and　positions　of　the　stars　there　and　Faerun's；　but　he　knew　they　were　different。　The　Green　Fields　was　a　separate　reality　all　together。
　　　The　needle…like　plant　that　covered　the　rolling　hills　was　something　he'd　seen　before　as　well。　In　the　trade　language　of　the　World　Above　it　was　called　〃grass。〃　The　halflings　of　the　Green　Fields　called　it　〃ens〃。　There　were　other　things　he'd　seen　before　in　the　World　Above：　〃flowers；〃　〃trees；〃　and　things　like　that。　It　made　Gromph　wonder　if　there　was　an　Underdark　of　sorts　somewhere　beneath　his　feet…then　he　reminded　himself　that　he　wouldn't　be　there　long　enough　to　find　out。
　　　The　halflings　he'd　first　encountered　had　all　but　adopted　him。　A　few　of　the　little　folk　seemed　genuinely　happy　to　receive　him。　The　one　who　called　himself　Dietr　and　who　claimed　to　have　been　from　Faerun　was　suspicious　but　wanted　something…something　he　wouldn't　or　couldn't　ask　for。　However　they　approached　Gromph；　all　of　them　were　easy　and　casual　with　each　other。　They　had　a　sense　of　hospitality　and　were　determined　to　help　him。　They　brought　him　food　that　fell　into　one　of　two　categories：　heavy　and　swimming　in　fragrant　cream　sauces　or　a　confusing　variety　of　sweet；　fresh　fruit。　Neither　appealed　much　to　Gromph；　but　he　ate　enough　to　give　him　the　energy　he　needed　to　prepare　spells　and　collect　himself　for　his　return　to　Menzoberranzan。
　　　Gromph　hadn't　moved　far　from　the　spot　at　which　he'd　first　appeared。　The　Green　Fields　seemed　to　be　exactly　that：　an　endless　open　landscape　of　green　grass　and　other　plants。　Gromph　hadn't　seen　a　building　of　any　kind；　and　it　appeared　as　if　the　halflings　lived　out　in　the　open；　slowly　but　constantly　moving。
　　　When　the　light　returned；　Gromph　knew　he　would　have　to　be　on　his　way。　He　cast　the　last　in　a　series　of　divinations　that　would　help　him　not　only　return　to　the　Prime　Material　Plane　but　go　back　to　Toril；　back　to　the　Underdark　below　Faerun；　and　back　to　Menzoberranzan　herself。　It　was　no　mean　feat；　and　certainly　Dyrr　hadn't　expected　him　to　be　able　to　acplish　it；　but　then　Dyrr　hadn't　expected　him　to　break　free　of　the　imprisonment　either。　The　lichdrow's　insistence　on　underestimating　him　would；　possibly；　allow　Gromph　the　luxury　of　beating　him。
　　　The　archmage　stood；　shielding　his　eyes　from　the　pervasive　light　and　watched　Dietr　and　one　of　the　females　approaching　with　another　tray　of　fruit。　Dietr　held　a　waterskin。
　　　〃We　thought　you　might　want　breakfast；〃　Dietr　said。
　　　The　halfling　looked　at　Gromph　with　that　same　expression　of　vague　hopefulness　and　fear。　The　female　barely　seemed　to　notice　him　at　all。
　　　〃I've　had　enough　of　your　food；〃　the　archmage　said；　〃and　I'm　taking　my　leave　of　your　pointless　expanse。〃
　　　〃Pointless　expanse？〃　the　female　repeated；　her　ambivalence　all　at　once　replaced　by　anger；　〃Who　are　you　to　dismiss　the　Green　Fields？〃
　　　〃Who　are　you　to　speak　to　me　at　all？〃　Gromph　asked。
　　　He　waited　for　an　answer；　but　all　he　got　was　a　squinting　sneer　from　the　winged　female。　Dietr's　eyes　bounced　back　and　forth　between　them；　and　his　breathing　grew　shallow　and　expectant。
　　　〃Leave　me　in　peace；〃　Gromph　manded。
　　　When　the　two　halflings　didn't　immediately　turn　to　leave；　the　archmage　raised　an　eyebrow。　The　female　did　her　best　to　stare　him　down；　but　her　best　wasn't　anywhere　near　good　enough。
　　　〃You　were　alive　once；〃　Gromph　asked　her；　〃weren't　you？〃
　　　Neither　of　the　halflings　responded　right　away。
　　　〃This　one〃…Gromph　indicated　Dietr　with　a　wave　of　his　hand…〃was　a　living；　material　being　on　Faerun。　Where　did　you　live　before　you　went　to　your　Great　Beyond？〃
　　　Again　the　female　said　nothing。
　　　〃I'll　admit　to　being　curious；〃　Gromph　went　on。　〃If　you　died　on　whatever　world　you　came　from　and　your　soul　came　here　to　rest　in　peace　for　all　eternity；　what　happens　when　I　kill　you　here？　Does　your　soul　go　somewhere　else；　or　are　you　consigned　to　oblivion？　Will　one　of　your　weakling　halfling　godlings　stop　me？　Even　a　halfling　god　on　his　home　plane　can　be　an　inconvenience　I'm　sure；　but　it　might　be　amusing　to　make　the　effort　anyway。〃
　　　〃If　you　think　you　can　kill　me；　interloper；〃　the　female　sneered；　〃try　it　now　or　shut　up。〃
　　　Gromph　smiled；　and　it　must　have　been　that　expression　that　made　Dietr　finally　step　forward；　his　hands　held　out　in　a　gesture　of　weak　conciliation。
　　　〃Easy；〃　he　said。　〃Easy　there；　everybody。〃
　　　Gromph　laughed。
　　　〃That's　better；〃　said　Dietr；　a　grin　plastered　across　his　cherubic　face。　〃If　the　venerable　drow　would　like　to　leave；　then　he's　certainly　free　to　go　on　his　way。〃
　　　〃There　will　be　no　violence　here；〃　the　female　said；　her　voice　even　and　strong。　〃If　I　have　to　blast　you　to　pieces　to　ensure　that。　。　。〃
　　　〃We've　all　been　blasted　to　pieces　at　least　once；　haven't　we？〃　Dietr　said。　〃No　one　wants　to　do　that　again；　so　let's　all　be　friends。〃
　　　Gromph　took　a　deep　breath　and　said；　〃I　will　be　leaving；　but　there　will　be　residual　effects　from　the　gate；　and　you　won't　want　to　go　where