war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第128部分

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C　h　a　p　t　e　r

T　W　E　N　T　Y
T　W　O
Pharaun　could　float　down　a　thousand　feet；　or　he　could　fall；　relying　on　levitation　to　slow　his　descent　at　the　end。　The　latter　course　was　dangerous。　If　he　waited　too　long　to　counteract　the　pull　of　gravity；　he　would　break　bones　or　even　pulp　himself　when　he　landed。
Still；　he　chose　to　plummet；　because　of　what　he　saw　beneath　him。
He'd　lost　track　of　time　inside　the　rogues'　citadel；　but　it　was　plain　that　the　Call　had　gone　forth　around　the　black　death　of　Narbondel；　when　most　dark　elves　had　gone　home　for　the　night。　With　few　drow　about　to　contest　them　for　possession　of　the　streets；　the　undercreatures　had　erupted　from　their　kennels　to　kill；　loot；　and　destroy。　Pharaun　couldn't　make　out　indinotviduals；　but　he　could　see　the　mobs　as　great　surging；　formless　masses　like　the　living　jellies　that　infested　certain　caverns；　and　he　could　certainly　see　the　fires　they　were　setting。　He　could　smell　the　strange；　foul　smoke　of　burning　stone；　and　he　could　hear　the　goblins　shouting。
Perhaps　the　embattled　moners　looked　to　the　noble　Houses　for　succor。　If　so；　they　waited　in　vain。　Sorcerous　power　flashed　white　and　red　from　the　windows　and　baileys　of　the　stalactite　castles　as　the　nobles　strugnotgled　with　their　own　rebellious　slave　soldiers。　For　the　time　being；　at　least；　the　drow　were　pinned　down；　unable　to　brace　the　marauders　outside　their　own　walls。
A　house　was　growing　larger　and　larger　beneath　Pharaun's　boots。　He　made　himself　lighter　than　air　but　still　slammed　down　hard。　The　impact　knocked　the　wind　and　the　sense　out　of　him；　and　when　his　wits　returned；　he　was　bouncing　upward　again。
Restoring　a　portion　of　his　weight；　he　achieved　a　more　graceful　landing；　flattened　himself　against　the　roof；　and　peered　about。　The　goblins　weren't　running　amok　in　his　immediate　vicinity…not　yet…so　he　jumped　down　onto　the　street。　Glad　the　Bazaar　was　just　three　blocks　away；　he　dashed　in　that　direction。
He'd　almost　reached　his　destination　when　a　motley　assortment　of　scaly　little　kobolds；　pig…faced　ores；　and　shaggy；　hulking　bugbears　surged　from　an　alley。　So　far；　the　revolt　was　going　well　for　them。　They'd　manage　to　lay　their　hands　on　spears；　swords；　and　axes；　and　bloody　them；　too。
Pharaun　ran　even　faster。　A　javelin　flew　past　him；　but　the　thralls　didn't　chase　him。　Evidently　they　were　more　interested　in　other　prey。
When　the　wizard　reached　the　marketplace；　he　cursed；　for　the　riot　had　arrived　there　ahead　of　him。　Undercreatures　were　looting　and　burning　the　stalls；　creating　patches　of　dazzling　glare。　Some　of　the　merchants　had　fled。　Others　attempted　to　defend　their　wares；　unsuccessfully　if　they　relied　on　goblin　underlings　for　assistance。
Pharaun　skirted　the　edge　of　the　Bazaar；　witnessing　scenes　of　carnage　as　he　skulked　along。　Laughing；　a　goblin　flogged　his　master's　corpse　with　a　scourge。　A　bugbear　used　her　manacles　to　strangle　a　merchant。　Trapped　in　a　blazing　stone　pen；　riding　lizards　hissed　and　scuttled　back　and　forth　in　fear。
The　first　stall　Pharaun　had　hoped　to　find　intact　was　burning　merrily；　and　the　second　was　crawling　with　gnolls；　growling；　whining；　and　barking　as　they　pawed　through　the　vendor's　goods。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　knew　of　only　one　more　possibility　on　the　perimeter　of　the　Bazaar。　Should　that　one　be　lost　to　him　as　well；　he　would　either　have　to　venture　deeper　into　the　burning；　ore…infested　maze　of　stalls　or　conceive　another　plan。
Warty；　bearded　ogres　overturned　a　twelve…wheeled　wagon；　dumping　out　the　dark　elves　who'd　been　making　a　stand　inside。　A　walking　mushroom；　taller　than　any　of　the　brutes；　and；　with　its　slender；　fluted　stem；　far　more　graceful；　swung　wide　to　avoid　the　little　massacre。
Pharaun　slipped　around　the　slaughter　as　well。　A　few　more　strides　brought　him　to　a　scene　that；　after　the　carnage　he'd　just　witnessed；　seemed　almost　unreal。　The　westernmost　portion　of　the　marketplace　was　quiet。　Some　of　the　merchants　had　armed　themselves　and　taken　up　positions　outnotside　their　tents　and　kiosks；　but　they　seemed　calm　and　unafraid。
Over　the　course　of　an　adventurous　life；　Pharaun　had　witnessed　the　same　phenomenon　before。　Under　the　proper　circumstances；　it　was　possible　for　folk　to　remain　essentially　oblivious　to　a　pitched　battle　raging　just　a　few　yards　away。
The　wizard　ran　on。　Ahead；　a　luminous　green　circle　scribed　on　the　ground　surrounded　a　modious　stall　built　of　hardened　fungus。　A　heavyset　male　stood　in　the　doorway　with　an　arbalest　in　his　hand　and　a　toad；　his　familiar；　squatting　on　his　shoulder。　He　wore　a　nightshirt；　and　his　feet　were　bare。　The　merchant　scowled　when　he　spotted　Pharaun。
〃Stay　back；〃　he　said；　his　throaty　voice　even　deeper　than　Ryld's。
P