war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第134部分

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　open　with　fingers　up　as　if　signaling　someone　to　halt。　A　lanky　male　in　a　baggy　cloak　had　taken　shelter　behind　the　translucent　manifestation　from　the　spears　and　arrows　that　several　priestesses　were　sending　his　way。
Quenthel　sighed；　because　she　knew　the　lunatic；　and　he　couldn't　possibly　be　her　unknown　foe。　By　all　accounts；　he'd　been　too　busy　down　in　the　city　the　past　few　days。
She　gestured　with　the　whip；　terminating　the　barrage　of　missiles。
〃Master　Mizzrym；〃　she　called。　〃You　pound　your　crimes　by　breaknoting　in　where　no　male　may　e　unbidden。〃
Pharaun　bent　low　in　obeisance。　He　looked　winded；　and；　most　peculiarly　for　such　a　notorious　dandy；　disheveled。
〃Mistress；　I　beg　your　pardon；　but　I　must　confer　with　you。　Time　is　of　the　essence。〃
〃I　have　little　to　say　to　you　except　to　condemn　you　as　the　Archmage　should　have　done。〃
〃Kill　me　if　you　must。〃　The　giant　hand　winked　out　of　existence　and　he　continued；　〃Given　my　recent　peccadilloes；　I　half　expected　it。　But　hear　my　message　first。　The　undercreatures　are　rebelling。〃
Quenthel　narrowed　her　eyes　and　asked；　〃The　Archmage　sent　you　here　with　this　news？〃
〃Alas；〃　the　mage　replied；　〃I　was　unable　to　locate　him　but　knew　this　was　something　that　must　be　brought　to　the　attention　of　the　most　senior　memnotbers　of　the　Academy。　I　realize　no　one　ever　dreamed　it　could　happen；　but　it　has。　Walk　to　the　verge　of　the　plateau　with　me；　and　you'll　see。〃
The　Baenre　frowned。　Pharaun's　manner　was　too　presumptuous　by　half；　yet　something　in　it　manded　attention。
〃Very　well；〃　she　said；　〃but　if　this　is　some　sort　of　demented　jest；　you'll　suffer　for　it。〃
〃Mistress；〃　Minolin　said；　〃he　may　want　to　lead　you　into…〃
Quenthel　silenced　the　fool　with　a　cold　stare；　then　turned　back　to　Pharaun。
〃Lead　on；　Master　of　Sorcere。〃
In　point　of　fact；　the　high　priestess　didn't　have　to　walk　all　the　way　to　the　drop…off　to　tell　that　something　was　badly　wrong　in　the　city　below。　The　wavering　yellow　glare　of　firelight　and　a　foul　smoky　tang　in　the　air　alerted　her　as　soon　as　she　stepped　outside　the　spider…shaped　temple。　Heedless　of　her　dignity；　she　sprinted　for　the　edge；　and　Pharaun　scrambled　to　keep　up　with　her。
Below　her；　portions　of　Menzoberranzan…portions　of　the　stone；　how　could　that　be？…were　in　flames。　Impossibly；　even　the　Great　Mound　of　the　Baenre　sprouted　a　tuft　of　flame　at　its　highest　point；　like　a　tassel　on　a　hat。　Once　Quenthel's　eyes　adjusted　to　the　dazzling　brightness；　she　could　vaguely　make　out　the　mobs　rampaging　through　the　streets　and　plazas。
〃You　see；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃that's　why　I　ran　halfway　across　the　city；　dodgnoting　marauders　at　every　turn；　to　reach　you；　my　lady。　If　I　may　say　so；　the　sitnotuation's　even　worse　than　it　may　look。　By　and　large；　the　nobles　haven't　even　begun　reclaiming　the　streets。　They're　bogged　down　on　their　estates　fightnoting　their　own　household　goblins。　Therefore；　I　suggest　you…〃
The　mage　was　smart　enough　to　stop　talking　at　the　sight　of　Quenthel's　glare。
〃We　will　mobilize　Tier　Breche；〃　she　said。　〃Melee…Magthere　and　Arach…Tinilith　can　fight。　Sorcere　will　divide　its　efforts　between　supporting　us　and　extinguishing　the　fires。　You　will　either　find　my　brother　Gromph　or　act　in　his　stead。〃
Pharaun　bowed　low。
Quenthel　turned　and　saw　that　her　priestesses　and　novices　had　followed　her　out　onto　the　plateau。　Something　in　their　manner　brought　her　up　short。
〃Mistress；〃　said　long…eared　Viconia　Agrach　Dyrr；　one　of　the　senior　innotstructors；　rather　diffidently；　〃it　makes　perfect　sense　for　Melee…Magthere　and　Sorcere　to　descend　the　stairs；　but　。。。〃
〃But　you　ladies　have　lost　your　magic；〃　Pharaun　said。
The　sisters　of　the　temple　gaped　at　him。
〃You　know？〃　Quenthel　asked。
〃A　good　many　males　know；〃　the　mage　replied；　just　a　hint　of　impatience　peeking　through；　〃so　there's　no　point　in　killing　me　for　it。　I'll　explain　it　all　later。〃　He　turned　back　toward　the　rest　of　the　clerics。　〃Holy　Mothers　and　Sisters；　while　you　may　have　lost　your　spells；　you　have　scrolls；　talismans；　and　the　rest　of　the　divine　implements　your　order　hoards。　You　can　swing　maces；　if　it　es　to　that。　You　can　fight。〃
〃But　we've　lost　too　many　sisters；〃　Viconia　said　to　Quenthel。　〃The　demons　killed　a　couple；　and　you；　Mistress；　by　summoning　the　spiders；　slew　more。　We　don't　dare　risk　the　rest。　Someone　must　endure　to　preserve　the　lore　and　perform　the　rituals。〃
〃That's　far　too　optimistic；〃　Pharaun　said。
Viconia　scowled。　〃What　is；　boy？〃
〃The　assumption　that；　should　you　remain　up　here；　annihilation　will　pass　you　by；〃　the　wizard　replied。　〃It's　more　plausible　to　assume　that　if　the　ores　triumph　below；　they'll　climb　the　stairs　to　continue　their　depredations　up　here。　You　profess　devotion　to　Arach…Tinilith。　Surely　it　wou