war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第16部分

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　fighting　with　each　other。
A　clattering；　followed　a　split　second　later　by　grunts　and　cries　of　pain；　snapped　her　head　around　to　the　right。　At　the　far　end　of　the　landing；　a　second　contingent　of　sentries　also　looked　at　least　temporarily　incapacinottated；　these　because　Pharaun　had　pelted　them　with　a　conjured　barrage　of　ice。　He　disappeared　down　the　exit　they'd　been　guarding；　the　winding　crysnottal　staircase；　gorgeous　with　magical　luminescence；　which　connected　House　Mizzrym　with　the　cave　floor　below。　Greyanna　felt　a　twinge　of　annoyance；　but　only　that。　Apparently　she　wasn't　going　to　get　a　chance　to　torture　Pharaun；　but　he　was　unquestionnotably　going　to　die。　He　really　had　nowhere　to　run；　and　if　the　wretch　weren't　mired　in　a　blind　panic；　he'd　know　it。
At　least　she　could　deliver　the　stroke　that　would　seal　his　doom。　She　hurnotried　to　the　edge　of　the　landing；　saw　that　the　blistered；　bloody…headed　fool　was　better　than　halfway　down　the　radiant　diamond　steps；　and　pronotnounced；　as　quickly　as　possible；　the　long；　awkward　arcane　word　that　would　make　the　staircase　vanish。　That　alone　wouldn't　kill　him　unless　he　lost　his　head。　The　ability　to　levitate　granted　by　the　same　brooch　that　alnotlowed　him　to　pass　through　the　Houses　doors　would　keep　him　from　falling。　Limited　to　strictly　vertical　movement；　however；　he　ought　to　make　an　easy　mark　for　spells　and　arrows。
She　spoke　the　final　syllable。　Just　as　the　steps　seemed　to　pop　like　a　bubble；　Pharaun　leaped；　his　long　legs　making　him　look　like　a　pair　of　scisnotsors　spread　to　the　maximum　possible　width。　He　barely　made　it　onto　the　flattened　apex　of　the　gigantic　stalagmite　that　served　as　the　stair's　lower　ternotminus。
Greyanna　was　impressed。　That　jump　was　an　impressive　display　of　athleticism　for　a　battered　scholar　of　hedonistic　habits。　Not　that　it　would　do　him　any　good。　He　really　had　run　to　the　end　of　his　race。　She　leaned　out　and　shouted　for　the　foulwings　to　kill　him。　Winded；　still　stumbling　off…balance　from　hurdling　across　the　empty　space；　Pharaun　surely　couldn't　fend　off　both　of　them　at　once。
Grotesque　winged　predators　that　monly　reeked　of　their　caustic　amnotmonia　breath；　the　foulwings　bespoke　the　Mizzrym's　power　and　magical　prowess　and　lent　the　first　step　on　the　path　to　their　citadel　a　certain　style　that　mere　soldiers　could　not　match　They　also　made　terrifying　watch　beasts。　With　a　snap　of　their　clawed；　bat　like　wings；　in　no　wise　hindered　by　their　lack　of　legs；　they　spun　their　long…necked　bodies　around　to　loom　over　Phanotraun。　Forked　snouts　with　fanged　jaws　at　the　end　of　either　branch　came　questing　hungrily　down。　From　her　perch；　Greyanna　looked　on　with　a　ranotpacity　no　less　keen　than　theirs；　albeit　a　rapacity　of　the　soul。
Pharaun　shouted　something。　Greyanna　couldn't　quite　make　it　out；　but　it　didn't　seem　to　be　a　magical　word；　just　a　cry　of　fear　or　a　desperate　plea　for　mercy…a　plea　the　giant　beasts　would　not　heed。
Except　that　they　did。　They　hesitated；　and　he　lifted　his　hands。　Their　deadly　jaws　played　delicately　about　his　fingers；　taking　in　his　scent。
She　cried　again　for　the　brutes　to　kill　him。　They　twisted　their　heads　around　to　look　at　her；　but　he　spoke　to　them　once　more；　and　they　ignored　her　mand。
Greyanna　stared　in　amazement。　Pharaun　had　no　doubt　had　some　limnotited　contact　with　the　foulwings；　for　after　all；　he　lived　in　the　same　castle　with　them；　but　she　knew　he'd　never　ridden　one。　Only　the　females　of　House　Mizzrym　enjoyed　that　privilege；　and　it　was　only　by　riding　that　you　established　genuine　mastery　over　the　creatures。　How；　then；　could　he　posnotsibly　enjoy　a　rapport　with　them　deeper　than　her　own？
Pharaun　scrambled　onto　a　foulwing's　back；　and　both　it　and　its　fellow　sprang　into　the　air。　Obviously　her　brother　had　managed　to　dissolve　the　ennotchantment　that　made　the　beasts　want　to　sit　contentedly　at　their　post。
The　wizard　managed　his　mount　more　deftly　than　Greyanna　herself　could　have　done　without　benefit　of　saddle；　bridle；　and　goad。　He　shot　her　a　mocking　grin　as　he　turned　to　flee。　The　other；　rider　less　foulwing　soared　and　swooped　aimlessly；　enjoying　its　liberty。
Greyanna　shook　off　her　stunned　disbelief。　She　still　desperately　wanted　to　know　how　Pharaun　had　learned　to　ride　the　creatures…probably　Sabal　had　taught　him；　but　how　had　they　managed　it　without　anyone　else　findnoting　out？…but　she　wasn't　going　to　stand　there　pondering　the　question。　The　answer　was　less　important　than　the　kill。
She　turned　and　looked　around。　Those　guards　whom　Pharaun　had　addled　were　disoriented　still；　but　some　of　the　soldiers　he'd　battered　with　hailstones　appeared　to　have　regained　their　posure。
〃Shoot　him！〃　she　shouted；　pointing　at　the　rapidly　receding　target。　〃Shoot！〃
With　m