war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第44部分

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ve。　With　the　net　still　tightening　every　second；　it　was　just　as　hard　to　withdraw　the　article　as　it　had　been　to　reach　it。　He　exnotperimented　to　see　if　he　could　possibly　fumble　it　through　the　proper　mysnottical　pass。
Such　a　cramped；　tiny　motion　was　neither　easy　nor　natural　for　him。　He　was　accustomed　to　conjure　with　a　certain　flair；　making　sweeping；　dramatic　gestures。　Yet　he　had　on　occasion　practiced　making　the　signs　as　small　as　posnotsible。　It　was　good　for　his　control　and　had　a　few　times　allowed　him　to　cast　a　spell　without　an　adversary　realizing　what　he　was　about。　So　he　had　some　hope　of　properly　manipulating　the　glove。　If　only　the　web　wasn't　so　con…strictive　or　his　hand　so　dead　and　awkward。
〃Excuse　me；〃　Greyanna　said；　then　suspended　the　conversation　to　read　from　her　scroll。
It　was　of　course　divine　magic；　not　arcane；　and　Pharaun　didn't　recognize　all　the　words。　The　effect；　however；　was　unmistakable。　The　rapier　jerked　and　fell　to　the　ground　with　a　clank。　The　masked　wizard　stepped　forward　and　scooped　it　up。　Pharaun　was　content　at　least　with　the　fact　that　the　rapier's　peculiar　enchantment　would　make　it　impossible　for　Greyanna's　henchman　to　turn　the　weapon　on　him…at　least　not　for　an　hour　or　so。
Pharaun　recognized　the　mage；　whose　high；　wide　forehead　and　small；　pointed　chin　were　unmistakable。　Pharaun　had　always　thought　they　made　the　other　mage's　head　look　like　an　egg。　He　was　Relonor　Vrinn；　an　able　wizard　and　longtime　Mizzrym　retainer。　He　was　still　wearing　his　silk　sash　with　the　spell　foci　tucked　inside　and　an　eight…pointed　gold　brooch　securnoting　it。
Scimitars　in　hand；　the　warriors　approached　the　net。　Judging　from　their　smiles；　they'd　decided　there　was　nothing　to　fear　and　were　looking　forward　to　beating　the　two　prisoners　unconscious。
Pharaun　was　not　yet　satisfied　with　his　employment　of　the　glove；　but　he　was　rather　clearly　out　of　time。　He　would　just　have　to　try　the　pass　and　see　if　it　worked。　He　shifted　the　focus　one　more　time；　meanwhile　reciting　an　incantation　under　his　breath。
A　giant　hand；　radiant　and　translucent；　appeared　beneath　the　net。　The　instantaneous　addition　of　another　object　lodged　inside　jerked　the　mesh　even　tighter。　Pharaun　knew　the　jolt　was　ing；　but　he　cried　out　anyway。
The　pain　only　intensified　when；　responding　to　the　wizard's　unspoken　mand；　the　hand　hurtled　twenty…five　feet　into　the　air；　carrying　the　net　and　its　prisoners　along。　For　a　moment；　Pharaun　feared　he　would　black　out；　but　the　pressure　eased。　As　he'd　hoped；　and　despite　the　best　sliding；　bunchnoting　efforts　of　the　web　of　ropes；　his　own　weight　was　dragging　him　free。　He　shoved　and　thrashed　to　speed　the　process　along。
When　he　was　able；　he　looked　over　at　Ryld。　The　hulking　warrior　was　wrestling　free　of　the　net　as　well；　though　he　lost　hold　of　Splitter　doing　it。　The　great　sword　fell　point　first；　narrowly　missed　plunging　through　one　of　the　Mizzrym　warriors；　and　stuck　pommel　up　in　the　smooth　stone　surface　of　the　street。
〃We　have　to　fall；〃　said　Ryld。　〃If　we　just　float　here；　they'll　shoot　and　magic　us　to　pieces。〃
〃Let's　go；〃　Pharaun　replied。
The　masters　released　their　holds　and　plummeted。　One　of　the　soldiers　hit　Ryld　with　an　arrow；　but　the　missile　failed　to　penetrate　his　armor。　A　ball　of　flame　exploded　in　the　air；　but　Relonor　had　aimed　too　high；　and　the　blast　only　made　his　targets　flinch。　Pharaun　used　his　House　insignia　to　slow　his　descent　just　a　little。　He　thought　that　otherwise　he'd　break　his　legs。
As　a　result；　he　saw　Ryld…who　possessed　a　similar　levitating　talisman；　his　bearing　the　sigil　of　Melee…Magthere…reach　the　ground　a　moment　ahead　of　him。　The　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　tucked　into　a　ball；　rolled；　sprang　up　with　short　sword　in　hand；　and　lunged　at　the　soldier　who'd　loosed　the　arrow。　The　masked　male　leaped　backward；　dropped　his　bow；　and　whipped　his　scimitar　out　of　its　scabbard　again。　While　he　was　so　ennotgaged；　Ryld　yanked　Splitter　out　of　the　ground。
Pharaun　landed。　Despite　his　attempt　to　cushion　the　impact；　it　slammed　up　his　legs　and　sent　him　staggering。　As　he　fought　to　recover　his　balance；　he　noticed　Relonor　swirling　his　hands　in　a　star…shaped　pattern。
As　the　Master　of　Sorcere　lurched　upright；　the　other　mage　pleted　his　incantation。　A　long；　angular　reptilian　thing　sprang　from　the　palms　of　the　older　drow's　outstretched　hands　as　if　they　were　the　doorway　to　another　world。　Wreathed　in　flowing　blue　flame；　the　monster　charged　Pharaun。
Relonor　was　a　gifted　mage　but　no　marvel　as　a　tactician。　In　the　excitenotment　of　the　moment；　he'd　reflexively　cast　his　favorite　spell；　and　characternotistically　for　a　Mizzrym　retainer；　it　was　an　illusion。　He'd　forgotten　that　his　foe；　born　in　the　same　House；　might　well　recognize