war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第76部分

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Quenthel　caught　the　blow　on　her　buckler。　To　her　surprise；　she　didn't　feel　the　slightest　shock；　but　the　shield　turned　blue；　changed　from　round　to　recnottangular；　and　became　many　times　heavier　than　it　had　been　before。
The　unexpected　weight　dragged　her　down　to　the　floor　again。　Resemnotbling　a　cresting　wave；　the　intruder　flowed　toward　her。　She　yanked；　but　her　shield　arm　was　caught　somehow　and　wouldn't　pull　free　of　the　straps。
Rippling　from　magenta　to　brown　stippled　with　scarlet；　the　demon　adnotvanced　to　within　inches　of　her　foot。　Quenthel's　boot　evaporated　into　wisps　of　vapor；　and　pain　stabbed　through　the　extremity。
Finally　her　hand　jerked　out　of　its　restraints；　and　she　flung　herself　backnotward；　rolling；　her　mail　whispering　against　the　floor。
When　she'd　put　sufficient　distance　between　herself　and　her　foe；　she　rose；　then　faltered。　For　an　instant；　she　couldn't　locate　the　fiend；　and　her　mind　struggled　to　make　sense　of　the　scene　before　her。　Green　and　blue；　shaped　like　an　hourglass；　the　demon　was　gliding　along　the　ceiling；　not　the　floor。　It　was　still　pursuing　her。　The　cursed　thing　was　random　in　every　respect　save　its　doggedly　murderous　intent。
The　entity's　howl　ceased　for　a　moment；　then　resumed　with　a　peal　of　childish　laughter。　Quenthel　snatched　and　unrolled　a　scroll；　which　abruptly　turned　into　a　rothe's　jawbone。　The　air　took　on　a　sooty　tinge；　and　her　next　breath　seared　her　lungs。
Choking；　she　stumbled　back　out　of　the　cloud。　She　could　breathe；　though　the　stinging　heat　in　her　throat　and　chest　persisted。　She　suspected　that；　had　she　inhaled　any　more　of　it；　the　taint　might　well　have　killed　her。　As　it　was；　it　had　incapacitated　and　possibly　slain　the　vipers；　who　hung　inert　from　the　butt　of　the　whip。
She　tossed　away　the　jawbone；　grabbed　another　scroll；　and　started　readnoting　the　powerful　spell　contained　therein。　Shaped　like　some　hybrid　of　dragon　and　wolf；　the　demon；　back　on　the　floor　again；　advanced　without　moving　its　legs。　Though　colored　the　blue　and　gold　of　flame；　it　threw　off　a　bitter　chill　that　threatened　to　freeze　the　skin　on　her　face　and　spoil　her　recitation　with　a　stammer。
Quenthel　thanked　the　goddess　that　her　own　education　in　Arach…Tinilith　had　taught　her　to　transcend　disfort。　She　forced　out　the　words　in　the　proper　manner；　and　a　black　blade；　like　a　greatsword　without　a　guard；　hilt；　or　tang；　shimmered　into　existence　in　front　of　her。
She　smiled。　The　floating　weapon　was　a　devastating　magic　known　only　to　the　priestesses　of　Lolth。　Quenthel　had　never　seen　any　creature　resist　it。　Though　the　stone　floor　was　still　chilly　against　the　sole　of　her　bare　foot；　the　ghastly　cold　had　passed；　and　she　stood　her　ground；　the　blade　interposed　between　her　and　her　pursuer。
〃Do　you　know　what　this　is？〃　she　asked　it。　〃It　can　kill　you。　It　can　kill　anything。〃
Certain　the　demon　could　hear　her　thoughts；　she　sent　it　the　words；　Surnotrender　and　tell　me　who　sent　you；　or　I'll　slice　you　to　pieces。
Emitting　a　sweet　scent　she'd　never　encountered　before；　looking　like　a　giant　frog　crudely　chiseled　from　mica　with　rows　of　wicked　fangs　in　its　sparkling　jaws；　the　chaos　demon　waddled　forward。
Fine；　the　Baenre　thought；　be　stupid。
Controlling　the　black　blade　with　her　thoughts；　she　bade　it　attack。　It　hacked　a　long　gash　in　the　top　of　the　frog　head　and　knocked　the　demon　down　on　its　belly。　The　edges　of　the　wound　burned　with　scarlet　fire。
The　intruder　turned　inky　black　while　flowing　into　a　shape　that　renotsembled　two　dozen　hands　growing　on　long；　leafy　stalks。　The　stems　stretchnoting　and　twisting；　the　creature　grabbed　for　the　sword。
Quenthel　let　the　hands　seize　hold　of　it；　and　as　she'd　expected；　the　magnotically　keen　double　edge　cut　them　to　pieces；　which　dropped　away　onto　the　floor。　The　demon　gave　a　particularly　loud　cry；　which　sounded　in　part　like　the　rhythmic　clanging　of　a　hammer　beating　metal　in　a　forge。　Wincing　at　the　noise；　the　priestess　didn't　know　if　the　extreme　volume　equated　to　a　scream　of　pain；　but　she　hoped　so。
The　demon　turned　into　a　miniature　green　tower　shaped　according　to　the　uncouth　architectural　notions　of　some　inferior　race。　A　force　surroundnoting　it　tugged　at　the　sword　as　if　the　keep　were　a　magnet　and　the　conjured　weapon；　forged　of　steel。　Quenthel　found　it　easy　to　pensate　for　the　pull。　She　slashed　away　chunks　of　masonry。
The　tower　opened　lengthwise　like　a　sarcophagus。　It　lurched　forward；　swallowed　the　sword；　and　closed　up　again。
The　entity　had　caught　Quenthel　by　surprise；　but　she　didn't　see　why　it　should　matter。　It　might　even　be　more　effective　to　cut　and　stab　her　foe　from　the　inside。　She　used　the　blade　to　thrust；　felt　the　point　bite；　and　her　psionic　link　with　the　weapon　snapped。
Startled；　she