war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第77部分

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Startled；　she　nonetheless　reflexively　reached　for　another　scroll。　The　demon　spread　out　into　a　low；　squirming　red　and　yellow　mass。　A　hole　dinotlated　in　the　midst　of　it；　and　it　spat　the　sword　out。　The　weapon　retained　its　shape　but　rippled　with　shifting　colors　just　as　the　intruder　did；　and　Quennotthel　still　couldn't　feel　it　with　her　mind。
She　backed　away；　the　blade　followed；　and；　rattling　and　growling；　the　demon　brought　up　the　rear。　The　sword　swept　back　and　forth；　up　and　down；　while　she　ducked　and　dodged。　So　far；　she　was　evading　it；　but　it　hampered　and　hurt　her　simply　by　being　near。　Her　mail　turned　to　moss　and
crumbled　away。　Her　flesh　throbbed　with　sudden　pains　as　the　demon's　power　sought　to　transform　it。　One　leg　turned　numb　and　immobile　for　a　second；　and　she　nearly　fell。　Itchy　scales　grew　on　her　skin　then　faded　away。　Her　eyes　ached；　the　world　blurred　to　black；　white；　and　gray；　and　the　colors　exploded　back　into　view。　Her　identity　itself　was　in　flux。　For　one　instant；　she　thought　the　thoughts　and　felt　the　soft；　alien　emotions　of　an　arthritic　human　seamstress　dwelling　somewhere　in　the　World　Above。
Somehow；　despite　all　such　disconcerting　phenomena；　she　managed　to　read　the　spell　on　the　scroll　and　avoid　the　radiant　blade　at　the　same　time。
She　wasn't　sure　how　this　particular　parchment　had　found　its　way　to　Arach…Tinilith。　She　questioned　that　a　dark　elf　had　scribed　it；　for　it　connottained　a　spell　that　few　drow　ever　cast。　Indeed；　some　priestesses　would　disdain　to　cast　it；　because　it　invoked　a　force　regarded　as　anathema　to　their　faith。　But　Quenthel　knew　the　goddess　would　want　her　to　use　any　weapon　necessary　to　vanquish　her　foe；　and　it　was　remotely　possible　that　this　magic　would　prevail　where　even　the　supposedly　invincible　black　blade　had　failed。
Bright；　intricate　harmonies　sang　from　the　empty　air。　A　field　of　bluish　phosphorescence　sprang　up　around　her。　Within　it；　she　could　make　out　innottangible　geometric　forms　revolving　around　one　another　in　plex　symnotmetrical　patterns。
The　cool　radiance　expressed　the　power　of　order；　of　law；　the　antithesis　of　chaos。　The　sword　that　had　bee　an　extension　of　the　demon's　will　froze　inside　it　like　an　insect　in　amber…and　the　demon　was　equally　still。　For　a　moment；　at　least。　The　creature　began　hitching　ever　so　slightly　forward；　working　itself　loose　of　the　restricting　magic。
The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　was　essentially　a　creature　of　chaos　as　well；　but　mortal　and　native　to　the　material　plane；　and　thus　the　spell　had　no　power　over　her。　She　wheeled　and　dashed　to　the　body　lying　in　the　doorway。　Only　the　spider　part　of　it　was　moving；　chewing　and　slurping　on　the　rest。
The　dead　girl　turned　out　to　be　Halavin　Symrywin；　who'd　had　the　surnotprisingly　good　sense　to　remove　all　that　gaudy；　clinking　jewelry　before　atnottempting　to　attack　by　surprise。　The　novice　had　managed　the　arbalest　rather　deftly；　considering　her　sore；　mutilated　hands。
Quenthel　stooped　to　pick　up　the　weapon　and　the　quiver　containing　the　rest　of　the　enchanted　quarrels。　She　moved　warily；　but　the　feasting　arachnid　paid　her　no　mind。
She　turned；　laid　a　dart　in　the　channel；　and　shot。　When　the　shaft　hit　it；　the　demon　shuddered　in　its　nearly　immobile　form；　but　didn't　die。
It　occurred　to　her　that　she　could　get　away　from　it　while　it　was　trapped；　muster　any　loyal　minions　who　hadn't　partaken　of　the　poisoned　supper；　and　fight　the　thing　at　the　head　of　a　pany；　just　as　she'd　originally　intended。　After　the　harrowing　events　of　the　past　minutes；　the　idea　had　a　certain　appeal。
But　after　what　she'd　endured；　she　wanted　to　be　the　one　to　teach　this　vermin　a　lesson　about　molesting　the　clergy　of　Lolth。　Besides；　the　appearnotance　of　strength　was　vital。　So　she　kept　shooting　as　fast　as　the　cocking　action　of　the　weapon　would　allow。　The　demon　inched　its　way　toward　her　as　if　it　was　made　of　half…cooled　magma。
Four　bolts　left；　then　three。　She　pulled　the　trigger；　the　dart　struck　the　demon　in　the　middle　of　its　horned；　triangular　head；　and　it　winked　out　of　existence。
She　could　still　hear　its　voice；　but　knew　that　was　just　because　it　had　shrieked　so　long　and　loudly。　She　gave　her　head　a　shake；　trying　to　quell　the　phantom　sound；　then　glimpsed　yet　another　shadow　watching　her　from　some　distance　away。
〃You！〃　she　shouted；　cocking　the　arbalest　to　receive　the　penultimate　quarrel。　〃e　here！〃
The　other　dark　elf　bolted。　Quenthel　gave　chase；　but　she　was　still　a　little　winded　from　the　struggle　with　the　demon；　and　her　quarry　outdistanced　her　and　disappeared。
The　Baenre　stalked　on　through　the　labyrinthine　chambers　and　corridors　until　she　rounded　a　bend　and　came　face　to　face　with　three　of　her　minions。　The　goddess　only　knew　what　their　true　sent