war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第78部分

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ions。　The　goddess　only　knew　what　their　true　sentiments　were；　but　confronted　with　her　leveled　arbalest　and　the　obvious　fact　that；　while　her　gear　was　much　the　worse　for　wear；　she　herself　was　unscathed；　they　hastily　saluted。
〃I　killed　tonight's　intruder；〃　she　said；　〃and　a　homegrown　enemy　as　well。　What　do　you　know　of　our　situation？　Is　anyone　else　dead？〃
〃No；　Mistress；〃　said　a　priestess。　The　lowered　visor　of　her　spider…crested　helmet　pletely　concealed　her　features；　but　from　her　voice；　Quenthel　recognized　Quave；　one　of　the　senior　instructors。　〃Most　of　those　who　ate　and　drank　the　tainted　meal　are　waking。　I　think　the　poisoner　only　wanted　to　render　us　unconscious；　not　kill　us。〃
〃Apparently；〃　said　Quenthel；　〃she　was　willing　to　let　the　demon　adminnotister　the　coup　de　grace　to　me。　What　of　those　who　encountered　the　entity　before　I　did？〃
Quave　hesitated；　then　said；　〃When　they　tried　to　hinder　it；　it　hurt　them；　but　not　to　the　point　of　death。　They　should　recover　as　well。〃
〃Good；〃　Quenthel　said；　though　she　took　no　joy　in　knowing　she　was　the　unknown　enemy's　sole　target。
〃What　are　your　orders；　Mistress？〃　asked　Quave。
〃We'll　have　to　sort　out　the　living　from　the　dead；　and　deal　with　each　acnotcordingly。　We'll　also　look　for　the　place　where　the　demon　got　in；　and　seal　it。〃
These　were　tasks　that　would　doubtless　keep　her　occupied　for　the　rest　of　the　night；　but　she　knew　she　had　to　find　a　way　to　stop　the　intrusions；　and　pull　the　fangs　of　another　crisis　as　well。
It　would　all　for　make　an　arduous　day's　labor；　with　the　oute　uncernottain　enough　to　depress　even　a　high　priestess。　Still；　her　mood　lifted　slightly　when　her　vipers　began　to　stir。
*　*　*
〃I　have　a　healing　potion；〃　said　Ryld。　He　took　a　small　pewter　vial　from　his　pouch；　unstoppered　it；　and　held　it　to　Pharaun's　lips。　The　wizard　drank　the　liquid　down。
〃That　might　be　a　little　better；〃　Pharaun　said　after　a　moment。　〃But　it's　still　bad。　I'm　still　bleeding。　On　the　inside；　too；　I　think。　Do　you　have　any　more？〃
〃No。〃
〃Pity。　A　wretched　little　goblin　did　this。　I　can't　believe　it。〃
〃Can　you　walk？〃　asked　Ryld。
Pharaun　would　have　to　move　or　be　moved；　somehow。　He　couldn't　just　lie　in　the　street；　not　in　the　Braeryn；　not　on　a　night　when　the　hunt　was　out。　It　was　far　too　dangerous。
〃Possibly。〃　The　mage　strained　to　lift　himself　up　with　his　hands；　then　slumped　back　down。　〃But　apparently　not。〃
〃I'll　carry　you；〃　said　Ryld。
He　gathered　the　mage　in　his　arms；　and　bidding　Pharaun　do　the　same；　called　upon　the　magic　of　his　House　insignia。　They　floated　slowly　upward；　and　swung　onto　a　rooftop。
The　view　from　that　vantage　point　was　far　from　encouraging。　Screaming　undercreatures　ran　through　the　streets　and　alleys　of　the　Braeryn　with　whooping　riders　in　pursuit。　The　dark　elves　killed　the　goblins　with　the　thrust　of　a　lance；　the　slash　of　a　sword；　or　simply　by　trampling　them　under　the　clawed　feet　of　their　lizards。　They　tended　to　find　intimate　mayhem　more　amusing。　Some；　however；　had　no　qualms　about　loosing　a　quarrel　or　conjuring　a　blast　of　magic。
Still　other　drow　wheeled　above　the　scene　on　foulwings；　wyverns；　and　other　winged　mounts。　Ryld　saw　danger　on　every　side。
He　hauled　Pharaun　up　against　a　sort　of　gable　in　the　hope　that　it　would　provide　cover　against　the　scrutiny　of　the　flyers。
〃It's　bad；〃　the　swordsman　said。　〃A　lot　of　drow　are　hunting。　There's　no　clear　path　out　of　the　district。〃
The　wizard　didn't　reply。
〃Pharaun！〃
〃Yes；〃　sighed　his　friend；　〃I'm　still　conscious。　Barely。〃
〃We'll　hide　here　until　the　hunt　ends。　I'll　cover　us　with　a　patch　of　darknotness。〃
〃That　might　w…〃
Pharaun　gasped　and　thrashed。　Ryld　held　on　to　him　for　fear　that　he'd　roll　off　the　roof。
When　the　seizure　ended；　the　Mizzrym's　face　seemed　gaunt　and　drawn　in　a　way　it　hadn't　been　before。　More　blood　seeped　from　his　wounded　stomach。
〃This　isn't　going　to　work；〃　said　Ryld；　〃not　by　itself。　Unless　you　have　some　more　healing；　you're　going　to　die。〃
〃That　would　be　。。。　a　profound　tragedy　。　。　。　but　。　。　。〃
〃We　have　plenty　of　dark　elves　in　the　Braeryn　tonight。　One　of　them　surely　brought　some　restorative　magic　along。　I'll　just　have　to　take　it　from　him；　or　her。　Here's　that　darkness。〃
Ryld　touched　the　roof　and　conjured　a　shadow　that　covered　the　Master　of　Sorcere　and　not　much　else。　With　luck；　the　effect　was　localized　enough　that　no　one　would　notice　the　obscuration　itself。
The　weapons　master　rose　and　raced　away。　Whenever　possible；　he　ran　along　the　rooftops；　bounding　from　one　to　the　next。　Often　enough；　hownotever；　the　houses　were　far　enough　apart　that　he　had　to　jump　down　to　the　ground　and　skulk　his　way　through　the　slaughter。
It　was　at　such　a　time　that　he　saw　another　hunting　party。　Unfortunately；　the　group　wa