war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第104节

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y　to　recreate　the　passage。
However；　just　to　maintain　the　habit　of　caution　that　had　balked　a　thounotsand　enemies；　he　turned　back　to　the　window；　then　scowled。
The　space　still　framed　the　spirit；　and　as　far　as　Gromph　could　see；　the　shadowy　thing　was　unharmed。　Darting　and　wheeling　through　curtains　of　pale　phosphorescence；　it　was　casting　about　in　the　bent　spaces　surrounding　the　stronghold。
Gromph　didn't　see　how　the　creature　could　find　him。　Nothing　could　locate　a　refuge　hidden　in　a　haze　of　scrambled　time；　not　without　the　tenant　in　some　way　guiding　it　in。　Nonetheless；　the　wizard　hurried　into　one　of　the　protective　golden　pentacles　adorning　the　marble　floor。
An　instant　later；　a　different　window　burst　inward；　the　casements　flying　from　their　hinges。　The　spirit　flowed　through；　in　the　process　resuming　the　form　it　had　worn　before　Gromph　transformed　it　into　the　semblance　of　a　kind　of　demon。　It　somewhat　resembled　a　wingless　dragon　with　long；　taurine　horns　sweeping　from　its　head；　which　also　possessed　a　single　globular　eye。　The　Archmage　couldn't　actually　see　the　orb…it　was　one　with　the　inky　shadow　of　the　spirit's　body…but　he　could　feel　its　baleful　regard。
Slightly　anxious　and　uncertain；　and　all　the　angrier　for　it；　Gromph　shouted；　〃K'rarza'q！　I　named；　summoned；　and　bound　you；　and　I　am　your　master。　By　the　Prince　Who　Dreams　in　the　Heart　of　the　Void　and　by　the　Word　of　Naratyr；　I　mand　you　to　kneel！〃
The　netherspirit　released　a　humid　stink　that　somehow　conveyed　the　essence　of　scornful　laughter；　then　it　bounded　forward。
Very　well；　Gromph　thought；　have　it　your　way。
He　thrust　the　curved　blade　of　his　ritual　dagger　into　his　belly。
As　he'd　expected；　the　creature　floundered　in　agony；　but　only　for　an　innotstant。　Anguish　erupted　in　the　Archmage's　own　stomach。　He　yanked　the　athame　out　of　his　flesh　an　instant　before　it　would　have　dealt　him　an　actual　wound。
K'rarza'q　lunged。　Ignoring　the　residual　pain　in　his　gut；　Gromph　recited　a　brief　incantation　and　thrust　out　his　arm。　The　air　rang　like　a　bell；　and　a　little　red　ball　of　fire　shot　from　his　hand。　It　struck　the　creature　and　。　。　。　nothnoting。　The　missile　winked　out　of　existence。
The　entity　reached　the　edge　of　the　pentacle。　A　barrier　of　azure　light　sprang　up　and　vanished　with　a　tortured　whine　as　the　spirit　drove　though。　The　creature　dipped　its　head　and　jerked　it　upward；　ramming　the　tip　of　one　of　its　horns　into　Gromph's　chest。
The　spirit　was　entirely　solid。　If　not　for　the　Robes　of　the　Archmage　and　his　other　protections；　the　long　blade　of　shadow　stuff　would　surely　have　imnotpaled　Gromph。　As　it　was；　it　picked　him　up　and　tossed　him　across　the　room。　In　midair；　he　strained　to　throw　off　the　numbing　shock　and　activate　the　powers　of　levitation　in　his　House　insignia。
The　power　woke　with　a　sort　of　sickening　pang；　but　wake　it　did。　He　floated　down　as　light　as　a　wisp　of　spider　silk；　avoiding　what　might　have　been　a　bone…shattering　fall。
As　soon　as　he　got　his　feet　under　him；　he　snatched　a　polished　wooden　wand　from　its　sheath　on　his　left　hip；　pointed　it；　and　murmured　the　trignotger　word。　A　bubble　of　pungent　brown　acid　swelled　on　the　end；　then　hurtled　at　the　spirit。　It　plunged　into　the　being's　cyclopean　mask；　but　apnotparently　without　inflicting　any　harm。
The　spirit　charged。　Gromph　stood　in　place　until　his　foe　was　nearly　on　top　of　him；　then　he　spoke　a　single　word。　A　minor　teleportation　shifted　him　instantaneously　to　the　other　end　of　the　circular　room；　behind　his　attacker's　back。
K'rarza'q　skidded　to　a　halt　and　cast　about　in　confusion。　Gromph　had　bought　himself　a　second；　no　more。　He　quickly　dropped　the　wand　of　acid；　snatched　a　spiral…cut　staff　of　polished　carnelian　from　its　place　on　a　rack　of　wizard's　tools；　lifted　it　over　his　head；　and　began　to　chant。　The　rod　posnotsessed　special　virtues　against　beings　from　other　levels　of　reality。　Perhaps　with　it　in　his　hand；　he　could　finally　drive　a　spell　through　his　foe's　defenses。
The　netherspirit　heard　his　voice；　turned；　and　hurtled　toward　him。　This　time　it　charged　without　moving　its　limbs；　simply　shifting　over　the　distance　with　terrifying　speed。　Preserving　the　cadence　and　intonation　as　only　a　master　wizard　could；　Gromph　picked　up　the　pace　of　his　incantation。　He　very　much　wanted　to　finish　before　the　creature　closed　with　him　again。
He　succeeded；　though　only　barely。　K'rarza'q　was　nearly　within　arm's　reach　when　the　magic　blazed　into　existence。　A　lance　of　dazzling　glare　plunged　into　the　nether　spirit　s　eye。
The　reeking　creature　dropped　to　the　floor；　its　substance　unraveling　into　shapeless　clumps　and　tatters。　Gromph　smiled；　and　a　dozen　strands　of　spirit…stuff　reared　up　at　him　like　the　vipers　in　his　cursed　sister's　whip。
The　Ar