war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第12节

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Unless；　of　course；　the　spider　wasn't　really　on　the　ceiling；　which　was　a　real　possibility。　Maybe　it　was　actually　hiding　elsewhere。　It　might　even　be　creepnoting　up　on　her　while　she　stared　at　the　burning　painting　and　the　nervous　vipers　worried　more　about　their　proximity　to　a　dark　fire　than　about　keepnoting　watch。
No；　her　intuition　had　pointed　her　in　the　right　direction。　She　spotted　the　spider　as　it　gathered　itself　to　spring　down　at　her；　and　having　flushed　it　out；　she　need　only　survive　its　renewed　attack。
She　dived　from　beneath　its　plummeting　form　and　rolled；　leaving　a　trail　of　black；　burning　scraps　of　cloth　behind　on　the　floor。　The　creature　with　its　tattered；　oozing　eyes　landed　with　a　thump；　its　eight　legs　flexing　to　absorb　the　impact。　
Quenthel　scrambled　up　and　backed　away　from　it。　Her　whole　gown　was　aflame；　nearly　her　entire　body　shrouded　in　dark　fire。　She　threw　another　ball　of　the　stuff；　which　spattered　on　the　demon's　back　and　streamed　down　its　flanks。　To　her　delight；　her　magic　affected　it　again。　The　spider　too　wore　a　mantle　of　shadowy　flame；　the　heat　rippling　the　air　above　it。
That　meant　it　ought　to　drop；　didn't　it；　or　at　least　flounder　about　in　helpnotless　agony？　The　fire　was　surely　damaging　it；　for　Quenthel　could　smell　its　flesh　charring　even　through　the　omnipresent　reek　of　burning　paint；　but　the　demon　turned　and　scuttled　after　her。
She　aimed　the　next　burning　missile　at　the　cluster　of　eyes　that　seemed　in　some　indefinable　way　to　constitute　the　very　core　of　the　thing。　The　spider　did　lurch　and　falter　when　the　burning　darkness　splashed　over　the　orbs；　but　only　for　a　second；　and　it　kept　ing。
Unable　to　outrun　it；　hoping　she'd　at　least　softened　it　up　a　little；　Quennotthel　shouted　her　goddess's　name　and　lunged　to　meet　it。　Sheathed　in　dark…fire；　her　whole　body　was　a　weapon　and　would　burn　the　spider　wherever　it　touched。　Where　the　black　flame　on　the　monster's　limbs　was　giving　way　to　yellow；　it　could　burn　her；　too；　but　not　if　she　didn't　let　it。　Their　natural　savnotagery　overing　their　fear　of　fire；　the　whip　vipers　lashed　and　struck　in　a　frenzy　of　bloodlust。
At　first；　swinging　the　whip；　ducking　and　dodging；　she　kept　hernotself　clear　of　the　spider's　mandibles。　She　shifted　left　when　she　should　have　jumped　right；　and　the　razor…sharp　pincers　snapped　shut　around　her。
They　stopped　short　of　piercing　her　flesh。　Loath　to　clasp　her　blazing　body　and　be　seared　thereby；　the　spider　faltered　for　just　an　instant。　Before　it　could　muster　the　will　to　proceed；　Quenthel　struck　a　final　blow。
The　ophidian　lashes　crashed　through　the　demon's　charred　and　tattered　visage　and　bit　into　what　lay　beneath。　The　spider　jerked；　froze；　twitched　two　of　its　legs　in　a　purposeless　way；　and　the　burning　hulk　of　it　slowly　sank　to　the　floor；　just　as　Quenthel's　spell　elapsed　and　all　the　dark　fire　still　cracknotling　in　the　chamber　winked　out　of　existence。
She　shouted　in　exultation。　Equally　ecstatic；　only　a　little　singed；　the　vipers　danced　at　the　end　of　the　scourge。　Everyone's　good　mood　lasted　just　as　long　as　it　took　for　the　Baenre　priestess；　clad　primarily　in　smoke　and　ash；　to　turn　toward　the　door。　
Though　she'd　been　far　too　busy　to　notice　hitherto；　at　some　point　a　number　of　teachers　and　students　had　evidently　crowded　into　the　space　to　watch　the　battle。　They　were　watching　Quenthel　still；　eyes　wide；　faces　uncertain。
〃It　was　a　desecration；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃A　mockery。〃
She　stared　at　them　with　haughty　expectation。
They　peered　back　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　folded　their　hands　and　bowed　their　heads　in　obeisance。































C　h　a　p　t　e　r

T　H　R　E　E
Tall　and　lithe；　the　left　side　of　her　otherwise　handsome　face　creased　with　an　old　battle　scar　of　which；　she　recognized；　she　was　rather　foolishly　proud；　Greyanna　Mizzrym　entered　her　mother's　presence　dirty；　sweaty；　and　still　clad　in　her　mail　shirt。　Greyanna　knew　Mother　didn't　like　for　her　daughters　and　other　chattels　to　e　to　meet　with　her　fully　armed；　but　she　had　an　excuse。　She'd　just　returned　from　an　inspection　tour　of　Mizzrym　operations　in　Bauthwaf…〃around…cloak；〃　as　the　dangerous　network　of　tunnels　imnotmediately　surrounding　Menzoberranzan　was　called…only　to　hear　from　a　frantic　functionary　bearing　the　fresh　marks　of　a　whip　of　fangs　that　the　matron　mother　wished　to　see　her　as　soon　as　possible。
Actually；　even　knowing　the　articles　likely　wouldn't　save　her　if　things　went　horribly　wrong；　Greyanna　rather　liked　having　a　justification　to　walk　in　on　her　parent　with　her　mace　in　her　hand　and　her　shield　on　her　arm。　She　couldn't　think　of　any　reason　why　Mother　would　have　decided　to　kill　her　at　this　particular　point　in　time；　but　one　cou