war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第152节

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The　Master　of　Sorcere　bowed　low。
Pharaun　cast　a　spell；　then　slipped　through　the　closed　door　like　a　ghost。　On　the　other　side　was　a　drab；　stale…smelling　little　room。　Wrapped　in　a　blanket　like　an　invalid；　her　scarred　face　a　mask　of　bitterness；　Greyanna　sat　in　the　only　chair。
For　an　instant；　she　stared　at　him　stupidly；　then　started　to　throw　off　the　cover；　presumably　with　the　intent　of　jumping　up。　He　lifted　his　hands　as　if　to　cast　a　spell；　and　the　threat　froze　her　in　place。
〃What　a　dreary　habitation；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　Sabal's；　wasn't　it；　when　her　fortunes　were　at　their　nadir。　Mother　has　a　good　memory　and　a　charming　sense　of　irony　as　well。〃
〃And　she'll　kill　you；　outcast；　for　breaking　into　the　castle。〃
〃I　always　assumed　so。　That's　one　reason　I　never　paid　you　a　visit　hitherto。　But　our　circumstances　have　changed。　The　Council　needs　me　to　help　denottermine　what's　bee　of　the　Spider　Queen；　and　you；　dear　sib；　are　no　longer　a　person　of　any　importance。　As　Miz'ri's　demoted　you　for　your　renotpeated　failures　to　kill　me；　I　doubt　she'll　make　an　issue　of　your　extinction；　even　if　she's　certain　I'm　responsible。　She　smiled　at　me　this　afternoon　when　I　saw　her　in　House　Baenre；　can　you　believe　it？　She　must　have　decided　she'd　like　me　to　resign　from　Sorcere　and　rejoin　the　family　someday。　Evidently　she's　just　realizing　how　powerful　I've　bee　in　the　decades　since　you　chased　me　out　the　door。〃
〃I'm　surprised　you　still　want　to　kill　me；〃　Greyanna　said。　〃You've　already　defeated　and　ruined　me。　Death　may　prove　a　mercy。〃
〃I　considered　that；　but　I'm　going　on　a　journey　into　the　unknown；　a　quest　fraught　with　peril　and　adversity　to　be　sure；　and　I　need　something　special　to　hearten　me；　a　memory　fraught　with　spectacle　and　drama　to　cheer　me　on　the　trail。〃
〃I　suppose　I　understand；〃　the　priestess　said；　〃but　I　wonder　why　it's　e　to　this。　All　these　years；　I've　never　truly　understood　the　basis　for　our　feud。　If　I'm　to　die；　will　you　at　least　tell　me　why　you　chose　Sabal　over　me？　Was　it　fondness？　Was　it　lust？〃
〃Neither；〃　Pharaun　chuckled。　〃My　choice　had　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　personalities。　How　could　it；　when　you　twins　were　so　alike？　I　threw　in　with　Sabal　simply　because　she　was　dangling　from　the　bottom　rung　of　the　Mizzrym　ladder。　I　thought　it　would　be　an　amusing　challenge　to　lift　her　to　the　top。〃
〃Thank　you　for　explaining；〃　Greyanna　said。　〃Now　die。〃
Pharaun's　own　living　rapier　leaped　from　beneath　the　blanket。　Obviously　Greyanna　had　not　only　claimed　the　fallen　weapon　but　figured　out　how　to　control　it。　No　doubt　she'd　been　wearing　it　in　its　steel…ring　form　when　he　entered　the　room。　Knowing　how　he　loved　to　talk；　she'd　lulled　him　with　conversation　and　took　him　by　surprise。
The　long；　thin…bladed　sword　hurtled　across　the　room　toward　Pharaun's　chest。　He　frantically　shifted　to　the　side；　and　the　point　plunged　into　his　left　forearm　instead。　For　a　second；　he　couldn't　feel　the　puncture；　and　it　flared　with　pain。
He　had　to　immobilize　the　weapon　or　it　would　pull　itself　free　and　attack　again。　He　grabbed　hold　of　the　blade　with　his　right　hand；　and　it　sliced　into　his　palm。　A　rapier　was　made　for　thrusting；　but　it　had　sharp　edges　even　so。　Sharp　enough；　anyway。
At　the　same　instant；　Greyanna　cast　off　the　blanket　and　snatched　a　mace　from　behind　her　chair。　She　jumped　up　and　charged。
Pharaun　narrowly　dodged　her　first　swing；　then　threw　himself　against　her；　ramming　her　with　his　shoulder。　The　impact　knocked　her　stumbling　backward。
It　didn't　hurt　her；　though。　She　laughed　and　advanced　on　him　a