war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第54节

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nally　the　duergar　fell　off…balance　and　collapsed；　un…moving；　to　the　paved　street。
　　　〃e　on；〃　Pharaun　insisted；　taking　Danifae　by　the　hand　and　leading　her；　still　limping　from　her　ordeal　back　in　the　collapsing　House；　up　the　stairs　to　the　top　of　the　landing。
　　　A　pair　of　gray　dwarves　started　to　follow　the　two　of　them　then　stopped　about　halfway　up；　aiming　loaded　crossbows。　Pharaun　spun　away　and　yanked　his　piwafwi's　hood　around　him；　using　the　cloak　to　shield　both　himself　and　Danifae。　Two　bolts　smacked　into　the　center　of　his　back；　giving　him　a　vicious　sting。
　　　He　cried　out　from　the　pain；　sinking　down　to　one　knee。　Angrily　freeing　his　magical　rapier；　Pharaun　turned　back　to　face　the　pair　of　duergar；　mentally　directing　the　dancing　weapon　toward　them。　The　wizard　managed　to　engage　the　first　gray　dwarf；　but　the　second　one　scrambled　past　the　enchanted　weapon　and　clambered　up　the　steps　toward　him。
　　　A　blur　of　fur　and　claws　landed　on　the　steps　between　the　mage　and　his　foe；　and　Jeggred　sliced　and　gashed　at　the　duergar；　spraying　gouts　of　blood　in　every　direction。　The　humanoid　staggered　back　from　the　draegloth's　onslaught；　his　arms　held　up　defensively　as　he　was　cut　down。　When　the　first　gray　dwarf　saw　the　fate　of　his　panion；　he　backed　down　the　steps　and　fled　into　the　swirling　maelstrom　of　skirmishing　below。
　　　〃Stay　here；〃　Jeggred　said；　bounding　back　down　into　the　crowd。　〃I　will　get　the　others。〃
　　　Pharaun　considered　whether　to　obey　the　draegloth　or　ignore　the　beast。　He　would　be　much　happier；　he　decided；　if　he　could　get　up　on　top　of　the　building；　but　he　knew　that　Danifae　was　unable　to　follow　him；　should　he　choose　to　levitate　there。　He　decided　to　await　the　return　of　Quenthel's　pet。
　　　〃Back　in　here；〃　he　said　to　Danifae；　stepping　into　the　deeper　darkness　of　the　entryway　and　pulling　her　in　after　him。
　　　From　there；　they　could　watch　the　street　below　without　being　so　exposed。
　　　Danifae　pressed　against　Pharaun；　trying　to　remain　out　of　sight；　but　the　effect　was　very　distracting。　The　mage　found　himself　pressing　right　back；　while　at　the　same　time　wondering　how　he　could　be　so　easily　diverted　during　such　a　time。
　　　It's　not　like　you've　never　enjoyed　the　feel　of　the　flesh　before；　he　chided　himself。
　　　Still；　he　was　glad　that　she　lingered　there；　though　whether　her　contact　with　him　was　purely　happenstance　or　calculated；　he　wasn't　sure。
　　　The　too　of　them　did　not　have　to　wait　long。　Jeggred　reappeared　after　a　code　of　moments；　with　Quenthel　right　behind　him。　Jeggred　cut　a　swath　through　the　crowd　with　his　oversized　claws；　while　the　drow　protected　the　fiend's　back。　As　the　duo　forced　their　way　through　the　throng　more　than　a　few　fell　before　the　draegloth's　fierce　strikes。　Finally；　they　reached　the　stairs　and　hurried　up　to　the　landing。
　　　〃We're　here；〃　Pharaun　said；　gesturing　for　Quenthel　and　Jeggred　to　join　him。　〃We've　got　to　get　to　the　roof；〃　he　said；　pointing　over　their　head；；　〃We　can　see　much　better　from　up　there；　and　stay　out　of　the　fray；〃
　　　Jeggred　nodded　and　grabbed　Danifae。　Together；　they　began　to　levitate　upward；　reaching　a　spot　on　the　roof　that　overlooked　the　sea　of　clashing　bodies　below。　Pharaun　and　Quenthel　followed　quickly。　The　four　of　them　settled　down　atop　the　rounded　surface　and　dropped　low；　wanting　to　avoid　creating　too　large　a　profile　against　the　backdrop　of　the　city。　Pharaun　did　a　careful　inspection　of　the　city　streets　one　level　up；　trying　to　ascertain　whether　or　not　they'd　been　noticed　from　there。　It　appeared　that　they　had　not。
　　　〃Do　you　see　them？〃　Quenthel　asked　no　one　in　particular；　and　Pharaun　returned　his　attention　to　the　scene　below。
　　　The　tittle　still　raged；　but　it　was　beginning　to　thin　somewhat　as　the　body　count　grew。
　　　〃Nothing；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　replied；　and　Danifae　also　shook　her　head。
　　　〃The　warrior　went　running　that　way；〃　the　battle　captive　said；　pointing　toward　a　side　street　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　square。　〃I　think　Malistra　followed　him。〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　heard　him；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃I　tried　to　get　there；　but　the　surge　was　too　much。　When　the　fighting　dies　down；　we　can　try　to　reach　them。〃
　　　〃What　about　Valas？〃　Quenthel　said。　〃What　happened　to　him？〃
　　　Pharaun　replied；　〃I　don't　know；　but　he　can　disappear　even　when　you're　looking　right　at　him；　so　I　don't　think　he's　in　much　danger。　He'll　show　upwhen　we　need　him　most。〃
　　　By　this　time；　the　duergar　were　beginning　to　overwhelm　the　force　of　dark　elves；　and　when　reinforcements　for　the　gray　dwarves　arrived；　what　was　left　of　the　drow　turned　and　fled。　Pharaun　watched；　hoping　the　throng　of　duergar　would　give　chase；　but　they　seemed　content　to　hold　up　and　regroup。
　　　That's　when　everything　went　wrong。
　　　Five　or　six　crossbow　bolts　snapped　against　the　roof　next　to　the　wizard；　and　a　couple　of　them　actually　struck　him　in　the　back。　Only　the　enchantments　of　his　piwafwi　protected　him；　but　he　was　getting　damned　tired　of　being　hit。　Danifae　was　not　so　lucky。　One　of　the　bolts　speared　her　through　the　calf；　and　she　growled　in　pain　as　Pharaun　leaped　up　to　shield　her　with　his　own　body。
　　　A　burst　of　flame　and　light　exploded　only　a　few　feet　to　the　wizard's　right。　Fire　swept　over　the　surface　of　the　roof　where　they　crouched　as　a　second　and　a　third　burst　landed　near　the　first。　The　wizard　flinched；　then　turned　to　see　where　the　new　attack　was　ing　from。　What　he　saw　made　his　heart　sink。　The　attackers；　whom　Pharaun　could　see　were　more　gray　dwarves；　were　perched　atop　a　web　street　one　level　above　them　and　near　the　back　line　of　the　roof。　They　hurled　more　firepots　in　the　drow's　direction；　and　Jeggred　roared　in　anger；　hit　by　one　of　the　incendiary　pots。
　　　〃Damn　it；　Pharaun；　you've　led　us　into　a　crossfire！〃　Quenthel　snarled　at　the　mage。　〃We've　got　to　get　off　this　roof。　Jeggred；　shield　me。〃
　　　Quenthel　turned　to　peer　over　the　side；　and　Jeggred　positioned　himself　to　shield　the　three　drow　with　his　body　as　best　he　could。　Part　of　his　fur　was　smoking；　but　the　draegloth　didn't　seem　to　notice。
　　　〃We　can　not　stand　here；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　know；〃　Pharaun　responded；　examining　the　bolt　wound　in　Danifae's　leg　more　carefully。
　　　It　had　struck　the　same　leg　that　was　already　injured　but　didn't　appear　bad；　having　missed　the　bone　and　penetrated　only　the　fleshy　part　of　her　calf。　He　snapped　off　what　he　could；　and　the　battle　captive　gave　a　slight　jerk。
　　　Quenthel　made　a　disgusted　sound；　pulling　back　from　the　edge。
　　　〃All　of　this　motion　has　attracted　their　attention　below　us；〃　Quenthel　said　in　a　harsh　tone。　〃We　can't　go　that　way。〃
　　　〃Then　we'll　go　over　the　other　side；〃　the　wizard　replied。
　　　He　shoved　what　was　left　of　the　bolt　through　Danifae's　leg　and　out。　She　hissed　from　the　sudden　pain；　but　bit　her　lip　and　stifled　any　more　sounds。　More　crossbow　bolts　and　firepots　were　smacking　down　against　the　stone　around　them。
　　　〃Is　it　poisoned？〃　Pharaun　asked　the　high　priestess。
　　　In　answer；　one　of　the　viper　heads　on　Quenthel's　whip　rose　up　and　hissed；　〃No。〃
　　　More　of　the　firepots　slammed　down　nearby；　adding　to　the　roar　of　the　fire；　which　was　hot　and　spreading　across　the　rock　surface　of　the　building。
　　　〃We'll　be　roasted　rothé　meat　in　a　moment；〃　the　mage　said。　〃Heal　her　so　we　can　go！〃
　　　〃Forget　her；〃　Quenthel　replied。　〃e　on。〃
　　　The　Mistress　of　the　Academy　stood　and　moved　toward　the　back　of　the　building；　still　skulking　behind　the　draegloth。
　　　Pharaun　looked　back　down　at　Danifae；　shrugged；　and　began　to　stand。　The　female　reached　up　and　grabbed　him　by　the　piwafwi；　a　determined　look　on　her　face。
　　　〃Don't　leave　me　here；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　walk。　Just　help　me　up。〃
　　　Another　pair　of　explosions　erupted　near　her　head；　and　she　flinched　forward　as　Pharaun　took　hold　of　her　by　the　hand　and　hauled　her　to　her　feet。
　　　〃You　won't　regret　it；〃　she　said；　giving　the　wizard　a　brief　but　obvious　look。　'Til　be　worth　it。〃
　　　Limping；　blood　flowing　from　the　puncture；　Danifae　began　to　follow　Quenthel　and　the　draegloth。
　　　〃Jeggred！〃　she　called。　〃Carry　me！〃
　　　Pharaun　realized　his　mouth　was　hanging　open；　and　he　snapped　it　shut。　As　he　trotted　after　the　battle　captive；　he　saw　Quenthel　and　the　draegloth　freeze；　and　he　swept　his　gaze　to　where　they　were　looking；　at　the　back　side　of　the　building。　Rising　up　from　behind　the　roofline　was　an　immense；　chitinous　leg　of　something　all　too　familiar。　The　leg　sought　footing　upon　the　rooftop；　and　two　more　appeared；　followed；　by　the　head　of　a　spider　of　massive　size。
　　　〃Lolth　preserve　us；〃　Quenthel　breathed。　〃Where　did　that　e　from？〃
　　　The　immense　spider　pulled　itself　into　full　view；　scrambling　ponderously　over　the　back　edge　of　the　building；　each　step　making　the　entire　structure　shake　violently。
　　　〃Oh；　no；〃　Danifae　said。　〃They　didn't。　。　。〃
　　　〃They；　who？〃　Pharaun　asked；　involuntarily　backing　up　a　step。
　　　Even　Jeggred　seemed　anxious；　watching　the　enormous　arachnid；　black　and　shiny；　heave　itself　fully　atop　the　building。　Its　mandibles　clicked　as　it　peered　about；　its　multilensed　eyes　glistening　in　the　firelight。
　　　〃And　what　did　they　do？〃　the　wizard　added。
　　　〃The　matron　mothers；〃　Danifae　replied。　〃They　summoned　a　guardian　spider。　The　fools。〃
　　　Quenthel　sucked　in　her　breath。
　　　〃Indeed；〃　the　high　priestess　agreed。　〃We　must　flee。〃