war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第110部分

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But　only　if　he　could　shift　his　feet　and　toes　through　the　proper　patterns；　those　precise　and　intricate　passes　he'd　spent　years　learning　to　execute　with　his　hands。
When　the　toes　of　his　right　foot　grew　tired；　he　started　working　with　those　of　his　left。　After　that；　he　shifted　his　weight　back；　lifted　his　legs；　and　practiced　twining　them　together。　Ryld　might　have　found　it　quite　a　inotcal　spectacle　had　his　life　not　depended　on　the　mage's　success。
Soon　Pharaun　began　to　sweat　and　occasionally　to　tremble；　which　always　forced　him　to　stop　and　rest　for　a　bit。　After　an　hour；　he　moved　on　to　the　next　phase　of　his　experiment：　putting　the　elements　of　the　spell　tonotgether；　moving　everything　at　the　same　time　with　the　proper　sequence　and　timing。
Ryld　watched　the　process　intently。　He　was　no　wizard；　but　to　his　untunottored　eye；　it　appeared　that　after　a　while；　Pharaun　was　producing　exactly　the　same　pattern　two　times　out　of　three。　The　rest　he　fumbled　in　one　way　or　another。
Finally；　breathing　hard；　he　looked　at　the　weapons　master　and　shrugged。
〃That's　all　right；〃　the　swordsman　replied。　〃Two　out　of　three　is　good　odds。〃
Pharaun　slumped　back　and　spent　the　next　few　minutes　resting。　When　he　sat　up　and；　heedless　of　the　fresh　blood　that　started　from　the　corners　of　his　mouth；　he　growled　through　the　mask。　He　banged　the　box　encasing　his　hands　twice　against　the　floor；　then　looked　at　Ryld。
〃I　understand；〃　the　warrior　said。　〃Make　noise。　Bring　someone。〃
Pharaun　nodded。　The　cage　around　his　head　clinked。
〃Ho！〃　Ryld　shouted。　〃Somebody；　e　here！　I'm　a　Master　of　Melee…Magthere。　I　know　secrets　about　the　defenses　of　the　great　Houses；　secrets　you　must　know　for　your　plans　to　succeed。　I'll　trade　them　for　my　freedom！〃
He　continued　in　the　same　vein　for　several　minutes；　clashing　his　chains　against　the　wall　for　emphasis。　Meanwhile　Pharaun　lay　motionless；　as　if　he　were　still　unconscious。
Finally；　eyes　appeared　at　the　little　barred　window　in　the　door。
〃What？〃　the　newer　snarled。　It　wasn't　a　voice　Ryld　had　heard　before。
〃I　need　to　talk　to　you；〃　the　weapons　master　said。
〃I　heard；〃　said　the　other　drow。　〃You　have　secrets。　The　alhoon　will　rip　them　out　of　you；　no　bargain　required。〃
〃Syrzan　said　it　would　take　time　to　turn　us　into　mind…slaves；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃I　have　information　you　need　before　you　unleash　the　under…creatures。　Their　rebellion　will　do　you　no　good　if　the　weapons　masters　strike　them　all　dead　before　they　even　get　started。〃
〃How　could　the　masters…of…arms　do　that？〃　asked　the　rogue。
〃A　secret；〃　said　Ryld；　〃that　we　brothers　of　the　pyramid　teach　to　a　chosen　few。〃
〃I　don't　believe　you。〃
〃We've　been　studying　war　for　millennia。　Do　you　think　we　impart　all　we　know　to　every　young　dullard　who　enrolls　in　the　Academy；　or　is　it　likely　we　hold　greater；　deadlier　mysteries　in　reserve？〃
The　rogue　hesitated。
〃All　right；　tell　me。　If　there's　anything　to　it；　I'll　set　you　free。〃
Ryld　shrugged；　rattling　his　fetters。　They　were　already　rubbing　his　wrists　raw。
〃Shout　it　through　a　closed　door？〃　the　weapons　master　asked。　〃Is　that　what　you　really　want？〃
〃Wait。〃
The　contempt　in　the　prisoner's　tone　had　reminded　the　rogue　of　a　basic　principle。　It　was　best　to　keep　information　to　yourself；　at　least　until　you　fignotured　out　how　to　reap　a　benefit　from　sharing　it。　This　rogue　didn't　want　anyone　overhearing　what　Ryld　had　to　say。
The　door　clacked　as　a　key　turned　in　the　lock。　It　creaked　open；　and　the　renegade　stepped　through。　He　was　stocky；　with　a　broken　nose　squashed　across　an　angular　face。　He'd　decorated　rather　nondescript　clothing　with　gaudy　ornaments；　including　a　silver　fillet　set　with　garnets。　His　rapier　hung　from　a　baldric；　the　hilt　of　a　dagger　protruded　from　the　top　of　either　boot；　and　a　hand　crossbow　dangled　from　his　belt。
He　stopped　just　inside　the　doorway；　where　he　had　every　right　to　think　himself　safe。　The　cell　was　large　enough；　and　the　prisoners'　shackles　short　enough；　that　he　was　beyond　their　reach。　He　swung　the　door　shut　behind　him　but　didn't　permit　it　to　latch。
〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃now　you　can　tell　me。〃
〃First；〃　said　Ryld；　〃unchain　me。〃
He　thought　he　had　to　keep　the　renegade　occupied　for　just　a　few　more　seconds；　long　enough　for　Pharaun　to　cast　his　spell。
The　guard　just　laughed　and　said；　〃Don't　be　absurd。〃
〃Why　not？〃
〃You　know　why　not。〃
〃But　you　might　just　listen　to　the　secrets　and　leave　me　imprisoned；〃　said　Ryld；　watching　Pharaun　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。
To　his　dismay；　the　wizard　wasn't　conjuring。　He　wasn't　moving　at　all。　Had　he　passed　out　again？
〃You're　caged；〃　said　the　renegade；　〃and　I'm　not。　Therefore；　you　will　have　to　trust　me；　not　the　other　way　around。〃
Ryld　scowled；　meanwhile　racking　his　brains　for　inspiration。　With　Phanotraun　inert；　he　was　going　to　have　to　improvise　a　story　to　detain　the　rogue　and　pray　the　wizard　would　make　a　move　before　much　longer。
〃All　right；　I　suppose　I　have　no　choice。　Not　far　beyond　Bauthwaf　lies　the　entrance　to　a　tunnel　leading　to　the　deepest　reaches　of　the　Underdark；　where　even　our　people　do　not…〃
〃What's　this　got　to　do　with　weapons　masters　killing　slaves？〃　the　guard　demanded。
〃Listen；　and　you'll　find　out。　At　the　lower　end　of　the　passage　is　a　mineral　I've　never　seen　anywhere　else