war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第35部分

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d　him。
The　Master　of　Sorcere　glimpsed　a　swirling　motion　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　He　pivoted。　Crouched　on　the　edge　of　a　roof；　a　spell　caster　spun　his　hands　in　fluid　mystic　passes。
Gesturing；　speaking　rapidly；　Pharaun　rattled　off　his　own　incantation。　He　was　racing　the　other　mage；　and　he　finished　his　magic　first。　Five　darts　of　azure　light　leaped　from　his　fingertips；　shot　at　the　spell　caster；　and　plunged　into　his　chest。　From　that　distance；　he　couldn't　tell　how　badly　he'd　hurt　his　colleague；　but　at　the　least　his　foe　flailed　his　arms　in　pain。　The　Acanotdemician's　attack　had　disrupted　his　spell。
Ryld　knocked　another　arrow　away；　and　only　then　did　Pharaun　realize　that　this　time；　the　shaft　had　been　hurtling　at　him。　An　instant　later；　a　studnotded　mace　seemingly　made　of　shadow　flew　out　of　nowhere　and　swung　itself　at　his　head。　Splitter　flicked　over　and　tapped　that　manifestation。　As　connotjured　objects　often　did；　the　war　club　vanished　at　the　great　sword's　touch。
〃In　here；〃　Pharaun　said。
The　two　masters　ran　to　the　arched　sandstone　door　of　one　of　the　modest　houses　on　the　street。　Pharaun　suspected　that　the　tenants　had　locked　it　at　the　first　sign　of　trouble；　and　evidently　Ryld　agreed；　because　he　didn't　bother　trying　the　handle。　He　simply　booted　the　door　and　broke　the　latch。　The　weapons　master　scrambled　inside。
The　front　room　of　the　home　was　crowded。　Pharaun　might　have　exnotpected　that。　The　population　of　the　city　had　grown　considerably　since　its　founding　but　the　number　of　stalagmite　buildings　was　of　necessity　fixed。　The　poor　had　to　squeeze　in　wherever　they　could。
Thus；　an　abundance　of　paupers　lived　in　the　hovel；　and　a　goodly　number　of　them　had　gathered　in　this　mon　space；　either　to　relax　or　to　dip　rothe　stew　from　the　iron　caldron　on　the　trestle　table。　Surprisingly；　the　simple　meal　actually　smelled　appetizing。　The　aroma　made　Pharaun's　mouth　water　and　reminded　him　that　he　hadn't　dined　in　several　hours。
Ryld　brandished　Splitter　at　the　occupants　of　the　house　with　a　flashy　facility　calculated　to　quell　aggressive　impulses。
〃We　apologize　for　the　intrusion；〃　Pharaun　said。
The　weapons　master　glowered　at　him。　〃Why　are　we　running？〃
〃That　pillar　of　fire　was　divine　magic；　not　arcane。〃　Pharaun　lifted　his　hand；　displaying　the　silver　Sorcere　ring　and　reminding　his　friend　of　its　power　to　identify；　not　just　protect　him　from；　magic。　〃It's　priestesses　atnottacking　us。　Killing　them　would　call　attention　to　us；　make　the　Council　even　more　eager　to　put　a　stop　to　our　inquiry。　It　might　even　make　them　want　to　kill　us　irrespective　of　how　our　mission　turns　out　or　of　what　Gromph　decides。〃
Pharaun　grinned　and　added；　〃I　know　I　promised　you　glorious　mayhem；　but　that　will　have　to　wait。〃
Ryld　replied；　〃It's　a　difficult　thing　to　sneak　away　from　foes　who　hold　the　high　ground。〃
〃I'm　an　inexhaustible　font　of　tricks；　haven't　you　noticed？〃　Pharaun　beamed　at　the　assembled　paupers　and　said；　〃How　would　you　all　like　to　assist　two　masters　of　the　Academy　engaged　in　a　mission　of　vital　impornottance？　I　assure　you；　Archmage　Baenre　himself　will　wax　giddy　with　gratinottude　when　I　inform　him　of　your　aid。〃
His　audience　stared　back　at　him；　fear　in　their　eyes。　One　of　the　female　moners　produced　a　bone…handled；　granite…headed　mallet　and　threw　it。　Ryld　caught　it　and　hurled　it　back。　The　makeshift　weapon　thudded　into　the　center　of　the　laborer's　forehead；　and　she　collapsed。
〃Would　anyone　else　care　to　express　a　reservation　of　any　sort？〃　Pharaun　asked。　He　waited　a　beat。　〃Splendid；　then　just　stand　still。　I　assure　you；　this　won't　hurt。〃
The　Master　of　Sorcere　pulled　a　wisp　of　fleece　from　a　pocket　and　recited　an　incantation。　With　a　soft　hissing；　a　wave　of　magical　force　shimmered　through　the　room。　When　it　touched　the　paupers；　they　changed；　each　into　a　facsimile　of　Ryld　or　Pharaun　himself。　Only　a　single　child　remained　unnotaffected。
〃Excellent；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃Now　all　you　have　to　do　is　go　outside；　at　which　point；　I　remend　you　scatter。　With　luck；　many；　if　not　all　of　you；　will　survive。〃
〃No！〃　cried　one　of　Ryld's　doubles　in　a　high；　agitated　voice。　〃You　can't　make　us…〃
〃But　we　can；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃I　can　fill　the　house　with　a　poisonous　vapor；　my　friend　can　start　chopping　you　to　pieces。　。。。　So　please；　be　sennotsible；　go　now。　If　the　enemy　breaks　in　here；　your　chances　will　be　signifinotcantly　worse。〃
They　looked　sullenly　back　at　him。　He　smiled　and　shrugged；　and　Ryld　hefted　Splitter。　The　moners　began　to　scurry　toward　the　door。
The　two　masters　fell　in　at　the　back　of　the　crowd；　prepared　to　chivvy　folk　along　as　necessary。
〃Shadows　of　the　Pit；〃　murmured　Pharaun；　〃I　wasn't　at　all　sure　they　would　actually　do　it。　I　am　a　persuasive　devil；　aren't　I？　It　must　be　my　honest　face。〃
〃Decoys　aren't　a　bad　idea；〃　said　Ryld；　〃but　now　that　I　think　of　it；　why　not　just　turn　us　invisible？〃
Pharaun　snorted。　〃Do　I　tell　you　which　end　of　the　sword　to　grip？　Invisnotibility's　too　mon　a　trick。　I'm　sure　our　foes　are　prepared　to　counter　it。　Whereas　the　illusion　may　work。　It's　one　of　my　personal；　private　spells；　and　we　Mizzrym　are　famously　deft　with　phantasm。　Now；　when　we　get　outnotside；　don't　lose　track　of　me。　You　don't　want　to　go　skipping　off　with　the　wrong　Pharaun。〃
Most　o