war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第70部分

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She　turned；　laid　a　dart　in　the　channel；　and　shot。　When　the　shaft　hit　it；　the　demon　shuddered　in　its　nearly　immobile　form；　but　didn't　die。
It　occurred　to　her　that　she　could　get　away　from　it　while　it　was　trapped；　muster　any　loyal　minions　who　hadn't　partaken　of　the　poisoned　supper；　and　fight　the　thing　at　the　head　of　a　pany；　just　as　she'd　originally　intended。　After　the　harrowing　events　of　the　past　minutes；　the　idea　had　a　certain　appeal。
But　after　what　she'd　endured；　she　wanted　to　be　the　one　to　teach　this　vermin　a　lesson　about　molesting　the　clergy　of　Lolth。　Besides；　the　appearnotance　of　strength　was　vital。　So　she　kept　shooting　as　fast　as　the　cocking　action　of　the　weapon　would　allow。　The　demon　inched　its　way　toward　her　as　if　it　was　made　of　half…cooled　magma。
Four　bolts　left；　then　three。　She　pulled　the　trigger；　the　dart　struck　the　demon　in　the　middle　of　its　horned；　triangular　head；　and　it　winked　out　of　existence。
She　could　still　hear　its　voice；　but　knew　that　was　just　because　it　had　shrieked　so　long　and　loudly。　She　gave　her　head　a　shake；　trying　to　quell　the　phantom　sound；　then　glimpsed　yet　another　shadow　watching　her　from　some　distance　away。
〃You！〃　she　shouted；　cocking　the　arbalest　to　receive　the　penultimate　quarrel。　〃e　here！〃
The　other　dark　elf　bolted。　Quenthel　gave　chase；　but　she　was　still　a　little　winded　from　the　struggle　with　the　demon；　and　her　quarry　outdistanced　her　and　disappeared。
The　Baenre　stalked　on　through　the　labyrinthine　chambers　and　corridors　until　she　rounded　a　bend　and　came　face　to　face　with　three　of　her　minions。　The　goddess　only　knew　what　their　true　sentiments　were；　but　confronted　with　her　leveled　arbalest　and　the　obvious　fact　that；　while　her　gear　was　much　the　worse　for　wear；　she　herself　was　unscathed；　they　hastily　saluted。
〃I　killed　tonight's　intruder；〃　she　said；　〃and　a　homegrown　enemy　as　well。　What　do　you　know　of　our　situation？　Is　anyone　else　dead？〃
〃No；　Mistress；〃　said　a　priestess。　The　lowered　visor　of　her　spider…crested　helmet　pletely　concealed　her　features；　but　from　her　voice；　Quenthel　recognized　Quave；　one　of　the　senior　instructors。　〃Most　of　those　who　ate　and　drank　the　tainted　meal　are　waking。　I　think　the　poisoner　only　wanted　to　render　us　unconscious；　not　kill　us。〃
〃Apparently；〃　said　Quenthel；　〃she　was　willing　to　let　the　demon　adminnotister　the　coup　de　grace　to　me。　What　of　those　who　encountered　the　entity　before　I　did？〃
Quave　hesitated；　then　said；　〃When　they　tried　to　hinder　it；　it　hurt　them；　but　not　to　the　point　of　death。　They　should　recover　as　well。〃
〃Good；〃　Quenthel　said；　though　she　took　no　joy　in　knowing　she　was　the　unknown　enemy's　sole　target。
〃What　are　your　orders；　Mistress？〃　asked　Quave。
〃We'll　have　to　sort　out　the　living　from　the　dead；　and　deal　with　each　acnotcordingly。　We'll　also　look　for　the　place　where　the　demon　got　in；　and　seal　it。〃
These　were　tasks　that　would　doubtless　keep　her　occupied　for　the　rest　of　the　night；　but　she　knew　she　had　to　find　a　way　to　stop　the　intrusions；　and　pull　the　fangs　of　another　crisis　as　well。
It　would　all　for　make　an　arduous　day's　labor；　with　the　oute　uncernottain　enough　to　depress　even　a　high　priestess。　Still；　her　mood　lifted　slightly　when　her　vipers　began　to　stir。
*　*　*
〃I　have　a　healing　potion；〃　said　Ryld。　He　took　a　small　pewter　vial　from　his　pouch；　unstoppered　it；　and　held　it　to　Pharaun's　lips。　The　wizard　drank　the　liquid　down。
〃That　might　be　a　little　better；〃　Pharaun　said　after　a　moment。　〃But　it's　still　bad。　I'm　still　bleeding。　On　the　inside；　too；　I　think。　Do　you　have　any　more？〃
〃No。〃
〃Pity。　A　wretched　little　goblin　did　this。　I　can't　believe　it。〃
〃Can　you　walk？〃　asked　Ryld。
Pharaun　would　have　to　move　or　be　moved；　somehow。　He　couldn't　just　lie　in　the　street；　not　in　the　Braeryn；　not　on　a　night　when　the　hunt　was　out。　It　was　far　too　dangerous。
〃Possibly。〃　The　mage　strained　to　lift　himself　up　with　his　hands；　then　slumped　back　down。　〃But　apparently　not。〃
〃I'll　carry　you；〃　said　Ryld。
He　gathered　the　mage　in　his　arms；　and　bidding　Pharaun　do　the　same；　called　upon　the　magic　of　his　House　insignia。　They　floated　slowly　upward；　and　swung　onto　a　rooftop。
The　view　from　that　vantage　point　was　far　from　encouraging。　Screaming　undercreatures　ran　through　the　streets　and　alleys　of　the　Braeryn　with　whooping　riders　in　pursuit。　The　dark　elves　killed　the　goblins　with　the　thrust　of　a　lance；　the　slash　of　a　sword；　or　simply　by　trampling　them　under　the　clawed　feet　of　their　lizards。　They　tended　to　find　intimate　mayhem　more　amusing。　Some；　however；　had　no　qualms　about　loosing　a　quarrel　or　conjuring　a　blast　of　magic。
Still　other　drow　wheeled　above　the　scene　on　foulwings；　wyverns；　and　other　winged　mounts。　Ryld　saw　danger　on　every　side。
He　hauled　Pharaun　up　against　a　sort　of　gable　in　the　hope　that　it　would　provide　cover　against　the　scrutiny　of　the　flyers。
〃It's　bad；〃　the　swordsman　said。　〃A　lot　of　drow　are　hunting。　There's　no　clear　path　out　of　the　district。〃
The　wizard　didn't　reply。
〃Pharaun！〃
〃Yes；〃　sighed　his　friend；　〃I'm　still　conscious。　Barely。〃
〃We'll　hide　here　until　the　hunt　ends。　I'll　cover　us　with　a　patch　of　darknotness。〃
〃That　might　w…〃
Pharaun　gasped　and　thrashed。　Ryld　held　on　to　him　for　fear　that　he'd　roll　o