war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第96部分

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Evidently　he'd　been　in　the　process　of　climbing　silently　over　the　bar　with　a　short　sword　in　hand；　and　Ryld；　sensing　him；　had　pivoted　and　cut　him。　The　drow　warrior　spun　smoothly　back　around；　Splitter　at　the　ready。
Pharaun　turned　back　as　well；　just　in　time　to　see　a　mass　of　undercreatures　rushing　him。　He　snatched　three　smooth　gray　stones　from　a　pocket　and　started　to　recite　a　spell。　Ryld's　greatsword　flicked　across　the　wizard's　field　of　vision；　killing　two　gnolls　that　sought　to　engage　him；　allowing　him　to　finish　the　incantation　unmolested。
A　cloud　of　vapor　boiled　into　existence　in　front　of　him。　Those　ores　and　goblins　caught　in　the　fumes　collapsed。　Others　recoiled　to　avoid　their　touch。
The　fog　blinked　out　of　existence　a　heartbeat　later。
〃I'm　afraid　I　can't　permit　you　to　kill　us　and　sell　the　corpses　to　the　aunotthorities；〃　Pharaun　told　the　crowd；　〃and　I'm　shocked…shocked！…you　would　even　try。　Aren't　you　pleased　we　massacred　a　patrol？〃
〃They　don't　want　the　priestesses　to　find　you　here；〃　said　Bruherd。　He　hadn't　made　a　move　during　the　skirmish。　Perhaps　he'd　frozen；　or　maybe　he'd　figured　his　best　hope　of　survival　lay　in　passivity。　〃I　don't；　either。　They're　liable　to　kill　us；　too。〃
〃How　disappointing；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃And　here　I　thought　Ryld　and　I　had　found　a　cozy　enclave　of　kindred　spirits。　But　of　course　we　won't　force　our　pany　on　those　who　lack　the　rarified　sensibility　to　appreciate　it。　Neither；　however；　will　we　quit　this　place　before　we　slake　our　thirst。　You　goblins　and　whatnot　will　have　to　withdraw。　Good　evening。〃
The　undercreatures　glowered。　The　mage　could　tell　what　they　were　thinking。　They　were　many；　and　the　intruders　only　two。　Yet　they'd　seen　what　those　two　could　do；　and　after　a　few　seconds；　they　started　trudging　out；　leaving　their　unconscious　rades　sprawled　on　the　floor。
〃You're　crazy；〃　Bruherd　told　the　masters。　〃You　need　to　keep　your　heads　down　very　low　for　a　few　years。　Give　the　matrons　and　the　Academy　time　to　forget。〃
〃Alas；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃I　suspect　I'm　unforgettable。　You　too　may　depart　if　you　can　bear　to　tear　yourself　away。〃
〃Crazy；〃　the　outcast　repeated。
He　limped　for　the　stairs　and　in　a　moment　was　gone　like　the　rest。
Pharaun　walked　behind　the　bar。　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃to　begin　drow's　eternotnal　search　for　the　stuff　that　bubbles？
Ryld　surveyed　the　slumbering　goblins　as　if　pondering　whether　to　stick　his　sword　in　them。
〃I　still　think　this　is　a　bad　idea；〃　the　weapons　master　said。
Careful　not　to　soil　his　boots；　Pharaun　stepped　around　the　two　bloody　pieces　of　the　barkeep　and　inspected　a　rack　of　jugs　and　bottles。
〃You　always　say　that；　and　you're　always　mistaken。　The　goblinoids　will　carry　word　of　our　whereabouts　far　and　wide。　The　rogues　are　bound　to　hear。〃
〃As　will　your　sister　and　everyone　else　we've　managed　to　annoy。〃
Pharaun　uncorked　a　jug。　The　pungent　liquid　inside　didn't　seem　to　be　fizzing；　so　he　moved　on。
〃Care　to　make　a　wager　on　who'll　arrive　first？〃
〃Either　way；〃　Ryld　snorted；　〃we　wind　up　dead。〃
〃Had　I　wished　to　hear　the　dreary　voice　of　pessimism；　I　would　have　denottained　our　friend　Bruherd；〃　the　wizard　said　as　he　inspected　a　jar　full　of　cloudy　liquid。　〃Here's　a　jar　of　pickled　sausages　if　you　care　to　break　your　fast；　but　I　won't　vouch　for　the　ingredients。　I　think　I　see　a　kobold's　horn　floating　in　the　brine。〃
He　opened　a　glass　bottle　with　a　long；　double…curved　neck；　and　the　connottents　hissed。
〃Aha！　I've　found　the　draught　the　Duskryn　remended。〃
〃Someone's　here；〃　said　Ryld。
The　mage　turned。　Two　figures　were　descending　the　stairs。　They　looked　like　ores；　with　coarse；　tangled　manes　and　lupine　ears；　but　Pharaun's　silver　ring　revealed　that　the　appearance　was　an　illusion；　disguising　dark　elf　males。　The　wizard　saw　the　masks　as　translucent　veils　lying　atop　the　reality。
He　conveyed　the　truth　of　the　situation　to　Ryld　with　a　rapid　flexing　and　crooking　of　his　fingers。
〃Gentlemen；〃　said　the　mage；　〃well　met！　My　rade　and　I　have　been　looking　everywhere　for　you。〃
〃We　know；〃　said　the　taller　of　the　newers；　evidently　not　surprised　that　a　Master　of　Sorcere　had　instantly　penetrated　his　disguise。　He　was　Houndaer　Tuin'Tarl；　one　of　the　highest　ranked　of　the　missing　males；　likenotwise　one　of　the　first　to　elope；　and　thus　almost　certainly　one　of　the　ringnotleaders。　Certainly　he　looked　like　a　princely　mander　of　lesser　folk。　His　rich　silk　and　velvet　garments；　the　magical　auras　of　many　of　his　possessions；　and　strutting　demeanor　all　proclaimed　it。　He　wore　crystals　in　his　thick；　flowing　hair…a　nice　effect…had　close…set　eyes　and　a　prominent　jaw；　and　looked　as　if　he　knew　how　to　manage　the　scimitar　hanging　at　his　side。　He　also　looked　rather　tense
〃We've　known　for　a　while；〃　said　the　other　stranger；　whom　Pharaun　didn't　recognize。
At　first　glance；　he　appeared　to　be　a　nondescript　moner；　with　the　squint　and　small　hands　of　a　craftsman　proficient　at　fine　work。　However；　the　dagger　tucked　in　his　sash　fairly　blazed　with　potent　enchantments；　as　did　an　object　concealed　within　his　jerkin。　Evidently　he'd　layered　one　disnotguise　on　another。
〃Well；〃　said　Ryld；　〃you　took　your　time　contacting　us。　I　guess　that's　unnotderstandable。〃
〃I　think　so；〃　said　Houndaer　as　he　and　his　rade　advanced。　A　goblin　moaned