war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第12章

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parent　cause…for　Nimor　was　still　invisible。
　　　〃Zilzmaer？〃　he　said　sharply。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　　Nimor　bounded　forward　and　rammed　his　bloody　knife　up　under　the　wizard's　chin；　nailing　his　jaws　closed　and　transfixing　the　Tlabbar's　brain。　The　mage　jerked　two　or　three　times；　violently；　then　shuddered　and　died。
　　　〃Shh；〃　the　assassin　hissed。　〃It's　nothing。　Go　to　sleep。〃
　　　He　laid　the　wizard　alongside　his　panion；　and　turned　to　the　dark　archway　leading　into　the　castle　proper。
　　　Knife　in　hand；　he　stalked　through…only　to　be　halted　by　an　invisible；　intangible　barrier　that　blocked　the　archway　as　surely　as　a　wall　of　masonry。　Nimor　frowned；　summoned　up　his　willpower；　and　tried　the　archway　again；　only　to　find　his　passage　barred　in　mid…step。
　　　〃Damnation；〃　he　muttered。　〃A　forbidding。〃
　　　The　Tlabbar　castle；　or　its　interior　anyway；　was　warded　by　a　great　fixed　spell　that　utterly　prevented　an　enemy　from　setting　foot　within。　Nimor　could　elude　or　undo　some　magical　traps；　but　the　forbidding　was　simply　beyond　his　ability　to　penetrate。
　　　That　explains　the　open　door；　he　thought。　The　Tlabbars　are　confident　in　their　magical　defenses。　Now　what？
　　　Nimor　sheathed　his　knife　and　studied　the　archway。　A　spell　of　forbidding　could　be　crafted　to　defend　a　building　or　area　in　one　of　several　ways；　but　if　the　Tlabbars　wanted　to　move　about　their　own　castle；　they　would　have　had　to　make　a　forbidding　through　which　one　could　pass　without　too　much　difficulty…perhaps　with　a　token　of　some　kind；　or　maybe　with　a　password。　Nimor　quickly　searched　the　bodies　of　the　two　Tlabbar　guards　he'd　slain；　but　found　nothing　that　seemed　like　it　might　serve　as　a　token　to　pass　the　forbidding。
　　　It　might　be　anything；　he　thought。　A　cloak　clasp；　an　enchanted　coin　in　a　purse；　an　earring　or　a　necklace　。　。　。
　　　He　decided　he　didn't　have　time　to　experiment。　With　one　hand　he　picked　up　the　dead　wizard　and　tucked　the　fellow　under　his　arm；　then　he　strode　back　to　the　archway　and　steeled　himself　to　step　through。　This　time；　he　passed　through　without　resistance；　as　if　the　ward　was　simply　gone。
　　　Something　the　Tlabbar　guards　wear；　then；　Nimor　decided。
　　　He　briefly　considered　shouldering　the　dead　wizard　and　carrying　the　fellow　along　in　case　he　needed　to　pass　another　warding　inside　the　castle；　but　decided　against　it。　Stealth　and　speed　were　his　best　defenses；　and　lugging　a　corpse　through　the　castle　was　not　particularly　subtle。　Besides；　the　Tlabbars　were　not　likely　to　have　two　forbiddings　in　their　palace；　or　to　use　the　same　key　for　both　if　they　did。　He　unceremoniously　dumped　the　wizard　on　the　other　side　of　the　doorway；　and　headed　inside。
　　　The　archway　opened　into　a　long；　high…ceilinged　corridor　that　ran　above　one　of　the　Tlabbar　halls。　Doors　made　of　pale　zurkhwood　lined　the　hall；　opening　into　studies；　parlors；　trophy　rooms；　and　other　such　chambers　if　Nimor's　old　maps　were　correct。　He　ignored　them　all　and　darted　swiftly　down　the　hall；　reaching　a　small　staircase　at　the　end　that　descended　to　the　level　below。　Here　he　encountered　a　magical　glyph　barring　passage　on　the　stair；　but　he　sensed　the　trap　before　stepping　close　enough　to　trigger　it。　He　simply　vaulted　over　the　rail　instead；　dropping　lightly　to　the　stairs　below。　The　stairs　swept　around　in　a　grand　curve　and　led　him　to　another　gleaming　black　corridor　near　the　center　of　the　Tlabbar　castle；　leading　to　the　House　shrine。　The　floor　was　polished　black　marble　that　would　have　gleamed　like　a　mirror　had　there　been　any　light　to　see　by。　Not　far　ahead；　a　pair　of　House　guards　stood　watch　over　a　great　double　door　leading　into　Lolth's　sanctuary。
　　　Nimor　smiled　invisibly　and　congratulated　himself　on　his　timing。　The　matron　mother；　and　perhaps　a　daughter　or　two；　would　be　within；　performing　some　empty　ritual　to　their　mute　goddess。
　　　Carefully　staying　out　of　sight；　Nimor　took　one　more　look　around　to　make　sure　no　one　else　was　approaching。　He　studied　the　two　guards　outside　the　door。　They　seemed　no　more　than　young　officers；　proudly　attired　for　their　exalted　duty　as　guards　to　the　matron　mother；　but　Nimor　did　not　trust　his　eyes。　The　two　were　more　than　they　seemed；　he　was　certain　of　it。　He　decided　to　bypass　them　if　he　could。
　　　Gathering　himself；　Nimor　raised　his　left　hand；　on　which　gleamed　a　ring　as　black　as　jet。　The　ring　of　shadows　was　perhaps　his　most　useful　weapon；　a　device　that　conferred　a　number　of　useful　magical　powers。　He　called　upon　one　of　those　powers；　and　melted　into　the　shadows　of　the　black　corridor　only　to　step　out　on　the　far　side　of　the　shrine's　door；　into　House　Tlabbar's　most　sacred　sanctum。
　　　The　temple　almost　filled　the　central　floor　of　the　great　palace；　its　graceful　dome　rising　overhead；　chased　in　silver　and　jet　with　Lolth's　spider　insignia。　The　shrine　was　lit　with　a　sinister　silvery　radiance；　the　better　to　display　the　lavish　wealth　House　Faen　Tlabbar　had　expended　in　decorating　the　Spider　Queen's　chapel。　Nimor　spared　no　admiration　on　the　gold　baubles　and　gem…encrusted　images；　though。
　　　Matron　Mother　Ghenni　and　two　of　her　daughters　abased　themselves　before　the　towering　black　idol　of　the　silent　goddess；　groveling　before　Lolth；　no　doubt　beseeching　the　Spider　Queen　to　restore　her　favor　to　the　House。　No　one　else　waited　within。　Apparently　the　matron　mother　felt　that　her　guards　and　servants　did　not　need　to　see　her　and　her　daughters　prostrate　themselves　in　their　private　adorations。　Nimor's　information　on　Faen　Tlabbar　had　once　again　been　proven　accurate。
　　　The　assassin　silently　drew　his　rapier　and　advanced；　eyeing　his　prey。　Ghenni　was　a　striking　dark　elf；　a　female　with　a　voluptuous　body　and　a　sinuous　grace　that　allowed　her　to　carry　her　years　better　than　many　females　a　hundred　years　younger。　He　noted　the　dark　glint　of　mail　beneath　her　emerald　robes；　and　smiled。　Apparently　even　the　matron　mother　of　a　strong　House　didn't　feel　entirely　safe　in　her　own　home　without　the　Spider　Queen's　protection。
　　　The　matron　mother　paused　in　her　observances；　warned　by　something…a　small　sound；　the　flicker　of　a　shadow；　possibly　just　intuition。　She　raised　herself　up　to　her　knees　and　looked　around；　wariness　plain　on　her　face。
　　　〃Sil'zet；　Vadalma；〃　she　hissed。　〃We　are　not　alone。〃
　　　The　two　girls　halted　at　once；　still　stretched　out　on　the　cold　stone　floor。　They　glanced　about　warily。　Ghenni　stood　carefully；　reaching　for　a　wand　at　her　belt。
　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　she　demanded。　〃Who　dares　intrude　on　our　devotions？〃
　　　Nimor　made　no　answer　but　glided　closer。　The　matron　mother　didn't　see　him；　he　was　certain　of　that；　but　just　as　he　drew　within　sword　reach；　he　felt　a　presence　coalesce　in　the　room。　An　unseen　demonic　force　took　shape　in　the　air　near　the　top　of　the　dome。
　　　〃Beware；　Matron；〃　a　cold　voice　hissed。　〃An　assassin　approaches　you　unseen。〃
　　　To　her　credit；　the　Matron　Mother　of　House　Faen　Tlabbar　did　not　quail。　As　her　daughters　scrambled　to　their　feet；　Ghenni　took　two　steps　back　and　quickly　gestured　with　her　wand；　snapping　out　a　word　of　mand。　A　sphere　of　roiling　blackness　hurled　forth　from　the　wand　and　burst　behind　Nimor　in　an　inky　blot　of　frigid　shadows　that　lashed　out　like　living　things　hungry　for　prey。　The　assassin　ignored　the　spell；　as　he　was　already　leaping　forward。　With　a　precise　thrust；　he　ran　the　Faen　Tlabbar　through　with　his　rapier。　The　blade　was　as　black　as　night；　a　long　stiletto　of　intangible　shadowstuff　that　simply　glided　through　the　matron　mother's　mail　shirt　as　if　the　armor　wasn't　even　there。　Its　effect　on　the　priestess　was　as　lethal　as　one　might　expect。　He　twisted　the　blade　in　her　heart　and　grinned；　though　she　still　could　not　see　him。
　　　〃Greetings；　Matron　Mother；〃　he　hissed　aloud。　〃Perhaps　you　will　find　the　answers　you　were　seeking　when　you　reach　Lolth's　black　hells。〃
　　　Ghenni　gasped　once　and　coughed　blood。　She　staggered　back；　clutching　at　the　blade　in　her　heart；　and　her　eyes　rolled　up　in　her　head　and　she　toppled　to　the　floor。　Nimor　withdrew　his　rapier　and　whirled　on　the　daughter　on　the　left；　Sil'zet；　while　the　demon　took　shape　over　Ghenni's　body。　It　was　a　skeletal　creature　wrapped　in　green　flames；　armed　with　a　black…glowing　scimitar　of　pale　bone。
　　　The　demon　evidently　could　see　him　perfectly；　for　it　set　on　Nimor　at　once。　It　aimed　a　ferocious　cut　at　his　head；　which　he　simply　ducked；　but　the　creature　reversed　its　blade　with　surprising　speed　and　backhanded　a　second　cut　waist　high。　Nimor　scowled　and　skipped　back；　momentarily　thwarted。　Behind　the　demon；　he　saw　Sil'zet　unrolling　a　scroll　to　read；　while　Vadalma　held　her　ground；　stooping　to　retrieve　her　mother's　wand　while　guarding　herself　with　a　dagger。
　　　〃You　will　not　escape　this　room　with　your　life；　assassin；〃　Vadalma　cried。　〃Guards！　To　me！〃
　　　Nimor　heard　the　guards　outside　fumbling　at　the　chapel　door。　He　ducked　and　darted；　keeping　away　from　the　bone　demon；　but　unwilling　to　engage　it。　Slaying　a　guardian　demon　was　pointless；　after　all。　He　had　only　a　few　moments　more；　and　he　wanted　to　make　the　most　of　them。　The　assassin　took　one　quick　step　and　rolled　beneath　the　demon's　guard；　ing　up　beside　Sil'zet　as　she　declaimed　the　words　of　her　scroll。　He　rammed　his　dagger　into　the　small　of　her　back　while　parrying　the　bone　demon's　scimitar　with　his　own　black　rapier。　Sil'zet　shrieked　in　agony　and　wrenched　away；　but　Nimor　tripped　her　exper