war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第47章

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　the　powder　into　the　air。　Bright　crimson　sparks　appeared　amid　the　falling　dust；　growing　brighter　and　more　numerous　moment　by　moment。　With　another　gesture；　Pharaun　scattered　the　burning　motes　across　a　great；　wide　arc　of　the　forest　before　him。
　　　As　each　tiny　mote　settled　to　the　ground；　it　flared　into　life；　growing　into　a　spiderlike　shape　fully　as　large　as　a　man's　head。　Wreathed　in　crimson　flame；　the　fire　spiders　scuttled　across　the　ground；　moving　deeper　into　the　trees。　Whatever　they　touched　smoldered　at　first；　then　burst　into　flame。　The　wood　was　indeed　wet；　and　the　flames　were　smoky　and　slow　to　spread…but　Pharaun　had　conjured　hundreds　of　the　spider　creatures。　The　living　motes　of　fire　seemed　to　set　upon　the　moss…grown　trunks　with　a　peculiarly　savage　ferocity；　almost　as　if　the　presence　of　so　much　timber　had　provoked　them　into　a　frenzy　of　fiery　destruction。
　　　〃Good；　good；〃　Pharaun　murmured。　〃They　like　trees　。　。。　they　truly　do。〃
　　　〃The　fire's　too　slow　to　burn　our　pursuers；〃　Quenthel　observed。
　　　〃I've　never　heard　of　a　surface　elf　who'd　allow　a　fire　such　as　this　to　burn　unchecked　in　his　precious　forest；〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　smile。　〃They'll　be　busy　chasing　down　my　spiders　and　extinguishing　the　flames　for　some　time。〃
　　　Quenthel　watched　the　blaze　a　moment　longer；　and　smiled。
　　　〃It　may　serve；　then；〃　she　said。　〃Master　Hune；　take　the　lead。　I　mean　to　reach　House　Jaelre　before　we're　troubled　by　the　surface　dwellers　again。〃
　　　
　　　Kaanyr　Vhok　folded　his　well…muscled　arms　and　frowned。
　　　〃How　many　this　time？〃　he　asked。
　　　Kaanyr　surveyed　the　aftermath　of　a　battle　between　the　tanarukks　of　his　vanguard　and　a　titanic　purple　worm；　a　carnivorous　giant　over　a　hundred　feet　in　length。　The　worm　was　dead；　hacked　to　death　by　dozens　of　the　half…demons　soldiers；　but　a　handful　of　the　Sceptered　One's　troops　lay　torn　and　crushed　by　the　monster　they　had　killed。
　　　〃Seven；　my　lord；　but　we　slew　the　beast；　as　you　can　see。〃
　　　The　tanarukk　captain　called　Ruinfist　leaned　on　his　huge　greataxe；　spattered　with　the　foul　juices　of　the　creature。　The　orc…demon's　left　hand　had　been　mangled　in　some　battle　long　before；　and　was　encased　in　a　locked　battle…gauntlet　that　served　as　a　better　weapon　than　the　damaged　hand　it　covered。
　　　〃The　warriors　heard　it　moving　in　the　rock；〃　Ruinfist　continued；　〃but　it　came　through　the　ceiling　and　dropped　on　them。〃
　　　〃I　didn't　bring　you　here　to　slay　mindless　worms；〃　Kaanyr　said。　〃Nor　did　I　bring　warriors　to　this　spot　to　feed　whatever　monster　happens　by。　This　was　a　battle　best　avoided；　Ruinfist。　These　seven　warriors　won't　be　with　us　when　we　meet　the　dark　elves；　will　they？〃
　　　〃No；　my　lord；〃　the　tanarukk　growled。　He　lowered　his　head。　〃I　will　tell　the　patrol　leaders　to　do　what　they　can　to　avoid　needless　battles。〃
　　　〃Good；〃　said　Kaanyr。　He　offered　the　tanarukk　a　hard　grin　and　clapped　the　creature　on　the　shoulder。　〃Save　your　axes　for　the　drow；　Ruinfist。　We'll　be　on　them　soon　enough。〃
　　　A　hungry　light　flared　in　the　tanarukk's　eyes；　and　the　demon…orc　raised　his　tusked　jaw　again。　He　growled　in　assent　and　trotted　off　to　go　find　his　fellow　captains。
　　　〃You　did　not　discipline　him？〃　Aliisza　asked；　slinking　out　of　the　shadows。　〃Mercy　is　not　a　quality　I　am　accustomed　to　in　you；　love。〃
　　　The　cambion　lord　turned　at　her　approach。
　　　〃Sometimes；〃　he　replied；　〃one　soft　word　serves　the　purpose　of　two　hard　ones。　Knowing　which　to　choose　and　when　is　the　art　of　leadership。〃　Kaanyr　nudged　one　of　his　dead　warriors　with　his　toe；　and　smiled。　〃Besides；　how　can　I　take　offense　at　a　show　of　the　very　fighting　spirit　I've　worked　so　hard　to　instill　in　my　Scoured　Legion？　It's　the　nature　of　a　tanarukk　to　throw　himself　into　battle　and　bring　down　his　foe　or　die　trying。〃
　　　Aliisza　looked　at　the　purple　worm　and　shuddered。
　　　〃I　think　that's　the　biggest　worm　I've　ever　seen；〃　she　murmured。
　　　The　half…demon's　seat　of　power　in　the　ruins　of　ancient　Ammarindar　was　the　better　part　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　miles　southeast　of　Menzoberranzan；　and　the　Darklake　was　an　obstacle　in　their　path。　Fortunately；　tanarukks　were　fast；　hearty；　and　could　endure　swift　marches　with　few　supplies。　The　dwarves　of　ancient　Ammarindar　had　carved　great　subterranean　highways　through　their　realm；　broad；　smooth…floored　tunnels　that　ran　for　mile　after　mile　through　the　endless　gloom。　Kaanyr　was　somewhat　disconcerted　to　think　that　the　tremendous　cavern　of　the　Darklake　lay　somewhere　a　mile　or　two　beneath　his　feet；　but　the　old　dwarven　road　offered　far　and　away　their　best　route　to　the　environs　of　Menzoberranzan。　If　the　road　happened　to　be　plagued　by　hungry　monsters；　well；　any　other　route　would　have　problems　of　its　own。
　　　He　shook　himself　from　his　reflections　and　started　to　walk　back　toward　the　long　file　of　his　warriors；　streaming　past　the　scene　of　the　battle　in　a　ragged　double…column。
　　　〃So；　tell　me　again　about　this　Nimor；〃　Kaanyr　said。　〃I　can　easily　understand　Horgar　Steelshadow's　motive　in　mustering　this　attack。　The　gray　dwarves　and　the　dark　elves　have　fought　many　wars　over　the　centuries。　What　I　don't　understand　is　what's　in　it　for　a　drow　assassin？〃
　　　〃As　best　I　can　tell；〃　Aliisza　replied；　〃he　hates　the　great　Houses　of　Menzoberranzan　enough　that　he'll　destroy　the　city　in　order　to　bring　about　their　fall。〃
　　　〃Such　a　purity　of　intent　is　rare　in　a　dark　elf。　You　know　he's　lied　to　you；　of　course。〃
　　　Kaanyr　suspected；　as　always；　that　Aliisza　was　holding　something　of　her　encounter　with　Nimor　to　herself。　After　all；　she　was　an　alu…fiend；　the　daughter　of　a　succubus；　and　her　weapons　and　methods　were　obvious。
　　　〃Lied？〃　she　quipped。　〃To　me？〃
　　　〃I　merely　point　out　that　that　one　should　beware　of　dark　elves　bearing　gifts；〃　Kaanyr　replied。　〃He　might　have　convinced　you　it　was　in　my　best　interest　to　bring　my　army　here；　but　I　don't　believe　for　a　heartbeat　that　your　mysterious　assassin　doesn't　have　more　to　gain　from　this　alliance　than　I　do。〃
　　　〃That　goes　without　saying；　doesn't　it？〃　she　said。　〃If　you　see　that；　why　did　you　agree　to　bring　your　army　to　the　Pillars　of　Woe？〃
　　　〃Because　something　is　going　to　happen　there；〃　Kaanyr　said。　〃My　ambitions　have　reached　the　borders　of　old　Ammarindar；　and　I　don't　care　to　arrest　them　there。〃
　　　The　cambion　watched　his　fierce　warriors　marching　by；　staring　past　them　to　the　dark　visions　that　enthralled　him。
　　　〃We'll　be　approaching　from　above　and　to　the　east；〃　Kaanyr　said；　〃perfectly　positioned　to　flank　a　force　trying　to　hold　the　Pillars　against　the　approach　of　Gracklstugh's　army。　On　the　surface；　that　is　why　Horgar　Steelshadow　and　his　drow　assassin　want　us　there。　It　might　suit　their　purposes　to　sit　in　the　gorge　a　few　days　and　let　the　drow　decimate　my　soldiers　before　they　attempt　to　force　the　pass。　Being　on　the　same　side　of　an　obstacle　as　our　enemies　carries　a　liability；　as　well　as　an　opportunity。　I　wouldn't　put　it　past　Horgar　to　manufacture　some　excuse　for　a　delay　in　order　to　let　my　tanarukks　handle　the　brunt　of　the　fighting。〃
　　　Aliisza　cozied　up　beside　him　and　purred；　〃Until　the　battle　is　joined；　love；　you　haven't　chosen　sides。　The　dark　elves　might　pay；　and　pay　well；　for　your　assistance　at　a　critical　juncture　of　the　campaign。　Even　if　that　assistance　takes　the　form　of　simply　not　doing　anything　to　aid　the　gray　dwarves　in　their　attack。〃
　　　Kaanyr　Vhok　bared　his　pointed　teeth　in　a　wry　smile。
　　　〃There　is　that；〃　he　admitted。　〃All　right；　then。　We'll　see　what　happens　when　the　Pillars　of　Woe　stand　before　us。〃
　　　
　　　Halisstra　was　marched　for　several　miles　through　the　forest；　gagged；　hooded；　her　hands　manacled　behind　her。　The　surface　elves　had　healed　the　wound　in　her　calf　in　order　to　keep　her　from　slowing　them　down；　but　the　rest　of　her　injuries　they　didn't　bother　to　tend。　While　they'd　removed　her　mail　and　shield；　they　did　permit　her　to　keep　her　arming　jacket　against　the　cold　night　air…after　searching　carefully　to　make　sure　they　didn't　miss　any　hidden　weapons　or　magical　devices。
　　　Eventually　they　reached　a　place　where　the　forest　floor　underfoot　gave　way　to　stone；　and　she　could　hear　the　whispers　and　rustles　of　a　number　of　people　around　her。　The　air　grew　warmer；　and　sullen　firelight　penetrated　the　hood　over　her　eyes。
　　　〃Lord　Dessaer；〃　a　voice　close　by　said；　〃the　captive　Hurmaendyr　spoke　of！〃
　　　〃So　I　see。　Remove　her　hood。　I　would　look　on　her　face；〃　said　a　deep；　thoughtful　voice　from　somewhere　ahead　of　her。
　　　Her　captors　removed　the　hood；　leaving　Halisstra　squinting　in　the　bright　light　of　an　elegant　hall　made　of　gleaming　silver…hued　wood。　Flowering　vines　wound　along　posts　and　beams；　and　a　fire　glowed　to　one　side　in　a　large　hearth。　Several　pale　elves　watched　her　carefully…apparently　guards　of　some　kind；　dressed　in　silver…hued　scale　mail　with　polearms　and　swords　at　their　hips。
　　　Lord　Dessaer　was　a　tall　half…elf　with　golden　hair　and　pale　skin　with　a　faint　bronze　hue　to　it。　He　was　well…muscled　for　a　male；　nearly　as　big　as　Ryld；　and　he　wore　a　breastplate　of　gleaming　gold　with　noble　accoutrements。
　　　〃Remove　her　gag；　too；〃　the　elf　lord　said。　〃She'll　have　little　to　say　otherwise。〃
　　　〃Careful；　my　lord；〃　spoke　the　captor　beside　her；　whom　Halisstra　saw　was　the　black…bearded　human　she'd　fought　in　the　forest。　〃She　knows　something　of　the　bard'