war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第69章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


led　furiously。　While　the　Baenre　outnumbered　the　treacherous　Agrach　Dyrr　more　than　two　to　one；　the　warriors　of　the　First　House　were　obliged　to　defend　themselves　against　attacks　on　all　sides　while　they　tried　to　cut　their　way　through　to　escape。
　　　Nimor　stalked　toward　the　thick　of　the　fighting；　picking　his　way　past　the　dead　and　the　dying。　Fortunately；　he'd　readied　several　spells　of　invisibility　for　the　day；　otherwise　he　would　have　been　waylaid　time　and　time　again　by　raging　tanarukks　or　grim　duergar　anxious　to　slay　any　drow　they　encountered。　Hundreds　of　Horgar's　Stone　Guards　clashed　with　the　Baenre　footsoldiers　ahead　of　him；　while　the　Agrach　Dyrr　barricaded　the　mouth　of　the　main　tunnel　on　the　opposite　side。　Nimor　carefully　skirted　the　fight；　catching　sight　of　Andzrel　and　Zal'therra　beneath　the　Baenre　banner。
　　　The　Baenre　leaders　led　their　soldiers　into　the　thick　of　the　battle　against　the　Agrach　Dyrr；　slowly　but　surely　cutting　their　way　through　the　warriors　of　the　treacherous　House。　A　tight　knot　of　bodyguards　surrounded　them。
　　　The　assassin　grinned；　seeing　his　opportunity。　The　Baenre　leaders　had　mitted　themselves　to　the　fray。　If　he　could　destroy　them；　he　would　decapitate　the　Baenre　contingent；　and　if　their　force　disintegrated；　there　was　an　excellent　chance　that　nothing　of　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　would　survive　the　day。
　　　Nimor　spotted　Jazzt　Dyrr；　who　stood　back　from　the　melee；　directing　the　Agrach　Dyrr　soldiers。　The　nobleman　held　his　hand　to　a　bloody　slash　across　his　ribs。　The　assassin　hurried　over　and　released　his　invisibility。
　　　〃A　job　well　done；　my　kinsman；〃　he　shouted　to　Jazzt。　〃Continue　to　hold　the　Baenre　on　this　side；　and　the　crown　prince's　guard　will　grind　them　to　nothing。〃
　　　Jazzt　looked　up。　Fatigue　and　pain　faded　from　his　face　as　he　surveyed　the　fight。
　　　〃Easier　said　than　done；〃　he　said。　〃The　Baenre　fight　like　demons；　and　more　than　a　few　of　our　own　lads　won't　be　going　home。〃　He　straightened；　and　offered　Nimor　his　hand。　〃I　had　my　misgivings　about　you；　Zhayemd；　but　your　plan　seems　to　be　unfolding　well　enough。　I'd　say　we　could　use　you　here；　but　I　take　it　from　the　blood　all　over　you　that　you're　keeping　yourself　busy。〃
　　　〃The　great　Houses　still　hold　in　the　center　of　the　cavern　floor；　but　this　is　the　spot　of　decision；〃　Nimor　replied。　His　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　Baenre　banner。　〃Lend　me　whatever　lads　you　can。　I　mean　to　kill　the　Baenre　manders。〃
　　　〃Good；　we　need　the　help；〃　Jazzt　replied。　He　gestured　sharply；　and　brought　up　a　reserve　of　a　dozen　seasoned　warriors。　〃You　lads；　you　go　with　Zhayemd。　Take　the　Baenre　banner！〃
　　　Nimor　readied　his　rapier　and　dagger　while　the　fresh　fighters　gathered　behind　him。　The　melee　edged　closer；　as　the　Baenre　continued　to　claw　their　way　toward　escape。　He　could　see　the　Baenre　standard；　waving　above　the　center　of　the　fight。　Andzrel　himself　stood　near　the　forefront；　surrounded　by　the　best　House　Baenre　had　to　offer；　while　Zal'therra　hobbled　along　a　few　steps　back。　The　priestess　was　struggling　with　a　bad　wound　in　her　hip；　and　she　had　her　arm　around　another　Baenre　as　the　line　advanced。
　　　Nimor　waited　until　the　leading　Baenre　guardsmen　were　within　a　spearcast　of　his　soldiers；　and　shouted；　〃Up　and　at　them；　lads！〃
　　　With　a　ragged　cheer　the　warriors　of　Agrach　Dyrr　dashed　forward　from　their　hiding　places；　some　firing　crossbows　into　the　Baenre　before　discarding　the　weapons　and　drawing　blades。　Quarrels　hissed　in　the　tunnel　mouth。　Some　bounced　from　the　armor　of　the　Baenre　guards　and　priestesses；　but　other　quarrels　struck　home。　The　Baenre　guards　readied　themselves　for　Agrach　Dyrr's　charge　as　best　they　could。　Zal'therra　hopped　to　one　side　of　the　tunnel　and　defended　herself　with　a　huge；　black；　two…headed　flail；　unwilling　to　trust　her　injured　leg　enough　to　press　into　the　skirmish　but　still　far　from　helpless…as　an　Agrach　Dyrr　soldier　learned　when　she　expertly　tripped　him　and　followed　up　with　a　blow　that　pulped　the　wretch's　skull。　In　a　moment　the　din　of　steel　on　steel　and　the　awful　sound　of　steel　in　flesh　filled　the　corridor；　acpanied　by　the　screams；　grunts；　and　curses　of　the　fighters。
　　　Andzrel；　unlike　his　kinswoman；　threw　himself　into　the　fight；　wielding　a　double…ended　sword　with　expert　skill　and　lashing　out　with　brutal　spinning　kicks　to　hammer　his　foes　to　the　ground　while　they　parried　his　flashing　blades。　Nimor　watched　in　admiration　as　the　furious　assault　swayed　back　and　forth；　then；　the　Agrach　Dyrr　making　way；　he　approached　the　Baenre　weapons　master。
　　　〃Greetings；　Andzrel；〃　he　called。　〃Your　master　of　scouts　must　report　that　the　duergar　seem　to　have　slipped　past　our　line　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　and　now　pose　a　considerable　danger　to　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider。〃
　　　Andzrel　Baenre　fell　still　as　the　skirmish　swept　away　from　him。　Hard　anger　seethed　beneath　his　disciplined　manner。
　　　〃Zhayemd；〃　he　spat。　〃You　have　made　a　grave　mistake　in　confronting　me。　You　would　have　been　wiser　to　savor　the　fruits　of　your　treachery　from　afar。〃
　　　〃We　shall　see；〃　Nimor　replied。
　　　He　leaped　forward　and　aimed　a　murderous　thrust　straight　for　the　center　of　the　Baenre's　torso；　but　Andzrel　was　not　unprepared。　The　weapons　master　twisted　aside　and　brought　up　his　double…sword　in　a　spinning　parry　that　deflected　Nimor's　blade；　and　whirled　in　close　to　slam　his　armored　elbow　against　the　side　of　the　assassin's　head。　Had　Nimor　been　the　slight　drow　he　appeared　to　be；　the　blow　might　have　fractured　his　skull。　Instead　it　merely　jolted　him；　hard。　He　responded　by　spinning　the　other　way　and　bringing　up　his　off…hand　dagger　in　a　hidden　slash　that　scored　Andzrel　beneath　the　breastplate。　The　weapons　master　took　half　a　step　back　and　leaped　into　the　air；　planting　his　boot　in　the　assassin's　ribs；　but　Nimor　merely　grunted　and　threw　Andzrel　back　with　contemptuous　strength。
　　　Andzrel　rolled　and　came　up　with　his　sword　high；　his　eyes　wide。
　　　〃What　in　all　the　goddess's　hells　are　you？〃　he　muttered。
　　　Before　Nimor　could　pose　a　suitable　answer；　the　weapons　master's　hand　flashed　down　to　his　boot　and　he　hurled　a　knife　straight　for　Nimor's　throat。　The　assassin　threw　his　arm　in　front　of　his　face　and　caught　the　blade　in　the　meat　of　his　left　forearm。　He　snarled　and　pulled　it　out；　blood　spattering　the　dusty　cavern　floor。
　　　Andzrel　didn't　wait　for　him；　of　course。　The　Baenre　followed　his　thrown　dagger　by　hurling　himself　forward　and　rolling　under　Nimor's　guard；　trying　to　run　him　through　with　a　quick　jab。
　　　Nimor　jumped　clear　over　the　weapons　master；　pulling　his　feet　up　close　to　his　body；　and　landed　on　the　other　side。　As　Andzrel　reversed　his　thrust　and　came　back　up；　Nimor　punched　his　rapier　through　the　Baenre's　breastplate　and　scored　a　deep　wound　in　the　weapons　master's　side。　Andzrel　grunted　and　stumbled；　losing　his　balance。　He　sprawled　to　the　ground　at　Nimor's　feet；　his　two…ended　sword　flat　on　the　ground　below　him。
　　　〃A　good　effort；〃　Nimor　said；　drawing　back　his　sword　to　finish　off　the　Baenre。
　　　Before　he　could　strike；　a　globe　of　amber　energy　encased　him。　Magical　force　halted　the　thrust　of　his　blade　as　surely　as　if　he'd　tried　to　skewer　Narbondel；　and　resisted　his　knife　as　well。
　　　〃What　in　the　Nine　Hells？〃　Nimor　demanded。
　　　The　assassin　snarled　in　rage；　even　as　he　realized　that　the　sounds　of　battle　in　the　tunnel　had　increased　threefold　at　the　same　instant。　He　glared　out　of　the　sphere；　trying　to　determine　where　it　had　e　from　and　what　was　happening。
　　　Outside；　dozens　of　fresh　Baenre　troops　poured　into　the　fight　from　the　tunnel　behind　the　Agrach　Dyrr；　catching　Jazzt　and　his　footsoldiers　between　hammer　and　anvil。　The　Agrach　Dyrr　blocking　the　tunnel　were　quickly　driven　away　or　killed；　clearing　the　retreat　for　the　House　Baenre　contingent。　Nimor　watched　in　cold　wrath　as　the　Baenre　began　to　stream　past　his　magical　prison；　reinforcing　their　embattled　kin。　In　the　space　of　a　few　moments；　the　battle　rolled　away　from　him　and　back　into　the　main　cavern。
　　　Nimor　glanced　back　down　the　tunnel；　and　found　himself　looking　at　a　tall；　round…bodied　wizard　in　the　colors　of　House　Baenre；　who　studied　the　amber　globe　with　a　smirk　of　self…satisfaction。　Zal'therra　and　Andzrel　both　stared　at　the　newer　as　well。
　　　〃Nauzhror；〃　said　the　priestess。　Blood　streamed　from　her　injured　hip。　〃Your　timing　is　impeccable。〃
　　　〃A　fortunate　accident；　really；〃　the　wizard　purred。　〃The　matron　mother　instructed　me　to　obtain　news　from　the　field；　and　so　I　scried　the　army；　found　the　battle　underway；　and　noted　your　difficulties。　I　made　use　of　a　very　valuable　scroll　to　raise　a　gate　and　bring　you　some　help。〃　He　turned　and　studied　Nimor　in　the　globe　of　energy。　〃Isn't　this　fierce　fellow　Captain　Zhayemd　of　Agrach　Dyrr？〃
　　　〃So　he　says；　anyway；〃　Andzrel　gritted。　〃Can　you　destroy　him　in　that　sphere？〃
　　　〃Not　right　away。　It　simply　captures　someone　for　a　time；　encapsulating　the　victim　in　an　impervious　shield　of　magical　force。　It　will　fade　in　a　short　while；　after　which　you　may　kill　him　at　your　leisure。〃
　　　〃Later；　then；〃　Andzrel　said；　dismissing　the　question　of　the　trapped　Nimor。
　　　With　one　hand　he　groped　for　a　small　vial　at　his　belt…a　healing　potion；　Nimor　guessed…and　drank　it　down。　He　glanced　back　at　the　fighting；　his　face　expressionless　as　he　studied　the　savage　melee。
　　　Zal'therra　limped　up　b