war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第46节

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　skewered　him　through　the　eye。
　　　〃No　point　waiting　any　longer；　now；〃　Pharaun　whispered。
　　　The　wizard　had　greeted　Quenthel's　order　to　lay　an　ambush　with　a　distinct　lack　of　enthusiasm；　and　he　wasn't　at　all　unhappy　to　call　the　effort　a　failure　and　rejoin　the　rest　of　the　band。　He　muttered　the　harsh　syllables　of　a　spell　and　gestured　in　a　peculiar　fashion；　concentrating。
　　　In　a　moment　the　wizard　straightened　and　motioned　to　Ryld；　e。　I've　created　an　image　that　will　make　it　seem　that　we　still　stand　guard　here；　but　you　and　I　are　invisible　to　our　antagonists。　Follow　me　quietly；　and　stay　close。
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　moved　off　stealthily　just　behind　the　wizard。　He　took　one　last　glance　at　the　desolate　forest　behind　them；　wondering　if　the　wizard's　trick　would　work。
　　　Halisstra　is　back　there　somewhere；　he　thought。　Most　likely　dead。
　　　The　surface　dwellers　had　shown　no　interest　in　taking　prisoners；　and　in　the　logical　part　of　his　mind　Ryld　simply　wrote　off　her　loss　as　another　casualty　of　battle；　just　as　he　might　account　for　the　untimely　fall　of　any　useful　rade。　He'd　fought　enough　battles　over　the　years　to　understand　that　warriors　die；　but　despite　that；　he　found　Halisstra's　loss　strangely　unsettling。
　　　Pharaun　paused；　turning　in　a　slow　circle　as　he　searched　for　some　sign　of　the　rest　of　the　pany　or　any　foes　still　on　their　trail。　Ryld　held　still　and　listened。　A　gentle　wind　moved　the　treetops　and　sighed　in　the　branches　overhead。　Leaves　rustled；　and　branches　creaked。　A　small　brook　trickled　nearby；　but　he　could　detect　nothing　that　might　signal　danger…or　Halisstra's　return。
　　　Stupid　to　hope　for　such　a　thing；　he　told　himself。
　　　Something　troubles　you？　motioned　Pharaun。
　　　No；　the　weapons　master　replied。
　　　The　wizard　studied　him；　the　brilliant　silver　moonlight　gleaming　on　his　handsome　face。
　　　Tell　me　you're　not　worried　about　the　female！
　　　Of　course　not；　Ryld　replied。　I'm　concerned　only　because　she's　been　a　valuable　rade；　and　I　don't　like　the　idea　of　proceeding　without　her　skill　at　healing。　But　I　am　not　concerned　on　any　other　account。　I　am　no　fool。
　　　I　think　perhaps　you　protest　too　much；　Pharaun　signed。　It　does　not　matter；　I　suppose。
　　　He　started　to　say　more；　but　at　that　moment　a　soft　rustle　behind　them　cut　off　his　words。　Wizard　and　swordsman　turned　together；　Ryld's　hand　stealing　to　Splitter's　hilt　as　he　aimed　his　crossbow　with　the　other　hand；　but　from　the　bright　shadows　Valas　Hune　suddenly　appeared。　Of　all　the　pany；　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　seemed　almost　as　skilled　as　the　surface　dwellers　in　the　patient　cat…and…mouse　game　of　forest　hunting。
　　　Did　you　catch　sight　of　any　of　our　foes？　the　scout　asked。
　　　No；　but　someone　saw　enough　of　Ryld　to　shoot　an　arrow；　Pharaun　replied。　Since　they　seemed　to　guess　where　we　were；　we　left　an　illusion　and　came　to　rejoin　you。
　　　Any　sign　of　Halisstra？　Ryld　asked。
　　　No。　Nor　you；　then？　Valas　replied。
　　　Perhaps　half　an　hour　ago　we　heard　sounds　of　fighting　from　back　down　the　trail。　It　went　on　for　a　couple　of　minutes。　That　might　have　been　her；　Pharaun　signed。
　　　〃There　it　is；　then；〃　Valas　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃Well；　e　on　then。　The　others　are　waiting；　and　if　we　can't　ambush　our　pursuers；　we　might　as　well　keep　moving。　The　longer　they　keep　us　here；　the　more　likely　it　is　that　more　of　them　will　show　up　and　join　the　fight。〃
　　　The　scout　led　the　way　as　he　hurried　through　the　trees　and　brush；　moving　swiftly　and　silently。　Pharaun　and　Ryld　could　not　match　the　softness　of　his　steps；　but　the　wizard's　magic　seemed　an　adequate　ruse；　since　they　encountered　no　more　hidden　archers　or　spearmen。　In　a　few　hundred　yards　they　came　to　a　small；　steep　ravine；　well　screened　by　thick　brush　and　large　boulders。　There　they　found　Quenthel；　Danifae；　and　Jeggred　lying　low；　watching　vigilantly　for　any　sign　of　a　renewed　attack。
　　　〃Did　you　surprise　the　archers？〃　Quenthel　asked。
　　　〃No。　They　located　us　quickly；　and　avoided　a　fight；〃　Ryld　replied。　He　ran　a　hand　over　his　stubbled　scalp　and　sighed。　〃This　is　not　a　good　battlefield　for　us。　We　can't　bring　the　surface　elves　to　grips；　not　with　the　advantage　they　have　in　this　terrain；　but　if　we　don't　do　anything；　they'll　eventually　surround　us　and　cut　us　to　pieces　with　arrows。〃
　　　Valas　nodded　in　agreement　and　added；　〃They're　working　to　find　and　flank　us　now。　We've　got　a　few　minutes　here；　but　we're　going　to　have　to　move　or　fight　soon。　Ten　minutes　or　less；　I　think。〃
　　　〃Let　them　e；〃　rumbled　Jeggred。　〃We　killed　a　dozen　of　them　not　an　hour　ago　when　they　stole　up　on　us　from　behind。　Now　that　we　know　the　day…walkers　are　out　there；　we'll　slaughter　them　in　heaps。〃
　　　〃The　next　assault　will　most　likely　consist　of　a　rain　of　arrows　from　archers　we　won't　even　be　able　to　see；〃　Valas　said。　〃I　doubt　that　the　surface　dwellers　will　oblige　us　by　lining　up　for　us　to　kill。　Worse　yet；　what　if　the　rangers　sent　for　help？　The　next　attack　might　e　at　daybreak　with　two　or　three　times　the　numbers　we've　seen　so　far。　I　don't　relish　the　thought　of　being　showered　with　arrows　and　spells　after　the　sun　es　up　and　our　opponents　suddenly　begin　to　see　much　better　than　we　do。〃
　　　〃Fine；〃　Jeggred　snarled。　〃So　what　would　you　do；　then？〃
　　　〃Withdraw；〃　Ryld　answered　for　the　scout。　〃Make　the　best　speed　we　can　and　keep　moving。　With　luck　we'll　outdistance　our　pursuers　before　the　sun　es　up；　and　maybe　we'll　find　a　good　place　to　hide。〃
　　　〃Or　maybe　we'll　reach　territory　controlled　by　the　Jaelre；〃　Valas　added。
　　　〃Which　may；　of　course；　prove　to　be　even　more　dangerous　than　playing　cat…and…mouse　with　our　friends　the　surface　dwellers；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃If　the　Jaelre　aren't　fond　of　visitors。　。　。　。〃
　　　〃It　doesn't　matter　if　they　are　or　not；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃We　came　to　speak　to　their　priest；　and　we　will　do　so；　even　if　we　have　to　cut　our　way　through　half　their　House　to　do　it。〃
　　　〃Your　suggestion　is　not　very　encouraging；　Master　Hune；〃　Danifae　said。　She　bled　freely　from　a　wound　in　her　right　arm；　where　a　hard…driven　arrow　had　actually　punched　through　her　mail　and　transfixed　her　upper　arm。　As　she　spoke　she　worked　awkwardly　with　one　hand　to　bind　the　wound。　〃What　happens　if　we　fail　to　outpace　our　enemies？　They　seem　well　able　to　keep　up　with　us　in　these　damnable　woods。〃
　　　〃One　moment；〃　Ryld　said。　〃What　about　Mistress　Melarn？　She's　back　there　somewhere。〃
　　　〃Most　likely　dead　already；〃　Valas　said　with　a　shrug。　〃Or　a　prisoner。〃
　　　〃Shouldn't　we　make　sure　of　that　before　we　leave　her？〃　the　weapons　master　replied。　〃Her　healing　songs　are　the　only　magic　of　that　sort　we　have　left　to　us。　mon　sense　dictates…〃
　　　〃mon　sense　dictates　that　we　don't　waste　time　and　blood　on　a　corpse；〃　Quenthel　interrupted。　〃No　one　came　after　me　when…〃
　　　She　stopped　herself；　then　stood　and　walked　over　to　help　Danifae　cinch　her　bandage。
　　　〃Our　mission　lies　ahead　of　us；　not　behind；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　said。　〃The　quest　is　more　important　than　any　one　drow。〃
　　　Ryld　rubbed　his　hand　over　his　face　and　glanced　around　the　pany。　Valas　looked　away；　busying　himself　with　some　unimportant　fastening　of　his　armor。　Pharaun　stared　at　Quenthel　with　an　expression　that　made　it　clear　the　wizard　noted　the　priestess's　hypocrisy；　if　nothing　else。　She　had；　after　all；　spent　more　time　in　Ched　Nasad　hoping　to　empty　Baenre　storehouses　of　their　goods　than　seeking　the　renewed　attention　of　Lolth。
　　　Danifae　stared　off　into　the　woods　behind　them；　her　brow　furrowed　with　concern；　but　obviously　unwilling　to　argue　the　point　on　behalf　of　her　mistress。
　　　Finally　Quenthel　turned　to　Pharaun　and　said；　〃Perhaps　our　skilled　wizard　has　some　magic　that　might　help　us　discourage　these　cursed　day…walkers　from　following　too　closely？〃
　　　Pharaun　stroked　his　chin；　and　thought。
　　　〃Our　chief　difficulty　in　these　circumstances；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　said　at　length；　〃lies　in　the　fact　that　our　antagonists　are　able　to　use　this　terrain　to　their　advantage；　and　our　disadvantage。　Should　a　forest　fire　suddenly　arise；　the　smoke　and　flames　would…〃
　　　Valas　laughed　and　interrupted；　〃I'm　afraid　you　know　little　of　surface　forests；　Master　Mizzrym。　These　trees　are　far　too　wet　to　oblige　you　with　a　forest　fire　now。　Try　again　in　a　few　months；　after　summer　has　dried　them　out。〃
　　　〃Oh；〃　the　wizard　replied；　〃I　can　see　that's　true　for　mundane　fire。〃
　　　〃You　won't　be　able　to　prevent　fire　from　sweeping　back　on　us；〃　Ryld　said；　the　idea　giving　him　some　anxiety。
　　　〃Well；　I　can't　be　certain　they　won't；　but　my　fires　will　burn　in　the　manner　I　choose；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃As　Master　Hune　observed；　the　forest　is　damp　enough　that　the　trees　won't　catch　unless　directly　affected　by　my　spell。　We　will；　of　course；　have　the　advantage　of　knowing　how　and　when　the　fires　begin。〃
　　　Quenthel　thought　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Very　well；　you　may　proceed。〃
　　　Ryld　felt　his　throat　tighten　and　he　stepped　away　from　the　group；　quickly　regaining　control　of　himself。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　stood　and　reached　into　a　pouch　at　his　belt　to　withdraw　a　tiny　silk　purse。　He　emptied　it　into　his　hand。　Red　dust　glittered　in　the　moonlight。　Pharaun　studied　the　forest；　turned　to　sense　the　wind；　and　spoke　his　spell　quickly；　casting　the　powder　into　the　air。　Bright　crimson　sparks　appeared　amid　the　falling　dust；　growing　brighter　and