蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第62章

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The　scholars　only　had　to　fight　for　a　few　more　minutes　then；　hammered　on　three　sides；　the　mass　of　goblins　collapsed　in　on　itself；　the　implosion　laying　a　carpet　of　corpses　in　its　wake。
Quenthel　allowed　her　troops　only　a　few　minutes　to　collect　themselves；　then　she　formed　them　up　and　marched　them　on　toward　the　next　of　the　goddess　only　knew　how　many　battles。
〃Out〃　Greyanna　shouted。　〃Now？
The　canoe　maker　gawked　at　her　and　sputtered；　〃Whwhat　about　my　stock？〃
The　items　in　question　sat　about　the　floor　of　the　workroom　or　hung　cradled　in　straps　hooked　to　the　ceiling。
〃The　goblins　will　destroy　them；〃　the　scarfaced　princess　said。　〃Like　this。〃　She　smashed　a　halffinished　kayak；　a　fragilelooking　construction　of　curved　bone　ribs　and　hide；　with　a　sweep　of　her　mace。　〃Afterward；　you'll　make　more；　but　only　if　you　live。　Now　get　moving；　or　I'll　kill　you　myself。〃
The　craftsman　scrambled　off　his　stool；　and　she　chivvied　him　out　the　door。　Up　and　down　the　street；　her　half　dozen　minions　were　rousting　out　the　occupants　of　other　manufactories　and　shops。
A　mob　of　hairy　hobgoblins；　all　wellarmed　and　many　a　head　taller　than　the　average　dark　elf；　slouched　around　a　corner　onto　the　thoroughfare。　They　spotted　the　drow；　bellowed　their　uncouth　battle　cries；　and　charged。
After　the　disastrous　encounter　with　Ryld　Argith；　one　of　the　twins　was　dead。　The　other；　and　Relonor；　lay　grievously　wounded；　as　they　still　did　in　House　Mizzrym。　There　they　would　live　or　die　without　recourse　to　further　doses　of　healing　magic；　since　Miz'ri　declined　to　squander　the　House's　limited　resources　on　such　inpetents。　Greyanna　had　entirely　agreed。
After　taking　the　wounded　home；　Greyanna；　with　the　questionable　aid　of　Aunrae；　had　selected　five　new　males　to　join　her　in　the　hunt。　This　time；　they'd　stalk　Pharaun　on　foot；　Greyanna　having　belatedly　realized　that　foulwings　weren't　lucky　for　her。
She　and　her　band　had　been　wandering　the　streets　seeking　word　of　their　quarry　when　the　rebellion　erupted。　Once　she'd　grasped　the　magnitude　of　the　disturbance；　she　wondered　if　it　was　the　raid　on　the　Braeryn　that　she　had　engineered；　that　brutal　attempt　to　flush　her　brother　out　of　hiding；　that　had　inspired　the　thralls　to　revolt。　In　a　mad；　dark　way；　the　possibility　pleased　her；　but　she　decided　not　to　share　her　hypothesis。　Few　would　see　the　humor。
Most　of　her　thinking；　however；　was　given　over　to　practical　considerations。　She　thought　her　hunting　party　could　help　put　down　the　undercreatures；　but　only　if　it　could　bine　forces　with　a　bona　fide　army。　Otherwise；　the　larger　mobs　would　overwhelm　it。
In　those　first　minutes　of　slaughter　and　destruction；　she　watched　for　some　noble　clan　to　ride　forth　from　their　castle　and　drive　the　goblins　before　them。　To　her　consternation；　none　did；　at　least　not　in　her　immediate　vicinity。　Her　little　troop　was　on　its　own。
Life　then　became　an　infuriating　business　of　running　and　hiding　from　ores　of　all　things；　of　watching　beasts　no　better　than　rothe　destroy　beauty　and　sophistication　they　couldn't　even　perceive。　Occasionally；　she　and　her　panions　slew　a　small　group　of　goblinoids　wandering　on　their　own；　but　it　meant　nothing；　would　do　nothing　to　arrest　the　dissolution　of　all　that　was　finest　in　the　world。
Where　was　the　Spider　Queen？　Perhaps　she　was　bored　with　her　toy　Menzoberranzan；　magnificent　though　it　was。　Perhaps　she　intended　to　break　it　to　make　space　for　a　new　one。
In　time；　Greyanna's　dodging　and　backtracking　brought　her　to　a　street　she　recognized；　a　double　row　of　prosperous　shops—to　be　precise；　establishments　owned　by　tradesmen　under　the　patronage　of　House　Mizzrym。　She　herself　had　called　hereabouts；　collecting　rents　and　fees；　occasionally　chastising　a　fool　who　was　late　paying　on　a　loan　or　had　otherwise　displeased　Matron　Mother　Miz'ri。
It　occurred　to　Greyanna　that　if　the　merchants　perished；　they'd　contribute　no　more　gold　to　Mizzrym　coffers。　Whereas　if　she　conducted　them　to　safety；　she　might　curry　some　favor　with　her　mother。　Miz'ri　had　grown　impatient　with　her　continuing　failure　to　kill　Pharaun　and　had　even　hinted　that　another　might　carry　the　mantle　of　First　Daughter　with　more　grace。
At　the　very　least；　preserving　Mizzrym　assets　would　feel　more　constructive　and　less　frustrating　than　simply　skulking　about；　and　so　Greyanna　instructed　her　followers　to　extract　the　frightened　traders　and　artisans　from　their　homes。
She　loosed　a　crossbow　bolt　at　the　hobgoblins；　and　her　soldiers　did　the　same。　Her　wizard　conjured　a　cold；　towering　shadow　like　the　silhouette　of　a　mantis；　which　mangled　several　thralls　in　its　oversized　pincers　before　melting　out　of　existence。　In　all；　at　least　a　dozen　brutes　fell；　but　others　shambled　forth　from　the　smoke　and　fiery　glare　to　take　their　place。
Voices　of　torment；　she　thought；　how　many　undercreatures　were　there　in　Menzoberranzan？
Until　that　day；　Greyanna　had　never　really　noticed。　She　guessed　no　one　else　had；　either。
The　hobgoblins　charged。
The　Mizzrym　princess　shouted；　〃Dark　wall〃
Three　of　her　retainers；　those　closest　to　the　onrushing　thralls；　stooped　and　touched　the　ground；　conjuring　a　curtain　of　shadow　between　themselves　and　the　undercreatures；　then　fell　back。
One　of　the　Mizzrym　warriors　herded　the　shopkeepers　farther　from　the　threat。　The　rest；　Greyanna　included；　scrambled　to　form　a　line　at　a　narrow　place　three　yards　behind　the　intangible　barrier。　The　princess　pulled　a　little　silver　vial　from　her　belt　pouch　and　guzzled　the　bitter；　lukewarm　contents　down。　She　shuddered　and　doubled　over　as　her　muscles　cramped；　and　the　disfort　gave　way　to　a　tingling　warmth。
Hobgoblins　strode　from　the　darkness。　They'd　dwelled　among　dark　elves　too　long　for　the　trick　to　deter　them　more　than　a　few　seconds。
At　least　the　blinding　veil　precluded　their　advancing　in　anything　resembling　a　coherent　formation。　They　screamed　and　charged　in　a　gapped　and　formless　wave；　which　looked　murderous　even　so。
The　first　hobgoblin　to　lunge　at　Greyanna　was　particularly　large　and；　in　marked　contrast　to　his　fellows；　hairless　from　the　shoulders　up。　A　mistress　or　master　had　depilated　the　slave　to　prepare　the　canvas　for　a　work　of　art；　hundreds　of　tiny　round　burn　scars　arranged　in　a　plex　swirling　pattern。
The　thrall　cut　at　Greyanna's　head。　Under　other　circumstances；　she　would　have　retreated　out　of　range；　but　that　would　break　the　line。　Wishing　she'd　brought　a　shield　to　the　revel；　she　lifted　her　mace　in　a　high　parry。　The　hobgoblin's　broadsword　rang　against　the　stone　haft　of　the　war　club　and　skipped　off。
At　once　she　riposted　with　a　strike　to　the　flank；　and　the　undercreature　whipped　his　targe　around　to　block。　The　blow　bashed　a　dent　in　the　round　steel　shield　and　knocked　the　hobgoblin　reeling　back；　his　slanted　eyes　wide　with　surprise。　He　didn't　know　about　the　potion　that　had　lent　her　an　ogre's　strength。
Greyanna　struck　to　the　side；　slaying　the　slave　who　was　menacing　her　neighbor；　then　her　own　bald　adversary　came　edging　back。　He　hovered　a　second；　then　feinted　to　the　flank　and　finished　with　a　cut　to　the　chest。　Discerning　the　true　threat；　she　halfstepped　inside　the　arc　of　the　attack　and　swung　at　his　jaw。　The　blow　crunched　home；　and　he　toppled　backward　with　a　shattered；　bloody　chin　and　a　broken　neck。
She　killed　two　more　hobgoblins；　then　something　prodded　her　shin；　a　thrust　that　failed　to　penetrate　her　boot。　She　looked　down；　and　it　was　a　kobold；　armed　with　a　fireplace　poker；　who　had　apparently　been　scurrying　about　the　feet　of　the　larger　slaves。　Greyanna　killed　the　reptilian　imp　with　a　roundhouse　kick。
She　cast　about　for　her　next　adversary。　She　didn't　seem　to　have　one。　The　fight　was　over；　and　the　few　surviving　hobgoblins　were　running　away。
〃Form　up〃
Once　the　procession　was　under　way；　Aunrae；　striding　along　at　Greyanna's　side；　asked；　〃May　I　know　where　we're　going？　An　ally's　castle？〃
〃No；〃　Greyanna　replied。　〃I　suspect　we　couldn't　get　in。　We're　going　to　hide　our　charges　in　Bauthwaf。〃
The　column　crept　past　corpses　and　burning　stone；　and　as　they　made　their　way　to　the　cavern　wall；　other　moners　came　running　out　of　their　homes　to　join　the　procession。　Greyanna's　first　impulse　was　to　turn　away　those　without　ties　to　House　Mizzrym；　but　she　thought　better　of　it。　Many　of　the　newers　carried　swords；　and　she　could　press　the　dolts　into　martial　service　if　needed。
Occasionally　someone　collapsed；　coughing　feebly；　poisoned　by　the　stinging　smoke。　The　rest　stepped　over　her　and　pressed　on。
Someone　gave　a　thin；　high　cry；　as　if　at　an　unexpected　pain。　Greyanna　spun　around。　The　goblins　weren't　attacking。　Her　client　the　canoe　maker　had　simply　seized　his　opportunity　to　knife　another　male　in　the　back。
〃A　petitor；〃　the　craftsman　explained。
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The　labyrinthine　fortress　known　as　the　Great　Mound　contained　a　number　of　magically　sealed　areas。　Unbelievably；　the　rebellious　slave　troops　penetrated　everywhere　else。　The　Baenre　fought　the　goblinoids　in　the　stalagmite　towers；　across　the　aerial　bridges　that　connected　them；　and　through　the　tunnels　beneath　them；　even　along　the　balconies　and　skywalks　of　the　stalactite　bastions；　reclaiming　their　domain　a　bloody　inch　at　a　time。
The　thralls　made　their　final　stand　in　the　courtyard；　a　spacious　area　surrounded　by　a　web　like　iron　fence。　The　barrier　was　a　potent　magical　defense；　and；　as　the　Baenre　had　just　discovered；　of　no　use　whatsoever　if　one's　foe　was　already　inside　the　pound。
Triel　floated　down　from　the　battlements　above　to　take　a　hand　in　the　last　of　the　fighting。　Jeggred；　who'd　stood　beside　her　since　the　battle　menced；　drifted　down　as　well。　Both　mother　and　demi　demon　son　wore　a　copious　spattering　of　blood；　none　of　it　their　own。
In　truth；　Triel　could　have　left　the　task　of　clearing　the　yard　to　her　warriors；　but　she　was　enjoying　herself。　Partly；　it　was　simple　drow　bloodlust；　but　she'd　also　found　a　directness；　a　simplicity；　in　slaughtering　goblins　that　was　sadly　lacking　in　the　plex　task　of　ruling　the　city。　For　the　first　time　since　ascending　to　her　mother's　throne；　she　felt　she　knew　what　she　was　doing。
Half　a　dozen　minotaurs；　formidable　brutes　she　had　often　employed　as　her　own　personal　guards；　chanted；　〃Freedom〃　as　they　swung　their　axes　or　crouched　to　gore　an　enemy　with　their　horns。　Triel　read　the　last　line　of　runes　from　a　scroll　that；　when　the　rebellion　menced；　had　contained　seven　spells。
Dazzling　flame　blazed　up　from　the　ground　beneath　the　minotaurs'　hooves。　Four　of　the　huge　beasts　fell　down　screaming　and　thrashing。　The