蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第47部分

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lenching　and　aching。
He'd　suspected　the　nondescript　little　male　was　more　than　he'd　seemed；　a　formidable　batant　employing　a　bland　appearance　to　throw　his　adversaries　off　guard；　and　he'd　been　right。　The　〃craftsman〃　was　in　reality　a　bard；　a　spellcaster　who　worked　his　wonders　through　the　medium　of　music。
Teeth　gritted；　Pharaun　shook　off　the　pulsion　to　laugh。　Gasping；　he　lifted　his　head　and　looked　around。　The　bard　was　simultaneously　drawing　his　enchanted　dagger　and　starting　another　song；　this　time　pitched　falsetto。　Houndaer　was　on　his　feet　battling　Ryld；　their　swords　ringing。　At　the　end　of　the　room；　Tsabrak；　shifting　his　eight　legs　in　agitation；　aimed　an　arrow　at　Pharaun；　while　in　the　doorway　the　alhoon　simply　stood　with　only　its　mouth　tentacles　moving；　seemingly　content　to　let　its　patriots　do　the　fighting。
Pharaun　threw　himself　sideways。　The　arrow　missed　him　and　clacked　and　skipped　across　the　floor。　The　mage　slapped　the　stone；　and　a　wall　of　sheltering　darkness　sprang　up　between　him　and　the　foe。　Moving　with　a　practiced；　silent　grace；　he　scrambled　on。
Something　clamped　down　on　Pharaun's　mind；　smothering　his　will　and　robbing　him　of　the　ability　to　move。　The　undead　mind　flayer　hadn't　been　idle　after　all。　Syrzan　had　simply　utilized　its　psionic　strength　in　preference　to　its　wizardry　and　thus　hadn't　needed　to　whirl　its　threefingered　hands　in　arcane　passes。　The　wall　of　shadow　no　impediment；　the　Prophet　had　reached　out；　found　Pharaun's　intellect；　and　struck　a　crippling　blow。
The　barricade　of　darkness　disappeared。　Syrzan　must　have　employed　a　bit　of　countermagic　to　dispel　it　and　in　so　doing；　afforded　Pharaun　a　view　of　the　space　beyond。　Rather　to　his　surprise；　Houndaer　was　still　alive；　perhaps　because　Tsabrak　had　discarded　his　bow；　drawn　a　broadsword；　and　e　to　fight　alongside　him。　The　two　conspirators　were　trying　to　catch　Ryld　between　them；　generally　an　effective　tactic；　but　thus　far　the　teacher's　piwafwi；　dwarven　armor；　and　prowess　had　preserved　him　from　harm。
The　Tuin'Tarl　made　a　halfhearted　slash；　and　Ryld；　recognizing　the　feint　for　what　it　was；　didn't　react。　The　pale　phosphorescence　of　the　carvings　gleaming　on　his　naked　limbs；　Tsabrak　spat　venom　onto　his　blade。　The　bard　brought　his　shrill　singing　to　a　crescendo；　crossed　his　legs；　and　wrapped　his　arms　tightly　around　his　torso；　all　but　tying　himself　in　knots。
With　the　aid　of　his　ring；　Pharaun　saw　a　glittering　pulse　of　magic　fly　from　the　singer　to　Ryld。　He　could　even　tell　what　it　was　intended　to　do。　His　friend　was　supposed　to　contort　his　own　body　in　helpless　imitation　of　the　bard's　constrictive　posture。　But；　strong　of　spirit；　Ryld　resisted　the　pulsion　without　even　realizing　he　was　doing　it。
The　weapons　master　faked　a　cut　at　Houndaer's　head；　then　whirled　and　dived。　He　slid　between　Tsabrak's　legs；　breaking　away　from　the　drider　and　Houndaer；　too；　leaped　up；　and　charged　Syrzan。　He　recognized　the　alhoon　as　the　most　dangerous　of　his　foes；　even　though　the　illithilich　hadn't　attacked　him　yet。
Syrzan　reached　into　a　pocket　and　produced　a　small　ceramic　vial。　When　it　swung　the　bottle　from　right　to　left；　a　dozen　orbs　of　bright　flame　materialized　in　its　wake。　They　shot　at　Ryld　in　one　straight　line　and　exploded　one　after　the　other；　banging　rapidly　like　some　hellish　drum　roll。
The　glare　was　dazzling。　For　a　moment；　Pharaun　couldn't　see　anything；　and　he　made　out　Ryld　through　floating　blobs　of　afterimage。　His　friend　appeared　unscathed。　He　was　still　charging　and　almost　in　sword's　reach　of　the　alhoon。
Syrzan　used　its　mind　flayer　talents。　Even　though　the　lich　hadn't　directed　the　attack　at　him；　Pharaun　felt　the　fringe　of　it。　It　was　like　a　sprinkle　of　hot　ash　burning　his　brain。　Ryld　dropped。
Syrzan　gazed　down　at　the　warrior　for　a　moment；　evidently　making　sure　he　was　truly　incapacitated；　then　walked　over　to　Pharaun。　Despite　the　long　skirt　of　its　robe；　there　was　something　noticeably　strange　about　its　gait；　as　if　its　legs　bent　in　too　many　places。　Up　close；　it　exuded　a　faint　stink　not　unlike　rotten　fish。　Its　garments；　once　of　princely　quality；　were　frayed　and　stained。
It　touched　a　finger　to　Pharaun's　brow；　and　they　were　elsewhere。
　
C　h　a　p　t　e　r　　
N　　I　　N　　E　　T　　E　　E　　N
The　Underdark　was　boundless；　its　mysteries　infinite；　and　despite　centuries　of　following　wherever　his　curiosity　led；　Pharaun　had　never　seen　an　illithid　city。　Save　for　a　dearth　of　inhabitants；　he　thought　he'd　just　stepped　into　one。
Artisans　had　carved　the　walls　and　columns　of　the　vault　into　spongiform　masses　like　brain　tissue；　then　covered　the　convolutions　with　lines　of　graven　runes。　Pools　of　warm　fluid　dotted　the　floor。　Redolent　of　salt；　the　ponds　crawled　and　throbbed　with　a　mental　force　that　even　a　nonpsionic　intelligence　dimly　sensed　as　a　whisper　of　alien；　inprehensible　thought　at　the　back　of　the　mind。
Pharaun　recognized　that　the　cavern　was　in　some　sense　an　illusion；　but　that　didn't　make　it　any　less　interesting。　He　would　have　liked　nothing　better　than　to　explore　every　nook　and　cranny。　It　was　an　inclination　rooted　in　a　profound　sense　of　wellbeing；　a　blithe　unconcern　no　more　genuine　than　the　landscape；　but　seductive　all　the　same。　He　would　have　to　fight　it。
He　turned；　saw　Syrzan　standing　a　few　feet　away；　and　cast　darts　of　force；　　a　spell　requiring　only　words　of　power　and　a　flourish　of　the　hands。　Halfway　to　their　target；　the　streaking　shafts　of　azure　radiance　stopped　dead　in　the　air；　fell　to　the　ground；　and　turned　into　limbless　things　like　leeches　or　tadpoles；　which；　squealing　telepathically；　slithered　toward　the　nearest　pool。
〃Your　spells　won't　work　here；〃　said　Syrzan　in　the　Prophet's　rich；　pelling　tones。
〃I　suspected　as　much；　but　I　had　to　try。　Are　we　inside　your　mind？〃
〃More　or　less。〃
Syrzan　strolled　closer。　Off　to　the　side；　liquid　splashed　and　plopped　as　the　tadpoles　wallowed。
〃We're　conversing　in　my　special　haven；〃　the　undead　mind　flayer　said；　〃but　we're　also　still　in　the　heretic's　chapel。　In　that　reality　I'm　rebuking　Houndaer　for　fetching　you　after　I　told　him　it　was　dangerous；　and　you're　insensible。〃
〃Fascinating；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃and　I　suppose　you　spirited　me　into　the　dream　for　a　private　teteatete。〃
〃Essentially；〃　the　alhoon　said。　Even　in　this　phantasmal　domain；　it　smelled　faintly　of　decaying　fish。　〃This　is　actually　a　form　of　mindreading。　You　won't　be　able　to　lie。〃
The　Master　of　Sorcere　chuckled。　〃Some　people　would　say　that　so　handicapped；　I　won't　be　able　to　speak　at　all。〃
The　mages　began　stroll　along　side　by　side。　The　atmosphere　felt　quite　congenial。
〃How　is　it；〃　Syrzan　asked；　〃that　you　came　looking　for　my　associates　and　me？〃
Pharaun　explained。　He　didn't　see　how　it　could　do　any　harm。
When　he　was　finished；　the　illithilich　said；　〃You　couldn't　wield　my　particular　sort　of　power。〃
〃I　understand　that　now。　You　enthrall　the　undercreatures　through　a　deft　bination　of　wizardry　and　mind　flayer　arts；　and　I　lack　the　innate　capacity　to　master　the　latter。　What's　more；　you　conspirators　know　nothing　about　the　priestesses'　difficulties。〃　Pharaun　cocked　his　head。　〃Or　perhaps　you　do；　Master　Eich。〃
〃No；〃　said　Syrzan；　its　mouth　tentacles　coiling　and　twisting。　〃Eike　the　others；　I　know　what's　happened　but　not　why。〃
〃So　none　of　what　I　sought　was　ever　here　for　the　finding。〃　Pharaun　laughed　and　said；　〃My　sister　Sabal　once　told　me　that　a　clever　drow's　wits　can　lead　him　into　follies　no　dunce　would　dare　to　undertake　。　。　。　but　that's　blood　down　the　gutter。　What　of　you？　What　in　the　wide　world　prompted　a　creature　such　as　yourself　to　throw　in　with　a　band　of　Menzoberranyr　malcontents？〃
〃You　seek　information　you　can　use　against　me。〃
〃Well；　partly　。。。〃　Pharaun　had　to　pause　for　a　second　when　a　wave　of　psionic　force　from　one　of　the　larger　pools　dizzied　him　and　threatened　to　wash　his　own　thoughts　away。　〃In　the　unlikely　event　I'm　ever　afforded　the　chance。　Mostly；　though；　I'm　just　curious。　You're　a　mage。　Surely　we　share　that　trait　even　if　little　else。〃
Syrzan　shrugged；　the　narrow　shoulders　beneath　its　faded　robes　hitching　higher　than　would　a　drow's。
〃Well；〃　the　alhoon　said；　〃I　suppose　it　can　do　no　harm　to　enlighten　you；　and　it's　been　a　long　while　since　I've　had　the　opportunity　to　converse　with　a　colleague　of　genuine　ability。　Not　that　you're　my　equal—no　elf　or　dwarf　could　ever　be—but　you're　several　cuts　above　any　of　Houndaer's　allies。〃
〃Your　kind　words　overwhelm　me。〃
The　two　wizards　stepped　onto　a　bridge；　a　crooked　limestone　span　arching　over　one　of　the　briny　pools。
〃Dark　elves　will　abide　a　lich；〃　the　alhoon　said；　a　brooding　note　entering　its　musical　and　almost　certainly　artificial　voice。　〃Illithids　won't。　By　and　large；　they　hate　the　idea　of　sorcery；　a　foreign　discipline　as　potent　as　the　psionic　skills　that　constitute　our　birthright。　Still；　they'll　tolerate　a　limited　number　of　mortal　mages；　those　of　us　drawn　to　wizardry　despite　the　stigma；　for　the　advantages　we　bring。　But　the　thought　of　undying　wizards　enduring　for　millennia；　amassing　arcane　power　the　while；　terrifies　them。〃
〃So　on　the　day　you　achieved　your　immortality；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃you　forsook　your　homeland　forever；　or　at　least　until　the　day　when　you　could　conquer　it。〃
The　two　mages　stopped　at　the　highest　point　on　the　bridge　and　looked　out　over　an　expanse　of　warm；　briny　fluid。　Pharaun　noticed　that　the　stuff　rippled　and　flowed　sluggishly；　as　if　it　was　thicker　than　water。
〃Indeed；〃　Syrzan　said。　〃I　hoped　to　manage　my　departure　circumspectly；　but　somehow　the　folk　of　Oryndoll　sensed　my　metamorphosis。　For　decades；　they　hunted　me　like　an　animal；　and　I　existed　like　one　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。　Those　times　were　hard。　Even　the　undead　crave　the　forts　of　civilization。　Finally　Oryndoll　fot　me　or　gave　up　on　me。　That　was　an　improvement；　but　still　I　had　no　home。〃
〃I've　heard；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃that　one　or　two　secret　enclaves　of　illithiliches　exist。　Didn't　you　search　for　one？〃
〃I　searched　for　ninety　years　and　found　one；〃　Syrzan　replied；　sounding　slightly　miffed　that　its　prisoner　had　jumped　ahead　in　the　story。　〃For　a　time；　I　dwelled　therein　but　I　quarreled　with　the　eldest　alhoons；　who　considered　themselves　the　leaders　of　the　rest。　I　conducted　certain　investigations　they　had；　in　their　ignorance　and　timidity；　forbidden。〃
The　Master　of　Sorcere　laughed　and　said；　〃If　you　can't　find　it　in　your　heart—assuming　an　illithilich　retains　the　an—to　consider　us　equals；　you　must　at　least　concede　we're　kindred　spirits。　You　weren't　angling　for　the　Sarthos　demon；　were　you？〃
〃No；〃　said　Syrzan　curtly。　〃Suffice　it　to　say　that　if　not　for　some　bad　luck；　I　would　have　usurped　the　place　of　the　eldest　lich　of　all；　but　as　matters　fell　out；　I　had　to　flee　into　the　wilderness；　a　solitary　wanderer　once　more。〃
〃Surely　you　found　someone　to　enslave。〃
Pharaun　noticed　the　air　in　the　dream　cavern　had　grown　cooler。　Perhaps　it　was　responding　to　its　maker's　somber　reflections。
〃I　found　small　encampments；〃　Syrzan　said。　〃A　family　of　goblins　here；　a　dozen　troglodytes　there。　I　used　them；　used　them　up；　each　in　its　turn；　but　no　little　hole　infested　with　a　handful　of　brutes　could　give　me　what　I　truly　craved。　I　yearned　for　a　teeming　city；　full　of　splendors　and　luxuries；　over　which　I　would　rule；　and　from　which　I　could　conquer　an　empire。　But　the　taking　of　such　exceeded　even　my　powers。〃
〃Or　mine；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃hard　as　that　is　to　credit。　So；　lusting　for　what　you　couldn't　have；　you　spied　on　the　cities　of　the　Underdark；　didn't　you；　or　one　of　them；　anyway。　You　kept　your