蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第57部分

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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　other　two　leaped　clear　of　the　conflagration。　They　didn't　escape　harm　entirely。　The　fire　burned　away　patches　of　their　shaggy　fur　and　seared　the　flesh　beneath；　but　the　injuries　didn't　slow　them　down。　They　bellowed　and　charged。
A　minotaur　towered　over　a　drow　of　normal　stature；　and　made　Triel　look　like　a　tiny　sprite。　Still；　she　smiled　as　she　stepped　forward　to　meet　the　foe。　One　of　the　slaves　focused　on　her　and　the　other；　on　Jeggred。
The　matron　mother　knew　a　minotaur　liked　to　overwhelm　an　opponent　with　the　momentum　of　its　initial　rush。　She　waited　until　the　creature　was　nearly　on　top　of　her；　then　sidestepped。　He　was　lumbering　too　fast　to　stop　or　pensate；　and　she　smashed　his　knee　with　her　mace　as　he　plunged　by。
The　slave　fell　on　his　face；　and　she　robbed　him　of　the　use　of　his　limbs　with　a　bonebreaking　strike　to　the　spine。　Meanwhile；　Jeggred　simultaneously　chewed　on　his　own　opponent's　neck　and　ripped　at　the　brute's　torso；　hooking　the　guts　out。
After　that；　Triel　and　the　draegloth　killed　several　gnolls　before　running　out　of　foes。　Panting；　the　Baenre　strode　to　the　foot　of　a　wall　and　floated　upward　again；　high　enough　to　peer　beyond　the　eminence　of　Qu'ellarz'orl　to　the　burning　city　beyond。　Jeggred　followed。
Earlier；　when　she'd　first　discerned　that　slaves　throughout　Menzoberranzan　were　rebelling；　she'd　used　a　certain　magical　diamond　to　call　the　males　of　Bregan　D'aerthe　from　their　secret　lair。　The　sell　swords　were　at　their　work。
One　neighborhood　in　the　south　of　the　city　was　thick　with　goblins。　Even　from　the　Great　Mound；　she　could　make　out　the　boil　of　motion　in　the　streets。　Then；　over　the　course　of　just　a　few　seconds；　that　agitation　ceased；　as　the　creatures　apparently　fell　dead　all　at　once。
It　was　an　extraordinary　feat　of　mass　assassination；　but　the　mercenaries　had　only　cleared　one　small　part　of　Menzoberranzan。　They　couldn't　reclaim　the　entire　city　by　themselves；　if；　in　fact；　the　job　could　be　done　at　all。　Triel　shouted　down　into　the　yard；　to　any　officer　within　earshot；　〃Assemble　my　troops。　We're　marching　out。〃
Jeggred　couldn't　speak　for　joy。　This　had　already　been　the　best　night　of　his　admittedly　young　life；　and　he　was　drunk　on　slaughter。　He'd　killed　and　killed　and　killed　and　killed　again；　an　ecstasy　that　put　his　sport　with　Faeryl　Zauvirr　to　shame。
And　his　mother　said　it　wasn't　over　They　were　going　to　descend　into　the　city　to　ge　on　murder；　and　Jeggred　would　know　a　fiend's　transcendent　bliss。　The　only　hard　part　would　be　remembering　not　to　kill　dark　elves；　just　everyone　else。
He　squeezed　Triel's　shoulder　with　a　quivering　hand；　one　of　the　smaller　ones。
Valas　Hune　skulked　around　the　corner；　then　blinked。　A　keep　blocked　the　street；　where　no　bastion　should　be—then　the　huge　thing　moved。
No；　not　a　keep　after　all；　but　the　biggest　stone　giant　he'd　ever　seen。　The　scout　knew　that　some　Houses　kept　giant　slaves　as　well　as　the　more　mon　goblinoids　and　ogres；　and；　gray　in　the　firelight；　with　a　long　head　and　black；　sunken　eyes；　this　specimen　still　wore　iron　bracelets　dangling　lengths　of　broken　chain。　From　somewhere　it　had　procured　a　great　axe　sized　for　a　creature　of　its　immensity；　and　was　using　it　to　pulp　any　drow　it　noticed　scurrying　about。
Valas　had　gotten　separated　from　his　rades　sometime　back。　That　was　all　right。　He　was　used　to　traversing　wild　places　by　himself；　though　in　truth；　he'd　never　explored　any　tunnel　as　perilous　and　unpredictable　as　Menzoberranzan　had　bee　this　night。
He'd　been　killing　ores　and　gnolls；　first　with　his　short　bow；　and；　after　the　arrows　ran　out；　close　in　with　his　kukris。　He'd　thought　he　was　making　some　genuine　progress　until　he　encountered　this。　
It　was　a　daunting　sight；　but　someone　would　have　to　kill　the　big　undercreatures　as　well　as　the　little　ones；　if　Menzoberranzan　was　to　survive　and　Bregan　D'aerthe　was　to　be　paid　for　its　services。
Valas　touched　a　fingertip　to　a　ninepointed　tin　star　pinned　to　his　shirt；　and　murmured　a　word　in　a　language　of　a　race　few　Menzoberranyr　had　ever　even　heard　of。　In　the　blink　of　an　eye　he　was　crouched　on　the　stone　giant's　shoulder。
The　surface　was　smooth　and　rounded。　He　started　to　slip　off；　but；　reacting　like　the　acplished　rock　climber　he　was；　negated　his　weight　and　caught　himself。　He　clambered　within　reach　of　the　giant's　neck　and　started　hacking　at　the　arteries　within　the　behemoth's　neck　with　both　kukris。
To　no　avail。　Perched　somewhat　precariously；　Valas　couldn't　use　his　strength　and　weight　to　full　advantage；　and　his　first　stroke　skipped　harmlessly　off　the　giant's　rocklike　hide。
The　behemoth　did　feel　the　impact；　though。　Its　head　snapped　around；　the　chin　nearly　brushing　Valas　away。　The　giant　glared　down　at　him；　and　he　struck；　this　time　with　greater　success。　With　a　crackle　of　lightning；　the　enchanted　weapon　split　the　slave's　lower　lip。
Crying　out　in　pain　and　anger；　a　deep　sound　Valas　felt　in　his　bones；　the　stone　giant　flinched　its　head　away。　A　huge　gray　hand　rose　up　to　catch　the　drow；　who　scrambled　forward　and　cut　at　the　colossus's　neck。
Dark；　thick　blood　leaped　forth　and　washed　Valas　into　space。　He　fell　hard　onto　a　rooftop　and　watched　the　giant　stumble　about；　clutching　at　its　throat。　After　a　few　steps；　the　huge　thrall　fell　backward；　crushing　some　unlucky　hobgoblins　that　were　wandering　by。
Gromph　was　in　a　vile　humor　as　he　floated　up　the　cliff　face。　He'd　cast　light　into　the　foot　of　Narbondel　the　same　as　always；　and　the　world　exploded　into　madness。　Ores　lunged　out　of　nowhere　and　attacked　his　guards。　His　own　ogre　litterbearers　summarily　dumped　his　luxurious　conveyance　on　the　ground　and　joined　in　the　uprising。
The　archmage　had　sought　to　strike　the　undercreatures　dead　with　a　spell；　but　nothing　happened。　Someone　had　conjured　a　magical　dead　zone　around　him。　Either　one　of　the　ores　was　a　shaman　powerful　enough　to　create　such　an　effect；　or；　more　likely；　one　of　the　brutes　had　stolen　a　talisman　from　his　owner。
However　they'd　managed　it；　the　beasts　were　charging；　and　the　spells　in　Gromph's　memory　were　just　odd　little　rhymes；　his　robe　and　cloak；　mere　flimsy　cloth；　and　his　weapons；　inert　sticks　and　ornaments。　Well；　probably　not　all　of　them；　but　he　wasn't　reckless　enough　to　stand　and　experiment　while　the　ores　assailed　him　with　their　pilfered　blades。　Forfeiting　his　dignity；　he　turned　and　ran。　The　exertion　made　his　chest　throb　where　K'rarza'q　had　gored　him。
When　he　reached　the　edge　of　the　plaza；　he　thought　he　must　have　exited　the　dead　zone。　He'd　better　have；　because　he　could　hear　the　grunting　ogres　with　their　long　legs　catching　up　behind　him。　He　turned；　pointed　a　wand；　and　snarled　the　trigger　word。
A　drop　of　liquid　shot　from　the　tip　of　the　rod。　It　struck　the　belly　of　the　lead　ogre　and　burst　into　a　copious　splash　of　acid。
With　his　magic　restored；　Gromph　obliterated　every　attacker　who　lacked　the　sense　to　run　away。　His　dark　elf　attendants　were　already　dead；　leaving　him　to　make　his　way　back　to　Tier　Breche　alone。
As　it　turned　out；　the　slave　rebellion　was　pandemic；　and　the　trek　wasn't　altogether　easy。　He　considered　going　to　ground　in　some　castle　or　house；　but　when　he　saw　the　flames　gnawing　stone；　he　knew　he　had　to　get　back。
Dirty；　sore；　and　coughing；　he　eventually　made　it　home；　and　when　he　rose　to　the　top　o