蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第7部分

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ard　had　used　his　silverandjet　Mizzrym　House　token　to　open　it。　She　tried　to　use　her　own　insignia　to　slam　it　shut　again；　but　she　was　just　out　of　range。
Pharaun　plunged　through　the　exit。　He　was　on　the　landing；　a　sort　of　balcony　from　which　the　occupants　of　the　stalactite　castle　that　was　House　Mizzrym　could　look　down　on　the　city。　As　was　the　custom；　a　pany　of　guards　stood　watch　there；　and　Greyanna　screamed　for　them　to　stop　the　mage。
They　no　doubt　intended　to　be　obey。　She　was　a　high　priestess　and　he；　a　mere　male；　and　manifestly　trying　to　run　away　to　boot。　But　alas；　since　their　primary　function　was　to　look　for　miscreants　trying　to　enter　the　castle；　Pharaun　had　taken　them　by　surprise。　He　had　time　to　conjure　some　sort　of　hindering　spell　and　dash　on。
When　Greyanna　made　it　to　the　door；　she　saw　what　manner　of　hindrance　the　fugitive　had　chosen。　The　guards　were　all　bewildered；　some　standing　stupefied　or　milling　aimlessly；　a　couple　fighting　with　each　other。
A　clattering；　followed　a　split　second　later　by　grunts　and　cries　of　pain；　snapped　her　head　around　to　the　right。　At　the　far　end　of　the　landing；　a　second　contingent　of　sentries　also　looked　at　least　temporarily　incapacitated；　these　because　Pharaun　had　pelted　them　with　a　conjured　barrage　of　ice。　He　disappeared　down　the　exit　they'd　been　guarding；　the　winding　crystal　staircase；　geous　with　magical　luminescence；　which　connected　House　Mizzrym　with　the　cave　floor　below。　Greyanna　felt　a　twinge　of　annoyance；　but　only　that。　Apparently　she　wasn't　going　to　get　a　chance　to　torture　Pharaun；　but　he　was　unquestionably　going　to　die。　He　really　had　nowhere　to　run；　and　if　the　wretch　weren't　mired　in　a　blind　panic；　he'd　know　it。
At　least　she　could　deliver　the　stroke　that　would　seal　his　doom。　She　hurried　to　the　edge　of　the　landing；　saw　that　the　blistered；　bloodyheaded　fool　was　better　than　halfway　down　the　radiant　diamond　steps；　and　pronounced；　as　quickly　as　possible；　the　long；　awkward　arcane　word　that　would　make　the　staircase　vanish。　That　alone　wouldn't　kill　him　unless　he　lost　his　head。　The　ability　to　levitate　granted　by　the　same　brooch　that　allowed　him　to　pass　through　the　Houses　doors　would　keep　him　from　falling。　Limited　to　strictly　vertical　movement；　however；　he　ought　to　make　an　easy　mark　for　spells　and　arrows。
She　spoke　the　final　syllable。　Just　as　the　steps　seemed　to　pop　like　a　bubble；　Pharaun　leaped；　his　long　legs　making　him　look　like　a　pair　of　scissors　spread　to　the　maximum　possible　width。　He　barely　made　it　onto　the　flattened　apex　of　the　gigantic　stalagmite　that　served　as　the　stair's　lower　terminus。
Greyanna　was　impressed。　That　jump　was　an　impressive　display　of　athleticism　for　a　battered　scholar　of　hedonistic　habits。　Not　that　it　would　do　him　any　good。　He　really　had　run　to　the　end　of　his　race。　She　leaned　out　and　shouted　for　the　foulwings　to　kill　him。　Winded；　still　stumbling　offbalance　from　hurdling　across　the　empty　space；　Pharaun　surely　couldn't　fend　off　both　of　them　at　once。
Grotesque　winged　predators　that　monly　reeked　of　their　caustic　ammonia　breath；　the　foulwings　bespoke　the　Mizzrym's　power　and　magical　prowess　and　lent　the　first　step　on　the　path　to　their　citadel　a　certain　style　that　mere　soldiers　could　not　match　They　also　made　terrifying　watch　beasts。　With　a　snap　of　their　clawed；　bat　like　wings；　in　no　wise　hindered　by　their　lack　of　legs；　they　spun　their　longnecked　bodies　around　to　loom　over　Pharaun。　Forked　snouts　with　fanged　jaws　at　the　end　of　either　branch　came　questing　hungrily　down。　From　her　perch；　Greyanna　looked　on　with　a　rapacity　no　less　keen　than　theirs；　albeit　a　rapacity　of　the　soul。
Pharaun　shouted　something。　Greyanna　couldn't　quite　make　it　out；　but　it　didn't　seem　to　be　a　magical　word；　just　a　cry　of　fear　or　a　desperate　plea　for　mercy—a　plea　the　giant　beasts　would　not　heed。
Except　that　they　did。　They　hesitated；　and　he　lifted　his　hands。　Their　deadly　jaws　played　delicately　about　his　fingers；　taking　in　his　scent。
She　cried　again　for　the　brutes　to　kill　him。　They　twisted　their　heads　around　to　look　at　her；　but　he　spoke　to　them　once　more；　and　they　ignored　her　mand。
Greyanna　stared　in　amazement。　Pharaun　had　no　doubt　had　some　limited　contact　with　the　foulwings；　for　after　all；　he　lived　in　the　same　castle　with　them；　but　she　knew　he'd　never　ridden　one。　Only　the　females　of　House　Mizzrym　enjoyed　that　privilege；　and　it　was　only　by　riding　that　you　established　genuine　mastery　over　the　creatures。　How；　then；　could　he　possibly　enjoy　a　rapport　with　them　deeper　than　her　own？
Pharaun　scrambled　onto　a　foulwing's　back；　and　both　it　and　its　fellow　sprang　into　the　air。　Obviously　her　brother　had　managed　to　dissolve　the　enchantment　that　made　the　beasts　want　to　sit　contentedly　at　their　post。
The　wizard　managed　his　mount　more　deftly　than　Greyanna　herself　could　have　done　without　benefit　of　saddle；　bridle；　and　goad。　He　shot　her　a　mocking　grin　as　he　turned　to　flee。　The　other；　rider　less　foulwing　soared　and　swooped　aimlessly；　enjoying　its　liberty。
Greyanna　shook　off　her　stunned　disbelief。　She　still　desperately　wanted　to　know　how　Pharaun　had　learned　to　ride　the　creatures—probably　Sabal　had　taught　him；　but　how　had　they　managed　it　without　anyone　else　finding　out？—but　she　wasn't　going　to　stand　there　pondering　the　question。　The　answer　was　less　important　than　the　kill。
She　turned　and　looked　around。　Those　guards　whom　Pharaun　had　addled　were　disoriented　still；　but　some　of　the　soldiers　he'd　battered　with　hailstones　appeared　to　have　regained　their　posure。
〃Shoot　him〃
With　mendable　haste；　they　obeyed。　They　took　up　their　crossbows；　aimed；　and　the　bolts　leaped　forth　in　a　ragged　clatter。
Pharaun's　foulwing　lurched；　then　plummeted　down　and　down　and　down；　crashing　to　earth　somewhere　amid　the　hollowed　stalagmite　edifices　of　the　city。
〃Got　him；〃　said　the　captain　of　the　guard。
Bigger　and　stronger　than　he；　Greyanna　had　no　difficulty　knocking　the　male　to　the　floor。
〃You　got　the　foulwing；〃　she　said。　〃We　don't　know　that　you　hit　Pharaun　at　all。　We　don't　know　that　he　didn't　use　his　wizardry　or　his　levitation　to　cushion　his　fall。　We　don't　know　that　he　isn't　down　there　alive　and　well　laughing　at　us。　I　need　to　see　his　corpse；　and　one　way　or　the　other；　you　will　fetch　it　for　me。　Turn　out　every　available　priestess；　wizard；　and　warrior—　drow　or　slave。　Jump
Jump　he　did。　It　was　the　last　bit　of　satisfaction　that　was　to　e　her　way。
Her　mortal　agents　flooded　the　streets；　while　she　remained　in　her　personal　sanctum　in　House　Mizzrym；　summoning　spirits　and　casting　divinations　to　aid　the　search。　Astonishingly；　maddeningly；　it　was　all　to　no　avail。　When　light　flowered　in　the　base　of　Narbondel；　signaling　the　advent　of　the　new　day；　she　was　forced　to　admit　that　at　least　for　the　time　being；　Pharaun　had　eluded　her。
A　month　later；　she　learned　that　her　brother　had　somehow　made　his　way　all　the　way　up　to　Tier　Breche　and　begged　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　himself　for　a　place　in　Sorcere；　and；　remembering　the　wizardly　talent　the　younger　male　had　demonstrated　throughout　his　training；　Gromph　had　seen　fit　to　take　him　in。
The　news　came　as　a　considerable　relief。　She'd　feared　her　brother　had　fled　Menzoberranzan　and　placed　himself　permanently　beyond　her　reach。　Instead；　he'd　simply　hopped　up　on　a　shelf　above　the　city。　He　was　bound　to　hop　down　again　eventually；　and　she　would　have　him。
Or　so　she　thought；　until　her　mother　sent　for　her。　Possessed　of　the　same　intelligence　concerning　her　fugitive　son's　whereabouts；　Miz'ri　had　formed　a　very　different　idea　of　what　ought　to　be　done　about　it：　Nothing。
Even　though　they　were　only　males；　the　Masters　of　Sorcere　possessed　both　a　degree　of　practical　autonomy　and　an　abundance　of　mystical　power；　and；　always　weaving　her　labyrinthine　schemes　to　elevate　the　status　of　House　Mizzrym；　Mother　had　decided　not　to　unnecessarily　provoke　the　wizards。　Which　was　to　say；　as　Pharaun　had　obtained　a　place　in　that　cloistered；　manyspired　tower；　he　was　more　significant　in　exile　than　he　had　ever　been　at　home；　and　Greyanna　would　have　to　let　him　live。　She　had　achieved　what　ought　to　have　been　her　primary　goal；　preeminence　among　her　sisters　and　cousins；　but　her　vengeance　would　remain　unfinished。
Through　all　the　decades　that　followed；　it　galled　her。　A　hundred　times　she　planned　to　defy　her　mother's　mand　and　kill　Pharaun　anyway；　only　to　abandon　her　stratagems　just　short　of　implementation。　As　fiercely　as　she　hated　him；　she　feared　Miz'ri's　displeasure　even　more。
Was　it　possible　that　at　long　last　the　matron　mother　had　changed　her　mind？　Or　was　this　some　new　cruelty；　was　Miz'ri　perhaps　going　to　somehow　force　Greyanna　into　an　odious　proximity　with　a　brother　who　was　still　untouchable？
〃It　might　be　nice　to　see　Pharaun　again；〃　the　younger　female　said　in　the　blandest　tone　she　could　muster。
Miz'ri　laughed。　〃Oh；　I　daresay　it　would；　to　see　him　and　kill　him；　isn't　that　the　way　of　it？〃
〃If　you　say　so。　You　know　our　history。　We　played　out　the　whole　sava　game　under　your　nose。〃　I　imagine　you　relished　every　minute　of　it；　she　thought。
〃Yes；　you　did；　and　so　I　know　this　will　interest　you。　Sadly；　a　problem　has　arisen　that　even　supercedes　my　desire　to　get　along　with　the　mages　of　the　Academy。　While　you　were　away；　males　continued　to　desert—〃
〃Pharaun　ran　off　from　Sorcere？〃　Greyanna　interrupted；　her　eyes　narrowed。　〃Were　they　finally　going　to　punish　him　for　getting　those　novices　killed？〃
〃No；　and　no　Shut　your　mouth；　let　me　tell　the　tale；　and　we'll　e　to　your　little　obsession　in　a　moment。〃
〃Yes；　Mother。〃
〃Males　continue　to　elope；　and　despite　our　warning　him　off；　Gromph　still　intends　to　investigate　the　matter。　Hoping　to　escape　our　notice　and　displeasure；　he　decided　to　do　so　by　proxy；　and　summoned　a　suitable　agent　to　his　office　to　discuss　the　matter。　Happily；　we　members　of　the　Council　possess　a　scrying　crystal　with　which　we　recently　managed　to　pierce　the　obscuring　enchantments　shrouding　the　room。　Some　of　them；　anyway。　We　still　can't　see　in；　but　we　can　hear　what　goes　on；　and　that　sufficed　to　reveal　the　arch　mage’s　plan　as　well　as　the　identity　of　his　minion。　Now；　if　you　must；　you　may　excitedly　babble　your　brother's　name。〃
〃I　imagine　Gromph　told　him　this　is　his　one　big　chance　to　redeem　himself。〃
〃Exactly。　The　question　is；　how　shall　we　priestesses　respond？〃
〃I　gather　there's　a　reason　you　don't　just　tell　Gromph　you're　on　to　his　plan。〃　Of　course；　several。　For　one；　our　first　confrontation　with　him　was　courteous　and　mild；　but　who　knows；　a　second　might　be　less　so。　As　things　stand；　we　hesitate　to　push　him　very　hard。　For　another；　we　don't　want　him　to　know　we　can　eavesdrop　on　him。　He'd　either　block　us　out　or　hatch　his　plots　elsewhere。　It's　better　all　around　simply　to　take　his　pawn　out　of　play。　Given　that　Pharaun　is　a　secret　operative；　whatever　may　befall　him；　the　Archmage　can　hardly　take　exception　to　it。　The　catch　being　that　dealing　with　your　brother　is　a　formidable　undertaking；　arguably　on　any　occasion　but　certainly　at　the　moment。〃
Greyanna　nodded。　〃Because　he's　a　wizard；　and　we　are　。　。　。　what　we　are。〃
〃So　where；　the　Council　wondered；　can　we　find　a　priestess　so　bold；　so　motivated；　that　even　now　she'll　be　eager　to　hunt　the　male　when　he　descends　to　the　city。　I　told　the　others　I　thought　I　knew　of　a　candidate。〃
〃You　were　right。〃
〃The　beauty　of　it　is　that　you　do　have　a　personal　score　to　settle。　If　people　see　you　do　something　unpleasant　to　Pharaun；　they　won't　have　to　wonder　what　the　reason　is。〃
〃Yes；　I　see　tha