按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Let's get out of here；〃 Ryld suggested。 〃Do you know where the others are？〃
〃I think they got up on the roofs on the other side of the square；〃 the scout replied； dusting off his hands and backing away from the edge。 〃We'll find them。 The wizard will be all flash and glory when they run into something； so we can track them that way。〃
Ryld turned to follow the scout。
〃Too true；〃 he said。
The three dark elves made their way across the rooftops until they came to another side street a little farther ahead of where they'd originally been separated。 Valas climbed down the side of a gaudily decorated shop that had plenty of hand… and footholds； while Ryld and Halisstra descended by their customary levitating method。 By the time they were on the ground； the invisibility magic had expired。
〃Lead on；〃 Ryld said to Valas； gesturing； and the scout took the fore as the three of them prowled through the street； making their way back toward the main thoroughfare。
The ground began to vibrate。
〃What in the Underdark？〃 Ryld muttered； steadying himself as the street bounced beneath his feet。 〃What is that？〃
〃I don't know； but it's big；〃 Valas replied。 He looked over at Halisstra。 〃Do you have any clue？〃 he asked her。
Halisstra shook her head； but she had a worried look on her face。
〃Let's not stay and find out；〃 she said。
Valas nodded and proceeded out into the main street。 Peering in both directions； he had to reach a hand out to stabilize himself； for the quivering had grown stronger。
〃Oh； no；〃 Halisstra said； her voice stricken。
Ryld looked over at her and asked； 〃What？ What is it？〃
〃Oh； by the Dark Mother；〃 the priestess said； putting a hand to her mouth in terror。 〃They summoned one。〃 〃Summoned what？' Ryld demanded。
〃One of those；〃 Valas said from the warrior's other side； and when Ryld turned to look； he saw the scout pointing。
The weapons master turned to peer in the direction his panion indicated and saw a spider the size of the entire square clambering into view。 He sucked in his breath； feeling his knees go weak。
〃Oh； no。〃
***
Pharaun knew that with his magically enhanced boots he could easily outrun the other drow； and that's precisely what he did。 The wizard sprinted ahead； careful to maintain his balance on the quivering web street as the colossal spider pursued them。 He had but a handful of spells left； and there was little if anything left in his repertoire that might affect the huge arachnid。 A far better bet； he decided； was to misdirect the creature； perhaps conjure an obscuring mist that would allow him and the others to hide and sneak away while the spider was distracted…but he didn't dare stop to weave the spell。
〃Pharaun！〃 someone shouted from ahead； and the wizard glanced over in time to see Ryld； Valas； and Halisstra standing in the mouth of a side street； gawking slack…jawed at the massive spider behind him。
He veered in their direction and darted into the shadow of the alley。 Only then did he stop to catch his breath。
〃I've never 。 。 。 seen anything 。 。 。 like it；〃 the wizard panted。 〃Danifae called it a 。。。 guardian spider。〃
〃Yes；〃 Halisstra said softly； still staring at it。 〃The matron mothers must have called i…Oh； by the Dark Mother 。 。 。 it's summoning another one！〃
Pharaun turned to see what Halisstra was talking about； looking past Jeggred and Quenthel as they came into view； running for all they were worth； with Danifae limping behind them。 The spider had stopped pursuing them； and was rearing up on its hind legs； flailing about with its front limbs in the air。 The wizard gasped when an enormous gate opened up in front of the spider； as large as the creature itself。 Through the hazy murk of the bluish…white portal； the wizard watched； aghast； as a second massive spider clambered through and onto the street。 The portal shut quickly behind it。
〃Oh； no；〃 Quenthel murmured。 〃How many times can they do that？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Halisstra said from somewhere behind the wizard。
〃Once is too many；〃 Pharaun said。 〃We've got to get out of here。〃
He spun away from the massive arachnids； ready to sprint in the opposite direction。
〃Wait！〃 Halisstra cried； pointing。
The mage glanced back once more。
Danifae was still limping badly and had not been able to keep up。 As the second spider passed through the portal； it appeared on the opposite side of the battle captive。 She was trapped between the two creatures； and was sprawled in the middle of the street as well。
〃She's hurt！〃 Halisstra cried。
She took a tentative step forward to go to the aid of her attendant。
〃Don't be a fool；〃 Ryld said； grabbing the priestess by the arm as Jeggred and Quenthel joined them。 〃You'll only get yourself killed； too。〃
Halisstra jerked herself free and took another step out into the open。
〃I don't care；〃 she said。 〃I'm going to help her。〃
With that； the First Daughter of House Melarn dashed across the open area to where her servant was struggling to regain her feet。
The spiders sensed the movement； and both of them began to close in。
SEVENTEEN
Pharaun cursed and took a step after Halisstra； thinking he might have to magically cloak the two of them In order to save them。
〃Don't；〃 Quenthel ordered。 〃Danifae was unlucky enough to be wounded。 I will not exhaust either resources or time saving her。 Let's go while the spiders are distracted。〃
〃But…〃 Pharaun began； but when he saw the look in the high priestess's eyes； he shook his head and stepped back into the alley。 He regretted the idea of losing them…or at least； losing the beautiful Danifae。 〃Very well；〃 he said。
〃I'm not leaving；〃 Ryld said； and he turned to sprint out into the street； following Halisstra。
〃No！〃 Quenthel shouted at the Master of Melee…Magthere； but it was too late。 Ryld was already ten steps away； removing Splitter from its sheath on his back as he charged toward the closest of the two spiders。 〃Damn you all to the Abyss！〃 Quenthel raged。
Shrugging； Pharaun turned and followed the weapons master。
〃Go after them！〃 Quenthel growled from behind the wizard。
Pharaun could only assume she was talking to him； though why she was ordering him to do something he had already made up his mind to acplish； he couldn't fathom。 Soon enough； though； the draegloth flashed past him； sprinting down the street in the direction he also traveled。
The mage pulled up a few yards from the closest spider； watching as Halisstra reached her servant and knelt down。 Somehow； along the way； she had fumbled a wand free from her cloak； and she quickly utilized it； causing both drow to disappear。 The spider； looming over the spot where the pair had just been visible； snapped down once； clacking its mandibles together in obvious frustration。 The beast began moving its head back and forth； trying to find its prey。 In the distance； the second spider had turned its attention to something else。 Fortunately； it was not ing their way…at least for the moment。
Pharaun； of