war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第139章

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ut　would　provide　some　protection　nonetheless。　The　mail　shirt；　alas；　he　simply　couldn't　wear。
〃No　gear　for　me？〃　Pharaun　asked。
〃I'm　the　fighter；　and　I'll　be　standing　in　front。〃
〃Well；　when　you　put　it　that　way　。。。〃
〃Let's　go。〃
The　masters　stood　up。　Ryld　felt　dizzy；　swayed；　but　then　recovered　his　balance。　They　started　for　the　door；　and　something　happened。　It　was　like　the　blare　of　a　trumpet　and　a　white　light；　too；　but　it　was　neither。　The　weapons　master　didn't　know　what　it　was；　only　that　it　froze　him　in　place　until　it　faded　away。
〃What　just　happened？〃　he　asked。
〃The　Call；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃This　close　to　the　source；　one　can　vaguely　sense　it　even　if　one　isn't　a　goblin。　The　slaves　are　rising。〃
































C　h　a　p　t　e　r

T　W　E　N　T　Y　
O　N　E
When　the　instructors　rounded　the　corner；　Pharaun　saw　a　rogue　about　five　yards　away。　Well　armed；　the　conspirator　was　striding　purposefully　along；　perhaps　to　join　one　of　the　assassination　squads　that　would　descend　on　the　city　once　the　goblin　rebellion　plunged　it　into　chaos。
He　had　good　reflexes。　As　soon　as　he　spotted　the　fugitives；　he　reached　for　the　wall；　no　doubt　to　conceal　himself　behind　a　curtain　of　darkness。
Pharaun　lifted　his　hands　to　cast　darts　of　force…he　had　two　such　spells　remaining；　neither　requiring　a　focal　object…but　Ryld　was　quicker。　He　shot　his　hand　crossbow。　The　quarrel　plunged　into　the　renegade's　eye；　and　he　fell。
The　masters　skulked　up　to　the　corpse　and　crouched　down　to　examine　it。　Pharaun　was　hardly　surprised　yet　disappointed　to　find　that　the　dead　warrior　hadn't　been　carrying　any　spell　ingredients。
The　Master　of　Sorcere　hadn't　lost　faith　in　himself；　but　he　realized　that　overconfidence　coupled　with　ambition　had　lured　him　and　Ryld　into　a　desnotperate　situation。　They　were　stuck　in　the　midst　of　their　enemies。　Without　the　proper　triggers；　most　of　the　wizard's　magic　was　unavailable　to　him；　and　the　weapons　master　was　feeling　the　effects　of　the　blow　on　the　head　and　Syrzan's　psionic　assault。　Most　people　wouldn't　have　noticed；　but　Pharaun；　who　knew　him　well；　could　see　subtle　indications　in　the　way　he　moved。
Well；　at　least　Ryld　wasn't　bored。
Pharaun　stole　the　dead　male's　hand　crossbow；　dirk；　and　piwafwi…innotcluding　the　insignia　of　a　lesser　House　Pharaun　assumed　was　enchanted　in　the　same　way　as　all　the　others。　The　mantle　wasn't　a　bad　fit　but　felt　strange　without　the　weight　of　the　hidden　pockets　to　which　he　was　accustomed。　At　least；　he　hoped；　he'd　be　able　to　levitate。　Ryld　exchanged　the　rapier　he'd　been　wearing　for　the　fallen　drow's　broadsword。
The　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　cocked　his　crossbow　and　loaded　a　fresh　shaft　in　the　channel。　The　fugitives　stalked　on　down　the　hallway；　and　the　walls　screamed。　Pharaun　and　Ryld　screwed　up　their　faces　at　the　painful　loudness。　Blue　sparks　of　discharged　magic　showered　from　the　walls　and　ceiling；　and　a　hot；　raw　stink　of　power　fouled　the　air。
The　screech　stopped　as　suddenly　as　it　had　started；　though　it　left　echoes　sobbing　through　the　citadel。
〃Alarm　spell？〃　said　Ryld；　trotting　onward。
〃Yes；〃　Pharaun　said；　racing　to　catch　up。　His　ears　were　ringing。　〃Had　I　seen　it；　I　would　have　dispelled　it；　but…〃
〃But　as　it　stands；　the　rogues　will　be　ing　for　us。〃　Pharaun　frowned。　〃Unless　they're　too　busy　getting　ready　to　murder　priestesses。〃
〃No；　they'll　realize　they　have　to　catch　us　at　any　cost。　If　a　spy　slipped　away　from　here　and　reported　their　plans　to　the　Council；　it　would　ruin　everything　for　them。〃
〃You're　right；　curse　it。〃
The　masters　had　been　moving　stealthily　and　therefore　slowly　ever　since　departing　their　cell；　and　they　would　have　to　sneak　along　even　more　warily；　backtracking　and　detouring　whenever　they　sensed　their　enemies　were　near。　That　would　make　it　easier　to　get　lost。　The　long…dead　nobles　had　built　their　fortress　according　to　a　defensive　strategy　still　occasionally　employed　in　Menzoberranzan。　The　place　was　something　of　a　maze。　If　a　person　had　grown　up　there；　that　wouldn't　pose　a　problem。　He'd　know　every　turn　and　dead　end；　but　outsiders　had　a　difficult　time　moving　about。　Outsiders　like　Pharaun　and　Ryld；　who　had　yet　to　find　an　exit。