war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第141章

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de　fell；　his　severed　head　tumbling　away。　For　a　moment；　Pharaun　felt　a　touch　of　relief；　then　he　noticed　his　friend's　grimace　and　the　blood　on　his　thigh；　and　heard　the　calls　of　other　pursuers　drawing　near。
〃It　sounds　as　if　all　the　rogues　are　hunting　us；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃What　a　gracious　pliment。〃
〃They　heard　the　fight；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃They　have　some　idea　where　we　are；　and　thanks　to　you；　this　passage　has　bee　a　cul…de…sac。　We　have　to　move…now。〃
〃Perhaps　you　would　have　preferred　me　to　let　the　rest　of　our　attackers　swarm　all　over　us。〃
〃Just　move。〃
They　did；　with　the　prisoners　in　the　web　shouting　imprecations　after　them。　Pharaun　soon　discerned　that　Ryld　was　making　an　effort　not　to　limp　nor　show　any　sort　of　distress　but　couldn't　mask　his　pain　pletely。
The　wizard　considered　leaving　patches　of　darkness　behind　to　hinder　pursuit；　but　had　he　done　so；　he　would　have　been　marking　his　trail。　He　could　only　think　of　one　trick　he　could　use　to　evade　the　renegades；　and　hoped　it　wouldn't　be　necessary。
Twice；　the　masters　sensed　a　band　of　rogues　was　near　and　hid　in　a　room　until　they　passed。　Finally　they　found　a　staircase　leading　downward。　Phanotraun　hoped　their　descent　to　the　lower　level　would　throw　off　the　pursuit　but　soon　realized　it　hadn't。　Perhaps　it　was　because　the　fugitives　were　leavnoting　a　trail　of　blood。　Pharaun's　little　cut　had　stopped　bleeding；　but　Ryld's　gashed　leg　had　not。
Despite　himself；　the　burly　swordsman　began　taking　uneven　strides；　one　shorter　than　the　other。　Pharaun　heard　a　murmur　of　voices　ing　from　behind　and　out　of　a　side　passage　as　well。
He　said；　〃Stay　where　you　are。　I　have　an　idea。〃
Ryld　shrugged。
The　wizard　advanced　a　few　paces　down　the　corridor。　He　lifted　his　wisp　of　cobweb　and　chanted。　Power　groaned　through　the　air；　and　crisscrossing　cables　sealed　the　corridor。　The　rogues　he'd　heard　were　on　the　other　side。　So　was　Ryld。
The　swordsman　looked　at　his　friend　through　the　interstices　and　said；　〃I　don't　understand。〃
〃And　you　a　master　tactician。　Truly；　I　regret　this；　but　I　could　either　stick　with　you　and　let　your　injuries　retard　my　progress　or　else　leave　you　behind　as　a　rear　guard　to　slow　my　pursuers。　Considering　how　vulnerable　I　curnotrently　am；　the　choice　was　reasonably　obvious。〃
〃Damn　you！　How　many　times　have　I　saved　your　life？〃
〃I've　lost　count。　At　any　rate；　this　will　make　one　more；　in　the　course　of　which　you'll　finally　be　rid　of　your　melancholy。　Good…bye；　old　friend。〃
Pharaun　turned　and　strode　away。
He　heard　a　crossbow　clack；　and　flung　himself　to　the　side。　The　quarrel　flew　past　him。　Ryld　had　needed　mendable　accuracy　to　avoid　snagging　the　missile　in　the　adhesive　mesh。
Pharaun　glanced　back　and　said；　〃Nice　shot；　but　you　might　want　to　save　your　quarrels　for　the　renegades。〃
He　skulked　on；　and　quickened　his　pace　when　someone　shouted　behind　him；　and　metal　clashed　on　metal。
Ryld　quickly　learned　that　one　of　the　rogues　was　a　wizard；　and　a　deft　one　at　that。　He　had　no　difficulty　lobbing　spells　through　the　line　his　rades　had　formed　across　the　hall；　leaving　them　unscathed　but　battering　the　weapons　master　with　one　attack　after　another。
So　far　the　flares　of　power　had　seared　and　chilled　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　but　done　no　serious　harm。　He　doubted　that　would　last。　He　needed　to　put　a　stop　to　the　magic　before　the　mage　slipped　an　attack　through　his　natural　resistance；　and　that　meant　breaking　through　the　line
He　faked　a　sidestep　to　the　left；　then　dodged　right。　His　wounded　leg　throbbed；　and　a　soreness；　the　residue　of　Syrzan's　attack；　twisted　through　his　mind。　The　pain　slowed　him　just　enough　to　render　the　deception　inefnotfective。　Urlryn；　the　long…armed；　gap…toothed　renegade　on　the　right；　annotother　of　Ryld's　former　students　and　a　good　one；　met　him　with　a　wicked　thrust　to　the　belly。
As　every　warrior　knows；　you　can't　retreat　at　the　same　instant　you're　adnotvancing。　Ryld　had　no　choice　but　to　defend　with　the　blade。　He　swept　his　broadsword　across　his　body　in　a　lateral　parry。　Urlryn　tried　to　dip　his　point　beneath　the　block；　but　moved　just　a　hair　too　slowly。　Ryld　smashed　his　adnotversary's　blade　aside；　loosening　his　grip　in　the　bargain。
The　weapons　master　started　to　ripos