war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第147章

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！


core　of　a　fencing　bout　in　faintly　gleaming　ciphers。
Peer　as　he　might；　however；　he　could　see　no　sign　of　Masters　Argith　and　Mizzrym。　He　gave　Tsabrak　a　questioning　and　somewhat　impatient　glance。　The　drider　responded　by　pointing　at　the　floor。
When　a　proud　noble　family　had　held　the　castle；　a　workman　in　their　employ　had　painted　the　floor　with　pistes　and　dueling　circles。　Like　the　chalk；　the　magical　enamel　still　radiated　a　trace　of　light。　At　one　spot；　a　spatnotter　of　blood　was　occluding　it。
Houndaer's　pulse　ticked　faster。　He　looked　up　at　the　drider　and　mouthed；　〃Where？〃
Tsabrak　led　them　toward　the　tiers　of　seats　on　the　right。　The　noble　nonotticed　for　the　first　time　that　a　space　separated　the　sculpted　calcite　risers　and　the　wall。
Elsewhere　in　the　castle；　one　hunter　shouted　to　another。
Relax；　thought　Houndaer。　It's　my　kill。
He　held　his　breath　as　he　and　his　underlings…for　that　they　were；　even　if　they；　by　virtue　of　belonging　to　the　conspiracy；　imagined　otherwise…　peeked　around　the　edge　of　the　steps。　Master　Argith　was　sitting　cross…legged　a　few　yards　down　the　aisle。
The　Tuin'Tarl　instantly　pointed　his　crossbow。　Indeed；　he　nearly　pulled　the　trigger　before　he　took　in　all　the　details　of　the　scene。　His　former　teacher　sat　motionless；　his　eyes　shut。　To　all　appearances；　he　was　unconscious；　or　in　any　case　oblivious　to　the　advent　of　his　foes。　Master　Mizzrym　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
Ryld's　passivity　left　Houndaer　unsure　as　to　the　best　course　of　action。
Should　he　and　his　minions　summarily　dispatch　the　spy　or　seize　the　opnotportunity　to　take　him　prisoner？　If　the　weapons　master　was　dead；　he　couldn't　tell　them　what　had　bee　of　his　partner。
Then　the　noble　realized　that　while　he'd　stood　pondering　the　matter；　Tsabrak　had　drawn　back　his　bow　string　and　sighted　down　the　arrow。　Houndaer　lifted　a　hand　to　signal　him　to　desist；　then　thought　better　of　it。　Master　Argith　was　a　superb　warrior　even　by　the　standards　of　Melee…Magthere。　That　was　why；　when　a　student；　the　Tuin'Tarl　had　admired　him　so；　and　had　been　so　eager　to　recruit　him。　Perhaps　it　would　be　wiser　to　kill　him　while　they　had　the　chance。
Besides；　Houndaer　was　reluctant　to　risk　the　vexation　of　giving　Tsabrak　an　order　and　having　it　ignored。
He　lifted　his　hand　crossbow。　He　and　the　drider　took　their　time　aiming；　and　why　not？　Ryld　was　still　unaware　of　them。
Tsabrak　released　the　string；　and　Houndaer　pulled　the　trigger。　The　shafts　leaped　at　the　still…motionless　weapons　master。　The　noble　had　no　doubt　the　two　missiles　would　suffice。　They　were　flying　true；　and　the　heads　were　poinotsoned。　It　was　strange　and　vaguely　unsatisfying　to　dispatch　a　master　of　war　so　easily；　as　if　it　was　vengeance　on　the　cheap。
Then；　when　surely　it　was　too　late　to　react；　Ryld　moved。　He　twitched　himself　out　of　the　way　of　the　crossbow　quarrel　and　caught　the　hurtling　arrow　in　his　hand。
Swiftly；　yet　somehow　without　the　appearance　of　haste；　the　weapons　master　flowed　to　his　feet　and　advanced。　His　bloody　thigh　didn't　hinder　him　in　the　slightest。　His　face　and　eyes　were　empty；　like　those　of　a　medium　awaiting　munion　with　the　dead。
His　voice　pitched　deep；　Omraeth　sang　a　quick　rhymed　couplet。　Power　glittered　through　the　air。　Evidently　the　spell　was　supposed　to　afflict　Ryld；　but　as　far　as　Houndaer　could　observe；　it　didn't。　The　huge　male　just　kept　ing。　Tsabrak　loosed　another　arrow；　and　the　teacher　slapped　it　out　of　the　air　with　his　broadsword。
Tsabrak　and　Houndaer　dropped　their　bows　and　drew　their　swords。　The　drider　spat　poison　on　his　blade。　They'd　engage　Ryld　while　he　was　still　in　the　cramped　space　behind　the　seats　with　no　room　to　maneuver。　Omraeth　took　up　a　position　behind　his　rades；　where　he　could　augment　their　efnotforts　with　bardic　magic。
Houndaer　felt　a　pang　of　fright　and　willed　the　feeling　away。　He　had　nothing　to　fear。　It　was　three　against　one；　wasn't　it；　and　the　one　had　no　mail。　Indeed；　by　the　look　of　him；　he　might　not　even　have　any　wits。
Except　that　then　he　proved　he　did。　Ryld　touched　the　vertical　surface　that　was　the　back　of　the　steps。　He　summoned　darkness；　blinding　his　foes。
Houndaer　hacked　madly；　and　sensed　Tsabrak　doing　the　same。　Darkness　or　no；　when　the　spy　lunged　forw