war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第149章

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Then；　seemingly　without　any　windup；　just　a　sudden　extension　of　his　arm；　Ryld　threw　his　sword。　Though　the　weapon　wasn't　intended　for　such　an　action；　it　streaked　through　the　air　as　straight　and　sure　as　an　arrow。　The　point　plunged　into　Tsabrak's　chest。
The　drider's　eyes　widened。　He　coughed　blood；　then　flopped　forward　at　the　waist；　dropping　his　sword。　His　spider　half；　slower　to　die　than　the　upper　portion；　continued　to　limp　forward。
It　was　all　right；　though；　because　Ryld　had　no　melee　weapon　save　for　a　dagger；　which　would　surely　be　of　little　use　against　a　blade　as　long　as　the　greatsword。　Houndaer　rushed　in　to　deliver　the　finishing　stroke。
〃Tuin'Tarir　he　screamed。
His　face　still　as　blank　as　a　zombie's；　the　weapons　master　dodged　to　the　side。
Houndaer　turned；　following　the　target；　and　saw　that　Ryld　had　ducked　behind　one　of　a　row　of　wooden　mannequins。　Up　close；　the　crudely　carved　dummies　were　oddly　disquieting　figures；　smirking　identical　smiles　despite　their　countless　stigmata　of　dents　and　gashes。
Ryld　stood　poised；　waiting；　and　Houndaer　discerned　the　spy's　intent。　When　his　adversary　lunged　around　one　side　of　the　dummy；　the　master　would　circle　in　the　opposite　direction；　thus　maintaining　a　barrier　between　them。
Houndaer　saw　no　reason　to　play　that　game；　not　if　his　new　sword　was　as　keen　as　it　was　supposed　to　be。　He　brought　the　blade　around　in　a　low　arc。　It　tore　away　the　mannequin　with　scarcely　a　jolt；　depriving　Ryld　of　his　pitinotful　protection。
Unfortunately；　the　weapons　master　sprang　forward　at　the　very　same　innotstant；　before　Houndaer　could　pull　the　greatsword　back　for　another　cut。　Ryld　slashed　at　the　noble's　throat。
Houndaer　frantically　wrenched　himself　back；　interposing　his　weapon　between　himself　and　the　spy；　before　recognizing　that　the　cut　had　been　more　of　a　feint　than　anything　else。　Ryld　had　tricked　him　into　assuming　a　pletely　defensive　attitude；　then　seized　the　opportunity　to　dash　past　him。　Houndaer　cut　at　the　master's　back　but　only　managed　to　tear　his　bilnotlowing　cloak。
The　Tuin'Tarl　gave　chase；　and　Tsabrak；　dying　or　dead　but　still　mindnotlessly　ambulatory；　staggered　into　his　path。　Houndaer　shouted　in　frustranottion　and　cut　the　drider　down。
When　the　hybrid　fell；　the　noble　could　see　what　was　happening　behind　him。　Ryld　had　reached　Tsabrak's　fallen　sword。　Heedless　of　the　venom　drying　on　the　blade；　the　teacher　slipped　his　toe　under　the　weapon；　flipped　it　into　the　air；　and　caught　it　neatly　by　the　hilt。　His　expression　as　unfathnotomable　as　ever；　he　came　on　guard　and　advanced。
I　can　still　kill　him；　Houndaer　thought；　I　still　have　the　reach　on　him。
Aloud；　he　shouted；　〃Here！　I've　got　one　of　the　masters　here！〃
Ryld　stepped　to　the　verge　of　the　distance；　then　hovered　there。　Confident　in　his　ability　to　defend；　he　wanted　Houndaer　to　strike　at　him。　A　fencer　couldn't　attack　without　opening　himself　up。
At　first；　the　noble　declined　to　oblige。　He　intended　to　wait　his　opponent　out。　Ryld　beat　his　blade。
The　clanging　impact　startled　a　response　out　of　him；　but　at　least　it　was　a　posed　attack。　Feint　to　the　chest；　feint　to　the　flank；　cut　low　and　hack　the　opponent's　legs　out　from　underneath　him。
Even　as　he　flowed　into　the　final　count；　he　remembered　Ryld　teaching　him　the　sequence；　and　sure　enough；　the　instructor　wasn't　fooled。　He　parnotried　the　genuine　low…line　attack；　then　riposted　to　Houndaer's　wrist。　The　broadsword　bit　through　his　gauntlet　and　into　the　flesh　beneath。
Ryld　pulled　his　weapon　free　in　a　spatter　of　gore。　He　drove　deeper；　cutting　at　Houndaer's　torso。　The　Tuin'Tarl　floundered　backward　out　of　the　distance；　meanwhile　heaving　the　greatsword　back　into　a　threatening　position。
His　bloody　wrist　throbbed；　and　the　huge　blade　trembled。　It　was　brutally　hard　to　hold　it　up；　its　enchantments　notwithstanding。　He　choked　up　on　it；　his　weakened　hand　clutching　the　ricasso；　but　that　only　helped　a　little。　He　listened　for　the　sound　of　another　party　of　rogues　rushing　to　his　aid。　He　didn't　hear　it。
〃Well　done；　Master　Argith！〃　Houndaer　declared。　〃I　declare　myself　beaten。　I　yield。〃
Ryld　stalked　forward；　broadsword　at　the　ready。
〃Please！〃　said　the　Tuin'Tarl。　〃We　always　got　along；　didn't　we？　I