war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第32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！


it。　He　had　to　pivot　to　fend　off　his　fellow　swordsmen。
Predictably；　Tathlyn　was　in　the　lead。　Ryld　cut　at　the　weapons　master's　head；　and　his　erstwhile　student　instantly　backpedaled；　retreating　just　far　enough　to　avoid　the　stroke。　He'd　learned　good　footwork　somewhere　along　the　way；　better　than　Ryld　remembered。
Slipping　in　and　out　of　the　distance；　Tathlyn　feinted　and　invited；　putting　on　a　show。　Meanwhile；　the　other　Godeep；　the　wary　one；　circled；　trying　to　get　behind　Ryld。
The　weapons　master　allowed　the　boy　to　creep　part　way　round　to　his　flank；　then　he　sprang　at　Tathlyn　and　cut　wildly；　seemingly　off…balance　and　over　mitted　to　the　attack。
The　other　Godeep　had　Ryld's　back；　at　a　moment　when　the　teacher　looked　entirely　incapable　of　turning　and　defending。　Reluctant　or　not；　the　boy　couldn't　pass　up　such　an　opportunity。　He　charged。
Ryld　whirled；　bringing　Splitter　around　in　a　sweeping　horizontal　stroke。　The　greatsword　with　its　superior　length　struck　one　step　before　the　Godeep　would　have　initiated　his　own　attack。　Thanks　to　Ryld's　deftness；　the　huge；　preternaturally　sharp　blade　merely　gashed　the　boy's　wrist　instead　of　lopnotping　off　his　hand。　The　petty　noble　dropped　his　broadsword；　then　had　the　bad　judgment　to　reach　for　his　dagger。　The　weapons　master　slashed　his　leg；　tumbling　him　to　the　floor。
Ryld　knew　that　by　spinning　to　attack　the　one　Godeep；　he　had　given　his　back　to　Tathlyn；　who　was　surely　driving　in　to　kill　him。　The　teacher　whirled　back　around。　Sure　enough；　Tathlyn　had　rushed　into　the　distance　and　was　cutting　at　his　head。　Ryld　parried　with　Splitter's　edge；　hoping　to　snap　the　Godeep　weapons　master's　long　sword　as　he　had　the　rapier。　The　crimson　blade　struck　the　great　sword　on　the　forte；　just　above　the　parrynoting　hook；　rang；　and　rebounded；　still　in　one　piece。　It　was　made　of　good　metal；　Ryld　thought；　well　forged；　with　strengthening　enchantments　woven　in。
But　its　virtues　alone　couldn't　save　its　master。　Ryld　feinted　low　to　draw　the　red　sword　down；　then　cut　high。　Splitter　sliced　Tathlyn's　brow；　and　blood　poured　into　the　Godeep　weapons　master's　eyes。　He　reeled　backward。
Ryld　could　tell　that　none　of　his　adversaries　had　any　fight　left　in　them。　He　turned　once　more；　surveying　the　room。　Whoever　had　shot　him；　the　fellow　had　prudently　put　his　hand　crossbow　away。
〃Nicely　done；〃　said　Pharaun；　lounging；　goblet　in　hand；　by　the　bar。
〃How　long　have　you　been　there？〃　Ryld　replied；　walking　to　retrieve　his　short　sword。　Its　victim　had　pulled　it　free　and　left　it　on　the　floor。　〃You　could　have　helped　me。〃
〃I　was　too　busy　wagering　on　you。〃　The　wizard　held　out　his　purse；　and　grumbling　losers　dropped　coins　into　it。　〃I　knew　you　wouldn't　need　help　against　a　couple　drunks。〃
Ryld　grunted；　wiped　his　weapons　on　a　handy　bar　rag；　and　asked；　〃Do　you　want　that　red　sword？　It's　a　good　weapon。　Maybe　a　Godeep　family　heirnotloom。〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃Which　would　mean　they　acquired　it　when；　last　tenday？　No；　thank　you　anyway；　but　what　would　a　spell　caster　do　with　it？　Besides；　I　wouldn't　want　the　weight　to　stretch　and　chafe　my　clothes。〃
〃Suit　yourself。〃
The　Master　of　Sorcere　sauntered　up　to　Ryld；　then　spoke　far　more　softly。　〃Are　you　about　ready　to　go？　I'd　just　as　soon　take　my　leave　before　Nym　wanders　downstairs。〃
Ryld　wondered　what　mischief　his　friend　had　mitted。　〃Almost；〃　he　said。　〃Give　Nym　something　to　pay　for　the　cleanup。〃
The　warrior　walked　to　the　sava　tables；　retrieved　Splitter's　scabbard　and　his　own　winnings；　then　looked　around　for　the　trader。　The　boy　had　made　a　hasty　withdrawal　from　the　table　the　instant　the　fight　began；　but　he　hadn't　gone　far。　Most　every　drow　had　a　taste　for　blood　sport。
Ryld　tossed　him　a　gold　coin　with　the　Baenre　emblem　stamped　on　it。　〃Here　are　your　winnings。〃
The　young　merchant　looked　puzzled。　Perhaps　the　drink　was　to　blame。
〃If　a　player　disturbs　the　arrangement　of　the　board；　he　loses；〃　Ryld　exnotplained。　〃It's　in　the　rules。〃

*　



〃It　was　gratifying　to　e　upstairs　and　observe　you　handling　our　confinotdential　inquiries　with　your　usual　light　touch；〃　Pharaun　said。
He　paused　to　let　a　float　chest；　attended　by　a　dark　elf　merchant　and　six　hulking　bugbear　slaves；　drift　across　the　lan