war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第40章

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eone's　tailing　us。　No　one　is。〃
〃What　a　pity。　I　was　hoping　that　if　we　asked　enough　questions　in　diverse　male　gatherings；　some　more　friends　of　the　runaways　would　try　to　murder　us；　or　at　least　seek　to　learn　what　we're　about。　Perhaps　the　rogues　are　too　canny　for　that。〃
〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
〃Visit　the　next　vile　tavern；　I　suppose。〃
They　started　walking；　and　Pharaun　continued；　〃Say；　did　I　ever　tell　you　how；　two　days　into　my　first　mission　to　the　World　Above；　I　wound　up　having　to　tail　a　human　mage　while　the　sun　was　blazing　in　the　sky？　I　was　blind　with　the　glare；　my　eyes…〃
〃Enough；〃　Ryld　said。　〃You've　told　this　a　thousand　times。〃
〃Well；　it's　a　good　story。　I　know　you'll　enjoy　hearing　it　again。　There　I　was；　blind　with　the　glare　。。。〃
As　the　two　masters　strolled　on；　they　passed　a　doorway　sealed　with　a　curnottain　of　spider　web。　Forbidden　by　sacred　law　to　disturb　the　silken　trap　until　such　time　as　its　builder　ceased　to　occupy　it；　the　luckless　occupant　of　the　house　had　placed　a　box　beneath　his　front　window　to　serve　as　a　makeshift　step。
Across　the　way；　a　ragged　half…breed　child；　part　dark　elf；　part　human　by　the　look　of　her；　brushed　past　a　drunken　laborer；　then　quickened　her　pace　a　trifle。　Ryld　hadn't　actually　seen　her　lift　the　tosspot's　purse；　but　he　was　fairly　certain　she　had。
Pharaun　came　to　a　sudden　halt。　〃Look　at　this；〃　he　said。
Ryld　turned；　the　long；　fortable　weight　of　Splitter　shifting　ever　so　slightly　across　his　back。　On　a　wall　at　the　mouth　of　an　alley；　someone　had　clumsily　daubed　a　rudimentary　picture　of　a　clawed　hand　surrounded　by　flames。　Though　it　was　small　and　smeared　in　paint　that　barely　contrasted　with　the　stone　behind　it；　Ryld　was　slightly　chagrined　that　Pharaun　had　nonotticed　it　and　he　hadn't；　but　he　supposed　wizards　had　a　nose　for　glyphs。
〃Do　you　know　what　this　is？〃　asked　Pharaun。
〃An　emblem　of　the　Skortchclaw　horde；　one　of　the　larger　tribes　of　ores。　I've　been　to　the　Realms　that　See　the　Sun　a　time　or　two　myself；　remember？〃
〃Good；　I'm　glad　you　confirm　my　identification。　Now；　what　is　it　doing　here？〃
Ryld　took　a　reflexive　glance　around；　searching　for　potential　threats；　and　said；　〃I　assume　some　orc　painted　it。〃
〃That　would　be　my　supposition；　too；　but　have　you　ever　known　a　thrall　to　do　such　a　thing？〃
〃No。〃
〃Of　course　not。　What　slave　would　dare　deface　the　city；　knowing　that　each　and　every　drow　takes　pride　in　its　perfection？〃
〃A　crazy　one。　We've　all　seen　them　go　mad　under　the　lash。〃
〃Whereupon　they　attack　their　handlers。　They　don't　creep　about　scrawlnoting　on　walls。　I'd　like　to　questions　the　people　in　these　houses　on　either　side。　Perhaps　someone　can　shed　some　light　on　this　occurrence。〃
〃You　get　curious　about　the　strangest　things；〃　Ryld　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃Sometimes　I　think　you're　a　little　mad　yourself。〃
〃Genius　is　so　often　misperceived。〃
〃Look；　I　know　this　puzzle　is　going　to　nag　at　you；　but　we're　right　in　the　middle　of　trying　to　find　the　runaways　and　so　save　your　life。　Let's　stick　to　that。〃
The　tall；　thin　wizard　smiled　and　said；　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
They　walked　on。
〃But　eventually；〃　Pharaun　said　after　a　moment；　〃when　we've　located　the　rogues　and　covered　ourselves　in　glory…or　at　least　convinced　Gromph　to　let　me　continue　breathing…I　am　going　to　inquire　into　this。〃
They　traveled　another　block；　then　a　column　of　roaring　yellow　fire　fell　from　the　sky；　engulfing　Pharaun's　body。　Wings　beat　the　air；　and　an　arrow　streaked　at　Ryld。　




The　netherspirit　couldn't　see　the　new　enchantments　surrounding　Tier　Breche；　but　as　the　uttermost　attenuated　projection　of　its　substance　washed　over　them；　it　could　feel　them。
Metaphorically　speaking；　the　wards　were　not　unlike　a　castle。　There　was　the　motte；　the　steep　slopes　of　which　would　slow　an　enemy's　approach　while　the　defenders　rained　missiles　down　on　him。　Atop　that　loomed　the　thick；　high　walls；　virtually　unbreachable　and　un　climbable。　Amid　those　was　the　renotcessed　gate；　defensible　by　spears　and　arrows　loosed　from　three　directions。　Within　the　passage　itself；　murder　holes　gaped　in　the　ceiling　to　rain　burnnoting　oil　on　the　invaders'　heads；　while　beyond　it　rose　a　gatehouse　with　batnottlements　at　the　top；　another　barrier　to