war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第87章

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law；　the　antithesis　of　chaos。　The　sword　that　had　bee　an　extension　of　the　demon's　will　froze　inside　it　like　an　insect　in　amber…and　the　demon　was　equally　still。　For　a　moment；　at　least。　The　creature　began　hitching　ever　so　slightly　forward；　working　itself　loose　of　the　restricting　magic。
The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　was　essentially　a　creature　of　chaos　as　well；　but　mortal　and　native　to　the　material　plane；　and　thus　the　spell　had　no　power　over　her。　She　wheeled　and　dashed　to　the　body　lying　in　the　doorway。　Only　the　spider　part　of　it　was　moving；　chewing　and　slurping　on　the　rest。
The　dead　girl　turned　out　to　be　Halavin　Symrywin；　who'd　had　the　surnotprisingly　good　sense　to　remove　all　that　gaudy；　clinking　jewelry　before　atnottempting　to　attack　by　surprise。　The　novice　had　managed　the　arbalest　rather　deftly；　considering　her　sore；　mutilated　hands。
Quenthel　stooped　to　pick　up　the　weapon　and　the　quiver　containing　the　rest　of　the　enchanted　quarrels。　She　moved　warily；　but　the　feasting　arachnid　paid　her　no　mind。
She　turned；　laid　a　dart　in　the　channel；　and　shot。　When　the　shaft　hit　it；　the　demon　shuddered　in　its　nearly　immobile　form；　but　didn't　die。
It　occurred　to　her　that　she　could　get　away　from　it　while　it　was　trapped；　muster　any　loyal　minions　who　hadn't　partaken　of　the　poisoned　supper；　and　fight　the　thing　at　the　head　of　a　pany；　just　as　she'd　originally　intended。　After　the　harrowing　events　of　the　past　minutes；　the　idea　had　a　certain　appeal。
But　after　what　she'd　endured；　she　wanted　to　be　the　one　to　teach　this　vermin　a　lesson　about　molesting　the　clergy　of　Lolth。　Besides；　the　appearnotance　of　strength　was　vital。　So　she　kept　shooting　as　fast　as　the　cocking　action　of　the　weapon　would　allow。　The　demon　inched　its　way　toward　her　as　if　it　was　made　of　half…cooled　magma。
Four　bolts　left；　then　three。　She　pulled　the　trigger；　the　dart　struck　the　demon　in　the　middle　of　its　horned；　triangular　head；　and　it　winked　out　of　existence。
She　could　still　hear　its　voice；　but　knew　that　was　just　because　it　had　shrieked　so　long　and　loudly。　She　gave　her　head　a　shake；　trying　to　quell　the　phantom　sound；　then　glimpsed　yet　another　shadow　watching　her　from　some　distance　away。
〃You！〃　she　shouted；　cocking　the　arbalest　to　receive　the　penultimate　quarrel。　〃e　here！〃
The　other　dark　elf　bolted。　Quenthel　gave　chase；　but　she　was　still　a　little　winded　from　the　struggle　with　the　demon；　and　her　quarry　outdistanced　her　and　disappeared。
The　Baenre　stalked　on　through　the　labyrinthine　chambers　and　corridors　until　she　rounded　a　bend　and　came　face　to　face　with　three　of　her　minions。　The　goddess　only　knew　what　their　true　sentiments　were；　but　confronted　with　her　leveled　arbalest　and　the　obvious　fact　that；　while　her　gear　was　much　the　worse　for　wear；　she　herself　was　unscathed；　they　hastily　saluted。
〃I　killed　tonight's　intruder；〃　she　said；　〃and　a　homegrown　enemy　as　well。　What　do　you　know　of　our　situation？　Is　anyone　else　dead？〃
〃No；　Mistress；〃　said　a　priestess。　The　lowered　visor　of　her　spider…crested　helmet　pletely　concealed　her　features；　but　from　her　voice；　Quenthel　recognized　Quave；　one　of　the　senior　instructors。　〃Most　of　those　who　ate　and　drank　the　tainted　meal　are　waking。　I　think　the　poisoner　only　wanted　to　render　us　unconscious；　not　kill　us。〃
〃Apparently；〃　said　Quenthel；　〃she　was　willing　to　let　the　demon　adminnotister　the　coup　de　grace　to　me。　What　of　those　who　encountered　the　entity　before　I　did？〃
Quave　hesitated；　then　said；　〃When　they　tried　to　hinder　it；　it　hurt　them；　but　not　to　the　point　of　death。　They　should　recover　as　well。〃
〃Good；〃　Quenthel　said；　though　she　took　no　joy　in　knowing　she　was　the　unknown　enemy's　sole　target。
〃What　are　your　orders；　Mistress？〃　asked　Quave。
〃We'll　have　to　sort　out　the　living　from　the　dead；　and　deal　with　each　acnotcordingly。　We'll　also　look　for　the　place　where　the　demon　got　in；　and　seal　it。〃
These　were　tasks　that　would　doubtless　keep　her　occupied　for　the　rest　of　the　night；　but　she　knew　she　had　to　find　a　way　to　stop　the　intrusions；　and　pull　the　fangs　of　another　crisis　as　well。
It　would　all　for　make　an　arduous　day's　labor；　with　the　oute　uncernottain　enough　to　depress　even　a　high　priestess。　Still；