war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第19章

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　　　They　hurried　to　catch　up　to　the　others…and　at　that　moment；　their　pursuer　attacked。　Striding　up　out　of　the　shadows　behind　them　loomed　a　tremendous　figure　posed　of　pure　darkness；　a　black；　faceless　giant　towering　more　than　twenty　feet　in　height。　Despite　its　great　size；　the　thing　moved　swiftly　and　silently　toward　them；　strangely　graceful。　Two　shining　ovals　of　silver　marked　its　eyes；　and　long；　spidery　talons　reached　for　Halisstra　and　Valas。　Its　sibilant　whispers　filled　their　minds　with　awful　things；　like　fat　pale　worms　crawling　through　rotten　meat。
　　　〃Pharaun；　wait！〃　Halisstra　cried。
　　　She　fumbled　for　her　mace　as　the　dark　giant　approached。　Beside　her；　Valas　swore　and　swept　out　his　curved　blades；　crouching　in　a　fighting　stance。　A　nauseating；　tangible　chill　radiated　from　the　creature；　like　the　cold　that　seeped　through　the　entire　plane　but　far　more　concentrated　and　malevolent　in　the　presence　of　the　monster。　The　dark　giant　shimmered；　acquiring　an　almost　oily　appearance；　and　it　sprang　forward　in　a　sudden　burst　of　motion。
　　　Before　Halisstra　could　cry　out　another　warning；　one　blow　of　its　massive　taloned　fist　knocked　her　sprawling　to　the　ground。　It　turned　to　fix　its　pale　and　terrible　gaze　upon　Valas。　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　screamed　in　terror　and　averted　his　eyes；　dropping　one　kukri　and　allowing　the　second　to　droop　limply　from　his　hand。
　　　Jeggred　roared　a　challenge　and　bounded　toward　the　monster；　talons　extended。　The　dark　giant　slammed　the　half…demon　to　the　ground　with　one　blow　of　its　long　black　hand。　The　draegloth　scrambled　back　to　his　feet　and　leaped　up　to　rake　deep；　black　furrows　across　the　giant's　thighs　and　abdomen；　seeking　to　eviscerate　the　creature；　but　the　wounds　closed　after　the　draegloth's　claws　passed　through　the　thing's　flesh。　Jeggred　howled　in　frustration　and　redoubled　his　futile　assault。
　　　〃Stand　back；　you　fool！〃　Pharaun　cried　from　nearby。　〃It　is　a　nightwalker。　You　need　powerful　magic　to　harm　it。〃
　　　The　wizard　chanted　a　dire　spell；　and　a　bright　bolt　of　green　lightning　shot　out　to　smite　the　creature　high　in　its　torso…but　the　pernicious　energy　just　flowed　away　from　the　monster's　featureless　black　hide；　leaving　it　unharmed。
　　　Your　spells　are　useless；　whispered　a　dark　and　terrible　voice　in　Halisstra's　mind。　Your　weapons　are　useless。　You　are　mine；　foolish　drow。
　　　〃We　will　see　about　that；〃　Halisstra　snarled。
　　　She　picked　herself　up　and　dashed　forward；　raising　her　mace。　The　weapon　was　enchanted；　and　she　hoped　it　would　prove　powerful　enough　to　harm　the　creature。　A　long　arm　with　deadly　talons　raked　at　her；　but　Halisstra　tumbled　beneath　the　monster's　grasp　and　hammered　at　the　nightwalker's　knee。　With　a　sharp　crack　of　sound　and　a　flash　of　actinic　light；　the　weapon　detonated　with　the　force　of　a　thunderclap。　The　nightwalker　made　no　sound；　but　its　knee　buckled；　and　it　staggered。
　　　Quenthel's　whip　hissed　through　the　air；　flaying　at　the　creature's　face。　The　vipers　tore　and　snapped　through　dark　flesh；　leaving　great　gory　wounds；　but　the　monster　seemed　unaffected　by　the　deadly　venom　coursing　through　the　weapon。　Apparently　even　the　most　virulent　poison　did　not　disfit　its　shadowstuff。
　　　Ryld；　wheeling　and　spinning；　slashed　at　the　monster　with　his　gleaming　greatsword。　The　nightwalker　reached　out　to　wrest　away　his　weapon；　but　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　danced　back　and　sheared　off　half　the　creature's　hand　with　one　savage　blow。　The　nightwalker　screamed　soundlessly；　its　anguished　cry　stabbing　through　their　very　minds。　Ignoring　the　others；　the　creature　fastened　its　baleful　gaze　on　Ryld；　and　conjured　up　from　the　black　soil　underfoot　a　dreadful；　dark　vapor　that　blotted　out　all　sight。
　　　Halisstra　groped　her　way　into　the　black　mist；　seeking　the　monster。　The　vapor　seared　her　nose　like　vitriol　and　ate　at　her　eyes；　burning　like　fire。　She　persevered；　and　felt　the　giant　looming　over　her。　She　raised　her　mace　and　struck　again；　hammering　at　the　creature's　legs。　From　beside　her　she　heard　the　hiss　of　Quenthel's　whip；　tearing　into　dark　flesh。　Great　black　talons　raked　through　the　vapor；　ripping　at　Halisstra's　shield；　driving　her　to　the　ground。
　　　〃It's　here！〃　she　called；　hoping　to　lead　someone　else　to　the　battle；　but　the　acidic　mists　burned　like　fire　in　her　throat。
　　　She　narrowed　her　eyes　to　nothing　more　than　bare　slits；　and　flailed　back　at　the　monster。　The　nightwalker's　venomous　will　settled　over　her　like　a　blanket　of　madness；　seeking　to　rend　away　her　reason；　but　she　endured　the　new　assault；　lashing　out　again　and　again。
　　　Ryld's　sword　lanced　through　the　murk　like　a　white　razor；　opening　dreadful　wounds　in　the　shadow　creature's　body。　Black　fluid　splattered　like　droplets　of　poison；　and　the　mind…whispers　of　the　nightwalker　rose　into　a　hellish　mental　shriek　that　dragged　Halisstra　to　the　very　edge　of　madness…and　there　was　silence。
　　　She　felt　the　thing　abruptly　discorporate　around　her；　its　body　exploding　into　black；　stinking　mist　that　dissipated　into　the　shadows。
　　　Still　gagging　on　the　poisonous　black　vapors　the　creature　had　raised；　Halisstra　stumbled　out　of　the　dark　cloud　and　fell　to　all　fours；　gasping　for　breath。　Her　chest　burned　as　if　she'd　drunk　molten　sulfur。　When　at　last　she　could　open　her　eyes　and　take　notice　of　her　surroundings　again；　she　found　that　most　of　the　rest　of　the　party　had　fared　little　better　than　she。
　　　Ryld　slumped　against　a　stone；　his　greatsword　point　down　before　him。　He　was　leaning　on　the　blade；　exhausted。　Quenthel　stood　close　by；　her　hands　on　her　knees；　coughing　wretchedly。
　　　When　at　last　she　could　draw　breath；　the　high　priestess　looked　up　at　Pharaun　and　said；　〃That　is　what　you　encountered　before？〃
　　　The　wizard　nodded　and　said；　〃Nightwalkers。　They　roam　the　Fringe。　Creatures　of　undead　darkness；　evil　personified。　As　you　saw；　they　can　be　。　。　。　formidable。〃
　　　The　Mistress　of　the　Academy　drew　herself　up　and　returned　her　whip　to　her　belt。
　　　〃I　think　I　understand　why　you　hesitated　to　volunteer　this　method　of　travel　until　now；〃　she　said。
　　　Despite　his　exhaustion；　the　wizard　preened。
　　　〃Careful；　Quenthel；〃　he　said　in　a　mocking　voice；　〃you　almost　acknowledged　my　usefulness。〃
　　　The　high　priestess's　eyes　narrowed；　and　she　straightened　proudly。　She　obviously　didn't　care　to　be　the　subject　of　the　wizard's　humor。　Seemingly　ignorant　of　the　smoldering　glare　Quenthel　fixed　on　him；　Pharaun　made　a　grand　gesture　indicating　the　formless　dark　ahead　of　them。
　　　〃Our　path　leads　now　into　the　shadow　of　our　own　Underdark；〃　he　said。　〃I　suggest　we　redouble　our　efforts　and　finish　our　march　quickly；　as　there　may　be　more　nightwalkers　about。〃
　　　〃That's　a　damned　cheerful　thought；〃　grumbled　Ryld。　〃How　much　farther　now？〃
　　　〃Not　more　than　an　hour；　perhaps　two；〃　Pharaun　answered。
　　　The　wizard　waited　while　the　dark　elves　stood　and　fell　in　behind　him　again。　Ryld　and　Valas；　the　two　who　had　borne　the　virulence　of　the　nightwalker's　dread　gaze；　seemed　gray　with　weariness；　hardly　able　to　keep　their　feet。
　　　〃e；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃Mantol…Derith　is　no　Menzoberranzan；　but　it　will　be　the　most　civilized　place　we've　seen　in　days；　and　no　one　is　likely　to　want　to　kill　us。
　　　〃Not　right　away；　at　least。〃
　　　
　　　Nothing　more　troubled　them　for　the　rest　of　the　shadow　walk；　and　they　emerged　from　the　Fringe　not　long　after　the　nightwalker's　attack；　returning　to　the　mundane　world　on　the　floor　of　a　narrow；　subterranean　gorge。　The　walls　were　marked　with　various　trail　signs　and　messages　from　previous　travelers　who　had　stopped　there。　It　was　obviously　a　monly　used　campsite　near　the　trade　cavern。　The　pany　rested　there　for　hours；　warming　up　from　the　insidious　chill　of　the　Shadow　Fringe。　After　resting；　they　left　the　gorge　and　found　their　way　out　into　a　long；　smooth…sided　tunnel　that　bored　for　miles　through　the　dark；　broken　by　occasional　open　caverns　along　the　way。
　　　Valas　led　the　pany；　as　he　was　familiar　with　their　arrival　point　and　the　route　they　found　themselves　traveling。　After　the　burning　skies　of　the　daylit　surface　and　the　miserable　gloom　of　the　Plane　of　Shadow；　the　routine　perils　of　the　Underdark　felt　like　old　friends。　This　was　their　world；　the　place　where　they　belonged；　even　those　of　their　number　who　had　rarely　journeyed　outside　their　home　cities。