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蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第41部分
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〃I walked through Narbondellyn;〃 the Prophet said。 〃I saw an ore; paralyzed in some manner; lying on the ground。 A dark elf slit his chest; spread the flaps of skin; cut some ribs with a saw; and whistled his riding lizard over to feed on the stillliving thrall's ans。 The drow told a panion that he gave the reptile one such meal every tenday to make it a faster racer。〃
The audience howled its wrath。 One female ore; transported with fury; gashed her cheeks and brow with a piece of broken glass。
The Prophet's litany of atrocities ran on and on; and Ryld gradually felt a strange emotion overtaking him。 He knew it couldn't be guilt—no dark elf experienced that ridiculous condition—but perhaps it was a kind of shame; a disgust at the sheer waste and childishness manifest in Menzoberranzan's abuse of its undercreatures and a desire to rectify the situation if he could。
The feeling was irrational; of course。 The goblins and their kin existed only to serve the pleasure of the drow; and if you ruined one; you just caught or bought another。 The weapons master gave his head a shake; clearing it; then turned to Pharaun。
Even through his ore mask; the wizard's amusement was apparent。
〃Resolved to mend your wicked ways?〃
〃I gather you feel the influence; too;〃 said Ryld。 〃What's happening?〃
〃The Prophet has magic buttressing his oratory; again; in a sort of configuration I don't quite understand。〃
〃Right; but what's the point of all this bellyaching?'
〃I assume he'll get around to telling us。'
The speaker continued in the same vein a while longer; goading the crowd to the brink of hysteria。
At last he cried; 〃But it does not have to be that way'
The undercreatures howled; and for a moment; until he pushed the feelings away; Ryld felt his magically induced disgust blaze up into savage bloodlust。
〃We can be avenged Cast down the drow to be our slaves We'll sack Menzoberranzan; and afterward those of us who wish it will return to our own peoples laden with treasure; while the rest of us rule the cavern as our own〃
Not likely; thought Ryld。 He turned to say as much to Pharaun; then blinked in surprise。 The wizard looked as if he was taking this diatribe seriously。
〃They're just venting their resentment in the form of a fantasy;〃 the warrior whispered。 〃They'd never dare; and we'd crush them in a matter of minutes if they did。〃
〃So one would assume;〃 Pharaun replied。 〃e on; I want a closer look。〃
They started working their way forward through the agitated throng。 Some of their fellow spectators plainly resented their shoving。 Ryld had to toss one hobgoblin down onto the floor of the sunken arena; but no one seemed to think it odd that they wanted to get closer to the charismatic leader。 Others were doing the same。
The Prophet continued his oration。
〃I thank you for your work and your patience; which soon will reap their reward。 Word of our revolt has reached every street and alley。 We have warriors everywhere; and each understands what he is to do when he hears the Call。 Meanwhile; the drow suspect nothing。 Their arrogance makes them placent。 They won't suspect until it's too late; until the Call es and we rise as one—until we burn them。〃
Ryld and Pharaun had forced their way close enough to see the Prophet pick up a sandstone rod and anoint the end with an oil from a ceramic bottle。 The rod burst into yellow; crackling flame as if it were made of dry wood; that exotic bustible product of the World Above。 The master of MeleeMagthere squinted at the sudden flare of light。
〃Eyes of the Goddess〃 Pharaun exclaimed。
〃It's a neat trick;〃 Ryld said; 〃but surely nothing special by your standards。〃
〃Not the fire; those two bugbears standing behind the Prophet。〃
〃His bodyguards; I imagine。 What of them?〃
〃They're Tluth Melarn and one Alton the cobbler; two of our runaways。 They're wearing veils of illusion; too; but of a simpler nature。 I can see past theirs。〃
〃Are you serious? What are drow; even rogues; doing aiding the instigator of a slave revolt?〃
〃Perhaps we'll find out when we tail the Prophet and his entourage away from here。〃
〃I taught you how to use the fire pots;〃 the orator continued; 〃and my friends and I have brought plenty of them。〃 He gestured toward several
hovering floatchests。 〃Take them and hide them until the day of reckoning。
The bright notes of a brazen glaur horn blared through the air。 For a moment; confused; Ryld thought 〃the Call〃—whatever that was—had arrived; then a thrill of panic; or at least the memory of it; reminded him what the trumpet truly portended。 Judging by the goblins' babbling and frantic peering about; they knew; too。
〃What is it?〃 Pharaun asked。
〃You're nobly born;〃 said Ryld; hearing a trace of an old bitterness in his voice。 〃Didn't you ever go hunting through the Braeryn; slaying every wretch you could catch?〃
The wizard smiled and said; 〃Now that you mention it; but it's been a long time。 It occurs to me that this is probably Greyanna's doing。 Not a bad tactic; really; even though it involves a lot of waste motion。 Once I shielded us our hunters couldn't pinpoint our location; but they knew our mission would bring us to the Braeryn so they anized a hunt for a party of nobles。 The idea is that all the turmoil is likely to flush us out and send us scrambling frantically through the streets; at which point they'll have a better chance of spotting us。〃
〃What's more;〃 said Ryld; making sure his swords were loose in their scabbards; 〃your sister gives us the choice of retaining our veils of illusion and being harried by our own kind; or casting them off and facing the wrath of the undercreatures。 Either way; someone might do her killing for her。〃
The Prophet raised his hands for calm; and the undercreatures quieted a little。
〃My friends; in a moment we will scatter as we must; for a little while longer; but before you go; take the fire pots。 Once the danger is past; share the weapons and news of our gathering with all those who were unable to attend。 Remember your part in the plan and wait for the Call。 Now; go〃
Some of the rebels bolted without further delay; but at least half lingered long enough to take a jug or two from the hovering boxes。 One ore lost his footing in the press; then screamed as other goblinoids trampled him in their haste。 Meanwhile; the Prophet and his bodyguards slipped out a door in the back wall。
〃Shall we?〃 said Pharaun; striding after them。
〃What of Greyanna and all the hunters?〃 asked Ryld。
〃We'll contend with them as necessary; but I'll be damned if I hide in a hole while two of the boys we worked so hard to find vanish into the night。〃
The masters stalked out onto the street。 The Braeryn already echoed with more trumpeting; the sporting cries of dark elves; and the screams of undercreatures。
The teachers shadowed the Prophet and the rogues for half a block。 The trio moved briskly but without any trace of panic。 Evidently they were confident of their ability to elude the hunters。 Ryld wondered why。
Then the night gave him other things to think about。
He and Pharaun skulked by a house where several shouting goblins pounded on the granite front door。 As was the mon practice during a hunt; the inhabitants refused to admit them。 They wouldn't let in anyone but folk who actually lived there。 Otherwise; a rush of terrified refugees flooding into the already crowded warren might trample or crush some of the residents—or the influx might make the house a more provocative target。 It had happened before。
Finally Ryld heard the small; longarmed creatures turn away from the structure。 They cried out; then broke into a run; their rapid footsteps drumming on the ground。
Ryld had no idea why1 the goblins were charging him and Pharaun。 Perhaps the creatures had mistaken them for tenants of the house that had denied them entry and thus appropriate targets for revenge。 Maybe they simply wanted to take their frustrations out on someone。
Not that it mattered。 The brutes were no match for masters of Tier Breche。 The dark elves would kill them in a trice。
Ryld drew Splitter from its scabbard and came on guard; meanwhile taking in his assailants' pitiful makeshift weaponry and lack of armor。 It was pathetic; really; so much so that the next few seconds would alm
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