war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第104部分

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Pharaun　recognized　that　the　cavern　was　in　some　sense　an　illusion；　but　that　didn't　make　it　any　less　interesting。　He　would　have　liked　nothing　better　than　to　explore　every　nook　and　cranny。　It　was　an　inclination　rooted　in　a　profound　sense　of　well…being；　a　blithe　unconcern　no　more　genuine　than　the　landscape；　but　seductive　all　the　same。　He　would　have　to　fight　it。
He　turned；　saw　Syrzan　standing　a　few　feet　away；　and　cast　darts　of　force；　a　spell　requiring　only　words　of　power　and　a　flourish　of　the　hands。　Halfway　to　their　target；　the　streaking　shafts　of　azure　radiance　stopped　dead　in　the　air；　fell　to　the　ground；　and　turned　into　limbless　things　like　leeches　or　tadnotpoles；　which；　squealing　telepathically；　slithered　toward　the　nearest　pool。
〃Your　spells　won't　work　here；〃　said　Syrzan　in　the　Prophet's　rich；　notpelling　tones。
〃I　suspected　as　much；　but　I　had　to　try。　Are　we　inside　your　mind？〃
〃More　or　less。〃
Syrzan　strolled　closer。　Off　to　the　side；　liquid　splashed　and　plopped　as　the　tadpoles　wallowed。
〃We're　conversing　in　my　special　haven；〃　the　undead　mind　flayer　said；　〃but　we're　also　still　in　the　heretic's　chapel。　In　that　reality　I'm　rebuking　Houndaer　for　fetching　you　after　I　told　him　it　was　dangerous；　and　you're　insensible。〃
〃Fascinating；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃and　I　suppose　you　spirited　me　into　the　dream　for　a　private　tete…a…tete。〃
〃Essentially；〃　the　alhoon　said。　Even　in　this　phantasmal　domain；　it　smelled　faintly　of　decaying　fish。　〃This　is　actually　a　form　of　mind…reading。　You　won't　be　able　to　lie。〃
The　Master　of　Sorcere　chuckled。　〃Some　people　would　say　that　so　handnoticapped；　I　won't　be　able　to　speak　at　all。〃
The　mages　began　stroll　along　side　by　side。　The　atmosphere　felt　quite　congenial。
〃How　is　it；〃　Syrzan　asked；　〃that　you　came　looking　for　my　associates　and　me？〃
Pharaun　explained。　He　didn't　see　how　it　could　do　any　harm。
When　he　was　finished；　the　illithilich　said；　〃You　couldn't　wield　my　parnotticular　sort　of　power。〃
〃I　understand　that　now。　You　enthrall　the　undercreatures　through　a　deft　bination　of　wizardry　and　mind　flayer　arts；　and　I　lack　the　innate　canotpacity　to　master　the　latter。　What's　more；　you　conspirators　know　nothing　about　the　priestesses'　difficulties。〃　Pharaun　cocked　his　head。　〃Or　perhaps　you　do；　Master　Eich。〃
〃No；〃　said　Syrzan；　its　mouth　tentacles　coiling　and　twisting。　〃Eike　the　others；　I　know　what's　happened　but　not　why。〃
〃So　none　of　what　I　sought　was　ever　here　for　the　finding。〃　Pharaun　laughed　and　said；　〃My　sister　Sabal　once　told　me　that　a　clever　drow's　wits　can　lead　him　into　follies　no　dunce　would　dare　to　undertake　。　。　。　but　that's　blood　down　the　gutter。　What　of　you？　What　in　the　wide　world　prompted　a　creature　such　as　yourself　to　throw　in　with　a　band　of　Menzoberranyr　malnotcontents？〃
〃You　seek　information　you　can　use　against　me。〃
〃Well；　partly　。。。〃　Pharaun　had　to　pause　for　a　second　when　a　wave　of　psionic　force　from　one　of　the　larger　pools　dizzied　him　and　threatened　to　wash　his　own　thoughts　away。　〃In　the　unlikely　event　I'm　ever　afforded　the　chance。　Mostly；　though；　I'm　just　curious。　You're　a　mage。　Surely　we　share　that　trait　even　if　little　else。〃
Syrzan　shrugged；　the　narrow　shoulders　beneath　its　faded　robes　hitching　higher　than　would　a　drow's。
〃Well；〃　the　alhoon　said；　〃I　suppose　it　can　do　no　harm　to　enlighten　you；　and　it's　been　a　long　while　since　I've　had　the　opportunity　to　converse　with　a　colleague　of　genuine　ability。　Not　that　you're　my　equal…no　elf　or　dwarf　could　ever　be…but　you're　several　cuts　above　any　of　Houndaer's　allies。〃
〃Your　kind　words　overwhelm　me。〃
The　two　wizards　stepped　onto　a　bridge；　a　crooked　limestone　span　archnoting　over　one　of　the　briny　pools。
〃Dark　elves　will　abide　a　lich；〃　the　alhoon　said；　a　brooding　note　entering　its　musical　and　almost　certainly　artificial　voice。　〃Illithids　won't。　By　and　large；　they　hate　the　idea　of　sorcery；　a　foreign　discipline　as　potent　as　the　psionic　skills　that　constitute　our　birthright。　Still；　they'll　tolerate　a　limited　number　of　mortal　mages；　those　of　us　drawn　to　wizardry　despite　the　stigma；　for　the　advantages　we　bring。　But　the　thought　of　undying　wizards　enduring　for　millennia；　amassing　arcane　power　the　while；　terrifies　them。〃
〃So　on　the　day　you　achieved　your　immortality；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃you　fornotsook　your　homeland　forever；　or　at　least　until　the　day　when　you　could　connotquer　it。〃
The　two　mages　stopped　at　the　highest　point　on　the　bridge　and　looked　out　over　an　expanse　of　warm；　briny　fluid。　Pharaun　noticed　that　the　stuff　rippled　and　flowed　sluggishly；　as　if　it　was　thicker　than　water。
〃Indeed；〃　Syrzan　said。　〃I　hoped　to　manage　my　departure　circumspectly；　but　somehow　the　folk　of　Oryndoll　sensed　my　metamorphosis。　For　decades；　they　hunted　me　like　an　animal；　and　I　existed　like　one　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。　Those　times　were　hard。　Even　the　undead　crave　the　notforts　of　civilization。　Finally　Oryndoll　forgot　me　or　gave　up　on　me。　That　was　an　improvement；　but　still　I　had　no　home。〃
〃I've　heard；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃that　one　or　two　secret　enclaves　of　illith…iliches　exist。　Didn't　you　search　for　one？〃
〃I　searched　for　ninety　years　and　found　one；〃　Syrzan　replied；　sounding　slightly　miffed　that　its　prisoner　had　jumped　ahead　in　the　story