war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第116部分

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ul；　swung　wide　to　avoid　the　little　massacre。
Pharaun　slipped　around　the　slaughter　as　well。　A　few　more　strides　brought　him　to　a　scene　that；　after　the　carnage　he'd　just　witnessed；　seemed　almost　unreal。　The　westernmost　portion　of　the　marketplace　was　quiet。　Some　of　the　merchants　had　armed　themselves　and　taken　up　positions　outnotside　their　tents　and　kiosks；　but　they　seemed　calm　and　unafraid。
Over　the　course　of　an　adventurous　life；　Pharaun　had　witnessed　the　same　phenomenon　before。　Under　the　proper　circumstances；　it　was　possible　for　folk　to　remain　essentially　oblivious　to　a　pitched　battle　raging　just　a　few　yards　away。
The　wizard　ran　on。　Ahead；　a　luminous　green　circle　scribed　on　the　ground　surrounded　a　modious　stall　built　of　hardened　fungus。　A　heavyset　male　stood　in　the　doorway　with　an　arbalest　in　his　hand　and　a　toad；　his　familiar；　squatting　on　his　shoulder。　He　wore　a　nightshirt；　and　his　feet　were　bare。　The　merchant　scowled　when　he　spotted　Pharaun。
〃Stay　back；〃　he　said；　his　throaty　voice　even　deeper　than　Ryld's。
Pharaun　halted；　took　a　breath；　and　wound　up　coughing；　thanks　to　the　smoke　fouling　the　air。
〃My　dear　master　Blundyth；　is　that　any　way　to　greet　a　faithful　cusnottomer？〃
〃It's　the　way　to　greet　the　madman　who　attacked　a　patrol　only　yesterday。〃
That　was　right；　Pharaun　thought；　it　had　been　only　yesterday。　So　much　had　happened　since；　it　felt　like　a　year。
〃My　past　indiscretions　no　longer　matter；〃　the　Mizzrym　said。　〃Do　you　have　any　notion　what's　going　on？〃
〃You　mean　the　smoke　and　motion　over　yonder？〃　Blundyth　nodded　to　the　east。　〃I　guess　a　merchant's　eliminating　the　petition。　It's　nothing　to　do　with　me；　though　I'm　ready　if　trouble　spills　this　way。〃
〃Would　that　were　true；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃Alas；　none　of　us　is　truly　ready　for　tonight。　Have　you　glanced　up　over　the　roof　of　your　shop？〃
He　pointed　to　the　orange　light　presently　flickering　in　the　east。
〃The　nobles　are　up　to　something；〃　Blundyth　said。　〃Maybe　some　of　the　Houses　have　joined　forces　to　wipe　out　a　mon　rival。　Again；　it's　nothing　to　do　with　me。〃
〃You're　mistaken。　All　across　the　city；　the　undercreatures　are　rebelling。〃
Blundyth　snorted；　〃You　are　mad。〃
〃Don't　you　or　your　neighbors　own　thralls？〃
〃Of　course。　They're　off　somewhere。〃
〃Indeed。　Off　preparing　to　cut　your　throats。〃
〃Just　go　away；　Master　Mizzrym。〃　Blundyth　shifted　his　grip　on　the　staff　and　added；　〃We　always　got　along。　Don't　make　me　hurt　you。〃
〃The　ores　pose　a　considerable　threat。　I　know　how　to　oppose　it；　but　I　need　your　help。　I　still　have　credit　here；　don't　I？〃
〃I　don't　sell　to　outlaws。　I　don't　want　any　trouble　with　the　priestesses。〃
Pharaun　looked　into　the　merchant's　eyes　and　saw　that　he'd　never　connotvince　him。
〃Too　bad。　You'll　regret　this　decision。　In　just　a　few　minutes；　most　likely；　but　by　then　it　will　be　too　late。〃
The　master　turned　and　strode　away；　but　once　he　was　out　of　Blundyth's　sight；　he　circled　back　around。　Creeping　through　the　cramped　spaces　benottween　the　booths；　he　approached　the　burly　draw's　stall　from　the　side。　As　he　skulked　along；　he　listened　to　hear　if　the　undercreatures　were　ing　closer；　but　he　couldn't　tell。　He　suspected　that　one　of　the　cursed　sound　bafnotfles　was　muffling　the　noise。
At　any　rate；　he　reached　the　dimpled　fungal　structure　without　any　ores　attacking　him。　He　swept　his　hands　through　a　mystic　pass　and　whispered　an　incantation。　The　protective　circle　ot　light　winked　out　of　existence。
Pharaun　ran　to　the　stall；　floated　upward；　and　swung　himself　onto　the　roof。　The　petrified　fungus　supported　him　like　stone。　Blundyth　cursed　and　came　stalking　around　the　side　of　the　stand；　his　crossbow　at　the　ready。　Phanotraun　thought　he'd　better　make　sure　the　merchant　didn't　get　a　chance　to　use　it。
The　wizard　jumped　off　the　roof　onto　Blundyth's　back。　He　knew　he　hadn't　executed　the　move　as　nimbly　as　poor　Ryld　would　have；　but　it　worked。　It　slammed　the　merchant　to　his　knees。　The　toad　hopped　away。
Clinging　to　his　victim；　the　master　drove　his　dirk　repeatedly　into　the　big　male's　side。　Sometimes　the　blade　plunged　deep；　and　sometimes　it　caught　on　a　rib。　Blundyth　flailed　and　bucked　for　a　while；　couldn't　break　free；　then　tried　to　aim　the　arbalest　back　over　his　shoulder。　Pharaun　ducked　away　from　it。　Finally　the　merchant　fell　sideways；　pinning　his　attacker's　knife　and　hand　beneath　him。　Pharaun　dragged　his　hand　free；　but　didn't　bother　with　the　dirk。　He　was　about　to　procure　a　set　of　vastly　superior　weapons。　He　wiped　his　bloody　fingers　on　Blundyth's　clothing；　then　rose　and　headed　for　the　entrance　to　the　stall。
Blundyth's　neighbors　watched　him；　but　didn't　interfere。　As　the　dead　male　might　have　observed；　his　murder　was　nothing　to　do　with　them。
The　wizard's　supply　shop　was　as　well…stocked　as　usual。　Jars；　bottles；　and　boxes　stood　on　limestone　shelves；　and　a　greenish　mirror　glowed　on　a　wooden　stand　in　the　corner。　The　air　smelled　of　spices；　herbs；　bitter　innotcense；　and　decay。
Blundyth's　piwafwi　lay　carelessly　draped　across　a　chest；　and　it　was　the　first　item　Pharaun　appropriated。　The　cloak　fit　him　like　a　tent；　but　it　had　the　customary　row　upon　row　of　hidden　pockets。　Next　he　examined　the　vials　and　drawers；　finding　the　magical　ponents　that　corresponded　to　the　spells