war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第26部分

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　　　〃I　told　you　it's　all　right；　Pharaun；〃　whispered　the　alu…fiend；　〃we　don't　need　him。〃
　　　〃We？〃　he　asked。
　　　Aliisza　blushed；　though　Pharaun　still　couldn't　see　her。
　　　〃If　Raashub　can　pilot　this　vessel；〃　she　asked；　〃why　can't　we？　Could　it　be　that　hard？〃
　　　Pharaun　drew　in　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　in　a　sigh。
　　　〃He's　only　going　to　keep　defying　me　anyway；　isn't　he？〃　Pharaun　asked。
　　　〃Who　are　you　。　。　。〃　Quenthel　said；　her　joints　jerking　as　she　recovered　from　the　uridezu's　paralyzing　bite；　〃。　。　。　talking　to？〃
　　　〃Wouldn't　you；　in　his　place？〃　Aliisza　whispered；　ignoring　the　high　priestess。
　　　Pharaun　turned　to　her　and　looked　her　in　the　eyes；　though　she　was　sure　he　wasn't　able　to　see　her。　He　winked　at　her　then　turned　back　to　the　priestess。
　　　〃Jeggred　means　to　kill　the　captain；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Let　him；〃　the　priestess　replied　as　she　scanned　the　deck　apparently　looking　for　something　with　which　to　clean　the　blood　off　her。
　　　〃Well；〃　Aliisza　whispered　into　the　wizard's　ear；　〃it's　her　idea　now；　isn't　it？〃
　　　Pharaun　waved　a　hand　and　dropped　the　wall。
　　　The　draegloth　leaped　onto　the　uridezu　captain。　They　both　went　over　the　rail。　The　chain　that　bound　the　uridezu　to　the　deck…and　to　the　material　plane…snapped　as　if　it　were　made　of　mushroom　stem。　There　was　a　huge；　echoing　splash　that　sent　lake　water　rolling　onto　the　deck　to　mingle　with　the　spilled　demon　blood。
　　　Aliisza　hovered　over　them　as　Pharaun　and　Quenthel　ran　to　the　rail　and　looked　over　into　the　black　water。　Bubbles　peppered　the　surface；　and　there　were　ripples　that　made　it　obvious　that　some　violence　was　occurring　below　the　surface。
　　　Then　the　bubbles　stopped。　The　ripples　played　themselves　out；　and　there　was　nothing。
　　　〃Go　after　them；〃　the　priestess　said　to　Pharaun。
　　　Aliisza　caught　herself　before　she　laughed　out　loud。
　　　Pharaun　raised　an　eyebrow；　looked　at　the　priestess；　and　said；　〃I'm　afraid　I　had　to　cancel　the　spell　that　allowed　me　to　breathe　underwater。〃
　　　The　priestess　turned　on　him　angrily；　but　any　further　discussion　was　stopped　by　the　sound　of　another　splash。　Something　arced　out　of　the　water　and　thumped　onto　the　deck。　The　uridezu　captain's　head　rolled　to　the　other　side　of　the　ship　and　came　to　rest　looking　blankly　up　at　nothing。
　　　〃Well；〃　Quenthel　breathed；　glancing　at　Pharaun；　〃never　mind。〃
　　　The　draegloth　climbed　slowly　onto　the　deck　behind　the　two　dark　elves。　The　half…demon　shook　himself　hard；　spraying　water　all　over　Pharaun　and　Quenthel。　The　two　dark　elves　turned　to　regard　the　draegloth。
　　　〃That；〃　the　half…demon　rumbled；　〃was　almost　worth　the　wait。〃
　　　
Chapter　Thirteen
　　　Danifae　wanted　them　to　meet　her　in　a　ruined　temple　on　the　edge　of　a　swamp；　on　the　east　bank　of　which　a　wide　river　emptied　into　a　sea。　Halisstra　spent　the　first　night's　walk　explaining　to　Ryld　what　most　of　those　words　meant。　By　sunrise　the　first　day；　they　had　made　the　coast。　The　sight　of　the　seemingly　endless　expanse　of　cold　gray　water　took　Halisstra's　breath　away。　Like　most　of　the　rest　of　the　World　Above；　it　had　made　Ryld　unfortable；　even　nervous。　Halisstra　was　confident　that　he'd　eventually　get　used　to　it；　even　grow　to　like　it。　He　had　to。
　　　They　followed　the　western　shore　of　what　the　surface　dwellers　called　the　Dragon　Reach　for　two　long　nights'　march；　using　Ryld's　keen　senses；　Halisstra's　bae'qeshel；　and　Eilistraeen　magic　to　avoid　fellow　travelers　and　unexpected　dangers。　In　the　hours　before　sunrise　of　the　third　day　they　stood　at　the　bank　of　the　wide　Lis　river　delta；　the　Dragon　Reach　spreading　out　in　angry；　windswept　white　and　gray　to　their　right。　To　their　left…north…was　the　river　and　intermittent　woods　and　rolling；　snowy　hills。　The　weather　was　dark　and　bitterly　cold；　and　Halisstra　had　to　use　spells　to　keep　them　from　losing　fingers　and　toes。
　　　〃We　have　to　cross　that？〃　Ryld　asked；　though　he　knew　the　answer。
　　　They　were　concealed　in　a　copse　of　sparse；　leafless　trees。　The　river　delta　crawled　with　boats　of　all　sizes。　Halisstra　had　never　seen　such　vessels。　Most　bobbed　on　the　angry　waves；　lanterns　on　their　decks　swaying　in　the　chill　wind。　The　drow　caught　the　occasional　glimpse　of　an　armed　human　pacing　the　decks；　wary　of　what；　Halisstra　couldn't　imagine。
　　　〃It's　an　abandoned　temple；〃　Halisstra　told　him　again。　〃An　old　temple　to　the　filthy　orc　god　Gruumsh。　Danifae　said　it　sits　at　the　western　edge　of　a　vast　swamp　。。。　a　flooded　place　where　water　covers　the　vegetation；　and　many　dangerous　things　hunt。　The　swamp　is　on　the　other　side　of　the　river。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　continued　to　study　the　water　as　the　sun's　glow　began　to　kiss　the　horizon。
　　　〃Would　you　know　how　to　work　one　of　those　boats？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　The　weapons　master　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Then　we'll　need　help　getting　across；〃　said　the　priestess。　〃It's　too　far　and　too　cold　to　swim；　and　we'll　attract　too　much　attention　using　spells。　If　we　keep　our　piwafwis　up　and　over　our　heads；　a　less　observant　ferryman　might　not　mark　us　as　dark　elves。〃
　　　Ryld　let　out　a　sigh　that　told　her　he　doubted　that　was　possible　but　that　he　would　try　anyway。
　　　They　set　out　along　the　river's　edge；　working　their　way　slowly　northward　in　the　pre…dawn　gloom。　Ryld　stopped　her　occasionally　to　look　around　or　study　a　boat　that　was　either　sitting　on　or　adrift　close　to　the　riverbank。　He　never　bothered　to　explain　why　he　rejected　first　one　then　another　and　another；　and　Halisstra　didn't　ask。
　　　Finally；　they　came　upon　a　wide；　square…keeled　boat　with　a　single　long　oar　attached　to　a　tall　pole。　The　vessel　had　been　pulled　up　on　the　riverbank；　and　a　few　feet　away　there　was　the　indistinct　lump　of　some　humanoid　creature　asleep　on　the　coarse　sand。　He'd　built　a　fire　before　he　drifted　off　to　unconsciousness；　and　it　sat　next　to　him；　the　last　of　the　embers　quickly　fading。
　　　Ryld　moved　to　within　a　few　inches　of　the　ferryman　without　making　a　sound。　The　weapons　master　slowly；　silently　drew　his　short　sword　and　held　it　in　a　loose；　easy　grip。　He　crouched　next　to　the　humanoid；　and　the　sleeper　let　out　an　odd　sort　of　sustained；　rumbling　cough。　Ryld　half　stood；　looked　at　Halisstra；　and　shrugged。　Halisstra　returned　the　gesture。　She　had　no　idea　what　the　sound　could　signify　except　that　maybe　the　man…if　it　was　a　man…was　choking。
　　　Ryld　rolled　him　over　with　a　purposely　harsh；　violent　push。　The　sleeper　had　the　gruff　grayish…yellow　features　of　an　orc；　but　not　entirely。　His　eyes　bulged；　and　he　took　a　deep　breath；　his　heavy　brow　wrinkled　in　anger。　Ryld　dropped　the　blade　of　his　short　sword　to　the　boatman's　neck；　and　the　angry　man　stopped　very　suddenly。　Halisstra　stepped　in。　When　she　looked　more　closely　at　him；　she　saw　that　the　ferryman　was　a　half…orc。　That　was　good　luck　for　them。　Half…orcs　tended　to　be　as　despised　on　the　World　Above　as　they　were　in　the　Underdark；　so　he　would　be　easier　to　manipulate　into　keeping　their　presence　secret。
　　　〃Silence；〃　Ryld　whispered　in　the　guttural　trade　tongue　of　the　surface　races。
　　　The　half…orc　glanced　once　at　Halisstra；　then　met　Ryld's　eyes　and　made　a　show　of　relaxing。　He　said　nothing。
　　　〃We　require　a　boat；〃　the　weapons　master　said　quietly。　〃You　will　take　us　east　across　the　river；　and　you　will　tell　no　one　of　it。〃
　　　The　half…orc　looked　at　him；　considering　it。
　　　Ryld　nicked　the　man's　neck　with　his　short　sword；　barely　enough　to　draw　a　half…inch　sliver　of　blood。
　　　〃I　wasn't　asking；〃　the　weapons　master　added；　and　the　half…orc　nodded。
　　　Within　minutes　they　were　on　the　boat。　The　horizon　in　front　of　them　turned　from　black　to　a　deep　indigo。　Halisstra　had　begun　to　grow　accustomed　to　the　sun；　but　Ryld　still　hated　it；　so　they　had　been　traveling　at　night。　In　order　to　make　their　arranged　rendezvous　with　Danifae；　they　might　have　to　continue　through　the　morning；　but　Halisstra　knew　Ryld　wouldn't　plain。
　　　〃I　think　the　ferryman　expects　us　to　pay　him　when　we　get　to　the　other　side；〃　Ryld　said　in　Low　Drow；　glancing　at　the　half…orc　who　was　pretending　not　to　be　staring　at　them。　〃Or　do　they　breed　half…orcs　as　slaves　here　too？〃
　　　At　first　Halisstra　thought　he　was　joking。　It　was　hard　to　see　his　eyes　with　the　cowl　of　his　piwafwi　pulled　over　his　head。　Halisstra　wore　her　own　hood　the　same　way；　but　by　the　time　they　got　to　the　midpoint　in　the　wide　river　delta；　the　priestess　realized　that　no　one　on　any　of　the　other　boats　was　bothering　to　look　at　them　and　night…blind　humans　wouldn't　be　able　to　see　them　in　the　dark…not　from　a　distance　anyway。　She　slipped　the　hood　off　her　head；　eliciting　an　irritated　scowl　from　Ryld；　who　kept　his　own　cowl　up。
　　　〃Why　don't　you　ask　him？〃　Halisstra　said；　nodding　at　the　boatman。
　　　Ryld　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Danifae　is　going　to　kill　you；〃　he　said；　his　voice　flat。
　　　〃Is　she？〃
　　　〃I　would；〃　the　weapons　master　replied。　〃She　was　your　battle…captive　for　a　long　time；　and　now　she　isn't。　Of　course　she　will　seek　revenge　for　her　years　of　bondage。〃
　　　〃Maybe；〃　Halisstra　had　to　admit；　〃but　I　don't　think　so。〃
　　　〃We　don't　get　your　kind　around　here　much；〃　the　boatman　blurted　suddenly　in　heavily　accented　Low　Drow。
　　　The　sound　of　the　half…human；　half…orc　thing　speaking　the　language　of　the　dark　elves　made　Halisstra's　skin　crawl。　Ryld　drew　his　short　sword。
　　　The　boatman　put　up　a　hand；　shaking；　and　said；　〃I　mean　no　disrespect　or　anything。　I　was　just　saying　。　。　。〃
　　　〃You've　seen　drow　before？〃　Halisstra　asked　then　flashed　a　quick　sentence　in　sign　language：　An　extra　hundred　gold　pieces　if　you　forget　all　about　us。
　　　The　half…orc　had　no　reaction　to　the　signed　question。　He　didn't　even　seem　to　notice　that　she'd　been　trying　to　municate。
　　　〃Sure；〃　the　boatman　replied；　〃I've　seen　a　drow　or　two。　Not　recently；　but　。　。　。〃
　　　Halisstra　shrugged　off　the　boatman's　answer　and　signed　to　Ryld；　I　think　he　wanted　us　to　know　he　understood　us；　so　we　wouldn't　say　something　that　would　make　us　want　to　kill　him　for　hearing　it。
　　　That　drew　a　smile　from　Ryld。
　　　You　can　put　your　sword　away；　she　added。
　　　The　weapons　master　sheathed　his　blade　and　said；　〃If　he　understands　the　sign；　he　should　say　so　now　or　I　will　kill　him。〃
　　　The　half…orc　waved　a　hand　and　said；　〃No；　no；　sir。　I　swear　to　you。　I　didn't　even　know　what　you　were　doing。　I　just　paddle；　yes？　Paddle？　You　don't　even　have　to　pay　me。〃