war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第96部分

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T　W　E　L　V　E
When　Quenthel　had　decided　she　must　don　armor；　she　had　performed　the　task　as　methodically　as　she　did　everything　else。　She'd　put　on　a　cunningly　crafted　adamantine　gorget；　a　Baenre　heirloom；　beneath　her　chain　mail　and　piwafwi；　and　it　was　likely　that　protective　collar　that　saved　her　life。
Still；　the　unexpected　impact　on　the　nape　of　her　neck　knocked　her　fornotward　and　down　onto　one　knee；　and　the　edge　of　her　enchanted　buckler　clanked　against　the　floor。
For　a　moment；　she　was　dazed。　The　whip　vipers　hissed　and　clamored　to　rouse　her；　their　outburst　clashing　with　the　jumbled　howling　of　the　adnotvancing　chaos　demon。
She　felt　something　hanging　down　her　back　and　bade　the　serpents　pull　it　off。　Hsiv　reared　over　her　shoulder；　tugged　the　article　out　of　the　mail　links　and　cloth　with　his　jaws；　and　displayed　it　for　her　inspection。　She　recognized　it　from　the　armory。　It　was　an　enchanted　quarrel　sized　for　a　two…hand　arnotbalest；　and　if　it；　or　one　like　it；　so　much　as　pricked　a　dark　elf's　skin；　it　would　almost　certainly　kill。
Quenthel　thought　her　assailant　had　had　just　about　enough　time　to　reload。　If　so；　the　Baenre　obviously　couldn't　trust　her　cloak　and　mail　to　pronottect　her…the　first　bolt　had　pierced　them　easily　enough。
Though　it　meant　turning　her　back　on　the　demon；　she　wrenched　herself　around；　remaining　on　one　knee　to　make　a　smaller　target；　and　did　her　best　to　cover　herself　with　her　tiny　shield。
Just　in　time。　A　second　quarrel　cracked　against　the　armor。　A　shadowy　but　recognizably　female　figure　ducked　back　into　an　arched　doorway；　no　doubt　to　ready　her　weapon　again。
Trapped　between　two　foes；　Quenthel　thought　that　if　she　didn't　eliminate　one　of　them　quickly；　they　were　almost　certainly　going　to　kill　her。　Judging　her　sister　dark　elf　the　easier　mark；　she　leveled　a　long；　thin　rod　at　her。
A　glob　of　seething　green　vitriol　materialized　in　the　air　before　her；　then　shot　toward　her　enemy。　Quenthel　could　just　see　the　edge　of　her　opponent's　body　in　the　recessed　space；　and　that　was　what　she　aimed　for。　Even　if　she　missed；　the　magic　ought　to　slow　the　assassin　down。
The　green　mass　clipped　her　foe's　shoulder。　It　exploded；　and　the　dark　figure　jumped。　The　stonework　around　her　was　covered　in　a　sticky　mass　of　something　like　glue。　Quenthel　smiled；　but　her　foe；　apparently　unhindered　by　the　entrapping　magic；　returned　to　the　task　of　cocking　the　crossbow。　Something；　her　innate　drow　resistance　to　hostile　magic；　perhaps；　had　shielded　her　from　harm。
Quenthel　glanced　over　her　shoulder　as　she　slipped　the　rod　back　into　her　belt。　Though　moving　at　a　leisurely　pace；　the　chaos　demon　had　already　tranotversed　more　than　half　of　the　lengthy　gallery；　and　of　course　its　speed　could　increase　at　any　moment；　just　as　every　other　aspect　of　its　being　altered　un…predictably　from　one　second　to　the　next。
But　if　the　Spider　Queen　favored　Quenthel　and　the　entity　didn't　accelernotate；　she　might　have　time　for　another　strike　at　her　foe　of　flesh　and　blood。　Silently　directing　the　vipers　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　demon；　she　turned　back；　and　read　from　a　precious　scroll。
When　Quenthel　pronounced　the　last　syllable；　the　scroll　disappeared　in　a　puff　of　dust　and　a　brilliant　light　filled　the　chamber。　The　dark　elf　in　the　doorway　reeled　and　clutched　blindly　at　the　door　frame。　She　touched　the　slowly…dripping　mass　of　glue　and　snatched　her　fingers　away；　leaving　skin　behind。
Quenthel　started　to　read　another　scroll　as　the　air　around　her　stirred；　blowing　one　direction　then　another。　Hot　one　second　and　cold　the　next；　the　gusts　wafted　countless　smells；　pleasant　and　foul　alike。　She　took　it　for　a　sign　that　the　demon　had　drawn　very　close；　and　the　vipe