war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第14部分

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crumpling　it。　Then　the　troll　shook　its　head；　wrenching　the　shield　from　Halisstra's　arm。　Pinned　to　the　ground　by　the　weight　of　the　monster　kneeling　on　her；　she　was　unable　to　bring　her　sword　into　play。
　　　Negating　his　levitation　magic；　Ryld　plunged　down　through　the　branches。　He　landed　perfectly　braced　in　a　ready　posture；　drawing　Splitter　in　one　smooth　motion　from　the　scabbard　at　his　back。　Putting　all　the　force　of　his　will　into　the　blow；　he　swung　the　greatsword　with　both　hands　and　felt　it　slice　cleanly　into　the　troll's　neck；　cleaving　it　instantly。　The　head　flew　into　the　air；　eyes　blinking　stupidly；　then　it　landed　and　rolled　away。　The　headless　body　reared　to　its　feet　and　spun　around　as　Ryld　opened　its　stomach　with　a　second　sword　swing；　spilling　foul…smelling　entrails。
　　　The　headless；　disemboweled　troll　finally　stumbled　away　into　the　forest。
　　　Halisstra　lay　on　her　back　on　the　wet　ground；　gasping；　rain　spattering　her　face。　Worried　that　she　might　be　in　immediate　need　of　healing　magic；　Ryld　reached　down　to　help　her…
　　　…and　was　slammed　to　the　ground　by　an　attack　he　should　have　anticipated。　Rolling　quickly　away；　he　saw　that　the　troll　was　back。　The　creature　stumbled　toward　him；　one　hand　holding　its　head　on　the　stump　of　its　severed　neck；　the　other　attempting　to　rake　Ryld　with　its　claws。　Even　as　Ryld　flipped　himself　up　off　the　ground　and　back　onto　his　feet；　dancing　out　of　the　reach　of　those　claws；　he　saw　flaps　of　sinew　burst　out　of　the　ropy　muscles　of　the　troll's　neck　and　quest　up　like　sentient　worms　to　hook　themselves　into　the　head。　Swifter　almost　than　the　eye　could　follow；　they　stitched　the　head　back　onto　the　body；　while　the　entrails　that　had　spilled　from　the　troll's　slashed　belly　sucked　back　into　the　stomach　wound。　Already　the　fingers　that　Halisstra's　blow　had　sliced　off　earlier　were　starting　to　grow　back。　Knobs　of　pinkish…gray　flesh　pulsed　outward　from　the　severed　digits。
　　　Leaping　forward；　Ryld　slashed　at　the　troll's　neck　a　second　time；　but　the　monster；　unlike　him；　anticipated　the　attack。　It　ducked…startlingly　fast…then　lunged　forward　and　wrapped　a　rubbery　hand　around　Ryld's　own。　Ryld　heard　a　bone　in　his　hand　crack　and　gasped　at　the　incredible　strength　of　the　troll。　Even　with　a　hand　that　was　missing　two　fingers；　its　fist　was　crushing　his。　The　troll　jerked　Splitter　out　of　Ryld's　hand　and　cast　it　away。
　　　Halisstra　had　struggled　to　her　feet　and　was　slashing　at　the　troll's　broad　back；　her　sword　making　strange；　flutelike　noises　as　she　swung　it。　The　monster　grunted　with　each　stroke　like　a　slave　under　the　lash　but　otherwise　ignored　the　deep　cuts　in　its　back。　Whirling；　it　backhanded　her　away　with　a　blow　that　sent　her　staggering。　Ryld　drew　his　short　sword　and　thrust　at　the　spot　where　the　troll's　heart　should　have　been；　but　even　though　the　blade　buried　itself　to　the　hilt　in　the　thing's　rubbery　chest　the　monster　was　not　slowed。
　　　A　hand　whipped　out　with　the　speed　of　one　of　Quenthel's　whip　vipers　and　wrapped　itself　around　Ryld's　neck。　Powerful　fingers　tightened　against　flesh；　choking　off　his　breathing。　Ryld　felt　a　rush　of　magical　energy　flowing　into　his　body　from　the　dragon…shaped　ring　on　his　finger；　as　the　ring　hardened　his　flesh　against　the　troll's　claws…but　too　late。　His　windpipe　had　already　squeezed　shut。　Abandoning　his　sword；　still　hilt…deep　in　the　monster's　chest；　he　drove　stiffened　fingers　into　what　would　have；　on　a　drow；　been　a　crippling　pressure　point…then　he　winced。　He　might　as　well　have　driven　his　fingers　into　solid　stone。
　　　Halisstra　charged　back　into　the　fray　and　managed　to　slice　one　of　the　troll's　feet　from　its　ankle。　It　stumbled　but　quickly　found　its　footing；　balancing　on　the　stump。　Halisstra　was　rewarded　with　a　rake　of　claws　that　snagged　her　chain　mail；　tearing　a　link　from　it。
　　　Ryld；　unable　to　breathe；　shouted　at　her　the　only　way　he　could。
　　　Flee！　I　am　finished！
　　　〃No！〃　she　gasped。　〃I　won't　leave　you。〃
　　　She　lunged　forward；　attacking　the　troll　with　a　furious　barrage　of　blows。　Ryld；　observing　with　the　eye　of　a　master；　saw　that　Halisstra　had　opened　her　stance；　inadvertently　exposing　herself　to　what　would　be　a　fatal　rake　of　the　monster's　claws。
　　　Though　Ryld　should　have　been　watching　with　the　detachment　of　someone　who　knows　he　is　about　to　die　and　can　do　nothing　about　it；　he　felt　a　strange　emotion　fill　him　in　that　impossibly　long　moment　that　stretched　between　two　fading　heartbeats；　a　deep　sadness　and　a　sense　of　infinite　loss。　Not　only　because　Halisstra　was　about　to　die；　but　because　her　death　would　mean　the　end　of　something　Ryld　had　only　just　discovered：　true　friendship…perhaps　even　love。　The　kind　that　would　cause　a　person　to　willingly　sacrifice　herself　in　a　hopeless　attempt　to　save　another。　As　their　eyes　met；　Ryld　realized　that　he　would　have　done　the　same　for　Halisstra…and　he　saw　that　she　knew　it。　He　also　saw　something　he'd　never　seen　in　the　eyes　of　a　drow：　trust。
　　　At　that　moment　a　drow　female　burst　out　of　the　forest；　her　silver…white　hair　plastered　against　her　face　by　the　rain。　She　was　naked；　save　for　a　heavy　silver　chain　around　her　waist　that　was　hung　with　a　large　silver　disk　and　a　curved　hunter's　horn。　She　moved　at　a　full…out　sprint；　holding　above　her　head　a　sword　whose　blade　glowed　with　leaping　silver　flames。　With　a　piercing；　high…pitched　shout　that　sounded　like　a　single　note　in　a　song；　strong　and　true；　she　slashed　down　with　her　sword。
　　　The　blade　bit　deep　into　the　troll's　shoulder；　then　flared。　Silver　fire　spread　instantly　across　the　troll's　body；　blinding　Ryld。　He　winced；　expecting　to　be　burned　himself；　but　the　wave　of　heat　he'd　been　anticipating　never　came。　The　flames　seemed　to　emit　song　rather　than　heat；　dancing　to　their　own　rhythm　as　they　licked　over　the　troll's　rubbery　skin。
　　　Bellowing；　its　flesh　blackening　under　the　magical　fire；　the　troll　sagged　to　its　knees。　Ryld；　suddenly　able　to　breathe　again　as　the　massive　hand　fell　away　from　his　neck；　gasped　in　a　lungful　of　air。　Though　fouled　by　the　stench　of　burning　flesh；　it　had　never　tasted　so　sweet。　He　watched；　dumbfounded；　as　the　troll's　body　crumpled　in　on　itself；　the　magical；　silvery　flames　destroying　it　in　a　matter　of　heartbeats。
　　　〃I　thank　you；　my　lady；〃　he　told　the　drow…obviously　a　mage　or　a　cleric；　and　a　powerful　one。　He　bowed　deeply　before　her。　〃You　have　saved　both　our　。　。　。〃
　　　His　voice　trailed　off　as　he　saw　the　look　on　the　woman's　face。　She　was　staring　at　Halisstra　with　a　look　of　surprise…and　bitter　anger。　Ryld　finally　recognized　the　symbol　on　the　silver　disk　that　hung　from　the　chain　at　her　waist。　It　was　a　sword；　set　against　a　haloed　circle。　The　symbol　of　Eilistraee。
　　　〃That's　Seyll's　armor；〃　the　cleric　said；　eyes　blazing　as　she　stared　at　the　chain　mail　Halisstra　was　wearing。　〃You're　the　one　who　killed　her。〃
　　　The　stranger　wrenched　the　horn　from　her　belt　and　blew　a　single；　prolonged　note。　An　instant　later；　the　horns　of　her　fellow　hunters　answered。
　　　
Chapter　Seven
　　　
　　　Nimor　leaned　over　the　map　of　Menzoberranzan　that　had　been　laid　on　the　floor　of　the　mine；　its　corners　weighted　with　jagged；　fist…sized　chunks　of　silver。　He　gestured　with　his　rapier。
　　　〃The　spider　we　hope　to　slay　has　two　heads；〃　the　drow　told　the　five　others…three　duergar　and　two　demons…that