蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第79章

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　was　crouched　on　the　stone　giant's　shoulder。
The　surface　was　smooth　and　rounded。　He　started　to　slip　off；　but；　reacting　like　the　acplished　rock　climber　he　was；　negated　his　weight　and　caught　himself。　He　clambered　within　reach　of　the　giant's　neck　and　started　hacking　at　the　arteries　within　the　behemoth's　neck　with　both　kukris。
To　no　avail。　Perched　somewhat　precariously；　Valas　couldn't　use　his　strength　and　weight　to　full　advantage；　and　his　first　stroke　skipped　harmlessly　off　the　giant's　rocklike　hide。
The　behemoth　did　feel　the　impact；　though。　Its　head　snapped　around；　the　chin　nearly　brushing　Valas　away。　The　giant　glared　down　at　him；　and　he　struck；　this　time　with　greater　success。　With　a　crackle　of　lightning；　the　enchanted　weapon　split　the　slave's　lower　lip。
Crying　out　in　pain　and　anger；　a　deep　sound　Valas　felt　in　his　bones；　the　stone　giant　flinched　its　head　away。　A　huge　gray　hand　rose　up　to　catch　the　drow；　who　scrambled　forward　and　cut　at　the　colossus's　neck。
Dark；　thick　blood　leaped　forth　and　washed　Valas　into　space。　He　fell　hard　onto　a　rooftop　and　watched　the　giant　stumble　about；　clutching　at　its　throat。　After　a　few　steps；　the　huge　thrall　fell　backward；　crushing　some　unlucky　hobgoblins　that　were　wandering　by。
Gromph　was　in　a　vile　humor　as　he　floated　up　the　cliff　face。　He'd　cast　light　into　the　foot　of　Narbondel　the　same　as　always；　and　the　world　exploded　into　madness。　Ores　lunged　out　of　nowhere　and　attacked　his　guards。　His　own　ogre　litterbearers　summarily　dumped　his　luxurious　conveyance　on　the　ground　and　joined　in　the　uprising。
The　archmage　had　sought　to　strike　the　undercreatures　dead　with　a　spell；　but　nothing　happened。　Someone　had　conjured　a　magical　dead　zone　around　him。　Either　one　of　the　ores　was　a　shaman　powerful　enough　to　create　such　an　effect；　or；　more　likely；　one　of　the　brutes　had　stolen　a　talisman　from　his　owner。
However　they'd　managed　it；　the　beasts　were　charging；　and　the　spells　in　Gromph's　memory　were　just　odd　little　rhymes；　his　robe　and　cloak；　mere　flimsy　cloth；　and　his　weapons；　inert　sticks　and　ornaments。　Well；　probably　not　all　of　them；　but　he　wasn't　reckless　enough　to　stand　and　experiment　while　the　ores　assailed　him　with　their　pilfered　blades。　Forfeiting　his　dignity；　he　turned　and　ran。　The　exertion　made　his　chest　throb　where　K'rarza'q　had　gored　him。
When　he　reached　the　edge　of　the　plaza；　he　thought　he　must　have　exited　the　dead　zone。　He'd　better　have；　because　he　could　hear　the　grunting　ogres　with　their　long　legs　catching　up　behind　him。　He　turned；　pointed　a　wand；　and　snarled　the　trigger　word。
A　drop　of　liquid　shot　from　the　tip　of　the　rod。　It　struck　the　belly　of　the　lead　ogre　and　burst　into　a　copious　splash　of　acid。
With　his　magic　restored；　Gromph　obliterated　every　attacker　who　lacked　the　sense　to　run　away。　His　dark　elf　attendants　were　already　dead；　leaving　him　to　make　his　way　back　to　Tier　Breche　alone。
As　it　turned　out；　the　slave　rebellion　was　pandemic；　and　the　trek　wasn't　altogether　easy。　He　considered　going　to　ground　in　some　castle　or　house；　but　when　he　saw　the　flames　gnawing　stone；　he　knew　he　had　to　get　back。
Dirty；　sore；　and　coughing；　he　eventually　made　it　home；　and　when　he　rose　to　the　top　of　the　limestone　wall；　he　saw　something　that　lifted　his　spirits；　albeit　only　a　little。
Eight　Masters　of　Sorcere　stood　in　the　open　air；　chanting；　gesturing；　attempting　a　ritual；　while　an　equal　number　of　apprentices　looked　on。　The　wizards　had　fetched　much　of　the　proper　equipment　out　of　the　tower。　That　was　something；　Gromph　supposed；　but　the　incantation　was　a　useless　mess。
The　Baenre　reached　out　and　hauled　himself　onto　solid　ground　and　his　hands　and　knees；　another　irksome　affront　to　his　dignity。
He　rose　and　shouted；　〃Enough〃
The　teachers　and　students　twisted　around　to　gawk　at　him。　The　chanting　died。
〃Archmage〃
〃I'm　sure；〃　said　Gromph；　striding　closer。　〃I　noticed　all　the　search　parties　you　sent　out　looking　for　me。〃
Guldor　hesitated。　〃Sir；　the　mistress　of　the　Academy　manded—〃
〃Shut　up；〃　said　Gromph。　He'd　e　close　enough　to　see　that　the　teachers　were　standing　in　a　plex　pentacle；　written　in　red　phosphorescence　on　the　ground。　〃Pitiful。〃
He　extended　his　index　finger　and　wrote　on　the　air。　The　magic　words　and　sigils　reshaped　themselves。
〃My　lord　Archmage；〃　said　Master　Godeep。　〃We　drew　this　circle　to　extinguish　the　fires　below。　If　you　break　it—〃
〃I'm　not　breaking　it；〃　said　Gromph；　〃I'm　fixing　it。〃　He　turned　his　gaze　on　one　of　the　apprentices；　some　moner　youth；　and　the　dolt　flinched。　〃Fetch　me　a　bit　of　fur；　an　amber　rod；　and　one　of　the　little　bronze　gongs　the　cooks　use　to　summon　us　to　supper。　Runf
〃Archmage；〃　said　Guldor；　〃you　see　we　already　have　all　the　necessary　foci　for　fire　magic。〃　He　gestured　to　a　brazier　of　ruddy　coals。　〃I'm　whispering　to　the　flames　below；　manding　them　to　dwindle。〃
〃And　making　more　smoke　in　the　process。　That's　just　what　we　need。〃　Gromph　kicked　the　brazier　over；　scattering　embers　across　the　rock。　〃Your　approach　isn't　working；　elementalist。　I　should　exile　you　to　the　Realms　that　See　the　Sun　for　a　few　decades；　then　you　might　figure　out　what　it　takes　to　extinguish　a　fire　of　this　magnitude。〃
The　male　came　sprinting　back　with　the　articles　Gromph　had　requested。　The　Baenre　whispered　a　word　of　power；　and　the　pentacle　changed　from　red　to　blue。
〃Right；　then；〃　he　said　to　the　wizards。　〃I　assume　you　can　tell　where　you're　meant　to　stand；　so　do　it　and　we'll　begin。　I'll　say　a　line；　you　repeat　it。　Copy　my　passes　if　you're　up　to　it。〃
For　a　properly　schooled　wizard；　magic　was　generally　easy。　He　relied　on　an　armamentarium　of　spells；　many　devised　by　his　predecessors；　a　few；　perhaps；　invented　by　himself。　In　either　case；　they　were　perfected　spells　that　he　thoroughly　understood。　He　knew　he　could　cast　them　properly；　and　what　would　happen　when　he　did。
An　extemporaneous　ritual　was　a　different　matter。　Relying　on　their　arcane　knowledge　and　natural　ability；　a　circle　of　mages　tried　to　generate　a　new　effect　on　the　fly。　Often；　nothing　happened。　When　it　did；　the　power　often　turned　on　those　who　had　raised　it　or　discharged　itself　in　some　other　manner　contrary　to　their　intent。　Yet　occasionally　such　a　ceremony　worked；　and　with　his　station；　his　wealth；　and　his　homeland　at　stake；　Gromph　was　resolved　to　make　this　one　of　those　times。
After　the　mages　chanted　for　fifteen　minutes；　power　began　to　whisper　and　sting　through　the　air。　The　archmage　tapped　the　beater　to　the　gong；　sounding　a　clashing；　shivering　tone。　At　once　a　vaster　note　answered　and　obscured　the　first；　a　booming；　grinding；　deafening　roar。　Gromph's　subordinates　flinched；　but　the　Baenre　smiled　in　satisfaction；　because　the　noise　was　thunder。
Perched　high　in　the　side　cavern；　the　residents　of　Sorcere　had　an　excellent　view　of　what　transpired　next。　The　air　at　the　top　of　the　great　vault；　already　thick　with　smoke；　grew　denser　still　as　masses　of　vapor　materialized。　The　shapeless　shadows　flickered　like　great　translucent　dragons　with　fire　leaping　in　their　bellies。　Following　each　flash；　they　bellowed　that　godlike　hammering　blast；　as　if　the　flames　pained　them。
Gromph　knew　that　many　of　the　folk　in　the　city　below　had　no　idea　what　was　occurring—it　was　possible　that　even　some　of　his　erudite　colleagues　didn't　know—but　whether　they　understood　or　not；　clouds；　lightning；　and　weather　were　paying　a　call　on　the　hitherto　changeless　depths　of　the　Underdark。
As　one；　the　clouds　dropped　torrents　of　water　to　fall　in　frigid　veils。　The　Baenre　could　hear　the　sizzling　sound　as　it　pounded　the　cavern　wall。
〃That's　impressive；〃　said　Guldor；　〃but　are　you　sure　it　will　put　out　the　flames？　The　fire's　magical；　after　all。〃
Gromph's　bruise　gave　him　a　twinge。
〃Yes；　instructor；〃　he　growled；　〃because　I'm　not　an　inpetent　from　a　House　of　no　account。　I'm　a　Baenre　and　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　。　。　。　and　I'm　sure。〃
Before　it　was　over；　Pharaun　lost　track　of　how　many　battles　he　and　his　rades　had　fought。　He　only　knew　they　kept　winning　them；　through　superior　tactics　more　than　anything　else；　and　that　despite　their　losses；　their　numbers　kept　growing；　swelled　by　garrisons　that　had　fought　their　way　out　of　their　castles。
Occasionally　the　ragtag　army　came　upon　a　section　of　the　city　that　had　already　been　pacified；　and　though　he　never　caught　so　much　of　a　glimpse　of　them；　Pharaun　knew　Bregan　D'aerthe　was　fighting　in　concert　with　his　ow