按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
one side of the room a set of uneven steps led up to a floor above。 On the other side was a similar staircase leading down。 Danifae started up the stairs to the higher room； and Jeggred followed her。
〃This was once a temple to the orcs' foul； grunting pig…god；〃 she explained。 〃Now it's just another piece of rotting garbage being eaten away by the World Above。 A suitable place to do what we've e here to do； don't you think？〃
〃What have we e here to do？〃 asked the draegloth。
Danifae； disappointed but not surprised that the subtlety was lost on the draegloth； replied； 〃The traitors are ing。〃
They came out into a more brightly lit room； and both of them had to shade their eyes with their hands。 Danifae moved to a wide crack in the ancient wall and looked out onto the World Above。 The sun had set； but the light was still difficult to take。 In time； though； her eyes began to adjust。 Half a dozen yards below her was what surface dwellers called a swamp。 It was a place where water covered the ground…in most places at least…but it wasn't a proper lake。 The whole area around the temple was choked with alien vegetation。 The sounds of the myriad creatures of the World Above were almost deafening。 The swamp crawled with life。 Beyond the edge of the swamp； miles to the west； was a wide expanse of water： the end of a long river。
Danifae let out a slow breath through her nose and heard the draegloth scuffle on the loose rocks behind her。
〃I hate this；〃 she whispered。
〃What？〃 Jeggred asked。
〃The surface。〃
Danifae scanned the ground below the ruined temple。 Finally she drew from a pouch one of the rings she'd taken from Zinnirit and turned it over in her fingers。 The fading light played against its polished surface and picked out a scattering of ruby chips。
Pressing the ring into one of the draegloth's four hands she said； 〃Use this ring to return at will to the ship of chaos。〃
Jeggred nodded； slipped the ring on； and stood patiently behind her； listening attentively as she explained the proper use of the ring's magic。 Confident that the draegloth understood； Danifae let the minutes drag on…and finally she saw them。
〃There they are；〃 she said。
The draegloth moved closer behind her； and she suppressed a gag when his breath rolled over her。 She waited while he searched for them； and when he finally saw them he growled low in his throat。
〃They're together；〃 he said。
〃They lied；〃 said Danifae。 〃She didn't go to Menzoberranzan。 She went to the Velarswood…a forest where there's a temple to 。。。〃 She feigned difficulty in articulating the word。 〃Eilistraee。〃
Jeggred growled again and said； 〃And the weapons master？〃
〃He's made a choice；〃 she replied。
Jeggred began to growl with every exhale。 He was ready to kill。 Danifae could smell it on him。
〃Take the male；〃 she whispered to the draegloth。 〃Just him for now。〃
She pushed Jeggred back away from the crack but held him so he wouldn't leave。 Stepping up onto the bottom of the wound in the wall； Danifae drew herself up into the dimming light。 She waved a hand over her head to attract her former mistress's attention。
It took an infuriatingly long time； but eventually Halisstra stopped at the edge of the swamp and pointed up at Danifae。 Ryld looked up as well； and Halisstra waved in answer。
Danifae made exaggerated； wide gestures； an unsubtle form of the drow sign language； sending the message： Only you。
Halisstra turned to Ryld； and they conversed。 Even from so far away Danifae could tell that Ryld was reluctant to let her go alone。 The weapons master might have been a traitor to his city； his goddess； and his race； but he was no fool。 Still； Halisstra managed to convince him…or mand him…to stay behind。 He stood with his arms crossed as Halisstra stepped gingerly into the swamp。
Danifae stepped down from the crack in the wall and took the draegloth by the shoulders。
Doing her best to withstand the half…demon's foul breath； she said； 〃Go。 Don't let her see you。〃
The draegloth smiled； and a thick； ropy strand of drool dropped from his lower lip。 His fangs glimmered in the dim light； and so did his burning red eyes。
Danifae thought he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen。
Chapter Sixteen
The swamplight lynx didn't smell prey。 The scent that filled the great cat's nostrils was something different。 The lynx had never e across anything like it； but whatever it was； it was a predator…the odor of a meat…eater was unmistakable。
Padding softly； silently through the cold； shallow water； the lynx tipped its head up and waved its nose from side to side； honing in on the scent。 A charge of energy thrilled through the cat。 Its flesh tingled； its fur stood on end…a familiar feeling for the lynx； forting； foretelling of a kill ahead and food。
The lynx moved from shadow to shadow； still inside the treeline。 It caught sight of the peting predator and recognized the shape of a man。 Powerful and cunning hunters in their own right； men never respected another predator's stalking grounds。 They ignored the scent markers； the scratches on trees； the most obvious signs。 Its eyesight was the least of the cat's senses even in daylight； and the creature could see and smell only that the intruder was a man。 It had no way of discerning the man's black skin； pointed ears； crimson eyes； and white hair。
The swamplight lynx gathered the Weave energy in its body； bared its fangs； and tightened into a crouch； ready to spring…when another scent all but slammed into its nostrils。
Another predator was approaching。 It was bigger； and it smelled bad。 It smelled like a scavenger。
The swamplight lynx relaxed but only a little。 It watched the man； occasionally scanning the swamp's edge for the scavenger； and waited。
Ryld was surrounded。
There were noises everywhere。 The place Halisstra had called a 〃swamp〃 was even more alive than the rest of the World Above； and the weapons master didn't like it at all。 He could see things moving in the darkness around him。 There were insects and spiders； all manner of flying creatures； and snakes 。 。 。 lots of snakes。 The ground under his feet was spongy。 He'd felt similar in some of the bigger fungal colonies in the Underdark； but down there it was at least quiet。
The ruined temple rose in black silhouette against the night sky in front of him。 He'd watched Halisstra walk toward it through ever deepening water with an increasing certainty that she was walking toward her own demise。 Going to meet Danifae was stupid； even if Halisstra had allowed him to e along； and Ryld wasn't sure why he'd let it happen。 Could it be that she simply wished it and he was so accustomed to obeying priestesses that he'd obeyed her？
The weapons master took a deep breath； set his feet close together； and pressed his hands palm to palm in front of his chest。 He steadied his breathing and cleared his mind as best he could； surrounded as he was by the unseen dangers of the swamp。 He watched tiny yellow lights flicker in the air…some kind of bioluminescent insects mov