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！
； filling him with an unnatural fear until he quashed the feeling； and another that turned into a miniature harpy in flight。 Yet another struck two paces in front him and exploded into a curtain of fire。 Squinting at the glare； he wrapped his piwafwi around him and dived through； emerging singed but essentially unscathed。
After that； he was close enough to the tower to cancel most of his weight and leap up to the top。 He sprang into the air like a jumping spider and alit on the platform。 The twin hastily set down his bow and drew his scimitar。
〃Do you have any healing magic？〃 Ryld asked。 〃If so； give it to me； and I'll let you go。〃
The other warrior smiled unpleasantly and said； 〃My rades will start arriving any second。 Surrender now； tell me where Pharaun is； and perhaps Princess Greyanna will let you live。〃
〃No。〃
Ryld cut at the warrior's head。 The other male jumped back out of range； sidestepped； and slashed at the weapons master's arm。 Ryld parried； beat the scimitar aside； and the fight was on。
Over the course of the next few seconds； the Mizzrym warrior gave ground consistently。 Twice； he nearly stepped off the flat； round tabletop that was the apex of the tower but on both occasions spun himself away from the edge in time。 He was a good duelist； and he was fighting defensively while he waited for reinforcements to arrive。 That made him hard to hit。 Hard； but not impossible。
Pressing； Ryld feinted high on the inside to draw the parry； swung his greatsword down and around； and cut low on the outside。 Splitter sheared into the Mizzrym's torso just below the ribs； and he collapsed in a gush of blood。
Magic trilled and flickered through the air。 When Ryld spun around； the other twin and Relonor popped into being on the rooftop below。 Obviously； House Mizzrym's mage could teleport on his own； without the aid of the brooch Pharaun had pilfered。
His voluminous sleeves sliding down to his elbows； Relonor lifted his arms and started to cast a spell。 The newly arrived twin nocked an arrow and drew back the string of his pale bone bow。
Ryld threw himself down on his stomach。 He was ten feet above his adversaries； and he hoped that they couldn't see him。 Sure enough； no magic or arrow flew in his direction。 He scuttled across the platform—enchantments in his armor deadening the sound of his footfalls—and grabbed his previous opponent's bow and quiver； then scrambled to his knees。
The twin and the wizard rose above the platform； the former levitating； the latter soaring in an arc that revealed some magical capacity for actual flight。 The archer loosed an arrow； and mystical energy flashed from Relonor's fingertips。
The Mizzrym's magic reached its target first。 A ghastly shriek stabbed through Ryld's ears and into his brain。 He cried out and flailed in agony。 The warrior's arrow plunged into his thigh； and the razoredged point burst from the other side。
After a moment； the screaming stopped。 Ryld could feel that it had hurt him； perhaps worse than the arrow had； but had no time or inclination to fret about it。 Quickly as few folk save a master of MeleeMagthere could manage； he loosed two shafts of his own。
The first took Relonor in the chest； and the second stabbed into the warrior's belly。 They both dropped down out of sight。
Ryld looked at the twin with the sword cut in his flank。 The male appeared to be unconscious； which would facilitate searching him。 Ryld hobbled over to him to rifle his pockets and the leather satchel he wore on his belt。
Blessedly； he found four silver vials； each marked with the rune for healing。 Greyanna had indeed outfitted her agents properly for a martial expedition。 It was the twin's misfortune that he hadn't had time to drink of her bounty before going into shock。
His brother and Relonor no doubt carried healing draughts as well； and Ryld had no guarantee that they'd be unable to use them。 They might e after him again any second； and he'd just as soon avoid a second round。 He needed to beat a hasty—
Enormous wings beat the air。 A longnecked； legless beast passed overhead with Greyanna and the other priestess； the skinny one； astride its back。 Glaring down at Ryld； Pharaun's sister pulled at the laces securing the mouth of her bag of monsters。
Ryld dumped the remaining arrows out of the quiver； the better to examine them。 One was fletched with red feathers while the rest had black。
He'd already seen his first foe shoot one fire arrow。 Praying that the redfletched arrow was another； he drew back his bowstring and sent it hurtling into the air。
The arrow plunged into the sack； and burst into flame。 The scarred high priestess reflexively dropped the bag； and it fell； burning as it went。 The magic spores busting inside turned the fire green； then blue； then violet。
Greyanna screamed in fury and sent the foulwing swooping lower。 Ryld looked for another magic arrow and found that none were left。 He nocked an ordinary one； and his hands began to shake； no doubt an aftereffect of the punishment he'd taken。
For a moment； it seemed to him that he was finished。 If he couldn't shoot accurately； he couldn't hit one of the foulwing's vital spots； or the riders on its back； for that matter。 Nor was he in any shape to fight them hand to hand。
Then he realized he still had a chance。 He surrounded his arrow with a cloud of murky darkness； then shot it upward。
The descending beast was a huge target。 Even shooting blind with trembling hands； he had a fair chance of hitting in somewhere； and the foulwing gave a double shriek that told him he'd succeeded。
He watched the mass of darkness he'd created tumble and zigzag drunkenly through the air。 Stung； suddenly and inexplicably sightless； the winged mount inside had panicked； and Greyanna was evidently unable to control it。 She quite possibly could have dissolved the darkness with some scroll or talisman； but she couldn't see either or lay hands on her equipment easily with the foulwing lurching and swooping about beneath her。
Ryld snapped the head off the arrow in his leg and pulled the offending object out。 He gathered up the healing potions； and quickly as he was able； activated the magic in his talisman； floated down off the roof； and limped away。
C h a p t e r
T H I R T E EN
As Quenthel skulked down the corridor； it occurred to her that at the same time； Gromph was casting his radiant heat into the base of Narbondel。 Even revelers and necromancers were settling in for a rest。 She； however； was too busy to do the same。 She wouldn't have a chance to relax until late the next night； unless； of course； she wound up resting forever。
Fortunately； one of the Baenre alchemists brewed a stimulant to delay the onset of the aching eyes； fuzzy head； and leaden limbs that lack of rest produced。 Quenthel extracted a silver vial of the stuff from one of the pouches on her belt and took a sip of it。 She gasped； and her shoulder muscles jumped。 Jolted back to alertness； she continued on her way。
In another minute； she reached the door to Drisinil's quarters。 In deference to the status of her family； the novice resided in one of ArachTinilith's most fortable student habitations。 Quenthel regretted not sticking her in a dank little hole。