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！
t 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 red…fletched 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 tremnotbling hands； he had a fair chance of hitting in somewhere； and the foul…wing 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 offendnoting 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 E N
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 defernotence to the status of her family； the novice resided in one of Arach…Tinilith's most fortable student habitations。 Quenthel regretted not sticking her in a dank little hole。 Perhaps then the girl would have learned her place。
The high priestess inspected the arched limestone panel that was the door。 She couldn't see any magical wards。
〃Is it safe？〃 she whispered to the vipers。
〃We believe so；〃 Yngoth replied。
How reassuring； Quenthel thought； but it was either trust them or use another precious； irreplaceable scroll to wipe away protections that probanotbly didn't exist。
She activated the power of her brooch。 When a novice came to Arach…Tinilith； the enchantments on certain do