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！
hand。 It struck the creature and 。 。 。 nothnoting。 The missile winked out of existence。
The entity reached the edge of the pentacle。 A barrier of azure light sprang up and vanished with a tortured whine as the spirit drove though。 The creature dipped its head and jerked it upward； ramming the tip of one of its horns into Gromph's chest。
The spirit was entirely solid。 If not for the Robes of the Archmage and his other protections； the long blade of shadow stuff would surely have imnotpaled Gromph。 As it was； it picked him up and tossed him across the room。 In midair； he strained to throw off the numbing shock and activate the powers of levitation in his House insignia。
The power woke with a sort of sickening pang； but wake it did。 He floated down as light as a wisp of spider silk； avoiding what might have been a bone…shattering fall。
As soon as he got his feet under him； he snatched a polished wooden wand from its sheath on his left hip； pointed it； and murmured the trignotger word。 A bubble of pungent brown acid swelled on the end； then hurtled at the spirit。 It plunged into the being's cyclopean mask； but apnotparently without inflicting any harm。
The spirit charged。 Gromph stood in place until his foe was nearly on top of him； then he spoke a single word。 A minor teleportation shifted him instantaneously to the other end of the circular room； behind his attacker's back。
K'rarza'q skidded to a halt and cast about in confusion。 Gromph had bought himself a second； no more。 He quickly dropped the wand of acid； snatched a spiral…cut staff of polished carnelian from its place on a rack of wizard's tools； lifted it over his head； and began to chant。 The rod posnotsessed special virtues against beings from other levels of reality。 Perhaps with it in his hand； he could finally drive a spell through his foe's defenses。
The netherspirit heard his voice； turned； and hurtled toward him。 This time it charged without moving its limbs； simply shifting over the distance with terrifying speed。 Preserving the cadence and intonation as only a master wizard could； Gromph picked up the pace of his incantation。 He very much wanted to finish before the creature closed with him again。
He succeeded； though only barely。 K'rarza'q was nearly within arm's reach when the magic blazed into existence。 A lance of dazzling glare plunged into the nether spirit s eye。
The reeking creature dropped to the floor； its substance unraveling into shapeless clumps and tatters。 Gromph smiled； and a dozen strands of spirit…stuff reared up at him like the vipers in his cursed sister's whip。
The Archmage gripped the scarlet staff with both hands； just as a Master of Melee…Magthere had taught him centuries before； during the six months every student mage was obliged to spend in the warriors' pyramid。 Wielding the implement like a mon spear； he thrust one end of it into what seemed to be K'rarza'q's ragged； squirming core。
The netherspirit burst into inert flecks of gray…black slime。 Gromph's protective enchantments prevented any of the splatter from fouling his own person。
He felt a certain satisfaction at his victory； but it withered quickly benotcause he hadn't killed the object of his hatred； merely preserved himself from the result of another failed attempt； and in the process discovered he'd utterly failed to prehend Quenthel's resources and capacities。
What was that bone wand？ Where had it e from； and how did it work？ Had it merely broken his own control； or had it summarily placed his minion under his enemy's dominance？
He glumly concluded that until he knew more； it would be foolish to conti