蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第17部分

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Faeryl　prowled　the　rounded；　treacherous　surfaces　at　the　apex　of　the　ambassadorial　residence。　She　was　trying　to　monitor　all　four　sides　of　her　home；　which　entailed　clambering　about　with　a　certain　celerity。　Yet　she　was　also　trying　to　hide　from　anyone　who　might　be　peering　from　the　window　of　a　neighboring　mansion　or　up　from　one　of　the　quiet　residential　boulevards　of　prosperous　West　Wall；　and　the　faster　she　moved；　the　more　problematic　stealth　became。　She'd　sneaked　up　there　two　hours　ago；　when　everyone　else　thought　she　was　bundling　or　burning　documents；　and　she　still　wasn't　sure　she'd　struck　the　proper　balance　between　the　two　necessities。
She　wished　she　could　have　ordered　a　retainer　or　two　up　there　to　help　her　keep　her　vigil；　but　it　would　have　been　illadvised；　considering　that　any　of　her　minions　might　be　the　object　of　her　hunt。
She　also　wished　she　had　more　cover。　Except　for　a　few　token　walkways　and　crenellations　so　small　as　to　be　essentially　ornamental；　the　apex　of　the　stalagmite　keep　was　bare　of　fortifications　or　even　level　places　to　stand。　If　Faeryl　looked　closely；　she　could　see　subtle　signs　that　at　one　time；　when　the　keep　had　served　another　purpose；　such　defenses　had　existed　in　abundance；　but　subsequently；　a　wizard　had　melted　the　ramparts　back　into　the　rest　of　the　calcite。　It　made　sense。　The　Menzoberranyr　would　see　no　reason　to　gift　an　outsider　with　any　notable　capacity　to　resist　a　siege。
Faeryl　perched　on　the　northeast　side　of　the　roof。　Outlined　in　blue；　green；　or　violent　phosphorescence；　the　homes　of　her　wealthier　neighbors　glowed　all　around　her。　Had　she　looked　from　a　distance；　she　would　have　observed　her　own　residence　shining　in　the　same　way。　Fortunately；　the　luminescence　only　defined　the　silhouette　of　the　tower　and　picked　out　several　spiders　sculpted　in　basrelief。　As　long　as　she　stayed　away　from　the　images；　kept　silent；　and　enjoyed　a　measure　of　luck；　it　shouldn't　reveal　her　presence。
A　soft；　indefinable　sound　rose　from　the　northwest。　Grateful　that　she　at　least　still　had　the　brooch　that　would　make　her　weightless；　she　scuttled　quickly　along　the　sloping　pitch　of　the　roof；　fearless　in　the　knowledge　that　even　if　she　lost　her　footing；　she　needn't　fall。
In　a　few　seconds；　she　reached　the　northwest　aspect。　She　peered　over　the　drop　and　discovered　the　source　of　the　sound　in　the　plaza　below。
Bare　to　the　waist；　rapiers　in　one　hand　and　parrying　daggers　in　the　other；　two　males　circled　one　another。　They　stood　straight　and　stepped　lightly　in　the　manner　of　welltrained　fencers。　Their　discarded　piwafwi’s；　mail；　and　shirts　lay　where　they'd　tossed　them　on　the　ground　along　with　a　pair　of　empty　wineskins。　A　third　male　looked　on　from　beneath　an　overhanging　balcony　some　distance　away；　where　the　batants　quite　possibly　hadn't　noticed　him。
Faeryl　sighed。　This　little　tableau　was　mildly　intriguing；　but　it　clearly　had　nothing　to　do　with　her　own　situation。
After　her　frustrating　interview　with　Matron　Mother　Baenre；　she'd　realized　she　had　an　opponent。　Someone　who'd　traduced　her；　possibly　to　keep　her　from　departing　Menzoberranzan；　though　she　couldn't　imagine　why。　From　that　inference；　it　was　a　small　step　to　the　suspicion　that　the　enemy　had　an　agent　inside　her　household。　It　was　what　any　intelligent　foe　would　try　to　arrange；　and　it　arguably　explained　how　Faeryl's　intention　to　go　home　had　been　discerned　and　countered　with　a　word　in　Triel's　ear。
Seething　with　the　need　to　outwit　those　who　had　made　a　fool　of　her；　Faeryl　devised　a　ruse　to　unmask　the　spy。　She　surprised　her　retainers　with　the　order　to　pack。　They　were　slipping　out　of　Menzoberranzan　that　very　night。　She　thought　her　loyal　vassals　would　obey；　but　the　traitor　would　try　to　sneak　away　to　report　the　household's　imminent　flight。　Crouched　on　the　roof；　Faeryl　would　spot　her　when　she　did。
That　was　the　plan；　anyway。　The　ambassador　could　think　of　several　reasons　why　it　might　fail。　The　residence　had　means　of　egress　on　all　four　sides；　but　she　couldn't　survey　all　four　at　once；　not　unless　she　floated　well　above　the　roof；　and　that　option　presented　problems　of　its　own。　Most　dark　elf　boots　possessed　a　virtue　of　silence；　and　their　mantles；　one　of　obscuration。　The　traitor　might　even　have　some　more　potent　means　of　escaping　notice；　such　as　a　talisman　of　invisibility。　Were　she　any　higher　above　the　ground；　Faeryl　might　have　no　hope　at　all　of　detecting　the　spy's　surreptitious　exit。
Of　course；　the　traitor　might　also　have　a　means　of　municating　with　her　confederates　via　clairaudience；　or　a　charm　of　instantaneous　transit；　in　which　case　the　envoy's　scheme　was　doomed　no　matter　what。　She'd　cling　to　the　roof　until　someone　in　authority；　a　pany　of　Baenre　guards；　perhaps；　showed　up　to　take　her　and　her　entourage　into　custody；　but　she'd　had　to　try　something。
She　crawled　on。　Below　and　behind　her；　one　of　the　duelists　groaned　as　his　foe's　blade　plunged　through　his　torso。　Magic　flickered　and　sizzled；　and　the　victor　dropped　as　well。　The　wizard　who'd　been　watching　from　a　distance　strolled　forward　to　inspect　the　steaming　corpses。
Faeryl　wondered　if　the　three　had　been　siblings；　and　the　wizard　was　the　clever　one。　She'd　had　a　brother　like　that　once；　until　an　even　trickier　male　turned　him　to　dust　and　absconded　with　his　wands　and　grimoires。　A　minor　setback　for　her　House；　but　interesting　to　watch。
Overhead；　something　snapped。　She　glanced　up。　Four　or　five　riders　on　wyvernback　were　winging　their　way　east。　Above　them；　projecting　from　the　cavern　ceiling；　the　stalactite　castles　shone　with　their　own　enchantments；　a　far　lovelier　sight；　in　her　opinion；　than　the　miniscule　monochromatic　stars　that　speckled　the　night　sky　of　the　socalled　Lands　of　Light。
Then；　so　faintly　that　she　wondered　if　she'd　imagined　it；　something　brushed　against　something　else。　The　sound　had　issued　from　the　southwest。
Faeryl　scurried　over　to　that　part　of　the　roof　and　peered　down。　At　first　glance；　nothing　appeared　changed　since　the　last　time　she'd　checked　that　way。　Perhaps　her　nerves　were　playing　tricks　on　her；　but　she　kept　on　looking　anyway。
Octagonal　steel　grilles　protected　the　round　windows　cut　in　the　wall　below　her；　but　if　a　drow　knew　the　trick；　she　could　unlatch　one　and　swing　it　aside　for　an　entrance　or　exit　via　levitation。　Apparently；　someone　had；　for　after　a　few　more　moments；　Faeryl　noticed　that　one　of　the　webpattern　shields　hung　ever　so　slightly　ajar。　With　that　sign　to　guide　her；　she　spotted　the　shrouded　figure　skulking　toward　the　mouth　of　an　alleyway。
The　noble　of　Ched　Nasad　was　a　fair　hand　with　a　crossbow。　She　might　have　been　able　to　shoot　down　the　traitor　from　behind；　but　that　would　gain　her　few　answers。　She　didn't　happen　to　possess　a　scroll　with　the　spell　for　interrogating　the　dead。　She　needed　to　catch　up　with　the　spy　and　take　the　wretch　alive。
She　read　from　a　scroll　she　did　have；　then　she　stepped　away　from　the　top　of　the　tower　into　empty　space。
Except　that　it　wasn't　empty　for　her。　The　air　was　as　firm　as　stone　beneath　her　soles。　For　two　paces；　she　strode　on　a　level　surface；　and；　because　she　willed　it　so；　the　unseen　platform　dipped　into　an　equally　invisible　ramp。　She　sprinted　down　with　no　fear　of　blundering　off　the　edge。　Wherever　she　set　her　foot；　the　incline　would　be　there　to　meet　it。　That　was　how　the　magic　worked。
Her　progress　entirely　silent；　she　dashed　unnoticed　above　the　traitor's　head；　then　with　a　thought　dissolved　the　support　beneath　her　boots。　Her　crossbow　ready；　she　dropped　the　last　few　feet　to　the　ground　and　landed　in　front　of　the　spy。
Started；　the　traitor　jumped。　Faeryl　felt　her　own　pang　of　surprise；　for　though　she　liked　to　think　she　maintained　a　proper　suspicion　of　everyone；　in　truth；　she　never　could　have　guessed　the　pinched；　sour　face　she　saw　half　hidden　inside　the　closedrawn　cowl　could　be　the　spy's。
〃Umrae；〃　the　ambassador　said；　aiming　her　hand　crossbow。
〃My　lady；〃　the　secretary　answered；　bending　with　her　usual　stiffness　into　an　obeisance。
〃I　know　all　about　it；　traitor。　I'm　not　actually　planning　to　leave　tonight。　My　pretending　so　was　a　trick　to　see　who　would　slip　away　to　play　informer。〃
〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。　I　just　wanted　to　buy　some　items　for　the　journey。　I　thought　that　if　I　hurried　over　to　the　Bazaar；　I　could　find　one　of　those　merchants　who　stays　open　late　and　be　back　before　anyone　missed　me。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　haven't　realized　I　have　an　enemy　here　in　Menzoberranzan；　someone　with　access　to　Matron　Baenre？　Two　tendays　ago；　Triel　considered　me　loyal。　She　approved　of　me。　She　granted　a　good　deal　of　what　I　asked　on　behalf　of　our　people。　Now；　she　doubts　me；　because　someone　has　persuaded　her　to　question　my　true　intentions。　What　did　my　foe　offer　to　lure　you　to　her　side？　Don't　you　realize　that　in　betraying　me；　you　betray　Ched　Nasad　itself？〃
The　scribe　hesitated；　then　said；　〃Matron　Baenre　has　people　watching　the　residence。　Someone　is　watching　us　right　now。〃
〃Perhaps；〃　Faeryl　replied。
Umrae　swallowed。　〃So　you　can't　harm　me。　Or　they'll　harm　you。〃
Faeryl　laughed。　〃Rubbish。　Triel's　agents　won't　reveal　their　presence　just　to　keep　me　from　disciplining　one　of　my　own　retainers。　They　won't　see　anything　odd　or　detrimental　to　Menzoberranzan's　interests　in　that。　Now；　be　sensible　and　surrender。〃
After　another　pause；　Umrae　said；　〃Give　me　your　word　you　won't　hurt　me。　That　you'll　set　me　free　and　help　me　flee　the　city。〃
〃I　promise　you　nothing　except　that　your　insolence　is　making　me　angrier　by　the　second；　and　a　quick　capitulation　is　your　only　hope。　Tell　me；　who　turned　you；　and　why？　What　does　anyone　hereabouts　have　to　gain　by　persecuting　an　envoy；　one　who　stands　apart　from　the　feuds　and　rivalries　among　the　Menzoberranyr　Houses？〃
〃You　must　understand；　I　fear　to　betray　them　and　remain。　They'll　kill　me　if　I　do。〃
〃They　won't　get　the　chance。　I'm　the　one　pointing　a　poisoned　dart　at　you。　Who　are　your　employers？〃
〃I　won't　say；　not　without　your　pledge。〃
〃Your　friend　didn't　slander　me　to　Triel　until　after　I　started　contemplating　a　return　to　Ched　Nasad。　Was　that　the　point　of　the　lie？　To　keep　me　from　venturing　out　into　the　Underdark？　Why？〃
Umrae　shook　her　head。
〃You're　mad；〃　Faeryl　said。　〃Why　would　you　condemn　yourself　to　perpetuate　someone　else's　existence？　Ah　well；　you're　plainly　unfit　to　live；　so　I　suppose　it's　for　the　best。〃
She　made　a　show　of　sighting　down　the　length　of　the　crossbow。
〃No　You're　right；　why　should　I　die？〃
〃If　you　answer　my　questions；　perhaps　you　won't。〃
〃Yes。〃
Trembling　a　little；　her　nerve　having　been　broken；　the　clerk　raised　her　hand　to　her　face；　perhaps　to　massage　her　brow。　No—to　lift　a　tiny　vial　to　her　lips
Faeryl　pulled　the　trigger　and　her　aim　was　true；　but　by　the　time　the　quarrel　pierced　Umrae's　stomach；　the　secretary's　form　was　changing。　She　grew　even　thinner；　shriveling；　but　taller　as　well。　Her　flesh　cooled　and　stank　of　corruption；　leathery　wings　sprouted　from　her　shoulder　blades；　and　her　eyes　sank　into　her　head。　Even　her　garments　altered；　blurring　and　splitting　into　moldering　rags。　No　blood　flowed　from　the　wound　the　poisoned　dart　had　made；　and　it　didn't　seem　to　inconvenience　her　in　the　slightest。　She　didn't　even　bother　to　pull　the　missile　out。
Faeryl　was　furious　at　herself　for　allowing　Umrae　to　trick　her。　Next　time；　she'd　remember　that　even　a　dark　elf　devoid　of　beauty；　grace；　and　facile　wit；　seemingly　undone　by　fear；　was　yet　a　drow；　born　to　guile　and　deception。
The　potion　had　temporarily　transformed　Umrae　into　some　sort　of　undead；　in　which　form　she　likely　wouldn't　suffer　at　all　from　her　usual　clumsiness。　Had　Lolth　not　forsaken　her　priestesses；　Faeryl　might　have　controlled　the　cadaverous　thing　with　her　clerical　powers；　but　that　was　no　longer　an　option。　Nor　were　any　of　her　other　retainers　likely　to　notice　her　plight　and　dash　to　her　rescue。　She　had　them　all　too　busy　packing　up　the　house。
It　was　unfortunate；　because　like　most　undead；　except　for　the　lowly　corpses　and　skeletons　spell　casters　reanimated　to　serve　as　mindless　thralls；　Umrae　in　wingedghoul　form　could　probably　do　grievous　harm　with　any　strike　that　so　much　as　grazed　the　skin；　and　Faeryl　didn't　even　have　a　shield　to　fend　her　off。　How　was　she　to　know　the　spy　would　possess　such　a　potent　means　of　defense？
Umrae　took　a　shambling　step；　then；　with　a　clap　of　her　wings；　bounded　forward。　Faeryl　hastily　retreated；　dropped　the　useless　crossbow；　and　opened　the　clasp　of　her　cloak。　Pulling　the　garment　off　her　shoulders　with　one　hand；　she　unsheathed　a　little　adamantine　rod　with　the　other。　At　a　snap　of　her　wrist；　the　harmlesslooking　object　swelled　into　Mother's　Kiss；　the　longhafted；　basaltheaded　war　hammer　the　females　of　House　Zauvirr　had　borne　since　the　founding　of　their　line。　Perhaps　an　enchanted　weapon　would　slay　Umrae　where　the　envenomed　quarrel　had　failed。
Faeryl　would　have　to　hope　so。　Even　if　she　were　willing　to　stand　meekly　aside　and　let　the　traitor　fly　away；　Umrae；　her　thoughts　perhaps　colored　by　the　predatory　guise　she'd　assumed；　plainly　wanted　a　fight；　and　the　envoy　could　see　no　way　to　evade　her。　It　would　be　stupid　to　evoke　darkness　and　run。　In　undead　form；　Umrae　would　likely　manage　better　in　the　murk　than　its　maker　did。　It　would　be　even　more　pointless　to　try　to　levitate　or　ascend　through　the　use　of　the　airwalking　charm　when　the　shape　shifter　could　simply　spread　her　ragged　wings　and　follow。
Faeryl　waved　her　piwafwi　back　and　forth　at　the　end　of　her　extended　arm；　to　confuse　Umrae　and　serve　as　some　semblance　of　a　shield。　No　one　had　ever　taught　Faeryl　to　fight　thusly；　but　she'd　observed　warriors　practicing　the　technique；　and　she　tried　to　believe　that　if　mere　males　could　do　it；　it　would　surely　present　no　difficulty　to　a　high　priestess。
Umrae　lunged；　Faeryl　lashed　the　cloak　in　a　horizontal　arc。　Possibly　thanks　to　luck　as　much　as　skill；　the　garment　blocked　Umrae's　hands。　Her　talons　snagged　in　the　weave。
Surprised；　Umrae　faltered　in　the　attack　and　struggled　to　free　her　hands。　Faeryl　stepped　through　and　smashed　the　pointed　stone　head　of　her　hammer　into　the　center　of　the　servant's　carious　brow。　Bone　crunched；　and　Umrae's　head　snapped　backward。　A　goodly　portion　of　her　left　profile　fell　off　her　skull。
Certain　the　fight　was　over；　Faeryl　relaxed；　and　that　was　nearly　the　end　of　her。　Transformed；　Umrae　could　evidently　endure　more　damage　than　almost　any　creature　with　warm　flesh　and　a　beating　heart。　She　opened　her　mouth；　exposing　long；　thin　fangs；　and　what　was　left　of　her　head　shot　forward　over　the　top　of　the　cape。　The　ambassador　only　barely　managed　to　fling　herself　back　out　of　the　way　in　time。
The　piwafwi　was　stretched　taut　between　the　two　batants；　as　if　they　were　playing　tugofwar。　Both　yanked　on　it　simultaneously；　and　Faeryl　was　the　luckier。　The　cloak　tore　free　of　Umrae's　grasp；　but　despite　the　garment's　reinforcing　enchantments；　it　returned　to　the　ambassador　with　long　rips　the　ghoul's　claws　had　cut。　A　few　more　such　rendings　and　it　would　be　useless。　The　cape's　sudden　release　also　sent　Faeryl　stumbling　backward。　With　another　beat　of　her　festering　wings；　Umrae　hopped　and　closed　the　distance。　Her　clawed　hands　shot　forward。
Crying　out　in　desperation；　Faeryl　managed　to　plant　her　feet　and　arrest　her　helpless　stagger。　She　lashed　out　with　the　hammer　and　clipped　one　of　Umrae's　hands。　The　imitation　ghoul　snatched　it　back　and　gave　up　the　attack。　Instead；　she　began　to　circle。　Just　as　a　living　creature　would；　she　shook　her　battered　extremity　several　times　as　if　to　dislodge　the　pain；　then　lifted　it　back　on　guard。
Faeryl　turned　to　keep　the　foe　with　her　crushed；　halfflayed　head　in　view。　What　is　it　going　to　take　to　stop　this　thing？　the　amb