蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第20部分

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apping　each　shut　in　its　turn。　It　was　actually　the　enchanted　length　of　iron　that　had　up　to　then　kept　the　goblinoids　out；　but　he　thought　he　and　Ryld　might　as　well　be　as　secure　as　possible。　It　also　seemed　the　courteous　thing　to　do。
His　hostess；　however；　didn't　seem　to　appreciate　the　gesture。
〃Get　out〃
The　masters　turned。　Smylla　Nathos　had　lit　her　sparsely　furnished　room　with　a　pair　of　slender　brass　rods；　the　tips　of　which　emitted　a　steady　magical　glow。　They　protruded　from　the　necks　of　waxencrusted　wine　bottles　like　tapers　sitting　in　candelabra；　which　they　perhaps　were　meant　to　resemble。　Maybe　Smylla　missed　the　spell　caster's　traditional　mode　of　illumination　but　couldn't　obtain　it　anymore。
She　herself　lay　at　the　limit　of　the　light；　on　a　cot　in　the　shadows　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　Pharaun　could　just　barely　make　her　out。
〃Good　afternoon；　my　lady；〃　the　wizard　said；　bowing。　〃It　shames　me　beyond　measure　to　ignore　your　request。　Yet　should　this　gentleman　and　I　pass　through　your　door　a　second　time；　the　bugbears　and　their　ilk　will　rush　in；　and　that；　I　think；　is　the　very　eventuality　you　sought　to　forestall。〃
〃Who　are　you？　You　don't　talk　like　an　ore。〃
〃My　lady　is　a　marvel　of　perspicacity。　We　are　in　fact　drow　lords　e　to　consult　you　on　a　matter　of　some　importance。〃
〃Why　are　you　disguised？〃
〃The　usual　reason：　To　confound　our　enemies。　May　we　approach？　It's　tedious　trying　to　converse　across　the　length　of　the　room。〃
Smylla　hesitated；　then　said；　〃e。〃
Pharaun　and　Ryld　started　forward。　Behind　them；　the　bugbears　were　cursing；　shouting　threats　and　questions；　and　pounding　on　the　far　side　of　the　door。
After　four　paces；　the　wizard's　stomach　turned　at　yet　another　stench；　this　one　humid　and　gangrenous。　He'd　half　expected　something　of　the　sort；　but　that　didn't　make　it　any　easier　to　bear。　Even　the　phlegmatic　Ryld　looked　disfited　for　an　instant。
〃Close　enough；〃　Smylla　said；　and　Pharaun　supposed　it　was。
He　had　no　desire　to　e　any　nearer　to　that　wasted　form　with　its　boils　and　pustules；　even　though　the　enchantments　bound　into　his　mantle　and　Ryld's　cloak　and　dwarven　armor　would　probably　protect　them　from　infection。
〃Can　you　help　us？〃　asked　Ryld。
The　sick　woman　leered。　〃Will　you　pay　me　with　the　magnificent　greatsword　you　wear　across　your　back？〃
Pharaun　was　somewhat　impressed。　The　illusion　of　pigfaced　orcishness　shrouding　his　friend　made　Splitter　look　like　a　battleaxe；　but　Smylla's　rheumy；　sunken　eyes　had　pierced　that　aspect　of　the　deception。
When　he　recovered　from　his　surprise；　Ryld　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　won't　give　you　the　sword。　I　worked　too　hard　to　get　it；　and　I　need　it　to　stay　alive；　but　if　you　want　I　can　use　it　to　clear　away　the　goblinoids　outside。　My　rade　and　I　are　also　carrying　a　fair　amount　of　gold。〃
Her　dry　white　hair　spread　about　her　head；　Smylla　lay　propped　against　a　mound　of　stained；　musty　pillows。　She　struggled　to　hitch　herself　up　straighter；　then　abandoned　the　effort。　Apparently　it　was　beyond　her　strength。
〃Gold？〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　know　who　I　am；　swordsman？　Do　you　know　my　history？〃
〃I　do；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃The　gist　of　it；　anyway。　It　happened　after　I　more　or　less　withdrew　from　participation　in　the　affairs　of　the　great　Houses。〃
〃What　do　you　know？〃　she　asked。
〃An　expedition　from　House　Faen　Tlabbar；〃　the　wizard　replied；　〃ventured　up　into　the　Lands　of　Light　to　hunt　and　plunder。　When　they　returned；　a　lovely　human　sorceress　and　clairvoyant　acpanied　them；　not　as　a　newly　captured　slave　but　as　their　guest。
〃Why　did　you　want　to　e？　Perhaps　you　were　fleeing　some　implacable　enemy；　or　were　fascinated　by　the　grace　and　sophistication　of　my　people　and　the　idea　of　living　in　the　exotic　Underdark。　My　hunch　is　that　you　wanted　to　learn　drow　magic；　but　it's　pure　speculation。　No　outsider　ever　knew。
〃For　that　matter；　why　did　the　Faen　Tlabbar　oblige　you？　That's　an　even　greater　mystery。　Conceivably　someone　harbored　amorous　feelings　for　you；　or　you；　too；　had　secrets　to　teach。〃
〃I　had　a　way　of　persuading　them；〃　Smylla　said。
〃Obviously。　Once　you　reached　Menzoberranzan；　you　made　yourself　useful　to　House　Faen　Tlabbar　as　countless　minions　from　the　lesser　races　had　done　before　you。　The　difference　being　that　you　were　accorded　a　certain　status；　even　a　degree　of　familiarity。　Matron　Ghenni　let　you　dine　with　the　family　and　attend　social　functions；　where　you　reportedly　acquitted　yourself　with　a　drowlike　poise　and　charm。〃
〃I　was　their　pet；〃　said　Smylla；　sneering　at　the　memory；　〃a　dog　dressed　in　a　gown　and　trained　to　dance　on　its　hind　legs。　I　just　didn't　know　it　at　the　time。〃
〃I'm　sure　many　saw　you　that　way。　Perhaps　some　saw　something　else。　From　all　accounts；　Matron　Ghenni　behaved　as　if　she　regarded　you　as　a　ward；　just　one　notch　down　from　a　daughter；　and　with　the　mistress　of　the　Fourth　House　indulging　you；　few　would　dare　challenge　your　right　to　port　yourself　like　a　Menzoberranyr　noble。　Indeed；　no　one　did；　until　she　turned　against　you。〃
〃Until　I　fell　ill；〃　said　the　sorceress。
〃Quite。　Was　it　a　natural　disease；　bred；　perhaps；　by　the　lack　of　the　searing　sunlight　that　is　a　natural　condition　for　your　kind？　Or　did　an　enemy　infect　you　with　poison　or　magic？　If　so；　was　the　culprit　someone　inside　House　Faen　Tlabbar；　who　saw　you　as　a　rival　for　Ghenni's　favor；　or　the　agent　of　an　enemy　family；　depriving　their　foes　of　a　resource？〃
〃I　was　never　able　to　find　out。　That's　funny　ing　from　me；　isn't　it？〃
〃Ironic；　perhaps。　At　any　rate；　several　priestesses　tried　to　cure　you；　but　for　some　reason；　the　magic　failed；　whereupon　Ghenni　summarily　expelled　you　from　her　citadel。〃
〃Actually；〃　Smylla　said；　〃she　sent　a　couple　trolls；　slave　soldiers；　to　murder　me。　I　escaped　them　and　the　castle；　too。　Afterward；　I　tried　to　offer　my　services　to　other　Houses；　noble　and　merchant　alike；　but　no　door　would　open　to　a　human　who'd　lost　the　favor　of　Faen　Tlabbar。〃
〃My　lady；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃if　it's　any　consolation；　you　were　still　receiving　precisely　the　same　treatment　we　would　have　given　a　member　of　our　own　race。　No　dark　elf　would　abide　the　presence　of　anyone　afflicted　with　an　incurable　malady。　The　Spider　Queen　taught　us　the　weak　must　die；　and　in　any　case；　what　if　the　sickness　was　contagious？〃
〃It's　not　a　consolation。〃
〃Fair　enough。　To　continue　the　tale：　Unwele　anywhere　else；　you　made　your　way　to　the　Braeryn。　Despite　your　infirmity；　some　magic　remained　within　your　grasp；　and　you　employed　it　to　cow　the　residents　of　this　particular　warren　into　providing　you　with　a　private　space　in　which　to　live。　I　daresay　that　wasn't　easy。　Then；　using　divinatory　rituals；　your　natural　psionic　gifts；　and　whatever　secrets　you'd　discovered　during　your　time　with　House　Faen　Tlabbar；　you　set　up　shop　as　a　broker　of　knowledge。　At　first；　only　the　lower　orders　availed　themselves　of　your　services；　then　gradually；　as　your　reputation　grew；　even　a　few　of　my　people　started　consulting　you。　We　wouldn't　let　you　dwell　among　us；　but　some　were　　willing　to　risk　a　brief　contact　if　they　anticipated　sufficient　advantage　from　it。〃
〃I　never　heard　of　you；〃　said　Ryld；　〃but　within　the　district；　your　reputation　seems　to　be　considerable。　We've　been　asking　questions　all　day；　and　more　than　one　suggested　we　seek　you　out。〃
The　door　banged　particularly　loudly；　and　he　glanced　back　to　make　sure　the　bugbears　weren't　breaching　it。
〃That's　all　I　know　of　your　saga；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃but　I　infer　from　the　hostility　of　your　cohabitants　that　a　new　stanza　has　begun。〃
〃I　suppose　I　couldn't　bluff　them　forever；〃　Smylla　said。　〃My　powers；　sorcerous　and　psionic　alike；　are　all　but　gone；　devoured　by　my　malady。　Once　I　acquired　my　stock　in　trade　primarily　through　scrying；　divinations；　and　such。　In　recent　years；　I've　cajoled　my　secrets　from　a　web　of　informers；　whom　I　betray　one　to　the　other。〃
The　withered　creature　smirked。
〃Well；〃　said　Ryld；　〃I　hope　you　teased　out　the　one　we　need。〃
She　coughed。　No；　it　was　a　laugh。　〃Even　if　I　did；　why　would　I　share　it　with　you；　dark　elf？〃
〃I　told　you；〃　the　warrior　said；　〃we　can　protect　you　from　the　bugbears　and　goblins。〃
〃So　can　my　little　iron　trinket。〃
〃But　eventually；　if　you　simply　remain　in　here；　you'll　die　of　hunger　and　thirst。〃
〃I'm　dying　anyway。　Can't　you　tell？　I'm　not　an　old　woman—I'm　a　baby　as　you　drow　measure　time—but　I　look　like　an　ancient　hag。　I　just　don't　want　to　perish　at　the　hands　of　those　miserable　Undercreatures。　I've　ruled　here　for　fifteen　years；　and　if　I　die　beyond　their　reach；　I　win。　Do　you　see？〃
〃Well；　then；　my　lady；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃your　wish　suggests　the　terms　of　a　bargain。　Oblige　us；　and　we'll　refrain　from　admitting　the　bugbears。〃
She　made　a　spitting　sound　and　said；　〃Admit　them　if　you　must。　I　loathe　the　brutes；　but　I　hate　you　dark　elves　more。　It　was　you　who　made　me　as　I　am。　I　bartered　information　with　you　for　as　long　as　I　had　something　to　gain；　but　now　that　the　disease　is　finally　killing　me；　you　can　all　go　to　the　Abyss　where　your　goddess　lives；　and　burn。〃
Pharaun　might　have　replied　that　as　far　as　he　could　tell；　Smylla　had　sealed　her　own　fate　on　the　day　she　decided　to　descend　into　the　Underdark；　but　he　doubted　it　would　soften　her　resolve。
〃I　don't　blame　you；〃　he　said；　making　a　show　of　sympathy。　It　wouldn't　have　deceived　any　drow；　but　even　though　she'd　trafficked　with　his　race　for　decades；　perhaps　she　still　had　human　instincts。　〃Sometimes　I　hate　other　dark　elves　myself。　I'd　certainly　despise　them　if　they　served　me　as　they've　treated　you。〃
She　eyed　him　skeptically。　〃But　you're　the　one　who's　different　from　all　the　others？〃
〃I　doubt　it。　I'm　a　child　of　the　goddess。　I　follow　her　ways。　But　I've　visited　the　Realms　that　See　the　Sun；　where　I　learned　that　other　races　think　and　live　differently。　I　understand　that　by　the　standards　of　your　own　people；　we've　treated　you　abominably。〃
For　a　moment；　she　looked　up　at　him　as　if　no　one　had　miserated　with　her　about　anything　since　that　longlost　season　when　she　was　the　belle；　or　at　least　the　coveted　curiosity；　of　the　revels　and　balls。
She　said；　〃Do　you　think　a　few　gentle　words　will　make　me　want　to　help　you？〃
〃Of　course　not。　I　just　don't　want　your　bitterness　to　get　in　the　way　of　your　good　sense。　It　would　be　a　pity　if　you　turned　your　back　on　your　salvation。〃
〃What　are　you　saying？〃
〃I　can　take　away　your　sickness。〃
〃You're　lying。　How　could　you　do　what　the　priestesses　cannot？〃
〃Because　I'm　a　wizard。〃　Pharaun　snapped　his　fingers　and　dissolved　his　mask　of　illusion。　〃My　name　is　Pharaun　Mizzrym。　You　may　have　heard　of　me。　If　not；　you've　surely　heard　of　the　Masters　of　Sorcere。〃
She　was　impressed；　though　trying　not　to　show　it。
〃Who　aren't　healers；〃　she　said。
〃Who　are　transmuters。　I　can　change　you　into　a　drow；　or；　if　you　prefer；　a　member　of　another　race。　Whatever　we　choose；　the　transformation　will　purge　the　sickness　from　your　new　body。〃
〃If　that's　true；〃　she　said；　〃then　why　do　your　people　fear　illness？〃
〃Because　this　remedy　is　inappropriate　for　them。　It's　unthinkable　for　a　drow；　one　of　the　goddess's　chosen　people；　to　permanently　assume　the　form　of　a　lesser　creature　except　as　a　punishment。　Also；　most　wizards　can't　cast　the　spell　deftly　enough　to　purge　a　disease。　It　requires　a　certain　facility；　which　happily；　I　possess。〃
He　grinned。
〃And　you'll　use　it　to　help　me？〃
〃Well；　to　aid　myself；　really。〃
The　soothsayer　scowled；　pondering　the　offer。
Eventually　she　said；　〃What　do　I　have　to　lose？〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃But　you　have　to　change　me　first。〃
〃No；　first　of　all；　we　must　establish　that　you　do　indeed　possess　the　information　my　colleague　and　I　require。　We're　seeking　a　number　of　runaway　males　hailing　from　noble　and　humble　residences　alike。〃
〃We　have　a　handful　of　drow　hiding　out　in　the　Braeryn。　Some　are　sick　like　me。　Some　are　outcast　for　some　other　offense。　A　couple　are　just　taking　a　long　illicit　holiday　from　their　responsibilities　and　female　relations。　I　can　tell　you　where　to　find　most　of　them。〃
〃I'm　sure；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃but　I　imagine　they've　resided　here　for　a　while；　have　they　not？　We're　seeking　rogues　of　more　recent　vintage。　Menzoberranzan　has　suffered　a　mass　migration　in　recent　tendays。〃
Smylla　frowned。　From　a　subtle　shift　of　expression；　the　mage　knew　she　was　deciding　whether　or　not　to　lie。
〃More　drow　males　than　usual　have　visited　the　Braeryn；〃　she　said。　〃Indulging　their　most　sordid　impulses；　I　assumed；　but　as　far　as　I　know　they　didn't　stay　here。　If　they　did；　I　don't　know　where。〃
Ryld　sighed。　Pharaun　knew　how　he　felt。　Generally　speaking；　the　wizard　relished　a　baffling；　braincramping　puzzle；　but　even　he　was　growing　impatient　at　their　lack　of　progress。
Given　the　lack　of　any　sensible　leads；　he　resolved　to　follow　where　intuition　led。　Still　caught　up　in　his　role　of　sympathizer；　he　dared　to　step　to　the　cot　and　pat　Smylla　on　her　bony　shoulder。　She　gasped。　In　all　likelihood；　no　one　had　touched　her　for　a　long　while；　either。
〃Don't　abandon　hope；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃Perhaps　we　can　still　make　a　trade。　Fortunately；　my　rade　and　I　are　interested　in　other　matters　as　well。　Has　anything　peculiar　occurred　in　the　Braeryn　of　late？〃
The　clairvoyant　rasped　out　another　painfulsounding　laugh。
〃You　mean　aside　from　the　fact　that　last　tenday；　the　animals　rose　up　against　me？〃
〃I　do　find　that　interesting。　As　you　confessed；　your　magical　talents　withered　away　some　time　ago。　Since　then；　you've　dominated　the　goblins　through　bluff　and　force　of　personality；　and　it　worked　until　a　few　days　ago。　What　changed？　Where　did　the　Undercreatures　find　the　courage　to　turn　against　you？　Have　you　noticed　anything　that　might　account　for　it？〃
〃Well；〃　said　Smylla；　〃it　could　just　be　they　saw　me　failing　physically；　but—〃　Her　cracked　lips　stretched　into　a　grin。　〃You're　good；　Master　Mizzrym。　You　give　me　a　smile；　friendly　conversation；　a　soft　touch　on　the　arm；　and　my　tongue　starts　to　flap。　That's　loneliness　for　you。　But　I　will　have　my　cure　before　I　give　up　anything　of　importance。〃
〃Very　sensible。〃　Pharaun　extracted　an　empty　cocoon　from　one　of　his　pockets。　〃What　do　you　wish　to　bee？〃
〃One　of　you；〃　she　said；　leering。　〃I　once　heard　a　philosopher　say　that　everyone　bees　the　thing　he　hates。〃
〃He　must　have　been　a　cheery　fellow　to　have　about。　Now；　brace　yourself。　This　will　only　take　a　moment；　but　it　may　hurt　a　little。〃
Employing　greater　care　than　usual；　he　recited　the　incantation　and　used　the　ridged　silken　case　to　write　a　symbol　on　the　air。
Magic　shrilled　through　the　air；　and　the　temperature　plummeted。　For　a　moment；　the　whole　room　rippled　and　shimmered；　then　the　distortion　concentrated　itself　on　Smylla's　shriveled　body。　Tendons　standing　out　in　her　neck；　she　screamed。
Beyond　the　door；　one　of　the　bugbears　shouted；　〃We　want　to　get　even；　too〃
Smylla's　sores　faded　away；　and　her　emaciated　form　filled　out　into　a　healthy　slimness。　Her　ashen　skin　darkened　to　a　gleaming　black；　her　blue　eyes　turned　red；　and　her　ears　grew　points。　Her　features　became　more　delicate。　Her　snowy　hair　thickened；　changing　from　brittle　and　lusterless　to　wavy　and　glossy。
〃The　pain　went　away；〃　she　breathed。　〃I　feel　stronger。〃
〃Of　course；〃　Pharaun　said。
She　stared　at　her　hands；　then　sat　up；　rose　from　the　cot；　and　tried　to　walk。　At　first　she　moved　with　an　invalid's　caution；　but　gradually；　as　she　proved　to　herself　that　she　wouldn't　fall；　that　hesitancy　passed。　After　a　few　seconds；　she　was　striding；　jumping；　and　spinning　like　an　exuberant　little　girl　testing　her　strength；　her　grimy　nightshirt　flapping　about　her。　
〃You　did　it〃　she　said；　and　the　pure；　uncalculated　gratitude　in　her　crimson　eyes　showed　that　even　wearing　the　flesh　of　a　dark　elf　maiden；　she　was　still　human　at　the　core。
Though　it　was　foreign　to　his　own　nature；　P