蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第7部分

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re。〃
〃Right。　Chaos　is　life。　Chaos　is　creativity。　Chaos　makes　us　strong。　I　remember　the　creed；　but　as　a　practical　matter；　don't　you　see　that　all　this　confusion　could　serve　as　a　mask　for　the　city's　enemies？　They　could　use　it　to　smuggle　their　spies　and　assassins　in　and　to　smuggle　stolen　secrets　and　treasure　out。〃
〃I'm　sure　they　do。　That's　certainly　the　way　our　agents　operate　in　marketplaces　elsewhere　in　the　Underdark。〃
An　orc　female　came　scurrying　through　the　crowd　with　her　head　down　and　a　parchment　clutched　in　her　hand。　Perhaps　her　master　had　threatened　her　with　a　whipping　if　she　didn't　deliver　a　message　quickly。　She　tried　to　dodge　through　the　narrow　space　between　Pharaun　and　another　pedestrian；　misstepped；　and　bumped　into　the　wizard。
The　pigfaced　slave　looked　up　and　saw　that　she'd　just　jostled　an　elegantly　and　expensively　dressed　dark　elf。　Her　mouth　with　its　prominent　lower　canines　fell　open　in　terror。　With　a　flick　of　his　fingers；　Pharaun　bade　her　begone。　She　turned　and　ran。
〃Then　the　Council　should　control　the　Bazaar　properly；〃　said　Ryld。　〃Don't　just　send　the　occasional　patrol　marching　through　to　discourage　thievery。　License　the　merchants。　Conduct　routine　searches　of　their　pack　animals；　tents；　and　kiosks。〃
〃From　what　I　understand；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃it's　been　tried；　and　every　time　it　was；　the　Bazaar　became　less　profitable　and　wound　up　pouring　fewer　coins　into　the　coffers　of　the　matron　mothers。　I　daresay　the　same　thing　would　happen　today。　Regulation　would　also　inconvenience　all　the　Houses　who　are　themselves　running　illicit　operations　hereabouts。　I　assure　you；　a　goodly　number　of　them　do。〃
Pharaun　should　know。　Before　his　exile　from　his　own　family；　he　and　Sabal　had　played　a　substantial　role　in　House　Mizzrym's　covert　and　highly　illegal　trade　with　the　deep　gnomes；　or　svirfneblin；　arguably　the　deadliest　of　the　dark　elves'　many　foes。
〃If　you　say　so；〃　said　Ryld。　〃Not　being　a　noble；　I　wouldn't　know　about　things　like　that。〃
The　wizard　sighed。　It　was　true；　his　friend　was　about　as　humbly　born　as　a　dark　elf　could　be；　but　during　his　climb　to　his　present　eminence；　he　had　perforce　bee　fully　acquainted　with　the　ways　of　the　aristocracy。　It　was　just　that　at　odd　moments　he　took　an　obscure　satisfaction　in　pretending　to　a　peasant　like　ignorance。
〃Well；　I　rejoice　that　you　remain　so　close　to　your　roots；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃I'm　counting　on　your　familiarity　with　the　slums　to　see　me　safely　through　my　encounters　with　the　lower　orders。〃
〃I've　been　wondering　when　that's　going　to　happen。　Shouldn't　we　have　gone　to　Eastmyr　or　the　Braeryn　straightaway？〃
〃No　point　going　there　blind　if　we　can　acquire　some　intelligence　first。〃
Pharaun　supposed　that　in　fact；　they'd　better　collect　it　quickly；　but　it　was　a　pity。　He　could　have　used　some　idle　time　drifting　through　emporia　like；　for　instance；　Daelein　Shimmerdark's　Decanter　with　its　astonishing　collection　of　wines；　liquors；　and；　for　those　who　knew　how　to　ask；　potions　and　poisons　from　all　over　the　world。　Perhaps　it　would　clear　his　head。
Or　maybe　it　would　only　give　him　another　enigma　to　ponder；　for　though　there　was　still　plenty　to　buy；　it　seemed　to　him　the　Bazaar　as　a　whole　was　offering　fewer　goods　than　usual。　Why　was　that？　Could　it　possibly　have　anything　to　do　with　the　runaway　males？
And　what　about　the　demon　spider　that　had　materialized　above　him　and　Ryld　on　the　plateau　and　proceeded　to　break　into　ArachTinilith？　Did　that　tie　in；　or　was　it　simply　a　gambit　in　one　of　Menzoberranzan's　innumerable　secret　feuds　that　had　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　his　concerns？
He　had　to　grin。　He　knew　so　little；　and　what　little　he　had　gleaned　was　scarcely　a　source　of　reassurance。
〃There　it　is；〃　said　Ryld。
〃Indeed。〃
Carved　from　a　long；　relatively　low　protrusion　of　stone；　the　Jewel　Box　sat　just　inches　beyond　what　custom　decreed　to　be　the　limits　of　the　Bazaar；　where　all　traders　were　required　to　shift　their　stalls　to　a　different　spot　every　sixtysix　days。　Despite　its　lack　of　a　signboard　or　other　external　advertisement；　the　establishment　had　always　attracted　a　steady　trickle　of　shoppers　and　merchants；　and　when　the　two　masters　descended　the　stair　that　ran　from　street　level　to　the　limestone　door；　Pharaun　could　hear　considerably　more　sounds　of　revelry　that　usual。　There　was　laughter；　animated　conversation；　and　a　longhorn；　yarting；　and　handdrum　trio　playing　a　lively　tune。　The　third　string　of　the　yarting　was　a　little　flat。
Ryld　knocked　with　the　brass　knocker；　whereupon　a　little　panel　slid　open　in　the　center　of　the　door。　A　pair　of　eyes　peered　out；　then　disappeared。　The　portal　swung　open。
Pharaun　grinned。　In　all　his　visits　there；　he　had　never　seen　anyone　turned　away；　and　he　suspected　the　business　with　the　peephole　was　just　an　agreeable　bit　of　nonsense　intended　to　make　a　visit　to　the　Jewel　Box　seem　even　more　piquantly　criminal。　Perhaps　the　doorman　actually　would　attempt　to　dissuade　a　female　if　one　had　sought　admittance。
The　lowceilinged　room　beyond　the　threshold　smelled　of　a　sweet　and　mildly　intoxicating　incense。　The　three　musicians　had　crowded　themselves　onto　a　tiny　platform　against　the　west　wall。　A　few　of　the　patrons　were　attending　to　the　performance；　but　most　had　elected　to　focus　on　other　pleasures。　At　one　table；　half　a　dozen　disheveled　fellows　tossed　back　their　liquor　simultaneously　in　what　appeared　to　be　a　drinking　contest。　Other　males　threw　daggers　at　the　target　on　the　wall　with　a　blithe　disregard　for　the　safety　of　those　standing　in　the　immediate　vicinity　of　their　mark。　Dice　clattered；　cards　rustled　and　slapped；　and　coins　scraped　across　tabletops　as　the　luckier　gamblers　raked　in　their　winnings。
Ryld　studied　his　surroundings　with　his　customary　unobtrusive　vigilance；　surreptitiously　cataloging　every　potential　threat。　Still；　Pharaun　was　amused　to　see　that　his　friend's　eyes　lingered　on　the　webshaped　sava　boards　for　an　instant；　which　was　likely　all　the　time　he　required　to　analyze　the　four　contests　in　progress。
Sava　was　an　intricate　game　representing　a　war　between　two　noble　Houses—at　least　that　was　what　it　currently　represented。　Pharaun　had　seen　an　antique　set　that　recapitulated　in　miniature　the　drow's　eternal　struggle　with　another　race；　but　such　pieces　had　gone　out　of　fashion　long　before　his　birth；　probably　because　no　player　had　wanted　to　be　the　dwarves。
With　its　grid　like　board　regulating　movement　and　its　playing　pieces　of　varying　capacities；　sava　resembled　games　devised　by　many　cultures；　but　celebrating　the　chaos　in　their　blood　the　drow　had　found　a　way　to　introduce　an　element　of　randomness　into　what　would　otherwise　unfold　with　a　mechanical　precision。　Once　per　game；　each　player　could　fo　his　normal　move　to　throw　the　sava　dice。　If　the　spider　came　up　on　each；　he　could　move　one　of　his　opponent's　pieces　to　eliminate　any　man　of　its　own　color　within　its　normal　reach；　a　rule　that　acknowledged　the　dark　elves'　propensity　for　doing　down　their　kin　even　in　the　face　of　a　serious　external　threat。
Pharaun；　who　privately　considered　himself　cleverer　than　Ryld；　had　always　been　a　little　chagrinned　that　he　couldn't　defeat　the　weapons　master　at　sava；　but　alas；　his　friend　wielded　mother；　priestess；　wizard；　warrior；　orc　slave　soldier；　and　dice　as　brilliantly　as　he　did　a　sword。　Indeed；　he　claimed　that　fighting　and　sava　were　the　same　thing；　though　Pharaun　had　never　quite　understood　what　the　assertion　meant。
The　wizard　clapped　Ryld　on　the　shoulder　and　said；　〃Play。　Amuse　yourself。　Win　their　gold。　Just　remember　to　make　conversation　while　you're　at　it。　See　what　you　can　learn。　Meanwhile；　I'll　try　my　luck　in　the　cellar。〃
Ryld　nodded。
Pharaun　navigated　his　way　across　the　crowded　room　to　the　bar。　Behind　it　on　a　stool　sat　wizened；　onelegged　Nym；　an　elderly　male　who　for　sheer　surly；　unwavering　misanthropy　rivaled　any　demon　the　Master　of　Sorcere　had　ever　conjured。　The　old　retired　battle　mage　was　happily　engaged　in　snarling　threats；　obscenities；　and　orders　at　the　goblin　thralls　pouring　drinks；　but　he　grudgingly　suspended　the　harassment　long　enough　to　accept　a　handful　of　gold。　In　return；　he　tendered　a　worn；　numbered　leather　tab　with　several　keys　attached。
Thus　equipped；　Pharaun　walked　through　the　arch　beside　the　bar　and　down　another　flight　of　steps。　At　the　bottom　waited　the　real　business　of　the　Jewel　Box　and　the　reason　Nym　had　not　seen　fit　to　hang　a　placard　outside。
In　Menzoberranzan；　where　a　goddess　and　her　priestesses　reigned　supreme；　few　female　dark　elves　ever　found　it　necessary　to　sell　their　bodies。　Only　a　handful　of　the　sick　and　infirm；　dwelling　in　the　most　abject　need；　had　ever　stooped　to　such　a　degradation。　Accordingly；　one　might　assume　that　any　male　wishing　to　purchase　intimate　panionship　would　find　his　choice　limited　to　these　rare　unappealing　specimens　or　the　females　of　one　of　the　inferior　species。
But　that　wasn't　quite　the　case；　at　least　not　if　a　male　had　a　heavy　purse。　The　reason　was　that；　while　they　generally　devoted　their　military　efforts　to　fighting　cloakers；　svirfneblin；　and　other　peting　civilizations　of　the　Underdark；　drow　cities　on　rare　occasions　waged　war　on　one　another。　Once　in　a　while；　such　conflicts　yielded　female　prisoners。
The　prudent；　legitimate　thing　to　do　with　such　potentially　dangerous　captives　was　interrogate；　torture；　and　kill　them。　That　fact　notwithstanding；　Nym　had　on　several　occasions　managed　to　bribe　officers　to　give　him　their　prisoners；　whom　he　then　smuggled　into　Menzoberranzan　and　down　to　the　cellar　of　the　Jewel　Box。
Nym　had　gone　to　all　this　trouble　based　on　the　shrewd　and　wellproven　assumption　that　a　goodly　number　of　Menzoberranyr　males　would　pay　handsomely　for　the　privilege　of　dominating　a　female；　and　in　his　establishment；　one　could　do　anything　one　wanted　with　a　captive。　Nym　would　even　provide　a　customer　with　a　bastinado；　a　brazier　of　coals；　thumbscrews　。　。　。　his　only　stipulation　being　that　one　must　pay　a　surcharge　if　one　left　a　permanent　mark。
Since　the　brothel's　existence　was　an　open　secret；　Pharaun　wasn't　sure　why　the　matron　mothers　hadn't　shut　it　down。　On　the　face　of　it；　it　certainly　seemed　to　encourage　disrespect　for　the　ruling　gender。　Perhaps　they　felt　that　if　a　male　had　a　refuge　in　which　to　act　out　his　resentments；　it　would　make　him　all　the　more　deferential　to　the　females　in　his　home。　More　likely；　Nym　was　slipping　them　a　substantial　portion　of　the　take。
At　any　rate；　the　Jewel　Box　seemed　a　reasonable　place　to　seek　information　concerning　rogue　males；　especially　if　one　had　a　spy　in　place。　Pharaun　wasn't　confident　that　he　did　anymore；　but　one　never　knew。
The　stairs　emptied　into　a　hallway　of　numbered　doors。　Moans　of　passions　and　grunts　of　pain　sounded　faintly　from　behind　several　of　them。　It　was　busier　than　usual。
The　mage　strolled　down　the　passage　until　he　found　number　fourteen。　He　hesitated　for　an　instant；　then　scowled　and　turned　the　largest　of　his　keys　in　the　lock。　The　door　swung　open。
Seated　on　the　bed；　shackles　clutching　her　wrists　and　ankles；　Pellanistra　looked　much　as　he　remembered；　the　same　powerful；　shapely　limbs　and　heartshaped　face；　with　only　a　few　more　scars　where　one　or　another　of　her　visitors　had　pressed　down　two　hard；　as　well　as　a　split　lip　and　closed；　puffy　eye　where　a　more　recent　caller　had　beaten　her。
She　lifted　her　face；　saw　him；　and　charged　with　her　longnailed　hands　outstretched。　Then　she　staggered　as　one　of　her　governing　enchantments　riddled　her　body　with　pain；　and　an　instant　later　hit　the　end　of　the　chains　securing　her　to　the　wall。　She　lost　her　balance　and　fell　on　her　rump。
〃Hello；　Pellanistra；〃　Pharaun　said。
She　spat　at　him；　then　screwed　up　her　face　at　another　flare　of　punishment。　The　gobbet　of　saliva　fell　well　short　of　the　wizard's　soft；　high　boots。
〃Much　as　I　dislike　descending　to　the　obvious；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃I　feel　pelled　to　observe　that　you're　only　hurting　yourself。〃　He　stepped　forward　and　extended　his　hand。　〃e　on；　let's　sit　and　have　a　talk；　just　like　in　the　old　days。　I'll　even　remove　the　shackles　if　you　wish。〃
〃We　had　a　bargain〃　she　said。
〃I　refuse　to　have　an　extended　conversation　with　someone　sitting　on　the　floor。　It　promises　my　dignity　as　much　as　it　does　yours。　e　on；　be　sensible。　Take　my　hand。〃
She　didn't　do　that；　but；　chains　clinking；　she　did　clamber　to　her　bare　feet　unassisted。　He　caught　a　whiff　of　some　flowery　scent　that　Nym　had　forced　her　to　wear。
〃Now；　isn't　that　better？〃　he　asked。　〃Do　you　want　the　manacles　off？〃
〃We　had　a　pact；　and　I　was　holding　up　my　end。〃
〃I　wish　you'd　invite　me　to　sit　down。〃
〃You　abandoned　me〃
Pharaun　spread　his　slender；　longfingered　hands　and　said；　〃All　right；　priestess。　If　you　think　it　necessary；　we'll　belabor　the　selfevident　a　bit　longer。　Yes；　I　recruited　you　into　my　service。　Yes；　you　were　doing　splendidly—well　on　your　way　to　earning　your　liberation—but　my　circumstances　changed。　Surely　you　heard　something　about　it。〃
〃Yes。　You　backed　the　wrong　sister；　and　Greyanna　made　a　fool　of　you。　She　killed　her　twin；　and　you　were　powerless　to　stop　it。　If　you　hadn't　turned　tail　and　run　away　to　Sorcere；　she　would　have　slain　you；　too。〃
Pharaun　smiled　crookedly。　〃I　don't　think　I'll　encourage　the　bards　to　put　it　quite　that　way　when　they　pose　the　epic　story　of　my　life。〃
〃But　after　you　established　yourself　up　on　Tier　Breche；　after　you　were　free　to　e　and　go　as　you　pleased；　you　could　have　returned　here。〃
〃I　have；　on　occasion；　just　not　to　call　on　you。　I　thought　it　might　be　a　little　awkward。〃
〃I　could　have　helped　you　the　same　as　before。〃
〃Alas；　no。　After　my　withdrawal　from　House　Mizzrym；　I　no　longer　had　a　stake　in　the　power　struggles　within　my　family　or　among　the　noble　Houses；　either。　I　no　longer　needed　intelligence　about　such　matters。　The　only　rivalry　that　concerned　me　was　the　one　among　wizards；　and　even　if　you　number　the　foremost　practitioners　of　my　art　among　your　guests；　I　doubt　they　whisper　the　esoterica　of　their　newly　invented　spells　in　your　ears。　When　it　es　to　our　discoveries；　we　wizards　are　a　closemouthed　breed。〃
〃You　don't　know　what　it　was　like　for　me　。　。　。　is　like　for　me；　abused　and　degraded　by　my　inferiors；　constrained　in　body；　mind；　and　soul；　unable　to　mune　with　Lolth。　。。。〃
Pharaun　raised　his　hand。　〃Please；　you're　embarrassing　yourself。　You　sound　like　a　whining　human；　or　one　of　our　foul　cousins　in　the　World　Above。　Cease　this　tirade；　take　a　breath；　and　think；　then　you　will　realize；　enemy　of　Menzoberranzan；　that　my　concern　for　your　wellbeing　has　always　been；　at　best；　limited。　How　could　it　be　otherwise？　Sentiment　certainly　wasn't　strong　enough　to　make　me　spend　a　fortune　buying　you　free　of　Nym；　or；　if　he　and　I　couldn't　strike　a　deal；　break　you　out　of　here。　Not　when　you　hadn't　fulfilled　the　terms　of　our　covenant。　As　you　no　doubt　recall；　you　were　supposed　to　provide　me　useful　information　over　the　full　course　of　twenty　years。　I　admit　it　wasn't　your　fault　that　you　couldn't；　but　still；　that's　just　the　way　things　fell　out。〃
〃Fine；〃　she　gritted。　〃You're　right；　I'm　being　ridiculous。　In　forsaking　me；　you　simply　behaved　as　any　sensible　drow　would。　Now　what　in　the　name　of　the　Demonweb　do　you　want？〃
He　nodded　at　the　other　end　of　the　room　and　said；　〃May　we　。。。　？〃
She　gave　a　curt　nod；　and　they　seated　themselves；　she　on　the　mattress　of　her　wide　octagonal　bed　and　he　on　a　cushioned　granite　chair。
〃This　is　much　nicer；〃　he　said。　〃Would　you　like　me　to　send　for　some　wine？〃
〃Just　get　on　with　it。〃
〃Very　well。　I　imagine　my　plight　will　amuse　you。　After　the　goddess　knows　how　many　years　breathing　the　rarefied　and　dispassionate　air　of　scholarship；　imparting　knowledge　to　eager　young　minds；　advancing　the　frontiers　of　the　mys