war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第22部分

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　later；　the　wind　blew　it　away。
　　　Sensing　someone　staring　at　her；　Halisstra　glanced　up；　expecting　to　see　either　Uluyara　or　Feliane。　Instead　it　was　Ryld　who　gaped　at　her　from　the　far　side　of　the　clearing。　He　was　holding　his　greatsword　in　both　hands；　but　the　tip　of　its　blade　rested　on　the　ground　in　front　of　him　as　if　the　weapons　master　had　forgotten　how　to　use　it。　His　eyes　were　wide；　his　mouth　open　and　panting。　He'd　obviously　e　at　the　run。　After　a　moment；　he　seemed　to　remember　how　to　speak。
　　　〃Halisstra；〃　he　whispered。　〃What　have　you　done？　You　can　never　go　back　now。　Never。〃
　　　Halisstra　stared　at　Ryld　across　the　space　where　the　spider　had　just　died；　conflicting　emotions　warring　within　her。　She　felt　irritation　at　the　fact　that　he　had　disobeyed　her　and　followed　her…and；　at　the　same　time；　joy　that　he　had　cared　about　her　enough　to　do　so。
　　　At　last　she　sighed　and　said；　〃That's　true；　Ryld；　but　you　can　go　back。　You　still　have　a　choice；　a　choice　between　the　Underdark　and　Lolth…who　is　obviously　as　dead　as　this　spider…and　Eilistraee；　who　smiles　down　upon　us　now。　Which　will　you　choose？〃
　　　Ryld　stood　silently　for　several　long　moments；　then　lifted　his　greatsword　and　shoved　it　into　the　sheath　on　his　back。
　　　〃I　choose　you；〃　he　said；　staring　at　Halisstra。　〃If　you　will　have　me。〃
　　　Before　Halisstra　could　answer；　Uluyara　and　Feliane　stepped　out　of　the　forest。　Feliane　was　smiling　at　Halisstra；　a　look　of　rapturous　joy　on　her　face；　but　Uluyara　kept　a　keen　eye　on　Ryld；　as　if　watching　to　make　sure　he　wasn't　going　to　draw　his　sword。
　　　〃If　Eilistraee　will　have　you；　then　you　are　wele　among　us；〃　Uluyara　told　him。　〃If　not；　then　you　will　have　to　leave。〃　A　wry　smile　played　about　her　lips。　〃Permanently；　this　time。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　said；　〃Understood。〃
　　　Uluyara　turned　to　Halisstra。
　　　〃e；　priestess；〃　she　said。　〃There　is　much；　yet；　that　you　must　learn。　And　much　that　you　must　do。　This　is　only　the　first　of　the　trials　the　goddess　has　ordained　for　you。〃
　　　Halisstra　bowed；　acknowledging　her　new　mistress。　At　the　same　time；　her　mind　whirled　at　the　wonder　of　it　all。　She'd　fled　from　Ched　Nasad　as　a　homeless　refugee；　hoping　to　find　out　if　her　goddess　was　alive　or　dead；　only　to　have　her　hopes　dashed　against　the　black　stone　monolith　that　sealed　Lolth's　temple。　But　in　the　alien　forests　of　the　World　Above；　she'd　found　something　entirely　unexpected；　a　new　home…and　a　new　goddess。　In　gratitude；　Halisstra　knew　she　would　serve　Eilistraee　faithfully　from　that　night　forward。　Whatever　the　goddess　asked　of　her；　Halisstra　would　give　it。
　　　Rising　from　her　bow；　she　glanced　at　Ryld；　silently　contemplating　the　warrior。　Would　he　do　the　same？　Or　would　ing　up　into　Eilistraee's　light　prove　too　much　for　Ryld；　too　far　at　odds　with　the　ways　he　had　always　known？
　　　Only　time　would　tell。
　　　
Chapter　Twenty
　　　Quenthel　stared　thoughtfully　at　Danifae's　submissively　bowed　back。　If　the　lesser　priestess　was　to　be　believed；　Pharaun　was　at　last　making　his　move。　After　endless　petty　insubordination；　the　infuriating　male　had　finally　worked　up　the　courage　to　inflict　the　killing　bite。　Except　that　he　didn't　have　the　strength　of　will　to　kill　Quenthel　himself。　Instead；　he　would　let　the　aboleth　do　her　in。　That　way；　he　could　report　back　to　the　matron　mother…honestly…that　Quenthel　had　died　at　the　hands　of　another；　hostile　race；　in　the　pursuit　of　her　quest。
　　　A　quest　he　obviously　hoped　to　make　his　own；　in　order　to　steal　what　should　rightfully　be　Quenthel's　glory。
　　　Quenthel　stroked　the　sinuous　bodies　of　her　vipers；　which　shuddered　softly　as　they　shared　her　thoughts。
　　　She　must　be　telling　the　truth；　Yngoth　said；　staring　fixedly　at　the　top　of　Danifae's　lowered　head。　I　can　see　no　reason　for　her　to　make　up　such　a　story。
　　　Nor　can　I；　Quenthel　thought　back。
　　　Danifae　is　your　loyal　servant。　Mistress！　said　K'Sothra；　squirming　with　delight。
　　　Quenthel　sighed　and　stroked　the　smaller　viper's　head。　K'Sothra　was　pretty；　but　she　wasn't　very　bright。　She　took　everything　at　face　value；　pletely　missing　the　subtle　nuances　of　deceit　that　usually　lay　just　beneath　the　surface　of　so　blatant　a　betrayal。　But　Quenthel　thought　that　the　naive　snake　might　actually　be　correct。　Danifae's　motivation　seemed　clear　as　quartz　crystal。　The　lesser　priestess　had　everything　to　gain　by　betraying　Pharaun's　plans　to　Quenthel　and　nothing　to　lose。　When　Lolth　reawakened；　Danifae　would　no　doubt　attempt　to　claim　a　prominent　place　in　Arach…Tinilith。
　　　Quenthel　shifted　the　whip　to　her　left　hand…smiling　when　Danifae　flinched　as　the　serpents　passed　over　her　head…and　she　curled　the　fingers　of　her　right　hand。　She　rested　her　fingertips　lightly　on　Danifae's　bowed　head。
　　　〃You　will　be　rewarded；〃　she　told　the　lesser　priestess。　〃Now　go。　Return　to　Pharaun；　before　he　suspects　what　you've　been　doing。〃
　　　Danifae　rose；　smiling；　and　turned　to　leave　the　narrow　cavern。　Jeggred；　who　had　been　hunkered　by　the　entrance　the　whole　time；　watching　the　tunnel　beyond　for　signs　of　danger；　flexed　the　claws　of　his　fighting　hands　and　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder　at　Quenthel。　She　gave　a　slight　shake　of　her　head；　and　Jeggred　flattened　against　the　wall　to　let　Danifae　pass。
　　　〃What　about　the　mage？〃　the　draegloth　growled。
　　　Quenthel　saw　that　the　hair　on　the　back　of　his　neck　had　risen。　He'd　listened　carefully　to　everything　Danifae　said　and　was　balanced　on　the　knife　edge　of　one　of　his　rages。　The　slightest　word　from　Quenthel　would　send　him　into　violent　motion　back　down　the　tunnel　to　where　Pharaun　sat　by　the　waterfall；　studying　his　spellbooks。
　　　〃I　will　deal　with　him　myself；〃　Quenthel　told　him。　〃Later。〃
　　　Still　growling　softly；　Jeggred　settled　back　into　a　crouch；　wrapping　his　smaller　arms　around　his　knees。　Red　eyes　stared　out　into　the　tunnel；　and　slowly　his　hackles　smoothed。
　　　Quenthel　sat　for　a　moment　in　silence；　brooding。　The　cavern　she'd　chosen　for　her　Reverie　was　no　larger　than　a　servant's　room；　but　it　had　a　high　ceiling　that　ended　in　a　narrow　fissure。　Water　seeped　down　one　wall　to　puddle　near　her　feet。　It　trickled　out　through　the　opening　where　Jeggred　squatted；　eventually　joining　the　river　she　could　hear　flowing　through　the　tunnel　outside。　A　cluster　of　faintly　luminescent；　round　fungi　grew　on　the　wet　wall　beside　her；　casting　a　dim　greenish　light。　Quenthel　reached　out　and　popped　one　with　a　fingernail；　releasing　a　sparkle　of　spores；　then　she　contemplated　her　glowing　fingertip。
　　　Useful　as　Pharaun's　spells　were；　his　latest　treachery　had　tipped　the　scales；　turning　him　into　a　liability…one　that　needed　to　be　eliminated。　Yet　killing　him　was　not　the　simple　solution　it　seemed。
　　　Pharaun　was　a　powerful　wizard　and　a　key　player　in　the　politics　of　the　Academy。　If　it　was　learned　that　Quenthel　had　killed　him；　she　would　surely　face　the　wrath　of　Pharaun's　patron；　her　brother　Gromph。　Quenthel's　sister　Triel；　Matron　Mother　of　House　Baenre；　would　not　be　pleased　at　having　to　choose　sides　between　her　siblings；　especially　as　long　as　they　were　all　weakened　by　Lolth's　inattention。　By　all　accounts；　Pharaun's　own　matron　mother；　Miz'ri　Mizzrym；　was　hardly　fond　of　the　mage；　but　he　was　a　Master　of　Sorcere　after　all　and　still　an　important　part　of　House　Mizzrym's　modest　assets…and　House　Mizzrym　was　a　close　ally　of　the　First　House。　The　other　masters　and　wizards　of　Sorcere　would　likewise　be　displeased　to　lose　one　of　their　own…especially　one　important　enough　to　have　been　chosen　for　the　expedition　in　the　first　place。　Killing　Pharaun　would　indeed　be　difficult；　yet　there　had　to　be　a　way。　。　。　。
　　　Quenthel　thought　over　what　Danifae　had　told　her。　According　to　the　battle…captive；　the　aboleth　would　only　reveal　where　the　ship　of　chaos　was　in　exchange　for　an　opportunity　to　consume　a　powerful　spellcaster。　Pharaun　was　obviously　gambling　that　Oothoon　would　fail　to　realize　that　Quenthel's　spells　were　no　longer　useful…that　the　aboleth　would　provide　him　with　the　location　of　the　ship　before　his　trickery　was　discovered。　And　the　aboleth　matriarch　had　obviously　believed　him。　If　not；　she　would　have　simply　consumed　Pharaun　on　the　spot　to　acquire　the　spells　the　wizard　carried　inside　his　own　mind。
　　　You　should　turn　the　sava　board　on　him；　Yngoth　suggested。　Offer　Pharaun　to　Oothoon；　in　exchange　for　the　ship。
　　　Easily　said；　Quenthel　answered。　But　not　so　easily　done。　I　would　have　to　meet　Oothoon　in　person　and　first　persuade　the　aboleth　matriarch　that　I　was　not　worth　eating。
　　　Tell　the　truth；　Zinda　said。　Your　spells　are　useless。　Lolth　is　silent；　perhaps　forever。　Perhaps　she　is　dead。
　　　〃No！〃　Quenthel　cried　aloud。　〃Lolth　lives！〃
　　　Seeing　Jeggred's　sharp　glance　in　her　direction；　she　shut　her　mouth。
　　　She　must　live；　she　continued　silently。　If　I　didn't　believe　she　was　still　alive；　I　would…
　　　What？　Yngoth　spat；　his　thoughts　cracking　Quenthel　out　of　her　despair。　Give　up？　Embrace　death　yourself？　What　god；　then；　would　claim　your　soul？
　　　Anger　making　her　steadier…she　hated　it　when　the　vipers　peered　into　her　innermost　fears…Quenthel　spat　her　thoughts　back　at　them。
　　　No。　Never　that。　It's　just　that　revealing　what　has　happened　to　Lolth　would　mean　bargaining　from　a　position　of　weakness。　The　aboleth　would　realize　I　was　powerless。　She　might　even　decide　to　mount　an　attack　on　the　drow；　as　other　races　have　done。
　　　Hsiv　joined　the　debate　with　a　chuckle　in　his　voice。　The　first　of　the　imps　to　be　bound　into　her　whip；　he　was　often　the　one　who　helped　guide　Quenthel's　thoughts　back　to　a　truer　course。
　　　The　aboleths　are　an　aquatic　race；　he　reminded　her。　They　can't　leave　their　lake。
　　　I　know　that；　Quenthel　retorted；　not　caring　that　the　vipers　would　see　through　her　lie。　But　the　aboleths　might　tell　other　races　about　Lolth's　silence。　If　word　of　our　weakness　spreads；　we're　doomed。　Ched　Nasad　has　fallen；　and　now　Pharaun　is　no　longer　able　to　contact　Gromph。　For　all　we　know；　Menzoberranzan…
　　　Menzoberranzan　is　far　from　Lake　Thoroot；　Hsiv　gently　reminded　her。　And　this　is　a　little…visited　region。　Anyone　the　aboleth　might　tell　would　attack　a　drow　city　that　is　closer　to　hand。
　　　Quenthel　barely　heard　him。　All　of　the　fears　and　doubts　she'd　kept　bound　tightly　inside　her　ever　since　the　group　had　fled　from　Ched　Nasad　erupted　like　spiders　from　a　cocoon。
　　　But　that's　just　it！　she　wailed。　Who　knows　how　many　of　our　cities　have　been　destroyed…or　how　many　will　yet　be　destroyed　before　this　crisis　is　done？　I've　got　to　find　Lolth…to　tell　her　what's　going　on。　Triel　and　the　other　matron　mothers　are　all　depending　on　me；　and　I'm　not　sure　。　。　。　I　don't　know　how。　。　。
　　　Leave　that　to　us；　Yngoth　hissed。
　　　Quenthel　wasn't　listening。
　　　The　fate　of　every　drow　city　in　the　Underdark　is　on　my　head；　she　moaned。　Things　are　hard　enough　without　Pharaun　and　his　stupid；　petty　power　games。　Doesn't　he　realize　what's　at　stake？　This　could　result　in　the　extinction　of　our　race！
　　　It　could；　Zinda　agreed。
　　　Yngoth　quickly　hissed　the　larger　viper　to　silence。
　　　You　must　focus　on　the　matter　at　hand；　he　reminded　Quenthel。　You　must　find　out　from　Oothoon　where　the　ship　is…a　task　that　will　be　easier　than　you　think。　The　sava　board　has　already　been　set　up　for　you。　All　of　the　pieces　are　already　in　place。
　　　That　brought　Quenthel　up　short；　and　she　asked；　They　are？
　　　Yngoth's　tongue　flickered　in　and　out　in　the　serpents　equivalent　of　a　smile。
　　　To　learn　where　the　ship　of　chaos　is；　Pharaun　must　meet　with　Oothoon　a　second　time。　If　he　thinks　you　have　been　consumed；　he　may　lower　his　guard　slightly。　And　that　may　be　his　downfall。
　　　Quenthel　frowned　and　sent；　I　don't　understand。
　　　Listen；　and　you　will；　Yngoth　continued。　You　will　tell　Oothoon　that　Lolth　is　dead…
　　　Oothoon　won't　believe　me；　Quenthel　interrupted。　I　don't　believe　it　myself。
　　　Your　ring　will　prevent　the　aboleth　from　hearing　your　thoughts　or　from　detecting　your　lies；　Hsiv　reminded　her。　Then；　once　Oothoon　has　deemed　you　unworthy　of　eating；　you　will　offer　her　Pharaun；　instead。　You　will　tell　her　that　in　return　for　her　telling　you　where　the　ship　of　chaos　lies；　you　will　convince　Pharaun　that　you　have　been　eaten。　Thus　tricked；　he　will　swim　willingly　into　the　jaws　of　death。
　　　The　aboleth　will　eat　him！　K'Sothra　cried。
　　　And　you'll　be　rid　of　Pharaun　at　last；　Zinda　added。　In　a　way　that　even　Triel　won't　find　fault　with。
　　　How　will　I　convince　Pharaun　I'm　dead？　Quenthel　asked。
　　　You　won't；　Yngoth　answered。　Twisting　to　stare　at　the　entrance　to　the　cave；　the　viper　fixed　its　eyes　on　Jeggred。　He　will。　Take　Jeggred　with　you…and　tell　him　nothing　of　your　plans。　That　way；　his　grief　will　be　all　the　more　convincing。　Give　him　an　order；　and　make　sure　he　fixes　it　in　his　mind；　that　if　you　should　be　killed；　he　is　not　to　take　his　revenge　upon　the　aboleth。　He　instead　must　fight　his　way　back　to　Pharaun　and　tell　him　what　happened；　so　the　others　may　carry　word　of　your　death　back　to　Menzoberranzan。　Tell　Jeggred　that　he　must　succeed　in　doing　this…at　all　costs…or　the　life　of　his　mistress　will　have　been　forfeited　for　nothing。
　　　As　if　he'd　somehow　sensed　that　they　were　talking　about　him；　Jeggred　stirred　and　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder。　His　eyes　narrowed；　but　he　obeyed　Quenthel's　sharp　gesture　instantly；　returning　his　attention　to　the　tunnel。
　　　Quenthel；　meanwhile；　was　relieved　to　learn　that　there　was　a　way　out　of　her　dilemma…one　that　would　finally　pay　Pharaun　back　for　his　intolerable　insubordination。
　　　She　stared　at　Yngoth　expectantly　and　asked；　How　am　I　to　avoid　being　eaten　by　the　aboleth？
　　　The　viper　bared　its　fangs　in　a　menacing　smile。
　　　You　still　have　your　rod；　Yngoth　replied。
　　　Quenthel　nodded。
　　　And　that　bottle　of　lace　fungus　wine　you've　been　saving。
　　　Yes；　Quenthel　answered。　But　how　in　the　Abyss　are　those　going　to…
　　　Listen；　Yngoth　said　again。　And　I　will　explain。　。　。　。
　　　Quenthel　listened　avidly。　By　the　time　Yngoth　was　finished　speaking；　her　lips　were　parted　in　a　feral　grin。
　　　It　might　just　work；　she　thought　to　the　snake；　sending　a　wave　of　excitement　along　with　the　thought。　Then；　on　a　grimmer　note；　she　added；　It　must。
　　　The　other　vipers；　who　had　maintained　a　respectful　silence　as　Yngoth　outlined　the　plan；　writhed　in　anticipation　of　seeing　it　carried　out。　Even　Qorra；　the　serpent　who　almost　never　spoke；　could　hardly　contain　herself。
　　　Oh！　she　said。　This　will　be　such　fun！
　　　
　　　Jeggred　waited　just　outside　the　audience　room　in　which　Quenthel　was　speaking　with　the　aboleth　matriarch；　every　muscle　in　his　body　tense。　Quenthel　was　in　there；　atone；　with　two　of　them。　She'd　let　one　of　the　creatures…the　one　that　wasn't　Oothoon…move　into　a　position　behind　her。　Why　had　she　allowed　it　to　do　that？
　　　Jeggred　didn't　like　the　bloated　fish…folk。　They　could　not　be　trusted。　Even　with　water　filling　his　nostrils；　he　could　smell　the　stink　of　deceit。　He　glanced；　eyes　narrowed；　at　a　third　aboleth；　which　had　been　ordered　out　into　the　corridor　by　its　matriarch　when　Quenthel　had　told　Jeggred　to　wait　outside。　Jeggred　itched　to　rend　its　rubbery　looking　flesh；　to　see　if　its　blood　ran　red。　He　could　picture　it　。。。　the　blood　would　fill　the　water　in　a　cloud。　What　a　heady　feast　that　would　be…to　inhale　blood　with　each　breath！
　　　One　of　the　trailing　tentacles　of　the　aboleth　guarding　him　drifted　close　to　his　shoulder。　Jeggred　lashed　out；　clawing　a　furrow　in　its　flesh。
　　　Its　three　eyes　blinking；　the　abol