war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第11部分

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　　　The　high　priestess's　eyes　narrowed；　and　she　straightened　proudly。　She　obviously　didn't　care　to　be　the　subject　of　the　wizard's　humor。　Seemingly　ignorant　of　the　smoldering　glare　Quenthel　fixed　on　him；　Pharaun　made　a　grand　gesture　indicating　the　formless　dark　ahead　of　them。
　　　〃Our　path　leads　now　into　the　shadow　of　our　own　Underdark；〃　he　said。　〃I　suggest　we　redouble　our　efforts　and　finish　our　march　quickly；　as　there　may　be　more　nightwalkers　about。〃
　　　〃That's　a　damned　cheerful　thought；〃　grumbled　Ryld。　〃How　much　farther　now？〃
　　　〃Not　more　than　an　hour；　perhaps　two；〃　Pharaun　answered。
　　　The　wizard　waited　while　the　dark　elves　stood　and　fell　in　behind　him　again。　Ryld　and　Valas；　the　two　who　had　borne　the　virulence　of　the　nightwalker's　dread　gaze；　seemed　gray　with　weariness；　hardly　able　to　keep　their　feet。
　　　〃e；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃Mantol…Derith　is　no　Menzoberranzan；　but　it　will　be　the　most　civilized　place　we've　seen　in　days；　and　no　one　is　likely　to　want　to　kill　us。
　　　〃Not　right　away；　at　least。〃
　　　
　　　Nothing　more　troubled　them　for　the　rest　of　the　shadow　walk；　and　they　emerged　from　the　Fringe　not　long　after　the　nightwalker's　attack；　returning　to　the　mundane　world　on　the　floor　of　a　narrow；　subterranean　gorge。　The　walls　were　marked　with　various　trail　signs　and　messages　from　previous　travelers　who　had　stopped　there。　It　was　obviously　a　monly　used　campsite　near　the　trade　cavern。　The　pany　rested　there　for　hours；　warming　up　from　the　insidious　chill　of　the　Shadow　Fringe。　After　resting；　they　left　the　gorge　and　found　their　way　out　into　a　long；　smooth…sided　tunnel　that　bored　for　miles　through　the　dark；　broken　by　occasional　open　caverns　along　the　way。
　　　Valas　led　the　pany；　as　he　was　familiar　with　their　arrival　point　and　the　route　they　found　themselves　traveling。　After　the　burning　skies　of　the　daylit　surface　and　the　miserable　gloom　of　the　Plane　of　Shadow；　the　routine　perils　of　the　Underdark　felt　like　old　friends。　This　was　their　world；　the　place　where　they　belonged；　even　those　of　their　number　who　had　rarely　journeyed　outside　their　home　cities。
　　　After　a　march　of　about　two　miles；　Valas　called　a　brief　halt　and　knelt　down　to　sketch　a　crude　map　in　the　dust　of　the　passage　floor。
　　　〃Mantol…Derith　lies　not　more　than　half　a　mile　ahead。　Remember；　this　is　a　place　of　trade　and　association　with　other　races。　We　do　not　rule　Mantol…Derith…no　one　does…and　so　it　would　be　prudent　to　avoid　giving　offense　to　anyone　you　encounter　there；　unless　you're　looking　for　a　fight　that　may　waste　our　time　and　resources。
　　　〃Also；　I　have　been　considering　how　best　to　find　our　way　from　the　trade　cavern　to　the　holdings　of　House　Jaelre　in　the　Labyrinth。　From　here　our　path　must　traverse　the　dominion　of　Gracklstugh；　city　of　the　gray　dwarves。〃
　　　〃Under　no　circumstances　will　we　approach　Gracklstugh；〃　Quenthel　said　at　once。　〃The　gray　dwarves　destroyed　Ched　Nasad。　I　see　no　reason　to　present　myself　at　their　doorstep　for　slaughter。〃
　　　〃We　have　few　other　options；　Mistress；〃　Valas　said。　〃We　are　northeast　of　the　duergar　realm；　and　the　Labyrinth　lies　several　days　southwest　of　the　city。　We　cannot　skirt　the　city　to　the　south　because　the　Darklake　is　in　the　way；　and　the　duergar　patrol　its　waters。　Skirting　the　city　to　the　north　would　take　us　at　least　two　tendays　of　difficult　travel　through　tunnels　I　do　not　know　well　at　all。〃
　　　〃Why　did　we　bother　to　e　this　way；　then？〃　Jeggred　muttered。　〃We　might　as　well　have　returned　to　Menzoberranzan。〃
　　　〃Well；　for　one　thing；　Gracklstugh　still　lies　between　us　and　House　Jaelre；　whether　we're　in　Mantol…Derith　or　Menzoberranzan；〃　Pharaun　replied。　He　tapped　three　points　on　Valas's　crudely　sketched　map。　〃The　gray　dwarves　must　be　addressed　in　either　scenario。　The　question　is　simply　whether　we　dare　to　pass　through　Gracklstugh；　or　not。〃
　　　〃Could　you　shadow　walk　us　past　the　city？〃　Danifae　asked。
　　　Pharaun　grimaced　and　said；　〃I　have　never　traveled　past　Mantol…Derith　in　this　direction；　and　shadow　walking　is　best　employed　to　reach　a　familiar　destination。　At　any　rate；　it　wouldn't　surprise　me　to　find　that　the　duergar　have　defended　their　realm　against　the　passage　of　travelers　on　nearby　planes。〃
　　　〃Are　we　certain　that　the　gray　dwarves　would　object　to　our　presence？〃　Ryld　asked。　〃Merchants　from　Menzoberranzan　journey　to　Gracklstugh　often　enough；　and　gray　dwarf　merchants　bring　their　wares　to　Menzoberranzan's　bazaar。　It's　possible　that　Gracklstugh　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　duergar　mercenaries　who　attacked　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　〃I　have　heard　nothing　that　suggests　to　me　that　we　should　risk　entering　Gracklstugh；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　made　a　curt　gesture　with　her　hand；　silencing　the　debate。　〃I　prefer　not　to　gamble　on　the　hospitality　of　the　gray　dwarves；　not　after　the　fall　of　Ched　Nasad。　We　will　go　around　the　city　to　the　north；　and　trust　that　Master　Hune　can　find　us　a　way　through。〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　at　Ryld　and　Valas。　The　scout　chewed　on　his　lip；　worrying　at　the　problem；　while　the　weapons　master　simply　lowered　his　eyes　in　resignation。
　　　〃We　are　only　a　mile　or　two　from　this　cavern　known　as　Mantol…Derith？〃　Halisstra　asked；　pointing　at　the　sketch。
　　　〃Yes；　my　lady；〃　Valas　replied。
　　　〃And　regardless　of　which　course　we　choose；　we　must　pass　through　the　place？〃
　　　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　simply　nodded　again。
　　　〃Then　perhaps　we　should　see　what　we　can　learn　in　the　trade　cavern　before　we　make　our　decision；〃　Halisstra　offered。　She　could　feel　Quenthel's　eyes　on　her；　but　she　did　not　look　at　the　Baenre。　〃There　might　be　duergar　merchants　there　who　could　shed　some　light　on　the　question　for　us。　If　not；　well；　we'll　have　to　provision　ourselves　there　anyway　before　striking　out　into　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。〃
　　　〃A　reasonable　suggestion；〃　Pharaun　remarked。　〃There　are　a　dozen　mercenary　panies　based　in　the　City　of　Blades。　Is　it　not　likely　that　the　duergar　we　fought　in　Ched　Nasad　were　hired　by　a　drow　House；　and　had　no　special　allegiance　to　Gracklstugh？〃
　　　〃They　did　Gracklstugh's　work　when　they　destroyed　the　city；〃　Quenthel　said　darkly。　She　stood　and　set　her　hands　on　her　hips；　still　staring　at　the　sketch　on　the　floor。　She　thought　for　a　moment；　then　angrily　swept　it　out　with　her　foot。　〃We　will　see　what　we　learn　in　Mantol…Derith；　then。　I　suspect　that　time　is　of　the　essence；　and　if　we　can　avoid　a　detour　of　twenty　or　thirty　days　to　skirt　the　city；　we　should　do　so；　but　if　we　hear　anything　to　indicate　that　Gracklstugh　may　be　closed　to　our　kind；　we　strike　out　into　the　barrens。〃
　　　Valas　Hune　nodded　and　said；　〃Very　well；　Mistress。　I　suspect　we　will　be　able　to　arrange　passage　unless　the　duergar　are　openly　at　war　with　Menzoberranzan。　I've　dealt　with　the　gray　dwarves　before；　and　there　is　nothing　they　would　not　sell　for　the　right　price。　I　will　seek　out　a　duergar　guide　in　Mantol…Derith　and　see　what　I　can　learn。〃
　　　〃Good　enough；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃Take　us　to　the　duergar；　and　we　will…〃
　　　〃No；　Mistress；　not　'we'；〃　the　scout　said。　He　stood　and　brushed　off　his　hands。　〃Most　duergar　have　little　liking　for　drow　under　any　circumstances；　less　so　for　noble…born　drow；　and　even　less　for　priestesses　of　the　Spider　Queen。　Your　presence　would　only　plicate　things。　It　might　be　best　if　I　handled　any　negotiations　myself。〃
　　　Quenthel　frowned。
　　　Jeggred；　standing　close　behind　her；　rumbled；　〃I　could　go　along　to　keep　an　eye　on　him；　Mistress。〃
　　　Pharaun　barked　sharp　laughter　at　the　thought　and　said；　〃If　a　priestess　of　Lolth　makes　a　gray　dwarf　nervous；　what　do　you　think　he'd　make　of　you？〃
　　　The　draegloth　bridled；　but　Quenthel　shook　her　head。
　　　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃he's　right。　We　will　find　a　place　to　wait；　and　perhaps　see　what　news　there　is　to　be　had；　while　Valas　takes　care　of　the　details。〃
　　　They　resumed　their　march；　and　soon　came　to　Mantol…Derith。　The　place　was　much　smaller　than　Halisstra　expected；　a　cavern　not　more　than　sixty　or　seventy　feet　in　height　and　perhaps　twice　that　in　width；　though　it　twisted　and　snaked　for　many　hundreds　of　yards。　She　was　used　to　the　immensity　of　Ched　Nasad's　great　canyon；　and　the　stories　she'd　heard　of　other　places　of　civilization　underground　usually　involved　tremendous　caverns　miles　across。　Mantol…Derith　would　have　been　nothing　more　than　a　side　cavern　in　a　drow　city。
　　　It　was　also　much　less　crowded　than　she　would　have　expected。　The　marketplaces　in　her　home　city　had　always　been　busy　places；　thronged　by　mon　drow　or　the　slaves　of　nobles　engaged　in　their　various　errands。　The　market　of　a　drow　city　usually　hummed　with　industry；　energy；　and　activity；　even　if　those　qualities　were　peculiarly　distorted　to　match　the　aesthetic　tastes　of　drow　society。　Mantol…Derith　was　paratively　silent　and　forbidding。　Here　and　there　throughout　the　caverns　winding　length；　small　groups　of　merchants　sat　or　squatted；　their　wares　secured　in　coffers　and　casks　behind　them　instead　of　rolled　out　on　display。　No　one　shouted；　or　haggled；　or　laughed。　What　business　transpired　there　seemed　best　conducted　in　whispers　and　shadows。
　　　Creatures　from　many　different　races　gathered　at　Mantol…Derith。　More　than　a　few　drow　merchants　held　various　corners　of　the　cavern；　most　from　Menzoberranzan　if　Halisstra　read　the　blazons　on　their　goods　correctly。　Mind　flayers　glided　smoothly　from　place　to　place；　mauve　skin　glistening　damply；　tentacles　writhing　beneath　their　cephalopod　faces。　A　handful　of　sullen　svirfneblin　huddled　together　in　one　spot；　eyeing　the　drow　with　unalloyed　resentment。　Of　course　the　duergar　were　present　in　numbers；　too。　Short　and　broad…shouldered；　the　gaunt　gray　dwarves　gathered　together　in　secretive　cabals；　conversing　with　each　softly　in　their　guttural　tongue。
　　　Halisstra　trailed　close　behind　Pharaun；　studying　each　group　as　they　passed。　She　noticed　that　the　wizard　was　trading　discreet　signs　with　Valas　as　they　wound　deeper　into　the　marketplace。
　　　Not　many　merchants　here　today；　the　wizard　observed。　Where　are　they　all？
　　　Valas　glanced　over　his　shoulder　to　make　sure　Quenthel　wasn't　looking；　and　answered；　Chaos　in　Menzoberranzan　means　few　buyers。　Few　buyers　means　few　sellers。　Anarchy　seems　to　be　bad　for　business。
　　　The　scout　turned　to　eye　a　band　of　duergar　nearby；　and　said　over　his　shoulder　to　the　rest　of　the　pany；　〃Go　on　ahead。　You'll　find　an　inn　of　sorts　a　little　farther　on。　I　will　meet　you　there　soon。〃
　　　He　quietly　approached　the　gray　dwarves；　making　a　strange　gesture　of　greeting　with　his　hands　folded　before　him；　and　engaged　the　duergar　merchants　in　whispered　conversation。　The　rest　of　the　party　moved　on。
　　　They　found　the　〃inn〃　to　which　the　scout　referred　in　a　dank　warren　of　caves　near　the　southern　end　of　Mantol…Derith。　There；　a　surly　duergar　woman　terrorized　a　handful　of　goblin　slaves；　driving　them　mercilessly　from　one　task　to　another。　Several　small　cookfires　smoldered　haphazardly　in　the　area；　warming　iron　pots　of　thick　stew　tended　by　the　harried　cooks。　Other　slaves　scrambled　to　tap　casks　of　mushroom　ale　or　stolen　surface　lagers；　serving　silent　customers　who　simply　gathered　around　the　fires；　sitting　on　flat　boulders　arranged　like　chairs。　Sturdy　doors　of　petrified　mushroom　fiber　or　rusted　iron　plate　sealed　off　crevices　in　the　walls　nearby。　Halisstra　presumed　that　these　led　to　the　guest　rooms　of　the　gray　dwarf's　inn。　The　chambers　were　most　likely　secure　behind　the　strong　doors；　but　she　couldn't　imagine　that　they　were　at　all　fortable。
　　　〃How　。　。　。　rustic；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　She　wondered　for　one　terrible　moment　if　it　would　be　her　fate　to　live　out　the　rest　of　her　expatriate　existence　crouched　in　some　similar　hovel。
　　　〃It's　even　more　charming　than　the　last　time　I　was　here；〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　forced　smile。　〃The　dwarf　there　is　Dinnka。　You'll　find　that　this　nameless　wayside　inn　of　hers　constitutes　the　finest　lodgings　available　in　Mantol…Derith。　You'll　get　food；　fire；　and　shelter…three　things　that　are　hard　to　e　by　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark…and　pay　a　small　fortune　for　it。〃
　　　〃It　will　be　better　than　resting　in　a　monster…haunted　surface　ruin；　I　suppose；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　She　led　the　way　as　the　party　approached　one　of　the　cookfires。　A　trio　of　bugbears　occupied　the　seats　there；　apparently　mercenaries　of　some　skill；　judging　by　the　quality　of　the　armor　they　wore。　The　hairy　creatures　brooded　over　big　leather　jacks　of　mushroom　ale；　and　gnawed　at　haunches　of　rothe　meat。　One　by　one　the　hulking　warriors　looked　up　as　the　five　drow　and　Jeggred　approached。　Quenthel　folded　her　arms　and　looked　at　the　creatures　with　contempt。
　　　〃Well？〃　she　said。
　　　The　bugbears　growled；　setting　down　ale　and　meat　as　their　great　fists　dropped　down　to　rest　on　axe…hafts　thrust　through　their　belts。　The　motion　caught　Halisstra's　eye。　Bugbears　with　any　lick　of　sense　would　have　vacated　their　places　immediately；　almost　anywhere　in　the　Underdark。　They　might　not　have　been　drow　slaves…clearly　they　weren't；　if　they　were　in　Mantol…Derith…but　she'd　ventured　out　into　similar　places　near　Ched　Nasad　enough　times　to　understand　that　creatures　like　bugbears　learned　quickly　to　give　way　to　the　truly　dangerous　denizens　of　the　Lands　Below；　such　as　noble　dark　elves。
　　　〃Well；　what？〃　snarled　the　largest　of　the　three。　〃It'll　take　more'n　a　drow　sneer　t'make　us　give　up　our　seats。〃
　　　〃Think　y'can　just　push　us　aroun'？〃　the　second　bugbear　added。　〃You　elfies　ain't　as　scary　as　y'was；　y'know。　Maybe　yous'll　have　t'start　showin'　off　why　we's　oughtta　do　what　y'says。〃
　　　Quenthel　waited　for　a　moment；　then　said　one　word：　〃Jeggred。〃
　　　The　draegloth　bounded　forward　and　seized　the　first　bugbear。　With　his　two　smaller　arms　he　clamped　down　over　the　bugbear's　hands；　preventing　him　from　drawing　any　of　the　weapons　at　his　side。　He　locked　one　fighting　talon　around　the　creature's　head；　holding　him　tightly；　and　with　his　other　fighting　hand　he　plunged　his　powerful　talons　into　the　bugbear's　face。　The　mercenary　screamed　something　in　his　uncouth　language　and　struggled　against　the　draegloth。　Jeggred　grinned；　knotted　his　claws　deep　in　the　shrieking　monster's　head；　and　yanked　back　hard；　ripping　off　the　front　of　the　bugbear's　skull。　Blood　and　brain　matter　splattered　the　bugbears　panions；　who　scrambled　to　their　feet；　drawing　swords　and　axes。
　　　Jeggred　lowered　the　twitching　body　a　bit　and　looked　over　it　at　the　other　two。
　　　〃Next？〃　he　purred。
　　　The　two　remaining　bugbears　stumbled　back；　and　fled　in　abject　terror。　Jeggred　shook　his　white…furred　head　and　tossed　the　corpse　aside；　taking　a　seat　at　the　fire。　He　helped　himself　to　a　hunk　of　roast　dropped　by　a　bugbear；　and　raised　one　of　their　jacks　in　another　hand。
　　　〃Bugbears。　。　。　。〃　he　muttered。
　　　〃Hey；　you！〃
　　　The　surly　duergar　innkeeper…Dinnka…scuttled　forward；　anger　plain　on　her　face。
　　　〃Those　three　hadn't　settled　their　tab　yet；〃　she　plained。　〃Now　how　in　all　the　screaming　hells　am　I　going　to　get　my　gold　from　them？〃
　　　Ryld　stooped　and　removed　the　bugbear's　belt　pouch。　He　tossed　it　to　Dinnka。
　　　〃Settle　up　with　this；〃　the　weapons　master　said；　〃and　start　our　tab　with　what's　left。　We'll　want　good　wine；　and　more　food。〃
　　　The　duergar　woman　caught　the　purse；　but　she　did　not　move。
　　　〃I　don't　appreciate　your　scaring　off　paying　customers；　drow。　Nor　killing　them；　neither。　Next　time　do　your　murdering　at　home；　where　it　belongs。〃
　　　She　marched　off；　already　barking　orders　at　the　goblin　slaves　underfoot。
　　　Halisstra　watched　her　go；　then　she　looked　back　to　the