war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第13部分

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than　a　spearcast　above　them；　leaving　many　hundreds；　or　even　thousands　of　feet　of　black　mystery　below　their　feet。　It　was　an　unsettling　sensation。
　　　Coalhewer's　boat　was　less　than　forting　itself。　It　was　an　asymmetrical　vessel　made　mostly　of　planks　sawn　from　the　woody　stems　of　a　particular　type　of　gigantic　Underdark　mushroom；　and　treated　with　lacquers　for　strength　and　rigidity。　The　zurkhwood　formed　a　broad　platform；　which　floated　on　a　cluster　of　soft　air　bladders　taken　from　some　aquatic　species　of　giant　fungus。　The　whole　thing　was　riveted　together　with　the　excellent　metalwork　of　the　gray　dwarves。
　　　Four　hulking　skeletons…ogres　in　life；　perhaps；　or　maybe　trolls…crouched　in　a　well…like　area　in　the　boat's　center；　endlessly　turning　two　large　cranks　that　drove　a　pair　of　zurkhwood　waterwheels。　The　mindless　undead　never　tired；　never　plained；　never　even　slowed　their　pace　unless　Coalhewer　ordered　them　to；　driving　the　boat　onward　with　no　sound　but　the　soft　rush　of　water　over　the　wheels　and　the　faint　clicking　and　scraping　of　their　bones　in　motion。　The　gray　dwarf　stood　near　the　stern　on　a　small；　elevated　bridge；　high　enough　to　see　over　the　waterwheels。　He　peered　ahead　into　the　darkness；　arms　folded　across　his　thick　chest；　keeping　his　thoughts　to　himself。
　　　The　passengers　crouched　on　the　cold；　unfortable　deck　or　paced　back　and　forth；　staying　a　little　ways　back　from　the　railless　edge　of　the　platform。　The　journey　from　Mantol…Derith　was　not　extremely　swift；　as　the　vessel　was　not　quick；　and　Coalhewer　had　to　carefully　thread　his　way　around　places　where　the　cavern　roof　dropped　so　low　there　wasn't　enough　room　for　the　boat。
　　　Valas　spent　most　of　his　time　standing　on　the　bridge　beside　the　dwarf；　keeping　a　careful　eye　on　the　course　he　steered。　Pharaun　sat　cross…legged　at　the　base　of　the　structure；　deep　in　Reverie；　while　Ryld　and　Jeggred　kept　a　sharp　watch　on　the　port　and　starboard　sides　respectively；　making　sure　that　none　of　the　lake's　denizens　approached　undetected。　The　priestesses　kept　to　themselves；　wrapped　in　Reveries　of　their　own　or　staring　out　over　the　lightless　waters；　lost　in　thought。
　　　They　passed　almost　two　full　days　in　that　manner；　pausing　only　briefly　for　austere　meals　or　to　let　the　duergar　captain　rest。　Coalhewer　was　extraordinarily　cautious　about　showing　any　kind　of　light　and　made　them　build　their　cookfires　in　a　small；　secluded　fire…box　that　shielded　the　flames　from　view。
　　　〃There's　too　many　things　as　are　drawn　by　the　light；〃　he　muttered。　〃Even　this　much　may　be　dangerous。〃
　　　After　their　third　such　meal；　late　on　their　second　day　of　travel；　Halisstra　retired　to　the　bow　of　the　boat　so　that　she　could　look　out　over　the　waters　and　not　find　herself　staring　at　one　or　another　of　her　panions。　In　the　furious　battle　to　escape　Hlaungadath；　and　the　walk　through　the　Plane　of　Shadow；　she　had　had　little　time　to　embrace　and　understand　her　new　circumstances。　Empty　hours　of　listening　to　the　soft　murmur　of　water　and　the　insectlike　clicking　and　scraping　of　the　boat's　skeletal　engine　had　unfortunately　failed　to　immerse　her　in　activity；　leaving　her　with　the　opportunity　to　replay　the　fall　of　Ched　Nasad　over　and　over　again　in　her　head。
　　　What　became　of　my　House？　she　wondered。　Did　any　of　our　servants　and　soldiers　survive　by　escaping　Ched　Nasad？　Are　they　together；　and　who　leads　them？　Or　did　they　all　die　amid　the　flame　and　ruin？
　　　Matron　Mother　Melarn's　death　left　Halisstra　as　the　head　of　the　House…presuming　that　none　of　her　younger　cousins　had　managed　to　claim　leadership。　If　one　of　them　had；　Halisstra　was　certain　she　could　wrest　it　away　from　her　kinswoman。　She　had　always　been　the　most　favored　of　the　Melarn　daughters；　the　oldest；　the　strongest；　and　she　knew　her　cousins　could　not　deny　her　her　birthright。
　　　But　it　seemed　very　likely　indeed　that　her　birthright　was　nothing　more　than　ash　and　rubble　at　the　floor　of　Ched　Nasad's　great　chasm。　Even　if　some　part　of　her　household　had　escaped；　would　she　want　to　seek　them　out　and　join　them　in　a　miserable；　squalid；　and　dangerous　exile　in　the　Underdark？
　　　This　was　not　how　it　was　supposed　to　be；　she　thought。　I　was　to　ascend　to　my　mother's　place　in　time；　and　wield　the　power　that　had　been　hers　and　her　mother's　before　her。　The　thousand　strands　of　Ched　Nasad　would　have　met　at　my　feet。　My　least　desire　I　might　have　fulfilled　with　a　word；　a　look；　a　simple　frown。　Instead；　I　am　a　rootless　wanderer。
　　　Why；　Lolth？　she　cried　out　in　her　mind。　Why？　What　offense　did　we　give　you？　What　weakness　did　we　show？
　　　Once　Halisstra　had　heard　the　dark　whispers　of　the　Spider　Queen　in　her　heart；　but　that　place　was　empty。　Lolth　chose　not　to　answer。　She　did　not　even　choose　to　punish　Halisstra　for　the　temerity　of　demanding　an　answer。
　　　If　Lolth　had　truly　abandoned　her；　what　would　bee　of　her　if　she　followed　her　House　down　into　death？　All　of　her　life；　Halisstra　had　believed　that　her　faithful　service　as　a　priestess　and　a　bae'qeshel　to　the　Queen　of　the　Demonweb　Pits　would　earn　her　a　high　place　in　Lolth's　domain　after　her　death；　but　what　would　bee　of　her　now？　Would　her　rootless　spirit　be　interred　with　the　other　unfortunate　souls　no　god　claimed　in　the　afterlife；　fated　to　dissipate　and　die　the　real　and　eternal　death　in　the　gray　voids　reserved　for　the　faithless？　Halisstra　shivered　in　horror。　Lolth's　faith　was　hard；　and　weaklings　had　no　place　in　it；　but　a　priestess　could　expect　that　she　would　be　rewarded　in　death　for　her　service　in　life。　If　that　was　no　longer　true　。　。　。
　　　Danifae　approached　with　sinuous　grace　and　knelt　beside　her。　She　looked　into　Halisstra's　face　boldly；　and　did　not　lower　her　eyes。
　　　〃Grief　is　a　sweet　wine；　Mistress　Melarn。　If　you　drink　but　a　little；　you　are　tempted　to　drink　more；　and　things　are　never　improved　by　overindulging　in　either。〃
　　　Halisstra　looked　away　to　pose　herself。　She　did　not　care　to　share　her　secret　horror　with　Danifae。
　　　〃Grief　is　not　enough　of　a　word　for　what　is　in　my　heart；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　thought　of　little　else　since　we　began　this　interminable　voyage。　Ched　Nasad　was　more　than　a　city；　Danifae。　It　was　a　dream；　a　dark　and　glorious　dream　of　the　Spider　Queen。　Graceful　castles；　soaring　webs；　Houses　full　of　wealth　and　pride　and　ambition；　all　burned　to　ashes　in　a　few　short　hours。　The　city；　its　matrons　and　daughters；　the　beautiful　web…spun　palaces；　all　lost　now；　and　for　what　reason？〃　She　closed　her　eyes　and　battled　the　hot　ache　in　the　hollow　of　her　breast。　〃The　dwarves　did　not　destroy　us。　We　destroyed　ourselves。〃
　　　〃I　will　not　mourn　the　passing　of　Ched　Nasad；〃　Danifae　said。　Halisstra　looked　up　sharply；　cut　more　by　the　girl's　dispassionate　tone　than　her　words。　〃It　was　a　city　full　of　enemies；　most　of　whom　are　dead；　while　others　flee　as　paupers　into　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。　No；　I　will　not　mourn　Ched　Nasad。　Who；　besides　the　few　Ched　Nasadans　who　survive；　will？〃
　　　Halisstra　did　not　choose　to　answer。　No　one　would　grieve　for　a　city　of　drow；　not　even　other　dark　elves。　That　was　the　way　of　the　drow。　The　strong　endured；　and　the　weak　fell　by　the　wayside；　as　the　Spider　Queen　demanded。　Danifae　waited　for　a　long　time　before　she　spoke　again。
　　　〃Have　you　given　thought　to　what　we　will　do　next？〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　at　her　and　said；　〃Our　lot　is　already　cast　with　the　Menzoberranyr；　is　it　not？〃
　　　〃For　today；　yes；　but　tomorrow　will　your　purposes　and　theirs　coincide？　What　will　you　do　if　Lolth's　favor　returns　tomorrow？　Where　would　you　go？〃
　　　〃Does　it　matter？〃　Halisstra　said。　〃Return　to　Ched　Nasad；　I　suppose；　and　gather　together　what　survivors　I　can。　It　will　be　a　hard　task；　more　than　I　likely　could　hope　to　acplish　even　in　a　lifetime；　but　with　the　Spider　Queen's　blessing　House　Melarn　may　yet　rise　again。〃
　　　〃Do　you　think　Quenthel　would　permit　such　a　thing？〃
　　　〃Why　should　she　care　what　I　do　with　the　rest　of　my　life？　Especially　if　I　spend　it　raising　a　wretched　fragment　of　a　House　over　the　smoking　ruins　of　my　city？〃　Halisstra　said　bitterly。
　　　Danifae　merely　spread　her　hands。　Halisstra　understood。　What　reason　would　a　Baenre　need　to　do　anything　at　all；　really？　The　Menzoberranyr　might　have　been　their　saviors　from　the　wreck　of　Ched　Nasad；　but　at　a　word　from　Quenthel　they　might　bee　their　captors；　or　their　killers。　The　girl　glanced　back　to　where　the　others　meditated　or　stood　their　watches；　and　changed　to　signs；　carefully　hidden　from　the　rest　of　the　pany。
　　　Perhaps　it　might　be　wise　to　consider　exactly　how　we　can　make　ourselves　indispensable　to　the　Menzoberranyr；　she　motioned。　The　hour　will　e　when　we　will　no　longer　wish　to　rely　on　Quenthel　Baenre's　benevolence；　such　as　it　is。
　　　〃Careful；〃　Halisstra　cautioned。
　　　She　sat　up　straight　and　deliberately　controlled　her　own　impulse　to　look　over　her　shoulder。　Danifae　had　an　uncanny　instinct　for　manipulation；　but　if　Quenthel　suspected　that　Halisstra　and　Danifae　planned　to　undermine　her　authority…or　even　impose　limits　on　her　freedom　of　action…Halisstra　didn't　doubt　that　the　Baenre　would　take　quick　and　drastic　steps　to　remove　a　perceived　challenge。
　　　It　is　a　dangerous　thing　you　suggest；　Danifae。　Quenthel　would　not　hesitate　to　kill　a　challenger；　and　if　I　were　killed…
　　　I　would　not　survive；　Danifae　finished　for　her。　I　understand　the　conditions　of　my　captivity　quite　well；　Mistress　Melarn。　Still；　inaction　in　the　face　of　our　danger　is　every　bit　as　risky　as　what　I　am　about　to　propose。　Hear　me　out；　and　you　can　decide　what　you　wish　me　to　do。
　　　Halisstra　measured　the　girl；　studying　her　perfect　features；　her　alluring　figure。　She　thought　of　the　conversation　between　Quenthel　and　Danifae　she　had　overheard　in　the　catabs　of　Hlaungadath。　She　could　put　a　halt　to　Danifae's　scheming　with　a　word；　of　course。　She　could　even　pel　it　through　the　magic　of　the　locket…but　then　she　wouldn't　know　what　Danifae　plotted；　would　she？
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said。　Tell　me　what　you　have　in　mind。
　　　
　　　Gracklstugh；　like　Menzoberranzan；　was　a　cavern　city。　Unlike　the　realm　of　the　dark　elves；　the　stalagmites　harbored　great　stinking　smelters　and　foundries；　not　the　elegant　castles　of　noble　families。　The　air　had　an　acrid　reek；　and　the　clamor　of　industry　rang　endlessly　throughout　the　cavern…the　roaring　of　fires；　the　metallic　ringing　of　iron　on　iron；　and　the　rush　of　polluted　streams　carrying　away　the　wastes　of　the　duergar　forges。　Unlike　Menzoberranzan；　lightless　except　for　the　delicate　faerie　fire　applied　to　decorate　drow　palaces；　Gracklstugh　glowed　with　reflected　firelight　and　the　occasional　harsh　glare　of　white…hot　metal　splashing　into　molds。　It　was　a　singularly　unlovely　place；　an　affront　to　any　highborn　drow。　Halisstra　thought　the　place　seemed　like　nothing　less　than　the　Hells'　own　foundry。
　　　At　its　eastern　end；　the　great　cavern　of　the　city　sloped　down　sharply　to　join　the　immense　gulf　of　the　Darklake；　so　that　Gracklstugh　was　a　subterranean　port…though　few　among　the　Underdark　races　used　waterways　such　as　the　Darklake　in　their　merce。　Consequently　the　wharves　and　lakeside　warehouses　of　the　duergar　city　constituted　one　of　its　poorest　and　most　dangerous　districts。　Coalhewer　moored　his　macabre　vessel　at　the　end　of　a　crumbling　stone　quay　occupied　by　a　handful　of　ships　of　the　same　general　design。
　　　〃Get　yer　things　and　step　lively；〃　the　dwarf　snapped。　〃The　less　ye're　seen　t'be　about　the　streets；　the　better。　Spider…kissers　in　the　City　of　Blades　be　well…advised　to　step　soft　and　quick；　if　ye　take　my　meaning。〃
　　　Valas　shot　the　others　a　quick　look　and　signed；　No　killing！　It　will　not　be　tolerated　here。
　　　The　scout　shouldered　his　pack　and　followed　the　dwarf　down　the　quay；　wrapping　his　piwafwi　around　him　to　conceal　the　swords　at　his　hip。
　　　Pharaun　glanced　up　at　Jeggred　and　said；　〃You　won't　like　it　here；　half…demon。　How　will　you　pass　the　time　without　something　helpless　to　dismember？〃
　　　〃I　will　simply　while　away　the　hours　considering　how　I　might　kill　you；　wizard；〃　the　draegloth　rumbled。
　　　Still；　Jeggred　blew　out　his　breath　and　drew　his　own　long　cloak　over　his　white　mane；　doing　the　best　he　could　to　hunch　over　and　make　himself　inconspicuous。　The　rest　of　the　party　followed　after；　threading　their　way　through　the　dilapidated　streets　of　the　city's　dock　quarter　to　a　fortresslike　inn　a　few　blocks　from　the　wharves。　A　sign　lettered　in　both　Dwarvish　and　Under…mon　named　the　place　as　the　Cold　Foundry。　The　building　itself　consisted　of　an　encircling　stone　wall；　guarding　a　number　of　small；　free…standing　blockhouses。　The　pany　halted　just　outside　the　inn's　front　gate；　which　stood　beside　a　pen　holding　huge；　foul…smelling　pack　lizards。
　　　〃Hardly　an　appealing　prospect；〃　muttered　Pharaun。　〃Still；　I　suppose　it's　better　than　a　rock　on　a　cavern　floor。〃
　　　Valas　conferred　briefly　with　Coalhewer；　then　turned　to　the　rest　of　the　dark　elves　and　said　quietly；　〃Coalhewer　and　I　will　arrange　safe　passage　out　of　the　city　and　look　into　provisioning。　It'll　likely　involve　some　bribes　to　obtain　proper　licenses　and　such；　which　will　take　time。　We　should　plan　on　staying　here　for　at　least　a　full　day；　perhaps　two。〃
　　　〃Can　we　spare　the　time？〃　Ryld　asked。
　　　〃That　would　be　up　to　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Valas　said；　〃but　we　may　be　many　days　on　the　next　leg　of　our　journey。　We　acplish　nothing　by　starving　to　death　after　a　tenday　or　two　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。〃
　　　Quenthel　studied　the　cheerless　duergar　inn；　and　made　her　decision。
　　　〃We　will　stay　two　nights；　and　leave　early　on　the　day　after　tomorrow；〃　she　said。　〃I　would　stay　longer；　but　I　am　hesitant　to　trust　our　fortunes　to　the　continued　hospitality　of　the　duergar。　Events　are　moving　too　quickly　for　us　to　tarry　long。〃
　　　She　looked　at　the　scout；　and　at　Coalhewer；　who　stood　a　short　distance　off；　watching　the　street　with　arms　folded　and　pointedly　not　listening　in　on　the　dark　elves'　conversation。
　　　Is　this　place　safe？　she　signed。　Will　the　dwarf　betray　us？
　　　Safe　enough；　the　scout　replied。　Keep　Jeggred　out　of　sight。　The　rest　of　you　should　be　fine；　as　long　as　you　avoid　confrontations。　He　flicked　his　eyes　at　Coalhewer　and　added；　The　dwarf　understands　that　we　will　pay　well　for　his　services；　but　if　he　should　e　to　believe　that　we　might　kill　him　rather　than　pay　him；　he　will　undoubtedly　find　a　way　to　have　us　all　arrested。　He　knows　we're　something　more　than　merchants；　but　he　doesn't　care　what　errand　brings　us　here　as　long　as　he's　paid。
　　　A　loose　end　to　be　tied　up？　Ryld　asked。
　　　Too　dangerous　now；　Valas　signed。　I　will　keep　a　close　eye　on　him　as　long　as　we're　here。
　　　〃Take　Ryld　with　you；　just　in　case；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　tugged　at　his　pack；　adjusting　it　to　ride　better　between　his　shoulder　blades。
　　　〃Ready　when　you　are；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　can't　say　I　won't　wele　the　pany；　if　trouble　es；〃　Valas　replied。　〃Well；　let's　not　keep　Master　Coalhewer　waiting。　If　you　don't　hear　back　from　us　by　midday　tomorrow；　presume　the　worst　and　get　out　of　the　city　by　the　quickest　means　at　hand。〃
　　　The　scout　hurried　off　with　Ryld　striding　along　a　step　behind　him。　They　collected　Coalhewer　and　made　their　way　deeper　into　the　city。
　　　〃It's　that　boundless　good　cheer　we　find　endearing　in　you；　Valas；〃　Pharaun　remarked　to　the　scout's　back。　〃Well；　I　too　have　errands　to　run。　I　must　find　what　passes　for　a　dealer　in　arcane　reagents　in　this　grim　place；　and　replenish　my　spell　ponents。〃
　　　〃Don't　take　too　long；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　glanced　over　at　Halisstra　and　Danifae。　〃Well；　aren't　you　ing？