war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第24部分

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　　　Halisstra　glanced　over　the　others　and　decided　that　the　wizard　was　most　in　need　of　attention。　After　pushing　him　back　down　onto　the　boulder；　she　took　out　her　own　supply　of　bandages。　She　studied　Pharaun's　upper　arm；　where　Jeggred's　talons　had　scored　the　flesh；　and　she　began　to　apply　an　ointment　from　among　the　supplies　they'd　purchased　in　Gracklstugh。
　　　〃This　will　sting；〃　she　said　pleasantly。
　　　Pharaun　mouthed　an　awful　curse　and　jumped　as　if　he　had　been　stabbed；　yelping　in　pain。
　　　〃You　did　that　on　purpose！〃　he　said。
　　　〃Of　course；〃　Halisstra　replied。
　　　While　she　and　Danifae　worked　on　the　others；　Valas　scrambled　up　a　narrow　path　hidden　along　the　wall　of　the　sinkhole。　He　studied　the　ground　carefully；　and　paused　to　stare　thoughtfully　into　the　forest　nearby。
　　　Halisstra　looked　up　at　him　and　asked；　〃Did　you　find　something　of　interest；　Master　Hune？〃
　　　〃There　is　a　path　here　that　climbs　up　out　of　the　cave　mouth；〃　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　answered；　〃but　I　couldn't　say　where　the　Jaelre　went。　Several　game　trails　converge　here；　but　none　seem　to　have　been　used　by　any　number　of　folk。〃
　　　〃In　the　Jaelre　palace　in　the　Labyrinth　you　said　you'd　found　clear　signs　that　they　had　used　the　portal。　How　could　there　be　no　signs　on　this　side？〃　Quenthel　demanded。
　　　〃Dust　and　grit　in　the　Underdark　can　hold　signs　of　passage　for　many　years；　Mistress。　On　the　surface；　it　is　not　so　easy。　It　rains；　it　snows；　the　small　plants　quickly　grow　over　disused　paths。　Had　the　Jaelre　passed　this　way　in　great　numbers　within　the　last　tenday　or　two；　I　would　probably　see　the　signs；　but　if　they　came　this　way　five　or　ten　years　ago；　I　would　be　left　with　nothing　to　read。〃
　　　〃They　would　not　have　marched　far　across　the　surface；〃　Quenthel　mused。　〃They　can't　be　far　away。〃
　　　〃You're　probably　correct；　Mistress；〃　Valas　replied。　〃The　Jaelre　would　doubtless　have　preferred　to　move　by　night；　staying　under　the　cover　of　the　trees　during　the　day。　If　this　is　a　very　large　forest…the　High　Forest；　or　perhaps　Cormanthor…they　might　be　hundreds　of　miles　away。〃
　　　〃There's　a　cheerful　thought；〃　Pharaun　muttered。　〃What　in　the　world　brought　the　Jaelre　up　here；　anyway？　Didn't　they　consider　the　possibility　that　the　surface　dwellers　would　slaughter　them　as　eagerly　as　the　minotaurs　did？〃
　　　〃When　I　knew　them　years　ago；　Tzirik　and　his　fellows　spoke　from　time　to　time　of　returning　to　the　surface；〃　Valas　said。　He　turned　away　from　the　forest　and　lightly　dropped　back　down　into　the　cave　mouth。　〃Reclaiming　the　World　Above　is　part　of　the　doctrine　of　the　Masked　Lord；　and　the　captains　and　rulers　of　House　Jaelre　wondered　if　the　so…called　Retreat　of　our　light…blinded　surface　kin　might　not　be　an　invitation　to　claim　the　lands　the　surface　elves　were　abandoning。〃
　　　〃Did　it　not　occur　to　you　back　in　Ched　Nasad　that　your　heretical　friends　might　have　decided　to　act　upon　their　wishful　thinking　and　abandon　that　black；　fiend…ravaged　warren　they　called　home？〃　Quenthel　asked。　〃Did　it　not　occur　to　you　that　you　might　have　been　leading　us　into　a　dead　end　in　the　Labyrinth？〃
　　　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　shifted　nervously　under　Quenthel's　gaze；　and　said；　〃I　didn't　see　any　better　alternatives；　Mistress。　Not　if　we　truly　want　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　things。〃
　　　〃You　were　so　eager　to　solve　the　mystery　of　the　Spider　Queen's　silence　that　you　chose　to　gamble　that　your　friend　Tzirik　was　still　in　the　Labyrinth；　even　though　you　knew　his　House　had　been　planning　to　flee　the　place　for　years？〃　Ryld　asked。　〃We　endured　a　great　deal　of　peril　in　the　city　of　the　duergar　and　the　domain　of　the　minotaurs　to　satisfy　your　curiosity。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　we　were　not　meant　to　find　this　Tzirik　at　all；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃Perhaps　Master　Hune　has　led　us　far　away　from　our　true　mission　over　the　last　few　tendays；　and　perhaps　it　was　no　accident　that　he　did　so。〃
　　　〃When　we　considered　the　question　of　whether　we　should　return　to　Menzoberranzan；〃　Jeggred　said；　〃it　was　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　who　urged　us　to　set　off　in　search　of　this　priest　Tzirik…a　heretic　priest　none　of　us　have　even　heard　of；　except　for　Valas。〃　His　eyes　narrowed；　and　the　draegloth　climbed　to　his　feet；　his　four　clawed　hands　balling　into　fists　as　he　shouldered　Danifae　aside。　〃Things　bee　clear；　now。　Our　guide　is　a　Vhaeraunite　heretic；　and　he　has　served　the　Masked　Lord　well　by　leading　us　through　useless　perils　for　days　on　end。〃
　　　〃This　is　ludicrous；〃　Valas　protested。　〃I　would　hardly　have　led　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　to　the　defense　of　Menzoberranzan　if　I　was　an　enemy　of　the　city。〃
　　　〃Ah；　but　it　is　the　classic　ruse；〃　Danifae　purred。　〃Introduce　your　victims　to　the　agent　you　have　chosen　for　their　destruction　by　giving　them　reason　to　trust　her。　In　your　case；　the　job　seems　to　have　been　expertly　done　indeed。〃
　　　〃Even　if　that　was　the　case；〃　Valas　said；　〃why　did　I　not　betray　you　to　the　duergar　in　Gracklstugh？　Or　leave　you　to　the　minotaurs　in　the　Labyrinth？　I　could　have　arranged　your　deaths；　not　a　mere　delay。　If　I　was　your　enemy；　you　can　be　certain　that　is　what　I　would　have　done。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　you　would　have　placed　yourself　in　peril　by　betraying　us　in　either　Gracklstugh　or　the　Labyrinth；〃　Pharaun　observed。　〃Still；　you　raise　a　cogent　point　in　your　own　defense。〃
　　　〃Nothing　more　than　the　glib　lies　of　a　traitor；〃　Jeggred　snarled。　He　glanced　at　Quenthel。　〃mand　me；　Mistress。　Shall　I　rend　him　limb　from　limb　for　you？〃
　　　Valas　lowered　his　hands　to　the　hilts　of　his　kukris；　and　licked　his　lips。　He　was　gray　with　fear；　but　his　eyes　sparked　with　anger。　Each　of　the　others　in　the　pany　turned　their　eyes　to　Quenthel；　who　still　leaned　against　a　boulder；　her　whips　quiescent　at　her　waist。　She　stayed　silent；　as　rain　splattered　down　in　the　forest　and　birds　chirped　and　called　in　the　distance。
　　　〃I　withhold　judgment　for　the　moment；〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　scout。　〃If　you　are　loyal；　we　shall　need　you　to　find　Tzirik…if　the　Vhaeraunite　priest　exists；　of　course…but　you　would　be　well　advised　to　produce　the　Jaelre　and　their　high　priest　quickly；　Master　Hune。〃
　　　〃I　have　no　idea　where　they　might　be；〃　Valas　said。　〃You　might　as　well　condemn　me　now；　and　prepare　yourself　for　Bregan　D'aerthe's　response。〃
　　　Quenthel　exchanged　a　long　look　with　Jeggred。　The　draegloth　smiled；　his　needle…like　fangs　gleaming　in　his　dark　face。
　　　Halisstra　wasn't　sure　what　to　think；　as　she　hadn't　known　the　scout　for　more　than　a　tenday；　and　couldn't　say　what　might　or　might　not　have　happened　in　Menzoberranzan　before　the　Menzoberranyr　came　to　Ched　Nasad。　She　was；　however；　certain　that　they　would　all　regret　it　if　Quenthel　had　Valas　killed　and　it　turned　out　that　the　guide's　services　were　still　required；　or　that　his　powerful　mercenary　guild　decided　to　seek　vengeance　for　the　death　of　their　scout。
　　　〃What　is　the　best　means　of　locating　the　Jaelre　from　here？〃　Halisstra　asked；　hoping　to　deflect　the　conversation　into　a　less　dangerous　course。
　　　Valas　hesitated；　then　said；　〃As　Mistress　Quenthel　pointed　out；　they　are　unlikely　to　have　moved　far。　We　can　search　in　an　expanding　spiral　until　we　e　across　better　information。〃
　　　〃A　plan　that　sounds　wearying　and　tedious；〃　Pharaun　mented。　〃Marching　aimlessly　through　this　blinding　woodland　does　not　appeal　to　me。〃
　　　〃Find　a　surface　dweller　and　pry　information　from　him；〃　Ryld　said。　〃Assuming；　of　course；　that　any　are　nearby；　and　that　they　know　anything　of　the　whereabouts　of　House　Jaelre。〃
　　　〃Again；　we　would　have　to　march　off　in　order　to　locate　a　surface　dweller；　as　none　conveniently　present　themselves　here；〃　Pharaun　observed。　〃Your　plan　differs　in　no　significant　respects　from　Master　Hune's。〃
　　　〃Then　what　would　you　propose？〃　asked　Quenthel；　her　voice　icy。
　　　〃Allow　me　to　rest　and　study　my　spellbooks。　In　the　morning；　I　can　prepare　a　spell　that　may　reveal　the　location　of　our　missing　House　of　heretical　outcasts。〃　He　raised　his　hand　to　forestall　the　Baenre's　protests　and　added；　〃I　know；　I　know；　you　would　like　to　continue　this　very　moment；　but　if　I　can　successfully　divine　the　goal　of　our　search；　it　is　likely　to　save　us　many　hours　of　marching　in　the　wrong　direction。　The　delay　will　also　give　the　lovely　Lady　Melarn　a　chance　to　regain　her　own　magical　strength；　and　perhaps　heal　us　of　the　worst　of　our　wounds。〃
　　　〃You　may　learn　nothing　from　your　spells；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃Magic　of　that　sort　is　notoriously　fickle。〃
　　　Pharaun　simply　looked　at　her。
　　　Quenthel　looked　up　at　the　sky；　blinking　in　the　merciless　gray　light　that　permeated　the　clouds　above。　She　sighed　and　looked　back　down　at　the　others；　her　eyes　lingering　overlong　on　Danifae。　The　battle　captive　tilted　her　head　down　in　a　single；　almost　imperceptible　nod　that　Halisstra　wasn't　even　certain　she　saw。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　said　finally。　〃It　would　be　wise　for　us　to　wait　for　the　cover　of　darkness　in　any　event；　so　we　will　set　up　camp　in　the　cave　below；　where　this　accursed　sunlight　will　not　trouble　us　so　much。　Master　Hune；　you　will　stay　close　by　me　until　we　find　this　Tzirik　of　yours。〃
　　　
　　　Nimor　Imphraezl　made　his　way　swiftly　along　the　wide　ledge；　passing　a　long　line　of　marching　duergar　on　his　right　hand　while　skirting　the　edge　of　a　black　abyss　on　his　left。　Moving　an　army　of　several　thousand　through　the　dark　and　lightless　ways　of　the　Underdark　was　a　formidable　challenge；　and　many　of　the　smaller；　more　direct　routes　were　simply　impassable　to　a　body　of　so　many　soldiers。　That　left　only　the　most　capacious　caverns　and　tunnels；　and　those　routes　frequently　passed　through　dangers　that　the　stealthier　ways　avoided。
　　　The　road　clung　to　the　shoulder　of　a　great　subterranean　canyon；　winding　in　a　northerly　direction　forty　miles　from　Gracklstugh。　The　day's　march　was　not　more　than　two　hours　old；　and　the　gray　dwarf　army　had　already　lost　a　fully　laden　pack　lizard…and　five　soldiers　unlucky　enough　to　be　close　to　the　beast…to　a　flight　of　hungry　yrthaks；　raking　the　high　trail　with　their　sonic　blasts。
　　　No　tremendous　loss；　Nimor　reflected；　but　every　day　brought　its　own　mishap　or　accident；　and　so　the　army's　attrition　began。　In　all　truthfulness；　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　assassin　had　not　really　grasped　the　enormous　effort　required　to　move　a　large；　well…equipped　army　a　hundred　miles　through　the　Underdark。　He　was　quite　familiar　with　journeying　the　dark　ways　by　himself　or　in　the　pany　of　a　small　band　of　merchants　or　scouts；　traveling　light；　making　use　of　the　secret　byways　and　known　refuges　that　lay　hidden　along　the　main　routes　of　travel。　Having　marched　several　days　alongside　an　army；　with　ample　opportunity　to　observe　minor　setbacks；　difficulties；　and　challenges　he　hadn't　even　imagined；　Nimor　appreciated　the　scope　of　the　expedition。　The　duergar　were　anxious　indeed　to　strike　a　mortal　blow　at　a　neighbor　in　distress；　if　they　were　willing　to　tolerate　the　vast　expense　in　beasts；　soldiers；　and　materiel　required　to　put　an　army　in　the　field。
　　　The　assassin　rounded　a　precarious　bend；　and　came　upon　the　crown　prince's　diligence：　a　floating　hull　of　iron；　perhaps　thirty　feet　long　and　ten　wide；　ensorcelled　not　only　to　levitate　itself　above　the　ground　but　also　to　move　as　directed　by　the　gray　dwarves　controlling　the　thing。　Its　ugly　black　form　bristled　with　spikes　to　repel　attackers　and　armored　slits　through　which　the　occupants　could　fire　missiles　or　work　deadly　spells　on　anyone　outside。　The　diligence　was　pierced　with　several　large；　shuttered　windows　that　were　propped　open；　and　through　these　Nimor　glimpsed　the　quiet　and　orderly　bustle　of　the　duergar　leaders　and　their　chief　assistants。　The　whole　construct　functioned　as　mand　post；　throne；　and　bedchamber　for　the　crown　prince　while　in　the　field　with　his　army。　It　was　the　perfect　embodiment　of　the　dwarf　approach　to　things；　Nimor　reflected；　a　device　displaying　skillful　craftsmanship　and　powerful　magic；　but　no　grace　or　beauty。
　　　With　a　light　bound　he　hopped　up　onto　the　running　board　of　the　diligence　and　ducked　through　a　thick　iron　door。　Inside；　dim　lights　gleamed　from　blue　globes；　illuminating　a　great　table　that　held　a　representation　of　the　tunnels　and　caverns　between　Gracklstugh　and　Menzoberranzan。　There　the　lords　and　captains　of　the　gray　dwarves　studied　their　army's　march　and　planned　for　the　battles　to　e。　The　assassin　took　in　the　various　officers　and　servants　with　one　quick　glance　then　turned　to　the　elevated　center　portion　of　the　diligence。　The　lord　of　the　City　of　Blades　sat　at　a　high　table　with　his　most　important　advisors　and　watched　over　the　planning　below。
　　　〃Good　news；　my　lord　prince；〃　Nimor　said；　sweeping　into　the　circle　of　captains　and　guards　surrounding　Horgar　Steelshadow。　〃I　have　been　advised　that　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan；　old　Gromph　Baenre　himself；　has　been　removed　from　the　sava　board　of　our　little　game。　The　matron　mothers　do　not　yet　suspect　our　advance　into　their　territory。〃
　　　〃If　you　say　so；〃　the　duergar　lord　replied　gruffly。　〃In　dealing　with　the　dark　elves　I　have　found　it　prudent　not　to　rule　out　the　presence　of　an　archmage　until　I　see　him　dead　under　my　own　hammer。〃
　　　The　assembled　gray　dwarves　around　Horgar　nodded；　and　glared　at　Nimor　with　undisguised　suspicion。　A　drow　turncoat　might　have　been　a　useful　ally　in　a　war　against　Menzoberranzan；　but　that　did　not　mean　they　considered　Nimor　a　reliable　partner。
　　　Nimor　spied　a　gold　pitcher　standing　by　the　high　table　and　poured　himself　a　great　goblet　of　dark　wine。
　　　〃Gromph　Baenre　is　not　the　only　skilled　wizard　in　Menzoberranzan；〃　growled　Borwald　Firehand。　Short　and　stocky　even　for　a　gray　dwarf；　the　marshal　gripped　the　table　with　his　huge；　powerful　hands　and　leaned　forward　to　glare　at　the　assassin。　〃That　cursed　wizard　school　of　theirs　is　full　of　talented　mages。　Your　allies　played　their　hand　too　quickly；　drow。　We're　still　fifteen　days　from　Menzoberranzan；　and　Gromph's　death　will　provoke　alarm。〃
　　　〃A　sensible　notion；　but　not　entirely　correct；〃　Nimor　said。　He　drained　off　a　large　gulp　from　his　goblet；　savoring　the　moment。　〃Gromph　will　be　missed　soon；　I'm　sure；　but　instead　of　casting　their　arcane　gaze　out　into　the　Underdark　to　search　for　approaching　foes；　every　Master　of　Sorcere　will　be　searching　fruitlessly　for　the　archmage　and　scheming　against　his　colleagues。　While　the　crown　prince's　army　approaches；　the　most　powerful　wizards　in　the　city　will　have　their　eyes　firmly　fixed　on　each　other；　and　more　than　a　few　will　seek　to　murder　their　colleagues　to　win　the　archmage's　vacant　seat。〃
　　　〃The　Masters　of　Sorcere　will　surely　set　aside　their　ambitions　once　they　e　to　realize　their　peril；〃　the　crown　prince　said。　He　cut　off　Nimor　with　a　curt　gesture　and　added；　〃Yes；　I　know　you　say　they　may　not；　but　we　would　be　wise　to　plan　on　meeting　an　organized　and　well…directed　magical　defense　of　the　city。　Still；　that　was　a　well…struck　blow；　well…struck　indeed。〃
　　　He　rose；　and　shouldered　his　way　past　the　clan　lairds　and　guards　to　approach　the　map　table；　beckoning　Nimor　to　follow。　The　assassin　circled　to　the　other　side　of　the　table　to　attend　the　duergar　ruler's　words。　Horgar　traced　their　route　with　one　thick　finger。
　　　〃If　the　wizards　of　Menzoberranzan　do　not　note　our　approach；〃　Horgar　said；　〃then　the　question　bees；　at　what　point　will　they　perceive　their　danger？〃
　　　The　clan　laird　Borwald　thrust　his　way　to　the　tableside　and　indicated　a　cavern　intersection。
　　　〃Presuming　we　don't　encounter　any　drow　patrols；　the　first　place　we'll　meet　the　enemy　is　here；　at　the　cavern　called　Rhazzt's　Dilem