war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第43部分

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will　be　here　to　watch　over　our　bodies　until　I　return；　just　as　someone　you　trust　will　be　watching　over　you。〃
　　　〃Ah；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃You　are　a　dark　elf　indeed。　Do　as　you　will。〃
　　　〃He　might　mean　to　have　this　whole　castle　descend　upon　whomever　we　leave　behind；〃　Jeggred　snarled。　〃Best　leave　two；　maybe　three。〃
　　　〃Our　sentry's　only　duty　will　be　to　cut　Tzirik's　throat　before　he's　overwhelmed；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃The　question　is；　who　stays？〃
　　　Quenthel　glanced　at　Ryld；　then　her　eyes　slid　toward　Halisstra。　For　a　moment　Halisstra　feared　that　Quenthel　meant　to　leave　her　behind　in　order　to　deny　her　the　audience　she　sought　with　Lolth；　but　even　as　her　heart　thudded　in　apprehension　she　realized　that　the　last　thing　the　Baenre　would　want…if　she　truly　viewed　Halisstra　as　a　threat；　anyway…would　be　a　Melarn　conscious　and　alone　with　her　own　helpless　body。　Quenthel's　eyes　narrowed　as　she　weighed　the　same　considerations；　and　she　turned　to　Jeggred。
　　　〃You　must　stay　here；〃　she　said　to　the　draegloth。
　　　Jeggred　contorted　himself　in　a　spasm　of　anger。
　　　〃I　am　not　going　to　sit　here　staring　at　your　living　corpses　while　you　face　the　perils　of　the　goddess's　realm！　Mother　told　me　to　guard　you。　How　can　I　do　that　when　you　leave　me　behind？〃
　　　〃You　will　be　guarding　me；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃No　harm　can　e　to　me　in　astral　form。　It　is　here　that　I　will　be　vulnerable；　and　I　trust　no　one　else　with　the　task。　It　must　be　you；　Jeggred。〃
　　　The　draegloth　waved　all　four　arms　in　protest　and　said；　〃You　of　all　people　know　what　awaits　you　in　the　Demonweb　Pits；　Mistress。　You　will　need　my　strength　there。〃
　　　〃Cease　this　at　once；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　manded。　Her　eyes　flashed；　and　her　whip　rippled　and　spat。　〃It　is　not　for　you　to　question　me；　nephew。　You　will　discharge　your　obligation　in　the　manner　I　direct。〃
　　　Jeggred　subsided　into　a　sulking　silence。　In　disgust　he　turned　away　and　threw　himself　down　on　the　stone　floor；　shucking　his　pack　and　bandoleer。　Quenthel　glanced　at　the　others；　and　nodded　at　the　couches。
　　　〃e；〃　she　said。　〃The　goddess　awaits。〃
　　　Tzirik　waited　while　the　Menzoberranyr　chose　divans　and　stretched　out。　He　moved　to　the　last　one　and　sat　down；　then　glanced　over　at　Jeggred。
　　　〃If　you　will　be　staying　here；　half…demon；　you　should　know　that　some　of　my　kinfolk　will　be　acpanying　you　on　your　vigil。　Do　not　cause　them　any　trouble；　and　I　think　you　will　find　that　they　will　be　happy　to　leave　you　alone。〃
　　　Jeggred　sneered　in　answer；　and　Tzirik　laid　himself　down　awkwardly　in　his　plate　armor；　arranging　his　mace　so　that　it　lay　at　his　side。
　　　Halisstra　found　that　she　was　lying　between　Ryld　and　Danifae。　She　glanced　over　at　the　weapons　master。　Ryld's　expression　was　taut　and　nervous。　Clearly；　astral　travel　was　something　beyond　his　experience　too。
　　　If　our　spirits　are　doing　the　traveling；　why　do　we　need　all　our　weapons？　he　motioned　to　her。
　　　They're　part　of　you；　she　replied。　Your　consciousness　includes　your　belongings　in　your　definition　of　yourself。　Therefore；　when　your　soul　roams　free　from　your　body；　your　mind　will　imagine　for　you　an　astral　copy　of　anything　you　have　close　at　hand。
　　　〃Reach　out　and　take　each　other's　hands；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃Make　sure　you　have　a　good　grasp。　I　do　not　want　to　leave　anyone　behind。〃
　　　The　priest　started　to　chant　again　in　his　melodious　voice。　Halisstra　stared　at　the　ceiling　and　reached　out　to　grasp　Danifae　with　her　right　hand；　and　Ryld　with　her　left。
　　　Perhaps　I　should　imagine　for　myself　some　good　strong　drink；　Ryld　observed。
　　　He　reached　out　and　caught　Halisstra's　hand　in　his　strong　grip　before　she　could　reply。
　　　Behind　her；　unseen　on　the　other　side　of　the　circle；　Tzirik　continued　his　spell；　speaking　the　harsh　words　of　the　magic　with　confidence　and　ease。　Halisstra　felt　an　electric　jolt　race　through　her　body　from　hand　to　hand　as　the　magic　began　to　take　life；　joining　her　to　Ryld　and　Danifae　with　a　strange；　tingling　sensation。　A　sense　of　detachment　swept　through　her；　as　if　she'd　all　at　once　bee　weightless。　She　seemed　to　be　floating　up　and　out　of　herself；　drawn　by　some　irresistible　force　tugging　on　her　in　a　direction　she　could　not　relate　to　up　or　down；　left　or　right。　The　stone　ceiling　wavered　and　grew　dim；　pulling　away　from　her　faster　and　faster。
　　　And　she　was　gone。
　　　
　　　Triel　Baenre　stalked　gracefully　past　the　ranks　of　her　battered　soldiers；　her　face　held　rigidly　expressionless　by　nothing　more　than　sheer　iron　determination。　The　exhausted　troops　stood　at　attention　for　her　as　best　they　could　in　the　narrow　tunnel。　She'd　had　Nauzhror　transport　her　immediately　to　the　scene　of　the　retreat　to　view　with　her　own　eyes　the　scope　of　Menzoberranzan's　defeat；　and　she　found　that　she　did　not　like　what　she　had　seen。　She　did　not　like　it　all。
　　　The　passage　was　the　better　part　of　ten　miles　long；　one　of　the　main　thoroughfares　leading　from　the　way…meeting　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe　to　the　shell　of　twisting　passages　and　wild　caverns　known　as　Menzoberranzan's　Dominion。　It　seemed　that　every　second　or　third　soldier　she　passed　carried　some　obvious　injury…a　bandaged　torso　here；　an　arm　in　a　sling　there；　a　fellow　using　a　broken　spear　shaft　as　a　crutch　against　the　other　wall。　The　wounded　did　not　bother　her；　though。　What　Triel　found　truly　disconcerting　was　the　fatigue　and　moroseness　of　the　soldiers。　She'd　expected　to　find　them　tired；　of　course…Andzrel　had　marched　the　army　for　a　day　without　halting　to　salvage　something　from　the　disaster　of　the　Pillars　of　Woe…but　she　hadn't　expected　to　find　her　soldiers　so　。。。　defeated。　They'd　been　beaten；　and　they　knew　it。
　　　Andzrel　trailed　a　respectful　step　behind　the　matron　mother；　not　presuming　to　speak　until　addressed。
　　　〃How　bad　were　the　losses？〃　she　finally　asked；　not　looking　at　her　weapons　master。
　　　〃For　the　whole　army；　somewhere　around　a　quarter　to　a　third　of　our　strength；　Matron　Mother。　Some　Houses　fared　much　better　or　much　worse　than　that；　depending　on　the　fortunes　of　battle。〃
　　　〃And　House　Baenre's　contingent？〃
　　　〃Ninety　dead；　forty…four　seriously　wounded；〃　Andzrel　replied。　〃About　a　quarter　of　our　strength。〃
　　　〃We　were　fortunate　to　save　that　much；　Matron　Mother；〃　Zal'therra　added。　〃Some　of　the　minor　Houses　were　slaughtered　to　a　male　in…〃
　　　〃I　did　not　address　you；〃　Triel　said。
　　　She　folded　her　arms　and　tried　not　to　let　the　sick　horror　in　her　stomach　show。
　　　It　will　be　a　miracle　if　the　Council　doesn't　rise　in　open　revolt　against　me；　the　matron　mother　thought。　Thank　the　goddess　that　Mez'Barris　is　lost　somewhere；　and　Fey…Branche　so　badly　weakened。　Byrtyn　Fey　must　guard　her　response　with　half　her　House　army　destroyed；　and　I　will　have　some　time　to　consider　what　must　be　done　before　I　have　to　confront　Mez'Barris；　Lolth　willing。
　　　Then　again；　she　thought；　what　was　left　of　the　Council；　anyway？　Faen　Tlabbar；　the　Third　House；　was　in　the　hands　of　an　untried　girl；　and　Yasraena　Dyrr　was　not　likely　to　present　herself　at　the　next　meeting；　was　she？　She　and　all　her　filthy　House　were　barricaded　in　their　castle；　awaiting　the　arrival　of　their　duergar　allies；　and　apparently　quite　prepared　to　stand　a　siege。
　　　That　left　Zeerith　Q'Xorlarrin；　Miz'ri　Mizzrym；　and　Prid'eesoth　Tuin　as　the　only　matron　mothers　she　need　concern　herself　with。
　　　To　distract　herself　from　the　unpleasant　prospect　ahead；　Triel　turned　to　face　Andzrel　and　Zal'therra。　More　than　anything；　she　longed　to　punish　the　weapons　master　and　her　cousin　Zal'therra　for　leading　her　army　into　a　disastrous　ambush；　but　as　far　as　she　could　tell；　Andzrel's　skill　and　Zal'therra's　decisiveness　had　most　likely　extricated　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　from　a　dreadful　mauling。　Menzoberranzan's　army　was　battered；　but　intact。
　　　〃Where　are　the　duergar　now？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃About　three　miles　south　of　us；〃　replied　Andzrel。　〃House　Mizzrym　currently　serves　as　rear　guard；　though　I've　sent　almost　a　hundred　of　our　own　soldiers　to　stiffen　the　defense。〃　Triel　understood　what　Andzrel　really　meant…he'd　put　Baenre　soldiers　beside　the　Mizzrym　to　make　sure　that　another　betrayal　of　the　sort　Agrach　Dyrr　had　engineered　didn't　take　place。　〃The　Scoured　Legion　advances　through　another　passage　to　our　east；　circling　around　us。　We　don't　dare　try　to　make　a　stand　in　this　tunnel；　or　the　tanarukks　will　get　by　us。〃
　　　〃It　would　only　take　a　hundred　soldiers　to　hold　this　tunnel　against　almost　any　force；　wouldn't　it？〃　Triel　asked。
　　　〃Yes；　but　the　duergar　have　enough　war　wizards　in　their　ranks；　and　siege　engines　in　their　train；　that　they　wouldn't　be　halted　for　long　by　a　rearguard　action。〃
　　　〃Try　it　anyway；〃　Triel　grated。　〃Use　slave　troops；　and　leave　enough　officers　behind　to　make　sure　they　don't　break　and　run。　We　need　time；　Weapons　Master；　and　that's　what　rear　guards　are　for。〃
　　　Andzrel　didn't　argue　the　point；　and　Triel　paced　away　to　gather　her　thoughts。　Drow　rebels；　slave　revolts；　duergar　armies；　dark　treachery；　a　missing　archmage；　and　tanarukk　hordes…it　was　hard　to　see　how　matters　could　get　much　worse。　Where　could　she　even　start　to　address　any　of　these　problems？　Assault　Agrach　Dyrr；　without　the　magical　might　of　the　city's　assembled　priestesses？　Pick　another　spot　to　meet　the　duergar；　and　allow　the　tanarukks　to　sweep　past？
　　　〃How　did　this　happen？〃　she　muttered　aloud。
　　　〃Agrach　Dyrr　was　in　league　with　our　city's　enemies；〃　Zal'therra　replied。　〃They　contrived　to　make　up　the　vanguard　of　our　army；　and　instead　of　holding　the　Pillars　of　Woe　against　the　gray　dwarves；　they　led　us　into　a　trap。　They　must　be　obliterated　for　their　treachery。〃
　　　〃I　was　not　speaking　to　you；〃　Triel　growled；　and　this　time　she　could　not　restrain　herself。
　　　Though　she　knew　Zal'therra　was　not　to　blame　for　the　disastrous　battle；　she　had　to　strike　out　at　something。　She　slapped　the　girl；　hard；　rocking　her　to　her　heels　despite　the　fact　that　Zal'therra　towered　almost　a　foot　taller　than　her；　and　outweighed　her　by　thirty　pounds。
　　　〃You　must　e　to　expect　treachery；　you　simpleminded　fool！〃　Triel　snarled。　〃Why　were　there　no　Baenre　officers　among　our　scouts？　Why　did　you　take　no　steps　to　verify　the　reports　the　Agrach　Dyrr　fed　to　you？　If　you　had　exercised　even　the　most　minimal　amount　of　caution；　our　army　would　not　be　in　tatters。〃
　　　Zal'therra　shrank　back；　saying；　〃Matron　Mother；　we　all　approved　of　Andzrel's　plans…〃
　　　〃Andzrel　is　a　weapon；　Zal'therra。　Our　House　army　is　a　weapon。　Yours　is　the　hand　that　must　wield　those　weapons　against　our　enemies。　I　sent　you　out　to　exercise　your　judgment　and　make　decisions；　to　use　your　head　and　think！〃
　　　Triel　whirled　away　to　keep　herself　from　striking　Zal'therra　again。　If　she　did；　she　didn't　think　she'd　be　able　to　stop；　and　like　it　or　not　Zal'therra　was　probably　the　most　promising　of　her　cousins。　Triel　wouldn't　be　around　forever；　and　she　needed　to　give　thought　to　leaving　House　Baenre　with　at　least　a　few　petent　priestesses　in　the　event　that　the　day　came　when　she　would　have　to　have　her　sisters　murdered。
　　　〃Matron　Mother；〃　the　girl　managed；　her　eyes　wide　with　fear；　〃I　apologize　for　my　failure。〃
　　　〃I　never　asked　for　an　apology；　girl；　and　a　Baenre　should　never　offer　one；〃　the　matron　mother　rumbled；　〃but　I　will　give　you　the　opportunity　to　demonstrate　that　you　have　some　redeeming　portion　of　merit　and　resourcefulness。　You　will　take　mand　of　the　rearguard。〃
　　　Triel　gestured　toward　the　south。　There　was　an　excellent　chance　that　she　was　sending　her　cousin　to　her　death；　but　she　needed　to　know　if　Zal'therra　had　the　wits　and　the　resolve　to　bee　a　leader　of　House　Baenre；　and　if　she　found　a　way　to　survive　the　assignment　and　obtain　any　degree　of　success　at　all；　Triel　might　consider　permitting　her　to　live。
　　　〃Make　the　duergar　fight　for　every　step　they　take　toward　Menzoberranzan；〃　Triel　added。　〃Your　survival　depends　on　your　success。　If　you　abandon　this　tunnel　before　three　days　pass；　I　will　have　you　crucified。〃
　　　Zal'therra　bowed；　and　hurried　off。　Triel　turned　back　to　the　weapons　master。
　　　〃Understand　that　I　do　not　hold　you　blameless；　either；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃You　were　the　author　of　our　grand　strategy；　and　I　mitted　the　full　weight　of　House　Baenre's　power　and　prestige　to　your　battle　plan；　which　has　led　us　to　a　disaster　the　likes　of　which　we　have　not　seen　since　Mithral　Hall。　In　any　other　circumstances；　I　would　have　you　dumped　into　a　pit　of　hungry　centipedes　with　your　tendons　slashed　for　your　failure；　but。　。　。　these　are　unusual　times；　and　there　exists　the　small　possibility　that　your　skill　and　grasp　of　strategy　may　prove　useful　in　the　days　to　e。　Do　not　fail　me　again。〃
　　　〃Yes；　Matron　Mother；〃　Andzrel　said；　bowing　low。
　　　〃So；〃　she　continued；　〃where　do　we　stop　the　duergar　and　their　allies？〃
　　　Without　hesitation；　the　weapons　master　replied；　〃We　do　not；　Matron　Mother。　Given　the　losses　we　have　already　suffered；　I　advise　withdrawing　back　to　Menzoberranzan　and　preparing　for　a　siege。〃
　　　〃I　do　not　like　that　option；〃　Triel　snapped。　〃It　reeks　of　defeat；　and　the　longer　an　army　sits　on　our　doorstep；　the　more　likely　it　is　that　they'll　be　reinforced　by　the　arrival　of　some　other　enemy；　such　as　the　beholders　or　the　mind　flayers。〃
　　　〃That　is　possible；　of　course；〃　Andzrel　said；　his　voice　carefully　neutral；　〃but　the　gray　dwarves　will　not　find　it　easy　to　maintain　a　siege　around　Menzoberranzan；　a　hundred　miles　from　their　own　city。　I　don't　think　the　duergar　can　wait　us　out　for　more　than　a　few　months；　and　I　doubt　they　have　the　numbers　to　take　the　city　by　storm。　Our　best　course　of　action　is　to　make　the　duergar　set　their　siege；　and　see　what　kind　of　a　threat　we're　really　facing。　It　would　provide　us　the　opportunity　to　crush　House　Agrach　Dyrr　in　the　meantime。〃
　　　〃You're　afraid　to　face　the　duergar　in　battle　again？〃　Triel　rasped。
　　　〃No；　Matron　Mother；　but　I　will　not　advise　a　course　of　action　that　hazards　the　city　on　a　battle　for　which　we　are　not　prepared；　not　unless　we　have　no　other　choice。　We　are　not　yet　at　that　point。〃　He　paused；　then　added；　〃We　can　always　gather　our　strength　within　the　city　and　sally　in　force　in　only　a　few　days；　if　we　see　the　need　or　the　opportunity。〃
　　　Triel　weighed　the　weapons　master's　advice。
　　　〃I　will　return　to　Menzoberranzan　and　set　the　matter　before　the　Council；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃but；　until　you're　ordered　otherwise；　continue　your　withdrawal。　I　will　have　our　captains　in　the　city　make　ready　to　withstand　a　siege。
　　　
　　　Halisstra　opened　her　eyes　and　found　herself　drifting　in　an　endless　silver　sea。　Soft　gray　clouds　moved　slowly　in　the　distance；　while　strange　dark　streaks　twisted　violently　through　the　sky；　anchored　in　ends　so　distant　she　couldn't　perceive　them；　their　middle　parts　revolving　angrily　like　pieces　of　string　rolled　between　a　child's　fingertips。　She　glanced　down；　wondering　what　supported　her；　and　saw　nothing　but　more　of　the　strange　pearly　sky　beneath　her　feet　and　all　around　her。
　　　She　drew　in　a　sudden　breath；　surprised　by　the　sight；　and　felt　her　lungs　fill　with　something　sweeter　and　perhaps　a　little　more　solid　than　air；　but　instead　of　gagging　or　drowning　on　the　stuff　she　seemed　perfectly　acclimated　to　it。　An　electric　thrill　raced　through　her　limbs　as　she　found　herself　mesmerized　by　the　simple　act　of　respiration。
　　　Halisstra　raised　her　hand　to　her　face　in　an　unconscious　desire　to　shield　her　eyes；　and　she　noticed　that　her　eyesight　was　preternaturally　keen。　Each　link　of　her　mailed　gauntlet　leaped　out　in　per