war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第21部分

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inder　flopped　limp　and　battered　in　her　hands。





Gromph　and　Quenthel　strolled　about　the　plateau　watching　the　apprennottices　and　masters　of　Sorcere　perform　the　rituals。　The　sound　of　chanting　and　the　pungent　scent　of　incense　filled　the　air；　along　with　various　conjured　phenomena：　flashes　of　light；　dancing　shadows；　demonic　faces　appearing　and　disappearing；　moaning　and　crackling。　All　to　lay　a　new　set　of　wards　about　Tier　Breche。
Gromph　was　mildly　impressed。　By　and　large；　his　minions　were　doing　a　good　job　of　it；　though　they　weren't　laying　any　enchantments　he　couldn't　pierce。　In　fact；　since　he　was　supervising　them　at　their　labors；　getting　past　the　wards　would　be　easy。
〃I　wonder　if　all　this　will　actually　protect　us；〃　said　Quenthel；　scowling；　her　long　skirt　rippling　in　the　stray　breeze　kicked　up　by　someone's　incantation。
Gromph　was　surprised　that　even　after　Beradax's　attack；　she　hadn't　donned　a　suit　of　mail。　Perhaps　she　thought　her　frightened　novices　and　priestesses　required　a　show　of　confidence。
〃It　didn't　protect　us　before；〃　hissed　one　of　the　annoyingly　vocal　snakes　prising　the　whip　on　her　belt。
Four　of　them　were　twisting　this　way　and　that；　watching　for　danger。　The　fifth　kept　its　cold　eyes　staring　at　Gromph；　not；　the　Archmage　was　convinced；　because　his　sister　suspected　him　of　trying　to　murder　her。　Or　rather　she　did；　but　not　specifically。　She　simply　had　too　many　viable　suspects。　There　were　subordinates　who　aspired　to　be　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　and　the　myriad　foes　of　House　Baenre。　Perhaps　it　was　even　Triel　seeking　to　forestall　the　all　but　inevitable　day　when　Quenthel　would　challenge　her　for　preeminence。
〃Enchantments　can　attenuate　with　time；〃　said　Gromph；　honestly　enough。
〃The　new　ones　will　be　stronger。　Strong　enough；　I　trust；　to　keep　you　safe　in　Arach…Tinilith。〃
〃It　isn't　just　the　temple　at　risk；〃　Quenthel　snapped。　〃Next　time；　a　demon　could　attack　Sorcere　or　Melee…Magthere。〃
Don't　count　on　it；　Gromph　thought；　but　he　said；　〃I　understand。〃
〃I've　seen　enough　for　now；〃　said　the　mistress；　her　scowl　deepening。　〃Don't　let　your　males　slack　off。　I　want　the　defenses　plete　before　you　leave　to　cast　your　spell　into　Narbondel。〃
〃Consider　it　done。〃
Quenthel　turned　and　walked　back　toward　Arach…Tinilith。　The　primary　entrance　to　the　imposing　spider…shaped　temple　had　bee　merely　an　odd…looking　hole。　The　artisans　hadn't　yet　finished　repairing　the　crumpled　adamantine　leaves　of　the　gate。　Gromph　smiled　to　think　how　that　must　annoy　his　sister。　Knowing　her　as　he　did；　he　was　fairly　certain　the　unfortunotnate　metalworkers　had　already　felt　the　weight　of　her　displeasure。
Well；　perhaps　they　wouldn't　have　to　bear　it　for　much　longer。　He　finnotgered　a　small　ornament；　a　black　stone　clasped　in　a　silver　claw　dangling　over　his　heart。
Quenthel　hadn't　asked　about　the　trinket；　nor　had　Gromph　expected　her　to。　He　always　wore　his　amulet　of　eternal　youth　and　the　brooch　that　helped　him　imbue　Narbondel　with　radiant　warmth。　Beyond　those　two　staples；　he　tended　to　adorn　the　Robes　of　the　Archmage　with　a　constantly　changing　array　of　charms　and　talismans；　depending　on　his　whim　and　the　particular　magical　tasks　he　expected　to　perform　that　day。　His　sister　had　had　no　reason　to　suspect　that　this　particular　trinket　was　of　any　particular　significance；　certainly　not　to　herself。
If　she　had　noticed　it　at　all；　she　probably　assumed　the　stone　was　onyx；　ebony；　or　jet。　In　actuality；　it　was　polished　ivory　cut　from　a　unicorn's　horn　after　Gromph　slew　the　magical　equine…sacred　to　the　despicable　elves　of　the　World　Above…in　a　necromantic　rite。　The　orb　was　only　black　because　of　the　entity　he　had　placed　inside　it　only　two　hours　before。
〃That　was　her；〃　he　murmured；　too　softly　for　any　of　the　spell　casters　bustling　about　him　to　overhear。　〃Did　you　take　her　scent？〃
Yes；　the　demon　answered；　its　silent　voice　like　a　nail　scratching　the　inside　of　Gromph's　head。　Though　it　was　unnecessary。　I　may　not　possess　the　power　of　sight；　but　that　has　never　hindered　me　as　I　sought　my　prey。
〃I　was　just　making　sure。　Now；　can　you　succeed　where　Beradax　failed？〃
Of　course。　No　one　of　your　world　has　ever　escaped　me。　Afterward；　I　will　feast　on　Quenthel's　soul；　one　tiny　morsel　at　a　time。
Most　likely　the　netherspirit　would　do　exactly　that；　and　if　it　failed；　Gromph　had　six　more　waiting　in　line　to　pick　up　where　it　left　off。　Perhaps　it　wouldn't　even　e　to　that。　He　had；　after　all；　manipulated　events　in　such　a　way　as　to　inspire　more　mundane　assassins。
A　third…year　student　came　scurrying　up　with　a　stubby　chalcedony　wand　in　his　hand。　Recalled　to　more　immediate　concerns；　Gromph　sighed　and　prepared　to　teach　the　youth　how　the　device　worked。





Pretending　to　take　an　interest　in　an　itinerant　vendor's　rack　of　cheaply　forged　and　poorly　balanced　daggers；　Ryld　turned　and　surreptitiously　surnotveyed　the　intersection。
A　fellow　with　what　the　weapons　master　suspected　were　self…inflicted　sores　on　his　legs　chanted　for　alms　and　shook　a　ceramic　bowl。　Since　it　was　a　rare　if　not　demented　dark　elf　who　ever　felt　the　tug　of　pity；　the　beggar　sat　near　the　entrance　to　a　shabby　boarding　house　catering　to　non…drow。
A　female　hurried　by　with　a　hooked　and　pointed　pole…virtually　a　pike；　when　one　really　looked　at　it…on　her　shoulder　and　a　giant　weasel　on　a　leash。　She　was　plainly　an　exterminator　headed　out　to　rid　a　household　of　some　substantial　infestation。
A　snarling　noble　from　House　Hunzrin　drew　his　rapier　and　lashed　a　moner　with　the　flat；　evidently　because　the　latter　had　been　a　trifle　slow　stepping　out　of　his　way。　The　Hunzrins　were　notorious　for　their　virulent　arnotrogance。　Perhaps　it　stemmed　from　the　fact　that　they　controlled　the　greater　part　of　Menzoberranzan's　agriculture。　Or　maybe　they　were　pensating　for　the　fact　that；　for　all　their　wealth；　they　were　stuck　living　in　〃mere　East。〃
Any　number　of　other　rather　drab　and　hungry…looking　souls　rushed　on　about　their　business。
〃Reliving　childhood　memories？〃　the　wizard　asked。
〃You　forget；〃　Ryld　replied；　〃I　was　born　in　the　Braeryn。　I　had　to　work　my　way　up　to　get　to　Eastmyr。〃
〃I　daresay　you　took　one　look　around；　then　kept　right　on　climbing。〃
〃You're　right。　Just　now；　I　was　checking　to　see　if　someone's　tailing　us。　No　one　is。〃
〃What　a　pity。　I　was　hoping　that　if　we　asked　enough　questions　in　diverse　male　gatherings；　some　more　friends　of　the　runaways　would　try　to　murder　us；　or　at　least　seek　to　learn　what　we're　about。　Perhaps　the　rogues　are　too　canny　for　that。〃
〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
〃Visit　the　next　vile　tavern；　I　suppose。〃
They　started　walking；　and　Pharaun　continued；　〃Say；　did　I　ever　tell　you　how；　two　days　into　my　first　mission　to　the　World　Above；　I　wound　up　having　to　tail　a　human　mage　while　the　sun　was　blazing　in　the　sky？　I　was　blind　with　the　glare；　my　eyes…〃
〃Enough；〃　Ryld　said。　〃You've　told　this　a　thousand　times。〃
〃Well；　it's　a　good　story。　I　know　you'll　enjoy　hearing　it　again。　There　I　was；　blind　with　the　glare　。。。〃
As　the　two　masters　strolled　on；　they　passed　a　doorway　sealed　with　a　curnottain　of　spider　web。　Forbidden　by　sacred　law　to　disturb　the　silken　trap　until　such　time　as　its　builder　ceased　to　occupy　it；　the　luckless　occupant　of　the　house　had　placed　a　box　beneath　his　front　window　to　serve　as　a　makeshift　step。
Across　the　way；　a　ragged　half…breed　child；　part　dark　elf；　part　human　by　the　look　of　her；　brushed　past　a　drunken　laborer；　then　quickened　her　pace　a　trifle。　Ryld　hadn't　actually　seen　her　lift　the　tosspot's　purse；　but　he　was　fairly　certain　she　had。
Pharaun　came　to　a　sudden　halt。　〃Look　at　this；〃　he　said。
Ryld　turned；　the　long；　fortable　weight　of　Splitter　shifting　ever　so　slightly　across　his　back。　On　a　wall　at　the　mouth　of　an　alley；　someone　had　clumsily　daubed　a　rudimentary　picture　of　a　clawed　hand　surrounded　by　flames。　Though　it　was　small