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war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第4部分
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； I'm one of the thirty most puissant mages in the city。 If I controlled the Sarthos demon； I'd be one of the five。 Perhaps even the first； mightier than dreary old Gromph himself。〃
I see。
Ambition was an essential part of the drow character； and Ryld somenottimes envied Pharaun his still…passionate investment in the struggle for status。 The warrior supposed that he himself had achieved the pinnacle of his ambitions when he became one of the lesser masters of Melee…Magthere； for certainly he； born a moner； could never climb any higher。 From that day forward； he'd stopped peering hungrily upward and concentrated on looking down； to guard against all those who wished to kill him in hopes of ascending to his position。
Pharaun was a Master of Sorcere as Ryld was a Master of Melee…Magthere； but perhaps； being of noble blood； Pharaun really did aspire to assassinate the formidable Gromph Baenre and seize his office。 Even if he didn't； wizards； by the nature of their intricate and clandestine art； maintained a rivalry that enpassed more than who was a master； who was chief wizard in a great House； and who was neither。 They also cared about such things as who could know the most esoteric secrets； could conjure the deadliest specter； or see most clearly into the future。 In fact； they cared so deeply that they occasionally sought to murder each other and plunder one another's spell books even when such hostilities ran counter to the interests of their Houses； severing an alliance or disruptnoting a negotiation。
〃Now；〃 Pharaun said； reaching inside the elegant folds of his piwafwi and producing a silver flask； 〃I'll have to turn my back on the Sarthos demon for a while。 I hope the poor behemoth won't be lonely without me。〃
He unscrewed the bottle； took a sip； and passed the container to Ryld。
Ryld hoped the flask didn't contain wine or an exotic liqueur。 Pharaun was forever pressing such libations on him and insisting that he try to recnotognize all the elements that allegedly blended together to create the taste； even though Ryld had demonstrated time and again that his palate was innotcapable of such a dissection。
He drank and was pleased to find that for a change； the flask contained simple brandy； probably imported at some expense from the inhospitable world that lay like a rind atop the Underdark； baking in the excruciating sunlight。 The liquor burned his mouth and kindled a warm glow in his stomach。
He handed the brandy back to Pharaun and said； 〃I assume Gromph told you to leave the entity alone。〃
〃In effect。 He assigned me another task to occupy my time。 Should I succeed； the Archmage will forgive me my transgressions。 Should I fail 。 。 。 well； I'll hope for a nice beheading or garroting； but I'm not so unrealistic as to expect anything that quick。〃
〃What task？〃
〃A number of males have eloped from their families； and not to a mernotchant clan or Bregan D'aerthe either but to an unknown destination。 I'm supposed to find them。〃
Pharaun took another sip； then offered the flask again。
〃What did they steal？〃 asked Ryld； waving off the drink。
Pharaun smiled and said； 〃That's a good guess； but you're wrong。 As far as I know； no one walked off with anything important。 You see； it isn't just a few fellows from one particular House。 It's a bunch of them from any number of homes； noble and mon alike。〃
〃All right； but so what？ Why does the Archmage of Menzoberranzan care？〃
〃I don't know。 He offered some vague excuse of an explanation； but there's something…several somethings； belike…that he's not telling me。〃
〃That's not going to make your job any easier。〃
〃How true。 The old tyrant did condescend to say that he isn't the only one interested in the fugitives' whereabouts。 The priestesses are equally connotcerned； but that emphatically did not make them want to join forces with Gromph。 Matron Mother Baenre herself ordered him to drop the matter。〃
〃Matron Baenre；〃 said Ryld。 〃I like this less with every word you speak。〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 Just because Triel Baenre rules all Menzoberranzan； and I'm about to flout her express wishes 。 。 。 Anyway； the Archmage says he can no longer investigate the disappearances himself。 Seems the ladies have their eyes on him； but； lucky me； I am not so burdened。〃
〃That doesn't mean you're going to find the missing males。 If they fled the city； they could be anywhere in the Underdark by now。〃
〃Please；〃 said Pharaun with a grin； 〃you don't have to try to cheer me up。 Actually； I'm going to start looking in Eastmyr and the Braeryn。 Apnotparently some of the runaways were last sighted in those d閏lass椤icinities； and perhaps they linger there still。 Even if they do intend to depart Mennotzoberranzan； they may still be making preparations for the journey。〃
〃If they've already decamped；〃 Ryld said； 〃you might at least find a witnotness who can at tell you what tunnel they took。 It's a sensible plan； but I can think of another。 It's reckless to gamble your life when you don't even understand the game。 You could flee Menzoberranzan yourself。 With your wizardry； you're one of the few people capable of undertaking such a dannotgerous trek alone。〃
〃I could try；〃 Pharaun said； 〃but I suspect Gromph would track me down。 Even if he didn't； I would have lost my home and forfeited the rank I worked my whole life to earn。 Would you give up being a master just to avoid a spot of danger？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then you understand my predicament。 I imagine you've also figured out why I called on you today。〃
〃I think so。〃
〃Of course you have。 Whatever it is that's truly transpiring； my chances of survival improve if I have a rade to watch my back。〃
Ryld scowled。 〃You mean； a rade willing to defy the express will of Matron Mother Baenre and risk running afoul of the Archmage of Menzoberranzan as well。〃
〃Quite； and by a happy coincidence you have the look of a drow in need of a break from his daily routine。 You know you're bored to death。 It's painful to watch you grouch your way through the day。〃
Ryld pondered for a moment； then said； 〃All right。 Maybe we'll find out something we can turn to our advantage。〃
〃Thank you； my friend。 I owe you。〃 Pharaun took a drink and held out the flask again。 〃Have the rest。 There's only a swallow left。 We seem to have guzzled the whole pint in just a few minutes； though that scarcely seems possible； refined； genteel fellows that we…〃
Something crackled and sizzled above their heads。 Waves of pressure beat down on them。 Ryld looked up； cursed； scrambled to his feet； and drew a dagger； meanwhile wishing he'd strapped on his weapons before stepping outside Melee…Magthere。
Pharaun rose in a more leisurely fashion。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃this is interesting。〃
C h a p t e r
TWO
Scourge of vipers writhing in her hand soft； thin gown whispering； Quennotthel Baenre； Mistress of Arach…Tinilith； prowled about； glaring at the younger females standing huddled in the center of the candlelit； marble…paneled room。 She always had a knack for striking fear into the hearts of those who displeased her； and these students were no exception。 Some trembled or appeared to be biting back tears； and even the sullen； fractious ones refused to look her in the eye。
Enjoying their apprehension； Quenthel prolonged her silent inspection until it was surely on the verge of being unbearable； then she cracked the whip。 Some of her startled pupils gasped and jumped。
As the five long black… and crimson…banded vipers that prised the lashes of the whip rose twisting and probing from the adamantine handle； Quenthel said； 〃All your lives； your mothers have told you that when a stunotdent ascends to Tier Breche； she remains here； sequestered from the ci
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