war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第54部分

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；　and　she　glanced　over　at　Quenthel；　seeking　some　sign　to　confirm　her　formless　suspicions。　The　Baenre　stood　motionless　with　head　bowed；　the　very　picture　of　a　mystic　absorbed　in　her　devotions。
A　novice　with　a　gold　earring　cried　out　in　pain。　She　dragged　on　her　shirt；　baring　her　right　shoulder；　and　found　the　spider　that　was　biting　her。　Her　frantic　efforts　to　remove　the　arachnid　without　hurting　it　should　have　been　ical　but　Drisinil　couldn't　laugh。　Frazzled；　addled　by　the　poison；　she　could　only　stare　at　the　dark　flecks　swarming　thickly　on　every　side。　Some　of　the　other　conspirators　had　started　to　notice　as　well。　They　whispered　to　one　another；　and　their　eyes　grew　wide。
Something　brushed　Drismil's　arm。　She　cried　out　and　spun　around。　It　was　one　of　the　Quenthel's　vipers　that　had　touched　her。
〃Stay　close；〃　the　mistress　said。
Once　again；　the　spiders　increased　in　number。　Somehow　hordes　of　them　were　scuttling　over　the　bodies　of　the　conspirators；　biting；　crawling　under　their　clothing；　freckling　their　skins　like　the　sores　of　some　hideous　plague。　Shrieking；　no　longer　caring　that　the　creatures　were　sacrosanct；　their　vicnottims　struggled　to　crush　them　and　brush　them　off；　but　they　couldn't　get　them　all。　A　few　of　the　traitors　retained　the　presence　of　mind　to　activate　protective　talismans；　only　to　discover　that　the　magic　didn't　help；　either。
The　one　place　free　of　spiders　was　the　upper　tiers。　Once　they　realized　the　creatures　weren't　going　climb　up　and　attack　them；　the　loyalists　mocked　and　jeered　at　the　plight　of　the　traitors。　Whenever　one　of　the　plotters　tried　to　grope　her　way　into　their　safe　space；　a　loyalist　would　knock　her　back　with　a　casual　swat　from　a　mace　or　whip。　Some　even　shot　down　with　hand　crossnotbows　any　conspirator　who　attempted　to　stagger　for　the　door。
Drisinil　did　remain　at　Quenthel's　side；　and　the　spiders　crawled　over　her　feet　but　otherwise　took　no　notice　of　her。　They　didn't　avoid　the　Baenre；　however。　They　climbed　all　over　her　body　without　biting；　and；　laughing；　she　stooped；　picked　up　more；　and　poured　them　over　her　head　until　the　creatures　virtually　encrusted　her。　Her　bright　red　eyes　shone　from　a　pebbled；　squirming　mask。
Finally　the　shrieking　stopped；　uncovering　the　sound　of　Vlondril　ecstatnotically　chanting　one　of　the　litanies　as　the　spiders　destroyed　her。　After　annotother　moment；　that　noise　ceased　as　well。　Drisinil　noticed　her　aunt's　corpse　slumped　among　the　carnage；　though　she　only　recognized　it　by　the　jade　gown。　Molvayas's　face　was　swollen　and　bloodied　beyond　recognition。
Quenthel　gazed　up　at　the　living　and　called；　〃We　asked　Lolth　for　a　sign；　and　she　gave　us　one。　My　foes　are　dead　and　I　remain；　robed　in　the　goddess's　sacred　spiders。　I　am　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　and　my　minions　will　question　my　leadership　no　more　or　else　die　in　agony　for　their　effrontery。〃
The　surviving　priestesses　and　novices　hastily　paid　her　obeisance。
〃Good；〃　the　Baenre　said。　〃You　are　wise；　and　so　I　make　you　a　vow。　We　will　put　an　end　to　these　nightly　attacks。　We　will　regain　our　magic。　We　will　hear　Lolth's　voice　again。　We　will　make　our　order　and　our　temple　greater　than　ever　before。　Now；　clear　away　this　mess。〃
The　spiders　began　to　disappear；　from　the　room　and　Quenthel's　person　as　well。　Drisinil　couldn't　quite　tell　if　they　were　simply　scuttling　away　or　teleporting　out。
〃I　did　it；〃　the　student　said。　〃I　brought　the　traitors　together　for　you。　Now；　please　give　me　the　antidote。〃
Quenthel　smiled　and　said；　〃There　is　none。〃
〃What？〃
〃I　didn't　poison　you。　The　liquid　was　simply　a　stimulant　to　bat　drowsinotness。　I　gave　you　enough　to　make　the　effect　alarming；　but　it'll　wear　off。〃
〃You're　lying！　Playing　with　me！〃
〃I　would　have　administered　a　slow　poison　had　I　been　carrying　one；　but　as　I　was　not；　I　had　to　improvise。〃
Drisinil　felt　a　surge　of　bitter　humiliation　and　a　need　to　demonstrate　she　wasn't　entirely　a　fool。
〃Well；〃　she　blurted；　〃then；　you've　tricked　everyone　all　the　way　around。　I　know　Lolth　didn't　control　those　spiders。　You　did。　You　read　a　scroll　or　used　some　sort　of　charm　before　you　entered　the　room。〃
〃If　so；　does　it　matter？〃　A　yellow　arachnid　crawled　out　of　Quenthel's　snowy　hair　and　onto　her　shoulder。　She　paid　it　no　mind。　〃Lolth　teaches　that　the　cunning　and　strong　must　master　the　foolish　and　weak。　However　you　look　at　it；　this　oute　is　in　accordance　with　her　will。　Now；　let's　talk　about　your　future。〃
Drisinil　swallowed。　〃You　promised　to　spare　me。〃
〃I　did；　didn't　I？〃　a　smiling　Quenthel　replied。　〃Unlike　some；　we　Baenre　generally　keep　our　word。　A　reputation　for　fair　dealing　facilitates　certain　transactions。　However；　I　never　promised　not　to　punish　you。〃
〃I　understand。　Of　course　I'll　take　a　flogging　or　whatever　you　think　appropriate。〃
〃That's　quite　agreeable　of　you。　How　about　this；　then？　We'll　nip　off　the　other　eight　fingers　and　cut　out　your　tongue　as　well。〃
For　a　moment；　Drisinil　thought　she　hadn't　heard　correctly。
〃Now　you're　joking。〃
〃Oh；　no。　I　firmly　believe　you　engineered　the　plot　against　me；　and　I　intend　to　make　sure　you　don't　get　up　to　any　more　mischief。　Ever。　If　you　can't　municate；　work　magic；　or　grip　a　weapon；　that　should　take　care　of　it。　Obviously；　it　won't　be　possible　for　you　to　continue　at　Arach…Tinilith；　and　I　wouldn't　count　on　the　warmest　of　weles　when　you　return　home。　I　doubt　Mez'Barris　Armgo　will　have　much　interest　in　a　grotesquely　crippled　and　thoroughly　useless　daughter。　She　may　even　consider　you　an　embarrassment　to　be　killed　or　locked　away。〃
Enraged；　panicked；　Drisinil　lunged；　but　never　landed　a　blow。　Powerful　hands　grabbed　her　from　behind；　hauled　her　back；　and　something　hard　and　heavy　bashed　her　over　the　head。　Her　legs　folded　beneath　her。　She　would　have　fallen　if　not　for　her　captors　holding　her　up。
Quave's　voice　sounded　over　Drisinil's　shoulder。　〃We've　got　her；　Mistress。〃
〃Thank　you；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃Take　her　to　the　penance　chamber　and　secure　her。〃
〃Yes；　Mistress；〃　said　Quave。　〃1　assume　you'll　do　the　cutting　yourself。〃
〃I'd　like　to；〃　said　the　Baenre；　〃but　there's　another　matter　demanding　my　attention。　You　can　do　it。　Enjoy　yourself。　Just　mind　she　doesn't　die　of　it。　They　can　drown　in　their　own　blood　when　you　take　the　tongue。〃
Pharaun　relaxed　in　the　chair；　enjoying　the　feel　of　the　barber's　fingers　kneading　tonic　into　his　scalp。　It　wasn't　as　relaxing　as　a　full…body　massage；　but　soothing　nonetheless。
The　barber　chattered　away；　and　the　wizard　periodically　responded　with　a　nonmittal；　〃Indeed；〃　or　a　grunt。　Like；　he　suspected；　tonsorial　cusnottomers　of　all　races　in　all　ages　of　the　world；　he　wasn't　actually　listening。
The　barber's　stall；　a　little　box　redolent　of　unguents　and　pomades；　was　open　at　the　front；　and　it　was　more　interesting　to　gaze　out　at　the　sights　of　the　Bazaar。　A　moner　strode　by　carrying　a　clucking　chicken；　imported　from　the　Lands　of　Light；　in　a　box。　A　merchant　had　probably　promised　the　fellow　the　fowl　would　lay　for　years　to　e；　though　in　reality；　such　birds　rarely　thrived　in　the　Underdark。　A　portrait　painter　rendered　his　subject；　the　enchantments　in　the　brush　enabling　him　to　fill　the　canvas　with　astonnotishing　speed。　An　armorer　drove　a　rapier　through　a　bound；　gagged　kobold　to　demonstrate　the　sharpness　of　the　point。
Cowl　up；　mantle　drawn　close　around　him；　and　Splitter　hidden　by　the　charm　of　concealment　Pharaun　had　cast　on　it；　Ryld　loitered　across　the　way　in　a　tent　with　the　sides　folded　up。　There；　games　of　all　sorts　were　on　disnotplay。　The　hulking　swordsman　stood　pondering　a　sava　board；　where　he'd　set　up　a　problem　with　the　onyx　and　carnelian　pieces。
A　change　came　over　the　scene　beyond　the　doorway；　and　people　looked　to　the　north。　Some　started　to　squeeze　up　against　the　stalls；　clearing　the　center　of　the　lane。　A　ragged；　furtive…looking　moner　hurried　away　in　the　opposite　direct