war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第17部分

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　　　〃I　knew　this　was　a　bad　idea；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃The　matron　mothers　of　this　city　are　the　one　big　thing　I'd　like　most　to　avoid；　and　here　you　are；　preparing　to　drop　in　on　one。　Somehow；　that　just　doesn't　bode　well　for　me。〃
　　　〃Oh；　stop　it；〃　Aliisza　said；　arching　one　of　her　eyebrows　at　the　mage。　〃I'm　not　about　to　tell　any　matron　mother　about　you。　I　wouldn't　want　word　getting　back　to…back　to　you…know…who〃…she　smiled　again　〃though　I　don't　see　how　you　can　avoid　the　matron　mothers；　given　the　pany　you're　traveling　with。〃
　　　〃What；　Quenthel？　No；　that's　not　a　problem。　She　knows　House　Melarn　won't　be　too　agreeable　to　her　plan　to　take　the　Black　Claw　goods　back　to　Menzoberranzan；　so…〃　The　wizard　stopped　in　midsentence。　〃I　shouldn't　be　telling　you　this。　I　am　a　sex…addled　idiot。〃
　　　He　stared　at　Aliisza　intently；　his　red　eyes　glittering。
　　　The　alu…fiend　stared　back；　but　she　couldn't　help　but　smile。
　　　〃What　are　you　doing；　considering　whether　to　try　to　kill　me　to　keep　your　secret　safe？〃　she　asked。　Arching　one　eyebrow　she　shimmied　back　away　from　the　wizard；　leaning　back　on　her　elbows　provocatively。　〃I　have　a　better　idea；〃　she　said；　feeling　her　voice　grow　husky　with　desire。　〃Teach　me　another　magic　trick　instead；〃
　　　Pharaun；　feeling　a　bination　of　exhilaration　and　dread；　left　Aliisza　in　the　little　house。　Exhilarated　from　the　satisfying　afternoon　he'd　spent　with　the　alu；　he　was　dreading　all　the　things　he'd　let　slip。　Though　he'd　repeatedly　told　himself　to　be　wary；　he'd　stumbled　several　times　thus　far。　Being　with　the　fiend　had　reduced　his　normally　sharp　instinct　for　caution　to　some　half…remembered　sense　of　danger　that　he　knew　he　ought　to　be　cognizant　of　but　wasn't。　It　was　just　an　accepted　practice　that　a　drow　never　opened　himself　up　to　a　fiend；　that　he　should　keep　his　dealings　strictly　business；　and　yet　here　he　was；　sharing　her　bed　and　spilling　his　best…kept　secrets。　Still；　if　he　had　to　pick　a　risky　diversion；　Aliisza　was　quite　the　prize。
　　　Whatever　his　apprehensions；　Pharaun　found　that　his　steps　were　light　as　he　made　his　way　back　to　the　Serpent　and　Flame。　He　had　useful　information　to　share　with　the　rest　of　the　Menzoberranyr；　and　he　also　had　a　couple　of　divinations　he　wanted　to　attempt　that　he　hoped　would　clarify　a　bit　just　exactly　what　was　going　on　in　the　Abyss。　Plus；　he　might　still　have　time　to　fulfill　that　request　of　Quenthel's。　All　in　all；　it　was　turning　out　to　be　a　truly　memorable　day。
　　　Despite　his　own　elation；　Pharaun　could　still　feel　the　tension　of　the　city　buzzing　in　the　air；　and　he　was　careful　to　avoid　the　worst　of　the　crowds。　After　the　experience　of　the　previous　day；　he　didn't　think　it　wise　to　get　caught　up　in　a　chest…thump　ing　petition　with　a　congregation　of　disgruntled　citizens。　He　made　certain　to　spend　most　of　his　time　floating　from　section　to　section；　avoiding　pletely　the　calcified　webbing　ladders　that　connected　different　levels。
　　　The　mage　stopped　along　the　way　at　a　dingy…looking　shop　called　Gauralt's　Spices；　a　place　that　purported　to　offer　hard…to…find　ponents　for　spellcasting。　Valas　had　mentioned　it　to　him　that　morning　before　they　set　out　on　their　separate　errands；　and　Pharaun　found　it　exactly　where　the　scout　had　said　it　would　be。　Of　course；　getting　what　he　needed　might　prove　to　be　another　matter；　but　Gauralt；　a　drow　…male　who　ran　the　place；　was　able　to　supply　him　with　the　four　strips　of　ivory　and　the　particular　incense　he　needed；　and　he　was　on　his　way　again　in　no　time。
　　　Back　at　the　inn；　none　of　the　rest　of　the　mage's　panions　had　returned。　He　supposed　that　Ryld　and　Valas　might　spend　most　of　the　day　attempting　to　round　up　the　needed　supplies　and　mounts　for　the　return　journey；　but　he　was　somewhat　surprised　that　Quenthel；　Faeryl；　and　Jeggred　had　not　e　back　from　the　storehouse。　He　couldn't　imagine　what　would　require　them　to　spend　that　much　time　there；　but　then　it　was　just　as　well。
　　　If　she　was　here；　he　told　himself；　she'd　simply　find　something　to　snipe　about；　anyway。
　　　He　began　to　make　a　mental　checklist　of　the　spells　he　wanted　to　cast。　First；　he　would　use　his　new　ponents　to　try　to　track　down　who　was　trying　to　kill　Quenthel。
　　　And　probably　offer　to　help；　he　added；　grinning。
　　　He　also　planned　to　try　again　to　take　a　peek　into　the　Demonweb　Pits。
　　　It　was　a　spell　he　had　tried　more　than　once　back　in　Menzober…ranzan；　with　no　luck　whatsoever；　but　he　hoped　it　would　yield　more　satisfying　results　away　from　the　City　of　Spiders。　The　Master　of　Sor…cere　had　no　basis　for　this　supposition；　but　he　thought　it　was　still　worth　an　attempt。
　　　Pharaun　retrieved　the　four　strips　of　ivory　he'd　acquired；　along　with　the　incense；　and　sat　down　to　perform　the　spell。　Casting　it　would　leave　him　weary　and　low　on　spells；　but　if　the　knowledge　he　gained　from　it　was　useful；　he　would　count　the　cost　worthwhile。
　　　The　mage　arranged　the　four　strips　of　ivory　into　a　rectangle　upon　the　carpeting；　lit　the　incense；　and　closed　his　eyes。　It　was　not　a　spell　he　cast　often；　and　it　required　a　careful　application　of　chanting　and　specific　questions。　He　couldn't　stumble　at　any　point；　for　he　didn't　know　when　the　next　opportunity　to　try　it　would　arise。
　　　With　the　incense　burning　and　the　spell　begun；　Pharaun　asked　his　question；　beseeching　the　elemental　forces　of　magic　and　the　planes　of　existence　to　grant　him　a　meaningful　answer。
　　　〃Reveal　to　me　the　enemy　of　Quenthel　Baenre　of　House　Baenre　in　Menzoberranzan；　the　enemy　who　seeks　to　destroy　her；　who　calls　forth　demons　to　slay　her　in　the　very　temple　where　she　reigns。〃
　　　The　burning　incense　flared；　and　smoke　filled　the　room。　After　a　moment；　a　message　formed　in　Pharaun's　mind；　words　uttered　by　the。　wind；　or　perhaps　the　Weave　itself。　However　it　was　delivered；　the　message　that　Pharaun　received　was　clear。
　　　The　one　who　seeks　the　high　priestess's　death　shares　her　blood　and　her　ambition。　Quenthels　enemy　sprang　from　the　same　womb　but　is　not　of　the　womb。
　　　Pharaun　blinked；　his　red　eyes　taking　in　the　darkened　room　as　the　last　remnants　of　the　incense　burned　out　and　turned　to　ash。
　　　Sprang　from　the　same　womb　but　not　of　the　womb。　A　sibling；　but　not　a　female。　A　male？　A　brother？　Gromph！　It　had　to　be。　。。。
　　　　　　　Pharaun　was　surprised；　not　so　much　that　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　would　wish　his　sister　dead　but　by　the　fact　that　he　hadn't　see　it　before　then。　Gromph　had　much　to　gain　by　eliminating　the　only　real　rival　for　Triel's　ear。　The　archmage　could　not　have　designs　on　the　throne　of　House　Baenre　itself；　but　he　could　be　the　puppet　master；　pulling　the　strings　behind　the　scenes。　Quenthel　disagreed　with　everything　her　brother　said；　and　vice　versa；　so　she　was　an　obvious　and　powerful　impediment　to　any　ambitions　he　might　have。
　　　Adding　to　that　was　the　fact　that　Gromph　had　the　knowledge　of　the　Academy's　defenses　and　had　the　capability　to　summon　forth　the　fiends　used　in　the　attacks。　It　was　a　talent　few　others　possessed；　at　least　few　others　with　the　interest　to　do　so。　There　were　other　powerful　wizards　within　the　halls　of　Sorcere；　and　Pharaun　supposed　that　some　of　them　would　like　to　see　someone　replace　Quenthel　as　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy；　but　Gromph　was　the　one　who　stood　to　gain　the　most。
　　　Though　he　knew　the　answer；　Pharaun　wasn't　sure　what　to　do　with　it。
　　　On　the　one　hand；　he　considered；　I'm　here　with　Quenthel。　Does　telling　her　aid　me　more？　Or　do　I　simply　seal　my　fate　upon　returning　to　Sorcere？　If　I　tell　Gromph　that　Quenthel　is　trying　to　find　out　who's　after　her；　even　do　him　a　favor　by　misleading　her…or　eliminating　her；　a　small　part　of　his　mind　suggested…does　my　standing　at　Sorcere　improve；　or　will　he　be　unable　to　protect　me　from　Triel's　wrath？
　　　Of　course；　Pharaun　knew　that　most　of　his　decisions　hinged　on　the　eventuality　of　returning　to　Menzoberranzan；　and　he　was　planning　to　argue　with　Quenthel　against　that　course　of　action。　There　were　still　too　many　variables；　too　many　possible　outes；　before　he　would　know　which　side　of　the　siblings'　conflict　to　join。　He　could　stall　Quenthel　for　a　while。　She　wouldn't　know　what　might　be　involved　in　his　quest　for　her　information。　For　all　she　knew；　he　could　be　working　through　a　spell　that　actually　took　days　to　plete　or　negotiating　with　an　elemental　of　some　sort；　making　a　bargain　to　exchange　some　modity　for　a　casting　of　a　spell　he　himself　did　not　know。　There　were　a　number　of　lies　he　could　tell　her　to　keep　her　waiting。
　　　For　the　time　being；　then；　he　decided　he　would　stay　mute　on　his　findings　and　see　which　way　the　rothé　herd　roamed。　When　the　time　was　right；　he　would　play　it　to　his　advantage。　Either　oute；　and　he　would　improve　his　station　within　the　Academy。
　　　Pharaun　rested　a　few　moments　longer　on　the　floor；　recovering　from　the　exertions　of　the　spell　then　began　packing　up　his　paraphernalia；　stowing　the　strips　of　ivory　away　in　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi。
　　　Next；　Pharaun　removed　a　small　mirror　from　his　haversack。　He　briefly　wondered　if　using　the　same　spell　he　had　just　employed　to　find　Quenthel's　enemy　would　work　better　in　these　circumstances；　but　he　couldn't　cast　it　again　without　resting　for　a　few　hours　then　studying　his　spellbooks。　Firming　his　resolve；　the　wizard　began　chanting　the　words　needed　to　activate　the　magical　scrying。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　knew　the　spell　was　dangerous。　Attempting　to　look　in　on　a　deity　without　permission　could　have　disastrous　ramifications。　Still；　he　was　intent　on　trying；　if　only　to　discern　more　of　what　was　going　on　in　the　wake　of　the　goddess's　absence。　Drawing　on　the　memories　he　had　of　his　strange　visit　to　the　Demonweb　Pits　those　decades　past；　he　finished　the　spell　and　peered　into　the　mirror；　which　was　reflecting　a　cloudy　image　of　elsewhere　rather　than　his　own　dark…skinned　face。
　　　Pharaun　gazed　into　the　magical　window　for　several　minutes；　waiting　and　hoping　that　he　might　recognize　something　in　its　murky　depths。　There　was　nothing。　He　willed　the　spectral　eye　that　he　knew　was　on　the　other　end　of　his　spell　to　glide　forward；　remotely　peering　this　way　and　that；　trying　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　something；　anything　solid　in　the　formless　fog。
　　　The　mage　felt　a　tingle；　a　warning　in　the　back　of　his　mind。　He　mentally　scrambled　to　release　the　spell；　to　sever　the　connection　with　the　eye　at　the　far　side　of　oblivion；　and　he　almost　succeeded；　but　not　quite。　A　backlash　of　energy　slammed　into　him；　hurtled　outward　through　the　mirror　like　a　punch；　while　at　the　same　time　Pharaun　sensed　a　wall　offeree　sliding　down；　cutting　him　off　from　his　magical　eye。
　　　As　his　senses　returned；　Pharaun　realized　he　was　sprawled　on　his　back；　blinking　as　his　eyes　tried　to　focus　on　the　ceiling。　He　groaned　and　sat　up；　seeing　that　he　had　been　hurtled　backward　from　the　mirror　more　than　ten　feet。　He　rose　onto　wobbly　legs　and　staggered　back　over　to　the　mirror。　It　was　cracked；　its　glass　surface　spider…nebbed　into　hundreds　of　fissures。　He　stared　at　the　ruined　mirror　for　a　moment；　wondering　if　the　pattern　was　representative　of　something　or　merely　a　coincidence。
　　　Well；　that　answers　that　question；　Pharaun　thought。　A　mere　mortal　cannot　penetrate　the　veil　that　has　settled　over　the　sixty…sixth　layer　of　the　Abyss；　but　perhaps　a　higher　being　can。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　shook　his　head　and　sighed　as　he　gingerly　gathered　the　fragmented　remains　of　the　mirror。
　　　Why　do　I　go　through　this　trouble？　he　thought　as　he　tried　to　figure　out　where　he　should　discard　the　ruined　thing。　Everything　I　do　for　everyone；　and　all　I　get　is　grief　in　return。　I'll　bet　other　folk　don't　go　through　this　much　trouble　to　track　down　their　deities；　he　thought　wryly。　I'm　sure　they　just　look　them　up　anytime…
　　　The　wizard　froze　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　the　beginnings　of　an　idea　forming。　He　almost　smacked　himself　in　the　head。
　　　Of　course！　he　thought。　I've　been　going　about　this　all　wrong。　Why　didn't　I　think　of　this　before？　We're　asking　the　wrong　。　。　。
　　　Tossing　the　mirror　down　in　a　tinkle　of　glass；　Pharaun　began　to　pace；　mulling　his　idea　over　more　carefully。　A　plan　was　beginning　to　form；　one　that　was　getting　him　excited。　The　hardest　part；　he　realized；　would　be　figuring　out　how　to　convince　Quenthel。
　　　It　was　not　long　after　that　that　Ryld　and　Valas　returned　from　their　own　excursions。
　　　The　wizard　took　one　look　at　the　pair　of　them　and　quickly　surmised　that　their　endeavors　had　not　only　ended　unsatisfactorily　but　violently。　Both　drow　were　glum　as　well　as　bloodied　and　bruised。　Valas　walked　with　a　slight　limp；　and　Ryld　seemed　unable　to　lift　his　left　arm　above　his　waist。　Almost　as　one；　they　dropped　their　gear　on　the　floor　and　dropped　down　onto　their　Reverie　couches。
　　　〃I　gather　that　things　did　not　go　well　today；〃　Pharaun　mented。　〃No　chance　to　haul　Quenthel's　supplies　out　of　here？〃
　　　〃Three　places；〃　Valas　muttered。　〃We　tried　three　places　and　got　into　two　scuffles　for　our　troubles。〃
　　　〃There　just　isn't　a　pack　lizard　to　be　had；　it　seems；〃　Ryld　added；　rubbing　his　eyes　with　his　good　hand。　〃If　there　is；　no　one　is　ready　to　sell　it　to　outsiders。〃
　　　〃I　don't　find　that　hard　to　believe；〃　Pharaun　replied；　〃considering　that　no　caravans　have　entered　or　left　the　city　in　such　a　long　while。　Everyone　is　holding　tight　to　what　they　have；　riding　the　crisis　out。〃
　　　Pharaun　busied　himself　straightening　his　own　things　while　the　other　two　males　sat　still。
　　　〃I'll　wager　with　you　for　who　has　to　tell　her；〃　Ryld　said　to　Valas。　〃Rock；　knife；　and　parchment？〃
　　　The　scout　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Let's　just　make　the　wizard　tell　her；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　Pharaun。　〃He　seems　to　delight　so　in　tormenting　her；　anyway；　so　what's　one　more　bit　of　bad　news　out　of　his　mouth？〃
　　　Ryld　nodded；　and　Pharaun　found　himself　smiling。
　　　〃Well；　we　all　have　a　reprieve；　at　least　for　the　moment；〃　the　mage　said。　〃She　and　the　other　two　haven't　returned　from　the　storehouse。〃
　　　〃Really？〃　Valas　asked；　sitting　up。　〃I　would　have　thought　they'd　return　before　us　for　sure。〃
　　　Pharaun　shrugged　and　said；　〃As　would　I；　but　none　of　them　are　here。〃
　　　〃That's　fine　by　me；〃　Ryld　said；　leaning　back　against　the　wall　and　dosing　his　eyes。　〃The　less　I　have　to　see　of　that　damned　draegloth；　the　better　off　I　am。〃
　　　Pharaun　pursed　his　lips；　realizing　that　what　he　was　going　to　suggest　next　might　not　set　well　with　either　the　weapons　master　or　the　scout。
　　　〃I　found　out　something　today；　too；〃　he　said　quietly。
　　　Ryld　opened　one　eye　and　looked　at　the　wizard。
　　　〃Oh？〃
　　　Valas　leaned　forward　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　　　〃Have　you　determined　what　has　happened　to　the　Dark　Mother？〃
　　　Pharaun　chuckled　and　said；　〃Not　exactly；　but　I　did　learn　that　her　disappearance　has　not　been　limited　to　our　own　race。　Other　species　feel　her　loss；　as　well。〃
　　　〃I　don't　know　whether　to　consider　that　good　news　or　not；〃　the　scout　said；　sitting　back　again。
　　　Nor　do　I；〃　Pharaun　agreed；　〃but　I　have　also　learned　that　something　is　sealing　us　out　from　the　Demonweb　Pits。　I　have　attempted　to　scry　there　in　hopes　of　learning　something　of　the　goddess's　condition…indeed；　if　she　yet　exists…and　I　could　not　penetrate　inside。　A　barrier　protects　it　and　keeps　me；　and　others；　outside。〃
　　　〃A　barrier？　You're　speaking　now　of　things　I　have　no　experience　with；〃　Ryld　said。　〃What　kind　of　barrier？〃
　　　〃A　potent　one。　I　was　nearly　blasted　into　powder　for　my　troubles；〃　Pharaun　said；　a　wry　smile　on　his　face；　〃I　have　tried　it　before；　even　spoke　with　Archmage　Gromph　before　we　left　Menzoberr