war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第18部分

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e　we　left　Menzoberranzan。　He　has　experienced　similar　problems。〃
　　　〃It　sounds　as　though　whatever　the　Spider　Queen　is　doing；　she　does　not　wish　to　be　disturbed；〃　Valas　said。
　　　〃If　it's　her　who's　doing　it；〃　Ryld　countered。　〃Perhaps　another　god　has　erected　the　barrier　to　prevent　us　from　seeing　her。〃
　　　〃Exactly！〃　Pharaun　said　eagerly。　〃Surely　someone　knows…or　can　find　out…what　we　cannot　discover。〃
　　　〃I　thought　that's　what　our　mission　was　。。。　to　discover　Lolth's　fate；〃　Valas　said。　〃That's　why　we've　e　here。〃
　　　〃Yes；　you　are　correct；〃　Pharaun　said；　nodding；　〃though　this　business　with　storehouses　of　magic　items　seems　to　have　bee　a　higher　priority。　In　the　interest　of　bringing　us　back　to　the　more　fascinating　part　of　our　little　expedition；　I　have　an　idea。　I　want　to　enlist　help　from　the　outside。〃
　　　〃Help？　From　whom？〃　Ryld　was　sitting　up；　too。
　　　The　wizard　began　to　pace　again　as　he　explained　his　plan　to　his　panions。
　　　〃A　mere　mortal；　even　someone　with　my　acumen；　can't　penetrate　the　veil　that　has　settled　over　the　Demonweb　Pits。　Something　is　obviously　intent　on　keeping　us　out。　We　need　to　enlist　someone　else's　help　in　finding　out　what's　going　on　there。　Someone　not　of　our　own　ilk。〃
　　　Both　of　the　other　drow　were　watching　the　wizard　intently；　doubt　plain　on　their　faces。
　　　〃You　can't　mean　。　。　。〃　Ryld　said。
　　　〃Another　god。〃
　　　The　weapons　master　seemed　aghast。　Valas　said　nothing　but　might　have　been　contemplating　the　possibilities　of　such　an　act…and　the　ramifications。
　　　〃Perhaps　a　higher　being；〃　Pharaun　continued；　〃especially　one　m　close　proximity　to　the　Demonweb　Pits…from　one　of　the　other　layers　of　the　Abyss…could；　or　possibly　even　already　has；　discovered　more　than　we　can　possibly　hope　to　on　our　own。　Maybe　we　can　convince　one　of　them　to　tell　us　what　has　transpired　or　is　transpiring　inside。
　　　〃Not　directly；　of　course；〃　Pharaun　added　hastily；　〃but　through　an　intermediary　。。。　a　follower。〃
　　　〃You　play　a　dangerous　and　foolish　game；　Pharaun　Mizzrym；〃　Ryld　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃The　Dark　Mother　may　find　such　a　course　blasphemous；　a　betrayal　to　the　faith。〃
　　　〃Or　she　may　congratulate　me　on　being　so　innovative；　so　willing　to　examine　and　explore；　whatever　the　risk。　The　other　choice　is　to　admit　defeat；　return　to　Menzoberranzan；　and　sit　on　our　hands　as　our　way　of　life　ends。〃
　　　〃Quenthel　will　not　be　happy　with　this　plan；〃　Valas　cautioned。　〃She　will　most　likely　consider　it　a　personal　affront　to　her。〃
　　　〃Yes；　well；　Quenthel　is　too　focused　on　lining　House　Baenre's　coffers　to　appreciate　the　larger　picture　before　us。　I'm　beginning　to　wonder　how　wise　a　choice　she　was　to　lead　this　expedition。　Don't　stare　at　me　like　that；　Ryld。　。　。　。　You've　questioned　more　than　a　few　of　her　decisions　since　we　departed。〃
　　　〃Never　openly。　Not　to　her　face。〃
　　　〃She's　not　here　now；　is　she？　My　friend；　I　play　with　fire；　I　know　that；　but　if　I　don't　act　where　my　heart　lies　then　I've　failed　our　race　far　worse　than　she。　I'm　content　to　steer　things　from　behind　the　scenes；　letting　her　believe　she　controls　our　tempo；　our　course；　but　such　a　method　requires　patience；　more　than　a　little　frustration；　at　times；　and　the　possibility　of　being　thwarted　or　exposed。　It　would　stand　a　much　greater　chance　of　success　if　the　three　of　us　worked　together　to　maneuver　her。　I　could　use　your　help。〃
　　　Valas　had　his　chin　in　his　hand；　thinking。　Ryld　shook　his　head；　lines　of　worry　creasing　his　brow。
　　　'You　fight　against　millennia　of　tradition　and　habit；　Pharaun；〃　the　weapons　master　said。　〃I　can't　say　that　I　wele　the　idea　of　returning　to　Menzoberranzan　no　better　off　than　when　we　left；　but　usurping　the　high　priestess's　authority　might　very　well　see　our　heads　on　the　parapets　of　House　Baenre。〃
　　　〃The　wizard　has　already　been　at　it　for　a　couple　of　tendays。　。　。　。〃　Valas　said。
　　　〃Perhaps；　but　until　now；　it　was　simply　him　against　her；　he　hadn't　brought　us　into　it。〃
　　　Pharaun　clicked　his　tongue　in　exasperation。
　　　〃Do　you　honestly　think　that　she　won't　hold　us　all　responsible；　regardless　of　the　relative　levels　of　involvement？〃　the　Master　of　Sor…cere　asked；　〃She　will　blame　you　simply　because　you　are　a　male；　Master　Argith。〃
　　　Slowly；　Ryld　nodded。
　　　〃I　suppose　you're　right；〃　he　said。　〃It　still　doesn't　make　me　feel　any　better。〃
　　　〃I'm　not　suggesting　we　bind　her　with　cord　and　throw　her　in　a　box；　Weapons　Master。　All　I'm　asking　is　that　you　support　me　when　I　make　a　suggestion；　that　you　back　me；　however　subtly；　when　she　and　I　disagree。　Help　me　convince　her　that　moving　forward；　rather　than　back　to　Menzoberranzan；　is　the　wiser　course　of　action。〃
　　　〃You　make　sense；〃　Ryld　replied；　〃but　right　now；　your　idea　is　just　that。　We　must　find　someone　willing　to　serve　as　the　conduit。　Do　you　know　of　any　such　creature？〃
　　　〃I　do；〃　Valas　said　quietly。
　　　Pharaun　crouched　down　in　front　of　the　scout　and　asked；　〃You　do？　Who？〃
　　　〃There's　a　priest　I　know；　a　follower　of　Vhaeraun。〃
　　　〃Vhaeraun；〃　Ryld　said　in　a　clipped　tone。　〃I　doubt　we'll　receive　any　aid　from　him。〃
　　　〃Perhaps；　but　Tzirik　is　actually　an　old　associate　of　mine；〃　Valas　replied。
　　　At　Ryld's　surprised　look；　the　scout　added；　〃When　you　wander　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark　as　much　as　I　have；　you　have　to　be　decidedly　more　pragmatic　than　in　the　cozy　confines　of　Menzoberranzan。　Tzirik　Jaelre　owes　me　a　favor。　If　we　can　get　to　him；　I　think　he　might　help　us。〃
　　　Valas　turned　to　Pharaun　and　added；　〃Assuming；　of　course；　that　you　have　a　notion　of　what　he　should　do　once　we　get　there。〃
　　　Pharaun　replied；　〃I　will　when　we　find　this　priest。　In　the　meantime；　you　keep　this　Tzirik　Jaelre　to　yourself　until　I　have　words　with　Quenthel。　At　the　right　moment；　mention　that　you　know　him；　and　we'll　show　her　the　wisdom　of　seeing　this　through　to　the　end。〃
　　　〃I　only　hope　the　end　es　later；　rather　than　sooner；〃　Ryld　said　grimly。
　　　NINE
　　　Halisstra　couldn't　breathe。　The　blood　pounded　in　her　ears；　making　it　difficult　to　hear　what　Matron　Mother　Zauvirr　was　saying。　She　didn't　want　to　listen；　anyway。
　　　〃I　wish　it　wasn't　true；　Halisstra；　I　really　do；　but　there's　no　getting　around　it。　We　caught　her　in　the　act；　and　when　we　confronted　her；　she　wouldn't　surrender。　Your　mother　tried　to　flee；　and　the　soldiers　just　did　their　jobs。　By　the　time　I　got　to　her；　I　couldn't　help　her。〃
　　　Halisstra　shook　her　head；　trying　to　rid　her　thoughts　of　the　hated　words。　Her　mother；　dead。　It　wasn't　true。　It　couldn't　be！
　　　〃No！〃　Halisstra　cried　out；　pushing　Danifae　away。　Her　battle　captive；　all　flimsy　silks；　was　reaching　out　to　her；　trying　to　fort　her。　〃You're　lying！〃
　　　She　struggled　to　spin　free；　to　get　out　of　the　room；　but　she　found　all　avenues　of　escape　cut　off。　Matron　Mother　Zauvirr's　troops　seemed　to　be　standing　idly　by；　as　though　they　were　merely　guests　in　someone　else's　home；　but　they　were　strategically　placed　about　the　room　to　guard　the　doors。　She　looked　around　for　some　of　her　own　family's　soldiers；　but　there　were　none　to　be　found。　Matron　Mother　Zauvirr　had　planned　well；　delivering　her　devastating　news　from　a　position　of　strength。
　　　Wilting；　Halisstra　sank　down　to　the　floor；　unsure　what　to　do。　Only　Danifae　settled　down　next　to　her；　making　soothing　noises　and　trying　to　reach　out　to　calm　her。　She　didn't　want　to　be　calmed。　She　wanted　to　slap　the　other　drow；　smack　her　across　the　room；　but　she　knew　better。　If　she　had　any　hope　at　all　of　surviving　this　horrid　situation；　she　would　need　the　battle　captive's　aid。　She　had　to　think。
　　　It　wasn't　so　much　that　her　mother　was　dead。　Of　course　that　didn't　bother　her。　In　other　circumstances；　she　would　have　delighted　in　it；　but　there　weren't　any　other　circumstances。　Her　mother　had　been　caught　in　an　act　of　open　treason　against　the　city；　or　so　Ssipriina　claimed；　and　Halisstra　had　no　way　to　refute　it；　despite　the　fact　that　it　was　a　ludicrous　notion。　Her　mother　would　never　risk　herself　so　openly；　especially　not　aiding　foreigners；　regardless　of　how　good　the　relationship　was　between　their　Houses。　Not　to　mention　the　fact　that　smuggling　the　goods　from　Black　Claw　Mercantile　out　of　the　city　would　ruin　House　Melarn。　There　was　nothing　to　gain　from　it　and　so　much　to　lose。
　　　Of　course；　when　Ssipriina　arrived　in　House　Melarn's　audience　chamber；　sat　right　down　in　Drisinil's　throne　and　made　her　revelation；　the　unspoken　implication　was　there。　Drisinil　was　not　acting　alone。　When　the　rest　of　the　council　learned　of　it；　they　would　likely　find。　Halisstra　just　as　guilty　of　the　crimes　as　her　mother。　They　would　imprison　or　execute　everyone　in　the　family；　dissolve　House　Melarn；　and　divvy　up　its　assets。　Unless　she　found　a　way　to　counter　it。
　　　She　had　no　doubt　that　Ssipriina　was　behind　it　all；　was　somehow　benefiting　from　the　destruction　of　House　Melarn；　but　in　order　to　make　it　work；　she　would　have　to　eliminate　Halisstra；　too。　Halisstra　had　to　move　fast；　but　she　knew　that　the　other　drow　wasn't　about　to　let　the　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn　out　of　her　sight。　Her　only　chance　to　get　help　was　to　send　Danifae；　and　that　would　only　happen　if　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　believed　the　battle　captive　was　more　interested　in　saving　her　own　skin　than　in　supporting　her　mistress。
　　　Halisstra　glanced　over　at　Danifae；　taking　a　deep　breath　to　calm　herself；　then　began　to　flash　signs　at　her　servant；　working　secretively　so　that　only　her　panion　could　see。
　　　You　have　to　turn　on　me；　she　signaled。　Convince　them　that　you'd　just　as　soon　see　me　dead。　Then　get　help。　Go　to　House　Maerret。
　　　When　Danifae　gave　an　almost　imperceptible　nod；　Halisstra　reached　out　and　slapped　her。　Hard。　The　blow　sent　the　battle　captive　falling　backward；　skidding　across　the　floor。　Danifae's　eyes　widened　as　her　hand　flew　up　to　her　cheek；　but　before　she　could　open　her　mouth　to　spoil　the　effect；　Halisstra　screamed　at　her。
　　　〃How　dare　you　suggest　such　a　thing！　I　would　never　consider　it！〃
　　　Danifae's　red　eyes　narrowed；　and　whether　the　venomous　look　was　genuine　or　part　of　the　ploy；　Halisstra　wasn't　sure。
　　　〃Then　rot　in　a　cell　until　they　put　your　head　on　a　pike；　Mistress。〃　She　stood；　deliberately　brushing　her　backside；　straightening　the　flimsy　silks　that　did　little　to　conceal　her　curvaceous　body。　〃If　you　won't；　then　I'll　do　it　and　save　myself。〃
　　　Danifae　turned　to　Ssipriina　and　said；　〃Mistress　Zauvirr；　I　humbly　beg　you　to　help　me　procure　my　release　from　her〃　She　sneered　this　last　as　she　jerked　a　thumb　down　at　Halisstra；　who　was　still　sitting　on　the　floor。　〃I'm　sure　we　can　e　to　some　sort　of　arrangement　that　you　would　find　gratifying　enough　to　release　me　from　my　servitude。〃
　　　Ssipriina　alternated　between　looking　at　the　battle　captive　before　her　and　the　noble　daughter　on　the　floor；　blinking　in　surprise　at　the　outburst。　She　opened　her　mouth　as　if　to　say　something；　then　snapped　it　shut　again。
　　　Danifae；　taking　advantage　of　the　silence；　continued；　〃I'm　just　now　starting　to　recall　conversations　with　Mistress　Halisstra　that　I　think　might　implicate　her。　Given　a　few　moments　alone　in　her　chambers；　I　could　recall　even　more　evidence　that　proves　her　foreknowledge　in　these　disgraceful；　treasonous　acts。〃
　　　She　looked　down　at　Halisstra；　a　knowing　smirk　on　her　face。
　　　Despite　the　fact　that　she　knew　her　servant　was　playing　the　part…　at　least　she　hoped　that's　all　it　was…Halisstra　shuddered　at　the　look　on　Danifae's　face。　Not　having　to　try　very　hard　to　look　scared；　Drisinil's　daughter　took　another　deep　breath。
　　　〃Matron　Mother；〃　Halisstra　said；　〃I　assure　you　I　had　absolutely　no　previous　awareness　of　any　possible　plots　of　my　mother's。　My　battle　captive　is　obviously　lying　to　you；　trying　to　save　her　own　worthless　hide　in　exchange　for　damning　me　with　false　accusations。　You　cannot　possibly　accept　the　word　of　a　battle　captive。　She　would　tell　you　anything　to　see　me　e　to　a　bad　end。〃
　　　Ssipriina　looked　down　at　Halisstra　for　another　moment　and　laughed。
　　　〃Of　course　she　would；　silly　girl；　and　how　fortunate　for　me。〃　The　matron　mother　turned　to　Danifae；　smiled；　and　said；　〃Perhaps　we　can　e　to　some　sort　of　an　agreement。　Go　and　see　what　you　can　uncover。〃
　　　Danifae　smiled　and　bowed　deeply　to　Matron　Mother　Zauvirr；　then　turned　to　depart。　As　she　spun　on　one　heel；　she　looked　down　at　Halisstra；　sneering。
　　　As　Halisstra　let　her　gaze　follow　the　backside　of　her　servant；　she　heard　Ssipriina　take　a　deep　breath。
　　　〃Now；　what　to　do　with　you　。。。〃　the　matron　mother　said　in　a　most　unpleasant　tone。
　　　***
　　　
　　　Faeryl　Zauvirr　loomed　over　her　prisoner；　smiling　in　delight。　The　beads　of　dampness　that　glistened　on　Quenthel　Baenre's　forehead　ran　in　rivulets　into　her　eyes；　making　her　blink　and　squint。　Her　mouth　was　frozen　in　a　grimace　of　pain　and　misery；　though　it　was　difficult　for　her　to　effect　any　other　expression；　with　the　rothéhide…bound　dowel　wedged　so　deeply　into　her　mouth。　The　bit　was　held　tightly　in　place　with　braided　cord　tied　rightly　behind　her　neck。　Her　long　white　hair　was　matted　limply　around　her　head　and　spread　across　the　top　of　the　table　upon　which　she　lay。
　　　Faeryl　stepped　back　from　the　table　where　Quenthel　was　stretched　tightly；　her　wrists　and　ankles　locked　into　manacles　at　either　end　of　the　long；　narrow　rack。　The　high　priestess's　naked　body　was　taut；　like　the　string　of　an　instrument；　and　coated　in　a　sheen　of　sweat　that　glimmered　in　the　light　of　the　braziers；　but　still　Faeryl　was　not　satisfied。
　　　〃Perhaps　we　should　try　the　needles　again；〃　the　ambassador　mused　aloud。　〃They　fit　so　easily　beneath　the　toenails；　and　it　is　such　fun。〃
　　　Quenthel　grunted　and　shook　her　head；　her　red　eyes　wide。
　　　〃No？　Then　maybe　there's　something　in　here　that　I　can　use　to　amuse　myself；〃　Faeryl　said；　turning　to　one　of　the　braziers　and　sorting　the　tools　resting　in　it。　〃Some　of　these　are　glowing　nicely；　now。　I've　heard　that　these　blunt　ones　are　especially　good　for　the　eyes。〃
　　　The　grunts　increased　in　rhythm　and　went　up　an　octave。
　　　Faeryl　put　her　face　back　down　in　front　of　Quenthel's　again；　but　she　was　no　longer　smiling。
　　　〃We've　only　scratched　the　surface；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　she　spat；　once　again　stringing　the　honorific　out。　The　sarcastic　tone　was　being　second　nature　to　her。　〃We've　got　endless　hours　to　enjoy　this；　and　I　want　to　make　sure　you　experience　every　last　little　'pleasantry'　Jeggred　inflicted　on　me。〃
　　　Quenthel　closed　her　eyes　as　a　muted　groan　passed　the　bit　shoved　in　her　mouth。
　　　Faeryl　supposed　the　high　priestess　might　be　trembling；　or　perhaps　it　was　simply　the　quivering　of　muscles；　strained　from　being　stretched　so　long。　She　chuckled　and　turned　to　examine　the　other　prisoner。
　　　Jeggred　had　been　bound　tightly　to　a　stout　column；　lengths　of　chain　encircling　him　from　ankles　to　chin。　The　bonds　were　so　tight；　the　draegloth　could　move　only　his　head；　which　he　tossed　from　side　to　side　as　he　strained　to　break　free。　He　snarled　as　Faeryl　looked　at　him。
　　　〃Oh；　I　know；〃　she　cooed；　stepping　closer。　〃You　want　to　gut　me；　don't　you？　You　want　to　spill　my　blood　and　dance　in　it。〃
　　　〃You　will　die　a　slow；　painful　death；〃　the　fiend　rumbled。　〃I　will　see　to　it　personally。〃
　　　Faeryl　waved　her　hand　in　front　of　her　nose。
　　　〃Stop　talking；　you　vile　beast。　Your　breath　is　most　foul。〃
　　　Jeggred　only　growled。
　　　Faeryl　fixed　him　with　her　gaze　and　said；　〃Do　you　remember　the　things　you　did　to　me？〃　She　almost　shuddered　but　forced　herself　to　remain　still。　〃I　am　going