war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第22部分

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　　　Neither　Valas　nor　Ryld　said　anything；　but　the　wizard　could　feel　them　on　either　side　of　him；　tense　and　ready　to　spring。
　　　〃We　are　honored　and　delighted　to　be　guests　in　your　House；　Matron　Mother　Zauvirr；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃To　what　do　we　owe　this　auspicious　occasion？〃
　　　And　where　in　the　Abyss　are　Quenthel　and　Jeggred？　he　silently　added。
　　　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　sniffed　and　replied；　〃On　the　contrary；　Pharaun　Mizzrym；　I　should　be　the　one　thanking　you　and　asking　you　why　you　have　graced　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs　with　your　august　presence。　The　reputation　that　preceded　you；　telling　of　a　confident；　self…possessed　mage　of　no　small　skill；　was　only　half　the　story；　it　seems。〃
　　　Pharaun　smiled　in　the　most　disarming　way　he　could　muster　as　he　shifted　his　weight　to　one　foot；　letting　the　other　turn　out　slightly。
　　　〃Everyone　has　her　own　opinions；　as　always；　Matron　Mother。　That　is　not　to　say　that　anyone　is　in　error；　only　that　affectations　and　realities　do　not　always　mesh；　and　for　good　reason。〃
　　　〃Of　course；〃　another　matron　mother　said；　moving　forward　from　Ssipriina's　left；　〃and　our　opinion　is　that　you　and　your　panions；　while　affecting　the　appearance　of　simple　travelers　or　even　emissaries　from　our　sister　city　of　Menzoberranzan；　are　in　reality　spies；　here　to　steal　from　us　and　expose　whatever　weaknesses　you　thought　you　might　be　able　to　find　to　the　world　at　large。〃
　　　So　much　for　affectations；　thought　Pharaun；　shifting　his　weight　uneasily。
　　　He　felt；　rather　than　saw　Ryld；　to　his　left；　and　Valas；　to　his　right；　both　stiffen　at　the　undisguised　accusation。
　　　〃Easy；〃　he　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃Save　the　foolish　heroics　for　the　'all…else…fails'　part　of　the　program。〃
　　　Smoothing　his　face　as　best　he　could；　the　mage　spread　his　hands　in　gracious　acquiescence　and　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　Mistress　。　。　。〃
　　　〃Matron　Mother　Jyslin　Aleanrahel；　of　House　Aleanrahel。〃
　　　Pharaun　swallowed　then　said；　〃Matron　Mother　Aleanrahel。　While　I'm　sure　our　efforts　at　avoiding　attention　must　seem　terribly　surreptitious；　I　can　assure　you　that　we　meant　nothing　antagonistic。　We　only　wished　to…〃
　　　〃To　avoid　being　confronted　like　this？〃　Jyslin　interjected。　〃How　well　did　that　serve　you？〃
　　　Pharaun　sighed　and　said；　〃Not　well　at　all；　it　appears；　but　my　panions　and　I　still　aren't　pletely　sure　we　understand　your　concerns。　I　must　profess；　I　am　confused　as　to　why　we're　meeting　here；　if　none　of　you　is　Matron　Mother　Melarn。〃
　　　Several　of　the　matron　mothers　gave　each　other　knowing　glances。　Pharaun　was　thoroughly　confused。　He　continued　to　scan　the　room　and　saw　something　else　quite　odd：　a　drow；　obviously　nobly　born　but　stripped　to　her　underclothes　and　held　prisoner　between　two　stout　guards；　and　it　wasn't　Quenthel。
　　　〃Oh；　we　have　no　concerns；〃　Jyslin　Aleanrahel　replied。　〃Not　anymore。　Until　you　arrived；　we　were　concerned　that　we　would　not　be　able　to　detain　you；　that　you　might　try　to　slip　out　of　the　city。　We　were　concerned　that　you　would　report　your　discoveries　to　your　superiors　back　in　the　City　of　Spiders。　We　were　more　concerned　that　you　would　try　something　foolish；　like　concluding　your　high　priestess's　ill…conceived　plan　of　theft　and　spying。　You've　cooperated　nicely；　though；　so　we　feel　we　have　the　situation　well　in　hand。〃
　　　Ryld　made　an　almost　inaudible　strangled　noise；　and　the　mage　felt　the　warrior　shift　his　weight。　In　response；　several　of　the　soldiers；　who　had　unassumingly　fanned　out　to　more　pletely　surround　the　trio；　tensed　as　though　expecting　Ryld　to　lunge　at　them。
　　　Pharaun　frowned。
　　　〃I　wasn't　aware　that　our　high　priestess　was　planning　anything　of　the　sort；〃　he　said。　〃If　something　is　amiss；　we　must　all　work　to　see　that　it　is　rectified。　Just　tell　us　where　she　is；　and　I'm　sure　we　can　resolve　whatever…〃
　　　〃Quenthel　Baenre　was　caught　mitting　treasonous　acts　against　Ched　Nasad；〃　yet　a　third　matron　mother　said；　stepping　out　from　behind　the　throne。　Pharaun　sensed　that　this　one；　with　a　graceful　age　about　her　face；　might　just　be　the　most　formidable　drow　he'd　ever　met。　〃There　was　no　doubt　about　her　guilt。　She　died　trying　to　flee　the　scene　of　her　crimes。〃
　　　Pharaun　blinked；　reeling。　Dead？　Quenthel　Baenre　was　dead？　He　wasn't　sure　whether　to　laugh　or　be　worried。　Behind　him；　he　heard　both　of　his　panions'　gasps　of　surprise。
　　　〃She　was　caught　conspiring　with　House　Melarn　to　illegally　enter　the　city　and　steal　valuable　resources　belonging　to　us；〃　the　older　drow　said；　〃and　we　believe　she　was　also　mitting　espionage　on　behalf　of　Menzoberranzan。　We　consider　these　to　be　crimes　against　trie　city；　against　all　drow；　and　most　especially　against　the　Dark　Mother　herself。〃
　　　Conspiracy？　Pharaun　thought。　How　ridiculous　could　they　be？
　　　He　stared　at　the　throne　where　Faeryl's　mother　sat；　and　he　was　beginning　to　understand　who　was　behind　it；　and　perhaps　why。
　　　No　wonder　Faeryl　was　so　eager　to　help　us；　he　thought。　She　was　leading　us　by　our　noses　the　whole　time。
　　　〃Furthermore；〃　the　matron　mother　continued；　〃you；　by　association　with　Quenthel；　are　accused　of　the　same　charges。　You　are　under　arrest；　and　you　will　be　confined　on　the　premises　until　such　time　as　we　can　determine　your　guilt　or　innocence。〃
　　　〃Not　today；〃　Ryld　said；　taking　a　step　forward　and　reaching　for　Splitter。
　　　As　one；　a　multitude　of　soldiers　brandished　hand　crossbows；　and　at　least　half　a　dozen　wizards　and　priestesses　appeared　to　ready　spells。
　　　〃Ryld；　you　fool；　wait！〃　Pharaun　growled；　still　trying　to　keep　his　voice　low。　〃There　are　better　ways　。。。〃
　　　Valas　reached　a　hand　out　and　stopped　the　larger　drow　from　finishing　the　act　of　unsheathing　his　greatsword。
　　　〃Not　yet；〃　the　scout　pleaded。　〃We've　got　no　chance　like　this。〃
　　　Ryld　snarled；　but　he　released　the　hilt　of　his　weapon　and　stepped　back　again。
　　　〃Good；〃　the　third　matron　mother　said。　〃You　are　not　as　foolhardy　as　Faeryl　suggested。　Though　the　bravado　is　misplaced　here；　I'm　sure　it's　served　you　well　in　the　past；〃
　　　〃Mistress　。　。　。　？〃　Pharaun　began。
　　　〃Aunrae　Nasadra；　of　First　House　Nasadra；〃　the　drow　finished　for　him。
　　　Of　course　you　are；　the　wizard　thought。
　　　〃Mistress　Nasadra；〃　he　said；　〃while　I　am　shocked　and　saddened　by　the　news　of　Quenthel's　death；　I　implore　you　to　hear　me　out。　I　have　absolutely　no　knowledge　of　any　conspiracy　between　her　and　anyone　here　in　the　city。　There　must　have　been　a　great　misunderstanding。〃
　　　〃I　doubt　it；〃　Aunrae　replied；　〃but　you　may　yet　have　a　chance　to　prove　it　and　spare　your　neck。　Simply　tell　us　the　truth。　Did　you　or　did　you　not　sneak　into　the　city　and　meet　in　secret　with　Drisinil　Melarn；　matron　mother　of　House　Melarn；　in　order　to　steal　goods　out　of　Black　Claw　Mercantile's　storehouses？〃
　　　Pharaun　looked　around　at　the　myriad　faces　staring　expectantly　at　him…and　at　the　scores　of　weapons　leveled　at　him　and　his　two　panions…and　he　did　the　only　thing　he　could；　he　lied。
　　　〃Absolutely；　Mistress　Nasadra；〃　he　deadpanned；　and　everyone　including　Ryld　and　Valas　gasped。　Before　the　other　two　Menzoberranyr　could　refute　his　false　admission；　he　continued；　〃Or　rather；　Quenthel　must　have。　It　all　makes　sense；　now。　You　see；　Mistress；　she　ordered　my　two　panions　and　me　to　track　down　caravans　that　could　help　transport　a　large　amount　of　goods；　without　telling　us　what　they　were　for。　Mistress　Baenre　told　us　males　very　little；　you　must　realize。
　　　〃Right　before　we　set　out　to　follow　her　instructions；　I　overheard　her　speaking　with　Faeryl　Zauvirr；　the　ambassador　to　Menzoberranzan　who　was　acpanying　us。　I　recall　that　she　said　something　about　meeting　with　her　mother　and　one　other；　though　of　course　at　the　time；　I　didn't　know　to　whom　she　was　referring。　She　asked　Faeryl　something　to　the　effect　of；　'and　you're　certain　the　meeting　place　is　secure？　We　can't　afford　to　be　seen；　you　know。'　〃
　　　〃You　pompous；　smart…mouthed　liar！〃　Faeryl　screamed　from　across　the　room。　〃Kill　them　now　and　be　done　with　it！〃
　　　Pharaun　did　all　he　could　to　avoid　smiling。　Around　him；　everyone　began　to　talk　at　once；　and　though　he　heard　more　than　a　few　snatches　of　conversation　condemning　him　and　his　outlandish　story；　he　knew　that　he　had　sown　the　seeds　of　doubt。　Already；　though；　the　troops　who　had　surrounded　them…troops　wearing　the　insignia　of　House　Zauvirr…　began　to　advance　uncertainly　upon　the　three　of　them。
　　　〃All　tight；　wizard；〃　Ryld　hissed；　〃we're　out　of　time。　What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　　　Pharaun　opened　his　mouth　to　tell　the　warrior　that　he　had　absolutely　no　idea；　when　a　sudden　and　violent　shudder　rocked　the　chamber；　causing　everyone　to　stumble　and　flail　about；　their　center　of　balance　disrupted。　A　split　second　later；　a　monumental　thundercrash　penetrated　the　walls；　deep　and　loud；　and　reverberated　through　the　entire　room。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mother；〃　someone　cried　as　everyone　looked　at　everyone　else　in　confusion　and　panic。
　　　A　servant　ran　into　the　chamber；　a　wild　look　of　fear　in　his　eyes。
　　　〃Mistresses！　It's　duergar！　Hundreds　of　them；　surrounding　us　。。。　they're　attacking！〃　Another　sonic　shock　knocked　the　liveried　boy　to　his　knees；　and　he　seemed　to　hug　the　floor　in　terror。　〃They　burn　the　stones　themselves；　Mothers。　The　city　is　burning！〃
　　　ELEVEN
　　　Aliisza　was　more　than　a　little　surprised　to　see　the　horde　of　duergar　seemingly　appear　out　of　thin　air　around　the　great　manor　Pharaun　and　his　panions　had　entered。　From　the　looks　on　their　faces；　though；　she　wasn't　nearly　as　surprised　as　the　drow　who　were　guarding　the　place。　The　gray　dwarves；　whom　she　estimated　numbered　between　two　and　three　thousand；　had　formed　a　line　along　one　side　of　the　manor　house　before　making　themselves　visible　by　firing　off　a　volley　of　crossbows。　They　also　lobbed　several　dozen　small　clay　pots；　which　burst　into　orange　balls　of　flame　upon　impacting　the　stonework　wall　that　surrounded　the　manor。
　　　The　few　drow　who'd　been　lounging　around　near　the　palatial　front　gates　scrambled　for　cover　as　the　hail　of　bolts　and　incendiary　bombs　struck。　The　blast　from　the　initial　attack　shook　the　entire　web　street；　and　Aliisza　had　to　improve　her　grip　to　avoid　slipping　and　falling　from　her　roost　on　the　roof　of　the　building　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　open　plaza。　When　she　could　look　again；　she　saw　that　few　of　the　dark　elves　had　survived　the　first　attack。
　　　An　alarm　was　quickly　sounded　inside　the　courtyard　of　the　cyst…like　building；　and　more　drow　appeared　from　inside；　a　large　contingent　of　them；　in　fact。　Aliisza　watched　as　they　formed　a　line　across　the　protective　wall　and　returned　fire　with　their　hand　crossbows。　Several　duergar　dropped　before　the　barrage；　but　the　gray　dwarves　exhibited　wise　tactics；　throwing　up　a　shield　wall　with　the　front　rank　and　firing　a　second　volley　from　behind　that　protective　barrier。　In　several　places；　the　stone　itself　seemed　to　burn　from　the　duergar　fire　bombs；　and　the　fire　was　spreading。
　　　In　the　plaza；　citizens　of　Ched　Nasad　scrambled　for　cover；　and　in　the　distance；　Aliisza　could　see　a　large　column　of　troops　marching；　one　web　street　over；　in　her　direction。　The　duergar　were　about　to　have　unwanted　pany　。。。　or　so　she　thought。
　　　That's　when　the　second　mass　of　gray　dwarves　appeared　inside　the　courtyard；　flanking　the　drow　who　had　formed　up　to　defend　the　front　gates。
　　　Oh；　how　clever；　the　alu…fiend　thought。　They　look　like　they've　done　this　a　time　or　two。
　　　***
　　　
　　　Pharaun　never　hesitated。
　　　〃Scatter；〃　he　said　sharply　to　the　two　drow　with　him。
　　　He　willed　a　spell　into　being。　Ordinarily　he　would　have　needed　at　least　a　few　seconds　to　speak　the　phrase　and　perform　the　gestures　to　bring　the　effect　about；　but　he　had　enhanced　this　particular　magic；　and　this　conjuration　simply　happened　as　he　thought　it；　with　no　gestures；　words；　or　delays。　A　thick；　roiling　mist　appeared；　obscuring　everything　around　the　wizard。　He　knew　that　Ryld　would　know　how　to　take　care　of　himself；　and　he　hoped　that　Valas　would　understand；　too。　He　promptly　dismissed　them　from　his　mind　as　he　levitated　upward。
　　　Another　concussive　blast　shook　the　House；　though　the　wizard；　hovering　in　the　air；　only　heard　it　this　time。　He　floated　all　the　way　to　the　ceiling；　casting　a　spell　of　invisibility　on　himself。　He　knew　it　wouldn't　pletely　obscure　him　from　the　more　clever　wizards　and　matron　mothers；　but　it　would　at　least　prevent　the　mon　soldiery　from　spotting　him。　From　below；　he　could　hear　the　turmoil　and　confusion　as　a　host　of　drow　reacted　to　both　the　messenger's　words　and　the　rumbles　in　the　foundation。
　　　When　he　reached　the　ceiling；　Pharaun　reached　inside　his　piwafwi　and　extracted　a　small　pinch　of　diamond　dust。　He　incanted　once　more；　watching　as　the　dust　vanished　in　a　sparkle　of　light。　It　would　further　conceal　him；　he　hoped；　this　time　from　detection　magic。
　　　By　then；　someone　had　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　magically　dissipate　Pharaun's　mist；　and　the　floor　below　was　clear　once　more。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　surveyed　the　entire　chamber；　looking　for　signs　of　Ryld　and　Valas。　The　scout　was　nowhere　to　be　found；　which　didn't　surprise　the　wizard　in　the　least；　and　Ryld　had　maneuvered　himself　off　to　one　side　of　the　room。　The　weapons　master　crouched　behind　some　statuary；　Splitter　in　hand；　watching　as　the　enemy　ran　here　and　there。
　　　He　won't　stay　hidden　long；　Pharaun　reasoned；　knowing　the　matron　mothers　still　intended　to　mete　out　their　own　personal　justice　just　as　soon　as　they　could　restore　some　order。
　　　Considering　quickly；　the　wizard　dug　out　a　bit　of　fleece　from　one　of　his　pockets。　With　it　he　manufactured　another　spell。　This　one　he　cast　at　Ryld；　creating　a　little　enhancement　to　the　warrior's　hiding　place。　When　he　was　done；　a　new；　illusory　statue　stood　where　Ryld　was；　further　concealing　him。
　　　Pharaun　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　center　of　the　room；　where　several　wizards　were　standing；　some　of　them　casting。　Another　was　carefully　turning；　peering　in　every　direction；　and　Pharaun　could　see　that　magic　emanated　from　the　drow。
　　　They're　looking　for　us；　the　Master　of　Sorcere　realized。
　　　Fumbling　around　in　his　pockets；　Pharaun　found　what　he　was　looking　for：　a　tiny　hammer　and　bell；　both　made　of　silver。　Striking　the　hammer　against　the　bell；　the　wizard　produced　another　magical　effect。　This　time；　the　results　were　flashy。
　　　A　horrid　vibration　beat　through　the　floor　beneath　the　wizards'　feet；　causing　them　to　clap　their　hands　over　their　ears　and　stumble　about。　Even　the　one　who'd　been　scanning　the　room　seemed　startled；　though　he　planted　his　feet　and　continued　searching。　As　the　vibration　reached　a　crescendo；　the　stone　of　the　floor　itself　could　no　longer　stand　the　strain　and　began　to　fracture。　A　thousand　spiderwebbing　cracks　shot　through　the　floor；　making　footing　unstable　and　knocking　many　of　the　wizards　down。　The　floor　continued　to　fracture　until　it　was　nothing　but　pulverized　powder；　half　a　foot　deep。　The　downed　wizards　kicked　up　dust　as　they　flailed　about；　trying　to　regain　their　footing。　Several　of　them　didn't　move　at　all。
　　　Excellent；　Pharaun　thought；　but　his　elation　was　short…lived。　Ryld　had　been　discovered　and　was　engaged　in　a　fierce　battle　with　several　House　Melarn　soldiers　and　at　least　two　priestesses。　Though　blood　streamed　from　a　gash　across　one　arm；　the　warrior　was　otherwise　holding　his　own；　but　Pharaun　knew　that　it　wouldn't　last　long　if　anyone　was　able　to　bring　magic　into　play。　Already；　the　mage　could　see　a　priestess　unfurling　a　scroll。　Before　he　could　act；　though；　Valas　step