war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第29部分

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　　　〃Explain　to　me　again　what　you　think　I　have　to　gain　by　trusting　you；〃　Quenthel　said；　gnawing　at　a　strip　of　dried　rothé　meat。
　　　The　seven　of　them　were　hiding　in　a　mess　hall　in　an　unused　wing　of　House　Melarn。　Only　Jeggred　was　no　longer　hungry；　having　sated　himself　back　in　the　dungeon。
　　　It　certainly　took　Faeryl　a　long　time　to　die；　Pharaun　thought；　shuddering；　as　he　sat　watching　the　draegloth　lick　himself　clean。　The　wizard　was　having　a　hard　time　blocking　out　the　image　of　the　drow；　still　moving；　still　watching；　even　as　the　fiend　had　begun　to　feast。
　　　Ryld　and　Valas　stood　guard　near　the　door；　both　of　them　obviously　anxious　to　be　on　their　way。　The　rumbles　from　beyond　the　walls　had　ceased　for　the　moment；　and　Pharaun　wasn't　sure　whether　that　boded　well　or　ill　for　them。　If　the　fighting　had　been　quashed　that　quickly；　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　Ssipriina　began　searching　for　them　again。　He　was　eager　to　be　away；　too。
　　　As　Quenthel　continued　to　inhale　the　food；　Halisstra　pursed　her　lips　and　tried　again　to　defend　her　usefulness　to　the　Menzoberranyr。
　　　〃I　can　get　you　out　of　the　House　without　notice；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　the　best　routes　to　take。　If　we　encounter　any　of　Ssipriina's　guards　along　the　way；　I　might　be　able　to　dismiss　them　without　incident。　Until　you're　safely　out　of　the　city；　having　the　two　of　us　acpany　you　is　to　your　benefit。〃
　　　Quenthel　nodded　as　she　ate。
　　　〃Perhaps；〃　she　said；　pausing　to　sip　from　a　waterskin。　〃Or　perhaps　you　would　simply　like　to　lead　us　into　ruin　in　your　own　way；　maybe　by　lulling　us　into　trusting　you　so　that　you　can　betray　us　to　Ssipriina。　For　all　I　know；　you　still　hold　me　responsible　for　the　death　of　your　mother；　or　are　at　the　very　least　angry　about　my　intentions。〃
　　　Halisstra　rolled　her　eyes　where　Quenthel　could　not　see；　and　Pharaun　had　to　quell　a　bemused　smirk。
　　　At　least　I'm　not　the　only　one　who　finds　her　unbelievably　irrational　at　times；　he　thought。
　　　〃Yes；　all　of　that　could　be　true；　certainly；〃　Halisstra　said；　〃but　then　I　wouldn't　have　had　much　to　gain　by　helping　to　rescue　you　when　Ssipriina　already　had　you　in　her　clutches；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　〃Hmm；〃　Quenthel　said　doubtfully；　another　bite　of　food　in　her　mouth。　She　finished　chewing　and　looked　over　at　Pharaun。　〃What's　your　opinion？〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　sat　up　straighter；　surprised　that　she　was　seeking　his　counsel。
　　　I　suppose　that　when　you're　surrounded　by　the　bigger　enemy；　he　mused；　the　smaller　enemy　seems　a　friend。
　　　〃Well；　thus　far　they've　given　us　no　reason　to　doubt　them；〃　he　answered。　〃Except；　of　course；　their　heritage　itself。　Regardless　of　whether　you're　inclined　to　trust　a　dark　elf　you've　never　met…a　dark　elf　of　a　House　that　you　so　recently　intended　to　betray；　at　that…our　options　seem　severely　limited　without　their　pany。　I　don't　suppose　we'd　be　all　that　worse　off；　anyway；　should　they　decide　to　turn　on　us　at　an　inopportune　time。〃
　　　Quenthel　made　a　face　at　the　wizard。
　　　〃Are　you　thinking　with　the　right　part　of　your　body？〃　she　asked　sarcastically；　nodding　in　the　direction　of　Danifae；　who　sat　on　a　couch　off　to　one　side；　listening　to　the　discussion。
　　　When　she　became　a　part　of　it；　she　lowered　her　eyes　demurely　and　folded　her　hands　into　her　lap。
　　　Pharaun　smirked。
　　　〃Oh；　absolutely；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　he　said　dryly。　〃Nothing　would　please　me　more　than　to　have　additional　females　along　on　this　trip；　all　with　a　ready　suggestion　on　how　something　should　be　handled　or　a　friendly　ment　on　ways　I　might　improve　my　demeanor　for　the　benefit　of　everyone　around　me。〃
　　　Halisstra's　eyebrows　shot　up　in　surprise；　and　the　wizard　remembered　again　that　she　was　unaccustomed　to　his　manner　with　Quenthel。
　　　For　that　matter；　he　thought；　noting　the　high　priestess's　scowl；　Quenthel　herself　is　unaccustomed　to　my　manner。
　　　Taking　a　slightly　more　conciliatory　tone；　Pharaun　added；　〃With　all　due　respect；　regardless　of　which　part　of　my　body　I'm　currently　using　to　contemplate　this　matter；　it　seems　undeniable　that　we　stand　much　to　gain　and　little　to　lose　by　trusting　them；　at　least　for　the　moment。　Ask　me　again　in　half　an　hour；　and　my　answer　might　be　markedly　different。〃
　　　Quenthel　chewed　her　rothé　thoughtfully；　though　whether　she　was　mulling　his　point　or　whethet　she　was　considering　whether　or　not　to　allow　Jeggred　to　dismember　him；　Pharaun　wasn't　sure。
　　　〃In　any　event；〃　he　finished；　〃we　can　ensure　ourselves　some　degree　of　protection　by　keeping　them　close；　under　our　scrutiny。　If　they　lead　us　into　a　trap；　we　might　yet　negotiate　with　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　。　。　。　turn　them　over　in　exchange　for　our　own　freedom。　Only　if　we　don't　tell　the　matron　mother　what　happened　to　Faeryl；　of　course；〃　he　added　with　a　grin。
　　　Halisstra's　flat　stare　told　Pharaun　that　she　found　both　his　humor　and　his　insurance　plan　distasteful；　but　Quenthel　seemed　convinced。
　　　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　nodded　after　tossing　back　the　last　bit　of　water　in　the　skin。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said　to　Halisstra。　〃You　will　serve　as　our　guide　out　of　this　accursed　House；　and　if　you　serve　us　well；　you　will　be　rewarded　with　your　lives。　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
　　　Halisstra　swallowed　once；　but　she　finally　nodded。
　　　〃I　think　at　least　for　the　time　being　that　your　weapons　and　magical　trinkets　will　stay　safe　and　sound　in　our　possession。　If　you　behave　yourselves；　you　may　earn　them　back。〃
　　　Both　of　the　other　drow　nodded　their　acquiescence。
　　　〃Good；　then　let's　be　on　our　way；〃　the　high　priestess　announced；　dusting　off　her　hands　after　finishing　the　dried　meat。
　　　〃Before　we　go；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃there　is　the　matter　of　'where'　to　discuss。〃
　　　Quenthel　looked　at　the　mage。
　　　〃We　ate　returning　to　Menzoberranzan；〃　she　said。　〃The　expedition　was　a　failure。　Universally；　Lolth　speaks　to　no　one；　and　the　goods　I　had　hoped　to　bring　back　with　me　to　help　us　defend　ourselves　do　not　exist。　We　have　nothing　to　show　for　the　journey。〃
　　　〃Exactly；〃　Pharaun　countered。　〃We　have　nothing　definitive　to　bring　back　with　us…yet。　I　say　we　push　ahead；　continue　to　try　to　de…termine　what　is　happening。〃
　　　〃But　we　have　nothing　to　pursue；〃　Quenthel　argued。　〃We　know　little　more　about　the　Dark　Mother's　absence　than　we　did　before　we　left。〃
　　　〃That's　not　entirely　true；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃As　I　mentioned　before；　the　goddess's　absence　is　not　limited　merely　to　our　race。　Regardless；　I　have　an　idea。　While　we　may　not　be　able　to　discern　any　more　information　directly；　we　could　enlist　the　aid　of　someone　who　can。〃
　　　〃Who？〃
　　　〃A　priest　of　Vhaeraun。〃
　　　Quenthel　rose　from　the　chair　where　she　had　been　sitting；　fury　plain　on　her　face。
　　　〃You　speak　blasphemous　words；　wizard。　We　will　do　no　such　thing。〃
　　　Even　Halisstra　had　recoiled　at　the　suggestion；　Pharaun　noted。
　　　He　raised　his　hands　in　supplication　and　pleaded；　〃I　know　it's　unconventional；　but　hear　me　out　before　you　dismiss　the　idea。〃
　　　Quenthel　began　to　pace；　and　Pharaun　knew　she　was　at　least　intrigued；　if　not　happy；　with　the　notion。　Her　desire　to　claim　the　glory　of　discovery　in　this　matter　rivaled　his　own；　he　supposed。
　　　〃Just　what　is　it　you　think　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun…〃　Quenthel　formed　the　god's　name　with　a　grimace…〃could　do　for　us？　And　where　would　we　find　one　who　could…or　even　would…aid　us？〃
　　　Pharaun　leaned　forward　eagerly。
　　　〃We　struggle　to　see　inside　the　Demonweb　Pits；〃　he　explained；　〃but　perhaps　another　god　would　not　suffer　the　same　difficulty。　In　this　instance；　with　the　proper　sacrifices　and　deferential　behavior；　we　might　just　be　able　to　ask　for　a　little　audience　in　order　to　find　out。〃
　　　〃Few　of　his　ilk　would　even　consider　helping　us；〃　Quenthel　said；　waving　her　hand　in　dismissal；　〃and　we　know　of　none　to　even　ask。〃
　　　As　Quenthel　turned　her　back　on　him　during　her　pacing；　Pharaun　looked　over　at　Valas　and　nodded　in　encouragement。
　　　Tell　her；　he　signed。
　　　Taking　a　deep　breath　and　nodding；　Valas　said；　〃I　know　one。〃
　　　Quenthel　turned　to　face　the　diminutive　scout。
　　　〃What？〃
　　　〃I　know　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun；〃　Valas　replied。　〃An　old　acquaintance　of　mine；　Tzirik　Jaelre。　I　think　he　would　be　willing。〃
　　　〃Really；〃　Quenthel　said；　eyeing　Pharaun　and　Valas　alike；　as　though　suspecting　that　the　two　were　collaborating。　〃What　makes　you　think　he　would　help　us？〃
　　　The　mage　carefully　studied　the　tabletop　in　front　of　him。
　　　She　is　too　clever　for　her　own　good；　he　thought；　knowing　that　if　he　admitted　his　foreknowledge；　Quenthel　was　as　likely　as　not　to　dismiss　the　whole　idea　just　to　spite　him。
　　　〃He　owes　me　a　favor；〃　Valas　replied。　〃At　the　very　least；　he　owes　me　enough　to　hear　us　out；　even　if　he　refuses。　I　don't　think　he'll　refuse。〃
　　　〃How　convenient。　Pharaun？〃
　　　The　wizard　looked　up；　pretending　to　be　thinking　about　something　else。
　　　〃Hmm？　Oh；　yes。　Well；　it　is　very　convenient　that　Valas　knows　someone　who　fits　the　bill。　I　wish　you'd　said　something　earlier；〃　he　said　to　the　scout；　〃but　I　guess　we　can't　all　conceive　of　these　flashes　of　brilliance。　If　Valas　vouches　for　his　friend　then　I　say；　what　do　we　have　to　lose？〃
　　　Quenthel　opened　her　mouth；　possibly　to　retort；　by　the　look　on　her　face；　but　she　never　got　the　words　out。　A　shock　wave　far　stronger　than　any　they　had　felt　previously　coursed　through　the　House；　knocking　them　and　most　of　the　furniture　over。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mother！〃　Halisstra　screamed；　stumbling　against　a　wall。　〃The　whole　House　is　ing　down！〃
　　　FOURTEEN
　　　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　and　several　guests　stood　atop　an　observation　tower　overlooking　House　Zauvirr。　Leaning　against　the　balustrade；　she　stared　out　over　Ched　Nasad。　Her　abode　was　not　far　from　House　Melarn；　but　in　that　direction；　the　matron　mothers　could　see　very　little　but　thick　smoke。　Despite　the　obscuring　clouds；　the　fighting　around　House　Melarn　still　raged；　and　the　sound　of　it　reached　the　matron　mothers　even　high　on　the　tower。
　　　〃This　has　gotten　out　of　control；〃　Umrae　D'Dgttu　said　grimly；　standing　beside　Ssipriina。　〃Your　agent　said　nothing　of　this　stone…burning　fire　when　we　agreed　to　this　plan。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Ulviirala　Rilynt　chimed　in；　pacing　back　and　forth　behind　them；　her　numerous　bracelets；　rings；　and　necklaces　clanking　with　each　step。　〃I　dislike　the　idea　of　so　much　destruction；　especially　right　now。〃
　　　〃Nonsense；〃　Nedylene　Zinard　scolded；　also　leaning　against　the　railing　very　casually　but　with　her　back　to　the　unfolding　scene　of　ruin。　She　seemed　more　interested　in　her　lacquered　fingernails　than　in　the　activity　around　her。　〃We　knew　going　into　this　that　we　might　have　to　be　aggressive。　If　we　are　to　remake　this　city　to　our　liking；　now　is　the　time　to　act；　and　we　can　let　nothing　stand　in　our　way。　Not　the　other　Houses　and　not　our　own　misgivings。　Sometimes　you　have　to　break　a　few　lizard　eggs　to　make　an　omelet。　Sometimes　you　have　to　kill　a　few　slaves　to　win　the　day。〃
　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Umrae　D'Dgttu　said；　her　whip…thin　frame　belying　her　puissance　as　the　most　powerful　cleric　among　them；　〃but　this　is　unnecessary。　You　should　not　have　summoned　us　to　install　you　as　a　new　member　of　the　Council　until　you　eliminated　allot　the　Men…zoberranyr。　Allowing　that　wizard　to　weave　his　lies　did　not　help　your　cause。〃
　　　ShriNeerune　Hlaund　snorted。　〃The　wizard's　lies　were　inconsequential。　Ssipriina　was　a　fool　to　send　her　mercenaries　out　so　prematurely。〃
　　　〃I　did　not　do　that！〃　Ssipriina　retorted。　〃Someone　else　gave　them　the　signal　before　it　was　time。　I　still　held　out　hope　that　we　could　resolve　the　dissolution　of　House　Melarn　bloodlessly。　These　fire　pots　were　not　my　idea　either。　The　gray　dwarves　procured　them　from　somewhere　else　without　my　knowledge。〃
　　　〃So　you're　saying　that　you　don't　even　have　control　over　your　own　House？〃　ShriNeerune　sneered。　〃And　you　expect　us　to　continue　to　back　you？　I　should　have　known　better　than　to　support　a　merchant　House。〃
　　　Ssipriina's　fists　clenched；　and　she　dearly　wanted　to　strike　the　dark　elf　belittling　her；　but　she　held　them　at　her　sides。
　　　〃I'd　be　careful；　if　I　were　you；〃　she　snapped；　staring　coldly　at　the　offending　drow。　〃I'm　still　the　one　those　grays　answer　to；　and　right　now；　we're　winning。　You　could　find　yourself　on　the　other　side　of　the　battle　very　quickly。〃
　　　〃Enough；〃　Umrae　said；　stepping　between　the　two　of　them。　〃What's　done　is　done。　Now　is　the　time　to　fight；　not　argue。　Ssipriina；　did　you　bring　it？〃
　　　Ssipriina　kept　her　stare　steadily　on　ShriNeerune's　face　for　a　moment　longer；　her　eyes　narrow　in　anger；　but　then　she　turned　away。
　　　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　she　answered。　〃I　have　it　right　here。〃
　　　〃Then　let's　do　this；〃　the　thin　matron　mother　said；　motioning　for　the　five　of　them　to　gather　together。　〃Its　time　to　claim　our　legacy。〃
　　　Ssipriina　nodded　and　produced　a　small　bundle　wrapped　in　black　silk。　Undoing　the　covering；　she　revealed　a　crystalline　statue　of　a　spider；　as　black　as　darkness　itself；　broken　into　several　pieces。　The　head　and　the　abdomen　were　separated；　as　were　two　sets　of　four　legs；　one　for　each　side　of　the　figurine。　The　five　matron　mothers　gathered　around　as　Ssipriina　held　the　cloth　in　the　palms　of　her　hands；　the　collection　of　parts　sitting　atop　it；　stretching　her　arms　out　for　them　to　see。
　　　〃It　has　been　many　years；〃　Nedylene　said；　reaching　out　with　her　lacquered　nails　and　lifting　one　set　of　legs　to　examine　them。　〃The　city　will　tremble　before　our　might。　Let　us　begin。〃
　　　〃Hold　them　steady；　Ssipriina；〃　Umrae　warned。
　　　She　took　hold　of　the　abdomen　of　the　statue。　One　by　one；　the　other　three　matron　mothers　each　took　up　a　part。　They　looked　from　one　to　another；　and　finally；　when　Umrae　nodded；　they　fitted　the　pieces　together；　making　the　figurine　whole。
　　　〃Quickly；　now！〃　Umrae　hissed；　and　Ssipriina　wasted　no　time　re…wrapping　the　pleted　statue　in　the　cloth。
　　　Already；　the　matron　mothers　could　see　that　the　bundle　was　squirming；　growing　larger。
　　　〃Hurry！〃　ShriNeerune　hissed。　〃Throw　it！〃
　　　Ssipriina　did。　She　reached　back　and　hurled　the　bundle　out　into　the　void；　as　hard　as　she　could；　and　as　one　the　five　matron　mothers　watched　the　wiggling　cloth　tumble　away　from　House　Zauvirr。
　　　The　cloth　fell　away；　and　the　assembled　drow　gasped　as　one。　The　statue　had　transformed　into　a　living　thing；　a　spider　as　black　as　the　crystal　it　was　born　from；　and　it　was　growing　rapidly　in　size。　In　the　blink　of　an　eye；　it　was　the　size　of　a　rothé；　and　as　it　disappeared　past　the　side　of　the　web　street　it　was　still　growing。
　　　Ssipriina　watched；　awed；　as　the　creature　shot　forth　a　string　of　webbing　at　the　street；　attaching　a　line　to　anchor　itself　as　it　fell。　Then　it　was　gone；　vanished　from　their　vantage　point。
　　　The　five　dark　elves　waited　breathlessly；　hoping　to　catch　another　glimpse　of　the　thing　they　had　created。　The　strand　of　webbing　had　jerked　taut　and　visibly　vibrated　as　it　dropped　straight　down。　Obviously；　the　spider　was　still　attached　to　it。　For　a　moment；　there　was　nothing　to　see；　though　all　five　matron　mothers　strained　to　do　so；　anyway。
　　　When　the　first　black　leg　stabbed　into　view；　feeling　for　a　foothold　on　the　web　street；　Ssipriina　felt　her　heart　skip　a　beat。　The　appendage　was　longer　than　she　was　tall。　Slowly；　delicately；　the　spider　lifted　itself　into　view；　and　all　five　matron　mothers　took　an　involuntary　step　back　from　the　balustrade；　even　though　their　creation　was　dozens　of　yards　away　from　them。　It　was　as　large　as　the　street　was　wide。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mo