war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第7部分

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　　　At　Valas's　distant　shout；　Quenthel　looked　up　from　where　she　had　been　staring　absently　at　Jeggred's　back；　following　the　draegloth　through　the　massive　chamber。　She　spied　the　scout　hurrying　back　from　where　he'd　ventured　ahead；　and　the　high　priestess　spotted　the　hordes　of　tanarukks　behind　him；　emerging　from　the　sculpted　tunnel　wall。　She　swore　under　her　breath；　and　the　five　snakes　on　her　whip　writhed　in　mimicry　of　her　displeasure。
　　　〃We　are　cut　off　again；　Mistress！〃　K'Sothra　hissed。　〃Perhaps　there　is　another　way？〃
　　　〃No；　let　us　destroy　them；　taste　their　flesh　and　be　done　with　them；〃　Zinda　argued；　her　own　long　black　body　straining　forward　eagerly。
　　　〃That's　enough；〃　Quenthel　snapped；　starting　forward　again　to　join　with　Valas。
　　　The　vipers　quieted　somewhat；　but　they　still　strained　to　pay　attention　to　their　mistress's　surroundings；　trying　to　sense　any　other　possible　dangers。
　　　The　tanarukks　did　not　follow　the　scout　but　instead　fanned　out　into　a　defensive　formation。　It　seemed　they　were　content　to　wait　until　the　drow　came　to　them。
　　　So　much　the　better；　Quenthel　thought　grimly。　They　can　line　themselves　up　so　that　the　wizard　can　decimate　them　most　efficiently。
　　　〃What　are　they　about？〃　Faeryl　asked；　trotting　beside　Quenthel。　〃Why　aren't　they　chasing　the　male？〃
　　　She　gestured　toward　Valas；　who　was　only　perhaps　fifty　paces　from　them。
　　　〃Why　should　they？〃　Quenthel　countered；　letting　her　long　strides　quickly　close　the　gap　between　herself　and　Valas。　〃They　somehow　know　we　must　go　that　way。　It　seems　they're　content　to　wait　until　we　e　to　them。〃
　　　Faeryl　sniffed　at　this　but　said　nothing　more。　We　should　wade　through　them　and　slice　them；　let　their　blood　stain　our　feet　as　we　tread　upon　their　corpses；〃　Jeggred　suggested；　his　own　long　strides　easily　matching　Quenthel's　quicker　ones。
　　　The　Mistress　of　Tier　Breche　looked　over　at　the　draegloth　and　saw　him　lick　his　feral　lips　in　anticipation。
　　　〃Nonsense；〃　she　said　crisply。　〃There's　no　need　to　get　messy　when　they　seem　willing　to　oblige　us　by　standing　over　there　and　letting　Pha…raun　dispatch　them　with　a　well…placed　spell　or　two。　Right；　wizard？〃
　　　When　there　was　no　answer；　Quenthel　spun　to　face　him…only　to　discover　that　he　was　not　behind　her。　Only　Ryld　kept　pace　with　the　two　females　and　the　draegloth。
　　　〃Where　in　the　Abyss　is　that　damnable　mage？〃　Quenthel　growled　at　Ryld；　who　raised　an　eyebrow　in　surprise　and　turned　to　look　back。
　　　〃He　was　right　behind　me；〃　the　warrior　replied；　letting　his　gaze　sweep　back　and　upward；　toward　the　tunnel　through　which　they　had　originally　entered。　〃I　don't　know…there！〃
　　　The　weapons　master　pointed　high　up　the　wall；　and　Quenthel　had　to　stop　in　order　to　turn　around　sufficiently　to　see　where　Ryld　was　pointing。　When　she　spotted　Pharaun；　she　muttered　an　invective　under　her　breath。　He　wasn't　alone。　There　was　someone；　a　woman；　in　conversation　with　him。
　　　〃Who　is　that　with　him？　What　is　he　doing？〃　the　high　priestess　asked　no　one　in　particular。
　　　Ryld　shrugged　and　said；　〃I　have　no　idea；　Mistress。　I　never　heard　him　stop。〃
　　　〃Well；　get　him　down　here；　now！　I　need　him；〃　Quenthel　ordered。
　　　Ryld　made　as　if　to　protest；　then　shrugged；　turned　back；　and　broke　into　a　rapid　jog　back　along　the　thoroughfare。　When　she　turned　back；　Valas　had　reached　their　position。
　　　〃So？〃　she　asked　the　scout。
　　　Valas　took　one　deep；　calming　breath　and　explained；　〃They've　cut　off　our　route　again；　and　they've　made　sure　this　time　that　we　won't　go　around　their　flank。〃
　　　The　scout　pointed　to　several　other　exits　from　the　large　chamber。
　　　Quenthel　could　see　already　that　more　of　the　tanarukks　were　there；　each　group　similar　in　size　to　the　one　directly　in　front　of　them。　They　were　gathering　on　the　ledges　and　ramps；　just　on　their　side　of　the　tunnel　openings。　It　wasn't　hard　to　see　that　they　were　intentionally　halting　the　drow's　progress；　trying　to　force　them　to　turn　back。
　　　〃Obviously；　they　aren't　here　merely　to　attack　us；〃　she　said；　thinking　aloud；　〃so　they　must　want　something　else。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　I　can　explain；〃　Pharaun　said；　materializing　out　of　a　shimmering　blue　doorway　that　hung　in　the　open　air　only　a　few　feet　away。　The　portal　snapped　out　of　existence　as　the　wizard　primped　himself　a　bit；　straightening　his　piwafwi　and　adjusting　his　pack。　〃We've　been　invited　to　join　Kaanyr　Vhok；　the　master　of　those　fellows；　for　a　discussion。〃
　　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　Who　was　that　woman　you　were　speaking　with　back　there？〃　Quenthel　demanded；　seething　at　how　Pharaun　seemed　so　full　of　himself　all　the　time。
　　　The　fact　that　he　could　still　freely　use　his　magic；　while　she　could　not；　continually　galled　her。　Though　he　might　never　say　anything；　she　knew　he　loved　flaunting　the　fact　of　it　in　front　of　her　every　chance　he　could。　To　add　insult　to　injury；　he　seemed　taken　with　showing　unbridled　politeness　toward　her。　She　narrowed　her　eyes　suspiciously。　He　wanted　something；　she　was　sure。
　　　〃We　thought　you　were　in　trouble。　I　sent　Ryld　back　to　look　into　it；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　jabbed　a　single　finger　outward；　pointing　at　the　distant　figure　of　the　weapons　master。　〃Now　I'll　have　to　send　Jeggred　to　catch　up　with　him　while　you　stay　here　and　explain　to　me　what　this　is　all　about。〃
　　　Before　the　high　priestess　could　direct　the　draegloth　to　do　her　bidding；　though；　Pharaun　cut　in。　〃Oh；　that's　not　necessary。　Allow　me　but　a　moment。〃　The　wizard　turned　and　faced　Ryld；　pointed　his　finger；　and　began　to　whisper。　〃Ryld；　my　dear　friend；　I　appreciate　your　concern　for　me；　but　I　am　quite　fine　and　standing　here　among　our　esteemed　panions。　You　can　return　from　your　quest　to　rescue　me。〃
　　　In　the　distance；　Quenthel　saw　the　warrior　start　and　straighten。　He　turned　around　as　Pharaun　spoke。　Ryld　seemed　to　shake　his　head　in　consternation；　and　Quenthel　thought　she　heard　him　sigh；　though　of　course　it　was　only　a　whisper。　By　the　time　the　mage　was　finished；　Ryld　was　already　trudging　back　in　their　direction。
　　　Very　clever；　mage；〃　Quenthel　said；　clenching　her　teeth。　〃Now　why　don't　you　be　as　useful　in　other　ways　and　tell　me　what　you　were　doing　up　there。〃
　　　Of　course。　That　was　Aliisza；　a　charming　and　somewhat　gregarious　representative　of　Master　Vhok's。　She　was　lurking　in　the　shadows　back　when　we　ran　into　them…〃　he　gestured　into　the　distance　at　the　tanarukks…〃in　the　previous　tunnel。　They　answer　to　her；　and　she　answers　to　Vhok。〃
　　　〃Well；　how　interesting；〃　Quenthel　said；　folding　her　arms。　〃And　just　what　did　you　two　have　to　talk　about　for　so　long？　You　weren't；　pet…haps；　ing　to　some　sort　of　an　agreement　with　her；　were　you？〃
　　　Pharaun　looked　genuinely　pained　and　said；　〃High　Priestess；　I　only　listened　politely　while　she　extended　her　offer。　I　could　not；　of　course；　give　her　any　sort　of　proper　answer　without　first　conversing　with　you。　I　suspected　what　your　answer　would　be　before　I　even　mentioned　the　invitation；　but　I　would　be　remiss　in　my　duties　if　I　didn't　at　least　deliver　the　message。〃
　　　〃Indeed。；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　knew　good　and　well　that　the　flamboyant　wizard　before　her　wouldn't　have　given　a　second　thought　to　betraying　her　and　the　rest　of　them　if　it　presented　him　with　some　worthwhile　benefit。　〃Interesting　that　she　chose　you　to　be　her　messenger　boy。〃
　　　Pharaun　grimaced；　but　only　slightly。
　　　〃We　share　a　mon；　uh　。。。　appreciation　for　the　arcane　arts；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃We　spent　a　few　moments　in　idle　conversation　about　the　difficulties　of　traveling　with　those　who　don't　share　that　appreciation。〃
　　　Quenthel　snorted。　〃I'm　sure　you　were　interested　in　more　than　her　wizardly　skills。〃
　　　The　mage's　grin　didn't　change；　but　his　eyes　hardened　the　slightest　bit。　Good；　she　thought。　Remind　him　that　you　see　right　through　him。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said。　〃We're　certainly　not　going　to　go　back　with　the　brutes　to　see　Vhok；　so　the　question　is；　how　do　we　get　through　them　and　on　our　way？〃
　　　〃There's　no　way　to　get　around　them；〃　Valas　said；　〃unless　the　ambassador　knows　this　area　and　has　a　notion　of　another　route　we　can　take；〃　he　finished；　looking　at　Faeryl。
　　　The　Zauvirr　priestess　shook　her　head。
　　　〃We're　still　too　far　away　from　the　proper　outskirts　of　Ched　Nasad　for　me　to　recognize　any　features　with　certainty；〃　she　said。
　　　〃Then　we　must　slay　them；〃　Jeggred　announced。　〃Let　me　engage　them　and　cut　a　path　for　you；　Mistress。〃
　　　〃No；　Jeggred；　there's　no　need；　however　much　fun　you　might　think　it　would　be。　Pharaun；　here；　is　going　to　get　us　through　this。　Aren't　you？〃
　　　The　mage　grinned　bemusedly　and　said；　〃I　might　have　an　incantation　or　two　that　will　allow　us　to　make　our　way　through　to　the　tunnel。　Aliisza　has　assured　me　that；　in　good　sporting　fashion；　she　will　stay　out　of　it。　Slaying　these　creatures　should　be　minimal　trouble。〃
　　　〃I'm　not　concerned　with　that。　Just　clear　a　path　for　us；〃　Quenthel　manded。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　he　said　as　he　began　to　move　forward；　weaving　the　beginnings　of　a　spell　as　he　did　so。
　　　FOUR
　　　Aliisza　wasn't　sure　how　Kaanyr　would　receive　her　latest　news；　but　it　didn't　slow　her　steps。　Tarrying　to　deliver　it　served　no　purpose。　He　would　find　out　eventually；　and　she　might　as　well　pass　it　to　him　and　get　on　to　other；　more　interesting　things。　Besides；　she　wasn't　really　troubled　by　the　prospect　of　the　cambion's　anger。　He　might　fly　off　the　handle　from　time　to　time；　but　he　knew　better　than　to　direct　it　at　her。　Whether　or　not　he　flew　into　a　rage　this　time；　she　had　an　idea　that　might　just　soothe　his　ruffled　feathers　and　give　her　a　bit　of　fun；　besides。
　　　Passing　through　the　great　doorway　and　into　the　throne　room；　Aliisza　expected　to　find　Vhok　sitting　on　his　throne；　but　he　was　not。　He　paced　in　front　of　it；　which　meant　that　he　had　serious　things　on　his　mind；　serious　in　a　bad　way。　The　alu…fiend　had　a　pretty　good　idea　what　those　things　were。
　　　Any　more　information　on　what　that　duergar　horde　is　doing？〃　she　asked　as　she　approached　him。
　　　Vhok　looked　up　from　his　contemplation；　seemed　to　stare　right　through　her　for　a　moment；　and　at　last　said；　〃All　I've　been　able　to　determine　at　the　moment　is　that　they　don't　seem　to　be　headed　in　this　direction；　which　is　good。〃
　　　〃Good？　Why？〃　Aliisza　asked。　She　moved　to　sit　on　the　top　step　of　the　dais。　〃I　thought　you　liked　the　idea　of　a　little　sport　for　the　Legions。　You　told　me　the　other　night　that　things　were　getting　a　bit　staid　around…〃
　　　〃Because　something　big　is　definitely　going　on；〃　Kaanyr　interrupted；　〃and　because　they　were　responsible　for　wiping　out　the　patrol　to　the　northeast。〃
　　　Aliisza　had　been　about　to　stretch　out；　hoping　to　distract　Kaanyr　from　all　of　this　serious　discussion　for　a　few　moments　of　romance；　but　she　sat　straight。
　　　〃That　wasn't　just　a　roving　band　of　duergar；〃　Vhok　continued；　〃they　were　professional　mercenaries。　The　Xornbane　clan；　if　the　evidence　is　correct。　They　don't　go　anywhere　without　major　coin　changing　hands　and　big　battles　in　the　works。〃
　　　Aliisza　pursed　her　lips　in　thought。
　　　〃So　if　they　aren't　moving　against　us；〃　she　said；　〃then　where？〃
　　　〃Though　I　already　have　an　idea；　I　was　hoping　you　could　tell　me；〃　Kaanyr　said；　looking　down　at　the　alu…fiend；　〃Where　are　my　guests？〃
　　　Aliisza　avoided　meeting　Vhok's　gaze。
　　　〃I　wasn't　able　to　convince　them　to　join　us；〃　she　said　carefully；　〃and　after　they　defeated　my　little　patrol　as　easily　as　they　did；　I　thought　it　wise　not　to　pursue　the　matter　so　directly。〃
　　　〃Defeated？　Wiped　out　is　more　like　it。〃
　　　Kaanyr's　tone　was　measured；　and　Aliisza　could　tell　he　was　displeased。
　　　So　he　already　knew；　did　he？　Is　he　spying　on　me；　now？
　　　She　was　glad　she'd　been　up　front　with　him　on　the　subject。　It　had　been　tempting　to　fudge　the　truth　a　bit；　to　tell　him　that　the　tanarukks　had　not　followed　her　instructions；　but　in　the　end；　something　had　convinced　her　that　she　was　going　to　have　to　start　being　a　little　more　careful　with　Vhok。
　　　〃They　are　formidable；〃　she　answered　at　last。　〃The　wizard　with　them　is　。。。　interesting。　He's　the　one　I　spoke　with；　and　it　was　definitely　he　who　plowed　through　the　Legions。　Drow　are　formidable　to　begin　with；　and　it　was　a　tactical　error　on　my　part　to　engage　them　in　such　a　large　chamber。　They　were　able　to　easily　evade　the　Scourged　simply　by　getting　up　off　the　floor　and　out　of　range。　Pharaun　laid　waste　to　the　troops　without　much　of　a　thought。〃
　　　〃I'm　sure　you　did　the　best　you　could；〃　Kaanyr　said；　waving　her　explanation　away。　Aliisza　scowled　at　the　insult　but　said　nothing。　〃It's　probably　just　as　well。　It　seems　that　the　gray　dwarves　are　bound　and　determined　to　reach　Ched　Nasad；　which　is　where　our　little　visitors　are　headed；　as　well；　I　think。　We　weren't　going　to　dissuade　them　from　that　without　bringing　the　entire　might　of　the　Scourged　Legions；　as　well　as　some　of　your　sisters；　to　bear。〃
　　　〃I　did　find　out　a　couple　more　things；〃　Aliisza　said；　ready　to　spring　her　idea　on　Vhok。　〃They　are　all　high…ranking　nobles　from　Menzo…berranzan；　not　just　the　priestess。　The　wizard　is　powerful　enough　to　be　a　member；　if　not　a　master；　of　Sorcere；　and　some　of　the　things　he　admitted　to　convinced　me　that　most　of　the　others　are　of　similar　rank。〃
　　　〃Well；　that's　all　very　interesting；　but　I　probably　would　have　inferred　that　from　the　fact　that　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　was　out　with　such　a　small　group　to　begin　with。　It　still　doesn't　tell　me　what　they're　doing。　It　may　help　to　answer　the　questions　of　why　the　grays　are　on　the　move。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　have　an　idea　about　that；〃　Aliisza　said；　reaching　the　moment　of　truth。　She　wondered　if　Kaanyr　would　agree　with　her　plan　or　choose　to　use　someone　else。　〃Whatever　it　is　they're　planning　to　do　when　they　reach　Ched　Nasad；　they　all　seem　very　concerned；　very　grim。　Whatever　it　is；　it's　serious；　and　I　bet　they　aren't　the　only　drow　in　the　city　who　are　in　the　know　about　it。　So　why　don't　I　sneak　into　Ched　Nasad　and　snoop　around　a　little？〃
　　　Kaanyr　looked　at　Aliisza；　pursing　his　lips。　She　wasn't　sure　if　he　was　thinking　about　her　idea　or　just　studying　her　to　see　if　she　was　up　to　something。　Of　course　she　intended　to　do　just　what　she　said；　so　he　had　no　reason　not　to　trust　her　on　it；　but　if　she　had　a　little　fun　on　the　side；　well　then；　what　would　be　the　harm　in　that？　She　needed　a　vacation　from　Ammarindar；　from　Vhok。　Maybe　a　little　time　apart　would　do　him　some　good；　too；　she　thought。
　　　〃All　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　and　the　alu…fiend　grinned　broadly　before　she　caught　herself。　〃Go　and　see　what　you　can　find　out。　In　fact；　I　want　you　to　drop　in　on　Aunrae。　If　there's　something　going　on；　the　matron　mothers　will　be　in　the　know。　I'd　like　to　keep　my　relationship　with　her　on　good　terms；　at　least　for　the　moment；　so　be　polite。　And　keep　me　updated。　I　don't　want　to　have　to　e　find　you　to　see　what　you've　learned。〃
　　　Aliisza　was　nodding　energetically　as　she　stood　up　and　headed　out　the　door。
　　　〃I　will；〃　she　promised；　already　contemplating　the　sort　of　disguise　she'd　like　to　use。
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　As　Khorrl　felt　the　wagon　finally　roll　to　a　stop；　he　almost　groaned　aloud。　His　legs　were　cramping　where　he'd　wedged　himself　into　the　hiding　spot　beneath　the　pile　of　supplies。　He　could　barely　stand　to　be　there　much　longer；　and　he　prayed　to　Laduguer　that　the　trip　was　actually　over。　He　couldn't　imagine　having　to　crouch　there　for　even　another　few　minutes。
　　　The　tarp　over　the　top　of　the　wagon　was　thrown　back；　and　dim　light　shone　down　on　th