war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第10章

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　　　〃On　the　contrary；〃　Pharaun　replied；　moving　to　take　a　seat　a　few　paces　away　but　maintaining　the　position　of　the　rapier　between　the　two　of　them。　〃I　am　always　delighted　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　a　fellow　practitioner。　You　can't　imagine　how　dull　and　dreary　it　can　be；　traveling　with　unimaginative　panions　who　can't　appreciate　the　difference　between　a　divination　and　an　evocation。〃
　　　He　swept　his　arm　out　over　the　side　in　the　general　direction　of　the　other　drow；　who　were　far　below　him　and　well　out　of　earshot。
　　　Despite　his　casual　manner；　the　mage　was　on　edge　and　quite　wary。　He　was　sure　the　alu…fiend　was　sizing　him　up　just　as　critically　as　he　was　her；　and　he　considered　everything　carefully　before　opening　his　mouth。　He　certainly　didn't　want　to　reveal　something　that　could　get　him　into　trouble　with　her　later。　Nonetheless；　he　was　fairly　sure　she　already　knew　where　the　rest　of　his　panions　were；　and　pointing　out　their　positions　lower　in　the　cavern　was　not　giving　away　too　big　a　secret。
　　　〃Don't　be　too　sure；〃　she　said；　absently　toying　with　the　lacing　that　ran　up　the　side　of　her　corset；　〃I　can　imagine　your　predicament　quite　well。　You　forget　the　crowd　I　normally　run　with。　They　can't　appreciate　much　beyond　the　next　chance　they'll　get　to　eat　or　rut；　much　less　the　intricacies　involved　in　spinning　a　good　spell。　What's　a　girl　to　do？〃
　　　When　she　finished；　she　gave　Pharaun　what　he　assumed　must　be　one　of　her　best　pouts。
　　　〃Yes；　I　can　see　your　point；〃　the　wizard　said；　chuckling。　〃It　can't　be　much　of　a　choice　。　。　。　rutting　with　the　males；　or　seeking　out　a　little　more　refined　entertainment。　I　can't　blame　you　for　slipping　away　from　them　for　a　while。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I　never　stray　too　far　away　from　them；〃　the　demon　said；　looking　at　the　wizard　levelly。　〃One　or　the　other　of　us　might　get　into　trouble。〃
　　　Pharaun　nodded　slightly；　acknowledging　the　hint。　Still；　he　couldn't　help　but　grin；　delighted　as　he　was　to　be　able　to　engage　in　such　clever　innuendo。　It　was　another　thing　he　missed　since　taking　his　leave　of　Menzoberranzan。　It　wasn't　just　that　most　drow　displayed　a　total　absence　of　humor；　his　panions　seemed　even　more　staid　than　usual；　though　given　the　circumstances　that　wasn't　totally　unexpected。　Still；　they　were　a　tight…lipped　lot。
　　　Quenthel　was　clinging　too　fiercely　to　the　mantle　of　leadership　to　spend　time　mentally　sparring　with　the　wizard；　Faeryl　said　very　little　at　all；　Valas　was　hardly　in　the　same　vicinity；　and　Jeggred's　discussions　had　a　marked　singularity　of　topic　to　them。　Pharaun　had　long　since　grown　tired　of　hearing　of　the　draegloth's　desires　to　rend　his　foes　in　one　messy　way　or　another。　Ryld　had　always　been　more　willing　to　converse　with　him　than　most；　but　even　the　warrior　had　been　pointedly　taciturn　for　most　of　the　journey。　With　the　exception　of　a　few　brief　discussions　regarding　Quenthel's　heavy…handed　methods；　they　had　simply　stopped　the　banter　that　had　always　marked　the　friendship　between　them。
　　　It　wasn't　as　though　Ryld　wouldn't　talk　to　him；　Pharaun　admitted　to　himself；　but　things　definitely　weren't　the　same　as　before。
　　　Before　I　left　him　to　his　death　during　the　insurrection；　the　mage　concluded；　inwardly　sighing。
　　　Ryld　had　accepted　the　wizard's　apologies　afterward；　claimed　he　understood　the　necessity　of　it；　but　in　reality　the　pair's　friendship　had　been　damaged。　It　wasn't　that　Pharaun　felt　any　real　sense　of　guilt　over　the　decision。　He　simply　missed　the　benefits　of　the　friendship。
　　　〃I　said；　you　seem　to　be　burdened　with　heavy　thoughts。〃
　　　Pharaun　started；　realizing　that　the　she…fiend　had　been　speaking　to　him　during　his　ruminations。　As　he　refocused　his　attention　on　net；　he　noticed　that　the　rapier　had　sagged　low　from　inattention　and　he　snapped　it　back　onto　guard。　Furious　with　himself　for　relaxing　his　vigilance；　he　summoned　the　weapon　back　to　him　and　let　it　disappear　back　into　the　ring。
　　　No　reason　to　keep　it　out；　he　thought　ruefully。　If　she'd　wanted　to　get　past　it　and　at　me；　she　already　had　the　perfect　chance。
　　　The　wizard　bowed　his　head　slightly；　wordlessly　apologizing　for　his　lapse　in　manners。　The　alu…fiend　only　smiled。
　　　〃You　certainly　don't　want　to　hear　about　my　troubles；〃　he　said　at　last；　his　tone　bright。　〃You　obviously　dropped　in　on　this　social　visit　for　other　reasons。〃
　　　〃Again；　don't　be　so　sure；〃　the　fiend　replied；　standing　and　stretching　indolently。　〃It　requires　some　fairly　extraordinary　circumstances　to　bring　a　band　of　dark　elves　through　Ammarindar…〃
　　　〃Oh；　nothing　of　any　real　consequence；〃　Pharaun　interjected。
　　　〃…especially　a　mistress　of　the　Academy　and　her　retinue；〃　she　continued；　ignoring　the　wizard's　interruption。　〃Very　extraordinary　circumstances；　indeed。〃
　　　She　was　looking　at　Pharaun；　perhaps　gauging　his　reaction。
　　　In　fact；　his　reaction　was　the　slightest　straightening　of　his　back　and　shoulders；　but　it　was　only　the　merest　hint　of　his　true　surprise。
　　　She　knew。
　　　A　dozen　thoughts　floated　through　the　mage's　head　in　the　next　instant；　considerations　of　who　might　have　betrayed　them；　who　back　in　Menzoberranzan　had　sent　them　off　on　this　journey　for　the　mere　purpose　of　disposing　of　them　in　the　clutches　of　Kaanyr　Vhok　and　his　minions；　but　the　notions　were　dismissed　again　just　as　quickly。　The　risk　of　exposing　the　plight　of　the　priestesses　of　Lolth　was　far　too　great　to　risk　by　such　a　method。　The　she…fiend　had　discovered　their　identity　in　some　other　way。　Her　broadening　smile　and　sparkling　green　eyes　told　him　that　he　had　confirmed　her　suspicions。
　　　〃Oh；　don't　get　too　lathered　up　about　it；〃　she　said；　laughing。　〃Your　secrets　safe　with　us…at　least；　for　the　time　being；〃　she　added；　the　smile　gone。　〃But　it　brings　me　to　my　reason　for　being　here。　The　Sceptered　One；　Kaanyr　Vhok；　Master　of　the　Scourged　Legions；　lord　of　the　portion　of　the　Underdark　through　which　you　currently　trespass；　would　delight　in　having　an　audience　with　you。　I'm　here　to　extend　that　invitation。〃
　　　Almost　as　if　on　cue；　there　was　a　shout；　dimly　echoing；　from　far　below。　Without　thinking；　Pharaun　turned　and　gazed　over　the　edge　of　the　precipice　to　the　cavern　floor　below。　There；　Quenthel　and　the　others　had　been　in　the　process　of　crossing　to　a　lower　tunnel；　one　without　switchbacks。　Valas　was　rushing　back　from　the　mouth　of　the　egress；　apparently　to　join　them。　Behind　him；　a　flood　of　tanarukks　emerged　from　the　passage　and　from　others　flanking　it。
　　　Observing　the　scene　had　taken　but　an　instant；　but　it　had　been　enough　for　the　she…fiend　to　expend　some　sort　of　magical　energy；　which　Pharaun　could　see　radiating　around　her。　He　was　on　his　guard；　expecting　an　attack；　but　she　did　not　move。　Her　green　eyes；　however；　smoldered。　Whether　it　was　with　lust　or　anger；　he　wasn't　sure。
　　　〃I　think　you　should　acpany　me　back　to　the　palace；〃　the　demon　said；　her　voice　husky。　〃You　will　like　it　there。　Very　much。〃
　　　She　began　to　saunter　toward　him　as　she　spoke；　and　he　could　sense　the　energy　flow　over　him。　She　was　hoping　to　magically　coerce　him；　somehow；　the　mage　supposed。　He　backed　up　a　step　and　put　on　his　best　apologetic　smile。
　　　'That；　I'm　afraid；　is　very　much　out　of　the　question；　at　least　for　the　moment。　My　panions　need　me。〃
　　　The　she…fiend's　smile　faded；　and　she　pursed　her　lips　in　irritation。
　　　〃They　are　surrounded；　you　know；〃　she　said；　pausing　in　her　advance。　〃This　is；　at　least　for　the　moment；　still　an　amicable　offer。　Go　to　them；　convince　them　to　return　with　me　to　Kaanyr's　palace；　and　I　promise　you　that　the　meeting　will　be　cordial。　My　forces　below　have　been　instructed　merely　to　hold　their　positions　and　prevent　you　and　your　friends　from　departing　until　I　have　a　chance　to　make　the　offer　to　you。　Will　you　do　that？〃
　　　Pharaun　smiled。　〃How　well　do　you　know　Kaanyr　Vhok？〃　he　asked；　his　tone　suggestive。
　　　Her　smile　deepened；　and　her　eyes　glittered　with　what　was　definitely　lust。
　　　〃Quite　well；〃　she　answered；　〃but　then　again；　he's　terribly　busy；　so　not　as　well　as　I　would　like。　e　back　to　his　palace　with　me。〃
　　　Pharaun's　own　smile　widened；　and　he　asked。　〃What's　your　name？〃
　　　The　she…fiend　giggled　once　in　amusement　and　said；　〃I　almost　forgot　to　tell　you！　I'm　Aliisza。　Now；　will　you　e　with　me？〃
　　　〃It's　a　delight　to　meet　you；　Aliisza；　I'm　Pharaun；　and　I'd　love　to　acpany　you；　but　for　the　moment；　duty　calls。　Am　I　to　assume　that　we　will　meet　with　resistance　down　there？　Or　has　our　discussion　set　your　mind　at　ease　to　such　an　extent　that　we　might　pass　out　of　Ammarindar　unhindered　today？〃
　　　Aliisza　grinned　and　said；　〃I　had　my　orders；　dear。　You　were　not　to　pass　beyond　the　borders　without　a　fight；　but　I　tell　you　what　。　。　。　I'll　give　you　a　sporting　chance；　just　because　I　like　you。〃　Her　voice　had　turned　husky　again。　〃Just　this　once；　I'll　stay　out　of　it。　A　few　hundred　tanarukks　shouldn't　cause　you　undue　trouble；　should　they？〃
　　　Pharaun　cocked　his　head　to　one　side；　as　if　considering　that；　then　said；　〃Well；　they　will　be　a　substantially　greater　difficulty　than　if　we　could　move　on　unmolested；　but　as　you　say；　it's　a　sporting　chance。　Until　the　next　time　we　meet；　then。〃
　　　In　answer；　Aliisza　nodded　and　smiled。
　　　The　mage　leaned　backward　and　dropped　over　the　side　of　the　precipice。
　　　At　Valas's　distant　shout；　Quenthel　looked　up　from　where　she　had　been　staring　absent