war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第13章

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　　　If　you　say　so；〃　Khorrl　answered　doubtfully。　He　had　seen　more　battles　take　a　turn　for　the　worse　through　the　most　simple；　straight…forward　aspect　of　the　plan　going　awry。　〃Just　remember；　all　that　beautiful　treasure　you　gave　me　is　already　long　gone；　shipped　off　to　safer　parts。　If　you're　thinking　of　turning　the　tables；　you　won't　be　seeing　it　again。　It'll　be　an　expensive　betrayal。〃
　　　Zammzt　looked　genuinely　hurt；　but　only　for　a　moment。
　　　〃I'm　not　sure　you　realize　the　risks　my　mistress　takes；　simply　harboring　an　army　here；〃　said　the　drow。　〃If　you're　discovered；　she　too　suffers　the　consequences。　It　really　isn't　in　her　best　interests　to　turn　on　you；　you　know。〃
　　　〃Hmm；〃　Khorrl　answered。　〃We'll　see。〃
　　　〃So；　I　presume　you　brought　everything　you　need；〃　the　drow　said；　changing　the　subject；　〃but　if　there's　anything　else　you　want　while　you　wait　here；　now　is　the　time　to　ask。　Though；　for　what　we're　paying　you　。。。〃
　　　Khorrl　barked　a　deep　laugh　despite　himself。　The　idea　that　he　would　bring　his　troops　into　such　an　uncertain　situation　without　arranging　for　every　provision；　every　possible　contingency；　was　funny。
　　　〃No；　we're　fine。　Now；　when　are　we　going　to　find　out　just　exactly　who　we're　supposed　to　be　killing？〃
　　　〃Soon；　my　gray　friend；〃　Zammzt　said；　that　toothy　smile　blossoming　again。　〃Very　soon。〃
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　In　the　end；　the　battle　with　the　tanarukks　wasn't　much　of　a　fight　at　all。　Pharaun　had　devastated　rank　upon　rank　of　the　slavering　humanoids　from　a　distance；　even　going　so　far　as　to　decimate　the　reserve　forces　lurking　in　the　back。　He　honestly　didn't　even　find　it　sporting；　especially　when　he　was　able　to　hover　overhead；　out　of　their　reach；　and　attack　them　at　his　leisure。
　　　The　Menzoberranyr　were　well　beyond　the　halls　of　Ammarindar；　and　after　a　night's　rest　they　were　closing　in　on　Ched　Nasad。
　　　〃We　should　be　running　into　patrols　by　now；〃　Faeryl　grumbled　as　they　hiked　along。　〃We're　within　a　quarter　mile　of　the　city。　Something's　wrong。〃
　　　〃I　think　we　knew　that　before　we　left　Menzoberranzan；〃　Quenthel　snapped。
　　　The　group　found　itself　on　the　main　thoroughfare　that　led　into　the　city　from　the　north；　wondering　when　they　would　actually　reach　the　surrounding　outskirts　of　the　city　proper；　the　area　protected　by　patrols。　Pharaun　couldn't　blame　Faeryl　for　being　apprehensive。　Even　after　several　tendays　of　concern　for　her　home　city；　he　imagined　that　she　might　have　held　out　some　hope　that　she　would　find　everything　in　order　upon　finally　arriving。　Still；　he　doubted　that　some　disaster　had　befallen　the　city。　Though　they　hadn't　yet　encountered　any　patrols；　they　were　no　longer　alone　on　the　road　to　the　city。
　　　Traffic　flowing　to　and　from　Ched　Nasad　was　a　trickle　of　its　normal　self；　at　least　according　to　the　ambassador。　Pharaun　didn't　doubt　it。　The　avenue　they　followed　was　broad；　wide　enough　for　numerous　caravans　to　pass　in　either　direction；　but　there　were　no　such　convoys　out　and　about　that　day。　Most　of　those　who　shared　the　road　with　the　Menzoberranyr　were　other　drow；　though　the　occasional　gray　dwarf；　kobold；　or　goblin　passed　them　as　well。　Those　lesser　beings　gave　the　drow　a　wide　berth。　Any　pedestrians　who　were　headed　toward　the　city　were　scattered　just　as　far　apart　as　those　leaving；　and　Pharaun　and　his　panions　neither　passed　nor　were　passed　by　anyone。
　　　The　mage　made　a　tactful　attempt　to　bring　up　the　suggestion　he　had　been　contemplating。　〃Quenthel；　if　something　has　happened　here；　similar　to　what　we've　been　experiencing　back　home；　it　might　be　prudent　to　consider　a　less　obvious　entrance　into　the　city。〃
　　　What　do　you　mean？〃　the　high　priestess　queried；　looking　sharply　at　Pharaun。
　　　Only　that　should　we　boldly　approach　and　announce　our　stature　and　intentions；　we　might　not　receive　the　warm　wele　we　should　under　more　ordinary　circumstances。〃
　　　Why　shouldn't　they　be　glad　to　see　us？　Even　relieved？〃
　　　It　sounded　as　though　Quenthel　was　growing　indignant；　and　Pharaun　struggled　to　find　a　way　to　explain　his　point　in　a　way　that　wouldn't　sound　insulting。
　　　Faeryl　saved　him　the　effort。　Because　they　might　think　we're　here　to　spy　on　them；〃　she　said。
　　　Pharaun　had　to　suppress　a　mild　chuckle。　It　was；　after　all；　the　exact　reason　Triel　had　claimed　when　she　imprisoned　the　envoy　back　in　Menzoberranzan。　It　was　a　reasonable　argument。
　　　〃Not　if　we　insist　upon　meeting　with　the　matron　mothers　of　the　highest　Houses…〃　Quenthel　began。
　　　〃With　all　due　respect；　Mistress；〃　Faeryl　interjected；　〃do　you　think　you　would　react　well　to　a　high…ranking　noble　arriving　in　Menzoberranzan　and　insisting　upon　seeing　you？　During　this　time　of　crisis？〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled　and　said　nothing。　Pharaun　was　relieved　that　the　high　priestess　was　at　least　willing　to　contemplate　the　idea。
　　　〃Even　if　they　didn't　think　we　were　spies；　they　certainly　would　consider　our　visit　to　be　highly　unusual　and　would　strive　to　keep　an　eye　on　us；〃　the　mage　said。　〃We　might　be　given　the　most　luxurious　acmodations　and　want　for　nothing；　but　we　would　also　be　absolutely　unable　to　find　out　anything。　Once　we　determine　the　state　of　things　here；　if　it's　really　your　intention　to　lay　claim　to　the　goods　stored　in　the　Black　Claw　Mercantile　storehouses　and　take　them　back　to　Menzoberranzan；　why　draw　undue　attention　to　yourself？　Were　you　planning　to　ask　the　matron　mothers　for　them；　first？〃
　　　Quenthel　scowled　at　Pharaun　as　if　the　very　idea　of　asking　permission　to　take　what　was　rightfully　hers　was　preposterous。　It　was　exactly　the　reaction　he　wanted。
　　　〃Faeryl；〃　the　wizard　persisted；　〃even　though　the　goods　are　rightfully　the　property　of　House　Baenre　and　House　Melarn；　do　you　foresee　Matron　Mother　Melarn…indeed；　any　of　the　other　Houses…letting　them　out　of　the　city？〃
　　　Faeryl　smirked。
　　　〃Absolutely　not；〃　she　answered。　〃I'm　not　certain　how　happy　my　own　mother　will　be　to　hear　about　your　plan。〃　She　smiled　wanly　and　added；　〃I　agree　with　the　mage。　The　less　you　tell；　the　better　your　chances　are　of　succeeding。〃
　　　〃Your　arguments　may　have　merit；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃So　what　else　do　you　suggest？　How　do　we　enter　unnoticed？〃
　　　〃As　traders；　Mistress；〃　Faeryl　suggested；　〃members　of　the　Black　Claw　Mercantile　pany。　Triel　said　herself　that　we　were　here　to　check　on　House　Baenre's　financial　interests；　as　well　as　to　discover　how　widespread　the　problem　is；　so　it's　the　truth；　from　a　certain　point　of　view。〃
　　　〃We　don't　look　very　much　like　traders；〃　Valas　said；　trotting　a　little　in　front　of　the　rest　of　them。　〃Perhaps　Pharaun　should　use　a　spell　of　illusion　to　mask　our　looks。〃
　　　〃No；〃　Faeryl　replied。　〃Ched　Nasad's　guards　are　equipped　to　watch　for　that。　They　employ　detection　spells　and　devices　to　notice　if　you're　trying　sneak　past　them　invisibly　or　under　the　guise　of　illusion。　It's　not　necessary；　anyway。　You'd　be　surprised　at　what　kind　of　bodyguards　a　wealthy　trader　would　hire　to　protect　her。　I　am　a　member　of　a　trading　house。　If　I　tell　the　city　guards　that　you're　escorting　me；　and　they　get　a　good　look　at　my　house　insignia；　we　shouldn't　have　any　trouble；　but　you　must　remove　your　own　insignia。　They're　likely　to　be　recognized。〃
　　　〃Would　you　hire　the　likes　of　him？〃　Quenthel　asked；　pointing　to　Jeggred。
　　　Faeryl　frowned　and　said；　〃He　could　be　a　problem。〃
　　　〃Leave　that　to　me；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃I　have　a　couple　of　tricks　up　my　sleeve　that　should　aid　us　nicely。　I　can　use　them　to　get　the　drae…gloth　past　the　patrols　and　into　the　city　without　them　noticing　him。　As　long　as　he　cooperates；　anyway。〃
　　　Quenthel　looked　at　Jeggred　and　asked；　〃Can　you　stay　quiet　and　not　try　to　tear　the　throat　out　of　anyone？〃
　　　Jeggred　regarded　the　high　priestess　askance　but　nodded。
　　　I　am　capable　of　subtlety　when　it　is　necessary；　Mistress；〃　he　rumbled。
　　　Sure　you　are；　Pharaun　thought。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　Quenthel　said　after　a　moment's　deliberation；　〃We　will　enter　the　city　incognito。　Remove　your　insignia　and　try　to　look　？　…　…　mon。〃
　　　Everyone　except　Faeryl　doffed　their　House　brooches　and　began　to　stow　as　many　of　their　finer　accoutrements　as　possible。
　　　〃Pharaun；〃　Quenthel　said；　nodding　at　Jeggred；　〃do　what　you　must。〃　First；　I'm　going　to　reduce　you　slightly　in　size；　so　that　you　aren't　so；　um　。　。　。　obvious；〃　the　wizard　said；　looking　up　at　the　eight…foot…tall　creature。　〃You　don't　mind；　do　you？〃
　　　Jeggred　grunted　and　glowered　at　the　mage；　but　at　a　subtle　gesture　from　Quenthel；　he　nodded　acquiescence。
　　　〃Good；〃　Pharaun　continued。　〃Then；　I'll　cloak　you　with　a　spell　designed　to　misdirect　those　divinations　the　patrols　are　likely　to　be　using；　and　if　you　will　don　your　piwafwi；　pull　the　hood　up；　and　stay　in　the　back；　we　should　get　past　them　just　fine。〃
　　　〃Yes；　that　should　do　nicely；〃　Faeryl　agreed。
　　　〃All　right；　then；　here　we　go；〃　Pharaun　said；　pulling　a　pinch　of　powdered　iron　from　one　of　his　many　pockets　and　gesturing。
　　　The　draegloth　began　to　shrink　until　he　was　no　taller　than　any　of　the　draw。
　　　〃Good；〃　the　wizard　said；　beginning　the　second　spell。
　　　When　he　was　finished；　he　stepped　back　and　said；　〃Now；　draw　that　piwafwi　around　you　to　hide　as　much　of　you　as　possible。〃
　　　〃Yes；　and　lean　on　Ryld　as　though　you're　injured；〃　Quenthel　manded。　〃Keep　your　head　down　like　you're　tired。〃
　　　〃Yes；　good　idea；〃　Ph