war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第14章

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　　　〃Yes；　and　lean　on　Ryld　as　though　you're　injured；〃　Quenthel　manded。　〃Keep　your　head　down　like　you're　tired。〃
　　　〃Yes；　good　idea；〃　Pharaun　agreed；　genuinely　impressed。　〃We're　all　just　road…weary　merchants；　ready　for　a　hot　bath　and　fortable　bed。〃
　　　〃Not　a　moment　too　soon；〃　Valas　said；　his　voice　low。　〃I　see　a　patrol　up　ahead。〃
　　　Pharaun　peered　ahead　into　the　distance　and　saw　a　large　contingent　of　drow；　some　on　foot；　others　riding　lizards；　moving　down　the　road　in　their　direction。　They　were　fanned　out　across　the　width　of　the　road；　so　there　would　be　no　way　to　avoid　them。
　　　〃Just　remain　calm；　and　allow　me　to　speak　to　them；〃　Faeryl　whispered。
　　　The　group　began　walking　toward　the　patrol；　with　Ryld　in　the　back；　pretending　to　support　a　limping　Jeggred。　Pharaun　could　only　guess　at　how　much　the　warrior　hated　the　scheme。
　　　No　matter；　he　thought。　We　should　have　little　difficulty　getting　past　these　sentries。　We're　just　drow；　trying　to　reach　a　drow　city。　Why　would　we　be　any　trouble　to　them？
　　　As　the　groups　drew　close　to　one　another；　the　patrol　loosened　weapons　and　slowed　down；　obviously　preparing　for　trouble。　One；　the　leader；　Pharaun　presumed；　stepped　forward　a　few　more　paces　and　held　his　hand　outstretched　before　him；　palm　forward。
　　　〃Hold；〃　he　said；　gesturing　for　the　group　to　slow　down。　〃State　your　name　and　business　here。〃
　　　Faeryl　moved　forward；　past　Valas；　to　e　to　a　stop　a　few　paces　from　the　leader。
　　　〃I　am　Faeryl　Zauvirr　of　House　Zauvirr；　Executive　Negotiator　for　the　Black　Claw　Mercantile。〃　She　removed　her　insignia　and　held　it　out　for　the　patrol　leader　to　get　a　good　look　and　take　it；　if　he　wanted。　〃These　are　my　caravan　guards。〃
　　　The　sergeant　or　whatever　he　was　stepped　forward　and　took　the　insignia；　then　passed　it　back　to　an　underling　while　he　scrutinized　Faeryl　and　the　others；　in　turn。
　　　〃Caravan？　What　caravan？　No　goods　have　entered　or　left　the　city　in　six　tendays；　at　least。〃
　　　Faeryl　nodded　and　explained；　〃Yes；　I　know。　We　are　just　recently　from　Menzoberranzan；　but　we　lost　what　few　goods　we　had　in　an　attack　along　the　way。〃　She　tossed　her　head　back　toward　Ryld　and　Jeggred　as　a　way　of　indicating　her　wounded　panions；　but　with　the　suggestion　that　they　weren't　really　important。　The　drow　soldier　in　front　of　her　peered　over　her　shoulder　for　a　brief　moment；　then　nodded　and　returned　his　attention　to　her。　〃We　wish　to　give　our　report　and　enjoy　some　civilization　for　a　few　days；〃　she　concluded；　letting　weariness　creep　into　her　voice。
　　　Good；　Pharaun　thought。　Tell　them　just　enough　of　the　truth　to　sound　reasonable；　without　admitting　anything。
　　　〃Attacked　by　what？〃　the　leader　asked。
　　　The　second…in…mand　handed　the　insignia　back　to　him　with　a　curt　nod。　Apparently　it　had　passed　muster；　for　the　patrolman　handed　it　back　to　Faeryl。
　　　What　business　is　it　of　yours？〃　asked　Quenthel　sourly。　〃Do　you　always　make　it　a　practice　of　interrogating　caravans　this　way？〃
　　　Tanarukks；〃　Pharaun　said；　stepping　forward　and　placing　his　hand　on　Quenthel's　arm。　〃She　hates　tanarukks。　She's　been　in　a　bad　mood　ever　since。　A　good　deepstroke　will　do　her　wonders。〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　could　feel　her　bristle；　but　at　least　she　didn't　pull　away　from　him。　Beside　her；　the　snakes　of　her　whip　stirred；　but　〃key　didn't　flail　about　as　Pharaun　feared　they　would。
　　　The　patrol　leader　glared　at　Quenthel　for　a　moment　but　finally　nodded　and　said；　〃We　make　it　a　practice　when　the　city　is…〃　he　stopped　himself　from　revealing　more；　then　turned　back　to　Faeryl…　〃You　may　pass；　but　good　luck　finding　any　'civilization'　to　enjoy。〃
　　　With　that　last　bitter　ment；　he　turned　and　motioned　the　rest　of　the　patrol　to　part；　creating　a　gap　so　that　the　entourage　could　pass　through。
　　　Faeryl　nodded　her　thanks　and　motioned　for　the　rest　of　them　to　follow　her；　then　they　were　past　the　patrol　and　alone　on　the　thoroughfare　once　again。　Pharaun　could　see　that　the　envoy　was　troubled　by　the　patrol　leader's　words。　He　had　to　admit　it　was　not　a　good　sign。
　　　〃Let　go　of　me！〃　Quenthel　hissed；　jerking　her　arm　free；　and　the　wizard　blinked　in　surprise；　having　forgotten　that　he　still　grasped　her　and　was　steering　her　along。
　　　〃My　apologies；　Mistress；〃　Pharaun　said；　bowing　slightly。　〃In　light　of　the　situation；　I　thought　it　prudent　to　try　to　smooth　things　over　the　best　way　possible。　In　a　way；　though；　it　was　good。　You　drew　attention　away　from　the　draegloth。〃
　　　〃Fine；〃　she　answered；　still　scowling。　〃We　got　through　them；　that's　the　important　thing。　Now；　let's　see　just　how　bad　it　is　inside　the　city。〃
　　　It　wasn't　long　before　the　group　had　reached　the　gates　of　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs。　Continuing　their　masquerade　as　bruised　and　battered　merchants；　they　passed　through　the　guards　there　and　found　themselves　inside。
　　　It　was　chaos。
　　　FIVE
　　　〃You're　late；〃　Drisinil　Melarn　snapped　as　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　strode　into　the　audience　chamber　of　House　Melarn。
　　　The　matron　mother　of　House　Zauvirr　forced　herself　to　suppress　the　hot　retort　that　she　ached　to　unleash；　contenting　herself　instead　with　pursed　lips。
　　　I　am　sincerely　apologetic；〃　Ssipriina　lied；　bowing　low　to　the　other　matron　mother；　knowing　she　mocked　the　other　drow　simply　through　the　use　of　such　formal　ments　and　antics。　〃It　could　not　be　helped。　I　had　urgent　business　matters　to　attend　to；　issues　that　keep　your　coffers　full；　Matron　Mother。〃
　　　Ssipriina　liked　the　dangerous　glitter　she　was　creating　in　Drisinil's　hot　eyes。　It　would　be　hard　for　the　head　of　House　Melarn　to　chastise　her　minion　for　working　so　diligently　to　keep　her　wealthy；　and　Ssipri…ttia　knew　that。　That's　what　made　these　subtle　jibes　all　the　more　fun。　Still；　I　sped　here　with　as　much　haste　as　dignity　would　permit；〃　Ssipriina　added；　〃for　I　have　good　news。　They　have　entered　the　city。〃
　　　〃You're　sure？〃　the　matron　mother　asked。　〃Do　you　have　any　indication　that　they've　changed　their　plans？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　am　sure　of　it；〃　Ssipriina　replied。　〃My　male　made　contact　with　Faeryl　only　a　few　hours　ago；　and　she　informed　him　that　they　were　headed　toward　the　Fracture　Gate　in　the　lowest　quarters　of　the　city。　Apparently；　Mistress　Baenre　is　still　bent　on　stealing　your　goods。　My　spies　saw　them　enter　the　city　just　a　few　minutes　ago。〃
　　　Drisinil　sat　in　thought　for　a　few　moments；　leaving　Ssipriina　standing　expectantly　Finally　the　matron　mother　stirred。
　　　〃They　don't　suspect　that　we　know；　do　they？〃
　　　〃I　don't　believe　so。　I　have　instructed　Faeryl　to　be　as　agreeable　as　she　can　to　whatever　Quenthel　is　planning；　and　I　have　my　spies　set　to　keep　track　of　them；　wherever　they　go。　They　won't　know　a　thing　until　it's　too　late。〃
　　　〃And　you　want　to　let　them　go　through　with　it？〃
　　　〃Well；　not　exactly；　Matron　Mother。　I　am　suggesting　that　we　let　them　get　to　the　storehouse　and　get　inside。　We'll　be　there　to　catch　them　in　the　act。　We'll　have　the　proof；　then；　and　we　can　present　it　to　the　other　matron　mothers。〃
　　　〃Hmm；　yes；　I　like　that；〃　Drisinil　Melarn　said；　shifting　her　considerable　weight　atop　her　throne。　Her　face　held　a　look　of　determination。　〃I　very　much　want　to　see　Quenthel　Baenre's　face　when　she　realizes　she's　not　getting　a　single　scrap　of　my　wealth。　I　want　her　to　realize　she's　just　crossed　the　wrong　House。〃
　　　Truer　words　were　never　spoken；　Ssipriina　thought。
　　　〃Yes；　of　course。　I　will　make　plans　for　us　to　be　there　before　they　arrive　at　the　storehouse。　I　trust　that　you　wish　for　me　to　utilize　House　Melarn　guards？〃
　　　〃Absolutely〃　Drisinil　said。　〃She　needs　to　see　just　who　she　is　trifling　with。　I　want　a　strong　presence　there；　Ssipriina；　and　when　this　crisis　is　over　and　the　council　lifts　the　ban　on　exportations；　I'll　make　sure　you're　rewarded　for　your　patience　and　diligence。〃
　　　〃Of　course；〃　Ssipriina　said；　bowing。　〃I　will　see　to　this　matter　personally。〃
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　Ched　Nasad　was　a　bustling　city　filled　with　drow；　duergar；　and　even　the　occasional　illithid　during　normal　times；　but　Valas　found　it　suffocating。　The　scout　was　certain　three　times　as　many　creatures　occupied　the　place　than　was　usual。　It　was　brimming　with　desperate；　starving　masses　who　pushed　and　shoved　their　way　along　the　thoroughfares；　raising　a　deafening　rumble　and　a　pungent　odor。
　　　The　gate　through　which　the　Menzoberranyr　had　entered　was　near　the　bottom　of　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs；　a　metropolis　filling　a　huge；　V…shaped　trench　in　the　Underdark。　The　entirety　of　the　city　was　crisscrossed　with　massive　calcified　webs　set　aglow　with　magic；　a　hundred　or　more　layers　of　pathways　that　ran　every　direction　and　supported　the　population。　Thousands　of　rounded；　amorphous　structures　clung　to　these　huge　webs　like　egg…sacs　or　cocooned　prey；　thrusting　up　or　dangling　below　and　housing　the　citizens；　guests；　slaves；　and　their　businesses。　Right　now；　it　looked　like　a　writhing　colony　of　ants　swarmed　over　the　webs；　for　as　far　as　Valas　could　see　overhead；　the　streets　literally　vibrated　with　the　masses　of　humanoids　taking　refuge　there。
　　　The　scout　would　normally　have　been　in　the　lead　of　the　entourage；　but　it　was　nearly　impossible　to　move；　so　crowded　were　the　streets。　Instead；　Quenthel　had　ordered　Jeggred　to　run　point；　and　the　towering　fiend　was　pushing　his　way　slowly　through　the　throngs。　Valas　stayed　close　behind　the　dr