war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第16章

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ed　a　few　words。　The　bleed…ing　stopped；　and　the　hole　began　to　close。
　　　Be　more　careful；〃　the　high　priestess　admonished　her　nephew　as　she　stored　the　wand　once　more。　〃Healing　magic　is　limited。〃
　　　Even　as　overcrowded　as　the　city　is；〃　Faeryl　said；　〃the　higher　levels　will　not　be　that　bad。　I　know　of　a　place　where　we　may　be　able　to　get　rooms。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　we　need　to　rethink　this；〃　Quenthel　countered。　〃It　seems　obvious　to　me　that　there　are　troubles　here。　I　think　it　would　be　wiser　to　pay　House　Zauvirr　and　House　Melarn　a　visit。　We　would　be　assured　of　acmodations　there。〃
　　　〃No；〃　Pharaun　said；　and　Quenthel's　eyes　widened　in　surprise。　The　mage　continued　quickly；　before　the　high　priestess　could　lash　out　at　him。　〃You　may　be　right；　but　even　so；　you　don't　want　to　lose　the　opportunity　to　move　about　freely；　do　you？　If　we　have　any　hope　of　staking　a　claim　to　the　stock　of　goods　and　coin　for　your　House；　we　must　be　able　to　avoid　the　matron　mothers'　notice。〃
　　　〃Well；〃　Quenthel　said；　seeming　to　waver；　〃I'm　unfortable　with　the　idea　of　living　like　moners　in　an　inn；　but　your　argument　still　makes　sense。〃
　　　Valas　watched　as　the　high　priestess　bit　her　lip；　deep　in　thought。
　　　Pharaun　continued；　trying　to　press　home　his　advantage；　〃You　know　they　will　tell　us　nothing　if　there　is　a　problem。　They　will　keep　that　information　to　themselves　at　all　costs。　This　way；　we　can　explore　a　little　bit；　try　to　discover　possible　clues　to　Lolth's　disappearance。　It　will　allow　us　the　chance　to　determine　what　has　brought　Ched　Nasad　to　this　condition。〃　He　leaned　in　close　to　avoid　being　overheard；　as　another　pair　of　drow…males　who　had　been　strolling　past　this　time…　stopped　and　stared　for　a　moment。　〃If　nothing　else；　we　can　learn　from　this　city's　mistakes。〃
　　　Ryld　turned　and　gave　the　pair　of　males　a　level　look；　and　they　quickly　averted　their　eyes　and　continued　on　their　way。
　　　〃Whatever　we　do；　we'd　better　do　it　now；〃　the　weapons　master　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃Valas　is　right　。　。　。　we're　attracting　too　much　attention。〃
　　　〃Then　shall　I　show　us　the　way　to　the　inn　I　know　of？〃　Faeryl　asked。　〃It's　called　the　House　Unnamed；　and　it's　just…〃
　　　〃You　will　do　no　such　thing；〃　Quenthel　interrupted。　〃You　seem　far　too　eager　to　help　us；　and　at　the　expense　of　your　own　House。〃
　　　Faeryl　gaped　at　the　Baenre　high　priestess。
　　　〃Mistress　Quenthel；　I　am　merely…〃
　　　〃Enough；〃　Quenthel　cut　the　ambassador　off。　〃Until　I　decide　to　let　the　matron　mothers　know　I'm　here；　you　will　not　be　warning　them　ahead　of　time。　Jeggred；　it　will　be　your　responsibility　to　make　sure　she　doesn't　try　to　sneak　off。〃
　　　The　draegloth　grinned；　first　at　Quenthel；　then　at　the　ambassador。
　　　〃With　pleasure；　Mistress；〃　he　said。
　　　Faeryl　grimaced　at　the　fiend's　attentions；　and　Valas　wondered　just　what　had　happened　between　the　two　of　them　prior　to　the　group's　departure。　She'd　behaved　in　that　manner　during　the　entire　trip。　He　made　a　mental　note　to　ask　Ryld　when　they　had　a　moment　alone。
　　　〃Now；〃　Quenthel　said；　turning　to　the　other　three　of　them；　〃which　of　you　knows　this　city　best？〃
　　　〃I　have　visited　Ched　Nasad　a　number　of　times；　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Valas　answered；　and　the　other　two　males　nodded　in　agreement；　giving　the　scout　center　stage。
　　　〃Good。　Find　us　an　inn；　someplace　other　than　this　'House　Unnamed。'　Make　it　a　good　one；　mind　you。　I　won't　put　up　with　the　squalor　you　might　be　used　to。〃
　　　Valas　raised　an　eyebrow　but　said　nothing。　He　found　it　interesting　that　the　high　priestess　had　changed　her　mind；　agreeing　to　Pha…rauns　plan　without　actually　admitting　to　it。　He　wondered　if　they　would　have　words　about　it　later；　but　for　the　moment；　he　was　happy　enough　to　do　as　she　had　instructed。
　　　〃The　quickest　way　to　get　where　we　want　to　go　is　going　to　be　by　floating　there；〃　the　scout　said。　〃As　long　as　Jeggred　is　willing　to　bear　me；　that　is。〃
　　　Quenthel　looked　first　at　the　draegloth；　then　at　Faeryl；　and　said；　You're　not　going　to　give　me　reason　to　have　Jeggred　or　Pharaun　kill　you　by　trying　to　run　away；　ate　you？〃
　　　Faeryl　glowered　bur　shook　her　head。
　　　Good；　then　lead　on；　Valas。　I　am　weary　and　would　like　to　enjoy　the　Reverie　on　a　proper　couch　for　a　change。〃
　　　Jeggred　lifted　the　scout　up　in　one　arm；　and　soon　they　were　all　rising　easily　toward　the　higher　parts　of　the　city。　Faeryl　had　been　right。　As　the　group　reached　higher　and　higher　elevations；　the　crowds　abated　somewhat。　It　was　still　busier　than　Valas　had　ever　remembered；　but　at　the　higher　levels；　it　was　at　least　tolerable。　He　led　them　toward　an　upscale　business　section　of　the　city；　a　zone　where　many　of　the　lesser　Houses；　those　with　only　enough　power　to　make　fortunes　in　trade　as　opposed　to　actually　being　powerful　enough　to　run　the　city；　maintained　mercial　offices。
　　　It　was　this　section；　Valas　knew；　that　many　of　the　wealthy　merchants　from　other　regions　of　the　Underdark　frequented　while　visiting　the　city。　The　inns　were　extravagant　enough　that　they　would　support　the　creature　forts　expected　by　the　trading　munity's　elite；　and　they　wouldn't　do　more　than　bat　an　eye　even　at　someone　as　unusual　as　Jeg…gred。　Valas　hoped　that　there　the　Menzoberranyr　would　find　a　room　that　would　satisfy　Quenthel's　need　for　pampering　and　not　draw　undue　attention　to　themselves。　If　they　could　find　a　room　at　all。
　　　Pharaun　insisted　that　he　be　the　one　to　negotiate　with　the　innkeepers。　The　first　two　establishments　nearly　laughed　in　the　wizard's　face；　and　the　third　one　made　biting　ments　concerning　the　〃Wrath　of　Lolth〃　before　suggesting　that　a　payment　of　submission　for　ritual　cleansing　would　buy　them　the　opportunity　to　share　one　room　together。　The　fourth　place　had　nothing　either；　bur　the　proprietor　there；　a　half…ore　blind　in　one　eye；　suggested　a　place　that　was　near　the　edge　of　the　city；　two　sections　higher。　He　claimed　that　his　cousin　ran　the　place　and　catered　to　mercenaries　who　hired　on　with　caravans…or　at　least；　they　used　to；　when　caravans　still　ran。　Valas　wondered　which　side　of　the　family　the　relation　was　on。
　　　It　took　a　bit　of　searching　before　the　group　finally　found　the　Flame　and　Serpent；　a　sprawling　hive　of　stacked　cocoon…shapes　nestled　together　where　one　lonely　strand　of　calcified　webbing　was　anchored　to　the　wall　of　the　cavern。　It　held　promise；　if　only　by　virtue　of　its　out…of…the…way　location　and　its　appearance。
　　　Quenthel　balked　upon　first　seeing　the　inn；　but　Pharaun　suggested　that　they　at　least　inquire　inside　before　dismissing　any　possibility；　and　the　high　priestess　once　again　let　the　male　convince　her。
　　　She　really　must　be　weary；　Valas　mused。　She's　letting　him　run　the　show　today。　〃Well；　one　good　night's　Reverie；　and　that'll　all　change。
　　　For　a　pleasant　surprise；　the　inside　of　the　Flame　and　Serpent　was　substantially　more　inviting　than　the　outside　had　been。　While　Pharaun　approached　the　innkeeper；　a　fat　ore　with　silver　caps　on　his　tusks　and　two　ogre　bouncers　to　back　him　up；　Valas　looked　around。　There　were　certainly　plenty　of　folk　sitting　in　the　tap　room；　and　though　Jeggred　drew　more　than　one　lingering　stare　as　he　crouched　beneath　a　ceiling　that　wasn't　quite　the　right　height　for　him；　most　of　the　patrons　ignored　them。　Valas　recognized　why。　They　really　were　mercenaries；　independents　in　the　business　for　gold　and　little　else；　and　as　long　as　no　one　interfered　with　them　or　their　livelihoods；　they　would　keep　to　themselves。　They　were　Valas's　kind　of　folk。
　　　Quenthel's　expression　was　one　of　distaste；　but　Pharaun　returned　with　a　gleam　in　his　eye　and　the　good　news　that　they　had　actually　managed　to　get　the　Flame　and　Serpent's　last　two　rooms。　When　the　wizard　mentioned　the　price；　Quenthel　rolled　her　eyes；　but　Valas　realized　they　had　probably　still　gotten　a　bargain。
　　　〃Only　two？〃　Quenthel　said　doubtfully。　〃Then　the　males　will　have　to　share　one；　while　Faeryl　and　I　take　the　other。　Jeggred；　you；　of　course；　will　remain　with　me。〃
　　　Faeryl's　face　looked　stricken　at　the　prospect　of　sharing　her　quarters　with　the　draegloth；　but　she　said　nothing。
　　　The　rooms　were　not　in　the　same　area　of　the　inn。　The　larger　of　the　two；　the　one　Quenthel　claimed　for　her　own；　was　a　round　chamber　with　a　separate　bathing　room。　It　was　near　the　front　of　the　structure；　with　several　small　windows　that　looked　out　over　the　city。　From　their　vantage；　the　females　could　see　the　magnificent　glowing　web　streets　stretching　off　into　the　distance　both　above　and　below。　The　smaller　chamber　was　at　the　rear　of　the　Flame　and　Serpent；　an　elongated　room　with　two　beds　and　a　divan　for　a　third　person。　The　lone　window　opened　to　the　wall　of　the　cavern；　where　rivulets　of　water　ran　down；　leaking　through　from　the　World　Above　and　trickling　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　V…shaped　city；　where　it　fed　beds　of　fungi。
　　　It's　not　much　of　a　view；　Valas　decided；　but　it　might　prove　useful　for　leaving　the　inn　unobserved。
　　　I　want　to　rest　for　a　while；　so　you　three；〃　Quenthel　said；　looking　at　the　males；　〃stay　out　of　trouble。　We　will　convene　at　the　end　of　the　day　and　discuss　what　to　do　next　over　our　meal。　Until　then；　leave　me　alone！〃
　　　With　that　she　stalked　off　to　her　chambers；　dragging　Faeryl　and　Jeggred　along　with　her。
　　　Valas　agreed　to　rest　on　the　couch；　and　as　the　three　of　them　unpacked　a　bit；　Pharaun　stood　and　stretched；　cracking　his　back。
　　　〃I　don't　know