war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第22章

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d　bins。　Quenthel　followed　her；　figuring　the　ambassador　knew　the　way　to　the　most　valuable　hoards　of　magic。
　　　Quenthel　supposed　there　was　a　secure　section　of　the　storehouse；　and　she　began　to　worry。　Any　magic　of　value　would　likely　be　warded。
　　　　　　　I　should　have　brought　that　fop　Mizzrym　along；　after　all；　she　chided　herself。　〃Mistress！〃　Yngoth　hissed；　rising　up　from　the　whip。　〃We　are　in　danger！〃
　　　Quenthel　spun　around；　looking　for　signs　of　a　threat；　but　she　could　see　nothing。
　　　〃What　danger？〃　she　demanded。　〃Where？〃
　　　〃A　force　is　here　。　。　。　drow；〃　Zinda　answered；　and　all　five　of　the　snakes　were　agitating　against　her　hip。
　　　〃Drow　and　others；〃　Zinda　added。
　　　Someone's　hiding；　the　high　priestess　realized。　What　have　you　done；　insolent　child？
　　　A　heartbeat　later；　a　small　host　of　drow　appeared　from　behind　a　low　wall；　soldiers　with　swords　and　hand　crossbows　at　the　ready；　and　a　handful　of　House　wizards；　too。　They　were　all　from　House　Zauvirr。　Quenthel　recognized　two　of　the　dark　elves　as　matron　mothers。　It　was　obvious　simply　by　their　demeanor　and　bearing。　One　bore　the　insignia　of　House　Zauvirr；　and　she　was　smiling　coldly。　The　other；　a　rather　plump　drow；　was　most　definitely　not　smiling　and　in　fact　looked　quite　distressed。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mother；〃　one　of　the　males　standing　near　Faeryl　breathed；　raising　his　crossbow　and　sighting　down　it　at　the　fiend。
　　　〃He's　dangerous；〃　Faeryl　called　out；　but　several　of　the　House　wizards　were　already　in　action；　casting　spells　even　as　the　draegloth　sprang　forward；　his　teeth　bared　and　his　claws　out；　ready　to　shred　anyone　and　everyone　to　ribbons。　Faeryl　took　an　involuntary　step　back；　shuddering。　Jeggred　remained　still；　crouching　as　though　he　would　spring　again；　snarling　in　fury；　but　unmoving　otherwise。
　　　〃That　will　hold　him；〃　one　of　the　wizards　claimed。
　　　Quenthel　gasped　in　surprise；　looking　back　and　forth　between　Jeggred　and　Faeryl。
　　　〃Yes；　Quenthel；〃　Faeryl　called　out。　〃He　has　been　rendered　helpless。　He　cannot　extract　you　from　this。〃
　　　Quenthel　returned　her　glare　to　Faeryl　as　the　soldiers　fanned　out；　moving　to　surround　her　but　staying　well　back。　Many　of　the　males　aimed　crossbows　at　her；　and　the　wizards　and　priestesses　all　seemed　ready　to　invoke　various　spells；　should　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　decide　to　bolt　or　attack。　The　snakes　of　Quenthel's　whip　writhed　in　agitation；　snapping　at　anyone　who　stepped　too　close。
　　　〃You　insolent　little　whelp　of　a　drow；〃　Quenthel　snarled；　shaking　in　fury　as　she　looked　at　Faeryl；　who　only　smiled　sweetly　in　return。　〃All　that　time　being　so　agreeable；　and　it　was　a　lie。　I　knew　you　were　being　too　acmodating。　I　should　have　let　Jeggred　have　his　way　with　you　back　in　the　wilds。　I　will　see　you　flayed　for　this。〃
　　　〃That　might　prove　difficult；　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Faeryl　said；　putting　as　much　sarcasm　as　possible　into　her　tone　when　she　came　to　the　honorific。　〃If　you　give　this　situation　just　a　moment's　thought；　you　will　see；　I'm　sure；　that　you　are　overmatched。　It　really　would　be　better　if　you　surrendered　this　foolish　standoff。〃
　　　Quenthel　blinked；　weighing　the　ambassador's　words。　Finally；　reluctantly；　she　realized　that　she　was　overmatched　and　nodded。
　　　〃Excellent；　Mistress；〃　Faeryl　said。　〃Now；　I　think　it　would　be　a　wise　idea　for　you　to　lay　down　your　arms　and　all　of　those　wonderful　trinkets　I　know　you　carry　about　yourself。〃
　　　Quenthel's　glare　deepened；　but　she　carefully　set　the　whip　down　at　her　feet。
　　　〃e　on；　Quenthel；〃　Faeryl　admonished。　〃I've　been　traveling　with　you　for　several　tendays　now。　I　know　about　the　ring　and　the　rod　and　all　the　other　things。　Don't　make　this　more　difficult。〃
　　　Sighing；　Quenthel　began　to　remove　the　various　items；　and　when　Faeryl　seemed　satisfied　that　the　high　priestess　could　no　longer　be　a　significant　threat；　she　ordered　her　to　step　away　from　the　pile　of　goods。
　　　As　others　swooped　in　and　gathered　up　Quenthel's　possessions；　Faeryl　stepped　closer　to　Quenthel；　smiling　again。
　　　〃I　am　sorry　it　had　to　be　this　way；　Quenthel；〃　she　said；　〃but　I'm　sure　you　understand。〃
　　　Quenthel；　who　had　regained　some　of　her　posure；　smiled　right　back。
　　　〃Oh；　I　quite　understand；　Ambassador。　My　sister　will　be　highly　disappointed　when　she　learns　what　you　have　done；　but　I　wouldn't　worry　too　much　about　that。　It's　a　shame　though　。。。　if　there's　one　thing　Triel　will　miss　more　than　her　sister；　it　would　have　to　be　her　beloved　son。〃
　　　Faeryl　didn't　let　her　smile　falter；　but　Quenthel　thought　the　ambassador　might　have　swallowed　just　a　little　nervously　at　the　thought　of　the　Matron　Mother　of　House　Baenre　hearing　the　news　that　her　draegloth　had　been　destroyed。
　　　Faeryl　shrugged　and　said；　〃That's　a　worry　for　another　time；　Mistress。　Now；　if　you　will　be　so　kind　as　to　walk　with　me；　I'll　introduce　Matron　Mother　Drisinil　Melarn　and　my　own　mother；　Mistress　Ssipriina　Zauvirr。　They　are　most　interested　in　hearing　more　about　how　you　planned　to　steal　our　provisions　and　take　them　back　to　Men…zoberranzan　with　you。〃
　　　〃Those　goods　belong　in　Menzoberranzan。　They　are　ours　by　right；〃　Quenthel　said；　angry　all　over　again。
　　　In　the　back　of　her　mind；　a　part　of　her　told　herself　that　she　really　did　need　to　learn　to　control　her　anger　better；　but　she　didn't　want　to　listen。
　　　Faeryl　laughed　cynically。　〃You　didn't　actually　think　I　was　going　to　let　you　steal　from　my　House；　did　you？〃　she　said。　〃From　my　city？　You　are　mad！〃　Taking　a　calming　breath；　the　ambassador　continued；　ice　dripping　from　her　voice；　〃Look　around　you；　Mistress　Baenre。　This　is　what's　left　of　your　precious　stores　of　goods。〃
　　　For　the　first　time；　Quenthel　realized　that　the　rows　and　rows　of　shelves　and　bins　were　mostly　empty。　There　was　nothing　in　there　to　take。　She　had　been　thoroughly　tricked；　from　the　beginning　of　the　journey；　perhaps；　played　for　the　fool　that　she　was。　The　betrayal　was　not　unexpected；　and　Quenthel　knew　that　had　the　roles　been　reversed；　House　Baenre　would　have　carried　the　situation　to　the　same　conclusion。　What　galled　her　was　that　whatever　foolish　Baenre　whelp　had　been　responsible　for　the　logistics　of　the　deal　had　never　bothered　to　put　enough　troops　loyal　to　the　House　in　place　to　ensure　that　nothing　like　this　ever　happened。　Quenthel　suspected　that　whatever　loyal　forces　had　been　here　had　been　summarily　rounded　up　and　executed　when　the　crisis　grew。　The　fact　that　no　one　was　there　now　was　a　testament　to　that。
　　　〃What　have　you　done　with　it？〃　Quenthel　demanded；　half　interested　in　the　answer　and　half　stalling　for　time　so　she　could　assess　the　situation　better。
　　　Though　there　were　a　number　of　drow　troops　there；　there　was　still　a　chance　she　could　escape…though　it　would　require　leaving　Jeggred　behind。
　　　Faeryl　laughed；　〃Oh；　don't　worry。　Black　Claw　made　a　tidy　profit　recently。　The　stock　has　been　put　to　a　far　better　use　than　what　you　intended；　Mistress。〃
　　　The　mockery　in　the　girl's　tone　was　unmistakable。
　　　〃That's　enough；　Faeryl；〃　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　said；　taking　a　couple　of　steps　forward。　〃There's　no　need　to　ruin　the　surprise　we　have　in　store　for　our　guests。〃
　　　As　Faeryl　lowered　her　head　slightly　in　deference　to　her　mother；　she　made　her　face　stony　smooth；　but　Quenthel　knew　that　behind　that　facade；　the　Zauvirr　daughter　was　delighted　to　have　thwarted　her。
　　　Matron　Mother　Melarn　also　stepped　forward…or　rather；　two　heavily　armed　drow　stepped　forward；　escorting　her　between　them。　She　still　frowned　deeply；　but　she　said　nothing。
　　　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　strolled　halfway　toward　Quenthel　and　stopped。
　　　〃When　my　son　managed　to　get　into　private　contact　with　Faeryl　and　she　was　able　to　tell　us　what　you　were　planning；　we　of　course　wasted　no　time　in　preparing　for　your　arrival。　I　have　to　say；　I　am　more　than　a　little　surprised　that　you　actually　expected　to　slip　a　storehouse　full　of　goods　out　of　the　city；　out　from　under　our　noses；　without　us　noticing；　but　that's　really　of　no　consequence。　As　my　daughter　indicated；　House　Zauvirr　has　put　the　profits　to　a　far　better　use。〃
　　　Quenthel　blinked　in　confusion。
　　　〃House　Zauvirr？〃　she　asked。　〃You　are　merely　the　caretakers。　This　pany　belongs　to　Houses　Melarn　and　Baenre。〃　The　high　priestess　turned　to　the　other　matron　mother　and　said；　〃Are　you　permitting　this？　Are　you　content　to　let　these　deceitful；　low…class　merchants　make　the　decisions　for　your　investments？　You　are　far　more　trusting　than　I。〃
　　　Drisinil　Melarn　didn't　say　a　word；　though　she　grimaced　slightly　when　Quenthel　spoke　to　her；　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　laughed；　a　quick；　bitter　sound。
　　　〃Oh；　she　is　far　from　content；　Quenthel　Baenre；　but　she　has　little　choice　in　the　matter。〃
　　　Quenthel　realized　just　why　Matron　Mother　Melarn　seemed　so　unhappy。　The　two　drow　flanking　her　were　not　escorts　but　guards。
　　　〃You　would　dare？〃　Quenthel　asked。　〃You　have　laid　hands　on　the　matron　mother　of　a　high　House　of　your　own　city　and　hope　to　get　away　with　it？　How　can　you　expect　to　survive；　when　。　。　。　when…〃
　　　The　high　priestess　clamped　her　mouth　shut；　unwilling　to　finish　the　thought。
　　　When　Lolth　will　not　grant　you　spells。
　　　〃Oh；　not　to　worry；〃　Ssipriina　said；　smiling　even　more　deeply　than　before。　〃With　the　funds　I've　made　selling　off　your　valuables；　I　have　ensured　that　House　Zauvirr　will　never　again　kneel　before　the　l