war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第35章

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　　　Faeryl　smiled　to　herself。　Halisstra　had　specifically　avoided　denying　that　she　had　been　there。　It　had　been　a　gamble；　supposing　that　the　two　of　them　might　have　been　in　the　vicinity　in　the　last　couple　of　days；　but　it　had　paid　off。　The　unwanted　attention　was　being　focused　on　Halisstra。
　　　〃Perhaps　I　am　mistaken；〃　Faeryl　quickly　interjected。　She　smiled　at　Halisstra；　who　was　staring　daggers　at　her　in　return。　〃It　was　crowded　there；　with　all　of　the　refugees　and　the　base…born　males　in　their　revelry；　so　its　easy　to　understand　how　I　only　thought　Danifae　had　caught　the　eye　of　someone　in　my　party。　The　two　of　you　were　obviously　seeking　someone　else。〃
　　　Faeryl　wanted　to　grin　at　her　own　cleverness。　By　pulling　back；　admitting　she　had　made　a　mistake；　she　doubly　damned　Halisstra。　The　seed　of　doubt　had　been　planted　in　everyone's　mind；　and　the　less　she　tried　to　force　them　to　accept　her　theory；　the　more　likely　they　all　would　be　to　believe　it；　such　was　drow　nature。　For　those　who　chose　to　believe　Halisstras　innocence；　that　left　only　one　other　reason　for　her　to　be　in　such　an　improper　part　of　the　city。　Either　way；　it　shed　an　unpleasant　light　on　the　daughter　of　a　traitor。
　　　Ssipriina　turned　to　Jyslin　Aleanrahel　and　said；　〃Matron　Mother；　I　am　only　a　trader；　unused　to　the　machinations　of　the　higher　nobility。　If　I　had　foreseen　how　greatly　this　would　have　displeased　you；　I　would　have　conceived　of　a　better　way　to　deal　with　the　crisis　at　hand。　As　it　was；　I　still　hope　you　will　consider　that　I　was　keeping　only　the　best　interests　of　Ched　Nasad　in　mind；　acting　in　all　ways　on　its　behalf。〃
　　　There　was　a　general　murmur　from　the　matron　mothers　as　they　put　their　heads　together；　no　doubt　discussing　the　additional　implications　of　guilt　Faeryl's　little　tale　had　just　heaped　upon　House　Melarn。　At　the　very　least；　the　suggestion　that　Halisstra　had　been　carousing　with　the　moners　of　the　city　meant　that　her　disgraceful　behavior　was　of　the　worst　sort　and　she　was　unfit　to　rule　a　noble　House。　That　half　of　it　happened　to　be　true　only　made　the　whole　incident　sweeter　to　Faeryl；　who　was　simply　glad　she　was　no　longer　the　drow　everyone　else　was　looking　down　their　noses　at。
　　　〃Enough！〃　Aunrae　Nasadra　shouted；　rapping　her　rune…covered　staff　upon　the　floor。　Even　in　such　an　impromptu　meeting；　the　eldest　and　most　powerful　matron　mother　manded　absolute　respect；　and　the　room　fell　silent。　〃This　nonsense　is　the　reason　we　face　the　bleak　loss　of　our　goddess's　favor。　How　can　we　expect　Lolth　to　grant　us　her　attention　when　we　waste　so　much　time　and　energy　on　such　ridiculous　discussions　as　who's　stepped　in　the　most　rothé　muck？〃　The　matriarch　walked　among　the　others；　peering　at　them　all。　〃Whether　or　not　House　Melarn's　progeny　chooses　to　whore　around　with　low…born　males　in　the　seamiest　underbelly　of　Ched　Nasad　is　of　no　concern　to　me。〃
　　　Faeryl　stole　a　glance　at　Halisstra；　whose　face　was　down　in　humiliation。
　　　Matron　Mother　Nasadra　paid　neither　of　them　any　heed。
　　　〃The　streets　are　not　safe　for　most　drow；〃　she　said。　〃We　all　know　the　extra　precautions　we　had　to　take　even　to　e　here。　Our　city　is　on　the　verge　of　disaster；　mothers；　and　yet　we　must　stand　here　and　discuss　the　fate　of　a　noble　House；　one　high　enough　to　have　a　seat　on　the　Council。
　　　〃Ssipriina　has　suggested　that　we　dissolve　House　Melarn　and　offer　up　Halisstra　and　these　remaining　outsiders　as　sacrifices　to　appease　the　masses　as　much　as　the　Dark　Mother。　While　we　know　nothing　about　why　our　beloved　Lolth　is　angry　with　us；　that　she　is　angry　with　us；　we　are　certain。　Will　this　help？　Will　it　bring　her　blessings　back　to　us？
　　　〃If　we　make　an　example　of　the　traitors　and　let　the　whole　city　see　us　do　it　will　it　quiet　the　citizens　for　a　time？　Perhaps；　but　more　importantly；　will　it　satisfy　all　of　you？　Will　you　return　to　your　Houses　satisfied　that　a　House　has　fallen　and　that　the　hierarchy　has　shuffled　sufficiently？　There　are　things　more　fragile　than　the　peace　of　our　city；　but　they　are　few　in　number。　This　backstabbing；　while　inherent　in　our　nature；　is　misplaced　during　this　time　of　difficulties。〃
　　　〃What　if　this　Baenre　priestess's　panions　know　something？〃　Halisstra　asked。　〃What　if　they　have　an　inkling　of　what　troubles　the　Dark　Mother？　If　you　simply　kill　me；　then　you　get　what　you　want…　one　less　House　to　stand　in　your　way…but　if　you　kill　them；　whether　as　spies　or　as　sacrifices；　you　might　lose　valuable　information。〃
　　　〃Shut　your　mouth；　child！〃　Ssipriina　hissed。　〃You've　shamed　us　enough　for　one　lifetime。　Do　not　think　that　you　can　escape　justice　merely　by　pretending　to　be　loyal　now。　Its　too　late　for　that。〃
　　　Halisstra　would　not　be　deterred。　She　proceeded；　ignoring　the　dark　stares　the　matron　mothers　gave　her。
　　　〃What　if　this　wizard　has　discovered　something？〃　she　asked。　〃Faeryl　has　already　told　us　he　is　clever　and　was　not　above　antagonizing　Quenthel。　I　would　not　put　it　past　him　to　know　more　than　he's　letting　on。　Why　kill　him；　when　he　might　be　so　inclined　to　parlay　with　us？　Could　he　be　willing　to　reveal　his　own　secrets？　Perhaps　even　for　a　price？　There　are　those　among　you　who　do　not　wish　to　hear　what　he　has　to　say。　He　might　expose　the　lies　you　have　told　concerning　my　mother　and　me。〃
　　　Aunrae　smiled　and　said；　〃Tell　me；　child；　do　you　think　Lolth　would　grant　such　a　vision　to　a　male？　Do　you　think　she　would　allow　a　boy；　however　clever；　to　unlock　the　secrets　of　her　silence？〃
　　　〃These　are　desperate　times；　Matron　Mother；　you　said　so　yourself。　I　would　not　close　any　possible　avenue　of　redemption；　however　thickly　cloaked　in　folly　it　may　seem。　Of　course；　I　have　few　avenues　of　redemption　for　my　life　left。　I　have　my　own　desperate　times。　Whether　you　wish　to　question　him　or　not；　I　merely　ask　that　you　bring　him　as　a　witness　into　these　proceedings。　His　words　could　prove　my　own　innocence。〃
　　　Faeryl　frowned；　not　liking　where　this　was　leading。　She　was　beginning　to　think　it　had　been　a　mistake　to　put　the　full　plan　into　motion　until　Pharaun　and　the　others　had　also　been　brought　into　custody；　or　better　yet；　killed。　Maybe　she　could　get　to　him　before　the　rest　of　them　had　a　chance　to　speak　with　him；　take　care　of　it　herself；　one　way　or　another。　Perhaps　then　her　mother　would　stop　treating　her　like　a　child。
　　　Aunrae　nodded；　her　mouth　pursed　as　though　considering　the　younger　drows　words。
　　　〃You　argue　for　your　life；　Halisstra　Melarn；　but　still　your　pleas　have　some　merit。　We　will　wait　to　pass　sentence　on　you　until　we've　had　a　chance　to　hear　all　sides。　As　for　the　'clever　boy；'　when　he　es　to　us；　when　we　have　him　in　our　possession；　we　will　extract　whatever　information　he　has；　fully　and　without　paying　any　price。　Somehow；　I　do　not　think　Quenthel　Baenre　had　established　the　proper　leashes　on　her　wizard。　I　do　not　intend　to　make　the　same　mistake。〃
　　　〃Matron　Mother　Nasadra；〃　Zammzt　called　from　the　back　of　the　room；　where　he　had　just　entered。　〃They　are　here。〃
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　　　Pharaun；　Ryld；　and　Valas　had　been　led　inside　and　shown　to　a　waiting　room；　an　all…too…familiar　sight　to　each　of　them　and　one　that　did　nothing　to　set　their　minds　at　ease。　They　were　left　alone；　or　rather　with　only　sentries　posted　at　each　of　the　exits　to　keep　them　pany。　Pharaun　occupied　his　time　strolling　through　the　chamber；　admiring　the　frescos　and　statuary　that　were　in　abundance　there；　primarily　exhibiting　the　motif　of　spiders；　webbing；　and　the　glory　of　the　dark　elves。　There　were　a　goodly　number　of　musical　instruments　as　well；　some　he　didn't　even　recognize。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　supposed　a　good　many　of　the　works　related　to　the　history　of　House　Melarn；　but　to　Pharaun　it　was　all　just　so　much　pomp　and　circumstance。　Ryld　and　Valas；　meanwhile；　had　their　heads　together　in　consultation；　most　likely　discussing　tactics　for　extricating　themselves　in　the　event　that　things　went　bad。
　　　When　the　double　doors　at　the　far　end　of　the　room　were　thrown　open；　Pharaun　turned　to　see　not　one　but　several　ostentatious　drow　females…matriarchs　all；　he　was　sure…waiting　in　the　large　audience　chamber　beyond。　They　were　attended　by　a　retinue　of　House　wizards；　soldiers；　and　younger　females；　all　of　them　in　House　livery　and　many　of　them；　Pharaun　noted；　radiating　magical　protections　and　other　spells。
　　　〃Good　evening；　and　wele　to　House　Melarn；〃　one　somewhat　tall　and　slender　drow　said　imperiously；　waiting　on　the　throne　as　the　three　males　moved　into　the　room。　〃I　am　Matron　Mother　Ssipriina　Zauvirr。〃
　　　Pharaun　bowed　slightly　as　he　moved　to　a　place　in　front　of　the　throne；　far　enough　back　so　as　not　to　seem　threatening。　Ryld　and　Valas　moved　to　join　him　as　the　other　matron　mothers　gathered　around　the　throne；　and　the　assortment　of　wizards；　priestesses；　and　soldiers　flanked　everyone　else。
　　　Pharaun　knew　the　woman　was　Faeryl's　mother；　of　course；　but　he　couldn't　guess　what　she　was　doing　on　the　throne　of　House　Melarn。
　　　The　mage　looked　around　the　chamber；　trying　to　find　Faeryl。　She　was　there；　though　off　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　avoid　notice。
　　　If　I　didn't　know　better；　Pharaun　thought　wryly；　I　would　have　to　assume　they're　expecting　some　sort　of　trouble。
　　　Neither　Valas　nor　Ryld　said　anything；　but　the　wizard　could　feel　them　on　either　side　of　him；　tense　and　ready　to　spring。
　　　〃We　are　honored　and　delighted　to　be　guests　in　your　House；　Matr