war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第41章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


She　was　about　to　spring　something　on　the　entire　city。　Something　very　special。　Ssipriina　grinned　when　she　imagined　it。
　　　***
　　　
　　　Faeryl　stumbled　and　fell　against　the　corridor　wall　when　House　Melarn　first　began　to　shake。
　　　The　servants　were　screaming；　and　from　somewhere　she　heard；　〃Mistresses！　It's　duergar！　Hundreds　of　them；　surrounding　us　。　。　。　they're　attacking！〃
　　　A　second　shock　wave　rumbled　through　the　House。
　　　〃They　burn　the　stones　themselves；　Mothers。　The　city　is　burning！〃
　　　With　a　sinking　feeling；　Faeryl　knew　it　for　the　truth。　She　had　lived　through　this　experience　before；　though　it　had　been　in　the　bowels　of　House　Baenre；　chained　to　a　column。　Even　so；　she　remembered　the　rumbles　from　above；　felt　the　vibrations　in　the　ground。　When　she　had　been　freed　by　Triel　Baenre　and　invited　to　join　the　mission　to　Ched　Nasad；　she　had　gotten　all　the　details　of　the　insurrection　in　the　streets　of　Menzoberranzan　from　others。　Their　descriptions　of　the　jugs　of　fire；　the　fire　that　burned　stone　itself；　were　vivid。　She　could　only　imagine　what　it　would　feel　like　on　a　web　street　of　Ched　Nasad。
　　　Faeryl　groaned。　Her　mother's　plan　was　falling　apart。　The　duergar　weren't　supposed　to　appear　unless　the　negotiations　with　the　other　matron　mothers　went　badly。　Despite　that　idiot　Pharaun's　asinine　claim　of　her　involvement　in　the　conspiracy；　the　situation　was　far　from　out　of　hand。
　　　Mother　pulled　the　trigger　too　soon；　the　ambassador　decided。　She　must　have　gotten　cold　feet　and　didn't　bother　to　tell　me。　How　typical。
　　　Shaking　her　head；　Faeryl　scrambled　up　to　her　feet　again　as　the　room　was　enveloped　in　a　thick；　murky　fog。　She　knew　who　was　most　likely　behind　it。　As　much　as　she　wanted　to　slice　Pharaun　into　a　thousand　tiny　pieces；　there　was　too　much　confusion。
　　　Besides；　the　ambassador　grudgingly　admitted；　he　and　his　boys　are　not　to　be　trifled　with。　I'll　let　mothers　wizards　take　care　of　them。　I've　got　to　get　rid　of　Quenthel　and　that　loathsome　beast。
　　　Faeryl　felt　her　way　along　the　wall；　stumbling　as　yet　another　blast　rocked　House　Melarn。　The　mist　cleared；　and　she　could　hear　the　sounds　of　bat　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　She　resisted　the　temptation　to　look；　as　much　as　she　hoped　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　wizard's　demise。　Instead；　she　managed　to　make　her　way　to　a　door　just　as　several　dozen　House　soldiers　came　in；　jostling　her　aside　in　their　efforts　to　defend　the　audience　chamber。
　　　〃Fools！〃　Faeryl　hissed　at　them。
　　　Almost　shaking　with　rage；　she　departed　the　audience　chamber　and　hurried　toward　the　lower　levels。　She　passed　few　other　drow　in　the　corridors；　all　of　them　looking　confused。　None　of　them　seemed　to　know　the　origin　of　the　disturbances；　and　at　one　point　the　ambassador　overheard　at　least　three　priestesses　discussing　an　earthquake　as　they　passed　her；　going　the　opposite　direction。
　　　Faeryl　didn't　care　to　explain　to　them　what　was　really　happening。　It　was　not　her　House。　Turning　a　final　corner；　the　ambassador　hurried　into　the　torture　chamber　where　she　had　left　Quenthel　and　Jeggred。　They　were　not　there。　The　room　was　not　empty；　however。　One　of　the　House　torturemasters　was　methodically　straightening　tools　that　had　been　upset　with　the　booming　thumps　from　outside。
　　　〃Where　are　they？〃　Faeryl　demanded；　gesturing　to　the　rack　where　Quenthel　had　been　restrained。
　　　The　torturemaster　turned　and　looked　at　her　vacantly；　not　understanding。
　　　Growling　in　exasperation；　the　ambassador　repeated　herself。
　　　The　other　drow　looked　at　her；　then　prehension　lit　his　features。
　　　〃Oh；　they're　not　here；〃　he　said。
　　　Faeryl　rolled　her　eyes　and　said；　〃I　can　see　that；　you　foolish　boy。　Where　are　they？〃
　　　〃That　ugly　drow；　Zammzt；　ordered　them　taken　to　a　cell；〃　the　torturemaster　replied。　〃I　saw　to　it　personally。〃
　　　Another　severe　blast　rocked　the　room；　and　tools　were　scattered　everywhere。　Faeryl　managed　to　grab　hold　of　the　column　where　Jeggred　had　been　chained　for　support；　but　the　other　drow　was　not　so　lucky。　He　went　down　in　a　pile…and　even　more　unfortunately；　one　of　the　many　braziers　of　hot　coals　tipped　over　onto　him；　showering　him　with　burning　cinders。　Screaming；　the　drow　scrambled　away　from　the　embers；　but　he　was　already　a　conflagration；　his　clothes　ignited　and　smoking　as　he　flailed　helplessly　about。
　　　Faeryl　bit　her　lip　in　irritation。
　　　Now；　why　do　you　suppose　he　would　have　moved　them；　and　to　where？　she　thought；　turning　to　leave。
　　　She　decided　she'd　have　to　ask　someone　to　show　her；　and　she　departed。
　　　***
　　　
　　　Pharaun　faltered　for　only　a　moment　at　the　sight　of　the　two　drow　priestesses　before　him。　One；　quite　simply；　was　beautiful。　The　other；　while　lacking　the　graceful　curves　and　fluid　motion　of　the　first；　was　obviously　nobly　born　and　not　unpleasant　to　look　at；　either。　Then；　getting　a　closer　look；　the　wizard　recognized　her。　She　was　the　drow　who　had　been　in　chains　in　the　audience　chamber　only　moments　before。　In　fact；　he　realized；　she　still　wore　the　manacles　she'd　been　shackled　with；　though　the　connecting　chain　between　them　had　been　severed。　Neither　of　the　females　looked　happy　to　see　him；　Ryld；　or　Valas。
　　　〃Damn；〃　Pharaun　muttered；　returning　to　his　senses。
　　　He　reached　inside　his　piwafwi；　fumbling　quickly　for　the　wand　he'd　used　to　dispatch　the　drow　soldiers　not　too　long　before。　In　front　of　him；　Ryld　went　on　guard；　raising　Splitter　into　an　aggressive　position　as　he　advanced　warily。　Valas　slipped　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　hallway；　automatically　fanning　out　with　Ryld　to　e　at　the　adversaries　from　either　flank。
　　　The　lovely　creature　who'd　first　caught　the　mage's　eye　hissed　in　vexation　and　brought　a　morning　star　out　in　front　of　her。　She　had　a　buckler　on　her　other　arm　held　to　the　side　where　Valas　was　closing。
　　　〃It's　them！〃　she　snarled；　taking　up　a　position　in　front　of　the　other　drow　as　though　to　defend　her。
　　　Both　dark　elves　seemed　quite　capable　of　taking　care　of　themselves；　and　Pharaun　noted　the　finely　tooled　chain　mail　each　of　them　wore。　The　one　to　the　rear　actually　sported　the　House　Melarn　insignia　on　hers；　and　the　wizard　guessed　she　must　be　one　of　the　dead　matron　mother's　daughters。
　　　Pharaun　had　his　wand　out；　but　before　he　could　invoke　the　trigger　words　to　use　the　thing；　Ryld　stepped　in　and　launched　a　short　series　of　strikes　at　the　dark　elfin　front　of　him；　who　managed　with　some　difficulty　to　parry　the　attacks　with　both　her　weapon　and　her　buckler。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　knew　that　Ryld　was　not　really　pressing　his　attack　yet。　The　weapons　master　was　attempting　to　size　up　the　skill　of　his　petition　with　a　few　well…placed　feints　before　closing　in　to　finish　the　job　efficiently。　Valas　continued　to　creep　in　from　her　other　side；　and　she　back…stepped　more　than　once　to　prevent　the　scout　from　getting　behind　her。　Pharaun　aimed　the　wand　and　prepared　to　recite　the　activation　phrase；　when　the　other　drow；　the　daughter　of　House　Melarn；　spoke　up；　causing　him　to　falter。
　　　〃Hold；　Danifae。〃
　　　The　drow　in　front　retreated　another　couple　steps；　but　she　did　not　drop　her　guard。
　　　〃We　have　no　quarrel　with　you；〃　the　still…unnamed　Melarn　said。　〃I　know　you　don't　have　reason　to　trust　us；　but　we're　not　the　enemy。　。　。　。　They　are。〃
　　　She　gestured　upward；　to　the　floors　above。
　　　Ryld　took　a　threatening　step　forward　then　he　too　stopped　and　held　his　guard。　Valas　was　watching　both　sides　with　glittering　eyes；　kukris　at　the　ready。
　　　〃How　convenient；〃　Pharaun　said；　smiling　coldly。　〃The　imperiled　daughter；　implicated　in　her　mother's　treason　and　with　no　friends；　making　a　peace　offering。　At　least　until　we　let　down　our　guard；　right？　Then　you　turn　us　over　to　Matron　Mother　Zauvirr；　claim　you　captured　us；　and　hope　she　lets　you　off　the　hook。〃
　　　〃I　could　easily　say　the　same　about　you；　but　I　won't；〃　the　Melarn　daughter　replied。　Without　taking　her　eyes　off　Pharaun；　she　added；　〃Danifae；　I　said　stand　down！〃
　　　Pharaun　raised　an　eyebrow　at　her　tone　of　mand。　Danifae　nodded　in　acquiescence；　stepping　farther　back　until　she　was　side　by　side　with　her　mistress。
　　　〃Well；　you're　right　about　that；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃We　don't　have　any　reason　to　believe　you。　If　you're　on　the　outs　with　Mistress　Zauvirr；　what　are　you　doing　down　here；　all　decked　out　in　your　finest　armor？〃
　　　〃We're　trying　to　save　our　own　skins；〃　the　daughter　said；　a　bit　more　testily　than　Pharaun　thought　necessary；　considering　she　was　trying　to　broker　some　sort　of　truce；　albeit　temporary。　〃I　think　we　both　might　have　been　played　by　Ssipriina　Zauvirr。　If　you　e　with　us；　help　us；　we　might　be　able　to　get　you　information　that　will　help　prove　it。〃
　　　〃Lower　your　weapons　to　the　ground；〃　Ryld　said；　〃and　we'll　consider　listening　to　you。〃
　　　〃I　think　not；〃　the　daughter　countered。　〃At　least；　not　until　we　have　some　assurances　that　you　won't　attack　us　the　moment　we　do。　I　don't　know　for　sure　that　you　weren't　in　league　with　my　mother。〃
　　　Ryld　snarled；　raising　Splitter　and　advancing　again。　Valas　was　doing　likewise；　still　looking　to　maneuver　around　to　the　priestesses'　left　side。
　　　〃Ryld；　Valas；　wait；〃　Pharaun　called　out　quietly。
　　　He　had　no　doubt　that　the　two　warriors　could　dispatch　the　drow　females　with　relatively　little　difficulty；　as　long　as　the　wizard　was　backing　them　up　with　a　careful　selection　of　s