war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第10章

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　so。
　　　Halisstra　started　to　follow；　but　Danifae　said；　〃Shall　I　keep　watch　here；　Mistress　Melarn？〃
　　　The　girl　knelt　on　the　dusty　floor　between　the　wizard　and　the　priestess；　the　dagger　thrust　through　her　belt。　She　looked　up　at　Halisstra；　her　expression　blank　and　perfect；　the　picture　of　an　innocent　question。
　　　The　Melarn　priestess　repressed　a　grimace。　Arming　a　battle　captive　was　tantamount　to　admitting　one　no　longer　had　the　strength　to　force　her　submission；　and　she　suspected　that　Danifae　would　later　exact　a　difficult　price　for　continued　pliance。　Danifae　watched　serenely　as　her　mistress　considered　the　offer。　Halisstra　could　feel　Quenthel's　eyes　on　her　too；　and　she　steeled　herself　against　glancing　at　the　Baenre　priestess　to　measure　her　approval。
　　　〃You　may　keep　the　dagger　to　defend　yourself…for　now；〃　Halisstra　allowed。　〃Your　vigilance　is　not　required。　Do　not　presume　to　suggest　such　a　thing　again。〃
　　　〃Of　course；　Mistress　Melarn；〃　Danifae　replied。
　　　The　girl's　face　was　devoid　of　emotion；　but　Halisstra　didn't　like　the　thoughtful　look　in　Danifae's　eye　as　she　posed　herself　to　wait。
　　　Will　her　binding　hold？　Halisstra　mused。
　　　In　the　heart　of　House　Melarn；　surrounded　by　the　full　strength　of　her　enemies；　Danifae　would　not　have　dared　to　throw　off　the　magical　pulsion　that　enslaved　her；　even　if　she　could　do　such　a　thing。　Things　had　changed；　though。　Danifae's　care　in　how　she　addressed　her　mistress　in　front　of　Quenthel　did　not　escape　Halisstra's　notice。　Without　her　House；　her　city；　to　invest　Halisstra　with　absolute　dominion　over　what　she　called　her　own…her　life；　her　loyalties；　and　possessions　such　as　Danifae…any　or　all　of　those　things　might　be　wrested　away　from　her。　The　thought　left　her　feeling　as　hollow　and　as　brittle　as　a　rotten　piece　of　bone。
　　　What　happens　when　Danifae　decides　to　test　the　bounds　of　her　captivity　in　earnest？　she　wondered。　Would　Quenthel　permit　Halisstra　to　retain　her　mastery　over　the　girl；　or　would　the　Baenre　intercede　simply　to　spite　Halisstra　and　strip　her　of　one　more　shred　of　her　status？　For　that　matter；　was　Quenthel　capable　of　freeing　Danifae　and　claiming　Halisstra　herself　as　a　battle　captive？
　　　The　girl　studied　Halisstra　from　her　lowered　eyes；　demure　and　beautiful。　Patient。
　　　〃Are　you　ing？〃　Ryld　asked。　He　stood　in　the　mouth　of　the　passage；　waiting。
　　　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　Halisstra　said；　barely　repressing　a　scowl。
　　　Deliberately　turning　her　back　on　the　servant；　Halisstra　followed　Ryld　back　out　to　the　tunnels　leading　to　their　refuge。　For　the　moment；　she　was　safe　enough。　Danifae　could　not　remove　the　silver　locket　from　her　neck　with　all　of　her　will；　strength；　and　effort。　The　moment　she　touched　it；　the　enchantment　would　lock　her　muscles　into　rigidity　until　she　abandoned　the　attempt。　Nor　could　she　ask　someone　else　to　remove　it　for　her；　since　the　moment　she　tried　to　speak　of　the　locket；　her　tongue　would　freeze　in　her　mouth。　As　long　as　the　locket　encircled　her　neck；　Danifae　was　pelled　to　serve　Halisstra；　even　to　the　point　of　giving　her　own　life　to　save　her　mistress。　Danifae　had　borne　her　bondage　well；　but　Halisstra　had　no　intention　of　removing　the　locket　in　the　presence　of　the　Menzoberranyr…if；　in　fact；　she　ever　did。
　　　She　and　Ryld　took　up　positions　in　a　small　rotunda　a　short　ways　down　the　tunnel；　a　dark　and　open　space　from　which　they　could　keep　the　approach　to　their　refuge　under　careful　observation　without　being　seen　themselves。　Folded　in　their　piwafwis；　they　were　virtually　indistinguishable　from　the　dark　stone　around　them。　Despite　the　capricious　chaos　and　gnawing　ambition　that　burned　in　every　drow　heart；　any　drow　of　acplishment　was　capable　of　patience　and　iron　discipline　in　the　performance　of　an　important　task；　and　so　Halisstra　and　Ryld　set　themselves　to　watch　and　wait　in　vigilant　silence。
　　　Halisstra　tried　to　empty　her　mind　of　all　but　the　input　of　her　senses；　to　better　stand　her　watch；　but　she　found　that　her　head　was　filled　with　thoughts　that　did　not　care　to　be　dismissed。　It　occurred　to　Halisstra　that　whatever　became　of　her　from　this　day　forward；　she　would　rise　or　fall　based　on　nothing　more　than　her　own　strength；　cunning；　and　ruthlessness。　The　displeasure　of　House　Melarn　meant　nothing。　If　she　desired　respect；　she　would　have　to　make　the　displeasure　of　Halisstra　Melarn　something　to　be　feared　in　its　place。　All　because　Lolth　had　decided　to　test　those　most　faithful　to　her。　By　the　caprice　of　the　goddess　House　Melarn　of　Ched　Nasad；　whose　leading　females　for　centuries　beyond　counting　had　poured　out　blood　and　treasure　upon　the　Spider　Queen's　altars；　had　been　cast　down。
　　　Why？　Halisstra　wondered。　Why？
　　　The　answer　was　cold　and　empty；　of　course。　Lolth's　machinations　were　not　for　her　priestesses　to　understand；　and　her　tests　could　be　cruel　indeed。　Halisstra　ground　her　teeth　softly　and　tried　to　thrust　her　weak　questions　out　of　her　heart。　If　Lolth　chose　to　test　Halisstra's　faith　by　stripping　her　of　everything　she　held　dear　to　see　if　the　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn　could　win　it　back；　the　Spider　Queen　would　find　her　equal　to　the　challenge。
　　　Care　to　talk　about　it？　Ryld's　fingers　flashed　discretely　in　the　sophisticated　sign　language　of　the　dark　elves。
　　　Talk　about　what？
　　　Whatever　it　is　that　troubles　you。　Something　has　you　tied　in　a　knot；　priestess。
　　　It　is　nothing　to　concern　a　male；　she　replied。
　　　Of　course。　It　never　is。
　　　Their　eyes　met　across　the　small　chamber。　Halisstra　was　surprised　to　find　Ryld's　face　twisted　in　a　curious　expression　of　bitter　resignation　and　wry　amusement　at　the　same　time。　She　studied　him　carefully；　trying　to　ascertain　what　motive　he　might　have　had　for　striking　up　a　conversation。
　　　He　was　very　tall　and　strongly　built　for　a　male…for　any　dark　elf；　really…just　as　tall　as　she　was　herself。　His　close…cropped　hair　was　an　exotic　affectation　in　drow　society；　a　strangely　ascetic　austerity　for　a　race　that　delighted　in　things　of　beauty　and　personal　refinement。　Drow　were　ruthlessly　pragmatic　in　their　dealings　with　one　another；　but　not　in　their　grooming。　Most　males　in　Halisstra's　experience　preened　themselves；　affecting　silken　grace　and　deadly　guile。　Pharaun　virtually　epitomized　the　type。　Ryld；　she　realized；　was　something　very　different。
　　　You　fight　well；　she　offered…not　an　apology；　not　to　a　male；　but　still　something。　You　could　have　let　me　die　in　Ched　Nasad；　yet　you　risked　yourself　to　save　me。　Why？
　　　We　had　an　agreement。　You　led　us　to　safety；　and　we　helped　you　escape。
　　　Yes；　but　I　had　discharged　my　end　of　the　bargain　by　that　time。　There　was　no　need　to　honor　yours。
　　　There　was　no　need　not　to。　Ryld　offered　a　slight　smile；　and　shifted　to　a　soft　whisper。　〃Besides；　it　seems　that　it　was　in　my　own　interests　to　save　you；　as　not　an　hour　ago　you　saved　my　life　in　turn。　We　are　indebted　to　each　other。〃
　　　Halisstra　laughed　at　that；　so　quietly　that　no　one　more　than　ten　feet　away　would　have　noticed。
　　　We　are　not　a　race　given　to　honoring　our　debts；　she　signed。
　　　That　has　been　made　clear　to　me　more　than　once；　the　weapons　master　replied。　A　brief　flicker　of　pain　crossed　his　face；　and　Halisstra　wondered　exactly　whom　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　had　trusted；　and　why　he'd　done　something　so　foolish。　Before　she　could　ask；　he　continued；　So　tell　me　of　the　bae'qeshel。　I　do　not　know　of　them。
　　　〃By　tradition；〃　she　whispered；　〃our　wizards；　swordsmen；　and　clerics　are　trained　in　academies。　This　is　true　in　most　drow　cities。　The　reason　you　do　not　know　of　the　bae'qeshel　is　that　the　bardic　training　is　not　a　public　matter。　We　pass　our　secrets；　one　mistress　to　one　student　at　a　time。〃
　　　I　thought　the　noble　Houses　had　little　use　for　mon　minstrels。
　　　〃The　bae'qeshel　are　not　mon　minstrels；　weapons　master；〃　Halisstra　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃We　are　a　proud　and　ancient　sect；　the　bae'qeshel　telphraezzar；　the　Whisperers　of　the　Dark　Queen。　I　am　a　priestess　of　Lolth；　as　are　the　other　females　of　my　House；　but　I　was　chosen　to　spend　many　long　years　as　a　girl　studying　the　bae'qeshel　lore。　I　revere　the　goddess　not　only　with　my　service　as　her　priestess；　but　with　the　gift　of　raising　the　ancient　songs　of　our　race；　which　are　pleasing　to　her　ears。　House　Melarn　has　always　been　proud　to　raise　one　bae'qeshel　into　the　sisterhood　of　Lolth's　service　in　each　generation。〃
　　　〃If　your　songs　are　sacred　to　Lolth；　why　do　they　work　while　other　spells　fail？〃　Ryld　asked。
　　　〃Because　the　songs　possess　a　power　in　and　of　themselves；　like　a　wizard's　spells。　We　do　not　channel　the　divine　power　of　the　Queen　of　Spiders　to　wield　our　songs。　Regrettably；　my　skill　with　such　things　is　nothing　pared　to　the　divine　might　I　could　wield　in　Lolth's　name；　if　she　would　restore　her　favor　to　me。〃
　　　〃An　interesting　talent；　nonetheless；〃　he　murmured。　Ryld　glanced　back　down　the　passageway　toward　the　chamber　where　the　others　waited。　〃It　seems　quiet　enough。　We　may　have　some　time　to　wait　yet。　If　I　know　Pharaun；　he　will　need　hours　to　regain　his　strength。　Tell　me；　do　you　play　sava？〃
　　　
　　　Nimor　clung　to　the　shadows　of　a　gigantic　stalactite；　one　of　many　such　stone　fangs　reaching　down　from　the　ceiling　of　Menzoberranzan's　vast　cavern。　Old　passages　and　precarious　paths　crisscrossed　the　city's　roof；　and　many　of　the　stalactites　were　in　fact　carved　into　darkly　beautiful