war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第14章

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　Danifae　rose　and　moved　to　the　same　spot　in　which　Halisstra　had　left　her；　kneeling　gracefully　and　posing　herself　to　wait。
　　　Halisstra　exhaled　quietly　in　the　shadowed　passageway；　forcing　her　knotted　limbs　to　relax。　She　had　not　realized　how　tense　she　had　bee。
　　　Now；　what　shall　I　make　of　that？　she　thought。
　　　More　than　once　in　the　girl's　long　years　as　her　servant　she　had　used　Danifae's　beauty　to　secure　favors。　If　she　called　Danifae　to　account　for　presuming　to　address　Quenthel　in　Halisstra's　absence；　she　was　certain　that　she　knew　how　the　girl　would　respond。　Danifae　would　claim　that　she　was　simply　exploring　Quenthel's　regard　for　Halisstra　by　feigning　the　attenuation　of　her　loyalty　to　House　Melarn；　a　plausible　excuse　to　approach　Quenthel　under　the　circumstances。　Under　such　a　scenario；　Danifae　could　claim　that　she　was　simply　telling　Quenthel　what　she　wanted　to　hear；　in　order　to　measure　whether　there　was　a　place　for　her　and　her　mistress　in　the　powerful　priestess's　House。　She　would　most　likely　finish　with　submissive　apologies；　and　ask　Halisstra　to　take　her　life　if　her　actions　had　somehow　displeased　her　noble　mistress。
　　　On　the　other　hand；　did　it　not　seem　equally　likely　that　Danifae's　approach　to　Quenthel　was　unfeigned？　If　the　maidservant　found　a　way　to　escape　the　magical　binding　that　held　her　captive；　she　would　need　Quenthel's　approval；　or　else　her　freedom　might　e　at　the　cost　of　her　life。　It　was　quite　possible　that　nothing　more　than　the　deadly　capriciousness　of　a　highborn　priestess　prevented　Danifae　from　seeking　release　from　her　bondage。　After　all；　if　Danifae　claimed　her　freedom　and　looked　to　Quenthel　to　guarantee　it；　the　Baenre　might　choose　to　destroy　the　girl　for　her　presumption。　Any　drow　would　delight　in　encouraging　the　dreams　of　a　slave；　only　to　dash　them　to　pieces　for　nothing　more　than　an　instant's　dark　pleasure。
　　　Only　a　day　before；　Halisstra　would　have　described　Danifae　as　one　of　her　most　prized　possessions。　She　was　not　only　held　to　an　unbreakable　loyalty；　but　she　served　also　as　a　confidante；　perhaps　even　something　of　a　friend…even　if　her　faithfulness　was　magically　pelled。　They　had　shared　many　diversions　and　plotted　many　intrigues　together。　Danifae　had　been　eager　to　follow　her　into　her　self…imposed　exile；　volunteering　to　share　her　trials　and　continue　her　servitude。　Of　course　she　would　have　paid　a　terrible　price　had　she　remained　in　House　Melarn　after　Halisstra's　flight；　but　had　she　been　too　eager；　perhaps？
　　　〃Here　I　stand；　afraid　to　confront　or　discipline　my　own　handmaid；〃　Halisstra　breathed。　〃Lolth　has　cast　me　low；　indeed。〃
　　　With　her　coldness　locked　away　in　her　heart；　Halisstra　carefully　retraced　her　steps。　She　wasn't　hungry　anymore；　but　it　was　necessary　to　allay　suspicions。　She　turned　around；　and　advanced　more　openly　toward　the　party's　hiding　place；　allowing　a　slight　scuff　of　her　boot　soles　against　the　sand…covered　stones　to　whisper　through　the　dead；　still　air　of　the　chamber。　She　would　let　Quenthel　and　Danifae　believe　she　had　heard　nothing；　but　she　would　watch　both　of　them　closely　from　that　point　forward。
　　　
　　　Nimor　Imphraezl　made　his　way　among　the　grand　palaces　and　jagged　stalagmites　of　the　Qu'ellarz'orl；　draped　in　a　hooded　piwafwi。　He　wore　a　merchant's　insignia；　posing　as　a　well…to…do　moner　with　business　on　the　high　plateau　of　Menzoberranzan's　haughtiest　noble　Houses。　It　was　a　thin　disguise；　as　anyone　taking　note　of　his　confident　step　and　rakish　manner　would　not　mistake　him　for　anything　other　than　a　noble　drow　himself。　The　costume　was　not　unmon　among　highborn　males　who　wished　to　move　about　incognito。　Certain　spells　at　his　mand　might　have　sufficed　to　offer　him　almost　any　appearance　he　could　think　of；　but　Nimor　had　discovered　long　ago　that　the　simplest　disguises　were　often　the　best。　Most　drow　houses　were　guarded　by　defenders　who　would　note　the　approach　of　someone　veiled　in　webs　of　illusion；　but　spotting　a　mon　disguise　required　a　mundane　vigilance　that　some　dark　elves　had　forgotten。
　　　He　passed　a　pair　of　Baenre　armsmen；　walking　in　the　opposite　direction。　The　noble　lads　eyed　him　with　open　curiosity　and　not　a　little　suspicion。　Nimor　bowed　deeply　and　offered　an　empty　pleasantry。　The　young　rakes　glanced　back　over　their　shoulders　at　him　once　or　twice；　but　continued　on　their　business。　Baenre　boys　had　bee　hesitant　to　start　trouble　unless　they　were　certain　of　themselves。　Nimor　took　an　extra　turn　or　two　on　his　way　to　his　destination　anyway；　just　to　make　sure　they　hadn't　taken　it　into　their　heads　to　follow　him。　With　one　last　double…back　to　clear　his　trail；　he　turned　to　a　high　walled　palace　near　the　center　of　the　plateau　and　approached　the　fortresslike　gate。
　　　House　Agrach　Dyrr；　the　Fifth　House　of　Menzoberranzan；　clambered　in　and　around　nine　needle…like　towers　of　rock　within　the　bounds　of　a　great　dry　moat。　Each　fang　of　rock　had　been　joined　to　its　neighbor　by　a　graceful　wall　of　adamantine…reinforced　stone；　impossibly　slender　and　strong。　Flying　buttresses；　bladelike　and　beautiful；　linked　the　natural　towers　to　those　wrought　by　drow；　a　narrow　cluster　of　minarets　and　spires　in　the　center　of　the　pound　that　rose　hundreds　of　feet　above　the　plateau　floor。　A　railless　bridge　spanned　in　a　single　elegant　arch　the　sheer　chasm　surrounding　the　structure。
　　　Nimor　climbed　the　bridge　and　approached　openly。　Near　the　far　end　he　was　challenged　by　several　swordsmen　and　a　pair　of　petent…looking　wizards。
　　　〃Hold；〃　called　the　gate　captain。　〃Who　are　you；　and　what　is　your　business　with　Agrach　Dyrr？〃
　　　The　assassin　halted　with　a　smile。　He　could　sense　the　myriad　instruments　of　death　trained　upon　him；　as　if　he　might　suddenly　take　it　into　his　head　to　utter　some　truly　inappropriate　answer。
　　　〃I　am　Reethk　Vaszune；　a　purveyor　of　magical　ingredients　and　reagents；〃　he　said；　bowing　and　spreading　his　arms。　〃I　have　been　summoned　by　the　Old　Dyrr　to　discuss　the　sale　of　my　goods。〃
　　　The　gate　captain　relaxed　and　said；　〃The　master　told　us　to　expect　you；　Reethk　Vaszune。　e　this　way。〃
　　　Nimor　followed　the　captain　through　several　grand　reception　halls　and　high；　echoing　chambers　in　the　great　heart　of　the　Agrach　Dyrr　castle。　The　captain　showed　him　to　a　small　sitting　room；　elaborately　furnished　in　exotic　corals　and　limestone　rendered　in　the　motifs　of　the　kuo…toa；　the　fish　creatures　who　dwelled　in　some　of　the　Underdark's　subterranean　seas。　Exotic　enough　to　bespeak　the　House's　wealth　and　taste；　the　room　radiated　arrogance。
　　　〃I　am　informed　that　Master　Dyrr　will　join　us　shortly；〃　the　guard　captain　said。
　　　A　moment　later；　a　hidden　door　in　the　opposite　wall　slid　smoothly　open；　and　Old　Dyrr　appeared。　The　ancient　wizard　was　decrepit　indeed；　a　rare　sight　for　any　elf；　let　alone　a　drow。　He　leaned　on　a　great　staff　of　black　wood；　and　his　ebon　skin　seemed　as　thin　and　delicate　as　parchment。　A　bright；　cold　spark　burned　in　the　old　wizard's　eye；　hinting　at　reserves　of　ambition　and　vitality　that　had　not　yet　been　tapped　pletely　despite　his　great　age。
　　　〃We　are　delighted　to　see　you　again　so　soon；　Master　Reethk；〃　the　ancient　drow　said　with　a　dry；　crackling　voice。　〃Have　you　perchance　obtained　the　things　we　discussed？〃
　　　〃I　believe　you　will　be　satisfied；　Lord　Dyrr；〃　Nimor　said。
　　　He　glanced　at　the　guard　captain；　who　looked　to　the　old　wizard　to　make　sure　that　he　was　dismissed。　Dyrr　sent　him　along　with　a　small　wave　of　his　hand；　then　the　old　wizard　made　another　gesture　and　spoke　an　arcane　word；　encapsulating　the　chamber　in　a　sphere　of　crawling　blackness　that　hissed　and　moaned　softly　like　a　thing　alive。
　　　〃I　hope　you'll　forgive　me；　young　one；　if　I　take　steps　to　ensure　that　our　conversation　remains　private；〃　the　ancient　drow　wheezed。　〃Eavesdropping　seems　to　be　a　way　of　life　among　our　kind。〃
　　　He　shuffled　to　an　ornately　carved　chair　and　lowered　himself　into　the　seat；　seemingly　careless　of　the　fact　that　he　bared　the　nape　of　his　wattled　neck　to　Nimor　in　so　doing。
　　　〃A　sensible　precaution；〃　Nimor　said。
　　　The　old　one　reckons　me　no　threat；　the　assassin　noted。　Either　he　is　very　trusting…unlikely…or　very　confident。　If　he　has　such　confidence　in　isolating　himself　with　me；　then　either　he　does　not　have　the　measure　of　my　strength；　or　I　do　not　have　the　measure　of　his。
　　　〃It　is　confidence；　young　one；〃　the　old　wizard　said；　〃and　you　do　not　have　the　measure　of　me；　for　we　are　both　of　us　more　than　we　appear。〃　Dyrr　laughed　again；　a　wet　and　rasping　sound。　〃Yes；　your　thoughts　are　known　to　me。　I　did　not　reach　my　advanced　age　through　carelessness。　Now；　take　a　seat。　We　will　dispense　with　this　foolishness　and　discuss　our　business。〃
　　　Nimor　spread　his　hands　in　a　gesture　of　acquiescence　and　took　the　chair　opposite　the　old　wizard。　With　some　care　he　organized　his　thoughts；　locking　away　his　darker　secrets　in　a　place　he　would　not　examine　while　Dyrr　sat　by　reading　his　thoughts。　Instead　he　concentrated　solely　on　the　matter　at　hand。
　　　〃You　have　no　doubt　heard　of　the　unfortunate　demise　of　the　Matron　Mother　of　House　Faen　Tlabbar？〃　the　assassin　said。　〃And　her　daughter　Sil'zet；　as　well？〃
　　　〃It　did　not　escape　my　notice。　Count　on　the　Tlabbars　to　go　crying　murder　to　the　ruling　council。　What　possible　action　did　they　hope　to　exhort　from　the　other　matron　mothers；　I　wonder？〃
　　　〃Perhaps　they　were　overe　with　grief；〃　Nimor　rep