war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第22章

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　　　I　would　not　survive；　Danifae　finished　for　her。　I　understand　the　conditions　of　my　captivity　quite　well；　Mistress　Melarn。　Still；　inaction　in　the　face　of　our　danger　is　every　bit　as　risky　as　what　I　am　about　to　propose。　Hear　me　out；　and　you　can　decide　what　you　wish　me　to　do。
　　　Halisstra　measured　the　girl；　studying　her　perfect　features；　her　alluring　figure。　She　thought　of　the　conversation　between　Quenthel　and　Danifae　she　had　overheard　in　the　catabs　of　Hlaungadath。　She　could　put　a　halt　to　Danifae's　scheming　with　a　word；　of　course。　She　could　even　pel　it　through　the　magic　of　the　locket…but　then　she　wouldn't　know　what　Danifae　plotted；　would　she？
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said。　Tell　me　what　you　have　in　mind。
　　　
　　　Gracklstugh；　like　Menzoberranzan；　was　a　cavern　city。　Unlike　the　realm　of　the　dark　elves；　the　stalagmites　harbored　great　stinking　smelters　and　foundries；　not　the　elegant　castles　of　noble　families。　The　air　had　an　acrid　reek；　and　the　clamor　of　industry　rang　endlessly　throughout　the　cavern…the　roaring　of　fires；　the　metallic　ringing　of　iron　on　iron；　and　the　rush　of　polluted　streams　carrying　away　the　wastes　of　the　duergar　forges。　Unlike　Menzoberranzan；　lightless　except　for　the　delicate　faerie　fire　applied　to　decorate　drow　palaces；　Gracklstugh　glowed　with　reflected　firelight　and　the　occasional　harsh　glare　of　white…hot　metal　splashing　into　molds。　It　was　a　singularly　unlovely　place；　an　affront　to　any　highborn　drow。　Halisstra　thought　the　place　seemed　like　nothing　less　than　the　Hells'　own　foundry。
　　　At　its　eastern　end；　the　great　cavern　of　the　city　sloped　down　sharply　to　join　the　immense　gulf　of　the　Darklake；　so　that　Gracklstugh　was　a　subterranean　port…though　few　among　the　Underdark　races　used　waterways　such　as　the　Darklake　in　their　merce。　Consequently　the　wharves　and　lakeside　warehouses　of　the　duergar　city　constituted　one　of　its　poorest　and　most　dangerous　districts。　Coalhewer　moored　his　macabre　vessel　at　the　end　of　a　crumbling　stone　quay　occupied　by　a　handful　of　ships　of　the　same　general　design。
　　　〃Get　yer　things　and　step　lively；〃　the　dwarf　snapped。　〃The　less　ye're　seen　t'be　about　the　streets；　the　better。　Spider…kissers　in　the　City　of　Blades　be　well…advised　to　step　soft　and　quick；　if　ye　take　my　meaning。〃
　　　Valas　shot　the　others　a　quick　look　and　signed；　No　killing！　It　will　not　be　tolerated　here。
　　　The　scout　shouldered　his　pack　and　followed　the　dwarf　down　the　quay；　wrapping　his　piwafwi　around　him　to　conceal　the　swords　at　his　hip。
　　　Pharaun　glanced　up　at　Jeggred　and　said；　〃You　won't　like　it　here；　half…demon。　How　will　you　pass　the　time　without　something　helpless　to　dismember？〃
　　　〃I　will　simply　while　away　the　hours　considering　how　I　might　kill　you；　wizard；〃　the　draegloth　rumbled。
　　　Still；　Jeggred　blew　out　his　breath　and　drew　his　own　long　cloak　over　his　white　mane；　doing　the　best　he　could　to　hunch　over　and　make　himself　inconspicuous。　The　rest　of　the　party　followed　after；　threading　their　way　through　the　dilapidated　streets　of　the　city's　dock　quarter　to　a　fortresslike　inn　a　few　blocks　from　the　wharves。　A　sign　lettered　in　both　Dwarvish　and　Under…mon　named　the　place　as　the　Cold　Foundry。　The　building　itself　consisted　of　an　encircling　stone　wall；　guarding　a　number　of　small；　free…standing　blockhouses。　The　pany　halted　just　outside　the　inn's　front　gate；　which　stood　beside　a　pen　holding　huge；　foul…smelling　pack　lizards。
　　　〃Hardly　an　appealing　prospect；〃　muttered　Pharaun。　〃Still；　I　suppose　it's　better　than　a　rock　on　a　cavern　floor。〃
　　　Valas　conferred　briefly　with　Coalhewer；　then　turned　to　the　rest　of　the　dark　elves　and　said　quietly；　〃Coalhewer　and　I　will　arrange　safe　passage　out　of　the　city　and　look　into　provisioning。　It'll　likely　involve　some　bribes　to　obtain　proper　licenses　and　such；　which　will　take　time。　We　should　plan　on　staying　here　for　at　least　a　full　day；　perhaps　two。〃
　　　〃Can　we　spare　the　time？〃　Ryld　asked。
　　　〃That　would　be　up　to　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Valas　said；　〃but　we　may　be　many　days　on　the　next　leg　of　our　journey。　We　acplish　nothing　by　starving　to　death　after　a　tenday　or　two　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。〃
　　　Quenthel　studied　the　cheerless　duergar　inn；　and　made　her　decision。
　　　〃We　will　stay　two　nights；　and　leave　early　on　the　day　after　tomorrow；〃　she　said。　〃I　would　stay　longer；　but　I　am　hesitant　to　trust　our　fortunes　to　the　continued　hospitality　of　the　duergar。　Events　are　moving　too　quickly　for　us　to　tarry　long。〃
　　　She　looked　at　the　scout；　and　at　Coalhewer；　who　stood　a　short　distance　off；　watching　the　street　with　arms　folded　and　pointedly　not　listening　in　on　the　dark　elves'　conversation。
　　　Is　this　place　safe？　she　signed。　Will　the　dwarf　betray　us？
　　　Safe　enough；　the　scout　replied。　Keep　Jeggred　out　of　sight。　The　rest　of　you　should　be　fine；　as　long　as　you　avoid　confrontations。　He　flicked　his　eyes　at　Coalhewer　and　added；　The　dwarf　understands　that　we　will　pay　well　for　his　services；　but　if　he　should　e　to　believe　that　we　might　kill　him　rather　than　pay　him；　he　will　undoubtedly　find　a　way　to　have　us　all　arrested。　He　knows　we're　something　more　than　merchants；　but　he　doesn't　care　what　errand　brings　us　here　as　long　as　he's　paid。
　　　A　loose　end　to　be　tied　up？　Ryld　asked。
　　　Too　dangerous　now；　Valas　signed。　I　will　keep　a　close　eye　on　him　as　long　as　we're　here。
　　　〃Take　Ryld　with　you；　just　in　case；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　tugged　at　his　pack；　adjusting　it　to　ride　better　between　his　shoulder　blades。
　　　〃Ready　when　you　are；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　can't　say　I　won't　wele　the　pany；　if　trouble　es；〃　Valas　replied。　〃Well；　let's　not　keep　Master　Coalhewer　waiting。　If　you　don't　hear　back　from　us　by　midday　tomorrow；　presume　the　worst　and　get　out　of　the　city　by　the　quickest　means　at　hand。〃
　　　The　scout　hurried　off　with　Ryld　striding　along　a　step　behind　him。　They　collected　Coalhewer　and　made　their　way　deeper　into　the　city。
　　　〃It's　that　boundless　good　cheer　we　find　endearing　in　you；　Valas；〃　Pharaun　remarked　to　the　scout's　back。　〃Well；　I　too　have　errands　to　run。　I　must　find　what　passes　for　a　dealer　in　arcane　reagents　in　this　grim　place；　and　replenish　my　spell　ponents。〃
　　　〃Don't　take　too　long；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　glanced　over　at　Halisstra　and　Danifae。　〃Well；　aren't　you　ing？〃
　　　〃Not　yet；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃As　long　as　we're　here；　I　think　I　will　see　to　providing　Danifae　with　weapons　and　armor。　We'll　be　back　when　she　is　suitably　equipped。〃
　　　〃I　thought　you　didn't　care　to　allow　your　battle　captive　to　fight　for　you；〃　Quenthel　said；　her　eyes　narrowing　in　calculation。
　　　〃I　have　decided　that　Danifae　is　something　of　a　liability　as　long　as　she's　unarmed　and　unarmored。　I　don't　want　my　property　damaged　for　no　good　reason。〃
　　　Halisstra　could　almost　feel　the　depth　of　Quenthel's　suspicion；　and　the　Baenre　silently　stroked　the　hilt　of　her　whip　as　she　studied　the　Ched　Nasadan　and　her　handmaid　thoughtfully。
　　　Good；　thought　Halisstra。　Let　her　wonder　what　hold　I　have　over　Danifae　that　I　feel　confident　arming　her。　A　little　uncertainty　might　improve　her　assessment　of　our　usefulness。
　　　〃Don't　wander　far　or　get　yourselves　into　trouble；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃I　won't　hesitate　to　set　out　without　either　of　you　if　the　circumstances　so　dictate。〃
　　　She　motioned　to　Jeggred　and　marched　into　the　Cold　Foundry；　apparently　dismissing　both　the　Ched　Nasadan　and　the　Eryndlyrr　from　her　thoughts。
　　　Halisstra　couldn't　repress　a　smile　of　satisfaction　as　Quenthel　disappeared　from　view；　Jeggred　slinking　behind　her。　She　exchanged　looks　with　Danifae；　and　the　two　set　off　into　the　duergar　city。
　　　Though　Coalhewer　had　insisted　that　the　city　was　open　to　folk　of　all　races；　provided　they　brought　gold；　Halisstra　could　not　convince　herself　that　a　pair　of　dark　elves　were　truly　safe　in　Gracklstugh。　The　short；　stocky　gray　dwarves　crowding　the　streets　went　about　their　business　with　a　sullen　purposefulness　that　Halisstra　didn't　like　at　all。　They　didn't　laugh；　or　primp　and　preen；　or　even　trade　veiled　threats　with　one　another。　Instead；　they　glared　angrily　at　passersby　of　any　race；　including　their　own；　and　stomped　along　beneath　heavy　shirts　of　mail；　fists　gripped　tightly　on　the　hafts　of　axes　and　hammers　thrust　through　their　broad　belts。　Only　after　Halisstra　and　Danifae　had　passed　half　a　dozen　folk　of　other　races　in　the　streets　did　she　begin　to　relax。
　　　Halisstra　paused　in　a　spot　between　two　towering　smelters　and　looked　around。
　　　〃There。　I　know　little　Dwarvish；　but　I　think　those　signs　advertise　weaponsmiths。〃
　　　They　turned　down　the　street；　which　was　little　more　than　a　winding　footpath　rounding　the　castle…like　stalagmites。　Past　the　great　stone　pillars；　they　came　to　something　resembling　a　town　square　of　sorts；　an　open　place　surrounded　by　low；　fortlike　buildings　of　mortared　stone。　Here　they　found　a　large　storefront　displaying　dozens　of　weapons　and　suits　of　armor　beneath　a　merchants　sign。
　　　〃This　seems　promising；〃　Halisstra　said。　She　ducked　through　the　low　door　and　stepped　inside；　Danifae　behind　her。
　　　The　place　was　filled　with　martial　accoutrements　of　all　sorts；　much　of　it　dwarven；　but　a　number　of　pieces　from　other　races…heavy　iron　blades　of　orog…work；　kuo…toan　armor　made　from　the　scales　of　some　great　pale　fish；　and　black　mithral　mail　of　drow…make。　Two　well…a