war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第24章

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k　elf　had　fought　more　than　one　vicious　war　for　control　of　the　hundred…odd　miles　of　cavern　and　chasm　that　lay　between　the　two　cities。　The　fact　that　no　such　war　had　been　fought　in　a　century　or　more　simply　indicated　that　both　races　had　e　to　hold　a　grudging　respect　for　their　enemy's　strength；　and　not　any　real　lessening　of　the　ill　will　between　them。
　　　The　guards　led　him　through　the　labyrinthine　corridors　of　Gracklstugh's　palace　and　showed　him　to　a　large　suite　in　a　disused　portion　of　the　fortress。　The　furnishings　were　simple　and　functional；　as　fitted　duergar　taste。　Nimor　settled　down　to　wait；　moving　over　to　gaze　out　of　a　slitlike　window　at　the　gray　dwarf　city　beyond　the　palace。　The　city　was　as　unlovely　as　ever；　a　reeking　cauldron　of　smoke　and　noise。
　　　After　a　time；　Nimor　noted　the　approach　of　footsteps　outside　and　turned　as　Horgar　Steelshadow　entered　the　suite；　flanked　by　a　pair　of　Stone　Guards。
　　　〃Ah；〃　the　dark　elf　said；　inclining　his　head。　〃A　good　day　to　you；　my　lord。　How　fares　the　City　of　Blades？〃
　　　〃I　doubt　that　you　care；〃　Horgar　replied。　For　the　ruler　of　such　a　powerful　city；　the　crown　prince　was　in　many　ways　unremarkable。　He　looked　very　much　like　all　the　other　duergar　in　the　room；　with　a　sullen　cast　to　his　eyes　and　a　hairless　skull。　He　carried　a　scepter　of　office　and　did　not　wear　armor；　which　was　all　that　differentiated　him　from　his　bodyguards。　He　motioned　the　guards　to　remain　by　the　door；　and　strode　over　to　speak　quietly　to　Nimor。　〃Well？　What　news？〃
　　　〃I　believe　I　have　found　the　allies　I　was　seeking　in　Menzoberranzan；　dear　prince。　A　strong　House　eager　to　see　the　current　order　of　things　overthrown；　but　whose　loyalty　is　not　in　question　there。　The　hour　of　your　victory　approaches。〃
　　　〃Hmph。　House　Zauvirr　was　eager　to　hire　our　mercenaries　in　Ched　Nasad；　but　damned　few　of　Khorrl　Xornbane's　folk　came　back。　I　don't　doubt　that　you　or　that　Zammzt　fellow　whispered　the　same　thing　in　Khorrl's　ear　when　you　hired　his　pany。〃
　　　〃Xornbane's　losses　were　regrettable；　but　in　truth　we　did　not　expect　the　exceptional　effectiveness　of　your　stonefire　bombs　against　Ched　Nasad's　calcified　webs。　Absent　that　unforeseeable　chance；　Khorrl　Xornbane　would　have　taken　the　city　with　House　Zauvirr。〃
　　　The　duergar　prince　scowled；　his　beard　jutting　out　like　a　bottlebrush。
　　　〃I　warned　Khorrl　that　dark　elves　have　a　habit　of　poorly　rewarding　mercenaries；　especially　dwarves。　I　won't　let　another　of　our　mercenary　panies　march　into　peril　like　that　again。　Xornbane　was　an　eighth　of　this　city's　strength。〃
　　　〃I　have　no　need　of　a　single　pany　of　mercenaries；　Prince；　no　matter　how　large　and　fierce；〃　Nimor　assured　him。　〃I　have　need　of　your　whole　army。　March　in　your　full　strength；　and　you　need　not　fear　defeat　in　detail。〃
　　　〃It　still　smells　like　an　insidious　drow　ruse　to　me。〃
　　　Nimor　frowned　and　said；　〃Prince　Horgar；　if　you　are　hesitant　to　hazard　any　risks　at　all；　you　will　rarely　win　a　throw　of　the　dice。　You　have　an　opportunity　to　achieve　something　great；　but　I　cannot　tell　you　that　your　success　is　guaranteed；　or　that　there　are　no　risks　in　our　enterprise。〃
　　　〃We're　not　talking　about　a　handful　of　coins　riding　on　a　stupid　game；〃　the　duergar　prince　said。　〃We're　talking　about　my　throne　riding　on　a　war　that　could　take　a　turn　I　don't　care　for　in　any　number　of　ways。　Don't　try　to　shore　up　my　resolve　with　empty　observations　about　risk　and　reward。〃
　　　〃Very　well；　then；　I　shall　not；　but　I　will　point　out　that　when　last　we　met　you　said　you　wanted　only　one　thing　before　you　would　consent　to　lead　your　army　against　Menzoberranzan；　and　that　was　a　substantial　ally　within　the　city　itself。　I　have　provided　you　that　ally。　When　will　it　ever　be　better　for　you　to　strike　out　at　the　threat　a　strong　Menzoberranzan　poses　to　your　kingdom？　Their　priestesses　are　powerless；　they　have　already　endured　a　costly　slave　rebellion；　and　now　I　bring　to　you　a　great　House　willing　to　assist　you　in　your　efforts。　What　more　do　we　lack；　Prince？〃
　　　The　duergar　scowled　and　turned　away　to　stare　out　at　Gracklstugh。　He　stood　for　a　time；　thinking　hard。　Nimor　watched　him　waver；　and　decided　it　was　time　to　set　the　hook。
　　　Lowering　his　voice；　he　moved　close　and　said；　〃What　better　way　to　secure　your　seat　against　the　unruly　lairds　you　fear；　than　by　distracting　them　with　a　campaign　beyond　your　borders？　Even　if　you　should　fail　to　take　Menzoberranzan；　some　diligent　planning　should　ensure　that　the　forces　of　the　most　dangerous　lairds　seem　to　find　the　deadliest　part　of　any　battle　you　fight。　In　truth　I　believe　it　is　within　your　grasp　to　win　a　great　victory　over　Menzoberranzan；　and　wreck　the　strength　of　your　most　rebellious　nobles　at　the　same　time。〃
　　　The　duergar　prince　grunted　and　studied　Nimor　closely。
　　　〃You　presume　much；　dark　elf；〃　said　Horgar。　〃What　is　it　you　hope　to　gain　by　destroying　Menzoberranzan；　eh？　Why　do　you　seek　to　set　me　on　this　course　of　action？〃
　　　The　assassin　grinned　and　clapped　the　duergar　on　the　shoulder。　The　Stone　Guards　in　the　chamber　shifted　nervously；　disapproving　of　the　contact。
　　　〃My　dear　Prince　Horgar；　the　answer　is　simple；〃　Nimor　said。　〃Revenge。　Your　army　is　to　be　the　instrument　of　my　vengeance。　Naturally　I　recognize　that　you　will　not　raze　Menzoberranzan　simply　because　I　ask　it；　so　it　is　a　necessary　part　of　my　design　that　you　are　provided　with　the　suitable　motivation　to　do　what　I　wish　done。　I　have　worked　long　and　hard　to　bring　about　the　circumstances　under　which　the　army　of　Gracklstugh　might　be　aimed　at　the　city　I　hate…including；　I　might　add；　assisting　you　with　the　small　problem　of　your　father's　thoughtless　longevity。　How　can　I　make　my　purpose　plainer？〃
　　　〃I　paid　for　your　help　in　that　case　with　hundreds　of　stonefire　bombs；〃　the　duergar　prince　said；　bridling。　〃Do　not　speak　of　my　father's　。　。　。　death　again。　If　I　came　to　believe　that　you　might　seek　to　influence　my　actions　with　that　story；　I　would　have　to　make　sure　that　whatever　information　you　possessed　never　came　to　light。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　〃Oh；　I　did　not　mean　anything　by　the　remark；　Horgar。　I　merely　pointed　out　that　I　had　been　useful　to　you　before；　and　that　I　may　prove　useful　again。　Now；　can　I　count　on　the　army　of　Gracklstugh；　or　not？〃
　　　Horgar　Steelshadow；　Crown　Prince　of　Gracklstugh；　reluctantly　nodded　assent。
　　　〃We　will　e；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　explain　to　me　who　exactly　will　be　aiding　us　inside　Menzoberranzan；　and　how　he'll　be　able　to　help。〃
　　　
　　　Ryld　could　feel　hateful　eyes　lingering　on　his　broad　back　as　he　followed　Valas　and　Coalhewer　through　the　streets　of　the　duergar　city。　He　was　all　too　conscious　of　the　fact　that　he　was　out　of　his　element。　He　towered　a　good　twenty　inches　over　any　of　the　gray　dwarves；　and　his　coal…black　skin　and　inky　piwafwi　didn't　help　him　to　blend　in　at　all。　The　three　travelers　wound　their　way　through　a　swordsmith's　district；　a　narrow　alleyway　lined　on　both　sides　by　open…air　forges　where　duergar　in　leather　aprons　hammered　endlessly　on　glowing　metal。　Ryld　knew　a　thing　or　two　about　good　steel；　and　he　could　see　at　a　glance　that　the　dwarves　knew　their　work。
　　　The　weapons　master　quickened　his　step　and　drew　alongside　Valas。
　　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　he　asked　as　quietly　as　possible　over　the　ringing　hammers。　〃I　thought　we　needed　to　obtain　some　sort　of　official　license　or　pass。　Shouldn't　we　be　heading　for　a　courthouse；　or　something？〃
　　　〃If　ye　wanted　a　royal　license；　ye　would；〃　Coalhewer　answered；　〃but　that　would　take　ye　months　and　cost　ye　a　fortune　in　bribes。　No；　I'm　takin'　ye　to　call　on　the　household　of　the　clan　laird　Muzgardt。　He'll　give　ye　a　writ　o'　passage　that　should　get　ye　where　ye　want　to　go。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded。　It　was　not　so　different　from　Menzoberranzan；　after　all。
　　　〃How　far　will　Muzgardt's　writ　run？〃　Valas　asked。　〃Will　it　get　us　out　of　Gracklstugh's　dominions？〃
　　　〃Muzgardt's　clan　be　merchants。　They　deal　in　ale　and　liquors　throughout　the　Deepkingdom；　and　sometimes　bring　outside　brews　into　the　city…drow　wine；　svirfneblin　brandy；　even　some　vintages　from　the　surface；　or　so　I　hear。　Ye'll　find　his　folk　all　over　the　realm。〃　Coalhewer　laughed　a　nasty　laugh　and　added；　〃　'Course；　Muzgardt　sells　passage　to　those　as　want　it；　too。　He　likes　his　gold。〃
　　　Ryld　smiled。　Coalhewer　was　a　grasping；　avaricious　fellow　by　anyone's　standards。　Muzgardt's　greed　must　be　something　noteworthy　indeed　for　a　dwarf　like　Coalhewer　to　ment　on　it。
　　　They　came　to　the　end　of　the　street　of　swordsmiths　and　found　themselves　back　in　the　vicinity　of　the　Darklake；　though　farther　north　along　the　shore。　Before　them　stood　a　huge；　ramshackle　brewery　made　from　loose　stone　stacked　to　make　walls　between　the　petrified　stems　of　a　small　forest　of　gigantic　mushrooms。　Big　copper　vats　steamed　within；　filling　the　air　with　a　heavy；　yeasty　stink。　Dozens　of　copper　kegs　stood　nearby；　and　burly　gray　dwarves　swarmed　over　the　place；　mashing　fungus；　mixing　fermenting　masses；　and　filling　casks　with　freshly　brewed　ale。
　　　〃A　dwarf's　second　love　after　gold；〃　Coalhewer　said　with　a　crooked　smile。　〃Ah；　Muzgardt's　lads　do　good　work；　I　tell　ye。〃
　　　The　dwarf　led　Ryld　and　Valas　into　the　brewhouse　and　past　the　huge　vats　to　a　small　shack　or　shelter　in　the　back　of　the　place。　A　pair　of　gray　dwarves　stood　in　heavy　mail　armor；　wicked…looking　axes　resting　close　at　hand。　T