war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第25章

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lace。　A　pair　of　gray　dwarves　stood　in　heavy　mail　armor；　wicked…looking　axes　resting　close　at　hand。　The　guards　glared　angrily　at　the　dark　elves；　and　picked　up　their　weapons。
　　　〃What　d'ye　want？〃　one　growled。
　　　〃Thummud；〃　Coalhewer　replied。　〃Got　a　business　proposition　for　him。〃
　　　〃Stay　here；〃　the　first　guard　said。
　　　He　ducked　through　a　ragged　curtain　in　the　doorway；　and　returned　a　moment　later。
　　　〃Thummud'll　see　ye；　but　the　drow'll　have　t'leave　their　weapons　at　the　door。　Don't　trust　'em。〃
　　　Ryld　looked　at　Valas　and　signed；　Are　we　worried　about　an　ambush？
　　　The　scout　replied；　Coalhewer　knows　there　are　five　more　in　our　party；　including　a　capable　wizard　and　a　draegloth。　I　don't　think　he'd　lead　us　into　a　trap…but　watch　your　back　anyway。
　　　〃Enough　finger…talk；〃　the　guard　snarled。　〃Talk　so's　we　can　understand　ye；　if　ye've　got　anything　to　say。〃
　　　〃Always；〃　Ryld　said　aloud　to　Valas。
　　　He　gave　the　duergar　a　hard　look；　but　shrugged　Splitter　from　his　shoulder　and　set　the　greatsword　against　one　wall。　He　unbuckled　his　short　sword　from　its　sheath　at　his　hip　and　set　it　nearby。
　　　〃There's　a　curse　on　the　big　blade；〃　he　said。　〃You　won't　like　what　happens　if　you　try　to　handle　it。〃
　　　Valas　set　down　his　shortbow　and　arrows；　then　dropped　his　kukris　to　the　ground。　The　duergar　guards　checked　the　two　dark　elves　for　concealed　weapons；　then　ushered　them　into　the　gloomy　shelter。　The　place　was　an　office　of　sorts；　with　ledgers　and　records　scattered　about。　By　a　large　standing　clerks　desk　stood　one　of　the　fattest　gray　dwarfs　Ryld　had　ever　seen；　a　round…bodied　fellow　with　thick　arms　and　heavy　shoulders。　Duergar　tended　to　run　toward　a　gaunt；　broad…shouldered　build　despite　their　short；　powerful　stature；　but　the　brewmaster　Thummud　was　as　round　as　one　of　his　kegs。
　　　〃Coalhewer；〃　he　said　by　way　of　a　greeting。　〃What　can　you　do　for　me？〃
　　　〃I've　got　a　party　of　dark　elves　as　need　a　writ　o'　business　from　Muzgardt；〃　Coalhewer　said。　〃They'd　prefer　not　to　wait　on　a　royal　permit。〃
　　　〃What　sort　of　business？〃
　　　〃We　deal　in　gemstones；　mostly；〃　Valas　said。　〃We're　looking　into　setting　up　transport　through　the　Deepkingdom。　We　need　to　be　able　to　move　around　and　talk　to　a　lot　of　people；　and　as　Coalhewer　said；　we　don't　want　to　wait　for　months　to　get　a　royal　license。〃
　　　〃Ye're　stupid　or　ye're　lying；　then。　Ye'll　pay　ten　times　the　cost　of　a　royal　license　to　get　a　writ　from　our　clan　laird。　Most　merchants　I　know　wouldn't　do　such　a　thing。〃
　　　Valas　glanced　up　at　Ryld；　then　looked　back　to　Thummud　and　said；　〃All　right；　then。　We've　got　some　rivals　from　back　home　that　are　doing　a　fine　business　here；　and　we　want　to　sound　out　their　suppliers　to　see　if　they　can't　be　encouraged　to　sell　to　us　instead　of　the　others。　A　royal　license　wouldn't　really　extend　that　far；　would　it？〃
　　　Thummud　snorted；　〃No；　I　suppose　not。〃
　　　〃Can　ye　help　me　clients；　or　not？〃　Coalhewer　asked。　〃Or　do　I　have　to　go　see　Ironhead；　or　maybe　Anvilthew？〃
　　　〃Clan　Muzgardt　might　be　able　to　help　ye；〃　Thummud　said　after　a　long　moment。　〃We'll　want　two　hundred　pieces　of　gold　for　each　body　on　the　writ；　and　ye　can't　have　it　today。〃
　　　Coalhewer　glanced　up　at　the　dark　elves。　Ryld　nodded　to　him。
　　　〃They'll　pay　the　laird's　fee；〃　the　duergar　sailor　said；　〃but　they　want　to　get　started　right　quick。〃
　　　〃Doesn't　matter　what　yer　clients　want；〃　Thummud　replied　with　a　shrug。　〃I'll　have　to　take　up　the　matter　with　the　clan　laird　before　I　write　you　a　pass。〃
　　　〃Ye　never　had　to　before！〃
　　　The　fat　dwarf　folded　his　arms　and　set　his　jaw　stubbornly。　He　glared　at　Coalhewer　and　the　dark　elves。
　　　〃Be　that　as　it　may；　the　crown　prince's　soldiers　have　been　checking　our　writs　and　passes　too　closely　of　late。　Horgar's　let　it　be　known　that　he　wants　to　know　who's　in　the　Deepkingdom　and　why；　and　he's　leaning　on　the　clan　lairds　to　withhold　their　writs。　We'll　be　able　to　get　yer　clients　theirs；　I　think；　but　I'll　have　to　gain　Muzgardt's　blessing　first。　e　back　tomorrow；　or　the　day　after。〃
　　　Coalhewer　muttered　into　his　beard；　but　he　didn't　bother　to　argue　the　point　any　further。　He　jerked　his　head　toward　the　curtain；　and　led　Ryld　and　Valas　outside。　The　dark　elves　picked　up　their　arms；　and　in　a　few　minutes　they'd　left　the　brewery　behind　them。
　　　〃Now；　what　should　we　make　of　that？〃　Valas　wondered　aloud。　〃Do　you　know　another　clan　that　might　help　out；　Coalhewer？〃
　　　〃Maybe；　but　if　Horgar's　cracking　down　on　informal　passes　and　such　things；　ye'll　have　trouble　anywhere　ye　go。〃　The　dwarf　scratched　at　his　beard。　〃I'll　have　to　ask　some　questions；　and　I　don't　think　ye'd　best　be　with　me。〃
　　　Ryld　looked　to　Valas；　who　thought　carefully　before　agreeing；　and　even　then　the　weapons　master　didn't　think　his　fellow　Menzoberranyr　looked　sufficiently　confident　in　their　guide's　loyalty。
　　　
　　　When　Halisstra　and　Danifae　returned　to　the　Cold　Foundry；　they　found　that　Quenthel　had　rented　one　of　the　inn's　larger　wings；　a　freestanding　structure　with　its　own　small　mon　room　and　eight　private　chambers　on　two　floors。　The　whole　wing　seemed　to　be　built　and　decorated　to　a　duergar's　conception　of　drow　fort。　Its　furnishings　were　proportioned　for　drow…sized　guests；　not　dwarves；　it　was　richly　appointed　with　tapestries　and　lavish　rugs；　and　all　the　doors　had　locks。　Dark　elves　didn't　require　endless　hours　of　sleep　in　the　same　manner　as　lesser　races；　but　few　drow　felt　safe　or　fortable　in　a　deep；　dreaming　Reverie　unless　they　were　taking　their　ease　behind　a　locked　door。
　　　The　rest　of　the　pany；　with　the　exception　of　Pharaun；　reclined　on　the　rugs　or　sat　at　the　mon　room's　table；　partaking　of　a　bountiful　meal　acpanied　by　silver　ewers　of　wine。　Armor　and　packs　lay　stacked　against　the　walls；　but　weapons　remained　within　easy　reach。
　　　Halisstra　raised　an　eyebrow；　eyeing　the　banquet　spread　out　on　the　sideboard。　A　large　roast　of　rothe；　several　wheels　of　finely　molded　cheeses；　and　steaming　platters　of　braised　mushrooms　reminded　her　how　long　she'd　been　without　a　decent；　hot　meal。
　　　〃The　food's　safe？〃　she　asked。
　　　Quenthel　snorted。　〃Do　you　think　we're　stupid？　Of　course　we　checked　it。　The　innkeeper　sent　us　a　cask　of　drugged　wine　the　first　time　around；　but　we　plained　to　the　management〃…Jeggred　looked　up　and　smiled　with　a　mouthful　of　fangs　at　that；　and　Halisstra　guessed　she　knew　what　form　that　plaint　had　taken…〃so　the　banquet　is　plimentary。　Enjoy。〃
　　　Halisstra　performed　her　own　examination　of　the　table　anyway；　relying　on　a　magic　ring　she　wore　for　just　that　purpose。　Poisons　were　too　monplace　among　highborn　drow　to　take　any　meal　for　granted。　Satisfied；　she　helped　herself　and　sat　down　by　the　table。　Danifae　took　some　food　as　well；　and　took　a　place；　reclining　on　a　low　lounge　near　Quenthel。
　　　〃I　see　the　wizard　has　not　yet　returned。　Have　you　had　any　luck？〃　Halisstra　asked　Valas　as　she　ate。
　　　The　scout　sat　cross…legged　beside　the　door；　his　knife　belt　loosened　but　still　around　his　narrow　hips。　He　sipped　at　a　mug　of　mulled　wine；　and　chewed　thoughtfully　on　a　piece　of　bread。
　　　〃After　a　fashion；〃　he　said。　〃The　weapons　master　and　I　encountered　no　overt　hostility；　but　we　didn't　get　as　far　as　I　would　have　liked；　despite　our　efforts　to　impress　upon　the　duergar　the　importance　of　time。〃　He　jingled　the　pouch　of　coins　at　his　belt。　〃I　don't　know　if　this　is　a　sign　that　something　unusual　is　happening；　but　Coalhewer　didn't　like　it。〃
　　　〃Where　is　the　dwarf？〃　asked　Danifae。
　　　〃He　wanted　to　see　if　he　could　obtain　a　writ　through　other　channels。〃
　　　〃You　trust　him　to　do　that？〃
　　　〃Not　entirely；　but　it's　something　we　could　not　easily　do　ourselves。〃　The　scout　grimaced　and　said；　〃It's　one　thing　to　deal　with　the　duergar　clans　in　a　reasonably　forthright　fashion。　If　I　was　caught　looking　into　forging　our　passes；　I　would　look　very　much　like　a　spy；　wouldn't　I？　And　so　would　all　of　you；　by　association。〃
　　　〃Real　spies　would　approach　Gracklstugh　in　much　the　same　manner　we　have；〃　Ryld　said　from　one　corner；　where　Splitter　leaned　against　the　wall；　within　easy　reach。
　　　〃True；　but　remember　that　Coalhewer　is　something　of　a　smuggler　himself。　He's　hardly　anxious　to　bring　us　to　the　attention　of　the　crown　prince；〃　Valas　replied。　〃Still；　the　weapons　master　and　I　settled　for　replenishing　our　provisions；　so　we're　ready　to　leave　whenever　Coalhewer　obtains　our　pass。〃
　　　〃It　seems　we've　done　all　we　can　for　now；〃　Halisstra　observed。　〃I；　for　one；　am　tired　of　blinding　deserts；　soul…bleaching　shadowlands；　and　bare　cavern　floors。　If　we're　soon　to　return　to　the　bleak　and　fortless　wilds；　I'll　enjoy　what　civilization　I　can。〃
　　　Halisstra　held　up　her　cup　for　Danifae　to　fill。　The　battle　captive　rose　sinuously　and　refilled　her　mistress's　goblet。
　　　〃Drink　if　you　like；　but　don't　let　your　wits　bee　too　sodden；〃　Quenthel　warned　from　her　couch。　〃We're　hardly　among　friends　in　this　filthy　city。〃
　　　〃When　are　any　of　us　truly　among　friends？〃　Ryld　asked　with　a　snort。
　　　Halisstra　laughed　softly　and　said；　〃Indeed；　Ryld；　but　tonight　we　can　rest　in　fort；　confident　in　the　knowledge　that　we　none　of　us　trust　each　other　and　that　not　too　far　away　lurk　grim　enemies　who　would　destroy　us　if　they　could。　Would　we　have　it　any　other　way？〃
　　　Danifae　carried　the　ewer　to　Quenthel。　Ignoring　the　subtle　wri