war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第28章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


u　get　us　that　writ　today。〃
　　　Thummud's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Now　I'm　wondering　what　ye　really　be　up　to；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃No　honest　purpose；　of　that　I'm　sure。〃
　　　〃Consider　this　a　personal　bonus；〃　Ryld　said　quietly。　〃Your　laird　expects　two　hundred　pieces　of　gold　per　head；　and　you'll　see　to　it　he　gets　that。　What's　left　over；　he　doesn't　need　to　know　about；　does　he？〃
　　　〃I　can't　say　as　ye　wouldn't　get　what　ye　want　some　other　time；〃　Thummud　admitted　with　a　shrug；　〃but　the　laird　was　certain　of　his　words　to　me　on　this　matter。　I'd　be　crossin'　him　to　do　this　bit　o'　business　with　ye；　and　old　Muzgardt　would　have　me　head　for　it。〃　The　brewer　thought　about　things　for　a　moment；　and　added；　〃Better　make　it　three　or　four　days；　I　think。　The　crown　prince's　lads　are　all　over　the　city；　and　I　don't　need　'em　to　see　ye　ing　here　every　damned　day。〃
　　　The　stout　dwarf　heaved　the　keg　up　onto　his　shoulder　and　stomped　off；　leaving　the　two　dark　elves　standing　with　Coalhewer　in　the　middle　of　the　sullen　crowd　of　brewers。
　　　〃Now　what？〃　Ryld　asked　Valas。
　　　〃Go　back　to　the　inn　and　wait；　I'd　say；〃　Coalhewer　muttered。　〃Ye'll　have　no　luck　standing　here。　e　back　in　a　couple　of　days。〃
　　　〃Quenthel　won't　like　that；〃　Ryld　said；　still　addressing　the　drow　scout。
　　　All　Valas　could　do　was　shrug。
　　　The　two　drow　and　their　guide　left　the　Muzgardt　brewery；　wrapped　in　their　own　thoughts。　They　marched　along　for　a　short　distance；　putting　the　brewery　well　behind　them。
　　　〃I'm　beginning　to　wonder　whether　we　shouldn't　just　write　our　own　letter　of　passage；〃　Valas　said　softly。　〃We　wouldn't　need　it　for　long；　after　all。〃
　　　〃That's　a　bad　idea；〃　Coalhewer　said。　〃Ye　might　forge　a　letter　that　looks　about　right；　but　ye　need　Muzgardt's　blessing。　If　ye　get　stopped；　ye'll　be　held　while　they　check　to　be　sure　that　ye've　got　the　blessing　of　the　laird。　That　ye　won't　have　until　Muzgardt　grants　it　to　ye。〃
　　　〃Damn；〃　Valas　muttered。
　　　Ryld　examined　the　situation；　trying　to　figure　what　to　make　of　it。　Either　Coalhewer　had　purposely　led　them　to　a　dead　end；　or　the　difficulty　in　obtaining　the　passes　was　unfeigned。　For　the　first　possibility；　Ryld　couldn't　see　any　reason　why　Coalhewer　would　delay　the　pany　in　Gracklstugh。　Perhaps　the　dwarf　meant　to　set　them　up　in　some　way；　but　if　that　was　the　case；　wouldn't　he　have　had　ample　opportunity　to　spring　whatever　surprise　he　might　have　had　in　mind？　On　the　other　hand；　if　Coalhewer　and　Thummud　weren't　collaborating　in　some　elaborate　deception；　why　would　the　crown　prince　happen　to　choose　the　occasion　of　the　pany's　visit　to　Gracklstugh　to　crack　down　on　foreigners　moving　about　the　realm？
　　　Because　he's　got　something　he　doesn't　want　foreigners　to　see；　of　course；　Ryld　decided。　What　wouldn't　he　want　outsiders　to　see？
　　　Ryld　halted　dead　in　the　street。　Valas　and　Coalhewer　turned　a　few　steps　farther　on；　looking　back　at　him。
　　　〃What　is　it？〃　Valas　asked。
　　　〃You　and　I　have　something　we　need　to　do；〃　Ryld　said　to　Valas；　then　he　turned　to　their　guide。　〃e　to　the　inn　tomorrow　morning。〃
　　　Coalhewer　frowned。
　　　〃Fine；〃　he　said。　The　duergar　turned　and　headed　down　the　street；　muttering　under　his　breath；　〃Don't　blame　me　if　ye　get　arrested　for　doing　whatever　it　is　ye　have　in　mind。　I　won't　speak　up　for　ye。　I'll　be　on　me　boat　if　ye　need　me。〃
　　　What　is　it？　Valas　asked　after　the　dwarf　disappeared　into　the　shadowed　street。
　　　The　crown　prince　is　limiting　freedom　of　movement　for　foreign　merchants　and　travelers；　Ryld　answered。　He　doesn't　want　news　from　the　city　to　get　out。　1　think　the　army　of　Gracklstugh　is　going　to　march。
　　　Valas　blinked　and　signed；　You　think　so？
　　　〃It's　what　I　would　do；〃　Ryld　answered。　〃The　question　is；　how　to　make　sure　of　it。〃
　　　He　glanced　around　the　street。　As　always；　any　gray　dwarf　in　sight　was　staring　at　the　two　dark　elves　with　undisguised　hostility。
　　　Investigating　your　suspicion　makes　us　exactly　the　sort　of　fellows　the　crown　prince's　soldiers　will　be　looking　for；　Valas　signed。　The　wiry　scout　frowned；　thinking。　What　would　you　need　to　see　to　confirm　your　fear？
　　　A　supply　train；　Ryld　answered　at　once。　Wagons；　pack　lizards；　that　sort　of　thing。　You　wouldn't　gather　that　together　unless　you　meant　to　march；　and　it　would　take　several　days　to　do　it。　You'd　need　a　lot　of　space。
　　　Agreed；　Valas　answered。
　　　Valas　thought；　frowning　as　he　tugged　absently　at　the　odd　charms　and　tokens　he　carried　on　his　clothing。
　　　Feel　like　taking　a　chance？　the　scout　signed。
　　　Ryld　glanced　around　the　street。　Thummud　had　pretty　much　told　them　outright　that　things　wouldn't　change　for　several　more　days　at　a　minimum；　and　that　was　not　going　to　please　Quenthel。　If　Gracklstugh　meant　to　attack　Menzoberranzan；　he　wanted　to　know　about　it　before　the　duergar　army　marched。　They　would　want　to　find　a　way　to　send　a　warning　back　home。　The　duergar　were　no　slave　rabble　to　be　crushed　at　the　leisure　of　the　great　Houses。　The　army　of　the　City　of　Blades　would　be　large；　strong；　disciplined；　and　well　armed　for　an　assault　on　the　drow；　and　Ryld　didn't　like　the　thought　of　what　an　army　of　that　sort　might　do　to　his　home　city。
　　　Let's　go；　he　replied。
　　　Valas　nodded　and　set　off　at　once。　Instead　of　heading　back　to　the　lakeside　district　and　the　Cold　Foundry；　he　turned　deeper；　toward　the　heart　of　the　cavern。　They　weaved　through　the　foul…smelling　streets　and　dark　alleyways　for　a　fair　distance；　passing　through　business　districts　where　duergar　artisans　and　merchants　kept　their　shops　in　cramped　buildings　of　field…stone。　The　hour　was　growing　late；　and　traffic　along　the　dwarf　city's　streets　seemed　to　be　diminishing。　The　two　dark　elves　finally　reached　a　street　that　ran　along　the　edge　of　a　deep　cleft　or　chasm　bisecting　the　city's　higher；　more　inaccessible　districts　from　its　ramshackle　lakeside　neighborhoods。　Numerous　bridges　of　stone　spanned　the　gap；　leading　to　narrow　streets　that　continued　on　the　far　side。　A　squad　of　vigilant　duergar　soldiers　stood　watch　at　the　foot　of　each；　barring　passage　across　the　chasm。
　　　The　scout　drew　Ryld　into　the　shadow　of　an　alleyway　and　nodded　toward　the　rift　and　its　bridges。
　　　Laduguer's　Furrow；　he　signed。　Also　known　as　the　Cleft。　Everything　on　the　west　side　is　strictly　off　limits　to　foreigners。　There　are　a　couple　of　large　side　caverns　on　the　far　side　that　might　serve　as　good　marshalling　grounds；　and　they'd　be　secure　from　any　casual　observation。
　　　Ryld　studied　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　thoughtfully；　wondering　how　he　knew　so　much　about　a　part　of　the　city　that　was　supposedly　off　limits。
　　　I　take　it　you've　been　there　before？　Ryld　asked。
　　　I've　passed　through　Gracklstugh　a　couple　of　times。
　　　I　wonder　if　there's　anyplace　Valas　hasn't　been；　Ryld　thought。　He　shifted　in　the　shadows　to　get　a　better　look　at　the　guarded　bridges。　He　was　a　fair　hand　at　staying　out　of　sight　when　he　needed　to；　but　he　didn't　like　the　possibilities　offered　by　the　narrow；　railless　spans。　There　was　no　cover　at　all　once　one　set　foot　on　any　of　the　bridges。
　　　How　do　we　cross？　he　asked。
　　　
　　　Valas　finished　his　knots　and　stepped　close；　setting　his　right　foot　in　one　bottom　loop　and　crooking　his　right　arm　through　the　topmost。
　　　〃Stay　close　to　this　stalagmite　as　you　ascend；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　want　the　cover。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　reached　up　absently　to　touch　the　insignia　pinned　to　his　breast。　It　identified　him　as　a　Master　of　Melee…Magthere；　and　like　the　clasps　and　brooches　of　many　noble　Houses；　it　was　enchanted　with　the　power　of　levitation。　Valas　didn't　doubt　that　Ryld　had　fought　long　and　hard　to　win　the　right　to　wear　it。
　　　As　he'd　hoped；　the　enchantment　proved　strong　enough　to　support　both　Ryld's　weight　and　the　Bregan　D'aerthe's。　Effortlessly　they　glided　up　into　the　smoke　and　gloom　of　Gracklstugh's　upper　reaches；　until　the　fumes　obscured　the　streets　below。　From　the　top　of　the　great　cavern；　the　floor　seemed　shrouded　in　haze　and　smoke；　glaring　firelight　making　bright　circles　of　glowing　red　mist　in　a　hundred　spots　around　them。
　　　〃This　is　better　than　I　thought；〃　Valas　said。　〃The　smoke　and　fumes　give　us　some　concealment。〃
　　　〃And　they　make　my　eyes　water；〃　Ryld　said。　He　reached　the　ceiling　and　found　that　the　cavern　roof　was　rough　and　pitted。　〃Which　way？〃
　　　〃To　your　right。　Yes；　that's　it。〃
　　　Valas　indicated　the　northern　wall　of　the　city　with　a　jerk　of　his　chin；　keeping　his　foot　and　arm　secure　in　the　rope　stirrups　he'd　fashioned。　Carefully；　Ryld　turned　to　face　the　ceiling　more　evenly；　and　he　pulled　himself　along　hand　over　hand　as　if　he　were　climbing　a　vertical　wall　of　rock。　The　scout　shifted　to　secure　his　grip；　and　kept　his　own　eyes　down　at　the　cavern　floor　below；　directing　the　weapons　master　in　his　progress。
　　　〃One　gray　dwarf　wizard　with　a　spell　of　cancellation　would　certainly　ruin　our　day；〃　Ryld　remarked。　〃Aren't　you　a　little　nervous　in　that　arrangement？〃
　　　〃I've　always　had　a　good　head　for　heights；　but　let's　not　talk　about　it　anymore。〃
　　　Ryld　chuckled。
　　　For　days；　the　journey　had　been　simply　uneventful　and　dreary。　The　tactical　challenge　of　spying　in　the　heart　of　the　duergar　city；　though；　fully　engaged　them　both。
　　　〃Head　more　to　your　left；〃　Valas　said；　interrupting　his　own　thoughts。　〃There's　a　bit　of　a　ledge　on　the　cavern　wall　that　should　run