war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第32章

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ons　to　work　with；　it　should　be　possible　to　align　two　against　the　third　in　whatever　bination　was　necessary　to　advance　his　goals。　In　extremis；　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　could　bring　their　own　strength　to　bear；　but　they　were　not　numerous；　and　it　was　always　preferable　to　expend　the　resources　of　one's　allies　before　tapping　your　own　reserves。
　　　〃I　think；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃that　we　won't　give　Horgar　the　chance　to　refuse　your　help。　Do　you　know　of　a　place　called　the　Pillars　of　Woe？〃
　　　Aliisza　frowned　and　shook　her　head。
　　　〃It's　a　gorge　between　Gracklstugh　and　Menzoberranzan；〃　Nimor　said；　〃a　place　I　have　great　plans　for。　I　am　certain　that　some　of　Kaanyr　Vhok's　scouts　will　know　the　spot；　and　I'll　make　sure　you　know　where　to　find　it。　Go　back　to　Kaanyr　Vhok　and　have　him　bring　the　Scoured　Legion　to　the　Pillars　of　Woe　with　all　possible　speed。　You　will　have　your　chance　to　assist　in　the　destruction　of　Menzoberranzan。　If　the　crown　prince　proves　pletely　unreasonable；　you　will　have　other　opportunities　available　to　you；　but　I　believe　that　Horgar　will　accept　your　stake　in　events　once　he　encounters　your　force　in　the　field。〃
　　　〃That　sounds　risky。〃
　　　〃Risk　is　the　cost　of　opportunity；　dear　lady。　It　cannot　be　avoided。〃
　　　Aliisza　measured　him　with　her　smoky　gaze。
　　　〃All　right；〃　she　said；　〃but　I'll　warn　you　that　Kaanyr　will　be　quite　put　out　with　me　if　he　marches　his　army　off　into　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark　and　misses　all　the　fun。〃
　　　〃I　will　not　disappoint　you；〃　Nimor　promised。　He　allowed　himself　a　deep　draught　of　wine；　and　pushed　his　chair　away　from　the　table。　〃That　would　seem　to　conclude　our　business；　Lady　Aliisza。　I　thank　you　for　the　fine　supper　and　the　pleasant　pany。〃
　　　〃Leaving　so　soon？〃　Aliisza　said；　with　just　a　hint　of　a　pout。
　　　She　drifted　closer；　a　mischievous　fire　springing　up　in　her　eyes；　and　Nimor　found　his　gaze　roving　over　the　voluptuous　curves　of　her　body。　She　leaned　forward　to　put　her　hands　on　the　arms　of　his　chair；　and　enfolded　her　wings　around　him。　With　sinuous　grace　she　lowered　herself　closer　to　nibble　at　his　ear；　pressing　her　soft；　hot　flesh　against　him。
　　　〃If　we've　finished　our　business　already；　Nimor　Imphraezl；　it　must　be　time　for　pleasure；〃　she　whispered　into　his　ear。
　　　Nimor　inhaled　the　delicious　odor　of　her　perfume　and　found　his　hands　roving　to　stroke　her　hips　and　bring　her　closer　still。
　　　〃If　you　insist；〃　he　murmured；　kissing　the　hollow　of　her　neck。
　　　She　shivered　in　his　arms　as　he　reached　up　to　unlace　her　corselet。
　　　
　　　The　crude　paddlewheels　at　the　sides　of　Coalhewer's　boat　clattered　loudly　in　the　darkness；　churning　the　black　water　into　furious；　white；　rushing　foam。　The　hulking　skeletons　in　their　well…like　space　at　the　boat's　center　stooped　and　rose；　stooped　and　rose；　their　bony　hands　clamped　to　the　crankshafts　driving　the　wheels。　Relentlessly；　tirelessly；　they　continued　their　mindless　work；　held　to　their　labors　by　the　necromantic　magic　that　had　animated　them　years；　or　perhaps　decades　past。　Halisstra　was　no　judge　of　waterborne　travel；　but　it　seemed　to　her　that　Coalhewer's　boat　was　holding　to　a　pace　that　would　be　difficult　to　match。
　　　She　risked　a　glance　back　over　her　shoulder　to　see　if　her　panions　had　marked　any　signs　of　pursuit。　Ryld；　Jeggred；　and　Pharaun　all　stood　in　the　rear　of　the　boat；　watching　its　wake。　Quenthel　sat　on　a　large　trunk　just　under　the　boat's　scaffoldlike　bridge；　also　gazing　back　toward　Gracklstugh。　Valas　stood　on　the　bridge　alongside　Coalhewer；　making　sure　that　the　duergar　captain　kept　the　ungainly　vehicle　to　the　course　he　desired。
　　　Halisstra　and　Danifae　had　taken　up　the　posts　of　lookouts；　peering　ahead　to　make　sure　they　didn't　run　headlong　into　trouble。　Halisstra　hadn't　bothered　to　debate　the　arrangement。　The　males　were　best　placed　between　the　rest　of　the　pany　and　the　most　likely　threats；　and　Pharaun　was　probably　their　best　weapon　against　any　pursuit　out　of　Gracklstugh。
　　　The　city　itself　was　no　longer　visible；　except　as　a　long；　low　red　smudge。　The　firelight　of　the　dwarves'　forges　could　be　seen　for　several　miles　across　the　vast　black　space　of　the　Dark　Lake's　open　waters；　a　sense　of　distance　that　reminded　Halisstra　of　the　unnatural　vistas　of　the　World　Above。　They'd　churned　their　way　east　and　south　from　Gracklstugh's　waterfront　for　several　hours；　with　no　sign　of　anyone　following；　but　Halisstra　couldn't　shake　the　impression　that　they　were　not　clear　of　the　duergar　yet。　Reluctantly　she　shifted　her　gaze　back　to　the　boundless　dark　in　front　of　the　boat；　and　checked　her　crossbow　to　make　sure　it　was　ready　to　fire。
　　　Halisstra　carefully　scanned　her　half　of　the　bow；　starting　with　the　water　close　to　the　boat　and　working　her　way　farther　out　until　even　her　drow　sight　could　make　out　nothing　more　through　the　blackness；　then　she　returned　her　gaze　to　the　boat　and　started　again。　Great　stalactites　or　columns…it　was　impossible　to　tell…descended　from　the　ceiling　and　vanished　into　the　inky　water　at　odd　intervals；　creating　titanic　pillars　of　stone　for　the　boat　to　navigate　around。　In　other　spots　the　jagged　points　of　stalagmites　jutted　from　the　surface　like　spears。　Coalhewer　steered　well　clear　of　those；　pointing　out　that　there　might　be　two　submerged　rocks　for　every　one　that　broke　the　surface。
　　　〃I　can't　believe　I'm　crouching　on　the　deck　of　a　duergar　boat；　fleeing　for　my　life　from　a　city　I'd　never　seen　before　three　days　ago；〃　Halisstra　murmured；　breaking　the　long　silence。　〃Two　tendays　ago　I　was　the　heir　apparent　of　a　great　House　in　a　noble　city。　One　tenday　ago　I　was　a　prisoner；　betrayed　by　the　petty　malice　of　Faeryl　Zauvirr；　and　now　here　I　am；　a　rootless　wanderer　with　nothing　more　to　my　name　than　the　armor　on　my　back　and　whatever　odds　and　ends　are　stowed　in　my　pack。　I　just　cannot　fathom　why。〃
　　　〃I　am　not　unfamiliar　with　changes　in　one's　circumstances　and　fortunes；〃　Danifae　said。　〃What　is　the　point　of　asking　why？　It　is　the　will　of　the　Spider　Queen。〃
　　　〃Is　it？〃　Halisstra　asked。　〃House　Melarn　stood　for　twenty　centuries　or　more；　only　to　fall　in　the　hour　when　Lolth　withdrew　her　favor　from　our　entire　race。　It　was　only　in　her　absence　that　our　enemies　could　overthrow　us。〃
　　　Danifae　did　not　reply；　nor　did　Halisstra　expect　her　to。　That　thought　was　perilously　close　to　heresy；　after　all。　To　suggest　that　something　had　occurred　against　Lolth's　will　was　to　doubt　the　power　of　the　Spider　Queen；　and　to　question　Lolth's　power　was　to　invite　death　and　condemnation　as　a　faithless　weakling。　The　fate　that　awaited　the　faithless　in　the　afterlife　was　too　terrible　to　contemplate。　Unless　Lolth　chose　to　take　the　soul　of　a　follower　to　her　divine　abode　in　the　Demonweb　Pits；　a　drow's　spirit　would　be　condemned　to　anguish　and　oblivion　in　the　barren　wastelands　where　the　dead　of　all　kinds　were　judged。　Only　abject　worship　and　perfect　service　could　sway　the　Dark　Queen　to　intercede　on　one's　behalf　and　grant　life　beyond　life；　eternal　existence　as　one　of　Lolth's　divine　host。
　　　Of　course；　thought　Halisstra；　if　Lolth　is　dead；　then　damnation　and　oblivion　bee　unavoidable；　don't　they？
　　　She　blanched　at　the　thought　and　shivered　in　horror；　standing　quickly　and　pacing　away　from　the　bridge　to　hide　her　face　from　the　others。
　　　I　must　not　think　such　things；　she　told　herself。　Better　to　empty　my　mind　of　all　thoughts　than　to　entertain　blasphemy。
　　　She　closed　her　eyes　and　took　a　deep　breath；　doing　her　best　to　banish　her　insidious　doubts。
　　　〃We've　got　trouble；〃　Ryld　announced　from　the　afterdeck。　The　weapons　master　knelt　and　peered　through　the　darkness　behind　the　boat。　〃Three　boats；　much　like　this　one。〃
　　　〃I　see　them；〃　Pharaun　said。　He　glanced　up　at　the　bridge。　〃Master　Coalhewer；　I　thought　you　said　this　was　the　fastest　vessel　on　the　Darklake。　Am　I　to　gather　that　you　exaggerated　a　bit？〃
　　　The　dwarf　scowled　back　into　the　darkness　and　replied；　〃I've　never　been　overtaken　before　today；　so　how　was　I　t'know　any　different？〃
　　　He　muttered　a　foul　string　of　curses　and　paced　from　one　end　of　the　bridge　to　the　other；　never　taking　his　eyes　off　the　following　boats。
　　　〃They're　not　gaining　on　us　by　much；〃　Quenthel　observed　after　a　long　moment。　〃It's　going　to　take　them　a　while　to　catch　us。〃
　　　Halisstra　turned　and　clambered　past　the　bridge　to　gaze　aft。　She　could　see　the　pursuing　boats；　just　barely。　They　trailed　behind　Coalhewer's　craft　by　a　bowshot；　black　ghosts　silhouetted　faintly　against　the　dying　red　smudge　that　marked　the　city　behind　them。　A　glimmer　of　white　played　at　the　bow　of　each　boat　where　it　parted　the　waters。
　　　She　looked　up　at　the　duergar　and　asked；　〃Can't　you　make　this　thing　go　any　faster？〃
　　　Coalhewer　growled　and　waved　a　hand　at　the　skeletons　driving　the　craft。
　　　〃They've　been　told　to　go　as　fast　as　they　can；〃　he　said。　〃We　might　speed　her　up　by　throwing　weight　over　the　side；　but　there's　no　telling　if　it'd　be　help　enough。〃
　　　〃How　far　are　we　from　the　southern　wall　of　the　cavern？〃　asked　Quenthel。
　　　〃I　don't　know　these　waters　well。　Three　miles；　I'd　guess。〃
　　　〃Then　keep　to　your　course；〃　the　Baenre　decided。　〃Once　we're　ashore；　we'll　be　able　to　outdistance　any　pursuit；　or　pick　our　ground　to　fight　on　if　we　decide　not　to　run。〃
　　　〃But　what　of　my　boat？〃　Coalhewer　demanded。　〃D'ye　have　any　idea　how　much　I　paid　for　it？〃
　　　〃I'