war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第55章

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　　　〃I　could　torture　you　for　a　few　years　and　discover　as　much；〃　the　priest　said。　〃Or；　for　that　matter；　having　agreed　to　ask　the　Masked　Lord　your　questions；　I　might　not　see　fit　to　share　the　answers。〃
　　　〃True；　perhaps；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃though　I　think　you　might　find　that　we　are　far　from　helpless；　even　with　our　weapons　back　in　our　chambers。　Before　we　make　a　trial　of　that；　let　us　see　if　we　can　reach　an　agreement　of　sorts。〃
　　　〃She's　bluffing；〃　Jezz　remarked。　〃Why　deal　with　these　venomous　creatures？　Spare　your　friend　if　you　like；　but　slay　the　priestesses　at　once。〃
　　　〃Patience；　young　Jezz。　There　is　always　time　for　that　later；〃　Tzirik　said。　He　paced　away；　then　looked　back　to　Quenthel。　〃What　is　it　you　wish　to　learn？〃
　　　Quenthel　squared　her　shoulders　and　met　the　priest's　gaze　evenly。
　　　〃We　wish　to　know　what　has　bee　of　Lolth；〃　she　said。　〃The　goddess　refuses　us　our　spells；　and　has　done　so　for　many　months　now。　Since　we　do　not　have　access　to　the　magic　she　normally　grants　us；　we　have　no　way　to　ask　her　ourselves。〃
　　　〃Your　fickle　goddess　is　testing　you；〃　Tzirik　said　with　a　laugh。　〃She's　withholding　your　spells　simply　to　see　how　long　you　remain　loyal。〃
　　　〃So　we　thought　at　first；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃but　it　has　been　nearly　four　months　now；　and　we　can　only　conclude　that　it　is　her　will　that　we　should　seek　the　answer　for　ourselves。〃
　　　〃Why　ask　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun？〃　Jezz　asked。　〃Surely　the　priestesses　of　a　neighboring　city　could　be　persuaded　to　intervene　on　your　behalf。〃
　　　〃They　have　lost　contact　with　the　goddess；　too；〃　Danifae　answered。　〃I　came　from　Ched　Nasad；　where　we　had　experienced　the　same　silence　as　the　priestesses　of　Menzoberranzan。　We　have　reason　to　believe　that　all　the　drow　cities　throughout　the　Underdark　are　in　the　same　situation。　Lolth　is　speaking　to　no　one；　drow　and　lesser　races　alike。〃
　　　〃That　would　explain　the　retreat　of　Maerimydra；〃　Jezz　said　quietly　to　Tzirik。　〃If　their　priestesses　are　powerless；　they　might　be　too　busy　with　their　own　difficulties　to　cause　any　trouble　for　us。〃
　　　〃The　facts　would　seem　to　fit；〃　Tzirik　replied。　He　turned　his　attention　to　Pharaun。　〃What　of　your　vaunted　wizards？　Could　they　not　summon　up　demons　and　devils　aplenty　and　question　them　as　to　your　goddess's　mysterious　silence；　or　use　divination　spells　of　their　own？〃
　　　〃We　found　that　the　infernal　powers　knew　little　more　than　we　did；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃It　seems　as　if　Lolth　has　barred　contact　with　the　neighboring　layers　of　the　Abyss；　sealing　the　borders　of　her　realm　against　other　powers。〃　He　raised　his　thumb…bound　hands　and　made　a　small　self…deprecatory　gesture。　〃That　is　what　I　surmised　from　the　reports　of　my　colleagues　investigating　the　matter；　at　any　length。　I　did　not　do　so　personally；　as　the　archmage　has　instructed　me　not　to　conjure　such　beings　on　pain　of　a　particularly　grotesque　death。〃
　　　Tzirik　studied　the　Menzoberranyr；　then　paced　over　to　consult　with　Jezz。　The　two　Jaelre　spoke　together　quietly；　while　the　Menzoberranyr　waited。　Ryld　surreptitiously　studied　the　guards　nearby；　calculating　which　of　them　he　could　disarm　in　order　to　provide　himself　with　a　weapon　if　it　came　to　that。　He　still　wore　his　dwarven　breastplate；　and　felt　reasonably　confident　that　he　could　wrest　a　halberd　away　from　one　of　the　guards　before　he　was　run　through…though　it　might　be　a　better　move　to　use　his　belt　knife　to　sever　Pharaun's　bonds　as　the　first　step　in　any　kind　of　fight。
　　　He　was　interrupted　in　his　planning　when　Tzirik　and　Jezz　returned　to　the　pany。
　　　〃I　will　intercede　with　Vhaeraun　on　your　behalf；〃　the　high　priest　of　the　Jaelre　said；　〃not　least　because　I；　too；　would　like　to　know　what　Lolth　is　up　to。　However；　I　think　it　is　fair　to　expect　a　service　for　a　service；　and　as　you　have　approached　me　and　not　the　other　way　around；　I　will　seek　Vhaeraun's　guidance　only　after　you　have　pleted　your　task。〃
　　　〃Fine；〃　grated　Quenthel。　〃What　do　you　wish　us　to　do？〃
　　　〃Three　days　west　of　here　lie　the　ruins　of　Myth　Drannor；　once　the　capital　of　the　old　surface　elf　realm　of　Cormanthyr；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃During　the　course　of　our　exploration　of　the　ruins；　we　have　e　to　suspect　that　a　book　containing　secret　and　powerful　lore…the　Geildirion　of　Cimbar…is　buried　in　the　secret　library　of　a　ruined　wizard's　tower。　We　have　need　of　the　knowledge　that　is　in　the　Geildirion；　for　it　will　help　us　to　master　the　ancient　magical　wards　our　long…lost　surface　cousins　raised　about　their　realm。　Unfortunately；　demons；　devils；　and　fiends　of　all　kinds　plague　the　city's　ruins；　and　the　tower　itself　is　home　to　an　unusually　powerful　beholder　mage。　We　have　sent　two　expeditions　to　the　tower；　but　the　beholder　destroyed　or　drove　off　our　scouts　with　ease。　I　have　no　wish　to　throw　away　the　lives　of　more　of　my　charges；　but　I　would　dearly　like　to　possess　that　book。　Since　you　seem　to　be　the　best　Menzoberranzan　has　to　offer；　perhaps　you　can　succeed　where　our　warriors　have　so　far　failed。　Bring　me　the　Geildirion；　and　I　will　seek　Vhaeraun's　insight　regarding　Lolth's　silence。〃
　　　〃Done；〃　Quenthel　replied。　〃Provide　us　a　guide　to　this　place；　and　we　will　get　your　book　for　you。〃
　　　Jezz　laughed　softly　and　said；　〃You　might　not　be　so　quick　to　agree；　if　you　knew　how　dangerous　the　beholder　really　is。　You　will　earn　our　aid；　that　is　for　certain。〃
　　　
　　　At　nightfall；　Seyll；　acpanied　by　a　young　drow　woman　and　a　pale　elf　maiden；　came　for　Halisstra。　The　priestess　of　Eilistraee　was　armed　and　armored　beneath　her　green　cloak；　a　long　sword　at　her　hip。　She　wore　high　leather　boots；　and　carried　a　bundle　under　one　arm。
　　　〃It's　raining；〃　she　said　as　she　entered　the　cell；　〃but　our　senior　priestesses　say　it　will　be　clear　later　on；　when　the　moon　rises。　Tonight　we　will　go　to　honor　our　goddess。〃
　　　Halisstra　shifted　in　her　chains　and　rose。
　　　〃I　will　not　honor　Eilistraee；〃　she　said。
　　　〃You　need　not　participate。　I　am　simply　offering　you　the　opportunity　to　observe　and　draw　your　own　conclusions。　You　challenged　me　to　demonstrate　that　my　goddess　is　not　a　cruel　or　jealous　one。　I　stand　ready　to　offer　proof。〃
　　　〃Doubtless　you　think　to　ensnare　me　with　some　beguiling　enchantments；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃Do　not　think　I　will　be　duped　so　easily。〃
　　　〃No　one　will　attempt　to　work　any　magic　on　you；〃　Seyll　replied。　She　set　down　her　bundle　and　unwrapped　it。　Inside　was　a　large　leather　case；　boots；　and　a　cloak　not　unlike　her　own。　〃I　have　brought　your　lyre；　in　the　hopes　that　you　might　honor　us　with　a　song　if　you　feel　so　inclined。〃
　　　〃I　doubt　you　will　take　much　pleasure　in　the　bae'qeshel　songs；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　〃We　will　see；〃　the　priestess　said。　〃You've　been　manacled　here　for　three　days；　and　I'm　offering　you　a　chance　to　get　out　of　your　cell。〃
　　　〃Only　to　be　returned　here　when　you're　done　hectoring　me　about　your　goddess。〃
　　　〃As　we　discussed　before；　you　need　only　offer　Lord　Dessaer　an　accounting　of　yourself　to　be　free；〃　Seyll　said。　She　produced　a　set　of　keys　and　dangled　them　in　front　of　Halisstra。　〃Xarra　and　Feliane　are　here　to　help　me　escort　you　safely　to　and　from　the　spot　of　our　ceremony　tonight；　and　I'm　afraid　I　must　insist　on　keeping　your　hands　bound。〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　at　the　other　two　women。　They　wore　chain　mail　beneath　their　cloaks；　too；　and　also　carried　swords　at　their　hips。　She　had　little　wish　to　watch　some　meaningless　drivel　in　Eilistraee's　name；　but　Seyll　offered　her　a　chance　to　get　out　of　her　cell。　At　the　very　worst；　Seyll's　vigilance　would　not　lapse；　and　no　opportunities　for　escape　would　arise；　leaving　Halisstra　no　worse　for　wear。　At　best；　Seyll　and　her　fellow　clerics　might　make　a　mistake　that　Halisstra　could　capitalize　on。
　　　In　either　case；　she　would　at　least　have　an　opportunity　to　spy　out　some　of　the　town　and　the　surrounding　forest；　which　might　e　in　useful　if　a　chance　to　escape　came　up　later…and　there　was　always　the　chance　of　that。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said。
　　　Seyll　unlocked　Halisstra's　manacles；　and　helped　the　Melarn　priestess　to　don　the　winter　clothing　and　cloak　she'd　brought。　She　knotted　a　strong　silver　cord　around　Halisstra's　hands；　and　the　small　party　left　the　palace　dungeons　and　ascended　into　a　cold；　rain…spattered　night。
　　　Elventree　was　not　really　a　town；　nor　an　outpost；　nor　an　encampment；　but　something　in　between。　Ruined　walls　of　white　stone　crisscrossed　the　place；　hinting　at　the　old　ramparts　and　broad　squares　of　a　good…sized　surface　town；　but　most　were　crumbling　with　age。　Many　of　the　original　buildings　were　nothing　more　than　empty　shells；　but　a　number　of　them　seemed　to　have　been　appropriated　by　the　town's　current　residents；　who　had　covered　the　old　buildings　with　wooden　latticework　or　permanent　tents　in　order　to　turn　the　proud　old　structures　into　humble；　semi…permanent　woodsmen's　homes。　Great　gnarled　trees　rose　from　the　cracked　pavement　of　ancient　courtyards；　and　many　structures　actually　stood　well　off　the　ground　in　their　mighty　branches；　linked　by　swaying　catwalks　of　silver　rope　and　white　planks。　A　handful　of　the　town's　original　buildings　still　stood　more　or　less　intact。
　　　Halisstra　saw　that　she　had　been　imprisoned　beneath　an　old　watch…tower。　Across　the　square　an　elegant　palace　rose　through　the　trees；　illuminated　by　hundreds　of　soft　lanterns。　Lord　Dessaer's　palace；　she　surmised。　The　sound　of　distant　song　and　laughter　drifted　throug