war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第57章

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Dark　Maiden　hold　over　her　worshipers　that　they　could　die　with　a　blessing　for　their　enemies　on　their　lips？
　　　Seyll　turned　away　from　the　Spider　Queen；　she　told　herself；　and　through　me　the　Spider　Queen　exacted　her　vengeance。　Yet　Seyll　died　with　calm　assurance；　as　if　she　had　escaped　Lolth　finally　and　pletely　with　the　ending　of　her　life。
　　　〃The　Spider　Queen　take　your　soul；〃　she　said　to　the　dead　priestess；　but　somehow　she　doubted　that　Lolth　would。
　　　
　　　〃A　swift　march　is　our　surest　path　to　victory；〃　Andzrel　Baenre　said；　addressing　the　assembled　priestesses。
　　　Nimor　stood　to　one　side　and　watched　the　Baenre　weapons　master；　one　of　only　a　handful　of　males　invited　to　take　counsel　with　the　assembled　females。　All　of　the　great　Houses；　and　no　less　than　sixteen　of　the　minor　ones；　were　represented　in　the　hastily　mustered　Army　of　the　Black　Spider；　named　for　the　banners　under　which　they　marched。　Nearly　thirty　high　priestesses…at　least　one　from　almost　every　House；　and　in　some　cases；　several　high　priestesses　from　the　same　House…filled　the　great　mand　pavilion　provided　by　the　Baenre　contingent；　watching　Andzrel　like　predatory　cats　while　reclining；　sitting；　or　standing　as　rank　and　opportunity　dictated。　Nimor　and　the　other　few　males　stood；　of　course。　No　mere　male　would　be　seated　while　a　high　priestess　remained　standing。
　　　〃We　lead　some　four　thousand　drow　soldiers　and　twenty…five　hundred　slave　soldiers　into　battle。　By　all　reports　it　would　seem　that　we　are　evenly　matched　with　the　duergar　army　that　marches　up　from　the　south；　but　we　do　not　intend　to　meet　the　duergar　in　a　fair　fight；　of　course。〃　The　word　〃fair〃　sent　a　wave　of　chuckles　echoing　through　the　tent。　Andzrel　used　a　slender　baton　to　direct　their　attention　to　a　large　map　inked　on　rothe…vellum。　〃We　can　stop　a　force　significantly　stronger　than　our　own　by　picking　the　right　ground　to　fight　for。　The　place　we　will　halt　the　duergar　advance　is　here；　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe。〃
　　　〃If　I　decide　that　your　plan　has　merit；　you　mean；〃　drawled　Mez'Barris　Armgo　of　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo。　〃Triel　Baenre　may　trust　in　your　judgment；　but　I　intend　to　think　for　myself；　boy。〃
　　　A　tall；　powerful　female；　the　matron　mother　of　the　Second　House　was　the　ranking　priestess　present　and　nominally　in　mand　of　the　entire　expedition。　Each　of　the　Houses　had　contributed　some　number　of　its　priestesses　to　mand　their　contingents　in　battle；　ranging　from　unblooded　acolytes　to　first　daughters　and　matron　mothers。　Weapons　masters　such　as　Andzrel　and　males…including　Nimor　in　his　role　as　Zhayemd　Dyrr…manded　warbands；　panies；　and　cavalry　squadrons；　attending　to　the　endless　details　of　organizing　the　army　of　Menzoberranzan。
　　　〃My　cousin　presents　House　Baenre's　views；　Matron　Mez'Barris；〃　Zal'therra　Baenre　rasped。　〃Matron　Triel　endorses　the　weapons　master's　battle　plan。〃
　　　Foremost　of　Triel　Baenre's　cousins；　Zal'therra　looked　nothing　like　the　petite　Matron　Mother　of　House　Baenre。　She　was　tall　and　broadly　built　in　the　shoulders；　a　strapping　female　with　a　remarkable　amount　of　physical　fortitude　and　a　coarse；　intimidating　manner。　She　and　Mez'Barris　were　two　of　a　kind　in　physique；　yet　the　Matron　Mother　of　House　Del'Armgo　possessed　a　brilliant；　vicious　cunning　that　was　nothing　more　than　a　sullen　streak　in　the　Baenre　priestess。　Mez'Barris　fixed　her　red　eyes　on　the　younger　woman；　but　did　not　respond。
　　　Andzrel　knew　better　than　to　speak　while　the　two　females　sparred。　He　waited　through　a　moment　of　silence　before　he　continued　the　briefing。
　　　〃Here　is　Rhazzt's　Dilemma；〃　he　said；　〃where　Captain　Zhayemd　of　Agrach　Dyrr　reported　the　duergar　vanguard　yesterday　morning。　It　lies　about　twenty…five　miles　south　of　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　at　the　lower　end　of　the　canyon。　Assuming　the　worst；　we　can　expect　the　duergar　to　storm　the　outpost　and　force　the　entrance　by　sometime　late　today；　perhaps　tomorrow　if　we're　lucky。　Duergar　are　hearty　soldiers　and　can　march　all　day　long；　but　they're　slow；　and　their　army　will　be　burdened　with　a　long　supply　train　and　heavy　siege　engines。　Ascending　the　gorge　will　be　difficult　going。　It　seems　that；　in　the　worst　case　again；　they　should　reach　the　Pillars　in　five　days…more　likely　seven　or　eight。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　know　the　gray　dwarves　haven't　overrun　the　outpost　already？〃　a　priestess　of　Tuin'Tarl　asked。
　　　〃We　do　not；　Mistress　Tuin'Tarl。　The　duergar　wizards　and　clerics　are　preventing　our　efforts　to　scry　the　surroundings；　a　mon　tactic　in　warfare　of　this　sort。〃　Andzrel　nodded　to　Nimor　and　added；　〃That　is　why　it　is　essential　to　deploy　a　screen　of　capable　scouts；　to　find　out　through　mundane　means　what　our　wizards　cannot　see。　Zhayemd　of　Agrach　Dyrr　is　charged　with　the　mand　of　our　reconnaissance。〃
　　　Andzrel　waited　a　moment　to　see　if　the　priestess　had　any　more　questions；　then　went　on；　〃In　any　event；　our　armies　travel　faster　than　the　gray　dwarves；　and　we　have　a　much　easier　route。　I　would　expect　our　vanguard　to　reach　the　Pillars　of　Woe　three　to　four　days　from　now。　If　we　hold　the　upper　exit　from　the　gorge；　the　duergar　will　never　break　our　defenses。　As　you　can　see；　it　is　something　of　a　race；　and　therefore　we　should　make　all　possible　speed。〃
　　　〃What　plan　do　you　have　for　battle；　Zal'therra？〃　asked　another　priestess；　the　mistress　of　the　House　Xorlarrin　contingent。
　　　Nimor　smiled　at　the　remark。　Zal'therra　had　certainly　been　instructed　by　Triel　to　rely　on　her　House　weapons　master's　advice　in　planning　the　battle；　but　the　high　priestesses　naturally　talked　past　Andzrel　as　if　he　wasn't　even　there。
　　　〃Andzrel　will　present　it；〃　the　Baenre　priestess　replied；　as　if　she'd　just　finished　explaining　it　all　to　him　and　choose　to　allow　him　to　show　off　her　genius。
　　　If　the　weapons　master　took　note　of　the　slight；　he　did　not　show　it。
　　　〃We　will　build　a　strong；　well…anchored　line　across　the　mouth　of　the　gorge。　A　few　hundred　troops　should　suffice　for　this；　but　we　will　mit　a　thousand。　The　remainder　of　our　soldiers　will　be　held　in　reserve　and　secure　various　small　passageways　and　flanking　caverns　in　the　vicinity。〃　Andzrel　set　down　his　baton　and　faced　the　assembled　priestesses；　his　face　expressionless　except　for　the　keen　glitter　of　determination　in　his　eyes。　〃I　mean　to　allow　the　duergar　to　e　to　us；　and　break　them　between　the　Pillars　of　Woe。　When　they　have　hurled　their　strength　on　us　in　vain；　we　will　pursue　them　back　down　the　gorge　and　slaughter　them　and　their　minions　in　heaps。〃
　　　〃And　what　if　the　duergar　choose　not　to　force　the　Pillars？〃　Mez'Barris　asked；　addressing　Andzrel　directly。
　　　〃The　duergar　are　invading　our　lands；　Matron　Mother；　so　the　burden　of　action　is　on　them。　If　they　decide　not　to　try　the　Pillars；　we　will　wait　them　out…our　supply　lines　are　much　shorter　than　theirs。　In　a　matter　of　days　they　will　have　to　choose　between　going　forward　and　going　back。〃
　　　Mez'Barris　gazed　at　the　map；　considering　Andzrel's　answer。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to　see　just　how　quickly　we　can　reach　the　spot　you　have　in　mind。　Extend　the　march　by　two　hours　a　day。　If　we　reach　the　Pillars　of　Woe　in　three　days；　we　should　have　time　to　rest　before　battle　is　joined。　I　want　our　fastest　forces　to　make　a　dash　for　the　Pillars；　just　in　case。　There　is　no　reason　we　couldn't　have　a　couple　of　hundred　scouts　at　the　top　of　that　gorge　in　a　day　and　a　half。　Now；　if　you　will　excuse　us；　I　wish　to　discuss　with　my　sister　priestesses　the　best　use　of　our　talents　in　the　uping　conflict。〃
　　　Andzrel　offered　a　shallow　bow；　and　withdrew　from　the　room。　Nimor　fell　in　beside　the　Baenre　weapons　master　as　they　left　the　black　pavilion；　flanked　by　a　handful　of　other　officers。　The　tent　stood　in　a　large；　round　tunnel　crowded　with　soldiers　and　pack　lizards；　banner　after　banner　of　various　Houses　stretching　out　of　sight　up　and　down　the　passage。
　　　〃Zhayemd；〃　said　Andzrel；　〃I　want　you　to　assume　mand　of　our　vanguard；　as　Matron　Mother　Del'Armgo　suggests。　Take　your　Agrach　Dyrr　cavalry　and　make　speed　tomorrow　and　the　next　day。　Our　lack　of　information　about　the　duergar　army　makes　me　nervous。　I'll　have　some　of　the　other　riders　join　you；　so　that　you'll　have　a　strong　pany　to　hold　the　pass　if　worse　es　to　worst。〃
　　　〃I　must　consult　with　our　high　priestess；〃　Nimor　said；　though　he　had　no　intention　of　doing　any　such　thing。　The　weapons　master；　still　under　Nimor's　powerful　and　lasting　enchantment；　would　trust　him　anyway。　〃I　believe　she　will　support　the　suggestion；　though。〃
　　　〃Good；〃　Andzrel　said　as　they　reached　the　Baenre　camp。　He　clapped　Nimor　on　the　shoulder。　〃If　you　find　the　duergar　somewhere　they're　not　supposed　to　be；　report　back　at　once。　I　want　no　foolishness　out　of　you。　You　are　the　eyes　of　our　army。〃
　　　Nimor　smiled　and　said；　〃Do　not　worry；　Master　Andzrel。　I　intend　to　leave　nothing　to　chance。〃
　　　
　　　Jezz　the　Lame　crouched　awkwardly　in　the　shadow　of　a　ruined　wall；　gazing　across　a　small　square　at　a　large；　round　tower　a　stone's　throw　away。
　　　〃There；〃　he　said。　〃The　beholder's　tower。　There's　a　flight　of　stairs　leading　up　to　the　door；　which　we　have　previously　found　to　be　unlocked　but　guarded　by　deadly　magical　traps。　You'll　see　several　small　windows　in　the　upper　levels；　perhaps　large　enough　for　a　small　drow　to　slip　through。　We　haven't　tried　those；　though。〃
　　　Ryld；　who　crouched　just　behind　the　Jaelre；　leaned　out　to　take　a　loo