war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第77章

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mewhat；　and　for　the　first　time　in　seemingly　endless　hours　and　miles　the　pany　found　itself　traversing　something　like　level　ground　instead　of　picking　their　way　down　the　sloping　cable。　More　demonic　and　spidery　corpses　appeared；　some　half…buried　in　the　strand　as　if　they'd　fallen　from　the　limitless　heights　above…which　they　most　likely　had。
　　　The　travelers　reached　the　thick　ring　and　crossed　one　more　stretch　of　twisted　webbing　only　to　find　that　the　structure　in　the　center　was　some　kind　of　immense　stone　temple；　a　baroque　building　of　gleaming　black　obsidian　miles　in　diameter。　Spiked　stone　buttresses　soared　across　the　bottomless　space；　linking　the　structure　to　the　ring　around　it。　Vast　dark　plazas　of　smooth　stone　large　enough　to　swallow　cities　surrounded　the　temple's　flanks。　Without　speaking；　the　pany　picked　their　way　over　to　one　of　the　colossal　flying　buttresses　and　advanced　toward　their　goal。
　　　Halisstra　found　herself　trembling；　not　with　exhaustion；　but　with　a　bination　of　terror　and　ecstasy　as　she　realized　that　she　must　soon　withstand　Lolth's　scrutiny　in　the　flesh。
　　　I　am　worthy；　she　told　herself。　I　must　be。
　　　The　demons　that　had　plagued　their　progress　through　the　webs　didn't　seem　to　care　for　the　black　temple。　In　any　event；　no　more　of　the　monsters　pursued　the　pany　once　they　left　the　web　behind　them。　For　a　long　time　the　dark　elves　simply　walked　onward；　crossing　the　huge　outer　plaza；　as　the　walls　of　the　temple　came　closer　and　closer；　revealing　their　dark　details。
　　　Quenthel　oriented　their　march　on　a　sharp…edged　break　in　the　cyclopean　wall；　a　huge　cleft　that　must　have　been　the　temple's　portico。　From　time　to　time　they　passed　the　strange；　inanimate　forms　of　large；　spiderlike　beings　that　seemed　to　be　sculpted　from　fluid　black　stone。　Oddly　enough；　the　petrified　forms　grew　smaller　and　smaller　the　closer　they　came　to　the　cleft。　Halisstra　dismissed　the　mystery　from　her　mind；　concentrating　only　on　the　goal　before　her。
　　　At　last　they　reached　the　mouth　of　the　temple；　and　looked　upon　its　entrance。　A　vast　face　confronted　them；　the　face　of　a　cruelly　beautiful　dark　elf；　her　features　calm　and　still　as　if　in　contemplation。　Perfect　black　stone　barred　the　entrance　from　one　side　to　the　other；　sculpted　into　the　image　of　the　Spider　Queen's　visage。　Only　her　half…lidded　eyes　showed　any　animation　at　all。　Gazing　down　blankly　at　the　tiny　supplicants　below　her；　Lolth's　eyes　gleamed　with　a　roiling；　hellish　glee　focused　entirely　on　whatever　thoughts　or　processes　lay　behind　them。
　　　The　pany　stood　gazing　up　in　wonder　and　terror；　and　Quenthel　prostrated　herself　before　the　image　of　her　goddess。　Halisstra　and　Danifae　joined　her　at　once；　groveling　on　the　cold　black　stone。　Even　the　males　dropped　to　the　ground；　lying　on　their　faces　and　averting　their　eyes。　Tzirik；　as　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun；　settled　for　taking　one　knee　and　lowering　his　gaze　respectfully。　He　didn't　serve　the　Queen　of　the　Demonweb　Pits；　but　he　and　others　of　his　faith　certainly　recognized　her　divinity。
　　　〃Great　Queen！〃　called　Quenthel。　〃We　have　e　from　Menzoberranzan　to　beseech　you　to　restore　your　favor　to　your　priestesses！　Our　enemies　encroach　on　your　holy　city　and　threaten　your　faithful　with　destruction。　We　humbly　beg　you　to　instruct　us　in　what　we　must　do　to　find　approval　in　your　eyes。　Arm　us　with　your　holy　might　once　more；　and　we　will　hunt　your　enemies　until　their　blood　fills　the　Underdark　and　their　souls　fill　your　belly！〃
　　　The　face　did　not　respond。
　　　Quenthel　waited　for　a　long　time；　still　prostrate；　then　she　licked　her　lips　and　uttered　another　prayer。　Halisstra　and　Danifae　joined　their　pleading　to　hers；　and　they　begged　and　pleaded　with　every　prayer；　every　invocation；　every　catechism　they　had　ever　been　taught；　scraping　and　groveling　at　the　temple　door。　The　males　simply　waited；　still　stretched　out　on　the　black　stone。　After　a　time；　Tzirik　moved　off　a　short　distance　and　sat　down　with　his　back　to　the　face；　muning　with　his　own　god。　Halisstra　ignored　him　and　continued　her　supplications。
　　　Still　the　face　did　not　respond。
　　　The　three　priestesses　kept　up　their　pleas　for　what　must　have　been　hours；　but　finally　Quenthel　pushed　herself　upright　and　gazed　full　on　the　visage　of　Lolth。
　　　〃Enough；　sisters；〃　said　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith。　〃The　goddess　plainly　does　not　deign　to　answer　us　at　this　time。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　we　are　in　the　wrong　place；〃　Pharaun　suggested。　〃Perhaps　we　must　go　farther　in　order　for　you　to　offer　your　prayers。〃
　　　〃There　is　no　place　farther　to　go；〃　Tzirik　said；　rejoining　the　party。　〃Vhaeraun　informs　me　that　this　is　the　only　point　of　approach　to　Lolth's　domain　through　the　Abyss。　If　she　refuses　to　hear　you　at　this　spot；　she　will　not　hear　you　anywhere　else　in　this　plane。〃
　　　〃But　why　does　she　continue　to　ignore　us？〃　Halisstra　asked　in　a　plaintive　voice。　She　climbed　to　her　feet；　her　heart　sick　with　longing。　After　all　that　had　happened…the　fall　of　her　House；　the　destruction　of　her　city；　the　travails　of　the　quest…to　stand　before　Lolth's　temple　and　be　ignored　was　simply　inprehensible。　〃What　more　do　we　have　to　do？〃
　　　Tzirik　shrugged　and　said；　〃I　cannot　answer　that　question。〃
　　　〃Apparently　Lolth　can't；　either；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　She　ignored　the　disapproval　and　fear　that　flickered　across　Quenthel's　features；　and　strode　up　angrily　to　stand　within　arm's　reach　of　the　towering　face。
　　　〃Hear　me；　Lolth！〃　she　cried。　〃Answer　me！　What　have　we　done　to　earn　your　displeasure？　Where　are　you？〃
　　　〃Speak　with　respect！〃　hissed　Quenthel；　her　eyes　wide　with　terror。
　　　Ryld　quailed；　but　managed　to　find　the　strength　to　take　a　couple　of　steps　forward。
　　　〃Mistress　Melarn　。　。　。〃　he　said；　〃Halisstra；　e　away　from　there。　No　good…〃
　　　〃Lolth！〃　Halisstra　screamed。　〃Answer　me；　damn　you！〃
　　　She　struck　the　cold　stone　of　the　face　with　her　fists；　flailing　away　in　futility；　in　anger。　Her　mind　went　empty　as　animal　fury　rose　up　to　overthrow　her　reason。　She　screamed　curses　upon　her　goddess；　she　battered　at　the　uncaring　face　until　her　hands　were　bruised　and　bloody；　and　still　no　answer　came。　After　a　time　she　found　herself　huddled　against　the　cold　stone；　weeping；　her　hands　broken　and　useless。　Like　a　lost　child；　she　cried　with　all　the　ache　in　her　heart。
　　　〃Why？　Why？〃　was　all　she　could　manage　to　say　through　her　sobs。　〃Why　have　you　abandoned　us？　Why　do　you　hate　us？〃
　　　〃You　speak　heresy；〃　Quenthel　said；　her　voice　hard　with　disapproval。　〃Have　you　no　faith　left；　Halisstra　Melarn？　The　goddess　will　speak　in　her　own　time。〃
　　　〃Do　you　really　believe　that　still？〃　Halisstra　muttered。
　　　She　turned　her　face　away　and　gave　herself　up　to　her　tears；　no　longer　caring　what　Quenthel；　or　Danifae；　or　any　of　the　others　thought。　She'd　had　her　answer　from　Lolth。
　　　〃Weak　。。。〃　she　heard　Quenthel　whisper。
　　　Standing　a　short　distance　from　the　rest　of　the　pany；　Tzirik　sighed　and　said；　〃Well；　that's　that；　I　suppose。　Lolth　hasn't　chosen　to　break　her　silence　for　you；　so　now　I　have　something　I　must　do。〃
　　　He　raised　his　arms　and　made　a　plex　series　of　passes；　while　muttering　dire　words　of　power。　The　air　crackled　with　energy。　Quenthel's　eyes　widened　as　she　recognized　the　spell　the　Vhaeraunite　spoke。
　　　〃Stop　him！〃　she　screeched；　whirling　to　face　the　priest。
　　　She　started　forward；　raising　her　deadly　whips；　but　Danifae　caught　her　arm　as　she　rushed　past。
　　　〃Carefully！〃　hissed　Danifae。　〃Our　bodies　are　still　in　Minauthkeep。〃
　　　〃He's　creating　a　gate！〃　Quenthel　snapped。　〃Here！〃
　　　〃What　are　you　doing；　Tzirik？〃　Pharaun　said　with　some　alarm。
　　　The　wizard　recoiled　a　step　and　prepared　a　defensive　spell；　but　Danifae's　warning　was　just　enough　to　cause　him　to　hesitate　before　interfering。
　　　Ryld　and　Valas　held　their　hands　as　well；　uncertain　of　what　would　happen　if　they　harmed　the　cleric　whose　spell　had　brought　them　to　Lolth's　door。　The　weapons　master　and　the　mercenary　drew　their　weapons　but　halted　there。
　　　〃Pharaun；　what　should　we　do？〃　Ryld　said。
　　　Before　the　wizard　could　answer；　Tzirik　finished　his　spell。　With　an　enormous　tearing　sound；　a　great　black　rift：　appeared　in　the　air　beside　the　Jaelre　priest。
　　　〃I　am　here；　my　lord！〃　he　cried　into　the　rift。　〃I　stand　before　the　Face　of　Lolth！〃
　　　And　from　the　depths　of　blackness　within　the　rift；　a　voice　of　ineffable　power；　of　terrible　potency；　answered；　〃Good。　I　e。〃
　　　The　blackness　seemed　to　stir；　and　from　the　rift　stepped　something　that　had　the　size　and　shape　of　a　lean；　graceful　drow　male；　but　was　obviously　something　more。　Dressed　in　black　leather；　a　purple　mask　draped　over　his　face；　the　being　radiated　puissance　and　presence；　his　form　almost　quivering　with　the　potentialities　he　contained。　Even　Halisstra；　absorbed　in　her　own　misery　with　her　back　turned　to　the　scene；　whipped　her　head　around　as　she　sensed　the　being's　arrival。　With　imperious　ease；　the　being　surveyed　the　plain　of　dark　stone　and　the　black　temple。
　　　〃It　is　as　I　thought；〃　he　said　to　Tzirik；　who　had　fallen　prostrate　at　his　feet。　〃Rise；　my　son。　You　have　done　well；　and　brought　me　to　a　place　from　which　I　was　barred。〃
　　　〃I　have　only　done　as　you　manded；　Masked　Lord；〃　Tzirik　said；　standing　slowly。
　　　〃Tzirik；〃　Quenthel　managed　in　a　strangled　voice；　〃what　have　you　done？〃
　　　〃He　has　opened　a　gate　for　me；〃