war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第9章

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and　therefore　well…suited　to　be　the　consort　of　a　demonspawned　warlord　such　as　Kaanyr。
　　　〃Menzoberranzan？〃　she　purred；　tracing　the　filigree　of　his　armor　with　one　fingertip。
　　　〃Of　course。　There　seems　to　be　nothing　worth　the　taking　in　Ched　Nasad；　after　all。〃　Kaanyr　frowned；　and　his　gaze　grew　distant。　〃If　the　dark　elves　are　without　the　protection　of　their　spider　goddess；　and　unable　to　govern　their　interminable　feuds；　I　may　have　an　opportunity　to　seize　the　greatness　I　have　always　coveted。　Having　mastered　the　ruins　of　Ammarindar；　I　find　that　I　hunger　for　something　more。　Subjugating　a　city　of　drow　appeals　to　me。〃
　　　〃Others　have　had　that　thought；〃　Aliisza　pointed　out。　〃The　Menzoberranyr　I　spoke　with　in　Ched　Nasad　suggested　that　his　own　city　had　suffered　a　significant　slave　uprising；　sponsored　by　some　outside　agency。　I　think　the　duergar　mercenaries　who　fought　in　Ched　Nasad　would　not　have　left　the　city　to　whatever　House　hired　them；　once　they'd　managed　to　take　it。　If　the　duergar　firebombs　hadn't　worked　so　well；　I　suspect　Clan　Xornbane　would　rule　Ched　Nasad　now。〃
　　　〃Or　I　would；〃　Kaanyr　said。　He　narrowed　his　eyes。　〃If　you　had　reported　the　situation　to　me　in　a　more　timely　manner；　I　might　have　been　able　to　bring　my　army　against　Ched　Nasad　when　the　drow　and　duergar　were　exhausted　from　fighting　each　other。〃
　　　Aliisza　licked　her　lips。
　　　〃You　would　have　lost　whatever　forces　you　brought　into　the　city；〃　she　replied。　〃Your　tanarukks　could　have　endured　the　fires；　of　course；　but　the　collapse　of　the　city　streets　destroyed　everything　in　the　cavern。　Trust　me；　you　missed　no　opportunities　in　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　Kaanyr　did　not　reply。　Instead；　he　disentangled　himself　from　Aliisza　and　vaulted　lightly　over　the　balcony　rail；　descending　to　the　foundry　floor。　The　warlord　had　no　wings；　but　his　demonic　heritage　conferred　the　ability　to　fly　through　effort　of　will。　Aliisza　frowned；　and　followed　behind　him；　spreading　her　black　pinions　wide　to　catch　the　blazing　updrafts　of　the　room。　Kaanyr　was　still　sore　about　Ched　Nasad；　and　that　was　not　good；　she　reflected。　If　the　warlord　ever　tired　of　her；　he　was　certainly　capable　of　having　her　killed　in　some　grisly　manner；　past　intimacies　notwithstanding。　There　was　nothing　of　which　he　was　not　capable；　if　his　temper　got　the　better　of　him。
　　　The　half…demon　alighted　beside　a　sand　mold　filling　with　molten　iron。　A　pair　of　tanarukks　stood　by；　carefully　watching　over　the　pour。　Kaanyr　squatted　down　by　the　white…hot　metal　and　absently　stirred　his　fingers　in　it。　It　was　hot　enough　to　cause　him　disfort；　and　after　a　moment　he　shook　the　molten　iron　from　his　fingers　and　brushed　them　against　his　thigh。
　　　〃Good　iron；〃　he　said　to　the　tanarukks。　〃Carry　on；　lads。〃
　　　He　straightened　and　continued　on　his　way。　Aliisza　fluttered　to　the　stone　floor　and　fell　into　step　behind　him。
　　　〃The　thing　that　troubles　me　is　this；〃　Kaanyr　mused。　〃Why　did　the　Xornbane　duergar　betray　the　House　that　employed　them　by　burning　the　whole　city？　Was　it　simply　a　dispute　over　pay？　Or　did　they　intend　from　the　start　to　bring　ruin　to　Ched　Nasad？　If　so；　was　Horgar　Steelshadow　behind　it？　Did　the　prince　of　Gracklstugh　send　his　mercenaries　to　Ched　Nasad　to　destroy　the　city；　or　did　Clan　Xornbane　do　that　for　someone　else？〃
　　　〃Does　it　matter？〃　Aliisza　asked；　sidling　up　beside　him　again。　〃The　city　was　destroyed；　regardless　of　anyone's　intentions。　The　great　Houses　of　Ched　Nasad　are　dead；　and　there　aren't　many　Xornbane　dwarves　remaining；　for　that　matter。〃
　　　〃It　matters　because　I　find　myself　wondering　whether　the　duergar　of　Gracklstugh　plan　to　attack　Menzoberranzan　next；〃　Kaanyr　said。　〃I　have　amassed　no　small　strength　here；　but　I　do　not　believe　I　can　take　Menzoberranzan　unless　the　dark　elves　are　reduced　to　utter　chaos　and　helplessness。　If　the　duergar　mean　to　march　on　the　city　too；　my　opportunities　are　limitless。〃
　　　〃Ah；〃　Aliisza　breathed。　〃You　could　sell　your　services　to　the　dark　elves；　the　gray　dwarves；　both；　or　neither。　Hmm；　that　is　interesting。〃
　　　〃And　the　price　I　mand　will　increase　with　the　number　of　warriors　I　bring；　and　my　proximity　to　Menzoberranzan；　but　it　depends　on　the　intentions　of　the　gray　dwarves。〃　The　half…demon　let　out　a　bark　of　hard　laughter。　〃I　would　not　care　to　find　myself　on　Menzoberranzan's　doorstep；　facing　a　strong　and　united　dark　elf　city　with　no　allies　at　hand。〃
　　　〃Why　do　I　get　the　feeling　that　you're　about　to　send　me　away　again？〃　Aliisza　pouted。　She　stretched　her　wings　languorously　around　Kaanyr；　halting　him　as　she　reached　up　to　turn　him　toward　her。　〃I've　only　just　e　back；　you　know。〃
　　　〃Clever　girl；〃　Vhok　said　with　a　smile。　〃Yes；　I　mean　to　dispatch　you　on　another　mission。　This　time；　though；　you　won't　have　to　creep　about　and　stay　out　of　sight。　You　will　call　on　Horgar　Steelshadow；　the　Crown　Prince　of　Gracklstugh；　as　my　personal　envoy…a　diplomat；　if　you　like。　Find　out　if　the　gray　dwarves　intend　to　attack　Menzoberranzan。　If　they　do；　let　them　know　that　I　would　like　to　join　them。　If　they　don't　。　。　。　well；　see　if　you　can't　persuade　them　that　it's　in　their　best　interest　to　destroy　Menzoberranzan　while　the　dark　elves　are　weak。〃
　　　〃The　dwarves　are　not　likely　to　confide　in　me。〃
　　　〃Of　course　they　won't　want　to　confide　in　you。　However；　if　they　do　intend　to　attack；　they　will　see　the　advantage　of　gaining　me　as　an　ally。　If　they　don't　plan　on　attacking；　the　fact　that　I　am　willing　to　ally　with　them　may　decide　the　issue　for　them。　They　wish　Menzoberranzan　no　good；　so　you　need　not　worry　that　they'll　stand　up　for　the　drow。〃
　　　〃Envoy。　。。。〃　Aliisza　murmured。　〃It　sounds　better　than　spy；　doesn't　it？　I　suppose　I　can　carry　your　message　for　you；　my　sweet；　fierce　Kaanyr；　but　maybe　you　should　provide　me　with　some　special　incentive　to　hurry　home；　hmm？〃
　　　Kaanyr　Vhok　circled　her　with　his　powerful　arms　and　nuzzled　the　hollow　of　her　neck。
　　　〃Very　well；　my　pet；〃　he　rumbled。　〃Though　I　sometimes　wonder　if　you　are　utterly　insatiable。〃
　　　
　　　A　desperate　hour　of　flight　from　ruin　to　ruin　saw　the　battered　pany　to　a　hard…won　refuge　from　the　monsters　who　ruled　Hlaungadath。　Beneath　the　hulking　shell　of　a　square　tower　they　found　a　sand…choked　stair　descending　into　cool；　lightless　catabs　beneath　the　city。　Buoyed　by　their　find；　the　dark　elves　slipped　through　a　maze　of　buried　shrines；　subterranean　wells；　and　echoing　colonnades　of　brown　stone；　finally　holing　up　in　a　deep；　disused　gallery　that　showed　no　signs　of　recent　use。　It　was　a　cheerless　and　desolate　spot；　but　it　was　free　of　blinding　sunlight　and　mind…controlling　monsters；　and　that　was　all　they　needed。
　　　〃Pharaun；　prepare　your　spells　quickly；〃　Quenthel　manded　after　sizing　up　the　chamber。　〃Halisstra；　you　and　Ryld　will　stand　watch　here。　Jeggred；　you　and　Valas　keep　watch　on　the　far　archway；　over　there。〃
　　　〃Unfortunately；　you　must　keep　your　watch　for　some　time；〃　the　wizard　said。　He　made　a　rueful　gesture。　〃I　was　ready　to　study　my　spellbook　earlier；　when　I'd　had　some　time　to　rest　in　the　courtyard　of　the　palace　above；　but　the　poor　hospitality　of　our　lamia　hosts　has　left　me　somewhat　fatigued。　I　must　rest　for　some　time　before　I　will　be　able　to　ready　my　spells。〃
　　　〃We're　all　tired；〃　Quenthel　snarled。　〃We　have　no　time　for　you　to　rest。　Prepare　your　spells　at　once！〃
　　　The　snakes　of　her　whip　coiled　and　hissed　in　agitation。
　　　〃The　exercise　would　be　pointless；　dear　Quenthel。　You　must　keep　our　enemies　away　from　me　until　I　have　recovered　from　my　exertions。〃
　　　〃If　he　is　so　powerless；〃　Jeggred　rumbled；　〃now　would　be　as　good　a　time　as　any　to　punish　him　for　his　disrespectful　attitude　and　many　transgressions。〃
　　　〃Stupid　creature；〃　Pharaun　snorted。　〃Slay　me；　and　all　of　you　will　die　in　these　light…blasted　wastelands　within　a　day。　Or　perhaps　you　have　suddenly　acquired　a　knack　for　the　arcane　arts？〃
　　　Jeggred　bristled；　but　Quenthel　silenced　him　with　nothing　more　than　a　look。　The　draegloth　stalked　off　to　take　up　his　watch　at　the　far　end　of　the　long；　dusty　chamber；　crouching　in　a　jumble　of　fallen　stones　near　the　opposite　entrance。　Valas　sighed　and　trotted　off　to　join　him。
　　　〃Ready　your　spells　as　fast　as　you　can；　wizard；〃　the　priestess　said；　deadly　anger　tightly　contained　in　her　voice。　〃I　have　little　patience　left　for　your　wit。　Give　Halisstra　your　lightning　wand　in　case　we　need　spells　of　that　sort　to　repel　another　attack。〃
　　　It　was　a　measure　of　his　true　exhaustion　that　Pharaun　didn't　even　bother　to　seek　the　last　word。　He　turned　to　Halisstra　and　dropped　the　black　iron　wand　into　her　hand　with　a　sour　smile。
　　　〃I　suppose　you　know　how　to　use　this　already。　I'll　want　it　back；　of　course；　so　please　try　not　to　exhaust　it　pletely。　They're　hard　to　make。〃
　　　〃I　won't　use　it　unless　I　have　to；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　She　watched　as　the　wizard　found　a　shadowed　spot　beside　a　large　column　and　sat　down　cross…legged；　leaning　against　the　cold　stone；　and　she　tucked　the　wand　into　her　belt。　Quenthel　posed　herself　against　the　opposite　wall；　watching　Pharaun　as　if　to　make　sure　he　was　not　feigning　his　need　for　rest。　Ryld　Argith　pushed　himself　erect　and　set　out　for　the　passage　leading　back　toward　the　monster…haunted　surface；　leaning　on　his　massive　greatsword　as　he　did　so。
　　　Halisstra　started　to　follow；　but　Danifae　said；　〃Shall　I　keep　watch　here；　Mistress　Melarn