war of the spider queen 2 insurrection- 第48部分

　　　When　she　became　a　part　of　it；　she　lowered　her　eyes　demurely　and　folded　her　hands　into　her　lap。
　　　Pharaun　smirked。
　　　〃Oh；　absolutely；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　he　said　dryly。　〃Nothing　would　please　me　more　than　to　have　additional　females　along　on　this　trip；　all　with　a　ready　suggestion　on　how　something　should　be　handled　or　a　friendly　ment　on　ways　I　might　improve　my　demeanor　for　the　benefit　of　everyone　around　me。〃
　　　Halisstra's　eyebrows　shot　up　in　surprise；　and　the　wizard　remembered　again　that　she　was　unaccustomed　to　his　manner　with　Quenthel。
　　　For　that　matter；　he　thought；　noting　the　high　priestess's　scowl；　Quenthel　herself　is　unaccustomed　to　my　manner。
　　　Taking　a　slightly　more　conciliatory　tone；　Pharaun　added；　〃With　all　due　respect；　regardless　of　which　part　of　my　body　I'm　currently　using　to　contemplate　this　matter；　it　seems　undeniable　that　we　stand　much　to　gain　and　little　to　lose　by　trusting　them；　at　least　for　the　moment。　Ask　me　again　in　half　an　hour；　and　my　answer　might　be　markedly　different。〃
　　　Quenthel　chewed　her　rothé　thoughtfully；　though　whether　she　was　mulling　his　point　or　whethet　she　was　considering　whether　or　not　to　allow　Jeggred　to　dismember　him；　Pharaun　wasn't　sure。
　　　〃In　any　event；〃　he　finished；　〃we　can　ensure　ourselves　some　degree　of　protection　by　keeping　them　close；　under　our　scrutiny。　If　they　lead　us　into　a　trap；　we　might　yet　negotiate　with　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　。　。　。　turn　them　over　in　exchange　for　our　own　freedom。　Only　if　we　don't　tell　the　matron　mother　what　happened　to　Faeryl；　of　course；〃　he　added　with　a　grin。
　　　Halisstra's　flat　stare　told　Pharaun　that　she　found　both　his　humor　and　his　insurance　plan　distasteful；　but　Quenthel　seemed　convinced。
　　　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　nodded　after　tossing　back　the　last　bit　of　water　in　the　skin。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said　to　Halisstra。　〃You　will　serve　as　our　guide　out　of　this　accursed　House；　and　if　you　serve　us　well；　you　will　be　rewarded　with　your　lives。　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
　　　Halisstra　swallowed　once；　but　she　finally　nodded。
　　　〃I　think　at　least　for　the　time　being　that　your　weapons　and　magical　trinkets　will　stay　safe　and　sound　in　our　possession。　If　you　behave　yourselves；　you　may　earn　them　back。〃
　　　Both　of　the　other　drow　nodded　their　acquiescence。
　　　〃Good；　then　let's　be　on　our　way；〃　the　high　priestess　announced；　dusting　off　her　hands　after　finishing　the　dried　meat。
　　　〃Before　we　go；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃there　is　the　matter　of　'where'　to　discuss。〃
　　　Quenthel　looked　at　the　mage。
　　　〃We　ate　returning　to　Menzoberranzan；〃　she　said。　〃The　expedition　was　a　failure。　Universally；　Lolth　speaks　to　no　one；　and　the　goods　I　had　hoped　to　bring　back　with　me　to　help　us　defend　ourselves　do　not　exist。　We　have　nothing　to　show　for　the　journey。〃
　　　〃Exactly；〃　Pharaun　countered。　〃We　have　nothing　definitive　to　bring　back　with　us…yet。　I　say　we　push　ahead；　continue　to　try　to　de…termine　what　is　happening。〃
　　　〃But　we　have　nothing　to　pursue；〃　Quenthel　argued。　〃We　know　little　more　about　the　Dark　Mother's　absence　than　we　did　before　we　left。〃
　　　〃That's　not　entirely　true；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃As　I　mentioned　before；　the　goddess's　absence　is　not　limited　merely　to　our　race。　Regardless；　I　have　an　idea。　While　we　may　not　be　able　to　discern　any　more　information　directly；　we　could　enlist　the　aid　of　someone　who　can。〃
　　　〃Who？〃
　　　〃A　priest　of　Vhaeraun。〃
　　　Quenthel　rose　from　the　chair　where　she　had　been　sitting；　fury　plain　on　her　face。
　　　〃You　speak　blasphemous　words；　wizard。　We　will　do　no　such　thing。〃
　　　Even　Halisstra　had　recoiled　at　the　suggestion；　Pharaun　noted。
　　　He　raised　his　hands　in　supplication　and　pleaded；　〃I　know　it's　unconventional；　but　hear　me　out　before　you　dismiss　the　idea。〃
　　　Quenthel　began　to　pace；　and　Pharaun　knew　she　was　at　least　intrigued；　if　not　happy；　with　the　notion。　Her　desire　to　claim　the　glory　of　discovery　in　this　matter　rivaled　his　own；　he　supposed。
　　　〃Just　what　is　it　you　think　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun…〃　Quenthel　formed　the　god's　name　with　a　grimace…〃could　do　for　us？　And　where　would　we　find　one　who　could…or　even　would…aid　us？〃
　　　Pharaun　leaned　forward　eagerly。
　　　〃We　struggle　to　see　inside　the　Demonweb　Pits；〃　he　explained；　〃but　perhaps　another　god　would　not　suffer　the　same　difficulty。　In　this　instance；　with　the　proper　sacrifices　and　deferential　behavior；　we　might　just　be　able　to　ask　for　a　little　audience　in　order　to　find　out。〃
　　　〃Few　of　his　ilk　would　even　consider　helping　us；〃　Quenthel　said；　waving　her　hand　in　dismissal；　〃and　we　know　of　none　to　even　ask。〃
　　　As　Quenthel　turned　her　back　on　him　during　her　pacing；　Pharaun　looked　over　at　Valas　and　nodded　in　encouragement。
　　　Tell　her；　he　signed。
　　　Taking　a　deep　breath　and　nodding；　Valas　said；　〃I　know　one。〃
　　　Quenthel　turned　to　face　the　diminutive　scout。
　　　〃What？〃
　　　〃I　know　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun；〃　Valas　replied。　〃An　old　acquaintance　of　mine；　Tzirik　Jaelre。　I　think　he　would　be　willing。〃
　　　〃Really；〃　Quenthel　said；　eyeing　Pharaun　and　Valas　alike；　as　though　suspecting　that　the　two　were　collaborating。　〃What　makes　you　think　he　would　help　us？〃
　　　The　mage　carefully　studied　the　tabletop　in　front　of　him。
　　　She　is　too　clever　for　her　own　good；　he　thought；　knowing　that　if　he　admitted　his　foreknowledge；　Quenthel　was　as　likely　as　not　to　dismiss　the　whole　idea　just　to　spite　him。
　　　〃He　owes　me　a　favor；〃　Valas　replied。　〃At　the　very　least；　he　owes　me　enough　to　hear　us　out；　even　if　he　refuses。　I　don't　think　he'll　refuse。〃
　　　〃How　convenient。　Pharaun？〃
　　　The　wizard　looked　up；　pretending　to　be　thinking　about　something　else。
　　　〃Hmm？　Oh；　yes。　Well；　it　is　very　convenient　that　Valas　knows　someone　who　fits　the　bill。　I　wish　you'd　said　something　earlier；〃　he　said　to　the　scout；　〃but　I　guess　we　can't　all　conceive　of　these　flashes　of　brilliance。　If　Valas　vouches　for　his　friend　then　I　say；　what　do　we　have　to　lose？〃
　　　Quenthel　opened　her　mouth；　possibly　to　retort；　by　the　look　on　her　face；　but　she　never　got　the　words　out。　A　shock　wave　far　stronger　than　any　they　had　felt　previously　coursed　through　the　House；　knocking　them　and　most　of　the　furniture　over。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mother！〃　Halisstra　screamed；　stumbling　against　a　wall。　〃The　whole　House　is　ing　down！〃
　　　FOURTEEN
　　　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　and　several　guests　stood　atop　an　observation　tower　overlooking　House　Zauvirr。　Leaning　against　the　balustrade；　she　stared　out　over　Ched　Nasad。　Her　abode　was　not　far　from　House　Melarn；　but　in　that　direction；　the　matron　mothers　could　see　very　little　but　thick　smoke。　Despite　the　obscuring　clouds；　the　fighting　around　House　Melarn　still　raged；　and　the　sound　of　it　reached　the　matron　mothers　even　high　on　the　tower。
　　　〃This　has　gotten　out　of　control；〃　Umrae　D'Dgttu　said　grimly；　standing　beside　Ssipriina。　〃Your　agent　said　nothing　of　this　stone…burning　fire　when　we　agreed　to　this　plan。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Ulviirala　Rilynt　chimed　in；　pacing　back　and　forth　behind　them；　her　numerous　bracelets；　rings；　and　necklaces　clanking　with　each　step。　〃I　dislike　the　idea　of　so　much　destruction；　especially　right　now。〃
　　　〃Nonsense；〃　Nedylene　Zinard　scolded；　also　leaning　against　the　railing　very　casually　but　with　her　back　to　the　unfolding　scene　of　ruin。　She　seemed　more　interested　in　her　lacquered　fingernails　than　in　the　activity　around　her。　〃We　knew　going　into　this　that　we　might　have　to　be　aggressive。　If　we　are　to　remake　this　city　to　our　liking；　now　is　the　time　to　act；　and　we　can　let　nothing　stand　in　our　way。　Not　the　other　Houses　and　not　our　own　misgivings。　Sometimes　you　have　to　break　a　few　lizard　eggs　to　make　an　omelet。　Sometimes　you　have　to　kill　a　few　slaves　to　win　the　day。〃
　　　〃Perhaps；〃　Umrae　D'Dgttu　said；　her　whip…thin　frame　belying　her　puissance　as　the　most　powerful　cleric　among　them；　〃but　this　is　unnecessary。　You　should　not　have　summoned　us　to　install　you　as　a　new　member　of　the　Council　until　you　eliminated　allot　the　Men…zoberranyr。　Allowing　that　wizard　to　weave　his　lies　did　not　help　your　cause。〃
　　　ShriNeerune　Hlaund　snorted。　〃The　wizard's　lies　were　inconsequential。　Ssipriina　was　a　fool　to　send　her　mercenaries　out　so　prematurely。〃
　　　〃I　did　not　do　that！〃　Ssipriina　retorted。　〃Someone　else　gave　them　the　signal　before　it　was　time。　I　still　held　out　hope　that　we　could　resolve　the　dissolution　of　House　Melarn　bloodlessly。　These　fire　pots　were　not　my　idea　either。　The　gray　dwarves　procured　them　from　somewhere　else　without　my　knowledge。〃
　　　〃So　you're　saying　that　you　don't　even　have　control　over　your　own　House？〃　ShriNeerune　sneered。　〃And　you　expect　us　to　continue　to　back　you？　I　should　have　known　better　than　to　support　a　merchant　House。〃
　　　Ssipriina's　fists　clenched；　and　she　dearly　wanted　to　strike　the　dark　elf　belittling　her；　but　she　held　them　at　her　sides。
　　　〃I'd　be　careful；　if　I　were　you；〃　she　snapped；　staring　coldly　at　the　offending　drow。　〃I'm　still　the　one　those　grays　answer　to；　and　right　now；　we're　winning。　You　could　find　yourself　on　the　other　side　of　the　battle　very　quickly。〃
　　　〃Enough；〃　Umrae　said；　stepping　between　the　two　of　them。　〃What's　done　is　done。　Now　is　the　time　to　fight；　not　argue。　Ssipriina；　did　you　bring　it？〃
　　　Ssipriina　kept　her　stare　steadily　on　ShriNeerune's　face　for　a　moment　long