蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第10部分

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o　ascend　to　her　mother's　throne？　How　could　she　let　Quenthel　or　one　of　her　other　kin　climb　over　her　head　to　order　her　about　forever　after？
She　managed　to　claim　the　title　of　Matron　Mother；　and　though　she　soon　came　to　feel　somewhat　overwhelmed　by　the　scope　and　intricacies　of　the　position；　at　first　it　wasn't　so　bad。　Things　were　relatively　normal　and　didn't　require　some　dramatic　intervention　from　on　high　to　set　them　right。
Moreover；　she　had　Quenthel　and　Gromph　to　advise　her。　True；　her　sister　and　brother　invariably　disagreed；　but　Triel　could　review　their　peting　proposals　and　pick　the　one　that　suited　her。　It　was　considerably　easier　than　having　to　e　up　with　the　ideas　herself。
But　she　had　a　crisis　to　manage；　perhaps　the　greatest　crisis　in　the　long　history　of　the　dark　elves；　and　apparently　she　would　have　to　do　it　alone。　She　obviously　couldn't　confide　in　Gromph；　and　insolent　Quenthel　claimed　she　had　to　attend　to　the　security　of　Tier　Breche　before　she　could　focus　on　anything　else。
Triel　gave　her　head　a　shake；　trying　to　dislodge　her　doubts　and　worries。
〃Let　them　down。〃
Jeggred　obeyed；　and　she　turned　to　the　secretary。
〃When　you　get　a　chance；〃　she　said；　raising　her　voice　over　the　choking　gasps　of　the　two　cousins；　〃have　somebody　haul　them　out　to　ArachTinilith　to　be　patched　back　together；　and　have　someone　wash　away　the　blood。　But　for　now；　we'd　best　get　moving。　I　think　we're　late。〃
The　trio　moved　on。　A　final　turn　brought　them　to　the　door。　Behind　it　was　the　dais　overlooking　the　largest　audience　chamber　in　House　Baenre。　A　pair　of　sentries　guarded　the　entry　to　ensure　that　no　one　would　sneak　through　to　stab　the　matron　mother　in　the　back。　They　snapped　to　attention　when　they　saw　her　ing。
Triel　swept　on　through　the　entry　with　Jeggred　and　the　clerk　in　tow。　The　hall　on　the　other　side　glowed　with　soft　magical　light　to　facilitate　the　examination　of　documents。　A　sweet　perfume　scented　the　air；　and　a　fresco　of　Lolth　adorned　the　ceiling。　The　guards　along　the　walls—dark　elves　near　the　dais；　ogre　and　minotaur　slaves　farther　down—saluted；　while　the　supplicants　and　petitioners　made　the　obeisance　proper　to　their　stations；　anything　from　a　dignified　inclination　of　the　head　and　spreading　of　the　hands　to　an　abject　grovel　flat　on　the　floor。
Looking　down　on　them　from　the　elevated　platform；　Triel　reflected　that　it　was　astonishing　just　how　many　such　folk　turned　up　each　and　every　tenday。　She'd　thought　people　were　always　demanding　her　attention　when　she　ruled　the　Academy；　but　she'd　had　no　conception　of　the　hordes　of　idiots　who　constantly　sought　Matron　Baenre's　ear；　often　to　resolve　trivial　if　not　nonsensical　concerns。
She　sat　down　on　her　mother's　throne；　an　empress's　ransom　in　gold　with　a　flaring　back　shaped　to　resemble　an　arc　of　spider　web。　Her　predecessor　had　been　a　relatively　large　female；　and　her　successor　always　felt　a　bit　childlike　and　lost　in　the　chair。　She　had　enough　of　a　sense　of　irony　to　prehend　the　accidental　symbolism。
She　surveyed　the　waiting　throng　and　discovered　Faeryl　Zauvirr　at　the　very　front　with　some　long；　bulky　rolled　papers　tucked　under　her　arm。　The　matron　mother　smiled；　for　at　least　she　knew　how　to　deal　with　this　one　particular　petitioner。　For　a　blessed　change；　Waerva；　one　of　the　lesser　females　of　her　House；　had　made　herself　useful。　She'd　e　up　with　some　significant　information　and　a　sensible　idea　of　what　to　do　about　it。
Triel　decided　she　might　as　well　start　out　feeling　dominant　and　shrewd。　Perhaps　it　would　set　the　tone　for　the　rest　of　the　session。　She　waited　for　the　herald　to　conclude　the　ceremonials　and　the　crowd　to　rise。　Then；　still　spattered　with　blood；　and　with　Jeggred　looming　reassuringly　behind　her　throne；　she　motioned　for　Faeryl　to　step　forward。
　
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Faeryl　was　pleased　to　be　chosen　first。　In　retrospect；　she　thought　the　same　thing　would　have　occurred　even　if　she　hadn't　made　sure　of　a　position　immediately　in　front　of　the　dais。　The　haughty　Menzoberranyr　often　feigned　disinterest　in　their　client　city；　but　she　knew　they　understood　the　importance　of　Ched　Nasad。
It　was　hard　not　to　hurry；　but　she　forced　herself　to　approach　the　throne　with　a　stately　tread　consonant　with　the　dignity　of　her　position；　the　stature　of　her　House；　and　the　grandeur　of　her　homeland。　It　was　also　difficult　to　offer　a　second　graceful　obeisance　without　dropping　her　roll　of　maps；　but　she　acplished　that　as　well。
〃Ambassador；〃　said　Triel　without　any　extraordinary　warmth。　Perhaps　she　considered　Faeryl's　presence　inappropriate。
〃Matron　Mother；〃　Faeryl　replied。　Tall；　broadshouldered　and　thick　waisted　by　the　standards　of　her　slender　race；　she　would　have　dwarfed　the　Baenre　had　the　two　of　them　been　standing　side　by　side。　〃I　know　we　sometimes　meet　in　private；　but　after　tendays　of　deliberation　I　arrived　at　a　conclusion；　one　that　pelled　me　to　confer　with　you　at　the　earliest　opportunity。〃
〃What　conclusion？〃　Triel　asked。
She　still　seemed　unconcerned　if　not　downright　cold。　Perhaps　she　was　preoccupied　with　her　affliction。
Faeryl　had　of　course　fallen　prey　to　the　same　malaise；　but　to　her　own　surprise；　she'd　discovered　she　was　at　least　as　worried　about　something　else：　the　wellbeing　of　House　Zauvirr　and　the　magnificent　city　in　which　it　amassed　its　wealth；　fought　its　covert　battles；　and　worked　its　magic。
〃I　keep　track　of　the　caravans　arriving　from　Ched　Nasad；〃　the　ambassador　said。　〃For　the　past　six　tendays；　none　has。　None。　As　the　Matron　Mother　is　undoubtedly　aware；　several　major　trade　routes　converge　in　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs；　which　then　funnels　the　merchants　on　to　Menzoberranzan。　At　least　half　the　goods　that　reach　your　cavern　e　through　us。　Except　that　now；　they　aren't　reaching　you。　The　steady　flow　has　dried　up。　Except　in　time　of　war；　that's　unprecedented。〃
〃It's　an　odd　coincidence；　certainly；　all　the　merchant　clansmen　choosing　other　destinations；　but　I'm　sure　they'll　decide　to　head　for　Menzoberranzan　next　trip；　or　the　trip　after　that。〃
Faeryl　had　to　make　a　conscious　effort　to　pose　her　features。　Otherwise　she　would　have　scowled。　If　she　hadn't　known　better；　she　would　have　thought　Triel　was　being　deliberately　obtuse。
〃1　suspect　it　may　be　more　than　a　coincidence；〃　the　ambassador　said。　〃A　thousand　thousand　dangers　haunt　the　Underdark；　and　the　philosophers　tell　us　new　ones　are　spawning　all　the　time。　What　if　something　has　cut　the　route　between　Menzoberranzan　and　Ched　Nasad？　What　if　it's　killing　everyone　who　tries　to　pass　through？〃
〃More　than　one　tunnel　connects　the　cities；〃　rumbled　the　draegloth　unexpectedly；　and　despite　the　perfume　wafting　through　the　air；　Faeryl　caught　a　whiff　of　the　creature's　putrid　breath。　〃Is　that　not　so？〃
〃Exactly〃　Triel　reached　back　around　the　edge　of　her　golden　chair　and　gave　the　halffiend　an　approving　pat　on　the　leg。　〃Your　theory　doesn't　stand　up；　Ambassador。〃
Not　for　the　first　time；　Faeryl　wished　that　Triel's　mother　was　still　leading　House　Baenre。　The　greedy；　vicious　old　autocrat　could　be　hard　to　contend　with；　but　though　she　would　have　cherished　a　draegloth　as　a　mark　of　Lolth's　
approval　and　delighted　in　the　demidemon's　gift　for　slaughter；　she　wouldn't　have　tolerated　it　speaking　unbidden　at　a　formal　conference；　any　more　than　she　would　have　borne　such　disrespect　from　anyone　else。
〃If　the　threat　consists　of　more　than　one　beast；〃　the　emissary　said；　〃or　more　than　one　manifestation　of　a　phenomenon；　it　could　cut　more　than　one　passage。〃
Triel　shrugged。　〃If　you　say　so。〃
〃I　hesitate　to　mention　it；〃　said　Faeryl；　〃lest　I　be　thought　an　alarmist；　but　it's　even　possible　that　some　misfortune　has　befallen　Ched　Nasad　itself。〃
〃A　misfortune　so　abrupt　and　allenpassing　that　your　folk　never　even　had　a　chance　to　dispatch　a　messenger　to　Menzoberranzan？〃　Triel　replied。　〃Nonsense。　Even　Golothaer；　home　of　our　ancestors；　didn't　perish　in　an　hour。　Besides；　I　am　personally　aware　of　several　muniqués　having　reached　here　from　Ched　Nasad　in　only　the　past　few　days。〃
〃I　have　received　some　of　those　sendings　myself；　Matron　Mother；　and　find　their　excuses　suspicious　at　best。　In　any　case；　the　dearth　of　traffic　from　Ched　Nasad　warrants　investigation；　and　as　my　city's　representative　in　Menzoberranzan；　the　task　is　my　responsibility。〃
〃No　one　has　charged　you　with　it。〃
〃Then　I　take　it　upon　myself。　Yet　I'm　reluctant　to　venture　across　the　Underdark　with　merely　my　own　little　entourage　for　protection。　Traders　guard　their　caravans　very　well。　Anything　that　could　destroy　all　those　merchant　trains　would　likely　put　a　quick　end　to　me；　too；　in　which　case；　Matron　Mother；　the　priestesses　of　Menzoberranzan　would　know　no　more　about　the　new　menace　beyond　their　borders　than　they　do　now。　Accordingly；　I　ask　you　to　provide　me　with　a　sizable　escort。　I'll　march　it　to　Ched　Nasad　and　back　again　and　see　what　befalls　me　along　the　way。〃
〃You　have　an　enterprising　nature；〃　said　Triel　〃It　does　you　credit。　Alas；　Menzoberranzan　can't　spare　any　troops。　Not　at　this　time。　Our　forces　are　engaged　in　training　exercises。〃
Faeryl　fancied　she　knew　the　real　reason　the　Baenre　was　at　present　reluctant　to　divest　herself　of　any　portion　of　her　military　strength。　Her　caution　made　perfect　sense　on　its　own　terms；　but　surely　it　must　yield　to　the　gravity　of　the　envoy's　concerns
〃Matron　Mother；　if　trade　with　Ched　Nasad　does　not　resume；　the　people　of　Menzoberranzan　will　find　themselves　bereft　of　countless　amenities。　Some　of　your　craftsmen　will　lack　the　raw　materials　they　need　for　their　work。　Your　own　merchant　clans　will　endeavor　to　send　caravans　to　my　city；　and　those　expeditions　will　probably　not　return。〃
〃I　imagine　some　clever　male　will　import　the　same　goods　via　a　different　route　if　he　can　reap　a　profit　thereby。〃
Faeryl　was　beginning　to　feel　as　if　she　were　mired　in　some　lunatic　dream。
〃Matron；　you　can't　be　serious。　Ched　Nasad　is　the　single　greatest　source　of　wealth　your　people　possess。〃
Demons　of　the　Web；　it　was　in　fact　half　again　as　populous　as　Menzoberranzan　itself。　The　two　realms　had　long　been　equals；　and　it　was　only　a　paratively　recent　happenstance　that　had　reduced　the　once　independent　City　of　Shimmering　Webs　to　vassalage。
Triel　spread　her　dainty；　obsidian　hands　in　a　gesture　of　helpless　resignation　and　said；　〃Wealth　that　is　as　much　ours　when　stored　in　our　trading　costers　in　Ched　Nasad　as　in　our　own　vaults　here。〃
Faeryl　didn't　know　what　else　to　say。　No　argument；　however　cogent；　seemed　capable　of　piercing　Triel's　shield　of　bland；　almost　mocking　placency。
〃Very　well；〃　the　ambassador　said　through　gritted　teeth；　struggling　to　keep　a　grip　on　her　temper。　〃If　I　must；　I'll　manage　without　your　help。　It　will　exhaust　my　purse；　but　perhaps　I　can　hire　some　of　the　sell　swords　of　Bregan　D'aerthe。〃
Triel　smiled。　〃No；　my　dear；　that　won't　be　necessary。〃
〃I　don't　understand。〃
〃I　cannot　give　you　leave　to　depart　so　precipitously。　Who　then　would　speak　on　behalf　of　your　people？　Even　more　importantly；　I　believe　you　may　be　right。　Some　new　peril　may　be　lurking　in　the　Underdark　and　massacring　drow　left　and　right。　I　don't　want　it　to　kill　you　as　well。　I　hold　you　in　too　high　an　esteem；　and　I　certainly　wouldn't　want　the　other　nobles　of　Ched　Nasad　to　think　that　I　blithely　sent　you　to　your　doom。　They　might　infer　that　I　have　little　regard　for　even　the　most　exalted　officers　of　your　splendid　city；　when　of　course；　nothing　could　be　farther　from　the　truth。〃
〃You　honor　me。　Yet　considering　what's　at　stake—〃
〃Nothing　is　more　important　than　your　safety。　Anything　could　happen　if　you　attempt　to　traverse　the　tunnels　at　this　unsettled　time。　You　might　not　even　make　it　out　of　Bauthwaf。　Why；　one　of　Menzoberranzan's　own　patrols；　weary　from　too　much　duty；　imagining　a　dwarf　crouched　behind　every　stalagmite；　might　mistake　your　band　for　a　hostile　force　and　loose　a　volley　of　poison　darts　at　you。　You　might　die　an　agonizing　death　at　the　hands　of　your　own　friends；　in　which　case　I　would　never　five　myself。〃
A　chill　crept　up　Faeryl's　spine；　because　she　understood　what　Triel　had　really　said。　The　matron　mother　had　just　forbidden　her　to　leave　the　city；　on　pain　of　death。
But　why？　What　accounted　for　Matron　Baenre's　sudden　hostility？　Faeryl　had　no　idea　until　she　happened　to　glance　up　at　the　draegloth's　face。　Somehow　the　halffiend's　leer　suggested　an　explanation。
Triel　had　decided　Faeryl　was　less　diplomat　than　spy；　an　agent　for　some　power　inimical　to　Menzoberranzan；　who'd　concocted　this　business　of　missing　traders　to　provide　herself　with　a　good　excuse　to　leave　the　city　and　report　to　her　superiors。
Matron　Baenre　couldn't　allow　it；　couldn't　permit　a　spy　to　pass　along　the　tale　of　Menzoberranzan's　newfound　weakness。　She　didn't　dare；　because　it　was　entirely　possible　that　not　all　dark　elf　enclaves　had　suffered　the　same　calamity；　and　even　if　they　had；　perhaps　the　dwarves；　duergar；　deep　gnomes；　and　illithids　had　not。
What　remained　unclear　was　why　Triel　believed　as　she　did。　Who　had　put　the　idea　in　her　head；　and　what　did　that　person　have　to　gain　by　holding　Faeryl　in　the　city？
Jaw　tight；　the　emissary　stifled　the　impulse　to　confront　Triel　about　the　latter's　true　concerns。　She　knew　she　wouldn't　be　able　to　draw　the　Baenre　into　an　genuine　consideration　of　the　allegations　against　her。　Taking　a　malicious　pleasure　in　the　playacting；　Triel　would　simply　feign　shock　that　Faeryl　doubted　her　trust　and　good　will。
Indeed；　if　Faeryl　wanted　to　avoid　further　humiliation；　all　she　could　do　was　go　along　with　the　pretense。
She　smiled　and　said；　〃As　I　said　before；　Matron　Mother；　your　concern　honors　me；　and　I　will　of　course　obey　you。　I'll　remain　in　the　City　of　Spiders　and　savor　its　many　delights。〃
〃Good；〃　said　Triel；　and　Faeryl　imagined　the　words　that　remained　unspoken：　We'll　know　where　to　find　you　when　it's　time　for　your　arrest。
〃May　I　have　your　permission　to　withdraw？　I　see　there　are　many　others　seeking　the　benefit　of　your　wisdom。〃
〃Go；　with　my　blessing。〃
Faeryl　offered　her　obeisance；　exited　the　hall；　and　walked　through　the　great　mound　that　was　the　Baenre　citadel　until　she　found　herself　alone　and　unobserved　in　a　short　connecting　passageway。　She　took　the　rolled　maps　of　the　Underdark；　the　charts　she　had　imagined　that　she　and　Triel　might　consult　together；　from　beneath　her　arm。　Teeth　bared　in　a　snarl；　she　smashed　them　repeatedly　against　the　wall　until　the　stiff　parchment　cylinder　flopped　limp　and　battered　in　her　hands。
Gromph　and　Quenthel　strolled　about　the　plateau　watching　the　apprentices　and　masters　of　Sorcere　perform　the　rituals。　The　sound　of　chanting　and　the　pungent　scent　of　incense　filled　the　air；　along　with　various　conjured　phenomena：　flashes　of　light；　dancing　shadows；　demonic　faces　appearing　and　disappearing；　moaning　and　crackling。　All　to　lay　a　new　set　of　wards　about　Tier　Breche。
Gromph　was　mildly　impressed。　By　and　large；　his　minions　were　doing　a　good　job　of　it；　though　they　weren't　laying　any　enchantments　he　couldn't　pierce。　In　fact；　since　he　was　supervising　them　at　their　labors；　getting　past　the　wards　would　be　easy。
〃I　wonder　if　all　this　will　actually　protect　us；〃　said　Quenthel；　scowling；　her　long　skirt　rippling　in　the　stray　breeze　kicked　up　by　someone's　incantation。
Gromph　was　surprised　that　even　after　Beradax's　attack；　she　hadn't　donned　a　suit　of　mail。　Perhaps　she　thought　her　frightened　novices　and　priestesses　required　a　show　of　confidence。
〃It　didn't　protect　us　before；〃　hissed　one　of　the　annoyingly　vocal　snakes　prising　the　whip　on　her　belt。
Four　of　them　were　twisting　this　way　and　that；　watching　for　danger。　The　fifth　kept　its　cold　eyes　staring　at　Gromph；　not；　the　Archmage　was　convinced；　because　h