蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第15部分

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er　tended　the　malodorous　croplands　or　speared　fish　from　rafts　on　the　lake；　while　rothe　lowed　from　the　island　in　the　center　of　the　water。　Overseers　and　an　armed　patrol　wandered　the　fields　to　keep　the　thralls　in　line。　Additional　guards　looked　down　from　other　high　perches　about　the　cavern　wall。
Ryld　knew　Pharaun　had　transported　them　about　as　far　as　was　possible。　In　the　Realms　that　See　the　Sun；　teleportation　could　carry　folk　around　the　world；　but　in　the　Underdark；　the　disruptive　radiance　of　certain　elements　present　in　the　rock　limited　the　range　to　about　half　a　mile—far　enough　to　throw　Greyanna　and　her　pack　off　the　scent。
Pharaun　held　the　pilfered　golden　ornament　up；　inspecting　it。
〃It　only　holds　one　teleportation　at　a　time；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　Even　after　all　his　exertions；　he　wasn't　panting　as　hard　as　he　might　have　been；　not　bad　for　such　a　sybarite；　thought　Ryld　as　he　set　down　his　bloody　greatsword。　〃It's　useless　now；　and　I　lost　my　dancing　rapier；　curse　it；　but　I'm　not　too　disconsol—〃
Ryld　grabbed　Pharaun　by　the　arm　and　flipped　him；　laying　him　down　hard。
The　wizard　blinked；　sat　up；　and　brushed　a　strand　of　his　sculpted　hair　back　into　place。
〃If　you'd　told　me　you　craved　more　fighting；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃I　could　have　left　you　behind　with　my　kin。〃
〃The　hunters；　you　mean；〃　Ryld　growled；　〃who　found　us　quickly。〃
〃Well；　we　asked　a　fair　number　of　questions　in　a　fair　number　of　places。　We　even　wanted　someone　to　find　us；　just　not　that　lot。〃　Pharaun　stood　back　up　and　brushed　at　his　garments；　adding；　〃Now；　I　have　something　extraordinary　to　tell　you。〃
〃Save　it；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃Back　there　in　the　net；　when　you　and　Greyanna　were　chatting；　I　got　the　strong　impression　that　the　priestesses　weren't　just　hunting　some　faceless　agent。　They　knew　from　the　start　their　target　was　you；　and　you　knew　they　knew。〃
Pharaun　sighed。　〃I　didn’t　know　the　matrons　would　choose　Greyanna　to　discourage　our　efforts。　That　was　a　somewhat　disconcerting　surprise。　But　the　rest　of　it？　Yes。〃
〃How？〃
〃Gromph　has　invisible　glyphs　scribed　on　the　walls　of　his　office。　Invisible　to　most　people；　anyway。　They　protect　him　in　various　ways。　One；　a　black　sigil　shaped　a　little　like　a　bat；　is　supposed　to　keep　servers　and　spell　casters　from　eavesdropping　on　his　private　conversations；　but　when　he　and　I　spoke；　it　was　drawn　imperfectly。　It　still　would　have　balked　many　a　spy；　but　not　someone　with　the　resources　and　expertise　of　oh。　say；　his　sisters　。。。　or　the　Council。〃
Ryld　frowned。　〃Gromph　botched　it？〃
〃Of　course　not；〃　Pharaun　snorted。　〃Do　you　think　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　inpetent？　He　drew　it　precisely　as　he　wanted　it。　He　knew　the　high　priestesses　were　trying　to　spy　on　him—they　surely　always　have　and　doubtless　always　will—and　he　intended　them　to　overhear。〃
〃He　was　setting　you　up。〃
〃Now　you're　getting　it。　While　the　clerics　stay　busy　seeking　me；　the　decoy；　my　illustrious　chief　will　undertake　another；　more　discreet　inquiry　undisturbed；　by　performing　divinations　and　interrogating　demons；　probably。〃
〃You　knew；　and　you　undertook　the　mission　anyway。〃
〃Because　knowing　doesn't　change　my　fundamental　circumstances。　If　I　want　to　retain　my　rank　and　quite　possibly　my　life；　I　still　have　to　plete　the　task　the　archwizard　set　me；　even　though　he　was　playing　me　for　a　fool；　even　with　Greyanna　striving　to　hinder　the　process。〃　Pharaun　grinned　and　added；　〃Besides；　where　did　all　those　runaways　go；　and　why　do　the　greatest　folk　in　Menzoberranzan　care？　It's　a　fascinating　puzzle；　even　more　so　now　that　I've　inferred　a　portion　of　the　answer。　Did　I　leave　it　unsolved；　it　would　haunt　me　forevermore。〃
〃You　played　me　for　a　fool；〃　said　Ryld。　〃Granted；　you　warned　me　the　priestesses　might　interfere　with　us；　but　you　greatly　understated　the　danger。　You　didn't　tell　me　you　were　marked　before　we　even　descended　from　Tier　Breche。　Why　not？　Did　you　think　I'd　refuse　to　acpany　you？〃
Most　uncharacteristically；　the　glib　wizard　hesitated。　Far　below　the　shelf；　a　whip　snapped　and　a　goblin　screamed。
〃No；〃　said　Pharaun　eventually；　〃not　really。　I　suppose　it's　just　that　dark　elves　are　jealous　of　their　secrets。　So　are　the　nobly　born。　So　are　wizards。　And　I'm　all　three　Will　you　pardon　me？　It　isn't　as　if　you've　never　kept　a　secret　from　me。〃
〃When？〃
〃During　the　first　three　years　of　our　acquaintance；　whenever　we　fraternized；　you　kept　a　dagger　specially　charmed　for　the　killing　of　mages　ever　close　to　your　hand。　You　suspected　I　was　only　seeking　your　pany　because　one　of　your　rivals　in　MeleeMagthere　had　engaged　me　to　murder　you　as　soon　as　the　opportunity　arose。〃
〃How　did　you　discover　that？　Never　mind；　I　suppose　it　was　your　silver　ring。　I　didn't　know　what　it　was　back　then。　Anyway；　that's　not　the　same　kind　of　secret。〃
〃You're　right；　it　isn't；　and　I　regret　my　reticence　but　I　do　propose　to　make　up　for　it　by　sharing　the　most　astonishing　confidence　you've　ever　heard。〃
Ryld　stared　into　Pharaun's　eyes。　〃I'll　pardon　you。　With　the　understanding　that　if　you　withhold　any　other　pertinent　information；　I'll　knock　you　over　the　head　and　deliver　you　to　your　bitch　sister　myself。〃
〃Point　taken。　Shall　we　sit？〃　Pharaun　pointed　to　a　bench　hewn　from　the　limestone　wall　at　the　back　of　the　ledge。　〃My　discourse　may　take　a　little　time；　and　I　daresay　we　could　use　a　rest　after　our　exertions。〃
As　he　turned　away　from　the　molded　rock　rampart；　Ryld　noticed　that　the　cracking　of　the　whip　had　stopped。　When　he　glanced　down；　two　goblins　were　carrying　the　corpse　of　a　third；　hauling　it　somewhere　to　be　chopped　apart　and　the　pieces　turned　to　some　useful　purpose。　Possibly　chow　for　other　thralls。
The　fencing　teacher　sat　down　and　removed　a　cloth；　a　whetstone；　and　a　vial　of　oil　from　the　pockets　of　his　garments。　He　unfastened　his　short　sword　from　his　belt；　pulled　on　the　hilt；　and　made　a　little　spitting　sound　of　displeasure　when　the　blade；　which　he　had　been　forced　to　put　away　bloody；　stuck　in　the　scabbard。　He　yanked　more　forcefully；　and　it　came　free。
He　looked　over　at　Pharaun；　who　was　regarding　with　him　with　a　sort　of　quizzical　exasperation。
〃Talk；〃　the　warrior　said。　〃I　can　care　for　my　gear　and　listen　at　the　same　time。〃
〃Is　this　how　you　attend　to　mindboggling　revelations？　I　suppose　I'm　lucky　you　don't　have　to　use　the　Jakes。　All　right；　here　it　is　。。。　Lolth　is　gone。　Well；　maybe　not　gone；　but　unavailable　at　least　in　the　sense　that　it's　no　longer　possible　for　her　Menzoberranyr　clerics　to　receive　spells　from　her。〃
For　a　moment；　Ryld　thought　he'd　misheard　the　words。　〃I　guess　that's　a　joke？〃　he　asked。　〃I'm　glad　you　didn't　make　it　while　we　were　in　the　middle　of　a　crowd。　There's　no　point　pounding　our　crimes　with　blasphemy。〃
〃Blasphemy　or　not；　it's　the　truth。〃
Rag　in　hand；　Ryld　scrubbed　tacky　blood　off　the　short　sword。
〃What　are　you　suggesting；〃　the　weapons　master　asked；　〃another　Time　of　Troubles？　Could　there　be　two　such　upheavals？〃
Pharaun　grinned　and　said；　〃Possibly；　but　I　think　not。　When　the　gods　were　forced　to　inhabit　the　mortal　world；　the　arcane　forces　we　wizards　mand　fluctuated　unpredictably。　One　day；　we　could　mold　the　world　like　clay。　The　next；　we　couldn't　turn　ice　to　water。　That　isn't　happening　now。　My　powers　remain　constant　as　ever；　from　which　I　tentatively　infer　this　is　not　the　Time　of　Troubles　e　again　but　a　different　sort　of　occurrence。〃
〃What　sort？〃
〃Oh；　am　I　supposed　to　know　that　already？　I　thought　I　was　doing　rather　well　to　detect　the　occurrence　at　all。〃
〃Only　if　it's　really　happening。〃
Ryld　inspected　the　point　of　the　short　stabbing　blade；　then　took　the　hone　to　it。　Bemused　by　Pharaun's　contention；　he　wondered　how　his　canny　friend　could　credit　such　a　ludicrous　idea。　
〃I　want　you　to　think　back　over　the　confrontation　from　which　we　just　emerged；〃　said　the　Master　of　Sorcere。　〃Did　you　even　once　see　Greyanna　or　the　other　priestess　cast　divine　magic　from　her　own　mind　and　inner　strength　as　opposed　to　off　a　scroll　or　out　of　some　device？〃
〃I　was　fighting　the　skeletons。〃
〃You　keep　track　of　every　foe　on　the　battleground。　I　know　you　do。　So；　did　you　see　them　casting　spells　out　of　their　own　innate　power？〃
Ryld　thought　that　of　course　he　had　。　。　。　then　realized　he　hadn't。
〃What　does　that　suggest？〃　Pharaun　asked。　〃They　have　no　spells　left　in　their　heads；　or　only　a　few；　which　they're　hoarding　desperately　because　they　can't　solicit　new　ones　from　their　goddess。　Lolth　has　withdrawn　her　favor　from　Menzoberranzan；　or　。。。　something。〃
〃Why　would　she　do　that？〃
〃Would　she　need　a　reason—or　at　any　rate；　one　her　mortal　children　can　prehend？　She　is　a　deity　of　chaos。　Perhaps　she's　testing　us　somehow；　or　else　she's　angry　and　deems　us　unworthy　of　her　patronage。
〃Or；　as　I　suggested　before；　the　cause　of　her　silence；　if　in　fact　she　is　mute　when　her　clerics　pray　to　her'and　not　just　uncooperative；　may　be　something　else　altogether。　Perhaps　even　another　happenstance　involving　all　the　gods。　Since　we　have　only　one　faith　and　clergy　in　Menzoberranzan；　it's　difficult　to　judge。〃
〃Wait；〃　Ryld　said。　He　unstoppered　his　little　bottle　of　oil。　The　sharp　smell　provided　a　wele　counterpoint　to　the　moist　stink　of　the　dung　fields。　〃I　admit；　I　didn't　see　Greyanna　or　any　of　the　lesser　priestesses　working　magic；　but　didn't　you　yourself　once　tell　me　that　in　the　turmoil　of　battle；　it's　often　easier　and　more　reliable　to　cast　your　effects　from　a　wand　or　parchment？〃
〃I　suppose　I　did。　Still；　under　normal　circumstances；　would　you　expect　a　pair　of　spell　casters　to　conjure　every　single　manifestation　that　way？　Just　before　our　exit；　I　saw　Greyanna　groping　in　the　ether　for　a　weapon　that　was　slow　in　ing　to　her　hand。　The　sister　I　remember　would　have　said　to　the　Hells　with　it　and　dumped　some　other　magic　on　our　heads。　That　is；　unless　something　had　circumscribed　her　options。〃
〃I　see　what　you　mean；〃　Ryld　conceded；　〃but　when　the　clerics　lost　their　powers　in　the　Time　of　Troubles；　it　destabilized　the　balance　of　power　among　the　noble　Houses。　Those　who　believed　the　change　made　them　stronger　in　relative　terms　struck　hard　to　supplant　their　rivals。　As　far　as　I　can　see；　that　isn't　happening　now；　just　the　usual　level　of　controlled　enmity。〃
He　laid　the　short　sword　aside　and　picked　up　Splitter。
Pharaun　nodded　and　said；　〃You'll　recall　that　none　of　the　Houses　attempting　to　exploit　the　Time　of　Troubles　ultimately　profited　thereby。　To　the　contrary；　the　Baenre　and　others　punished　them　for　their　temerity。　Perhaps　the　matron　mothers　took　the　lesson　to　heart。〃
〃So　instead　of　hatching　schemes　to　topple　one　another；　they　。　。　。　what？　Enlisted　every　single　priestess　in　a　grand　conspiracy　to　conceal　their　fall　from　grace？　If　your　mad　idea　is　right；　that's　what　they　must　have　done。〃
〃Why　is　that　implausible？　Picture　the　day—a　few　tendays　past？—when　they　lost　the　ability　to　draw　power　from　their　goddess。　Clerics　of　Lolth　routinely　collaborate　in　magical　rituals；　so　they　would　have　discovered　fairly　quickly　that　they　were　all　similarly　afflicted。　Apprised　of　the　scope　of　the　situation；　Triel　Baenre；　possibly　in　hurried　consultation　with　our　esteemed　Mistress　Quenthel　and　the　matrons　of　the　Council；　might　well　have　decided　to　conceal　the　priesthood's　debility　and　sent　the　word　round　in　time　to　keep　anyone　from　blabbing。〃
〃The　word　would　have　to　pass　pretty　damn　quickly；〃　said　Ryld；　examining　Splitter's　edge。　As　he'd　expected；　despite　all　the　bone　it　had　just　bitten　through；　it　was　as　preternaturally　keen　and　free　of　notches　and　chips　as　ever。
〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃If　you　lost　the　strength　of　your　arms；　would　you　be　eager　to　announce　it；　knowing　the　news　would　find　its　way　to　everyone　who'd　ever　taken　a　dislike　to　you？　Anyway；　since　this　is　the　first　we've　learned　of　the　problem；　the　deception　obviously　did　anize　in　time。〃
〃Or　else　everything　is　as　it　always　was；　and　the　plot　exists　only　in　your　imagination。〃
〃Oh；　it's　real。　I'm　sure　Triel　deemed　the　ruse　necessary　to　make　sure　no　visitor　would　discern　Menzoberranzan's　sudden　weakness。〃　He　grinned　and　added；　〃And　to　fix　it　so　we　poor　males　wouldn't　swoon　with　terror　upon　learning　that　our　betters　had　lost　a　measure　of　their　ability　to　guide　and　protect　us。〃
〃Well；　it's　an　amusing　fancy。〃　
〃Fire　and　glare；　you're　a　hard　boy　to　convince；　and　I'll　be　cursed　if　I　know　why。　You've　already　lived　through　the　Time　of　Troubles；　the　previous　Matron　Baenre's　death；　and　the　defeat　of　Menzoberranzan　by　a　gaggle　of　wretched　dwarves。　Why　do　you　assume　our　world　cannot　have　altered　in　some　fundamental　way　when　you've　watched　it　change　so　many　times　before？　Open　your　mind；　and　you'll　see　my　hypothesis　makes　sense　of　all　that　has　puzzled　us。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃Whatever　they're　up　to；　how　is　it　that　for　the　past　month　an　unusual　number　of　males　have　dared　to　elope　from　their　families？　Because　they　somehow　tumbled　to　the　fact　that　a　priestess's　wrath　now　constitutes　less　of　a　threat。〃
〃While　the　clerics；〃　said　Ryld；　catching　the　thread　of　the　argument；　〃are　eager　to　catch　them　because　they　want　to　know　how　the　males　know　about　the　Silence；　if　we're　going　to　call　it　that。　Hells；　if　all　those　males　had　the　nerve　to　run　away；　maybe　they　even　know　more　about　the　problem　than　the　females　do。〃
〃Conceivably；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃The　priestesses　can't　rule　it　out　until　they　strap　a　few　of　them　to　torture　racks；　can　they？　But　they　don't　want　Gromph　involved　with　capturing　the　rogues　because　。　。　。　？〃
〃They　don't　want　him　to　find　out　what　the　runaways　know。〃
〃Very　good；　apprentice。　We'll　make　a　logician　of　you　yet。〃
〃Do　you　think　the　archmage　already　knows　the　divines　have　lost　their　magic？〃
〃I'd　bet　your　left　eye　on　it；　but　he's　in　the　same　cart　as　the　high　priestesses。　He　posits　that　the　fugitives　might　know　even　more。〃
Ryld　nodded。　〃In　a　war；　or　any　crisis；　you　have　to　cover　every　possibility。〃
〃The　notion　of　the　Silence　even　explains　why　the　Jewel　Box　was　so　crowded；　and　why　some　of　the　patrons　were　in　a　belligerent　humor　or　even　bruised　and　battered。　Females　divested　of　their　magic　might　well　feel　weak　and　vulnerable。　Consciously　or　otherwise；　they'd　worry　about　losing　control　of　the　folk　in　their　household　and　pensate　by　instituting　a　harsher　discipline　than　usual。〃　〃I　see　that；〃　said　Ryld。
〃Of　course　you　do。　As　I　said；　the　one　hypothesis　accounts　for　every　anomaly。　That's　why　we　can　be　confident　the　idea　is　valid。〃
〃How　does　it　account　for　the　relative　paucity　of　goods　in　the　Bazaar？〃
Pharaun　blinked；　narrowed　his　eyes　in　thought；　and　finally　laughed。　〃You　know；　it's　difficult　for　genius　to　soar　in　the　face　of　these　carping　little　irrelevancies。　Actually；　you're　right。　At　first　glance；　the　Silence　doesn't　explain　the　marketplace；　but　it　explains　so　much　else　that　I　still　believe　the　idea　correct。　Have　I　persuaded　you？〃
〃I。。。　maybe。　You　do　make　a　kind　of　twisted　sense。　It's　just　that　it's　a　hard　idea　to　take　in。　The　one　truth　our　people　have　never　questioned　is　that　Menzoberranzan　belongs　to　Lolth。　Everything　in　the　cavern　is　as　it　is　because　she　willed　it　so；　and　the　might　of　her　priestesses　is　the　primary　force　maintaining　all　that　we　have　and　are。　If　she's　turned　her　face　from　the　entire　city；　or　is　lost　to　us　in　some　other　way。　。　。　。〃　Ryld　spread　his　hands。
〃It　is　unsettling；　but　perhaps；　just　perhaps；　it　affords　us　an　opportunity　as　well。〃
Ryld　extended　a　telescoping　metal　probe；　attached　a　cloth　to　the　hook　on　the　end；　and　started　swamping　out　the　bloodclogged　scabbard。
The　warrior　asked；　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃Just　for　fun；　let's　make　the　same　leap　of　faith—or　fear—that　Gromph　and　the　Council　did。　Assume　the　rogue　mal