蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第19部分

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ow；　you　let　them　burn　to　gray。　Only　then　do　you　start　cooking；　with　the　grill　positioned　here。〃
He　replaced　the　utensil　in　a　higher　set　of　brackets。
〃Sausage　take　longer　to　fry；〃　the　goblin　said。
〃Do　you　have　somewhere　to　go？　Now；　I'm　going　to　assume　you　buy　these　questionable　delicacies　elsewhere　and　thus　can　do　nothing　about　the　quality；　but　you　can　at　least　tenderize　them　with　a　few　whacks　from　that　mallet；　poke　a　few　holes　with　the　fork　to　help　them　cook　on　the　inside；　and　sprinkle　some　of　these　spices　on　them。〃　Pharaun　grinned。　〃You've　never　so　much　as　touched　a　lot　of　this　stuff；　have　you？　What　did　you　do；　murder　the　real　chef　and　take　possession　of　his　enterprise？〃
The　smaller　creature　smirked　and　said；　〃Don't　matter　now；　do　it？〃
〃I　suppose　not。　One　last　thing：　Roast　the　sausage　when　the　customer　orders　it；　not　hours　beforehand。　It　isn't　nearly　as　appetizing　if　it's　cooked；　allowed　to　cool；　then　warmed　again。　Good　fortune　to　you。〃
He　clapped　the　goblin　on　the　shoulder；　then　exited　the　stand。
At　some　point；　Ryld　had　wandered　up　to　observe　the　lesson。
〃What　was　the　point　of　that？〃　the　warrior　asked。
〃I　was　performing　a　public　service；〃　answered　the　wizard；　〃preserving　the　Braeryn　from　a　plague　of　dyspepsia。〃
Pharaun　fell　in　beside　his　friend；　and　the　two　dark　elves　walked　on。
〃You　were　amusing　yourself；　and　it　was　idiotic。　You　take　the　trouble　to　disguise　us；　then　risk　revealing　your　true　identity　by　playing　the　gourmet。〃
〃I　doubt　one　small　lapse　will　prove　our　undoing。　It's　unlikely　that　any　of　our　illwishers　will　interview　that　particular　street　vendor　any　time　soon　or　ask　the　right　questions　if　they　do。　Remember；　we're　well　disguised。　Who　would　imagine　this　lurching；　misshapen　creature　could　possibly　be　my　handsome；　elegant　self？　Though　I　must　admit；　your　metamorphosis　wasn't　quite　so　much　of　a　stretch。〃
Ryld　scowled；　then　wolfed　down　his　last　bite　of　sausage　and　bread。
〃Why　didn't　you　disguise　us　from　the　moment　we　left　Tier　Breche？〃　he　asked。　〃Never　mind；　I　think　I　know。　A　fencer　doesn't　reveal　all　his　capabilities　in　the　initial　moments　of　the　bout。〃
〃Something　like　that。　Greyanna　and　her　minions　have　seen　us　looking　like　ourselves；　so　if　we're　lucky　they　won't　expect　to　find　us　appearing　radically　different。　The　trick　won't　befuddle　them　forever；　but　perhaps　long　enough　for　us　to　plete　our　business　and　return　to　our　sedate；　cloistered　lives。〃
〃Does　that　mean　you've　figured　out　something　else？〃
〃Not　as　such；　but　you　know　I'm　prone　to　sudden　bursts　of　inspiration。〃
The　masters　entered　a　crowded　section　of　street　outside　of　what　was　evidently　a　popular　tavern；　with　a　howling；　barking　gnoll　song　shaking　the　calcite　walls。　Pharaun　had　never　had　occasion　to　walk　incognito　among　the　lower　orders。　It　felt　odd　weaving；　pausing；　and　twisting　to　avoid　bumps　and　jostles。　Had　they　known　his　true　identity；　his　fellow　pedestrians　would　have　scurried　out　of　his　way。
As　the　two　drow　reached　the　periphery　of　the　crowd；　Ryld　pivoted　and　struck　a　short　straight　blow　with　his　fist。　A　hunchbacked；　piebald　creature—the　product　of　a　mating　of　goblin　and　ore　perhaps—stumbled　backward　and　fell　on　his　rump。
〃Cutpurse；〃　the　warrior　explained。　〃I　hate　this　place。〃
〃No　pangs　of　nostalgia？〃
Ryld　glowered。　〃That　isn't　funny。〃
〃No？　Then　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　smirk。　〃I　wonder　why　this　precinct　always　seems　so　sordid；　even　on　those　rare　occasions　when　one　finds　oneself　alone　in　a　plaza　or　boulevard。　Well；　the　smell；　of　course。　We　don't　call　them　the　Stench　streets　for　nothing；　but　the　buildings；　though　generally　more　modest　than　those　encountered　elsewhere　in　the　city；　still　wear　the　same　graceful　shapes　our　ancestors　cut　from　the　living　rock。〃
The　teachers　paused　to　let　a　spider　with　legs　as　long　as　broadswords　scuttle　across　the　street。　The　Braeryn　notoriously　harbored　hordes　of　the　sacred　creatures。　Sacred　or　not；　Pharaun　reviewed　his　mental　list　of　ready　spells；　but　the　arachnid　ignored　the　disguised　dark　elves
〃That's　a　foolish　question；〃　said　Ryld。　〃Why　does　the　Braeryn　seem　foul？　The　inhabitants〃
〃Ah；　but　did　the　living　refuse　of　our　society　generate　the　atmosphere　of　the　district；　or　did　that　malignant　spirit　exist　from　the　beginning　and　lure　the　wretched　to　its　domain？〃
〃I'm　no　metaphysician；〃　said　Ryld。　〃All　I　know　is　that　somebody　should　clear　the　scavengers　out　of　here。〃
Pharaun　chuckled。　〃What　if　said　clearing　had　occurred　when　you　were　a　tyke？〃
〃I　don't　mean　exterminate　them—except　for　the　hopeless　cases—but　why　just　let　them　squat　here　in　their　dirt　like　a　festering　chancre　on　the　city？　Why　not　find　something　useful　for　them　to　do？〃
〃Ah；　but　they're　already　useful。　Status　is　all；　is　it　not？　Does　it　not　follow；　then；　that　no　Menzoberranyr　can　find　contentment　without　someone　upon　whom　she　can　look　down。〃
〃We　have　slaves。〃
〃They　won't　do。　Predicate　your　claim　to　selfrespect　on　their　existence　and　you　tacitly　acknowledge　you're　only　slightly　better　than　a　thrall　yourself。　Happily；　here　in　the　Stench　streets；　we　find　a　populace　starving；　filthy；　penniless；　riddled　with　disease；　living　twenty　or　thirty　to　a　room；　yet　nominally　free。　The　humblest　moner　in　Many　folk　or　even　Eastmyr　can　turn　up　his　nose　at　them　and　feel　smug。〃
〃You　really　think　that's　the　reason　Matron　Baenre　hasn't　ordered　the　slum　scoured　clean？〃
〃Well；　if　that　conjecture　seems　implausible；　here's　another：　Rumor　has　it　that　from　time　to　time；　someone　meets　the　goddess　herself　in　the　Braeryn。　Supposedly　she　likes　to　visit　here　in　mortal　guise。　The　matrons　may　feel　that　the　neighborhood　is；　in　some　sense；　under　her　protection。〃　　The　wizard　hesitated。　〃Though　if　Lolth　has　gone　away　for　good；　perhaps　they　don't　need　to　worry　about　it　anymore。〃
Ryld　shook　his　head。　〃It's　still　so　hard　to　belie—〃
Pharaun　pointed。　〃Look。〃
Ryld　turned。
On　a　curving　wall　below　a　dark　elf's　eye　level　was　a　sketch；　this　time　smeared　in　blue。　It　consisted　of　three　overlapping　ovals；　conceivably　representing　the　links　of　a　chain。
〃It's　a　different　mark；〃　said　Ryld。　〃Hobgoblin　maybe；　though　I　couldn't　tell　you　the　tribe。〃
〃Don't　be　intentionally　dim。　It's　the　same　peculiar；　reckless；　pointless　crime。〃
〃Fair　enough；　and　it's　still　irrelevant　to　our　endeavors。〃
〃It's　a　dull　mind　that　never　transcends　pragmatics。　Two　signs；　representing　two　races；　implying　two　specimens　of　the　lesser　races　demented　in　precisely　the　same　way？　Unlikely；　yet　why　would　a　single　artist　daub　an　emblem　not　his　own？〃
〃Coincidence？〃
〃I　doubt　it；　but　as　yet　I　can't　provide　a　better　answer。〃
〃It's　a　puzzle　for　another　day；　remember？〃
〃Indeed。〃
The　masters　walked　on。
〃Still；〃　pressed　Pharaun；　〃don't　you　wonder　how　many　scrawled　signs　we　passed　without　noticing　and　exactly　what　form　they　took？〃
Ignoring　the　question；　Ryld　pointed　and　said；　〃That's　our　destination。〃
The　house's　limestone　door　stood　open；　most　likely　for　ventilation；　for　the　interior　radiated　a　perceptible　warmth；　the　product　of　a　multitude　of　tenants　crammed　in　together。　It　also　emitted　a　muddled　drone　and　a　thick　stink　considerably　fouler　than　the　unpleasant　smell　that　clung　to　the　Braeryn　as　a　whole。
Ryld　had　been　born　in　a　similar　warren；　had　fought　like　a　demon　to　escape　it；　and　he　felt　a　strange　reluctance　to　venture　in；　as　if　squalor　　wouldn't　let　him　escape　a　second　time。　Unwilling　to　appear　timid　and　foolish　in　the　eyes　of　his　friend；　he　hid　the　feeling　behind　an　impassive　warrior's　countenance。
Pharaun；　however；　freely　demonstrated　his　own　distaste。　The　porcine　eyes　in　his　illusory　ore　face　watered；　and　he　swallowed；　no　doubt　trying　to　quell　a　surge　of　queasiness。
〃Get　used　to　it；〃　said　Ryld。
〃I'll　be　all　right。　I've　visited　the　Braeryn　frequently　enough　to　have　some　notion　of　what　these　little　hells　are　like；　though　I　confess　I　never　entered　one。〃
〃Then　stick　close　and　let　me　do　the　talking。　Don't　stare　at　anybody；　or　look　anyone　in　the　eye。　They're　likely　to　take　it　as　an　insult　or　challenge。　Don't　touch　anyone　or　anything　if　you　can　avoid　it。　Half　the　residents　are　sick　and　probably　contagious。〃
〃Really？　And　their　palace　gives　off　such　a　salubrious　air　Ah；　well；　lead　on。”
Ryld　did　as　his　friend　had　asked。　Beyond　the　threshold　was　the　claustrophobic　nightmare　he　remembered。　Kobolds；　goblins；　ores；　gnolls；　bugbears；　hobgoblins；　and　a　sprinkling　of　less　mon　creatures　squeezed　into　every　available　space。　Some；　the　warrior　knew；　were　runaway　slaves。　Others　had　entered　the　service　of　Menzoberranyr　travelers　who　picked　them　up　in　far　corners　of　the　world；　took　them　back　to　the　city；　and　dismissed　them　without　any　means　of　making　their　way　home。　The　rest　were　descendants　of　unfortunate　souls　in　the　first　two　categories。
Wherever　they　came　from；　the　paupers　were　trapped　in　the　Braeryn；　begging；　stealing；　scavenging；　preying　on　one　another—often　in　the　most　literal　sense—and　hiring　on　for　any　dangerous；　filthy　job　anyone　cared　to　give　them。　It　was　the　only　way　they　could　survive。
This　particular　lot　had　likewise　learned　to　live　packed　into　the　mon　space　without　the　slightest　vestige　of　privacy。　Undercreatures　babbled；　cooked；　ate；　drank；　tended　a　still；　brawled；　twitched　and　moaned　in　the　throes　of　sickness；　shook　and　cuffed　their　shrieking　infants；　threw　dice；　fornicated；　relieved　themselves；　and；　amazingly；　slept；　all　in　plain　view　of　anyone　with　the　ill　luck　to　look　in　their　direction。
As　Ryld　had　expected；　within　moments　of　their　entrance；　a　pair　of　toughs—in　this　instance　bugbears—slouched　forward　to　accost　them。　With　their　coarse；　shaggy　manes　and　square；　prominent　jaws；　bugbears　were　the　largest　and　strongest　of　the　goblin　peoples；　towering　over　the　rest—and　dark　elves；　too；　for　that　matter。　This　pair　was；　by　the　standards　of　their　destitute　household；　relatively　wellfed　and　adequately　dressed。　They　likely　bullied　tribute　out　of　the　rest。
〃You　don't　live　here；〃　rumbled　the　taller　of　the　two。
He　wore　what　appeared　to　be　a　severed　goblin　hand　strung　around　his　burly　neck。　Drow　occasionally　affected　similar　ornaments；　usually　mementos　of　hated　enemies；　but　they　sent　them　to　a　taxidermist　first。　It　was　too　bad　the　bugbear　hadn't　done　the　same。　It　would　have　prevented　the　rot　and　the　carrion　smell。
〃No；〃　Ryld　said；　tossing　the　bugbear　a　shaved　coin；　paying　the　toll　to　pass　in　and　out　of　the　house。　〃We　came　to　see　Smylla　Nathos。〃
The　hulking　goblinoids　just　looked　at　him；　as　did　several　others　creatures。　A　scaly；　naked　little　kobold　tittered　crazily。
Something　was　wrong；　and　the　Master　of　MeleeMagthere　didn't　know　what。　He　felt　a　sudden　tension　and　exhaled　it　away。　Looking　nervous　was　a　bad　idea。
〃Isn't　this　Smylla's　house？〃　he　asked。
The　shorter　bugbear；　who　still　loomed　nearly　as　huge　as　an　ogre；　laughed　and　said；　〃No；　not　no　more；　but　she　still　live　here　。　。　。　kind　of。〃
〃Can　we　see　her？〃　said　Ryld。
〃What　for？〃　asked　the　bugbear　with　the　severed　goblin　hand。
The　weapons　master　hesitated。　He'd　intended　to　say　that　he　and　Pharaun　wished　to　consult　Smylla　in　her　professional　capacity　as　a　trader　in　information。　It　was　essentially　the　truth；　though　that　didn't　matter。　What　did　was　that　he　hadn't　expected　it　to　provoke　a　hostile　response。
Pharaun　stepped　up　beside　him。
〃Smylla　sold　our　sister　Iggra　the　secret　of　how　to　break　into　a　merchant's　strong　room；〃　the　wizard　said　in　a　creditably　surly　Orcish　rasp。　〃How　to　get　around　all　the　traps。　。　。　。　Only　she　left　one　out；　see？　It　squirted　acid　on　Sis　and　burned　her　to　death。　Slow。　Almost　got　us　too。　It's　Smylla's　fault；　and　we　e　to　'talk'　to　her　about　it。〃
The　smaller　bugbear　nodded。　〃You　ain't　the　only　ones　wantin'　that　kind　of　talk。　Us；　too；　but　we　can't　get　at　the　bitch。〃
Pharaun　cocked　his　head。　〃How　e？〃　
〃A　couple　tendays　ago；〃　said　the　bugbear　with　the　severed　hand　necklace；　〃we　decided　we　was　tired　of　her　bossing　us　and　her　lamps　hurting　our　eyes。　We　jumped　her；　hit　her；　but　she　chucked　one　of　those　stones　that　makes　a　flash　of　light。　It　blinded　us；　and　she　run　up　to　her　room。〃　He　nodded　toward　the　head　of　a　twisting　staircase。　〃We　can't　get　through　the　door。　She　locked　it　with　magic　or　somethin'。〃
Pharaun　snorted。　〃Ain't　no　door　my　brother　and　me　can't　bust　through。〃
The　bugbears　exchanged　glances。　The　smaller　one；　who；　Ryld　noticed；　was　missing　several　of　his　lower　teeth；　shrugged。
〃You　can　try；〃　the　larger　one　said。　〃Only；　Smylla　belongs　to　us；　too。　Hit　her；　bleed　her；　slice　off　a　piece　of　her　and　eat　it；　but　you　can't　keep　her　all　to　yourself。〃
〃It's　a　deal；〃　Pharaun　said。
〃e　on；　then。〃
The　bugbears　led　them　through　the　crowded　room　and　onto　the　stairs；　where　they　still　had　to　pick　their　way　through　lounging　paupers。　Partway　up；　the　brute　wearing　the　decaying　hand　put　it　in　his　mouth　and　began　slurping　and　sucking　on　it。
At　the　top　of　the　steps　were　a　small　landing　and　a　limestone　door　with　a　rounded　top。　Two　sentries；　an　ore　and　a　caninefaced　gnoll　with　sores　on　his　muzzle；　sat　on　the　floor　looking　bored。
The　disguised　teachers　made　a　show　of　examining　the　door。
〃Can　you　knock　it　down？〃　Pharaun　whispered。
〃When　the　bugbears　couldn't？　Don't　count　on　it。　Can　you　open　it　with　magic？〃
〃Probably。　It's　magically　sealed；　so　a　counter　spell　should　suffice；　but　I　don't　want　our　friends　to　observe　me　casting　it。　That　really　would　promise　my　disguise。　Stand　where　you　obstruct　their　view　and　do　something　distracting。〃
〃Right。〃　Ryld　positioned　himself　in　the　appropriate　spot　and　glowered　up　at　the　two　bugbears。　〃We　can　open　it。　What　loot　is　inside？〃
The　larger　bugbear　scowled　and；　the　odious　object　in　his　mouth　garbling　his　speech　a　little；　said；　〃We　made　a　deal。　It　didn't　say　nothing　about　no　loot。〃
〃Smylla　took　Sis's　treasure；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃We　want　it　back；　and　extra　too；　for　wergild。〃
〃Hell　with　that。〃
The　bugbear　with　the　missing　teeth　reached　for　the　knife　tucked　through　his　belt。　Ryld　could　see　it　was　a　butcher's　tool；　not　a　proper　fighting　blade；　but　no　doubt　it　served　in　the　latter　capacity　well　enough。
Ryld　rested　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　short　sword；　the　weapon　of　choice　for　these　tight　quarters；　and　said；　〃You　want　to　fight；　we'll　fight。　I'll　slice　your　face　off　your　skull　and　wear　it　like　a　breechcloth；　but　my　brother　and　I　came　to　kill　Smylla；　not　you。　Let's　talk。　If　you　never　get　the　door—〃
〃Open；〃　Pharaun　said。
White　light　shone　at　Ryld's　back；　making　the　bugbears　wince。　Squinting；　the　warrior　whirled　and　scrambled　for　the　opening。
〃Hey〃　yelped　the　smaller　bugbear。
Ryld　felt　a　big　hand　fumble　at　his　shoulder；　trying　to　grab　him；　but　it　was　an　instant　too　slow。　He　followed　Pharaun　over　the　threshold　and　slammed　the　door。
〃You　need　to　hold　it　shut；〃　the　wizard　said。
〃I　can't　do　it　for　long。〃
Leaning　forward；　Ryld　planted　his　hands　on　the　limestone　slab　and　braced　himself。
The　door　bucked　inward。　For　a　split　second；　the　dark　elf's　feet　slid　on　the　calcite　floor；　then　they　caught；　and　he　held　the　barrier　in　place。　Barely。
Meanwhile；　Pharaun　was　peering　about。　He　gave　a　little　cry　of　satisfaction；　picked　up　a　small　iron　bar；　and　set　it　so　it　overlapped　the　edge　of　the　door　and　the　jamb　about　halfway　up。　When　he　took　his　hand　away；　the　charm　remained　in　place。
〃This　is　quite　a　clever　little　device；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃Oh；　and　you　can　let　go　now。〃　Pharaun　turned　the　mechanical　locks　his　spell　of　opening　had　disengaged；　snapping　each　shut　in　its　turn。　It　was　actually　the　enchanted　length　of　iron　that　had　up　to　then　kept