蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第2部分

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〃Even　now；　the　Academy　is　warded　by　all　the　old　enchantments。〃
〃I'll　dissolve　the　barriers　for　you。
1　won’t　go
〃Nonsense。　You've　submitted　and　must　obey。　Stop　blathering　before　I　lose　my　patience。〃
He　hefted　the　athame；　and　Beradax　seemed　to　slump。
〃Very　well；　wizard；　send　me　and　be　damned。　I'll　kill　her　as　I　will　one　day　butcher　you。〃
〃You　can't　go　quite　yet。　For　all　your　bluster；　you're　the　lowliest　kind　of　nether　spirit；　a　grub　crawling　on　the　floor　of　Hell；　but　tonight　you'll　wear　the　form　of　a　genuine　demon；　to　make　the　proper　impression　on　the　residents　of　the　temple。〃
〃No？”
Gromph　lifted　his　staff　in　both　hands　and　shouted　words　of　power。　Beradax　howled　in　agony　as　her　mass　of　eyeballs　flowed　and　humped　into　something　quite　different。
Afterward；　Gromph　descended　to　his　office。　He　had　an　appointment　with　a　different　kind　of　agent。　
As　Pharaun　Mizzrym　and　Ryld　Argith　strolled　through　the　cool　air；　fresher　than　that　pent　up　in　MeleeMagthere；　the　latter　looked　about　Tier　Breche；　realized　he　hadn't　bothered　to　set　foot　outside　in　days；　and　rather　wondered　why；　for　the　view　was　as　spectacular　as　ever。
Tier　Breche；　home　to　the　Academy　since　that　institution's　founding；　was　a　large　cavern　where　the　labor　of　countless　spell　casters；　artisans；　and　slaves　had　turned　enormous　stalagmites　and　other　masses　of　rocks　into　three　extraordinary　citadels。　To　the　east　rose　pyramidal　MeleeMagthere；　where　Ryld　and　others　like　him　turned　callow　young　drow　into　warriors。　By　the　western　wall　stood　the　manyspired　tower　of　Sorcere；　where　Pharaun　and　his　colleagues　taught　wizardry；　while　to　the　north　crouched　the　largest　and　most　imposing　school　of　all；　ArachTinilith；　a　temple　built　in　the　eightlimbed　shape　of　a　spider。　Inside；　the　priestesses　of　Lolth；　goddess　of　arachnids；　chaos；　assassins；　and　the　drow　race；　trained　dark　elf　maidens　to　serve　the　deity　in　their　turn。
And　yet；　magnificent　as　was　Tier　Breche；　considered　in　the　proper　context；　it　was　only　a　detail　in　a　scene　of　far　greater　splendor。　The　Academy　sat　in　a　side　cavern；　a　mere　nook　opening　partway　up　the　wall　of　a　truly　prodigious　vault。　The　primary　chamber　was　two　miles　wide　and　a　thousand　feet　high；　and　filling　all　that　space　was　Menzoberranzan。
On　the　cavern　floor；　castles；　hewn　like　the　Academy　from　natural　protrusions　of　calcite；　shone　blue；　green；　and　violet　amid　the　darkness。　The　phosphorescent　mansions　served　to　delineate　the　plateau　of　Qu'ellarz'orl；　where　the　Baenre　and　those　Houses　nearly　as　powerful　made　their　homes；　the　West　Wall　district；　where　lesser　but　still　wellestablished　noble　families　schemed　how　to　supplant　the　dwellers　on　Qu'ellarz'orl；　and　Narbondellyn；　where　parvenus　plotted　to　replace　the　inhabitants　of　West　Wall。　Still　other　palaces；　cut　from　stalactites；　hung　from　the　lofty　ceiling。
The　nobles　of　Menzoberranzan　had　set　their　homes　glowing　to　display　their　immensity；　their　graceful　lines；　and　the　ornamentation　sculpted　about　their　walls。　Most　of　the　carvings　featured　spiders　and　webs；　scarcely　surprising；　Ryld　supposed；　in　a　realm　where　Lolth　was　the　only　deity　anyone　worshiped；　and　her　clergy　ruled　in　the　temporal　sense　as　well　as　the　spiritual　one。
For　some　reason；　Ryld　found　the　persistence　of　the　motif　vaguely　oppressive；　so　he　shifted　his　attention　to　other　details。　If　a　drow　had　good　eyes；　he　could　make　out　the　frigid　depths　of　the　lake　called　Donigarten　at　the　narrow　eastern　end　of　the　vault。　Cattlelike　beasts　called　rothe　and　the　goblin　slaves　who　herded　them　lived　on　an　island　in　the　center　of　the　lake。
And　there　was　Narbondel　itself；　of　course。　It　was　the　only　piece　of　unworked　stone　remaining　on　the　cavern　floor；　a　thick；　irregular　column　extending　all　the　way　to　the　ceiling。　At　the　start　of　every　day；　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　cast　a　spell　into　the　base　of　it；　heating　it　until　the　rock　glowed。　Since　the　radiance　rose　through　the　stone　at　a　constant　rate；　its　progress　enabled　the　residents　of　the　city　to　tell　the　time。
In　their　way；　the　Master　of　MeleeMagthere　supposed；　he　and　Pharaun　were；　if　nowhere　near　as　grand　a　sight　as　the　vista　before　them；　at　least　a　peculiar　one　by　virtue　of　the　contrasts　between　them。　With　his　slender　build；　graceful　manner；　foppish；　elegant　attire；　and　intricate　coiffure；　the　Mizzrym　mage　epitomized　what　a　sophisticated　noble　and　wizard　should　be。　Ryld；　on　the　other　hand　was　an　oddity。　He　was　huge　for　a　member　of　his　sex；　bigger　than　many　females；　with　a　burly；　broadshouldered　frame　better　suited　to　a　brutish　human　than　a　dark　elf。　He　pounded　his　strangeness　by　wearing　a　dwarven　breastplate　and　vambraces　in　preference　to　light；　supple　mail。　The　armor　sometimes　caused　others　to　eye　him　askance；　but　he'd　found　that　it　maximized　his　effectiveness　as　a　warrior；　and　that；　he'd　always　believed；　was　what　really　mattered。
Ryld　and　Pharaun　walked　to　the　edge　of　Tier　Breche　and　sat　down　with　their　legs　dangling　over　the　sheer　dropoff。　They　were　only　a　few　yards　from　the　head　of　the　staircase　that　connected　the　Academy　with　the　city　below；　and　at　the　top　of　those　steps；　beside　the　twin　pillars；　a　pair　of　sentries—lastyear　students　of　MeleeMagthere—stood　watch。　Ryld　thought　that　he　and　Pharaun　were　distant　enough　for　privacy　if　they　kept　their　voices　low。
Low；　but　not　silent；　curse　it。　Ever　the　sensualist；　the　mage　sat　savoring　the　panorama　below　him；　obviously　prolonging　his　contemplation　well　past　the　point　where　Ryld's　mouth　had　begun　to　tighten　with　impatience；　and　never　mind　that　on　the　walk　up；　he'd　admired　the　view　himself。
〃We　drow　don't　love　one　another；　except　in　the　carnal　sense；〃　Pharaun　remarked　at　last；　〃but　I　think　one　could　almost　love　Menzoberranzan　itself；　don't　you？　Or　at　least　take　a　profound　pride　in　it。〃
Ryld　shrugged。　〃If　you　say　so。〃
〃You　sound　less　than　rhapsodic。　Feeling　morose　again　today？〃
〃I'm　all　right。　Better；　at　least；　now　that　I　see　you　still　alive。〃
〃You　assumed　Gromph　had　executed　me？　Does　my　offense　seem　so　grievous；　then？　Have　you　never　annihilated　a　single　specimen　of　our　tender　young　cadets？〃
〃That　depends　on　how　you　look　at　it；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃bat　training　is　inherently　dangerous。　Accidents　happen；　but　no　one　has　ever　questioned　that　they　were　accidents　occurring　during　the　course　of　MeleeMagthere's　legitimate　business。　The　goddess　knows；　I　never　lost　seven　in　a　single　hour；　two　of　them　from　Houses　with　seats　on　the　Council。　How　does　such　a　thing　happen？〃
〃I　needed　seven　assistants　with　a　degree　of　magical　expertise　to　help　me　perform　the　summoning　ritual。　Had　I　called　upon　fullfledged　wizards；　they　would　have　joined　the　experiment　as　equal　partners。　They　would　have　emerged　from　the　ritual　possessed　of　the　same　newly　discovered　secrets　as　myself；　equally　able　to　conjure　and　control　the　Sarthos　demon。　Naturally　I　wished　to　avoid　such　a　sharing；　so　I　opted　to　use　apprentices　instead。〃
Pharaun　grinned　and　continued；　〃In　retrospect；　I　must　admit　that　it　may　not　have　been　a　good　idea。　The　fiend　didn't　even　require　seven　heartbeats　to　smash　them　all。〃
An　updraft　wafted　past　Ryld's　face；　carrying　the　constant　murmur　of　the　metropolis　below。　He　caught　its　scent　as　well；　a　plex　odor　made　of　cooking　smoke；　incense；　perfume；　the　stink　of　unwashed　thralls；　and　a　thousand　other　things。
〃Why　perform　such　a　dangerous　ritual　in　the　first　place？〃　he　asked。
Pharaun　smiled　as　if　it　was　a　silly　question。　Perhaps　it　was。
〃To　bee　more　powerful；　of　course；〃　the　wizard　answered。　〃At　present；　I'm　one　of　the　thirty　most　puissant　mages　in　the　city。　If　I　controlled　the　Sarthos　demon；　I'd　be　one　of　the　five。　Perhaps　even　the　first；　mightier　than　dreary　old　Gromph　himself。〃
I　see。
Ambition　was　an　essential　part　of　the　drow　character；　and　Ryld　sometimes　envied　Pharaun　his　stillpassionate　investment　in　the　struggle　for　status。　The　warrior　supposed　that　he　himself　had　achieved　the　pinnacle　of　his　ambitions　when　he　became　one　of　the　lesser　masters　of　MeleeMagthere；　for　certainly　he；　born　a　moner；　could　never　climb　any　higher。　From　that　day　forward；　he'd　stopped　peering　hungrily　upward　and　concentrated　on　looking　down；　to　guard　against　all　those　who　wished　to　kill　him　in　hopes　of　ascending　to　his　position。
Pharaun　was　a　Master　of　Sorcere　as　Ryld　was　a　Master　of　MeleeMagthere；　but　perhaps；　being　of　noble　blood；　Pharaun　really　did　aspire　to　assassinate　the　formidable　Gromph　Baenre　and　seize　his　office。　Even　if　he　didn't；　wizards；　by　the　nature　of　their　intricate　and　clandestine　art；　maintained　a　rivalry　that　enpassed　more　than　who　was　a　master；　who　was　chief　wizard　in　a　great　House；　and　who　was　neither。　They　also　cared　about　such　things　as　who　could　know　the　most　esoteric　secrets；　could　conjure　the　deadliest　specter；　or　see　most　clearly　into　the　future。　In　fact；　they　cared　so　deeply　that　they　occasionally　sought　to　murder　each　other　and　plunder　one　another's　spell　books　even　when　such　hostilities　ran　counter　to　the　interests　of　their　Houses；　severing　an　alliance　or　disrupting　a　negotiation。
〃Now；〃　Pharaun　said；　reaching　inside　the　elegant　folds　of　his　piwafwi　and　producing　a　silver　flask；　〃I'll　have　to　turn　my　back　on　the　Sarthos　demon　for　a　while。　I　hope　the　poor　behemoth　won't　be　lonely　without　me。〃
He　unscrewed　the　bottle；　took　a　sip；　and　passed　the　container　to　Ryld。
Ryld　hoped　the　flask　didn't　contain　wine　or　an　exotic　liqueur。　Pharaun　was　forever　pressing　such　libations　on　him　and　insisting　that　he　try　to　recognize　all　the　elements　that　allegedly　blended　together　to　create　the　taste；　even　though　Ryld　had　demonstrated　time　and　again　that　his　palate　was　incapable　of　such　a　dissection。
He　drank　and　was　pleased　to　find　that　for　a　change；　the　flask　contained　simple　brandy；　probably　imported　at　some　expense　from　the　inhospitable　world　that　lay　like　a　rind　atop　the　Underdark；　baking　in　the　excruciating　sunlight。　The　liquor　burned　his　mouth　and　kindled　a　warm　glow　in　his　stomach。
He　handed　the　brandy　back　to　Pharaun　and　said；　〃I　assume　Gromph　told　you　to　leave　the　entity　alone。〃
〃In　effect。　He　assigned　me　another　task　to　occupy　my　time。　Should　I　succeed；　the　Archmage　will　five　me　my　transgressions。　Should　I　fail　。　。　。　well；　I'll　hope　for　a　nice　beheading　or　garroting；　but　I'm　not　so　unrealistic　as　to　expect　anything　that　quick。〃
〃What　task？〃
〃A　number　of　males　have　eloped　from　their　families；　and　not　to　a　merchant　clan　or　Bregan　D'aerthe　either　but　to　an　unknown　destination。　I'm　supposed　to　find　them。〃
Pharaun　took　another　sip；　then　offered　the　flask　again。
〃What　did　they　steal？〃　asked　Ryld；　waving　off　the　drink。
Pharaun　smiled　and　said；　〃That's　a　good　guess；　but　you're　wrong。　As　far　as　I　know；　no　one　walked　off　with　anything　important。　You　see；　it　isn't　just　a　few　fellows　from　one　particular　House。　It's　a　bunch　of　them　from　any　number　of　homes；　noble　and　mon　alike。〃
〃All　right；　but　so　what？　Why　does　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　care？〃
〃I　don't　know。　He　offered　some　vague　excuse　of　an　explanation；　but　there's　something—several　somethings；　belike—that　he's　not　telling　me。〃
〃That's　not　going　to　make　your　job　any　easier。〃
〃How　true。　The　old　tyrant　did　condescend　to　say　that　he　isn't　the　only　one　interested　in　the　fugitives'　whereabouts。　The　priestesses　are　equally　concerned；　but　that　emphatically　did　not　make　them　want　to　join　forces　with　Gromph。　Matron　Mother　Baenre　herself　ordered　him　to　drop　the　matter。〃
〃Matron　Baenre；〃　said　Ryld。　〃I　like　this　less　with　every　word　you　speak。〃
〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　Just　because　Triel　Baenre　rules　all　Menzoberranzan；　and　I'm　about　to　flout　her　express　wishes　。　。　。　Anyway；　the　Archmage　says　he　can　no　longer　investigate　the　disappearances　himself。　Seems　the　ladies　have　their　eyes　on　him；　but；　lucky　me；　I　am　not　so　burdened。〃
〃That　doesn't　mean　you're　going　to　find　the　missing　males。　If　they　fled　the　city；　they　could　be　anywhere　in　the　Underdark　by　now。〃
〃Please；〃　said　Pharaun　with　a　grin；　〃you　don't　have　to　try　to　cheer　me　up。　Actually；　I'm　going　to　start　looking　in　Eastmyr　and　the　Braeryn。　Apparently　some　of　the　runaways　were　last　sighted　in　those　déclassé　vicinities；　and　perhaps　they　linger　there　still。　Even　if　they　do　intend　to　depart　Menzoberranzan；　they　may　still　be　making　preparations　for　the　journey。〃
〃If　they've　already　decamped；〃　Ryld　said；　〃you　might　at　least　find　a　witness　who　can　at　tell　you　what　tunnel　they　took。　It's　a　sensible　plan；　but　I　can　think　of　another。　It's　reckless　to　gamble　your　life　when　you　don't　even　understand　the　game。　You　could　flee　Menzoberranzan　yourself。　With　your　wizardry；　you're　one　of　the　few　people　capable　of　undertaking　such　a　dangerous　trek　alone。〃　
〃I　could　try；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃but　I　suspect　Gromph　would　track　me　down。　Even　if　he　didn't；　I　would　have　lost　my　home　and　forfeited　the　rank　I　worked　my　whole　life　to　earn。　Would　you　give　up　being　a　master　just　to　avoid　a　spot　of　danger？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then　you　understand　my　predicament。　I　imagine　you've　also　figured　out　why　I　called　on　you　today。〃
〃I　think　so。〃
〃Of　course　you　have。　Whatever　it　is　that's　truly　transpiring；　my　chances　of　survival　improve　if　I　have　a　rade　to　watch　my　back。〃
Ryld　scowled。　〃You　mean；　a　rade　willing　to　defy　the　express　will　of　Matron　Mother　Baenre　and　risk　running　afoul　of　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　as　well。〃
〃Quite；　and　by　a　happy　coincidence　you　have　the　look　of　a　drow　in　need　of　a　break　from　his　daily　routine。　You　know　you're　bored　to　death。　It's　painful　to　watch　you　grouch　your　way　through　the　day。〃
Ryld　pondered　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃All　right。　Maybe　we'll　find　out　something　we　can　turn　to　our　advantage。〃
〃Thank　you；　my　friend。　I　owe　you。〃　Pharaun　took　a　drink　and　held　out　the　flask　again。　〃Have　the　rest。　There's　only　a　swallow　left。　We　seem　to　have　guzzled　the　whole　pint　in　just　a　few　minutes；　though　that　scarcely　seems　possible；　refined；　genteel　fellows　that　we—〃
Something　crackled　and　sizzled　above　their　heads。　Waves　of　pressure　beat　down　on　them。　Ryld　looked　up；　cursed；　scrambled　to　his　feet；　and　drew　a　dagger；　meanwhile　wishing　he'd　strapped　on　his　weapons　before　stepping　outside　MeleeMagthere。
Pharaun　rose　in　a　more　leisurely　fashion。
〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　interesting。〃
　
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TWO
Scourge　of　vipers　writhing　in　her　hand　soft；　thin　gown　whispering；　Quenthel　Baenre；　Mistress　of　ArachTinilith；　prowled　about；　glaring　at　the　younger　females　standing　huddled　in　the　center　of　the　candlelit；　marblepaneled　room。　She　always　had　a　knack　for　striking　fear　into　the　hearts　of　those　who　displeased　her；　and　these　students　were　no　exception。　Some　trembled　or　appeared　to　be　biting　back　tears；　and　even　the　sullen；　fractious　ones　refused　to　look　her　in　the　eye。
Enjoying　their　apprehension；　Quenthel　prolonged　her　silent　inspection　until　it　was　surely　on　the　verge　of　being　unbearable；　then　she　cracked　the　whip。　Some　of　her　startled　pupils　gasped　and　jumped。
As　the　five　long　black　and　crimsonbanded　vipers　that　prised　the　lashes　of　the　whip　rose　twisting　and　probing　from　the　adamantine　handle；　Quenthel　said；　〃All　your　lives；　your　mothers　have　told　you　that　when　a　student　ascends　to　Tier　Breche；　she　remains　here；　sequestered　from　the　city　below；　for　ten　years。　On　the　day　you　entered　the　Academy；　I　told　you　the　same　thing。〃
She　stalked　up　to　one　of　the　students　trapped　at　the　front　of　the　group；　Gaussra　Kenafm；　slightly　plump　and　roundfaced；　with　teeth　as　black　as　her　skin。　Responding　to　Quenthel's　unspoken　will；　the　whip　snakes　e