war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第19部分

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tion。　If　she　can　be　separated　from　this　demon…perhaps　by　some　trick…she　will　be　unable　to　defend　herself。　The　magical　items　she　carries　are　paltry　ones：　her　only　dangerous　weapons　are　her　hammer…which　is　magical　and　can　smite　at　a　distance…and　her　snake…headed　whip；　whose　vipers　have　a　poisonous　bite。
　　　Danifae　looked　on　in　shock；　astounded　by　Pharaun's　audacity。　He'd　just　told　the　aboleth　everything　she　needed　to　defeat　Quenthel。　The　only　detail　he'd　left　out　was　the　fact　that　Quenthel　no　longer　had　access　to　Lolth's　magic。　He'd　baited　his　hook　with　Quenthel's　supposed　god…slaying　capabilities；　and　Oothoon；　anticipating　the　acquisition　of　such　a　spell；　was　practically　salivating　as　a　result。　Strangest　of　all；　the　mage　had　done　it　all　in　Danifae's　presence。　Did　he　realize　that　she　would　betray　him　to　Quenthel…was　he　counting　on　it？　Perhaps　there　was　a　deeper　game　the　mage　was　playing　at。　。。。
　　　Danifae　shook　her　head。　There　was　no　guessing　the　mind　of　a　man　who　had　matched　wits　with　a　demon　and　won。　She　made　a　quick　hand　gesture；　the　sign　that　indicated　she　wanted　to　speak　to　him　in　private。
　　　Pharaun　frowned；　then　turned　and　addressed　Oothoon。
　　　The　spell　sustaining　my　panion　is　waning；　he　told　the　aboleth。　To　recast　it；　I　need　to　hold　her　hand　for　a　moment。　The　spell　will　conjure　up　a　small　black　cloud　around　our　hands。　Do　not　be　alarmed　by　it；　for　it　is　harmless。　Do　I　have　your　permission　to　proceed？
　　　The　aboleth's　three　eyes　narrowed…an　expression　the　creature　had　doubtless　picked　up　from　the　drow。
　　　〃You　may。〃
　　　The　two　guards　tensed；　watching　Pharaun　closely　as　he　took　both　of　Danifae's　hands　in　his。　A　moment　later；　a　sphere　of　darkness　just　large　enough　to　cover　their　hands　appeared　and　Danifae　switched　to　finger…speech。　With　a　rapid　series　of　taps；　she　spelled　out　words　against　his　palm。
　　　Do　you　seriously　intend　to　sacrifice　Quenthel？
　　　The　fate　of　Menzoberranzan　hangs　in　the　balance；　Pharaun　tapped　back。　I'm　sure　Matron　Mother　Baenre　would　consider　it　a　worthy　sacrifice。　If　she　was　in　my　place；　she　would　do　the　same。
　　　Danifae　could　hardly　argue　with　that　logic。　Instead　she　turned　to　a　more　pressing　matter：　herself。
　　　You're　asking　me　to　take　your　side。　To　betray　a　priestess　of　my　own　faith。　Why　should　I？　I　care　nothing　about　Menzoberranzan。
　　　What　of　Eryndlyn？　Pharaun　asked。
　　　What　of　it？　her　fingers　tapped　back。
　　　Would　you　like　to　return　to　it；　one　day？
　　　That　made　Danifae　pause。
　　　I　have　visited　Eryndlyn　more　than　once；　Pharaun　tapped。　I　know　the　plaza　that　surrounds　the　Five　Pillars　very　well。　With　a　simple　incantation；　I　could　send　you　there。
　　　There　is　nothing　left　for　me　in　Eryndlyn；　she　replied。　No　House；　no　family。
　　　Then　where　else？
　　　Danifae　was　quick　to　catch　on。
　　　Quenthel　would　never　permit　it；　she　tapped　out。　Not　after　losing　Halisstra　。　。　。　and　Ryld。
　　　No；　Pharaun　signed；　shaking　his　head。　She　would　not…but　I　would。　So　the　question　remains；　if　not　Eryndlyn…and　certainly　not　Ched　Nasad…where　would　you　like　to　go？　Llacerellyn？　Sschindylryn？
　　　Despite　herself；　Danifae　gasped。　Sschindylryn　was　a　city　known　for　its　many　portals　and　known　to　Danifae　as　the　adopted　home　of　perhaps　the　only　drow　in　all　the　Underdark　who　might　be　able　to　help　her；　who　might　be　able　to　undo　the　spell　that　bound　her　to　Halisstra。　If　indeed　he　could　。　。　。
　　　Seeing　that　Pharaun　was　studying　her　face…and　irritated　at　herself　for　betraying　her　thoughts…Danifae　posed　herself。
　　　For　a　moment；　she'd　almost　believed　him；　but　she　knew　better　than　to　allow　herself　to　hope。　In　her　experience；　promises…especially　those　made　by　a　fellow　drow…were　seldom　kept。
　　　Still；　there　was　a　chance。　During　the　fall　of　Ched　Nasad；　Pharaun　had　risked　his　life　to　rescue　her。　Danifae　was　still　trying　to　puzzle　out　why。　What　advantage　had　that　gained　him？　Maybe　the　rescue　had　simply　been　an　impulse；　a　product　of　lust。　That　emotion　might　have　been　driving　him　still。
　　　Had　the　moment　e　to　switch　her　allegiance　from　Quenthel　to　Pharaun？　Danifae　turned　the　thought　over　in　her　mind。　She'd　cultivated　an　alliance　with　Quenthel　because　finding　out　what　had　happened　to　Lolth　offered　a　chance　to　regain　her　magic；　perhaps　even　to　gain　special　favor　from　the　dark　goddess　herself。　Quenthel　was　the　highest　ranking　drow　among　the　Menzoberranyr；　and　if　Danifae　was　doomed　to　serve；　she　preferred　serving　at　the　highest　level　possible。　To　be　a　battle…captive　was　one　thing；　to　be　the　servant　of　a　Houseless　refugee　from　a　crumbled　city　was　another。　Danifae's　serving　Quenthel　had　stymied　Halisstra。　The　First　Daughter　of　House　Melarn　could　have　killed　Danifae　on　a　whim；　but　once　her　battle…captive　became　Quenthel's　plaything；　Halisstra　would　be　answerable　to　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith。
　　　After　so　many　years　of　demurely　bowing　and　murmuring　acquiescence　to　others；　Danifae　was　finally　able　to　choose　her　own　path；　finally　able　to　act…but　she　was　far　from　free。　There　was　still　the　Binding。　She　could　still　feel　that　unbreakable　connection　to　Halisstra　Melarn。
　　　Quenthel　was　a　powerful　ally；　and　if　Danifae　played　her　sava　pieces　correctly；　she　might　even　wind　up　at　Quenthel's　right　hand　。　。　。　if　the　quest　to　find　Lolth　succeeded。　Of　which；　given　their　lack　of　success　so　far；　Danifae　was　less　than　certain。
　　　But　in　Sschindylryn；　if　the　old　mage　was　still　alive；　she　could　be　free　at　last。　Free　to…what？　Where　would　she　go？　Even　assuming　Eryndlyn　hadn't　suffered　the　same　fate　as　Ched　Nasad；　there　was　nothing　left　for　her　there。　She　could　go　to　Menzoberranzan　or　some　other　city；　but　as　what？　A　free　drow；　but　one　without　alliances；　without　a　House　to　protect　her。　But　if　she　had　a　sponsor；　a　matron　。　。　。　someone　like　Quenthel　Baenre；　for　instance　。　。　。　she　might　find　a　home　at　Arach…Tinilith。　。　。　。
　　　Danifae　decided　to　play　her　pieces　carefully；　starting　with　a　lie。
　　　I'll　do　it；　she　signed。　Quenthel　will　hear　nothing　of　this　from　me。　But　make　certain；　first；　that　they　really　do　know　where　the　ship　is…and　that　it's　still　seaworthy。
　　　Pharaun　smiled　and　inclined　his　chin　slightly　in　a　token　bow。　Then　he　dispelled　the　globe　of　darkness；　dropped　Danifae's　hand；　and　turned　back　to　Oothoon。
　　　Well？　he　asked。　Have　you　decided　to　accept　my　offer？
　　　The　aboleth　matriarch　flicked　a　tentacle　and　said；　〃Give　me　Quenthel；　and　I　will　tell　you　where　the　ship　of　chaos　is。〃
　　　Danifae　raised　an　eyebrow。　Seeing　it；　Pharaun　gave　a　slight　nod。　He'd　obviously　realized　the　same　thing　she　had；　they'd　e　looking　for　a　ship；　but　neither　one　of　them　had　mentioned　precisely　what　sort　of　ship。　Still；　there　was　a　chance　that　Valas　might　have　done　so。
　　　Describe　it；　Pharaun　signed。　Convince　us　that　you　know　about　it。
　　　The　aboleth　closed　its　eyes；　as　if　calling　up　a　distant　memory。
　　　〃It　was　made　of　bone　and　moved　upon　the　surface　of　the　lake。　The　creatures　that　inhabited　it　were　shaped　as　you　are　and　seemed　alive　but　were　pale　and　bloated；　and　tasted　of　death…and　of　insects。　The　one　that　she…who…spawned…my…mothers　consumed　was　infested　with　white；　wriggling　things。〃
　　　Maggots；　Pharaun　signed；　his　face　showing　none　of　the　revulsion　that　Danifae　was　certain　was　written　plain　across　her　own　face。
　　　〃Yes。　An　unfortable　experience…especially　when　the　creature　disincorporated　into　acidic　vapor　within　her　stomach。　She…who…spawned…my…mothers　nearly　died　and　would　not　willingly　eat　one　of　those　creatures　again；　had　its　mind　held　the　secrets　of　the　gods　themselves。〃
　　　Danifae　seized　upon　that　important　point。
　　　When　did　your　ancestor　consume　the　mane？　she　asked。　When　the　ship　first　visited　your　city…or　after　it　was　lost？
　　　〃After；〃　Oothoon　answered。　〃The　foolish　creature　came　swimming　back　here　when　its　captain　was　overe。〃
　　　Describe　the　captain；　Pharaun　signed。
　　　〃It　was　a　land　creature；　with　two　walking　legs　and　two　holding　legs；〃　Oothoon　answered；　〃and　a　long　tail　that　constantly　moved；　like　a　strand　of　kelp　in　a　shifting　current。　Its　body　was　without　hair；　except　for　its　snout。　The　demon's　face　resembled　that　of　the　tiny　land　creatures　that　scurry　through　the　caverns；　with　a　snout　that　was　always　tasting　the　air。〃
　　　An　uridezu；　Pharaun　signed；　with　a　knowing　look　at　Danifae。　Just　as　Belshazu　told　us。
　　　Valas　could　have　mentioned　that　detail　to　the　aboleth；　Danifae　signed　quickly。
　　　Pharaun　shook　his　head　and　replied；　Valas　doesn't　know　one　demon　from　another。　He　wouldn't　recognize　an　uridezu　if　one　was　staring　him　in　the　face；　nor　would　he　remember　a　demonic　species　Belshazu　mentioned　only　in　passing。　Oothoon　is　telling　the　truth。　Her　ancestor　did　indeed　consume　the　mane…and　with　it；　knowledge　of　where　the　ship　foundered。
　　　To　Oothoon；　he　signed；　We　know　that　the　ship　was　lost　in　a　storm。　Was　it　destroyed？
　　　〃When　the　mane　swam　away　from　the　ship；　it　was　still　whole；〃　Oothoon　answered。　〃The　storm　immobilized　it　and　killed　the　crew　but　did　not　damage　the　ship　itself。〃
　　　Danifae　snorted。　As　if　the　aboleth　matriarch　would　give　them　any　other　answer；　after　Pharaun　had　revealed　their　plans　to　raise　the　ship　and　sail　it　again。
　　　And　what　of　the　demon？　Pharaun　asked。
　　　〃It；　too；　was　immobilized　by　the　storm。〃
　　　The　mage　thought　for　a　moment；　then　nodded；　seemingly　satisfied　with　Oothoon's　replies。
　　　Very　well；　he　signed。　Tell　me　where　the　ship　lies；　and　I　will　arrange　for　Quenthel　to　e　to　you。
　　　〃No；〃　Oothoon　answered；　glowering…and　for　a　frightening　moment；　Danifae　thought　that　the　bargain　was　off；　that　the　aboleth　had　decided　to　eat　them；　instead。　〃You　will　give　me　the　priestess…and　after　I　have　consumed　her；　I　will　tell　you　the　location　of　the　ship。〃
　　　Danifae　snorted。　Impasse。　But　to　her　astonishment；　Pharaun　nodded。
　　　I　accept；　he　told　the　aboleth。
　　　As　Oothoon　gurgled　in　delight；　the　two　guards　nudged　Pharaun　and　Danifae　from　the　room。　The　audience　was　at　an　end。
　　　
Chapter　Eighteen
　　　Gromph　was　surprised　by　the　contents　of　the　thought　bottle。　He　could　hear　the　gurgle　of　fluid；　but　what　slid　over　his　tongue　felt　like　fine　sand。　As　he　swallowed　it；　a　curious　taste　filled　his　mouth…a　strange　blend　of　ancient；　desiccated　insect　and　the　sharp　tang　of　ground　amber。
　　　Memories　burst　into　his　mind　with　the　suddenness　or　spores　exploding　from　an　overripe　fungus。　Included　among　them　was　a　spell…one　that　needed　no　verbal　ponent；　merely　a　somatic　one：　the　act　of　swallowing　the　last　of　the　bottle's　contents。
　　　The　illithid；　sensing　that　something　was　wrong；　leaped　forward；　one　misshapen　hand　lashing　out；　but　it　was　already　too　late。　The　last　of　the　bottle's　contents　slid　across　Gromph's　tongue　and　was　swallowed；　triggering　the　spell。　A　ripple　of　magical　energy　passed　through　the　room　quicker　than　thought；　leaving　Sluuguth　frozen；　eyes　bulging　in　fury；　tentacles　halted　in　mid…lash　a　finger's　breadth　from　Gromph's　face。　The　thought　bottle　hung　in　mid…air　where　it　had　been　knocked；　and　the　duergar　axe　the　illithid　had　been　carrying　was　frozen　between　Sluuguth's　outstretched　hand　and　the　ground。　He'd　dropped　it　in　surprise　the　instant　Gromph's　thoughts　told　him　what　was　about　to　happen。
　　　Gromph　stood　up；　steadying　himself　with　one　hand　on　his　desk　as　the　room　blurred　slightly。　Unsticking　oneself　in　time　was　always　disorienting。　He　felt　dizzy；　slightly　off　balance；　as　if　the　world　was　solid　but　he　was　not。
　　　With　his　memories　restored；　all　was　clear　to　him。
　　　So　that　was　why　I　erased　everything　but　a　single　memory；　the　archmage　thought；　that　I　should　offer　these　bottles　to　any　creature　who　could　dominate　my　mind。
　　　It　wasn't　because　he　hoped　to　trick　the　creature　into　drinking　their　contents　but　because　he　expected　it　to　read　that　thought　and　make　him　drink　from　one　of　the　bottles　first；　as　a　safety　precaution。
　　　Just　as　Sluuguth　had　done。
　　　Gromph　wasted　no　time　basking　in　his　foresight；　however。　He　had　to　move　quickly。　The　time…stopping　spell　was　a　powerful　one；　but　it　was　brief。　It　would　hold　for　no　more　than　a　few　heartbeats。　Bending　swiftly；　he　picked　up　the　battle…axe。
　　　After　a　slight　tug…inertia　made　the　weapon　feel　as　though　it　was　stuck　in　mud…Gromph　grasped　the　axe　firmly　in　both　hands　and　swung。　Its　blade　bit　cleanly　through　the　illithid's　neck；　severing　it　with　a　single　stroke。　Pulled　by　the　blade；　blood　bulged　at　the　exit　wound；　but　the　head　itself　remained　on　the　shoulders。
　　　As　Gromph　laid　the　weapon　on　his　desk；　the　spell　ended　and　time　lurched　forward　again。　Blood　sprayed　against　the　wall；　Sluuguth's　head　flew　from　his　body；　and　the　illithid　crumpled　in　a　heap。　An　instant　later；　the　thought　bottle　thumped　against　the　wall　and　clattered　to　the　floor。
　　　Looking　down　into　the　blade　of　the　axe；　Gromph　saw　a　frenzied　swirling　as　the　enchanted　blade　added　Sluuguth's　soul　to　those　it　had　already　stolen。　The　illithid's　face　stared　out　in　horror　from　the　flat　of　the　blade；　tentacles　lashing。　Eventually　it　turned　transparent　and　was　gone。
　　　〃What　a　useful　weapon；〃　Gromph　said；　setting　the　duergar　battle…axe　down　again。　He　chuckled。　〃Perhaps　I　should　hang　it　on　the　wall　as　a　souvenir。〃
　　　Kneeling；　he　chanted　the　words　to　a　spell　and　passed　his　hands　over　the　corpse　of　the　illithid。　His　palms　tingled　when　they　passed　over　the　illithid's　out…flung　hand。　The　gold　signet　ring　on　Sluuguth's　middle　finger　was　magical；　imbued　with　protective　enchantments。　He　slipped　it　off　the　illithid's　finger　and　laid　it　on　his　desk。
　　　His　hands　tingled　a　second　time　as　they　passed　over　an　elongated　leather　carrying　case　that　hung　at　Sluuguth's　belt。　Opening　it；　Gromph　saw　a　tube　inside。　He　eased　out　the　tube…a　length　of　hollow　bone　with　a　plug　of　wood　at　either　end…and　shook　it。　He　heard　the　rustle　of　paper。　Scrolls；　perhaps？　He　would　study　them　later；　after　taking　the　appropriate　precautions。
　　　Laying　the　tube　down　beside　the　ring；　he　pleted　his　pass　over　the　illithid's　body。　One　of　the　pockets　in　Sluuguth's　robe　made　his　palms　tingle　a　third　time。　Reaching　inside　it；　Gromph　pulled　out　a　finger…length　piece　of　quartz　that　had　been　cut　into　a　prism。　Tiny　yellow　sparks　danced　in　its　depths。
　　　Gromph　had　seen　similar　devices　before。　They　were　magical　constructs　of　the　surface　elves；　who　needed　light　to　find　their　way　through　the　Underdark。　He　spoke　a　word　in　their　tongue…the　surface　elves　were　so　predictable　and　almost　always　used　the　same　mand　words…and　the　prism　reacted　as　he　expected　it　to；　shedding　a　pale　cone　of　candle…bright　light。　A　second　mand　word　shaped　the　light　into　an　eye…hurting；　wand…thin　beam　of　intensely　white　light。　Had　it　not　struck　the　wall　of　Gromph's　office；　it　would　have　shone　for　some　distance。
　　　Squeezing　his　eyes　shut　against　the　glare；　Gromph　spoke　a　third　mand　word；　and　the　harsh　light　disappeared。　The　prism　was　as　it　had　been　before；　still　cool　as　stone　against　Gromph's　palm。
　　　〃A　useful　trinket；〃　he　said；　slipping　it　into　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi。　〃Handy　to　read　scrolls　by；　if　nothing　else。〃
　　　He　almost　ended　his　search　there；　but　when　he　passed　his　hands　a　final　time　over　the　illithid's　corpse　he　felt　the　tingle　once　more。
　　　Something　was　tucked　deep　into　the　pocket　he'd　just　pulled　the　prism　from。　Digging　into　it；　he　pulled　out　a　silver　chain　with　a　flat　oval　of