war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第12部分

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　　　She　marched　off；　already　barking　orders　at　the　goblin　slaves　underfoot。
　　　Halisstra　watched　her　go；　then　she　looked　back　to　the　others　and　flashed；　That　was　odd。　Did　you　hear　what　the　bugbear　said？
　　　〃What　he　said　about　the　drow　not　being　as　scary　as　they　used　to　be？〃　Ryld　said；　then　he　switched　to　sign。　Has　word　of　Ched　Nasad's　fall　reached　this　place　so　quickly？　It　was　only　a　couple　of　days　ago；　and　Mantol…Derith　is　many　days'　travel　from　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs。
　　　It's　possible　that　magical　scrying　or　spells　of　munication　might　have　spread　the　word　already；　Halisstra　said。　Or　。　。　。　perhaps　he　meant　something　else。　Perhaps　something　of　our　unusual　difficulties　is　known　here。
　　　That；　thought　Halisstra；　was　a　very　disturbing　scenario。　Gray　dwarves　and　mind　flayers　were　petent　foes；　creatures　who　knew　many　secrets　of　sorcery。　If　they　had　discerned　the　drow's　weakness；　it　would　not　be　unduly　surprising；　but　if　mon　bugbear　mercenaries　were　aware　of　matters　in　Ched　Nasad　or　Menzoberranzan；　it　must　be　widely　known　indeed。
　　　Goblin　slaves　returned　to　their　fire；　laden　with　somewhat　better　fare　than　the　bugbears　had　enjoyed；　and　flagons　of　cool　wine　from　some　surface　vineyard。　The　small　slaves　gathered　up　the　hulking　body　of　the　fallen　bugbear　and　dragged　it　off　into　the　darkness。　The　dark　elves　paid　them　scant　attention。　Goblin　slaves　were　so　far　beneath　their　notice　that　they　might　as　well　have　not　existed。　The　party　ate　and　drank　in　silence；　occupied　with　their　own　thoughts。
　　　After　a　time；　Valas　joined　them；　acpanied　by　another　gray　dwarf。　This　one　was　a　male；　with　a　short　beard　of　iron　grey　and　not　a　single　hair　on　his　head　above　his　eyebrows。　The　duergar　wore　a　shirt　of　chain　mail　and　carried　a　wicked　hand　axe　at　his　side。　His　visage　was　maimed　by　a　set　of　three　great　furrowed　scars　that　had　taken　off　one　ear　and　twisted　the　right　side　of　his　face　into　a　nightmarish　map　of　old　pain。　He　might　have　been　a　merchant；　a　mercenary；　or　a　miner…his　dour　attire　offered　few　hints　as　to　his　trade。
　　　〃This　is　Ghevel　Coalhewer；〃　the　scout　said。　〃He　owns　a　boat　moored　nearby；　on　the　Darklake。　He　will　take　us　to　Gracklstugh　tomorrow。〃
　　　〃I'll　want　me　payment　in　advance；〃　the　gray　dwarf　warned。　〃And　I'll　have　ye　know　I've　a　contract　o'　redress　with　me　guild　back　home。　If　ye　think　to　slit　me　throat　and　dump　me　over　the　side　out　on　the　lake；　ye'll　be　hunted　down　for　it。〃
　　　〃A　trusting　soul；〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　smile。　〃We've　no　interest　in　robbing　you；　Master　Coalhewer。〃
　　　〃I'll　take　me　precautions；　just　the　same。〃　The　duergar　looked　at　Valas　and　asked；　〃Ye　know　where　the　boat　is。　Pay　me　now；　and　ye　can　meet　me　there　tomorrow　early。〃
　　　〃How　do　we　know　you　won't　rob　us；　dwarf？〃　rumbled　Jeggred。
　　　〃It's　usually　bad　business　to　rob　drow；　not　unless　ye　be　sure　to　get　away　with　it；〃　the　dwarf　replied。　〃　'Course；　that　may　be　changing；　but　no'　so　fast　that　I'll　chance　it　today。〃
　　　Valas　jingled　a　pouch　in　front　of　the　duergar　and　dropped　it　into　his　hand。　The　dwarf　immediately　poured　out　its　contents　into　his　big；　weathered　palm；　appraising　the　gemstones　there　before　scooping　them　back　into　the　pouch。
　　　〃Ye　must　be　in　a　rush；　or　yer　man　here　might've　struck　a　better　bargain。　Ah；　well；　ye　drow　don't　appreciate　a　good　gemstone；　anyway。〃
　　　He　turned　and　stumped　away　into　the　darkness。
　　　〃That's　the　last　you'll　see　of　him；〃　Jeggred　said。　〃You　should　have　waited　to　pay　him。〃
　　　〃He　insisted　on　it；〃　Valas　said。　〃He　said　something　about　wanting　to　make　sure　we　didn't　kill　him　to　recover　the　fare。〃　The　scout　looked　after　the　duergar；　and　shrugged。　〃I　don't　think　he　would　cheat　us。　If　he　was　that　kind　of　duergar；　well；　he　wouldn't　last　long　in　Mantol…Derith。　People　here　don't　take　kindly　to　being　cheated。〃
　　　〃He　can　secure　safe　passage　through　Gracklstugh？〃　Ryld　asked。
　　　Valas　spread　his　hands　and　replied；　〃We'll　have　to　carry　some　kind　of　documents　or　letters；　which　Coalhewer　can　arrange　for　us。　I　think　it's　some　kind　of　mercantile　license。〃
　　　〃We're　carrying　no　goods；〃　Pharaun　observed　dryly。　〃Doesn't　that　explanation　seem　a　little　thin？〃
　　　〃I　told　him　that　Lady　Quenthel's　family　has　business　holdings　in　Eryndlyn　she　wishes　to　check　on；　and　that　if　she　finds　things　in　order；　she　might　be　interested　in　negotiating　for　the　services　of　duergar　teamsters　to　transport　her　goods　across　Gracklstugh's　territory。　I　also　implied　that　Coalhewer　might　do　well　to　make　himself　a　part　of　the　arrangement。〃
　　　Pharaun　didn't　have　time　to　reply　before　the　cavern　echoed　softly　with　the　stealthy　padding　of　numerous　feet。　The　dark　elves　glanced　up　from　the　fire　to　see　a　large　band　of　bugbear　warriors　approaching；　led　by　the　two　mercenaries　who　had　fled　a　few　minutes　before。　At　least　a　dozen　of　their　fellows　followed　close　behind　them；　axes　and　spiked　flails　dangling　from　hairy　paws；　murder　in　their　eyes。　The　other　patrons　of　Dinnka's　inn　began　to　slip　away　from　their　places；　seeking　safer　environs。　The　hulking　humanoids　muttered　and　growled　to　each　other　in　their　own　tongue。
　　　〃Tell　me；〃　said　Valas；　〃did　someone　happen　to　kill；　maim；　or　humiliate　a　bugbear　when　I　was　talking　with　Coalhewer？〃　The　scout　glanced　back　at　the　others；　and　at　Jeggred；　who　shrugged。　He　sighed。　〃Was　I　unclear　when　I　advised　against　starting　fights　here？〃
　　　〃There　was　a　misunderstanding　over　the　seating　arrangements；〃　Quenthel　explained。
　　　Ryld　stood；　threw　his　cloak　over　his　shoulder　to　clear　his　arms　for　fighting；　and　said；　〃Should've　guessed　there　might　be　more　of　them　nearby。〃
　　　〃Time　to　remind　these　stupid　creatures　of　the　order　of　things；〃　Halisstra　remarked。
　　　Quenthel　stood　and　drew　her　five…headed　whip；　eyeing　the　approaching　warriors　with　a　wry　smile。
　　　〃Jeggred？〃　she　said。
　　　
　　　Gromph　Baenre　stood　on　a　balcony　high　above　Menzoberranzan；　studying　the　dim　faerielights　of　the　drow　city。　He　had　been　waiting　for　nearly　an　hour；　and　his　patience　was　almost　exhausted。　Under　most　circumstances　an　hour　here　or　an　hour　there　would　have　meant　nothing　to　a　dark　elf　with　centuries　of　life　behind　him；　but　this　was　different。　The　archmage　waited　in　fear；　dreading　the　arrival　of　the　one　who　had　summoned　him　to　this　clandestine　encounter。　It　was　not　a　sensation　Gromph　was　accustomed　to；　and　he　found　that　he　did　not　care　for　it　at　all。　He　had；　of　course；　taken　extreme　steps　to　protect　his　person；　girding　himself　with　an　array　of　formidable　defensive　spells　and　a　carefully　considered　selection　of　protective　magical　devices。　The　archmage　was　not　entirely　confident　that　those　precautions　would　deter　the　one　who　came　to　meet　him　in　that　lonely；　windswept　spot。
　　　〃Gromph　Baenre；〃　a　voice；　cold　and　rasping；　greeted　him。　Before　the　archmage　even　began　to　turn；　he　felt　the　presence　of　the　other；　an　icy　chill　that　somehow　managed　to　sink　past　his　defenses；　the　smell　of　great　and　terrible　magic。　〃How　good　of　you　to　accept　my　invitation。　It　has　been　a　long　time；　has　it　not？〃
　　　The　ancient　sorcerer　Dyrr　approached　from　the　shadows　at　the　back　of　the　balcony；　leaning　on　his　great　staff；　his　feet　seeming　not　to　move　at　all　as　he　glided　forward　in　a　rustle　of　robes　no　quicker　than　an　old　man's　shuffle。
　　　Among　the　ambitious　drow　of　his　own　House；　it　suited　Dyrr　to　wear　the　shape　of　a　venerable　old　dark　elf　of　fantastic　age；　but　Gromph's　arcane　sight　pierced　the　guise　to　the　truth　behind　it。　Dyrr　was　dead；　dead　these　many　centuries。　Nothing　remained　of　the　ancient　mage　but　dusty　bones　clothed　in　tattered　shreds　of　mummified　flesh。　His　hands　were　the　claws　of　a　skeleton；　his　robes　were　faded　and　threadbare；　and　his　face　was　a　hideous　grinning　skull；　the　black　eye　sockets　alight　with　the　bright　green　flame　of　his　powerful　spirit。
　　　〃I　see　that　my　poor　guise　does　not　deceive　you；〃　the　lich　rasped。　〃In　truth；　I　would　have　been　disappointed　if　you　were　so　easily　beguiled；　Archmage。〃
　　　〃Lord　Dyrr；〃　said　Gromph；　a　cautious　greeting。　He　inclined　his　head　without　taking　his　eyes　off　the　lichdrow。　〃In　truth；　I　am　surprised　to　find　that　you　are　still　among　us。　I　have　heard　whispers　that　you　still　lived…er；　so　to　speak…secluded　in　your　house。　I　thought　from　time　to　time　that　I　detected　an　old　and　canny　hand　guiding　the　affairs　of　Agrach　Dyrr；　but　I　have　not　met　anyone　who　claims　to　have　seen　you　in　almost　two　hundred　years；　and　it's　been　almost　twice　that　since　last　we　spoke。〃
　　　〃I　value　my　privacy；　and　encourage　my　descendants　to　value　my　privacy　as　well。　It's　best　for　all　involved　if　my　hand　remains　hidden。　We　wouldn't　want　to　make　the　matron　mothers　nervous　now；　would　we？〃
　　　〃Indeed。　In　my　experience　they　react　poorly　to　surprises。〃
　　　The　lich　laughed；　a　horrible　sound　that　chilled　the　blood。　He　moved　closer；　gliding　forward　to　stand　by　Gromph's　side　and　look　out　over　the　city。　The　archmage　found　himself　more　than　a　little　unsettled　by　the　unnatural　presence　of　the　undead　creature…again；　a　sensation　he　did　not　experience　often　at　all。
　　　What　secrets　does　this　walking　ghost　hold　in　its　empty　skull？　Gromph　wondered。　What　does　he　know　about　this　city　that　no　one　else　remembers？　What　lonely　and　terrible　heights　of　lore　has　he　scaled　alone　in　the　dreary　centuries　of　his　deathless　existence？
　　　The　questions　troubled　Gromph；　but　he　decided　to　put　such　speculation　behind　him　for　the　moment。
　　　〃Well；　Lord　Dyrr；　you　requested　this　meeting。　What　shall　we　talk　about？〃
　　　〃You　were　always　admirably　direct；　young　Baenre；〃　the　lich　said。　〃It's　a　refreshing　quality　among　our　kind。　To　get　swiftly　to　the　point；　what　do　you　think　of　the　recent　difficulties　that　have　beset　our　fair　city？　More　specifically；　what　do　you　think　should　be　done　about　the　powerlessness　that　has　descended　upon　our　ruling　caste　of　priestesses？〃
　　　〃What　should　be　done？〃　Gromph　replied。　〃That's　hard　to　say；　when　the　question　would　seem　to　be　what　can　be　done？　It　is　hardly　within　my　power　to　entreat　the　Queen　of　the　Demonweb　Pits　to　restore　her　favor　to　her　priestesses。　Lolth　will　do　as　she　will。〃
　　　〃As　ever。　I　do　not　mean　to　imply　that　you　could　do　otherwise。〃　The　lich　paused；　the　green　fire　of　its　gaze　locked　on　the　archmage。　〃What　do　you　see　when　you　look　out　over　Menzoberranzan　today；　Gromph？〃
　　　〃Disorder。　Peril。　Denial。〃
　　　〃And；　perhaps；　opportunity？〃
　　　Gromph　hesitated　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
　　　〃You　hesitated。　You　do　not　agree　with　me？〃
　　　〃No；　it　is　not　that。〃
　　　The　archmage　frowned；　and　chose　his　words　with　care。　He　did　not　wish　to　give　offense　to　the　powerful　apparition。　Dyrr　seemed　civil　enough；　but　the　mind　did　not　always　stand　up　well　to　ages　of　undeath。　He　had　to　assume　that　there　was　nothing　the　lich　was　not　capable　of。
　　　〃Lord　Dyrr；〃　he　said；　〃surely　you　have　observed　that　there　is　no　end　to　the　wiles　of　the　Spider　Queen。　The　only　certainty　of　our　existence　is　that　Lolth　is　a　capricious　and　demanding　deity；　a　goddess　who　delights　in　teaching　very　harsh　lessons　indeed。　What　if　her　silence　is　a　ruse　to　test　her　faithful？　Isn't　it　likely；　even　probable；　that　Lolth　withholds　her　favor　from　her　priestesses　to　see　how　they　respond？　Or…worse　yet…to　see　whether　the　enemies　of　her　clerics　might　be　emboldened　to　creep　out　from　the　shadows　and　assault　her　minions　directly？　If　that　is　the　case；　what　then　bees　of　anyone　foolish　enough　to　defy　the　Queen　of　Spiders　when　she　tires　of　her　test　and　restores　her　full　favor　to　her　priestesses；　just　as　abruptly　as　she　withdrew　it？　I　would　not　care　to　be　caught　out　by　such　a　ploy。　Not　at　all。〃
　　　〃Your　logic　is　sound　enough；　though　I　think　you　have　perhaps　allowed　the　habit　of　caution　to　hobble　your　thoughts；〃　Dyrr　said。　〃I　could　almost　agree　with　you；　dear　boy；　except　for　this　one　fact。　In　the　more　than　two　thousand　years　that　I　have　walked　this　world；　I　have　never　seen　this　happen　before。　Oh；　I　can　recall　several　occasions　when　Lolth　denied　her　clerics　spells　for　a　few　days；　and　many　instances　in　which　she　arbitrarily　decided　to　stop　favoring　this　priestess　or　that　House　all　together；　casting　them　down　to　their　enemies；　but　never　has　she　abandoned　our　entire　race　for　month　after　month。〃　The　lich　glanced　up　in　a　reflective　manner。　〃It　seems　a　poor　way　to　treat　one's　worshipers。　Should　I　ever　attain　godhood；　I　think　I　will　try　to　do　a　better　job　of　it。〃
　　　〃What　precisely　do　you　propose；　then；　Lord　Dyrr？〃
　　　〃I　propose　nothing　yet；　but　I　do　consider；　young　Baenre；　whether　powerless　clerics　should　be　trusted　with　the　rule　of　this　city　for　very　much　longer　at　all。　You　and　I；　we　still　mand　great　and　terrible　powers；　do　we　not？　The　mystic　secrets　of　our　Art　have　not　abandoned　us；　nor　are　they　likely　to　at　any　point　in　the　future。　Perhaps　it　is　time　to　look　to　the　security　of　our　civilization；　the　defense　of　our　city；　by　taking　up　the　reins　of　governance　the　matron　mothers　are　no　longer　strong　enough　to　hold。　Our　city's　peril　grows　with　every　hour。　We　have　rivals　outside　the　Dark　Dominion；　after　all；　other　races　and　realms　that　threaten　us。〃
　　　〃And　that　is　precisely　why　I　am　hesitant　to　turn　drow　wizards　against　drow　priestesses；〃　Gromph　replied。　〃The　only　thing　that　could　possibly　increase　our　current　vulnerability　would　be　to　start　a　civil　war。　To　spare　ourselves　the　fate　of　Ched　Nasad；　we　must　shore　up　the　existing　order　until　the　crisis　has　passed。〃
　　　〃And　what　thanks　do　you　think　you　will　earn；　from　the　priestesses　or　from　the　Spider　Queen　herself；　for　that　blind　loyalty？〃　Dyrr　turned　back　to　Gromph　and　tapped　one　skeletal　forefinger　in　the　center　of　the　archmage's　chest。　Gromph　could　not　restrain　a　shudder。　〃You　have　potential；　young　Gromph。　You　are　not　without　talent；　and　you　see　past　House　Baenre　to　Menzoberranzan　itself。　Put　those　qualities　to　work　and　consider　carefully　the　course　you　choose　in　the　next　few　days。　Events　are　ing　that　will　provide　you　with　an　opportunity　for　greatness；　or　failure。　Do　not　make　the　wrong　choice。〃
　　　Gromph　took　a　cautious　step　backward；　moving　out　over　the　vast　gulf　of　the　cavern　and　hovering　in　the　air。
　　　〃I　am　afraid　I　must　tend　Narbondel；　Lord　Dyrr。　I　will　take　my　leave　now　。　。　。　and　I　will　think　carefully　on　your　words。　You　may　have　appreciated　the　situation　more　accurately　than　I。〃
　　　The　burning　green　gaze　of　the　lichdrow　followed　Gromph　down　into　the　darkness　as　he　fell　softly　toward　the　city　below。　He　would　indeed　think　long　and　hard　about　the　lich's　words。　He　might　stall　Dyrr　once　with　civility　and　caution；　but　he　would　not　be　able　to　do　so　indefinitely。　Gromph　didn't　doubt　the　lich　would　expect　a　different　answer　when　next　they　spoke。
　　　
　　　The　Darklake　was　a　strange　and　terrible　place。　A　blackness　greater　than　any　Halisstra　had　ever　known　enveloped　her　and　her　panions；　a　space　so　vast　that　its　unseen　recesses　gnawed　at　the　mind。　The　great　caverns　of　the　drow　were　often　miles　across；　tremendous　places　harboring　cities　of　many　thousands；　but…if　Coalhewer　did　not　exaggerate…the　Darklake　occupied　a　cavern　well　over　one　hundred　miles　from　side　to　side；　and　thousands　of　feet　in　height。　Great　island　columns　the　size　of　mountains　held　up　the　mighty　roof；　creating　fanglike　archipelagos　in　the　darkness。　The　waters　of　the　lake　virtually　filled　the　immense　space。　As　they　sailed　across　its　surface　the　ceiling　was　often　less　than　a