war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第3部分

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e　interests　in　Ched　Nasad　is　now　moot。〃
　　　Quenthel　continued　as　if　the　wizard　had　not　spoken；　〃Finally；　we　find　ourselves　in　some　godsforsaken　portion　of　the　World　Above；　at　some　unknown　distance　from　our　home；　low　on　provisions　and　stranded　in　a　hostile　desert。　Have　I　accurately　summed　up　events？〃
　　　Valas　shifted　unfortably　and　said；　〃All　but　the　last；　I　think。　I　believe　that　we　are　somewhere　in　the　desert　known　as　Anauroch；　in　fact　in　its　northwestern　portions。　If　I　am　correct；　Menzoberranzan　lies　perhaps　five　hundred　miles　west　of　us；　and　somewhat　。　。　。　down；　of　course。〃
　　　〃You　have　been　here　before？〃
　　　〃No；〃　the　scout　said；　〃but　there　are　only　a　few　deserts　in　Faerun；　especially　at　so　northerly　a　latitude；　so　it　is　a　very　good　bet　that　Anauroch　is　where　we　must　be。　There　is　a　range　of　snow…capped　mountains　perhaps　forty　or　fifty　miles　to　our　west；　which　you　can　see　quite　clearly　in　the　daylight。　Those　I　believe　to　be　the　Graypeak　or　Nether　Mountains。　They　could　be　the　Ice　Mountains；　but　if　we　were　so　far　north　as　to　see　them；　I　would　think　we　would　be　in　the　High　Ice；　and　not　in　this　sandy　and　rocky　stretch　of　the　Great　Desert。〃
　　　〃I've　e　to　trust　your　sense　of　direction；　but　I　can't　say　I　relish　the　prospect　of　marching　half　a　thousand　miles　across　the　surface　lands　to　get　home；〃　Ryld　Argith　said；　rubbing　his　hand　over　his　short…cropped　hair。　He　moved　stiffly　in　his　armor；　bruised　and　battered　beneath　the　mail　from　their　desperate　fight　to　escape　Ched　Nasad。　〃Citadel　Adbar；　Sundabar；　and　Silverymoon　would　all　stand　in　our　way；　and　they　have　very　little　love　for　our　kind。〃
　　　〃Let　them　try　to　stop　us；〃　growled　Jeggred。　〃We'll　travel　by　night；　when　the　humans　and　the　light…elves　are　blind。　Even　if　someone　should　stumble　into　us；　well；　the　surface　dwellers　are　soft。　I　don't　fear　them。　Neither　should　you。〃
　　　Ryld　bridled　at　the　draegloth's　remark；　but　Quenthel　silenced　him　with　a　raised　hand。
　　　〃We　will　do　what　we　have　to　do；〃　she　said。　〃If　we　have　to　spend　the　next　two　months　creeping　across　the　surface　realms　under　cover　of　night；　we　will　do　exactly　that。〃
　　　She　turned　gracefully　and　paced　away；　gazing　thoughtfully　at　the　ruined　court　around　them。
　　　The　party　fell　silent　as　each　of　the　dark　elves　watched　Quenthel's　back。　Pharaun　pushed　himself　erect　and　wrapped　his　piwafwi　closer　around　his　lean　torso。　The　black　cloak　flapped　in　the　bitter　wind。
　　　〃The　question　that　vexes　me；〃　the　mage　said　to　no　one　in　particular；　〃is　whether　we　have　acplished　what　we　set　out　to　do。　I　do　not　relish　the　idea　of　crawling　back　to　Menzoberranzan　with　nothing　more　to　show　for　months　of　effort　than　news　of　Ched　Nasad's　fall。〃
　　　〃No　priestess　of　the　Spider　Queen　holds　the　answers　we　seek；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃We　will　return　to　Menzoberranzan。　I　can　only　trust　that　the　goddess　will　make　clear　the　meaning　of　her　silence　when　it　suits　her。〃
　　　Pharaun　grimaced　and　said；　〃Blind　faith　is　a　poor　substitute　for　a　plan　by　which　you　might　win　the　answers　you　seek。〃
　　　〃Faith　in　the　goddess　is　the　only　thing　we　have；〃　Halisstra　snapped。　She　shifted　half　a　step　closer　to　the　master　of　Sorcere。　〃You　have　forgotten　your　place　if　you　address　a　high　priestess　of　Lolth　in　such　a　manner。　Do　not　forget　it　again。〃
　　　Pharaun　opened　his　mouth　to　frame　what　would　no　doubt　have　been　an　even　more　inflammatory　retort；　but　Ryld；　sitting　next　to　him；　simply　cleared　his　throat　and　scratched　at　his　chin。　The　wizard　paused　a　moment　under　the　eyes　of　his　panions；　and　shrugged。
　　　〃All　I　meant　was　that　it　seems　clear　to　me　that　the　Spider　Queen　means　for　us　to　puzzle　out　her　silence　for　ourselves。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　suggest　we　should　do　that？〃　Quenthel　asked。　She　folded　her　arms　and　pivoted　to　glare　at　Pharaun。　〃In　case　you　have　forgotten；　we've　toiled　for　months　to　discern　the　cause　of　the　Silence。〃
　　　〃But　we　have　not　exhausted　all　avenues　of　investigation；　have　we？〃　Pharaun　said。　〃In　Ched　Nasad；　we　spoke　of　seeking　the　assistance　of　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun；　possibly　Master　Hune's　acquaintance　Tzirik。　We　drow　have　other　deities　beside　Lolth；　after　all。　Is　it　so　unreasonable　to　speculate　that　another　god　might　be　able　to　explain　Lolth's　unusual　silence？〃
　　　The　circle　fell　still。　The　wizard's　words　were　not　ones　monly　heard　in　Menzoberranzan。　Few　dared　utter　such　thoughts　in　the　presence　of　the　Spider　Queen's　clergy。
　　　〃I　see　no　need　to　go　begging　favors　of　a　male　heretic　worshiping　a　miserable　whelp　of　a　god；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃I　doubt　that　Lolth　has　deigned　to　confide　her　purposes　in　any　lesser　powers。〃
　　　〃You　are　probably　correct；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃She　certainly　hasn't　confided　them　in　you；　after　all。〃
　　　Jeggred　snarled　at　the　wizard；　and　Pharaun　raised　his　hands　in　a　placating　gesture；　rolling　his　eyes。
　　　Valas　licked　his　lips　nervously　and　offered；　〃Most　of　you　have　spent　the　great　majority　of　your　lives　in　Menzoberranzan；　as　is　fit　and　proper　for　drow　of　your　respective　stations。　I　have　traveled　more　widely；　and　I　have　visited　places　that　secretly…even　openly；　in　some　cases…permit　the　worship　of　gods　other　than　Lolth。〃　He　noticed　the　gathering　thunder　in　Quenthel's　face；　mirrored　in　Halisstra's。　The　scout　winced　but　pressed　on。　〃Under　the　wise　rule　of　the　matron　mothers；　the　worship　of　drow　gods　other　than　Lolth　has　hardly　flourished　in　Menzoberranzan；　and　so　you　may　not　hold　a　high　opinion　of　the　practice；　but　I　can　attest　to　the　fact　that　the　priests　of　the　lesser　gods　of　our　race　can　call　upon　spells　and　guidance　from　their　deities；　too。〃
　　　〃Where　might　we　find　Tzirik？〃　Ryld　asked　Valas。
　　　〃When　last　I　met　him；　he　lived　among　outcasts　in　a　remote　region　known　as　the　Labyrinth；　south　and　west　of　the　Darklake　by　perhaps　a　hundred　miles。　This　was　some　time　ago；　of　course。〃
　　　〃Outcasts；〃　snorted　Halisstra。
　　　She　was　not　the　only　one　to　express　disgust。　In　the　endless　game　played　between　the　great　Houses　of　the　drow；　of　course　there　were　losers。　Most　died；　but　some　chose　flight　over　death；　taking　up　a　hardscrabble　and　ignominious　existence　in　the　remote　stretches　of　the　Underdark。　Others　abandoned　their　home　cities　for　different　reasons…including；　Halisstra　supposed；　the　veneration　of　gods　other　than　Lolth。　She　found　it　hard　to　believe　that　anyone　so　weak　as　to　have　been　run　out　of　her　home　city　could　offer　much　help　at　all。
　　　〃We'll　solve　our　own　problems；〃　she　said。
　　　Pharaun　glanced　up　at　Halisstra；　cold　humor　dancing　in　his　eyes。
　　　〃I　forgot　that　you　now　have　some　experience　with　the　peculiar　misfortune　of　being　deprived　of　a　home　city；〃　he　remarked。　〃And　I　applaud　your　celerity　in　including　yourself　in　'our'　discussions　and　'our'　problems。　Your　selflessness　is　laudable。〃
　　　Halisstra　shut　her　mouth；　stung　by　the　words。　There　would　be　many　hundreds；　even　thousands　of　survivors　from　Ched　Nasad　scattered　in　as　many　tunnels　and　bolt…holes　in　the　black　caverns　and　passages　around　the　city。　Most　of　those　would　end　their　lives　in　the　jaws　of　mindless　monsters；　or　perhaps　fall　into　wretched　slavery　as　captives　of　drow　from　other　cities；　duergar；　or　even　more　horrible　Underdark　races　like　the　mind　flayers　or　the　aboleths。　And　a　few　might　hope　to　find　some　kind　of　life　for　themselves　through　their　own　wits　and　resourcefulness。　It　was　not　unknown　for　a　House　to　take　into　its　ranks　a　defeated　enemy　who　had　demonstrated　her　usefulness。　House　Melarn　was　dead。　Wherever　Halisstra　journeyed　next；　she　would　be　starting　from　square　one。　The　advantages　of　her　birth；　the　wealth　and　power　of　her　city；　all　that　meant　nothing　anymore。
　　　She　considered　her　reply　carefully；　conscious　of　the　acute　interest　of　the　other　drow　around　her；　and　said；　〃Spare　me　your　pity。〃　She　spoke　in　a　murderous　hiss；　putting　iron　in　her　voice　that　she　did　not　feel。　〃Unless　I　miss　my　guess；　Menzoberranzan　doesn't　stand　so　very　far　from　Ched　Nasad's　fate；　else　you　never　would　have　e　to　seek　our　aid。　Our　difficulties　are　your　difficulties；　are　they　not？〃
　　　Her　words　had　the　desired　effect。　The　wizard　looked　away；　while　the　other　Menzoberranyr　shifted　nervously；　studying　each　other's　reactions。　Quenthel　visibly　flinched；　her　mouth　tightening　into　a　fierce　scowl。
　　　〃Enough；　both　of　you；〃　she　said；　turning　to　Valas。　〃This　outcast　priest　of　Vhaeraun…why　would　he　aid　us　in　any　way？　He　is　not　likely　to　entertain　an　especially　charitable　attitude　toward　our　cause。〃
　　　Valas　replied；　〃I　couldn't　say；　Mistress。　All　I　can　do　is　bring　you　to　him。　What　happens　after　that　depends　on　you。〃
　　　The　ruined　courtyard　fell　silent。　The　sun　was　a　double　handspan　into　the　sky；　and　blinding　shafts　of　pure　light　sliced　through　the　darkness　of　the　ruined　court　from　crumbling　embrasures　in　the　high　walls。　The　ruins　were　apparently　not　as　desolate　as　Halisstra　had　thought。　She　could　hear　the　furtive　sounds　of　small　creatures　scrabbling　across　sand　and　rubble；　faint　and　small　in　the　distance。
　　　〃The　Labyrinth　lies　only　a　hundred　miles　from　the　Darklake？〃　Quenthel　asked。　The　scout　nodded　once。　The　priestess　folded　her　arms　and　thought。　〃Then　it's　not　very　far　from　our　homeward　course；　in　any　event。　Pharaun；　do　you　mand　any　magic　that　might　speed　our　travel？　Fighting　our　way　home　across　the　surface　realms　appeals　to　me　no　more　than　it　does　the　weapons　master。〃
　　　The　wizard　leered　and　rose　to　his　feet；　preening　under　Quenthel's　request　for　help。
　　　〃Teleportation　is　risky；〃　he　said。　〃First；　the　faerzress　of　the　Underdark　makes　it　dangerous　to　attempt　transport　spells。　More　to　the　point；　I　have　never　visited　the　Labyrinth；　and　so　have　no　idea　where　I　would　be　going。　I　would　almost　certainly　fail。　I　know　a　spell　to　transform　myself　or　others　into　different　shapes　more　suited　for　travel；　though。　Perhaps　if　we　were　dragons　or　giant　bats　or　something　that　would　fly　well　by　night。　。。。〃　The　wizard　tapped　his　chin；　considering　the　problem。　〃Whomever　we　press　into　service　as　a　mount　would　have　to　stay　in　that　shape　until　I　changed　him　back；　of　course；　and　we'd　still　be　looking　at　a　couple　of　tendays　of　travel。　Or　。。。　I　know　a　spell　of　walking　through　shadows。　It's　dangerous；　and　I　couldn't　take　us　straight　to　the　Labyrinth；　as　I　have　never　been　there　and　the　spell　is　best　employed　to　reach　places　you　know　well。　I　could　take　you　to　Mantol…Derith；　though；　which　is　hard　by　the　shores　of　the　Darklake。　It　would　shorten　our　journey　considerably。〃
　　　〃Why　didn't　you　mention　that　before；　when　we　were　discussing　months　of　marching　across　the　surface？〃　said　Jeggred；　shaking　his　head　in　irritation。
　　　〃If　you　recall；　we　had　not　yet　decided　where　we　were　going；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃I　intended　to　offer　my　services　at　the　appropriate　time。〃
　　　Ryld　said；　〃You　could　have　transported　us　from　Menzoberranzan　to　Ched　Nasad　in　the　first　place。　Why　in　the　world　did　we　walk？〃
　　　〃Because　I　have　good　reason　to　fear　the　plane　of　shadow。　As　a　younger　and　more　impulsive　mage　I　learned…the　hard　way…that　shadow　walking　confers　no　special　protection　against　the　attentions　of　those　creatures　that　dwell　in　the　dark　realm。　In　fact；　I　was　very　nearly　devoured　by　something　I　would　not　care　to　meet　again。〃　The　wizard　offered　a　wry　grin　and　added；　〃Naturally；　I　now　regard　shadow　walking　as　an　option　of　last　resort。　I　only　suggest　it　now　because　I　deem　it　slightly　less　dangerous　than　tendays　of　travel　across　the　surface　world。〃
　　　〃We　will　exercise　all　due　caution；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃Let's　be　about　it；　then。〃
　　　〃Not　so　fast。　I　must　prepare　the　spell。　I　will　require　about　an　hour　to　make　ready。〃
　　　〃Do　so　without　delay；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　glanced　around　at　the　ruins；　and　shaded　her　eyes。　〃The　sooner　we　are　back　below　ground；　the　better。〃
　　　
　　　While　Pharaun　retired　to　a　dark；　quiet　chamber　to　study　his　grimoires　and　ready　his　spells；　the　rest　of　the　party　gathered　their　gear　and　prepared　to　leave。　They　were　woefully　unprepared　for　a　long　journey　on　the　surface；　Halisstra　and　Danifae　had　no　packs　or　supplies　of　any　kind。　The　Menzoberranyr　had　wisely　recovered　their　packs　before　escaping　Ched　Nasad；　but　their　long　journey　to　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs　had　depleted　their　stores。
　　　While　they　waited　for　Pharaun；　Halisstra　studied　the　ruins　in　more　detail。　She　had　something　of　a　scholarly　inclination；　and　deliberately　taking　an　interest　in　the　ancient　city　was　as　good　a　way　as　any　of　keeping　her　mind　from　dwelling　on　the　last　awful　hours　of　her　home　city。　The　others　busied　themselves　with　the　small　tasks　of　breaking　camp；　or　waited　patiently　in　the　deepest　shadows　they　could　find。　Halisstra　gathered　the　few　things　she　had　brought　and　set　out　from　the　ruined　court。　Her　eye　fell　on　Danifae；　who　knelt　quietly　in　the　shade　of　a　broken　arch；　calmly　watching　her　leave。
　　　Halisstra　paused；　and　called；　〃e；　Danifae。〃
　　　She　didn't　like　the　idea　of　leaving　her　servant　alone　with　the　Menzoberranyr。　Danifae　had　served　her　well　for　years；　but　circumstances　had　changed。
　　　The　maidservant　stood　smoothly　and　followed。　Halisstra　led　her　through　the　crumbling　shell　of　the　palace　surrounding　the　courtyard；　and　they　emerged　onto　a　wide　boulevard　arrowing　through　the　heart　of　the　old　city。　The　air　had　warmed　noticeably　in　the　hour　or　more　since　sunrise；　but　it　was　still　bitterly　cold；　and　the　brilliance　of　the　day　seemed　almost　enhanced　by　the　crystal　clarity　of　the　skies。　Both　women　stood　blinded　for　several　long　moments　in　the　sunshine。
　　　〃This　is　no　good；〃　muttered　Halisstra。　〃I'm　squinting　so　hard　I　can't　see　my　hand　in　front　of　my　face。〃
　　　Even　when　she　managed　to　open　her　eyes；　she　could　see　little　more　than　bright；　painful　spots。
　　　〃Valas　says　it's　possible　to　get　used　to　daylight；　with　time；〃　Danifae　offered。　〃I　find　that　hard　to　believe；　now　that　I　have　experienced　it　myself。　A　good　thing　we　mean　to　return　to　the　Underdark　soon。〃　Halisstra　heard　a　small　tearing　sound　from　beside　her；　and　Danifae　pressed　a　strip　of　cloth　into　her　hand。　〃Tie　this　over　your　eyes；　Mistress。　Perhaps　it　will　help。〃
　　　Halisstra　managed　to　arrange　the　dark　cloth　as　a　makeshift　veil。　It　did　indeed　help　to　abate　the　fierce　glare　of　the　sun。
　　　〃That's　better；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　Danifae　tore　another　small　strip　and　bound　it　around　her　own　eyes　as　her　mistress　examined　the　ruins。　It　seemed　to　Halisstra　that　the　palace　they'd　taken　shelter　in　was　one　of　the　more　prominent　buildings；　which　only　made　sense。　Magical　portals　were　not　easy　to　make；　and　were　often　found　in　well…hidden　or　vigilantly　guarded　locations。　A　colonnade　stood　along　the　front　of　the　palace；　and　across　the　boulevard　was　another　great　building…a　temple；　or　perhaps　a　court　of　some　kind。　There　was　something　familiar　about　the　architecture　of　the　buildings。
　　　〃Netherese；〃　she　said。　〃See　the　square　column　bases；　and　the　pointed　arches　in　the　windows？〃
　　　〃I　thought　Netherese　cities　floated　in　the　air；　and　were　pletely　destroyed　by　some　magical　cataclysm；〃　Danifae　replied。　〃How　could　anything　like　this　still　stand？〃
　　　〃It　could　have　been　one　of　the　successor　states；〃　Halisstra　said；　〃built　after　the　great　mythallars　of　the　old　Netherese　cities　failed。　They　would　share　many　of　the　same　architectural　features；　but　would　have　been　more　mundane；　less　magical。〃
　　　〃There's　writing　up　there；〃　Danifae　said；　pointing　at　the　facade　of　a　crumbled　building。