war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第31部分

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new　very　little　of　who　the　builders　of　the　forest　empire　had　been　and　what　had　befallen　them。
　　　Moving　slowly　and　carefully；　the　pany　advanced　in　an　open　skirmish　line；　prepared　to　defend　themselves　against　any　attack。　They　followed　the　old　road　for　more　than　a　mile；　just　as　Pharaun　had　said　they　would；　and　they　came　upon　the　wreckage　of　old　walls　and　battlements　ringing　some　ancient　stronghold。　Green　vines　wreathed　the　walls；　thriving　despite　the　winter　season；　but　the　wall　was　cracked　and　holed　in　a　dozen　places。　A　rusted　iron　gate　lay　across　the　road　where　it　pierced　the　walls；　a　barrier　that　had　long　since　fallen　into　uselessness。　Beyond　the　walls；　a　small　stony　tor　rose　from　the　forest　floor；　crowned　by　a　large　pentagonal　keep　of　white　stone。　At　first　Ryld　thought　the　place　was　whole　and　intact；　but　as　he　studied　it；　he　realized　that　the　tower…tops　were　holed　and　that　more　than　one　of　the　flying　buttresses　linking　the　outlying　towers　to　the　main　body　of　the　keep　had　collapsed　with　the　years。　Green　vines　knotted　their　roots　in　the　riven　stone；　covering　the　ruins　in　a　living　blanket。
　　　〃Ruins；〃　Jeggred　growled　in　disgust。　〃Your　insipid　spells　have　failed　you；　wizard…or　you　have　deliberately　led　us　astray。　Are　you　in　league　with　our　treacherous　scout；　perhaps？〃
　　　〃My　spells　do　not　fail；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃This　is　the　place。　The　Jaelre　are　here。〃
　　　〃Then　where　are　they？〃　the　draegloth　snarled。　〃If　you…〃
　　　〃Silence；　both　of　you！〃　Valas　snapped。　He　moved　a　few　steps　away　from　the　gate；　his　footfalls　as　soft　as　those　of　a　stalking　leopard；　an　arrow　lying　across　his　bow。　〃This　place　is　not　as　abandoned　as　it　looks。〃
　　　Ryld　moved　over　to　take　shelter　by　a　tottering　old　column　of　masonry；　setting　one　hand　on　Splitter's　hilt。　Danifae　and　Pharaun　did　the　same　on　the　other　side　of　the　road；　staring　hard　at　the　ruined　keep。　Quenthel；　however；　chose　not　to　move　at　all。
　　　Instead　she　stood　confidently　in　the　center　of　the　path　and　called　out；　〃You　of　House　Jaelre！　We　wish　to　speak　with　your　leaders　at　once！〃
　　　From　a　dozen　places　of　concealment；　stealthy　shapes　in　dark　cloaks　that　deceived　the　eye　by　mimicking　the　wearer's　surroundings　slowly　stood；　bows　and　wands　pointed　at　the　Menzoberranyr。　One　of　the　figures；　a　female　carrying　a　double…ended　sword；　pushed　back　her　hood　and　eyed　the　pany　with　cold　contempt。
　　　〃You　are　miserable　spider…kissers；〃　she　hissed。　〃What　do　you　have　that　the　lords　of　House　Jaelre　could　possibly　want；　other　than　your　corpses　feathered　with　our　arrows？〃
　　　Quenthel　bridled　and　allowed　one　hand　to　fall　to　her　whip。　The　weapon　writhed　slowly；　the　serpent　heads　snapping　their　fangs　in　agitation。
　　　〃I　am　Quenthel　Baenre；　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　and　I　do　not　bicker　on　doorsteps　with　mon　gate　guards。　Announce　our　arrival　to　your　masters；　so　that　we　can　get　in　out　of　this　damnable　rain。〃
　　　The　Jaelre　captain　narrowed　her　eyes　and　motioned　to　her　soldiers；　who　shifted　position　and　made　ready　to　fire。　Valas　shook　his　head　and　lowered　his　bow；　stepping　forward　quickly　with　one　hand　in　the　air。
　　　〃Wait；〃　he　said。　〃If　Tzirik　the　priest　is　still　among　you；　tell　him　that　Valas　Hune　is　here。　We　have　a　proposition　for　him。〃
　　　〃I　doubt　our　high　priest　will　have　much　use　for　any　proposal　of　yours；〃　the　guard　captain　said。
　　　〃If　nothing　else；　he'll　find　out　why　we　came　a　thousand　miles　from　Menzoberranzan　to　speak　to　him；〃　Valas　replied。
　　　The　captain　glared　at　Quenthel；　then　said；　〃Lower　your　weapons　and　wait　there。　Do　not　move；　or　my　soldiers　will　fire；　and　there　are　more　of　us　than　you　think。〃
　　　Valas　nodded　once；　and　set　his　bow　down　on　the　ground。　He　glanced　at　the　others；　and　took　a　seat　on　the　edge　of　a　crumbling　old　fountain。　The　rest　followed　suit；　though　Quenthel　didn't　demean　herself　by　taking　a　seat。　Instead　she　folded　her　arms　and　waited　with　imperious　displeasure。　Ryld　glanced　around　the　courtyard　full　of　hostile　warriors；　and　rubbed　his　head　with　a　sigh。
　　　Quenthel　knows　how　to　make　an　impression；　eh？　Pharaun　gestured　discretely。
　　　Females；　Ryld　replied；　just　as　discretely。
　　　He　carefully　reached　into　his　cloak　and　withdrew　the　brandy　flask　again。
　　　
　　　The　most　doleful　torment　of　incarceration；　reflected　Halisstra；　was　boredom；　pure　and　simple。　Like　most　of　her　extraordinarily　long…lived　kind；　the　priestess　hardly　noticed　the　passing　of　hours；　days；　even　tendays　when　her　mind　was　engaged。　Yet；　despite　the　wisdom　and　patience　of　her　more　than　two　hundred　years；　a　few　hours'　confinement　in　a　featureless　stone　cell　seemed　more　onerous　than　months　of　the　harsh　discipline　she　endured　in　her　youth。
　　　The　endless　hours　of　the　day　crept　by；　a　day　in　which　her　body　longed　to　rest　despite　the　painful　glare　of　sunlight　streaming　in　through　that　one　cursed　window。　Meanwhile　her　thoughts　veered　wildly　from　praying　for　her　rades　to　return　and　rescue　her　to　fomenting　the　most　hideous　and　agonizing　tortures　she　could　imagine　for　each　one　for　abandoning　her　to　capture。
　　　Eventually；　she　fell　into　Reverie；　her　mind　empty　of　new　schemes　or　old　memories；　and　her　awareness　so　dim　and　distant　that　she　might　have　been　sleeping　in　truth。　Exhaustion　had　finally　caught　up　with　her；　not　just　the　sheer　physical　exhaustion　of　the　long　tendays　of　travel　and　peril　through　desert；　shadow；　Underdark；　and　forest；　but　a　kind　of　mental　fatigue　rooted　deeply　in　the　grief　she　still　carried　for　the　loss　of　the　House　she　was　to　one　day　rule。　Halisstra　might　not　have　permitted　herself　to　shed　a　tear　for　Ched　Nasad；　but　the　malignant　truth　of　her　plight　had　an　odd　way　of　surfacing　in　her　thoughts；　poisoning　them　with　a　cold；　hopeless　disbelief　that　was　difficult　to　set　aside。　Long　hours　of　imprisonment　offered　her　the　opportunity　to　exhume　the　hateful　situation　in　its　entirety　and　contemplate　her　loss　of　station；　wealth；　and　security　until　her　horrible　fascination　was　in　some　way　sated。
　　　At　dusk　the　guards　brought　her　fresh　food；　a　bowl　of　some　bland　but　nourishing　stew　and　another　half　loaf　of　bread。　Halisstra　found　herself　ravenously　hungry；　and　she　devoured　the　meal　with　little　thought　to　the　possibility　of　poison　or　drugs。　Soon　after　she'd　finished；　the　door　to　her　cell　was　unlocked　with　a　rusty　scraping　of　iron；　and　Seyll　Auzkovyn　slipped　inside　again。
　　　The　priestess　had　shed　her　long；　heavy　cloak；　and　wore　an　elegant　lady's　riding　outfit；　an　embroidered　green　jacket　and　knee…length　skirt　over　a　blouse　of　cream　and　high　boots　that　matched　the　jacket。　The　sight　of　a　drow　priestess　dressed　as　a　noble　surface　elf　struck　Halisstra　as　jarringly　incongruous。
　　　〃Did　the　surface　lord　dress　you　like　that？〃　she　sneered　at　the　Eilistraee　worshiper。　〃You　seem　almost　a　perfectly　helpless　gentlelady　of　the　accursed　sun　elves　in　that　outfit。〃
　　　〃How　else　should　I　dress？〃　Seyll　replied。　〃I'm　among　friends　here；　and　need　not　wear　armor。　Besides；　I　found　that　the　skull　and　spider　motifs　of　my　previous　wardrobe　seemed　to　alarm　the　surface　folk。〃　She　made　a　small　gesture　to　the　jailers　outside；　and　the　door　was　closed　behind　her。　〃Anyway；'　she　added；　〃there　are　no　sun　elves　here。〃
　　　〃They're　all　the　same　to　me；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　〃When　you　know　them　better；　you'll　be　able　to　tell　their　kindred　easily　enough。〃
　　　〃I　have　no　wish　to　know　them　better。〃
　　　〃Are　you　so　certain　of　that？　There　is　always　advantage　in　knowing　one's　enemies。　。　。　especially　if　they　need　not　be　your　enemies。〃
　　　Seyll　knelt　easily　on　the　floor　beside　Halisstra　and　posed　herself。　She　was　young；　not　much　more　than　a　hundred；　and　pretty　enough　in　her　own　way；　but　her　carriage　was　。　。　。　wrong。　Her　eyes　lacked　the　hungering　ambition　or　the　cold　appraisal　Halisstra　was　accustomed　to　seeing　mirrored　in　the　faces　around　her。　One　could　easily　mistake　Seyll's　patient　expression　for　a　sort　of　submissiveness；　the　lack　of　the　will　necessary　to　achieve；　and　yet　there　was　a　calm　assurance　about　her　that　hinted　at　strength　held　in　check。
　　　Halisstra's　eyes　fell　to　Seyll's　hands；　as　the　priestess　smoothed　her　garments。　They　were　strong；　and　callused　like　a　weapons　master's。
　　　〃I　had　the　opportunity　to　examine　the　heraldry　of　your　arms　today；　and　study　the　devices。　Melarn　is　a　leading　House　of　the　city　of　Ched　Nasad；　is　it　not？〃
　　　〃It　was；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　She　instantly　regretted　the　slip。　If　the　surface　folk　didn't　know　of　Ched　Nasad's　fate；　then　she　hardly　needed　to　provide　them　with　a　gift　of　information。　She　had　to　set　a　price　on　anything　she　revealed。
　　　〃You　were　defeated　in　a　House　war？〃
　　　It　was　a　reasonable　guess　on　Seyll's　part；　as　most　drow　Houses　that　vanished；　lost　status；　or　otherwise　fell　low　usually　did　so　because　of　the　actions　of　other　Houses。
　　　〃Not　quite。〃
　　　Seyll　waited　a　long　moment　for　Halisstra　to　elaborate；　and　when　she　did　not；　the　Eilistraee　priestess　shifted　tactics。
　　　〃Ched　Nasad　is　a　long　way　from　Cormanthor。　At　least　six　or　seven　hundred　miles；　with　the　great　desert　of　Anauroch　and　the　phaerimm…haunted　Buried　Realms　between　here　and　there。　Lord　Dessaer　is　curious　about　the　circumstances　that　would　bring　a　high…ranking　daughter　of　a　powerful　House　of　Ched　Nasad　into　the　lands　of　his　people。　To　be　honest；　I　am　curious　too。〃
　　　〃So　this　is　to　be　the　method　of　interrogation；　then？〃　Halisstra　said。　〃A　sympathetic　ear　to　garner　the　answers　to　questions　asked　in　seeming　friendship？〃
　　　〃Some　account　of　your　purpose　in　Cormanthor　must　be　made　before　Lord　Dessaer　will　release　you　into　my　parole。　If　your　business　is　as　innocent　as　you　say；　you　need　not　be　imprisoned　here。〃
　　　〃Release　me？〃　Halisstra　laughed　long　and　quietly。　〃Ah；　I　see　you　have　not　lost　your　penchant　for　cruelty　despite　your　apostasy；　Auzkovyn。　Did　your　surface　friends　ask　you　to　play　on　a　prisoner's　hopes　by　offering　freedom　in　exchange　for　cooperation；　or　did　you　suggest　the　tactic？　Did　you　really　think　a　single　day　in　this　accursed　cell　would　reduce　me　to　desperately　grasping　at　phantom　hopes？〃
　　　〃The　hopes　I　offer　are　not　phantoms；〃　Seyll　said。　〃Tell　us　what　you're　doing　here；　show　us　that　you're　no　enemy　of　the　peaceful　folk　of　Cormanthor；　and　you　will　have　your　liberty。〃
　　　〃You　can't　expect　me　to　believe　that。〃
　　　〃I　am　here；　am　I　not？〃　Seyll　answered。　〃Clearly　some　of　our　kind　learn　to　live　in　peace　with　the　surface　folk。〃
　　　〃Of　course　you　have　nothing　to　fear　among　the　surface　folk；〃　Halisstra　retorted。　〃Your　vapid；　dancing　goddess　is　too　weak　to　threaten　them。〃
　　　〃As　I　told　you　before；　I　was　a　priestess　of　Lolth　when　I　was　captured；〃　Seyll　said。　She　formed　her　hands　into　a　gesture　of　supplication；　a　ceremonial　pose　Halisstra　knew　well。　In　the　tongue　of　the　abyssal　planes　where　Lolth　dwelt；　Seyll　mouthed　the　words　of　a　high　and　secret　prayer：　〃　'Great　Goddess；　Mother　of　the　Dark；　grant　me　the　blood　of　my　enemies　for　drink　and　their　living　hearts　for　meat。　Grant　me　the　screams　of　their　young　for　song；　grant　me　the　helplessness　of　their　males　for　my　satiation；　grant　me　the　wealth　of　their　houses　for　my　bed。　By　this　unworthy　sacrifice　I　honor　you；　Queen　of　Spiders；　and　beseech　of　you　the　strength　to　destroy　my　foes。'　〃
　　　The　infernal　words　seemed　to　crackle　with　dark　power；　each　harsh　syllable　charged　with　an　evil　potency　that　spread　through　the　cell　like　a　slick　of　poison。　Seyll　made　a　drawing　motion　of　her　hand；　showing　the　manner　in　which　the　knife　was　to　be　wielded；　and　settled　back　on　her　heels。
　　　Shifting　back　to　Elvish；　she　closed　her　eyes　and　said；　〃Many　hapless　souls　died　beneath　my　knife；　yet　I　found　redemption　and　peace　here。　Whether　the　same　awaits　you　is　a　question　I　cannot　answer；　but　I　offer　myself　as　proof　that　you　can　walk　these　lands　in　peace　if　you　wish。〃
　　　Halisstra　stared　at　Seyll；　almost　as　if　seeing　her　for　the　first　time。　She　had　been　about　to　condemn　the　priestess　once　more　as　a　weak　failure；　a　traitor　to　the　one　true　drow　goddess；　but　the　words　died　on　her　lips。　No　one　but　a　priestess　of　high　station　would　have　been　taught　that　rite；　yet　Seyll　had　decided　to　turn　her　back　on　Lolth。　Not　only　that；　but　she　still　lived；　and　seemed　to　have　found　some　amount　of　contentment　in　her　decision。　Halisstra　had　of　course　been　indoctrinated　over　years　of　training　to　regard　heresy；　apostasy；　as　the　vilest　sort　of　crime　imaginable。　Yet　in　her　years　of　sacrifice　and　abasement　before　the　Spider　Queen's　altar　she　had　never　before　encountered　a　true　apostate。　Oh；　she'd　slandered　some　of　her　rivals　with　false　accusations　of　turning　away　from　the　Spider　Queen；　but　actually　sitting　in　the　presence　of　someone　who　had　mitted　the　ultimate　betrayal　of　the　goddess；　and…so　far；　at　least…lived　to　tell　the　tale。　。　。　。
　　　〃I　want　to　challenge　you　to　do　something；〃　Seyll　said。　〃I　believe　you　have　the　intelligence　and　the　imagination　for　it；　but　we　shall　see。　Imagine；　for　a　moment；　that　you　could　live　in　a　place　where　you　can　walk　the　streets　without　fearing　an　assassin's　dagger　in　your　back。　Imagine　that　your　friends…real　friends…want　nothing　more　from　you　than　the　pleasure　of　your　pany；　that　your　sisters　cherish　your　acplishments　instead　of　resenting　your　successes；　and　your　children　are　not　murdered　for　an　accidental　failing。　Imagine　that　your　lovers　seek　you　out　for　who　you　are；　and　not　your　station　or　influence。　Imagine　that　your　goddess　asks　you　to　celebrate　her　with　your　joy；　not　your　terror。〃
　　　〃There　is　no　such…〃
　　　〃You　answer　too　quickly。　I　asked　you　to　imagine　it；　if　you　can；〃　Seyll　said。　She　stood　and　moved　away；　turning　her　back　on　Halisstra。　〃I　will　wait。〃
　　　〃I　can't　imagine　such　nonsense。　It's　an　empty　fantasy；　signifying　nothing。　We're　not　meant　for　such　things；　no　one　is；　not　dark　elf；　not　light…elf；　not　even　the　insipid　humans。　Only　a　fool　dwells　on　dreams。〃
　　　〃Yet；　for　the　sake　of　argument　at　least；　would　it　not　seem　a　pleasant　thing？〃　Seyll　said　over　her　shoulder。　〃You　must　entertain　impossible　dreams　all　the　time。　All　thinking　creatures　do。　Perhaps　you've　dreamed　of　having　your　enemies　in　your　power；　or　of　a　lover　you　couldn't　take；　or　of　rising　to　the　station　you　truly　merit。〃
　　　Halisstra　snorted；　truly　irritated；　and　shook　her　hands　in　her　manacles。
　　　〃If　you　can　imagine　the　destruction　of　all　your　enemies　at　once；〃　Seyll　pressed；　〃you　can　certainly　imagine　the　faithfulness　of　a　friend　or　a　goddess　pleased　by　your　loyalty；　not　your　sacrifice。〃
　　　〃All　gods　demand　sacrifice。　You　delude　yourself　if　you　think　Eilistraee　is　any　different。　Perhaps　you're　simply　too　weak…minded　to　understand　your　bonds。〃　Halisstra　looked　away　and　added；　〃You　have　succeeded　in　boring　me　again。　You　may　leave　now。〃
　　　The　priestess　walked　to　the　door。　She　rapped　once　on　the　rusty　iron　and　waited；　turning　back　to　face　Halisstra。
　　　〃What　if　I　show　you　that　you're　wrong？〃　she　said　softly。　〃Tomorrow　night　we　dance　in　the　forest　for　Eilistraee's　delight。　I　will　bring　you　there；　and　you　will　see　for　yourself　what　our　goddess　demands　of　us。〃
　　　〃I　will　have　no　part　of　it；〃　Halisstra　snapped；　finally　irritated　enough　to　forget　her　resolve　to　feign　a　grudging　conversion　to　the　surface　dwellers'　vapid　beliefs。
　　　〃Your　faith　in　your　Spider　Queen　is　so　weak　you　can't　bear　to　watch　us　dance？〃　Seyll　asked。　〃Listen；　watch；　and　judge　for　yourself。　That's　all　I　ask。〃