war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第4部分

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al。〃
　　　〃There's　writing　up　there；〃　Danifae　said；　pointing　at　the　facade　of　a　crumbled　building。　〃There　。　。　。　above　the　columns。〃
　　　Halisstra　followed　Danifae's　gesture。　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃That's　Netherese。〃
　　　〃You　can　read　it？〃　Danifae　asked。
　　　〃I　have　studied　several　languages…the　mon　tongue　of　the　surface；　High　Netherese；　Illuskan；　even　some　of　the　speech　of　dragons；〃　Halisstra　replied。　〃Our　libraries　contain　fascinating　histories　and　potent　lore　recorded　in　languages　other　than　drow。　I　developed　the　habit　of　studying　such　things　over　a　century　ago；　when　I　believed　I　might　find　some　forgotten　spell　or　secret　that　might　prove　useful　against　my　rivals。　As　it　turned　out；　I　found　little　of　that　sort　of　thing；　but　I　did　find　that　I　enjoyed　learning　for　its　own　sake。〃
　　　〃What　does　it　say；　then？〃
　　　〃I'm　not　sure　of　some　of　the　words；　but　I　think　it　reads；　'High　Hall　of　Justice；　Hlaungadath…In　Truth's　Light　No　Lies　Abide。'　〃
　　　〃What　a　simpleminded　sentiment。〃
　　　Halisstra　indicated　the　ruins　around　them　and　said；　〃You　can　see　how　far　it　got　them。　I　know　that　name；　though；　Hlaungadath。　I　have　seen　maps　of　the　surface　world。　Valas's　estimate　of　our　location　was　accurate。〃
　　　〃Even　a　male　can　do　something　right　from　time　to　time；〃　Danifae　said。
　　　Halisstra　smiled　and　turned　away　to　scan　the　ruins　for　any　other　sites　of　interest。
　　　Something　tawny　and　quick　ducked　swiftly　out　of　sight。　Halisstra　froze　on　the　instant；　staring　hard　at　the　spot　where　she'd　seen　it；　a　gap　in　a　masonry　wall　a　short　distance　away。　Nothing　moved　there；　but　from　another　direction　came　the　sound　of　rubble　shifting。　Without　looking　away；　she　touched　Danifae's　arm。
　　　We're　not　alone　here；　she　signed。　Back　to　the　others…quickly。
　　　Together；　they　backed　away　from　the　court　of　justice　and　out　into　the　street　again。　As　they　turned　to　retrace　their　steps；　something　long　and　low；　covered　with　sand…colored　scales；　slid　out　into　the　boulevard。　Its　stubby　wings　clearly　could　never　support　it　in　flight；　but　its　powerful　talons　and　gaping　jaws　were　much　more　developed。　The　dragon　paused　and　raised　up　its　head　for　a　better　look　at　the　two　drow　on　the　street　before　it；　and　it　hissed　in　delight。　It　was　easily　fifty　feet　from　nose　to　tail；　a　hulking；　powerful　creature　whose　eyes　gleamed　with　cunning　and　malice。
　　　〃Lolth　protect　us！〃　Danifae　gasped。
　　　The　two　women　backed　away　in　a　new　direction；　at　a　right　angle　to　the　palace　where　their　panions　waited。　The　dragon　followed　leisurely；　sinuously　winding　from　side　to　side　as　it　paced　after　them。
　　　〃It's　herding　us　away　from　the　others；〃　Halisstra　snarled。
　　　She　sensed　hard　stone　behind　her；　and　risked　a　quick　glance　backward。　They　were　pinned　against　a　building；　sliding　alongside　it　as　they　tried　to　keep　their　distance　from　the　monster。　A　dark　alleyway　gaped　just　a　few　feet　away。　Halisstra　hesitated　for　a　heartbeat；　then　grasped　Danifae　by　the　wrist　and　darted　into　the　narrow　opening　at　the　best　speed　she　could　manage。
　　　Something　waited　for　them　in　the　shadows　of　the　alley。　Before　Halisstra　could　skid　to　a　stop；　a　tall　golden　creature　reared　up　before　her；　half　lion；　half　woman；　beautiful　and　graceful。　With　a　cold；　cruel　smile；　the　lion…woman　reached　out　her　hand　and　caressed　Halisstra's　cheek。　Her　touch　was　cool；　soothing；　and　in　an　instant　Halisstra　felt　her　fear；　her　determination；　her　very　willpower　drain　softly　away。　Vaguely　she　reached　up　to　push　the　creature's　hand　away　from　her　face。
　　　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　the　creature　said　in　a　lovely　voice。　〃Lie　down　and　rest　here　a　while。　You　are　among　friends；　and　no　harm　will　e　to　you。〃
　　　Halisstra　stood　paralyzed；　recognizing　that　the　creature's　words　made　no　sense；　but　empty　of　the　willpower　she　needed　to　resist。　Danifae　whirled　her　away　by　her　arm　and　slapped　her　hard　across　the　face。
　　　〃It's　a　lamia！〃　she　snapped。　〃It　seeks　to　beguile　you！〃
　　　The　lamia　snarled　in　anger；　its　beautiful　features　suddenly　hard　and　cruel。
　　　〃Do　not　resist；〃　it　said；　its　voice　harsher。
　　　Halisstra　could　feel　the　creature's　spell　drawing　over　her；　sapping　at　her　resolve；　seeking　to　subjugate　her　will　to　its　own。　She　knew　that　if　she　gave　in　she　would　go　willingly　to　her　death；　even　lie　down　helplessly　while　the　lamia　devoured　her　if　it　asked　her　to；　but　the　sting　of　Danifae's　slap　had　reawakened　the　wellsprings　of　her　will；　just　enough　to　fight　through　the　lamia's　sweet　words。
　　　〃We　are　drow；〃　Halisstra　managed　to　gasp。　〃Our　wills　may　not　be　broken　by　such　as　you。〃
　　　The　lamia　bared　its　teeth　in　fierce　anger　and　drew　a　bronze　dagger　from　its　hip；　but　Halisstra　and　Danifae　backed　out　of　the　shadowed　alley　into　the　sun。
　　　The　dragon's　gone；　signed　Danifae。
　　　Halisstra　shook　her　head　and　replied；　An　illusion。　We　were　deceived。
　　　Something　was　still　hovering　in　the　center　of　the　street；　a　faint　flickering　phantasm　that　might　have　been　about　the　size　of　the　thing　they　had　seen　before；　and　they　could　hear　as　if　from　very　far　away　its　hissing　protests。
　　　〃Illusion；〃　Danifae　spat　in　disgust。
　　　The　dragon…wisp　gnawed　at　the　corners　of　their　minds；　joined　by　other；　more　insistent　murmuring　and　shadows。　Buildings　seemed　to　shimmer　and　vanish；　replaced　by　ruins　of　different　appearance。　Dark　and　horrible　things　slithered　through　the　rubble；　closing　off　retreat。　Ghostly　drow　dressed　in　resplendent　robes　appeared；　smiling　and　happy；　calling　for　them　to　join　them　in　their　blissful　revels　if　only　they　would　surrender　first。
　　　The　lamia　padded　softly　out　into　the　street　after　them；　holding　its　dagger　behind　its　back。
　　　〃You　may　resist　our　enticements　for　a　time；〃　she　purred；　〃but　eventually　we　will　wear　you　down。〃　She　reached　out　with　her　hand　again。　〃Won't　you　let　me　smooth　away　your　cares？　Won't　you　let　me　touch　you　again？　It　would　be　so　much　easier。〃
　　　A　swift；　graceful　movement　caught　Halisstra's　eye；　and　she　glanced　quickly　to　her　left。　Another　lamia；　this　one　male；　had　leaped　to　a　wall　top　overshadowing　their　retreat。　He　was　bronzed　and　handsome；　lithe　and　tawny；　and　he　smiled　cruelly　down　on　them。
　　　〃Your　journey　must　have　been　long　and　tiresome；〃　he　said　in　voice　of　gold。　〃Won't　you　tell　me　of　your　travels？　I　want　to　hear　all　about　them。〃
　　　From　the　dark　doorway　of　the　court　of　justice；　a　third　lamia　emerged。
　　　〃Yes；　indeed；　tell　us；　tell　us；〃　the　monster　crooned。　〃What　finer　way　to　pass　the　day；　eh？　Rest；　rest；　and　let　us　care　for　you。〃
　　　It　leaned　against　a　great　spear　and　smiled　beatifically　at　them。
　　　Halisstra　and　Danifae　exchanged　a　single　glance；　and　fled　for　their　lives。
　　　
　　　Gromph　Baenre；　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan；　was　dissatisfied。　Though　the　slave　revolt　had　been　quelled　without　too　much　trouble；　it　disturbed　him　greatly　that　so　many　drow　males　had　made　mon　cause　against　the　matron　mothers。　Not　only　that；　they　had　made　mon　cause　with　slave　races　to　turn　against　the　city。　It　bespoke　desperate　fear　long　suppressed；　and　something　else　beside…it　suggested　an　unseen　enemy　who　found　a　way　to　give　that　fear　a　voice　and　a　mission。　Drow　simply　did　not　cooperate　so　easily　with　each　other　that　a　coordinated　rebellion　could　take　shape　secretly　and　spring　full…grown　to　life。
　　　The　watchful　lull　that　blanketed　the　city　in　the　aftermath　of　the　crushing　of　the　revolt　and　the　illithilich's　demise　struck　Gromph　as　something　malevolent　and　deceitful。
　　　He　stood　up　from　his　writing　desk　and　paced　across　his　chamber；　thinking。　Kyorli；　the　rat　that　served　as　his　familiar；　eyed　him　with　cool　disinterest　as　it　munched　on　a　slice　of　rothe　cheese。
　　　The　sight　of　the　rat　somehow　reminded　the　archmage　that　he　hadn't　heard　from　Pharaun　in　a　while。　The　arrogant　popinjay　had　reported　that　Ched　Nasad　was　in　a　state　of　chaos。　Perhaps　it　was　time　to　check　in　on　him。
　　　Gromph　stepped　through　an　archway　into　an　open　shaft　and　levitated　up　to　the　room　that　served　as　his　scrying　chamber。　Of　necessity　it　was　somewhat　less　well　warded　than　other　portions　of　his　demesnes；　since　he　required　a　certain　amount　of　magical　transparency　in　order　to　cast　his　mind　out　into　the　wide　world　around　his　palace。　He　reached　the　chamber　and　sat　cross…legged　in　front　of　a　low　table　on　which　rested　a　great　crystal　orb。
　　　With　a　pass　of　his　aged　hands；　he　muttered　the　device's　activating　words　and　manded；　〃Show　me　Pharaun　Mizzrym；　the　impudent　whelp　who　thinks　he　can　replace　me　someday。〃
　　　The　last　was　not　strictly　necessary；　but　Gromph　found　it　helpful　to　give　voice　to　his　frustrations　before　attempting　to　scry。
　　　The　orb　grew　gray　and　milky；　swirling　with　fog；　then　it　exploded　with　unheralded　radiance。　Gromph　swore　and　averted　his　eyes。　For　a　moment　he　believed　that　Pharaun　had　devised　some　new　spell　to　discourage　enemies　from　spying　on　him；　but　the　Archmage　soon　recognized　the　peculiar　quality　of　the　brilliance。
　　　Daylight。
　　　Wondering　what　the　Master　of　Sorcere　could　possibly　be　doing　on　the　surface；　Gromph　shaded　his　eyes　and　peered　again；　looking　closer。　He　saw　Pharaun；　sitting　in　the　shadow　of　a　crumbling　wall　as　he　studied　his　spellbooks。　None　of　the　other　dark　elves　who　had　acpanied　the　wizard　were　in　sight；　though　Gromph　could　see　a　nearby　archway　leading　out　into　a　hatefully　brilliant　courtyard　beyond。
　　　The　tiny　image　of　Pharaun　looked　up　and　frowned。　The　wizard　had　sensed　Gromph's　spying；　as　any　skilled　wielder　of　magic　was　likely　to　do。　Pharaun　made　a　few　silent　passes　with　his　hands；　and　the　picture　faded。　Pharaun　had　cast　a　spell　to　block　the　scrying；　though　chances　were　good　he　had　no　idea　who　might　be　watching　him。
　　　〃So　you　think　you　will　elude　me　so　easily？〃　Gromph　said；　staring　at　the　grayness。
　　　He　steepled　his　fingers　before　him　and　cast　a　spell　of　his　own；　a　mental　sending　to　dispatch　a　message　straight　to　the　errant　wizard。
　　　Where　are　you？　What　transpired　in　Ched　Nasad？　What　do　you　intend　to　do　next？
　　　He　posed　himself　to　receive　Pharaun's　reply…the　spell　of　sending　conveyed　the　recipient's　response　within　a　few　minutes。　The　moments　crept　by；　as　Gromph　gazed　out　the　high；　narrow　windows　of　his　scrying　chamber；　awaiting　the　younger　wizard's　response。
　　　He　felt　the　feathery　touch　of　Pharaun's　words　appearing　in　his　mind：　Anauroch。　Ched　Nasad　was　destroyed　by　rebellion　and　stonefire。　Lolth's　silence　did　extend　there。　We　now　seek　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun　in　hope　of　answers。
　　　The　contact　faded　after　those　twenty…five　words。　That　particular　spell　didn't　permit　lengthy　conversations；　but　Pharaun　had　answered　Gromph's　questions　with　uncharacteristic　efficiency。
　　　〃Ched　Nasad　destroyed？〃　breathed　Gromph。
　　　That　merited　immediate　investigation。　He　turned　again　to　his　crystal　orb　and　manded　it　to　show　him　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs。　It　took　a　moment　for　the　mist　to　clear；　and　reveal　to　the　Archmage　a　plete　calamity。
　　　Where　Ched　Nasad　had　stood；　there　was　nothing　but　remnant　strands　of　calcified　webbing；　dripping　slowly　into　a　black　abyss　like　molten　glass　from　a　glazier's　pipe。　Of　the　city's　sinister　palaces　and　wall…climbing　castles；　virtually　nothing　remained。
　　　〃Lolth　protect　us；〃　murmured　Gromph；　sickened　at　the　sight。
　　　He　had　no　particular　love　for　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs；　but　whatever　misfortune　had　befallen　Ched　Nasad　might　visit　Menzoberranzan　in　time。　Ched　Nasad　had　been　a　city　nearly　as　large　and　as　powerful　as　Menzoberranzan　itself；　but　Gromph　could　see　with　his　own　eyes　the　pleteness　of　its　ruin。　If　one　building　in　twenty　of　the　city　remained；　he　would　have　been　surprised。
　　　Gromph　shifted　his　orb's　vision；　searching　as　best　he　could　for　some　sign　of　survivors；　but　the　main　cavern　was　largely　deserted。　He　saw　more　than　a　few　burned　bodies　among　the　smoldering　debris；　but　any　drow　who'd　lived　through　the　burning　of　the　city　were　clearly　sheltering　in　the　nearby　caverns。　Gromph　was　unable　to　bring　them　into　the　view　of　his　scrying　device；　so　after　a　time　he　decided　that　the　effort　was　irrelevant　and　allowed　the　crystal　orb　to　go　dim　again。　He　sat　for　a　long　time　in　silence；　gazing　absently　at　the　darkened　orb。
　　　〃Now；　do　I　need　to　share　this　with　dear　Triel？〃　he　asked　himself　when　he　finally　stirred　from　his　reverie。
　　　He　knew　something　that　the　matron　mothers　presumably　did　not；　and　that　was　always　the　sign　of　possibility。　The　trouble　was；　Gromph　had　no　idea　what　possible　advantage　he　could　derive　from　hoarding　the　knowledge；　and　the　risks　of　failing　to　municate　what　he　had　learned　were　all　too　clear。　Knowing　that　Lolth's　silence　extended　beyond　Menzoberranzan；　he　might　mount　a　direct　challenge　to　the　priestesses…if　he　were　inclined　to　do　so…but　even　if　he　brought　the　full　strength　of　Sorcere　against　the　ruling　Houses　of　the　city；　what　would　be　left　if　he　did　succeed？　The　smoldering　wreckage　of　Ched　Nasad　seemed　a　likely　result。　Most　likely　the　House　loyalties　among　the　masters　of　the　wizards'　school　would　cripple　any　such　nonsense　from　the　start。
　　　No；　Gromph　decided。　I　am　no　revolutionary　anxious　to　sweep　away　the　old　order…not　yet；　anyway。
　　　Besides；　the　most　likely　cause　of　all　the　trouble　was　some　insidious　new　snare　of　Lolth's　devising。　Gromph　wouldn't　put　it　past　the　Spider　Queen　to　fall　pletely　and　inexplicably　silent；　just　to　see　who　might　slink　out　of　the　shadows　in　order　to　take　advantage　of　her　priestesses'　temporary　〃weakness。〃　That　meant　that　sooner　or　later；　Lolth　would　tire　of　her　game　and　restore　her　favor　to　her　clerics。　When　that　happened；　woe　to　anyone　foolish　enough　to　have　shown　the　shallowness　of　his　allegiance　to　the　established　order。　No；　the　wisest　thing　to　do　was　to　pass　along　to　Triel　what　he'd　learned；　and　to　make　sure　Matron　Baenre　didn't　hoard　the　knowledge　to　herself。　Pharaun's　words　indicated　in　a　few　quick　brushstrokes　a　very　grave　danger　to　Menzoberranzan；　and　Gromph　refused　to　be　remembered　as　the　archmage　who　allowed　his　city　to　be　razed。
　　　With　a　sigh；　he　stood　and　dropped　silently　back　down　the　shaft。　He　rather　hoped　Triel　was　in　the　middle　of　something　awkward；　so　that　he　could　savor　the　petty　pleasure　of　interrupting　her　with　news　that　could　not　wait。
　　　
　　　〃The　question　is　not　where　we　should　go　next；〃　observed　Pharaun　with　a　wry　grimace。　〃The　question　is　how　we　shall　escape　Hlaungadath　alive。〃　The　Master　of　Sorcere　was　exhausted。　Dust　plastered　the　blood　and　sweat　on　his　face；　and　he　was　so　tired　he　could　do　no　more　than　collapse　into　the　shadow　of　a　long；　crumbling　wall。　Having　long　since　exhausted　any　spells　useful　in　battle；　he　wielded　a　wand　of　thin　black　iron　from　which　he　called　forth　bolts　of　lightning。　Pharaun　glanced　up　at　the　sky　as　if　to　gauge　how　much　more　daylight　remained；　and　he　quickly　winced　away。　〃Will　the　cursed　sun　never　set？〃
　　　〃Get　up；　wizard；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃If　we　rest；　we　die。〃
　　　She；　too；　trembled　with　exhaustion；　but　she　stayed　on　her　feet。　The　long　snake…headed　whips　she　carried　still　coiled　and　hissed　dangerously；　covered　with　gore；　but　blood　trickled　from　a　nasty　cut　above　her　left　eye；　and　two　furrows　of　broken　and　twisted　links　in　her　mail　shirt　showed　just　how　close　she'd　e　to　dying　under　the　claws　of　some　hulking　monstrosity　of　gray　skin　and　spiderlike　eyes。
　　　〃You're　more　vulnerable　to　the　lamias'　powers　of　suggestion　and　illusion　while　y