war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第46部分

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ry；　to　Kaanyr　Vhok；　three…tenths；　and　for　my　own　House；　two…tenths；　out　of　which　I　will　e　to　terms　with　the　Agrach　Dyrr。　All　subject　to　final　negotiation　and　adjustment　when　Menzoberranzan　is　ours；　of　course。〃
　　　〃My　army　outnumbers　the　cambion's　by　better　than　two　to　one；　so　why　does　he　gain　a　share　better　than　half　of　my　own？〃　Horgar　said。
　　　〃Because　he　is　here；〃　Nimor　said。　〃Take　your　army　and　go　home　if　you　like；　Horgar；　but　look　around　you　before　you　depart。　We　stand　at　the　Lustrum；　the　mithral　mines　of　House　Xorlarrin。　Menzoberranzan　controls　dozens　of　treasures　such　as　this；　and　its　castles　and　vaults　are　filled　with　the　wealth　of　five　thousand　years。　If　you　do　not　fight；　your　share　will　be　nothing。〃
　　　That　was　the　other　reason　Nimor　had　chosen　the　Lustrum　as　the　place　to　hold　his　parley。　It　served　as　a　tantalizing　reminder　of　the　true　prize　that　waited。
　　　Horgar's　eyes　darkened；　but　the　duergar　prince　turned　aside　to　study　the　chasm　and　the　gaping　adits　nearby。　Marshal　Borwald　leaned　close　and　whispered　something　to　the　crown　prince；　and　the　other　lairds　muttered　among　themselves。　After　a　moment；　Horgar　shifted　his　thick　hands　to　his　belt　and　cleared　his　throat。
　　　〃All　right；　then。　Subject　to　final　negotiation；　we　agree。　So　how　do　you　intend　to　reduce　the　city？〃
　　　〃You　will　crush　Menzoberranzan　between　your　two　armies；〃　Nimor　said。　〃Given　your　victory　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　the　Lolthites　are　mitted　to　awaiting　your　assault　in　the　city　proper；　but　thanks　to　this　maze　of　passages　surrounding　the　city；　they　can't　know　where　you'll　make　your　attack。　That　means　the　Menzoberranyr　will　have　to　maintain　a　strong　force　in　waiting　somewhere　near　the　city's　center　to　respond　to　whatever　point　is　threatened。　The　Scoured　Legion　will　provide　that　threat；　and　when　we　force　the　Lolthites　to　mit　to　battle；　the　army　of　Gracklstugh　will　mence　its　attack　and　break　into　the　city。〃
　　　〃It's　not　a　bad　plan；〃　Kaanyr　Vhok　observed。　〃However；　it　is　exactly　what　the　Menzoberranyr　must　expect　us　to　try；　given　the　situation。　They'll　be　very　careful　in　mitting　their　strength　to　any　one　threat。〃
　　　〃Aye；〃　Horgar　said。　〃How　will　you　draw　them　out；　now　that　you've　taught　them　caution　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe？〃
　　　Nimor　smiled。　It　didn't　escape　him　that　Horgar　and　Kaanyr　were　examining　the　tactical　problem　of　defeating　Menzoberranzan；　instead　of　quarreling　over　what　they　expected　to　gain　from　their　efforts。
　　　〃My　brothers　and　I　expect　to　help　in　that　regard；〃　he　said。　〃We're　not　numerous　but　we're　well…placed；　and；　my　lords；　you　have　forgotten　House　Agrach　Dyrr。〃
　　　Horgar　and　Kaanyr　exchanged　a　nod；　even　a　smile。
　　　Prepare　well；　Menzoberranzan；　Nimor　thought。　I'm　ing。
　　　
　　　〃I　never　imagined　so　many　demons　in　my　life；〃　Ryld　grunted。　He　leaned　on　Splitter；　watching　as　a　huge；　bat…winged；　bloated　form　spiraled　feebly　down　into　the　darkness；　vainly　trying　to　fly　with　its　wings　savaged　by　blows　of　the　weapons　master's　greatsword。　He　straightened　and　wiped　the　back　of　one　hand　across　his　brow。　〃It's　getting　hotter；　too。　I　hope　we're　close　to　whatever　we're　looking　for。〃
　　　Halisstra　and　the　rest　of　the　pany　stood　nearby；　swaying　with　nausea　or　trembling　with　fatigue　as　the　environment　and　their　exertions　warranted。　For　what　seemed　like　hours；　they'd　continued　to　fight　their　way　down　strand　after　strand。　Sometimes　they　descended　for　miles　past　strands　that　were　empty　or　held　nothing　but　corpses；　but　more　and　more　frequently　they　encountered　demons　that　were　alive　and　hungry。　Most　of　the　infernal　creatures　threw　themselves　headlong　into　battle　as　if　all　reason　had　deserted　them；　but　a　few　retained　enough　of　their　intelligence　to　employ　their　formidable　magical　abilities　against　the　interlopers。
　　　With　fang；　claw；　sting；　and　unholy　sorcery　the　denizens　of　the　Demonweb　Pits　scoured　and　scored　the　drow　pany。　It　didn't　help　that　Quenthel　had　manded　Pharaun　to　hoard　his　spells　carefully　so　that　the　pany　met　each　new　demonic　threat　with　steel；　not　the　wizard's　magic。
　　　〃Save　your　breath；　Master　Argith；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　slowly　straightened　from　her　own　fighting　crouch；　her　whip　splattered　with　the　gore　of　a　dozen　demons。　〃We　must　press　on。〃
　　　The　pany　hadn't　gone　more　than　another　forty　yards　before　their　strand　shuddered；　and　an　enormous　taloned　hand　appeared　from　beneath。　Clawing　its　way　around　from　the　unseen　bottom　side　of　the　web；　a　massive；　bison…headed　demon　with　foul；　coarse　fur　sprouting　from　its　shoulders　and　back　hauled　itself　to　the　top　of　the　strand　and　bellowed　a　vast　challenge。
　　　〃A　goristro！〃　Pharaun　cried。　〃What　in　all　the　hells　is　that　doing　here？〃
　　　〃Some　pet　of　Lolth's　that's　gotten　loose；　I　don't　doubt；〃　Tzirik　replied。
　　　The　Vhaeraunite　priest　began　to　chant　a　spell；　while　the　others　leaped　into　action。　Before　the　monster　could　clamber　to　its　feet；　Valas　feathered　it　with　at　least　three　arrows；　the　black　shafts　sprouting　from　its　shoulders　and　thick　neck　like　pins　in　a　cushion。　The　goristro　snorted　in　pain　and　anger；　and　reached　out　one　hulking　hand　to　pick　up　the　corpse　of　a　small　spider…demon　nearby。　It　flung　the　corpse　at　Valas；　catching　the　scout　as　he　fished　in　his　quiver　for　more　arrows。　The　impact　staggered　Valas；　who　stumbled　and　slipped　down　the　side　of　the　strand；　cursing　in　several　languages。
　　　Ryld　ran　forward　with　Splitter　held　high；　Quenthel　at　his　side；　while　Halisstra　and　Danifae　carefully　tried　to　circle　the　beast　to　one　side　as　best　they　could　on　the　narrow　strand；　hoping　to　surround　it　on　all　sides。
　　　Tzirik　finished　his　spell　and　shouted　out　a　deep；　rolling　word　of　power；　creating　a　great　whirling　disk　of　spinning　razors　across　the　goristro's　torso。　Blades　bit　and　blood　flew；　but　still　the　monster　came　on　undeterred。
　　　〃What　will　it　take　to　stop　this　thing？〃　Halisstra　called。　〃Does　it　have　any　weaknesses？〃
　　　〃It's　stupid；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃Barely　sentient；　really。　Don't　meet　it　blow　for　blow。〃
　　　The　wizard　gestured　and　struck　the　monster　with　a　gleaming　green　ray　of　energy　that　chewed　into　the　goristro's　chest；　while　Tzirik　moved　in　behind　Ryld　and　Quenthel　to　help　them　against　the　monster。　The　weapons　master　and　the　high　priestess　leaped　and　slashed　at　the　creature's　belly　and　torso；　while　dodging　the　ponderous　blows　of　its　enormous　fists。　One　glancing　blow　spun　Quenthel　to　her　hands　and　knees；　but　she　managed　to　scramble　out　of　the　way　before　the　creature　could　finish　her　off。
　　　〃Noooot　stuuuupiiiid！〃　roared　the　goristro。
　　　It　lifted　one　hoofed　foot　and　stamped　it　down　on　the　strand　with　such　astonishing　power　that　the　whole　miles…long　cable　thrummed　like　something　alive。　The　shock　wave　threw　all　of　the　drow　into　the　air；　yet　the　goristro　had　failed　to　anticipate　the　consequences　of　its　mighty　stomp；　for　the　shock　threw　it　into　the　air　as　well。　The　monstrous　demon　landed　awkwardly　on　its　side　and　slid　off　the　strand；　catching　itself　by　one　arm　dug　into　the　upper　surface。　It　scrambled　and　kicked；　its　struggles　shaking　the　strand　even　more。
　　　Quenthel　picked　herself　up　from　the　trembling　surface；　and　weaved　her　way　past　the　brute's　arm　to　look　down　at　its　face。　With　a　deliberate　motion；　she　flicked　her　snake…headed　whip　at　one　of　its　beady　eyes　and　destroyed　the　organ　in　a　sickening　burst　of　gore。　The　goristro　howled　in　agony　and　recoiled；　losing　its　grip　on　the　strand　and　tumbling　down　into　the　abyss。　Its　bellows　of　rage　continued　for　a　long　time；　diminishing　as　it　fell　away　from　them。　She　didn't　bother　to　watch　it　fall。　Instead　she　turned　to　the　rest　of　the　pany。
　　　〃Get　up；〃　she　snarled。　〃We're　wasting　time。〃
　　　Halisstra　picked　herself　up　from　the　web　and　glanced　around。　Valas　scrambled　back　into　view　from　his　precarious　position　on　the　side　of　the　strand。　Danifae　climbed　to　her　feet　as　well。　They　followed　after　Quenthel　as　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　set　off　again　at　once；　moving　at　an　impatient　lope　as　she　bounded　down　the　strand。　Halisstra　was　too　tired　to　keep　up　the　pace　for　long；　but　she　had　even　less　energy　for　an　argument　with　the　single…minded　priestess；　and　so　she　merely　set　her　jaw　and　endured。
　　　They　reached　the　bottom…almost。
　　　For　some　time　they'd　noticed　converging　strands　drawing　closer　to　their　own；　and　Halisstra　could　see　the　reason　why。　A　great　ring　of　webbing　a　dozen　times　thicker　than　any　of　the　gray　strands　was　suspended　below　them；　binding　the　ends　of　the　strands　together。　Its　circumference　was　so　great　that　Halisstra　could　hardly　describe　a　curve　at　all　in　the　ring's　vast　arc。　In　the　center　there　was　something…a　titanic　black　structure　or　island　of　sorts　hanging　in　the　mighty　web。　The　drow　paused；　surveying　the　scene；　until　Valas　broke　the　silence。
　　　〃Is　that　it？〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。
　　　〃The　entrance　to　Lolth's　domain；〃　Tzirik　answered；　〃lies　somewhere　within　that　ring。〃
　　　〃Are　you　sure？〃　asked　Ryld。
　　　〃I　am；〃　Quenthel　replied　for　the　priest。
　　　She　didn't　look　aside　or　hesitate；　but　simply　set　off　again　at　the　same　hard　pace。
　　　As　the　strand　approached　the　central　ring　its　steep　pitch　gradually　flattened　and　thickened　somewhat；　and　for　the　first　time　in　seemingly　endless　hours　and　miles　the　pany　found　itself　traversing　something　like　level　ground　instead　of　picking　their　way　down　the　sloping　cable。　More　demonic　and　spidery　corpses　appeared；　some　half…buried　in　the　strand　as　if　they'd　fallen　from　the　limitless　heights　above…which　they　most　likely　had。
　　　The　travelers　reached　the　thick　ring　and　crossed　one　more　stretch　of　twisted　webbing　only　to　find　that　the　structure　in　the　center　was　some　kind　of　immense　stone　temple；　a　baroque　building　of　gleaming　black　obsidian　miles　in　diameter。　Spiked　stone　buttresses　soared　across　the　bottomless　space；　linking　the　structure　to　the　ring　around　it。　Vast　dark　plazas　of　smooth　stone　large　enough　to　swallow　cities　surrounded　the　temple's　flanks。　Without　speaking；　the　pany　picked　their　way　over　to　one　of　the　colossal　flying　buttresses　and　advanced　toward　their　goal。
　　　Halisstra　found　herself　trembling；　not　with　exhaustion；　but　with　a　bination　of　terror　and　ecstasy　as　she　realized　that　she　must　soon　withstand　Lolth's　scrutiny　in　the　flesh。
　　　I　am　worthy；　she　told　herself。　I　must　be。
　　　The　demons　that　had　plagued　their　progress　through　the　webs　didn't　seem　to　care　for　the　black　temple。　In　any　event；　no　more　of　the　monsters　pursued　the　pany　once　they　left　the　web　behind　them。　For　a　long　time　the　dark　elves　simply　walked　onward；　crossing　the　huge　outer　plaza；　as　the　walls　of　the　temple　came　closer　and　closer；　revealing　their　dark　details。
　　　Quenthel　oriented　their　march　on　a　sharp…edged　break　in　the　cyclopean　wall；　a　huge　cleft　that　must　have　been　the　temple's　portico。　From　time　to　time　they　passed　the　strange；　inanimate　forms　of　large；　spiderlike　beings　that　seemed　to　be　sculpted　from　fluid　black　stone。　Oddly　enough；　the　petrified　forms　grew　smaller　and　smaller　the　closer　they　came　to　the　cleft。　Halisstra　dismissed　the　mystery　from　her　mind；　concentrating　only　on　the　goal　before　her。
　　　At　last　they　reached　the　mouth　of　the　temple；　and　looked　upon　its　entrance。　A　vast　face　confronted　them；　the　face　of　a　cruelly　beautiful　dark　elf；　her　features　calm　and　still　as　if　in　contemplation。　Perfect　black　stone　barred　the　entrance　from　one　side　to　the　other；　sculpted　into　the　image　of　the　Spider　Queen's　visage。　Only　her　half…lidded　eyes　showed　any　animation　at　all。　Gazing　down　blankly　at　the　tiny　supplicants　below　her；　Lolth's　eyes　gleamed　with　a　roiling；　hellish　glee　focused　entirely　on　whatever　thoughts　or　processes　lay　behind　them。
　　　The　pany　stood　gazing　up　in　wonder　and　terror；　and　Quenthel　prostrated　herself　before　the　image　of　her　goddess。　Halisstra　and　Danifae　joined　her　at　once；　groveling　on　the　cold　black　stone。　Even　the　males　dropped　to　the　ground；　lying　on　their　faces　and　averting　their　eyes。　Tzirik；　as　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun；　settled　for　taking　one　knee　and　lowering　his　gaze　respectfully。　He　didn't　serve　the　Queen　of　the　Demonweb　Pits；　but　he　and　others　of　his　faith　certainly　recognized　her　divinity。
　　　〃Great　Queen！〃　called　Quenthel。　〃We　have　e　from　Menzoberranzan　to　beseech　you　to　restore　your　favor　to　your　priestesses！　Our　enemies　encroach　on　your　holy　city　and　threaten　your　faithful　with　destruction。　We　humbly　beg　you　to　instruct　us　in　what　we　must　do　to　find　approval　in　your　eyes。　Arm　us　with　your　holy　might　once　more；　and　we　will　hunt　your　enemies　until　their　blood　fills　the　Underdark　and　their　souls　fill　your　belly！〃
　　　The　face　did　not　respond。
　　　Quenthel　waited　for　a　long　time；　still　prostrate；　then　she　licked　her　lips　and　uttered　another　prayer。　Halisstra　and　Danifae　joined　their　pleading　to　hers；　and　they　begged　and　pleaded　with　every　prayer；　every　invocation；　every　catechism　they　had　ever　been　taught；　scraping　and　groveling　at　the　temple　door。　The　males　simply　waited；　still　stretched　out　on　the　black　stone。　After　a　time；　Tzirik　moved　off　a　short　distance　and　sat　down　with　his　back　to　the　face；　muning　with　his　own　god。　Halisstra　ignored　him　and　continued　her　supplications。
　　　Still　the　face　did　not　respond。
　　　The　three　priestesses　kept　up　their　pleas　for　what　must　have　been　hours；　but　finally　Quenthel　pushed　herself　upright　and　gazed　full　on　the　visage　of　Lolth。
　　　〃Enough；　sisters；〃　said　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith。　〃The　goddess　plainly　does　not　deign　to　answer　us　at　this　time。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　we　are　in　the　wrong　place；〃　Pharaun　suggested。　〃Perhaps　we　must　go　farther　in　order　for　you　to　offer　your　prayers。〃
　　　〃There　is　no　place　farther　to　go；〃　Tzirik　said；　rejoining　the　party。　〃Vhaeraun　informs　me　that　this　is　the　only　point　of　approach　to　Lolth's　domain　through　the　Abyss。　If　she　refuses　to　hear　you　at　this　spot；　she　will　not　hear　you　anywhere　else　in　this　plane。〃
　　　〃But　why　does　she　continue　to　ignore　us？〃　Halisstra　asked　in　a　plaintive　voice。　She　climbed　to　her　feet；　her　heart　sick　with　longing。　After　all　that　had　happened…the　fall　of　her　House；　the　destruction　of　her　city；　the　travails　of　the　quest…to　stand　before　Lolth's　temple　and　be　ignored　was　simply　inprehensible。　〃What　more　do　we　have　to　do？〃
　　　Tzirik　shrugged　and　said；　〃I　cannot　answer　that　question。〃
　　　〃Apparently　Lolth　can't；　either；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　She　ignored　the　disapproval　and　fear　that　flickered　across　Quenthel's　features；　and　strode　up　angrily　to　stand　within　arm's　reach　of　the　towering　face。
　　　〃Hear　me；　Lolth！〃　she　cried。　〃Answer　me！　What　have　we　done　to　earn　your　displeasure？　Where　are　you？〃
　　　〃Speak　with　respect！〃　hissed　Quenthel；　her　eyes　wide　with　terror。
　　　Ryld　quailed；　but　managed　to　find　the　strength　to　take　a　couple　of　steps　forward。
　　　〃Mistress　Melarn　。　。　。〃　he　said；　〃Halisstra；　e　away　from　there。　No　good…〃
　　　〃Lolth！〃　Halisstra　screamed。　〃Answer　me；　damn　you！〃
　　　She　struck　the　cold　stone　of　the　face　with　her　fists；　flailing　away　in　futility；　in　anger。　Her　mind　went　empty　as　animal　fury　rose　up　to　overthrow　her　reason。　She　screamed　curses　upon　her　goddess；　she　battered　at　the　uncaring　face　until　her　hands　were　bruised　and　bloody；　and　still　no　answer　came。　After　a　time　she　found　herself　huddled　against　the　cold　stone；　weeping；　her　hands　broken　and　useless。　Like　a　lost　child；　she　cried　with　all　the　ache　i