war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第7部分

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　crisscrossed　the　city's　roof；　and　many　of　the　stalactites　were　in　fact　carved　into　darkly　beautiful　castles　and　aeries　all　the　more　spectacular　for　their　bold　arrogance。　Only　drow　would　make　homes　out　of　fragile　stone　spears　a　thousand　feet　above　the　cavern　floor。　Highborn　dark　elves　frequently　possessed　innate　magic　or　enchanted　trinkets　that　freed　them　of　concern　over　heights；　and　gave　little　thought　to　dizzying　overlooks　that　would　terrify　bats。　Their　slaves　and　servants　were　not　so　fortunate；　and　must　have　found　life　in　a　ceiling　spire　something　peculiarly　nerve…racking。
　　　The　more　important　ceiling　spires　were　of　course　magically　reinforced　against　the　inevitable　fall；　and　would　not　fail　unless　magic　itself　gave　out…but　more　than　one　proud　old　palace　stood　dusty　and　abandoned　at　the　top　of　the　city；　the　House　that　claimed　it　too　weak　in　the　Art　to　maintain　the　spells　that　made　the　place　tenable。　It　was　in　just　such　an　empty　place　that　Nimor　crouched；　leaning　out　over　a　dark　abyss　to　study　his　target　below。
　　　House　Faen　Tlabbar；　Third　House　of　Menzoberranzan；　lay　below　him　and　a　short　distance　to　his　left。　The　castle　sprawled　over　several　towering　stalagmites　and　columns；　its　elegant　balustrades　and　soaring　buttresses　belying　the　underlying　strength　of　the　rambling　towers　and　mighty　bulwarks　of　dark　stone。　Faen　Tlabbar's　pound　was　one　of　the　largest　and　proudest　of　any　in　Menzoberranzan　that　did　not　sit　on　the　high　plateau　of　Qu'ellarz'orl；　the　most　prestigious　of　the　underground　city's　noble　districts。　Instead　House　Tlabbar's　palace　clambered　up　along　the　southern　wall　of　Menzoberranzan's　great　cavern；　until　its　highest　spires　surmounted　the　plateau　in　whose　shadow　it　sat；　as　if　the　matrons　of　the　Third　House　wished　to　be　able　to　peer　over　the　plateau's　edge　and　gaze　enviously　upon　the　manors　fortunate　enough　to　be　located　alongside　the　exalted　House　Baenre。
　　　It　was　an　apt　analogy　for　Faen　Tlabbar's　political　maneuverings。　Only　two　Houses　stood　ahead　of　them　in　Menzoberranzan's　dark　hierarchy：　Baenre；　the　First；　and　Barrison　Del'Armgo；　the　Second。　Nimor　thought　it　likely　that　Matron　Mother　Tlabbar　harbored　great　aspirations　for　her　House。　Del'Armgo；　the　Second　House；　was　strong　but　with　few　allies。　Baenre；　the　strongest；　was　as　weak　as　it　had　been　in　centuries。　Houses　such　as　Faen　Tlabbar　gazed　on　the　Baenre　and　remembered　centuries　of　absolute　arrogance；　humiliating　condescension；　and　they　wondered　whether　the　time　had　e　for　several　lesser　Houses　to　band　together　and　end　Baenre's　dominance　once　and　for　all。
　　　〃That　would　be　a　merry　game　to　watch；〃　Nimor　mused。
　　　He　suspected　that　in　such　a　scenario　Baenre　might　prove　stronger　than　their　resentful　rivals　guessed；　but　the　bloodletting　would　be　spectacular。　Several　great　Houses　would　fall；　for　Baenre　would　not　go　alone　into　the　gentle　night。　Of　course；　that　would　go　a　long　way　toward　advancing　the　schemes　of　the　Anointed　Blade　of　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin。
　　　That　would　be　a　play　for　another　day；　though。　Nimor　meant　to　strike　a　deep　and　grievous　blow　at　Faen　Tlabbar；　not　incite　them　against　House　Baenre。　Ghenni　Tlabbar；　Matron　of　the　Third　House；　would　die　beneath　his　blade。　Her　blood　would　purchase　treason　on　a　grand　scale；　and　place　into　the　assassin's　hand　the　stiletto　Nimor　meant　to　drive　into　Menzoberranzan's　heart。
　　　A　scrabbling　sound　and　the　clink　of　mail　caught　Nimor's　notice。　He　withdrew　softly　into　the　shadows　and　waited　patiently　as　a　squad　of　Tlabbar　warriors　mounted　on　great　riding　lizards　climbed　along　a　small；　unworked　stalactite　nearby。　The　pallid　reptiles　possessed　large；　sticky　pads　on　their　clawed　feet　that　allowed　them　to　cling　to　the　sheerest　of　surfaces；　and　many　of　Menzoberranzan's　noble　Houses　used　the　creatures　for　patrolling　the　high　places　of　the　city's　vast　cavern。　Faen　Tlabbar　was　renowned　for　its　squadrons　of　lizard　cavalry。　The　assassin　had　studied　the　Tlabbar　patrols　from　his　precarious　perch　for　more　than　an　hour；　carefully　timing　their　sweeps。
　　　Right　on　time；　Nimor　observed。　You've　allowed　yourselves　to　bee　predictable；　lads。
　　　The　riders　carried　crossbows　and　lances　at　the　ready；　scurrying　along　in　single　file　as　they　looped　around　the　smaller　stalactite　and　scanned　the　cavern　ceiling。　As　Nimor　expected；　the　leader　turned　to　the　left　and　followed　the　curve　of　the　stone　pinnacle　down　and　out　of　sight。
　　　〃You　would　do　well　to　vary　your　routine；　Captain；〃　Nimor　whispered　to　the　departing　squad。　〃An　intrepid　fellow　such　as　myself　might　be　deterred　by　the　possibility　of　your　unexpected　return。〃
　　　With　a　single　silent　spring；　Nimor　launched　himself　out　into　the　vast　darkness；　plunging　through　the　eternal　night。
　　　By　an　accident　of　cavern　formation；　House　Tlabbar　held　little　of　the　city's　roof　and　overcaverns。　One　large　column　and　a　pair　of　small　stalactites　linked　Tlabbar　to　the　ceiling；　which　meant　that　Tlabbar　had　something　of　a　blind　spot　directly　over　its　palace　roof。　This　was　the　weakness　Nimor　intended　to　exploit。　His　black　cloak　streamed　behind　him；　and　cold　air　rushed　past　his　face。　Nimor　bared　his　teeth　in　a　savage　grin；　delighting　in　the　long　seconds　of　his　great　leap。　His　body　burned　with　the　dark　fires　of　his　heritage；　and　he　longed　to　shed　his　rakish　guise；　but　this　was　not　the　time。
　　　While　he　fell；　he　mouthed　the　words　to　a　spell　that　made　him　invisible；　and　as　the　spearlike　pinnacle　of　Faen　Tlabbar's　central　palace　rushed　up　at　him；　he　quickly　halted　his　fall　by　employing　his　power　of　levitation。　Less　than　six　heartbeats　from　the　moment　he'd　leaped　from　the　abandoned　stalactite　overhead；　Nimor　alighted　on　the　knifelike　ridge　of　a　steep　hall；　invisible　and　undetected。　He　listened　for　any　sign　that　he　had　been　detected；　then　he　glided　toward　the　hall's　juncture　with　the　castle　proper；　his　steps　as　silent　as　death。
　　　The　dark　elves　of　Faen　Tlabbar　were　not　unaware　of　their　vulnerability　to　assault　from　above；　and　vigilant　sentries　manned　battlements　and　cupolas　atop　the　palace；　watching　for　intruders。　Nimor　avoided　them　carefully。　Those　who　were　able　to　see　invisible　foes…and　there　were　more　than　a　few…were　not　in　the　habit　of　watching　for　an　invisible　foe　who　also　glided　from　shadow　to　shadow　with　the　stealth　of　a　master　assassin。　Nimor　was　more　concerned　with　the　various　magical　barriers　shielding　the　house。　He　habitually　protected　himself　with　spells　designed　to　counter　and　confuse　various　forms　of　magical　detection；　but　they　were　not　foolproof。
　　　Green　and　gold　radiance　glimmered　around　him　as　he　crept　along　the　steep；　tiled　roof　of　a　square　tower。　The　Faen　Tlabbar；　like　many　other　Houses；　used　magic　to　illuminate　and　decorate　the　baroque　spires　and　balconies　of　their　home。　Nimor　lowered　himself　to　his　belly　and　edged　down　even　farther；　headfirst；　listening　carefully。　Below　him　he　expected　to　find　a　guard　post；　and　an　entrance　leading　into　the　manor　itself。　Over　the　decades　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　had　used　magic　to　scry　what　they　could　of　the　layout　and　defenses　of　many　great　Houses　in　more　than　one　drow　city；　and　the　slender　assassin　had　carefully　studied　his　brotherhood's　notes　and　drawings　on　House　Tlabbar。　The　information　was；　of　course；　inplete　and　out　of　date；　as　parts　of　the　castle　were　blocked　from　all　scrying；　and　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　had　not　studied　the　Houses　of　Menzoberranzan　in　a　very　long　time。　Nimor　would　have　preferred　to　update　his　information　through　the　bribery　or　capture　of　a　Tlabbar　guard；　but　he　simply　did　not　have　the　time　to　arrange　such　a　thing　and　keep　the　rest　of　his　timetable　intact。
　　　He　heard　the　soft　sounds　of　movement　on　the　balcony　below　the　eave　of　the　roof　he　lay　on。　Two；　he　guessed；　at　least　one　wearing　chain　mail。　He　would　have　to　be　swift…a　single　outcry　could　spell　the　end　of　his　single…handed　assault　on　the　castle。　With　calculating　patience；　Nimor　edged　out　even　more　and　found　himself　looking　down　on　a　curving　gallery　beneath　the　overhanging　eave。　To　his　left；　the　walkway　became　a　walled　stair　leading　down　to　the　lower　battlements；　while　to　his　right　it　simply　ended　at　a　black　doorway。　The　door　itself　stood　open。　Directly　beneath　him　stood　a　drow　male　in　armor；　gazing　out　over　a　lower　courtyard。
　　　Nimor　studied　the　fellow　for　a　full　thirty　heartbeats；　planning　his　strike　as　he　quietly　slipped　his　dagger　from　its　sheath。　It　was　a　blade　of　green…black　enchanted　steel　that　glistened　wetly　in　the　glimmering　faerielight。　Then；　still　invisible；　he　rolled　himself　off　the　roof　and　dropped　down　behind　the　Tlabbar　guard。
　　　The　assassin's　feet　thudded　softly　to　the　flagstones。　The　guard　started　to　turn　and　opened　his　mouth　to　cry　out；　but　with　one　remorseless　movement；　Nimor　clapped　a　hand　over　the　fellow's　face　and　punched　his　dagger　deep　into　the　base　of　the　skull。　The　blade　grated　on　bone；　and　the　Tlabbar　guard　simply　sagged　into　Nimor's　arms；　dead　on　his　feet。
　　　Nimor　let　the　nerveless　body　slump　to　the　floor　and　looked　up　at　the　other　sentry　in　the　guard　post；　a　fellow　in　the　black　robes　of　a　wizard。　The　Tlabbar　mage　glanced　over　at　the　rustle　of　sound；　just　in　time　to　see　his　watch　mate　fold　up　and　collapse　for　no　apparent　cause…for　Nimor　was　still　invisible。
　　　〃Zilzmaer？〃　he　said　sharply。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　　Nimor　bounded　forward　and　rammed　his　bloody　knife　up　under　the　wizard's　chin；　nailing　his　jaws　closed　and　transfixing　the　Tlabbar's　brain。　The　mage　jerked　two　or　three　times；　violently；　then　shuddered　and　died。
　　　〃Shh；〃　the　assassin　hissed。　〃It's　nothing。　Go　to　sleep。〃
　　　He　laid　the　wizard　alongside　his　panion；　and　turned　to　the　dark　archway　leading　into　the　castle　proper。
　　　Knife　in　hand；　he　stalked　through…only　to　be　halted　by　an　invisible；　intangible　barrier　that　blocked　the　archway　as　surely　as　a　wall　of　masonry。　Nimor　frowned；　summoned　up　his　willpower；　and　tried　the　archway　again；　only　to　find　his　passage　barred　in　mid…step。
　　　〃Damnation；〃　he　muttered。　〃A　forbidding。〃
　　　The　Tlabbar　castle；　or　its　interior　anyway；　was　warded　by　a　great　fixed　spell　that　utterly　prevented　an　enemy　from　setting　foot　within。　Nimor　could　elude　or　undo　some　magical　traps；　but　the　forbidding　was　simply　beyond　his　ability　to　penetrate。
　　　That　explains　the　open　door；　he　thought。　The　Tlabbars　are　confident　in　their　magical　defenses。　Now　what？
　　　Nimor　sheathed　his　knife　and　studied　the　archway。　A　spell　of　forbidding　could　be　crafted　to　defend　a　building　or　area　in　one　of　several　ways；　but　if　the　Tlabbars　wanted　to　move　about　their　own　castle；　they　would　have　had　to　make　a　forbidding　through　which　one　could　pass　without　too　much　difficulty…perhaps　with　a　token　of　some　kind；　or　maybe　with　a　password。　Nimor　quickly　searched　the　bodies　of　the　two　Tlabbar　guards　he'd　slain；　but　found　nothing　that　seemed　like　it　might　serve　as　a　token　to　pass　the　forbidding。
　　　It　might　be　anything；　he　thought。　A　cloak　clasp；　an　enchanted　coin　in　a　purse；　an　earring　or　a　necklace　。　。　。
　　　He　decided　he　didn't　have　time　to　experiment。　With　one　hand　he　picked　up　the　dead　wizard　and　tucked　the　fellow　under　his　arm；　then　he　strode　back　to　the　archway　and　steeled　himself　to　step　through。　This　time；　he　passed　through　without　resistance；　as　if　the　ward　was　simply　gone。
　　　Something　the　Tlabbar　guards　wear；　then；　Nimor　decided。
　　　He　briefly　considered　shouldering　the　dead　wizard　and　carrying　the　fellow　along　in　case　he　needed　to　pass　another　warding　inside　the　castle；　but　decided　against　it。　Stealth　and　speed　were　his　best　defenses；　and　lugging　a　corpse　through　the　castle　was　not　particularly　subtle。　Besides；　the　Tlabbars　were　not　likely　to　have　two　forbiddings　in　their　palace；　or　to　use　the　same　key　for　both　if　they　did。　He　unceremoniously　dumped　the　wizard　on　the　other　side　of　the　doorway；　and　headed　inside。
　　　The　archway　opened　into　a　long；　high…ceilinged　corridor　that　ran　above　one　of　the　Tlabbar　halls。　Doors　made　of　pale　zurkhwood　lined　the　hall；　opening　into　studies；　parlors；　trophy　rooms；　and　other　such　chambers　if　Nimor's　old　maps　were　correct。　He　ignored　them　all　and　darted　swiftly　down　the　hall；　reaching　a　small　staircase　at　the　end　that　descended　to　the　level　below。　Here　he　encountered　a　magical　glyph　barring　passage　on　the　stair；　but　he　sensed　the　trap　before　stepping　close　enough　to　trigger　it。　He　simply　vaulted　over　the　rail　instead；　dropping　lightly　to　the　stairs　below。　The　stairs　swept　around　in　a　grand　curve　and　led　him　to　another　gleaming　black　corridor　near　the　center　of　the　Tlabbar　castle；　leading　to　the　House　shrine。　The　floor　was　polished　black　marble　that　would　have　gleamed　like　a　mirror　had　there　been　any　light　to　see　by。　Not　far　ahead；　a　pair　of　House　guards　stood　watch　over　a　great　double　door　leading　into　Lolth's　sanctuary。
　　　Nimor　smiled　invisibly　and　congratulated　himself　on　his　timing。　The　matron　mother；　and　perhaps　a　daughter　or　two；　would　be　within；　performing　some　empty　ritual　to　their　mute　goddess。
　　　Carefully　staying　out　of　sight；　Nimor　took　one　more　look　around　to　make　sure　no　one　else　was　approaching。　He　studied　the　two　guards　outside　the　door。　They　seemed　no　more　than　young　officers；　proudly　attired　for　their　exalted　duty　as　guards　to　the　matron　mother；　but　Nimor　did　not　trust　his　eyes。　The　two　were　more　than　they　seemed；　he　was　certain　of　it。　He　decided　to　bypass　them　if　he　could。
　　　Gathering　himself；　Nimor　raised　his　left　hand；　on　which　gleamed　a　ring　as　black　as　jet。　The　ring　of　shadows　was　perhaps　his　most　useful　weapon；　a　device　that　conferred　a　number　of　useful　magical　powers。　He　called　upon　one　of　those　powers；　and　melted　into　the　shadows　of　the　black　corridor　only　to　step　out　on　the　far　side　of　the　shrine's　door；　into　House　Tlabbar's　most　sacred　sanctum。
　　　The　temple　almost　filled　the　central　floor　of　the　great　palace；　its　graceful　dome　rising　overhead；　chased　in　silver　and　jet　with　Lolth's　spider　insignia。　The　shrine　was　lit　with　a　sinister　silvery　radiance；　the　better　to　display　the　lavish　wealth　House　Faen　Tlabbar　had　expended　in　decorating　the　Spider　Queen's　chapel。　Nimor　spared　no　admiration　on　the　gold　baubles　and　gem…encrusted　images；　though。
　　　Matron　Mother　Ghenni　and　two　of　her　daughters　abased　themselves　before　the　towering　black　idol　of　the　silent　goddess；　groveling　before　Lolth；　no　doubt　beseeching　the　Spider　Queen　to　restore　her　favor　to　the　House。　No　one　else　waited　within。　Apparently　the　matron　mother　felt　that　her　guards　and　servants　did　not　need　to　see　her　and　her　daughters　prostrate　themselves　in　their　private　adorations。　Nimor's　information　on　Faen　Tlabbar　had　once　again　been　proven　accurate。
　　　The　assassin　silently　drew　his　rapier　and　advanced；　eyeing　his　prey。　Ghenni　was　a　striking　dark　elf；　a　female　with　a　voluptuous　body　and　a　sinuous　grace　that　allowed　her　to　carry　her　years　better　than　many　females　a　hundred　years　younger。　He　noted　the　dark　glint　of　mail　beneath　her　emerald　robes；　and　smiled。　Apparently　even　the　matron　mother　of　a　strong　House　didn't　feel　entirely　safe　in　her　own　home　without　the　Spider　Queen's　protection。
　　　The　matron　mother　paused　in　her　observances；　warned　by　something…a　small　sound；　the　flicker　of　a　shadow；　possibly　just　intuition。　She　raised　herself　up　to　her　knees　and　looked　around；　wariness　plain　on　her　face。
　　　〃Sil'zet；　Vadalma；〃　she　hissed。　〃We　are　not　alone。〃
　　　The　two　girls　halted　at