war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第32部分

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〃When　Triel　was　mistress　here；〃　said　the　novice；　〃all　was　well。　Shortly　after　Quenthel　assumed　the　office；　Lolth　rejected　us。〃
〃　'Shortly'　being　a　relative　term；〃　said　a　sardonic　voice　from　somewhere　in　the　back　of　the　room。
〃Shortly　enough；〃　Drisinil　retorted。　〃Perhaps　the　goddess　gave　us　time　to　rectify　the　error。　We　failed　to　do　so；　so　now　she's　punishing　us。〃
〃She's　afflicting　all　Menzoberranzan；〃　T'risstree　said；　〃not　just　Tier　Breche。〃
〃Surely；〃　said　Drisinil；　〃you　didn't　expect　her　to　be　fair。　I　hope　a　priestnotess　knows　Lolth's　ways　better　than　that。　Her　wrath　is　as　boundless　as　her　might。　Besides　which；　Arach…Tinilith　is　the　repository　of　the　deepest　mysnotteries　and　thus　the　mystic　heart　of　Menzoberranzan。　It　makes　perfect　sense　that　whatever　befalls　us　here　should　touch　the　city　as　a　whole。
〃In　any　case；〃　the　novice　continued；　〃Lolth　has　shown　us　her　intent。　Despite　our　safeguards；　two　spirits　invaded　the　temple；　the　first　in　the　guise　of　a　spider；　the　second　a　living　darkness。　Spider　and　darkness；　reflecnottions　of　the　essence　of　the　goddess。　The　demons　injured　those　who　got　in　their　way。　They　bruised　them　and　broke　their　bones；　but　they　didn't　try　to　kill　any　of　us；　did　they？　They　were　plainly　seeking　Quenthel；　and　they　sought　to　kill　her　and　her　alone。〃
Some　of　the　other　priestesses　frowned　or　nodded　thoughtfully。
〃It　did　seem　that　way；〃　said　Vlondril；　〃but　what　do　you　think　is　unacnotceptable　about　Quenthel？　Isn't　she　doing　all　the　same　things　Triel　did？〃
〃We　don't　know　everything　she　does；〃　said　Drisinil；　〃and　we　don't　know　what　she　thinks。　Lolth　does。〃
〃But　you　don't　know　she　sent　the　demons；〃　T'risstree　said。　Born　a　notmoner　but　risen　to　a　level　of　power　and　prestige；　she　had　evidently　shed　the　habit　of　deference　to　the　aristocracy。　〃Perhaps　one　of　Quenthel's　mortal　enemies　sent　them。〃
〃What　mortal　possesses　a　magic　potent　and　cunning　enough　to　penenottrate　the　temple　wards？〃　Drisinil　replied。
〃The　archmage？〃　Vlondril　offered；　picking　at　the　skin　on　the　back　of　her　hand。　Her　tone　was　light；　as　if　she　spoke　in　jest。
〃Even　if　he　does；〃　Drisinil　said；　〃Gromph　is　a　Baenre；　too；　and　Quenthel　serving　as　mistress　strengthens　his　House。　He　has　no　reason　to　kill　her；　and　if　it　isn't　he；　then　who？　Who　but　the　goddess？〃
〃Quenthel　is　still　alive；〃　said　a　priestess　from　House　Xorlarrin。　She'd　worn　a　long　veil　to　the　conclave；　apparently　so　anyone　who　noticed　her　walking　the　halls　would　assume　she　was　engaged　in　a　certain　necromantic　meditation。　〃Do　we　think　Lolth　tried　to　kill　her　and　failed？〃
〃Perhaps；〃　Drisinil　said。　Some　of　her　audience　scowled　or　stiffened　at　what　could　be　construed　as　blasphemy。　〃She　is　all…powerful；　but　her　agents　are　not。　However；　I　think　she　intended　the　first　two　assassins　to　fail。　She's　giving　her　priestesses　a　chance　to　ponder　what's　happening。　To　prenothend　her　will；　perform　our　appointed　task；　and　earn　her　favor　once　more。〃
Vlondril　smiled。　〃And　we　do　that　by　murdering　Quenthel　ourselves？　Oh；　good；　child；　very　good。〃
〃We　kill　her　ourselves；〃　Drisinil　agreed；　〃or；　if　that　isn't　feasible；　we　at　least　assist　the　next　demonic　assassin　in　whatever　way　we　can。〃
T'risstree　shook　her　head。　〃This　is　sheer　speculation。　You　don't　know　the　mistress's　death　will　bring　Lolth　back。〃
〃It's　worth　a　chance；〃　Drisinil　said。　〃At　the　very　least；　if　we　give　the　demons　what　they　want；　they'll　stop　invading　Arach…Tinilith。　They　haven't　slain　any　of　us　yet；　but　if　we　don't　help　them；　and　Quenthel　lives　on；　they　may　decide　to　eliminate　us；　too；　for　after　all；　it's　a　demon's　nature　to　kill。〃
〃The　demons　may　be　less　dangerous　than　House　Baenre；〃　T'risstree　said。
〃The　Baenre　won't　know　who　facilitated　Quenthel's　demise；〃　Drisinil　said。　〃So　what　will　they　do；　wreak　their　vengeance　on　every　priestess　in　Arach…Tinilith？　They　can't。　They　need　us　to　educate　their　daughters　and　perform　the　secret　rites。〃
〃If　Quenthel　dies；〃　said　a　priestess　leaning　against　the　wall；　〃Molvayas　has　a　fair　chance　of　being　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith…but　how　do　the　rest　of　us　stand　to　gain？〃
〃My　niece　has　explained；〃　said　Molvayas；　〃that　we'll　all　renew　our　bond　with　the　goddess　and　replenish　our　magic。　Beyond　that；　I　promise　that　if　I　bee　mistress；　I'll　remember　those　who　lifted　me　up。　High　priestesses；　you　will　be　my　lieutenants；　ranking　higher　than　any　other　instructor。　Novices；　your　time　at　Arach…Tinilith　will　be　spent　far　more　pleasantly　than　is　the　rule。　You；　too；　will　exercise　authority　over　your　peers。　You'll　enjoy　luxuries。　I'll　excuse　you　from　the　more　onerous　ordeals　and　teach　you　secrets　most　pupils　never　learn。〃
〃We'll　hold　you　to　that；〃　said　another　voice　from　the　back；　〃and　expose　you　if　you　renege。〃
〃Exactly；〃　said　Molvayas。　〃You'll　always　be　in　a　position　to　inform　House　Baenre　of　my　guilt。　Your　numbers　are　too　great　for　me　to　murder　all　of　you；　and　so　you　know　you　can　trust　me　to　keep　my　pledge。　Even　if　it　were　otherwise；　I'd　be　stupid　to　play　you　false；　considering　that　I'll　always　need　loyal　supporters。〃
〃It's　tempting；〃　the　veiled　Xorlarrin　said。　〃I'd　take　almost　any　chance　to　win　my　magic　back。　Still；　we're　talking　about　the　Baenre。〃
〃Damn　the　Baenre！〃　Drisinil　spat。　〃Perhaps　killing　Quenthel　is　the　first　rumble　of　the　cave…in　that　will　bury　the　entire　clan。〃
〃What　cave…in？〃　T'risstree　asked。
〃I　don't　know；　exactly；〃　Drisinil　admitted。　〃Still；　consider　this：　Houses　rise　and　fall。　It's　the　way　of　Menzoberranzan　and　the　will　of　Lolth。　Thus　far；　House　Baenre　has　been　the　exception；　perching　on　the　top　of　the　heap　for　century　after　century。　Perhaps；　with　the　old　matron　mother's　death；　the　family　has　finally　forfeited　the　goddess's　regard。　Why　not　。　。　。　everynotone　knows　Triel　is　out　of　her　depth。　Perhaps　it's　time　at　last　for　House　Baenre　to　honor　the　universal　law。　If　so；　wouldn't　it　be　glorious　to　notmence　the　decline　in　their　fortunes　here；　now；　this　very　minute　in　this　very　room？〃
〃Yes；〃　T'risstree　declared。
Surprised；　Drisinil　turned　to　face　her。　〃You　agree？〃
Setting　her　razor…edged　falchion　aside；　T'risstree　rose　and　said；　〃I　was　dubious；　but　you　convinced　me。〃　For　an　instant；　she　grinned。　〃I　don't　like　Quenthel　anyway。　So　yes；　we'll　usher　her　into　her　tomb；　regain　the　godnotdess's　approval；　and　run　the　academy　as　we　please。〃
She　extended　her　hands。　Drisinil　smiled　and　clasped　them　despite　the　twin　shooting　pains　the　pressure　produced；　then　she　turned　to　the　other　females　and　said；　〃What　about　the　rest　of　you？　Are　you　with　us？〃
They　tendered　a　ragged　chorus　of　assent。　She　guessed　that　those　who　doubted　she　had　hit　on　the　way　to　propitiate　Lolth　were　nonetheless　eager　to　move　up　in　the　temple　hierarchy；　or　at　least　disliked　Quenthel。　Maybe　they　were　simply　indulging　the　innate　dark　elf　taste　for　bloodshed　and　benottrayal。
Drisinil　herself　truly　did　believe　she'd　contrived　the　proper　metaphysinotcal　remedy　for　their　woes　but　deep　down；　she　was　even　more　excited　at　the　prospect　of　avenging　herself　on　her　torturer。　How　could　it　be　otherwise？　For　the　rest　of　her　life；　her　self…mutilated　hands　would　announce　to　any　who　looked　that　someone　had　once　defeated　and　humiliated　her。
〃I　thank　you；〃　she　said　to　the　other　clerics。　〃Now；　let's　put　our　heads　tonotgether。　We　have　much　to　plan　and　only　a　little　time　before　others　will　start　to　miss　us。〃
And　plan　they　did；　whispering；　bickering；　occasionally　grinning　at　some　particularly　inventive　and　vicious　suggestion。　Drisinil　knew　that　some　if　not　all　of　the　scheming　would　e　to　nothing…it　was　too　connottingent　on　Quenthel's　doing　precisely　what　the　plotters　wanted　exactly　when　and　where　they　wanted　it　done…but　the　effort　served　to　cement　their　mitment　to　the　conspiracy　and　to　limn　at　least　the　bare　bones　of　a　str