war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第52部分

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　I'm　sure　that　if　1　fulfill　the　letter　of　our　agreement；　he'll　swallow　his　dislike　and　keep　his　end；　but　should　I　fall　the　least　bit　short；　it　will　be　a　different　matter。〃
〃You　can　at　least　tell　him　the　rogues　are　in　the　Braeryn。〃
〃Can　I？　We　sifted　through　the　Stenchstreets　as　well　as　any　outsiders　could。　We　didn't　find　the　house　where　the　runaways　hang　their　cloaks；　and　we　actually　have　only　the　flimsiest　of　reasons　for　assuming　it's　in　the　Braeryn　at　all。〃
〃I　suppose　you're　right。〃
〃Of　course。　When　am　I　not？　Now；　here's　what　I　intend　to　do：　Find　the　rogues'　hiding　place。　Discover　who　the　Prophet　is　and　how　his　wizardry…　or　whatever　it　is…works。　Learn　where　the　firepots　came　from；　where　they're　cached　around　the　city；　and　the　master　plan　for　the　rebellion。　And　most　importantly　of　all；　determine　what　the　fugitives　know　about　the　clergy　losing　its　magic。〃
〃In　hopes　of　ing　out　of　this　affair　more　powerful　than　you　ever　were　before。〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃More　powerful　than　we　ever　were　before。　That　might　dispel　your　boredom　for　good　and　all。〃
〃And　those　are　the　real　reasons　you　aren't　ready　to　go　back　to　Tier　Breche。〃
〃All　my　motives　are　genuine；　including　my　wariness　of　Gromph。　I　take　it　you　are　in　a　frantic　hurry　to　return？〃
Ryld　sighed。　〃I'm　in　no　rush。　Our　excursion　has　been　interesting；　and　I　like　to　finish　what　I　start；　but　what　if　the　ores　rebel　before　we　get　around　to　warning　our　fellow　drow？〃
〃Then　we'll　make　sure　never　to　tell　anyone　we　knew　it　was　ing。〃　The　wizard　grinned　and　added；　〃Actually；　the　awareness　that　we　race　to　avert　a　calamity　will　make　our　exploits　all　the　more　stimulating。〃
〃And　should　we　lose　the　race；　maybe　the　rebellion　won't　kill　anyone　who　matters　to　the　two　of　us。　I　suppose　I　agree。　We'll　keep　on　searching。〃
〃Excellent！〃
Bearing　a　silver　tray；　the　goblin　bustled　to　the　side　of　the　pool。　Bending　the　knees　of　his　splayed；　bristly　legs；　he　brought　the　salver　low　enough　for　the　dark　elves　to　take　the　goblets　on　top　of　it。
Pharaun　gave　the　thrall　a　smile　and　a　wave；　dismissing　him；　then　lifted　his　cup。
〃To　mystery　and　glory！〃
Ryld　sipped　from　his　own　cup；　acknowledging　the　toast。　The　drink　was　red　morel　juice；　sweet　and　very　cold；　a　pleasant　contrast　to　the　heat　of　the　water。
〃So　I　guess　it's　back　to　looking　like　ores；〃　said　the　weapons　master。
〃I　grieve　to　disappoint　you；　but　the　time　for　that　sort　of　deception　has　passed。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？　If　we　don't　look　like　undercreatures；　how　are　we　going　to　get　into　another　one　of　those　secret　meetings？〃
〃We　don't　know　that　the　Prophet　will　hold　another　assembly。　He's　alnotready　explained　his　strategy　and　distributed　his　secret　weapon。　Even　if　he　does；　it　might　not　be　for　several　days；　during　which　we'll　have　Greyanna　seeking　us　relentlessly。　We've　evaded　her　so　far；　but　we　must　acknowledge　the　possibility　that　our　luck　could　sour　eventually。〃　〃You're　right　about　that。〃
〃Therefore；　we　need　to　find　the　rogues　quickly；　which　means　a　change　of　tactics　is　in　order。　Why　are　the　boys　trying　to　instigate　a　goblin　revolt？〃
〃I　don't　know。〃
〃Nor　do　I；　really。　It　doesn't　appear　to　make　sense。　Still；　would　you　agree　that　the　intent；　like　the　act　of　eloping　itself；　reflects　an　antipathy　to　the　established　order？〃
〃Possibly。〃
〃Then　let's　assume　the　Prophet　or　some　other　ringleader　lured　the　males　away　from　their　homes　because　he　knew　they　were　more　than　ordinarily　resentful　of　their　places　in　the　world。〃
〃It's　possible。　Where　does　the　notion　lead？〃
The　wizard　grinned　and　said；　〃If　we　demonstrate　that　we　share　their　disnottemper；　the　rogues　may　recruit　us　as　well。〃
〃How　can　we　do　that？　We　may　not　be　clerics；　but　we're　Masters　of　the　Academy。　We're　pillars　of　the　hierarchy；　and　more　to　the　point；　we　have　a　pleasanter　lot　and　thus　less　reason　for　discontent　than　most。〃
〃That　doesn't　seem　to　slow　you　down。〃
〃Even　so。〃
〃Here's　what　you're　overlooking。　Thanks　to　my　misadventure　with　the　Sarthos　demon；　I'm　a　disgraced　master；　likely　in　line　for　some　ghastly　punnotishment。　Whereas　you　with　your　dour　demeanor　and　dwarven　armor　are　clearly　an　iconoclast　and　malcontent。　Moreover；　we've　been　asking　everynotwhere　for　news　of　the　runaways。　They　must　know　of　it；　even　though　they　didn't　see　fit　to　make　contact。　During　that　same　time；　a　high　priestess　from　House　Mizzrym　has　tried　to　murder　us。　They　surely　have　some　cognizance　of　that　as　well。〃
〃Yet　they　still　didn't　approach　us。　Why　would　they　do　it　now？〃
Pharaun　smiled。　〃Because　we'll　provide　proof　that　we　do　in　fact　share　their　perspective。〃
〃How？〃
〃The　priestesses　lead　regular　patrols　through　the　Bazaar。　We'll　destroy　one；　repair　to　the　Braeryn；　boast　of　the　deed；　and　await　developments。　The　rogues　will　seek　us　out。　How　can　they　not？　Whatever　their　ultimate　obnotjective；　I'm　sure　they　can　use　the　services　of　two　such　talented　fellows。〃
〃No　doubt；　but　back　up。　You　want　to　murder　a　patrol？〃
〃In　as　showy　a　manner　as　possible。　With　a　bit　of　planning；　it　should　be　easy　enough。　They　won't　be　as　numerous　as　Greyanna's　hunters　and　they　won't　be　expecting　that　sort　of　trouble。〃
〃What　happened　to　not　killing　anybody；　especially　clerics；　unless　we　abnotsolutely　have　to？〃
〃We　do　absolutely　have　to。　We're　in　a　race　against　time；　remember；　and　this　is　the　speediest　route　to　our　objective。〃
〃Maybe；　but　what　happens　afterward？　Won't　any　number　of　folk　want　to　punish　us　for　our　impudence？〃
〃We　won't　confide　our　involvement　to　those　likely　to　prove　unsympanotthetic。〃
〃The　priestesses　will　figure　it　out。〃
〃Ah；　but　snug　and　safe　in　the　lair　of　our　friend　the　Prophet；　we　won't　care。　Besides；　the　Council　has　already　authorized　our　annihilation；　so　we　really　have　nothing　to　lose。〃
〃Perhaps　the　crime　can't　worsen　our　current　situation；　but　what　about　the　long　term？〃
〃In　the　long　term；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃it　wont　matter。　As　you　yourself　obnotserved　mere　moments　ago；　we　Menzoberranyr　are　a　pragmatic　lot。　People　fornotgive　whatever　outrages　I　mitted　yesterday　if　I　make　myself　useful　today。〃
〃Greyanna　didn't。〃
The　wizard　laughed　and　replied；　〃Well；　of　course；　we're　likewise　prone　to　grudges；　vendettas；　and　blood　feuds。　It's　one　of　the　paradoxes　central　to　our　natures。　With　luck；　though；　no　one　of　importance　will　take　our　little　massacre　personally。　I　doubt　we'll　be　murdering　any　princesses；　or　anyone　of　genuine　significance　to　her　family。
〃I　think　it's　crazy；〃　Ryld　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃You　don't　know　that　the　rogues　will　contact　us；　or　if　they'll　like　what　they　see　if　they　do。〃
〃Then　we'll　simply　hatch　another　scheme。〃
Ryld　scowled　and　shook　his　head　again。
〃You're　mad；〃　the　weapons　master　said；　〃but　I'm　with　you。〃
〃Splendid！　We　must　toast　our　homicidal　designs　with　something　stronger　than　juice。〃　Pharaun　looked　about　and　spotted　the　goblin。　〃May　we　see　the　wine　list；　please？〃
Ryld　said；　〃It's　the　very　beginning　of　the　morning。〃
〃Don't　be　misled　by　superficial　appearances；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃As　neinotther　of　us　has　enjoyed　a　moment　of　repose；　it　must　still　be　night。　Do　you　think　they　have　any　of　that　'53　Barrison　Del'Armgo　heartwine？〃


C　h　a　p　t　e　r

F　0　U　R　T　E　E　N
Until　someone　murdered　her；　Lirdnolu　s　had　taught　her　classes　in　a　sort　of　indoor　amphitheater；　one　of　many　architectural　oddities　scattered　through　Arach…Tinilith；　and　as　the　conspirators　slunk　in；　they　seated　themselves　on　the　C…shaped　tiers。
Drisinil　wondered　what　to　say　to　them；　how　to　stall　until　Quenthel　arnotrived　to　confront　them。　The　novice's　mind　was　a　blank；　but　she　knew　she'd　have　to　think　of　something。　Her　mouth　was　dry　and　tasted　of　metal。　Her　armpits　were　clammy　with　sweat；　and　her　accelerated　pulse　pounded　in　the　stumps　of　her　severed　fingers。　The　poison　was　obviously　well　on　its　way　to