war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第47部分

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ul　folk　of　Cormanthor；　and　you　will　have　your　liberty。〃
　　　〃You　can't　expect　me　to　believe　that。〃
　　　〃I　am　here；　am　I　not？〃　Seyll　answered。　〃Clearly　some　of　our　kind　learn　to　live　in　peace　with　the　surface　folk。〃
　　　〃Of　course　you　have　nothing　to　fear　among　the　surface　folk；〃　Halisstra　retorted。　〃Your　vapid；　dancing　goddess　is　too　weak　to　threaten　them。〃
　　　〃As　I　told　you　before；　I　was　a　priestess　of　Lolth　when　I　was　captured；〃　Seyll　said。　She　formed　her　hands　into　a　gesture　of　supplication；　a　ceremonial　pose　Halisstra　knew　well。　In　the　tongue　of　the　abyssal　planes　where　Lolth　dwelt；　Seyll　mouthed　the　words　of　a　high　and　secret　prayer：　〃　'Great　Goddess；　Mother　of　the　Dark；　grant　me　the　blood　of　my　enemies　for　drink　and　their　living　hearts　for　meat。　Grant　me　the　screams　of　their　young　for　song；　grant　me　the　helplessness　of　their　males　for　my　satiation；　grant　me　the　wealth　of　their　houses　for　my　bed。　By　this　unworthy　sacrifice　I　honor　you；　Queen　of　Spiders；　and　beseech　of　you　the　strength　to　destroy　my　foes。'　〃
　　　The　infernal　words　seemed　to　crackle　with　dark　power；　each　harsh　syllable　charged　with　an　evil　potency　that　spread　through　the　cell　like　a　slick　of　poison。　Seyll　made　a　drawing　motion　of　her　hand；　showing　the　manner　in　which　the　knife　was　to　be　wielded；　and　settled　back　on　her　heels。
　　　Shifting　back　to　Elvish；　she　closed　her　eyes　and　said；　〃Many　hapless　souls　died　beneath　my　knife；　yet　I　found　redemption　and　peace　here。　Whether　the　same　awaits　you　is　a　question　I　cannot　answer；　but　I　offer　myself　as　proof　that　you　can　walk　these　lands　in　peace　if　you　wish。〃
　　　Halisstra　stared　at　Seyll；　almost　as　if　seeing　her　for　the　first　time。　She　had　been　about　to　condemn　the　priestess　once　more　as　a　weak　failure；　a　traitor　to　the　one　true　drow　goddess；　but　the　words　died　on　her　lips。　No　one　but　a　priestess　of　high　station　would　have　been　taught　that　rite；　yet　Seyll　had　decided　to　turn　her　back　on　Lolth。　Not　only　that；　but　she　still　lived；　and　seemed　to　have　found　some　amount　of　contentment　in　her　decision。　Halisstra　had　of　course　been　indoctrinated　over　years　of　training　to　regard　heresy；　apostasy；　as　the　vilest　sort　of　crime　imaginable。　Yet　in　her　years　of　sacrifice　and　abasement　before　the　Spider　Queen's　altar　she　had　never　before　encountered　a　true　apostate。　Oh；　she'd　slandered　some　of　her　rivals　with　false　accusations　of　turning　away　from　the　Spider　Queen；　but　actually　sitting　in　the　presence　of　someone　who　had　mitted　the　ultimate　betrayal　of　the　goddess；　and…so　far；　at　least…lived　to　tell　the　tale。　。　。　。
　　　〃I　want　to　challenge　you　to　do　something；〃　Seyll　said。　〃I　believe　you　have　the　intelligence　and　the　imagination　for　it；　but　we　shall　see。　Imagine；　for　a　moment；　that　you　could　live　in　a　place　where　you　can　walk　the　streets　without　fearing　an　assassin's　dagger　in　your　back。　Imagine　that　your　friends…real　friends…want　nothing　more　from　you　than　the　pleasure　of　your　pany；　that　your　sisters　cherish　your　acplishments　instead　of　resenting　your　successes；　and　your　children　are　not　murdered　for　an　accidental　failing。　Imagine　that　your　lovers　seek　you　out　for　who　you　are；　and　not　your　station　or　influence。　Imagine　that　your　goddess　asks　you　to　celebrate　her　with　your　joy；　not　your　terror。〃
　　　〃There　is　no　such…〃
　　　〃You　answer　too　quickly。　I　asked　you　to　imagine　it；　if　you　can；〃　Seyll　said。　She　stood　and　moved　away；　turning　her　back　on　Halisstra。　〃I　will　wait。〃
　　　〃I　can't　imagine　such　nonsense。　It's　an　empty　fantasy；　signifying　nothing。　We're　not　meant　for　such　things；　no　one　is；　not　dark　elf；　not　light…elf；　not　even　the　insipid　humans。　Only　a　fool　dwells　on　dreams。〃
　　　〃Yet；　for　the　sake　of　argument　at　least；　would　it　not　seem　a　pleasant　thing？〃　Seyll　said　over　her　shoulder。　〃You　must　entertain　impossible　dreams　all　the　time。　All　thinking　creatures　do。　Perhaps　you've　dreamed　of　having　your　enemies　in　your　power；　or　of　a　lover　you　couldn't　take；　or　of　rising　to　the　station　you　truly　merit。〃
　　　Halisstra　snorted；　truly　irritated；　and　shook　her　hands　in　her　manacles。
　　　〃If　you　can　imagine　the　destruction　of　all　your　enemies　at　once；〃　Seyll　pressed；　〃you　can　certainly　imagine　the　faithfulness　of　a　friend　or　a　goddess　pleased　by　your　loyalty；　not　your　sacrifice。〃
　　　〃All　gods　demand　sacrifice。　You　delude　yourself　if　you　think　Eilistraee　is　any　different。　Perhaps　you're　simply　too　weak…minded　to　understand　your　bonds。〃　Halisstra　looked　away　and　added；　〃You　have　succeeded　in　boring　me　again。　You　may　leave　now。〃
　　　The　priestess　walked　to　the　door。　She　rapped　once　on　the　rusty　iron　and　waited；　turning　back　to　face　Halisstra。
　　　〃What　if　I　show　you　that　you're　wrong？〃　she　said　softly。　〃Tomorrow　night　we　dance　in　the　forest　for　Eilistraee's　delight。　I　will　bring　you　there；　and　you　will　see　for　yourself　what　our　goddess　demands　of　us。〃
　　　〃I　will　have　no　part　of　it；〃　Halisstra　snapped；　finally　irritated　enough　to　forget　her　resolve　to　feign　a　grudging　conversion　to　the　surface　dwellers'　vapid　beliefs。
　　　〃Your　faith　in　your　Spider　Queen　is　so　weak　you　can't　bear　to　watch　us　dance？〃　Seyll　asked。　〃Listen；　watch；　and　judge　for　yourself。　That's　all　I　ask。〃
　　　
　　　The　endless　black　gale　that　shrieked　up　through　the　vertical　streets　of　ruined　Chaulssin　weled　Nimor's　return　with　a　barrage　of　gusts　so　powerful　that　even　he　was　momentarily　rocked　on　his　feet。　His　white　hair　whipping　around　his　head　like　a　wild　halo；　the　Anointed　Blade　paused　a　moment　in　his　steps　to　allow　the　blast　to　die　away。
　　　He　could　not　remain　long　in　the　City　of　Wyrmshadows；　not　while　Menzoberranzan's　army　marched　and　the　Agrach　Dyrr　contingent　tramped　along　without　him；　but　he　wasn't　in　such　a　hurry　that　he　couldn't　tarry　a　moment　in　the　hidden　citadel　of　his　secret　House。　Nimor　Imphraezl　was　a　prince　of　Chaulssin；　after　all；　and　the　magnificent　ruin；　the　hell…carved　citadel；　was　his　domain。　He　had　not　been　born　there；　of　course；　nor　had　he　spent　his　childhood　years　in　the　shadow…haunted　city。　The　place　was　too　perilous　for　the　young；　so　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　fostered　their　princes　in　a　dozen　minor　Houses　in　as　many　cities　throughout　the　Underdark。　From　the　time　he　reached　adulthood　and　came　into　his　ancient　birthright；　though；　Nimor　had　regarded　the　windswept　ruin　as　his　own　palace。
　　　The　gust　passed；　at　least　as　much　as　any　blast　of　wind　ever　did　in　the　black　chasm　yawning　around　the　city；　and　the　assassin　continued　on　his　way。　Menzoberranzan　was　little　more　than　an　hour　distant　through　the　Plane　of　Shadow；　and　so　it　was　fairly　easy　for　Nimor　to　manufacture　an　excuse　to　absent　himself　from　the　marching　column　to　tend　to　some　〃personal　matters。〃　Even　if　Andzrel　Baenre　summoned　the　House　captains　to　a　sudden　council　of　war　during　Nimor's　absence；　he　took　little　risk　in　leaving　for　a　short　time。　The　army　moved　quickly；　as　armies　go；　but　no　one　would　find　it　overly　suspicious　for　a　noble　to　tarry　in　the　city　for　a　short　time　before　riding　out　to　catch　up　to　the　column。
　　　He　reached　the　great；　spiraling　stair　cut　through　the　heart　of　Chaulssin's　stone　mountain　and　ascended　quickly；　taking　the　steps　two　at　a　time。　In　the　great　hall　at　the　top；　he　found　the　patron　fathers　assembled　again；　clustered　together　in　twos　and　threes　as　they　traded　news　and　fomented　plots　to　advance　the　House　during　their　time　of　remarkable　opportunity。　Grandfather　Mauzzkyl　turned　to　level　his　fearsome　glare　upon　Nimor　as　the　assassin　entered。
　　　〃Once　again　you　keep　us　waiting；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　beg　your　forgiveness；　Revered　Grandfather；〃　Nimor　replied。　He　drew　up　into　the　circle　with　the　others　and　made　a　small　bow。　The　winds　outside　the　chamber　moaned　eerily　in　the　distance。　〃I　was　summoned　to　a　council　of　war　that　I　did　not　think　it　wise　to　miss。〃
　　　〃One　might　say　the　same　of　this　gathering；〃　observed　Patron　Father　Tomphael。
　　　Nimor　forced　a　smile　and　replied；　〃I　have　been　working　for　some　time　to　cultivate　a　particular　identity　and　level　of　responsibility　among　Menzoberranzan's　defenders；　Tomphael。　That　sort　of　effort　is　not　to　be　lightly　thrown　aside。　Until　the　revered　grandfather　instructs　me　otherwise；　I　will　keep　you　waiting　when　it　is　necessary　to　protect　our　plots　against　the　Spider　Queen's　favored…〃
　　　〃Enough；　Nimor；〃　Mauzzkyl　rumbled。　〃How　do　things　proceed　in　Menzoberranzan？〃
　　　〃Very　well；　Revered　Grandfather。　Crown　Prince　Horgar　Steelshadow　of　Gracklstugh　marches　an　army　of　nearly　five　thousand　duergar　on　Menzoberranzan。　The　matron　mothers　have　decided　to　meet　the　duergar　in　the　field　instead　of　awaiting　a　siege；　since　they　fear　the　belligerence　of　other　Underdark　realms。　I　have；　however；　arranged　for　the　crown　prince's　army　to　steal　a　march　on　the　Menzoberranyr；　and　I　also　have　mand　of　a　contingent　of　troops　who　can　be　turned　at　the　right　moment　to　help　assure　the　oute　we　desire。　Finally；　I　have　convinced　the　cambion　warlord　Kaanyr　Vhok　to　bring　his　army　of　tanarukks　against　Menzoberranzan　as　well；　though　I　am　less　certain　of　the　Scoured　Legion。　Vhok　may　or　may　not　show；　and　if　he　does；　he　has　little　allegiance　to　our　cause。〃
　　　〃You　intend　to　destroy　the　forces　of　Menzoberranzan　in　detail；　then；〃　Patron　Xorthaul　observed。　The　black…armored　priest　stroked　his　chin。　〃What　if　the　Menzoberranyr　prove　more　resilient　than　you　expect；　and　defeat　the　duergar　instead？　Or　Kaanyr　Vhok　proves　unfaithful？　It　might　have　been　better　to　lure　a　smaller　force　into　your　trap；　Anointed　Blade。　Your　first　play　is　too　risky。〃
　　　〃If　I　had　presented　the　duergar　as　less　of　a　threat；　the　matron　mothers　would　have　been　sorely　tempted　to　ignore　them　altogether。　As　matters　stand；　one　of　three　results　may　e　of　the　battle　between　Gracklstugh　and　Menzoberranzan。　The　duergar　might　win；　it　could　be　in　effect　a　draw；　or　the　drow　could　prevail。　We're　doing　what　we　can　to　deliver　Menzoberranzan's　army　into　the　crown　prince's　hands；　but　even　if　he　fails　to　destroy　the　Lolthites　outright；　there　is　an　excellent　chance　the　duergar　will　badly　maul　the　Menzoberranyr…in　which　case；　the　duergar　may　weaken　our　enemies　so　badly　we　can　overthrow　them　ourselves。　At　the　worst；　if　Gracklstugh　is　routed；　well。　。　。　other　than　the　failure　of　our　plan；　we　lose　little。〃
　　　〃Remember；　Patron　Xorthaul；　our　strategy　against