war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第51部分

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　and　dashed　quickly　over　the　path。　Xarra；　the　younger　drow　priestess；　emerged　suddenly　from　the　wooded　banks　ahead　of　her；　returning　to　find　out　what　had　delayed　the　others。　To　her　credit；　Xarra　took　in　the　situation　with　a　single　glance。　She　raised　her　crossbow　and　took　quick　aim。
　　　Halisstra　threw　herself　aside；　twisting　in　midair　as　she　sprang。　Xarra's　quarrel　hissed　by　her　torso　so　closely　she　felt　it　tug　at　her　coat　as　it　flew　past。
　　　〃You　missed　your　shot；　girl；〃　Halisstra　snarled。
　　　Xarra　dropped　her　crossbow　and　reached　for　her　sword。　She　died　before　the　blade　had　cleared　her　scabbard；　spitted　through　the　throat。　Halisstra　straightened　and　looked　down　at　the　body；　her　heart　pounding。　The　stream　sang　loudly　beside　her；　and　the　air　smelled　of　rain　and　wet　leaves。
　　　What　next？　she　wondered。
　　　Her　prized　mail；　mace；　and　crossbow　were　in　Lord　Dessaer's　keeping　in　Elventree；　and　as　much　as　she　wanted　to　recover　her　possessions；　it　didn't　seem　likely　that　she　would　be　able　to　without　the　assistance　of　the　Menzoberranyr。　Her　best　move　would　be　to　arm　herself　as　well　as　she　could；　take　what　provisions　she　could　from　Seyll　and　Xarra；　and　strike　out　in　search　of　the　Jaelre。　With　luck　she　would　find　them　before　Dessaer's　rangers　found　her。
　　　Halisstra　thrust　the　sword　through　her　belt　and　ventured　back　out　into　the　stream　to　see　if　Seyll　was　carrying　anything　of　use。　She　splashed　down　into　the　cold　stream　beside　the　Eilistraee　priestess；　gathered　her　up　beneath　the　arms；　and　hoisted　her　back　onto　the　stone　slab　in　order　to　get　a　better　look　at　her　gear。　The　armor　was　clearly　magical；　as　was　the　shield　slung　over　Seyll's　shoulder　and　the　sword　at　her　belt。　Halisstra　began　unfastening　the　mail；　intending　to　strip　it　from　Seyll's　body。
　　　Seyll's　eyes　fluttered；　and　she　groaned；　〃Halisstra。　。。。〃
　　　Halisstra　recoiled；　startled　above　all　else；　and　somewhat　repulsed　to　find　that　she　was　stripping　the　corpse　of　someone　who　was　not　quite　dead　yet。　She　glanced　down　at　the　stone　and　studied　a　coursing　rivulet　of　blood　streaming　from　Seyll's　side　to　the　foaming　water　of　the　creek。　The　priestess's　breath　sounded　wet　and　shallow；　and　bright　flecks　of　blood　stained　her　lips。
　　　〃I　hope　you　will　forgive　me；　Seyll；　but　I　have　need　of　your　arms　and　armor；　and　you　will　be　dead　in　a　very　short　time；〃　Halisstra　remarked。　〃I　have　decided　to　decline　your　gracious　invitation　to　join　your　observances　tonight；　as　I　have　pressing　business　elsewhere　in　the　forest。〃
　　　〃The　。　。　。　others？〃　Seyll　gasped。
　　　〃Xarra　had　the　decency　to　die　swiftly　and　without　awkward　conversation。　The　surface　girl　I　charmed　and　sent　running　off　into　the　forest。〃
　　　Halisstra　unbuckled　Seyll's　sword　belt　and　dragged　it　loose；　setting　it　well　out　of　the　dying　drow's　reach。　She　set　to　work　on　the　armor　fastenings。
　　　〃While　I　admire　your　determination　to　save　me　from　myself；　Seyll；　I　can't　believe　you　didn't　see　this　as　a　likely　oute　of　your　attempt　to　convert　me。〃
　　　〃A　risk　。。。　we　are　all　。。。　prepared　to　take；〃　Seyll　managed。　〃No　one　is　beyond　redemption。〃
　　　She　mumbled　something　more　and　reached　up　to　interfere　with　Halisstra's　work；　but　the　Melarn　priestess　simply　batted　her　hands　away。
　　　〃A　foolish　risk；　then。　Lolth　has　punished　your　faithlessness　through　my　hand；　apostate；〃　Halisstra　said。　She　pulled　off　Seyll's　boots　and　undid　the　leggings　of　her　mail。　〃Tell　me；　was　it　worth　it；　to　follow　the　path　that　led　you　to　a　cold　and　pointless　death　here　in　this　miserable　forest？〃
　　　To　Halisstra's　surprise；　Seyll　smiled；　finding　some　last　reservoir　of　strength。
　　　〃Worth　it？　Upon　。　。　。　my　soul；　yes。〃　She　laid　her　head　back　and　gazed　up　into　Halisstra's　face。　〃I。。。　have　hope　for　you　still；〃　she　whispered。　〃Do　not。　。　。　concern　yourself。　。　。　with　me。　I　。。。　have　been　。　。　。　redeemed。〃
　　　Her　eyes　closed　for　the　final　time；　and　the　wet　sound　of　her　breathing　halted。
　　　Halisstra　paused　in　her　work。　She　had　expected　anger；　resentment；　perhaps　even　fear　or　scorn；　but　forgiveness？　What　power　did　the　Dark　Maiden　hold　over　her　worshipers　that　they　could　die　with　a　blessing　for　their　enemies　on　their　lips？
　　　Seyll　turned　away　from　the　Spider　Queen；　she　told　herself；　and　through　me　the　Spider　Queen　exacted　her　vengeance。　Yet　Seyll　died　with　calm　assurance；　as　if　she　had　escaped　Lolth　finally　and　pletely　with　the　ending　of　her　life。
　　　〃The　Spider　Queen　take　your　soul；〃　she　said　to　the　dead　priestess；　but　somehow　she　doubted　that　Lolth　would。
　　　
　　　〃A　swift　march　is　our　surest　path　to　victory；〃　Andzrel　Baenre　said；　addressing　the　assembled　priestesses。
　　　Nimor　stood　to　one　side　and　watched　the　Baenre　weapons　master；　one　of　only　a　handful　of　males　invited　to　take　counsel　with　the　assembled　females。　All　of　the　great　Houses；　and　no　less　than　sixteen　of　the　minor　ones；　were　represented　in　the　hastily　mustered　Army　of　the　Black　Spider；　named　for　the　banners　under　which　they　marched。　Nearly　thirty　high　priestesses…at　least　one　from　almost　every　House；　and　in　some　cases；　several　high　priestesses　from　the　same　House…filled　the　great　mand　pavilion　provided　by　the　Baenre　contingent；　watching　Andzrel　like　predatory　cats　while　reclining；　sitting；　or　standing　as　rank　and　opportunity　dictated。　Nimor　and　the　other　few　males　stood；　of　course。　No　mere　male　would　be　seated　while　a　high　priestess　remained　standing。
　　　〃We　lead　some　four　thousand　drow　soldiers　and　twenty…five　hundred　slave　soldiers　into　battle。　By　all　reports　it　would　seem　that　we　are　evenly　matched　with　the　duergar　army　that　marches　up　from　the　south；　but　we　do　not　intend　to　meet　the　duergar　in　a　fair　fight；　of　course。〃　The　word　〃fair〃　sent　a　wave　of　chuckles　echoing　through　the　tent。　Andzrel　used　a　slender　baton　to　direct　their　attention　to　a　large　map　inked　on　rothe…vellum。　〃We　can　stop　a　force　significantly　stronger　than　our　own　by　picking　the　right　ground　to　fight　for。　The　place　we　will　halt　the　duergar　advance　is　here；　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe。〃
　　　〃If　I　decide　that　your　plan　has　merit；　you　mean；〃　drawled　Mez'Barris　Armgo　of　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo。　〃Triel　Baenre　may　trust　in　your　judgment；　but　I　intend　to　think　for　myself；　boy。〃
　　　A　tall；　powerful　female；　the　matron　mother　of　the　Second　House　was　the　ranking　priestess　present　and　nominally　in　mand　of　the　entire　expedition。　Each　of　the　Houses　had　contributed　some　number　of　its　priestesses　to　mand　their　contingents　in　battle；　ranging　from　unblooded　acolytes　to　first　daughters　and　matron　mothers。　Weapons　masters　such　as　Andzrel　and　males…including　Nimor　in　his　role　as　Zhayemd　Dyrr…manded　warbands；　panies；　and　cavalry　squadrons；　attending　to　the　endless　details　of　organizing　the　army　of　Menzoberranzan。
　　　〃My　cousin　presents　House　Baenre's　views；　Matron　Mez'Barris；〃　Zal'therra　Baenre　rasped。　〃Matron　Triel　endorses　the　weapons　master's　battle　plan。〃
　　　Foremost　of　Triel　Baenre's　cousins；　Zal'therra　looked　nothing　like　the　petite　Matron　Mother　of　House　Baenre。　She　was　tall　and　broadly　built　in　the　shoulders；　a　strapping　female　with　a　remarkable　amount　of　physical　fortitude　and　a　coarse；　intimidating　manner。　She　and　Mez'Barris　were　two　of　a　kind　in　physique；　yet　the　Matron　Mother　of　House　Del'Armgo　possessed　a　brilliant；　vicious　cunning　that　was　nothing　more　than　a　sullen　streak　in　the　Baenre　priestess。　Mez'Barris　fixed　her　red　eyes　on　the　younger　woman；　but　did　not　respond。
　　　Andzrel　knew　better　than　to　speak　while　the　two　females　sparred。　He　waited　through　a　moment　of　silence　before　he　continued　the　briefing。
　　　〃Here　is　Rhazzt's　Dilemma；〃　he　said；　〃where　Captain　Zhayemd　of　Agrach　Dyrr　reported　the　duergar　vanguard　yesterday　morning。　It　lies　about　twenty…five　miles　south　of　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　at　the　lower　end　of　the　canyon。　Assuming　the　worst；　we　can　expect　the　duergar　to　storm　the　outpost　and　force　the　entrance　by　sometime　late　today；　perhaps　tomorrow　if　we're　lucky。　Duergar　are　hearty　soldiers　and　can　march　all　day　long；　but　they're　slow；　and　their　army　will　be　burdened　with　a　long　supply　train　and　heavy　siege　engines。　Ascending　the　gorge　will　be　difficult　going。　It　seems　that；　in　the　worst　case　again；　they　should　reach　the　Pillars　in　five　days…more　likely　seven　or　eight。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　know　the　gray　dwarves　haven't　overrun　the　outpost　already？〃　a　priestess　of　Tuin'Tarl　asked。
　　　〃We　do　not；　Mistress　Tuin'Tarl。　The　duergar　wizards　and　clerics　are　preventing　our　efforts　to　scry　the　surroundings；　a　mon　tactic　in　warfare　of　this　sort。〃　Andzrel　nodded　to　Nimor　and　added；　〃That　is　why　it　is　essential　to　deploy　a　screen　of　capable　scouts；　to　find　out　through　mundane　means　what　our　wizards　cannot　see。　Zhayemd　of　Agrach　Dyrr　is　charged　with　the　mand　of　our　reconnaissance。〃
　　　Andzrel　waited　a　moment　to　see　if　the　priestess　had　any　more　questions；　then　went　on；　〃In　any　event；　our　armies　travel　faster　than　the　gray　dwarves；　and　we　have　a　much　easier　route。　I　would　expect　our　vanguard　to　reach　the　Pillars　of　Woe　three　to　four　days　from　now。　If　we　hold　the　upper　exit　from　the　gorge；　the　duergar　will　never　break　our　defenses。　As　you　can　see；　it　is　something　of　a　race；　and　therefore　we　should　make　all　possible　speed。〃
　　　〃What　plan　do　you　have　for　battle；　Zal'therra？〃　asked　another　priestess；　the　mistress　of　the　House　Xorlarrin　contingent。
　　　Nimor　smiled　at　the　remark。　Zal'therra　had　certainly　been　instructed　by　Triel　to　rely　on　her　House　weapons　master's　advice　in　planning　the　battle；　but　the　high　priestesses　naturally　talked　past　Andzrel　as　if　he　wasn't　even　there。
　　　〃Andzrel　will　present　it；〃　the　Baenre　priestess　replied；　as　if　she'd　just　finished　explaining　it　all　to　him　and　choose　to　allow　him　to　show　off　her　genius。
　　　If　the　weapons　master　took　note　of　the　slight；　he　did　not　show　it。
　　　〃We　will　build　a　strong；　well…anchored　line　across　the　mouth　of　the　gorge。　A　few　hundred　troops　should　suffice　for　this；　but　we　will　mit　a　thousand。　The　remainder　of　our　soldiers　will　be　held　in　reserve　and　secure　various　small　passageways　and　flanking　caverns　in　the　vicinity。〃　Andzrel　set　down　his　baton　and　faced　the　assembled　priestesses；　his　face　expressionless　except　for　the　keen　glitter　of　determination　in　his　eyes。　〃I　mean　to　allow　the　duergar　to　e　to　us；　and