war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第59部分

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ezz；　halted　their　hurried　ransacking　and　watched　him　impatiently。　Pharaun　continued　past　Jeggred；　past　Valas；　and　halted　as　he　faced　a　blank　wall。　He　smiled　in　a　predatory　fashion；　evidently　pleased　with　himself。
　　　〃I　have　defeated　the　defenses　of　our　deceased　adversary；〃　he　said。　〃That　wall　is　an　illusion　covering　an　antechamber。〃
　　　He　gestured　again；　and　part　of　the　wall　not　far　from　Ryld　abruptly　vanished；　revealing　a　large　alcove　or　niche　filled　with　ramshackle　bookshelves　cluttered　with　various　old　tomes　and　scrolls。　Jezz　hopped　awkwardly　to　the　bookshelf　and　started　rifling　through　the　titles；　shoving　each　into　a　satchel　at　his　hip。
　　　〃Ryld；　Jeggred；　keep　watch；〃　said　Quenthel。　She　stood　straighter；　and　the　dazed　look　in　her　eyes　was　gone；　but　she　frowned　as　she　replaced　the　healing　wand　in　her　pack。　〃Valas；　tidy　up　the　beholder's　gold　and　jewels。　There's　no　point　in　leaving　the　loot　here；　and　one　never　knows　when　it　might　be　helpful。〃　She　looked　over　at　the　Jaelre　sorcerer；　who　stood　holding　a　great　tome　covered　in　green　scales。　〃Well；　Master　Jezz；　is　that　the　book　you　wished　to　recover？〃
　　　Jezz　blew　dust　from　the　cover　and　ran　his　slim　fingers　over　the　rough　leather。　He　smiled；　his　handsome　face　twisting　with　glee。
　　　〃The　Geildirion；〃　he　breathed。　〃Yes；　this　is　the　tome。　I　have　what　we　came　for。〃
　　　〃Good；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here　while　we　can。　I　think　I've　had　all　I　can　stand　of　this　place。〃
　　　
　　　Halisstra　sat　in　a　window　bench；　alone　in　the　apartment　set　aside　for　her；　and　plucked　idly　at　the　strings　of　her　dragonbone　lyre。　She'd　been　confined　to　the　room　for　two　days；　and　she　found　herself　growing　more　than　a　little　weary　of　incarceration。
　　　Whatever　I　manage　to　find　in　this　whole　venture；　she　promised　herself；　I　will　not　be　locked　up　again。
　　　She　had　expected　torture；　magical　pulsion；　or　worse　during　her　interrogation；　but　Tzirik　seemed　to　have　taken　her　at　her　word。　More　than　a　few　drow　would　have　indulged　themselves　in　the　opportunity　to　torture　a　prisoner　regardless　of　whether　she　was　being　truthful　or　not；　leading　Halisstra　to　wonder　if　Tzirik　was　waiting　for　word　of　Quenthel　and　the　others　before　doing　something　that　might　anger　them。　Halisstra　didn't　think　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　and　her　rades　had　managed　to　cow　the　entire　House；　but　it　was　entirely　possible　that　their　petence　had　persuaded　Tzirik　not　to　look　for　trouble　without　good　cause。
　　　She　looked　out　the　narrow；　barred　window。　Dawn　was　fast　approaching。　The　sky　was　already　growing　painfully　bright　in　the　east；　though　the　sun　had　not　yet　risen。　Halisstra　could　make　out　the　endless　green　forest　of　Cormanthor；　rolling　away　from　her　for　mile　after　mile。
　　　A　knock　at　the　door　startled　her；　followed　by　the　jingling　of　keys　in　the　lock。　She　looked　around　and　stood　as　Tzirik　entered　the　room；　dressed　in　a　resplendent　high…collared　coat　of　red　and　black。
　　　〃Mistress　Melarn；〃　he　said；　offering　an　indulgent　bow；　〃your　rades　have　returned。　If　you'll　e　with　me；　we　shall　see　whether　they　had　some　good　reason　for　abandoning　you　in　the　wilds　of　the　World　Above。〃
　　　Halisstra　set　down　her　lyre　and　asked；　〃Were　they　successful？〃
　　　〃In　fact；　they　were；　which　is　why　I　intend　to　set　you　at　your　liberty　now。　Had　they　failed；　I'd　planned　to　use　you　as　a　hostage　to　pel　them　to　try　again。〃
　　　She　snorted　in　amusement；　and　the　priest　escorted　her　from　the　room。　He　led　her　through　the　elegant　pale　halls　and　corridors　of　Minauthkeep。　A　pair　of　Jaelre　warriors　trailed　them；　dressed　in　cuirasses　dyed　a　mottled　green　and　brown；　short　swords　at　their　hips。　They　came　to　a　small　chapel；　decorated　in　the　colors　of　Vhaeraun；　and　there　they　found　Quenthel；　Danifae；　and　the　rest　of　the　pany　waiting。
　　　〃I　see　you　have　survived　the　rigors　of　Myth　Drannor　and　returned　to　tell　the　tale；〃　Tzirik　said　by　way　of　a　greeting。　〃As　you　see；　it　seems　I　have　found　something　of　yours；　just　as　you　have　found　something　of　mine。〃
　　　Halisstra　studied　the　faces　of　her　former　panions　as　she　appeared。　Most　showed　some　degree　or　another　of　surprise…a　raised　eyebrow；　an　exchange　of　glances。　Ryld　offered　her　a　warm　smile　before　dropping　his　gaze　and　shifting　his　feet　nervously；　while　Danifae　actually　came　forward　to　clasp　her　hand。
　　　〃Mistress　Melarn；〃　she　said。　〃We　thought　you　lost。〃
　　　〃I　was；〃　Halisstra　replied。
　　　She　was　surprised　to　find　how　relieved　she　was　to　be　back　among　her　former　panions…though　they　were　interlopers　from　a　rival　city…and　her　scheming　battle　captive。　Danifae　might　not　have　been　Halisstra's　ornament　anymore；　but　the　binding　spell　was　still　there；　making　her　the　only　ally　Halisstra　had　left　in　the　world。
　　　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Quenthel　asked。
　　　〃I　was　subjected　to　several　days　worth　of　effort　to　convert　me　to　the　worship　of　Eilistraee；　if　you　can　believe　such　a　thing；〃　Halisstra　answered。　〃Lolth　granted　me　an　opportunity　to　slay　two　of　the　Eilistraeen　clerics　and　escape。〃
　　　Though　her　heart　glowed　with　dark　pride　at　her　acplishment；　Halisstra　found　herself　feeling　a　bit　disappointed　by　the　results　of　her　treachery。　She　was　no　stranger　to　the　traitor's　dark　art；　but　it　seemed　as　if　she　had　only　managed　to　do　what　was　expected　of　her。
　　　〃Undoubtedly　the　surface　folk　set　you　free　to　see　what　you　were　up　to；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃It's　an　old　trick。〃
　　　〃So　we　thought；　too；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃However；　we　investigated　Mistress　Melarn's　story　and　found　it　to　be　true。　It's　almost　ical；　the　naivete　of　our　sisters　in　Eilistraee's　worship。〃　He　paused　and　rubbed　his　hands　together。　〃Be　that　as　it　may；　Jezz　informs　me　that　you　helped　him　recover　the　tome　we　needed。〃
　　　〃We　helped　him？〃　Jeggred　growled。
　　　〃His　task　was　to　bring　back　the　book；〃　Tzirik　replied；　〃not　to　battle　the　denizens　of　Myth　Drannor。〃
　　　〃You　have　your　book；〃　Quenthel　said。　Ignoring　Jeggred's　snarl；　she　folded　her　arms　and　fixed　her　eyes　on　Tzirik。　〃Are　you　ready　to　fulfill　your　end　of　the　bargain？〃
　　　〃I　have　already　done　so；〃　the　priest　replied。　He　glanced　up　at　the　bronze　image　high　on　the　wall；　and　made　a　small　genuflection。　〃Whether　or　not　you　returned　alive；　I　intended　to　consult　with　the　Masked　Lord　and　find　out　for　myself　what　takes　Lolth　from　you。　Your　story　made　me　quite　curious。〃
　　　Quenthel　virtually　ground　her　teeth　in　frustration。
　　　〃What　did　you　learn；　then？〃　she　managed。
　　　Tzirik　savored　his　knowledge；　responding　with　a　deliberate　smirk　as　he　paced　away　from　the　pany　and　took　a　seat　on　a　small　dais　that　stood　to　one　side　of　the　chapel。
　　　He　steepled　his　fingers　together　and　said；　〃In　all　essentials　your　story　is　true。　Lolth　does　not　grant　her　priestesses　spells；　nor　does　she　reply　to　any　entreaties。〃
　　　〃We　already　knew　as　much；〃　Pharaun　observed。
　　　〃But　I　did　not；〃　the　priest　answered。　〃In　any　event；　it　seems　that　Lolth　has；　in　some　manner；　barricaded　herself　within　her　infernal　domain。　She　denies　contact　not　only　to　her　priestesses；　but　all　other　beings　both　mortal　and　divine；　which　would　explain　why　the　demons　you　conjured　up　to　question　about　the　Spider　Queen's　doings　were　unable　to　assist　you。〃
　　　The　Menzoberranyr　stood　silent；　considering　Tzirik's　answer。　Halisstra　was　puzzled；　as　well。
　　　〃Why　would　the　goddess　do　this？〃　she　wondered　aloud。
　　　〃In　the　spirit　of　candor；　I　will　admit　that　Vhaeraun　either　does　not　know　or　does　not　wish　for　me　to　know；〃　Tzirik　said。　He　fixed　his　cold　gaze　on　Halisstra。　〃For　the　moment；　divine　capriciousness　seems　as　good　an　explanation　as　any。〃
　　　〃Is　she　。　。　。　alive？〃　Ryld　asked　quietly。　Quenthel　and　the　other　priestesses　turned　angry　glares　on　the　weapons　master；　but　he　ignored　them　and　went　on。　〃What　I　mean　to　say　is；　would　we　know　if　she　had　been　slain　by　another　god；　or　sickened；　or　imprisoned　against　her　will？〃
　　　〃If　only　we　were　so　lucky；〃　Tzirik　said；　laughing。　〃No；　Lolth　still　lives；　however　you　might　define　that　for　a　goddess。　As　to　whether　she　has　sealed　herself　into　the　Demonweb　Pits；　or　been　sealed　in　by　another　power；　Vhaeraun　did　not　say。〃
　　　〃When　will　this　condition　end？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　〃Again；　Vhaeraun　either　does　not　know　or　does　not　wish　for　me　to　know；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃The　better　question　might　be；　will　it　end？　The　answer　to　that　is　yes；　it　will　end　in　time；　but　before　you　take　too　much　fort　in　that　I　must　remind　you　that　a　goddess　may　have　a　very　different　sense　of　what　we　would　consider　to　be　a　reasonable　wait。　The　Masked　Lord　might　have　been　referring　to　something　that　would　happen　tomorrow；　next　month；　next　year；　or　perhaps　a　hundred　years　from　now。〃
　　　〃We　can't　wait　that　long；〃　Quenthel　murmured。　Her　expression　was　distant；　fixed　on　events　in　faraway　Menzoberranzan。　〃A　resolution　must　be　reached　soon。〃
　　　〃Take　up　the　worship　of　a　more　caring　deity；　then；〃　Tzirik　replied。　〃If　you're　interested；　I　would　be　happy　to　discourse　at　length　on　the　virtues　of　the　Masked　Lord。〃
　　　Quenthel　bristled；　but　held　her　tongue…a　feat　of　remarkable　self…control　for　the　Baenre　priestess。
　　　〃I　decline；〃　she　said。　〃Does　the　Masked　Lord　have　any　other　advice　for　us；　priest？〃
　　　〃In　fact；　he　does；〃　Tzirik　replied。　He　shifted　in　his　seat；　leaning　forward　to　convey　his　point　to　Quenthel。　〃These　were　the　exact　words　he　spoke　to　me；　so　take　note　of　them。　'The　children　of　the　Spider　Queen　should　seek　her　for　answers。'　〃
　　　〃But　we　have；〃　Halisstra　cried。　〃All　of　us；　but　she　does　not　hear　us。〃
　　　〃I　don't　think　that's　what　he　meant；〃　Danifae　said。　〃I　think　Vhaeraun　is　suggesting　that　we　won't　learn　anything　more　unless　we　go　to　the　Demonweb　Pits　ourselves；　and　beseech　the　goddess　in　person。〃
　　　Tzirik　remained　silent　and　watched　the　Menzoberranyr。　Quenthel　paced　in　a　small　circle；　considering　the　idea。
　　　〃The　Spider　Queen　requires　a　certain　amount　of　initiative　and　self…reliance　in　her　priestesses；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　said；　〃but　she　also　demands　obedience。　To　go　before　her　in　her　divine　abode　in　the　expectation　of　answers　。　。　。　Lolth　does　not　smile　on　such　effrontery。〃
　　　Halisstra　fell　silent；　thinking　furiously　over　what　Tzirik　suggested。　Ventures　into　other　planes　of　existence　were　not　unknown；　of　course。　Pharaun's　spell　had　carr