war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第11部分

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　　　〃Good？　Why？〃　Aliisza　asked。　She　moved　to　sit　on　the　top　step　of　the　dais。　〃I　thought　you　liked　the　idea　of　a　little　sport　for　the　Legions。　You　told　me　the　other　night　that　things　were　getting　a　bit　staid　around…〃
　　　〃Because　something　big　is　definitely　going　on；〃　Kaanyr　interrupted；　〃and　because　they　were　responsible　for　wiping　out　the　patrol　to　the　northeast。〃
　　　Aliisza　had　been　about　to　stretch　out；　hoping　to　distract　Kaanyr　from　all　of　this　serious　discussion　for　a　few　moments　of　romance；　but　she　sat　straight。
　　　〃That　wasn't　just　a　roving　band　of　duergar；〃　Vhok　continued；　〃they　were　professional　mercenaries。　The　Xornbane　clan；　if　the　evidence　is　correct。　They　don't　go　anywhere　without　major　coin　changing　hands　and　big　battles　in　the　works。〃
　　　Aliisza　pursed　her　lips　in　thought。
　　　〃So　if　they　aren't　moving　against　us；〃　she　said；　〃then　where？〃
　　　〃Though　I　already　have　an　idea；　I　was　hoping　you　could　tell　me；〃　Kaanyr　said；　looking　down　at　the　alu…fiend；　〃Where　are　my　guests？〃
　　　Aliisza　avoided　meeting　Vhok's　gaze。
　　　〃I　wasn't　able　to　convince　them　to　join　us；〃　she　said　carefully；　〃and　after　they　defeated　my　little　patrol　as　easily　as　they　did；　I　thought　it　wise　not　to　pursue　the　matter　so　directly。〃
　　　〃Defeated？　Wiped　out　is　more　like　it。〃
　　　Kaanyr's　tone　was　measured；　and　Aliisza　could　tell　he　was　displeased。
　　　So　he　already　knew；　did　he？　Is　he　spying　on　me；　now？
　　　She　was　glad　she'd　been　up　front　with　him　on　the　subject。　It　had　been　tempting　to　fudge　the　truth　a　bit；　to　tell　him　that　the　tanarukks　had　not　followed　her　instructions；　but　in　the　end；　something　had　convinced　her　that　she　was　going　to　have　to　start　being　a　little　more　careful　with　Vhok。
　　　〃They　are　formidable；〃　she　answered　at　last。　〃The　wizard　with　them　is　。。。　interesting。　He's　the　one　I　spoke　with；　and　it　was　definitely　he　who　plowed　through　the　Legions。　Drow　are　formidable　to　begin　with；　and　it　was　a　tactical　error　on　my　part　to　engage　them　in　such　a　large　chamber。　They　were　able　to　easily　evade　the　Scourged　simply　by　getting　up　off　the　floor　and　out　of　range。　Pharaun　laid　waste　to　the　troops　without　much　of　a　thought。〃
　　　〃I'm　sure　you　did　the　best　you　could；〃　Kaanyr　said；　waving　her　explanation　away。　Aliisza　scowled　at　the　insult　but　said　nothing。　〃It's　probably　just　as　well。　It　seems　that　the　gray　dwarves　are　bound　and　determined　to　reach　Ched　Nasad；　which　is　where　our　little　visitors　are　headed；　as　well；　I　think。　We　weren't　going　to　dissuade　them　from　that　without　bringing　the　entire　might　of　the　Scourged　Legions；　as　well　as　some　of　your　sisters；　to　bear。〃
　　　〃I　did　find　out　a　couple　more　things；〃　Aliisza　said；　ready　to　spring　her　idea　on　Vhok。　〃They　are　all　high…ranking　nobles　from　Menzo…berranzan；　not　just　the　priestess。　The　wizard　is　powerful　enough　to　be　a　member；　if　not　a　master；　of　Sorcere；　and　some　of　the　things　he　admitted　to　convinced　me　that　most　of　the　others　are　of　similar　rank。〃
　　　〃Well；　that's　all　very　interesting；　but　I　probably　would　have　inferred　that　from　the　fact　that　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　was　out　with　such　a　small　group　to　begin　with。　It　still　doesn't　tell　me　what　they're　doing。　It　may　help　to　answer　the　questions　of　why　the　grays　are　on　the　move。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　have　an　idea　about　that；〃　Aliisza　said；　reaching　the　moment　of　truth。　She　wondered　if　Kaanyr　would　agree　with　her　plan　or　choose　to　use　someone　else。　〃Whatever　it　is　they're　planning　to　do　when　they　reach　Ched　Nasad；　they　all　seem　very　concerned；　very　grim。　Whatever　it　is；　it's　serious；　and　I　bet　they　aren't　the　only　drow　in　the　city　who　are　in　the　know　about　it。　So　why　don't　I　sneak　into　Ched　Nasad　and　snoop　around　a　little？〃
　　　Kaanyr　looked　at　Aliisza；　pursing　his　lips。　She　wasn't　sure　if　he　was　thinking　about　her　idea　or　just　studying　her　to　see　if　she　was　up　to　something。　Of　course　she　intended　to　do　just　what　she　said；　so　he　had　no　reason　not　to　trust　her　on　it；　but　if　she　had　a　little　fun　on　the　side；　well　then；　what　would　be　the　harm　in　that？　She　needed　a　vacation　from　Ammarindar；　from　Vhok。　Maybe　a　little　time　apart　would　do　him　some　good；　too；　she　thought。
　　　〃All　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　and　the　alu…fiend　grinned　broadly　before　she　caught　herself。　〃Go　and　see　what　you　can　find　out。　In　fact；　I　want　you　to　drop　in　on　Aunrae。　If　there's　something　going　on；　the　matron　mothers　will　be　in　the　know。　I'd　like　to　keep　my　relationship　with　her　on　good　terms；　at　least　for　the　moment；　so　be　polite。　And　keep　me　updated。　I　don't　want　to　have　to　e　find　you　to　see　what　you've　learned。〃
　　　Aliisza　was　nodding　energetically　as　she　stood　up　and　headed　out　the　door。
　　　〃I　will；〃　she　promised；　already　contemplating　the　sort　of　disguise　she'd　like　to　use。
　　　
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　　　As　Khorrl　felt　the　wagon　finally　roll　to　a　stop；　he　almost　groaned　aloud。　His　legs　were　cramping　where　he'd　wedged　himself　into　the　hiding　spot　beneath　the　pile　of　supplies。　He　could　barely　stand　to　be　there　much　longer；　and　he　prayed　to　Laduguer　that　the　trip　was　actually　over。　He　couldn't　imagine　having　to　crouch　there　for　even　another　few　minutes。
　　　The　tarp　over　the　top　of　the　wagon　was　thrown　back；　and　dim　light　shone　down　on　the　goods　stacked　beneath　it。　Of　course；　to　anyone　not　properly　prepared；　that's　all　they　would　have　seen…a　wagon…load　of　supplies　for　the　city。　Khorrl　waited　as　he　listened；　not　daring　to　move；　in　case　it　was　merely　another　checkpoint。　He　didn't　even　want　to　breathe；　for　fear　of　being　heard　by　whomever…or　whatever…　might　be　inspecting　the　wagon。
　　　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　heard　a　drow　voice　say；　and　he　recognized　it　as　belonging　to　Zammzt。　The　dark　elf　was　near　enough　that　there　was　no　mistaking　who　he　was　talking　to。　〃You　can　show　yourselves；　now。　We're　inside　the　storehouse。〃
　　　With　a　thankful　groan；　Khorrl　rose　up；　feeling　his　knees　plaining。　Around　him；　fourteen　other　duergar　did　the　same；　winking　back　into　visibility　one　by　one。　They　looked　at　each　other；　as　if　to　confirm　that　everyone　was　all　right；　and　began　to　peer　around　at　their　surroundings。　Khorrl　himself　hopped　awkwardly　down　from　the　wagon；　grabbing　his　axe　as　he　did　so。　Nearby；　more　wagons　were　being　uncovered；　and　more　of　his　fighters　appeared；　clambering　out　from　between　crates；　barrels；　and　bales　of　foodstuffs。　He　knew　that　there　were　over　twenty　wagons；　so　he　had　about　three　hundred　troops。　More　would　arrive；　in　waves；　over　the　course　of　the　next　several　hours。
　　　As　Zammzt　had　promised；　they　were　set　up　inside　a　large；　open　room；　obviously　a　storehouse　of　some　sort；　though　there　were　no　goods　there　other　than　what　was　on　the　wagons。　Ostensibly；　the　contents　of　the　wagons　were　for　the　benefit　of　the　Houses；　but　in　reality；　it　was　his　army's　supplies。　They　were　going　to　be　camping　there　for　a　few　days；　resting　and　preparing　while　the　other　duergar　units　arrived；　all　of　them　waiting　until　it　was　time　to　do　their　job。　Khorrl　hoped　the　storehouses　would　be　left　undisturbed；　as　promised。
　　　A　handful　of　drow　moved　about；　uncovering　wagons　in　order　to　free　their　hidden　occupants　or　unloading　the　supplies　and　stacking　them　out　of　the　way。　Khorrl　could　see　Zammzt　looking　a　couple　of　wagons　over；　giving　some　young　drow　male　a　few　instructions。　When　the　dark　elf　was　finished；　he　turned　back　to　the　duergar　clan　leader。
　　　〃I　hope　you　find　everything　in　order　here；　Captain　Xornbane；〃　Zammzt　said；　smiling。　〃I　know　it's　not　quite　like　roughing　it　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark；　but　it　should　acmodate　you　well　enough。〃
　　　〃It's　fine；　as　long　as　no　one　conies　snooping　around　here　before　we're　ready　to　begin。　The　last　thing　we　need　is　the　city　catching　wind　of　us　before　your　mistress　is　ready　to　fly　her　true　colors。〃
　　　Khorrl　paced　about　as　he　spoke；　trying　to　get　the　feeling　back　in　his　legs　as　much　as　surveying　his　temporary　home。
　　　I　seriously　doubt　that's　going　to　be　a　problem；〃　Zammzt　said；　smiling。　Khorrl　wanted　to　tell　him　to　stop　it。　The　grin　reminded　the　duergar　of　a　pack　lizard's　visage。　〃I've　got　loyal　drow　troops　on　guard　duty　around　the　storehouse；　and　you're　sequestered　here　in　the　far　back　chamber。　No　one　will　bother　you。〃
　　　If　you　say　so；〃　Khorrl　answered　doubtfully。　He　had　seen　more　battles　take　a　turn　for　the　worse　through　the　most　simple；　straight…forward　aspect　of　the　plan　going　awry。　〃Just　remember；　all　that　beautiful　treasure　you　gave　me　is　already　long　gone；　shipped　off　to　safer　parts。　If　you're　thinking　of　turning　the　tables；　you　won't　be　seeing　it　again。　It'll　be　an　expensive　betrayal。〃
　　　Zammzt　looked　genuinely　hurt；　but　only　for　a　moment。
　　　〃I'm　not　sure　you　realize　the　risks　my　mistress　takes；　simply　harboring　an　army　here；〃　said　the　drow。　〃If　you're　discovered；　she　too　suffers　the　consequences。　It　really　isn't　in　her　best　interests　to　turn　on　you；　you　know。〃
　　　〃Hmm；〃　Khorrl　answered。　〃We'll　see。〃
　　　〃So；　I　presume　you　brought　everything　you　need；〃　the　drow　said；　changing　the　subject；　〃but　if　there's　anything　else　you　want　while　you　wait　here；　now　is　the　time　to　ask。　Though；　for　what　we're　paying　you　。。。〃
　　　Khorrl　barked　a　deep　laugh　despite　himself。　The　idea　that　he　would　bring　his　troops　into　such　an　uncertain　situation　without　arranging　for　every　provision；　every　possible　contingency；　was　funny。
　　　〃No；　we're　fine。　Now；　when　are　we　going　to　find　out　just　exactly　who　we're　supposed　to　be　killing？〃
　　　〃Soon；　my　gray　friend；〃　Zammzt　said；　that　toothy　smile　blossoming　again。　〃Very　soon。〃
　　　
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　　　In　the　end；　the　battle　with　the　tanarukks　wasn't　much　of　a　fight　at　all。　Pharaun　had　devastated　rank　upon　rank　of　the　slavering　humanoids　from　a　distance；　even　going　so　far　as　to　decimate　the　reserve　forces　lurking　in　the　back。　He　honestly　didn't　even　find　it　sporting；　especially　when　he　was　able　to　hover　overhead；　out　of　their　reach；　and　attack　them　at　his　leisure。
　　　The　Menzoberranyr　were　well　beyond　the　halls　of　Ammarindar；　and　after　a　night's　rest　they　were　closing　in　on　Ched　Nasad。
　　　〃We　should　be　running　into　patrols　by　now；〃　Faeryl　grumbled　as　they　hiked　along。　〃We're　within　a　quarter　mile　of　the　city。　Something's　wrong。〃
　　　〃I　think　we　knew　that　before　we　left　Menzoberranzan；〃　Quenthel　snapped。