war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-µÚ18²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
hey¡¡looked¡¡away£»¡¡some¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡guilt¡¡on¡¡their¡¡faces¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡shrugged¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨To¡¡have¡¡interfered¡¡would¡¡have¡¡only¡¡drawn¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡we¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡Mistress¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡are¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡to¡¡investigate£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡maintain¡¡our¡¡inconspicuous¡ness¡£¡¡Besides£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡leaning¡¡forward¡¡again£»¡¡¡¨she¡¡was¡¡pleading¡¡for¡¡Lolth¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡right¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡courtyard¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡clearly¡¡lost¡¡her¡¡resolution¡¡and¡¡was¡¡not£»¡¡in¡¡my¡¡most¡¡humble¡¡opinion£»¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡the¡¡goddess¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨In¡¡your¡£¡¡¨¡¡Faeryl¡¡seethed¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡opinion¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡male¡¡is¡¡counted¡¡upon¡¡for¡¡very¡¡little¡¡in¡¡most¡¡issues¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡matters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sisterhood£»¡¡it¡¡matters¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡stood£»¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡step¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡wizard¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡gesture¡¡from¡¡Quenthel£»¡¡Jeggred¡¡was¡¡instantly¡¡between¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡ambassador¡¡shrank¡¡back¡¡from¡¡her¡¡one¡time¡¡tormentor¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Faeryl£»¡¡my¡¡dear£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡you¡¡are¡¡usually¡¡correct£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said¡¡in¡¡her¡¡most¡¡soothing¡¡voice¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡one¡¡she¡¡rarely¡¡used£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡this¡¡instance¡¡she¡¡believed¡¡it¡¡was¡¡warranted¡£¡¡For¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡Pharaun¡¡gaped¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡which¡¡made¡¡her¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¨But£»¡¡my¡¡dear£»¡¡think¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priestess¡¡continued¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡wizard¡¡is¡¡actually¡¡correct£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡may¡¡have¡¡stumbled¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡conclusion¡¡accidentally£»¡¡addled¡¡with¡¡brandy¡¡though¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡your¡¡fears£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡must¡¡not¡¡let¡¡them¡¡eat¡¡away¡¡at¡¡your¡¡logic¡£¡¡If¡¡a¡¡priestess¡¡loses¡¡her¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡public¡¡spectacle£»¡¡does¡¡she¡¡do¡¡her¡¡sisterhood¡¡any¡¡service£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Faeryl¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡¡as¡¡she¡¡backed¡¡away¡¡from¡¡Jeggred£»¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡her¡¡spot¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bed¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡of¡¡course¡¡not£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡mumbled¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡shames¡¡us¡¡all¡¡with¡¡her¡¡cowardice¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Precisely£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said£»¡¡nodding¡¡sagely£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡as¡¡foolish¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡out¡¡and¡¡about¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡these¡¡three¡¡silly¡¡boys¡¡would¡¡have¡¡only¡¡caused¡¡more¡¡harm¡¡to¡¡our¡¡progress¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡spectacle¡¡of¡¡themselves¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Forgive¡¡my¡¡impudence£»¡¡Mistress¡¡Quenthel£»¡¨¡¡Faeryl¡¡said£»¡¡her¡¡tone¡¡dreary¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡returned¡¡home¡¡to¡¡find¡¡my¡¡city¡¡on¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡of¡¡implosion£»¡¡where¡¡thralls¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡assault¡¡priestesses¡¡in¡¡open¡¡markets¡£¡¡As¡¡you¡¡love¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡your¡¡city¡¡and¡¡homeland£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡love¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad¡¡and¡¡do¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡e¡¡to¡¡this¡¡end¡£¡¡I¡¡forgot¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡emotion¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡dismissed¡¡the¡¡apology¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hand¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Understandable£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡time¡¡of¡¡crisis£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡you¡¡must¡¡learn¡¡to¡¡control¡¡that¡¡emotion¡¡if¡¡we¡¡are¡¡to¡¡move¡¡forward¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡I¡¡take¡¡it£»¡¡then£»¡¡that¡¡you¡¡believe¡¡there¡¡is¡¡still¡¡more¡¡to¡¡be¡¡uncovered£¿¡¨¡¡Pharaun¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Perhaps£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priestess¡¡answered£»¡¡pacing¡¡once¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡what¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡you¡¡think£»¡¡before¡¡I¡¡make¡¡my¡¡decision¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Valas¡¡who¡¡spoke¡¡first¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡unsafe¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city¡¡for¡¡long£»¡¡Mistress£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡diminutive¡¡scout¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡have¡¡discovered¡¡what¡¡we¡¡came¡¡here¡¡to¡¡learn£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡wise¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡before¡¡riots¡¡fill¡¡the¡¡streets¡¡and¡¡we¡¡get¡¡caught¡¡up¡¡in¡¡another¡¡slave¡¡revolt£»¡¡or¡¡worse¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡agree¡¡with¡¡Valas£»¡¨¡¡Ryld¡¡added¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡the¡¡clerics¡¡here¡¡have¡¡handled¡¡the¡¡vanishing¡¡of¡¡Lolth¡¡less¡¡well¡¡than¡¡you¡¡and¡¡yours¡¡back¡¡home¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡little¡¡they¡¡can¡¡do¡¡for¡¡us¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡Pharaun£»¡¡knowing¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡something¡¡pletely¡¡different¡¡and¡¡unorthodox¡¡in¡¡mind¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡shifted¡¡a¡¡bit£»¡¡eyeing¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two¡¡males¡¡before¡¡saying£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡we¡¡might¡¡do¡¡better¡¡to¡¡investigate¡¡further¡£¡¡Valas¡¡opened¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡another¡¡possible¡¡avenue¡¡of¡¡study£»¡¡one¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡take¡¡advantage¡¡of¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡other¡¡races¡¡who¡¡venerate¡¡the¡¡Dark¡¡Mother¡¡besides¡¡drow£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡would¡¡behoove¡¡us¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡whether¡¡or¡¡nor¡¡they£»¡¡too£»¡¡suffer¡¡her¡¡loss¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡nodded¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨An¡¡interesting¡¡idea£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡one¡¡of¡¡much¡¡practicality¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡not¡¡loved¡¡by¡¡many¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡those¡¡who¡¡worship¡¡Lolth¡¡would¡¡too¡¡freely¡¡impart¡¡such¡¡secretive¡¡information¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¡Notice¡¡how¡¡we¡¡haven't¡¡been¡¡too¡¡forthing¡¡ourselves£»¡¡even¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡elves¡¡of¡¡our¡¡sister¡¡city¡£¡¡However£»¡¡as¡¡there¡¡is¡¡still¡¡business¡¡I¡¡consider¡¡unfinished¡¡here£»¡¡we¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡going¡¡just¡¡yet¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡precisely£»¡¨¡¡Pharaun¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨While¡¡you're¡¡busy¡¡with¡¡all¡¡that£»¡¡I¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡at¡¡least¡¡look¡¡into¡¡my¡¡theory¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡might¡¡know¡¡of¡¡a¡¡way¡¡to¡¡confirm¡¡it¡¡by¡¡tomorrow¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡other¡¡work¡¡for¡¡you¡¡tomorrow£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said£»¡¡giving¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡gaze¡£¡¡¡¨Faeryl£»¡¡Jeggred£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡pay¡¡a¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡storehouses¡¡of¡¡Black¡¡Claw¡¡Mercantile¡¡and¡¡take¡¡what¡¡rightfully¡¡belongs¡¡to¡¡House¡¡Baenre¡¡while¡¡the¡¡three¡¡of¡¡you¡¡find¡¡a¡¡means¡¡to¡¡transport¡¡it¡¡back¡£¡¡I¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡with¡¡those¡¡goods¡¡as¡¡quickly¡¡as¡¡possible¡£¡¡The¡¡caravans¡¡are¡¡long¡¡overdue¡¡in¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡are¡¡here¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡due¡¡payment¡¡is¡¡made¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡scowled¡¡briefly£»¡¡and¡¡Quenthel¡¡was¡¡expecting¡¡an¡¡argument£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡merely¡¡stood£»¡¡nodding¡¡again¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡***
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡when¡¡Quenthel¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡behind¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡after¡¡dismissing¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡group£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡specific¡¡instructions¡¡to¡¡Jeggred¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡an¡¡eye¡¡on¡¡Faeryl£»¡¡instructions¡¡that¡¡made¡¡the¡¡ambassador¡¡actually¡¡tremble¡£¡¡The¡¡wizard¡¡stood¡¡silently¡¡as¡¡Quenthel¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡cocked¡¡an¡¡eyebrow¡¡at¡¡her¡¡when¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡if¡¡his¡¡detection¡¡spells¡¡were¡¡still¡¡in¡¡place¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡fact£»¡¡they¡¡are£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡mage¡¡responded¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡divination¡¡should¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡place¡¡for¡¡a¡¡full¡¡day¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Good£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priestess¡¡said£»¡¡nodding¡¡in¡¡satisfaction¡£¡¡¡¨You're¡¡pretty¡¡talented¡¡with¡¡divining¡¡information£»¡¡are¡¡you¡¡not£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡but¡¡grin¡¡but¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡couch¡¡as¡¡he¡¡Spread¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡ingenuously£»¡¡wondering¡¡why¡¡she£»¡¡of¡¡all¡¡drow£»¡¡would¡¡pay¡¡him¡¡a¡¡pliment¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡manage¡¡to¡¡get¡¡by£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡do¡¡something¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said£»¡¡biting¡¡her¡¡lip¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡tipped¡¡his¡¡head¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡surprised£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡like¡¡her£»¡¡especially¡¡in¡¡recent¡¡tendays£»¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡him¡¡a¡¡pliment£»¡¡much¡¡less¡¡ask¡¡a¡¡favor¡¡of¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡are¡¡indeed¡¡a¡¡long¡¡way¡¡from¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡wryly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡give¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡leverage¡¡if¡¡he¡¡could¡¡perform¡¡a¡¡genuine¡¡task¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡course¡¡the¡¡first¡¡notion¡¡that¡¡popped¡¡into¡¡his¡¡head¡¡was¡¡the¡¡prospect¡¡of¡¡being¡¡played¡£¡¡Shrugging£»¡¡he¡¡motioned¡¡for¡¡her¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡further¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡a¡¡lengthy¡¡pause£»¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priestess¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡determine¡¡the¡¡identity¡¡of¡¡someone¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨¡¡'Someone£¿'¡¡¡¨¡¡Pharaun¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨Surely¡¡you¡¡have¡¡more¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡work¡¡with£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡answered£»¡¡biting¡¡her¡¡lip¡¡again£»¡¡¡¨someone¡¡who¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡sat¡¡upright¡¡on¡¡the¡¡couch£»¡¡looking¡¡directly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡female¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Kill¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡surprised£»¡¡not¡¡because¡¡it¡¡was¡¡so¡¡inconceivable¡¡that¡¡Quenthel¡¡was¡¡the¡¡target¡¡of¡¡an¡¡attack¡merely¡¡being¡¡the¡¡Mistress¡¡of¡¡Arach¡Tlnilith¡¡brought¡¡with¡¡it¡¡a¡¡host¡¡of¡¡enemies¡but¡¡because¡¡she¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡him¡¡enough¡¡with¡¡this¡¡confidence¡¡and¡¡the¡¡task¡£¡¡If¡¡that¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡what¡¡she¡¡really¡¡wanted¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡she¡¡was¡¡just¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡occupy¡¡his¡¡time£»¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡from¡¡something¡¡else¡£¡¡A¡¡hundred¡¡possibilities¡¡swirled¡¡in¡¡his¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Someone¡¡back¡¡in¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡sent¡¡several¡¡demons¡¡after¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Sent¡¡them¡¡right¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Academy¡£¡¡Fortunately£»¡¡my¡¡prowess¡¡was¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡fend¡¡off¡¡the¡¡attacks£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡put¡¡a¡¡stop¡¡to¡¡them¡¡before¡¡we¡¡return¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡waste¡¡of¡¡both¡¡the¡¡lives¡¡of¡¡my¡¡charges¡¡and¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡consume¡¡in¡¡the¡¡effort¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡nodded£»¡¡thinking¡£¡¡Someone¡¡powerful¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡bend¡¡demons¡¡to¡¡his¡¡will¡¡had¡¡to¡¡e¡¡from¡¡Sorcere£»¡¡he¡¡reasoned¡£¡¡Certainly£»¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡mages¡¡in¡¡the¡¡school¡¡of¡¡magic¡¡had¡¡the¡¡wherewithal£»¡¡but¡¡how¡¡many¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡so¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡eliminating¡¡Quenthel¡¡Baenre£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡look¡¡into¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡of¡¡Sorcere¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡I¡¡can¡¡determine¡¡who¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡fiends¡¡in¡¡your¡¡direction£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡know¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Good£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡no¡¡one¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡not¡¡even¡¡the¡¡other¡¡members¡¡of¡¡our¡¡expedition¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡not£»¡¡Mistress£»¡¨¡¡Pharaun¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡issue¡¡is¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡us¡¡only¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Very¡¡well£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priestess¡¡said£»¡¡indicating¡¡that¡¡the¡¡meeting¡¡was¡¡at¡¡an¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¨Ferret¡¡out¡¡my¡¡enemy£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡we¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡in¡¡triumph£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡make¡¡certain¡¡you¡¡are¡¡duly¡¡honored¡¡for¡¡your¡¡part¡£¡¡Your¡¡future¡¡at¡¡Tier¡¡Breche¡¡will¡¡be¡¡as¡¡bright¡¡as¡¡Narbondel¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pharaun¡¡bowed¡¡low¡¡as¡¡a¡¡gesture¡¡of¡¡thanks¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡by¡¡that¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡I¡¡will¡¡glow¡¡with¡¡the¡¡flame¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡of¡¡your¡¡killing¡¡spells£»¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡then¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡see¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡look¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡the¡¡accolades£»¡¡Mistress¡¡Quenthel£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡mage¡¡said¡¡aloud£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡that¡¡he¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡door¡¡open¡¡for¡¡her¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡her¡¡out¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡meal¡¡with¡¡the¡¡others¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡***
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡sat¡¡at¡¡his¡¡bone¡¡desk£»¡¡mulling¡¡over¡¡his¡¡inability¡¡to¡¡peer¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Demonweb¡¡where¡¡Lolth¡¡resided¡£¡¡None¡¡of¡¡his¡¡usual¡¡scrying¡¡spells¡¡had¡¡been¡¡successful£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡growing¡¡irritated¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡considering¡¡ways¡¡to¡¡get¡¡around¡¡this¡¡dilemma¡¡when¡¡the¡¡message¡¡arrived¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡whisper£»¡¡but¡¡Gromph¡¡nonetheless¡¡recognized¡¡Pharaun¡¡Mizzrym's¡¡magically¡¡transmitted¡¡voice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Reached¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad¡£¡¡City¡¡in¡¡chaos£»¡¡matron¡¡mothers¡¡ruling¡¡in¡¡name¡¡only¡£¡¡Investigating¡¡new¡¡possibility£»¡¡more¡¡information¡¡next¡¡munication¡£¡¡Quenthel¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡Black¡¡Claw¡¡tomorrow¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph's¡¡mouth¡¡tightened¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mention¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sister¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Hopefully£»¡¡she¡¡will¡¡not¡¡e¡¡back£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡archmage¡¡knew¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spell¡¡the¡¡other¡¡wizard¡¡was¡¡using¡¡to¡¡municate£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡whisper¡¡an¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡his¡¡counterpart¡£¡¡Unfortunately£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡this¡£¡¡Thinking¡¡quickly£»¡¡he¡¡whispered¡¡a¡¡few¡¡instructions¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Focus¡¡attention¡¡on¡¡gathering¡¡information¡¡to¡¡aid¡¡our¡¡own¡¡situation¡£¡¡Keep¡¡me¡¡apprised¡¡of¡¡all¡¡new¡¡possibilities¡£¡¡Report¡¡on¡¡success¡¡at¡¡Black¡¡Claw¡¡with¡¡next¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨¡contact£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡finished£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡spell¡¡had¡¡winked¡¡out¡¡before¡¡he'd¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡utter¡¡the¡¡last¡¡word¡£¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡disgruntled£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡Mizzrym¡¡was¡¡clever¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡figure¡¡out¡¡what¡¡he¡¡meant£»¡¡regardless¡£¡¡Whether¡¡he¡¡would¡¡follow¡¡those¡¡instructions¡¡or¡¡not¡¡was¡¡an¡¡entirely¡¡different¡¡matter¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Baenre¡¡wizard¡¡sat¡¡back¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chair£»¡¡contemplating¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡pondering¡¡what¡¡condition¡¡the¡¡expedition¡¡team¡¡was¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡£¡¡He¡¡especially¡¡wondered¡¡how¡¡his¡¡sister¡¡fared¡¡and¡¡if¡¡the¡¡strain¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡atta