war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第26部分

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　of　energy　slammed　into　him；　hurtled　outward　through　the　mirror　like　a　punch；　while　at　the　same　time　Pharaun　sensed　a　wall　offeree　sliding　down；　cutting　him　off　from　his　magical　eye。
　　　As　his　senses　returned；　Pharaun　realized　he　was　sprawled　on　his　back；　blinking　as　his　eyes　tried　to　focus　on　the　ceiling。　He　groaned　and　sat　up；　seeing　that　he　had　been　hurtled　backward　from　the　mirror　more　than　ten　feet。　He　rose　onto　wobbly　legs　and　staggered　back　over　to　the　mirror。　It　was　cracked；　its　glass　surface　spider…nebbed　into　hundreds　of　fissures。　He　stared　at　the　ruined　mirror　for　a　moment；　wondering　if　the　pattern　was　representative　of　something　or　merely　a　coincidence。
　　　Well；　that　answers　that　question；　Pharaun　thought。　A　mere　mortal　cannot　penetrate　the　veil　that　has　settled　over　the　sixty…sixth　layer　of　the　Abyss；　but　perhaps　a　higher　being　can。
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　shook　his　head　and　sighed　as　he　gingerly　gathered　the　fragmented　remains　of　the　mirror。
　　　Why　do　I　go　through　this　trouble？　he　thought　as　he　tried　to　figure　out　where　he　should　discard　the　ruined　thing。　Everything　I　do　for　everyone；　and　all　I　get　is　grief　in　return。　I'll　bet　other　folk　don't　go　through　this　much　trouble　to　track　down　their　deities；　he　thought　wryly。　I'm　sure　they　just　look　them　up　anytime…
　　　The　wizard　froze　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　the　beginnings　of　an　idea　forming。　He　almost　smacked　himself　in　the　head。
　　　Of　course！　he　thought。　I've　been　going　about　this　all　wrong。　Why　didn't　I　think　of　this　before？　We're　asking　the　wrong　。　。　。
　　　Tossing　the　mirror　down　in　a　tinkle　of　glass；　Pharaun　began　to　pace；　mulling　his　idea　over　more　carefully。　A　plan　was　beginning　to　form；　one　that　was　getting　him　excited。　The　hardest　part；　he　realized；　would　be　figuring　out　how　to　convince　Quenthel。
　　　It　was　not　long　after　that　that　Ryld　and　Valas　returned　from　their　own　excursions。
　　　The　wizard　took　one　look　at　the　pair　of　them　and　quickly　surmised　that　their　endeavors　had　not　only　ended　unsatisfactorily　but　violently。　Both　drow　were　glum　as　well　as　bloodied　and　bruised。　Valas　walked　with　a　slight　limp；　and　Ryld　seemed　unable　to　lift　his　left　arm　above　his　waist。　Almost　as　one；　they　dropped　their　gear　on　the　floor　and　dropped　down　onto　their　Reverie　couches。
　　　〃I　gather　that　things　did　not　go　well　today；〃　Pharaun　mented。　〃No　chance　to　haul　Quenthel's　supplies　out　of　here？〃
　　　〃Three　places；〃　Valas　muttered。　〃We　tried　three　places　and　got　into　two　scuffles　for　our　troubles。〃
　　　〃There　just　isn't　a　pack　lizard　to　be　had；　it　seems；〃　Ryld　added；　rubbing　his　eyes　with　his　good　hand。　〃If　there　is；　no　one　is　ready　to　sell　it　to　outsiders。〃
　　　〃I　don't　find　that　hard　to　believe；〃　Pharaun　replied；　〃considering　that　no　caravans　have　entered　or　left　the　city　in　such　a　long　while。　Everyone　is　holding　tight　to　what　they　have；　riding　the　crisis　out。〃
　　　Pharaun　busied　himself　straightening　his　own　things　while　the　other　two　males　sat　still。
　　　〃I'll　wager　with　you　for　who　has　to　tell　her；〃　Ryld　said　to　Valas。　〃Rock；　knife；　and　parchment？〃
　　　The　scout　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Let's　just　make　the　wizard　tell　her；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　Pharaun。　〃He　seems　to　delight　so　in　tormenting　her；　anyway；　so　what's　one　more　bit　of　bad　news　out　of　his　mouth？〃
　　　Ryld　nodded；　and　Pharaun　found　himself　smiling。
　　　〃Well；　we　all　have　a　reprieve；　at　least　for　the　moment；〃　the　mage　said。　〃She　and　the　other　two　haven't　returned　from　the　storehouse。〃
　　　〃Really？〃　Valas　asked；　sitting　up。　〃I　would　have　thought　they'd　return　before　us　for　sure。〃
　　　Pharaun　shrugged　and　said；　〃As　would　I；　but　none　of　them　are　here。〃
　　　〃That's　fine　by　me；〃　Ryld　said；　leaning　back　against　the　wall　and　dosing　his　eyes。　〃The　less　I　have　to　see　of　that　damned　draegloth；　the　better　off　I　am。〃
　　　Pharaun　pursed　his　lips；　realizing　that　what　he　was　going　to　suggest　next　might　not　set　well　with　either　the　weapons　master　or　the　scout。
　　　〃I　found　out　something　today；　too；〃　he　said　quietly。
　　　Ryld　opened　one　eye　and　looked　at　the　wizard。
　　　〃Oh？〃
　　　Valas　leaned　forward　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　　　〃Have　you　determined　what　has　happened　to　the　Dark　Mother？〃
　　　Pharaun　chuckled　and　said；　〃Not　exactly；　but　I　did　learn　that　her　disappearance　has　not　been　limited　to　our　own　race。　Other　species　feel　her　loss；　as　well。〃
　　　〃I　don't　know　whether　to　consider　that　good　news　or　not；〃　the　scout　said；　sitting　back　again。
　　　Nor　do　I；〃　Pharaun　agreed；　〃but　I　have　also　learned　that　something　is　sealing　us　out　from　the　Demonweb　Pits。　I　have　attempted　to　scry　there　in　hopes　of　learning　something　of　the　goddess's　condition…indeed；　if　she　yet　exists…and　I　could　not　penetrate　inside。　A　barrier　protects　it　and　keeps　me；　and　others；　outside。〃
　　　〃A　barrier？　You're　speaking　now　of　things　I　have　no　experience　with；〃　Ryld　said。　〃What　kind　of　barrier？〃
　　　〃A　potent　one。　I　was　nearly　blasted　into　powder　for　my　troubles；〃　Pharaun　said；　a　wry　smile　on　his　face；　〃I　have　tried　it　before；　even　spoke　with　Archmage　Gromph　before　we　left　Menzoberranzan。　He　has　experienced　similar　problems。〃
　　　〃It　sounds　as　though　whatever　the　Spider　Queen　is　doing；　she　does　not　wish　to　be　disturbed；〃　Valas　said。
　　　〃If　it's　her　who's　doing　it；〃　Ryld　countered。　〃Perhaps　another　god　has　erected　the　barrier　to　prevent　us　from　seeing　her。〃
　　　〃Exactly！〃　Pharaun　said　eagerly。　〃Surely　someone　knows…or　can　find　out…what　we　cannot　discover。〃
　　　〃I　thought　that's　what　our　mission　was　。。。　to　discover　Lolth's　fate；〃　Valas　said。　〃That's　why　we've　e　here。〃
　　　〃Yes；　you　are　correct；〃　Pharaun　said；　nodding；　〃though　this　business　with　storehouses　of　magic　items　seems　to　have　bee　a　higher　priority。　In　the　interest　of　bringing　us　back　to　the　more　fascinating　part　of　our　little　expedition；　I　have　an　idea。　I　want　to　enlist　help　from　the　outside。〃
　　　〃Help？　From　whom？〃　Ryld　was　sitting　up；　too。
　　　The　wizard　began　to　pace　again　as　he　explained　his　plan　to　his　panions。
　　　〃A　mere　mortal；　even　someone　with　my　acumen；　can't　penetrate　the　veil　that　has　settled　over　the　Demonweb　Pits。　Something　is　obviously　intent　on　keeping　us　out。　We　need　to　enlist　someone　else's　help　in　finding　out　what's　going　on　there。　Someone　not　of　our　own　ilk。〃
　　　Both　of　the　other　drow　were　watching　the　wizard　intently；　doubt　plain　on　their　faces。
　　　〃You　can't　mean　。　。　。〃　Ryld　said。
　　　〃Another　god。〃
　　　The　weapons　master　seemed　aghast。　Valas　said　nothing　but　might　have　been　contemplating　the　possibilities　of　such　an　act…and　the　ramifications。
　　　〃Perhaps　a　higher　being；〃　Pharaun　continued；　〃especially　one　m　close　proximity　to　the　Demonweb　Pits…from　one　of　the　other　layers　of　the　Abyss…could；　or　possibly　even　already　has；　discovered　more　than　we　can　possibly　hope　to　on　our　own。　Maybe　we　can　convince　one　of　them　to　tell　us　what　has　transpired　or　is　transpiring　inside。
　　　〃Not　directly；　of　course；〃　Pharaun　added　hastily；　〃but　through　an　intermediary　。。。　a　follower。〃
　　　〃You　play　a　dangerous　and　foolish　game；　Pharaun　Mizzrym；〃　Ryld　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃The　Dark　Mother　may　find　such　a　course　blasphemous；　a　betrayal　to　the　faith。〃
　　　〃Or　she　may　congratulate　me　on　being　so　innovative；　so　willing　to　examine　and　explore；　whatever　the　risk。　The　other　choice　is　to　admit　defeat；　return　to　Menzoberranzan；　and　sit　on　our　hands　as　our　way　of　life　ends。〃
　　　〃Quenthel　will　not　be　happy　with　this　plan；〃　Valas　cautioned。　〃She　will　most　likely　consider　it　a　personal　affront　to　her。〃
　　　〃Yes；　well；　Quenthel　is　too　focused　on　lining　House　Baenre's　coffers　to　appreciate　the　larger　picture　before　us。　I'm　beginning　to　wonder　how　wise　a　choice　she　was　to　lead　this　expedition。　Don't　stare　at　me　like　that；　Ryld。　。　。　。　You've　questioned　more　than　a　few　of　her　decisions　since　we　departed。〃
　　　〃Never　openly。　Not　to　her　face。〃
　　　〃She's　not　here　now；　is　she？　My　friend；　I　play　with　fire；　I　know　that；　but　if　I　don't　act　where　my　heart　lies　then　I've　failed　our　race　far　worse　than　she。　I'm　content　to　steer　things　from　behind　the　scenes；　letting　her　believe　she　controls　our　tempo；　our　course；　but　such　a　method　requires　patience；　more　than　a　little　frustration；　at　times；　and　the　possibility　of　being　thwarted　or　exposed。　It　would　stand　a　much　greater　chance　of　success　if　the　three　of　us　worked　together　to　maneuver　her。　I　could　use　your　help。〃
　　　Valas　had　his　chin　in　his　hand；　thinking。　Ryld　shook　his　head；　lines　of　worry　creasing　his　brow。
　　　'You　fight　against　millennia　of　tradition　and　habit；　Pharaun；〃　the　weapons　master　said。　〃I　can't　say　that　I　wele　the　idea　of　returning　to　Menzoberranzan　no　better　off　than　when　we　left；　but　usurping　the　high　priestess's　authority　might　very　well　see　our　heads　on　the　parapets　of　House　Baenre。〃
　　　〃The　wizard　has　already　been　at　it　for　a　couple　of　tendays。　。　。　。〃　Valas　said。
　　　〃Perhaps；　but　until　now；　it　was　simply　him　against　her；　he　hadn't　brought　us　into　it。〃
　　　Pharaun　clicked　his　tongue　in　exasperation。
　　　〃Do　you　honestly　think　that　she　won't　hold　us　all　responsible；　regardless　of　the　relative　levels　of　involvement？〃　the　Master　of　Sor…cere　asked；　〃She　will　blame　you　simply　because　you　are　a　male；　Master　Argith。〃
　　　Slowly；　Ryld　nodded。
　　　〃I　suppose　you're　right；〃　he　said。　〃It　still　doesn't　make　me　feel　any　better。〃
　　　〃I'm　not　suggesting　we　bind　her　with　cord　and　throw　her　in　a　box；　Weapons　Master。　All　I'm　asking　is　that　you　support　me　when　I　make　a　suggestion；　that　you　back　me；　however　subtly；　when　she　and　I　disagree。　Help　me　convince　her　that　moving　forward；　rather　than　back　to　Menzoberranzan；　is　the　wiser　course　of　action。〃
　　　〃You　make　sense；〃　Ryld　replied；　〃but　right　now；　your　idea　is　just　that。　We　must　find　someone　willing　to　serve　as　the　conduit。　Do　you　know　of　any　such　creature？〃
　　　〃I　do；〃　Valas　said　quietly。
　　　Pharaun　crouched　down　in　front　of　the　scout　and　asked；　〃You　do？　Who？〃
　　　〃There's　a　priest　I　know；　a　follower　of　Vhaeraun。〃
　　　〃Vhaeraun；〃　Ryld　said　in　a　clipped　tone。　〃I　doubt　we'll　receive　any　aid　from　him。〃
　　　〃Perhaps；　but　Tzirik　is　actually　an　old　associate　of　mine；〃　Valas　replied。
　　　At　Ryld's　surprised　look；　the　scout　added；　〃When　y