war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第8部分

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nd　settled　onto　the　cushioned　bench　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　table；　the　duergar　did'　not　yet　relax。　He　peered　warily　through　the　still…open　partition　into　the　hallway　beyond；　looking　to　see　who　might　be　lurking　in　a　shadow；　watching　them　meet。　There　were　only　three　other　individuals　there；　and　none　of　them　seemed　to　be　paying　Zammzt　any　attention　at　all。　Two　drow　dressed　as　merchants；　led　by　a　third　dark　elf　who　was　obviously　a　host　of　the　Glowing　Goblet；　made　their　way　to　another　booth　and　disappeared　inside。　Khorrl　frowned　as　the　host　delayed　a　moment　longer。　The　servant　cocked　his　head　slightly　to　one　side；　apparently　listening　to　something　that　was　said　from　inside　the　meeting　cubicle；　spoken　too　softly　for　the　duergar　to　overhear。
　　　He's　just　taking　a　drink　order；　the　duergar　thought。　No　need　to　get　antsy。
　　　Despite　his　self…admonition；　Khorrl　knew　he　would　not　rest　easy　for　at　least　another　minute　or　two。　It　would　not　be　the　first　time　some　fool　had　allowed　himself　to　be　followed　during　a　meeting　with　the　duergar　mercenary；　and　he　never　again　wanted　to　be　in　such　a　position；　caught　unaware　and　forced　to　fight　his　way　out　of　a　corner。　Not　only　had　he　barely　escaped；　but　it　had　sullied　his　reputation　to　boot。　That　part　had　angered　him　most　of　all。
　　　Finally；　when　he　was　certain　no　one　was　studying　either　of　them　on　the　sly；　Khorrl　relaxed；　though　he　had　to　consciously　release　his　grip　on　the　doubleaxe　to　do　so。　He　looked　across　the　table　at　Zammzt；　noting　the　lack　of　a　House　insignia　anywhere　on　the　plain…looking　drow's　clothing。　For　his　part；　Zammzt　was　reclining　casually　on　the　cushioned　bench；　the　tiniest　hint　of　a　smile　on　his　face。　Though　Khorrl　didn't　consider　himself　a　great　judge　of　attractiveness；　especially　in　other　species；　it　was　plain　enough　to　him　that　Zammzt's　face　was　far　from　noteworthy。　The　drow　was　simply　too　ordinary　looking。　If　he　didn't　already　serve　a　noble　House；　he　would　have　never　amounted　to　much　more　than　a　mon　artisan；　a　step　up　from　a　slave　but　little　more。　Khorrl　supposed　the　fact　that　he　was　such　a　shrewd　negotiator　was　the　dark　elf's　single　biggest　saving　grace。
　　　〃I　assure　you；　I　was　not　followed；〃　Zammzt　said；　interrupting　the　duergar's　musings。　〃I　would　have　known　it；　if　someone　tried；　and　there's　no　reason　at　all　for　anyone　to　do　so。〃
　　　〃Why　do　you　think　I　was　concerned　about　that？〃　Khorrl　asked；　settling　back　himself。　〃I　haven't　accused　you　of　anything　yet。〃
　　　〃The　sour　look　on　your　face　and　the　furtive　glances　you　keep　casting　out　the　door　make　it　plain　enough；〃　the　dark　elf　replied；　〃though　I　don't　question　your　concern。　You　will　no　doubt　be　glad　to　know　that　I　observed　your　arrival　from　a　secure　position；　and　I　will　tell　you　that　no　one　followed　you；　either。〃
　　　Khorrl　stiffened　slightly　again；　trying　to　decide　if　he　should　be　insulted　or　impressed。　Few　creatures　had　managed　to　study　him　unnoticed；　certainly　not　in　recent　years。　For　him　not　to　notice　Zammzt's　observations　was　surprising；　if　what　the　drow　claimed　was　true。　The　duergar　narrowed　his　eyes；　wondering　if　the　dark　elf　was　merely　lying　to　impress　him。　He　doubted　it；　but　still　。　。　。
　　　〃Then　you　must　feel　secure　enough　to　speak　freely；　hmm？〃　Khorrl　asked；　baiting　his　boothmate　to　see　what　his　reaction　would　be。
　　　Zammzt's　smile　deepened　the　tiniest　bit　as　he　waved　a　hand　in　dismissal　and　turned　his　gaze　on　the　table　in　front　of　him。
　　　〃Of　course；〃　he　said。　〃Though　I　would　think　you'd　prefer　to　wait　until　the　host　has　brought　us　drinks　first。〃
　　　〃I've　already　turned　him　down；〃　Khorrl　replied；　giving　his　own　wave　of　dismissal。　〃I　don't　care　to　partake　while　I'm　doing　business。〃
　　　〃As　I'm　well　aware；　Master　Xornbane；　from　your　reputation。　I；　however；　have　already　requested　that　a　refreshment　be　delivered　to　the　booth。　I　believe　I　hear　it　ing　now。〃
　　　Khorrl　turned　his　gaze　for　the　merest　of　moments　to　the　crack　in　the　door；　even　as　he　opened　his　mouth　to　point　out　that　he'd　heard　nothing。　He　started　to　turn　back　to　Zammzt；　but　then　did　a　double…take；　for　sure　enough；　the　host　from　the　other　booth　had　appeared　at　the　far　end　of　the　hall　with　a　tray　of　drinks。　Khorrl　snapped　his　mouth　shut　again　as　he　watched　the　servant　first　deliver　a　pair　of　beverages　to　the　other　booth；　then　proceed　toward　him　and　his　panion。　Apparently；　in　addition　to　his　surprising　ability　to　shadow　someone；　Zammzt　also　sported　exceptional　hearing。　After　delivering　the　drink　and　inquiring　if　the　duergar　had　changed　his　mind　and　wanted　something；　the　host　departed。　Zammzt　reached　over　and　pushed　the　partition　shut　the　rest　of　the　way。
　　　〃I　think　it's　safe　to　discuss　our　business；〃　the　dark　elf　said；　his　red　eyes　glittering　in　satisfaction　as　he　took　a　sip　from　his　frosty　mug。　After　a　long　pull；　he　sighed　in　delight　and　said；　〃Everything　is　in　place。　You　should　be　receiving　delivery　of　the　first　payment　in　the　next　day。〃
　　　Khorrl　eyed　the　drow　for　a　long　moment　before　finally　nodding。
　　　〃And　the　amount　is　satisfactory？〃　the　duergar　mercenary　asked。　None　of　my　people　goes　into　the　city　until　I　know　that　we'll　be　paid　what　I　said。〃
　　　〃Absolutely。　My　mistress　has　instructed　me　to　inform　you　that　your　fee　is　more　than　satisfactory。　For　the　services　you　will　be　providing；　she　considers　it　a　small　price　to　pay。〃
　　　〃Hmph；〃　Khorrl　grunted　nonmittally。　〃That　remains　to　be　seen；　doesn't　it？　If　she　leaves　me　hanging　in　the　middle　of　the　fight；　it　won't　have　been　nearly　enough；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　　Zammzt　smiled　that　knowing　smile　again　and　nodded　in　acquiescence。
　　　〃I　can　only　assure　you　that　she　and　her　allies　intend　to　see　this　through　to　the　very　end。　Once　they　set　foot　down　this　path；　there　is　no　turning　back　for　them；　either。　You　should　be　well　aware　of　that。〃
　　　〃Perhaps；　but　if　things　go　sour　for　us；〃　Khorrl　said；　running　his　hand　across　his　bald　gray　head；　〃I　will　e　looking　for　her　personally。〃
　　　〃Please；　please。　There's　no　need　for　idle　threats　here。　The　initial　payment　is　ing。　Just　be　sure　you　have　the　first　group　ready　to　go　when　it　arrives。〃
　　　Khorrl　nodded；　more　firmly　this　time。　He　had　never　reneged　on　a　contract　before；　and　he　wasn't　about　to　now。　His　clan　was　getting　paid　an　exorbitant　sum　to　fight；　and　his　employer　considered　it　money　well　spent　precisely　because　of　that　reputation。　Clan　Xorn…bane　might　be　merely　a　mercenary　band　in　the　greater　scheme　of　the　duergar　hierarchy；　but　he　had　always　made　sure　they　honored　their　mitments。　That　wasn't　going　to　change　as　long　as　he　was　the　head　of　the　clan。
　　　〃They　will　be　there；〃　he　said　finally。
　　　〃Excellent；〃　Zammzt　replied。　〃My　mistress　is　counting　on　it。　Despite　your　assistance；　toppling　the　rival　Houses　will　not　be　easy。　That　is　why　she　and　her　allies　are　paying　you　such　a　generous　retainer。〃
　　　Khorrl　frowned　again；　thinking　of　what　work　lay　ahead。　The　drow　was　right；　overthrowing　one　drow　noble　House；　even　when　their　clergy　was　hamstrung；　was　no　small　feat。　He　and　his　males　were　expected　to　help　bring　down　several。　The　clan　would　suffer　losses　in　this；　no　question　about　it；　but　they　had　been　eager　to　accept　this　particular　contract；　anyway。　The　rich　reward　of　helping　the　dark　elves　destroy　themselves　paled　only　slightly　in　parison　to　the　payment　itself。　Those　among　Clan　Xornbane　who　survived　would　receive　larger　shares　for　this　work　than　for　their　last　four　contracts　bined。　It　was　well　worth　the　loss　of　troops；　especially　among　the　lesser　races　of　the　front　ranks。
　　　By　the　Abyss；　Khorrl　thought。　I　might　even　consider　retirement　when　we're　through　here。
　　　〃We　will　do　what　we're　paid　to　do。　You　know　our　reputation；〃　the　duergar　said；　affectionately　running　his　hand　along　the　handle　of　his　doubleaxe。　〃Though　I　would　feel　a　lot　more　confident　if　I　knew　for　sure　that　your　priestesses　won't　suddenly　find　themselves　kissed　by　the　spider　queen　in　the　middle　of　the　fight。　It　would　be　our　downfall）　and　yours　too；　most　likely。〃
　　　Zammzt　spread　his　hands　in　a　placating　gesture。
　　　〃That　is　a　risk；　to　be　sure；〃　he　said；　almost…almost…sounding　apologetic。　〃But　the　opportunity　for　my　mistress　and　her　co…conspirators　is　worth　it。　Rest　assured；　you　will　not　be　forgotten　in　this。　She　looks　forward　to　the　moment　when　she　can　thank　you　from　her　new　position　as　one　of　the　highest…ranking　matron　mothers　in　the　city。〃
　　　Khorrl　nodded　one　last　time　and　prepared　to　depart。
　　　〃Very　well；　then；〃　he　said。　〃We　will　be　waiting　for　the　first　payment。　The　schedule　is　set。〃
　　　He　rose；　pulling　his　doubleaxe　up　beside　him。　Before　he　slid　the　partition　open；　he　turned　to　look　back　at　the　dark　elf；　who　seemed　content　to　stay　a　while　and　finish　his　drink。　Khorrl　caught　the　drow's　gaze　and　held　it。
　　　〃We're　mitted　now；〃　the　gray　dwarf　said。　〃There's　no　turning　back。　Blood　will　flow　in　Ched　Nasad。　Mark　my　words。〃
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　Spinning；　Pharaun　summoned　his　magical　rapier　from　the　ring　into　one　hand；　and　clasped　his　piwafwi　closed　with　the　other；　before　he　was　pletely　turned　around。　As　he　pivoted　into　a　defensive　stance；　releasing　the　rapier　to　dance　in　the　air　before　him；　he　reached　into　the　。　pockets　of　his　piwafwi；　selecting　by　memory　and　feel　the　ponents　he　needed　to　weave　a　certain　incantation。
　　　Perhaps　a　dozen　steps　from　Pharaun；　a　shimmering　blue　doorway；　similar　to　the　extradimensional　portal　he　was　fond　of　using　himself；　was　just　closing；　winking　out　of　existence。　The　lovely　creature　he　had　spotted　briefly　during　the　rather　one…sided　battle　with　the　tanarukks　stood　just　in　front　of　it；　her　smile　accenting　her　arched　eyebrows　as　she　regarded　him；　arms　folded　casually　beneath　her　prominent　breasts。　In　particular；　she　seemed　to　find　his　floating；　weaving　rapier　of　interest。
　　　〃I'm　sorry；　did　I　startle　you？〃　she　purred；　and　Pharaun　found　her　voice　to　be　delightfully　throaty。
　　　〃Oh；　it's　quite　all　right；〃　the　mage　replied；　eyeing　the　she…fiend　from　head　to　toe。　She　was　dressed　in　tight；　black；　form…fitting　leather；　and　while　thigh…high　boots　and　a　corset　seemed　far　from　practical　as　travel…wear　to　the　drow；　he　had　to　appreciate　the　effectiveness　of　the　ensemble。
　　　It　pliments　her　wings　so　well；　he　decided。
　　　〃I　wondered　when　you'd　show　up　again；〃