蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第47章

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〃I　know　what　your　little　cabal　has　done；　but　I　want　to　understand　how　you　dared。〃
Drisinil　swallowed　and　said；　〃You　。　。　。　you　said　it　yourself。　Each　demon　seeks　to　kill　only　you；　and　each　in　its　own　particular　way　reflects　the　divine　majesty　of　Lolth。　We　thought　she　sent　them。　We　thought　we　were　doing　what　the　goddess　wanted。〃
〃Because　you're　imbeciles。　Has　no　one　taught　you　to　look　beyond　appearances？　If　Lolth　wanted　me　dead；　I　couldn't　survive　her　displeasure　for　a　heartbeat；　let　alone　three　nights。　The　attacks　resemble　her　doing　because　some　blasphemous　mortal　arranged　it　so；　to　manipulate　you　into　doing　her　killing　for　her。　I'd　hoped　you　conspirators　knew　the　trickster's　identity；　but　1　see　it　isn't　so。〃
〃No。〃
〃Curse　you　all〃
〃I　know　。　。　。〃　The　novice　hesitated；　then　said；　〃The　Mother　of　Lusts　must　have　some　reason　for　distancing　herself　from　the　city；　and　we　。　。　。　speculated。〃
〃Some　of　you　did；　I'm　sure。　Others　simply　liked　the　idea　of　eliminating　me。　I　imagine　your　Aunt　Molvayas　would　relish　seeing　me　dead。　She'd　have　an　excellent　chance　of　being　mistress　in　her　turn。　We　Baenre　don't　have　another　princess　seasoned　enough　to　assume　the　role。〃
〃It　was　my　aunt〃　Drisinil　exclaimed。　〃She　came　up　with　the　idea　of　helping　the　demons　kill　you。　I　didn't　even　want　to　help。　I　thought　it　was　a　stupid　idea；　but　within　our　family；　she　holds　authority　over　me。〃
Quenthel　smiled。　〃It's　too　bad　you　weren't　more　impressed　with　my　authority。〃
〃I'm　sorry。〃
〃No　doubt　that。　Now；　I　need　the　names　of　all　the　conspirators。〃
Drisinil　didn't　hesitate　an　instant。　〃My　aunt；　Vlondril　Tuin'Tarl　。　。　。〃
As　ever；　Quenthel　maintained　a　calm；　knowing　expression；　but　inwardly　she　was　surprised　at　the　number　of　conspirators。　An　eighth　of　the　temple　It　was　unprecedented；　but　then　she　was　living　in　unprecedented　times。
When　Drisinil　finished；　the　Baenre　said；　〃Thank　you。　Where　did　you　gather　to　hatch　your　schemes？〃
〃One　of　the　unused　storerooms　in　the　fifth　leg；〃　Drisinil　said。
Quenthel　shook　her　head。　〃That　won't　do。　It's　not　big　enough。　Convene　the　group　in　Lirdnolu's　old　classroom。　Nobody's　used　it　since　she　had　her　throat　slit；　so　it　will　seem　a　safe　meeting　place。〃
Drisinil　blinked。　〃Convene？〃
〃Yes。　Last　night's　plot　failed；　so　obviously　you　must　hatch　a　new　one。　You've　chosen　a　new　chamber　for　the　conference　because　you　suspect　the　storeroom　is　no　longer　safe。　Say　whatever　you　need　to　say　to　assemble　your　cabal　in　four　hours'　time。〃
〃If　I　do；　will　you　spare　me？〃
〃Why　not？　As　you've　explained；　you　only　participated　reluctantly。　But　you　know；　it　suddenly　occurs　to　me　that　we　have　a　problem。　If　I　send　you　forth　to　perform　this　task；　how　do　I　know　you　won't　simply　flee　Tier　Breche　and　take　refuge　in　your　mother's　castle？〃
〃Mistress；　you　already　explained　that　such　a　course　could　only　lead　to　my　death。〃
〃But　did　you　believe　me？　Do　you　still？　How　can　I　be　sure？〃
〃Mistress　。。。　I　。。。〃
〃If　I　had　my　magic；　I　could　pel　you　to　do　as　you're　told；　but　in　its　absence；　I　must　take　other　measures。〃
Quenthel　raised　the　whip；　sweeping　the　vipers　off　Drisinil's　face　in　the　process；　and　slammed　the　metal　butt　of　the　weapon　down　in　the　middle　of　her　forehead。
The　mistress　then　took　out　the　silver　vial。　She　pinched　the　dazed；　feebly　struggling　girl's　nostrils　closed；　poured　the　stimulant　into　her　open　mouth；　and　forced　her　to　swallow。
The　effect　was　immediate。　The　younger　female　bucked　and　thrashed　until　her　eyes　flew　open。
The　high　priestess　hopped　back　down　to　the　floor。　〃How　does　it　feel？　I　imagine　your　heart　is　hammering。〃
Drisinil　trembled　like　the　string　of　a　viol。　Sweat　seeped　from　her　pores。
〃What　did　you　do　to　me？〃
〃That　should　be　obvious　to　an　acplished　poisoner　like　yourself。〃
〃You've　poisoned　me？〃
〃It's　a　slow　toxin。　Do　as　I　ordered；　and　I'll　give　you　the　antidote。〃
〃I　can't　cozen　the　others　like　this。　They'll　see　something's　wrong　with　me。〃
〃The　external　signs　should　ease　in　a　minute　or　two；　though　you'll　still　feel　the　poison　speeding　your　heart　and　gnawing　at　your　nerves。　You'll　just　have　to　put　up　with　that。〃
〃All　right；〃　Drisinil　said。　〃Just　bring　the　antidote　with　you　when　you　e　to　Lirdnolu's　room。〃
The　mistress　arched　an　eyebrow；　and　Drisinil　added；　〃Please。〃
Quenthel　smiled。　Catching　her　mood；　the　whip　vipers　sighed　with　pleasure。
〃How　did　you　know　your　darkness　would　madden　the　beast？〃　asked　Pharaun；　lathering　his　narrow　chest。
The　night　before；　after　he　made　way　back　to　Pharaun；　the　two　of　them　had　found　they　had　enough　healing　potions　to　cure　all　the　wounds　that　either　had　sustained。　Still；　despite　their　restoration　to　full　vitality；　the　next　few　hours　proved　exhausting；　as　they　struggled　to　survive　the　madness　of　the　hunt　and　watch　out　for　Greyanna　at　the　same　time。　At　last　they'd　escaped　the　Braeryn。
Claiming　that　while　Greyanna　was　seeking　them　in　the　Stenchstreets；　they'd　be　safe　in　pleasant；　prosperous　Narbondellyn；　Pharaun　had　insisted　that　he　and　Ryld　dispense　with　disguises　and　celebrate　their　sundry　discoveries　and　escapes　with　a　visit　to　one　of　Menzoberranzan's　finest　public　baths。　The　warrior　had　objected　to　what　he　saw　as　reckless　bravado；　but　not　too　vehemently。　Ryld　supposed　that　he　and　Pharaun　would　climb　beyond　their　foes'　reach　soon　enough。　The　prospect　made　him　feel　rather　wistful。
Over　the　course　of　the　past　few　minutes；　he'd　been　enjoying　the　luxury　of　scrubbing　off　the　sweat　and　grime　that　had　accumulated　on　his　person；　sitting　down；　and　thinking　about　nothing　in　particular。　He　should　have　known　the　peace　and　quiet　couldn't　last　for　long。　Pharaun　couldn't　go　long　without　craving　conversation。
〃How　did　you　know　that；　shrouded　in　darkness　or　no；　the　foulwing　wouldn't　just　keep　descending；　guided　by　its　other　senses？〃　the　wizard　persisted。
The　warrior　shrugged　and　said；　〃I　didn't　know；　but　it　seemed　like　a　good　guess。　The　thing's　an　animal；　isn't　it？〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃Not　really。　It's　a　creature　from　another　plane。　Still；　your　instincts　were　sound。〃
Ryld　shrugged　and　replied；　〃I　was　lucky　to　get　away　from　there　with　my　life。　Very　lucky。〃
〃Fire　and　glare；　you're　a　master　of　Tier　Breche。　You're　not　supposed　to　be　modest。　Are　you　ready　to　move？〃
They　rose　from　an　octagonal　pool　set　in　the　black　marble　floor；　and；　having　pleted　the　quotidian　business　of　cleaning　themselves；　headed　for　a　larger　basin　where　they　would　luxuriate　in　steaming；　scented　mineral　water。　Later　in　the　day；　it　would　be　packed；　but　it　wasn't　fashionable　to　visit　the　baths　so　early　in　the　morning。　They　had　it　to　themselves；　which　was　convenient。　They　could　converse　without　fear　of　eavesdroppers。
Ryld　walked　straight　down　the　steps　and　sat　on　the　underwater　ledge。　The　warmth　felt　good　on　his　leg；　mended　but　still　a　little　sore；　and　he　sighed　with　contentment。　Pharaun　made　a　production　of　immersing　himself　in　stages；　an　inch　at　a　time；　as　if　the　heat　were　almost　more　than　he　could　bear。
〃I've　been　thinking　about　your　malaise；〃　the　wizard　said；　once　everything　but　his　head　was　finally　submerged。　〃I　have　a　solution。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃Resign　from　MeleeMagthere　and　bee　the　weapons　master　of　a　noble　House。　It　will　have　to　be　one　of　the　lesser　ones；　of　course；　you　being　a　moner；　but　that's　all　right。　You　may　see　more　excitement　that　way。〃
〃Why　would　I　do　that？　It's　not　a　move　up。　It　might　not　be　a　loss　of　rank；　depending　on　the　House；　but　still；　what　would　be　the　point？〃
〃You're　bored；　and　it　would　be　a　change。〃
〃One　that　would　put　me　under　the　thumb　of　any　number　of　high　priestesses。　I'd　have　less　autonomy　than　I　do　as　an　instructor。〃
〃I　managed　to　pursue　my　own　objectives　while　under　my　mother's　supervision。　Still；　you　make　a　legitimate　point。　You　might　find　yourself　abhorring　the　tug　of　the　reins。　What's　the　answer；　then？〃
〃Who　says　there　is　one？　Except；　perhaps；　further　lunatic　holidays　with　you。　I　admit；　this　one　broke　the　tedium。〃
A　diminutive　female　gnome　carried　a　pile　of　freshly　laundered　and　folded　towels　out　of　a　doorway　on　the　far　wall。　Ryld　wondered　if　she　was　one　of　the　Prophet's　followers；　and　if　she　had　any　of　the　rabblerouser's　duergar　firepots　stashed　somewhere　in　the　bathhouse。　It　felt　strange　to　think　of　a　humble　undercreature　that　way—wielding　stoneburning　bombs　against　its　betters。
〃You　speak　of　our　err