蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第38章

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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　errand　in　the　past　tense；〃　the　wizard　said。
〃Well；　once　you　tell　the　Archmage　the　runaways　are　in　the　Braeryn　fomenting　a　pitiful　little　goblin　uprising；　it'll　be　over；　won't　it？　Gromph　will　pardon　your　transgressions。　The　Council；　having　failed　to　stop　our　inquiries；　will；　I　trust；　see　no　point　in　continuing　to　try　to　kill　us。　It'll　be　more　to　their　advantage　to　let　us　go　on　training　wizards　and　soldiers　to　serve　them。〃
〃You're　very　certain　the　insurrection　will　be　pitiful。　Is　it　because　Greyanna's　followers　exterminated　so　many　undercreatures　last　night？〃
Ryld　scooped　up　a　handful　of　hot　water　and　splashed　it　on　his　neck；　which　had　gotten　a　little　stiff　from　his　exertions。
〃No；〃　he　said。　〃The　hunters　killed　plenty　of　goblins；　but　they　were　only　a　fraction　of　a　fraction　of　the　creatures　jammed　into　every　nook　and　cranny　of　the　district—you　saw　the　interior　of　Smylla's　home。　Trust　me；　you　still　don't　really　understand。〃
〃I　understand　that　many　other　such　specimens　inhabit　the　rest　of　the　city　as　well。　Why；　then；　do　you　doubt　their　ability　to　do　some　appreciable　damage？　It　can't　be　for　want　of　spirit。　The　under　folk　are　in　an　excellent　humor；　enflamed　by　their　Prophet's　oratory；　painting　their　racial　emblems　hither　and　yon；　and　murdering　potential　informers　and　unbelievers。〃
〃They　still　lack　martial　training　and　proper　weapons。〃
〃Some　were　warriors　before　the　slavers　captured　them。　Some　are　thrall　soldiers　still。　As　for　the　arms；　well；　when　visiting　the　World　Above；　did　you　ever　see　a　city　burn？　I　did。　I　had　to　torch　one　myself　to　plete　a　mission。　The　destruction　and　loss　of　life　were　impressive；　even　though　the　inhabitants　knew　their　buildings　could　catch　fire　and　had　procedures　for　dealing　with　it。〃
〃Whereas　we　don't？　Surely　you　wizards　。　。　。　？〃
Pharaun　shrugged。　〃Not　really。　Why　would　it　occur　to　us？　Perhaps　we　could　improvise　something；　but　if　we　didn't　catch　the　conflagration　early；　it　might　not　be　entirely　effective。〃
〃But　you　would　catch　it　early。　The　undercreatures　won't　rebel　all　at　once；　and　that　will　make　it　possible　to　quash　each　little　uprising　as　it　begins。〃
〃You're　assuming　'the　Call；'　whatever　it　is；　will　pass　by　word　of　mouth；　or　at　any　rate；　that　it　won't　be　disseminated　rapidly。　You　could　be　right。　The　noise　baffles　may　hinder　it；　but　what　if　the　Prophet　has　some　arcane　means　of　rousing　every　goblin　and　bugbear　at　the　exact　same　instant？〃
〃Do　you　know　of　such　a　magic？〃
〃No。〃
〃And　you're　a　Master　of　Sorcere。　So　it's　reasonable　to　assume　no　such　power　exists。〃
Pharaun　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃Indeed？　Thank　you　for　your　expert　opinion。〃
Ryld　made　a　spitting　sound　and　said；　〃Look。　You　think　a　rebellion　could　amount　to　something。　I　disagree；　but　say　you're　right。　Isn't　that　all　the　more　reason　to　report　to　Gromph　immediately？〃
The　wizard　waved　to　a　goblin　slave　who　was　sauntering　by。　〃The　difficulty　is　that　I　have　yet　to　succeed。〃
〃What？〃
〃My　assignment　is　to　find　the　runaways。　I　glimpsed　two　of　them　for　a　matter　of　minutes；　then　lost　them。　Do　you　think　the　Baenre　will　deem　that　satisfactory？〃
Frowning；　Ryld　said；　〃Considering　that　we　did　uncover　something　of　interest　。。。〃
〃Remember；　our　great　and　glorious　Archmage　doesn't　hold　me　in　high　esteem。　He　sent　me　out　as　a　decoy；　a　target　for　the　priestesses　to　harass。　Knowing　him　as　I　do；　I'm　sure　that　if　1　fulfill　the　letter　of　our　agreement；　he'll　swallow　his　dislike　and　keep　his　end；　but　should　I　fall　the　least　bit　short；　it　will　be　a　different　matter。〃
〃You　can　at　least　tell　him　the　rogues　are　in　the　Braeryn。〃
〃Can　I？　We　sifted　through　the　Stenchstreets　as　well　as　any　outsiders　could。　We　didn't　find　the　house　where　the　runaways　hang　their　cloaks；　and　we　actually　have　only　the　flimsiest　of　reasons　for　assuming　it's　in　the　Braeryn　at　all。〃
〃I　suppose　you're　right。〃
〃Of　course。　When　am　I　not？　Now；　here's　what　I　intend　to　do：　Find　the　rogues'　hiding　place。　Discover　who　the　Prophet　is　and　how　his　wizardry—　or　whatever　it　is—works。　Learn　where　the　firepots　came　from；　where　they're　cached　around　the　city；　and　the　master　plan　for　the　rebellion。　And　most　importantly　of　all；　determine　what　the　fugitives