蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第21部分

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and　others　punished　them　for　their　temerity。　Perhaps　the　matron　mothers　took　the　lesson　to　heart。〃
〃So　instead　of　hatching　schemes　to　topple　one　another；　they　。　。　。　what？　Enlisted　every　single　priestess　in　a　grand　conspiracy　to　conceal　their　fall　from　grace？　If　your　mad　idea　is　right；　that's　what　they　must　have　done。〃
〃Why　is　that　implausible？　Picture　the　day—a　few　tendays　past？—when　they　lost　the　ability　to　draw　power　from　their　goddess。　Clerics　of　Lolth　routinely　collaborate　in　magical　rituals；　so　they　would　have　discovered　fairly　quickly　that　they　were　all　similarly　afflicted。　Apprised　of　the　scope　of　the　situation；　Triel　Baenre；　possibly　in　hurried　consultation　with　our　esteemed　Mistress　Quenthel　and　the　matrons　of　the　Council；　might　well　have　decided　to　conceal　the　priesthood's　debility　and　sent　the　word　round　in　time　to　keep　anyone　from　blabbing。〃
〃The　word　would　have　to　pass　pretty　damn　quickly；〃　said　Ryld；　examining　Splitter's　edge。　As　he'd　expected；　despite　all　the　bone　it　had　just　bitten　through；　it　was　as　preternaturally　keen　and　free　of　notches　and　chips　as　ever。
〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃If　you　lost　the　strength　of　your　arms；　would　you　be　eager　to　announce　it；　knowing　the　news　would　find　its　way　to　everyone　who'd　ever　taken　a　dislike　to　you？　Anyway；　since　this　is　the　first　we've　learned　of　the　problem；　the　deception　obviously　did　anize　in　time。〃
〃Or　else　everything　is　as　it　always　was；　and　the　plot　exists　only　in　your　imagination。〃
〃Oh；　it's　real。　I'm　sure　Triel　deemed　the　ruse　necessary　to　make　sure　no　visitor　would　discern　Menzoberranzan's　sudden　weakness。〃　He　grinned　and　added；　〃And　to　fix　it　so　we　poor　males　wouldn't　swoon　with　terror　upon　learning　that　our　betters　had　lost　a　measure　of　their　ability　to　guide　and　protect　us。〃
〃Well；　it's　an　amusing　fancy。〃　
〃Fire　and　glare；　you're　a　hard　boy　to　convince；　and　I'll　be　cursed　if　I　know　why。　You've　already　lived　through　the　Time　of　Troubles；　the　previous　Matron　Baenre's　death；　and　the　defeat　of　Menzoberranzan　by　a　gaggle　of　wretched　dwarves。　Why　do　you　assume　our　world　cannot　have　altered　in　some　fundamental　way　when　you've　watched　it　change　so　many　times　before？　Open　your　mind；　and　you'll　see　my　hypothesis　makes　sense　of　all　that　has　puzzled　us。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃Whatever　they're　up　to；　how　is　it　that　for　the　past　month　an　unusual　number　of　males　have　dared　to　elope　from　their　families？　Because　they　somehow　tumbled　to　the　fact　that　a　priestess's　wrath　now　constitutes　less　of　a　threat。〃
〃While　the　clerics；〃　said　Ryld；　catching　the　thread　of　the　argument；　〃are　eager　to　catch　them　because　they　want　to　know　how　the　males　know　about　the　Silence；　if　we're　going　to　call　it　that。　Hells；　if　all　those　males　had　the　nerve　to　run　away；　maybe　they　even　know　more　about　the　problem　than　the　females　do。〃
〃Conceivably；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃The　priestesses　can't　rule　it　out　until　they　strap　a　few　of　them　to　torture　racks；　can　they？　But　they　don't　want　Gromph　involved　with　capturing　the　rogues　because　。　。　。　？〃
〃They　don't　want　him　to　find　out　what　the　runaways　know。〃
〃Very　good；　apprentice。　We'll　make　a　logician　of　you　yet。〃
〃Do　you　think　the　archmage　already　knows　the　divines　have　lost　their　magic？〃
〃I'd　bet　your　left　eye　on　it；　but　he's　in　the　same　cart　as　the　high　priestesses。　He　posits　that　the　fugitives　might　know　even　more。〃
Ryld　nodded。　〃In　a　war；　or　any　crisis；　you　have　to　cover　every　possibility。〃
〃The　notion　of　the　Silence　even　explains　why　the　Jewel　Box　was　so　crowded；　and　why　some　of　the　patrons　were　in　a　belligerent　humor　or　even　bruised　and　battered。　Females　divested　of　their　magic　might　well　feel　weak　and　vulnerable。　Consciously　or　otherwise；　they'd　worry　about　losing　control　of　the　folk　in　their　household　and　pensate　by　instituting　a　harsher　discipline　than　usual。〃　〃I　see　that；〃　said　Ryld。
〃Of　course　you　do。　As　I　said；　the　one　hypothesis　accounts　for　every　anomaly。　That's　why　we　can　be　confident　the　idea　is　valid。〃
〃How　does　it　account　for　the　relative　paucity　of　goods　in　the　Bazaar？〃
Pharaun　blinked；　narrowed　his　eyes　in　thought；　and　finally　laughed。　〃You　know；　it's　difficult　for　genius　to　soar　in　the　face　of　these　carping　little　irrelevancies。　Actually；　you're　right。　At　first　glance；　the　Silence　doesn't　explain　the　marketplace；　but　it　explains　so　much　else　that　I　still　believe　the　idea　correct。　Have　I　persuaded　you？〃
〃I。。。　maybe。　You　do　make　a　kind　of　twisted　sense。　It's　just　that　it's　a　hard　idea　to　take　in。　The　one　truth　our　people　have　never　questioned　is　that　Menzoberranzan　belongs　to　Lolth。　Everything　in　the　cavern　is　as　it　is　because　she　willed　it　so；　and　the　might　of　her　priestesses　is　the　primary　force　maintaining　all　that　we　have　and　are。　If　she's　turned　her　face　from　the　entire　city；　or　is　lost　to　us　in　some　other　way。　。　。　。〃　Ryld　spread　his　hands。
〃It　is　unsettling；　but　perhaps；　just　perhaps；　it　affords　us　an　opportunity　as　well。〃
Ryld　extended　a　telescoping　metal　probe；　attached　a　cloth　to　the　hook　on　the　end；　and　started　swamping　out　the　bloodclogged　scabbard。
The　warrior　asked；　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃Just　for　fun；　let's　make　the　same　leap　of　faith—or　fear—that　Gromph　and　the　Council　did。　Assume　the　rogue　males　can　explain　the　cessation　of　Lolth's　beneficence。　Assume　you　and　I　will　find　them　and　extract　the　information。　Finally；　assume　we　can　somehow　employ　it　to　restore　the　status　quo。〃
〃That's　a　lot　of　assuming。〃
〃It　is。　Obviously；　I'm　letting　my　imagination　run　amok。　Yet　I　have　a　hunch—only　a　hunch；　but　still—that　if　two　masters　of　the　Academy　could　acplish　such　a　triumph；　they　might　thereby　win　enough　power　to　make　my　friend　the　Sarthos　demon　look　like　small　beer。　You　wanted　to　find　something　to　our　advantage；　as　I　recall。〃
〃Your　sister　may　find　us　first。　She　tracked　us　once。　Do　you　still　think　we　shouldn't　kill　her；　or　her　vassals　either？〃
〃That's　a　good　question；〃　Pharaun　sighed。　〃They're　attacking　us　with　potent　magic。　I　suspect　that　leather　bag　holds　nine　sets　of　servant　creatures；　each　deadlier　than　the　one　before。〃
〃In　that　case；　why　didn't　she　chuck　them　all　at　us？〃
〃Perhaps；　in　the　absence　of　her　innate　powers；　she　was　trying　to　conserve　her　other　resources。　Alas；　she　may　not　be　so　parsimonious　next　time。〃
〃So　what　do　we　do？〃
〃Well；　you　know；　I　truly　do　want　to　kill　Greyanna。　I　always　have；　but　I　suppose　the　prudent　course　is　to　avoid　our　hunters　if　possible。　If　not；　we'll　do　what　we　must　to　survive。　I　may　at　least　make　a　point　of　disposing　of　Relonor。　I　suspect　he　located　us　with　divinatory　magic。　He　was　always　good　at　that。〃
〃Can　you　shield　us？〃
〃Perhaps。　I　intend　to　try。　Stay　right　where　you　are；　and　don't　speak。〃
Pharaun　rose　and　reached　into　one　of　his　pockets。　Out　in　the　lake；　something　big　jumped。　Noticing　the　splash；　an　ore　on　a　raft　grunted　to　his　fellows；　and　they　readied　their　barbheaded　lances。
　
Ch　　　a　　　p　　　t　　　e　　　r
NINE
As　Drisinil　took　hold　of　the　door　handle；　the　stump　of　her　little　finger　throbbed　beneath　its　dressing。　The　novice　still　found　it　difficult　to　believe　that；　after　fighting　for　her　life　against　the　demon　spider；　Mistress　Quenthel　had　immediately　returned　to　the　matter　of　the　wouldbe　truants　and　their　selfinflicted　punishment。　It　bespoke　a　calm　and　meticulous　nature。　Drisinil　admired　those　qualities；　but　it　didn't　make　her　hate　their　exemplar　any　less。
She　took　a　final　glance　around　the　deserted　corridor。　No　one　was　about；　and　no　one　was　supposed　to　be；　not　in　that　length　of　that　particular　wing　of　ArachTinilith　at　that　hour　of　the　night。
She　slipped　through　the　sandstone　door　and　pulled　it　shut　behind　her。　Unlike　much　of　the　temple；　no　lamps；　torches；　or　candles　burned　in　the　room　beyond　the　threshold。　That　was　by　design；　to　keep　a　telltale　gleam　from　leaking　out　under　the　door。
Drisinil's　sister　conspirators　awaited　her。　Some　were　novices　with　bandaged　hands；　just　like　herself。　Others　were　instructors。　Those　high　priestesses；　hampered　by　their　dignity；　were　having　some　difficulty　making　themselves　fortable　among　the　haphazardly　stacked　boxes　and　tangles　of　furniture　littering　the　halffotten　storeroom。　Of　course；　it　didn't　help　that　they　hesitated　to　clear　away　the　shrouds　of　filthy　cobwebs　dangling　everywhere　for　fear　a　living　spider　remained　within。
Drisinil　wondered　if　that　particular　prohibition　made　sense　any　longer。　Perhaps　spiders　were　no　longer　sacred。
Then；　angry　at　herself；　she　pushed　the　blasphemous　thought　away。　Lolth　abided；　beyond　any　question；　and　was　likely　to　chastise　those　who　even　for　a　moment　imagined　otherwise。
Once　she　wrenched　her　mind　back　to　immediate　concerns；　Drisinil　was　momentarily　nonplussed　to　find　the　pany　regarding　her　expectantly。　Did　they　expect　her　to　preside　over　the　meeting？
But　then　again；　why　not？　She　might　be　a　novice；　but　she　was　Barrison　Del'Armgo　as　well；　and　breeding　mattered；　perhaps　more　than　ever　when　even　the　most　powerful　priestesses　were　running　out　of　magic。　Besides；　the　secret　gathering　had　been　her　idea。
〃Good　evening；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you　all　for　attending；〃—she　smiled　wryly—〃and　for　not　reporting　me　to　Quenthel　Baenre。〃
〃We　still　could；〃　said　Vlondril　Tuin'Tarl；　a　strange　smile　on　her　wrinkled　lips。　〃Your　task　is　to　convince　us　we　shouldn't。〃
The　teacher　was　so　old　that　she　had　begun　to　wither　like　a　human　crone。　Most　folk　believed　her　mystical　contemplations　of　ultimate　chaos　had　left　her　a　little　mad。　No　one；　not　even　another　instructor；　had　opted　to　sit　in　her　immediate　vicinity。
〃With　respect；　Holy　Mother；〃　Drisinil　said；　〃isn't　that　selfevident？　The　goddess；　who　nurtured　and　exalted　our　city　since　its　founding；　has　turned　her　back　on　us。〃
Once　again；　Drisinil　couldn't　help　thinking　of　other　possibilities；　but　even　if　she'd　seen　a　point　to　it；　she　wouldn't　have　dared　to　mention　them。　No　one　would；　not　in　her　present　pany。
〃And　Quenthel　is　to　blame；〃　added　Molvayas　Barrison　Del'Armgo。
Though　stockier　and　shorter　than　Drisinil；　her　aunt　had　the　same　sort　of　sharp　nose　and　unmon　green　eyes。　Richly　clad；　the　elder　scion　of　the　House　carried　an　enemy's　soul　imprisoned　in　a　jade　ring；　and　at　quiet　moments　one　could　occasionally　hear　the　spirit　weeping　and　pleading　for　release。　Second　to　Quenthel　as　Barrison　Del'Armgo　was　ever　second　to　Baenre；　Molvayas　had　helped　her　niece　pass　word　of　the　meeting；　and　her　support　lent　it　a　certain　credibility。
〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　asked　T'risstree　T'h。
Deceptively　slender；　a　fully　trained　warrior　as　well　as　a　priestess；　she　was　notorious　for　carrying　a　naked　falchion　about　in　preference　to　the　usual　mace　or　whip　of　fangs；　and　gashing　the　exposed　flesh　of　any　student　who　displeased　her　with　a　fast　but　precisely　controlled　cut　to　the　face。　The　short；　curved　blade　lay　across　her　knees。
Drisinil　waited　a　beat　to　make　sure　Molvayas　intended　her　to　answer　the　question。　Apparently　she　did；　and　rightly　so；　since　it　was　the　younger　female　who　had　actually　conceived　the　argument。
〃When　Triel　was　mistress　here；〃　said　the　novice；　〃all　was　well。　Shortly　after　Quenthel　assumed　the　office；　Lolth　rejected　us。〃
〃　'Shortly'　being　a　relative　term；〃　said　a　sardonic　voice　from　somewhere　in　the　back　of　the　room。
〃Shortly　enough；〃　Drisinil　retorted。　〃Perhaps　the　goddess　gave　us　time　to　rectify　the　error。　We　failed　to　do　so；　so　now　she's　punishing　us。〃
〃She's　afflicting　all　Menzoberr