蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第28部分

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Ryld　sighed。　Pharaun　knew　how　he　felt。　Generally　speaking；　the　wizard　relished　a　baffling；　braincramping　puzzle；　but　even　he　was　growing　impatient　at　their　lack　of　progress。
Given　the　lack　of　any　sensible　leads；　he　resolved　to　follow　where　intuition　led。　Still　caught　up　in　his　role　of　sympathizer；　he　dared　to　step　to　the　cot　and　pat　Smylla　on　her　bony　shoulder。　She　gasped。　In　all　likelihood；　no　one　had　touched　her　for　a　long　while；　either。
〃Don't　abandon　hope；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃Perhaps　we　can　still　make　a　trade。　Fortunately；　my　rade　and　I　are　interested　in　other　matters　as　well。　Has　anything　peculiar　occurred　in　the　Braeryn　of　late？〃
The　clairvoyant　rasped　out　another　painfulsounding　laugh。
〃You　mean　aside　from　the　fact　that　last　tenday；　the　animals　rose　up　against　me？〃
〃I　do　find　that　interesting。　As　you　confessed；　your　magical　talents　withered　away　some　time　ago。　Since　then；　you've　dominated　the　goblins　through　bluff　and　force　of　personality；　and　it　worked　until　a　few　days　ago。　What　changed？　Where　did　the　Undercreatures　find　the　courage　to　turn　against　you？　Have　you　noticed　anything　that　might　account　for　it？〃
〃Well；〃　said　Smylla；　〃it　could　just　be　they　saw　me　failing　physically；　but—〃　Her　cracked　lips　stretched　into　a　grin。　〃You're　good；　Master　Mizzrym。　You　give　me　a　smile；　friendly　conversation；　a　soft　touch　on　the　arm；　and　my　tongue　starts　to　flap。　That's　loneliness　for　you。　But　I　will　have　my　cure　before　I　give　up　anything　of　importance。〃
〃Very　sensible。〃　Pharaun　extracted　an　empty　cocoon　from　one　of　his　pockets。　〃What　do　you　wish　to　bee？〃
〃One　of　you；〃　she　said；　leering。　〃I　once　heard　a　philosopher　say　that　everyone　bees　the　thing　he　hates。〃
〃He　must　have　been　a　cheery　fellow　to　have　about。　Now；　brace　yourself。　This　will　only　take　a　moment；　but　it　may　hurt　a　little。〃
Employing　greater　care　than　usual；　he　recited　the　incantation　and　used　the　ridged　silken　case　to　write　a　symbol　on　the　air。
Magic　shrilled　through　the　air；　and　the　temperature　plummeted。　For　a　moment；　the　whole　room　rippled　and　shimmered；　then　the　distortion　concentrated　itself　on　Smylla's　shriveled　body。　Tendons　standing　out　in　her　neck；　she　screamed。
Beyond　the　door；　one　of　the　bugbears　shouted；　〃We　want　to　get　even；　too〃
Smylla's　sores　faded　away；　and　her　emaciated　form　filled　out　into　a　healthy　slimness。　Her　ashen　skin　darkened　to　a　gleaming　black；　her　blue　eyes　turned　red；　and　her　ears　grew　points。　Her　features　became　more　delicate。　Her　snowy　hair　thickened；　changing　from　brittle　and　lusterless　to　wavy　and　glossy。
〃The　pain　went　away；〃　she　breathed。　〃I　feel　stronger。〃
〃Of　course；〃　Pharaun　said。
She　stared　at　her　hands；　then　sat　up；　rose　from　the　cot；　and　tried　to　walk。　At　first　she　moved　with　an　invalid's　caution；　but　gradually；　as　she　proved　to　herself　that　she　wouldn't　fall；　that　hesitancy　passed。　After　a　few　seconds；　she　was　striding；　jumping；　and　spinning　like　an　exuberant　little　girl　testing　her　strength；　her　grimy　nightshirt　flapping　about　her。　
〃You　did　it〃　she　said；　and　the　pure；　uncalculated　gratitude　in　her　crimson　eyes　showed　that　even　wearing　the　flesh　of　a　dark　elf　maiden；　she　was　still　human　at　the　core。
Though　it　was　foreign　to　his　own　nature；　Pharaun　found　her　appreciation　rather　gratifying。　Still；　he　hadn't　transformed　her　to　bask　in　her　naive　sentimentality　but　to　elicit　some　answers。　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃please；　tell　us。〃
〃Right。〃　She　took　a　deep　breath　to　pose　herself　and　said；　〃I　do　believe　something　emboldened　the　Undercreatures　in　this　house。　What's　more；　I　think　it's　affected　goblinoids　throughout　the　Braeryn。〃
〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Ryld。
〃I　don't　know。〃
The　warrior　grimaced。
〃What　led　you　to　infer　this　agency？〃　Pharaun　asked。　〃I　assume　you　were　housebound　even　before　you　barricaded　yourself　in　your　room。〃
〃I　saw　a　change　in　the　brutes　who　live　here。　They　were　surly；　insolent；　and　foultempered；　ready　to　maim　and　kill　one　another　at　the　slightest　provocation。〃
Ryld　hitched　his　shoulders；　working　stiffness　out　or　shifting　Splitter　to　lie　more　fortably　across　his　back。
〃How　is　that　different　than　normal？〃　asked　the　weapons　master。
Smylla　scowled　at　him　and　said；　〃All　things　are　relative。　The　creatures　exhibited　those　qualities　to　a　greater　extent　than　before；　and　whenever　I　heard　tidings　from　beyond　these　walls；　they　suggested　the　entire　precinct　shared　the　same　truculent　humor。〃
Pharaun　nodded。　〃Did　you　hear　about　tribal　emblems　appearing　in　the　streets？〃
〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃That　bespeaks　a　kind　of　madness；　don't　you　think？〃
〃Maybe　in　one　or　two　thralls；〃　said　Ryld。　〃What　of　it？　You　promised　my　friend　information。　Tell　us　something　we　don't　already　know；　and　I　mean　facts；　not　your　impressions。〃
The　clairvoyant　smiled。　〃All　right。　I　was　building　up　to　it。　Every　few　nights　a　drum　beats　somewhere　in　the　Braeryn；　calling　the　lower　orders　to　some　sort　of　gathering。　Many　of　the　occupants　of　this　house　clear　out。　With　what　little　remains　of　my　clairvoyance；　I've　sensed　many　others　skulking　through　the　streets；　all　converging　on　a　mon　destination。〃　
〃Nonsense；〃　said　Ryld。　〃Why　has　no　drow　patrol　heard　the　signal　and　e　to　investigate？〃
〃Because；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃the　city　possesses　enchantments　to　mute　sound。〃
〃Well；　maybe。〃　Ryld　turned　back　to　Smylla。　〃Where　do　the　creatures　go；　and　why？〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said；　〃but　perhaps；　with　my　health　and　occult　talents　restored；　I　could　find　out。〃　She　beamed　at　Pharaun。　〃I'd　be　happy　to　try。　I　fulfilled　the　letter　of　our　bargain；　but　I　do　realize　I　haven't　provided　you　with　all　that　much　in　exchange　for　the　priceless　gift　you　gave　me。〃
〃That　remark　touches　on　the　question　of　your　future；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃You'd　have　no　difficulty　reestablishing　your　dominion　here　in　the　Stenchstreets；　but　why　live　so　meanly？　I　could　use　an　aide　of　your　caliber。　Or；　if　you　prefer；　I　can　arrange　your　safe　repatriation　to　the　World　Above。〃
As　he　spoke；　he　surreptitiously　contorted　the　fingers　of　his　left　hand；　expressing　himself　in　the　silent　language　of　the　dark　elves；　a　system　of　gestures　as　efficient　and　prehensive　as　the　spoken　word。
〃I　think—〃　Smylla　began；　then　her　eyes　opened　wide。
She　whimpered。　Ryld　pulled　his　short　sword　out　of　her　back；　and　she　collapsed。　Pharaun　skipped　back　to　keep　her　from　toppling　against　him。
〃Despite　her　previous　experiences；〃　the　lanky　wizard　said；　〃she　couldn't　quite　leave　off　trusting　drow。　I　suppose　it　shows　you　can　take　the　human　out　of　the　sunshine；　but　not　the　sunshine　out　of　the　human。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　the　second　female　I've　slain　or　murdered　by　proxy　in　the　brief　time　since　our　adventure　began；　and　I　didn't　particularly　want　to　kill　either　one　of　them。　Do　you　suspect　an　underlying　metaphysical　significance？〃
〃How　would　I　know？　I　take　it　you　bade　me　kill　the　snitch　because　she　was　feeding　us　lies。〃
〃Oh；　no。　I'm　convinced　she　was　telling　the　truth。　The　problem　was　that　I　deceived　her。　Her　metamorphosis　didn't　really　purge　her　disease。　It　was　a　bit　tricky　just　suppressing　it　for　a　few　minutes。〃
Pharaun　stepped　back　again　to　keep　the　spreading　pool　of　blood　from　staining　his　boots；　and　Ryld　cleaned　the　short　sword　on　the　dead　human's　bedding。
〃You　didn't　want　to　leave　her　alive　and　angry　to　carry　tales　to　Greyanna；〃　the　weapons　master　said。
〃It's　unlikely　they　would　have　found　one　another；　but　why　take　the　chance？〃
〃And　you　asked　Smylla　about　the　marks　on　the　walls。　You're　just　too　cursed　curious　to　let　the　subject　go。〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃Don't　be　silly。　I'm　the　very　model　of　singleminded　determination；　and　I　was　asking　to　further　our　mission。〃
Ryld　glanced　at　the　door　and　the　iron　bar。　They　were　still　holding。
〃What　does　the　strange　behavior　of　goblins　have　to　do　with　the　rogue　males？〃　he　asked。
〃I　don't　know　yet；〃　Pharaun　answered；　〃but　we　have　two　oddities　occurring　at　the　same　time　and　in　the　same　precinct。　Doesn't　it　make　sense　to　infer　a　relationship？〃
〃Not　necessarily。　Menzoberranzan　has　scores　of　plots　and　conspiracies　going　on　at　any　given　time。　They　aren't　all　connected。〃
〃Granted。　However；　if　these　two　situations　are　linked；　then　by　inquiring　into　one；　we　likewise　probe　the　other。　You　and　I　have　experienced　a　depressing　lack　of　success　picking　up　the　trail　of　our　runaways。　Therefore；　we'll　investigate　the　lower　orders　and　see　where　that　path　takes　us。〃
〃How　will　we　do　that？〃
〃Follow　the　drum；　of　course。〃
The　door　banged。
〃First；〃　said　Ryld；　〃we　have　to　get　out　of　here。〃
〃Easily　managed。　I'll　remove　the　locking　talisman　from　the　door；　then　use　illusion　to　make　us　blend　with　the　walls。　In　a　minute　or　two；　the　residents　will　break　the　door　down。　When　they're　busy　abusing　Smylla's　corpse　and　ransacking　her　possessions；　we'll　put　on　goblin　faces　and　slip　out　in　the　confusion。〃
　
Chapter
E　　L　　E　V　E　N
Quenthel's　patrol　had　stalked　the　shadowy；　candlelit　passages　of　ArachTinilith　for　hours；　until　spaces　she　knew　intimately　began　to　seem　strange　and　subtly　unreal；　and　her　subordinates'　nerves　visibly　frayed　with　the　waiting。　She　called　a　halt　to　let　the　underlings　rest　and　collect　themselves。　They　stopped　in　a　small　chapel　with　the　images　of　skulls；　daggers；　and　spiders　worked　in　basrelief　on　the　walls　and　the　bones　of　longdead　priestesses　interred　beneath　the　floor。　Rumor　whispered　that　a　cleric　had　cut　her　own　throat　in　this　sanctuary　and　her　ghost　sometimes　haunted　it；　but　the　Baenre　had　never　seen　the　apparition；　and　it　wasn't　in　evidence　then。
The　priestesses　and　novices　settled　on　the　pews。　For　a　while；　no　one　spoke。
Eventually　Jyslin；　a　secondyear　student　with　a　heartshaped　face　and　silver　studs　in　her　earlobes；　said；　〃Perhaps　nothing　will　happen。〃
Quenthel　stared　coldly　at　the　novice。　Like　the　rest　of　the　party；　the　younger　female　cut　a　warlike　figure　with　her　mace；　mail；　and　shield；　but　her　dread　showed　in　her　troubled　maroon　eyes　and　shiny；　sweaty　brow。　
〃We　will　face　another　demon　tonight；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃I　feel　it；　so　it's　pointless　to　hope　otherwise。　Instead　I　suggest　you　concentrate　on　staying　alert　and　remembering　what　you've　learned。〃
Jyslin　lowered　her　eyes　and　whispered；　〃Yes；　Mistress。〃
〃Wishful　thinking　is　for　cowards；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃and　if　you　fools　are　lapsing　into　it；　we've　lingered　here　too　long。　Up　with　you。〃
Reluctantly；　someone's　links　of　supple　black　mail　chiming　ever　so　faintly；　Quenthel's　minions　rose。　She　led　them　onward。
In　light　of　the　two　previous　intrusions　and　the　obvious　uselessness　of　the　wards　the　mages　of　Sorcere　had　created；　Quenthel　had　placed　ArachTinilith　on　alert　and　anized　her　staff　and　students　into　squads　of　eight。　Most　of　the　units　would　stand　watch　at　set　locations；　but　several　would　patrol　the　entire　building。　The　Baenre　princess　had　opted　to　lead　one　of　the　latter。
She'd　also　decided　to　throw　open　the　storerooms　and　armories　and　dispense　all　the　potent　enchanted　tools　and　weapons　still　deposited　there。　Even　the　firstyear　students　bore　enchanted　arms　and　talismans　worthy　of　a　high　priestess。
Not　that　the　gear　had　done　much　to　bolster　Jyslin's　morale；　nor　that　of　many　another　novice。　Had　Quenthel　not　been　suffering　her　own　carefully　masked　anxieties；　their　glumness　might　have　amused　her。　The　girls　had　seen　demons　throughout　their　childhoods。　They'd　even　achieved　a　certain　intimacy　with　them　in　ArachTinilith；　but　this　was　the　first　time　such　entities　had　posed　a　threat　to