蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第39部分

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es　were　lined　and　wrinkled；　and　his　posture；　bent。　Rumor　had　it　that　his　appearance　of　decrepitude　had　resulted　not　from　extreme　age　but　rather　some　dangerous　magical　experimentation。
Moving　stiffly；　all　but　creaking　audibly；　Horroodissomoth　tendered　obeisance　then；　at　Zeerith's　invitation；　settled　in　a　chair　to　listen　to　a　reprise　of　Quenthel's　story。　At　first　the　wizard's　demeanor　was　impassive；　perhaps　even　utterly　disinterested；　but　a　light　came　into　his　rheumy　eyes　when　he　realized　she　was　asking　him　to　solve　a　magical　problem。
〃Hmm；〃　he　said；　〃hmm。　I　think　I　might　have　something　that　will　help。　In　a　way；　I　regret　giving　it　to　you；　because　as　far　as　I　know；　it's　unique。　Even　we　Xorlarrins　don't　know　how　to　make　another。　But　on　the　other　hand；　I've　always　been　curious　to　see　if　it　actually　works。〃
Gossip　whispered　that　at　some　point　in　the　distant　past；　the　females　of　House　Ousstyl　had　interbred　with　humans。　Naturally　the　contemporary　Ousstyls　denied　it　and　would　do　their　meager　best　to　punish　anyone　they　suspected　of　passing　the　rumor。　Still；　as　Faeryl　gazed　across　the　table　atTalindra　Ousstyl；　Matron　Mother　of　the　Fiftysecond　House；　she　could　readily　believe　it。　Talindra　was　tall　and；　for　a　dark　elf；　extraordinarily　rawboned。　Her　jaw　was　too　square；　and　her　ears；　insufficiently　pointed。　Most　telling　of　all　was　the　scatter　of　empty　plates　before　her。　She'd　annihilated　every　morsel　of　her　sevencourse　supper　with　a　lesser　being's　insatiable　voracity。
Talindra　finished　with　a　juicy　belch。
〃Excuse　me。〃
〃Of　course；〃　Faeryl　said。　She　thought　she　heard　a　thump　issuing　from　elsewhere　in　the　ambassadorial　residence。　Inwardly；　she　flinched　but　Talindra　didn't　seem　to　notice　the　sound。
〃Well；〃　the　matron　said；　〃that　was　tasty；　but　I　believe　you　invited　my　brood　to　supper　and　spirited　me　away　to　this　private　room；　because　you　wanted　to　talk　of　something　more　important　than　cuisine。〃
Faeryl　smiled　and　said；　〃You've　found　me　out；　and　I　have　a　confession　to　make。　I　don't　always　devote　myself　to　the　interests　of　Ched　Nasad　as　a　whole。　Occasionally　I　work　solely　to　advance　the　fortunes　of　House　Zauvirr。〃
〃How　could　it　be　otherwise？〃　Talindra　said；　raising　her　golden　cup。　〃Family；　always。　Family　over　all。〃
Faeryl　joined　the　other　noble　in　the　toast。　She'd　always　enjoyed　the　sweet　dessert　wine；　but　this　time　it　tasted　too　sweet；　almost　sickeningly　so。　She　supposed　her　nerves　were　to　blame。
The　envoy　set　down　her　drink　and　said；　〃Let　us　discuss　how　our　two　families　might　be　of　service　to　one　another。　In　Ched　Nasad；　we　Zauvirr　are　allied　with　House　Mylyl。　For　the　immediate　future；　we　must　remain　so。　Yet　it's　also　time　for　the　Mylyls　to　begin　their　decline；　for　their　wealth　and　influence　to　start　passing　into　our　hands。　You　see　the　problem。〃
Talindra　grinned　and　said；　〃You　want　to　attack　the　Mylyls　without　them　realizing　who's　to　blame。〃
〃So　why　not　do　it　through　an　intermediary？〃
Elsewhere；　someone　let　out　a　thin；　little　wail。　Faeryl　tensed；　but　once　again；　her　guest　failed　to　react。　Fortunately；　the　sounds　of　pain　were　reasonably　mon　in　dark　elf　dwellings。
〃You　want　me　to　lend　you　some　of　my　males；〃　the　matron　said；　〃to　make　the　long；　dangerous　journey　to　Ched　Nasad　to　raid　and　kill　for　you。　It　makes　sense。　The　Mylyls　would　have　no　idea　who　they　are；　nor　that　they're　working　for　you。　But　what　do　I　get　out　of　it？　Why—？〃
A　warrior　threw　open　the　door；　strode　to　Talindra's　side；　and　raised　a　steel　baton。
The　matron　was　too　quick　for　him。　Surging　up　in　her　chair；　she　knocked　him　cold　with　a　punch　to　the　jaw；　drew　a　long　knife　from　her　belt；　and　pivoted　toward　Faeryl。
The　ambassador　snatched　up　Mother's　Kiss；　which　had　been　lying　under　the　table　all　the　while。　She　sprang　up；　swung　the　basaltheaded　war　hammer　in　an　arc　and　balked　the　oning　Talindra　for　an　instant。
For　the　next　few　seconds；　the　two　nobles　battled；　neither　able　to　score；　then　Talindra　used　her　free　hand　to　clasp　a　round　medallion　pinned　to　her　bodice。　Red　light　shone　from　between　her　fingers。　
If　the　matron　had　the　capacity　to　throw　a　spell；　that　changed　the　plexion　of　the　fight　considerably。　Faeryl　needed　to　end　it　quickly；　perhaps　before　the　first　magical　effect　manifested。　She　charged　her　opponent；　striking　at　her　head　in　an　allout　attack。
It　was　a　reckless　move；　and　she　suffered　the　consequences。　The　knife　point　jabbed　painfully　into　her　ribs。　Luckily；　it　failed　to　penetrate　the　mail　she　wore　beneath　her　silken　gown。　Mother's　Kiss　slammed　into　the　Menzoberranyr's　head　and　dashed　her　to　the　ground。　Her　hand　slipped　away　from　the　amulet；　and　the　glow　faded。
An　instant　later；　a　second　guard　burst　into　the　room。
〃We've　secured　them　all；　my　lady。〃
The　warrior　was　a　ruggedlooking　male　with　a　chipped　incisor　and　a　broken　nose；　whom　she　had　on　occasion　summoned　to　her　bed。
〃Good；〃　Faeryl　replied。　〃How　many　did　you　have　to　kill？〃
〃Only　one；　but　we　could　slaughter　the　rest。　If　I　may　say　so；　it　seems　more　sensible　and　less　bother　than　tying　them　up。〃
〃It　does；　but　I　came　here　to　promote　good　relations　between　Menzoberranzan　and　Ched　Nasad。　Even　though　some　schemer　has　rendered　my　efforts　futile；　I　won't　exacerbate　the　situation　by　mitting　any　more　outrages　than　necessary。　You　soldiers　will　do　as　I　bade　you。　Strip　the　Ousstyls；　gag　them；　and　tie　them　up。〃
Talindra　groaned　and　groped　feebly　for　her　knife。　Impressed　that　the　matron　was　still　conscious　to　any　degree　at　all　after　the　blow　she'd　suffered；　Faeryl　kicked　the　blade　out　of　her　reach。
〃You　can't　do　this；〃　Talindra　croaked；　〃not　to　House　Ousstyl。　We　are　mighty　and　never　fet　at　affront。〃
Tense　as　she　was；　Faeryl　smiled。　The　matron's　arrogance　was　woefully　misplaced。　The　Ousstyls　were　so　insignificant　they　hadn't　even　known　the　ambassador　had　lost　the　good　will　of　Triel　Baenre。　Otherwise；　they　would　never　have　accepted　an　invitation　to　feast　with　such　a　pariah。
Faeryl　bashed　Talindra　again；　this　time　rendering　her　entirely　insensible；　then　she　roamed　through　the　castle；　exhorting　her　minions　to　make　haste。　Soon　all　were　wearing　the　clothing　of　the　Ousstyls。　For　the　first　time；　Faeryl　was　grateful　that　her　household　was　relatively　small。　Otherwise；　they　wouldn't　have　had　enough　pilfered　garments　to　go　around。
She　and　her　lieutenants　sported　the　finery　of　the　Ousstyl　dignitaries；　while　the　mon　soldiers　had　donned　piwafwi’s　and　mail；　and　carried　the　arms　of　Talindra's　bodyguards。
The　outlanders　stowed　provisions　beneath　their　mantles。　The　quantity　was　insufficient；　for　they　couldn't　conceal　all　that　much。　With　luck；　they'd　be　able　to　hunt　and　forage　on　the　trail。　They　headed　for　the　mansion's　enclosed　stable；　where　Talindra　had　left　her　driftdisc。
Faeryl　noticed　that　some　of　her　retainers　were　sweaty　and　wideeyed。　Though　she　was　careful　not　to　show　it；　she　still　felt　just　as　apprehensive　herself。　Was　she　mad　to　flout　Triel　Baenre's　express　mand；　especially　when　she　and　her　subordinate　priestesses　had　virtually　no　magic　implements　left？
Well；　no。　It　would　be　lunacy　to　sit　on　her　rump　and　do　nothing；　knowing　that　Triel　would　eventually　get　around　to　ordering　her　arrest。　Even　if　Faeryl　weren't　concerned　about　her　own　fate；　with　every　passing　hour　she　grew　more　anxious　to　learn　what　had　halted　all　traffic　from　Ched　Nasad；　and　not　just　because　the　trade　was　important　in　its　own　right。　Absurd　as　it　seemed；　she　couldn't　shake　the　irrational　fear　that　some　misfortune　had　befallen　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs　itself。
She　had　to　know。　Any　great　event　affecting　Ched　Nasad　could　conceivably　injure　House　Zauvirr　and　diminish　her　own　status。　Moreover；　though　she　would　never　admit　it　to　another；　she　cared　about　her　homeland　for　its　own　sake。　Not；　she　assured　herself；　that　she　suffered　from　love；　loyalty；　or　any　other　soft；　undrowlike　emotion。　Yet　Ched　Nasad　had　shaped　her　into　the　person　she　was。　It　was　a　part　of　her；　and　anything　that　harmed　the　city　would　trouble　her　as　well。
In　any　case；　having　assaulted　and　robbed　her　dinner　guests；　the　die　was　cast。
The　pack　and　riding　lizards　hissed　and　grunted　when　the　party　entered　the　stable。　Faeryl　dearly　wished　she　could　take　some　of　the　reptiles　with　her；　but　since　Talindra　hadn't　brought　any　such　beasts　along　with　her；　it　was　out　of　the　question。
The　matron's　driftdisc　was　a　round；　flat　stone　with　an　ivory　throne　fastened　on　top；　the　whole　floating　about　a　foot　above　the　floor。　The　device　glowed　with　a　soft　white　light　tinged　ever　so　faintly　with　green。
Since　it　was　Faeryl　who'd　appropriated　Talindra's　attire；　she　hopped　up　on　the　driftdisc；　sat　in　the　ornate　cushioned　chair；　and　mentally　manded　the　apparatus　to　levitate　up　to　the　proper　dignified　height。　She　endured　a　bad　moment　during　which　nothing　happened；　and　she　was　sure　the　Ousstyl　had　rigged　the　vehicle　in　such　a　way　as　to　keep　anyone　else　from　riding　it；　then　the　circular　platform　rose。　It　was　just　sluggish；　about　what　you'd　expected　of　the　equipment　of　the　Fiftysecond　House。
Two　of　Faeryl's　soldiers　threw　open　the　gates；　and　the　party　ventured　out　into　the　open；　her　retainers　forming　a　proper　column　around　her　as　soon　as　they　had　the　room。
They　marched　away　from　the　luminous　keep　that　had　been　their　home　for　fourteen　years；　past　the　alleyway　where　Umrae　had　died；　and　onward。　Faeryl　couldn't　see　Triel's　watchers；　but　she　could　feel　their　eyes　on　her。　She　felt　all　but　certain　they　would　recognize　her。
But　maybe　not。　Most　people　saw　what　they　expected　to　see。　The　spies　had　watched　the　Ousstyls　enter　the　residence；　and　just　as　anticipated；　the　petty　nobles　were　departing。　Why　would　anyone　bother　to　peer　closely　when　he　was　sure　he　already　knew　what　was　going　on？
That　was　the　theory；　anyway。　At　the　moment；　it　seemed　a　dubious　notion　on　which　to　gamble　her　life。
Her　pany　left　the　immediate　vicinity　of　the　residence　without　anyone　trying　to　hinder　them；　which　proved　nothing。　The　watchers　wouldn't　pop　out　of　hiding　and　confront　the　fugitives　themselves；　They'd　scurry　away　to　rouse　a　pany　of　warriors；　who'd　intercept　the　daughters　and　sons　of　Ched　Nasad　in　the　street。
Thus；　while　her　expression　conveyed　the　proper　mix　of　serenity　and　haughtiness；　her　muscles　were　stiff；　and　her　mouth　dry　as　she　floated　down　the　avenues。　For　the　moment；　she　was　heading　for　Narbondellyn；　site　of　the　Ousstyls'　modest　citadel。　It　was　where　the　spies　would　expect　her　to　go。
Drow　did　their　best　to　clear　the　way　for　the　matron　of　even　a　minor　House。　She　was　grateful　for　that。　Still；　heavily　laden　carts　and　the　like　could　only　pull　aside　so　quickly。　The　impostors'　progress　was　necessarily　and　nerverackingly　sedate。
Finally；　though；　they　passed　Narbondel　itself；　where　the　magical　glow　had　climbed　three　quarters　of　the　way　to　the　top　of　the　great　stone　column。　Faeryl　spotted　Talindra's　fortress　and　turned　her　pany　aside。　If　they　actually　approached　the　place；　some　guard　peering　down　from　the　ramparts　was　bound　to　penetrate　their　disguises。
They　marched　south；　still　without　interference。　If　someone　was　chasing　them；　the　ambassador　was　sure　it　would　have　bee　apparent　by　then。　Faeryl　took　a　deep　breath；　told　herself　her　ruse　had　succeeded；　and　tried　to　relax。　She　couldn't；　quite。　Perhaps　when　she　reached　the　Bauthwaf；　or　better　still；　escaped　Menzoberranyr　territory　altogether　。　。　。
The　outlanders'　route　carried　them　to　the　west　of　the　elevation　that　was　Q