war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第1部分

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d；　as　if　she　were　giving　too　much　away。
　　　The　regret　was　fleeting。
　　　For　in　chaos；　the　one　would　bee　many；　and　the　many　would　travel　along　diverse　roads　and　to　goals　that　seemed　equally　diverse　but　were；　in　effect；　one　and　the　same。　In　the　end　there　would　be　one　again；　and　it　would　be　as　it　had　been。　This　was　rebirth　more　than　birth；　this　was　growth　more　than　diminishment　or　separation。
　　　This　was　as　it　had　been　through　the　millennia　and　how　it　must　be　for　her　to　persevere　through　the　ages　to　e。
　　　She　was　vulnerable　now…she　knew　that…and　so　many　enemies　would　strike　at　her；　given　the　chance。　So　many　of　her　own　minions　would　deign　to　replace　her；　given　the　chance。
　　　But　they；　all　of　them；　held　their　weapons　in　defense；　she　knew；　or　in　aspirations　of　conquests　that　seemed　grand　but　were；　in　the　vast　scale　of　time　and　space；　tiny　and　inconsequential。
　　　More　than　anything　else；　it　was　the　understanding　and　appreciation　of　time　and　space；　the　foresight　to　view　events　as　they　might　be　seen　a　hundred　years　hence；　a　thousand　years　hence；　that　truly　separated　the　deities　from　the　mortals；　the　gods　from　the　chattel。　A　moment　of　weakness　in　exchange　for　a　millennium　of　surging　power。　。　。　。
　　　So；　in　spite　of　her　vulnerability；　in　spite　of　her　weakness　（which　she　hated　above　all　else）；　she　was　filled　with　joy　as　another　egg　slid　from　her　arachnid　torso。
　　　For　the　growing　essence　in　the　egg　was　her。
　　　
　　　ONE
　　　〃And　why　should　my　aunt　trust　anyone　who　sends　a　male　to　do　her　work　for　her？〃　Eliss'pra　said；　staring　disdainfully　down　her　nose　at　Zammzt。
　　　The　drow　priestess　reclined　imperiously　upon　an　overstuffed　couch　that　had　been　further　padded　with　an　assortment　of　plush　fabrics；　as　much　for　decoration　as　fort。　Quorlana　thought　the　slender　dark　elf　should　have　looked　oddly　out　of　place　in　the　richly　appointed　private　lounge；　dressed　as　she　was　in　her　finely　crafted　chain　shirt　and　with　her　mace　close　at　hand。　Yet　Eliss'pra　somehow　managed　to　appear　as　though　she　was　counted　among　House　Un…named's　most　exclusive　clientele。　Quorlana　wrinkled　her　nose　in　distaste；　she　knew　well　which　House　Eliss'pra　represented；　and　she　found　that　the　haughty　drow　reclining　opposite　her　exhibited　a　little　bit　too　much　of　her　aunt's　superior　affectations。
　　　Zammzt　inclined　his　head　slightly；　acknowledging　the　other　dark　elf's　concern。
　　　〃My　mistress　has　given　me　certain　。　。　。　gifts　that　she　hopes　express　her　plete　and　enthusiastic　sincerity　in　this　matter；〃　he　said。　〃She　also　wishes　me　to　inform　you　that　there　will　be　many　more　of　them　once　the　agreement　is　sealed。　Perhaps　that　will　assuage　your　own　fears；　as　well；〃　he　added　with　what　he　must　have　intended　as　a　deferential　smile；　though　Quorlana　found　it　to　be　more　feral　than　anything。　Zammzt　was　not　a　handsome　male　at　all。
　　　〃Your　'mistress；'　〃　Eliss'pra　replied；　avoiding　both　appellations　and　names；　as　the　five　of　them　gathered　there　had　agreed　at　the　outset；　〃is　asking　for　a　great　deal　from　my　aunt；　indeed　from　each　of　the　Houses　represented　here。　Gifts　are　not　nearly　a　generous　enough　token　of　trust。　You　must　do　better　than　that。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Nadal　chimed　in；　sitting　just　to　Quorlana's　right。　〃My　grandmother　will　not　even　consider　this　alliance　without　some　serious　proof　that　House…〃　The　drow　male；　dressed　in　a　rather　plain　piwafwi；　snapped　his　mouth　shut　in　mid…word。　His　insignia　proclaimed　him　as　wizard　member　of　the　Disciples　of　Phelthong。　He　caught　his　breath　and　continued；　〃I　mean　your　mistress…that　your　mistress　is　actually　mitting　these　funds　you　speak　of。〃
　　　He　seemed　chagrinned　that　he　had　nearly　divulged　a　name；　but　the　male　maintained　his　firm　expression。
　　　〃He's　right；〃　Dylsinae　added　from　Quorlana's　other　side；　her　smooth；　beautiful　skin　nearly　glowing　from　the　scented　oils　that　she　habitually　slathered　on　herself。　Her　gauzy；　hugging　dress　contrasted　sharply　with　Eliss'pra's　armor；　reflecting　her　propensity　for　partaking　in　hedonistic　pleasures。　Her　sister；　the　matron　mother；　was　perhaps　even　more　decadent。　〃None　of　those　whom　we　represent　will　lift　a　finger　until　you　give　us　some　evidence　that　we　aren't　all　putting　our　own　heads　on　pikes。　There　are　far　more　。　。　。　interesting　。　。　。　pastimes　to　indulge　in　than　rebellion；〃　Dylsinae　finished；　stretching　languidly。
　　　Quorlana　wished　she　were　not　sitting　quite　so　close　to　the　harlot。　The　perfume　of　her　oils　was　sickly　sweet。
　　　Despite　her　general　distaste　for　the　other　four　drow；　Quorlana　agreed　with　them　on　this　matter；　and　she　admitted　as　much　to　the　group。
　　　〃If　my　mother　were　to　ally　our　own　House　with　you　other　four　lesser　Houses　against　our　mon　enemies；　she　would　need　certain　assurances　that　we　would　not　be　left　by　the　rest　of　you　to　dangle　as　scapegoats　the　moment　events　turned　difficult。　I'm　not　at　all　certain　such　a　thing　exists。〃
　　　〃Believe　me；〃　Zammzt　responded；　circling　to　make　eye　contact　with　each　of　them　in　turn；　〃I　understand　your　concerns　and　your　reluctance。　As　I　said；　these　gifts　I　have　been　ordered　to　bestow　upon　your　Houses　are　but　a　small　token　of　my　mistress's　mitment　to　this　alliance。〃
　　　He　reached　inside　his　piwafwi　and　produced　a　scroll　tube；　and　a　rather　ornate　one；　at　that。　After　slipping　a　fat　roll　of　parchment　from　the　tube；　he　unfurled　the　scroll。　Quorlana　sat　forward　in　her　own　chair；　suddenly　curious　as　to　what　the　dark　elf　male　might　have。
　　　Scanning　the　contents　of　his　stack　of　curled　parchment；　Zammzt　sorted　them　and　began　to　circle　the　gathering；　removing　a　set　of　pages　and　handing　them　to　each　co…conspirator　in　turn。　When　he　handed　Quorlana　her　sheaf；　she　took　it　from　him　gingerly；　uncertain　what　kind　of　magical　trap　might　be　inlaid　in　the　pages。　She　eyed　them　carefully；　but　her　suspicions　were　dispelled；　they　were　spells；　not　curses。　He　was　offering　them　scrolls　as　gifts！
　　　Quorlana　felt　elation　rise　up　into　her。　Such　a　treasure　was　priceless　in　days　of　such　uncertainty　and　unease。　The　Dark　Mother's　absence　had　put　a　strain　on　every　priestess　who　worshiped　her。　Quorlana　herself　had　not　been　able　to　weave　her　own　divine　magic　in　four　ten…days；　and　she　broke　out　into　a　sweat　every　time　she　thought　on　it。　But　with　scrolls；　the　fear；　the　anxiety；　the　sense　of　hopelessness　might　be　staved　off；　at　least　for　a　time。
　　　It　was　only　with　the　utmost　effort　that　the　drow　priestess　resisted　the　urge　to　read　through　the　scrolls　there　and　then。　Forcing　herself　to　remember　whom　she　served；　at　least　for　the　moment；　she　instead　pocketed　the　parchment　sheets　inside　her　piwafwi　and　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　clandestine　gathering　in　front　of　her。
　　　〃The　only　other　proof　strong　enough　to　convince　you　of　our　sincerity　would　be　moving　forward　with　hiring　the　mercenaries；〃　Zammzt　said；　though　none　of　the　other　dark　elves　seemed　to　be　paying　the　least　bit　of　attention　to　him。
　　　Eliss'pra　and　Dylsinae　were　both　wide…eyed　with　the　same　excitement　Quorlana　felt。　Nadal；　though　not　as　personally　thrilled…the　spells　were　worthless　to　him　as　a　wizard…could　still　recognize　the　value　of　the　gifts。
　　　〃It　should　be　obvious　to　each　of　you；〃　Zammzt　continued；　〃that　once　our　House　approaches　outsiders；　there　is　no　turning　back。　We　would　be　pletely　mitted；　with　or　without　your　pledge　of　alliance。　That；　my　charming　panions；　is　putting　the　cart　before　the　lizard；〃
　　　〃Nonetheless；〃　Eliss'pra　answered；　still　smiling　as　she　gazed　on　the　scrolls　in　her　hands；　〃that　is　precisely　what　you　must　do　If　you　wish　to　count　my　aunt　among　your　allies。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Dylsinae　agreed。
　　　Nadal　nodded　his　concurrence。
　　　〃I　think　my　mother　would　be　willing　to　accept　those　terms。　Especially　after　she　sees　these；〃　Quorlana　voiced　her　assent；　then　gestured　at　the　scrolls　tucked　away　in　her　piwajwi。　〃Most　definitely　if　there　are　more　where　these　came　from。〃
　　　How　in　the　Underdark　do　they　have　precious　scrolls　to　spare？　she　wondered。
　　　Zammzt　frowned　and　said；　〃I　am　not　promising　anything。　I　very　much　doubt　that　I　can　convince　her　to　agree　to　this；　but　if　she　is　willing；　I　will　procure　the　services　of　the　mercenaries　and　bring　you　the　proof。〃
　　　No　one　spoke。　They　were　all　one　step　away　from　the　point　of　no　re