war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第16部分

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　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　could　feel　her　bristle；　but　at　least　she　didn't　pull　away　from　him。　Beside　her；　the　snakes　of　her　whip　stirred；　but　〃key　didn't　flail　about　as　Pharaun　feared　they　would。
　　　The　patrol　leader　glared　at　Quenthel　for　a　moment　but　finally　nodded　and　said；　〃We　make　it　a　practice　when　the　city　is…〃　he　stopped　himself　from　revealing　more；　then　turned　back　to　Faeryl…　〃You　may　pass；　but　good　luck　finding　any　'civilization'　to　enjoy。〃
　　　With　that　last　bitter　ment；　he　turned　and　motioned　the　rest　of　the　patrol　to　part；　creating　a　gap　so　that　the　entourage　could　pass　through。
　　　Faeryl　nodded　her　thanks　and　motioned　for　the　rest　of　them　to　follow　her；　then　they　were　past　the　patrol　and　alone　on　the　thoroughfare　once　again。　Pharaun　could　see　that　the　envoy　was　troubled　by　the　patrol　leader's　words。　He　had　to　admit　it　was　not　a　good　sign。
　　　〃Let　go　of　me！〃　Quenthel　hissed；　jerking　her　arm　free；　and　the　wizard　blinked　in　surprise；　having　forgotten　that　he　still　grasped　her　and　was　steering　her　along。
　　　〃My　apologies；　Mistress；〃　Pharaun　said；　bowing　slightly。　〃In　light　of　the　situation；　I　thought　it　prudent　to　try　to　smooth　things　over　the　best　way　possible。　In　a　way；　though；　it　was　good。　You　drew　attention　away　from　the　draegloth。〃
　　　〃Fine；〃　she　answered；　still　scowling。　〃We　got　through　them；　that's　the　important　thing。　Now；　let's　see　just　how　bad　it　is　inside　the　city。〃
　　　It　wasn't　long　before　the　group　had　reached　the　gates　of　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs。　Continuing　their　masquerade　as　bruised　and　battered　merchants；　they　passed　through　the　guards　there　and　found　themselves　inside。
　　　It　was　chaos。
　　　FIVE
　　　〃You're　late；〃　Drisinil　Melarn　snapped　as　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　strode　into　the　audience　chamber　of　House　Melarn。
　　　The　matron　mother　of　House　Zauvirr　forced　herself　to　suppress　the　hot　retort　that　she　ached　to　unleash；　contenting　herself　instead　with　pursed　lips。
　　　I　am　sincerely　apologetic；〃　Ssipriina　lied；　bowing　low　to　the　other　matron　mother；　knowing　she　mocked　the　other　drow　simply　through　the　use　of　such　formal　ments　and　antics。　〃It　could　not　be　helped。　I　had　urgent　business　matters　to　attend　to；　issues　that　keep　your　coffers　full；　Matron　Mother。〃
　　　Ssipriina　liked　the　dangerous　glitter　she　was　creating　in　Drisinil's　hot　eyes。　It　would　be　hard　for　the　head　of　House　Melarn　to　chastise　her　minion　for　working　so　diligently　to　keep　her　wealthy；　and　Ssipri…ttia　knew　that。　That's　what　made　these　subtle　jibes　all　the　more　fun。　Still；　I　sped　here　with　as　much　haste　as　dignity　would　permit；〃　Ssipriina　added；　〃for　I　have　good　news。　They　have　entered　the　city。〃
　　　〃You're　sure？〃　the　matron　mother　asked。　〃Do　you　have　any　indication　that　they've　changed　their　plans？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　am　sure　of　it；〃　Ssipriina　replied。　〃My　male　made　contact　with　Faeryl　only　a　few　hours　ago；　and　she　informed　him　that　they　were　headed　toward　the　Fracture　Gate　in　the　lowest　quarters　of　the　city。　Apparently；　Mistress　Baenre　is　still　bent　on　stealing　your　goods。　My　spies　saw　them　enter　the　city　just　a　few　minutes　ago。〃
　　　Drisinil　sat　in　thought　for　a　few　moments；　leaving　Ssipriina　standing　expectantly　Finally　the　matron　mother　stirred。
　　　〃They　don't　suspect　that　we　know；　do　they？〃
　　　〃I　don't　believe　so。　I　have　instructed　Faeryl　to　be　as　agreeable　as　she　can　to　whatever　Quenthel　is　planning；　and　I　have　my　spies　set　to　keep　track　of　them；　wherever　they　go。　They　won't　know　a　thing　until　it's　too　late。〃
　　　〃And　you　want　to　let　them　go　through　with　it？〃
　　　〃Well；　not　exactly；　Matron　Mother。　I　am　suggesting　that　we　let　them　get　to　the　storehouse　and　get　inside。　We'll　be　there　to　catch　them　in　the　act。　We'll　have　the　proof；　then；　and　we　can　present　it　to　the　other　matron　mothers。〃
　　　〃Hmm；　yes；　I　like　that；〃　Drisinil　Melarn　said；　shifting　her　considerable　weight　atop　her　throne。　Her　face　held　a　look　of　determination。　〃I　very　much　want　to　see　Quenthel　Baenre's　face　when　she　realizes　she's　not　getting　a　single　scrap　of　my　wealth。　I　want　her　to　realize　she's　just　crossed　the　wrong　House。〃
　　　Truer　words　were　never　spoken；　Ssipriina　thought。
　　　〃Yes；　of　course。　I　will　make　plans　for　us　to　be　there　before　they　arrive　at　the　storehouse。　I　trust　that　you　wish　for　me　to　utilize　House　Melarn　guards？〃
　　　〃Absolutely〃　Drisinil　said。　〃She　needs　to　see　just　who　she　is　trifling　with。　I　want　a　strong　presence　there；　Ssipriina；　and　when　this　crisis　is　over　and　the　council　lifts　the　ban　on　exportations；　I'll　make　sure　you're　rewarded　for　your　patience　and　diligence。〃
　　　〃Of　course；〃　Ssipriina　said；　bowing。　〃I　will　see　to　this　matter　personally。〃
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　Ched　Nasad　was　a　bustling　city　filled　with　drow；　duergar；　and　even　the　occasional　illithid　during　normal　times；　but　Valas　found　it　suffocating。　The　scout　was　certain　three　times　as　many　creatures　occupied　the　place　than　was　usual。　It　was　brimming　with　desperate；　starving　masses　who　pushed　and　shoved　their　way　along　the　thoroughfares；　raising　a　deafening　rumble　and　a　pungent　odor。
　　　The　gate　through　which　the　Menzoberranyr　had　entered　was　near　the　bottom　of　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs；　a　metropolis　filling　a　huge；　V…shaped　trench　in　the　Underdark。　The　entirety　of　the　city　was　crisscrossed　with　massive　calcified　webs　set　aglow　with　magic；　a　hundred　or　more　layers　of　pathways　that　ran　every　direction　and　supported　the　population。　Thousands　of　rounded；　amorphous　structures　clung　to　these　huge　webs　like　egg…sacs　or　cocooned　prey；　thrusting　up　or　dangling　below　and　housing　the　citizens；　guests；　slaves；　and　their　businesses。　Right　now；　it　looked　like　a　writhing　colony　of　ants　swarmed　over　the　webs；　for　as　far　as　Valas　could　see　overhead；　the　streets　literally　vibrated　with　the　masses　of　humanoids　taking　refuge　there。
　　　The　scout　would　normally　have　been　in　the　lead　of　the　entourage；　but　it　was　nearly　impossible　to　move；　so　crowded　were　the　streets。　Instead；　Quenthel　had　ordered　Jeggred　to　run　point；　and　the　towering　fiend　was　pushing　his　way　slowly　through　the　throngs。　Valas　stayed　close　behind　the　draegloth；　and　the　rest　of　the　group　pressed　in　close　behind　the　scout；　fearful　of　getting　cut　off　in　the　madness　and　winding　up　lost；　Valas　noted　that　time　and　again　sullen…looking　faces　glowered　at　Jeggred　while　he　growled　and　rumbled　at　everyone　to　stand　aside。　They　all　did；　intimidated　by　the　formidable　creature。
　　　There　were　few　drow　low　in　the　city；　but　just　about　every　other　race　was　present。　Many　of　the　slave　races；　as　well　as　representatives　of　the　other　major　Underdark　nations；　clamored　with　one　another；　shouting；　pushing；　bartering；　or　just　milling　about。　The　Menzober…ranyr　stood　out；　and　it　was　plain　that　they　were　being　sized　up　by　the　populace。　Sooner　or　later；　there　was　going　to　be　a　problem。
　　　More　than　once；　Valas　felt　the　brush　of　a　hand　or　finger　as　someone　in　the　milling　crowd　deftly　attempted　to　pilfer　a　trinket　from　one　of　his　pockets。　He　had　already　snatched　two　hands　away　from　the　charms　pinned　to　the　front　of　his　shirt；　leaving　each　with　a　nasty　gash　across　the　palm　from　one　of　his　kukris。
　　　Valas　turned　and　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　Faeryl　and　Quenthel　were　both　right　behind　him；　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　threatening　bystanders　with　her　horrid　whip。　Behind　the　two　priestesses；　Pharaun　held　his　piwafwi　closed　and　kept　his　head　bowed；　protecting　himself　from　the　press　of　the　crowd。　Ryld　brought　up　the　rear；　using　his　bulk　to　shield　the　wizard　in　front　of　him。
　　　This　is　ridiculous；　the　scout　thought；　shaking　his　head。　We've　got　to　get　out　of　this　part　of　town。
　　　He　started　to　lean　over　and　tell　Quenthel　when　a　disturbance　in　front　of　Jeggred　interrupted　him。　Valas　turned　back　in　time　to　see　the　draegloth　pounce　on　an　ogre　armed　with　a　greatsword　that　was　blocking　the　path。　A　second　ogre　stood　beside　him；　hefting　a　spiked　club　and　glaring。
　　　Jeggred　leaped　forward　like　a　coiled　spring；　raking　one　of　his　razor…sharp　claws　across　the　front　of　the　first　ogre。　The　attack　was　so　sudden；　the　creature　didn't　even　have　time　to　react。　It　stared　down　at　its　stomach　as　blood　sprayed。　Several　screams　erupted　from　the　crowd　as　some　struggled　to　get　out