war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第22部分

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　　　〃Actually；　you　did　not；　Mistress；〃　Pharaun　answered　as　the　other　two　found　places　to　lean　against　the　far　wall。　〃You　said　that　you　were　going　to　rest；　and　you　specifically　told　us　to　leave　you　alone。　Under　such　circumstances；　I　didn't　see　the　wisdom　in　disturbing　you　with　trivialities　like　a　refreshing　walk。〃
　　　Quenthel　sighed。　Once　again　the　wizard　was　twisting　her　words　around；　using　them　to　his　advantage。
　　　〃As　for　who　was　watching　us；　I　can't　say。　It　might　have　been　nothing；　just　a　curious　mage　checking　out　some　unusual…looking　characters　as　a　matter　of　course　and　moving　on。　Then　again；　it　could　have　been　someone　specifically　worried　about　us。　I　didn't　see　who　was　scrying。　When　I　returned；　I　pulled　out　my　grimoires　and　studied　a　spell　that　would　detect　scrying；　though　not　stop　it　from　happening。　If　I　give　a　signal；　everyone　must　be　silent。〃
　　　Quenthel　nodded　once；　curtly；　knowing　that　the　wizard　was　taking　wise　precautions。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said。　〃What　did　you　discover　while　you　were　strolling　through　the　city　that　makes　you　believe　it　is　about　to　'boil　over'？I'
　　　〃It's　true；〃　Valas　said　quietly　from　his　corner。　〃The　lesser　races　are　growing　restless。　We　witnessed　an　attack　today。〃
　　　〃So　what？〃　the　high　priestess　responded。　〃They　squabble　among　themselves　all　the　time　back　home。〃
　　　〃Yes；　but　this　was　a　gang　of　them；　assaulting　a　priestess；〃　Ryld　said。　He　was　glowering；　though　at　whom；　Quenthel　was　not　sure。　〃They　were　bold　enough　to　kill　her　in　front　of　everyone　in　an　open　plaza。〃
　　　〃They　would　dare？〃　It　was　Faeryl；　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　her　red　eyes　glittering　with　anger；　〃And　you　did　nothing？〃
　　　〃Truth　be　told；　she　was　quite　inebriated；〃　Pharaun　said；　reclining　on　the　couch。　〃Still；　she　provided　us　with　the　proof　we　needed。　Ched　Nasad's　clergy　suffers　the　same；　ah　。。。　challenges　that　you　do；　Mistress。〃
　　　Quenthel　had　folded　her　arms　beneath　her　breasts　and　moved　to　stand　in　front　of　the　wizard。
　　　〃You　did　nothing　to　aid　her？〃　she　asked；　turning　her　gaze　toward　the　other　two　males；　watching　as　they　looked　away；　some　notion　of　guilt　on　their　faces。
　　　Pharaun　shrugged　and　said；　〃To　have　interfered　would　have　only　drawn　attention　to　the　fact　that　we　were　in　the　city；　Mistress。　If　we　are　to　continue　to　investigate；　we　must　maintain　our　inconspicuous…ness。　Besides；〃　he　added；　leaning　forward　again；　〃she　was　pleading　for　Lolth　to　return　to　her；　right　there　in　the　open　courtyard。　She　had　clearly　lost　her　resolution　and　was　not；　in　my　most　humble　opinion；　fit　to　serve　the　goddess。〃
　　　〃In　your…！〃　Faeryl　seethed。　〃The　opinion　of　a　mere　male　is　counted　upon　for　very　little　in　most　issues。　In　the　matters　of　the　sisterhood；　it　matters　not　at　all！〃
　　　She　stood；　taking　a　step　toward　the　wizard。　With　a　gesture　from　Quenthel；　Jeggred　was　instantly　between　them。　The　ambassador　shrank　back　from　her　one…time　tormentor。
　　　〃Faeryl；　my　dear；　in　this　you　are　usually　correct；〃　Quenthel　said　in　her　most　soothing　voice。　It　was　one　she　rarely　used；　but　in　this　instance　she　believed　it　was　warranted。　For　his　part；　Pharaun　gaped　at　her；　which　made　her　smile。　〃But；　my　dear；　think　on　it；〃　the　high　priestess　continued。　〃The　wizard　is　actually　correct；　though　he　may　have　stumbled　upon　this　conclusion　accidentally；　addled　with　brandy　though　his　mind　seems　to　be。　I　understand　your　fears；　but　you　must　not　let　them　eat　away　at　your　logic。　If　a　priestess　loses　her　faith　in　such　a　public　spectacle；　does　she　do　her　sisterhood　any　service？〃
　　　Faeryl　shook　her　head　as　she　backed　away　from　Jeggred；　returning　to　her　spot　on　the　bed。
　　　〃No；　of　course　not；〃　she　mumbled　at　last。　〃She　shames　us　all　with　her　cowardice。〃
　　　〃Precisely；〃　Quenthel　said；　nodding　sagely；　〃and　as　foolish　as　it　was　for　them　to　be　out　and　about　in　the　first　place；　these　three　silly　boys　would　have　only　caused　more　harm　to　our　progress　if　they　had　made　a　spectacle　of　themselves　as　well。〃
　　　〃Forgive　my　impudence；　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Faeryl　said；　her　tone　dreary　〃I　have　returned　home　to　find　my　city　on　the　brink　of　implosion；　where　thralls　dare　to　assault　priestesses　in　open　markets。　As　you　love　Menzoberranzan；　your　city　and　homeland；　so　I　love　Ched　Nasad　and　do　not　wish　to　see　her　e　to　this　end。　I　forgot　myself　in　a　moment　of　emotion。〃
　　　Quenthel　dismissed　the　apology　with　a　wave　of　her　hand。
　　　〃Understandable；　in　this　time　of　crisis；〃　she　said；　〃but　you　must　learn　to　control　that　emotion　if　we　are　to　move　forward。〃
　　　〃Do　I　take　it；　then；　that　you　believe　there　is　still　more　to　be　uncovered？〃　Pharaun　asked。
　　　〃Perhaps；〃　the　high　priestess　answered；　pacing　once　more。　〃I　am　willing　to　hear　what　the　rest　of　you　think；　before　I　make　my　decision。〃
　　　It　was　Valas　who　spoke　first。
　　　〃I　think　it's　unsafe　to　remain　in　the　city　for　long；　Mistress；〃　the　diminutive　scout　said。　〃We　have　discovered　what　we　came　here　to　learn；　and　I　think　it　would　be　wise　to　return　to　Menzoberranzan　before　riots　fill　the　streets　and　we　get　caught　up　in　another　slave　revolt；　or　worse。〃
　　　〃I　agree　with　Valas；〃　Ryld　added。　〃It　is　clear　to　me　that　the　clerics　here　have　handled　the　vanishing　of　Lolth　less　well　than　you　and　yours　back　home。　There　is　little　they　can　do　for　us。〃
　　　Quenthel　looked　to　Pharaun；　knowing　he　would　have　something　pletely　different　and　unorthodox　in　mind。
　　　Pharaun　shifted　a　bit；　eyeing　the　other　two　males　before　saying；　I　think　we　might　do　better　to　investigate　further。　Valas　opened　my　eyes　to　another　possible　avenue　of　study；　one　that　I　would　like　to　take　advantage　of。　There　are　other　races　who　venerate　the　Dark　Mother　besides　drow；　and　it　would　behoove　us　to　discover　whether　or　nor　they；　too；　suffer　her　loss。〃
　　　Quenthel　nodded　and　said；　〃An　interesting　idea；　but　not　one　of　much　practicality。　We　are　not　loved　by　many　others；　and　I　doubt　that　those　who　worship　Lolth　would　too　freely　impart　such　secretive　information　to　us。　Notice　how　we　haven't　been　too　forthing　ourselves；　even　to　the　dark　elves　of　our　sister　city。　However；　as　there　is　still　business　I　consider　unfinished　here；　we　will　not　be　going　just　yet。〃
　　　〃Yes；　precisely；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃While　you're　busy　with　all　that；　I　plan　to　at　least　look　into　my　theory。　I　think　I　might　know　of　a　way　to　confirm　it　by　tomorrow。〃
　　　〃I　have　other　work　for　you　tomorrow；〃　Quenthel　said；　giving　the　wizard　a　cold　gaze。　〃Faeryl；　Jeggred；　and　I　shall　pay　a　visit　to　the　storehouses　of　Black　Claw　Mercantile　and　take　what　rightfully　belongs　to　House　Baenre　while　the　three　of　you　find　a　means　to　transport　it　back。　I　intend　to　get　out　of　the　city　with　those　goods　as　quickly　as　possible。　The　caravans　are　long　overdue　in　Menzoberranzan；　and　we　are　here　to　make　sure　due　payment　is　made。〃
　　　　　　　Pharaun　scowled　briefly；　and　Quenthel　was　expecting　an　argument；　but　the　wizard　merely　stood；　nodding　again。　
　　　
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　　　Pharaun　was　surprised　when　Quenthel　asked　him　to　remain　behind　for　a　moment　after　dismissing　the　rest　of　the　group；　along　with　specific　instructions　to　Jeggred　to　keep　an　eye　on　Faeryl；　instructions　that　made　the　ambassador　actually　tremble。　The　wizard　stood　silently　as　Quenthel　closed　the　door；　then　he　cocked　an　eyebrow　at　her　when　she　asked　him　if　his　detection　spells　were　still　in　place。
　　　〃Yes；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　they　are；〃　the　mage　responded。　〃The　divination　should　remain　in　place　for　a　full　day〃
　　　〃Good；〃　the　high　priestess　said；　nodding　in　satisfaction。　〃You're　pretty　talented　with　divining　information；　are　you　not？〃
　　　Pharaun　could　not　help　but　grin　but　sat　on　the　couch　as　he　Spread　his　hands　ingenuously；　wondering　why　she；　of　all　drow；　would　pay　him　a　pliment。
　　　〃I　manage　to　get　by；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　want　you　to　do　something　for　me；〃　Quenthel　said；　biting　her　lip。
　　　Pharaun　tipped　his　head　to　one　side；　surprised；　for　it　was　not　at　all　like　her；　especially　in　recent　tendays；　to　pay　him　a　pliment；　much　less　ask　a　favor　of　him。
　　　　　　　We　are　indeed　a　long　way　from　Menzoberranzan；　he　thought　wryly。
　　　It　would　give　the　wizard　leverage　if　he　could　perform　a　genuine　task　for　her；　but　of　course　the　first　notion　that　popped　into　his　head　was　the　prosp