war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第24部分

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　　　〃Exactly　what　you　might　expect；〃　Gromph　said。　〃Though　nothing　has　actually　happened；　no　skirmishes　breaking　out；　our　patrols　have　spotted　what　looks　to　be　scouting　parties　surveying　our　situation。　Duergar；　deep　gnomes；　and　even　kuo…toans　have　been　spotted　in　greater…than…normal　numbers。〃
　　　〃They　know。　They　can　tell　that　things　aren't　right。〃
　　　〃Perhaps。　Or；　they　could　simply　be　passing　by　。。。　traveling　to　somewhere　else；　and　we've　simply　grown　more　sensitive　to　their　presence。〃
　　　〃I　doubt　it；〃　she　replied。　〃This　can't　last。　We're　going　to　have　to　confront　the　situation　soon。　I　will　bring　this　up　at　the　next　council　meeting。〃
　　　〃Of　course；〃　Gromph　said　and　made　a　move　to　withdraw。
　　　Triel　motioned　that　her　brother　was　dismissed　and　told　herself　that　it　was　time　to　get　on　with　her　day；　but　she　continued　to　brood　atop　her　throne　for　some　time　after　that。
　　　
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　　　Quenthel　was　thankful　she　had　Jeggred　along　for　the　trip　from　the　Flame　and　Serpent　to　the　storehouse　district。　The　mood　of　the　city　had　grown　worse　since　even　the　previous　day；　and　the　drow　received　more　than　a　few　menacing　looks　and　jostles　as　they　moved　through　the　streets。　Fortunately；　the　trio　didn't　have　to　travel　far　to　get　to　where　they　needed　to　go；　and　much　of　the　journey　was　made　by　way　of　levitation。　Faeryl　was　in　a　sullen　mood；　despite　the　fact　that　she　seemed　more　than　eager　to　aid　the　Menzober…ranyr。　Perhaps　she　was　still　displeased　with　Quenthel's　lack　of　trust；　or　maybe　she　simply　couldn't　abide　Jeggred's　presence。　The　high　priestess　couldn't　blame　her。　The　draegloth　took　such　delight　in　tormenting　Faeryl；　Quenthel　almost　felt　sorry　for　the　younger　drow。　Almost。
　　　Quenthel　had　sent　the　males　to　procure　transportation　for　the　return　trip　to　Menzoberranzan。　She　wasn't　about　to　haul　her　own　provisions　on　her　back　again；　whether　they　managed　to　locate　a　stockpile　of　goods　or　not；　and　if　they　did　they　would　need　sufficient　pack　lizards　and　guards　to　ensure　the　materials　arrived　safely。
　　　Valas　had　warned　the　high　priestess　that　anyone　worth　his　salt　was　going　to　mand　an　exorbitant　price；　if　he　could　be　convinced　to　work　at　all；　but　Quenthel　didn't　care　and　told　the　scout　so。
　　　Why　is　it；　Quenthel　thought　as　they　approached　Black　Claw's　storehouses　from　a　back　street；　where　there　were　fewer　folk　milling　about；　that　with　males　you　always　have　to　explain　things　to　them　in　exacting　detail？　Why　can't　they　just　do　as　they're　told　and　be　done　with　it？
　　　Pharaun　was　the　worst；　she　decided。　Quenthel　had　no　doubt　that　the　wizard　was　off　doing　his　own　little　tasks；　pletely　ignoring　her　instructions　to　him　to　help　Valas　and　Ryld。　He　had　an　infuriating　habit　of　ignoring　her　wishes；　and　she　would　have　to　do　something　about　that…when　they　got　back　to　Menzoberranzan；　of　course。　She　needed　his　talents　too　much　until　then。
　　　〃Now；　remember；〃　Quenthel　warned　Faeryl　as　they　neared　the　office　side　of　the　storehouse。　〃Tell　them　only　what　I　instructed　you。　If　I'm　not　happy　with　this　little　encounter；　Jeggred　will　make　sure　it's　not　a　problem　in　the　future。〃
　　　The　draegloth　was　strolling　along　behind　the　two　priestesses；　and　Faeryl　stole　a　quick　glance　over　her　shoulder　at　him。　Quenthel　noticed　her　faint　shudder　and　smiled　to　herself。　It　turned　out　to　be　quite　useful　that　Triel　had　set　Jeggred　upon　the　girl　back　in　Menzoberranzan。　It　had　made　her　so　。。。　pliant。
　　　〃Yes；　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Faeryl　replied。　〃I　understand。〃
　　　The　three　of　them　were　at　the　door　to　the　storehouse；　where　a　contingent　of　six　House　Zauvirr　guards　barred　the　entrance。　Faeryl　approached　boldly；　even　as　the　males　goggled　at　the　sight　of　the　towering　draegloth　behind　her。
　　　〃We　must　inspect　the　stores；〃　Faeryl　said　in　what　Quenthel　thought　was　a　surprisingly　manding　voice。　〃Stand　aside　and　let　us　enter。〃
　　　The　male　who　appeared　to　be　the　leader　managed　to　pull　his　gaze　away　from　Jeggred　long　enough　to　look　at　her　quizzically。
　　　〃I　don't　know　you；〃　he　said。　〃What　is　your　business？〃
　　　Faeryl　stepped　closer；　standing　a　little　taller　so　that　he　was　forced　to　peer　up　at　her　scowling　face。　She　grasped　the　House　insignia　that　was　pinned　to　her　piwafwi　and　thrust　it　into　his　view。
　　　〃You　know　this；　don't　you？〃　she　snapped；　shaking　the　insignia。　〃You're　here　to　keep　out　the　riffraff；　stupid　boy；　not　bother　a　personal　envoy　of　Matron　Mothers　Zauvirr　and　Melarn。〃
　　　Quenthel　noted　with　satisfaction　that　the　lad　gulped；　visibly　shaken　as　he　moved　with　haste　to　the　side；　allowing　Faeryl　access　to　the　door。　The　ambassador　stepped　inside；　with　the　high　priestess　and　Jeggred　right　behind　her。　As　Quenthel　strolled　past；　she　smiled　sweetly　at　one　of　the　males；　who　still　gaped　at　the　draegloth；　his　eyes　wide。
　　　Inside　the　storehouse；　which　appeared　to　have　been　spun　from　webbing　and　hardened　to　stone；　Faeryl　led　the　way　through　an　office　area；　through　a　large　door；　and　into　a　cavernous　chamber　that　tad　been　subdivided　into　storage　areas　by　low　walls。　Her　footsteps　echoing　in　the　vast　storeroom；　Faeryl　walked　across　the　stone　floor；　hurrying　past　row　after　row　of　shelves　and　bins。　Quenthel　followed　her；　figuring　the　ambassador　knew　the　way　to　the　most　valuable　hoards　of　magic。
　　　Quenthel　supposed　there　was　a　secure　section　of　the　storehouse；　and　she　began　to　worry。　Any　magic　of　value　would　likely　be　warded。
　　　　　　　I　should　have　brought　that　fop　Mizzrym　along；　after　all；　she　chided　herself。　〃Mistress！〃　Yngoth　hissed；　rising　up　from　the　whip。　〃We　are　in　danger！〃
　　　Quenthel　spun　around；　looking　for　signs　of　a　threat；　but　she　could　see　nothing。
　　　〃What　danger？〃　she　demanded。　〃Where？〃
　　　〃A　force　is　here　。　。　。　drow；〃　Zinda　answered；　and　all　five　of　the　snakes　were　agitating　against　her　hip。
　　　〃Drow　and　others；〃　Zinda　added。
　　　Someone's　hiding；　the　high　priestess　realized。　What　have　you　done；　insolent　child？
　　　A　heartbeat　later；　a　small　host　of　drow　appeared　from　behind　a　low　wall；　soldiers　with　swords　and　hand　crossbows　at　the　ready；　and　a　handful　of　House　wizards；　too。　They　were　all　from　House　Zauvirr。　Quenthel　recognized　two　of　the　dark　elves　as　matron　mothers。　It　was　obvious　simply　by　their　demeanor　and　bearing。　One　bore　the　insignia　of　House　Zauvirr；　and　she　was　smiling　coldly。　The　other；　a　rather　plump　drow；　was　most　definitely　not　smiling　and　in　fact　looked　quite　distressed。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mother；〃　one　of　the　males　standing　near　Faeryl　breathed；　raising　his　crossbow　and　sighting　down　it　at　the　fiend。
　　　〃He's　dangerous；〃　Faeryl　called　out；　but　several　of　the　House　wizards　were　already　in　action；　casting　spells　even　as　the　draegloth　sprang　forward；　his　teeth　bared　and　his　claws　out；　ready　to　shred　anyone　and　everyone　to　ribbons。　Faeryl　took　an　involuntary　step　back；　shuddering。　Jeggred　remained　still；　crouching　as　though　he　would　spring　again；　snarling　in　fury；　but　unmoving　otherwise。
　　　〃That　will　hold　him；〃　one　of　the　wizards　claimed。
　　　Quenthel　gasped　in　surprise；　looking　back　and　forth　between　Jeggred　and　Faeryl。
　　　〃Yes；　Quenthel；〃　Faeryl　called　out。　〃He　has　been　rendered　helpless。　He　cannot　extract　you　from　this。〃
　　　Quenthel　returned　her　glare　to　Faeryl　as　the　soldiers　fanned　out；　moving　to　surround　her　but　staying　well　back。　Many　of　the　males　aimed　crossbows　at　her；　and　the　wizards　and　priestesses　all　seemed　ready　to　invoke　various　spells；　should　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　decide　to　bolt　or　attack。　The　snakes　of　Quenthel's　whip　writhed　in　agitation；　snapping　at　anyone　who　stepped　too　close。
　　　〃You　insolent　little　whelp　of　a　drow；〃　Quenthel　snarled；　shaking　in　fury　as　she　looked　at　Faeryl；　who　only　smiled　sweetly　in　return。　〃All　that　time　being　so　agreeable；　and　it　was　a　lie。　I　knew　you　were　being　too　acmodating。　I　should　have　let　Jeggred　have　his　way　with　you　back　in　the　wilds。　I　will　see　you　flayed　for　this。〃
　　　〃That　might　prove　difficult；　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Faeryl　said；　putting　as　much　sarcasm　as　possible　into　her　tone　when　she　came　to　the　honorific。　〃If　you　give　this　situation　just　a　moment's　thought；　you　will　see；　I'm　sure；　that　you　are　overmatched。　It　really　would　be　better　if　you　surrendered　this　foolish　standoff。〃
　　　Quen