war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第52部分

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ed　released　her；　watching　as　she　crumpled　to　the　floor；　gasping　for　air。　Before　she　could　fully　regain　her　breath；　he　reached　down　and　poked　a　single　claw　up　under　her　chin。
　　　Pharaun　saw　that　the　talon　penetrated　deep　into　the　soft　tissue；　probably　through　the　dark　elf's　tongue；　pinning　her　mouth　shut。　Faeryl　squealed　in　pain；　but　it　was　a　muffled　cry。　She　reached　up　to　try　to　pull　the　fiend's　hand　away；　but　he　slowly；　relentlessly　began　to　lift　her；　forcing　her　to　scrabble　to　her　feet；　clinging　to　his　arm　with　both　her　hands　to　support　her　weight　and　keep　the　talon　from　plunging　deeper；　penetrating　the　roof　of　her　mouth。　Higher　and　higher　the　draegloth　lifted；　until　at　last　Faeryl　was　on　her　tiptoes；　frantically　trying　to　lift　herself　off　this　impaling　spike　by　her　arms　alone；　tears　streaming　down　her　face。
　　　Jeggred　merely　held　her　there；　watching　her　squirm；　using　his　two　smaller　hands　to　caress　the　ambassador。　He　brought　his　other　hand　up　and　flicked　a　claw　across　her　exposed　throat；　slicing　through　her　vocal　chords。
　　　With　blood　streaming　from　the　gash　in　her　neck；　her　red　eyes　wild　with　terror；　Faeryl　tried　to　scream；　but　all　that　issued　from　her　was　a　muffled；　wet　gurgle。　Jeggred　laughed　and　let　her　dangle；　unable　to　cry　out　at　all。
　　　Danifae　and　Halisstra　turned　away；　but　whether　satisfied　or　disturbed　at　the　fiend's　display　of　ruthlessness；　Pharaun　was　not　sure。　He　was　the　only　one　who　remained　in　the　cell；　and　he　couldn't　draw　his　eyes　away　from　the　scene　before　him。
　　　Blood　ran　down　Faeryl's　neck　and　chest；　and　her　struggles　were　growing　more　and　more　feeble。　Finally；　perhaps　growing　tired　of　this　sport；　Jeggred　raked　at　her　again；　across　the　abdomen　this　time；　slicing　cleanly　so　that　her　entrails　were　freed。　The　fiend　let　her　drop　to　the　ground　at　last；　and　Faeryl　crumpled　at　the　draegloth's　feet；　though　Pharaun　could　see　that　she　was　not　yet　dead。
　　　The　ambassador　blinked　in　shock　and　occasionally　thrashed　weakly　as　Jeggred　crouched　down。　When　Pharaun　realized　the　demon　was　preparing　to　feast；　dining　on　Faeryl　even　as　she　lay　there；　still　conscious　but　too　weak　to　fight　him；　the　wizard　finally　had　to　turn　away。　The　wet　sounds　of　the　demon　at　his　meal　followed　him　out　into　the　hallway。
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　　　Gromph　Baenre　did　not　relish　the　latest　message　he　had　to　deliver；　for　several　reasons。　First　and　foremost；　it　was　not　good　news；　and　however　much　he　was　removed　from　the　source　of　the　report；　he　was　still　the　messenger。　Ordinarily；　he　wouldn't　mind　for　that　reason　alone；　for　there　were　few　individuals　in　Menzoberranzan　who　could　actually　take　out　their　displeasure　on　him；　the　most　powerful　mage　in　the　city。　Of　those　few；　most　held　on　to　only　a　shell　of　their　former　power　and　were　relying　on　him　to　conceive　of　a　way　to　restore　it。　No；　being　the　bearer　of　bad　news　this　day　would　not　be　as　risky　as　it　might　on　other　days；　but　then　he　didn't　often　have　to　deliver　such　unpleasant　information　to　his　sister。
　　　That　brought　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　around　to　the　other　cause　for　his　distress。　Triel　Baenre　was　at　home；　which　meant　that　Gromph　had　to　go　visit　her；　rather　than　the　other　way　around。　He　detested　leaving　Sorcere；　detested　having　to　go　to　the　Great　Mound　even　more；　and　certainly　didn't　like　doing　any　of　it　under　such　circumstances。　It　was　yet　another　reason　for　him　to　add　to　his　list　of　reasons　why　he　wanted　the　crisis　resolved。　He　was　tired　of　all　the　inconvenience　it　was　causing　him　personally。
　　　As　he　flew　over　the　streets　of　Menzoberranzan　on　his　way　to　the　Great　Mound；　Gromph　peered　below　in　consternation。　He　had　sent　word　to　the　appropriate　individuals　in　charge　that　more　troops　were　to　be　dispatched；　but　he　had　yet　to　see　the　results　of　his　orders。　The　disquiet　below　was　growing　again；　and　if　they　weren't　careful；　the　nobles　of　the　city　would　find　themselves　right　back　in　the　middle　of　another　uprising。
　　　Well；　Triel　could　put　her　foot　down　again；　he　supposed；　insist　that　the　other　matron　mothers　respond　promptly　when　the　call　came　for　more　soldiers；　but　he　doubted　it　would　make　them　quicken　their　pace　one　whit。　They　were　going　to　tend　to　their　own　Houses　first；　High　Council　be　damned。
　　　Approaching　the　edge　of　House　Baenre；　Gromph　settled　himself　to　the　balcony　outside　his　sister's　audience　chamber。　The　guards　on　duty　there　peered　at　him　warily　for　a　moment；　but　when　they　saw　who　it　was；　they　stiffened　in　salute。　Ignoring　them；　the　archmage　walked　briskly　past　them　into　the　council　chambers　themselves；　hoping　to　find　Triel　there。　She　was　not。
　　　Clicking　his　tongue　in　exasperation；　Gromph　passed　out　of　the　large　audience　chamber　and　into　the　hallway　beyond；　which　led　to　her　personal　quarters。　Arriving　at　the　door　to　her　suite　of　rooms；　the　archmage　was　greeted　by　a　pair　of　stoic　females；　robust　specimens　who　were　well　armed　and　apparently　trained　equally　as　well　in　the　art　of　bat　as　divine　magic。
　　　The　pair　of　guards　crossed　their　heavy　maces　before　the　door。
　　　〃She　is　not　to　be　disturbed；〃　one　of　them　said；　her　stare　flat；　making　it　clear　she　would　brook　no　argument；　brother　or　not。
　　　Gromph　sighed；　making　another　mental　mark　to　the　tally　of　reasons　he　hated　doing　this。　No　matter　how　many　times　he　had　to　push　his　proverbial　weight　around　to　get　to　see　Triel　in　her　private　rooms；　the　matron　mother's　personal　guards　never　made　it　any　easier　on　him　the　next　time。　He'd　had　enough　of　it。
　　　〃I'm　not　going　to　stand　here　and　argue　with　you　about　this；　today。　You've　got　one　minute　to　tell　her　it's　me　and　let　me　through；　or　I　will　leave　you　as　two　piles　of　smoking　ash　on　her　doorstep。　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
　　　The　flat　stares　turned　mildly　baleful；　but　after　some　careful　consideration；　the　one　who　spoke　finally　nodded　curtly　and　slipped　inside；　shutting　the　door　behind　her　and　leaving　her　partner　to　stare　icily　at　the　archmage　while　he　folded　his　arms　and　tapped　his　foot。
　　　Just　when　Gromph　was　seriously　considering　whether　or　not　to　make　good　on　his　threat；　the　door　opened　and　the　guard　appeared　again；　motioning　him　through。　Arching　his　eyebrow　as　though　to　say；　〃what　else　did　you　expect？〃　he　pushed　past　her　impatiently　and　shoved　the　door　shut　behind　him。
　　　Triel　was　not　in　the　front　room；　though　that　didn't　really　surprise　the　wizard。　Usually；　if　she　was　going　to　bother　to　be　presentable　for　guests；　she　would　see　them　in　the　audience　chamber。　He　figured　his　odds　were　about　even　as　to　whether　he'd　discover　her　in　the　bedroom　or　in　the　baths；　most　likely　with　a　lover。　He　tried　the　bedroom　first；　with　no　luck。
　　　Moving　through　into　the　bathroom；　Gromph　found　his　sister；　alone　except　for　a　pair　of　attendants；　eyes　closed　and　soaking　in　an　oddly　scented　oil　bath。　The　odor　permeated　the　room　and　made　him　cough。
　　　Triel　opened　one　eye　and　looked　at　the　wizard；　then　closed　it　again；　making　no　move　to　greet　him。
　　　〃You　really　shouldn't　threaten　my　guards　like　that；〃　she　said；　a　bit　testily。　〃They're　standing　there　to　keep　the　likes　of　you　out；　you　know。〃
　　　〃A　thousand　apologies；　Matron　Mother；〃　Gromph　answered。　〃I　will　be　certain　to　avoid　helping　you　in　the　future。　Please　do　drop　by　sometime　and　I'll　be　sure　to　keep　you　waiting　outside　my　offices。〃
　　　This　time；　both　of　Triel's　eyes　opened；　but　instead　of　growing　angry；　she　appeared　worried。
　　　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。　〃Your　news　must　be　particularly　unpleasant　for　you　to　behave　so　boorishly。〃
　　　Gromph　had　to　chuckle；　but　it　was　a　bitter　laugh。
　　　〃You　know　me　better　than　most；　sister。　I　suppose　I　should　give　you　more　credit。　You're　correct；　though；　the　news　is　bad；　and　it　es　from　several　fronts。　Our　patrols　are　telling　me　that　traffic　is　picking　up　on　the　outskirts　of　the　city。　Nothing　definitive；　but　they're　growing　fearful　that　we're　due　for　some　sort　of　aggressive　act　from　somewhere；　and　soon。〃
　　　〃What　sort　of　traffic？〃　Triel　asked；　shifting　in　the　bath　so　that　an　attendant　could　begin　to　scrub　her　back　with　a　rough　cloth。
　　　〃Hard　to　say。　Enough　species　e　and　go　as　it　is；　but　they　have　reported　an　inordinate　number　of　troglodyte　sightings　the　last　few　days。〃
　　　Triel　made　a　noise　in　her　throat；　and　at　first　Gromph　wondere