war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第33部分

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e　gesture。　She　had　no　idea　what　the　sound　could　signify　except　that　maybe　the　man…if　it　was　a　man…was　choking。
　　　Ryld　rolled　him　over　with　a　purposely　harsh；　violent　push。　The　sleeper　had　the　gruff　grayish…yellow　features　of　an　orc；　but　not　entirely。　His　eyes　bulged；　and　he　took　a　deep　breath；　his　heavy　brow　wrinkled　in　anger。　Ryld　dropped　the　blade　of　his　short　sword　to　the　boatman's　neck；　and　the　angry　man　stopped　very　suddenly。　Halisstra　stepped　in。　When　she　looked　more　closely　at　him；　she　saw　that　the　ferryman　was　a　half…orc。　That　was　good　luck　for　them。　Half…orcs　tended　to　be　as　despised　on　the　World　Above　as　they　were　in　the　Underdark；　so　he　would　be　easier　to　manipulate　into　keeping　their　presence　secret。
　　　〃Silence；〃　Ryld　whispered　in　the　guttural　trade　tongue　of　the　surface　races。
　　　The　half…orc　glanced　once　at　Halisstra；　then　met　Ryld's　eyes　and　made　a　show　of　relaxing。　He　said　nothing。
　　　〃We　require　a　boat；〃　the　weapons　master　said　quietly。　〃You　will　take　us　east　across　the　river；　and　you　will　tell　no　one　of　it。〃
　　　The　half…orc　looked　at　him；　considering　it。
　　　Ryld　nicked　the　man's　neck　with　his　short　sword；　barely　enough　to　draw　a　half…inch　sliver　of　blood。
　　　〃I　wasn't　asking；〃　the　weapons　master　added；　and　the　half…orc　nodded。
　　　Within　minutes　they　were　on　the　boat。　The　horizon　in　front　of　them　turned　from　black　to　a　deep　indigo。　Halisstra　had　begun　to　grow　accustomed　to　the　sun；　but　Ryld　still　hated　it；　so　they　had　been　traveling　at　night。　In　order　to　make　their　arranged　rendezvous　with　Danifae；　they　might　have　to　continue　through　the　morning；　but　Halisstra　knew　Ryld　wouldn't　plain。
　　　〃I　think　the　ferryman　expects　us　to　pay　him　when　we　get　to　the　other　side；〃　Ryld　said　in　Low　Drow；　glancing　at　the　half…orc　who　was　pretending　not　to　be　staring　at　them。　〃Or　do　they　breed　half…orcs　as　slaves　here　too？〃
　　　At　first　Halisstra　thought　he　was　joking。　It　was　hard　to　see　his　eyes　with　the　cowl　of　his　piwafwi　pulled　over　his　head。　Halisstra　wore　her　own　hood　the　same　way；　but　by　the　time　they　got　to　the　midpoint　in　the　wide　river　delta；　the　priestess　realized　that　no　one　on　any　of　the　other　boats　was　bothering　to　look　at　them　and　night…blind　humans　wouldn't　be　able　to　see　them　in　the　dark…not　from　a　distance　anyway。　She　slipped　the　hood　off　her　head；　eliciting　an　irritated　scowl　from　Ryld；　who　kept　his　own　cowl　up。
　　　〃Why　don't　you　ask　him？〃　Halisstra　said；　nodding　at　the　boatman。
　　　Ryld　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Danifae　is　going　to　kill　you；〃　he　said；　his　voice　flat。
　　　〃Is　she？〃
　　　〃I　would；〃　the　weapons　master　replied。　〃She　was　your　battle…captive　for　a　long　time；　and　now　she　isn't。　Of　course　she　will　seek　revenge　for　her　years　of　bondage。〃
　　　〃Maybe；〃　Halisstra　had　to　admit；　〃but　I　don't　think　so。〃
　　　〃We　don't　get　your　kind　around　here　much；〃　the　boatman　blurted　suddenly　in　heavily　accented　Low　Drow。
　　　The　sound　of　the　half…human；　half…orc　thing　speaking　the　language　of　the　dark　elves　made　Halisstra's　skin　crawl。　Ryld　drew　his　short　sword。
　　　The　boatman　put　up　a　hand；　shaking；　and　said；　〃I　mean　no　disrespect　or　anything。　I　was　just　saying　。　。　。〃
　　　〃You've　seen　drow　before？〃　Halisstra　asked　then　flashed　a　quick　sentence　in　sign　language：　An　extra　hundred　gold　pieces　if　you　forget　all　about　us。
　　　The　half…orc　had　no　reaction　to　the　signed　question。　He　didn't　even　seem　to　notice　that　she'd　been　trying　to　municate。
　　　〃Sure；〃　the　boatman　replied；　〃I've　seen　a　drow　or　two。　Not　recently；　but　。　。　。〃
　　　Halisstra　shrugged　off　the　boatman's　answer　and　signed　to　Ryld；　I　think　he　wanted　us　to　know　he　understood　us；　so　we　wouldn't　say　something　that　would　make　us　want　to　kill　him　for　hearing　it。
　　　That　drew　a　smile　from　Ryld。
　　　You　can　put　your　sword　away；　she　added。
　　　The　weapons　master　sheathed　his　blade　and　said；　〃If　he　understands　the　sign；　he　should　say　so　now　or　I　will　kill　him。〃
　　　The　half…orc　waved　a　hand　and　said；　〃No；　no；　sir。　I　swear　to　you。　I　didn't　even　know　what　you　were　doing。　I　just　paddle；　yes？　Paddle？　You　don't　even　have　to　pay　me。〃
　　　〃Pay　you？〃　Ryld　asked。
　　　The　half…orc　looked　away。
　　　He　heard　us　mention　the　temple；　Ryld　signed。　It　goes　without　saying　that　he　can't　be　trusted。
　　　Who　can？　Halisstra　answered。
　　　Not　Danifae；　the　weapons　master　signed。
　　　Eilistraee　will　guide　us；　she　replied。　Danifae　has　no　goddess　to　guide　her。
　　　Ryld　nodded；　though　he　made　his　continued　skepticism　plain。
　　　They　rode　the　rest　of　the　way　in　silence；　and　soon　they　were　at　the　other　side　of　the　river。　Halisstra　stepped　off　the　boat；　wading　in　inches　deep　water　to　the　rocky　riverbank。　She　looked　back　for　Ryld；　who　was　stepping　toward　the　half…orc。　The　weapons　master　reached　behind　the　ferryman；　unsheathed　Splitter；　took　off　the　half…orc's　head；　and　resheathed　his　weapon　in　precisely　the　space　of　one　of　Halisstra's　heartbeats。　The　head　splashed　into　the　water；　and　the　weapons　master　kicked　the　body　in　after　it。
　　　Ryld　turned　to　wade　ashore；　and　Halisstra　looked　away　into　the　blue…gray　light　of　the　dawn。　She　could　hear　his　footsteps　in　the　water　then　on　the　rocks　behind　her；　but　she　didn't　want　to　look　at　his　face　just　then。
　　　
　　　Danifae　materialized　on　the　deck　of　the　ship　of　chaos　and　was　instantly　struck　by　how　much　had　changed。　Valas　appeared　next　to　her；　and　she　watched　his　expression　change　from　his　normal　stoic；　blank　pragmatism　to　an　uneasy　curiosity…he'd　noticed　it　too。
　　　Pharaun　and　Quenthel　both　looked　bad　and　smelled　bad。　The　ship　itself　looked　different。　The　deck；　which　had　been　a　dull　white　expanse　of　stark　bone；　was　covered　in　spots　with　pink　tissue　and　crossed　with　gently　throbbing　arteries。　Sinew　and　what　might　have　been　ligaments　stretched　between　gaps　in　the　bone。　The　ship　felt　alive。
　　　Pharaun　and　Jeggred　both　looked　up　at　them　when　they　appeared；　but　only　Pharaun　stood。　The　draegloth　looked　to　one　side；　and　Danifae　followed　his　gaze　to　Quenthel。　Jeggred's　eyes　burned　when　he　looked　at　the　high　priestess；　who　sat　on　the　deck　with　her　back　to　the　others；　one　hand　absently　caressing　one　of　the　vipers　that　made　up　her　whip。
　　　〃Wele　back　to　the　Underdark's　dull　wet　arse；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　said。　He　only　glanced　at　Danifae　but　approached　Valas　with　his　hand　out。　〃You　have　what　we　need？〃
　　　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　nodded　and　handed　the　wizard　one　of　the　magical　sacks　that　held　their　supplies。
　　　Danifae　kept　her　attention　on　Jeggred；　who　made　eye　contact　with　her　finally　and　nodded。　The　former　battle…captive　gave　the　draegloth　a　smile　and　a　slight　bow…then　she　noticed　that　the　bound　uridezu　was　missing。
　　　〃What　happened　here？〃　she　asked　Pharaun。
　　　The　wizard　began　to　laugh；　and　at　first　it　seemed　as　if　he　would　be　laughing　for　a　long　time。　When　no　one　joined　him；　he　calmed　himself　and　took　a　deep　breath。
　　　〃Mistress？〃　Danifae　called　to　Quenthel。
　　　Nothing。
　　　Jeggred　stared　at　the　high　priestess's　back；　saying　nothing　as　well。
　　　〃Are　we　。。。　？〃　the　scout　asked　Pharaun。
　　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　the　wizard　replied；　〃we'll　be　setting　sail　as　planned。　It　turns　out　that　we　didn't　need　the　captain's　services　after　all。　Jeggred　was　kind　enough　to　retire　his　mission　for　us。　I　will　be　piloting　the　ship　to　the　Abyss　and　back；〃
　　　Valas　nodded；　sat；　and　began　to　sort　through　their　supplies。　Pharaun　stood　over　him；　occasionally　menting　on　what　the　scout　had　purchased。　Quenthel　continued　to　sit　with　her　back　to　the　rest　of　them；　saying　nothing。　Danifae　approached　Jeggred；　gauging　his　mood　as　she　moved　closer。　He　seemed　to　want　to　speak　to　her；　so　she　sat　down　next　to　him。
　　　〃Reverie？〃　she　asked；　nodding　at　Quenthel。
　　　〃No；〃　said　the　draegloth；　making　no　effort　to　lower　his　voice。　〃She　has　been　unable　to　take　the　Reverie。　The　mistress　is　weakening。〃
　　　Danifae　took　a　deep　breath；　searching　the　draegloth's　eyes　for　some　hint　that　he　was　anything　but　genuinely　angry　with　Quenthel。　It　didn't　seem　possible　that　Jeggred　had　e　that　far　in　the　relatively　short　time　that　she　and　Valas　had　been　gone；　but　obviously　things　had　progressed　much　more　swiftly　than　she'd　hoped。
　　　〃The　'captain'；〃　Jeggred　grumbled；