war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第39部分

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　　　Valas's　flesh　ran　cold；　and　he　found　himself　stepping　slowly　away　from　the　high　priestess。
　　　〃Why？〃　Pharaun　asked；　a　skeptical　look　on　his　face。
　　　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　turned　and　gave　him　a　dark；　cold　stare。
　　　〃I　think　he　means；〃　Danifae　continued　for　Pharaun；　〃　why　were　you　sent　back？〃
　　　〃I've　never　heard　anything　about　this；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　added。
　　　〃It　was　kept　secret；〃　said　Quenthel；　〃for　a　number　of　reasons。　There　were　circumstances　concerning　my　death　and　the　one　who　killed　me　that　might　have　embarrassed　my　House。　It's　not　a　simple　thing；　attaining　a　position　like　the　one　I　hold。　Indeed　there　is　no　position　like　the　one　I　hold　。。。　in　Menzoberranzan；　at　least。　It　was　not　a　position　House　Baenre　was　prepared　to　concede　to　any　other　House。　For　ten　years　I　was　simply　'away　pursuing　studies'　or　some　other　excuse　alternating　between　ludicrous　and　clever。　Eventually　I　returned；　then　things　happened　and　I　was　elevated　to　Mistress　of　the　Academy。〃
　　　〃And　now　you're　on　your　way　back；〃　Danifae　said　in　hushed；　heavy　tones。
　　　〃It's　as　if　someone　has　a　plan　for　you；〃　said　Pharaun。
　　　No　one　said　anything　more。　Valas　walked　back　to　the　bags　and　finished　sorting　the　supplies。
　　　Danifae　stood　up　slowly。　Quenthel　wasn't　looking　at　her；　but　it　was　clear　from　her　body　language　that　the　high　priestess　had　finished　speaking。
　　　Danifae　thought　through　the　revelation　quickly　but　thoroughly。
　　　It　didn't　matter。　It　didn't　change　anything。
　　　She　turned；　scanning　the　deck　as　she　did　so。　The　others　had　gone　back　to　what　they　were　doing。　Each　of　them　was　undoubtedly　going　over　in　his　own　mind　what　Quenthel　had　said。　She　turned　her　back　to　them　and　stared　at　Jeggred。　When　the　draegloth　finally　looked　at　her；　she　signaled　him　in　sign　language；　careful　to　keep　her　hands　close　to　her　so　the　others　wouldn't　see。
　　　It　is　time；　she　told　him。
　　　The　draegloth　nodded　and　glanced　meaningfully　at　the　tattered　sails　of　human　skin　that　sagged　listlessly　in　the　still　air。　Danifae　nodded　and　began　to　ease　her　way　across　the　deck。
　　　It　took　them　both　several　minutes　to　maneuver　themselves　behind　the　sail　without　making　it　obvious　they　were　hiding。
　　　When　they　were　safely　out　of　sight；　Jeggred　signed；　Where　are　we　going；　Mistress？
　　　Danifae　smiled　and　replied；　Hunting。
　　　The　draegloth's　lips　twisted　into　a　fierce　smile。　The　half…demon　looked　hungry。
　　　Danifae　stepped　closer　to　him。　She　could　see　him　stiffen；　stand　straight…almost　at　attention。　The　former　battle…captive　stepped　closer　still　and　wrapped　one　arm　around　the　half…demon's　huge　waist。　Jeggred's　gray　fur　was　warm　to　the　touch　and　a　little　bit　oily。　He　was　surprisingly　soft。
　　　Danifae　concentrated　on　the　ring　she'd　taken　from　Zinnirit；　and　in　the　blink　of　an　eye　they　were　in　Sschindylryn。
　　　Jeggred　took　a　deep　breath　and　looked　around　at　the　dark　interior　of　the　gatehouse。
　　　〃Where　are　we？〃　he　asked。
　　　Danifae　took　his　hand　and　led　him　to　one　of　the　gates。　Not　answering　his　question；　she　busied　herself　with　the　gate　itself；　activating　it　first；　then　tuning　the　location　to　the　agreed…on　meeting　place。　The　portal　blazed　to　life　in　an　almost　blinding　torrent　of　violet　light。　Still　holding　Jeggred's　hand；　she　stepped　through。　The　draegloth　didn't　hesitate　to　follow；　and　they　stepped　out　into　a　dimly　lit　ruin。
　　　Even　if　Danifae　didn't　know　exactly　where　they　were　she　would　have　known　they　were　on　the　World　Above。　The　lighting　was　strange；　a　different　color　than　anything　found　in　the　Underdark。　The　walls　were　made　of　mud　bricks…very　old；　crumbling。　Vines　and　moss　grew　in　the　cracks　between　the　bricks；　twisting　in　and　out　of　every　crevice；　crawling　up　every　wall；　and　matting　the　floor；　eating　away　at　the　structure　the　way　plants　did　on　the　World　Above。
　　　〃It　smells　strange　here；〃　Jeggred　grumbled。　〃What　is　this　place？〃
　　　Danifae　looked　around　to　get　her　bearings。　The　dull　gray　light　seeped　in　through　dozens　if　not　hundreds　of　cracks　and　holes　in　the　decaying　walls。　On　one　side　of　the　room　a　set　of　uneven　steps　led　up　to　a　floor　above。　On　the　other　side　was　a　similar　staircase　leading　down。　Danifae　started　up　the　stairs　to　the　higher　room；　and　Jeggred　followed　her。
　　　〃This　was　once　a　temple　to　the　orcs'　foul；　grunting　pig…god；〃　she　explained。　〃Now　it's　just　another　piece　of　rotting　garbage　being　eaten　away　by　the　World　Above。　A　suitable　place　to　do　what　we've　e　here　to　do；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　〃What　have　we　e　here　to　do？〃　asked　the　draegloth。
　　　Danifae；　disappointed　but　not　surprised　that　the　subtlety　was　lost　on　the　draegloth；　replied；　〃The　traitors　are　ing。〃
　　　They　came　out　into　a　more　brightly　lit　room；　and　both　of　them　had　to　shade　their　eyes　with　their　hands。　Danifae　moved　to　a　wide　crack　in　the　ancient　wall　and　looked　out　onto　the　World　Above。　The　sun　had　set；　but　the　light　was　still　difficult　to　take。　In　time；　though；　her　eyes　began　to　adjust。　Half　a　dozen　yards　below　her　was　what　surface　dwellers　called　a　swamp。　It　was　a　place　where　water　covered　the　ground…in　most　places　at　least…but　it　wasn't　a　proper　lake。　The　whole　area　around　the　temple　was　choked　with　alien　vegetation。　The　sounds　of　the　myriad　creatures　of　the　World　Above　were　almost　deafening。　The　swamp　crawled　with　life。　Beyond　the　edge　of　the　swamp；　miles　to　the　west；　was　a　wide　expanse　of　water：　the　end　of　a　long　river。
　　　Danifae　let　out　a　slow　breath　through　her　nose　and　heard　the　draegloth　scuffle　on　the　loose　rocks　behind　her。
　　　〃I　hate　this；〃　she　whispered。
　　　〃What？〃　Jeggred　asked。
　　　〃The　surface。〃
　　　Danifae　scanned　the　ground　below　the　ruined　temple。　Finally　she　drew　from　a　pouch　one　of　the　rings　she'd　taken　from　Zinnirit　and　turned　it　over　in　her　fingers。　The　fading　light　played　against　its　polished　surface　and　picked　out　a　scattering　of　ruby　chips。
　　　Pressing　the　ring　into　one　of　the　draegloth's　four　hands　she　said；　〃Use　this　ring　to　return　at　will　to　the　ship　of　chaos。〃
　　　Jeggred　nodded；　slipped　the　ring　on；　and　stood　patiently　behind　her；　listening　attentively　as　she　explained　the　proper　use　of　the　ring's　magic。　Confident　that　the　draegloth　understood；　Danifae　let　the　minutes　drag　on…and　finally　she　saw　them。
　　　〃There　they　are；〃　she　said。
　　　The　draegloth　moved　closer　behind　her；　and　she　suppressed　a　gag　when　his　breath　rolled　over　her。　She　waited　while　he　searched　for　them；　and　when　he　finally　saw　them　he　growled　low　in　his　throat。
　　　〃They're　together；〃　he　said。
　　　〃They　lied；〃　said　Danifae。　〃She　didn't　go　to　Menzoberranzan。　She　went　to　the　Velarswood…a　forest　where　there's　a　temple　to　。。。〃　She　feigned　difficulty　in　articulating　the　word。　〃Eilistraee。〃
　　　Jeggred　growled　again　and　said；　〃And　the　weapons　master？〃
　　　〃He's　made　a　choice；〃　she　replied。
　　　Jeggred　began　to　growl　with　every　exhale。　He　was　ready　to　kill。　Danifae　could　smell　it　on　him。
　　　〃Take　the　male；〃　she　whispered　to　the　draegloth。　〃Just　him　for　now。〃
　　　She　pushed　Jeggred　back　away　from　the　crack　but　held　him　so　he　wouldn't　leave。　Stepping　up　onto　the　bottom　of　the　wound　in　the　wall；　Danifae　drew　herself　up　into　the　dimming　light。　She　waved　a　hand　over　her　head　to　attract　her　former　mistress's　attention。
　　　It　took　an　infuriatingly　long　time；　but　eventually　Halisstra　stopped　at　the　edge　of　the　swamp　and　pointed　up　at　Danifae。　Ryld　looked　up　as　well；　and　Halisstra　waved　in　answer。
　　　Danifae　made　exaggerated；　wide　gestures；　an　unsubtle　form　of　the　drow　sign　language；　sending　the　message：　Only　you。
　　　Halisstra　turned　to　Ryld；　and　they　conversed。　Even　from　so　far　away　Danifae　could　tell　that　Ryld　was　reluctant　to　let　her　go　alone。　The　weapons　master　might　have　been　a　traitor　to　his　city；　his　goddess；　and　his　race；　but　he　was　no　fool。　Still；　Halisstra　managed　to　convince　him…or　mand　him…to　stay　behind。　He　stood　with　his　arms　crossed　as　Halisstra　stepped　gingerly　into　the　swamp。
　　　Danifae　stepped　down　from　the　crack　in　the　wall　and　took　the　draegloth　by　the　shoulders。
　　　Doing　her　best　to　withstand　the　half…demon's　foul　breath；　she　said；　〃Go。　Don't　let　her　see　you。〃
　　　The　draegloth　smiled；　and　a　thick；　ropy　strand　of　droo