war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第48部分

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　　　It　was　his　turn　to　let　his　eyes　invite　an　answer。
　　　〃Answer　this；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　really　want　to　travel　through　the　Plane　of　Shadow；　into　the　Astral；　through　the　Plain　of　Infinite　Portals；　and　to　the　sixty…sixth　layer　of　the　Abyss　without　Jeggred？〃
　　　〃He　would　be　of　service　to　us　all；　I'm　sure；〃　said　Pharaun；　〃as　he　has　been；　but　he　doesn't　serve　me。　He　doesn't　really　even　like　me；　if　that　can　be　imagined。　You；　on　the　other　hand；　have　made　an　important　and　powerful　new　ally　to　replace　the　one　you've　used　up。〃
　　　You　think　Quenthel　is　〃used　up〃？　Danifae　asked　silently。
　　　〃She's　not　herself；〃　answered　the　mage。　〃That　much　is　obvious；　but　the　question　remains：　Why　should　I　do　anything　for　you？〃
　　　〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　asked；　and　Pharaun　got　the　feeling　he　could　have　asked　her　anything　and　she　would　have　at　least　considered　it。
　　　〃I　would　feel　more　fortable　if　Ryld　was　here；〃　he　said；　not　caring　if　it　made　him　sound　weak。
　　　Danifae　nodded　and　said；　〃Even　if　he　has　gone　over　to　Eilistraee？〃
　　　〃I　doubt　that　that's　happened；〃　replied　the　mage。　〃Master　Argith　isn't　the　religious　type。〃
　　　〃His　sword　arm　works　for　you；　as　Jeggred's　claws　work　for　me；〃　she　said。
　　　Pharaun　smiled；　winked；　and　nodded。
　　　〃I　suppose　that's　fair　enough；〃　she　said；　〃but　don't　ask　me　to　spare　Halisstra。〃
　　　〃Who？〃　Pharaun　joked。
　　　That　drew　a　smile　from　Danifae。
　　　〃Keep　the　draegloth　away　from　Ryld；〃　the　mage　said。　〃Bring　the　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　back　here；　kicking　and　screaming　if　you　have　to；　but　alive；　and　I'll　take　him　from　there。〃
　　　〃Agreed；〃　Danifae　said。　She　touched　a　ring　on　her　right　hand　and　disappeared。
　　　That　took　Pharaun　by　surprise。
　　　Interesting；　Aliisza　said　from　somewhere。　Who　is　she？
　　　A　battle…captive；　Pharaun　replied；　or　at　least　she　used　to　be。
　　　Seems　more　like　a　priestess　to　me；　said　the　alu…fiend。
　　　Yes；　Pharaun　replied。　Yes；　she　does；　doesn't　she？
　　　
Chapter　Nineteen
　　　She　spoke　entirely　in　movement；　in　the　subtle　nuance　of　gesture　and　rhythm；　and　it　all　seemed　like　a　glorious　dream。
　　　Halisstra　felt　her　body　moving。　The　air　swirled　around　her；　cool　and　invigorating。　In　the　movement　she　sensed　the　presence　of　Danifae。　The　subtle　curve　of　her　former　servant's　hip　turned　in　a　way　that　suggested　duplicity　and　with　a　grace　that　bespoke　ambition。　Danifae　breathed　discontentment　and　stepped　into　the　Demonweb　Pits。
　　　Halisstra　didn't　watch；　she　danced。　She　was　there；　though　she　had　no　idea　where　〃there〃　was。　There　was　no　space；　only　the　movement　within　it…the　movement　that　was　the　voice　of　Eilistraee。
　　　Danifae　and　Halisstra　both　stepped　in　time　to　a　different　song。　They　moved　toward　the　same　endpoint　but　for　different　reasons　and　were　surrounded　by　the　same　chilling　stillness。　In　the　sway　of　a　shoulder；　Eilistraee　warned　Halisstra　not　to　trust　Danifae　but　pushed　her　servant　along　the　former　battle…captive's　path。　Halisstra　would　lead　some　of　the　way；　and　Danifae　would　lead　some　too。　Both　goddesses　would　push　and　pull　them　from　the　edges；　sending　them　toward　a　place　and　a　time　that　no　sane　draw　could　possibly　imagine　except　in　a　goddess…birthed　nightmare。
　　　Halisstra　felt　herself　move　through　a　still；　empty　space；　and　she　knew　that　space　was　the　Demonweb　Pits…the　home　plane　of　Lolth；　bereft　of　souls；　an　empty　afterlife　with　no　hope　and　no　future。　Halisstra　felt　Danifae　whirl　through　that　same　dead　space　with　her　and　look　at　Halisstra　with　the　same　dull　fear。　There　would　be　no　service；　no　reward　but　oblivion；　and　Danifae　would　arrive　at　the　same　conclusions；　be　dragged　to　the　same　realization。
　　　Danifae　can　be　turned；　Halisstra　danced。
　　　Eilistraee　hesitated。
　　　It　was　with　that　wordless　sense　of　uncertainty　that　the　movement　ceased。　There　was　a　solid；　unmoving　floor　of　sanded　stone　beneath　her　and　dead　gates　all　around。　Halisstra　rolled　onto　her　back；　wiped　her　face　with　her　hands；　and　tried　to　steady　her　breathing。　Sweat　poured　off　her；　and　her　body　ached。　She　felt　as　if　she'd　been　dancing　for　hours　though　she　wasn't　sure　she'd　actually　been　dancing　at　all
　　　Halisstra　looked　around　at　the　interior　of　the　gatehouse；　searching　for　Danifae。　The　former　servant　was　nowhere　to　be　found。　Even　Halisstra's　shouts　went　unanswered；　so　she　wandered　outside。
　　　The　cave's　dull　light　revealed　a　large　and　plex　structure。　Halisstra　knew　she　was　in　Sschindylryn　but　knew　little　else　about　the　city。　Not　sure　if　she　was　coloring　the　world　through　her　own　filtered　perceptions；　she　felt　that　the　air　in　the　City　of　Portals　was　heavy　with　dissent　and　nascent　violence。　She'd　sensed　the　same　thing　before…in　Ched　Nasad。
　　　An　image　of　Ryld　came　to　her　mind…not　so　much　an　image　but　the　memory　of　the　way　he　moved　with　her　and　the　touch　of　his　night…black　skin。　She'd　led　him　to　Danifae；　who　had　led　Jeggred　to　them　on　Quenthel's　behalf。　Quenthel　knew　that　they…or　at　least　Halisstra…had　turned　their　backs　on　Lolth　in　favor　of　Eilistraee。
　　　However；　Ryld　hadn't　actually　done　that。　A　male；　and　not　particularly　religious；　the　weapons　master　served　Lolth　because　everyone　around　him　did。　Ryld；　like　all　drow　in　Menzoberranzan　was　raised　with　the　words　of　Lolth　never　far　from　his　ears。　Halisstra　had　been　raised　the　same　way；　but　she　had　the　sheer　force　of　will　to　step　back　and　examine　the　reality　of　the　situation　as　it　continued　to　unfold。
　　　Danifae　had　a　choice　too；　and　the　realization　of　it　hit　Halisstra　the　moment　Danifae　stepped　out　of　the　suddenly　blazing…purple　archway。　The　gate　had　burst　into　life；　revealing　Danifae　and　momentarily　blurring　Halisstra's　vision。
　　　Blinking；　Halisstra　stood　and　said；　〃Ryld？〃
　　　Danifae　shrugged。　It　was　a　rude；　dismissive　gesture　that　set　Halisstra's　teeth　on　edge。　The　Melarn　priestess's　face　flushed；　her　teeth　clenched；　but　she　did　her　best　to　swallow　the　anger　at　the　same　time　pushing　away　memories　of　punishing　her　battle…captive；　beating　her；　humiliating　her；　and　breaking　her。
　　　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Halisstra　asked。
　　　〃With　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Danifae　replied。　〃They're　proceeding。　I　was　sent　back　to　retrieve　Jeggred。〃
　　　〃You　know　where　the　draegloth　is？〃　asked　Halisstra。　〃If　you　do；　then　you　must　know　where　Ryld　is。〃
　　　〃Jeggred　was　sent　to　kill　him；〃　replied　Danifae。　〃I　told　you　that。〃
　　　〃You　did；〃　Halisstra　said；　〃but。　。　。〃
　　　〃You　want　to　know　if　the　weapons　master　has　prevailed；〃　Danifae　replied；　〃or　if　the　draegloth　is　feeding　even　now。〃
　　　Halisstra　swallowed　in　a　parched　throat　and　said；　〃Does　he　live？　Has　Ryld　won？〃
　　　Danifae　shrugged　again。
　　　〃You　can　get　me　back　to　him；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃Using　these　gates　of　yours；　you　can　send　me　to　his　side。〃
　　　〃Where　Jeggred　would　shred　you　as　well　and　eat　you　both　in　alternating　bites；〃　said　the　former　servant；　〃or；　you　can　move　forward　as　opposed　to　backward。〃
　　　〃Forward？　Backward？　What　is　that　supposed　to　mean？〃
　　　〃The　way　I　see　it；　Mistress　Halisstra；〃　Danifae　said；　〃you　have　two　choices：　Go　to　your　lover's　side　and　die　there；　or　go　back　to　the　surface　temple　and　your　new　sisters　in　Eilistraee。〃
　　　Halisstra　let　out　a　breath　and　looked　the　ravishing　dark　elf　up　and　down。　Danifae　smiled　back；　though　the　expression　looked　more　like　a　sneer。
　　　〃They're　leaving；〃　Danifae　pressed；　〃and　they're　leaving　soon。　If　you　go　back　to　the　temple　where　I　first　contacted　you；　if　you　tell　them　that　Quenthel　and　her　crew　are　on　their　way　to　the　Demonweb　Pits　in　search　of　Lolth　herself；　the　Eilistraeeans　might　have　enough　time　to　help。〃
　　　〃To　help？　To　help　whom？〃　whispered　Halisstra；　then　more　loudly：　〃I　should　go　back　to　the　Eilistraeeans　and　tell　them　that　we　can　follow　Quenthel　and　the　others　to　the　Demonweb　Pits。　Would　you　stand　by　and　watch　that　and　not　warn　them　。　。　。　and　not　warn　Lolth？〃
　　　〃I'm　still　a　servant；〃　said　Danifae；　〃I　can't　make　the　decision　for　you　or　ask　you　to　trust　me。　I　can　give　you　no　promises；　no　assurances；　no　guarantees　about　anything。　For　that；　you'll　have　to　look　to　your　goddess。　Either　way；　I　can　send　you　wherever　you　want　to　go。〃
　　　She　saw　it。　Only　a　flash；　but　there　was　the　unmistakable　look　that　had　wrapped　within　it　u