war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第8部分

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　　　Without　Ryld　at　his　side；　Pharaun　had　given　Quenthel　and　her　draegloth　nephew　Jeggred　as　much　room　as　the　cramped　deck　allowed。　They　hadn't　appreciated　Pharaun　leaving　them　to　spin　while　he'd　gone　to　pick　up　Valas　and　Danifae　first。　Even　Valas　and　Danifae　had　been　surprised　by　that　one；　but　Pharaun　had　long　ago　learned　that　whenever　possible　a　cautious　drow　lets　his　enemies　twist　for　a　while；　if　only　to　remind　them　that　he　can。
　　　Still；　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　had　been　more　than　a　little　displeased；　and　Jeggred　had　made　another　serious　attempt　at　a　physical　assault。　Quenthel　had　held　him　back；　if　reluctantly；　and　charged　the　draegloth　with　guarding　the　uridezu。　They　were　two　of　the　same：　demons　on　the　wrong　plane；　pressed　into　the　service　of　drow　who　were　ready　to　take　them　back　to　the　Abyss　that　spawned　them。　Pharaun　let　himself　sigh　at　that　thought。　He　knew　it　was　a　bad　idea　on　its　surface；　going　to　the　Abyss；　but　they　had　passed　up　the　acceptable　a　long　time　before。　They　were　in　new　territory。　They　were　headed　for　the　Spider　Queen　herself；　and　right　when　Lolth　seemed　least　inclined　to　greet　them。
　　　Pharaun　was　sure　he　wasn't　the　only　one　who　had　second　thoughts　about　the　expedition；　even　as　strenuously　as　he'd　argued　for　their　going　forward。　For　a　Master　of　Sorcere；　it　was　a　mission　that　could　make　him　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan。　For　her　part；　Quenthel　had　already　achieved　the　highest　post　she　could　hope　for。　As　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　Quenthel　was　the　spiritual　leader　of　all　Menzoberranzan　and　the　second　most　powerful　female　in　the　city。　Some　would　argue　that　she　was　indeed　more　powerful　than　her　sister　Triel。
　　　Of　all　drow　under　Faerun；　she　would　surely　be　weled　into　Lolth's　domain…assuming　there　was　either　a　Lolth　or　a　Demonweb　Pits　at　all　anymore…but　still　the　high　priestess　was　on　edge。　Her　normally　stern　countenance　had　gone　nearly　rigid；　and　her　movements　were　jerky　and　twitching。　Any　talk　of　the　journey　ahead　made　her　pace　around　the　deck；　all　but　oblivious　to　the　lesser　demons　that　often　snapped　at　her　or　reached　out　to　grab　her。
　　　Even　Pharaun；　cynical　as　he　was；　didn't　want　to　believe　that　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　might　be　losing　her　faith。
　　　The　fact　that　Jeggred　also　noticed　Quenthel's　unease　didn't　make　the　wizard　feel　any　better。　The　draegloth's　expressions　weren't　always　easy　to　read；　though　the　half…demon　was　the　least　intellectually　capable　of　the　party；　but　since　ing　to　the　Lake　of　Shadows…perhaps　even　before…Jeggred　had　looked　at　his　aunt　quite　differently。　He　could　see　her　agitation；　though　he　might　have　thought　it　fear；　and　he　didn't　like　it。　He　didn't　like　it　at　all。
　　　Pharaun　closed　his　eyes　and　took　a　deep　breath　as　the　last　of　the　day's　manes　went　down　the　ship's　gullet。　He　felt　tired　enough　to　sleep　like　a　human。　Without　even　bothering　to　cross　the　deck　to　the　place　where　he'd　set　his　pack；　Pharaun　sank　to　the　fleshy　planks　and　sat。
　　　〃Before　you　slip　into　Reverie；〃　Valas　Hune　said　from　behind　him；　〃we　should　discuss　practical　concerns。〃
　　　Pharaun　turned　to　look　at　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　and　offered　him　a　twisted　smile。
　　　〃Practical　concerns？〃　the　wizard　asked。　〃At　this　point　I'm　too　tired　for　any　kind　of　concerns　。　。　。　other　than　。　。　。　the　。　。　。　ones　that　are　。　。　。〃
　　　Pharaun　closed　his　eyes　and　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　the　scout　asked；　his　tone　fortably　devoid　of　real　concern。
　　　〃My　wit　has　failed　me；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃I　must　be　tired　indeed。〃
　　　The　scout　nodded。
　　　〃We'll　need　supplies；〃　he　said；　addressing　all　four　of　them。
　　　Quenthel　didn't　look　up；　and　Jeggred　only　glanced　away　from　the　chained　demon　for　a　second。
　　　The　draegloth　shrugged　and　said；　〃I　can　eat　the　captain。〃
　　　Pharaun　didn't　bother　to　look　at　the　uridezu　for　a　response；　and　the　demon；　sensibly；　didn't　offer　one。
　　　〃Well；　I　can't；〃　Valas　replied。　〃Neither　can　the　rest　of　us。〃
　　　〃There　will　be　no　opportunity　to　stop　along　the　way？〃　Danifae　asked。
　　　Pharaun　regarded　the　beautiful；　enigmatic　battle…captive　with　a　smile　and　said；　〃We'll　travel　from　this　lake　across　the　Fringe　and　into　the　Shadow　Deep。　From　there　to　the　endless　Astral。　From　there　to　the　Abyss。　Any　roadhouses　along　the　way　will　be　。。。　unreliable　to　say　the　least。〃
　　　〃Which　is　to　say；〃　Valas　cut　in；　〃that　there　won't　be　any。〃
　　　〃What　did　you　have　in　mind；　Valas？〃　Pharaun　asked。　〃How　much　are　we　talking　about？〃
　　　The　scout　made　a　show　of　shrugging　and　turned　to　Quenthel　to　ask；　〃How　long　will　we　be　away？〃
　　　Quenthel　almost　recoiled　from　the　question；　and　Jeggred　turned　to　stare　daggers　at　her　back　for　a　heartbeat　or　two　before　returning　his　attention　to　the　captured　uridezu。
　　　〃One　month；〃　Pharaun　answered　for　her；　〃sixteen　days；　three　hours；　and　forty…four　minutes　。　。　。　give　or　take　sixteen　days；　three　hours；　and　forty…four　minutes。〃
　　　Quenthel　stared　hard　at　Pharaun；　her　face　blank。
　　　〃I　thought　your　wit　had　abandoned　you；　Master　of　Sorcere；〃　Danifae　said。　She　turned　to　Quenthel。　〃An　impossible　question　to　answer　precisely；　I　understand；　Mistress；　but　I　assume　an　educated　guess　will　do？〃
　　　She　looked　at　Valas；　her　white　eyebrows　arched　high　on　her　smooth　black　forehead。　Valas　nodded；　still　looking　at　Quenthel。
　　　〃The　simple　fact　is　that　I　have　no　idea；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　said　finally。
　　　The　rest　of　the　drow　raised　eyebrows。　Jeggred's　eyes　narrowed。　It　wasn't　what　any　of　them　expected　her　to　say。
　　　None　of　us　do；〃　she　went　on；　ignoring　the　reaction；　〃which　is　precisely　why　we're　going　in　the　first　place。　Lolth　will　do　with　us　as　she　pleases　once　we　are　in　the　Demonweb　Pits。　If　we　must　be　supplied；　then　we　will　need　supplies　for　the　length　of　our　journey　there　and　perhaps　our　journey　back。　If　Lolth　chooses　to　provide　for　us　while　we're　there；　so　be　it。　If　not；　we　will　need　no　sustenance；　at　least　none　that　can　be　had　in　this　world。〃
　　　The　high　priestess　wrapped　her　hands　around　her　arms　and　hugged　herself　close。　All　of　them　saw　her　shiver　with　undisguised　dread。
　　　Pharaun　was　too　taken　aback　to　see　the　further　reactions　of　the　others。　A　low；　rumbling　growl　from　Jeggred　finally　drew　his　attention；　and　he　looked　over　to　see　the　draegloth's　eyes　locked　on　Quenthel；　who　was　successfully　ignoring　her　Abyssal　nephew。
　　　〃You　talk　like　humans；〃　the　draegloth　growled。　〃You　speak　of　the　Abyss　as　if　it　was　some　feral　dog　you　think　might　nip　at　your　rumps；　so　you　never　rise　from　your　chairs。　You　forget　that　for　you；　the　Abyss　has　been　a　hunting　ground；　though　you　do　most　of　your　hunting　from　across　the　planes。　Are　you　drow？　Masters　of　this　world　and　the　next？　Or　are　you　。　。　。〃
　　　Jeggred　stopped；　his　jaw　and　throat　tight；　and　returned　his　steely　gaze　to　the　uridezu。　The　demon　captain　looked　away。
　　　〃You　assume　much；　honored　draegloth；〃　Danifae　said；　her　clear　voice　echoing　across　the　still　water。　〃It　is　not　fear　that　prepares　us　for　our　journey；　I'm　sure；　but　necessity。〃
　　　Jeggred　turned　slowly　but　didn't　look　at　Danifae。　Instead；　his　eyes　once　more　found　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith。　Quenthel　appeared；　to　Pharaun's　eyes　at　least；　to　have　succumbed　to　the　Reverie。　Jeggred　blew　a　short；　sharp　breath　through　his　wide　nostrils　and　turned　a　fang…lined　smile　on　Danifae。
　　　〃Fear；〃　the　draegloth　said；　〃has　a　smell。〃
　　　Danifae　returned　the　half…demon's　smile　and　said；　〃Fear　of　the　Spider　Queen　surely　smells　the　sweetest。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　Valas　broke　in；　though　Danifae　and　the　draegloth　continued　to　stare　at　each　other　with　expressions　impossible　to　read。　〃Well；　that's　all　well　and　good；　but　surely　someone　knows　how　long　it　will　take　us　to　get　there　and　how　long　to　get　back。〃
　　　〃A　tenday；〃　Pharaun　said；　guessing　for　no　other　reason　than　to　get　on　with　it　so　he　could　rest　and　replenish　his　magic。　〃Each　way。〃
　　　The　scout　nodded；　and　no　one　else　offered　any　argument。　Jeggred　went　back　to　staring　at　the　captain；　and　Danifae　drew　out　a　whetstone　to　sharpen　a　dagger。　The　vipers　of　Quenthel's　scourge　wrapped　themselves　lovingly　around　her　and　began；　one　by　one；　to　sink　into　slumber。
　　　〃I'll　be　off　then；〃　Valas　said。
　　　〃Off？〃　Pharaun　asked。　〃T