war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第21部分

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　sorts　a　little　farther　on。　I　will　meet　you　there　soon。〃
　　　He　quietly　approached　the　gray　dwarves；　making　a　strange　gesture　of　greeting　with　his　hands　folded　before　him；　and　engaged　the　duergar　merchants　in　whispered　conversation。　The　rest　of　the　party　moved　on。
　　　They　found　the　〃inn〃　to　which　the　scout　referred　in　a　dank　warren　of　caves　near　the　southern　end　of　Mantol…Derith。　There；　a　surly　duergar　woman　terrorized　a　handful　of　goblin　slaves；　driving　them　mercilessly　from　one　task　to　another。　Several　small　cookfires　smoldered　haphazardly　in　the　area；　warming　iron　pots　of　thick　stew　tended　by　the　harried　cooks。　Other　slaves　scrambled　to　tap　casks　of　mushroom　ale　or　stolen　surface　lagers；　serving　silent　customers　who　simply　gathered　around　the　fires；　sitting　on　flat　boulders　arranged　like　chairs。　Sturdy　doors　of　petrified　mushroom　fiber　or　rusted　iron　plate　sealed　off　crevices　in　the　walls　nearby。　Halisstra　presumed　that　these　led　to　the　guest　rooms　of　the　gray　dwarf's　inn。　The　chambers　were　most　likely　secure　behind　the　strong　doors；　but　she　couldn't　imagine　that　they　were　at　all　fortable。
　　　〃How　。　。　。　rustic；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　She　wondered　for　one　terrible　moment　if　it　would　be　her　fate　to　live　out　the　rest　of　her　expatriate　existence　crouched　in　some　similar　hovel。
　　　〃It's　even　more　charming　than　the　last　time　I　was　here；〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　forced　smile。　〃The　dwarf　there　is　Dinnka。　You'll　find　that　this　nameless　wayside　inn　of　hers　constitutes　the　finest　lodgings　available　in　Mantol…Derith。　You'll　get　food；　fire；　and　shelter…three　things　that　are　hard　to　e　by　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark…and　pay　a　small　fortune　for　it。〃
　　　〃It　will　be　better　than　resting　in　a　monster…haunted　surface　ruin；　I　suppose；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　She　led　the　way　as　the　party　approached　one　of　the　cookfires。　A　trio　of　bugbears　occupied　the　seats　there；　apparently　mercenaries　of　some　skill；　judging　by　the　quality　of　the　armor　they　wore。　The　hairy　creatures　brooded　over　big　leather　jacks　of　mushroom　ale；　and　gnawed　at　haunches　of　rothe　meat。　One　by　one　the　hulking　warriors　looked　up　as　the　five　drow　and　Jeggred　approached。　Quenthel　folded　her　arms　and　looked　at　the　creatures　with　contempt。
　　　〃Well？〃　she　said。
　　　The　bugbears　growled；　setting　down　ale　and　meat　as　their　great　fists　dropped　down　to　rest　on　axe…hafts　thrust　through　their　belts。　The　motion　caught　Halisstra's　eye。　Bugbears　with　any　lick　of　sense　would　have　vacated　their　places　immediately；　almost　anywhere　in　the　Underdark。　They　might　not　have　been　drow　slaves…clearly　they　weren't；　if　they　were　in　Mantol…Derith…but　she'd　ventured　out　into　similar　places　near　Ched　Nasad　enough　times　to　understand　that　creatures　like　bugbears　learned　quickly　to　give　way　to　the　truly　dangerous　denizens　of　the　Lands　Below；　such　as　noble　dark　elves。
　　　〃Well；　what？〃　snarled　the　largest　of　the　three。　〃It'll　take　more'n　a　drow　sneer　t'make　us　give　up　our　seats。〃
　　　〃Think　y'can　just　push　us　aroun'？〃　the　second　bugbear　added。　〃You　elfies　ain't　as　scary　as　y'was；　y'know。　Maybe　yous'll　have　t'start　showin'　off　why　we's　oughtta　do　what　y'says。〃
　　　Quenthel　waited　for　a　moment；　then　said　one　word：　〃Jeggred。〃
　　　The　draegloth　bounded　forward　and　seized　the　first　bugbear。　With　his　two　smaller　arms　he　clamped　down　over　the　bugbear's　hands；　preventing　him　from　drawing　any　of　the　weapons　at　his　side。　He　locked　one　fighting　talon　around　the　creature's　head；　holding　him　tightly；　and　with　his　other　fighting　hand　he　plunged　his　powerful　talons　into　the　bugbear's　face。　The　mercenary　screamed　something　in　his　uncouth　language　and　struggled　against　the　draegloth。　Jeggred　grinned；　knotted　his　claws　deep　in　the　shrieking　monster's　head；　and　yanked　back　hard；　ripping　off　the　front　of　the　bugbear's　skull。　Blood　and　brain　matter　splattered　the　bugbears　panions；　who　scrambled　to　their　feet；　drawing　swords　and　axes。
　　　Jeggred　lowered　the　twitching　body　a　bit　and　looked　over　it　at　the　other　two。
　　　〃Next？〃　he　purred。
　　　The　two　remaining　bugbears　stumbled　back；　and　fled　in　abject　terror。　Jeggred　shook　his　white…furred　head　and　tossed　the　corpse　aside；　taking　a　seat　at　the　fire。　He　helped　himself　to　a　hunk　of　roast　dropped　by　a　bugbear；　and　raised　one　of　their　jacks　in　another　hand。
　　　〃Bugbears。　。　。　。〃　he　muttered。
　　　〃Hey；　you！〃
　　　The　surly　duergar　innkeeper…Dinnka…scuttled　forward；　anger　plain　on　her　face。
　　　〃Those　three　hadn't　settled　their　tab　yet；〃　she　plained。　〃Now　how　in　all　the　screaming　hells　am　I　going　to　get　my　gold　from　them？〃
　　　Ryld　stooped　and　removed　the　bugbear's　belt　pouch。　He　tossed　it　to　Dinnka。
　　　〃Settle　up　with　this；〃　the　weapons　master　said；　〃and　start　our　tab　with　what's　left。　We'll　want　good　wine；　and　more　food。〃
　　　The　duergar　woman　caught　the　purse；　but　she　did　not　move。
　　　〃I　don't　appreciate　your　scaring　off　paying　customers；　drow。　Nor　killing　them；　neither。　Next　time　do　your　murdering　at　home；　where　it　belongs。〃
　　　She　marched　off；　already　barking　orders　at　the　goblin　slaves　underfoot。
　　　Halisstra　watched　her　go；　then　she　looked　back　to　the　others　and　flashed；　That　was　odd。　Did　you　hear　what　the　bugbear　said？
　　　〃What　he　said　about　the　drow　not　being　as　scary　as　they　used　to　be？〃　Ryld　said；　then　he　switched　to　sign。　Has　word　of　Ched　Nasad's　fall　reached　this　place　so　quickly？　It　was　only　a　couple　of　days　ago；　and　Mantol…Derith　is　many　days'　travel　from　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs。
　　　It's　possible　that　magical　scrying　or　spells　of　munication　might　have　spread　the　word　already；　Halisstra　said。　Or　。　。　。　perhaps　he　meant　something　else。　Perhaps　something　of　our　unusual　difficulties　is　known　here。
　　　That；　thought　Halisstra；　was　a　very　disturbing　scenario。　Gray　dwarves　and　mind　flayers　were　petent　foes；　creatures　who　knew　many　secrets　of　sorcery。　If　they　had　discerned　the　drow's　weakness；　it　would　not　be　unduly　surprising；　but　if　mon　bugbear　mercenaries　were　aware　of　matters　in　Ched　Nasad　or　Menzoberranzan；　it　must　be　widely　known　indeed。
　　　Goblin　slaves　returned　to　their　fire；　laden　with　somewhat　better　fare　than　the　bugbears　had　enjoyed；　and　flagons　of　cool　wine　from　some　surface　vineyard。　The　small　slaves　gathered　up　the　hulking　body　of　the　fallen　bugbear　and　dragged　it　off　into　the　darkness。　The　dark　elves　paid　them　scant　attention。　Goblin　slaves　were　so　far　beneath　their　notice　that　they　might　as　well　have　not　existed。　The　party　ate　and　drank　in　silence；　occupied　with　their　own　thoughts。
　　　After　a　time；　Valas　joined　them；　acpanied　by　another　gray　dwarf。　This　one　was　a　male；　with　a　short　beard　of　iron　grey　and　not　a　single　hair　on　his　head　above　his　eyebrows。　The　duergar　wore　a　shirt　of　chain　mail　and　carried　a　wicked　hand　axe　at　his　side。　His　visage　was　maimed　by　a　set　of　three　great　furrowed　scars　that　had　taken　off　one　ear　and　twisted　the　right　side　of　his　face　into　a　nightmarish　map　of　old　pain。　He　might　have　been　a　merchant；　a　mercenary；　or　a　miner…his　dour　attire　offered　few　hints　as　to　his　trade。
　　　〃This　is　Ghevel　Coalhewer；〃　the　scout　said。　〃He　owns　a　boat　moored　nearby；　on　the　Darklake。　He　will　take　us　to　Gracklstugh　tomorrow。〃
　　　〃I'll　want　me　payment　in　advance；〃　the　gray　dwarf　warned。　〃And　I'll　have　ye　know　I've　a　contract　o'　redress　with　me　guild　back　home。　If　ye　think　to　slit　me　throat　and　dump　me　over　the　side　out　on　the　lake；　ye'll　be　hunted　down　for　it。〃
　　　〃A　trusting　soul；〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　smile。　〃We've　no　interest　in　robbing　you；　Master　Coalhewer。〃
　　　〃I'll　take　me　precautions；　just　the　same。〃　The　duergar　looked　at　Valas　and　asked；　〃Ye　know　where　the　boat　is。　Pay　me　now；　and　ye　can　meet　me　there　tomorrow　early。〃
　　　〃How　do　we　know　you　won't　rob　us；　dwarf？〃　rumbled　Jeggred。
　　　〃It's　usually　bad　business　to　rob　drow；　not　unless　ye　be　sure　to　get　away　with　it；〃　the　dwarf　replied。　〃　'Course；　that　may　be　changing；　but　no'　so　fast　that　I'll　chance　it　today。〃
　　　Valas　jingled　a　pouch　in　front　of　the　duergar　and　dropped　it　into　his　hand。　The　dwarf　immediately　poured　out　its　contents　into　his　big；　weathered　palm；　appraising　the　gemstones　there　before　scooping　them　back　into　the　pouch。
　　　〃Ye　must　be　in　a　rush；　or　yer　man　here　might've　st