war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第25部分

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d　in　both　Dwarvish　and　Under…mon　named　the　place　as　the　Cold　Foundry。　The　building　itself　consisted　of　an　encircling　stone　wall；　guarding　a　number　of　small；　free…standing　blockhouses。　The　pany　halted　just　outside　the　inn's　front　gate；　which　stood　beside　a　pen　holding　huge；　foul…smelling　pack　lizards。
　　　〃Hardly　an　appealing　prospect；〃　muttered　Pharaun。　〃Still；　I　suppose　it's　better　than　a　rock　on　a　cavern　floor。〃
　　　Valas　conferred　briefly　with　Coalhewer；　then　turned　to　the　rest　of　the　dark　elves　and　said　quietly；　〃Coalhewer　and　I　will　arrange　safe　passage　out　of　the　city　and　look　into　provisioning。　It'll　likely　involve　some　bribes　to　obtain　proper　licenses　and　such；　which　will　take　time。　We　should　plan　on　staying　here　for　at　least　a　full　day；　perhaps　two。〃
　　　〃Can　we　spare　the　time？〃　Ryld　asked。
　　　〃That　would　be　up　to　Mistress　Quenthel；〃　Valas　said；　〃but　we　may　be　many　days　on　the　next　leg　of　our　journey。　We　acplish　nothing　by　starving　to　death　after　a　tenday　or　two　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。〃
　　　Quenthel　studied　the　cheerless　duergar　inn；　and　made　her　decision。
　　　〃We　will　stay　two　nights；　and　leave　early　on　the　day　after　tomorrow；〃　she　said。　〃I　would　stay　longer；　but　I　am　hesitant　to　trust　our　fortunes　to　the　continued　hospitality　of　the　duergar。　Events　are　moving　too　quickly　for　us　to　tarry　long。〃
　　　She　looked　at　the　scout；　and　at　Coalhewer；　who　stood　a　short　distance　off；　watching　the　street　with　arms　folded　and　pointedly　not　listening　in　on　the　dark　elves'　conversation。
　　　Is　this　place　safe？　she　signed。　Will　the　dwarf　betray　us？
　　　Safe　enough；　the　scout　replied。　Keep　Jeggred　out　of　sight。　The　rest　of　you　should　be　fine；　as　long　as　you　avoid　confrontations。　He　flicked　his　eyes　at　Coalhewer　and　added；　The　dwarf　understands　that　we　will　pay　well　for　his　services；　but　if　he　should　e　to　believe　that　we　might　kill　him　rather　than　pay　him；　he　will　undoubtedly　find　a　way　to　have　us　all　arrested。　He　knows　we're　something　more　than　merchants；　but　he　doesn't　care　what　errand　brings　us　here　as　long　as　he's　paid。
　　　A　loose　end　to　be　tied　up？　Ryld　asked。
　　　Too　dangerous　now；　Valas　signed。　I　will　keep　a　close　eye　on　him　as　long　as　we're　here。
　　　〃Take　Ryld　with　you；　just　in　case；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　tugged　at　his　pack；　adjusting　it　to　ride　better　between　his　shoulder　blades。
　　　〃Ready　when　you　are；〃　he　said。
　　　〃I　can't　say　I　won't　wele　the　pany；　if　trouble　es；〃　Valas　replied。　〃Well；　let's　not　keep　Master　Coalhewer　waiting。　If　you　don't　hear　back　from　us　by　midday　tomorrow；　presume　the　worst　and　get　out　of　the　city　by　the　quickest　means　at　hand。〃
　　　The　scout　hurried　off　with　Ryld　striding　along　a　step　behind　him。　They　collected　Coalhewer　and　made　their　way　deeper　into　the　city。
　　　〃It's　that　boundless　good　cheer　we　find　endearing　in　you；　Valas；〃　Pharaun　remarked　to　the　scout's　back。　〃Well；　I　too　have　errands　to　run。　I　must　find　what　passes　for　a　dealer　in　arcane　reagents　in　this　grim　place；　and　replenish　my　spell　ponents。〃
　　　〃Don't　take　too　long；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　glanced　over　at　Halisstra　and　Danifae。　〃Well；　aren't　you　ing？〃
　　　〃Not　yet；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃As　long　as　we're　here；　I　think　I　will　see　to　providing　Danifae　with　weapons　and　armor。　We'll　be　back　when　she　is　suitably　equipped。〃
　　　〃I　thought　you　didn't　care　to　allow　your　battle　captive　to　fight　for　you；〃　Quenthel　said；　her　eyes　narrowing　in　calculation。
　　　〃I　have　decided　that　Danifae　is　something　of　a　liability　as　long　as　she's　unarmed　and　unarmored。　I　don't　want　my　property　damaged　for　no　good　reason。〃
　　　Halisstra　could　almost　feel　the　depth　of　Quenthel's　suspicion；　and　the　Baenre　silently　stroked　the　hilt　of　her　whip　as　she　studied　the　Ched　Nasadan　and　her　handmaid　thoughtfully。
　　　Good；　thought　Halisstra。　Let　her　wonder　what　hold　I　have　over　Danifae　that　I　feel　confident　arming　her。　A　little　uncertainty　might　improve　her　assessment　of　our　usefulness。
　　　〃Don't　wander　far　or　get　yourselves　into　trouble；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃I　won't　hesitate　to　set　out　without　either　of　you　if　the　circumstances　so　dictate。〃
　　　She　motioned　to　Jeggred　and　marched　into　the　Cold　Foundry；　apparently　dismissing　both　the　Ched　Nasadan　and　the　Eryndlyrr　from　her　thoughts。
　　　Halisstra　couldn't　repress　a　smile　of　satisfaction　as　Quenthel　disappeared　from　view；　Jeggred　slinking　behind　her。　She　exchanged　looks　with　Danifae；　and　the　two　set　off　into　the　duergar　city。
　　　Though　Coalhewer　had　insisted　that　the　city　was　open　to　folk　of　all　races；　provided　they　brought　gold；　Halisstra　could　not　convince　herself　that　a　pair　of　dark　elves　were　truly　safe　in　Gracklstugh。　The　short；　stocky　gray　dwarves　crowding　the　streets　went　about　their　business　with　a　sullen　purposefulness　that　Halisstra　didn't　like　at　all。　They　didn't　laugh；　or　primp　and　preen；　or　even　trade　veiled　threats　with　one　another。　Instead；　they　glared　angrily　at　passersby　of　any　race；　including　their　own；　and　stomped　along　beneath　heavy　shirts　of　mail；　fists　gripped　tightly　on　the　hafts　of　axes　and　hammers　thrust　through　their　broad　belts。　Only　after　Halisstra　and　Danifae　had　passed　half　a　dozen　folk　of　other　races　in　the　streets　did　she　begin　to　relax。
　　　Halisstra　paused　in　a　spot　between　two　towering　smelters　and　looked　around。
　　　〃There。　I　know　little　Dwarvish；　but　I　think　those　signs　advertise　weaponsmiths。〃
　　　They　turned　down　the　street；　which　was　little　more　than　a　winding　footpath　rounding　the　castle…like　stalagmites。　Past　the　great　stone　pillars；　they　came　to　something　resembling　a　town　square　of　sorts；　an　open　place　surrounded　by　low；　fortlike　buildings　of　mortared　stone。　Here　they　found　a　large　storefront　displaying　dozens　of　weapons　and　suits　of　armor　beneath　a　merchants　sign。
　　　〃This　seems　promising；〃　Halisstra　said。　She　ducked　through　the　low　door　and　stepped　inside；　Danifae　behind　her。
　　　The　place　was　filled　with　martial　accoutrements　of　all　sorts；　much　of　it　dwarven；　but　a　number　of　pieces　from　other　races…heavy　iron　blades　of　orog…work；　kuo…toan　armor　made　from　the　scales　of　some　great　pale　fish；　and　black　mithral　mail　of　drow…make。　Two　well…armed　duergar　busied　themselves　with　assembling　a　suit　of　half…plate　armor　at　a　workbench　to　one　side　of　the　door。　They　fixed　suspicious　stares　on　Halisstra　and　Danifae　when　the　dark　elves　walked　in；　and　kept　a　wary　eye　on　them　as　the　priestess　and　her　handmaid　examined　the　merchandise。
　　　〃Mistress　Melarn；〃　Danifae　called。
　　　Halisstra　turned　to　find　the　girl　gazing　up　at　a　well…made　suit　of　drow　chain　mail；　worked　with　the　emblem　of　a　minor　House　she　did　not　know。　A　matching　buckler　hung　near　the　mail；　with　a　morningstar　of　black　steel　alongside　it。　The　head　of　the　weapon　was　fashioned　in　the　shape　of　a　demonic　face　with　twisting；　spikelike　horns。　Halisstra　carefully　muttered　the　words　of　a　spell　of　detection；　and　smiled　at　the　result。　The　arms　were　magical…not　overwhelmingly　so；　but　certainly　as　good　as　or　better　than　anything　she'd　hoped　to　find　in　the　city。
　　　〃What　can　you　tell　us　of　these　drow　arms？〃　she　asked　of　the　shopkeepers。
　　　The　duergar　halted　their　work。　The　two　might　have　been　twins；　Halisstra　could　hardly　tell　them　apart。
　　　〃Trophy；〃　one　of　them　rasped。　〃A　captain　in　the　service　of　Laird　Thrazgad　sold　'em　a　couple　of　months　ago。　Don't　know　where　he　got　'em。〃
　　　〃They're　enchanted；〃　said　the　other　dwarf。　〃Won't　be　cheap。　Not　at　all　cheap。〃
　　　Halisstra　moved　over　to　the　counter；　and　fished　a　small　pouch　from　inside　her　hauberk。　She　pored　through　its　contents；　and　picked　out　several　fine　emeralds　to　set　on　the　counter。
　　　〃Do　we　have　a　deal？〃
　　　The　gray　dwarf　stood　and　approached　to　study　the　emeralds。
　　　He　scowled　and　said；　〃More　than　that。　A　lot　more。〃
　　　Halisstra　met　his　gaze　evenly。　She　hadn't　managed　to　carry　away　much　from　her　House　before　it　fell；　and　she　simply　couldn't　waste　it　on　a　gray　dwarf's　greed；　not　if　she　had　other　options　open　to　her。
　　　〃Danifae；　have　another　look　at　the　mail；〃　she　said　over　her　shoulder。　〃Make　sure　it's　what　you　want。〃
　　　Danifae　read　her　intent　perfectly。　The　girl　picked　up　the　morningstar　and　hefted　it　in　her　hand；　feeling　out　its　balanc