war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第31部分

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　　　〃You　might　think　that；〃　Aliisza　conceded。　〃If　you　were　correct；　the　dark　elves　of　Menzoberranzan　would　be　well…advised　to　seek　allies　against　you。　I　wonder　to　whom　they　could　turn　for　help？〃
　　　〃I　would　crush　Kaanyr　Vhok　if　he　did　anything　so　foolish；〃　Horgar　growled。　〃Go　back　to　your　demonspawned　master　and　tell　him…〃
　　　〃A　moment；　Prince　Horgar；〃　Nimor　said；　stepping　between　the　duergar　and　the　alu…fiend。　〃Let　us　not　be　hasty。　We　should　give　Lady　Aliisza's　message　careful　thought　before　we　consider　our　reply。〃
　　　Horgar　snarled；　〃You　do　not　tell　me　how　to　conduct　my　kingdom's　affairs；　drow！〃
　　　〃Of　course　not；　my　lord　prince；　but　I　would　very　much　like　to　confer　with　you　at　greater　length　on　this　question。〃　Nimor　turned　back　to　Aliisza　and　said；　〃I　presume　you　would　be　willing　to　remain　as　a　guest　of　the　crown　prince　while　we　discuss　your　master's　offer？〃
　　　Aliisza　merely　smiled。　She　let　her　eyes　linger　on　the　slim　figure　of　the　dark　elf。　Given　an　opportunity；　she　felt　sure　that　she　could　convince　him　to　see　the　virtues　of　her　proposal；　though　she　also　sensed　that　there　was　more　to　this　Nimor　than　met　the　eye。　Unfortunately；　Horgar　and　his　Marshal　Firehand　were　less　likely　to　succumb　to　her　special　talents。　She　could　wait　a　day　or　two　and　see　if　Nimor　succeeded　in　advancing　her　arguments　for　her。
　　　The　duergar　prince　measured　her；　mulling　over　Nimor's　words。　Finally；　he　relented。
　　　〃You　may　stay　a　short　time；　while　I　think　about　your　offer。　I'll　have　the　captain　set　aside　quarters　in　the　palace　for　you。　Your　soldiers　will　have　to　stay　in　a　barracks　near　my　own　guards。　They　will　not　be　permitted　in　the　castle。〃
　　　〃I　will　require　some　attendants。〃
　　　〃Fine；　you　can　retain　two；　if　you　wish。　The　rest　go。〃
　　　Horgar　looked　toward　the　end　of　the　hall　and　gestured。　His　captain　came　trotting　up。
　　　〃We　will　speak　again　when　I　have　made　up　my　mind；〃　he　told　her。
　　　〃In　that　event；　I　will　be　available　at　your　convenience；〃　she　said　to　Horgar；　but　she　let　her　eyes　linger　on　Nimor　as　she　spoke。
　　　
　　　〃It　can't　be　done　today；〃　Thummud　of　Clan　Muzgardt　told　Ryld；　Valas；　and　Coalhewer。　The　fat　duergar　stood　with　a　mallet　in　his　hand；　carefully　sealing　a　fresh　keg　of　mushroom　ale。　〃Try　again　in　a　day　or　two；　I　guess。〃
　　　Coalhewer　swore　under　his　breath；　but　the　two　drow　exchanged　wary　looks。　It　hardly　escaped　Ryld's　notice　that　over　a　dozen　duergar　brewers　happened　to　be　hard　at　work　very　close　by　the　spot　where　Thummud　stood；　and　that　many　of　them　had　the　unmistakable　glint　of　metal　beneath　their　smocks。　The　brewer　wasn't　in　the　habit　of　taking　chances；　it　seemed。
　　　〃That's　what　you　said　yesterday；〃　Ryld　said。　〃Time　is　pressing。〃
　　　〃Not　my　problem；〃　Thummud　replied。　He　finished　tapping　down　the　lid；　and　set　the　mallet　on　top　of　the　cask。　〃Ye'll　have　t'wait；　like　it　or　not。〃
　　　Valas　sighed　and　reached　for　the　purse　at　his　belt。　He　jingled　it　judiciously　and　set　it　down　nearby。
　　　〃You'll　find　gemstones　in　there　worth　better　than　twice　what　we　agreed　on；〃　the　scout　said。　〃They're　yours　if　you　get　us　that　writ　today。〃
　　　Thummud's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Now　I'm　wondering　what　ye　really　be　up　to；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃No　honest　purpose；　of　that　I'm　sure。〃
　　　〃Consider　this　a　personal　bonus；〃　Ryld　said　quietly。　〃Your　laird　expects　two　hundred　pieces　of　gold　per　head；　and　you'll　see　to　it　he　gets　that。　What's　left　over；　he　doesn't　need　to　know　about；　does　he？〃
　　　〃I　can't　say　as　ye　wouldn't　get　what　ye　want　some　other　time；〃　Thummud　admitted　with　a　shrug；　〃but　the　laird　was　certain　of　his　words　to　me　on　this　matter。　I'd　be　crossin'　him　to　do　this　bit　o'　business　with　ye；　and　old　Muzgardt　would　have　me　head　for　it。〃　The　brewer　thought　about　things　for　a　moment；　and　added；　〃Better　make　it　three　or　four　days；　I　think。　The　crown　prince's　lads　are　all　over　the　city；　and　I　don't　need　'em　to　see　ye　ing　here　every　damned　day。〃
　　　The　stout　dwarf　heaved　the　keg　up　onto　his　shoulder　and　stomped　off；　leaving　the　two　dark　elves　standing　with　Coalhewer　in　the　middle　of　the　sullen　crowd　of　brewers。
　　　〃Now　what？〃　Ryld　asked　Valas。
　　　〃Go　back　to　the　inn　and　wait；　I'd　say；〃　Coalhewer　muttered。　〃Ye'll　have　no　luck　standing　here。　e　back　in　a　couple　of　days。〃
　　　〃Quenthel　won't　like　that；〃　Ryld　said；　still　addressing　the　drow　scout。
　　　All　Valas　could　do　was　shrug。
　　　The　two　drow　and　their　guide　left　the　Muzgardt　brewery；　wrapped　in　their　own　thoughts。　They　marched　along　for　a　short　distance；　putting　the　brewery　well　behind　them。
　　　〃I'm　beginning　to　wonder　whether　we　shouldn't　just　write　our　own　letter　of　passage；〃　Valas　said　softly。　〃We　wouldn't　need　it　for　long；　after　all。〃
　　　〃That's　a　bad　idea；〃　Coalhewer　said。　〃Ye　might　forge　a　letter　that　looks　about　right；　but　ye　need　Muzgardt's　blessing。　If　ye　get　stopped；　ye'll　be　held　while　they　check　to　be　sure　that　ye've　got　the　blessing　of　the　laird。　That　ye　won't　have　until　Muzgardt　grants　it　to　ye。〃
　　　〃Damn；〃　Valas　muttered。
　　　Ryld　examined　the　situation；　trying　to　figure　what　to　make　of　it。　Either　Coalhewer　had　purposely　led　them　to　a　dead　end；　or　the　difficulty　in　obtaining　the　passes　was　unfeigned。　For　the　first　possibility；　Ryld　couldn't　see　any　reason　why　Coalhewer　would　delay　the　pany　in　Gracklstugh。　Perhaps　the　dwarf　meant　to　set　them　up　in　some　way；　but　if　that　was　the　case；　wouldn't　he　have　had　ample　opportunity　to　spring　whatever　surprise　he　might　have　had　in　mind？　On　the　other　hand；　if　Coalhewer　and　Thummud　weren't　collaborating　in　some　elaborate　deception；　why　would　the　crown　prince　happen　to　choose　the　occasion　of　the　pany's　visit　to　Gracklstugh　to　crack　down　on　foreigners　moving　about　the　realm？
　　　Because　he's　got　something　he　doesn't　want　foreigners　to　see；　of　course；　Ryld　decided。　What　wouldn't　he　want　outsiders　to　see？
　　　Ryld　halted　dead　in　the　street。　Valas　and　Coalhewer　turned　a　few　steps　farther　on；　looking　back　at　him。
　　　〃What　is　it？〃　Valas　asked。
　　　〃You　and　I　have　something　we　need　to　do；〃　Ryld　said　to　Valas；　then　he　turned　to　their　guide。　〃e　to　the　inn　tomorrow　morning。〃
　　　Coalhewer　frowned。
　　　〃Fine；〃　he　said。　The　duergar　turned　and　headed　down　the　street；　muttering　under　his　breath；　〃Don't　blame　me　if　ye　get　arrested　for　doing　whatever　it　is　ye　have　in　mind。　I　won't　speak　up　for　ye。　I'll　be　on　me　boat　if　ye　need　me。〃
　　　What　is　it？　Valas　asked　after　the　dwarf　disappeared　into　the　shadowed　street。
　　　The　crown　prince　is　limiting　freedom　of　movement　for　foreign　merchants　and　travelers；　Ryld　answered。　He　doesn't　want　news　from　the　city　to　get　out。　1　think　the　army　of　Gracklstugh　is　going　to　march。
　　　Valas　blinked　and　signed；　You　think　so？
　　　〃It's　what　I　would　do；〃　Ryld　answered。　〃The　question　is；　how　to　make　sure　of　it。〃
　　　He　glanced　around　the　street。　As　always；　any　gray　dwarf　in　sight　was　staring　at　the　two　dark　elves　with　undisguised　hostility。
　　　Investigating　your　suspicion　makes　us　exactly　the　sort　of　fellows　the　crown　prince's　soldiers　will　be　looking　for；　Valas　signed。　The　wiry　scout　frowned；　thinking。　What　would　you　need　to　see　to　confirm　your　fear？
　　　A　supply　train；　Ryld　answered　at　once。　Wagons；　pack　lizards；　that　sort　of　thing。　You　wouldn't　gather　that　together　unless　you　meant　to　march；　and　it　would　take　several　days　to　do　it。　You'd　need　a　lot　of　space。
　　　Agreed；　Valas　answered。
　　　Valas　thought；　frowning　as　he　tugged　absently　at　the　odd　charms　and　tokens　he　carried　on　his　clothing。
　　　Feel　like　taking　a　chance？　the　scout　signed。
　　　Ryld　glanced　around　the　street。　Thummud　had　pretty　much　told　them　outright　that　things　wouldn't　change　for　several　more　days　at　a　minimum；　and　that　was　not　going　to　please　Quenthel。　If　Gracklstugh　meant　to　attack　Menzoberranzan；　he　wanted　to　know　about　it　before　the　duergar　army　marched。　They　would　want　to　find　a　way　to　send　a　warning　back　home。　The　duergar　were　no　slave　rabble　to　be　crushed　at　the　leisure　of　the　great　Houses。　The　army　of　the　City　of　Blades　would　be　large；　strong；　disciplined；　and　well　armed　for　an　assault　on　the　drow；　and　Ryld　didn't　like　the　thought　of　what　an　army　of　that　sort　might　do　to　his　home　city。
　　　Let's　go；　he　replied