war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第40部分

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the　Underdark。　Huge　pack　lizards　carried　heavy　bundles　of　supplies　and　various　infernal　devices　of　war。　Siege　engines　trundled　along　behind　long　lines　of　ogre　slaves。
　　　Gaining　even　that　glimpse　of　the　army　on　the　move　was　difficult；　as　duergar　wizards　sought　to　conceal　the　movements　of　their　prince's　army　from　the　scrying　efforts　of　hostile　mages。　Gromph；　however；　was　an　extraordinarily　capable　diviner。　It　had　taken　him　some　time；　but　he　had　eventually　pierced　the　duergar　wizards'　defenses。
　　　Gromph　examined　the　scene　closely；　seeking　out　the　most　minute　details…the　insignia　of　marching　soldiers；　the　exact　size　and　condition　of　the　tunnels　they　passed　through；　the　cadence　of　the　Dwarvish　marching　chants。　He　wanted　to　be　absolutely　certain　he　understood　the　scope　and　immediacy　of　the　threat　before　he　brought　his　news　to　the　attention　of　the　Council；　as　the　matron　mothers　would　doubtless　expect　him　to　have　already　divined　the　answers　to　any　questions　they　might　think　of。　The　most　disturbing　question；　of　course；　was　how　long　it　might　have　taken　him　to　learn　of　the　marching　army　if　Pharaun　Mizzrym　hadn't　been　passing　through　Gracklstugh。　The　duergar　might　have　covered　half　the　distance　between　the　cities　before　an　outpost　or　a　far…ranging　patrol　detected　the　army。
　　　〃Damnation；〃　the　archmage　growled。
　　　Whether　or　not　Menzoberranzan　was　ready；　the　next　challenge　to　the　city　gathered　in　the　smoky　pits　of　the　duergar　realm　a　hundred　miles　to　the　south。　Gromph　sighed　and　decided　that　he　might　as　well　deal　with　the　unpleasant　business　of　telling　the　Council　what　he'd　seen　sooner　rather　than　later。　He　rose　with　one　smooth　motion；　arranged　his　robes；　and　took　up　his　favorite　staff。　It　would　not　do　to　appear　before　the　matron　mothers　in　anything　less　than　plete　and　total　self…assurance；　especially　when　bringing　such　dire　news　to　them。
　　　He　was　just　about　to　step　into　the　stone　shaft　at　the　rear　of　the　chamber　and　descend　to　his　apartments　in　Sorcere　when　he　felt　a　familiar；　crawling　sensation。　Someone　was　scrying　upon　him…an　acplishment　of　no　small　skill；　considering　the　steps　he　took　to　prevent　such　occurrences。　Gromph　started　to　work　a　spell　to　sever　the　magical　spying；　but　stopped　himself。　He　was　engaged　in　nothing　he　cared　to　conceal；　and　he　was　curious　to　discover　whether　a　duergar　wizard　had　managed　to　detect　his　own　scrying。
　　　〃Do　you　have　anything　you　wish　to　say　to　me；〃　he　asked　the　air；　〃or　shall　I　simply　strike　you　blind　where　you　sit？〃
　　　Save　your　spell；　came　a　cold；　rasping　voice　in　his　head。　As　I　haven't　had　eyes　in　my　skull　in　over　a　thousand　years；　I　doubt　you　could　do　them　much　harm。
　　　〃Lord　Dyrr；〃　Gromph　said；　frowning。　〃To　what　do　I　owe　the　honor　of　your　attentions？〃
　　　And　how　did　you　find　me？　he　wondered；　though　he　was　careful　not　to　voice　the　question。
　　　I　wish　to　continue　the　conversation　we　began　a　few　days　past；　young　Gromph；　the　lich's　voice　replied。　I　intend　to　expand　upon　my　earlier　offer　by　describing　in　greater　detail　some　of　the　schemes　I　have　in　mind。　After　all；　if　I　am　to　ask　you　to　trust　me；　then　I　suppose　I　must　extend　you　a　token　of　trust　first。
　　　〃Indeed。　Well；　I　would　be　happy　to　oblige　you；　but　I　have　urgent　business　with　the　Council。　Perhaps　we　could　take　up　this　conversation　a　little　later？〃
　　　Gromph　glanced　around　the　room；　and　his　eyes　fell　on　the　crystal　orb　in　the　chamber's　oriel。　The　sphere　swirled　with　pearly　green　opalescence。
　　　Ah；　of　course；　the　archmage　realized。　He　found　me　here；　where　my　screens　against　hostile　divinations　are　weakened　by　the　transparency　of　my　scrying　place。　I　must　investigate　ways　to　guard　against　such　occurrences　without　hampering　my　own　efforts。
　　　I　fear　I　must　speak　with　you　now；　Dyrr　pressed。　I　will　not　delay　you　for　very　long；　and　I　believe　you　will　be　glad　you　listened　to　me　before　facing　our　scheming　females。　May　I　join　you　there？
　　　Gromph　paused　and　gazed　up　at　the　unseen　presence　watching　him；　repressing　an　angry　scowl。　Inviting　a　creature　like　Dyrr　into　his　conjuring　chambers　was　not　something　he　cared　to　do　on　a　whim。　Whether　or　not　the　ancient　sorcerer　had　anything　Gromph　wished　to　hear；　it　was　true　that　the　matron　mothers　would　not　take　kindly　to　waiting　on　his　arrival。　He　tapped　his　finger　on　the　great　wooden　staff　at　his　side；　considering　carefully。　He　had　no　wish　to　give　offense　to　Dyrr　if　it　could　be　avoided；　and　after　long　centuries　of　undeath　it　was　hard　to　say　what　the　lich　might　or　might　not　find　offensive。　Besides；　Gromph　stood　in　his　own　sanctum；　where　many　potent　magical　defenses　lay　within　his　reach。　。　。　。
　　　〃Very　well；　Lord　Dyrr。　Though　I　really　must　insist　that　we　keep　our　conversation　short；　as　my　business　with　the　Council　is　exceedingly　urgent。〃
　　　The　air　began　to　seethe　and　hum　a　few　feet　in　front　of　the　archmage；　and　with　a　sudden　crack　of　sound；　the　ancient　lichdrow　stood　before　him。　The　creature　leaned　on　a　staff　of　his　own；　a　mighty　implement　made　from　four　adamantine　rods　twisted　around　each　other　and　bound　at　head　and　heel。　A　small　buckler　of　black　metal　in　the　shape　of　a　demonic　face　twisted　in　an　idiot's　grin　hovered　in　the　air　at　his　elbow。　Dyrr　did　not　bother　with　his　living　guise；　and　stood　revealed　as　a　horrid　skeleton　with　eyes　as　black　as　death。
　　　〃Greetings；　Archmage。　I　apologize　for　inconveniencing　you；〃　the　lich　said。　He　fixed　his　blank　sockets　on　Gromph。　〃What　is　it　that　drives　you　to　seek　an　audience　with　the　matrons　today；　young　Gromph？〃
　　　〃With　all　due　respect；　Lord　Dyrr；　I　believe　that　is　a　matter　for　their　ears；　not　yours。　Now；　what　offer　do　you　have　for　me　that　cannot　wait？〃
　　　〃As　you　wish；　then；〃　Dyrr　said。　〃An　army　marches　against　Menzoberranzan　from　the　south…the　gray　dwarves　have　apparently　heard　of　our　troubles　and　have　decided　to　take　advantage　of　the　opportunity　this　offers。〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　Gromph　snapped。　〃It　is　for　this　very　reason　that　I　must　leave　at　once。　If　you　have　nothing　else　。　。　。　？〃
　　　He　started　toward　the　plain　stone　shaft　leading　down　into　his　apartments。
　　　〃I　find　that　I　am　pleased　that　my　news　did　not　surprise　you；〃　the　lich　said。　〃If　you　had　not　known　of　the　duergar　army；　I　would　have　had　to　make　sure　that　it　did　not　e　to　your　attention；　if　you　take　my　meaning。〃　Dyrr　turned　to　face　Gromph's　back　with　a　terrible　scraping　and　clicking　sound　of　bones　rubbing　together。　〃You　may　recall　we　spoke　a　few　days　past　regarding　a　time　when　you　must　make　a　decision。　The　time　has　e　to　do　so。〃
　　　Gromph　stopped　in　his　tracks　and　turned　around　carefully。　He'd　hoped　that　wasn't　the　lich's　motive　in　confronting　him；　but　it　seemed　Dyrr　intended　to　press　the　issue　whether　the　archmage　wished　him　to　or　not。
　　　〃A　decision；　Dyrr？〃
　　　〃Do　not　play　at　misunderstanding　me。　I　know　you're　far　too　intelligent　for　that。　All　you　need　do　is　withhold　your　report　for　a　few　more　days；　and　you　can　rush　over　to　panic　the　matrons　with　news　of　a　duergar　army　on　our　doorstep。　In　fact；　my　plans　will　be　well　served　if　you　do　so　at　a　time　and　in　a　manner　convenient　to　me。〃
　　　〃That　would　place　the　city　in　peril；〃　Gromph　said。
　　　〃It　is　in　peril　already；　young　Gromph。　I　mean　to　impose　some　measure　of　order　on　the　inevitable。　You　could　be　of　great　assistance　to　me　in　the　ing　days；　or。　。。。〃
　　　〃I　see；〃　said　Gromph。
　　　He　narrowed　his　eyes；　considering　his　options。　He　could　feign　acceptance；　and　do　as　he　wished　anyway；　but　that　would　certainly　invite　the　lich's　wrath　at　the　time　and　place　of　Dyrr's　choosing。　He　could　refuse　outright；　which　would　likely　result　in　a　deadly　contest　on　the　spot　to　determine　whose　will　would　prevail。
　　　Or　I　could　agree　in　earnest；　he　thought。　Who's　to　say　that　we　might　not　channel　the　forces　marshalling　against　the　city　into　useful　chaos；　valuable　progress？　There　will　doubtless　be　tremendous　damage；　but　the　Menzoberranzan　that　emerged　from　such　a　crucible　of　blood　and　fire　might　be　a　better；　stronger　city　in　the　end；　a　city　purged　of　the　ruthless　tyranny　of　the　sadistic　priestesses　and　instead　governed　by　the　cold；　passionless　intelligence　of　pragmatic　wizards。　Every　cruelty　could　be　made　to　serve　a　rational　purpose；　every　excess　curbed　to　produce　a　city　whose　strength　w