war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第54部分

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　　　〃Indeed；〃　drawled　Dessaer。　〃Cormanthor　was　not　entirely　abandoned　during　the　Retreat；　and　my　people　object　strongly　to　the　drow　effort　to　seize　our　old　homeland。　Now；　I　would　like　to　know　who　exactly　you　and　your　panions　are；　and　what　you　were　doing　in　our　forest。〃
　　　〃Our　business　is　our　own；〃　Halisstra　answered。　〃We　intend　no　harm　for　any　surface　folk；　and　mean　to　be　gone　from　this　place　as　soon　as　our　business　is　done。〃
　　　〃So　I　should　simply　allow　you　to　go　free；　is　that　it？〃
　　　〃You　would　do　yourself　no　harm　if　you　did　so。〃
　　　〃My　warriors　engage　in　deadly　battles　every　day　against　your　kind；〃　Dessaer　said。　〃Even　if　you　say　you　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　Jaelre　or　the　Auzkovyn；　that　doesn't　mean　you're　not　our　enemy。　We　do　not　ask　quarter　of　the　drow；　nor　do　we　extend　it　to　them。　Unless　you　succeed　in　explaining　to　my　satisfaction　why　you　should　be　spared；　you　will　be　executed。〃
　　　The　lord　of　the　surface　folk　folded　his　arms　before　his　breastplate；　and　fixed　her　with　a　fierce　stare。
　　　〃Our　business　is　with　House　Jaelre；〃　Halisstra　said。　She　drew　herself　up　as　best　she　could　with　her　arms　bound　behind　her。　〃It　does　not　concern　surface　elves。　As　I　said　before；　my　pany　is　not　here　to　cause　any　trouble　to　you　or　your　people。〃
　　　Lord　Dessaer　sighed；　then　nodded　to　Halisstra's　guards。
　　　〃Escort　the　lady　to　her　cell；〃　he　said；　〃and　let　us　see　if　she　bees　more　helpful　with　some　time　to　fully　consider　her　situation。〃
　　　Halisstra's　guards　replaced　her　hood；　covering　her　eyes　again。　She　stood　passively　and　allowed　them　to　do　so　without　protest。　If　her　captors　came　to　expect　pliance　from　her；　there　was　always　the　chance　they　might　make　a　mistake　and　give　her　a　chance　to　get　out　of　her　bonds。
　　　Her　guards　led　her　out　of　the　hall　and　back　outdoors　again。　She　could　feel　the　deep　chill　of　the　air；　and　sensed　the　growing　brightness　in　the　sky　even　through　her　hood。　Dawn　was　near；　and　the　night　was　vanishing　at　the　sun's　approach。　She　wondered　if　her　captors　meant　to　lock　her　in　some　open　cage；　a　place　where　the　curious　and　malcontent　could　e　by　to　jeer　and　torment　her；　but　instead　they　led　her　into　another　building　and　down　a　short　flight　of　stone　steps。
　　　Keys　jangled；　a　heavy　door　creaked　open；　and　she　was　led　through。　Her　hands　were　unbound；　only　to　be　secured　again　in　heavy　iron　manacles　as　rough　hands　maneuvered　her　into　place。
　　　〃Listen　well；　drow；〃　a　voice　said。　〃You　will　be　unhooded　and　ungagged；　at　Lord　Dessaer's　mand。　However；　the　first　time　you　attempt　to　work　a　spell；　you　will　be　fitted　with　a　steel　muzzle　and　hooded　so　closely　you　will　labor　for　every　breath。　We　don't　go　out　of　our　way　to　mistreat　prisoners；　but　we'll　repay　every　trouble　you　cause　us　threefold。　If　we　have　to　break　your　limbs　and　shatter　your　jaw　to　keep　you　docile；　we　will。〃
　　　Her　hood　was　removed。　Halisstra　blinked　in　the　bright　cell；　illuminated　by　a　hot　beam　of　sunlight　pouring　in　from　a　grate　up　in　one　corner。　Several　armed　guards　watched　her　carefully　for　any　sign　of　trouble。　She　simply　ignored　them　and　allowed　herself　to　slump　against　the　wall。　Her　hands　were　chained　together　tightly；　and　the　manacles　were　bound　to　a　secure　anchor　in　the　ceiling；　cleverly　designed　to　take　in　any　slack。
　　　The　guards　left　her　half　a　loaf　of　some　kind　of　crusty；　gold…brown　bread　and　a　soft　leather　jack　of　cool　water；　and　they　exited　the　cell。　The　door　was　riveted　iron　plate；　evidently　locked　and　barred　from　outside。
　　　So　what　now？　she　wondered；　staring　at　the　opposite　wall。
　　　From　what　little　she'd　seen　of　the　surface　town；　Halisstra　suspected　that　her　rades　could　break　her　out　easily　enough　with　a　determined　effort。
　　　〃Hardly　likely；〃　Halisstra　muttered　to　herself。
　　　She　was　a　Houseless　outcast　whose　usefulness　did　not　overe　the　simple　fact　that；　as　the　eldest　daughter　of　a　high　House；　she　stood　as　Quenthel's　most　dangerous　rival　in　the　band。　The　Mistress　of　the　Academy　would　be　only　too　happy　to　abandon　Halisstra　to　whatever　fate　awaited　her。
　　　Who　would　argue　against　Quenthel　on　her　behalf？
　　　Danifae？　Halisstra　thought。
　　　She　allowed　her　head　to　drop　to　her　chest　and　she　laughed　softly　and　bitterly。
　　　I　must　be　desperate　indeed；　to　hope　for　Danifae's　passion；　she　thought。
　　　Once　dragged　off　as　a　battle　captive　herself；　Danifae　would　find　the　situation　deliciously；　perfectly　ironic。　The　binding　spell　wouldn't　let　Danifae　raise　a　hand　against　her；　but　without　specific　instructions；　the　battle　captive　would　not　be　pelled　to　seek　her　out。
　　　With　nothing　else　to　do　but　stare　at　the　wall；　Halisstra　decided　to　close　her　eyes　and　rest。　She　still　ached　in　calf；　torso；　and　jaw　from　the　injuries　she'd　sustained　in　her　desperate　last　stand。　As　much　as　she　longed　to　use　the　bae'qeshel　songs　to　heal　herself；　she　dared　not。　The　pain　would　have　to　be　endured。
　　　With　a　simple　mental　exercise　she　distanced　her　mind　from　her　body's　pain　and　fatigue；　and　slipped　deep　into　Reverie。
　　　
　　　In　Dessaer's　audience　hall；　the　half…elf　lord　watched　his　soldiers　lead　the　dark　elf　away　while　he　stroked　his　beard　thoughtfully。
　　　〃So；　Seyll；〃　he　said；　〃What　do　you　make　of　this？〃
　　　From　behind　a　hidden　screen　a　slender　form　in　a　skirt　and　jacket　of　embroidered　green　glided　forward。　She　was　a　full…blooded　elf；　thin　and　graceful…and　she　was　also　a　drow；　her　skin　black　as　ink；　the　irises　of　her　eyes　a　startling　red。　She　moved　close　to　Dessaer　and　gazed　after　the　departing　soldiers　with　their　hooded　captive。
　　　〃I　think　she's　telling　the　truth；〃　she　said。　〃At　least；　she's　not　a　Jaelre　or　an　Auzkovyn。〃
　　　〃What　shall　I　do　with　her？〃　the　lord　asked。　〃She　killed　Harvaldor；　and　she　damned　near　killed　Fandar　as　well。〃
　　　〃With　Eilistraee's　grace；　I　will　restore　Harvaldor　to　life　and　heal　Fandar；〃　the　drow　woman　said。　〃Besides；　is　it　not　the　case　that　Curnil's　patrol　attacked　her　and　her　panions　on　sight？　She　was　simply　defending　herself。〃
　　　Dessaer　raised　an　eyebrow　in　surprise　and　glanced　at　Seyll。
　　　〃You　intend　to　give　her　your　goddess's　message？〃
　　　〃It　is　my　sacred　duty；〃　Seyll　replied。　〃After　all；　until　it　was　given　to　me；　I　was　very　much　like　her。〃
　　　She　inclined　her　head　to　indicate　the　absent　prisoner。
　　　〃She's　a　proud　one　from　a　high　House；〃　Dessaer　said。　〃I　doubt　she'll　care　to　hear　Eilistraee's　words。〃　He　rested　a　hand　on　the　drow　priestess's　shoulder。　〃Be　careful；　Seyll。　She'll　say　or　do　anything　to　get　you　to　lower　your　guard；　and　if　you　do；　she'll　kill　you　if　you　stand　between　her　and　freedom。〃
　　　〃Be　that　as　it　may；　my　duty　is　clear；〃　Seyll　replied。
　　　〃I　will　delay　my　judgment　for　a　tenday；〃　the　Lord　of　Elventree　said；　〃but　if　she　refuses　to　hear　your　message　I　must　act　to　protect　my　people。〃
　　　〃I　know；〃　said　Seyll。　〃I　do　not　intend　to　fail。〃
　　　
　　　The　Houses　of　Menzoberranzan　mustered　for　battle。　From　a　dozen　castles　and　palaces；　caverns　and　strongholds；　slender　males　in　elegant　black　chain　mail　marched　in　proud　columns　or　pranced　along　in　the　high　saddles　of　riding　lizards；　pennons　flying　from　their　lances。　Under　normal　circumstances　each　House　might　have　sent　hundreds　more　slave　warriors；　a　rabble　of　kobolds；　orcs；　goblins；　and　ogres　to　drive　into　their　foes　before　valuable　drow　troops　were　mitted　to　battle；　but　armed　slaves　were　something　of　a　scarcity　after　the　alhoon's　uprising。　Thousands　of　lesser　humanoids　had　survived　the　revolt　and　its　failure；　as　well　as　the　dreadful　reprisals　that　ensued；　but　the　warriors　among　the　slave　races　had　naturally　suffered　the　greatest　losses。　Even　those　who'd　been　allowed　to　surrender　were　certainly　not　to　be　trusted　with　weapons　again。
　　　Nimor　sat　in　the　saddle　of　an　Agrach　Dyrr　war…lizard；　and　smiled　in　satisfaction　as　the　forces　of　House　Dyrr　marched　past　before　him。　The　panies　gathered　in　a　small；　somewhat　cramped　plaza　near　the　border　between　West　Wall　and　Narbondellyn；　ironically　enough　not　very　far　at　all　from　the　pound　of　House　Faen　Tlabbar。　Each　drow　swordsman　carried　a　light　kit　in　addition　to　his　arms　and　armor；　and　a　supply　train　of　sorts　was　taking　shape　as　each　pany　brought　its　own　pack　lizards　and　attendants。　Many　of　the　mon　folk　of　the　city　ha