war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第61部分

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　　　〃I　will　not；〃　Jeggred　snapped。　〃We're　not　your　prisoners；　to　be　dragged　before　your　master　in　chains。　Why　should　we　do　for　you　what　you　lack　the　strength　to　make　us　do？〃
　　　〃You　came　to　us；　half…breed；〃　the　captain　said。
　　　〃Mistress？〃　Danifae　whispered。
　　　Without　taking　her　eyes　from　the　captain's　face；　Quenthel　drew　out　her　whip。　Weighing　it　in　one　hand；　she　seemed　to　struggle　with　herself；　then　she　tossed　it　to　the　corner　of　the　chamber。
　　　〃Yngoth；　watch　over　our　arms；〃　she　said　to　one　of　the　hissing　vipers。　〃Strike　dead　any　who　would　tamper　with　our　belongings　in　our　absence。　Jeggred；　you　will　permit　yourself　to　be　bound。　Pharaun；　you　as　well。〃
　　　Ryld　sighed　and　set　Splitter　on　the　floor；　kicking　the　blade　to　within　striking　distance　of　Quenthel's　vipers。　Valas　discarded　his　kukris　as　well。　With　a　grimace　of　distaste；　Pharaun　stepped　up　and　held　out　his　hands。　A　Jaelre　drow　tied　his　thumbs　together　with　stout　cord；　a　measure　that　would　make　it　very　difficult　for　the　mage　to　make　the　plex　gestures　and　passes　needed　for　many　of　his　spells。　Jeggred's　large　upper　arms；　the　long　ones　with　the　wicked　claws；　were　chained　together；　but　his　smaller　humanoid　arms　were　left　free。
　　　The　draegloth　rumbled。
　　　〃Be　still；　nephew；〃　Quenthel　said；　then　she　turned　to　the　Jaelre　captain。　〃Take　us　to　the　priest。〃
　　　The　watch　captain　nodded　to　her　soldiers；　who　formed　up　in　a　tight　phalanx　around　the　Menzoberranyr；　swords　drawn。　They　marched　the　pany　out　of　the　guardroom　and　into　the　depths　of　the　keep。　The　pany　was　shown　into　a　large　hall　or　gallery　appointed　as　a　shrine　to　Vhaeraun；　the　Masked　Lord。　Ryld　studied　the　temple　with　some　interest。　He'd　never　set　foot　in　a　place　dedicated　to　any　deity　but　Lolth。　At　the　upper　end　of　the　hall；　across　from　the　entrance；　a　great　half…mask　the　size　of　a　tower　shield　hung　from　the　wall；　overlooking　the　shrine。　The　symbol　was　made　of　beaten　copper；　with　two　black　disks　to　mark　the　eyes。
　　　Two　males　waited　for　them。　The　first　was　young；　dressed　in　black　leather　armor　that　showed　off　a　well…muscled　chest。　A　curved　kukri　was　thrust　through　his　belt；　and　a　small　green　asp　was　coiled　around　his　arm。　His　left　leg　was　encased　in　an　awkward　harness　of　iron　and　leather；　and　he　moved　stiffly。　The　second　was　unusually　short　and　stocky；　with　brawny　shoulders　and　a　bald　pate；　dressed　in　a　breastplate　of　black　mithral　and　masked　with　a　ceremonial　veil　of　black　silk。
　　　〃The　visitors；　my　lords；〃　the　watch　captain　said。
　　　The　veiled　priest　studied　them。　His　expression　was　virtually　unreadable　behind　the　veil。
　　　〃Valas　Hune；　as　I　live　and　breathe；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Well；　this　is　a　surprise。　I　haven't　seen　you　in　more　than　fifty　years。〃　He　hesitated　a　moment　longer；　then　strode　forward　boldly　and　clapped　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　on　the　shoulders。　〃It　has　been　too　long；　old　friend。　How　are　things　with　you？〃
　　　〃Tzirik；〃　Valas　said。　He　smiled　back；　his　dour　face　stretching　with　unaccustomed　enjoyment；　and　he　took　the　priest's　hand　in　a　firm　grip。　He　glanced　around　the　chamber。　〃I　see　you　have　finally　achieved　the　Return　you　were　always　talking　about。　As　far　as　how　things　go　with　me；　well；　that　will　take　some　explaining。〃
　　　Tzirik　studied　the　pany　carefully。
　　　〃A　Master　of　Sorcere；〃　the　priest　said；　〃and　another　of　Melee…Magthere。〃
　　　〃Master　Pharaun　Mizzrym；　an　acplished　wizard；〃　Valas　replied；　〃and　Master　Ryld　Argith；　a　weapons　master　of　no　small　skill。〃
　　　〃Gentlemen；　if　Valas　vouches　for　you；　you　are　wele　guests　in　Minauthkeep；〃　the　priest　said。　When　he　looked　at　the　others；　his　face　hardened；　geniality　fading　into　sharp　appraisal。
　　　〃The　draegloth　is　Jeggred；〃　Valas　said；　〃a　scion　of　House　Baenre。　The　lesser　priestess　is　Danifae　Yauntyrr；　a　highborn　lady　of　Eryndlyn；　late　a　battle　captive。　The　leader　of　our　pany　is…〃
　　　〃High　Priestess　Quenthel　Baenre；〃　Quenthel　interrupted；　〃Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　Mistress　of　the　Academy；　Mistress　of　Tier　Breche；　First　Sister　of　House　Baenre　of　Menzoberranzan。〃
　　　〃Ah；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃We　rarely　have　dealings　with　those　of　your　persuasion；　let　alone　a　priestess　possessed　of　so　many　impressive　titles。〃
　　　〃You　will　find　me　possessed　of　more　than　titles；　priest；〃　Quenthel　replied。
　　　Tzirik's　face　went　cold。
　　　〃Lolth　may　rule　in　your　buried　cities；〃　he　said；　〃but　here　in　the　night　of　the　surface　world；　Vhaeraun　is　the　master。〃　He　turned　and　gestured　to　the　crippled　male　behind　him。　〃In　the　interest　of　mon　courtesy；　may　I　present　my　cousin；　Jezz　of　House　Jaelre。〃
　　　The　younger　male　limped　forward。
　　　〃You　are　a　long　way　from　home；　Menzoberranyr；〃　he　said　in　a　rasping　voice。　〃That；　more　than　anything；　spared　you。　The　spider…kissers　we　feud　with　e　up　from　Maerimydra；　a　few　miles　south　of　here；　but　we　have　not　met　folk　from　Menzoberranzan　in　quite　some　time。〃
　　　He　laughed　softly；　finding　humor　in　some　private　joke。　Tzirik　smiled　as　well；　but　the　smile　did　not　reach　his　eyes。
　　　〃Jezz　refers　to　the　ironic　fact　that　we　are　Menzoberranyr　ourselves；　or　at　least　were；　once　upon　a　time。　Almost　five　hundred　years　ago　the　wise　and　beneficent　Matron　Baenre　ordered　our　House　destroyed　for　the　twin　perversions　of　being　governed　by　males　and　following　the　Masked　Lord。　Many　of　my　kin　died　screaming　in　the　dungeons　of　Castle　Baenre。　Of　those　who　escaped；　many　more　died　in　the　long；　hard　years　of　exile　in　the　lonely　places　of　the　Underdark。　You　must　understand　how　ironic　it　is　for　a　Baenre　daughter　to　place　herself　in　our　power。　If　nothing　else　es　of　whatever　business　you　bring　before　me；　Valas；　you　will　have　my　gratitude　for　this。〃　He　moved　closer　and　folded　his　powerful　arms。　〃So；　why　do　you　seek　me；　Baenre？〃
　　　Quenthel　kept　her　face　impassive。
　　　〃We　need　you　to　mune　with　Vhaeraun；〃　she　said；　〃and　ask　your　god　a　few　questions　on　our　behalf。　We　are　willing　to　pay　and　pay　well　for　your　trouble。〃
　　　Tzirik's　eyebrows　rose。
　　　〃Really？　And　why　would　Vhaeraun　want　me　to　do　this　for　you？〃
　　　〃You　will；　of　course；　discover　what　it　is　that　brings　us　here；　and　what　your　god　knows　of　it。〃
　　　〃I　could　torture　you　for　a　few　years　and　discover　as　much；〃　the　priest　said。　〃Or；　for　that　matter；　having　agreed　to　ask　the　Masked　Lord　your　questions；　I　might　not　see　fit　to　share　the　answers。〃
　　　〃True；　perhaps；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃though　I　think　you　might　find　that　we　are　far　from　helpless；　even　with　our　weapons　back　in　our　chambers。　Before　we　make　a　trial　of　that；　let　us　see　if　we　can　reach　an　agreement　of　sorts。〃
　　　〃She's　bluffing；〃　Jezz　remarked。　〃Why　deal　with　these　venomous　creatures？　Spare　your　friend　if　you　like；　but　slay　the　priestesses　at　once。〃
　　　〃Patience；　young　Jezz。　There　is　always　time　for　that　later；〃　Tzirik　said。　He　paced　away；　then　looked　back　to　Quenthel。　〃What　is　it　you　wish　to　learn？〃
　　　Quenthel　squared　her　shoulders　and　met　the　priest's　gaze　evenly。
　　　〃We　wish　to　know　what　has　bee　of　Lolth；〃　she　said。　〃The　goddess　refuses　us　our　spells；　and　has　done　so　for　many　months　now。　Since　we　do　not　have　access　to　the　magic　she　normally　grants　us；　we　have　no　way　to　ask　her　ourselves。〃
　　　〃Your　fickle　goddess　is　testing　you；〃　Tzirik　said　with　a　laugh。　〃She's　withholding　your　spells　simply　to　see　how　long　you　remain　loyal。〃
　　　〃So　we　thought　at　first；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃but　it　has　been　nearly　four　months　now；　and　we　can　only　conclude　that　it　is　her　will　that　we　should　seek　the　answer　for　ourselves。〃
　　　〃Why　ask　a　priest　of　Vhaeraun？〃　Jezz　asked。　〃Surely　the　priestesses　of　a　neighboring　city　could　be　persuaded　to　intervene　on　your　behalf。〃
　　　〃They　have　lost　contact　with　the　goddess；　too；〃　Danifae　answered。　〃I　came　from　Ched　Nasad；　where　we　had　experienced　the　same　silence　as　the　priestesses　of　Menzoberranzan。　We　have　reason　to　believe　that　all　the　drow　cities　throughout　the　Underdark　are　in　the　same　situation。　Lolth　is　speaking　to　no　one；　drow　and　lesser　races　alike。〃
　　　〃That　would　explain　the　retreat　of　Maerimydra；〃　Jezz　said　quietly　to　Tzirik。　〃If　their　priestesses　are　powerless；　they　might　be　too　busy　with　their　own　difficulties　to　cause　any　trouble　for　us。〃
　　　〃The　facts　would　seem　to　fit；〃　Tzirik　replied。　He　turned　his