war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第31部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　Matron　Mother　Melarn　tried　to　escape。〃
　　　When　she　finished；　Faeryl　realized　she　was　out　of　breath　from　rushing　through　the　rest　of　her　explanation。　Matron　Mother　Aunrae　had　that　effect　on　everyone。
　　　〃Drisinil　was　killed；　cut　down　trying　to　flee；〃　Ssipriina　added；　drawing　attention　back　to　herself。　〃I　would　have　done　whatever　I　could　to　spare　her　if　I　could　have　reached　her　in　time；　but　it　was　too　late；　and　my　own　magic　is　too　weakened　to　stave　off　the　passing。〃
　　　〃So　you　conspired　to　allow　them　to　sneak　into　the　city；　going　so　far　as　to　mislead　a　city　patrol？〃
　　　The　matron　mother　who　asked　this　question　was　Jyslin　Aleanra…hel。　Her　features　were　sharp；　almost　fierce；　and　her　reputation　as　a　malicious；　greedy　drow　who　found　fault　in　every　action　was　legendary。　Faeryl　had　never　liked　her；　but　she　was　hardly　in　a　position　to　show　that　sentiment。
　　　〃They　have　no　doubt　been　sent　to　spy　on　us；〃　Jyslin　continued；　〃and　their　supposed　story　of　reestablishing　contact　here　was　simply　a　falsehood　meant　to　keep　you　off…balance。　I　daresay　the　males　still　loose　in　the　city　are　sending　sensitive　information　back　to　their　superiors　even　now；　especially　if　this　wizard　is　as　capable　as　you　alleged　before。　I　might　have　expected　you　to　be　a　more　clever　girl　and　keep　them　out　of　the　city；　but　I　suppose　that's　too　much　to　ask。〃
　　　〃This　is　foolish；〃　Umrae　D'Dgttu；　matron　mother　of　the　second　most　powerful　House　in　the　city　said。　〃We've　heard　the　story；　some　of　us　several　times　now。　It　is　clear　to　me　that　House　Zauvirr　acted　with　the　best　intentions　of　Ched　Nasad　in　mind。　I　move　that　we　dissolve　House　Melarn　forthwith。〃
　　　Umrae　was　one　of　Ssipriina's　secret　allies；　Faeryl　knew。　This　was　it。　They　were　beginning　the　process；　giving　her　mother　what　she　wanted。　Dissolution　of　House　Melarn　was　the　first　step　in　granting　Ssipriina　a　seat　on　the　Council。
　　　〃I　concur；〃　said　Ulviirala　Rilynt；　another　of　the　four　her　mother　had　bribed。　〃The　treason　of　House　Melarn　seems　clear　enough　to　me。〃
　　　Faeryl　stole　a　glance　at　Ssipriina　and　saw　that　she　was　trying　hard　not　to　smile　too　broadly。
　　　〃I'm　more　concerned　with　the　veracity　of　their　story；〃　Lirdnolu　Maerret　said。　〃So　far；　all　we've　had　to　go　on　is　this　fanciful　tale　Ssipriina　and　her　daughter　have　woven；　with　no　neutral　observer　able　to　substantiate　it。　House　Zauvirr　stands　to　gain　quite　a　lot　by　seeing　Drisinil　and　her　ilk　dead。　I　for　one　am　unwilling　to　so　quickly　assume　they're　telling　the　truth　simply　for　the　good　of　the　city。〃
　　　〃Quite　true；〃　Jyslin　Aleanrahel　agreed。　〃Let's　hear　Drisinil's　daughter　speak。〃
　　　Faeryl　opened　her　mouth　to　protest　then　snapped　it　shut　again。　The　matron　mothers　knew　well　the　propensity　drow　had　for　scheming；　and　this　was　the　challenge　Ssipriina　had　cautioned　her　would　e。　There　were　some　who　would　want　the　whole　truth　and　would　look　to　try　to　trap　House　Zauvirr　in　a　lie；　or　if　they　were　allies　of　House　Melarn；　try　to　pin　whatever　blame　they　could　on　Ssipriina。　Her　mother　had　cautioned　Faeryl　for　patience　during　this　time。　When　their　new　enemies　were　exposed；　or　if　the　decision　didn't　favor　Zauvirr；　their　secret　mercenary　army　would　step　forward。
　　　Halisstra　Melarn　was　brought　from　the　dungeons　below　to　answer　for　her　mother's　crimes。　She　was　almost　forcibly　led　into　the　chamber；　flanked　by　two　large　female　guards。　She　had　been　stripped　of　her　fine　clothing　and　was　dressed　in　only　a　thin　shift。　She　cast　her　eyes　about　the　room；　searching　faces；　perhaps　hoping　to　find　some　sympathy　or　support　among　those　present。
　　　It　was　rumored　that　Halisstra　had　a　soft　streak；　that　she　never　seemed　to　show　the　type　of　tenacious　ambition　her　mother　wanted　to　see　in　her　daughters。　She　was　more　interested；　those　rumors　suggested；　in　slumming　with　her　battle　captive；　Danifae；　using　the　other　drow's　good　looks　to　attract　males　to　carouse　with。　There　were　even　some　who　whispered　that　Matron　Mother　Melarn　would　have　cast　her　out　of　the　family；　given　the　right　circumstances。　Faeryl　knew　that　the　slumming　part　was　true；　and　that　gave　her　an　idea。
　　　She　spread　her　hands　helplessly；　as　if　acknowledging　that　she　had　failed　in　some　way。　〃I　beg　your　forgiveness　for　whatever　flaws　you　see　in　our　plan；　Matron　Mothers；〃　Faeryl　said　quietly。　〃I　am　as　disappointed　as　you　that　a　House　of　our　own　beloved　city　would　conspire　with　foreigners　at　our　expense。　I　now　recall　additional　damning　evidence　that　might　put　this　debate　to　rest。〃
　　　〃What？〃　Ssipriina　said；　leaning　forward；　obviously　loath　to　see　her　daughter　possibly　ruin　her　own　carefully　laid　web　of　lies。
　　　Faeryl　studiously　ignored　her　mother。
　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Jyslin　said；　her　eyes　narrowing。
　　　Faeryl　was　sure　she　had　the　advantage。　Though　she　had　not　mentioned　it　before…since　it　was　a　lie　she　had　only　conceived　of　on　the　spur　of　the　moment…there　was　no　way　Jyslin　could　challenge　her　for　leaving　it　out　of　her　story　the　first　time。　Faeryl　could　pretend　she'd　simply　forgotten　it　until　then。
　　　〃It's　just　that；　right　after　passing　through　the　gates　of　the　city；　I　had　the　good　fortune　to　spy　Mistress　Halisstra　and　her　consort；　Danifae　Yauntyrr。　I　was　surprised　to　see　them　in　such　a　sordid　section　of　the　city；　but　I　considered　it　a　stroke　of　good　fortune；　nonetheless。　I　made　a　specific　effort　to　move　into　their　line　of　sight　so　that　they　would　see　it　was　me　and　notice　I　was　with　strangers。　I　thought　for　certain　they　had　spotted　me；　and　I　even　flashed　a　quick　message　to　Danifae；　but　she　either　didn't　recognize　me　or　didn't　want　anyone　to　know　they'd　been　there。　She　turned　Halisstra　away；　and　the　two　of　them　melted　into　the　crowd。　At　the　time；　I　didn't　think　anything　of　it；　but　now　I　realize　that　she　must　have　been　there　to　signal　Quenthel　and　the　others。〃
　　　Hahsstra's　eyes　grew　wide　at　hearing　Faeryl's　accusations。　She　sputtered　to　find　the　words　to　defend　herself。
　　　〃I　。。。　we　never　。　。　。　Matron　Mothers；　I　assure　you　that　we　never　saw　the　ambassador　and　her　panions　in　the　lower　sections　of　the　city。　I　am　innocent　of　the　charges　leveled　against　me。〃
　　　Faeryl　smiled　to　herself。　Halisstra　had　specifically　avoided　denying　that　she　had　been　there。　It　had　been　a　gamble；　supposing　that　the　two　of　them　might　have　been　in　the　vicinity　in　the　last　couple　of　days；　but　it　had　paid　off。　The　unwanted　attention　was　being　focused　on　Halisstra。
　　　〃Perhaps　I　am　mistaken；〃　Faeryl　quickly　interjected。　She　smiled　at　Halisstra；　who　was　staring　daggers　at　her　in　return。　〃It　was　crowded　there；　with　all　of　the　refugees　and　the　base…born　males　in　their　revelry；　so　its　easy　to　understand　how　I　only　thought　Danifae　had　caught　the　eye　of　someone　in　my　party。　The　two　of　you　were　obviously　seeking　someone　else。〃
　　　Faeryl　wanted　to　grin　at　her　own　cleverness。　By　pulling　back；　admitting　she　had　made　a　mistake；　she　doubly　damned　Halisstra。　The　seed　of　doubt　had　been　planted　in　everyone's　mind；　and　the　less　she　tried　to　force　them　to　accept　her　theory；　the　more　likely　they　all　would　be　to　believe　it；　such　was　drow　nature。　For　those　who　chose　to　believe　Halisstras　innocence；　that　left　only　one　other　reason　for　her　to　be　in　such　an　improper　part　of　the　city。　Either　way；　it　shed　an　unpleasant　light　on　the　daughter　of　a　traitor。
　　　Ssipriina　turned　to　Jyslin　Aleanrahel　and　said；　〃Matron　Mother；　I　am　only　a　trader；　unused　to　the　machinations　of　the　higher　nobility。　If　I　had　foreseen　how　greatly　this　would　have　displeased　you；　I　would　have　conceived　of　a　better　way　to　deal　with　the　crisis　at　hand。　As　it　was；　I　still　hope　you　will　consider　that　I　was　keeping　only　the　best　interests　of　Ched　Nasad　in　mind；　acting　in　all　ways　on　its　behalf。〃
　　　There　was　a　general　murmur　from　the　matron　mothers　as　they　put　their　heads　together；　no　doubt　discussing　the　additional　implications　of　guilt　Faeryl's　little　tale　had　just　heaped　upon　House　Melarn。　At　the　very　least；　the　suggestion　that　Halisstra　had　been　carousing　with　the　moners　of　the　city　meant　that　her　disgraceful　behavior　was　of　the　worst　sort　and　she　was　unfit　to　rule　a　noble　House。　That　half　of　it　happened　to　be　true　only　made　the　whole　incident　sweeter　to　Faeryl；　who　was　simply　glad　she　was　no　longer　the　drow　everyone　else　was　looking　down　their　noses　at。
　　　〃Enough！〃　Aunrae　Nasadra　shouted；　rapping　her　rune…covered　staff　upon　the　floor。　Even　in　such　an　impromptu　meeting；　the　eldest　and　most　powerful　matron　mother　manded　absolute　respect；　and　the　room　fell　silent。　〃This　nonsense　is　the　reason　we　face　the　bleak　loss　of　our　goddess's　favor。　How　can　we　expect　Lolth　to　grant　us　her　attention　when　we　waste　so　much　time　and　energy　on　such　ridiculous　discussions　as　who's　stepped　in　the　most　rothé　muck？〃　The　matriarch　walked　among　the　others；　peering　at　them　all。　〃Whether　or　not　House　Melarn's　progeny　chooses　to　whore　around　with　low…born　males　in　the　seamiest　underbelly　of　Ched　Nasad　is　of　no　concern　to　me。〃
　　　Faeryl　stole　a　glance　at　Halisstra；　whose　face　was　down　in　humiliation。
　　　Matron　Mother　Nasadra　paid　neither　of　them　any　heed。
　　　〃The　streets　are　not　safe　for　most　drow；〃　she　said。　〃We　all　know　the　extra　precautions　we　had　to　take　even　to　e　here。　Our　city　is　on　the　verge　of　disaster；　mothers；　and　yet　we　must　stand　here　and　discuss　the　fate　of　a　noble　House；　one　high　enough　to　have　a　seat　on　the　Council。
　　　〃Ssipriina　has　suggested　that　we　dissolve　House　Melarn　and　offer　up　Halisstra　and　these　remaining　outsiders　as　sacrifices　to　appease　the　masses　as　much　as　the　Dark　Mother。　While　we　know　nothing　about　why　our　beloved　Lolth　is　angry　with　us；　that　she　is　angry　with　us；　we　are　certain。　Will　this　help？　Will　it　bring　her　blessings　back　to　us？
　　　〃If　we　make　an　example　of　the　traitors　and　let　the　whole　city　see　us　do　it　will　it　quiet　the　citizens　for　a　time？　Perhaps；　but　more　importantly；　will　it　satisfy　all　of　you？　Will　you　return　to　your　Houses　satisfied　that　a　House　has　fallen　and　that　the　hierarchy　has　shuffled　sufficiently？　There　are　things　more　fragile　than　the　peace　of　our　city；　but　they　are　few　in　number。　This　backstabbing；　while　inherent　in　our　nature；　is　misplaced　during　this　time　of　difficulties。〃
　　　〃What　if　this　Baenre　priestess's　panions　know　something？〃　Halisstra　asked。　〃What　if　they　have　an　inkling　o