war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第32部分

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　　　〃What　if　this　Baenre　priestess's　panions　know　something？〃　Halisstra　asked。　〃What　if　they　have　an　inkling　of　what　troubles　the　Dark　Mother？　If　you　simply　kill　me；　then　you　get　what　you　want…　one　less　House　to　stand　in　your　way…but　if　you　kill　them；　whether　as　spies　or　as　sacrifices；　you　might　lose　valuable　information。〃
　　　〃Shut　your　mouth；　child！〃　Ssipriina　hissed。　〃You've　shamed　us　enough　for　one　lifetime。　Do　not　think　that　you　can　escape　justice　merely　by　pretending　to　be　loyal　now。　Its　too　late　for　that。〃
　　　Halisstra　would　not　be　deterred。　She　proceeded；　ignoring　the　dark　stares　the　matron　mothers　gave　her。
　　　〃What　if　this　wizard　has　discovered　something？〃　she　asked。　〃Faeryl　has　already　told　us　he　is　clever　and　was　not　above　antagonizing　Quenthel。　I　would　not　put　it　past　him　to　know　more　than　he's　letting　on。　Why　kill　him；　when　he　might　be　so　inclined　to　parlay　with　us？　Could　he　be　willing　to　reveal　his　own　secrets？　Perhaps　even　for　a　price？　There　are　those　among　you　who　do　not　wish　to　hear　what　he　has　to　say。　He　might　expose　the　lies　you　have　told　concerning　my　mother　and　me。〃
　　　Aunrae　smiled　and　said；　〃Tell　me；　child；　do　you　think　Lolth　would　grant　such　a　vision　to　a　male？　Do　you　think　she　would　allow　a　boy；　however　clever；　to　unlock　the　secrets　of　her　silence？〃
　　　〃These　are　desperate　times；　Matron　Mother；　you　said　so　yourself。　I　would　not　close　any　possible　avenue　of　redemption；　however　thickly　cloaked　in　folly　it　may　seem。　Of　course；　I　have　few　avenues　of　redemption　for　my　life　left。　I　have　my　own　desperate　times。　Whether　you　wish　to　question　him　or　not；　I　merely　ask　that　you　bring　him　as　a　witness　into　these　proceedings。　His　words　could　prove　my　own　innocence。〃
　　　Faeryl　frowned；　not　liking　where　this　was　leading。　She　was　beginning　to　think　it　had　been　a　mistake　to　put　the　full　plan　into　motion　until　Pharaun　and　the　others　had　also　been　brought　into　custody；　or　better　yet；　killed。　Maybe　she　could　get　to　him　before　the　rest　of　them　had　a　chance　to　speak　with　him；　take　care　of　it　herself；　one　way　or　another。　Perhaps　then　her　mother　would　stop　treating　her　like　a　child。
　　　Aunrae　nodded；　her　mouth　pursed　as　though　considering　the　younger　drows　words。
　　　〃You　argue　for　your　life；　Halisstra　Melarn；　but　still　your　pleas　have　some　merit。　We　will　wait　to　pass　sentence　on　you　until　we've　had　a　chance　to　hear　all　sides。　As　for　the　'clever　boy；'　when　he　es　to　us；　when　we　have　him　in　our　possession；　we　will　extract　whatever　information　he　has；　fully　and　without　paying　any　price。　Somehow；　I　do　not　think　Quenthel　Baenre　had　established　the　proper　leashes　on　her　wizard。　I　do　not　intend　to　make　the　same　mistake。〃
　　　〃Matron　Mother　Nasadra；〃　Zammzt　called　from　the　back　of　the　room；　where　he　had　just　entered。　〃They　are　here。〃
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　　　Pharaun；　Ryld；　and　Valas　had　been　led　inside　and　shown　to　a　waiting　room；　an　all…too…familiar　sight　to　each　of　them　and　one　that　did　nothing　to　set　their　minds　at　ease。　They　were　left　alone；　or　rather　with　only　sentries　posted　at　each　of　the　exits　to　keep　them　pany。　Pharaun　occupied　his　time　strolling　through　the　chamber；　admiring　the　frescos　and　statuary　that　were　in　abundance　there；　primarily　exhibiting　the　motif　of　spiders；　webbing；　and　the　glory　of　the　dark　elves。　There　were　a　goodly　number　of　musical　instruments　as　well；　some　he　didn't　even　recognize。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　supposed　a　good　many　of　the　works　related　to　the　history　of　House　Melarn；　but　to　Pharaun　it　was　all　just　so　much　pomp　and　circumstance。　Ryld　and　Valas；　meanwhile；　had　their　heads　together　in　consultation；　most　likely　discussing　tactics　for　extricating　themselves　in　the　event　that　things　went　bad。
　　　When　the　double　doors　at　the　far　end　of　the　room　were　thrown　open；　Pharaun　turned　to　see　not　one　but　several　ostentatious　drow　females…matriarchs　all；　he　was　sure…waiting　in　the　large　audience　chamber　beyond。　They　were　attended　by　a　retinue　of　House　wizards；　soldiers；　and　younger　females；　all　of　them　in　House　livery　and　many　of　them；　Pharaun　noted；　radiating　magical　protections　and　other　spells。
　　　〃Good　evening；　and　wele　to　House　Melarn；〃　one　somewhat　tall　and　slender　drow　said　imperiously；　waiting　on　the　throne　as　the　three　males　moved　into　the　room。　〃I　am　Matron　Mother　Ssipriina　Zauvirr。〃
　　　Pharaun　bowed　slightly　as　he　moved　to　a　place　in　front　of　the　throne；　far　enough　back　so　as　not　to　seem　threatening。　Ryld　and　Valas　moved　to　join　him　as　the　other　matron　mothers　gathered　around　the　throne；　and　the　assortment　of　wizards；　priestesses；　and　soldiers　flanked　everyone　else。
　　　Pharaun　knew　the　woman　was　Faeryl's　mother；　of　course；　but　he　couldn't　guess　what　she　was　doing　on　the　throne　of　House　Melarn。
　　　The　mage　looked　around　the　chamber；　trying　to　find　Faeryl。　She　was　there；　though　off　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　avoid　notice。
　　　If　I　didn't　know　better；　Pharaun　thought　wryly；　I　would　have　to　assume　they're　expecting　some　sort　of　trouble。
　　　Neither　Valas　nor　Ryld　said　anything；　but　the　wizard　could　feel　them　on　either　side　of　him；　tense　and　ready　to　spring。
　　　〃We　are　honored　and　delighted　to　be　guests　in　your　House；　Matron　Mother　Zauvirr；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃To　what　do　we　owe　this　auspicious　occasion？〃
　　　And　where　in　the　Abyss　are　Quenthel　and　Jeggred？　he　silently　added。
　　　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　sniffed　and　replied；　〃On　the　contrary；　Pharaun　Mizzrym；　I　should　be　the　one　thanking　you　and　asking　you　why　you　have　graced　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs　with　your　august　presence。　The　reputation　that　preceded　you；　telling　of　a　confident；　self…possessed　mage　of　no　small　skill；　was　only　half　the　story；　it　seems。〃
　　　Pharaun　smiled　in　the　most　disarming　way　he　could　muster　as　he　shifted　his　weight　to　one　foot；　letting　the　other　turn　out　slightly。
　　　〃Everyone　has　her　own　opinions；　as　always；　Matron　Mother。　That　is　not　to　say　that　anyone　is　in　error；　only　that　affectations　and　realities　do　not　always　mesh；　and　for　good　reason。〃
　　　〃Of　course；〃　another　matron　mother　said；　moving　forward　from　Ssipriina's　left；　〃and　our　opinion　is　that　you　and　your　panions；　while　affecting　the　appearance　of　simple　travelers　or　even　emissaries　from　our　sister　city　of　Menzoberranzan；　are　in　reality　spies；　here　to　steal　from　us　and　expose　whatever　weaknesses　you　thought　you　might　be　able　to　find　to　the　world　at　large。〃
　　　So　much　for　affectations；　thought　Pharaun；　shifting　his　weight　uneasily。
　　　He　felt；　rather　than　saw　Ryld；　to　his　left；　and　Valas；　to　his　right；　both　stiffen　at　the　undisguised　accusation。
　　　〃Easy；〃　he　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃Save　the　foolish　heroics　for　the　'all…else…fails'　part　of　the　program。〃
　　　Smoothing　his　face　as　best　he　could；　the　mage　spread　his　hands　in　gracious　acquiescence　and　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　Mistress　。　。　。〃
　　　〃Matron　Mother　Jyslin　Aleanrahel；　of　House　Aleanrahel。〃
　　　Pharaun　swallowed　then　said；　〃Matron　Mother　Aleanrahel。　While　I'm　sure　our　efforts　at　avoiding　attention　must　seem　terribly　surreptitious；　I　can　assure　you　that　we　meant　nothing　antagonistic。　We　only　wished　to…〃
　　　〃To　avoid　being　confronted　like　this？〃　Jyslin　interjected。　〃How　well　did　that　serve　you？〃
　　　Pharaun　sighed　and　said；　〃Not　well　at　all；　it　appears；　but　my　panions　and　I　still　aren't　pletely　sure　we　understand　your　concerns。　I　must　profess；　I　am　confused　as　to　why　we're　meeting　here；　if　none　of　you　is　Matron　Mother　Melarn。〃
　　　Several　of　the　matron　mothers　gave　each　other　knowing　glances。　Pharaun　was　thoroughly　confused。　He　continued　to　scan　the　room　and　saw　something　else　quite　odd：　a　drow；　obviously　nobly　born　but　stripped　to　her　underclothes　and　held　prisoner　between　two　stout　guards；　and　it　wasn't　Quenthel。
　　　〃Oh；　we　have　no　concerns；〃　Jyslin　Aleanrahel　replied。　〃Not　anymore。　Until　you　arrived；　we　were　concerned　that　we　would　not　be　able　to　detain　you；　that　you　might　try　to　slip　out　of　the　city。　We　were　concerned　that　you　would　report　your　discoveries　to　your　superiors　back　in　the　City　of　Spiders。　We　were　more　concerned　that　you　would　try　something　foolish；　like　concluding　your　high　priestess's　ill…conceived　plan　of　theft　and　spying。　You've　cooperated　nicely；　though；　so　we　feel　we　have　the　situation　well　in　hand。〃
　　　Ryld　made　an　almost　inaudible　strangled　noise；　and　the　mage　felt　the　warrior　shift　his　weight。　In　response；　several　of　the　soldiers；　who　had　unassumingly　fanned　out　to　more　pletely　surround　the　trio；　tensed　as　though　expecting　Ryld　to　lunge　at　them。
　　　Pharaun　frowned。
　　　〃I　wasn't　aware　that　our　high　priestess　was　planning　anything　of　the　sort；〃　he　said。　〃If　something　is　amiss；　we　must　all　work　to　see　that　it　is　rectified。　Just　tell　us　where　she　is；　and　I'm　sure　we　can　resolve　whatever…〃
　　　〃Quenthel　Baenre　was　caught　mitting　treasonous　acts　against　Ched　Nasad；〃　yet　a　third　matron　mother　said；　stepping　out　from　behind　the　throne。　Pharaun　sensed　that　this　one；　with　a　graceful　age　about　her　face；　might　just　be　the　most　formidable　drow　he'd　ever　met。　〃There　was　no　doubt　about　her　guilt。　She　died　trying　to　flee　the　scene　of　her　crimes。〃
　　　Pharaun　blinked；　reeling。　Dead？　Quenthel　Baenre　was　dead？　He　wasn't　sure　whether　to　laugh　or　be　worried。　Behind　him；　he　heard　both　of　his　panions'　gasps　of　surprise。
　　　〃She　was　caught　conspiring　with　House　Melarn　to　illegally　enter　the　city　and　steal　valuable　resources　belonging　to　us；〃　the　older　drow　said；　〃and　we　believe　she　was　also　mitting　espionage　on　behalf　of　Menzoberranzan。　We　consider　these　to　be　crimes　against　trie　city；　against　all　drow；　and　most　especially　against　the　Dark　Mother　herself。〃
　　　Conspiracy？　Pharaun　thought。　How　ridiculous　could　they　be？
　　　He　stared　at　the　throne　where　Faeryl's　mother　sat；　and　he　was　beginning　to　understand　who　was　behind　it；　and　perhaps　why。
　　　No　wonder　Faeryl　was　so　eager　to　help　us；　he　thought。　She　was　leading　us　by　our　noses　the　whole　time。
　　　〃Furthermore；〃　the　matron　mother　continued；　〃you；　by　association　with　Quenthel；　are　accused　of　the　same　charges。　You　are　under　arrest；　and　you　will　be　confined　on　the　premises　until　such　time　as　we　can　determine　your　guilt　or　innocence。〃
　　　〃Not　today；〃　Ryld　said；　taking　a　step　forward　and　reaching　for　Splitter。
　　　As　one