war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第38部分

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e　faded　into　her　graceful　neck。　Though　she　was　several　inches　taller　than　the　scout；　Valas　was　easily　able　to　keep　her　overbalanced　by　shifting　his　hip　under　hers　and　levering　her　up　off　her　feet。
　　　Danifae's　eyes　bulged　wide　as　she　realized　she'd　been　outmaneuvered；　and　she　flailed　about　helplessly　for　a　second　or　two　until　she　grasped　that　the　blade　was　at　her　neck；　at　which　point　she　froze。
　　　〃Lay　them　down；〃　Ryld　said　to　both　drow　females；　gesturing　to　their　weapons　with　his　greatsword。　〃To　the　floor；　nice　and　quietly。〃
　　　The　Melarn　daughter　gasped　in　surprise　at　Valas's　maneuver；　narrowed　her　eyes；　and　took　half　a　step　toward　her　panion。　When　she　realized　she　was　outmatched；　she　sighed　and　settled　her　mace　to　the　floor　at　her　feet。　Danifae　sagged　a　bit　in　Valas's　grasp　and　relinquished　her　weapon　to　the　other　female；　who　set　that　down　as　well。
　　　〃Excellent！〃　Pharaun　said　as　Ryld　kicked　the　two　weapons　safely　away。　〃That　wasn't　so　bad；　now　was　it？〃
　　　〃You　could　have　trusted　us；〃　the　daughter　spat。　〃We　gave　you　no　reason　not　to。〃
　　　Pharaun　laughed　out　loud。　Ryld　stifled　a　chuckle　of　his　own；　and　Valas；　who　released　Danifae　but　kept　his　kukri　carefully　placed　in　the　small　of　her　back；　was　grinning　behind　her。
　　　〃You　are　a　dark　elf；〃　the　wizard　said　finally；　regaining　his　posure。　〃That　alone　is　enough　for　me　not　to　trust　you；　but　beyond　that；　if　you　think　we're　going　to　trust　anyone　in　this　cursed　city；　you're　the　biggest　fool　I've　met　in　a　while。　Yet；　I　am　not　pletely　uninterested　in　negotiating；　so　you　may　still　get　a　chance　to　redeem　yourself。　You　can　start　by　answering　my　questions。　Who　are　you；　and　what　is　the　nature　of　this　information？〃
　　　The　Melarn　daughter　grimaced　but　finally　answered；　〃I　am　Halisstra　Melarn；　as　you　have　surmised　by　now；　I'm　sure。　This　is　Danifae；　my　personal　servant。　What　I　meant　was；　your　friend　the　high　priestess　and　her　demon　panion　aren't　dead。〃
　　　Pharaun　felt　his　eyes　bulge　at　this　revelation。　He　heard　both　Ryld　and　Valas　breathe　in　sharply。
　　　〃Really；〃　the　mage　said；　trying　to　sound　offhand　as　he　regained　his　posure；　〃and　how　would　you　know　that？〃
　　　〃Because　I've　seen　them；〃　Danifae；　still　locked　in　Valas's　grip；　answered。
　　　〃Apparently；〃　Halisstra　said；　〃Ssipriina　Zauvirr　simply　told　everyone　that　the　priestess　was　dead　so　that　there　would　be　no　demands　for　her　side　of　the　story。　They　probably　should　have　killed　them；　but　I　guess　Faeryl　had　other　plans　for　her。〃
　　　At　the　mention　of　the　ambassador；　Pharaun　tilted　his　head。
　　　〃You　know　Faeryl　Zauvirr？〃　he　asked。
　　　〃Yes；〃　Halisstra　replied；　〃I　know　her。　We　grew　up　together。　Since　our　Houses　have…or　rather；　had…a　business　relationship；　her　mother　and　mine　spent　quite　a　bit　of　time　together。　She　might　very　well　be　with　the　Baenre　priestess　right　now。　I　suspect　she's　torturing　them　both。〃
　　　〃Is　that　so？〃　Pharaun　asked。
　　　Ryld；　who　still　had　his　greatsword　trained　on　the　two　females；　snorted；　〃Why　does　that　not　surprise　me？〃
　　　〃I　wonder　how　the　esteemed　high　priestess　managed　to　get　herself　caught　in　the　first　place？〃　Pharaun　pondered　aloud。
　　　〃It　was　an　ambush；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃When　they　were　at　a　Black　Claw　Mercantile　storehouse。　Faeryl　was　in　on　it；　I　guess。　Her　mother　met　them　there　with　a　host　of　guards　who　subdued　the　high　priestess　and　the　demon　that　was　with　them。　They　claim　they　had　to　kill　my　mother；　who　was　trying　to　escape；　though　now　I　wonder　if　she　truly　is　dead。〃
　　　〃Well　now；〃　Pharaun　said；　even　more　intrigued　than　before；　〃some　things　are　beginning　to　make　more　sense。　Now　I　know　why　Faeryl　was　being　so　agreeable　during　the　trip　here。　She　wanted　Quenthel　to　go　to　the　storehouse。　It　was　their　plan　to　take　Quenthel　all　along。〃
　　　〃Not　just　Quenthel；　but　all　of　you；〃　said　Halisstra。　〃I'm　guessing　she　intended　to　capture　all　of　you　at　once；　but　when　you　didn't　appear　at　the　storehouse　with　the　others　she　had　to　amend　her　plan。　She'd　be　quite　pleased；　I'm　sure；　if　you　were　all　dead。〃
　　　〃Yes；〃　the　mage　said　wryly；　〃we　were　informed　of　that　very　fact　not　an　hour　ago。　Needless　to　say；　we　weren't　too　keen　on　the　idea；　ourselves。〃
　　　〃So　where's　Mistress　Baenre？〃　Ryld　demanded。　〃We're　going　to　find　her　and　leave。　You　can　help　us　or　join　everyone　else　who's　gotten　in　our　way　thus　far。〃
　　　Halisstra　looked　appraisingly　at　the　warrior。
　　　〃What　is　it　you　expect　to　acplish　by　finding　her？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃We're　going　to　get　her　out　of　here；　and　were　going　to　go　find…〃
　　　〃Weapons　Master　Argith；〃　Pharaun　interrupted；　pulling　the　warrior　to　the　side　where　they　could　talk　privately。　〃I'm　not　sure　that's　really　the　wisest　course　of　action。　We　need　to　get　out　of　here　before　the　whole　House　falls　down；　don't　you　agree？〃
　　　〃And　leave　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　here？〃　Ryld　countered。　〃We　should　try　to　find　her。〃
　　　Pharaun　looked　questioningly　at　his　panion　and　asked；　〃Why　in　the　Underdark　would　we　do　that？〃
　　　Ryld's　eyes　flashed　in　anger。
　　　〃You　may　be　eager　to　be　rid　of　her；　wizard；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　am　not。〃
　　　〃Oh？〃　Pharaun　replied；　growing　hot　himself。　〃If　I　didn't　know　better；　I　would　think　you　were　sweet　on　the　high　priestess。　Have　you　forgotten　so　soon　her　disdain　for　you？〃
　　　〃Whatever　your　own　ambitions　are；　I　still　serve　the　task　I　was　given　by　Matron　Mother　Baenre　and　the　rest　of　the　High　Council。　Quenthel　still　plays　a　large　part　in　that；　and　I　have　no　desire　to　betray　Menzoberranzan　herself　to　suit　my　own　personal　vendettas。〃
　　　Another　shock　wave　tore　through　House　Melarn；　and　Pharaun　was　forced　to　rise　into　the　air　to　keep　his　balance。
　　　〃Can　we　argue　about　this　later？〃　Valas　interjected；　still　gripping　Danifae　as　the　two　of　them　tried　to　maintain　their　balance。　〃I　agree　with　Ryld；　at　least　for　the　moment。　We　may　yet　need　Quenthel；　who　is　still　our　best　connection　to　the　Dark　Mother；　and　the　only　one　who　can　tell　us　if　we're　succeeding　in　reconnecting　with　Lolth。　If　we　do　find　Tzirik；　it　may　behoove　us　to　have　her　there。〃
　　　Pharaun　sighed；　chagrinned　that　he　had　raised　his　voice　enough　to　be　overheard。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　he　said。　〃We　will　attempt　to　find　her　before　we　depart；　but　remember　what　I　said。　If　the　House　falls　down　around　our　ears；　I　will　personally　blame　both　of　you。〃
　　　He　smiled；　hoping　a　little　levity　would　ease　the　tensions。　Ryld　still　scowled　but　nodded　curtly　once　the　decision　was　made。
　　　Another　rumbling　shock　wave　rocked　House　Melarn　and　forced　everyone　to　shift　their　feet　in　order　to　keep　their　balance。　Halisstra　looked　around　with　no　small　level　of　concern　in　her　eyes。
　　　〃If　you　want　to　find　your　high　priestess；　then　let　me　take　you　to　her；〃　she　said。　〃Danifae　and　I　have　no　quarrel　with　you；　as　I　admitted　before；　and　everything　I've　told　you　thus　far　is　the　truth。　We　have　no　allies　here；　and　neither　do　you。　Joining　together　could　be　mutually　beneficial。〃
　　　〃All　right；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃We'll　suppose　for　the　moment　that　we're　going　to　trust　you　to　take　us　to　her。　It　will　make　our　chances　of　getting　out　of　here　in　one　piece　markedly　better；　but　just　to　make　certain　you　don't　consider　trying　anything；　shall　we　say；　troublesome；　I　think　Danifae　here　will　acpany　us　with　her　arms　bound　behind　her。　Valas　and　I　will　keep　a　good　eye　on　her　while　you　and　Ryld　keep　to　the　front。〃
　　　Danifae's　eyes　widened　the　slightest　bit　in　protest　at　the　suggestion；　but　Halisstra　nodded　after　only　a　moment's　consideration。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　agreed。　〃We'll　do　it　your　way…for　now。　First；　you　must　do　something　for　me。　You　must　answer　a　question；　if　you　can。　What　is　the　state　of　things　out　on　the　streets？　I　have　not　had　a　chance　to　find　out　for　myself　since　the　shock　waves　began。〃
　　　Pharaun　shrugged　helplessly。
　　　〃I　fear　I　cannot　tell　you　with　any　degree　of　accuracy；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　in　the　audience　chamber　when　the　attacks　began　and　heard　the　warning　cry。　These　duergar　appear　to　be　organized；　though。　My　suspicion　is　that　someone　else；　someone　powerful；　is　behind　them。〃
　　　Halisstra　looked　sharply　at　the　wizard　and　asked；　〃What　gives　you　that　impression？〃
　　　〃The　blasts　we're　feeling　are　due　to　incendiary　alchemy。　We　encountered　similar　destruction　back　home　recently。　Whoever　is　supplying　the　duergar　with　them　may　be　associated　with　the　forces　we　dealt　with　in　Menzoberranzan；　and　I　will　warn　you　now；　the　stone　does　indeed　burn。　We　will　be　at　risk　as　long　as　we　remain　inside　your　House。〃
　　　Halisstra　looked　fearful；　but　she　nodded　in　thanks。
　　　〃Then　the　sooner　I　can　get　you　what　you　want；　the　sooner　we　can　get　outside　and　find　out　for　sure。　Danifae；　I　want　you　to　ply　with　their　instructions。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　With　a　small　sigh；　the　other　drow　female　nodded。
　　　〃Yes；　Mistress；〃　she　answered　then　moved　over　so　that　Valas　could　use　a　length　of　cord　to　bind　her　hands　securely　behind　her　back。
　　　〃Wonderful。　It's　nice　to　see　how　we're　all　getting　along　so　well　together；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃Now；　Halisstra　Melarn；　why　don't　you　lead　the　way？〃
　　　〃Before　I　do；　allow　me　to　help　you　in　a　more　immediate　way。　Let　me　heal　your　injuries。〃
　　　Pharaun　glanced　over　at　Ryld；　who　subtly　shook　his　head；　frown…ing。　Shrugging；　the　wizard　decided　to　ignore　his　panion's　con…cerns。　His　face　hurt　where　the　acid　had　burned　him。
　　　〃All　right；〃　he　answered；　〃you　can　tend　to　me。　But　if　this　is　a　trick；　my　two　patriots　here　will　see　to　it　that　it　never　happens　again。〃
　　　〃I　understand；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃I'm　just　going　to　pull　a　wand　out；　so　please　don't　get　jumpy；　all　right？〃
　　　Pharaun　nodded　and　waited　as　the　daughter　of　Drisinil　Melarn　produced　the　wand　and　utilized　it。　The　mage　immediately　felt　the　effects　of　the　divine　magic　and　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。
　　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said。
　　　Quickly　enough；　Halisstra　similarly　healed　both　Ryld　and　Valas。
　　　〃There　。　。　。　you　see？〃　she　said；　tucking　the　wand　away　again。　〃We　really　are　on　your　side。〃
　　　〃Indeed；〃　Pharaun　replied　nonmittally。　〃We'll　just　develop　the　trust　slowly；　I　think。　If　you　please？〃　he　said；　gesturing　down　the　hallway。
　　　Halisstra　eyed　the　wizard　for　a　moment；　as　if　assessing　whether　or　not　she　was　making　a　mistake；　then　turned　and　set　off　down　the　c