war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第42部分

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　was　preparing　to　feast；　dining　on　Faeryl　even　as　she　lay　there；　still　conscious　but　too　weak　to　fight　him；　the　wizard　finally　had　to　turn　away。　The　wet　sounds　of　the　demon　at　his　meal　followed　him　out　into　the　hallway。
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　　　Gromph　Baenre　did　not　relish　the　latest　message　he　had　to　deliver；　for　several　reasons。　First　and　foremost；　it　was　not　good　news；　and　however　much　he　was　removed　from　the　source　of　the　report；　he　was　still　the　messenger。　Ordinarily；　he　wouldn't　mind　for　that　reason　alone；　for　there　were　few　individuals　in　Menzoberranzan　who　could　actually　take　out　their　displeasure　on　him；　the　most　powerful　mage　in　the　city。　Of　those　few；　most　held　on　to　only　a　shell　of　their　former　power　and　were　relying　on　him　to　conceive　of　a　way　to　restore　it。　No；　being　the　bearer　of　bad　news　this　day　would　not　be　as　risky　as　it　might　on　other　days；　but　then　he　didn't　often　have　to　deliver　such　unpleasant　information　to　his　sister。
　　　That　brought　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　around　to　the　other　cause　for　his　distress。　Triel　Baenre　was　at　home；　which　meant　that　Gromph　had　to　go　visit　her；　rather　than　the　other　way　around。　He　detested　leaving　Sorcere；　detested　having　to　go　to　the　Great　Mound　even　more；　and　certainly　didn't　like　doing　any　of　it　under　such　circumstances。　It　was　yet　another　reason　for　him　to　add　to　his　list　of　reasons　why　he　wanted　the　crisis　resolved。　He　was　tired　of　all　the　inconvenience　it　was　causing　him　personally。
　　　As　he　flew　over　the　streets　of　Menzoberranzan　on　his　way　to　the　Great　Mound；　Gromph　peered　below　in　consternation。　He　had　sent　word　to　the　appropriate　individuals　in　charge　that　more　troops　were　to　be　dispatched；　but　he　had　yet　to　see　the　results　of　his　orders。　The　disquiet　below　was　growing　again；　and　if　they　weren't　careful；　the　nobles　of　the　city　would　find　themselves　right　back　in　the　middle　of　another　uprising。
　　　Well；　Triel　could　put　her　foot　down　again；　he　supposed；　insist　that　the　other　matron　mothers　respond　promptly　when　the　call　came　for　more　soldiers；　but　he　doubted　it　would　make　them　quicken　their　pace　one　whit。　They　were　going　to　tend　to　their　own　Houses　first；　High　Council　be　damned。
　　　Approaching　the　edge　of　House　Baenre；　Gromph　settled　himself　to　the　balcony　outside　his　sister's　audience　chamber。　The　guards　on　duty　there　peered　at　him　warily　for　a　moment；　but　when　they　saw　who　it　was；　they　stiffened　in　salute。　Ignoring　them；　the　archmage　walked　briskly　past　them　into　the　council　chambers　themselves；　hoping　to　find　Triel　there。　She　was　not。
　　　Clicking　his　tongue　in　exasperation；　Gromph　passed　out　of　the　large　audience　chamber　and　into　the　hallway　beyond；　which　led　to　her　personal　quarters。　Arriving　at　the　door　to　her　suite　of　rooms；　the　archmage　was　greeted　by　a　pair　of　stoic　females；　robust　specimens　who　were　well　armed　and　apparently　trained　equally　as　well　in　the　art　of　bat　as　divine　magic。
　　　The　pair　of　guards　crossed　their　heavy　maces　before　the　door。
　　　〃She　is　not　to　be　disturbed；〃　one　of　them　said；　her　stare　flat；　making　it　clear　she　would　brook　no　argument；　brother　or　not。
　　　Gromph　sighed；　making　another　mental　mark　to　the　tally　of　reasons　he　hated　doing　this。　No　matter　how　many　times　he　had　to　push　his　proverbial　weight　around　to　get　to　see　Triel　in　her　private　rooms；　the　matron　mother's　personal　guards　never　made　it　any　easier　on　him　the　next　time。　He'd　had　enough　of　it。
　　　〃I'm　not　going　to　stand　here　and　argue　with　you　about　this；　today。　You've　got　one　minute　to　tell　her　it's　me　and　let　me　through；　or　I　will　leave　you　as　two　piles　of　smoking　ash　on　her　doorstep。　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
　　　The　flat　stares　turned　mildly　baleful；　but　after　some　careful　consideration；　the　one　who　spoke　finally　nodded　curtly　and　slipped　inside；　shutting　the　door　behind　her　and　leaving　her　partner　to　stare　icily　at　the　archmage　while　he　folded　his　arms　and　tapped　his　foot。
　　　Just　when　Gromph　was　seriously　considering　whether　or　not　to　make　good　on　his　threat；　the　door　opened　and　the　guard　appeared　again；　motioning　him　through。　Arching　his　eyebrow　as　though　to　say；　〃what　else　did　you　expect？〃　he　pushed　past　her　impatiently　and　shoved　the　door　shut　behind　him。
　　　Triel　was　not　in　the　front　room；　though　that　didn't　really　surprise　the　wizard。　Usually；　if　she　was　going　to　bother　to　be　presentable　for　guests；　she　would　see　them　in　the　audience　chamber。　He　figured　his　odds　were　about　even　as　to　whether　he'd　discover　her　in　the　bedroom　or　in　the　baths；　most　likely　with　a　lover。　He　tried　the　bedroom　first；　with　no　luck。
　　　Moving　through　into　the　bathroom；　Gromph　found　his　sister；　alone　except　for　a　pair　of　attendants；　eyes　closed　and　soaking　in　an　oddly　scented　oil　bath。　The　odor　permeated　the　room　and　made　him　cough。
　　　Triel　opened　one　eye　and　looked　at　the　wizard；　then　closed　it　again；　making　no　move　to　greet　him。
　　　〃You　really　shouldn't　threaten　my　guards　like　that；〃　she　said；　a　bit　testily。　〃They're　standing　there　to　keep　the　likes　of　you　out；　you　know。〃
　　　〃A　thousand　apologies；　Matron　Mother；〃　Gromph　answered。　〃I　will　be　certain　to　avoid　helping　you　in　the　future。　Please　do　drop　by　sometime　and　I'll　be　sure　to　keep　you　waiting　outside　my　offices。〃
　　　This　time；　both　of　Triel's　eyes　opened；　but　instead　of　growing　angry；　she　appeared　worried。
　　　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。　〃Your　news　must　be　particularly　unpleasant　for　you　to　behave　so　boorishly。〃
　　　Gromph　had　to　chuckle；　but　it　was　a　bitter　laugh。
　　　〃You　know　me　better　than　most；　sister。　I　suppose　I　should　give　you　more　credit。　You're　correct；　though；　the　news　is　bad；　and　it　es　from　several　fronts。　Our　patrols　are　telling　me　that　traffic　is　picking　up　on　the　outskirts　of　the　city。　Nothing　definitive；　but　they're　growing　fearful　that　we're　due　for　some　sort　of　aggressive　act　from　somewhere；　and　soon。〃
　　　〃What　sort　of　traffic？〃　Triel　asked；　shifting　in　the　bath　so　that　an　attendant　could　begin　to　scrub　her　back　with　a　rough　cloth。
　　　〃Hard　to　say。　Enough　species　e　and　go　as　it　is；　but　they　have　reported　an　inordinate　number　of　troglodyte　sightings　the　last　few　days。〃
　　　Triel　made　a　noise　in　her　throat；　and　at　first　Gromph　wondered　if　it　was　in　response　to　the　ministrations　of　the　attendant；　but　he　realized　it　was　derisive　when　his　sister　said；　〃Troglodytes？　They've　never　been　able　to　muster　any　sizable　threat　against　us。　You　came　all　the　way　over　here　and　harassed　my　guards　to　tell　me　that？　Please。〃
　　　Gromph　clicked　his　tongue　in　vexation　and　strode　across　the　tiled　floor　to　take　a　seat　on　a　long　bench　along　one　wall。
　　　〃No；　of　course　not；　but　don't　be　so　quick　to　dismiss　any　potential　threat。　More　than　enough　generals　saw　their　last　battle　from　underestimating　the　enemy。　We're　vulnerable　to　any　attack　right　now；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　　〃Fine；　I'll　take　it　under　advisement；〃　Triel　said。　〃So；　what　else　do　you　have　to　tell　me？　I'd　like　to　enjoy　the　rest　of　my　bath；　but　if　you　insist　on　giving　me　more　bad　news；　I　don't　think　I　shall　be　able　to。〃
　　　Gromph　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Yes；　there　is　more　bad　news；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Oh；　wonderful。〃
　　　〃I'm　hearing　bad　things　from　our　expedition　to　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　The　matron　mother　rolled　over　and　sat　up；　shooing　away　the　attendant。　She　seemed　unconcerned　that　her　upper　body　was　exposed　to　him；　though　Gromph　ignored　that　fact。
　　　〃What　kind　of　bad　things？〃　she　asked；　her　tone　grave。
　　　〃The　last　munication　I　received　reported　that　riots　were　beginning。　I　haven't　heard　anything　since；　and　the　next　reports　are　overdue。〃
　　　〃How　long？〃　〃Two　days。　I　already　relayed　that　information　to　you。〃
　　　〃Do　you　have　a　means　of　contacting　him？〃　Triel　asked。
　　　〃Yes；　but　not　for　a　while；　and　not　really　for　the　kind　of　conversation　I　suspect　you'd　like　for　me　to　have　with　him。　Even　with　what　I　can　do；　I'll　have　to　make　preparations　to　use　the　appropriate　magic。〃
　　　〃Fine；　do　that。　In　the　meantime；　what　are　your　thoughts？〃
　　　Gromph　considered　the　question　then　said；　〃Do　I　believe　they　are　alive？　Let's　give　them　some　credit。　They　are　an　enterprising　lot；　and　I　have　no　doubt　that　they　can　take　care　of　themselves。　That's　half　the　reason　you　sent　them　away；　isn't　it？〃
　　　Triel's　eyes　narrowed　slightly　as　she　stood　and　let　the　oil　cascade　from　her　body。
　　　〃I　do　want　them　to　succeed；〃　she　said。　〃It　aids　us　nothing　for　them　to　perish；　regardless　of　whatever　benefits　we　both　receive　for　having　a　few　specific　ones　out　of　the　way。〃
　　　She　motioned　for　the　attendant　to　bring　her　a　towel　and　had　it　wrapped　around　herself。
　　　Gromph's　stare　was　carefully　neutral。
　　　〃I　want　them　to　succeed；　too；〃　he　said。　〃My　issues　aside；　this　crisis　affects　every　aspect　of　my　studies　and　pursuits。　My　point　was；　if　they　were　ingenious　enough　to　be　considered　a　threat　here；　I　think　they　can　take　care　of　themselves　in　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　〃Find　them；〃　the　matron　mother　manded；　〃and　let　me　know　when　you　do。〃
　　　〃Even　if　I　have　to　threaten　your　guards　again？〃
　　　〃Even　if　you　have　to　leave　them　as　piles　of　ash　on　my　doorstep。〃
　　　Gromph　nodded　and　turned　away　as　Triel　began　to　dress　with　help　from　the　two　attendants。　The　archmage　stopped　and　turned　back　to　face　his　sister。
　　　〃Oh；　and　one　more　thing。〃
　　　Triel　looked　over　at　her　brother　and　asked；　〃Yes？〃
　　　〃Will　you　please　remind　the　other　matron　mothers　of　the　importance　of　timely　response　to　threats　inside　the　city？　I　asked　for　reinforcements　for　several　specific　sections　three　hours　ago；　and　they　were　still　not　in　place　when　I　came　to　visit。〃
　　　〃Again？〃　Triel　sighed。　〃Yes；　of　course　I　will　speak　to　them　again。〃
　　　〃You　know；〃　Gromph　added；　almost　as　an　afterthought。　〃It　would　probably　help　if　House　Baenre　spared　some　extra　soldiers　for　the　cause。　A　show　of　good　faith　and　all　that。〃
　　　〃Really？　Do　you　think　we　can　afford　to　spare　them？〃
　　　〃I　know　of　two　right　outside　this　door　who　could　be　put　to　far　better　use；〃　the　archmage　replied；　giving　his　sister　a　last；　meaningful　stare。
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　　　〃Explain　to　me　again　what　you　think　I　have　to　gain　by　trusting　you；〃　Quenthel　said；　gnawing　at　a　strip　of　dried　rothé　meat。
　　　The　seven　of　them　were　hiding　in　a　mess　hall　in　an　unused　win