精灵血脉四部曲-第139部分

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　　　K'yorl　felt　her　entire　body　stretching　down　from　the　tower；　reaching　for　the　sulphur　and　the　gate。　She　should　have　been　already　dead；　she　knew　she　should　have　already　died　under　the　tremendous　pressure。

　　　Matron　Baenre　held　her　hand　steady；　but　could　not　help　closing　her　eyes；　as　K'yorl's　weirdly　elongated　form　suddenly　flew　from　the　top　of　the　broken　tower；　soaring　straight　for　her。

　　　Several　drow；　Berg'inyon　included；　screamed；　others　gasped　again；　and　still　others　called　to　the　glory　of　Lloth；　as　K'yorl；　stretched　and　narrowed　so　that　she　resembled　a　living　spear；　entered　the　sulphur；　the　gate　that　would　take　her　to　the　Abyss；　to　Errtu；　Lloth's　appointed　agent　of　torture。

　　　Behind　K'yorl　came　the　fiends；　with　a　tremendous　fanfare；　roaring　and　loosing　bolts　of　lightning　against　the　Oblodran　pound；　igniting　balls　of　exploding　fire　and　other　blinding　displays　of　their　power。　pelled　by　Errtu；　they　stretched　and　thinned　and　flew　into　the　sulphur；　and　Matron　Baenre　held　on　against　her　terror；　transforming　it　into　a　sensation　of　sheer　power。

　　　In　a　few　moments；　all　the　fiends；　even　the　greatest　tanar'ri；　were　gone。　Matron　Baenre　felt　their　presence　still；　transformed　somehow　within　the　sulphur。

　　　Suddenly；　it　was　quiet　once　more。　Many　dark　elves　looked　to　each　other；　wondering　if　the　punishment　was　plete；　wondering　if　House　Oblodra　would　be　allowed　to　survive　under　a　new　leader。　Nobles　from　several　different　houses　flashed　signals　to　each　other　expressing　their　concern　that　Baenre　would　now　put　one　of　her　own　daughters　in　mand　of　the　third　house；　further　sealing　her　ultimate　position　within　the　city。

　　　But　Baenre　had　no　such　thoughts。　This　was　a　punishment　demanded　by　Lloth；　a　plete　punishment；　as　terrible　as　anything　that　had　ever　been　exacted　on　a　house　in　Menzoberranzan。　Again　heeding　the　telepathic　instructions　of　Errtu；　Matron　Baenre　hurled　the　throbbing　piece　of　sulphur　into　the　Clawrift；　and　when　cheers　went　up　about　her；　the　dark　elves　thinking　the　ceremony　plete；　she　raised　her　arms　out　wide　and　manded　them　all　to　witness　the　wrath　of　Lloth。

　　　They　felt　the　first　rumblings　within　the　Clawrift　beneath　their　feet。　A　few　anxious　moments　passed；　too　quiet；　too　hushed。

　　　One　of　K'yorl's　daughters　appeared　on　the　open　platform　atop　the　broken　tower。　She　ran　to　the　edge；　calling；　pleading；　to　Matron　Baenre。　A　moment　later；　when　Baenre　gave　no　response；　she　happened　to　glance　to　the　side；　to　one　of　the　fingerlike　chasms　of　the　great　Clawrift。

　　　Wide　went　her　eyes；　and　her　scream　was　as　terrified　as　any　drow　had　ever　heard。　From　the　higher　vantage　point　offered　by　her　levitation　spell；　Matron　Baenre　followed　the　gaze　and　was　next　to　react；　throwing　her　arms　high　and　wide　and　crying　out　to　her　goddess　in　ecstacy。　A　moment　later；　the　gathering　understood。

　　　A　huge　black　tentacle　snaked　over　the　rim　of　the　Clawrift；　wriggling　its　way　behind　the　Oblodran　pound。　Like　a　wave；　dark　elves　fell　back；　stumbling　all　over　each　other；　as　the　twenty…foot…thick　monstrosity　came　around　the　back；　along　the　side；　and　then　along　the　front　wall；　back　toward　the　chasm。

　　　〃Baenre！〃　pleaded　the　desperate；　doomed　Oblodran。

　　　〃You　have　denied　Lloth；〃　the　first　matron　mother　replied　calmly。　〃Feel　her　wrath！〃

　　　The　ground　beneath　the　cavern　trembled　slightly　as　the　tentacle；　the　angry　hand　of　Lloth；　tightened　its　grasp　on　the　Oblodran　pound。　The　wall　buckled　and　collapsed　as　the　thing　began　its　steady　sweep。

　　　K'yorl's　daughter　leaped　from　the　tower　as　it；　too；　began　to　crumble。　She　cleared　the　tentacle；　and　was　still　alive；　though　broken；　on　the　ground　when　a　group　of　dark　elves　got　to　her。　Uthegental　Armgo　was　among　that　group；　and　the　mighty　weapon　master　pushed　aside　the　others；　preventing　them　from　finishing　the　pitiful　creature　off。　He　hoisted　the　Odran　in　his　powerful　arms；　and；　through　bleary　eyes；　the　battered　female　regarded　him；　even　managed　a　faint　smile；　as　though　she　expected　he　had　e　out　to　save　her。

　　　Uthegental　laughed　at　her；　lifted　her　above　his　head　and　ran　forward；　heaving　her　over　the　side　of　the　tentacle；　back　into　the　rolling　rubble　that　had　been　her　house。

　　　The　cheers；　the　screams；　were　deafening；　and　so　was　the　rumble　as　the　tentacle　swept　all　that　had　been　House　Oblodra；　all　the　structures　and　all　the　drow；　into　the　chasm。



Chapter　15

GREED



　　　The　mercenary　shook　his　bald　head；　as　defiant　an　act　as　he　had　ever　made　against　Matron　Baenre。　At　this　moment；　so　soon　after　the　first　matron　mother's　awesome　display　of　power；　and　given　the　fact　that　she　was　obviously　in　the　Spider　Queen's　highest　favor；　Jarlaxle's　questioning　of　her　plans　seemed　even　more　dangerous。

　　　Triel　Baenre　sneered　at　Jarlaxle；　and　Berg'inyon　closed　his　eyes；　neither　of　them　really　wanted　to　see　the　useful　male　beaten　to　death。　Wicked　Bladen'Kerst；　though；　licked　her　lips　anxiously　and　gripped　the　five…headed　tentacle　whip　tied　on　her　hip；　hoping　that　her　mother　would　allow　her　the　pleasure。

　　　〃I　fear　it　is　not　the　time；〃　Jarlaxle　said　openly；　bluntly。　〃Lloth　instructs　me　differently；〃　Baenre　replied；　and　she　seemed　quite　cool　and　calm；　given　the　defiance　of　a　mere　male。

　　　〃We　cannot　be　certain　that　our　magic　will　continue　to　work　as　we　expect；〃　Jarlaxle　reasoned。

　　　Baenre　nodded；　and　the　others　then　realized；　to　their　absolute　surprise；　that　their　mother　was　glad　the　mercenary　was　taking　a　negative　role。　Jarlaxle's　questions　were　pertinent；　and　he　was；　in　fact；　helping　Baenre　sort　through　the　details　of　her　proposed　new　alliance　and　the　march　to　Mithril　Hall。

　　　Triel　Baenre　eyed　her　mother　suspiciously　as　all　of　this　sank　in。　If　Matron　Baenre　had　received　her　instructions　directly　from　the　Spider　Queen；　as　she　had　openly　stated；　then　why　would　she　want；　or　even　tolerate；　defiance　or　questioning　at　all？　Why　would　Matron　Baenre　need　to　have　these　most　basic　questions　concerning　the　wisdom　of　the　march　answered？

　　　〃The　magic　is　secure；〃　Baenre　replied。

　　　Jarlaxle　conceded　the　point。　Everything　he　had　heard；　both　within　and　beyond　the　drow　city；　seemed　to　back　that　claim。　〃You　will　have　no　trouble　forming　an　alliance　after　the　spectacle　of　House　Oblodra's　fall。　Matron　Mez'Barris　Armgo　has　been　supportive　all　along；　and　no　matron　mother　would　dare　even　hint　that　she　fears　to　follow　your　lead。〃

　　　〃The　Clawrift　is　large　enough　to　hold　the　rubble　of　many　houses；〃　Baenre　said　dryly。

　　　Jarlaxle　snickered。　〃Indeed；〃　he　said。　〃And　indeed　this　is　the　time　for　alliance；　for　whatever　purpose　that　alliance　must　be　formed。〃

　　　〃It　is　time　to　march　to　Mithril　Hall；〃　Baenre　interrupted；　her　tone　one　of　finality；　〃time　to　rise　up　from　despair　and　bring　higher　glories　to　the　Spider　Queen。〃

　　　〃We　have　suffered　many　losses；〃　Jarlaxle　dared　to　press。　〃House　Oblodra　and　their　kobold　slaves　were　to　lead　the　attack；　dying　in　the　dwarven　traps　set　for　drow。〃

　　　〃The　kobolds　will　be　brought　up　from　their　holes　in　the　Clawrift；〃　Baenre　assured　him。

　　　Jarlaxle　didn't　disagree；　but　he　knew　the　tunnels　below　the　rim　of　the　chasm　better　than　anyone；　now　that　all　of　House　Oblodra　was　dead。　Baenre　would　get　some　kobolds；　several　hundred　perhaps；　but　House　Oblodra　could　have　provided　many　thousand。

　　　〃The　city's　hierarchy　is　in　question；〃　the　mercenary　went　on。　〃The　third　house　is　no　more；　and　the　fourth　is　without　its　matron　mother。　Your　own　family　still　has　not　recovered　from　the　renegade's　escape　and　the　loss　of　Dantrag　and　Vendes。〃

　　　Baenre　suddenly　sat　forward　in　her　throne。　Jarlaxle　didn't　flinch；　but　many　of　the　Baenre　children　did；　fearing　that　their　mother　understood　the　truth　of　the　mercenary's　last　statement；　and　that　Baenre　simply　would　not　tolerate　any　bickering　between　her　surviving　children　as　they　sorted　out　the　responsibilities　and　opportunities　left　open　by　the　loss　of　their　brother　and　sister。

　　　Baenre　stopped　as　quickly　as　she　had　started；　standing　before　the　throne。　She　let　her　dangerous　gaze　linger　over　each　of　her　gathered　children；　then　dropped　it　fully　over　the　impertinent　mercenary。　〃e　with　me；〃　she　manded。

　　　Jarlaxle　stepped　aside　to　let　her　pass；　and　obediently　and　wisely　fell　into　step　right　behind　her。　Triel　moved　to　follow；　but　Baenre　spun　about；　stopping　her　daughter　in　her　tracks。　〃Just　him；〃　she　growled。

　　　A　black　column　centered　the　throne　room；　and　a　crack　appeared　along　its　seemingly　perfect　and　unblemished　side　as　Baenre　and　the　mercenary　approached。　The　crack　widened　as　the　cunning　door　slid　open；　allowing　the　two　to　enter　the　cylindrical　chamber　within。

　　　Jarlaxle　expected　Baenre　to　yell　at　him；　or　to　talk　to　him；　even　threaten　him；　once　the　door　closed　again；　separating　them　from　her　family。　But　the　matron　mother　said　nothing；　just　calmly　walked　over　to　a　hole　in　the　floor。　She　stepped　into　the　hole；　but　did　not　fall；　rather　floated　down　to　the　next　lower　level；　the　great　Baenre　mound's　third　level；　on　currents　of　magical　energy　Jarlaxle　followed　as　soon　as　the　way　was　clear；　but　still；　when　he　got　to　the　third　level；　he　had　to　hurry　to　keep　up　with　the　hustling　matron　mother；　gliding　through　the　floor　once　more；　and　then　again；　and　again；　until　she　came　to　the　dungeons　beneath　the　great　mound。

　　　Still　she　offered　not　a　word　of　explanation；　and　Jarlaxle　began　to　wonder　if　he　was　to　be　imprisoned　down　here。　Many　drow；　even　drow　nobles；　had　found　that　grim　fate；　it　was　rumored　that　several　had　been　kept　as　Baenre　prisoners　for　more　than　a　century；　endlessly　tortured；　then　healed　by　the　priestesses；　that　they　might　be　tortured　again。

　　　A　wave　of　Baenre's　hand　sent　the　two　guards　standing　beside　one　cell　door　scrambling　for　cover。

　　　Jarlaxle　was　as　relieved　as　curious　when　he　walked　into　the　cell　behind　Baenre　to　find　a　curious；　barrel…chested　dwarf　chained　to　the　far　wall。　The　mercenary　looked　back　to　Baenre；　and　only　then　did　he　realize　she　was　not　wearing　one　of　her　customary　necklaces；　the　one　fashioned　of　a　dwarf's　tooth。

　　　〃A　recent　catch？〃　Jarlaxle　asked；　though　he　suspected　differently。

　　　〃Two　thousand　years；〃　Baenre　replied。　〃I　give　to　you　Gandalug　Battlehammer；　patron　of　Clan　Battlehammer；　founder　of　Mithril　Hall。〃

　　　Jarlaxle　rocked　back　on　his　heels。　He　had　heard　the　rumors；　of　course；　th