精灵血脉四部曲-第59部分

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Those　guards　didn't　notice；　though；　or　pretended　not　to；　as　they　had　likely　been　instructed。　Jarlaxle　nearly　laughed　aloud；　so　many　troubles　could　have　been　avoided　just　by　his　going　through　a　more　conspicuous　gate　to　the　pound。　Everyone；　Triel　included；　knew　full　well　that　he　would　be　there。　It　was　all　a　game　of　pretense　and　intrigue；　with　Matron　Baenre　as　the　controlling　player。

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R。　A。　Salvatore

〃Z'ressV　the　mercenary　cried；　the　drow　word　for　strength　and　the　password　for　this　mound；　and　he　pushed　on　the　stone　door；　which　retracted　immediately　into　the　top　of　its　jamb。

Jarlaxle　tipped　his　hat　to　the　unseen　guards　（probably　huge　minotaur　slaves；　Matron　Baenre's　favorites）　as　he　passed　along　the　narrow　entry　corridor；　between　several　slits；　no　doubt　lined　with　readied　death　lances。

The　inside　of　the　mound　was　lighted；　forcing　Jarlaxle　to　pause　and　allow　his　eyes　to　shift　back　to　the　visible　light　spectrum。　Dozens　of　female　dark　elves　moved　about；　their　silver…and…black　Baenre　uniforms　tightly　fitting　their　firm　and　alluring　bodies。　All　eyes　turned　toward　the　newer？the　leader　of　Bregan　D'aerthe　was　considered　a　fine　catch　in　Menzoberranzan梐nd　the　lewd　way　the　females　scrutinized　him；　hardly　looking　at　his　face　at　all；　made　Jarlaxle　bite　back　a　laugh。　Some　male　dark　elves　resented　such　leers；　but　to　Jar…laxle's　thinking；　these　females'　obvious　hunger　afforded　him　even　more　power。

The　mercenary　moved　to　the　large　black　pillar　in　the　heart　of　the　central　circular　chamber。　He　felt　along　the　smooth　marble　and　located　the　pressure　plate　that　opened　a　section　of　the　curving　wall。

Jarlaxle　found　Dantrag　Baenre；　the　house　weapon　master；　leaning　casually　against　the　wall　inside。　Jarlaxle　quickly　discerned　that　the　fighter　had　been　waiting　for　him。　Like　his　younger　brother；　Dantrag　was　handsome；　tall　（closer　to　six　feet　than　to　five）；　and　lean；　his　muscles　finely　tuned。　His　eyes　were　unusually　amber；　though　they　shifted　toward　red　when　he　grew　excited。　He　wore　his　white　hair　pulled　back　tightly　into　a　ponytail。

As　weapon　master　of　House　Baenre；　Dantrag　was　better　outfitted　for　battle　than　any　other　drow　in　the　city。　Dantrag's　shimmering　black　coat　of　mesh　mail　glistened　as　he　turned；　conforming　to　the　angles　of　his　body　so　perfectly　that　it　seemed　a　second　skin。　He　wore　two　swords　on　his　jeweled　belt。　Curiously；　only　one　of　these　was　of　drow　make；　as　fine　a　sword　as　Jarlaxle　had　ever　seen。　The　other；　reportedly　taken　from　a　surface　dweller；　was　said　to　possess　a　hunger　of　its　own　and　could　shave　the　edges　off　hard　stone　without

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Starless　Night

dulling　in　the　least。

The　cocky　fighter　lifted　one　arm　to　salute　the　mercenary。　As　he　did　so；　he　prominently　displayed　one　of　his　magical　bracers；　tight　straps　of　black　material　lined　with　gleaming　mithril　rings。　Dantrag　…had　never　told　what　purpose　those　bracers　served。　Some　thought　that　they　offered　magical　protection。　Jarlaxle　had　seen　Dantrag　in　battle　and　didn't　disagree；　for　such　defensive　bracers　were　not　unmon。　What　amazed　the　mercenary　even　more　was　the　fact　that；　in　bat；　Dantrag　struck　at　his　opponent　first　more　often　than　not。

Jarlaxle　couldn't　be　sure　of　his　suspicions；　for　even　without　the　bracers　and　any　other　magic；　Dantrag　Baenre　was　one　of　the　finest　fighters　in　Menzoberranzan。　His　principal　rival　had　been　Zak'nafein　Do'Urden；　father　and　mentor　of　Drizzt；　but　Zak'nafein　was　dead　now；　sacrificed　for　blasphemous　acts　against　the　Spider　Queen。　That　left　only　Uthegen…tal；　the　huge　and　strong　weapon　master　of　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo；　the　city's　second　house；　as　a　suitable　rival　for　dangerous　Dantrag。　Knowing　both　fighters'　pride；　Jarlaxle　suspected　that　one　day　the　two　would　secretly　meet　in　a　battle　to　the　death；　just　to　see　who　was　the　better。

The　thought　of　such　a　spectacle　intrigued　Jarlaxle；　though　he　never　understood　such　destructive　pride。　Many　who　had　seen　the　mercenary　leader　in　battle　would　argue　that　he　was　a　match　for　either　of　the　two；　but　Jarlaxle　would　never　play　into　such　intrigue。　To　Jarlaxle　it　seemed　that　pride　was　a　silly　thing　to　fight　for；　especially　when　such　fine　weapons　and　skill　could　be　used　to　bring　more　substantive　treasures。　Like　those　bracers；　perhaps？　Jarlaxle　mused。　Or　would　those　fabulous　bracers　aid　Dantrag　in　looting　Uthe…gental's　corpse？

With　magic；　anything　was　possible。　Jarlaxle　smiled　as　he　continued　to　study　Dantrag；　the　mercenary　loved　exotic　magic；　and　nowhere　in　all　the　Underdark　was　there　a　finer　collection　of　magical　items　than　in　House　Baenre。

Like　this　cylinder　he　had　entered。　It　seemed　unremarkable；　a　plain　circular　chamber　with　a　hole　in　the　ceiling　to　Jarlaxle's　left　and　a　hole　in　the　floor　to　his　right。

He　nodded　to　Dantrag；　who　waved　his　hand　out　to　the　left；　and　Jarlaxle　walked　under　the　hole。　A　tingling　magic

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grabbed　him　and　gradually　lifted　him　into　the　air；　levitating　him　to　the　great　mound's　second　level。　Inside　the　cylinder；　this　area　appeared　identical　to　the　first；　and　Jarlaxle　moved　directly　across　the　way；　to　the　ceiling　hole　that　would　lead　him　to　the　third　level。

Dantrag　was　up　into　the　second　level　as　Jarlaxle　silently　floated　up　to　the　third；　and　the　weapon　master　came　up　quickly；　catching　Jarlaxle's　arm　as　he　reached　for　the　opening　mechanism　to　this　level's　door。　Dantrag　nodded　to　the　next　ceiling　hole；　which　led　to　the　fourth　level　and　Matron　Baenre's　private　throne　room。

The　fourth　level？　Jarlaxle　pondered　as　he　followed　Dantrag　into　place　and　slowly　began　to　levitate　once　more。　Matron　Baenre's　private　throne　room？　Normally；　the　first　matron　mother　held　audience　in　the　mound's　third　level。

Matron　Baenre　already　has　a　guest；　Dantrag　explained　in　the　hand　code　as　Jarlaxle's　head　came　above　the　floor。

Jarlaxle　nodded　and　stepped　away　from　the　hole；　allowing　Dantrag　to　lead　the　way。　Dantrag　did　not　reach　for　the　door；　however；　but　rather　reached　into　a　pouch　and　produced　some　silvery…glowing　dust。　With　a　wink　to　the　mercenary；　he　flung　the　dust　against　the　back　wall。　It　sparkled　and　moved　of　its　own　accord；　formed　a　silvery　spider's　web；　which　then　spiraled　outward；　much　like　the　Baenre　gates；　leaving　a　clear　opening。

After　you；　Dantrag's　hands　politely　suggested。

Jarlaxle　studied　the　devious　fighter；　trying　to　discern　if　treachery　was　afoot。　Might　he　climb　through　the　obvious　extradimensional　gate　only　to　find　himself　stranded　on　some　hellish　plane　of　existence？

Dantrag　was　a　cool　opponent；　his　beautiful；　chiseled　features；　cheekbones　set　high　and　resolute；　revealing　nothing　to　Jarlaxle's　usually　effective；　probing　gaze。　Jarlaxle　did　go　through　the　opening；　though；　finally　deciding　that　Dantrag　was　too　proud　to　trick　him　into　oblivion。　If　Dantrag　had　wanted　Jarlaxle　out　of　the　way；　he　would　have　used　weapons；　not　wizard's　mischief。

The　Baenre　son　stepped　right　behind　Jarlaxle；　into　a　small；　extradimensional　pocket　sharing　space　with　Matron　Baenre's　throne　room。　Dantrag　led　Jarlaxle　along　a　thin　silver

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Starless　Night

thread　to　the　far　side　of　the　small　chamber；　to　an　opening　that　looked　out　into　the　room。

There；　on　a　large　sapphire　throne；　sat　the　withered　Matron　Baenre；　her　face　crisscrossed　by　thousands　of　spidery　lines。　Jarlaxle　spent　a　long　moment　eyeing　the　throne　before　considering　the　matron　mother；　and　he　unconsciously　licked　his　thin　lips。　Dantrag　chuckled　at　his　side；　for　the　wary　Baenre　could　understand　the　mercenary's　desire。　At　the　end　of　each　of　the　throne's　arms　was　set　a　huge　diamond　of　no　fewer　than　thirty　carats。

The　throne　itself　was　carved　of　the　purest　black　sapphire；　a　shining　well　that　offered　an　invitation　into　its　depths。　Writhing　forms　moved　about　inside　that　pool　of　blackness；　rumor　said　that　the　tormented　souls　of　all　those　who　had　been　unfaithful　to　Lloth；　and　had；　in　turn；　been　transformed　into　hideous　driders；　resided　in　an　inky　black　dimension　within　the　confines　of　Matron　Baenre's　fabulous　throne。

That　sobering　thought　brought　the　mercenary　from　his　casing；　he　might　consider　the　act；　but　he　would　never　be　so　foolish　as　to　try　to　take　one　of　those　diamonds！　He　looked　to　Matron　Baenre　then；　her　two　unremarkable　scribes　huddled　behind　her；　busily　taking　notes。　The　first　matron　mother　was　flanked　on　her　left　by　Bladen'Kerst；　the　oldest　daughter　in　the　house　proper；　the　third　oldest　of　the　siblings　behind　Triel　and　Gromph。　Jarlaxle　liked　Bladen'Kerst　even　less　than　he　liked　Triel；　for　she　was　sadistic　in　the　extreme。　On　several　occasions；　the　mercenary　had　thought　he　might　have　to　kill　her　in　self…defense。　That　would　have　been　a　difficult　situation；　though　Jarlaxle　suspected　that　Matron　Baenre；　privately；　would　be　glad　to　have　the　wicked　Bladen'Kerst　dead。　Even　the　powerful　matron　mother　couldn't　fully　control　that　one。

On　Matron　Baenre's　right　stood　another　of　Jarlaxle's　least　favorite　beings；　the　illithid；　Methil　El…Viddenvelp；　the　octopus…headed　advisor　to　Matron　Baenre。　He　wore；　as　always；　his　unremarkable；　rich　crimson　robe；　its　sleeves　long　so　that　the　creature　could　keep　its　scrawny；　three…clawed　hands　tucked　from　sight。　Jarlaxle　wished　that　the　ugly　creature　would　wear　a　mask　and　hood　as　well。　Its　bulbous；　purplish

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head；　sporting　four　tentacles　where　its　mouth　should　have　been；　and　milky…white　pupilless　eyes；　was　among　the　most　repulsive　things　Jarlaxle　had　ever　seen。　Normally；　if　gains　could　be　made；　the　mercenary　would　have　looked　past　a　being's　appearance；　but　Jarlaxle　preferred　to　have　little　contact　with　the　ugly；　mysterious；　and　ultimately　deadly　illithids。

Most　drow　held　similar　feelings　toward　illithids；　and　it　momentarily　struck　Jarlaxle　as　odd　that　Matron　Baenre　would　have　El…Viddenvelp　so　obviously　positioned。　When　he　scrutinized　the　female　drow　facing　Matron　Baenre；　though；　the　mercenary　understood。

She　was　scrawny　and　small；　shorter　than　even　Triel　and　appearing　much　weaker。　Her　black　robes　were　unremarkable；　and　she　wore　no　other　visible　equipment梒ertainly　not　the　attire　befitting　a　matron　mother。　But　this　drow；　K'yorl　Odran；　was　indeed　a　matron　mother；　leader　of　Oblodra；　the　third　house　of　Menzoberranzan。

K'yorl？　Jarlaxle's　fingers　motioned　to　Dantrag；　the　mercenary's　facial　expression　incredulous。　K'yorl　was　among　th