精灵血脉四部曲-第60部分

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K'yorl？　Jarlaxle's　fingers　motioned　to　Dantrag；　the　mercenary's　facial　expression　incredulous。　K'yorl　was　among　the　most　despised　of　Menzoberranzan's　rulers。　Personally；　Matron　Baenre　hated　K'yorl；　and　had　many　times　openly　expressed　her　belief　that　Menzoberranzan　would　be　better　off　without　the　troublesome　Odran。　The　only　thing　that　had　stopped　House　Baenre　from　obliterating　Oblodra　was　the　fact　that　the　females　of　the　third　house　possessed　mysterious　powers　of　the　mind。　If　anyone　could　understand　the　motivations　and　private　thoughts　of　mysterious　and　dangerous　K'yorl；　it　would　be　the　illithid；　El…Viddenvelp。

〃Three　hundred；〃　K'yorl　was　saying。

Matron　Baenre　slumped　back　in　her　chair；　a　sour　expression　on　her　face。　〃A　pittance；〃　she　replied。

〃Half　of　my　slave　force；〃　K'yorl　responded；　flashing　her　customary　grin；　a　well…known　signal　that　not…so…sly　K'yorl　was　lying。

Matron　Baenre　cackled；　then　stopped　abruptly。　She　came　forward　in　her　seat；　her　slender　hands　resting　atop　the　fabulous　diamonds；　and　her　scowl　unrelenting。　Her　ruby…red　eyes　narrowed　to　slits。　She　uttered　something　under　her　breath　and　removed　one　of　her　hands　from　atop

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the　diamond。　The　magnificent　gem　flared　to　inner　life　and　loosed　a　concentrated　beam　of　purple　light；　striking　K'yorl's　attendant；　an　unremarkable　male；　and　engulfing　him　in　a　series　of　cascading；　crackling　arcs　of　purple…glowing　energy。　He　cried　out；　threw　his　hands　up　in　the　air；　and　fought　back　against　the　consuming　waves。

Matron　Baenre；　lifted　her　other　hand　and　a　second　beam　joined　the　first。　Now　the　male　drow　seemed　like　no　more　than　a　purple　silhouette。

Jarlaxle　watched　closely　as　K'yorl　closed　her　eyes　and　furrowed　her　brow。　Her　eyes　came　back　open　almost　immediately；　and　she　stared　with　disbelief　at　El…Viddenvelp。　The　mercenary　was　worldly　enough　to　realize　that；　in　that　split　second；　a　battle　of　wills　had　just　occurred；　and　he　was　not　surprised　that　the　mind　flayer　had　apparently　won　out。

The　unfortunate　Obiodran　male　was　no　more　than　a　shadow　by　then；　and　a　moment　later；　he　wasn't　even　that。　He　was　simply　no　more。

K'yorl　Odran　scowled　fiercely；　seemed　on　the　verge　of　an　explosion；　but　Matron　Baenre；　as　deadly　as　any　drow　alive；　did　not　back　down。

Unexpectedly；　K'yorl　grinned　widely　again　and　announced　lightheartedly；　〃He　was　just　a　male。〃

〃K'yorl！〃　Baenre　snarled。　〃This　duty　is　sanctified　by　Lloth；　and　you　shall　cooperate！〃

〃Threats？〃　spoke　K'yorl。

Matron　Baenre　rose　from　her　throne　and　walked　right　in　front　of　the　unflinching　K'yorl。　She　raised　her　left　hand　to　the　Obiodran　female's　cheek；　and　calm　K'yorl　couldn't　help　but　wince。　On　that　hand　Matron　Baenre　wore　a　huge　golden　ring；　its　four　unpleted　bands　shifting　as　though　they　were　the　eight　legs　of　a　living　spider。　Its　huge　blue…black　sapphire　shimmered。　That　ring；　K'yorl　knew；　contained　a　living　velsharess　orbb；　a　queen　spider；　a　far　more　deadly　cousin　of　the　surface　world's　black　widow。

〃You　must　understand　the　importance；〃　Matron　Baenre　cooed。

To　Jarlaxle's　amazement　（and　he　noted　that　Dantrag's　hand　immediately　went　to　his　sword　hilt；　as　though　the　weapon　master　would　leap　out　of　the　extradimensional

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spying　pocket　and　slay　the　impudent　Oblodran）；　K'yorl　slapped　Matron　Baenre's　hand　away。

〃Barrison　Del'Armgo　has　agreed；〃　Matron　Baenre　said　calmly；　shifting　her　hand　upright　to　keep　her　dangerous　daughter　and　illithid　advisor　from　taking　any　action。

K'yorl　grinned；　an　obvious　bluff；　for　the　matron　mother　of　the　third　house　could　not　be　thrilled　to　hear　that　the　first　two　houses　had　allied　on　an　issue　that　she　wanted　to　avoid。

〃As　has　Faen　Tlabbar；〃　Matron　Baenre　added　slyly；　referring　to　the　city's　fourth　house　and　Oblodra's　most　hated　rival。　Baenre's　words　were　an　obvious　threat；　for　with　both　House　Baenre　and　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo　on　its　side；　Faen　Tlabbar　would　move　quickly　to　crush　Oblodra　and　assume　the　city's　third　rank。

Matron　Baenre　slid　back　into　her　sapphire　throne；　never　taking　her　gaze　from　K'yorl。

〃I　do　not　have　many　house　drow；〃　K'yorl　said；　and　it　was　the　first　time　Jarlaxle　had　ever　heard　the　upstart　Oblodran　sound　humbled。

〃No；　but　you　have　kobold　fodder！〃　Matron　Baenre　snapped。　〃And　do　not　dare　to　admit　to　six　hundred。　The　runnels　of　the　Clawrift　beneath　House　Oblodra　are　vast。〃

〃I　will　give　to　you　three　thousand；〃　K'yorl　answered；　apparently　thinking　the　better　of　some　hard　bargaining。

〃Ten　times　that！〃　Baenre　growled。

K'yorl　said　nothing；　merely　cocked　her　head　back　and　looked　down　her　slender；　ebon…skinned　nose　at　the　first　matron　mother。

〃I'll　settle　for　nothing　less　than　twenty　thousand；〃　Matron　Baenre　said　then；　carrying　both　sides　of　the　bargaining。　'The　defenses　of　the　dwarven　stronghold　will　be　cunning；　and　we'll　need　ample　fodder　to　sort　our　way　through。〃

〃The　cost　is　great；〃　K'yorl　said。

〃Twenty　thousand　kobolds　do　not　equal　the　cost　of　one　drow　life；〃　Baenre　reminded　her；　then　added；　just　for　effect；　〃in　Lloth's　eyes。〃

K'yorl　started　to　respond　sharply；　but　Matron　Baenre　stopped　her　at　once。

〃Spare　me　your　threats！〃　Baenre　screamed；　her　thin　neck　seeming　even　scrawnier　with　her　jaw　so　tightened　and

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jutting　forward。　〃In　Lloth's　eyes；　this　event　goes　beyond　the　fighting　of　drow　houses；　and　I　promise　you；　K'yorl；　that　the　disobedience　of　House　Oblodra　will　aid　the　ascension　of　Faen　Tlabbar！〃

Jarlaxle's　eyes　widened　with　surprise　and　he　looked　at　Dantrag；　who　had　no　explanation。　Never　before　had　the　mercenary　heard；　or　heard　of；　such　a　blatant　threat；　one　house　against　another。　No　grin；　no　witty　response；　came　from　K'yorl　this　time。　Studying　the　female；　silent　and　obviously　fighting　to　keep　her　features　calm；　Jarlaxle　could　see　the　seeds　of　anarchy。　K'yorl　and　House　Oblodra　would　not　soon　forget　Matron　Baenre's　threat；　and　given　Matron　Baenre's　arrogance；　other　houses　would　undoubtedly　foster　similar　resentments。　The　mercenary　nodded　as　he　thought　of　his　own　meeting　with　fearful　Triel；　who　would　likely　inherit　this　dangerous　situation。

〃Twenty　thousand；〃　K'yorl　quietly　agreed；　〃if　that　many　of　the　troublesome　little　rats　can　be　herded。〃

The　matron　mother　of　House　Oblodra　was　then　dismissed。　As　she　entered　the　marble　cylinder；　Dantrag　dropped　out　of　the　end　of　the　spider　filament　and　climbed　from　the　extradimensional　pocket；　into　the　throne　room。

Jarlaxle　went　behind；　stepping　lightly　to　stand　before　the　throne。　He　swept　into　a　low　bow；　the　diatryma　feather　sticking　from　the　brim　of　his　great　hat　brushing　the　floor。　〃A　most　magnificent　performance；〃　he　greeted　Matron　Baenre。　〃It　was　my　pleasure　that　I　was　allowed　to　witness？

〃Shut　up；〃　Matron　Baenre；　leaning　back　in　her　throne　and　full　of　venom；　said　to　him。

Still　grinning；　the　mercenary　came　to　quiet　attention。

〃K'yorl　is　a　dangerous　nuisance；〃　Matron　Baenre　said。　〃I　will　ask　little　from　her　house　drow；　though　their　strange　mind　powers　would　prove　useful　in　breaking　the　will　of　resilient　dwarves。　All　that　we　need　from　them　is　kobold　fodder；　and　since　the　vermin　breed　like　muck　rats；　their　sacrifice　will　not　be　great。〃

〃What　about　after　the　victory？〃　Jarlaxle　dared　to　ask。

〃That　is　for　K'yorl　to　decide；〃　Matron　Baenre　replied　immediately。　She　motioned　then　for　the　others；　even　her　scribes；　to　leave　the　room；　and　all　knew　that　she　meant　to

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appoint　Jarlaxle's　band　to　a　scouting　mission梐t　the　very　least梠n　House　Oblodra。

They　all　went　without　plaint；　except　for　wicked　Bladen'Kerst；　who　paused　to　flash　the　mercenary　a　dangerous　glare。　Bladen'Kerst　hated　Jarlaxle　as　she　hated　all　drow　males；　considering　them　nothing　more　than　practice　dummies　on　which　she　could　hone　her　torturing　techniques。

The　mercenary　shifted　his　eye　patch　to　the　other　eye　and　gave　her　a　lewd　wink　in　response。

Bladen'Kerst　immediately　looked　to　her　mother；　as　if　asking　permission　to　beat　the　impertinent　male　senseless；　but　Matron　Baenre　continued　to　wave　her　away。

〃You　want　Bregan　D'aerthe　to　keep　close　watch　on　House　Oblodra；〃　Jarlaxle　reasoned　as　soon　as　he　was　alone　with　Baenre。　〃Not　an　easy　task？

〃No；〃　Matron　Baenre　interrupted。　〃Even　Bregan　D'aerthe　could　not　readily　spy　on　that　mysterious　house。〃

The　mercenary　was　glad　that　Matron　Baenre；　not　he；　had　been　the　one　to　point　that　out。　He　considered　the　unexpected　conclusion；　then　grinned　widely；　and　even　dipped　into　a　bow　of　salute　as　he　came　to　understand。　Matron　Baenre　wanted　the　others；　particularly　El…Viddenvelp；　merely　to　think　that　she　would　set　Bregan　D'aerthe　to　spy　on　House　Oblodra。　That　way；　she　could　keep　K'yorl　somewhat　off　guard；　looking　for　ghosts　that　did　not　exist。

〃I　care　not　for　K'yorl；　beyond　my　need　of　her　slaves；〃　Matron　Baenre　went　on。　〃If　she　does　not　do　as　she　is　instructed　in　this　matter；　then　House　Oblodra　will　be　dropped　into　the　Clawrift　and　forgotten。〃

The　matter…of…fact　tones；　showing　supreme　confidence；　impressed　the　mercenary。　〃With　the　first　and　second　houses　aligned；　what　choice　does　K'yorl　have？〃　he　asked。

Matron　Baenre　pondered　that　point；　as　though　Jarlaxle　had　reminded　her　of　something。　She　shook　the　notion　away　and　quickly　went　on。　〃We　do　not　have　time　to　discuss　your　meeting　with　Triel；〃　she　said；　and　Jarlaxle　was　more　than　a　little　curious；　for　he　had　thought　that　the　primary　reason　for　his　visit　to　House　Baenre。　〃I　want　you　to　begin　planning　our　procession　toward　the　dwarvish　home。　I　will　need　maps　of　the　intended　routes；　as　well　as　detailed　descriptions　of　the

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possible　final　approaches　to　Mithril　Hall；　so*　that　Dantrag　and　his　generals　might　best　plan　the　attack。〃

Jarlaxle　nodded。　He　certainly　wasn't　about　to　argue　with　the　foul…tempered　matron　mother。　〃We　could　send　spies　deeper　into　the　dwarven　plex；〃　he　began；　but　again；　the　impatient　Baenre　cut　him　short。

〃We　need　none；〃　she　said　simply。

Jarlaxle　eyed　her　curiously。　〃Our　last　expedition　did　not　actually　get　into　Mithril　Hall；〃　he　reminded。

Matron　Baenre's　lips　curled　up　in　a　perfectly　evil　smile；　an　infectious　grin　that　made　Jarlaxle　eager　to　learn　what　revelation　might　be　ing。　Slowly；　the　matron　mother　reached　inside　the　front　of　her　fabulous　robes；　producing　a　chain　on