war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第21部分

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　to　the　cellar　of　the　Jewel　Box。
Nym　had　gone　to　all　this　trouble　based　on　the　shrewd　and　well…proven　assumption　that　a　goodly　number　of　Menzoberranyr　males　would　pay　handsomely　for　the　privilege　of　dominating　a　female；　and　in　his　establishnotment；　one　could　do　anything　one　wanted　with　a　captive。　Nym　would　even　provide　a　customer　with　a　bastinado；　a　brazier　of　coals；　thumbscrews　。　。　。　his　only　stipulation　being　that　one　must　pay　a　surcharge　if　one　left　a　pernotmanent　mark。
Since　the　brothel's　existence　was　an　open　secret；　Pharaun　wasn't　sure　why　the　matron　mothers　hadn't　shut　it　down。　On　the　face　of　it；　it　certainly　seemed　to　encourage　disrespect　for　the　ruling　gender。　Perhaps　they　felt　that　if　a　male　had　a　refuge　in　which　to　act　out　his　resentments；　it　would　make　him　all　the　more　deferential　to　the　females　in　his　home。　More　likely；　Nym　was　slipping　them　a　substantial　portion　of　the　take。
At　any　rate；　the　Jewel　Box　seemed　a　reasonable　place　to　seek　informanottion　concerning　rogue　males；　especially　if　one　had　a　spy　in　place。　Pharaun　wasn't　confident　that　he　did　anymore；　but　one　never　knew。
The　stairs　emptied　into　a　hallway　of　numbered　doors。　Moans　of　pasnotsions　and　grunts　of　pain　sounded　faintly　from　behind　several　of　them。　It　was　busier　than　usual。
The　mage　strolled　down　the　passage　until　he　found　number　fourteen。　He　hesitated　for　an　instant；　then　scowled　and　turned　the　largest　of　his　keys　in　the　lock。　The　door　swung　open。
Seated　on　the　bed；　shackles　clutching　her　wrists　and　ankles；　Pellanistra　looked　much　as　he　remembered；　the　same　powerful；　shapely　limbs　and　heart…shaped　face；　with　only　a　few　more　scars　where　one　or　another　of　her　visitors　had　pressed　down　two　hard；　as　well　as　a　split　lip　and　closed；　puffy　eye　where　a　more　recent　caller　had　beaten　her。
She　lifted　her　face；　saw　him；　and　charged　with　her　long…nailed　hands　outstretched。　Then　she　staggered　as　one　of　her　governing　enchantments　riddled　her　body　with　pain；　and　an　instant　later　hit　the　end　of　the　chains　securing　her　to　the　wall。　She　lost　her　balance　and　fell　on　her　rump。
〃Hello；　Pellanistra；〃　Pharaun　said。
She　spat　at　him；　then　screwed　up　her　face　at　another　flare　of　punishnotment。　The　gobbet　of　saliva　fell　well　short　of　the　wizard's　soft；　high　boots。
〃Much　as　I　dislike　descending　to　the　obvious；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃I　feel　pelled　to　observe　that　you're　only　hurting　yourself。〃　He　stepped　fornotward　and　extended　his　hand。　〃e　on；　let's　sit　and　have　a　talk；　just　like　in　the　old　days。　I'll　even　remove　the　shackles　if　you　wish。〃
〃We　had　a　bargain！〃　she　said。
〃I　refuse　to　have　an　extended　conversation　with　someone　sitting　on　the　floor。　It　promises　my　dignity　as　much　as　it　does　yours。　e　on；　be　sensible。　Take　my　hand。〃
She　didn't　do　that；　but；　chains　clinking；　she　did　clamber　to　her　bare　feet　unassisted。　He　caught　a　whiff　of　some　flowery　scent　that　Nym　had　forced　her　to　wear。
〃Now；　isn't　that　better？〃　he　asked。　〃Do　you　want　the　manacles　off？〃
〃We　had　a　pact；　and　I　was　holding　up　my　end。〃
〃I　wish　you'd　invite　me　to　sit　down。〃
〃You　abandoned　me！〃
Pharaun　spread　his　slender；　long…fingered　hands　and　said；　〃All　right；　priestess。　If　you　think　it　necessary；　we'll　belabor　the　self…evident　a　bit　longer。　Yes；　I　recruited　you　into　my　service。　Yes；　you　were　doing　splennotdidly…well　on　your　way　to　earning　your　liberation…but　my　circumnotstances　changed。　Surely　you　heard　something　about　it。〃
〃Yes。　You　backed　the　wrong　sister；　and　Greyanna　made　a　fool　of　you。　She　killed　her　twin；　and　you　were　powerless　to　stop　it。　If　you　hadn't　turned　tail　and　run　away　to　Sorcere；　she　would　have　slain　you；　too。〃
Pharaun　smiled　crookedly。　〃I　don't　think　I'll　encourage　the　bards　to　put　it　quite　that　way　when　they　pose　the　epic　story　of　my　life。〃
〃But　after　you　established　yourself　up　on　Tier　Breche；　after　you　were　free　to　e　and　go　as　you　pleased；　you　could　have　returned　here。〃
〃I　have；　on　occasion；　just　not　to　call　on　you。　I　thought　it　might　be　a　little　awkward。〃
〃I　could　have　helped　you　the　same　as　before。〃
〃Alas；　no。　After　my　withdrawal　from　House　Mizzrym；　I　no　longer　had　a　stake　in　the　power　struggles　within　my　family　or　among　the　noble　Houses；　either。　I　no　longer　needed　intelligence　about　such　matters。　The　only　rivalry　that　concerned　me　was　the　one　among　wizards；　and　even　if　you　number　the　foremost　practitioners　of　my　art　among　your　guests；　I　doubt　they　whisper　the　esoterica　of　their　newly　invented　spells　in　your　ears。　When　it　es　to　our　discoveries；　we　wizards　are　a　closemouthed　breed。〃
〃You　don't　know　what　it　was　like　for　me　。　。　。　is　like　for　me；　abused　and　degraded　by　my　inferiors；　constrained　in　body；　mind；　and　soul；　unable　to　mune　with　Lolth。　。。。〃
Pharaun　raised　his　hand。　〃Please；　you're　embarrassing　yourself。　You　sound　like　a　whining　human；　or　one　of　our　foul　cousins　in　the　World　Above。　Cease　this　tirade；　take　a　breath；　and　think；　then　you　will　realize；　enemy　of　Menzoberranzan；　that　my　concern　for　your　well…being　has　always　been；　at　best；　limited。　How　could　it　be　otherwise？　Sentiment　cernottainly　wasn't　strong　enough　to　make　me　spend　a　fortune　buying　you　free　of　Nym；　or；　if　he　and　I　couldn't　strike　a　deal；　break　you　out　of