war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第13部分

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om　that　point　forward。
　　　
　　　Nimor　Imphraezl　made　his　way　among　the　grand　palaces　and　jagged　stalagmites　of　the　Qu'ellarz'orl；　draped　in　a　hooded　piwafwi。　He　wore　a　merchant's　insignia；　posing　as　a　well…to…do　moner　with　business　on　the　high　plateau　of　Menzoberranzan's　haughtiest　noble　Houses。　It　was　a　thin　disguise；　as　anyone　taking　note　of　his　confident　step　and　rakish　manner　would　not　mistake　him　for　anything　other　than　a　noble　drow　himself。　The　costume　was　not　unmon　among　highborn　males　who　wished　to　move　about　incognito。　Certain　spells　at　his　mand　might　have　sufficed　to　offer　him　almost　any　appearance　he　could　think　of；　but　Nimor　had　discovered　long　ago　that　the　simplest　disguises　were　often　the　best。　Most　drow　houses　were　guarded　by　defenders　who　would　note　the　approach　of　someone　veiled　in　webs　of　illusion；　but　spotting　a　mon　disguise　required　a　mundane　vigilance　that　some　dark　elves　had　forgotten。
　　　He　passed　a　pair　of　Baenre　armsmen；　walking　in　the　opposite　direction。　The　noble　lads　eyed　him　with　open　curiosity　and　not　a　little　suspicion。　Nimor　bowed　deeply　and　offered　an　empty　pleasantry。　The　young　rakes　glanced　back　over　their　shoulders　at　him　once　or　twice；　but　continued　on　their　business。　Baenre　boys　had　bee　hesitant　to　start　trouble　unless　they　were　certain　of　themselves。　Nimor　took　an　extra　turn　or　two　on　his　way　to　his　destination　anyway；　just　to　make　sure　they　hadn't　taken　it　into　their　heads　to　follow　him。　With　one　last　double…back　to　clear　his　trail；　he　turned　to　a　high　walled　palace　near　the　center　of　the　plateau　and　approached　the　fortresslike　gate。
　　　House　Agrach　Dyrr；　the　Fifth　House　of　Menzoberranzan；　clambered　in　and　around　nine　needle…like　towers　of　rock　within　the　bounds　of　a　great　dry　moat。　Each　fang　of　rock　had　been　joined　to　its　neighbor　by　a　graceful　wall　of　adamantine…reinforced　stone；　impossibly　slender　and　strong。　Flying　buttresses；　bladelike　and　beautiful；　linked　the　natural　towers　to　those　wrought　by　drow；　a　narrow　cluster　of　minarets　and　spires　in　the　center　of　the　pound　that　rose　hundreds　of　feet　above　the　plateau　floor。　A　railless　bridge　spanned　in　a　single　elegant　arch　the　sheer　chasm　surrounding　the　structure。
　　　Nimor　climbed　the　bridge　and　approached　openly。　Near　the　far　end　he　was　challenged　by　several　swordsmen　and　a　pair　of　petent…looking　wizards。
　　　〃Hold；〃　called　the　gate　captain。　〃Who　are　you；　and　what　is　your　business　with　Agrach　Dyrr？〃
　　　The　assassin　halted　with　a　smile。　He　could　sense　the　myriad　instruments　of　death　trained　upon　him；　as　if　he　might　suddenly　take　it　into　his　head　to　utter　some　truly　inappropriate　answer。
　　　〃I　am　Reethk　Vaszune；　a　purveyor　of　magical　ingredients　and　reagents；〃　he　said；　bowing　and　spreading　his　arms。　〃I　have　been　summoned　by　the　Old　Dyrr　to　discuss　the　sale　of　my　goods。〃
　　　The　gate　captain　relaxed　and　said；　〃The　master　told　us　to　expect　you；　Reethk　Vaszune。　e　this　way。〃
　　　Nimor　followed　the　captain　through　several　grand　reception　halls　and　high；　echoing　chambers　in　the　great　heart　of　the　Agrach　Dyrr　castle。　The　captain　showed　him　to　a　small　sitting　room；　elaborately　furnished　in　exotic　corals　and　limestone　rendered　in　the　motifs　of　the　kuo…toa；　the　fish　creatures　who　dwelled　in　some　of　the　Underdark's　subterranean　seas。　Exotic　enough　to　bespeak　the　House's　wealth　and　taste；　the　room　radiated　arrogance。
　　　〃I　am　informed　that　Master　Dyrr　will　join　us　shortly；〃　the　guard　captain　said。
　　　A　moment　later；　a　hidden　door　in　the　opposite　wall　slid　smoothly　open；　and　Old　Dyrr　appeared。　The　ancient　wizard　was　decrepit　indeed；　a　rare　sight　for　any　elf；　let　alone　a　drow。　He　leaned　on　a　great　staff　of　black　wood；　and　his　ebon　skin　seemed　as　thin　and　delicate　as　parchment。　A　bright；　cold　spark　burned　in　the　old　wizard's　eye；　hinting　at　reserves　of　ambition　and　vitality　that　had　not　yet　been　tapped　pletely　despite　his　great　age。
　　　〃We　are　delighted　to　see　you　again　so　soon；　Master　Reethk；〃　the　ancient　drow　said　with　a　dry；　crackling　voice。　〃Have　you　perchance　obtained　the　things　we　discussed？〃
　　　〃I　believe　you　will　be　satisfied；　Lord　Dyrr；〃　Nimor　said。
　　　He　glanced　at　the　guard　captain；　who　looked　to　the　old　wizard　to　make　sure　that　he　was　dismissed。　Dyrr　sent　him　along　with　a　small　wave　of　his　hand；　then　the　old　wizard　made　another　gesture　and　spoke　an　arcane　word；　encapsulating　the　chamber　in　a　sphere　of　crawling　blackness　that　hissed　and　moaned　softly　like　a　thing　alive。
　　　〃I　hope　you'll　forgive　me；　young　one；　if　I　take　steps　to　ensure　that　our　conversation　remains　private；〃　the　ancient　drow　wheezed。　〃Eavesdropping　seems　to　be　a　way　of　life　among　our　kind。〃
　　　He　shuffled　to　an　ornately　carved　chair　and　lowered　himself　into　the　seat；　seemingly　careless　of　the　fact　that　he　bared　the　nape　of　his　wattled　neck　to　Nimor　in　so　doing。
　　　〃A　sensible　precaution；〃　Nimor　said。
　　　The　old　one　reckons　me　no　threat；　the　assassin　noted。　Either　he　is　very　trusting…unlikely…or　very　confident。　If　he　has　such　confidence　in　isolating　himself　with　me；　then　either　he　does　not　have　the　measure　of　my　strength；　or　I　do　not　have　the　measure　of　his。
　　　〃It　is　confidence；　young　one；〃　the　old　wizard　said；　〃and　you　do　not　have　the　measure　of　me；　for　we　are　both　of　us　more　than　we　appear。〃　Dyrr　laughed　again；　a　wet　and　rasping　sound。　〃Yes；　your　thoughts　are　known　to　me。　I　did　not　reach　my　advanced　age　through　carelessness。　Now；　take　a　seat。　We　will　dispense　with　this　foolishness　and　discuss　our　business。〃
　　　Nimor　spread　his　hands　in　a　gesture　of　acquiescence　and　took　the　chair　opposite　the　old　wizard。　With　some　care　he　organized　his　thoughts；　locking　away　his　darker　secrets　in　a　place　he　would　not　examine　while　Dyrr　sat　by　reading　his　thoughts。　Instead　he　concentrated　solely　on　the　matter　at　hand。
　　　〃You　have　no　doubt　heard　of　the　unfortunate　demise　of　the　Matron　Mother　of　House　Faen　Tlabbar？〃　the　assassin　said。　〃And　her　daughter　Sil'zet；　as　well？〃
　　　〃It　did　not　escape　my　notice。　Count　on　the　Tlabbars　to　go　crying　murder　to　the　ruling　council。　What　possible　action　did　they　hope　to　exhort　from　the　other　matron　mothers；　I　wonder？〃
　　　〃Perhaps　they　were　overe　with　grief；〃　Nimor　replied。
　　　He　reached　slowly　into　a　pouch　at　his　side；　allowing　the　wizard　to　note　the　deliberate　nature　of　his　motion。　From　the　pouch　he　withdrew　a　platinum　brooch；　worked　in　the　barred　double…curve　symbol　of　Faen　Tlabbar　and　crowned　by　a　dark　ruby。　Nimor　placed　it　on　the　table。
　　　〃The　matron　mother's　own　House　brooch；　which　I　managed　to　pocket　as　a　keepsake　for　you。　I　hope　your　scrying　shield　is　good；　Lord　Dyrr。　No　doubt　the　Tlabbar　wizards　will　be　seeking　that　emblem　with　all　the　magic　at　their　disposal。〃
　　　〃Half…witted　children　fumbling　in　the　dark；〃　Dyrr　muttered。　〃Five　hundred　years　ago　I'd　forgotten　more　about　the　Art　than　that　whole　house　full　of　wizards　had　collectively　deciphered　in　all　their　years　of　training。〃
　　　He　reached　out　one　near…skeletal　hand　for　the　brooch　and　weighed　it　in　his　hand。
　　　〃I　am　sure　you　have　a　means　to　confirm　the　authenticity　of　the　brooch；〃　said　Nimor。
　　　〃Oh；　I　believe　you；　assassin。　I　do　not　think　you　have　cheated　me；　but　I　will　examine　the　issue　later；　just　to　be　certain。〃
　　　The　wizard　left　the　brooch　sitting　on　the　table　and　leaned　back　into　his　chair。　Nimor　waited　patiently　while　Dyrr　settled　back；　tapping　one　long；　thin　finger　on　his　staff；　a　satisfied　smile　on　his　face。
　　　〃Well；〃　the　old　wizard　said　finally；　〃in　our　previous　meeting　I　required　that　you　demonstrate　to　me　the　reach　and　skill　of　your　brotherhood　by　removing　an　enemy　of　my　House；　and　I　suppose　that　you　have　done　exactly　that。　You　have　won　my　ear。　So　what　is　it　that　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　want　of　House　Agrach　Dyrr？〃
　　　Nimor　shifted　and　shot　a　sharp　glance　at　the　wizard。　Dyrr　was　very　well　informed　indeed；　to　know　of　that　name。　Very　few　outside　of　Chaulssin　did。　In　fact；　Nimor　had　studiously　avoided　bringing　it　up　when　he　had　first　approached　the　ancient　lord。　He　wondered　what　clues　he　had　left　for　the　wizard　to　decipher；　and　whether　Dyrr　could　be　permitted　that　knowledge。
　　　〃Do　not　be　hasty；　boy；〃　Dyrr　cautioned　him。　〃You　gave　away　nothing　that　I　did　not　already　know。　I　have　been　aware　of　the　House　of　Shadows　for　quite　a　long　time。〃
　　　〃I　am　impressed；〃　Nimor　said。
　　　〃On　the　contrary；　you　believe　that　I　am　making　empty　boasts。〃　Dyrr　pointed　at　his　own　temple　and　smiled　coldly。　〃I　am　not　given　to　bluffing　or　making　wild　guesses。　Long　ago　I　discerned　a　pattern　of　activity　that　spanned　a　number　of　the　great　cities　of　our　race　and　inferred　the　existence　of　a　secret　league　between　seemingly　weak　minor　Houses；　each　renowned　for　the　skill　of　its　assassins；　each　reputed　to　be　governed　by　its　males；　each　a　secret　ally　of　the　others。　These　families　that　otherwise　would　have　been　devoured　by　their　ambitious　matriarchal　rivals　instead　survived　through　the　convenient　and　violent　deaths　of　any　emergent　enemies。　Though　I　find　it　ironic　that　any　particular　House　of　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　must；　by　definition；　be　considered　the　blackest　sort　of　traitors　to　the　city　unfortunate　enough　to　host　them。　Placing　loyalty　to　your　House　above　loyalty　to　your　city　is　not　a　particularly　egregious　sin；　of　course；　but　to　acknowledge　a　tie　of　loyalty　to　a　House　in　another　city　all　together；　that　is　something　entirely　different；　is　it　not？〃
　　　Nimor　kept　his　mind　carefully　empty　and　said；　〃You　seem　to　know　all　our　secrets。〃
　　　He　studied　the　wizard　carefully；　trying　not　to　let　the　calculations　he　performed　in　his　mind　show。
　　　〃Not　entirely　true；〃　Dyrr　replied。　〃I　would　give　much　to　know　how　your　brotherhood　orders　its　Houses；　where　your　true　strength　is　held；　and　who　rules　your　society。　You　name　yourselves　after　the　city　of　Chaulssin；　which　fell　into　shadow　many　hundreds　of　years　ago。　I　wonder　about　the　significance　of　that　appellation。〃
　　　He　knows　more　than　we　can　permit；　Nimor　thought。
　　　He　glanced　up　sharply　at　the　old　wizard；　realizing　that　Dyrr　would　have　noted　that　thought。　The　ancient　mage　simply　studied　him　with　his　weak　gaze　and　inclined　his　head。　The　assassin　regained　the　mastery　of　his　thoughts　and　decided　to　change　the　subject。
　　　〃For　the　sake　of　our　friendsh