war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第60部分

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ng。　Using　Kyorli's　eyesight；　he　could　see　movement…the　quick　scurrying　of　the　spiders　whose　webs　filled　the　great　dome　above…but　no　detail。　The　webs　were　a　white　haze；　their　lines　indistinct。　Kyorli　could　see　only　a　limited　distance。　Rats　relied　more　upon　smell　and　whisker　touch　than　they　did　on　eyesight。
　　　Gromph　would　have　to　be　careful。　Triel　had　learned　from　Andzrel　about　what　had　happened　to　Gromph。　But　for　the　time　being　she　had　been　fooled　by　Gromph's　assurance　that　the　potions　had　fully　restored　his　vision。　Like　the　other　nobles　of　House　Baenre；　she　took　no　notice　of　Kyorli…the　familiar　often　rode　on　Gromph's　shoulder…but　if　she　learned　that　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan　was　blind；　she　could　deem　him　weak。　And　the　weak…in　House　Baenre；　as　in　all　the　noble　Houses　of　Menzoberranzan…were　swiftly　dispensed　with。
　　　Keeping　that　in　mind；　Gromph　turned　as　he　heard　footsteps　approaching　from　behind　the　adamantine　doors。　Looking　through　Kyorli's　eyes；　he　picked　Triel　out　from　among　the　priestesses　who　fanned　out　into　the　great　chamber。
　　　〃Matron　Mother；〃　he　said；　bowing　deeply。　〃I　have　news。　Good　news。〃
　　　Triel　strode　over　to　where　he　stood。　Whiskers　tickled　Gromph's　cheek　as　Kyorli　strained　forward；　sniffing　eagerly。　Gromph　saw　lines　or　red　crisscrossing　the　matron　mother's　face　and　hair；　sprays　of　blood　from　the　flayings　she'd　recently　inflicted。　The　serpents　in　her　whip　swayed　gently；　tongues　dabbing　at　the　bright　blood　that　had　stained　a　weblike　pattern　across　the　front　of　her　white　tunic。
　　　〃You've　heard　from　Quenthel？〃　Triel　asked。
　　　Gromph　nodded　and　said；　〃I　have。〃
　　　Ever　aware　of　the　political　web　and　his　place　in　it；　Gromph　omitted　any　mention　of　Pharaun。　Gromph's　underling　would　be　spoken　of　only　if　specifically　asked　about。
　　　〃Quenthel　and　the　others　have　discovered　the　whereabouts　of　a　ship　of　chaos　and　plan　to　sail　it　to　the　Abyss；〃　he　told　Triel。　〃There　they　will　find　out　what　has　bee　of　Lolth。　Our　troubles　will　soon　be　at　an　end。　Assuming；　that　is；　that　our　sister　proves　worthy　of　the　task　you　have　set　her。〃
　　　Just　as　Pharaun　hoped　she　would；　Triel　smiled　at　the　barb　Gromph　had　tossed。
　　　〃Our　sister　is　less　brilliant　than　some；　but　she　is　loyal。　。　。　when　it　suits　her；〃　Triel　conceded。　〃Especially　in　matters　concerning　Lolth。〃
　　　Gromph　swore　silently　as　Kyorli's　attention　wandered　to　one　of　the　spiders　that　had　descended；　suddenly；　just　in　front　of　them。　Triel's　face　was　a　blur；　and　he　couldn't　read　it…but　causing　Kyorli　to　whip　her　head　around　suddenly　could　reveal　his　weakness。
　　　The　archmage　nodded　thoughtfully　and　said；　〃I　see。〃
　　　〃Do　you　indeed？〃　Triel　asked；　and　her　tone　was　slightly　mocking。
　　　Thankfully；　the　spider　Kyorli　was　watching　swung　behind　Triel；　bringing　her　into　the　rat's　field　of　view。　Staring　out　through　Kyorli's　eyes；　Gromph　saw　Triel's　fingers　moving。
　　　Then　you　know　that　Quenthel　has　been　to　the　Abyss　more　than　once；　she　signed。
　　　〃Of　course　I　do；〃　Gromph　answered　smoothly。　〃You　covered　up　her　death　quite　carefully；　but　I　have　my　methods　of　learning　our　House's　darkest　secrets。　Where　else　would　Quenthel's　soul　have　gone；　during　those　four　years　that　elapsed　between　her　death　and　eventual　resurrection；　but　to　serve　her　goddess　in　the　Abyss？　I　can　see　why　you　chose　her。　I　only　wonder　。　。　。〃
　　　〃What？〃　Triel　snapped。
　　　〃Why　the　goddess　sent　her　back；〃　Gromph　continued。　〃Quenthel　certainly　was　a　loyal　servant。　Wouldn't　Lolth　have　wanted　to　keep　her　close　to　hand？〃
　　　〃Perhaps　she　had　other　plans　for　Quenthel；〃　Triel　answered。　〃Assuming　the　leadership　of　Arach…Tinilith；　for　example；　which　is　precisely　what　happened。〃
　　　〃Or　carrying　out　her　current　mission；〃　Gromph　added。　〃It's　certainly　within　the　powers　of　the　goddess　to　have　seen　this　crisis　ing　and　have　prepared　years　ago　to　meet　it。〃
　　　〃Indeed；〃　Triel　answered。　〃Who　better　than　someone　who　knows　the　terrain　to　lead　an　expedition　to　the　Abyss？〃　She　paused。　〃Is　that　all　you　have　to　report？〃
　　　Gromph　bowed　and　said；　〃For　the　moment；　Matron　Mother。　I'll　let　you　know　as　soon　as　I　receive　another　report。〃
　　　Dismissing　him；　Triel　strode　away。
　　　Sighing　his　relief；　Gromph　shook　his　head。　If　Triel　knew　he　was　still　blind；　she　was　letting　it　pass。　If　Lolth　had　been　granting　her　spells；　Triel　herself　and　any　number　of　other　priestesses　could　have　restored　his　eyesight　in　a　heartbeat。　The　fact　that　none　of　them　could　do　it　was　just　another　reminder　of　the　powers　they　no　longer　manded。　Leaving　him　his　pretense　of　sight　would　only　help　Triel　maintain　her　own　pretense　of　power。
　　　As　he　made　his　way　out　of　the　temple；　Gromph　wondered　what　Quenthel　would　find　in　the　Demonweb　Pits　and　why　she　had　been　returned　to　Menzoberranzan　all　those　years　before；　only　to　lead　an　expedition　to　her　own　afterlife。　Perhaps　his　sister　had　indeed　been　tapped　by　the　Spider　Queen　for　some　higher　purpose。　If　so；　upon　her　return　to　the　City　of　Spiders　the　balance　of　power　could　shift　in　her　favor…certainly　would　if　she　was　successful　in　her　quest。　He　would　have　to　keep　an　eye　on　Quenthel。　So　to　speak。
　　　
　　　Aliisza　crouched　on　the　ledge　overlooking　the　lake　and　stared　down　at　the　ship　below。　It　was　of　demonic　manufacture…that　much　was　clear　from　the　bone　and　living　tissue　that　had　gone　into　its　construction。　On　the　deck　stood　four　drow　and　a　draegloth…Pharaun　and　his　panions。
　　　The　wizard　and　the　priestess　Quenthel　were　arguing…just　as　they　had　been　when　Aliisza　had　first　encountered　them　near　Ammarindar。　Behind　them；　the　draegloth　taunted　an　uridezu　demon　that　appeared　to　be　bound　in　place　to　the　deck。　The　uridezu　strained　forward；　teeth　gnashing；　as　the　draegloth　held　a　rat　out　by　the　tail…then　bit　its　head　off。　The　other　two　drow…the　mercenary　and　the　pretty　little　female　that　irritated　Aliisza　so…seemed　to　be　keeping　out　of　the　argument；　waiting　patiently　for　it　to　end。
　　　Aliisza's　eyes　lingered　on　Pharaun　who　was　dressed　elegantly；　as　always；　and　with　that　lovely　long　white　hair。　She　was　glad　to　have　found　him　again；　but　her　timing　seemed　to　have　been　off。　From　the　snatches　of　argument　that　drifted　up　to　Aliisza's　perch　on　the　cliff　it　seemed　the　group　of　drow　would　soon　be　departing…though　there　was　apparently　some　question　about　how　many　of　them　would　make　the　journey。　Someone…or　something…had　to　be　fed　first。　。　。　Ah。　That　was　it。
　　　〃That's　a　ship　of　chaos；〃　Aliisza　said；　proud　of　herself；　then　thought；　Now　that　is　a　detail　Kaanyr　will　want　to　know。
　　　〃Where　do　you　plan　to　sail　it　to；　my　dear　Pharaun？〃　Aliisza　mused。　〃The　Abyss？〃　She　laughed　and　tossed　her　curly　black　hair。
　　　〃Surely　you'd　rather　stay　here　and　spend　some　time　with　me　than　visit　that　nasty　goddess　of　yours。　I；　at　least；　am　alive　。。　。　and　responsive　to　your　prayers。〃
　　　Chuckling；　she　decided　to　delay　her　report　to　Kaanyr　Vhok…who　was　all　too　busy　with　that　dreary　siege　of　his；　anyway。　Instead　she'd　stay　in　the　Lake　of　Shadows　and　have　some　fun。
　　　Pleasure；　she　mused；　should　e　before　business。
　　　Always。