war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第11部分

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　he　told　the　duergar。
　　　The　scarred　prince　snorted　and　said；　〃And　where　will　the　tanarukks　be　while　we're　making　our　attack？　Bravely　bringing　up　the　rear？〃
　　　This　elicited　a　growl　from　Kaanyr　Vhok；　who　bared　perfect　teeth　and　thumped　the　hilt　of　the　rune…inscribed　sword　he　held　against　his　golden　breastplate。
　　　〃My　Scoured　Legion　could　outfight　your　mushroom…men　any　day；〃　he　growled；　glaring　angrily　across　the　map　at　the　scarred　duergar。　〃Why；　even　our　orcs　would　be　a　match　for…〃
　　　A　tug　on　his　arm　from　Aliisza　stopped　him　in　mid　bluster。　He　glared　at　her　but　listened　as　she　whispered　in　his　ear；　then　slowly　lowered　his　sword。
　　　〃Gentlemen；　please；〃　Nimor　said。　〃Hear　me　out。〃　He　turned　to　Vhok。　〃The　Scoured　Legion　will　indeed　be　involved　in　the　fight。　You　will　rake　Donigarten；　the　city's　food　and　water　supply；　then　fall　upon　Qu'ellarz'orl　from　the　east。　That　will　cause　the　matron　mothers　to　withdraw　their　defenders　south；　allowing　the　duergar　to　take　up　positions　in　the　north。　But　not　all　of　the　duergar。　One　pany；　at　least；　must　march　together　with　the　tanarukks；　spread　amongst　their　ranks　to　give　the　impression　that　our　force　as　a　whole　is　mitted　to　an　attack　on　Menzoberranzan's　First　House。〃
　　　Vhok　narrowed　his　eyes　and　asked；　〃We　are　to　be　a　mere　distraction？〃
　　　〃Not　at　all；〃　Nimor　assured　him；　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。　〃You　also　have　a　chance　at　victory…an　excellent　chance。　I've　taken　steps　to　take　House　Baenre　out　of　the　fight　with　a　little　surprise　that　I've　got　planned　for　its　matron　mother。　Once　Triel　is　eliminated；　the　other　females　of　House　Baenre　will　begin　vying　for　her　throne。　The　panies　each　mands　will　begin　fighting　each　other…which　will　keep　them　too　busy　to　bother　about　something　so　insignificant　as　defending　their　city。
　　　〃When　the　other　noble　Houses　see　Baenre　in　disarray；　they'll　sense　its　weakness　and　strike。　One　or　more　of　them　will　try　to　usurp　Baenre's　position　as　First　House。　While　they're　busy　fighting　each　other；　Lord　Vhok's　troops　can　swoop　in　and　seize　Qu'ellarz'orl。〃
　　　Vhok　scowled　and　said；　〃An　interesting　theory。〃
　　　〃It's　not　just　theory；〃　Nimor　countered。　He　paused　to　brushed　rock　dust　off　the　sleeve　of　his　immaculately　tailored　gray　shirt。　〃It's　drow　nature。　We're　like　spiders　reacting　to　the　twitching　of　a　web。　When　we　think　we　have　our　prey　at　our　mercy；　we　strike。
　　　〃Only　this　time；〃　Nimor　said；　〃the　prey　will　be　the　drow　themselves。　Menzoberranzan　will　fall。　I　guarantee　it。〃
　　　
　　　Triel　coldly　regarded　the　prisoner　who　had　been　brought　before　her：　a　young　male　drow。　He　lay　on　his　back　on　the　floor　of　her　audience　chamber；　wrists　bound　tightly　behind　him　and　ankles　likewise　tied　above　his　bare　feet。　His　black　pants　and　shirt　hung　in　tatters；　the　slashes　revealing　a　myriad　of　lacerations　that　dribbled　blood　onto　the　floor。　The　hair　on　one　side　of　his　head　had　been　burned　down　to　stubble；　and　his　face　was　covered　in　blisters。　One　eye　was　fused　shut；　its　eyelid　blistered　and　weeping；　but　the　other　glared　up　at　Triel　with　undiminished　defiance。
　　　Triel　crinkled　her　nose　at　the　stench　of　burned　hair　and　flesh　and　toyed　with　a　perfectly　balanced　throwing　dagger…the　only　one　still　in　the　fellow's　bandoleer　when　he　was　captured。　She　could　tell　by　the　tingle　it　sent　through　her　fingers　that　it　was　magic…as　had　been　the　blades　that　had　killed　four　of　her　elite　guard。
　　　〃This　is　an　assassin's　weapon；〃　she　observed；　handing　it　to　one　of　the　females　who　stood　on　either　side　of　her：　two　of　the　House　guard　who　attended　her　at　all　times；　magical　shields　and　maces　at　the　ready。
　　　A　third　member　of　the　guard…an　officer…stepped　forward　to　conclude　her　report。
　　　〃The　intruder　was　captured　on　the　fifth　level；　Matron　Baenre；〃　she　said。　〃We　believe　he　was　trying　to　reach　your　private　quarters。〃
　　　Triel　stared　at　the　officer；　who；　despite　all　that　was　happening；　looked　as　if　she　was　freshly　turned　out　for　inspection。　Her　adamantine　chain　mail　was　a　glossy　black；　her　long　white　hair　neatly　braided。　She　stood　at　rigid　attention；　a　polished　mace　hanging　from　her　belt　and　a　hand　crossbow　strapped　to　the　back　of　each　wrist。　Five　black　spiders；　embroidered　into　the　shoulder　of　her　silver　tunic；　proclaimed　her　rank。
　　　〃How　did　he　get　inside；　Captain　。　。　。　？〃　Triel　let　the　sentence　trail　off；　an　obvious　invitation　for　a　name。
　　　〃Captain　Maignith；〃　the　woman　answered；　meeting　Triel's　eyes　for　precisely　the　amount　of　time　that　was　appropriate。　〃He　didn't　get　in　through　any　of　the　lower　doors。　I　questioned　the　guards…thoroughly。　All　were　at　their　posts；　and　the　wards　are　still　in　place。　He　didn't　slip　past　us。　He　must　have　gotten　in　from　above。〃
　　　That　said；　Captain　Maignith　glanced　at　a　second　officer…a　lieutenant　of　the　lizard　riders…who　stood　several　paces　farther　back；　as　befitted　a　male。　He　wore　tight…fitting；　padded　leather　breeches　and　a　piwafwi　trimmed　in　silver。　He　held　his　plumed　silver　helmet　in　the　crook　of　one　arm　and　seemed　to　be　having　trouble　looking　Triel　in　the　eye。
　　　〃Matron　Mother；　I　。。。　My　riders　saw　nothing　on　the　outer　wall；〃　he　stammered。
　　　Triel　noted　the　shift　of　words　with　amusement。　A　magic　earring　told　her　the　lieutenant　was　speaking　the　truth…as　he　believed　it　to　be。　She　could　hear　none　of　the　echoing　quaver　that　acpanied　a　lie。
　　　She　toyed　with　the　handle　of　the　whip　of　fangs　that　hung　from　her　belt；　twin　to　the　one　carried　by　her　sister　Quenthel。　The　vipers　hissed　softly　in　anticipation；　sensing　her　desire。　The　lieutenant　deserved　punishment…and　would　receive　it；　in　due　time。
　　　Her　hand　fell　away　from　the　whip。
　　　〃Go　and　fetch　your　lizard；〃　she　said。
　　　The　lieutenant　hesitated　a　moment　too　long；　a　mix　of　relief　and　puzzlement　on　his　face。　Then；　suddenly　remembering　his　place；　he　bowed　deeply　and　backed　from　the　room。
　　　The　captive　smirked；　obviously　pleased　with　the　concern　his　intrusion　had　caused。
　　　Not　liking　the　look　in　his　eye；　Triel　drew　a　wand　of　braided　iron　that　hung　beside　her　whip。　The　tip　of　the　wand　was　set　with　a　tiny　white　feather；　which　she　pointed　at　the　captive　as　she　spoke　a　mand　word；　No　visible　force　came　from　the　wand；　but　the　effect　was　instantaneous。　The　captive　screamed…a　sound　of　acute　terror　that　filled　the　audience　chamber…and　drew　his　legs　up　to　his　chest。　Had　his　hands　been　free；　he　would　no　doubt　have　wrapped　them　around　his　legs。　He　rocked　back　and　forth；　whimpering。　When　Maignith　nudged　him　with　the　toe　of　her　boot　he　screamed　anew　and　rolled　away；　leaving　a　stain　of　pungent　urine　among　the　blood　spatters　on　the　floor。
　　　Triel　sighed；　hoping　she　wasn't　wasting　her　time。　There　were　so　many　other　matters　in　need　of　her　attention。　On　the　outskirts　of　Menzoberranzan；　an　army　of　duergar；　tanarukks　and　other；　lesser　races　were　preparing　to　assault　the　city　proper。　Triel　should　have　been　in　her　war　room；　municating　with　the　officers　who　would　hold　the　invaders　at　bay；　but　there　had　been　an　assassination　attempt　on　her…not　nearly　the　first；　of　course…and　she　needed　to　know　who　was　behind　it。
　　　Had　one　of　her　sisters　decided　that　she　could　do　a　better　job　as　matron　mother？　Did　Triel　need　to　strengthen　her　defenses　from　within？　Or　had　the　assassin　been　sent　by　one　of　the　other　noble　Houses？　House　Barrison　Del'Armgo；　perhaps？　That　seemed　unlikely；　since　the　second…ranking　House　was　just　as　badly　off　as　House　Baenre　just　then。　After　the　disastrous　battle　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　Mez'Barris　Armgo　had　e　straggling　back　with　what　remained　of　her　forces…and　the　sorry　tale　of　how　her　troops　had　been　driven　up　a　side　tunnel　and　lost　one…quarter　of　their　forces　and　all　of　their　wagon　trains。
　　　As　she　waited　for　the　lieutenant　to　return　with　his　lizard；　Triel　walked　to　the　thronelike　chair　that　had　once　been　her　mother's。　Shaped　like　an　enormous　spider　and　forged　from　solid　adamantine；　it　balanced　on　eight　curved　legs。　The　chair　had　been　imbued　with　powerful　spells；　not　the　least　of　which　was　a　magical　symbol　that　would　instantly　turn　any　attack　directed　at　the　matron　mother　back　upon　whomever　had　been　foolish　enough　to　initiate　it。　The　chair　was　a　symbol　of　Lolth；　but　even　though　the　goddess　had　fallen　disturbingly　silent；　its　magic　still　functioned；　since　it　was　powered　by　wizardry。
　　　As　Triel　settled　cross…legged　onto　the　chair…her　two　personal　guards　shifting　to　stay　on　either　side　of　her…she　thought　of　Gromph；　and　wondered；　once　again；　where　the　city's　archmage　had　disappeared　to。
　　　The　door　to　the　audience　chamber　opened；　and　the　musty　smell　of　lizard　wafted　into　the　audience　room。　The　lieutenant　walked　in；　leading　his　mount　by　the　reins。　The　lizard　squeezed　in　through　the　door；　the　sticky　pads　on　its　feet　making　faint　sucking　noises　as　they　were　lifted　from　the　stone　floor。　With　a　body　twice　as　long　as　a　drow…three　times　as　long；　if　the　lashing　tail　was　counted…it　was　a　formidable　sight。　Its　leathery　skin　glowed　with　a　sparkling　blue　luminescence　that　faintly　illuminated　the　otherwise　dark　room。
　　　As　it　scuttled　past　the　captive；　tongue　flickering　in　and　out；　it　twitched　its　head　to　the　side；　inhaling　the　man's　scent。　The　assassin；　still　feeling　the　effects　of　Triel's　wand；　whimpered　and　cringed　away　from　it。
　　　Triel　drummed　her　fingers　on　the　cold　metal　of　the　throne。
　　　〃So；〃　she　said；　making　her　observations　aloud。　〃The　assassin　couldn't　have　climbed　the　outside　of　the　stalagmite。　If　he　had；　the　lizards　would　have　picked　up　his　spoor。〃
　　　The　lieutenant　closed　his　eyes　in　relief。
　　　〃Which　begs　the　question；〃　Triel　continued。　〃How　did　he　get　in？〃
　　　Beside　the　lieutenant；　the　lizard's　tongue　continued　to　flicker　in　and　out；　licking　at　the　blood　smeared　across　the　floor。　Its　round；　black　eyes　stared；　unblinking；　at　the　captive。
　　　Triel　smiled。
　　　〃Your　mount　appears　hungry；　Lieutenant；〃　she　observed。　〃Why　don't　you　slip　the　muzzle　and　let　it　feed…on　a　non…essential　part；　of　course。〃
　　　Grinning；　the　lieutenant　did　as　he　was　ordered。
　　　The　lizard　twitched　its　tail　in　anticipation；　its　luminescent　skin　darkening　momentarily　to　a。　deeper　blue；　but　it　waited　tor　its　master's　hand　signal　before　it　sprang　forward。　Teeth　cracked　through　bone　with　a　loud　crunch；　severing　the　assassin's　bound