war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第5部分

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to　the　Labyrinth；　as　I　have　never　been　there　and　the　spell　is　best　employed　to　reach　places　you　know　well。　I　could　take　you　to　Mantol…Derith；　though；　which　is　hard　by　the　shores　of　the　Darklake。　It　would　shorten　our　journey　considerably。〃
　　　〃Why　didn't　you　mention　that　before；　when　we　were　discussing　months　of　marching　across　the　surface？〃　said　Jeggred；　shaking　his　head　in　irritation。
　　　〃If　you　recall；　we　had　not　yet　decided　where　we　were　going；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃I　intended　to　offer　my　services　at　the　appropriate　time。〃
　　　Ryld　said；　〃You　could　have　transported　us　from　Menzoberranzan　to　Ched　Nasad　in　the　first　place。　Why　in　the　world　did　we　walk？〃
　　　〃Because　I　have　good　reason　to　fear　the　plane　of　shadow。　As　a　younger　and　more　impulsive　mage　I　learned…the　hard　way…that　shadow　walking　confers　no　special　protection　against　the　attentions　of　those　creatures　that　dwell　in　the　dark　realm。　In　fact；　I　was　very　nearly　devoured　by　something　I　would　not　care　to　meet　again。〃　The　wizard　offered　a　wry　grin　and　added；　〃Naturally；　I　now　regard　shadow　walking　as　an　option　of　last　resort。　I　only　suggest　it　now　because　I　deem　it　slightly　less　dangerous　than　tendays　of　travel　across　the　surface　world。〃
　　　〃We　will　exercise　all　due　caution；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃Let's　be　about　it；　then。〃
　　　〃Not　so　fast。　I　must　prepare　the　spell。　I　will　require　about　an　hour　to　make　ready。〃
　　　〃Do　so　without　delay；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　glanced　around　at　the　ruins；　and　shaded　her　eyes。　〃The　sooner　we　are　back　below　ground；　the　better。〃
　　　
　　　While　Pharaun　retired　to　a　dark；　quiet　chamber　to　study　his　grimoires　and　ready　his　spells；　the　rest　of　the　party　gathered　their　gear　and　prepared　to　leave。　They　were　woefully　unprepared　for　a　long　journey　on　the　surface；　Halisstra　and　Danifae　had　no　packs　or　supplies　of　any　kind。　The　Menzoberranyr　had　wisely　recovered　their　packs　before　escaping　Ched　Nasad；　but　their　long　journey　to　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs　had　depleted　their　stores。
　　　While　they　waited　for　Pharaun；　Halisstra　studied　the　ruins　in　more　detail。　She　had　something　of　a　scholarly　inclination；　and　deliberately　taking　an　interest　in　the　ancient　city　was　as　good　a　way　as　any　of　keeping　her　mind　from　dwelling　on　the　last　awful　hours　of　her　home　city。　The　others　busied　themselves　with　the　small　tasks　of　breaking　camp；　or　waited　patiently　in　the　deepest　shadows　they　could　find。　Halisstra　gathered　the　few　things　she　had　brought　and　set　out　from　the　ruined　court。　Her　eye　fell　on　Danifae；　who　knelt　quietly　in　the　shade　of　a　broken　arch；　calmly　watching　her　leave。
　　　Halisstra　paused；　and　called；　〃e；　Danifae。〃
　　　She　didn't　like　the　idea　of　leaving　her　servant　alone　with　the　Menzoberranyr。　Danifae　had　served　her　well　for　years；　but　circumstances　had　changed。
　　　The　maidservant　stood　smoothly　and　followed。　Halisstra　led　her　through　the　crumbling　shell　of　the　palace　surrounding　the　courtyard；　and　they　emerged　onto　a　wide　boulevard　arrowing　through　the　heart　of　the　old　city。　The　air　had　warmed　noticeably　in　the　hour　or　more　since　sunrise；　but　it　was　still　bitterly　cold；　and　the　brilliance　of　the　day　seemed　almost　enhanced　by　the　crystal　clarity　of　the　skies。　Both　women　stood　blinded　for　several　long　moments　in　the　sunshine。
　　　〃This　is　no　good；〃　muttered　Halisstra。　〃I'm　squinting　so　hard　I　can't　see　my　hand　in　front　of　my　face。〃
　　　Even　when　she　managed　to　open　her　eyes；　she　could　see　little　more　than　bright；　painful　spots。
　　　〃Valas　says　it's　possible　to　get　used　to　daylight；　with　time；〃　Danifae　offered。　〃I　find　that　hard　to　believe；　now　that　I　have　experienced　it　myself。　A　good　thing　we　mean　to　return　to　the　Underdark　soon。〃　Halisstra　heard　a　small　tearing　sound　from　beside　her；　and　Danifae　pressed　a　strip　of　cloth　into　her　hand。　〃Tie　this　over　your　eyes；　Mistress。　Perhaps　it　will　help。〃
　　　Halisstra　managed　to　arrange　the　dark　cloth　as　a　makeshift　veil。　It　did　indeed　help　to　abate　the　fierce　glare　of　the　sun。
　　　〃That's　better；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　Danifae　tore　another　small　strip　and　bound　it　around　her　own　eyes　as　her　mistress　examined　the　ruins。　It　seemed　to　Halisstra　that　the　palace　they'd　taken　shelter　in　was　one　of　the　more　prominent　buildings；　which　only　made　sense。　Magical　portals　were　not　easy　to　make；　and　were　often　found　in　well…hidden　or　vigilantly　guarded　locations。　A　colonnade　stood　along　the　front　of　the　palace；　and　across　the　boulevard　was　another　great　building…a　temple；　or　perhaps　a　court　of　some　kind。　There　was　something　familiar　about　the　architecture　of　the　buildings。
　　　〃Netherese；〃　she　said。　〃See　the　square　column　bases；　and　the　pointed　arches　in　the　windows？〃
　　　〃I　thought　Netherese　cities　floated　in　the　air；　and　were　pletely　destroyed　by　some　magical　cataclysm；〃　Danifae　replied。　〃How　could　anything　like　this　still　stand？〃
　　　〃It　could　have　been　one　of　the　successor　states；〃　Halisstra　said；　〃built　after　the　great　mythallars　of　the　old　Netherese　cities　failed。　They　would　share　many　of　the　same　architectural　features；　but　would　have　been　more　mundane；　less　magical。〃
　　　〃There's　writing　up　there；〃　Danifae　said；　pointing　at　the　facade　of　a　crumbled　building。　〃There　。　。　。　above　the　columns。〃
　　　Halisstra　followed　Danifae's　gesture。　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃That's　Netherese。〃
　　　〃You　can　read　it？〃　Danifae　asked。
　　　〃I　have　studied　several　languages…the　mon　tongue　of　the　surface；　High　Netherese；　Illuskan；　even　some　of　the　speech　of　dragons；〃　Halisstra　replied。　〃Our　libraries　contain　fascinating　histories　and　potent　lore　recorded　in　languages　other　than　drow。　I　developed　the　habit　of　studying　such　things　over　a　century　ago；　when　I　believed　I　might　find　some　forgotten　spell　or　secret　that　might　prove　useful　against　my　rivals。　As　it　turned　out；　I　found　little　of　that　sort　of　thing；　but　I　did　find　that　I　enjoyed　learning　for　its　own　sake。〃
　　　〃What　does　it　say；　then？〃
　　　〃I'm　not　sure　of　some　of　the　words；　but　I　think　it　reads；　'High　Hall　of　Justice；　Hlaungadath…In　Truth's　Light　No　Lies　Abide。'　〃
　　　〃What　a　simpleminded　sentiment。〃
　　　Halisstra　indicated　the　ruins　around　them　and　said；　〃You　can　see　how　far　it　got　them。　I　know　that　name；　though；　Hlaungadath。　I　have　seen　maps　of　the　surface　world。　Valas's　estimate　of　our　location　was　accurate。〃
　　　〃Even　a　male　can　do　something　right　from　time　to　time；〃　Danifae　said。
　　　Halisstra　smiled　and　turned　away　to　scan　the　ruins　for　any　other　sites　of　interest。
　　　Something　tawny　and　quick　ducked　swiftly　out　of　sight。　Halisstra　froze　on　the　instant；　staring　hard　at　the　spot　where　she'd　seen　it；　a　gap　in　a　masonry　wall　a　short　distance　away。　Nothing　moved　there；　but　from　another　direction　came　the　sound　of　rubble　shifting。　Without　looking　away；　she　touched　Danifae's　arm。
　　　We're　not　alone　here；　she　signed。　Back　to　the　others…quickly。
　　　Together；　they　backed　away　from　the　court　of　justice　and　out　into　the　street　again。　As　they　turned　to　retrace　their　steps；　something　long　and　low；　covered　with　sand…colored　scales；　slid　out　into　the　boulevard。　Its　stubby　wings　clearly　could　never　support　it　in　flight；　but　its　powerful　talons　and　gaping　jaws　were　much　more　developed。　The　dragon　paused　and　raised　up　its　head　for　a　better　look　at　the　two　drow　on　the　street　before　it；　and　it　hissed　in　delight。　It　was　easily　fifty　feet　from　nose　to　tail；　a　hulking；　powerful　creature　whose　eyes　gleamed　with　cunning　and　malice。
　　　〃Lolth　protect　us！〃　Danifae　gasped。
　　　The　two　women　backed　away　in　a　new　direction；　at　a　right　angle　to　the　palace　where　their　panions　waited。　The　dragon　followed　leisurely；　sinuously　winding　from　side　to　side　as　it　paced　after　them。
　　　〃It's　herding　us　away　from　the　others；〃　Halisstra　snarled。
　　　She　sensed　hard　stone　behind　her；　and　risked　a　quick　glance　backward。　They　were　pinned　against　a　building；　sliding　alongside　it　as　they　tried　to　keep　their　distance　from　the　monster。　A　dark　alleyway　gaped　just　a　few　feet　away。　Halisstra　hesitated　for　a　heartbeat；　then　grasped　Danifae　by　the　wrist　and　darted　into　the　narrow　opening　at　the　best　speed　she　could　manage。
　　　Something　waited　for　them　in　the　shadows　of　the　alley。　Before　Halisstra　could　skid　to　a　stop；　a　tall　golden　creature　reared　up　before　her；　half　lion；　half　woman；　beautiful　and　graceful。　With　a　cold；　cruel　smile；　the　lion…woman　reached　out　her　hand　and　caressed　Halisstra's　cheek。　Her　touch　was　cool；　soothing；　and　in　an　instant　Halisstra　felt　her　fear；　her　determination；　her　very　willpower　drain　softly　away。　Vaguely　she　reached　up　to　push　the　creature's　hand　away　from　her　face。
　　　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　the　creature　said　in　a　lovely　voice。　〃Lie　down　and　rest　here　a　while。　You　are　among　friends；　and　no　harm　will　e　to　you。〃
　　　Halisstra　stood　paralyzed；　recognizing　that　the　creature's　words　made　no　sense；　but　empty　of　the　willpower　she　needed　to　resist。　Danifae　whirled　her　away　by　her　arm　and　slapped　her　hard　across　the　face。
　　　〃It's　a　lamia！〃　she　snapped。　〃It　seeks　to　beguile　you！〃
　　　The　lamia　snarled　in　anger；　its　beautiful　features　suddenly　hard　and　cruel。
　　　〃Do　not　resist；〃　it　said；　its　voice　harsher。
　　　Halisstra　could　feel　the　creature's　spell　drawing　over　her；　sapping　at　her　resolve；　seeking　to　subjugate　her　will　to　its　own。　She　knew　that　if　she　gave　in　she　would　go　willingly　to　her　death；　even　lie　down　helplessly　while　the　lamia　devoured　her　if　it　asked　her　to；　but　the　sting　of　Danifae's　slap　had　reawakened　the　wellsprings　of　her　will；　just　enough　to　fight　through　the　lamia's　sweet　words。
　　　〃We　are　drow；〃　Halisstra　managed　to　gasp。　〃Our　wills　may　not　be　broken　by　such　as　you。〃
　　　The　lamia　bared　its　teeth　in　fierce　anger　and　drew　a　bronze　dagger　from　its　hip；　but　Halisstra　and　Danifae　backed　out　of　the　shadowed　alley　into　the　sun。
　　　The　dragon's　gone；　signed　Danifae。
　　　Halisstra　shook　her　head　and　replied；　An　illusion。　We　were　deceived。
　　　Something　was　still　hovering　in　the　center　of　the　street；　a　faint　flickering　phantasm　that　might　have　been　about　the　size　of　the　thing　they　had　seen　before；　and　they　could　hear　as　if　from　very　far　away　its　hissing　protests。
　　　〃Illusion；〃　Danifae　spat　in　disgust。
　　　The　dragon…wisp　gnawed　at　the　corners　of　their　minds；　joined　by　othe