war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第2部分

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l　main　passages　and　reach　the　avenue　that　would　take　her　directly　to　Kaanyr's　palace；　deep　in　the　center　of　the　old　city。　It　still　surprised　her　how　empty　the　city　could　be；　even　with　all　of　the　Sceptered　One's　Scourged　Legions　roaming　around。　She　crossed　the　avenues　and　found　the　path　she　wanted；　then　hurried　toward　the　palace。
　　　　　　　A　pair　of　tanarukk　guards　flanked　the　doorway　into　the　throne　room。　The　stocky；　gray…green　humanoids　were　hunched　over　as　usual；　their　prominent　tusks　jutting　forward　defiantly　from　overly　large　lower　jaws　as　they　peered　at　her　with　their　squinty　red　eyes。　To　Aliisza；　it　almost　appeared　that　the　two　beasts　were　preparing　to　charge　forward　and　ram　her　with　their　low；　sloping　foreheads。　Aliisza　knew　that　with　her　magic　the　scalelike　ridges　protruding　from　atop　those　foreheads　were　no　threat　to　her；　but　still　the　creatures　seemed　uncertain　of　who　she　was；　for　they　kept　their　battle…axes　crossed　before　the　opening　as　she　approached。　Finally；　just　before　it　seemed　that　she　was　actually　going　to　have　to　slow　her　pace　and　say　something…　which　would　have　made　her　very　cross…the　two　coarse…haired；　nearly　naked　beasts　stepped　aside　and　allowed　her　to　enter　without　breaking　her　stride。　She　smiled　to　herself；　wondering　how　much　fun　it　would　have　been　to　flay　them　alive。
　　　Passing　through　several　outer　chambers；　Aliisza　crossed　the　threshold　into　the　throne　room　itself　and　spied　the　marquis　cambion　lounging　on　his　throne；　a　great；　hideous　chair　constructed　of　the　bones　of　his　enemies。　Every　time　she　saw　the　thing；　she　was　reminded　of　how　crass　it　was。　She　knew　too　many　fiends　who　considered　sitting　atop　a　pile　of　bones　to　be　some　sort　of　symbol　of　power　and　glory；　but　in　her　opinion；　it　exhibited　no　class；　no　subtlety。　It　was　Kaanyr　Vhok's　single　biggest　lack　of　vision。
　　　Kaanyr　had　thrown　one　leg　over　the　armrest　of　the　throne　and　sat　with　his　chin　resting　in　his　cupped　hand；　elbow　against　his　knee。　He　was　staring　off　into　the　upper　reaches　of　the　chamber；　obviously　thinking　and　oblivious　to　her。
　　　Aliisza　almost　unconsciously　began　to　saunter　provocatively　as　she　closed　the　distance　between　them；　and　yet　she　found　that　she　was　admiring　his　form　as　much　as　she　hoped　he　was　appreciating　hers。　His　graying　hair　was　roguishly　disheveled　and；　bined　with　his　swept…back　ears；　gave　him　the　appearance　of　a　maturing；　if　somewhat　devil…may…care；　half…elf。　Aliisza　crooked　her　mouth　in　a　sly　smile；　thinking　of　him　engaging　in　the　many　subterfuges　he　was　so　fond　of；　passing　himself　off　on　the　surface　world　as　a　member　of　that　fair　race。
　　　Kaanyr　finally　heard　his　consort's　footsteps　and　looked　up　at　her；　his　features　brightening；　though　whether　it　was　simply　for　the　sight　of　her　or　the　news　she　bore；　she　was　not　sure。　She　reached　the　first　steps　of　the　dais　and　climbed　to　where　he　sat；　allowing　just　a　hint　of　a　pout　to　creep　into　her　visage。
　　　〃Ah；　my　delectable　one；　you've　e；　and　with　news；　I　hope？〃　Kaanyr　asked；　straightening　himself　and　patting　his　thigh。
　　　Aliisza　stuck　out　her　tongue　at　him　and　sashayed　the　remaining　distance　to　plop　herself　down　atop　his　lap。
　　　〃You　never　just　ravish　me　anymore；　Kaanyr；〃　she　pretended　to　plain；　wriggling　her　backside　as　she　settled。　〃You　only　love　me　for　the　work　I　do　for　you。〃
　　　〃Oh；　that's　not　fair；　little　one；〃　Vhok　replied；　running　his　hand　lovingly　down　one　of　her　black；　shiny　leather　wings。　〃Nor　is　it　particularly　true。〃
　　　With　that；　he　reached　up　with　his　other　hand；　and　placing　it　behind　her　lustrous　black　curls；　crushed　her　to　him；　engaging　her　mouth　with　his　own　in　a　deep；　spine…tingling　kiss。　For　the　briefest　of　moments　she　considered　resisting　him；　playing　one　of　the　infinite　variations　of　the　games　the　two　of　them　seemed　to　love　so　much；　but　the　thought　was　short…lived。　His　hand　strayed　down　her　throat　to　the　hollow　of　her　neck；　and　it　continued　lower　still。　She　practically　buzzed　at　his　touch；　and　she　knew　that　with　the　news　she　brought　him；　such　flirtations　would　only　break　the　spell。
　　　As　It　was；　Kaanyr　still　pulled　away　after　a　moment's　heated　embrace　and　said；　〃Enough。　Tell　me　what　you　found　out。〃
　　　This　time；　Aliisza　really　did　pout。　His　caresses　on　her　wings　and　elsewhere　left　her　panting　slightly；　and　important　news　or　not；　she　was　not　ready　to　be　cast　aside　so　quickly。　She　considered　withholding　the　information　for　a　time；　sending　a　subtle　message　that　she　was　not　to　be　trifled　with。　He　might　rule　this　place；　but　she　was　not　his　servant。　She　was　consort；　she　was　advisor；　and　she　was　free　to　find　another　lover；　should　he　cease　to　satisfy　her。　Satisfying　an　alu…the　daughter　of　a　succubus　and　a　human　mate…was　a　challenge　few　were　up　to。　Kaanyr　was　one　of　those　few。　She　decided　to　tell　him　her　news。
　　　〃They　haven't　veered　from　their　course；　though　it's　apparent　they　know　we're　closing　in。　Their　scouts　have　spotted　our　skirmishers　and　have　continued　to　avoid　contact。　We　will　have　them　pinned　against　the　Araumycos；　soon。〃
　　　You're　certain　they're　not　here　to　spy　or　to　wage　war？　No　quick　strikes　before　vanishing　into　the　wilds？〃
　　　Kaanyr　was　absently　stroking　one　of　her　wings　as　he　asked　this；　and　the　alu…fiend　shivered　in　delight。　He　seemed　not　to　notice　her　reaction。
　　　〃Fairly　certain。　They　are　apparently　headed　southeast；　toward　Ched　Nasad。　Each　time　we　cut　off　their　route；　they　seek　out　another。　They　seem　intent　on　keeping　to　that　path。〃
　　　〃Yet；　they　are　not　a　caravan；〃　he　said。　〃They　don't　have　goods　or　pack　animals。　In　fact；　they　travel　unreasonably　lightly　armed　for　drow。　They　are　definitely　up　to　something。　The　question　is；　what？〃
　　　Aliisza　shivered　again；　though　this　time　it　was　as　much　from　the　anticipation　of　the　next　bit　of　news　as　from　Kaanyr's　absentminded　petting。
　　　〃Oh；　definitely　not　a　caravan；〃　she　told　him。　〃It's　the　strangest　drow　entourage　I　think　I've　seen　wandering　around　the　wilds。　They　have　a　draegloth　with　them。〃
　　　Kaanyr　straightened；　staring　straight　into　Aliisza's　eyes；　and　asked；　〃A　draegloth？　Are　you　sure？〃
　　　When　the　alu　nodded；　he　pursed　his　lips。
　　　〃Interesting。　This　just　gets　more　and　more　intriguing。　First；　we　haven't　seen　a　drow　caravan　of　any　sort　in　the　last　few　tendays。　Finally；　when　a　party　of　drow　do　venture　out；　they　e　straight　through　here；　something　they　would　normally　avoid　like　the　stink　on　a　dretch；　and　lastly；　they　have　a　draegloth　acpanying　them；　which　means　drow　noble　Houses　are　somehow　personally　involved。　What　in　the　Nine　Hells　are　they　up　to？〃
　　　Vhok　resumed　staring　off　into　the　dark　distance；　again　absently　caressing　his　consort；　this　time　letting　his　fingers　trail　gently　down　her　ribs；　which　were　exposed　through　the　lacing　of　her　shiny　black　leather　corset。　She　sighed　in　delight　but　forced　herself　to　stay　focused。
　　　〃There's　more。　I　listened　in　on　a　conversation　when　they　stopped　to　rest。　One　of　them；　definitely　a　mage　of　some　sort；　was　taunting　another；　who　looked　like　a　priestess。〃
　　　〃One　of　the　males　giving　lip　to　a　female？　That　can't　last　long。〃
　　　〃Not　just　any　female。　He　referred　to　her　as　'the　Mistress　of　the　Academy。'
　　　Kaanyr　sat　upright；　his　stare　deeply　penetrating　her　own。
　　　〃Oh；　really；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　so　intrigued；　he　never　noticed　that　his　move　nearly　made　Aliisza　fall　to　the　floor　at　his　feet。
　　　She　managed　to　maintain　her　balance；　but　she　was　forced　to　stand　to　avoid　looking　silly。　She　glared　at　the　cambion。
　　　He　went　on；　oblivious；　〃Oh；　this　is　just　too　good。　One　of　the　highest　drow　priestesses　in　all　of　Menzoberranzan　is　trying　to　sneak　incognito　through　my　tiny　little　domain。　And　she's　letting　a　wizard　run　his　mouth　at　her。　No　caravans　for　more　than　a　month；　and　now　this。　This　is　too　much　fun！〃
　　　Kaanyr　turned　to　face　Aliisza　once　more；　and　upon　seeing　her　glare；　he　cocked　his　head　in　confusion。
　　　〃What？　What's　wrong？〃
　　　The　alu　fumed；　〃You　have　no　idea；　do　you？〃
　　　Kaanyr　spread　his　hands　helplessly　and　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Well；　then　I'm　not　going　to　tell　you！〃　she　snapped；　and　turned　away　from　him。
　　　〃Aliisza。〃　Vhok's　voice　was　deep　and　manding；　and　it　sent　shivers　down　her　spine。　He　was　angry；　just　as　she'd　hoped。　〃Aliisza；　look　at　me。〃
　　　She　glanced　back　at　him　over　her　shoulder；　letting　one　arched　eyebrow　rise　questioningly　He　had　risen　from　the　throne　and　was　standing　with　his　hands　on　his　hips。
　　　〃Aliisza；　I　don't　have　time　for　this。　Look　at　me！〃
　　　She　shivered　in　spite　of　herself　and　turned　fully　around　to　face　her　lover。　His　eyes　smoldered　and　made　her　melt。　She　pouted　just　a　little；　to　let　him　know　that　she　didn't　like　being　chastised；　but　she　was　finished　playing　the　game。
　　　Vhok　nodded　slightly　in　satisfaction。
　　　His　visage　softened　a　bit；　and　he　said；　〃Whatever　I　did；　I'll　make　it　up　to　you　later。　Right　now；　though；　you　have　to　get　back　over　there　and　find　out　what's　going　on。　See　if　you　can　get　face　to　face　with　them　and　'invite'　them　to　pay　us　a　visit。　But　be　careful。　I　don't　want　this　to　explode　in　my　face。　If　a　high　priestess　and　a　draegloth　are　part　of　this　group；　then　the　rest　of　them　are　dangerous；　too。　Keep　the　Scourged　close；　to　hem　them　in；　but　don't　waste　too　many　bodies　on　an　all…out　attack。　But　also　don't　make　it　too　obvious　that　you're　holding　them　back。　Also；　don't…〃
　　　Aliisza　rolled　her　eyes；　feeling　a　little　insulted。
　　　I've　done　this　a　time　or　two　before；　you　know；〃　she　interrupted；　her　voice　thick　with　sarcasm。　〃I　think　I　know　what　to　do。　But　。　。　。〃
　　　She　stepped　closer　to　Kaanyr…Into　him；　really…rising　up　on　her　tiptoes　and　wrapping　her　arms　around　his　waist　and　curling　one　smooth；　bare　leg　around　the　back　of　his　calf。　She　drew　herself　close；　let　her　body　press　against　his；　and　continued。
　　　〃When　I'm　done　with　this　little　task；〃　she　said；　her　voice　smoky　with　desire；　〃you're　going　to　tend　to　my　needs　for　a　while。〃　She　leaned　up　and　nibbled　on　his　ear；　then　whispered；　〃Your　teasing　Is　working　too　well；　love。〃
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　Triel　didn't　like　brooding；　but　she　caught　herself　doing　it　frequently　of　late。　This　time；　when　she　realized　she　was　at　it　again；　she　was　suddenly　aware　of　the　faces　of　the　other　seven　matrons；　looking　at　her　expectantly。