war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第14部分

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e　was　not？
　　　The　guard　smiled…leered　almost…and　looked　Danifae　briefly　up　and　down。
　　　〃Melarn？〃　he　said。　〃Never　heard　of　it。〃
　　　〃A　lesser　House；〃　Valas　answered　again　before　Danifae　could　speak　up。　〃It　was　destroyed　with　the　others　in　the　fall　of　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　The　guard　looked　at　her　again　and　said；　〃That　means　you're　free；　eh？〃
　　　Danifae　shrugged；　saying　nothing。　She；　unlike　Valas；　wasn't　about　to　give　away　information。　The　last　thing　she　needed　was　for　anyone　to　know　that　she'd　e　to　Sschindylryn　to　address　that　very　question　once　and　for　all。
　　　〃We　want　no　trouble　with　Bregan　D'aerthe；〃　the　guard　said　to　Valas。　〃Get　your　supplies；　then　get　out。　Menzoberranyr　are　less　than　popular　here。〃
　　　〃Why　would　that　be？〃　asked　Valas。
　　　The　guards　visibly　relaxed；　and　half　the　crossbowmen　slipped　the　bolts　off　their　weapons　and　stepped　back　from　the　firing　line。　The　spearmen　put　their　weapons　up　but　still　stood　ready。
　　　〃It's　your　fault；〃　the　guard　replied；　〃or　so　they　say。〃
　　　〃What　is　our　fault？〃　Danifae　asked；　not　certain　why　she　identified　herself　as　Menzoberranyr；　having　never　even　been　there。
　　　〃They　say；〃　the　guard　said；　〃that　it　was　a　Menzoberranyr　who　killed　Lolth。〃
　　　Valas　laughed；　letting　a　generous　portion　of　contempt　coat　the　sound。
　　　〃Yes；　well。　。　。〃　the　guard　finished。　〃That's　what　they　say。〃
　　　〃This　way；〃　Valas　said　over　his　shoulder　to　Danifae。
　　　The　battle…captive　nodded；　took　stock　of　her　belongings；　and　followed　the　scout　past　the　guards　and　toward　the　wide；　open　gate　into　the　city　proper。　As　she　passed　him；　Danifae　gave　the　guard　captain　a　playful　wink。　The　male's　jaw　opened；　but　he　managed　to　catch　it　before　it　dropped。
　　　When　she　was　certain　they　were　out　of　earshot　of　the　guards；　Danifae　drew　closer　to　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout。　Valas　flinched　away　from　her　touch　then　seemed　to　force　himself　to　relax。　Danifae；　making　careful　note　of　his　reaction　to　her；　leaned　in　very　close。　With　a　greater　than　necessary　exhalation　of　hot　air　from　her　husky；　hushed　voice；　Danifae　whispered　into　his　ear。
　　　〃I'm　not　going　with　you；〃　she　told　Valas。
　　　〃Why　not？〃　he　answered；　matching　her　discreet　volume　but　not　her　flirtatiousness。
　　　〃I　never　enjoyed　shopping；〃　Danifae　replied；　〃and　I　have　errands　of　my　own。〃
　　　For　a　moment　it　looked　to　Danifae　as　if　Valas　were　actually　going　to　argue　or　at　least　press　her　for　more　information。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　he　said　after　a　few　seconds。　〃I　have　a　way　of　calling　you　when　it's　time　to　go。〃
　　　〃I　have　a　way　of　ignoring　you　if　I'm　not　ready；〃　she　replied。
　　　Valas　didn't　respond；　though　that　time　Danifae　was　sure　she'd　broken　through　his　impenetrable　armor。　She　turned　away　and　stepped　into　the　crowd　that　was　flowing　past　the　columned；　temple…like　structure　that　surrounded　the　gate。　Within　seconds　she　had　effectively　lost　herself　in　the　strange　city；　leaving　the　scout　behind。
　　　The　city　of　Sschindylryn　was　contained　in　a　single　pyramid…shaped　void　in　the　solid　rock　some　unfathomable　distance　below　the　surface　of　Faerun。　The　pyramid　had　three　sides；　each　more　than　two　miles　long；　and　the　apex　was　two　miles　above。　Bioluminescent　fungus　grew　in　patches　all　around　the　smooth　outer　walls；　giving　the　whole　city　an　eerie；　dim　yellow　ambient　light。　The　drow　who　called　the　city　home　lived　in　houses　constructed　of　stone　and　brick…unusual　in　a　dark　elf　city…that　were　built　on　stepped　tiers。　The　outer　edges　of　the　city　were　actually　trenches　carved　into　the　stone　floor　of　the　pyramid。　In　the　center；　a　sort　of　huge　ziggurat　rose　up　into　the　cool；　still　air。　There　was　no　physical　way　in　or　out　of　the　city。　No　tunnel　connected　the　cavern　to　the　rest　of　the　Underdark。　Sschindylryn　was　sealed。　Locked　away。
　　　Except　for　the　gates；　and　there　were　thousands　of　those。
　　　They　were　everywhere。　In　only　the　first　few　blocks　Danifae　saw　a　dozen　of　them。　They　led　to　every　corner　of　the　Underdark；　onto　the　World　Above；　perhaps　beyond　to　the　planes　and　elsewhere。　Some　were　open　to　the　public；　left　there　by　no　one　remembered　whom。　Others　were　mercial　ventures；　offering　transport　to　some　other　drow　city　or　trade　site　of　the　lesser　races　for　a　fee。　Still　others　were　kept　secret；　used　only　by　a　chosen　few。　Gangs　controlled　some；　merchant　costers　controlled　more；　while　the　clergy　maintained　hundreds。
　　　On　the　narrow　streets　Danifae　passed　mostly　other　dark　elves；　and　all　of　them　seemed；　like　her；　concerned　entirely　with　their　own　business。　They　ignored　her；　and　she　did　likewise。　As　she　walked；　she　became　increasingly　aware　that　she　was　in　a　strange　city；　alone；　looking　for　a　single　drow　who　was　very　likely　still　making　every　effort　to　hide。
　　　
　　　House　Agrach　Dyrr　had　been　part　of　the　political　landscape　of　Menzoberranzan　for　more　than　five　thousand　years。　Only　House　Baenre　was　older。
　　　For　most　of　that　time；　Houses　Baenre　and　Agrach　Dyrr　had　maintained　a　close　relationship。　Of　course　there　was　never　trust；　that　wasn't　something　that　existed　in　any　but　the　must　tenuous　and　rudimentary　form　in　the　City　of　Spiders；　but　they　had　had　certain　arrangements。　They　shared　mon　interests　and　mon　goals。　Agrach　Dyrr　had　fulfilled　its　role　in　the　city's　hierarchy。　It　went　to　war　with　the　city；　defended　itself　against　rival　Houses；　destroyed　a　few　from　time　to　time　as　necessity　dictated；　and　in　all　things　followed　the　teachings　and　the　whims　of　the　Queen　of　the　Demonweb　Pits。
　　　Matron　Mother　Yasraena　Dyrr　enjoyed　pain。　She　enjoyed　chaos；　and　she　enjoyed　the　blessings　of　Lolth。　When　that　last　bit　went　away；　things　changed。
　　　From　their　palace　on　the　wide　shelf　of　Qu'ellarz'orl；　the　Lichdrow　Dyrr　had　stood　with　his　much　younger　granddaughter　and　watched　the　city　turn　against　them。　Well；　that　wasn't　entirely　accurate；　the　lichdrow　knew。　He　had　turned　against　the　city；　and　he　had　done　it　with　precise　and　careful　timing。　He　had　made　the　final　decision；　as　he　always　had　in　times　of　greatest　peril　and　greatest　opportunity。　Yasraena　did　what　she　was　told；　occasionally　being　made　to　feel　as　if　it　was　her　idea　in　the　first　place；　sometimes　merely　given　an　order。
　　　Most　days；　the　youthful　matron　mother　was　as　much　in　mand　of　the　House　as　any　of　the　city's　matrons。　When　it　truly　counted；　though；　the　lichdrow　stepped　in。
　　　The　palace　of　House　Agrach　Dyrr　was　a　ring　of　nine　giant　stalagmites　that　rose　from　the　rocky　floor　of　Qu'ellarz'orl；　surrounded　by　a　dry　moat　crossed　at　only　one　point　by　a　wide；　defensible　bridge。　In　the　center　of　the　ring　of　stalagmites；　behind　a　square　wall　of　spell…crafted　stone；　was　the　House　temple。　That　massive　cathedral　was　more　than　a　symbol　to　the　drow　of　House　Agrach　Dyrr…it　was　a　sincere　and　passionate　proclamation　of　their　faith　in　the　Spider　Queen。
　　　In　the　past　months；　though；　the　temple　had　grown　as　quiet　as　the　goddess　it　was　built　to　honor。
　　　〃Lolth　has　abandoned　us；〃　the　lichdrow　said。
　　　He　stood　at　the　entrance　to　the　temple。　A　hundred　yards　in　front　or　him；　his　granddaughter　kneeled　before　the　black　altar　and　stared　silently　up　at　an　enormous；　stylized　representation　of　the　goddess。　The　idol　weighed　several　tons　and　had　been　shaped　by　divine　magic　out　of　a　thousand　of　the　most　precious　materials　the　Underdark　had　to　offer。
　　　〃We　have　abandoned　her；〃　Yasraena　replied。
　　　Their　voices　carried　through　the　huge　chamber。
　　　The　lichdrow　floated　toward　her；　his　toes　almost　touching　the　marble　floor。　She　didn't　turn　around。
　　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃what　could　she　expect？〃
　　　The　matron　mother　let　the　joke　hang　there　without　ment。
　　　〃The　bridge　holds；〃　Dyrr　reported；　sounding　almost　bored。　〃Word　from　agents　within　Sorcere　is　that　Vorion　was　captured　but　was　later　killed。　I'm　still　finding　out　if　he　broke。〃
　　　〃Vorion　。　。　。〃　the　matron　mother　breathed。
　　　She　had　taken　Vorion　as　her　consort　only　a　few　years　before。
　　　〃My　condolences；〃　the　lichdrow　said。
　　　〃He　had　a　few　admirable　qualities；〃　the　matron　mother　replied。　〃Ah　well；　at　least　he　died　in　defense　of　the　House。〃
　　　Dyrr　tired　of　the　subject；　so　he　changed　it。
　　　〃Gromph　has　regained　his　sight。〃
　　　Yasraena　nodded　and　said；　〃He'll　be　ing　for　us。〃
　　　〃He'll　be　ing　for　me；〃　the　lichdrow　corrected。
　　　The　matron　mother　sighed。　She　must　have　known　he　was　right。　The　priestess；　bereft　of　her　connection　to　Lolth；　was　still　a　force　to　be　reckoned　with。　She　was　experienced；　cruel；　strong；　and　she　had　access　to　the　House's　stores　of　magical　items；　artifacts；　and　scrolls；　but　against　the　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan；　she　would　be　little　more　than　a　nuisance。　If　Gromph　was　ing；　he　was　ing　for　the　lichdrow；　and　if　Agrach　Dyrr　was　to　survive；　it　would　be　the　lichdrow　who　would　have　to　save　it。
　　　〃I　don't　suppose　you　can　count　on　your　new　friends；〃　the　matron　mother　said。
　　　〃My　'new　friends'　have　problems　of　their　own；〃　Dyrr　replied。　〃They　lay　siege　to　the　city；　but　Baenre　and　the　others　Houses　have　done　a　surprisingly　good　job　of　holding　the　entrances　to　the　Dark　Dominion。〃
　　　〃They　have　us　bottled　in　our　palace　like　rats　in　a　trap；〃　said　the　matron　mother。
　　　Dyrr　laughed；　the　sound　muffled　and　strained　from　under　his　mask。　The　lichdrow　almost　never　allowed　anyone　to　see　his　face。　Yasraena　was　one　of　the　few　to　whom　he　would　reveal　himself；　but　even　then；　not　often。　Though　she　wasn't　looking　at　him；　he　maintained　the　affectation　of　leaning　on　his　staff。　The　outward　illusion　of　advanced　age　and　physical　weakness　had　bee　second　nature　to　him；　and　he'd　begun　to　maintain　that　attitude　even　when　no　one　was　looking。　His　body；　free　of　the　demands　of　life　for　a　millennia；　was　as　responsive　as　it　had　been　the　day　he　died　and　was　resurrected。
　　　〃Don't　begin　to　believe　our　own　ruse；　granddaughter；〃　Dyrr　said。　〃Not　everything　has　gone　strictly　to　plan；　but　all　is　far　from　lost；　and　we　are　far　from　trapped。　We　were　meant　to　be　in　the　city；　and　here　we　are。　The　two　of　us　are　in　our　own　temple；　unmolested。　We　have　lost　troops　and　the　odd　consort　and　cousin；　but　we　live；　and　our　assets　are　largely　intact。　Our　'new　friends'　as　you　call　them；　have　the　city　hard　under　siege；　and　many　of　the　Houses　refuse　to　join　the　fight…join　it　in　any　real　way；　at　least。　All　we　hav