war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第56部分

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een　more　than　happy　to　let　him　face　the　glabrezu　alone。
　　　
　　　〃It　looked　big　from　a　distance；〃　Pharaun　said　as　he　ran　a　hand　along　a　cold；　rusted　metal　rib。　〃It's　even　bigger　from　the　inside。〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　looked　up　along　the　line　of　the　gently　curving　steel　beam　and　tried　to　guess　how　far　above　his　head　it　ended…a　hundred　feet；　maybe　a　hundred　and　fifty？
　　　〃Why　was　this　just　left　here　for　a　thousand　years？〃　asked　Jeggred。　The　draegloth　was　sniffing　the　outer　surface　of　the　great　spider　fortress　and　seemed　dissatisfied。　〃It　should　have　been　cleaned　up。　Wouldn't　the　goddess　want　it　cleared　away？〃
　　　〃It　hasn't　been　here　a　thousand　years；〃　Quenthel　said。　She　was　standing　inside　a　huge　tear　in　the　side　of　the　broken　sphere；　her　arms　crossed　in　front　of　her。　〃I　told　you　all；　I　was　here。〃
　　　〃How　long　ago？〃　asked　Danifae。
　　　The　high　priestess　looked　at　her　with　open　contempt　but　answered；　〃Ten　years。〃
　　　〃Ten　years　ago；〃　Pharaun　asked；　〃was　this　thing　intact　and　moving？〃
　　　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　nodded。
　　　〃How　were　you　here？〃　Danifae　asked。
　　　Quenthel　turned　to　Pharaun　and　said；　〃If　there　is　anyone　alive　in　here；　could　you　sense　them？〃
　　　The　wizard　glanced　at　Danifae；　who　offered　him　a　bored　shrug。
　　　〃There　are　spells；〃　he　answered　Quenthel；　〃that　will　do　that；　yes。　Do　you　think　we'll　find　someone　alive　in　here？　Lolth　herself；　perhaps？〃
　　　〃If　the　Spider　Queen　is　anywhere；〃　said　the　Baenre　priestess；　〃she'll　be　here。　This　is　her　palace。　Still；　I　don't　sense　her　presence。　I　still　can't　feel　her　here　at　all。〃
　　　Pharaun　nodded　and　looked　around　at　the　ruin　again。
　　　〃Far　be　it　from　me　to　argue；　Mistress；〃　he　said　to　Quenthel；　〃but　I　find　it　impossible　to　believe　that　this　construct　was　in　operation　a　mere　ten　years　ago。　I'll　admit　I've　never　seen　materials　like　this…steel　beams　big　enough　to　hold　up　a　building；　a　magical　construct　as　big　as　House　Baenre…but　I've　seen　steel　both　old　and　new；　and　this　steel　has　been　laying　out　here　for　somewhat　longer　than　ten　years。　I　will　accept　that　you're　reluctant　to　tell　us　how　you　came　to　be　here　a　decade　ago；　but。　。　。〃
　　　〃But　what？〃　Quenthel　snarled。
　　　Pharaun　stopped　to　think。　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　watched　him　the　whole　time；　and　finally　he　shrugged　and　shook　his　head。　Quenthel　turned　and　strode　deeper　into　the　wrecked　spider　fortress。
　　　Pharaun　could　feel　someone　looking　at　him；　and　he　turned　to　see　Valas　lurking　at　the　edge　of　a　shadow。　The　scout　was　standing　outside　the　wreck。　Following　Valas's　glances；　Pharaun　watched　Danifae　and　Jeggred　follow　Quenthel　into　the　ruin。　When　the　three　of　them　had　disappeared　into　the　maze　of　twisted　metal；　Valas　stepped　closer。
　　　〃Do　you　really　think　she's　alive　in　there？〃　the　scout　asked。
　　　Pharaun　shrugged　and　said；　〃At　this　point；　my　dear　Valas；　I'm　willing　to　accept　nearly　anything。　Time　seems　to　have　no　meaning　here…a　different　meaning　anyway。　Everything　Quenthel　says　may　be　true；　but　then　here　we　are　at　the　very　heart　of　Lolth's　domain；　and　where　is　she？〃
　　　〃Where　are　the　souls　of　the　dead？〃　asked　the　scout。
　　　〃We　should　be　swarmed　by　departed　ancestors；　shouldn't　we？〃　Pharaun　agreed。　〃There　should　be　all　manner　of　creatures　here：　demons；　driders；　draegloths　。　。　。〃　Pharaun　paused　to　chuckle。　〃All　manner　of　things　that　start　with　'd'　。　。　。　but　all　there　is　is　wreckage　and　ruins；　calcified　bone　and　rotting　stone。　It's　the　stuff　of　an　epic　lament。〃
　　　Valas　stared　into　the　darkness　inside　the　spider　fortress　and　sighed。
　　　〃I　don't　know　my　way　around　in　there；〃　the　scout　said；　his　voice　barely　above　a　whisper；　〃Why　am　I　still　here？〃
　　　〃You　were　hired；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃House　Baenre　pays　Bregan　D'aerthe　。　。　。　everyone　knows　why　you're　here。〃
　　　〃No；　I　said；　why　am　I　still　here？〃　the　scout　asked。　〃I　was　hired　as　a　guide　to　get　this　expedition　through　the　Dark　Domain；　and　I　have　done　that。〃
　　　〃You　have　indeed；〃　Pharaun　replied。
　　　〃I　never　said　I　knew　。　。　。〃　Valas　started；　but　ended　with　a　sigh。
　　　〃You're　out　of　your　element；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃as　are　we　all；　but　we　could　still　certainly　benefit　from　your　skills。〃
　　　〃I　could　have　helped　you　with　the　demon；〃　said　the　scout。
　　　〃Quenthel　wouldn't　allow　it；〃　Pharaun　replied。
　　　〃You　got　us　here；〃　Valas　said；　〃and　as　far　as　I　know；　even　with　the　ship　destroyed；　you're　the　only　one　who　can　get　them　home；　yet　she　risks　you　to　prove　a　point　that　no　one　needs　proven？　Does　that　make　sense　to　you　at　all？〃
　　　Pharaun　smiled　and　shook　his　head；　sliding　an　errant　strand　of　hair　out　of　his　face；　then　said；　〃I　have　been　a　thorn　in　the　high　priestess's　side　since　we　stepped　out　of　Menzoberranzan。　I've　lost　track　of　the　various　different　reasons　why　she　might　want　to　kill　me；　as　I've　stopped　counting　the　reasons　I'd　like　to　see　her　dead；　too。　Still；　perhaps　she　was　confident　that　I　could　handle　the　demon　on　my　own。　I　did；　after　all。〃
　　　〃There　might　have　been　a　time　when　I'd　have　thought　that　was　good　enough；〃　Valas　went　on；　〃but　after　all　this；　I　can't　help　thinking　it's　just　stupid；　and　potentially　wasteful。　Her　behavior　is　erratic。〃
　　　〃I　think　were　all　a　bit　erratic；〃　Pharaun　admitted；　〃but　I　agree　in　principle　with　what　you're　saying。　I　think　the　snakes　are　whispering　to　her　more　and　more。　She's　lost　control　of　both　the　draegloth　and　Danifae；　has　never　had　control　of　me；　and　knows　that　you're　only　here　because　of　House　Baenre's　gold。　We　finally　get　to　the　Demonweb　Pits　and　this　is　what　we　find？　An　ancient　ruin？　She　should　be　insane。　We　all　should　be。〃
　　　Valas　thought　about　that　for　a　while；　and　Pharaun　waited　for　him　to　respond。
　　　〃My　contract　is　at　an　end；〃　the　scout　finally　said。
　　　Pharaun　nodded；　shrugged；　and　said；　〃I　will　leave　that　for　you　to　decide；　but　I　have　to　admit　I'd　rather　have　you　stay　with　us　than　leave。　I　can　use　spells；　as　the　priestess　asked；　to　find　anything　that　might　still　live　here；　to　find　any　latent　sources　of　magic。　If　I'm　the　guide　here；　fine；　but　we　could　well　need　you　again　soon。　Besides；　can　you　even　get　back　on　your　own？〃
　　　The　scout　tipped　his　head　up；　raised　an　eyebrow；　and　gave　the　hint　of　a　smile　that　faded　before　it　was　pletely　recognizable。
　　　〃Well；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃perhaps　you　can　then。　I'm　going　inside　anyway；　and　if　you'd　like　to　join　us；　so　be　it。　We　can　discuss　why；　if　you're　capable　of　returning　to　Menzoberranzan　on　your　own；　you're　concerned　that　I　might　be　the　only　one　who　can　get　you　back　and　Quenthel's　tried　again　to　kill　me。〃
　　　The　scout　bowed　ever　so　slightly　and　held　back　a　smile。
　　　''Why　do　you　care；　anyway？〃　Valas　asked。
　　　〃About　what？〃
　　　〃All　of　this；〃　said　the　scout。　〃Lolth　。　。　。〃
　　　The　scout　nodded　and　Pharaun　replied；　〃I'm　curious。　It's　a　unique　challenge　for　a　spellcaster；　and　my　hard…fought　position　in　Menzoberranzan　depends　on　the　harder…fought　position　of　my　superior；　who　depends　on　the　matriarchy　for　his　power…his　political　power；　anyway。〃
　　　Villas　nodded　and　Pharaun　gestured　toward　the　rip　in　the　wall　of　the　spider　fortress。
　　　〃After　you？〃　Pharaun　said。
　　　Valas　walked　past　him；　but　his　reluctance　was　plain　in　each　forced　step。
　　　
　　　Halisstra　couldn't　move。　She　let　herself　hang　in　the　aether；　crying；　holding　her　head　in　her　hands；　fending　off　both　Uluyara　and　Feliane　who　were　trying　to　fort　her。　She　could　hear　them　repeating　one　reassurance　after　another　and　could　feel　them　touching　her；　hugging　her；　wiping　away　her　tears；　but　she　didn't　care。　She　didn't　know　what　to　do；　and　something　was　wrong　with　her。
　　　We　brought　you　along　too　fast；　a　voice　hummed　in　her　head。　It　was　a　female　voice；　quiet　but　strong。　I'm　sorry。
　　　Halisstra　blinked　open　her　eyes　and　looked　around　for　the　source　of　the　voice。　Uluyara　and　Feliane　had　moved　away　from　her…what　would　have　been　a　few　paces　if　they'd　been　standing　on　ground…and　both　of　them　stared　with　open　mouths　at　an　apparition　floating　only　just　within　reach　of　Halisstra。　It　was　the　ghost　of　a　drow　female；　resplendent　in　robes　of　flowing　silk；　all　color　drained　from　her；　a　wind　that　Halisstra　couldn't　feel　carrying　her　long　white　hair　in　a　halo　around　her　head　and　brushing　her　robes　out　behind　her。
　　　〃Seyll；〃　Halisstra　whispered；　the　name　almost　sticking　on　her　tongue。
　　　The　shade；　who　was　looking　Halisstra　directly　in　the　eyes；　nodded；　and　again　the　voice　sounded　in　her　head。　Eilistraee　has　many　gifts　to　offer　our　sisters　from　the　World　Below。　Pain；　unfortunately；　is　one　of　those　gifts。
　　　〃You　can　keep　it；〃　Halisstra　shot　back；　anger　rising　to　replace　the　crushing　remorse　that　the　disembodied　soul　of　Ryld　Argith　had　left　in　its　wake。
　　　Feliane　and　Uluyara　reacted　to　her　reply　with　puzzled　expressions；　and　Halisstra　realized　they　couldn't　hear　Seyll。
　　　I　know；　the　dead　priestess　replied。　Believe　me；　I　know　what　it's　like　to　experience　these　emotions　all　at　once　and　for　the　first　time。　Your　mind　has　been　trained　not　to　recognize　them；　but　they've　been　there　all　along；　waiting　for　you　to　find　them　and　set　them　free。　Freedom　isn't　always　easy。　You've　gone　on　a　long　journey　within　yourself　to　a　place　where　the　emotional　consequences　may　be　more　painful；　but　the　rewards　will　be　greater　than　you've　ever　imagined。
　　　I　don't　care；　Halisstra　thought　back。　I　don't　want　it。　Right　now；　I'd　go　back　to　the　Underdark　if　I　could。
　　　Would　you？
　　　In　a　second；　Halisstra　vowed。　There　when　I　was　being　manipulated　I　knew　it　and　knew　the　ends　to　which　I　was　being　pushed。　There　I　was　a　priestess　and　a　noblewoman。
　　　And　here？　Seyll　asked。　What　are　you　now？
　　　An　assassin；　Halisstra　answered。　I'm　an　assassin　in　the　service　of　Eilistraee。
　　　What　do　you　suppose　is　the　difference　between　an　assassin　and　a　liberator？
　　　A　liberator？　Halisstra　asked。
　　　When　you　kill　Lolth；　Seyll　said；　and　you　will　kill　her；　you　will　set　thousands　free。　。　。　millions。
　　　Dooming　them　to　a　life　of　despair　and　remorse？
　　　And　love；　contentment；　trust；　and　happiness；　Seyll　replied。
　　　Halisstra　paused　to　think　about　that；　but　her　mind　was　blank。　Her　eyes　burned；　her　jaw　ached；　and　she　felt　heavy…so　heavy　she　actually　began　to　sink　in　the　weightless　aether