蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第62部分

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For　an　instant；　it　looked　as　if　Faeryl　would　protest；　and　Jeggred　leered　down　at　her。　Plainly；　something　had　once　transpired　between　them；　an　unpleasantness　that　made　the　ambassador　loathe　and　mistrust　him。
Gromph　shifted　his　weight　as　well　and　Quenthel　thought　he　looked　surprised；　even　a　bit　put　out。　Perhaps　he　hadn't　thought　Triel　had　sense　enough　to　want　her　own　special　agent　on　the　mission；　a　minion　devoted　to　her　particular　interests　alone。
A　thousand　arguments　against　her　being　sent　away　at　so　uncertain　a　time　for　Menzoberranzan；　the　faith；　House　Baenre　。　。　。　came　to　Quenthel　in　a　rush。　Ultimately；　however；　she　said　nothing。
The　assembly　discussed　the　practicalities　of　their　scheme　for　an　hour　or　so；　and　Triel　dismissed　her　newly　appointed　emissaries。　Pharaun　caught　up　with　Quenthel　in　the　antechamber。　He　bowed　to　her；　and　she　waved　her　hand；　giving　him　permission　to　speak。
〃I　assume；　Mistress；　that　you　know　why　they　picked　us？〃　he　murmured。
〃1　understand　better　than　you；〃　she　said。
Pharaun　arched　an　eyebrow　and　asked；　〃Indeed。　Will　you　elucidate？〃
She　hesitated；　but　why　not　state　at　least　the　obvious？　He　had　e　to　her；　after　all；　when　the　slave　revolt　began。　He　was　a　true　drow—ambitious　and　ruthless　enough　that　she　could　always　trust　him　to　do　what　was　to　his　advantage。　Gromph　had　made　him　a　decoy　and　a　target；　perhaps　someday　she　would　make　him　Archmage　of　Menzoberranzan。
〃My　brother　and　sister　send　us　both　forth　because　they　fear　our　ambitions。〃
〃I　daresay　that's　very　sensible　of　them；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃Does　this　mean　you　undertake　our　errand　reluctantly？〃
〃By　no　means。　Whatever　my　siblings'　motives；　the　plan　has　merit；　and　I　would　go　anywhere　and　do　anything　to　restore　my　bond　with　Lolth　and　save　Menzoberranzan；　it　is　of　course　the　same　thing。〃
In　fact；　she　was　eager　to　distance　herself　from　them　until　such　time　as　she　recovered　her　magic；　provided　she　could　do　it　without　a　loss　of　status；　and　surprisingly；　it　seemed　she　could。　The　matter　of　the　demonic　assassins　had　still　not　been　settled；　too；　and　she　wondered　if　her　leaving　the　city　would　bring　her　unknown　assailant　into　the　open。
She　looked　her　foppish　panion　up　and　down。
〃What　of　you？〃　she　asked　the　wizard。　〃You're　brave　enough—I've　seen　the　proof—but　still；　are　you　eager　to　march　across　the　Underdark？〃
〃You　mean；　can　an　exquisite　specimen　such　as　myself　bear　to　dispense　with　warm；　scented　baths；　succulent　meals；　and　delicate；　freshly　laundered　attire？〃　Pharaun　asked　with　a　grin。　〃It　will　be　excruciating；　but　under　the　circumstances；　I'll　manage。　I　enjoy　unraveling　mysteries；　particularly　when　I　suspect　I　might　enhance　my　personal　power　thereby。〃
〃Perhaps　you　will；〃　Quenthel　said；　〃but　I　remend　you　keep　your　hands　off　any　prize　your　leader　covets　for　herself。〃
〃Of　course；　Mistress；　of　course。〃
The　Master　of　Sorcere　bowed　low。
Pharaun　cast　a　spell；　then　slipped　through　the　closed　door　like　a　ghost。　On　the　other　side　was　a　drab；　stalesmelling　little　room。　Wrapped　in　a　blanket　like　an　invalid；　her　scarred　face　a　mask　of　bitterness；　Greyanna　sat　in　the　only　chair。
For　an　instant；　she　stared　at　him　stupidly；　then　started　to　throw　off　the　cover；　presumably　with　the　intent　of　jumping　up。　He　lifted　his　hands　as　if　to　cast　a　spell；　and　the　threat　froze　her　in　place。
〃What　a　dreary　habitation；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　Sabal's；　wasn't　it；　when　her　fortunes　were　at　their　nadir。　Mother　has　a　good　memory　and　a　charming　sense　of　irony　as　well。〃
〃And　she'll　kill　you；　outcast；　for　breaking　into　the　castle。〃
〃I　always　assumed　so。　That's　one　reason　I　never　paid　you　a　visit　hitherto。　But　our　circumstances　have　changed。　The　Council　needs　me　to　help　determine　what's　bee　of　the　Spider　Queen；　and　you；　dear　sib；　are　no　longer　a　person　of　any　importance。　As　Miz'ri's　demoted　you　for　your　repeated　failures　to　kill　me；　I　doubt　she'll　make　an　issue　of　your　extinction；　even　if　she's　certain　I'm　responsible。　She　smiled　at　me　this　afternoon　when　I　saw　her　in　House　Baenre；　can　you　believe　it？　She　must　have　decided　she'd　like　me　to　resign　from　Sorcere　and　rejoin　the　family　someday。　Evidently　she's　just　realizing　how　powerful　I've　bee　in　the　decades　since　you　chased　me　out　the　door。〃
〃I'm　surprised　you　still　want　to　kill　me；〃　Greyanna　said。　〃You've　already　defeated　and　ruined　me。　Death　may　prove　a　mercy。〃
〃I　considered　that；　but　I'm　going　on　a　journey　into　the　unknown；　a　quest　fraught　with　peril　and　adversity　to　be　sure；　and　I　need　something　special　to　hearten　me；　a　memory　fraught　with　spectacle　and　drama　to　cheer　me　on　the　trail。〃
〃I　suppose　I　understand；〃　the　priestess　said；　〃but　I　wonder　why　it's　e　to　this。　All　these　years；　I've　never　truly　understood　the　basis　for　our　feud。　If　I'm　to　die；　will　you　at　least　tell　me　why　you　chose　Sabal　over　me？　Was　it　fondness？　Was　it　lust？〃
〃Neither；〃　Pharaun　chuckled。　〃My　choice　had　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　personalities。　How　could　it；　when　you　twins　were　so　alike？　I　threw　in　with　Sabal　simply　because　she　was　dangling　from　the　bottom　rung　of　the　Mizzrym　ladder。　I　thought　it　would　be　an　amusing　challenge　to　lift　her　to　the　top。〃
〃Thank　you　for　explaining；〃　Greyanna　said。　〃Now　die。〃
Pharaun's　own　living　rapier　leaped　from　beneath　the　blanket。　Obviously　Greyanna　had　not　only　claimed　the　fallen　weapon　but　figured　out　how　to　control　it。　No　doubt　she'd　been　wearing　it　in　its　steelring　form　when　he　entered　the　room。　Knowing　how　he　loved　to　talk；　she'd　lulled　him　with　conversation　and　took　him　by　surprise。
The　long；　thinbladed　sword　hurtled　across　the　room　toward　Pharaun's　chest。　He　frantically　shifted　to　the　side；　and　the　point　plunged　into　his　left　forearm　instead。　For　a　second；　he　couldn't　feel　the　puncture；　and　it　flared　with　pain。
He　had　to　immobilize　the　weapon　or　it　would　pull　itself　free　and　attack　again。　He　grabbed　hold　of　the　blade　with　his　right　hand；　and　it　sliced　into　his　palm。　A　rapier　was　made　for　thrusting；　but　it　had　sharp　edges　even　so。　Sharp　enough；　anyway。
At　the　same　instant；　Greyanna　cast　off　the　blanket　and　snatched　a　mace　from　behind　her　chair。　She　jumped　up　and　charged。
Pharaun　narrowly　dodged　her　first　swing；　then　threw　himself　against　her；　ramming　her　with　his　shoulder。　The　impact　knocked　her　stumbling　backward。
It　didn't　hurt　her；　though。　She　laughed　and　advanced　on　him　again。
He　knew　why　she　was　so　exhilarated。　She　thought　that　with　his　left　hand　dangling　at　the　end　of　a　spastic　arm　and　the　right　busy　gripping　the　rapier；　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　cast　any　appropriate　spells　to　fend　her　off。
And　she　was　right。
Edging　away　from　Greyanna；　his　hand　dripping　blood；　he　let　go　of　the　living　sword　and　started　to　conjure；　rapidly　as　only　a　master　could。
His　sister　rushed　him。　The　rapier　jerked　itself　out　of　his　wound；　hurting　him　anew。　It　pivoted　in　the　air　and　aimed　itself　at　his　heart。
Five　darts　of　azure　force　shot　from　his　right　hand　into　Greyannas　body。　She　made　a　sighing　sound　and　collapsed；　her　mace　clanking　against　the　floor。
At　once　the　rapier　became　inert；　and　fell　clattering　to　the　floor。
He　studied　Greyanna；　making　sure　she　was　truly　dead；　then　examined　his　own　wounds。　They　were　unpleasant；　but　a　healing　potion　or　two　would　mend　them。
〃Thank　you；　sister；〃　he　said；　〃for　a　most　inspiring　interlude。　When　I　sally　forth　to　save　our　beloved　Menzoberranzan；　it　will　be　with　a　heart　full　of　joy。〃
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