war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第50部分

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pect　that　a　book　containing　secret　and　powerful　lore…the　Geildirion　of　Cimbar…is　buried　in　the　secret　library　of　a　ruined　wizard's　tower。　We　have　need　of　the　knowledge　that　is　in　the　Geildirion；　for　it　will　help　us　to　master　the　ancient　magical　wards　our　long…lost　surface　cousins　raised　about　their　realm。　Unfortunately；　demons；　devils；　and　fiends　of　all　kinds　plague　the　city's　ruins；　and　the　tower　itself　is　home　to　an　unusually　powerful　beholder　mage。　We　have　sent　two　expeditions　to　the　tower；　but　the　beholder　destroyed　or　drove　off　our　scouts　with　ease。　I　have　no　wish　to　throw　away　the　lives　of　more　of　my　charges；　but　I　would　dearly　like　to　possess　that　book。　Since　you　seem　to　be　the　best　Menzoberranzan　has　to　offer；　perhaps　you　can　succeed　where　our　warriors　have　so　far　failed。　Bring　me　the　Geildirion；　and　I　will　seek　Vhaeraun's　insight　regarding　Lolth's　silence。〃
　　　〃Done；〃　Quenthel　replied。　〃Provide　us　a　guide　to　this　place；　and　we　will　get　your　book　for　you。〃
　　　Jezz　laughed　softly　and　said；　〃You　might　not　be　so　quick　to　agree；　if　you　knew　how　dangerous　the　beholder　really　is。　You　will　earn　our　aid；　that　is　for　certain。〃
　　　
　　　At　nightfall；　Seyll；　acpanied　by　a　young　drow　woman　and　a　pale　elf　maiden；　came　for　Halisstra。　The　priestess　of　Eilistraee　was　armed　and　armored　beneath　her　green　cloak；　a　long　sword　at　her　hip。　She　wore　high　leather　boots；　and　carried　a　bundle　under　one　arm。
　　　〃It's　raining；〃　she　said　as　she　entered　the　cell；　〃but　our　senior　priestesses　say　it　will　be　clear　later　on；　when　the　moon　rises。　Tonight　we　will　go　to　honor　our　goddess。〃
　　　Halisstra　shifted　in　her　chains　and　rose。
　　　〃I　will　not　honor　Eilistraee；〃　she　said。
　　　〃You　need　not　participate。　I　am　simply　offering　you　the　opportunity　to　observe　and　draw　your　own　conclusions。　You　challenged　me　to　demonstrate　that　my　goddess　is　not　a　cruel　or　jealous　one。　I　stand　ready　to　offer　proof。〃
　　　〃Doubtless　you　think　to　ensnare　me　with　some　beguiling　enchantments；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃Do　not　think　I　will　be　duped　so　easily。〃
　　　〃No　one　will　attempt　to　work　any　magic　on　you；〃　Seyll　replied。　She　set　down　her　bundle　and　unwrapped　it。　Inside　was　a　large　leather　case；　boots；　and　a　cloak　not　unlike　her　own。　〃I　have　brought　your　lyre；　in　the　hopes　that　you　might　honor　us　with　a　song　if　you　feel　so　inclined。〃
　　　〃I　doubt　you　will　take　much　pleasure　in　the　bae'qeshel　songs；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　〃We　will　see；〃　the　priestess　said。　〃You've　been　manacled　here　for　three　days；　and　I'm　offering　you　a　chance　to　get　out　of　your　cell。〃
　　　〃Only　to　be　returned　here　when　you're　done　hectoring　me　about　your　goddess。〃
　　　〃As　we　discussed　before；　you　need　only　offer　Lord　Dessaer　an　accounting　of　yourself　to　be　free；〃　Seyll　said。　She　produced　a　set　of　keys　and　dangled　them　in　front　of　Halisstra。　〃Xarra　and　Feliane　are　here　to　help　me　escort　you　safely　to　and　from　the　spot　of　our　ceremony　tonight；　and　I'm　afraid　I　must　insist　on　keeping　your　hands　bound。〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　at　the　other　two　women。　They　wore　chain　mail　beneath　their　cloaks；　too；　and　also　carried　swords　at　their　hips。　She　had　little　wish　to　watch　some　meaningless　drivel　in　Eilistraee's　name；　but　Seyll　offered　her　a　chance　to　get　out　of　her　cell。　At　the　very　worst；　Seyll's　vigilance　would　not　lapse；　and　no　opportunities　for　escape　would　arise；　leaving　Halisstra　no　worse　for　wear。　At　best；　Seyll　and　her　fellow　clerics　might　make　a　mistake　that　Halisstra　could　capitalize　on。
　　　In　either　case；　she　would　at　least　have　an　opportunity　to　spy　out　some　of　the　town　and　the　surrounding　forest；　which　might　e　in　useful　if　a　chance　to　escape　came　up　later…and　there　was　always　the　chance　of　that。
　　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said。
　　　Seyll　unlocked　Halisstra's　manacles；　and　helped　the　Melarn　priestess　to　don　the　winter　clothing　and　cloak　she'd　brought。　She　knotted　a　strong　silver　cord　around　Halisstra's　hands；　and　the　small　party　left　the　palace　dungeons　and　ascended　into　a　cold；　rain…spattered　night。
　　　Elventree　was　not　really　a　town；　nor　an　outpost；　nor　an　encampment；　but　something　in　between。　Ruined　walls　of　white　stone　crisscrossed　the　place；　hinting　at　the　old　ramparts　and　broad　squares　of　a　good…sized　surface　town；　but　most　were　crumbling　with　age。　Many　of　the　original　buildings　were　nothing　more　than　empty　shells；　but　a　number　of　them　seemed　to　have　been　appropriated　by　the　town's　current　residents；　who　had　covered　the　old　buildings　with　wooden　latticework　or　permanent　tents　in　order　to　turn　the　proud　old　structures　into　humble；　semi…permanent　woodsmen's　homes。　Great　gnarled　trees　rose　from　the　cracked　pavement　of　ancient　courtyards；　and　many　structures　actually　stood　well　off　the　ground　in　their　mighty　branches；　linked　by　swaying　catwalks　of　silver　rope　and　white　planks。　A　handful　of　the　town's　original　buildings　still　stood　more　or　less　intact。
　　　Halisstra　saw　that　she　had　been　imprisoned　beneath　an　old　watch…tower。　Across　the　square　an　elegant　palace　rose　through　the　trees；　illuminated　by　hundreds　of　soft　lanterns。　Lord　Dessaer's　palace；　she　surmised。　The　sound　of　distant　song　and　laughter　drifted　through　the　air。
　　　The　priestesses　of　Eilistraee　led　Halisstra　along　an　old　boulevard　that　quickly　carried　them　out　of　the　town　and　into　the　dark；　rainy　forest。　They　marched　for　quite　some　time；　the　silence　of　the　night　broken　only　by　soft　footfalls　on　the　forest　floor　and　the　constant　pattering　of　the　rain…which　did　indeed　slacken　noticeably　as　they　went　on；　giving　way　to　a　partial　overcast　through　which　stars　on　occasion　appeared。
　　　Halisstra　had　had　about　all　of　the　World　Above　that　she　cared　to　endure；　but　she　occupied　herself　by　quietly　working　at　the　knots　of　the　rope　binding　her　hands　while　keeping　an　eye　on　her　captors；　hoping　they　would　relax　their　vigilance。　Xarra；　the　drow；　walked　in　front；　while　Feliane　marched　at　the　rear。　Seyll　stayed　close　by　Halisstra　at　all　times；　either　a　little　before　her　or　a　little　behind。
　　　〃Where　are　you　taking　me？〃　Halisstra　asked　as　the　walk　dragged　on。
　　　〃A　place　we　call　the　Dancing　Stone；〃　Seyll　answered。　〃It　is　sacred　to　Eilistraee。〃
　　　〃The　forest　looks　all　alike　to　me；〃　said　Halisstra。　〃How　can　you　tell　one　part　of　it　from　another？〃
　　　〃We　know　this　trail　well；〃　Seyll　replied。　〃In　fact；　we're　not　all　that　far　from　where　we　first　encountered　you　and　your　panions。　They　abandoned　you；　and　haven't　been　seen　since　that　night。〃
　　　Halisstra　took　a　sip　from　her　own　flask　to　hide　the　smile　that　flitted　across　her　features。　The　apostate　priestess　had　made　a　mistake；　and　she　didn't　even　realize　it。　If　they　weren't　far　from　where　she'd　been　captured；　it　stood　to　reason　that　she　could　follow　the　directions　of　Pharaun's　vision　from　there　and　have　a　reasonable　chance　of　locating　the　Jaelre　drow。　Regardless　of　what　else　she　acplished　that　night；　it　had　already　been　worth　her　while。
　　　They　came　to　a　loud；　rushing　creek；　its　bed　strewn　with　large　boulders。　Xarra　crossed　first；　leaping　lightly　from　rock　to　rock　and　continuing　into　the　woods　on　the　far　side；　keeping　watch　for　any　danger。　Seyll　followed；　a　few　steps　ahead　of　Halisstra；　her　eyes　on　the　uncertain　footing　beneath　her。　Halisstra　started　to　follow。　The　rushing　water　was　loud；　even　though　the　creek　was　shallow　and　not　at　all　wide。　The　moon　slipped　behind　the　clouds；　momentarily　darkening　the　forest　floor。
　　　Halisstra　scented　opportunity。
　　　She　quickly　hopped　two　rocks　into　the　stream　and　halted；　as　if　studying　her　next　step。　Instead　she　pitched　her　voice　low　and　began　a　bae'qeshel　song；　the　sound　covered　by　the　noisy　creek。　Seyll　continued　to　pick　her　way　ahead；　and　behind　Halisstra　the　surface　elf　Feliane　stopped；　waiting　for　her　to　cross。
　　　It　was　difficult　with　her　hands　bound；　even　as　loosely　as　they　were；　but　the　power　of　the　enchantment　was　in　Halisstra's　voice；　not　her　hands。　Even　as　Feliane　lost　patience　and　hopped　forward　to　aid　her；　Halisstra　turned　around　and　fixed　her　red　eyes　on　the　pale　girl's　face。
　　　〃Angardh　xorr　feleal；〃　she　hissed。　〃Dear　Feliane；　would　you　draw　your　sword　and　free　me　of　these　troublesome　bonds？　I　am　afraid　I　will　fall。〃
　　　The　charm　ensnared　the　young　priestess　easily。　With　a　blank　expression；　she　drew　her　blade。
　　　〃Of　course；〃　the　elf　murmured　vacantly。
　　　She　drew　the　razor　edge　carefully　through　the　cords　on　Halisstra's　wrists。　Halisstra　glanced　over　her　shoulder　at　Seyll　and　carefully　moved　to　shield　Feliane's　work　with　her　body。
　　　〃What's　wrong？〃　Seyll　called。
　　　〃Don't　answer；〃　Halisstra　whispered　to　the　girl。　She　kept　her　hands　together　and　turned　carefully　to　face　the　priestess。　〃A　moment！〃　she　called。　〃I'm　not　certain　of　this　step　with　my　hands　bound。　The　next　rock　seems　slippery。
　　　Seyll　glanced　at　the　creek；　then　retraced　her　steps；　leaping　one　rock　to　the　next　as　she　came　back　toward　Halisstra　and　Feliane。　Halisstra　twisted　to　look　back　at　Feliane；　standing　behind　her　with　her　sword　drawn。
　　　〃Dear　Feliane；〃　she　said　sweetly；　〃may　I　borrow　your　sword　for　a　moment？〃
　　　The　girl　frowned　slightly；　perhaps　aware　somewhere　in　the　depths　of　her　enchantment…fogged　mind　that　something　was　not　right；　but　she　extended　the　sword's　hilt　to　Halisstra。　Again　concealing　the　movement　with　her　body；　Halisstra　took　the　blade　in　her　hand。
　　　〃Here；〃　said　Seyll。　The　Eilistraee　priestess　reached　the　next　boulder　and　set　her　feet　carefully；　extending　a　hand。　〃Take　my　arm；　and　I　will　steady　you。〃
　　　Halisstra　spun　with　the　quickness　of　a　cat　and　buried　Feliane's　sword　beneath　Seyll's　outstretched　arm。　The　priestess　gasped　in　cold　shock　and　crumpled　at　once；　slipping　from　her　perch　to　fall　awkwardly　in　the　icy　stream。　She　slumped　down　the　moss…covered　boulder　and　came　to　rest　leaning　against　the　stone；　sitting　waist　deep　in　the　rushing　water。
　　　Halisstra　withdrew　the　sword　and　turned　back　to　Feliane；　who　stared　at　her　with　dumb　amazement。
　　　〃Seyll's　been　hurt；　girl；〃　Halisstra　snapped。　〃Quick；　run　back　to　Elventree　and　fetch　help！　Go！〃
　　　The　pale　elf　maiden　managed　only　one　jerky　nod　before　she　whirled　and　raced　off。　Halisstra　leaped　over　Seyll's　rock　and　dashed　quickly　over　the　path。　Xarra；　the　younger　drow　priestess；　emerged　suddenly　from　the　wood