war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第60部分

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　　　Halisstra　fell　silent；　thinking　furiously　over　what　Tzirik　suggested。　Ventures　into　other　planes　of　existence　were　not　unknown；　of　course。　Pharaun's　spell　had　carried　the　pany　across　the　Plane　of　Shadow；　after　all；　and　there　were　many　more　universes　that　mortals　armed　with　the　right　magic　could　reach；　a　multitude　of　heavens　and　hells；　wonders　and　terrors　beyond　the　confines　of　the　physical　world；　but　the　notion　of　attempting　such　a　journey　without　Lolth's　explicit　invitation　terrified　Halisstra。
　　　〃The　penalties　for　failing　to　understand　the　goddess's　will　in　this　matter　would　be　severe　indeed；〃　Halisstra　said。
　　　〃Have　we　not　just　heard　the　goddess's　will？〃　Danifae　asked。　〃She　led　us　to　this　place　and　this　question　through　her　silence；　just　as　surely　as　if　she　had　placed　the　mands　directly　in　our　hearts。　She　might　be　angered　if　we　fail　to　do　this。〃
　　　Halisstra　was　accustomed　to　a　feeling　of　certainty　when　it　came　to　interpreting　the　Spider　Queen's　wishes。　Before　the　divine　silence　had　fallen　over　the　priestesses　of　Lolth；　she'd　known　the　rare　touch　of　the　goddess's　whispers　in　her　mind。　It　didn't　happen　often；　of　course…she　was　only　one　priestess；　and　Lolth　was　served　by　uncounted　thousands…but　she　knew　what　it　felt　like　to　understand　to　the　depths　of　her　soul　what　the　Spider　Queen　wished；　and　how　she　could　acplish　it。　Halisstra　felt　nothing。　Lolth's　will；　evidently；　was　that　she　should　figure　it　out　for　herself。
　　　Halisstra　glanced　up；　where　the　bronze　mask　of　Vhaeraun　hung　over　a　black　altar。　The　foreignness　of　the　place　seemed　palpable；　a　tangible　expression　of　everything　she　had　lost。　Instead　of　standing　before　the　ancient　altar　in　the　proud　temple　of　House　Melarn；　Lolth's　divine　certitude　thrumming　in　her　very　soul　as　she　performed　the　rites　of　sacrifice　and　abasement　the　Spider　Queen　demanded；　she　stood　alone；　lost；　an　interloper　in　the　temple　of　a　pretender　god；　groping　blindly　for　a　hint　of　Lolth's　intentions　for　her。
　　　She　imagined　standing　before　Lolth；　her　soul　naked　to　her　goddess；　her　eyes　blasted　by　the　sight　of　Lolth's　dark　glory；　her　ears　scoured　by　the　sound　of　the　Spider　Queen's　sibilant　voice。　Perhaps　it　was　effrontery　to　think　that　Lolth　would　erase　her　doubts；　supply　answers　for　her　questions　and　a　balm　for　her　wounded　heart；　but　Halisstra　discovered　that　she　did　not　care。　If　Lolth　chose　to　discard　her；　to　punish　her；　then　she　would；　but　then　why　had　she　destroyed　Ched　Nasad　and　House　Melarn　if　not　to　bring　Halisstra　before　her　and　receive　her　plea？
　　　〃I　agree　with　Danifae；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃I　cannot　see　what　the　point　of　this　has　been；　other　than　to　summon　us　before　the　goddess's　throne。　We　will　find　our　answers　in　her　presence。〃
　　　Quenthel　nodded　slowly　and　said；　〃I　read　her　will　in　the　same　way；　sisters。　We　must　go　to　the　Demonweb　Pits。〃
　　　Ryld　and　Valas　exchanged　worried　looks。
　　　〃A　sojourn　to　the　sixty…sixth　layer　of　the　Abyss；〃　Pharaun　observed。　〃Well；　I　have　dreamed　of　the　place。　It　would　be　interesting　to　see　if　the　reality　matches　my　dream　from　years　ago；　though　I　have　to　say；　I　do　not　relish　the　thought　of　meeting　Lolth　in　person。　She　minced　my　soul　to　pieces　when　I　had　that　vision。　It　took　me　months　to　recover。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　we　should　return　to　Menzoberranzan　and　report　what　we　have　learned　before　we　consider　anything　rash？〃　Ryld　asked；　clearly　alarmed　by　the　prospect　of　descending　into　the　infernal　realms。
　　　〃Now　that　I　understand　the　goddess's　will；　I　do　not　wish　to　delay　in　obeying　it；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃Pharaun　can　use　his　sending　spell　to　apprise　Gromph　of　our　intentions。〃
　　　〃More　to　the　point；〃　Valas　said；　〃how　exactly　does　one　get　to　the　Demonweb　Pits？〃
　　　〃Worship　Lolth　all　your　life；〃　Quenthel　replied；　a　dark　look　clouding　her　eyes；　〃then　die。〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　at　the　high　priestess；　then　looked　at　the　scout　and　said；　〃Were　the　goddess　granting　us　our　spells；　we　could　do　it　easily　enough。　Without　them；　it　is　not　so　easy。　Pharaun？〃
　　　The　wizard　wrung　his　hands。
　　　〃I　will　learn　the　proper　spells　at　the　first　opportunity；〃　he　said。　〃I　suppose　I　will　have　to　locate　a　wizard　of　some　acplishment　who　happens　to　know　the　right　spells；　and　persuade　him　to　share　one　with　me。〃
　　　〃That　will　not　be　necessary；　Master　Pharaun；〃　Tzirik　said。　He　stood　up　from　his　seat　and　descended　the　dais；　powerful　and　confident。　〃As　it　so　happens；　my　god　has　not　seen　fit　to　deprive　me　of　my　spells。　I　have　an　interest　in　seeing　for　myself　what　transpires　in　Lolth's　domain。　We　can　leave　as　soon　as　tonight；　if　you　like。〃
　　　
　　　pany　by　pany；　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　marched　proudly　into　the　open　cavern　behind　the　Pillars　of　Woe。　It　was　nothing　pared　to　the　vast　cavern　of　Menzoberranzan；　or　the　inprehensible　gulf　of　the　Darklake；　but　the　plain　at　the　head　of　the　gorge　was　still　impressive；　an　asymmetrical　space　perhaps　half　a　mile　across；　its　ceiling　rising　a　couple　of　hundred　feet　overhead。　Innumerable　columns　supported　its　roof；　and　shelflike　side　caverns　twisted　away　on　all　sides　like　highways　beckoning　in　the　dark。
　　　Nimor　surveyed　the　place　from　astride　his　war…lizard；　watching　as　the　great　Houses　of　Menzoberranzan　filed　into　the　cavern；　forming　up　in　glittering　squares　beneath　a　dozen　different　banners。　He'd　had　more　than　two　days　to　reconnoiter　the　various　crevices；　caves；　and　passages　leading　to　the　open　spot。　The　strategic　value　of　the　Pillars　of　Woe　was　obvious。　Only　one　road　lead　south　through　a　torturous　canyon；　yet　several　tunnels　met　where　he'd　led　the　drow；　each　leading　into　Menzoberranzan's　Dark　Dominion。
　　　〃A　good　place　for　a　battle；〃　he　said；　nodding　to　himself　with　satisfaction。
　　　His　mount；　vicious　and　stupid　beast　that　it　was；　still　seemed　to　dully　sense　the　impending　conflict。　It　hissed　and　pawed　at　the　pebble…strewn　floor；　its　tail　twitching　in　agitation。
　　　Nimor　waited　near　the　center　of　the　scout　line　holding　the　gap　between　the　Pillars；　at　the　head　of　a　force　of　almost　a　hundred　Agrach　Dyrr　riders。　Those　among　his　scout　force　who　had　any　other　House　allegiance　lay　sprawled　among　the　rocks　and　crevices　of　the　gorge　below；　where　Nimor　and　his　men　had　slaughtered　them　soon　after　reaching　the　Pillars　of　Woe。
　　　Nimor　ached　to　go　riding　up　to　greet　Mez'Barris　Armgo；　Andzrel　Baenre；　and　the　rest　of　the　army's　priestesses　and　manders。　He　could　see　their　pavilion；　already　rising　in　the　center　of　the　cavern。
　　　The　difficulty　with　a　betrayal　spanning　a　whole　battlefield；　he　thought；　is　that　one　simply　can't　be　everywhere　at　once　to　savor　the　moment　in　its　entirety。
　　　He　noted　a　lean　runner…lizard　pelting　from　the　mand　pavilion　toward　where　his　pany　waited。
　　　〃It　seems　I　am　wanted；　lads；〃　he　called　to　the　Agrach　Dyrr　soldiers　waiting　behind　him。　〃You　know　what　to　do。　Wait　for　the　signal。　When　it　es；　hold　nothing　back。〃
　　　Nimor　kicked　his　war…lizard　into　motion　and　rode　back　a　short　distance　to　meet　the　messenger。　The　rider　was　a　young　fellow　in　the　livery　of　House　Baenre…no　doubt　a　favored　nephew　or　cousin；　given　a　relatively　safe　task　in　order　to　gain　a　blooding　without　too　much　risk。　He　wore　no　helmet；　allowing　his　hair　to　stream　out　behind　him　like　a　mane。　A　bright　red　banner　fluttered　from　a　harness　secured　to　his　saddle。
　　　〃You　are　Captain　Zhayemd？〃　he　called；　slowing　his　lizard　to　greet　Nimor。
　　　〃I　am。〃
　　　〃Your　presence　is　requested　at　the　mand　pavilion　immediately；　sir。　Matron　Del'Armgo　wants　to　know　where　the　gray　dwarves　are；　and　how　best　to　dispose　the　troops。〃
　　　〃I　see；〃　Nimor　replied。　〃Well；　ride　on　back　and　tell　her　I'll　be　along　presently。〃
　　　〃With　respect；　sir；　I　am　to…〃
　　　Three　great　horn　blasts；　two　short　followed　by　one　long；　bellowed　up　from　the　space　between　the　Pillars　of　Woe；　echoing　so　loudly　it　seemed　the　rock　itself　had　given　voice　to　the　cry。　The　messenger　broke　off　and　twisted　his　mount　around；　padding　past　Nimor　to　peer　back　toward　the　Pillars。
　　　〃Lolth's　wrath；　what　was　that？〃　he　said。
　　　〃That；〃　said　Nimor；　〃would　be　the　signal　for　the　duergar　attack。〃
　　　From　the　depths　of　the　gorge　beneath　the　Pillars　of　Woe　came　the　ground…shaking　rumble　of　an　army　on　the　move。　Below　Nimor's　line　of　scouts；　hundreds　of　duergar　lizard　riders　suddenly　rose　from　beneath　carefully　arranged　blankets　of　camouflage　and　pelted　up　and　into　the　gap　Nimor's　scouts　were　supposed　to　hold。　Behind　the　duergar　cavalry；　rank　upon　rank　of　duergar　infantry　ran　forward；　shouting　their　uncouth　war　cries；　hammers　and　axes　raised　high。　The　Agrach　Dyrr　riders　scrambled　to　their　saddles；　taking　position　to　bottle　up　the　charge　between　the　mammoth　columns　of　rock…and；　as　arranged；　they　wheeled　in　unison　and　dashed　to　one　side；　leaving　the　line　unguarded。
　　　〃The　Agrach　Dyrr！　They　betray　us！〃　the　messenger　shouted；　horror　and　shock　on　his　face。
　　　He　wrenched　his　mount　around；　but　Nimor　leaned　out　from　his　saddle　and　ran　the　boy　through。　The　young　Baenre　clutched　at　his　wound；　swaying；　and　toppled　from　the　saddle。　Nimor　slapped　his　sword　against　the　lizard's　rump　and　sent　the　beast　bolting　off　back　into　the　main　cavern；　the　dead　messenger　dragging　behind　it　with　his　feet　tangled　in　the　stirrups。
　　　Nimor　spurred　his　mount　up　onto　an　uneven　shelf　of　rock　about　fifteen　feet　above　the　cavern　floor；　overlooking　the　Pillars。　From　that　vantage　he　could　see　most　of　the　cavern。
　　　〃A　good　view　of　the　fray；　my　prince！〃　he　called。　〃What　a　magnificent　day　for　your　triumph；　eh？〃
　　　〃I'll　tell　you　in　a　quarter…hour　if　we　have　a　victory　or　not。〃
　　　From　the　shadows　at　the　back　of　the　ledge；　Horgar　Steelshadow　emerged。　He　and　his　personal　guards　were　warded　by　a　well…crafted　illusion；　invisible　to　anyone　below；　unless　one　knew　precisely　where　to　find　them。
　　　〃Do　not　e　closer；　Nimor；〃　the　crown　prince　said。　〃I　do　not　wish　someone　below　to　notice　you　disappearing　into　a　wall；　and　bee　overly　curious　about　what　might　be　up　here。〃
　　　〃Surely　you　mean　to　join　the　battle；　Prince　Horgar？　I　know　you　are　a　dwarf　of　no　small　valor。〃
　　　〃I　will　venture　into　the　fray　when　I'm　certain　I　will　not　need　to　issue　any　more　orders；　Nimor。　In　another　few　moments　you　won't　be　able　to　hear　a　fellow　shouting　in　your　ear。〃
　　　Nimor　turned　his　at