war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第100部分

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　too　powerful。　They　have　too　many　talismans；　fortresses；　and；　most　importantly；　troops　and　vassals　serving　out　of　fear。〃
〃I　begin　to　prehend；　and　I　apologize　for　not　giving　you　sufficient　credit；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃This　is　merely　the　opening　gambit　in　a　sava　game　that　will　last　a　number　of　years。〃
〃When　fighting　engulfs　Menzoberranzan；〃　Houndaer　said；　〃and　the　clerics　cast　no　spells　to　put　down　the　revolt；　their　weakness　will　bee　apparent　to　everyone。　Meanwhile；　our　brotherhood　will　take　advantage　of　the　chaos　to　assassinate　those　females　who　pose　the　greatest　obstacles　to　our　ambitions。　With　luck；　the　ores　will　account　for　a　few　more。　At　the　end　of　the　day；　our　gender's　position　in　the　scheme　of　things　will　be　considerably　stronger；　and　every　male　in　the　city　will　start　aspiring　to　supremacy。
〃In　the　years　to　e；　our　cabal　will　do　whatever　we　can　to　diminish　the　females　and　put　ourselves　in　their　place。　One　day　soon；　we'll　see　a　noble　House　manded　by　a　male　and　eventually；　a　master　in　every　House。〃
He　smiled　and　added；　〃Needless　to　say；　a　master　who　belongs　to　this　franotternity。　I'll　enjoy　ruling　over　House　Tuin'Tarl；　and　I　imagine　that　you；　Brother　of　Sorcere；　wouldn't　say　no　to　primacy　over　your　own　family。〃
Pharaun　nodded　and　said；　〃You're　far　too　canny　to　have　forgotten　we've　all　gone　rogue。　。。。〃
〃Our　kin　will　wele　us　back　once　we've　weakened　them　to　the　point　where　they're　desperate　for　reinforcements。　We'll　concoct　tales　of　travels　to　the　far　ends　of　the　Underdark；　or　something。　It　won't　matter　to　them　when　they're　desperate　enough。〃
〃Indeed；　you've　plotted　everything　out　so　shrewdly　that　I　only　see　one　potential　pitfall；　Pharaun　said。　〃What　if　the　goblins　and　gnolls　should　acnottually　succeed　in　slaughtering　us　all；　or　at　least　inflicting　such　damage　on　our　city　that　the　devastation　breaks　our　hearts？〃
Houndaer　stared　at　the　mage　for　a　moment；　then　laughed。　〃For　a　moment；　I　almost　thought　you　serious。〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃Forgive　me。　I　have　a　perverse　fondness　for　japes　at　inappropriate　moments；　as　Master　Argith　will　attest。〃
Houndaer　smiled　at　Ryld　and　said；　〃I'd　just　as　soon　hear　him　attest　that　I　mastered　all　those　lessons　on　strategy　he　pounded　into　my　skull。〃
〃You　did；〃　said　Ryld；　and　perhaps　it　was　true。　His　instincts　told　him　that　this　scheme；　outlandish　as　it　seemed；　might　work；　and　he　abruptly　renotalized　he　didn't　know　how　he　felt　about　the　possibility。
He　and　Pharaun　had　infiltrated　the　rogues　to　betray　them；　to　placate　the　archmage；　and　because　the　Mizzrym　wizard　had　some　vague　notion　that　they'd　achieve　greater　status　and　power　and　thus　a　permanent　cure　for　Ryld's　formless　dissatisfaction；　thereby。　Yet　now　the　conspirators　were　ofnotfering　high　rank　and　a　role　in　a　grand　adventure。　Perhaps；　then；　the　teachnoters　should　bee　in　truth　the　rebels　they　were　pretending　to　be。
The　warrior　glanced　over　at　Pharaun。　With　a　flick　of　his　fingers　so　subtle　that　no　one　else　would　notice；　the　wizard　signed　one　word　in　the　silent　language：　Persevere。
Ryld　took　it　to　mean　that　his　friend；　with　his　usual　acuity；　had　divined　what　he　was　thinking　and　was　urging　him　to　hold　to　their　original　intent。　He　gave　a　tiny　nod　of　assent。　He　didn't　know　if　Pharaun　was　making　a　wise　choice；　but　he　did　realize　he　wouldn't　even　be　here　listening　to　this　apocnotalyptic　talk　if　his　friend　hadn't　asked　for　his　aid。　When　all　was　said　and　done；　Ryld　had　descended　from　Melee…Magthere　to　help　the　wizard　achieve　his　ends；　and　that　was　what　he　was　going　to　do。
Pharaun　turned　to　Tsabrak　and　said；　〃I　assume　the　driders　have　allied　themselves　with　the　conspiracy　because　the　boys　promised　you　a　place　of　honor　in　the　splendid　Menzoberranzan　to　e。　Perhaps　they　even　pledged　to　find　a　way　to　transform　you　back　into　a　drow。〃
〃Something　like　that；〃　Tsabrak　sneered。　〃Mainly；　though；　those　of　us　who　joined　did　it　for　the　chance　to　kill　lots　and　lots　of　priestesses。〃
〃I　can't　say　I　blame　you；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃Well；　gentlemen；　your　plans　are　inspiring　to　say　the　least。　I'm　glad　we　sought　you　out。〃
〃So　am　I；〃　said　Ryld。
〃The　only　things　I'm　still　hazy　on；〃　the　mage　continued；　〃are　Syrzan　and　the　Prophet。　One　and　the　same？　I　see　by　your　expressions　that　they　are。　Who　is　。。。　it　really；　and　what　power　does　it　use　to　so　enthrall　the　goblins？〃
〃I　think　you're　about　to　find　out；〃　Houndaer　said。
An　instant　later；　something　droned　through　the　air；　almost　like　a　noise；　but　not。　Actually；　the　sensation　existed　solely　within　the　mind。　Pharaun　turned；　and　Tsabrak　scuttled　aside　to　reveal　the　robed　figure　in　the　doornotway。　Ryld　felt　a　jolt　of　dismay。　Afraid　it　was　already　too　late；　he　sprang　up　from　the　bench





C　h　a　p　t　e　r

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Off　to　Faeryl's　left　stood　an　iron　maiden　cast　in　the　form　of　a　tubby　jester　in　cap　and　bells。　The　bells　looked　real；　and　would　evidently　jingle　while　a　victim　writhed　inside。　The　device　was　open　just　a　crack；　not　enough　to　expose　the　spikes　inside。
Straight　ahead；　a　chain　and　hook　dangled　from　their　pulley；　fishing　for　a　prisoner　to　hoist；　and　a　rack　waited　to　stretch　one。　To　the　left；　a　brazier　of　coals　threw　off　dazzling　heat；　and　a　collection　of　probes；