war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第136部分

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and　illuminated　on　an　eight…tiered　pyramid　of　a　dais；　with　Triel　of　course　set　higher　than　the　others；　and　a　span　of　radiant　marble　webbing　arching　overhead。　Quenthel　stalked　in　proudly；　ahead　of　Pharaun　and　the　other　males；　and　why　not？　She　was　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　and　a　Baenre。
Truth　to　tell；　a　miniscule　part　of　her；　a　part　she　loathed　and　repudiated；　hadn't　wanted　to　e　in；　because　her　unknown　enemy　was　very　likely　in　the　room
The　matriarchs　weren't　the　only　folk　in　the　vicinity　of　the　platform。　A　symbol　of　the　goddess's　favor　and　a　source　of　practical　protection；　Jeggred　loomed　behind　Triel's　chair。　Servants　scurried　about　the　steps　to　do　the　great　ladies'　bidding。　Gromph　stood　on　the　highest　riser；　a　place　of　ultinotmate　honor　for　a　male。
When　she；　the　mage；　the　weapons　master；　and　the　mercenary　reached　the　foot　of　the　dais；　Triel　began　to　praise　them　for　their　efforts　against　the　illithilich　and　its　pawns。　At　first　the　oration　was　pretty　much　what　Quenthel　had　expected；　but　soon　it　took　an　unexpected　turn。
She　herself　would　lead　an　expedition　to　Ched　Nasad　to　find　out　why　no　travelers　came　from　that　direction；　and　what　the　priestesses　of　the　vassal　city　might　know　concerning　the　silence　of　Lolth。　Ryld　Argith；　Pharaun　Mizzrym；　and　Valas　Hune　would　serve　as　her　lieutenants；　acpanying　the　ambassador；　Faeryl　Zauvirr。
Upon　hearing　the　news；　the　hulking　warrior　in　the　dwarven　breastplate　simply　inclined　his　head　in　acquiescence。　The　wizard　grinned；　and　the　scout　smiled。　At　first　the　envoy；　who　was　standing　nearby；　looked　equally　pleased。
Then　Triel　said；　〃Finally；　dear　sister；　I　lend　you　my　own　son　Jeggred　for　your　journey。　A　draegloth　carries　the　blessing　of　the　Dark　Mother；　and　you　may　need　his　strength。〃
For　an　instant；　it　looked　as　if　Faeryl　would　protest；　and　Jeggred　leered　down　at　her。　Plainly；　something　had　once　transpired　between　them；　an　unnotpleasantness　that　made　the　ambassador　loathe　and　mistrust　him。
Gromph　shifted　his　weight　as　well　and　Quenthel　thought　he　looked　surnotprised；　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　ambinottions。〃
〃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；　stale…smelling　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　h