war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第23部分

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〃I　don't　think　so。　I　can't　tell　you　precisely　where　they　are；　but　I　believe　they're　still　somewhere　in　the　city　proper；　the　Mantle；　or　conceivably　out　in　the　Bauthwaf。〃
〃Now　that　truly　is　good　news。　I　wasn't　keen　on　a　hunt　through　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。　Not　only　is　there　a　general　lack　of　amenities；　the　wine…makers　are　uncorking　the　new　vintages　the　tenday　after　next。〃
Pellanistra　shook　her　head。　〃You　haven't　changed。〃
〃Thank　you；　I'll　take　that　as　a　pliment。　Now；　let's　get　down　to　the　crux　of　the　matter；　shall　we？　I　require　names。　Which　of　your　visitors　dropped　these　Vaguest　hints'　which　you　have　so　sagaciously　interpreted？〃
She　gave　him　a　smile　radiant　with　spite。　〃Alton　Vandree　and　Vuzlyn　Freth。〃
〃Who　themselves　subsequently　disappeared　and　are　thus　unavailable　for　questioning。　It　makes　sense；　I　suppose；　but　it's　unfortunate　all　the　same。〃
〃I've　given　you　everything　I　have；〃　she　said。　〃Now　fulfill　your　end　of　the　deal。〃
The　wizard　frowned　and　said；　〃My　dear　collaborator；　it　would　devastate　me　to　disappoint　you。　Yet　I　stipulated　that　you'd　have　to　offer　me　infornotmation　of　some　significance；　and　frankly；　I'm　not　sure　you've　delivered。　I　really　know　little　more　than　I　did　before。〃
〃Do　it；　or　I'll　tell　every　soul　who　es　into　this　cell　that　you're　looknoting　for　the　runaways。　Perhaps　that　will　have　some　'significance'　for　your　mission。　I　assume　it　is　supposed　to　be　a　secret。　Things　usually　are　where　you're　involved；　and　you　haven't　mentioned　a　legion　of　assistants　following　you　about。〃
Pharaun　laughed。　〃Well　played。　I　surrender。　How　shall　we　do　this？〃
〃I　don't　care。　Burn　me　with　your　magic。　Stick　a　dagger　in　me。　Break　my　neck　with　those　long；　clever　fingers。〃
〃Interesting　suggestions　all；　but　I'd　just　as　soon　that　Nym　didn't　bill　me　for　your　demise。　If　we　can　make　it　look　as　if　your　heart　just　stopped　of　its　own　accord　sometime　after　I　look　my　leave；　I'll　have　a　chance。〃
He　cast　about；　noticed　the　thick；　fluffy　pillow　on　the　bed；　picked　it　up；　and　experimentally　gripped　it　at　both　ends。　It　felt　good　in　his　hands。
〃This　ought　to　work；〃　he　said。　〃Perhaps　you　could　oblige　me　by　lying　down？〃











C　h　a　p　t　e　r　

F　I　V　E
Ryld　sipped　his　chilled；　tart　wine　with　a　sense　of　satisfaction；　secure　in　the　knowledge　that　the　game；　though　technically　still　in　progress；　was　already　won。　In　three　more　moves；　his　onyx　wizard　and　orc　would　trap　and　mate　his　opponent's　carnelian　mother。
As　usual；　he　had　acplished　his　victory　without　recourse　to　the　dice。　Truth　to　tell；　those　clattering　ivory　cubes　with　the　magically　warmed　images　incised　on　the　faces　were　the　one　aspect　of　suva　he　didn't　like。　They　interjected　blind　luck　into　what　should　be　a　contest　of　pure　cunning。
Ryld's　adversary；　a　scrawny　young　merchant　clansman　with　an　uncouth　habit　of　letting　drops　of　liquor　slide　from　the　corners　of　his　mouth　as　he　guzzled；　had　thrown　the　dice　early　on　and　gloated　when　chance　allowed　him　to　eliminate　one　of　the　older　male's　priestesses。
Shoulders　hunched；　brow　sweaty；　he　stared　at　the　board　as　if　the　fate　of　his　soul　were　being　decided　thereupon。　A　truly　petent　player　would　have　recognized　almost　instantly　that　there　was　only　one　move　he　could　make。　Indeed；　he　would　have　foreseen　the　inevitable　mate　just　three　moves　hence　and　resigned。
Mindful　of　his　true　purpose　for　visiting　the　Jewel　Box；　Ryld；　doing　his　best　to　sound　only　casually　interested；　took　up　the　thread　of　the　conversanottion　that　he　and　the　slightly　tipsy　trader　had　been　carrying　on　in　fits　and　starts。
〃Did　your　cousin　give　you　any　warning　that　he　was　going　to　run　away？〃
〃No；〃　the　clansman　answered　curtly。　〃Why　would　he？　We　despised　each　other。　Now　shut　up！　You're　trying　to　break　my　concentration。〃
Ryld　sighed　and　settled　back　in　his　spindly；　flimsy…looking　limestone　chair。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　glimpsed　something　that　made　him　sit　up　straighter；　double…check　the　precise　position　of　Splitter　leaning　against　the　wall；　and　stealthily　loosen　his　short　sword　in　its　oiled　sheath　on　his　belt。
He　himself　didn't　quite　know　what　had　alerted　him。　These　weren't　the　first　circle　of　revelers　he'd　watched　rise　from　their　seats　and　draw　their　weapons；　either　to　play　at　fencing　or　to　settle　a　quarrel　that　had　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　the　hooded　male　defeating　all　ers　at　sava。　Indeed；　within　the　confines　of　the　Jewel　Box；　blades　rasped　from　their　scabbards　with　a　certain　regularity。　Superficially；　this　new　quartet　was　no　different；　but　somehow　Ryld　knew　that　they　were。　Sure　enough；　they　stalked　straight　toward　him　and　his　oblivious　opponent　through　the　fragrant　haze　of　innotcense。　Other　patrons；　likewise　sensing　the　swordsmen's　intent；　made　haste　to　clear　the　way。
A　blade　with　a　glowing　redness…an　imprisoned　spirit　perhaps…oozing　inside　the　adamantine；　flicked　in　a　horizontal　sweep　at　the　tabletop。　Ryld　caught　the　weapon　and　pushed　it　away　before　it　could　upset　the　sava　pieces　or　his　neatly　stacked　winnings。　The　long　sword　was　as　sharp　as　only　an　ennotchanted　weapon　could　be；　but　he　managed　the　grab　without　cutting　his　hand。　Finally　startled　from　his　reverie；　the　scrawny　boy　looked　wildly　about。
〃M