war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第79部分

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ngers。　The　poison　was　obviously　well　on　its　way　to　killing　her；　and　she　had　to　please　Quenthel　Baenre　sufficiently　to　earn　the　antidote。
Wrinkled　old　Vlondril　Tuin'Tarl　leered　at　Drisinil　as　if　she　knew　of　the　student's　distress；　but　all　she　said　was；　〃I　believe　most　everyone's　here。　Let's　get　this　done　before　our　colleagues　start　missing　us。〃
〃Uh；　yes；〃　Drisinil　said；　gazing　up　at　the　rows　of　faces　staring　back　down　at　her。　〃Well；　mothers；　sisters；　we　all　know　what　happened　last　night。　The　vipers　in　the　mistress's　whip　detected　the　drugs…〃
〃So　they　did；〃　said　Quenthel。
Startled；　Drisinil　spun　around。　A　figure　shrouded　in　a　cowled　piwafwi　rose　from　the　first　row。　She　lifted　her　head；　pushed　the　hood　back；　and　stood　revealed　as　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith。　Somehow　she'd　entered　the　room　without　her　enemies　realizing　her　identity。
Quenthel　pushed　back　one　wing　of　her　cloak；　freeing　the　arm　that　held　her　whip。　She　sauntered　to　the　center　of　the　room。　It　occurred　to　Drisinil　that　at　that　moment　the　plotters　could　have　fallen　on　their　target　en　masse；　but　they　didn't。　The　mistress　cowed　them　with　her　unexpected　appearance；　her　contemptuous　demeanor；　and　the　simple　fact　that　she　was　a　Baenre　princess。
The　mistress　smiled　at　Drisinil　and　said；　〃You've　done　well；　novice；　except　for　one　detail。　It's　traditional　for　priestesses　to　conduct　their　affairs　by　candlelight。　That's　all　right；　I've　taken　care　of　it。〃　She　turned　toward　the　door。　〃e。〃
Two　teachers　marched　in　carrying　silver　candelabra。　After　a　moment；　Drisinil；　squinting；　saw　they　weren't　alone。　Many　of　the　residents　of　Arach…Tinilith　filed　in　after　them；　all　well　armed　and　wearing　mail。
Quenthel　beckoned　to　the　plotters。
〃Move　down　to　the　lower　seats；　why　don't　you？　The　lateers　won't　mind　climbing　to　the　top。〃　She　waited　a　beat；　then　said；　〃That　wasn't　a　suggestion。〃
The　conspirators　hesitated　a　moment　longer；　and　the　show　offered　connotvinced　them　to　obey。
〃Thank　you；〃　Quenthel　said；　then　waited　until　everyone　had　taken　a　seat　and　the　plotters　all　had　armed　loyalists　at　their　backs。　〃Now；　let's　disnotcuss　the　matter　that　concerns　you　so。〃
〃I　don't　know　what　my　niece　told　you　about　this　gathering；〃　said　Drisinil's　Aunt　Molvayas；　clad　in　a　gown　of　a　dark　and　shimmering　green　that　matched　her　eyes；　〃but　I　assure　you；　its　purpose　is　entirely　innocent。〃
〃Its　purpose　is　to　contrive　your　death；　Mistress；〃　Vlondril　called　out。　〃I　know。　I've　been　in　on　it　from　the　start。〃
Quenthel　nodded　to　the　mad　priestess。
〃Thank　you；　Holy　Mother。　Your　candor　helps　move　things　along。〃　The　Baenre　surveyed　her　enemies　and　said；　〃I　understand　that　your　excuse　for　seeking　to　depose　me　was　the　supposition　that　the　goddess　desires　it。　You　postulate　that　she　so　abhors　my　rule　of　Arach…Tinilith　that　she　renounces　all　Menzoberranzan。〃
Molvayas　drew　a　deep　breath；　evidently　screwing　up　her　courage。　〃We　do。　Do　you　deny　it's　possible？〃
〃Of　course；〃　Quenthel　replied。　〃It's　a　ludicrous　notion　unsupported　by　a　single　shred　of　evidence　。。　。　though　I'm　sure　it　seems　plausible　to　the　lieunottenant　who　covets　my　position。〃
Drisinil　noticed　that　while　the　Baenre　appeared　perfectly　at　ease；　the　twisting　whip　serpents　were　keeping　watch　in　all　directions。
〃What　of　the　demons？　They　reflect　the　attributes　of　Lolth…〃
〃And　they　e　for　me。　Because　one　of　my　mortal　enemies　sends　them　in　guises　intended　to　stimulate　your　imaginations。〃
〃What　enemy？〃　Molvayas　demanded。
〃That　has　yet　to　be　determined。〃
〃In　other　words；〃　said　Quenthel's　second…in…mand；　〃you　don't　know　what's　going　on　any　more　than　we　do。〃
〃At　least　I　know　what　isn't　happening。〃
〃Do　you？　What　makes　your　one　opinion　superior　to　all　of　ours？〃
〃The　answer　to　that　is　readily　apparent　to　those　with　some　smattering　of　intelligence。〃
〃Insults　won't　resolve　this　matter；　Mistress；　but　I　can　think　of　a　test　that　might。　Step　down　for　a　year；　and　we'll　see　what　happens。〃
Quenthel　laughed。
〃Meekly　surrender　the　Academy　to　you；　Barrison　Del'Armgo？　Not　likely。　As　it　happens；　I　too　have　conceived　a　test　to　determine　who　truly　enjoys　Lolth's　favor；　your　sad　little　cabal　or　me。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Molvayas　asked；　wariness　in　her　eyes。
〃My　test　is　simplicity　itself。　We　simply　ask　Lolth　whom　she　prefers；　and　await　her　answer。〃
〃That's　insane。　The　Spider　Queen　no　longer　speaks　to　us。〃
〃Perhaps　if　we　petition；　she　will　at　least　condescend　to　give　us　a　sign。　Are　you　willing　to　try？〃
〃Perhaps；〃　Molvayas　said；　no　doubt　aware　that　with　blades　at　her　back；　she　actually　had　little　choice。　〃Do　you　propose　to　perform　some　sort　of　ritual？〃
〃As　we've　lost　our　magic；　what　would　that　acplish？　My　idea　is　simnotpler。　We　all　bide　in　this　room；　engaged　in　silent　prayer　and　meditation；　until　the　Dark　Mother　reveals　her　will。〃
Vlondril　snorted。　〃What　if　she　chooses　to　ignore　us？〃
Quenthel　shrugged。　〃I　don't　believe　she's　truly　abandoned　her　chosen　people　or　her　chosen　ministers。　My　faith　is　too　strong　to　credit　such　a　calamity。　How　strong　is　yours；　Barrison　Del'Armgo？〃
〃Strong　enough　that　I　have　no　fear　of　the　goddess　preferring　you　to　me；〃　Molvayas　spat　back。　〃I　just　don't　see　the　point　of　your　scheme。　Lolth　wi