war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第84部分

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tacks　began；　she　never　had　before。　She　turned　a　corner；　and　Qu'ellarz'orl；　came　into　view。　Her　destination　was　nigh；　and　she　focused　her　thoughts　on　the　task　at　hand。
Sneaking　away　from　the　Academy　had　been　a　little　plicated。　First；　she'd　had　to　surreptitiously　lay　hands　on　nondescript　outerwear　that　would　allow　her　to　pass　for　a　moner。　Such　a　piwafwi　certainly　hadn't　existed　among　her　own　garments；　all　of　which　were　costly　and　bejeweled；　but　she'd　found　it　among　the　effects　of　one　of　the　kitchen　staff。　After　disposnoting　of　the　cook　lest　the　missing　garment　be　reported；　she　had　to　exit　Arach…Tinilith　without　anyone　realizing　it　was　her；　including　her　own　watchful　sentries。　Finally；　she　needed　to　skulk　to　the　edge　of　the　plateau　and　float　down　to　the　cavern　floor　below　without　the　guards　at　the　top　of　the　staircase　noticing。
She'd　managed　it；　though；　and　she　was　confident　of　her　ability　to　sneak　back　into　the　Academy；　even　after　the　plateau　had　been　put　on　a　state　of　heightened　security。
A　road　ran　up　the　eminence　that　was　Qu'ellarz'orl　to　the　castles　of　Men…zoberranzan's　greatest　families。　It　wasn't　off　limits　to　moners。　Mernotchants　and　supplicants　used　it　all　the　time；　but　they　were　subject　to　search　and　interrogation　by　House　Baenre　patrols。
Quenthel　started　up　the　twisting　road　and　made　it　better　than　halfway　to　the　top　before　she　heard　the　distinctive　grunt　and　hiss　of　a　riding　lizard。　She　scurried　off　the　path　into　the　forest　of　giant；　phosphorescent　mushnotrooms；　where　she　crouched　behind　a　particularly　massive　specimen。
The　patrol；　a　mounted　officer　and　a　dozen　foot　soldiers；　marched　by　without　so　much　as　glancing　her　way。　Hiding　from　her　own　troops　was　another　bizarre；　almost　surreal　experience。
When　the　warriors　passed；　she　hurried　on　up　the　slope。　In　another　minute；　she　reached　the　top　of　the　rise。　Before　her　rose　the　most　opulent　fortresses　in　the　city。　At　the　easternmost　end　of　the　expanse；　House　Baenre　towered　on　the　highest　ground　of　all；　dwarfing　every　other　structure。
She　turned　her　steps　toward　the　tall；　slender　spire　known　as　Spelltower　Xorlarrin；　residence　of　the　Fifth　House。　Bands　of　shimmering　faerie　fire　striped　the　iron　walls。
She　climbed　the　steep　steps　to　the　gate　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　the　sentries　on　the　battlements。　Had　she　not　already　known　it；　their　vigilance　would　have　shown　that　she　could　maintain　plete　anonymity　no　longer。
Still；　she'd　do　the　best　she　could。
When　a　sentry　armed　with　spear　and　long　sword　strode　over　to　ask　her　business；　she　said；　〃I'm　going　to　show　you　something　remarkable。　Don't　let　your　amazement　show。〃
He　looked　skeptical。　He　lived　in　the　Spelltower；　after　all；　and　had　seen　his　share　of　marvels。
〃All　right；　ma'am。　Show　me；　if　you　will。〃
She　twitched　open　her　piwafwi；　giving　him　a　glimpse　of　the　Baenre　House　insignia　hanging　at　her　throat。
His　eyes　widened；　but　otherwise；　he　did　a　fair　job　of　doing　as　she'd　bade　him。
〃How　may　I　serve　you？〃　he　asked　softly；　the　slightest　quaver　in　his　voice。
〃I　want　to　enter　the　tower　without　anyone　paying　the　least　attention　to　me；　and　I　want　to　talk　to　your　matron　alone。〃
〃Please；　e　with　me。〃
The　guard　led　her　through　the　gate　and　into　a　confusion　of　service　pasnotsages　such　as　every　castle　possessed。　The　corridors　eventually　brought　them　into　a　nicely　appointed　room　with　fortable…looking　sandstone　chairs；　a　carnelian…and…obsidian　sava　set　awaiting　a　pair　of　players；　and　frescos　of　some　of　Lolth's　attendant　demons　adorning　the　walls。
Her　escort　departed　in　search　of　his　mistress；　leaving　Quenthel　to　prowl　restlessly　about　the　room。　Finally　the　door　opened；　and　Zeerith　Q'Zorlar…rin　slipped　through。　Her　features　were　plain　and　nondescript；　but　she　was　notable　for　a　dignified　bearing　and　posure　that　rarely　failed　her　even　in　the　most　extreme　situations。　For　a　matron；　her　costume　was　rather　plain　and　austere。
The　two　princesses　saluted　one　another；　then　Zeerith　ushered　her　guest　to　a　seat。
〃When　Antatlab　told　me　you'd　e　without　a　single　guard；　I　wonnotdered　if　he'd　gone　mad；〃　the　matron　remarked。
〃Can　I　trust　him　not　to　gossip　about　my　visit？〃
〃He's　discreet　enough。　Now；　may　I　ask　why　I'm　so　unexpectedly　enjoynoting　the　honor　of　your　pany？〃
Quenthel　related　the　events　of　the　past　three　nights。
〃If　I　still　possessed　my　magic；〃　she　concluded。　〃I　could　deal　with　this　matter　easily；　but　as　things　stand　。。。　I　need　help。〃
The　words　galled　her；　but　they　had　to　be　said。
〃Why　have　you　sought　it　here？〃　Zeerith　asked。
〃The　Xorlarrins　have　always　supported　the　Baenre　and　profited　thereby。　Try　as　I　might；　I　can't　think　of　a　pelling　reason　you'd　want　me　dead；　and　your　House　boasts　many　of　the　best　wizards　in　Menzoberranzan。　So；　if　I　must　trust　someone；　you're　a　good　chance。　Will　you　aid　me；　Matron？〃
Zeerith　took　her　time　replying。　Quenthel　knew　the　other　female　was　cold…bloodedly　pondering　whether　to　help；　deny；　or　betray　her。　Where　did　the　greatest　advantage　lie？
〃Your　plight　is　an　outrage；〃　the　Xorlarrin　said　at　last；　〃an　affront　to　all　priestesses。　Of　course　I'll　aid　you。　For　ten　thousand　talents　of　gold；　and　your　support　when　my　clan's　dispute　with　House　Agrach　Dyrr　b