war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第95部分

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ate　in　the　sweltering；　low…ceilinged　room　were　palpable。　Pharaun　supposed　that　considering　what　Greyanna　and　her　hunters　had　wrought　in　the　Braeryn　the　previous　night；　a　measure　of　surlinotness　was；　if　not　good　form；　at　least　understandable。
He　wondered　how　they'd　react　if　they　discovered　his　sister　had　slaughtered　their　fellows　by　the　score　merely　to　create　an　opportunity　to　kill　him。　Perhaps　it　was　a　question　best　left　in　the　realm　of　the　hyponotthetical。
Knowing　that　Ryld　was　watching　his　back；　the　Master　of　Sorcere　saunnottered　to　the　bar　and；　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm；　scattered　clattering　coins　across　it。　The　currency　was　the　usual　miscellany　encountered　in　Menzoberranzan…rounds；　squares；　triangles；　rings；　spiders；　and　octagons…　half　of　it　minted　by　the　dozen　or　so　greatest　noble　Houses　and　the　rest　imported　from　other　lands　in　the　Underdark　and　even　the　World　Above。　It　was　all　silver；　platinum；　or　gold；　though；　more　precious　metal　than　this　squalid　hole　probably　saw　in　a　decade。
〃Tonight；〃　Pharaun　announced；　〃this　pany　of　boon　panions　drinks　at　my　expense！〃
The　taverner；　a　squat　ore　with　a　twisted；　oozing　mouth　and　a　mangy　scalp；　stared　for　a　heartbeat　or　two；　scooped　up　the　coins；　and　began　dipnotping　some　foul…smelling　brew　from　a　filthy　tub。　Cursing　and　threatening　one　another；　the　rest　of　the　undercreatures　shoved　forward　to　get　it。　The　wizard　noted　that　no　one　thanked　him。
After　looking　around　for　another　moment；　Pharaun　spotted　another　dark　elf　slouched　in　a　corner；　evidently　one　of　the　wretches　who'd　sunk　so　low　the　goblinoids　accepted　him　as　one　of　their　own。
〃e　here；　my　friend；〃　the　wizard　beckoned。
The　outcast　flinched。　〃Me？〃
〃Yes。　What's　your　name？〃
The　fellow　hesitated；　then　said；　〃Bruherd；　once　of　House　Duskryn。〃
〃Indeed；　until　your　noble　kin　kicked　you　out。　We　have　much　in　mon；　Bruherd；　for　I　myself　am　outcast　twice　over。　Now　e　advise　me　on　a　matter　of　vital　importance。〃
〃I'm；　uh；　all　right　where　I　am。〃
〃I　know　you　don't　mean　to　be　unsociable；〃　said　Pharaun；　setting　blue　sparks　dancing　on　his　fingertips。
The　Duskryn　sighed；　and；　limping　in　a　manner　that　betrayed　some　chronic　pain；　did　as　Pharaun　had　bade　him。　He　was　gaunt；　and　half　a　dozen　boils　studded　his　neck　and　jaw。　He'd　evidently　parted　with　his　piwafwi　at　some　point　during　his　decline；　but　he　still　wore　a　filthy　robe　that；　the　Mizzrym　noted　with　mild　surprise；　had　once　been　a　wizard's。　With　the　aid　of　the　silver　ring；　he　could　see　that　the　dozens　of　pockets　no　longer　held　the　slightest　trace　of　magic。
〃They　may　kill　me　for　this；〃　Bruherd　said；　subtly　indicating　the　goblins。
〃They　only　tolerate　me　because　they　believe　me　cut　off　from　my　own　race。〃
〃I'll　pray　for　your　welfare；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃Meanwhile；　what　I　need　to　know　is　this：　Of　all　the　libations　laid　up　in　our　host's　no　doubt　vast　and　well…stocked　cellar；　which　is　the　least　vile？〃
〃Vile？〃　Bruherd's　lip　twitched。　〃You　get　used　to　them。〃
〃One　hopes　not。〃
Pharaun　handed　the　other　drow　a　gold；　hammer…shaped　coin　minted　in　some　dwarf　enclave。
〃Tell　the　barkeep　you　want　the　stuff　that　bubbles；〃　Bruherd　advised。
'The　stuff　that　bubbles。'　Charming。　Clearly；　I've　fallen　among　connotnoisseurs。〃
〃It'll　do；〃　said　Ryld；　still　unobtrusively　studying　the　crowd。　〃The　imnotportant　thing　is　that　we　toast　our　victory。〃
Pharaun　waited　a　beat；　then　chuckled。　〃You're　supposed　to　ask　him　what　he's　talking　about；〃　he　said　to　Bruherd；　〃thus　affording　us　a　graceful　way　to　mence　boasting　of　our　triumph。〃
The　lip　twitched　again。　〃I　don't　think　much　about　victories　or　triumphs　anymore。〃
Pharaun　shook　his　head。　〃So　much　bitterness　in　the　world！　It　weighs　on　the　heart。　Would　it　cheer　you　to　learn　I've　avenged　us　in　some　small　measure？〃
〃Us？〃　Bruherd　grunted。
Across　the　room；　a　scuffle　erupted　between　a　shaggy　hobgoblin　and　a　wolf…faced　gnoll。　As　the　batants　rolled　about　the　floor；　somebody　tossed　them　a　knife；　apparently　just　out　of　curiosity　as　to　which　would　manage　to　grab　it　first。
〃Hark　to　the　glad　tidings；〃　said　the　Master　of　Sorcere。　〃I'm　Pharaun　Mizzrym；　expelled　first　from　the　Seventh　House　and　now　Tier　Breche；　neinotther　time　for　any　rational　cause。　Incensed；　I　chose　to　take　vengeance　on　the　Academy。　With　the　aid　of　my　similarly　disgruntled　friend　Master　Argith；　I　destroyed　a　patrol　in　the　Bazaar　earlier　today。　You　may　have　heard　somenotthing　about　it。〃
Bruherd　stared。　The　kobold　and　goblins　within　earshot　did　the　same。
〃It's　true；〃　said　Ryld。
〃That　was　you？〃　Bruherd　said。　〃And　you're　bragging　about　it？　Are　you　insane？　They'll　hunt　you　down！〃
Pharaun　said；　〃They　were　trying　anyway。〃　The　entire　cellar　was　falling　quiet。　〃I've　heard　rumors　of　an　agency　that　will　spirit　a　drow　boy　away　if　he's　well　and　truly　discontent　with　his　lot　in　life；　as　I　trust　Ryld　and　I　have　shown　we　are。〃
Bruherd　said；　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃
〃Well；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃they　probably　have　to　think　you　can　be　of　some　use　to　them；　and　if　you'll　forgive　my　saying　so　。　。　。〃
He　caught　a　flash　of　movement　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　and　turned　just　in　time　to　see　the　taverner　fall　back　in　two　pieces。　Evidently　he'd　been　in　the　process　of　climbing　sil