war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第97部分

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〃I　think　so；〃　said　Houndaer　as　he　and　his　rade　advanced。　A　goblin　moaned；　and　the　noble　kicked　the　creature　silent。　〃Why　were　you　seeknoting　us？〃
〃It's　our　understanding；〃　said　Pharaun；　stepping　from　behind　the　bar；　〃that　you　offer　a　haven　for　males　who　find　existence　under　the　thumbs　of　their　female　relatives　uncongenial　and　who；　for　whatever　reason；　aspire　neither　to　the　Academy；　a　merchant　clan；　nor　Bregan　D'aerthe。　If　so；　then　we　wish　to　join　your　pany。〃
〃But　you　two　already　did　aspire　to　the　Academy；〃　the　aristocrat　said。　〃You　rose　to　high　rank　there。　Some　might　say　that　gives　my　associates　and　I　cause　for　concern。〃
The　ore　mask's　tusked　mouth　perfectly　copied　the　motions　of　his　actual　lips。　Pharaun　couldn't　have　created　a　better　illusion　himself。　
〃You　speak　of　the　dead　past；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃You've　no　doubt　heard　I'm　in　disgrace；　and　Master　Argith　finds　Melee…Magthere　stale　and　tedious。〃　The　dark　powers　knew；　his　discontented　friend　shouldn't　have　much　trouble　convincing　them　of　that。　〃We　require　an　alternative　way　of　life。〃
Houndaer　nodded　and　replied；　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　it；　but　what　assurances　can　you　give　that　you　aren't　an　agent　the　matrons　sent　to　find　us？〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃My　solemn　oath？〃
Everyone　chuckled；　even　Ryld　and　the　boy　with　the　dagger；　who　were　both　quietly；　thoughtfully　watching　their　more　loquacious　panions　palaver。
〃Seriously；〃　the　wizard　continued；　〃if　our　escapade　in　the　Bazaar　failed　to　convince　you　of　our　bona　fides；　I　have　no　idea　what　other　persuasion　we　can　offer。　But　it　didn't　fail；　did　it？　Otherwise；　you　wouldn't　be　here。　So　unless　you　perceive　something　in　our　manner　that　screams　spy　。　。　。〃
The　faux　moner　smiled。　〃You're　right。〃　He　turned　to　Houndaer　and　added；　〃They　smell　all　right　to　me；　and　if　they're　not；　I　doubt　a　little　quizzing　in　this　stinking　goblin　hole　will　prove　otherwise。　Let's　get　them　home　before　some　servant　of　the　clergy　es　sniffing　for　them　and　finds　us。　Either　way；　it'll　all　get　sorted　out　in　the　end。〃
For　a　moment；　as　the　power　of　Pharaun's　silver　ring　wavered；　the　drow's　mild；　civilized　tone　became　an　ore's　growl。　He　even　smelled　like　a　dirty　undercreature。
The　Tuin'Tarl's　mouth　tightened。　Pharaun　suspected　he　didn't　much　like　taking　advice　from　anyone；　his　panion　included。
〃I'm　just　being　careful…as　should　you…but　you　may　have　a　point。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　masters　and　said；　〃If　we　take　you　to　our　stronghold；　there's　no　going　back。　You'll　aid　our　cause　or　die。〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃Well　spoken；　and　quite　in　the　spirit　of　a　thousand　thousand　conspiracies　before　you。　Whisk　us　away。〃
〃Gladly；〃　the　noble　said　with　a　mean　little　smile　of　his　own；　〃as　soon　as　the　two　of　you　surrender　your　weapons　and　that　cloak　of　pockets。〃
The　wizard　crooked　an　eyebrow　and　said；　〃I　thought　you'd　decided　to　trust　us。〃
〃It's　time　for　you　to　show　a　little　trust；〃　Houndaer　replied。
Pharaun　surrendered　his　piwafwi；　hand　crossbow；　and　dagger。　He　was　a　little　worried　about　Ryld's　willingness　to　do　the　same。　He　could　easily　imagine　the　warrior　deciding　that；　in　preference　to　entering　the　dragon's　cave　unarmed；　he'd　subdue　Houndaer　and　his　panion　there　and　then　and　wring　what　information　out　of　them　he　could。
The　problem　with　that　strategy　was　that　the　Tuin'Tarl　and　his　nameless　panion　might　not　be　privy　to　all　the　mystic　secrets　held　by　the　cabal　as　a　whole；　and　those　who　were　might　flee　when　the　two　emissaries　failed　to　return。　Thus；　while　the　masters　would　likely　succeed　in　forestalling　a　goblin　revolt；　they'd　miss　acquiring　the　extraordinary　power　they　sought。
Besides；　it　would　be　much　more　fun　to　join；　and　undo　the　rogues　from　within。
Apparently　Ryld　shared　Pharaun's　perspective；　or　else　he　was　simply　content　to　follow　the　wizard's　lead；　for　he　handed　over　Splitter　and　his　other　weapons　to　Houndaer　without　demur。
The　Tuin'Tarl　reached　into　his　pouch；　extracted　a　stone；　and　tossed　it。　It　exploded　in　a　strange；　lopsided　way；　tearing　a　wound　in　the　air；　a　gash　the　size　and　shape　of　a　sarcophagus　standing　on　end　and　the　color　of　the　light　that　swims　inside　closed　eyelids。
He　gestured　to　the　portal　and　said；　〃After　you。〃
Pharaun　smiled。
〃Thank　you。〃
As　easy　as　that？　Pharaun　thought。　He　was　experiencing　a　certain　sense　of　anticlimax；　which　was　absurd；　really。　It　had　been　astonishingly　difficult　to　get　this　far。
He　stepped　into　the　portal；　and　experienced　none　of　the　spinning　vernottigo　of　ordinary　teleportation。　Save　for　a　split　second　of　blindness；　it　was　just　like　striding　from　one　room　to　the　next。　The　only　problem　was　the　drider　waiting　on　the　other　side。
The　wizard　struggled　not　to　make　a　sound。　Still；　the　huge　creature；　half　spider；　half　drow；　a　bow　in　its　hand　and　a　quiver　of　arrows　slung　across　its　naked　back；　turned　toward　him。　Pharaun　had　no　fear　of　a　single　such　abernotration；　but　the　goddess　only　knew　just　how　elaborate　this　trap　actually　was。　He　whirled　back　toward　the　magical　doorway　just　as　Ryld　came　through。
Ryld；　who'd　slain　his　share　of　driders　in　the　caverns　surrounding　Menzoberranzan；　knew　that　this　one…a　hybrid　creature　with　the　head；　arms；　and　torso　of　a　dark　elf　male　married　to　the　body　and　segmented