war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第15部分

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ort　from　the　other　matron　mothers；　I　wonder？〃
　　　〃Perhaps　they　were　overe　with　grief；〃　Nimor　replied。
　　　He　reached　slowly　into　a　pouch　at　his　side；　allowing　the　wizard　to　note　the　deliberate　nature　of　his　motion。　From　the　pouch　he　withdrew　a　platinum　brooch；　worked　in　the　barred　double…curve　symbol　of　Faen　Tlabbar　and　crowned　by　a　dark　ruby。　Nimor　placed　it　on　the　table。
　　　〃The　matron　mother's　own　House　brooch；　which　I　managed　to　pocket　as　a　keepsake　for　you。　I　hope　your　scrying　shield　is　good；　Lord　Dyrr。　No　doubt　the　Tlabbar　wizards　will　be　seeking　that　emblem　with　all　the　magic　at　their　disposal。〃
　　　〃Half…witted　children　fumbling　in　the　dark；〃　Dyrr　muttered。　〃Five　hundred　years　ago　I'd　forgotten　more　about　the　Art　than　that　whole　house　full　of　wizards　had　collectively　deciphered　in　all　their　years　of　training。〃
　　　He　reached　out　one　near…skeletal　hand　for　the　brooch　and　weighed　it　in　his　hand。
　　　〃I　am　sure　you　have　a　means　to　confirm　the　authenticity　of　the　brooch；〃　said　Nimor。
　　　〃Oh；　I　believe　you；　assassin。　I　do　not　think　you　have　cheated　me；　but　I　will　examine　the　issue　later；　just　to　be　certain。〃
　　　The　wizard　left　the　brooch　sitting　on　the　table　and　leaned　back　into　his　chair。　Nimor　waited　patiently　while　Dyrr　settled　back；　tapping　one　long；　thin　finger　on　his　staff；　a　satisfied　smile　on　his　face。
　　　〃Well；〃　the　old　wizard　said　finally；　〃in　our　previous　meeting　I　required　that　you　demonstrate　to　me　the　reach　and　skill　of　your　brotherhood　by　removing　an　enemy　of　my　House；　and　I　suppose　that　you　have　done　exactly　that。　You　have　won　my　ear。　So　what　is　it　that　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　want　of　House　Agrach　Dyrr？〃
　　　Nimor　shifted　and　shot　a　sharp　glance　at　the　wizard。　Dyrr　was　very　well　informed　indeed；　to　know　of　that　name。　Very　few　outside　of　Chaulssin　did。　In　fact；　Nimor　had　studiously　avoided　bringing　it　up　when　he　had　first　approached　the　ancient　lord。　He　wondered　what　clues　he　had　left　for　the　wizard　to　decipher；　and　whether　Dyrr　could　be　permitted　that　knowledge。
　　　〃Do　not　be　hasty；　boy；〃　Dyrr　cautioned　him。　〃You　gave　away　nothing　that　I　did　not　already　know。　I　have　been　aware　of　the　House　of　Shadows　for　quite　a　long　time。〃
　　　〃I　am　impressed；〃　Nimor　said。
　　　〃On　the　contrary；　you　believe　that　I　am　making　empty　boasts。〃　Dyrr　pointed　at　his　own　temple　and　smiled　coldly。　〃I　am　not　given　to　bluffing　or　making　wild　guesses。　Long　ago　I　discerned　a　pattern　of　activity　that　spanned　a　number　of　the　great　cities　of　our　race　and　inferred　the　existence　of　a　secret　league　between　seemingly　weak　minor　Houses；　each　renowned　for　the　skill　of　its　assassins；　each　reputed　to　be　governed　by　its　males；　each　a　secret　ally　of　the　others。　These　families　that　otherwise　would　have　been　devoured　by　their　ambitious　matriarchal　rivals　instead　survived　through　the　convenient　and　violent　deaths　of　any　emergent　enemies。　Though　I　find　it　ironic　that　any　particular　House　of　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　must；　by　definition；　be　considered　the　blackest　sort　of　traitors　to　the　city　unfortunate　enough　to　host　them。　Placing　loyalty　to　your　House　above　loyalty　to　your　city　is　not　a　particularly　egregious　sin；　of　course；　but　to　acknowledge　a　tie　of　loyalty　to　a　House　in　another　city　all　together；　that　is　something　entirely　different；　is　it　not？〃
　　　Nimor　kept　his　mind　carefully　empty　and　said；　〃You　seem　to　know　all　our　secrets。〃
　　　He　studied　the　wizard　carefully；　trying　not　to　let　the　calculations　he　performed　in　his　mind　show。
　　　〃Not　entirely　true；〃　Dyrr　replied。　〃I　would　give　much　to　know　how　your　brotherhood　orders　its　Houses；　where　your　true　strength　is　held；　and　who　rules　your　society。　You　name　yourselves　after　the　city　of　Chaulssin；　which　fell　into　shadow　many　hundreds　of　years　ago。　I　wonder　about　the　significance　of　that　appellation。〃
　　　He　knows　more　than　we　can　permit；　Nimor　thought。
　　　He　glanced　up　sharply　at　the　old　wizard；　realizing　that　Dyrr　would　have　noted　that　thought。　The　ancient　mage　simply　studied　him　with　his　weak　gaze　and　inclined　his　head。　The　assassin　regained　the　mastery　of　his　thoughts　and　decided　to　change　the　subject。
　　　〃For　the　sake　of　our　friendship；　I　respectfully　submit　that　it　would　be　best　for　all　involved　if　you　did　not　do　anything　with　your　knowledge　that　would　draw　it　to　anyone　else's　attention。　We　feel　quite　strongly　that　our　secrets　are　best　left　that　way。〃
　　　〃I　will　do　as　I　wish。　However；　I　do　not　wish　to　incur　your　enmity。　I　think　it　would　be　inconvenient　to　have　the　Jaezred　Chaulssin　as　my　enemy。〃
　　　〃It　is　not　merely　inconvenient；　Lord　Dyrr；　it　is　invariably　fatal。〃
　　　〃Perhaps。　In　any　event；　I　will　keep　your　secrets。〃
　　　The　old　drow　laughed　softly；　clutching　his　staff　with　his　withered　hands。
　　　〃Now；　let's　get　to　our　business；　young　one。　You　and　your　fellows　demonstrated　no　small　amount　of　ability　in　the　murder　of　Matron　Mother　Tlabbar；　the　enemy　of　my　House。　Very　well；　I　am　suitably　impressed。　What　is　it　you　want　of　Agrach　Dyrr？〃
　　　〃I　need　an　ally　in　Menzoberranzan；　Lord　Dyrr；　and　I　have　a　strong　suspicion　that　you　might　be　that　ally。〃　Nimor　leaned　forward；　offering　a　sly　grin。　〃Events　now　proceed　in　this　city　that　will　lead　to　the　downfall　of　the　Houses　ahead　of　yours。　If　you　choose　to　be　a　part　of　those　events；　you　will　find　that　House　Agrach　Dyrr　is　possessed　of　a　great　opportunity　to　order　the　city　largely　as　you　like。　We　believe　you　can　help　us　to　steer　Menzoberranzan　through　the　difficult　times　ahead。〃
　　　〃And　if　we　refuse；　we　die？〃
　　　Nimor　shrugged。
　　　〃Given　the　uncertainty　of　matters　as　they　stand；〃　said　Dyrr；　〃I　am　hesitant　to　embrace　a　cause　I　know　little　about。〃
　　　〃Understandable。　I　will；　of　course；　elaborate；　but　I　hope　you　will　recognize　the　wisdom；　in　these　uncertain　times；　of　taking　aggressive　and　resolute　steps　to　create　the　certainty　you　wish　to　see。　Impose　your　vision　on　events；　instead　of　allowing　events　to　limit　your　imagination。〃
　　　〃Easy　words　to　speak；　young　one；　but　more　difficult　to　render　into　action；〃　Dyrr　said。
　　　The　ancient　wizard　fell　silent　for　a　long　time；　regarding　the　rakish　assassin　with　a　baleful；　unblinking　gaze。　Nimor　met　his　eyes　without　flinching；　but　he　found　himself　wondering　again　what　hidden　strength　the　Agrach　high　mage　must　hold。　Dyrr　smiled　again；　doubtless　reading　Nimor's　thoughts；　and　shifted　in　his　seat。
　　　〃Very　well；　then；　Prince　of　Chaulssin。　You　have　awakened　my　curiosity。　Explain　exactly　what　you　mean；　and　what　you　plan；　and　I　will　say　if　House　Agrach　Dyrr　can　stand　by　your　bold　actions　or　not。〃
　　　
　　　〃Gather　closely；　dear　friends；〃　Pharaun　said　with　a　flourish；　〃and　I　will　explain　a　few　things　it　would　be　wise　to　remember　while　we　walk　within　the　shadows。〃
　　　The　wizard　stood　confidently　in　the　center　of　the　chamber；　arms　folded；　showing　no　hint　of　the　exhaustion　or　despair　of　the　day's　desperate　flight。　Stirring　from　his　Reverie　shortly　before　sunset；　he　had　spent　almost　an　hour　preparing　dozens　of　spells　from　his　collection　of　traveling　tomes。
　　　While　no　one　bothered　to　draw　closer　to　the　wizard；　all　focused　their　attention　on　him。　Pharaun　grinned　in　delight；　pleased　as　ever　by　the　attention。　He　knotted　his　fists　behind　his　back　as　if　lecturing　to　novices　at　Sorcere；　and　began。
　　　〃When　we　are　ready；　I　will　lead　us　along　a　path　that　skirts　the　Fringe…the　borders　of　the　Plane　of　Shadow。　We　will　travel　quite　swiftly；　and　minor　inconveniences　such　as　icy　mountains；　hungry　monsters；　and　thick…headed　humans　won't　trouble　us　in　the　least。　I　expect　a　walk　of　ten　to　twelve　hours　to　reach　Mantol…Derith；　provided　that　I　do　not　bee　lost　and　lead　you　all　into　some　grisly　demise　in　an　uncivilized　plane　far　from　Faerun。〃
　　　〃You　fail　to　reassure　me；　Pharaun；〃　Ryld　sighed。
　　　〃Oh；　I　haven't　ever　gotten　myself　lost　in　the　Shadow　Deep；　nor　do　I　know　of　a　wizard　who　has。　Of　course；　one　would　simply　never　hear　from　such　an　unfortunate　fellow　again；　so　perhaps　a　mishap　in　shadow　walking　might　explain　the　disappearance　of　a　young　mage　I　knew…〃
　　　〃Get　to　the　point；〃　Quenthel　snapped。
　　　〃Oh；　fine。　There　are　two　important　things　to　remember；　then；　for　those　of　you　challenged　by　the　effort。　First；　while　we　need　fear　no　difficulties　in　this　world　while　we　walk；　we　gain　no　special　protection　from　the　hazards　of　the　Plane　of　Shadow。　There　are　things　in　that　place　that　will　object　to　our　passage　if　they　happen　upon　us…I　encountered　one　such　creature　the　last　time　I　traveled　this　way；　and　it　was　very　nearly　the　last　of　my　marvelous　adventures。
　　　〃Second；　and　most　importantly；　do　not　lose　sight　of　me。　Stay　close　by　and　follow　me　diligently。　If　you　lose　contact　with　me　while　we　traverse　the　Plane　of　Shadow；　you　will　likely　wander　its　gloomy　barrens　for　all　eternity…or　until　something　terrible　devours　you；　which　will　probably　happen　rather　soon。　My　attention　must　remain　on　maintaining　the　spell　and　navigating　the　Fringe；　so　don't　make　it　easy　for　me　to　misplace　you；　unless　of　course　I　don't　like　you；　in　which　case　please　feel　free　to　amble　the　Shadow　Deep　at　will。〃
　　　〃Will　the　lamias　be　able　to　follow　us？〃　Ryld　asked；　his　eye　still　on　the　passage　leading　back　to　the　ruins　above。
　　　〃No；　not　unless　they　have　a　wizard