war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-第28章

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　　　There　was　no　answer。
　　　What　will　bee　of　us　all？　she　asked　Zinda。
　　　The　black…and…red…speckled　snake　twitched；　flicked　her　tongue　at　Quenthel；　and　said；　That　is　also　your　responsibility；　Mistress。　What　happens　as　a　result　of　your　having　driven　Lolth　away　from　us　will　be　washed　away　if　only　you　can　bring　her　back。　If　you　can　attract　her　good　graces　again；　she　will　save　us　all。　If　not；　we　will　be　destroyed。
　　　Quenthel　felt　herself　physically　sag　under　the　weight　of　that。　Though　she　tried　hard　to　muster　all　her　training　and　natural　fortitude；　she　wasn't　able　to　sit　up　straight。　What　weighed　most　heavily　on　her　was　the　feeling　that　the　snakes　were　right。　It　was　her　fault；　and　she　was　the　only　one　who　could　fix　it。
　　　When　will　Lolth　answer？　Quenthel　asked；　moving　her　fingers　to　Qorra。
　　　The　third　viper　had　the　most　potent　poison。　Quenthel　only　let　her　strike　when　she　wanted　to　kill；　when　she　wanted　to　show　no　mercy　at　all。
　　　Never；　Qorra　hissed　into　the　high　priestess's　mind。　Lolth　will　never　answer。　Menzoberranzan；　Arach…Tinilith；　and　your　entire　civilization　are　doomed　without　her；　and　she's　never　ing　back。
　　　Quenthel's　head　spun。　She　was　sitting　on　the　deck　of　the　ship　of　chaos　but　still　felt　as　if　she　were　about　to　fall　over。
　　　That　isn't　necessarily　true；　said　Yngoth。
　　　Quenthel　had　grown　more　and　more　dependent　on　Yngoth's　limitless　wisdom。　It　was　his　voice　that　tended　to　reassure　her；　and　to　Quenthel　he　sounded　most　like　a　drow。
　　　Why　was　I　sent　back？　she　asked　Yngoth。　Is　this　why？　To　find　her？
　　　When　you　were　sent　back；　the　viper　replied；　Lolth　didn't　need　to　be　found。　Haven't　you　thought　all　along　that　you　were　sent　back　to　sit　at　the　head　of　Arach…Tinilith？　To　hold　that　post　for　House　Baenre　and　preserve　Lolth's　faith　and　Lolth's　favorite　in　the　power　structure　of　Menzoberranzan　？
　　　I'm　not　sure　now；　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　admitted。
　　　You　were　sent　back　for　this；　Yngoth　said。　Of　course　you　were。　You　were　sent　back　to　bee　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　so　that　you　would　be　the　one　they　sent　to　find　Lolth　when　the　goddess　chose　to　turn　away。　You　were　meant　to　be　the　savior　of　Menzoberranzan　and　perhaps　even　the　savior　of　Lolth　herself。
　　　Quenthel　sagged　a　little　further　at　that。
　　　How　can　you　be　sure？　she　asked。
　　　I'm　not　sure；　replied　Yngoth；　but　it　seems　reasonable。
　　　Quenthel　sighed。
　　　It　was　Lolth's　plan　all　along　that　I　go　back　there；　Quenthel　asked；　to　find　her？　How　will　I　do　that？
　　　Get　to　the　Abyss　first；　replied　Hsiv。　The　last　of　her　vipers　was　never　shy　when　it　came　to　offering　his　mistress　advice。　Go　there　first　and　you　will　be　guided　to　Lolth　by　Lolth。　You　will　know　what　to　do。
　　　How　do　you　know？　Quenthel　asked。
　　　I　don't；　Hsiv　replied；　but　do　you　have　any　choice？
　　　Quenthel　shook　her　head。　She　hadn't　had　any　choice　in　a　very　long　time。
　　　
　　　Valas　looked　around　at　the　ragged　drow　who　made　up　the　expedition　to　the　Abyss。　They　didn't　look　very　good。　Aside　from　Danifae；　who　had　more　energy　than　Valas　had　ever　seen；　who　seemed　transformed　by　their　trip　to　Sschindylryn；　they　were　tired；　ragged；　temperamental；　and　unfocused。
　　　〃May　I　ask　a　practical　question？〃
　　　Only　Danifae　looked　at　him。　Quenthel　was　in　a　world　of　her　own；　deep　in　her　own　obviously　troubled　thoughts。　The　draegloth　was　pacing；　almost　pouting　if　such　a　thing　could　be　possible　from　a　creature　that　was　half　drow；　half　demon。　The　wizard　was　nowhere　to　be　found。
　　　〃Where　has　the　wizard　gone？〃　the　scour　asked。
　　　Danifae　pointed　upward；　and　Valas　followed　her　finger　to　see　Pharaun　slowly　descending　from　the　darkness　above。
　　　〃Never　fear；　scout；〃　the　wizard　said　as　he　finally　settled　on　the　deck；　〃I　wouldn't　dream　of　abandoning　this　great　expedition　to　rescue　our　mighty　civilization　from　the　brink　of　annihilation。　We　are　nearly　ready　to　begin；　though　there　are　a　few　more　things　I　need　to　do。〃
　　　Valas　stopped　himself　from　sighing。　The　never…ending　string　of　delays　was　wearing　on　them　all…especially　when　they　came　with　little　or　no　explanation。
　　　〃You're　keeping　us　here；〃　the　draegloth　said；　giving　voice　to　what　Valas　was　thinking…and　what　the　others　were　likely　thinking　as　well。　〃You　don't　want　to　go。〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　turned　on　the　draegloth　and　lifted　an　eyebrow。
　　　〃Indeed？〃　said　Pharaun。　〃Well；　in　that　case　perhaps　you　can　attune　the　third　resonant　of　the　Blood　Helm　to　the　planar　frequency　of　the　Shadow　Fringe。〃
　　　There　was　a　silence　while　the　draegloth　looked　at　him　with　narrowed　eyes。
　　　〃No？〃　Pharaun　went　on。　〃I　didn't　think　so。　That　means　you're　going　to　have　to　let　me　finish　what　I　need　to　finish。〃
　　　The　wizard　looked　around　at　the　rest　of　them；　and　Valas　shrugged；　casually　meeting　his　eyes。
　　　〃This　is　not　some　mushroom…stem　raft；〃　Pharaun　said　to　them　all；　〃splashing　about　on　Donigarten　Lake。　This　vessel；　if　you　haven't　noticed；　is　alive。　It　is　a　being　of　pure　chaos。　It　has　a　certain　intelligence。　It　has　the　innate　ability　to　shift　between　the　planar　walls　from　one　reality　to　another。　You　don't　simply　paddle　something　like　this。　You　have　to　make　it　a　part　of　you　and　in　turn　make　yourself　a　part　of　it。〃
　　　He　paused　for　effect　then　continued；　〃I　am　willing　to　do　that…for　the　good　of　the　expedition　and　for　the　pure　curiosity　of　it。　It's　a　unique　opportunity　to　explore　some　fabulously　outre　magic。　What　you　must　all　remember　is　that　if　I　don't　get　it　right；　we　could　never　make　it　out　of　this　lake。　Worse　yet；　we　could　find　ourselves　scuttled　in　the　Shadow　Deep　or　lost　forever　in　the　endless　Abyss。〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　looked　around　as　if　he　was　waiting　for　an　argument。　None　came…even　from　Jeggred；　but　he　went　on　anyway；　〃This　time　it　will　be　different…the　Abyss；　the　journey　there；　everything。　Last　time　we　were　projected　across　the　Astral。　We　were　ghosts　there。　This　time　we'll　actually　be　there。　If　we　die　in　the　Abyss；　we　don't　snap　back　into　our　bodies。　There　will　be　no　silver　cord。　We　will　be　real　there；　and　if　we　die　。　。　。〃
　　　Valas　wondered　why　the　wizard　stopped。　Perhaps　Pharaun　didn't　know　what　would　happen　if　they　died　there。　If　you　die　in　your　own　afterlife；　is　there　an　after…afterlife？　Thinking　about　it　gave　Valas　the　beginnings　of　a　nagging　headache。
　　　〃Have　any　of　you　ever　been　to　the　Abyss　before？〃　Pharaun　asked。　〃Really　been　there；　physically？　Even　you；　Jeggred？〃
　　　The　draegloth　didn't　answer；　but　his　smoldering　look　was　enough。　None　of　them　had　been　there；　none　of　them　knew…
　　　〃I've　been　there；〃　Quenthel　said。　The　sudden　sound　of　her　voice　almost　startled　Valas。　〃I　have　been　there　as　a　ghost；　as　a　visitor；　and　as　a　。。。
　　　Danifae　took　a　few　steps　toward　Quenthel　then　sank　to　her　knees　on　the　deck　half　a　dozen　paces　away　from　her。
　　　〃What　as；　Mistress？〃　the　battle…captive　asked。
　　　〃I　was　killed；〃　the　high　priestess　said；　her　voice　sounding　as　if　it　were　ing　from　a　great　distance。　Her　vipers　grew　increasingly　agitated　as　she　went　on。　〃My　soul　went　to　Lolth。　I　served　the　goddess　herself　for　a　decade；　then　she　sent　me　back。〃
　　　Valas's　flesh　ran　cold；　and　he　found　himself　stepping　slowly　away　from　the　high　priestess。
　　　〃Why？〃　Pharaun　asked；　a　skeptical　look　on　his　face。
　　　The　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　turned　and　gave　him　a　dark；　cold　stare。
　　　〃I　think　he　means；〃　Danifae　continued　for　Pharaun；　〃　why　were　you　sent　back？〃
　　　〃I've　never　heard　anything　about　this；〃　the　Master　of　Sorcere　added。
　　　〃It　was　kept　secret；〃　said　Quenthel；　〃for　a　number　of　reasons。　There　were　circumstances　concerning　my　death　and　the　one　who　killed　me　that　might　have　embarrassed　my　House。　It's　not　a　simple　thing；　attaining　a　position　like　the　one　I　hold。　Indeed　there　is　no　position　like　the　one　I　hold　。。。　in　Menzoberranzan；　at　least。　It　was　not　a　position　House　Baenre　was　prepared　to　concede　to　any　other　House。　For　ten　years　I　was　simply　'away　pursuing　studies'　or　some　other　excuse　alternating　between　ludicrous　and　clever。　Eventually　I　returned；　then　things　happened　and　I　was　elevated　to　Mistress　of　the　Academy。〃
　　　〃And　now　you're　on　your　way　back；〃　Danifae　said　in　hushed；　heavy　tones。
　　　〃It's　as　if　someone　has　a　plan　for　you；〃　said　Pharaun。
　　　No　one　said　anything　more。　Valas　walked　back　to　the　bags　and　finished　sorting　the　supplies。
　　　Danifae　stood　up　slowly。　Quenthel　wasn't　looking　at　her；　but　it　was　clear　from　her　body　language　that　the　high　priestess　had　finished　speaking。
　　　Danifae　thought　through　the　revelation　quickly　but　thoroughly。
　　　It　didn't　matter。　It　didn't　change　anything。
　　　She　turned；　scanning　the　deck　as　she　did　so。　The　others　had　gone　back　to　what　they　were　doing。　Each　of　them　was　undoubtedly　going　over　in　his　own　mind　what　Quenthel　had　said。　She　turned　her　back　to　them　and　stared　at　Jeggred。　When　the　draegloth　finally　looked　at　her；　she　signaled　him　in　sign　language；　careful　to　keep　her　hands　close　to　her　so　the　others　wouldn't　see。
　　　It　is　time；　she　told　him。
　　　The　draegloth　nodded　and　glanced　meaningfully　at　the　tattered　sails　of　human　skin　that　sagged　listlessly　in　the　still　air。　Danifae　nodded　and　began　to　ease　her　way　across　the　deck。
　　　It　took　them　both　several　minutes　to　maneuver　themselves　behind　the　sail　without　making　it　obvious　they　were　hiding。
　　　When　they　were　safely　out　of　sight；　Jeggred　signed；　Where　are　we　going；　Mistress？
　　　Danifae　smiled　and　replied；　Hunting。
　　　The　draegloth's　lips　twisted　into　a　fierce　smile。　The　half…demon　looked　hungry。
　　　Danifae　stepped　closer　to　him。　She　could　see　him　stiffen；　stand　straight…almost　at　attention。　The　former　battle…captive　stepped　closer　still　and　wrapped　one　arm　around　the　half…demon's　huge　waist。　Jeggred's　gray　fur　was　warm　to　the　touch　and　a　little　bit　oily。　He　was　surprisingly　soft。
　　　Danifae　concentrated　on　the　ring　she'd　taken　from　Zinnirit；　and　in　the　blink　of　an　eye　they　were　in　Sschindylryn。
　　　Jeggred　took　a　deep　breath　and　looked　around　at　the　dark　interior　of　the　gatehouse。
　　　〃Where　are　we？〃　he　asked。
　　　Danifae　took　his　hand　and　led　him　to　one　of　the　gates。　Not　answering　his　question；　she　busied　herself　with　the　gate　itself；　activating　it　first；　then　tuning　the　location　to　the　agreed…on　meeting　place。　The　portal　blazed　to　life　in　an　almost　blinding　torrent　of　violet　light。　Still　holding　Jeggred's　hand；　she　stepped　through。　The　draegloth　didn't　hesitate　to　follow；　and　they　stepped　out　into　a　dimly　lit　ruin。
　　　Even　if　Danifae　didn't　know　exactly　where　they　were　she　would　have　known　they　were　on　the　World　Above。　The　lighting　was　strange；　a　different　color　than　anything　found　in　the　Underdark。　The　walls　were　made　of　mud　bricks…very　old；　crumbling。　Vines　and　moss　grew　in　the　cracks　between　the　bricks；　twisting　in　and　out　of　every　crevice；　crawling　up　every　wall；　and　matting　the　floor；　eating　away　at　the　structure　the　way　plants　did　on　the　World　Above。
　　　〃It　smells　strange　here；〃　Jeggred　grumbled。　〃What　is　this　place？〃
　　　Danifae　looked　around　to　get　her　bearings。　The　dull　gray　light　seeped　in　through　dozens　if　not　hundreds　of　cracks　and　holes　in　the　decaying　walls。　On　one　side　of　the　room　a　set　of　uneven　steps　led　up　to　a　floor　above。　On　the　other