war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-µÚ20ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Xornbane's¡¡losses¡¡were¡¡regrettable£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡truth¡¡we¡¡did¡¡not¡¡expect¡¡the¡¡exceptional¡¡effectiveness¡¡of¡¡your¡¡stonefire¡¡bombs¡¡against¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad's¡¡calcified¡¡webs¡£¡¡Absent¡¡that¡¡unforeseeable¡¡chance£»¡¡Khorrl¡¡Xornbane¡¡would¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡city¡¡with¡¡House¡¡Zauvirr¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡duergar¡¡prince¡¡scowled£»¡¡his¡¡beard¡¡jutting¡¡out¡¡like¡¡a¡¡bottlebrush¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡warned¡¡Khorrl¡¡that¡¡dark¡¡elves¡¡have¡¡a¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡poorly¡¡rewarding¡¡mercenaries£»¡¡especially¡¡dwarves¡£¡¡I¡¡won't¡¡let¡¡another¡¡of¡¡our¡¡mercenary¡¡panies¡¡march¡¡into¡¡peril¡¡like¡¡that¡¡again¡£¡¡Xornbane¡¡was¡¡an¡¡eighth¡¡of¡¡this¡¡city's¡¡strength¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡need¡¡of¡¡a¡¡single¡¡pany¡¡of¡¡mercenaries£»¡¡Prince£»¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡large¡¡and¡¡fierce£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡assured¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡need¡¡of¡¡your¡¡whole¡¡army¡£¡¡March¡¡in¡¡your¡¡full¡¡strength£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡need¡¡not¡¡fear¡¡defeat¡¡in¡¡detail¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡still¡¡smells¡¡like¡¡an¡¡insidious¡¡drow¡¡ruse¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡frowned¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Prince¡¡Horgar£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡are¡¡hesitant¡¡to¡¡hazard¡¡any¡¡risks¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡rarely¡¡win¡¡a¡¡throw¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dice¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡achieve¡¡something¡¡great£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡your¡¡success¡¡is¡¡guaranteed£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡there¡¡are¡¡no¡¡risks¡¡in¡¡our¡¡enterprise¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We're¡¡not¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡a¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡coins¡¡riding¡¡on¡¡a¡¡stupid¡¡game£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡prince¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨We're¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡my¡¡throne¡¡riding¡¡on¡¡a¡¡war¡¡that¡¡could¡¡take¡¡a¡¡turn¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡care¡¡for¡¡in¡¡any¡¡number¡¡of¡¡ways¡£¡¡Don't¡¡try¡¡to¡¡shore¡¡up¡¡my¡¡resolve¡¡with¡¡empty¡¡observations¡¡about¡¡risk¡¡and¡¡reward¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Very¡¡well£»¡¡then£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡not£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡will¡¡point¡¡out¡¡that¡¡when¡¡last¡¡we¡¡met¡¡you¡¡said¡¡you¡¡wanted¡¡only¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡before¡¡you¡¡would¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡your¡¡army¡¡against¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡was¡¡a¡¡substantial¡¡ally¡¡within¡¡the¡¡city¡¡itself¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡provided¡¡you¡¡that¡¡ally¡£¡¡When¡¡will¡¡it¡¡ever¡¡be¡¡better¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡threat¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡poses¡¡to¡¡your¡¡kingdom£¿¡¡Their¡¡priestesses¡¡are¡¡powerless£»¡¡they¡¡have¡¡already¡¡endured¡¡a¡¡costly¡¡slave¡¡rebellion£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡I¡¡bring¡¡to¡¡you¡¡a¡¡great¡¡House¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡you¡¡in¡¡your¡¡efforts¡£¡¡What¡¡more¡¡do¡¡we¡¡lack£»¡¡Prince£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡duergar¡¡scowled¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡to¡¡stare¡¡out¡¡at¡¡Gracklstugh¡£¡¡He¡¡stood¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡thinking¡¡hard¡£¡¡Nimor¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡waver£»¡¡and¡¡decided¡¡it¡¡was¡¡time¡¡to¡¡set¡¡the¡¡hook¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Lowering¡¡his¡¡voice£»¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡close¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨What¡¡better¡¡way¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡your¡¡seat¡¡against¡¡the¡¡unruly¡¡lairds¡¡you¡¡fear£»¡¡than¡¡by¡¡distracting¡¡them¡¡with¡¡a¡¡campaign¡¡beyond¡¡your¡¡borders£¿¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡you¡¡should¡¡fail¡¡to¡¡take¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡some¡¡diligent¡¡planning¡¡should¡¡ensure¡¡that¡¡the¡¡forces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡dangerous¡¡lairds¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡deadliest¡¡part¡¡of¡¡any¡¡battle¡¡you¡¡fight¡£¡¡In¡¡truth¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡it¡¡is¡¡within¡¡your¡¡grasp¡¡to¡¡win¡¡a¡¡great¡¡victory¡¡over¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡and¡¡wreck¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡your¡¡most¡¡rebellious¡¡nobles¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡duergar¡¡prince¡¡grunted¡¡and¡¡studied¡¡Nimor¡¡closely¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡presume¡¡much£»¡¡dark¡¡elf£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Horgar¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡it¡¡you¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡by¡¡destroying¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡eh£¿¡¡Why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡set¡¡me¡¡on¡¡this¡¡course¡¡of¡¡action£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡assassin¡¡grinned¡¡and¡¡clapped¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡The¡¡Stone¡¡Guards¡¡in¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡shifted¡¡nervously£»¡¡disapproving¡¡of¡¡the¡¡contact¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡dear¡¡Prince¡¡Horgar£»¡¡the¡¡answer¡¡is¡¡simple£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Revenge¡£¡¡Your¡¡army¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡instrument¡¡of¡¡my¡¡vengeance¡£¡¡Naturally¡¡I¡¡recognize¡¡that¡¡you¡¡will¡¡not¡¡raze¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡simply¡¡because¡¡I¡¡ask¡¡it£»¡¡so¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡necessary¡¡part¡¡of¡¡my¡¡design¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡provided¡¡with¡¡the¡¡suitable¡¡motivation¡¡to¡¡do¡¡what¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡done¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡worked¡¡long¡¡and¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡about¡¡the¡¡circumstances¡¡under¡¡which¡¡the¡¡army¡¡of¡¡Gracklstugh¡¡might¡¡be¡¡aimed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡city¡¡I¡¡hate¡including£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡add£»¡¡assisting¡¡you¡¡with¡¡the¡¡small¡¡problem¡¡of¡¡your¡¡father's¡¡thoughtless¡¡longevity¡£¡¡How¡¡can¡¡I¡¡make¡¡my¡¡purpose¡¡plainer£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡your¡¡help¡¡in¡¡that¡¡case¡¡with¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡stonefire¡¡bombs£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡prince¡¡said£»¡¡bridling¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡my¡¡father's¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡death¡¡again¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡you¡¡might¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡influence¡¡my¡¡actions¡¡with¡¡that¡¡story£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡whatever¡¡information¡¡you¡¡possessed¡¡never¡¡came¡¡to¡¡light¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡understand¡¡me£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡mean¡¡anything¡¡by¡¡the¡¡remark£»¡¡Horgar¡£¡¡I¡¡merely¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡useful¡¡to¡¡you¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡may¡¡prove¡¡useful¡¡again¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡can¡¡I¡¡count¡¡on¡¡the¡¡army¡¡of¡¡Gracklstugh£»¡¡or¡¡not£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Horgar¡¡Steelshadow£»¡¡Crown¡¡Prince¡¡of¡¡Gracklstugh£»¡¡reluctantly¡¡nodded¡¡assent¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡will¡¡e£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Now£»¡¡explain¡¡to¡¡me¡¡who¡¡exactly¡¡will¡¡be¡¡aiding¡¡us¡¡inside¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡he'll¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡help¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡Ryld¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡hateful¡¡eyes¡¡lingering¡¡on¡¡his¡¡broad¡¡back¡¡as¡¡he¡¡followed¡¡Valas¡¡and¡¡Coalhewer¡¡through¡¡the¡¡streets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡city¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡all¡¡too¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡element¡£¡¡He¡¡towered¡¡a¡¡good¡¡twenty¡¡inches¡¡over¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gray¡¡dwarves£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡coal¡black¡¡skin¡¡and¡¡inky¡¡piwafwi¡¡didn't¡¡help¡¡him¡¡to¡¡blend¡¡in¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡The¡¡three¡¡travelers¡¡wound¡¡their¡¡way¡¡through¡¡a¡¡swordsmith's¡¡district£»¡¡a¡¡narrow¡¡alleyway¡¡lined¡¡on¡¡both¡¡sides¡¡by¡¡open¡air¡¡forges¡¡where¡¡duergar¡¡in¡¡leather¡¡aprons¡¡hammered¡¡endlessly¡¡on¡¡glowing¡¡metal¡£¡¡Ryld¡¡knew¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡or¡¡two¡¡about¡¡good¡¡steel£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡at¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡that¡¡the¡¡dwarves¡¡knew¡¡their¡¡work¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡weapons¡¡master¡¡quickened¡¡his¡¡step¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡alongside¡¡Valas¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Where¡¡are¡¡we¡¡going£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡as¡¡quietly¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡over¡¡the¡¡ringing¡¡hammers¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡we¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡some¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡official¡¡license¡¡or¡¡pass¡£¡¡Shouldn't¡¡we¡¡be¡¡heading¡¡for¡¡a¡¡courthouse£»¡¡or¡¡something£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡ye¡¡wanted¡¡a¡¡royal¡¡license£»¡¡ye¡¡would£»¡¨¡¡Coalhewer¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡that¡¡would¡¡take¡¡ye¡¡months¡¡and¡¡cost¡¡ye¡¡a¡¡fortune¡¡in¡¡bribes¡£¡¡No£»¡¡I'm¡¡takin'¡¡ye¡¡to¡¡call¡¡on¡¡the¡¡household¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clan¡¡laird¡¡Muzgardt¡£¡¡He'll¡¡give¡¡ye¡¡a¡¡writ¡¡o'¡¡passage¡¡that¡¡should¡¡get¡¡ye¡¡where¡¡ye¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Ryld¡¡nodded¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡different¡¡from¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡after¡¡all¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡far¡¡will¡¡Muzgardt's¡¡writ¡¡run£¿¡¨¡¡Valas¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨Will¡¡it¡¡get¡¡us¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Gracklstugh's¡¡dominions£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Muzgardt's¡¡clan¡¡be¡¡merchants¡£¡¡They¡¡deal¡¡in¡¡ale¡¡and¡¡liquors¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡Deepkingdom£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡bring¡¡outside¡¡brews¡¡into¡¡the¡¡city¡drow¡¡wine£»¡¡svirfneblin¡¡brandy£»¡¡even¡¡some¡¡vintages¡¡from¡¡the¡¡surface£»¡¡or¡¡so¡¡I¡¡hear¡£¡¡Ye'll¡¡find¡¡his¡¡folk¡¡all¡¡over¡¡the¡¡realm¡£¡¨¡¡Coalhewer¡¡laughed¡¡a¡¡nasty¡¡laugh¡¡and¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨¡¡'Course£»¡¡Muzgardt¡¡sells¡¡passage¡¡to¡¡those¡¡as¡¡want¡¡it£»¡¡too¡£¡¡He¡¡likes¡¡his¡¡gold¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Ryld¡¡smiled¡£¡¡Coalhewer¡¡was¡¡a¡¡grasping£»¡¡avaricious¡¡fellow¡¡by¡¡anyone's¡¡standards¡£¡¡Muzgardt's¡¡greed¡¡must¡¡be¡¡something¡¡noteworthy¡¡indeed¡¡for¡¡a¡¡dwarf¡¡like¡¡Coalhewer¡¡to¡¡ment¡¡on¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street¡¡of¡¡swordsmiths¡¡and¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡back¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vicinity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Darklake£»¡¡though¡¡farther¡¡north¡¡along¡¡the¡¡shore¡£¡¡Before¡¡them¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡huge£»¡¡ramshackle¡¡brewery¡¡made¡¡from¡¡loose¡¡stone¡¡stacked¡¡to¡¡make¡¡walls¡¡between¡¡the¡¡petrified¡¡stems¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡forest¡¡of¡¡gigantic¡¡mushrooms¡£¡¡Big¡¡copper¡¡vats¡¡steamed¡¡within£»¡¡filling¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡a¡¡heavy£»¡¡yeasty¡¡stink¡£¡¡Dozens¡¡of¡¡copper¡¡kegs¡¡stood¡¡nearby£»¡¡and¡¡burly¡¡gray¡¡dwarves¡¡swarmed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡mashing¡¡fungus£»¡¡mixing¡¡fermenting¡¡masses£»¡¡and¡¡filling¡¡casks¡¡with¡¡freshly¡¡brewed¡¡ale¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡dwarf's¡¡second¡¡love¡¡after¡¡gold£»¡¨¡¡Coalhewer¡¡said¡¡with¡¡a¡¡crooked¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡Muzgardt's¡¡lads¡¡do¡¡good¡¡work£»¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡ye¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡dwarf¡¡led¡¡Ryld¡¡and¡¡Valas¡¡into¡¡the¡¡brewhouse¡¡and¡¡past¡¡the¡¡huge¡¡vats¡¡to¡¡a¡¡small¡¡shack¡¡or¡¡shelter¡¡in¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡£¡¡A¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡gray¡¡dwarves¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡heavy¡¡mail¡¡armor£»¡¡wicked¡looking¡¡axes¡¡resting¡¡close¡¡at¡¡hand¡£¡¡The¡¡guards¡¡glared¡¡angrily¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡elves£»¡¡and¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡their¡¡weapons¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡d'ye¡¡want£¿¡¨¡¡one¡¡growled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thummud£»¡¨¡¡Coalhewer¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨Got¡¡a¡¡business¡¡proposition¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Stay¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡first¡¡guard¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡ducked¡¡through¡¡a¡¡ragged¡¡curtain¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway£»¡¡and¡¡returned¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡later¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thummud'll¡¡see¡¡ye£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡drow'll¡¡have¡¡t'leave¡¡their¡¡weapons¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡Don't¡¡trust¡¡'em¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Ryld¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Valas¡¡and¡¡signed£»¡¡Are¡¡we¡¡worried¡¡about¡¡an¡¡ambush£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡scout¡¡replied£»¡¡Coalhewer¡¡knows¡¡there¡¡are¡¡five¡¡more¡¡in¡¡our¡¡party£»¡¡including¡¡a¡¡capable¡¡wizard¡¡and¡¡a¡¡draegloth¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡he'd¡¡lead¡¡us¡¡into¡¡a¡¡trap¡but¡¡watch¡¡your¡¡back¡¡anyway¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Enough¡¡finger¡talk£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡guard¡¡snarled¡£¡¡¡¨Talk¡¡so's¡¡we¡¡can¡¡understand¡¡ye£»¡¡if¡¡ye've¡¡got¡¡anything¡¡to¡¡say¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Always£»¡¨¡¡Ryld¡¡said¡¡aloud¡¡to¡¡Valas¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡look£»¡¡but¡¡shrugged¡¡Splitter¡¡from¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡set¡¡the¡¡greatsword¡¡against¡¡one¡¡wall¡£¡¡He¡¡unbuckled¡¡his¡¡short¡¡sword¡¡from¡¡its¡¡sheath¡¡at¡¡his¡¡hip¡¡and¡¡set¡¡it¡¡nearby¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡a¡¡curse¡¡on¡¡the¡¡big¡¡blade£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡won't¡¡like¡¡what¡¡happens¡¡if¡¡you¡¡try¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Valas¡¡set¡¡down¡¡his¡¡shortbow¡¡and¡¡arrows£»¡¡then¡¡dropped¡¡his¡¡kukris¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡The¡¡duergar¡¡guards¡¡checked¡¡the¡¡two¡¡dark¡¡elves¡¡for¡¡concealed¡¡weapons£»¡¡then¡¡ushered¡¡them¡¡into¡¡the¡¡gloomy¡¡shelter¡£¡¡The¡¡place¡¡was¡¡an¡¡office¡¡of¡¡sorts£»¡¡with¡¡ledgers¡¡and¡¡records¡¡scattered¡¡about¡£¡¡By¡¡a¡¡large¡¡standing¡¡clerks¡¡desk¡¡stood¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fattest¡¡gray¡¡dwarfs¡¡Ryld¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡seen£»¡¡a¡¡round¡bodied¡¡fellow¡¡with¡¡thick¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡heavy¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡Duergar¡¡tended¡¡to¡¡run¡¡toward¡¡a¡¡gaunt£»¡¡broad¡shouldered¡¡build¡¡despite¡¡their¡¡short£»¡¡powerful¡¡stature£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡brewmaster¡¡Thummud¡¡was¡¡as¡¡round¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡kegs¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Coalhewer£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡a¡¡greeting¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡can¡¡you¡¡do¡¡for¡¡me£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I've¡¡got¡¡a¡¡party¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡elves¡¡as¡¡need¡¡a¡¡writ¡¡o'¡¡business¡¡from¡¡Muzgardt£»¡¨¡¡Coalhewer¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨They'd¡¡prefer¡¡not¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡on¡¡a¡¡royal¡¡permit¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡business£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡deal¡¡in¡¡gemstones£»¡¡mostly£»¡¨¡¡Valas¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨We're¡¡looking¡¡into¡¡setting¡¡up¡¡transport¡¡through¡¡the¡¡Deepkingdom¡£¡¡We¡¡need¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡move¡¡around¡¡and¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡Coalhewer¡¡said£»¡¡we¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡months¡¡to¡¡get¡¡a¡¡royal¡¡license¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ye're¡¡stupid¡¡or¡¡ye're¡¡lying£»¡¡then¡£¡¡Ye'll¡¡pay¡¡ten¡¡times¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡a¡¡royal¡¡license¡¡to¡¡get¡¡a¡¡writ¡¡from¡¡our¡¡clan¡¡laird¡£¡¡Most¡¡merchants¡¡I¡¡know¡¡wouldn't¡¡do¡¡such¡¡a¡¡thing¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Valas¡¡glanced¡¡up¡¡at¡¡Ryld£»¡¡then¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Thummud¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¡then¡£¡¡We've¡¡got¡¡some¡¡rivals¡¡from¡¡back¡¡home¡¡that¡¡are¡¡doing¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡business¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡want¡¡to¡¡sound¡¡out¡¡their¡¡suppliers¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡they¡¡can't¡¡be¡¡encouraged¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡to¡¡us¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡others¡£¡¡A¡¡royal¡¡license¡¡wouldn't¡¡really¡¡extend¡¡that¡¡far£»¡¡would¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Thummud¡¡snorted£»¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡not¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Can¡¡ye¡¡help¡¡me¡¡clients£»¡¡or¡¡not£¿¡¨¡¡Coalhewer¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨Or¡¡do¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡go¡¡see¡¡Ironhead£»¡¡or¡¡maybe¡¡Anvilthew£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Clan¡¡Muzgardt¡¡might¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡help¡¡ye£»¡¨¡¡Thummud¡¡said¡¡after¡¡a¡¡long¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¨We'll¡¡want¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡for¡¡each¡¡body¡¡on¡¡the¡¡writ£»¡¡and¡¡ye¡¡can't¡¡have¡¡it¡¡today¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Coalhewer¡¡glanced¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡elves¡£¡¡Ryld¡¡nodded¡¡to¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They'll¡¡pay¡¡the¡¡laird's¡¡fee£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡sailor¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡they¡¡want¡¡to¡¡get¡¡started¡¡right¡¡quick¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Doesn't¡¡matter¡¡what¡¡yer¡¡clients¡¡want£»¡¨¡¡Thummud¡¡replied¡¡with¡¡a¡¡shrug¡£¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡have¡¡to¡¡take¡¡up¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡with¡¡the¡¡clan¡¡laird¡¡before¡¡I¡¡write¡¡you¡¡a¡¡pass¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ye¡¡never¡¡had¡¡to¡¡before£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡fat¡¡dwarf¡¡folded¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡set¡¡his¡¡jaw¡¡stubbornly¡£¡¡He¡¡glared¡¡at¡¡Coalhewer¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡elves¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Be¡¡that¡¡as¡¡it¡¡may£»¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince's¡¡soldiers¡¡have¡¡been¡¡checking¡¡our¡¡writs¡¡and¡¡passes¡¡too¡¡closely¡¡of¡¡late¡£¡¡Horgar's¡¡let¡¡it¡¡be¡¡known¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡know¡¡who's¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Deepkingdom¡¡and¡¡why£»¡¡and¡¡he's¡¡leaning¡¡on¡¡the¡¡clan¡¡lairds¡¡to¡¡withhold¡¡their¡¡writs¡£¡¡We'll¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡get¡¡yer¡¡clients¡¡theirs£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡but¡¡I'll¡¡have¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡Muzgardt's¡¡blessing¡¡first¡£¡¡e¡¡back¡¡tomorrow£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡day¡¡after¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Coalhewer¡¡muttered¡¡into¡¡his¡¡beard£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡bother¡¡to¡¡argue¡¡the¡¡point