war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第58章

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　　　Halisstra　watched　carefully　to　make　certain　that　the　priest　cast　the　spell　correctly；　and　as　far　as　she　could　tell；　he　did。　For　a　moment　she　thought　it　would　work；　as　the　Jaelre　chapel　grew　misty　and　faint　around　them；　and　her　body　seemed　to　somehow　drop　away　from　the　world　without　moving　an　inch…but　then　she　sensed　through　some　preternatural　perception　an　impediment；　a　barrier　that　prevented　the　pany　from　materializing　again　in　a　new　place　and　seemed　to　almost　jolt　them　back　to　Minauthkeep。　She　reeled　drunkenly　as　her　senses　whirled。
　　　〃That　happened　the　last　time　I　tried　it；〃　Tzirik　said。
　　　Thunder　gathered　in　Quenthel's　brow；　but　she　managed　to　keep　her　calm　as　she　detached　her　hand　from　Danifae's　and　steadied　herself　against　Jeggred。
　　　〃Pharaun；〃　the　high　priestess　said；　〃what　did　you　observe？〃
　　　The　wizard　raised　an　eyebrow；　perhaps　surprised　to　be　consulted　by　the　Baenre；　and　said；　〃It　seems　plausible　enough。　If　we　travel　by　projecting　our　spirits　into　the　Astral　Plane；　we　won't　be　going　directly　from　this　plane　of　existence　to　the　Abyss。　We'd　actually　traverse　the　astral　sea　and　approach　Lolth's　domain　as　spirits。　It　may　be　that　the　mysterious　barrier　we　encountered　does　not　bar　such　an　approach。〃　The　wizard　smoothed　his　robes；　considering。　〃And　that　might　explain　why　our　conjured　demons　couldn't　manage　the　trick　either。　They　do　not　travel　between　planes　by　astral　projection；　as　they　have　no　souls。〃
　　　Quenthel　muttered　something　to　herself；　folded　her　arms；　and　turned　back　to　Tzirik。
　　　〃Fine；〃　she　said。　〃You　have　convinced　me。　Where　do　you　intend　to　leave　our　bodies？〃
　　　Tzirik　walked　over　to　one　wall　of　the　chapel　and　depressed　a　hidden　stud；　revealing　a　secret　chamber　behind　the　bronze　mask　of　Vhaeraun。　It　was　not　large；　but　eight　elegant　old　divans…furnishings　that　might　have　dated　back　to　the　castle's　days　as　a　home　to　the　surface　elves　of　Cormanthyr…were　arranged　in　a　tight　circle　in　the　room；　heads　together；　feet　outward。
　　　〃Only　a　handful　of　my　people　know　of　this　room's　existence；〃　said　the　priest；　〃and　I　have　instructed　them　to　make　no　intrusion　for　as　long　as　may　prove　necessary。　You　need　not　fear　any　harm　here。〃
　　　Ryld；　who　stood　a　little　behind　Jeggred；　turned　away　from　Tzirik　and　gestured　subtly　to　Pharaun　and　Halisstra；　So　if　our　spirits　are　defeated　while　we　are　astral；　we　return　to　our　bodies。　What　happens　to　our　spirits　if　someone　sticks　a　knife　in　our　bodies？
　　　Death；　the　wizard　replied。　A　cautious　fellow　would　make　sure　his　body　was　someplace　safe　and　guarded　by　trustworthy　sorts　before　sending　his　spirit　off　to　some　other　plane。
　　　Ryld　grimaced；　but　made　no　other　reply。
　　　The　pany　followed　Tzirik　into　the　small　room。　Halisstra　stared　with　some　trepidation　at　the　old　couch　in　front　of　her；　knowing　that　she　was　doing　so　but　unable　to　look　away。　She　wasn't　the　only　member　of　the　pany　regarding　the　divans　like　a　collection　of　coffins；　Quenthel　must　have　been　having　the　same　thoughts。
　　　She　looked　up　from　the　couch　to　Tzirik　and　said；　〃We　will　leave　behind　a　guard。　Someone　I　trust　will　be　here　to　watch　over　our　bodies　until　I　return；　just　as　someone　you　trust　will　be　watching　over　you。〃
　　　〃Ah；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃You　are　a　dark　elf　indeed。　Do　as　you　will。〃
　　　〃He　might　mean　to　have　this　whole　castle　descend　upon　whomever　we　leave　behind；〃　Jeggred　snarled。　〃Best　leave　two；　maybe　three。〃
　　　〃Our　sentry's　only　duty　will　be　to　cut　Tzirik's　throat　before　he's　overwhelmed；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃The　question　is；　who　stays？〃
　　　Quenthel　glanced　at　Ryld；　then　her　eyes　slid　toward　Halisstra。　For　a　moment　Halisstra　feared　that　Quenthel　meant　to　leave　her　behind　in　order　to　deny　her　the　audience　she　sought　with　Lolth；　but　even　as　her　heart　thudded　in　apprehension　she　realized　that　the　last　thing　the　Baenre　would　want…if　she　truly　viewed　Halisstra　as　a　threat；　anyway…would　be　a　Melarn　conscious　and　alone　with　her　own　helpless　body。　Quenthel's　eyes　narrowed　as　she　weighed　the　same　considerations；　and　she　turned　to　Jeggred。
　　　〃You　must　stay　here；〃　she　said　to　the　draegloth。
　　　Jeggred　contorted　himself　in　a　spasm　of　anger。
　　　〃I　am　not　going　to　sit　here　staring　at　your　living　corpses　while　you　face　the　perils　of　the　goddess's　realm！　Mother　told　me　to　guard　you。　How　can　I　do　that　when　you　leave　me　behind？〃
　　　〃You　will　be　guarding　me；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃No　harm　can　e　to　me　in　astral　form。　It　is　here　that　I　will　be　vulnerable；　and　I　trust　no　one　else　with　the　task。　It　must　be　you；　Jeggred。〃
　　　The　draegloth　waved　all　four　arms　in　protest　and　said；　〃You　of　all　people　know　what　awaits　you　in　the　Demonweb　Pits；　Mistress。　You　will　need　my　strength　there。〃
　　　〃Cease　this　at　once；〃　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith　manded。　Her　eyes　flashed；　and　her　whip　rippled　and　spat。　〃It　is　not　for　you　to　question　me；　nephew。　You　will　discharge　your　obligation　in　the　manner　I　direct。〃
　　　Jeggred　subsided　into　a　sulking　silence。　In　disgust　he　turned　away　and　threw　himself　down　on　the　stone　floor；　shucking　his　pack　and　bandoleer。　Quenthel　glanced　at　the　others；　and　nodded　at　the　couches。
　　　〃e；〃　she　said。　〃The　goddess　awaits。〃
　　　Tzirik　waited　while　the　Menzoberranyr　chose　divans　and　stretched　out。　He　moved　to　the　last　one　and　sat　down；　then　glanced　over　at　Jeggred。
　　　〃If　you　will　be　staying　here；　half…demon；　you　should　know　that　some　of　my　kinfolk　will　be　acpanying　you　on　your　vigil。　Do　not　cause　them　any　trouble；　and　I　think　you　will　find　that　they　will　be　happy　to　leave　you　alone。〃
　　　Jeggred　sneered　in　answer；　and　Tzirik　laid　himself　down　awkwardly　in　his　plate　armor；　arranging　his　mace　so　that　it　lay　at　his　side。
　　　Halisstra　found　that　she　was　lying　between　Ryld　and　Danifae。　She　glanced　over　at　the　weapons　master。　Ryld's　expression　was　taut　and　nervous。　Clearly；　astral　travel　was　something　beyond　his　experience　too。
　　　If　our　spirits　are　doing　the　traveling；　why　do　we　need　all　our　weapons？　he　motioned　to　her。
　　　They're　part　of　you；　she　replied。　Your　consciousness　includes　your　belongings　in　your　definition　of　yourself。　Therefore；　when　your　soul　roams　free　from　your　body；　your　mind　will　imagine　for　you　an　astral　copy　of　anything　you　have　close　at　hand。
　　　〃Reach　out　and　take　each　other's　hands；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃Make　sure　you　have　a　good　grasp。　I　do　not　want　to　leave　anyone　behind。〃
　　　The　priest　started　to　chant　again　in　his　melodious　voice。　Halisstra　stared　at　the　ceiling　and　reached　out　to　grasp　Danifae　with　her　right　hand；　and　Ryld　with　her　left。
　　　Perhaps　I　should　imagine　for　myself　some　good　strong　drink；　Ryld　observed。
　　　He　reached　out　and　caught　Halisstra's　hand　in　his　strong　grip　before　she　could　reply。
　　　Behind　her；　unseen　on　the　other　side　of　the　circle；　Tzirik　continued　his　spell；　speaking　the　harsh　words　of　the　magic　with　confidence　and　ease。　Halisstra　felt　an　electric　jolt　race　through　her　body　from　hand　to　hand　as　the　magic　began　to　take　life；　joining　her　to　Ryld　and　Danifae　with　a　strange；　tingling　sensation。　A　sense　of　detachment　swept　through　her；　as　if　she'd　all　at　once　bee　weightless。　She　seemed　to　be　floating　up　and　out　of　herself；　drawn　by　some　irresistible　force　tugging　on　her　in　a　direction　she　could　not　relate　to　up　or　down；　left　or　right。　The　stone　ceiling　wavered　and　grew　dim；　pulling　away　from　her　faster　and　faster。
　　　And　she　was　gone。
　　　
　　　Triel　Baenre　stalked　gracefully　past　the　ranks　of　her　battered　soldiers；　her　face　held　rigidly　expressionless　by　nothing　more　than　sheer　iron　determination。　The　exhausted　troops　stood　at　attention　for　her　as　best　they　could　in　the　narrow　tunnel。　She'd　had　Nauzhror　transport　her　immediately　to　the　scene　of　the　retreat　to　view　with　her　own　eyes　the　scope　of　Menzoberranzan's　defeat；　and　she　found　that　she　did　not　like　what　she　had　seen。　She　did　not　like　it　all。
　　　The　passage　was　the　better　part　of　ten　miles　long；　one　of　the　main　thoroughfares　leading　from　the　way…meeting　at　the　Pillars　of　Woe　to　the　shell　of　twisting　passages　and　wild　caverns　known　as　Menzoberranzan's　Dominion。　It　seemed　that　every　second　or　third　soldier　she　passed　carried　some　obvious　injury…a　bandaged　torso　here；　an　arm　in　a　sling　there；　a　fellow　using　a　broken　spear　shaft　as　a　crutch　against　the　other　wall。　The　wounded　did　not　bother　her；　though。　What　Triel　found　truly　disconcerting　was　the　fatigue　and　moroseness　of　the　soldiers。　She'd　expected　to　find　them　tired；　of　course…Andzrel　had　marched　the　army　for　a　day　without　halting　to　salvage　something　from　the　disaster　of　the　Pillars　of　Woe…but　she　hadn't　expected　to　find　her　soldiers　so　。。。　defeated。　They'd　been　beaten；　and　they　knew　it。
　　　Andzrel　trailed　a　respectful　step　behind　the　matron　mother；　not　presuming　to　speak　until　addressed。
　　　〃How　bad　were　the　losses？〃　she　finally　asked；　not　looking　at　her　weapons　master。
　　　〃For　the　whole　army；　somewhere　around　a　quarter　to　a　third　of　our　strength；　Matron　Mother。　Some　Houses　fared　much　better　or　much　worse　than　that；　depending　on　the　fortunes　of　battle。〃
　　　〃And　House　Baenre's　contingent？〃
　　　〃Ninety　dead；　forty…four　seriously　wounded；〃　Andzrel　replied。　〃About　a　quarter　of　our　strength。〃
　　　〃We　were　fortunate　to　save　that　much；　Matron　Mother；〃　Zal'therra　added。　〃Some　of　the　minor　Houses　were　slaughtered　to　a　male　in…〃
　　　〃I　did　not　address　you；〃　Triel　said。
　　　She　folded　her　arms　and　tried　not　to　let　the　sick　horror　in　her　stomach　show。
　　　It　will　be　a　miracle　if　the　Council　doesn't　rise　in　open　revolt　against　me；　the　matron　mother　thought。　Thank　the　goddess　that　Mez'Barris　is　lost　somewhere；　and　Fey…Branche　so　badly　weakened。　Byrtyn　Fey　must　guard　her　response　with　half　her　House　army　destroyed；　and　I　will　have　some　time　to　consider　what　must　be　done　before　I　have　to　confront　Mez'Barris；　Lolth　willing。
　　　Then　again；　she　thought；　what　was　left　of　the　Council；　anyway？　Faen　Tlabbar；　the　Third　House；　was　in　the　hands　of　an　untried　girl；　and　Yasraena　Dyrr　was　not　likely　to　present　herself　at　the　next　meeting；　was　she？　She　and　all　her　filthy　House　were　barricaded　in　their　castle；　awaiting　the　arrival　of　their　duergar　allies；　and　apparently　quite　prepared　to　stand　a　siege。
　　　That　left　Zeerith　Q'Xorlarrin；　Miz'ri　Mizzrym；　and　Prid'eesoth　Tuin　as　the　only　matron　mothers　she　need　concern　herself　with。
　　　To　distract　herself　from　the　unpleasant　prospect　ahead；　Triel　turned　to　face　Andzrel　and　Zal'therra。　More　than　anything；　she　longed　to　punish　the　weapons　master　and　her　cousin　Zal'therra　for　leading　her　army　into　a　disastrous　ambush；　but　as　far　as　she　could　tell；　Andzrel's　skill　and　Zal'therra's　decisiveness　had　most　likely　extricated　the　Army　of　the　Black　Spider　from　a　dreadful　mauling。　Menzoberranzan's　army　was　battered；　but　intact。
　　　〃Where　are　the　duergar　now？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃About　three　miles　south　of　us；〃　replied　Andzrel。　〃House　Mizzrym　currently　serves　as　rear　guard；　though　I've　sent　almost　a　hundred　of　our　own　soldiers　to　stiffen　the　defense。〃　Triel　understood　what　Andzrel　really　meant…he'd　put　Baenre　soldiers　beside　the　Mizzrym　to　make　sure　that　another　betrayal　of　the　sort　Agrach　Dyrr　had　engineered　didn't　take　place。　〃The　Scoured　Legion　advances　through　another　passage　to　our　east；　circling　around　us。