蛛后之战(被遗忘的国度系列英文版)-第13部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

to　convey　her　will。
Jeggred　pounced；　his　long；　coarse　mane　streaming　out　behind　him。　With　each　of　his　huge；　clawed　fighting　hands；　he　grabbed　a　cousin　by　the　throat　and　hoisted　her　up　against　the　calcite　wall。　His　two　smaller；　drowlike　hands　flexed　as　if　they　too　wished　to　get　in　on　the　violence。
Perhaps　they　did。
Triel　had　conceived　a　child　in　a　ritual　coupling　with　the　glabrezu　demon　Belshazu。　The　result　was　Jeggred；　a　halffiend　known　as　a　draegloth；　a　precious　gift　of　the　Spider　Queen。　His　mother　was　quite　prepared　to　believe　that　cruelty　and　bloodlust　burned　in　every　mote　and　particle　of　his　being。　Only　his　reflexive　subservience；　tendered　not　because　Triel　had　borne　him　but　because　she　was　first　among　the　priestesses　of　Lolth；　kept　him　from　immediately　slaughtering　his　prisoners；　or；　indeed；　pretty　much　anyone　else　with　whom　he　came　in　contact。
Occasionally　Triel's　lack　of　height　was　an　advantage。　It　didn't　feel　awkward　or　claustrophobic　to　step　inside　the　circle　of　Jeggred's　two　longer　arms　and　stand　before　the　cousins。　Up　close；　she　could　smell　the　sweat　of　their　fear　just　as　easily　as　she　could　hear　the　little　choking　sounds　they　were　making　or　the　thuds　as　their　heels　bumped　against　the　carved　surface　behind　them。
〃I　forbade　you　to　speak　of　the　situation　in　public；〃　she　snarled。
The　cousin　on　the　left　started　making　more　noise；　a　tortured　gargling。　Perhaps　she　was　trying　to　say　that　she　and　the　other　one　had　been　alone。
〃This　is　a　public　part　of　the　castle；〃　Triel　said。　〃Anyone；　any　male　might　have　e　along　and　overheard　you。〃　She　swung　her　whip　of　fangs；　aiming　low　to　ensure　she　didn't　accidentally　lash　Jeggred's　hands　or　arms。　The　five　writhing　adders　gashed　their　targets　but　not　enough　to　satisfy　their　mistress。　She　struck　again　and　again。　Her　anger　rose　and　rose　until　it　became　a　kind　of　rapture；　a　sweet　simplicity　in　which　nothing　existed　but　the　cousins'　thrashing；　the　smell　and　feel　of　their　blood　spattering　her　face；　and　the　pleasant　exertion　of　her　snapping　arm。
She　never　knew　what　brought　her　out　of　that　joyous　condition。　Perhaps　it　was　simply　that　she　was　winded；　but　when　she　came　to　her　senses；　the　two　babblers　were　dangling　limp　and　silent　in　Jeggred's　grip。
Both　the　draegloth　and　the　scribe　were　smiling。　They'd　thoroughly　enjoyed　the　cousins'　excruciating　torture；　but　there　were　things　still　to　be　done；　and　she'd　wasted　time　losing　her　temper。
Which　was　bad。　Matron　Mother　Baenre；　de　facto　ruler　of　the　entire　city　of　Menzoberranzan；　should　be　able　to　govern　herself　as　well。
Triel's　emotional　volatility　was　of　paratively　recent　origin。　She'd　been　calm　and　petent　all　the　while　she　served　as　Mistress　of　ArachTinilith。　That　role；　arguably　second　only　to　her　mother's　in　prestige；　had　suited　her　well；　and　she'd　never　aspired　to　anything　more。
Nor　had　she　truly　believed　that　more　was　even　possible。　Her　mother　seemed　immortal。　Indestructible。　But　then；　suddenly；　she　was　gone；　and　the　ambition　that　at　one　time　or　another　goaded　every　dark　elf　awoke　in　Triel's　breast。　How　could　she　not　strive　to　ascend　to　her　mother's　throne？　How　could　she　let　Quenthel　or　one　of　her　other　kin　climb　over　her　head　to　order　her　about　forever　after？
She　managed　to　claim　the　title　of　Matron　Mother；　and　though　she　soon　came　to　feel　somewhat　overwhelmed　by　the　scope　and　intricacies　of　the　position；　at　first　it　wasn't　so　bad。　Things　were　relatively　normal　and　didn't　require　some　dramatic　intervention　from　on　high　to　set　them　right。
Moreover；　she　had　Quenthel　and　Gromph　to　advise　her。　True；　her　sister　and　brother　invariably　disagreed；　but　Triel　could　review　their　peting　proposals　and　pick　the　one　that　suited　her。　It　was　considerably　easier　than　having　to　e　up　with　the　ideas　herself。
But　she　had　a　crisis　to　manage；　perhaps　the　greatest　crisis　in　the　long　history　of　the　dark　elves；　and　apparently　she　would　have　to　do　it　alone。　She　obviously　couldn't　confide　in　Gromph；　and　insolent　Quenthel　claimed　she　had　to　attend　to　the　security　of　Tier　Breche　before　she　could　focus　on　anything　else。
Triel　gave　her　head　a　shake；　trying　to　dislodge　her　doubts　and　worries。
〃Let　them　down。〃
Jeggred　obeyed；　and　she　turned　to　the　secretary。
〃When　you　get　a　chance；〃　she　said；　raising　her　voice　over　the　choking　gasps　of　the　two　cousins；　〃have　somebody　haul　them　out　to　ArachTinilith　to　be　patched　back　together；　and　have　someone　wash　away　the　blood。　But　for　now；　we'd　best　get　moving。　I　think　we're　late。〃
The　trio　moved　on。　A　final　turn　brought　them　to　the　door。　Behind　it　was　the　dais　overlooking　the　largest　audience　chamber　in　House　Baenre。　A　pair　of　sentries　guarded　the　entry　to　ensure　that　no　one　would　sneak　through　to　stab　the　matron　mother　in　the　back。　They　snapped　to　attention　when　they　saw　her　ing。
Triel　swept　on　through　the　entry　with　Jeggred　and　the　clerk　in　tow。　The　hall　on　the　other　side　glowed　with　soft　magical　light　to　facilitate　the　examination　of　documents。　A　sweet　perfume　scented　the　air；　and　a　fresco　of　Lolth　adorned　the　ceiling。　The　guards　along　the　walls—dark　elves　near　the　dais；　ogre　and　minotaur　slaves　farther　down—saluted；　while　the　supplicants　and　petitioners　made　the　obeisance　proper　to　their　stations；　anything　from　a　dignified　inclination　of　the　head　and　spreading　of　the　hands　to　an　abject　grovel　flat　on　the　floor。
Looking　down　on　them　from　the　elevated　platform；　Triel　reflected　that　it　was　astonishing　just　how　many　such　folk　turned　up　each　and　every　tenday。　She'd　thought　people　were　always　demanding　her　attention　when　she　ruled　the　Academy；　but　she'd　had　no　conception　of　the　hordes　of　idiots　who　constantly　sought　Matron　Baenre's　ear；　often　to　resolve　trivial　if　not　nonsensical　concerns。
She　sat　down　on　her　mother's　throne；　an　empress's　ransom　in　gold　with　a　flaring　back　shaped　to　resemble　an　arc　of　spider　web。　Her　predecessor　had　been　a　relatively　large　female；　and　her　successor　always　felt　a　bit　childlike　and　lost　in　the　chair。　She　had　enough　of　a　sense　of　irony　to　prehend　the　accidental　symbolism。
She　surveyed　the　waiting　throng　and　discovered　Faeryl　Zauvirr　at　the　very　front　with　some　long；　bulky　rolled　papers　tucked　under　her　arm。　The　matron　mother　smiled；　for　at　least　she　knew　how　to　deal　with　this　one　particular　petitioner。　For　a　blessed　change；　Waerva；　one　of　the　lesser　females　of　her　House；　had　made　herself　useful。　She'd　e　up　with　some　significant　information　and　a　sensible　idea　of　what　to　do　about　it。
Triel　decided　she　might　as　well　start　out　feeling　dominant　and　shrewd。　Perhaps　it　would　set　the　tone　for　the　rest　of　the　session。　She　waited　for　the　herald　to　conclude　the　ceremonials　and　the　crowd　to　rise。　Then；　still　spattered　with　blood；　and　with　Jeggred　looming　reassuringly　behind　her　throne；　she　motioned　for　Faeryl　to　step　forward。
　
C　　　h　　　a　　　p　　　t　　　e　　　r
S　　I　　X
Faeryl　was　pleased　to　be　chosen　first。　In　retrospect；　she　thought　the　same　thing　would　have　occurred　even　if　she　hadn't　made　sure　of　a　position　immediately　in　front　of　the　dais。　The　haughty　Menzoberranyr　often　feigned　disinterest　in　their　client　city；　but　she　knew　they　understood　the　importance　of　Ched　Nasad。
It　was　hard　not　to　hurry；　but　she　forced　herself　to　approach　the　throne　with　a　stately　tread　consonant　with　the　dignity　of　her　position；　the　stature　of　her　House；　and　the　grandeur　of　her　homeland。　It　was　also　difficult　to　offer　a　second　graceful　obeisance　without　dropping　her　roll　of　maps；　but　she　acplished　that　as　well。
〃Ambassador；〃　said　Triel　without　any　extraordinary　warmth。　Perhaps　she　considered　Faeryl's　presence　inappropriate。
〃Matron　Mother；〃　Faeryl　replied。　Tall；　broadshouldered　and　thick　waisted　by　the　standards　of　her　slender　race；　she　would　have　dwarfed　the　Baenre　had　the　two　of　them　been　standing　side　by　side。　〃I　know　we　sometimes　meet　in　private；　but　after　tendays　of　deliberation　I　arrived　at　a　conclusion；　one　that　pelled　me　to　confer　with　you　at　the　earliest　opportunity。〃
〃What　conclusion？〃　Triel　asked。
She　still　seemed　unconcerned　if　not　downright　cold。　Perhaps　she　was　preoccupied　with　her　affliction。
Faeryl　had　of　course　fallen　prey　to　the　same　malaise；　but　to　her　own　surprise；　she'd　discovered　she　was　at　least　as　worried　about　something　else：　the　wellbeing　of　House　Zauvirr　and　the　magnificent　city　in　which　it　amassed　its　wealth；　fought　its　covert　battles；　and　worked　its　magic。
〃I　keep　track　of　the　caravans　arriving　from　Ched　Nasad；〃　the　ambassador　said。　〃For　the　past　six　tendays；　none　has。　None。　As　the　Matron　Mother　is　undoubtedly　aware；　several　major　trade　routes　converge　in　the　City　of　Shimmering　Webs；　which　then　funnels　the　merchants　on　to　Menzoberranzan。　At　least　half　the　goods　that　reach　your　cavern　e　through　us。　Except　that　now；　they　aren't　reaching　you。　The　steady　flow　has　dried　up。　Except　in　time　of　war；　that's　unprecedented。〃
〃It's　an　odd　coincidence；　certainly；　all　the　merchant　clansmen　choosing　other　destinations；　but　I'm　sure　they'll　decide　to　head　for　Menzoberranzan　next　trip；　or　the　trip　after　that。〃
Faeryl　had　to　make　a　conscious　effort　to　pose　her　features。　Otherwise　she　would　have　scowled。　If　she　hadn't　known　better；　she　would　have　thought　Triel　was　being　deliberately　obtuse。
〃1　suspect　it　may　be　more　than　a　coincidence；〃　the　ambassador　said。　〃A　thousand　thousand　dangers　haunt　the　Underdark；　and　the　philosophers　tell　us　new　ones　are　spawning　all　the　time。　What　if　something　has　cut　the　route　between　Menzoberranzan　and　Ched　Nasad？　What　if　it's　killing　everyone　who　tries　to　pass　through？〃
〃More　than　one　tunnel　connects　the　cities；〃　rumbled　the　draegloth　unexpectedly；　and　despite　the　perfume　wafting　through　the　air；　Faeryl　caught　a　whiff　of　the　creature's　putrid　breath。　〃Is　that　not　so？〃
〃Exactly〃　Triel　reached　back　around　the　edge　of　her　golden　chair　and　gave　the　halffiend　an　approving　pat　on　the　leg。　〃Your　theory　doesn't　stand　up；　Ambassador。〃
Not　for　the　first　time；　Faeryl　wished　that　Triel's　mother　was　still　leading　House　Baenre。　The　greedy；　vicious　old　autocrat　could　be　hard　to　contend　with；　but　though　she　would　have　cherished　a　draegloth　as　a　mark　of　Lolth's　
approval　and　delighted　in　the　demidemon's　gift　for　slaughter；　she　wouldn't　have　tolerated　it　speaking　unbidden　at　a　formal　conference；　any　more　than　she　would　have　borne　such　disrespect　from　anyone　else。
〃If　the　threat　consists　of　more　than　one　beast；〃　the　emissary　said；　〃or　more　than　one　manifestation　of　a　phenomenon；　it　could　cut　more　than　one　passage。〃
Triel　shrugged。　〃If　you　say　so。〃
〃I　hesitate　to　mention　it；〃　said　Faeryl；　〃lest　I　be　thought　an　alarmist；　but　it's　even　possible　that　some　misfortune　has　befallen　Ched　Nasad　itself。〃
〃A　misfortune　so　abrupt　and　allenpassing　that　your　folk　never　even　had　a　chance　to　dispatch　a　messenger　to　Menzoberranzan？〃　Triel　replied。　〃Nonsense。　Even　Golothaer；　home　of　our　ancestors；　didn't　perish　in　an　hour。　Besides；　I　am　personally　aware　of　several　muniqués　having　reached　here　from　Ched　Nasad　in　only　the　past　few　days。〃
〃I　have　received　some　of　those　sendings　myself；　Matron　Mother；　and　find　their　excuses　suspicious　at　best。　In　any　case；　the　dearth　of　traffic　from　Ched　Nasad　warrants　investigation；　and　as　my　city's　representative　in　Menzoberranzan；　the　task　is　my　responsibility。〃
〃No　one　has　charged　you　with　it。〃
〃Then　I　take　it　upon　myself。　Yet　I'm　reluctant　to　venture　across　the　Underdark　with　merely