war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第14章

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　　　〃All　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　and　the　alu…fiend　grinned　broadly　before　she　caught　herself。　〃Go　and　see　what　you　can　find　out。　In　fact；　I　want　you　to　drop　in　on　Aunrae。　If　there's　something　going　on；　the　matron　mothers　will　be　in　the　know。　I'd　like　to　keep　my　relationship　with　her　on　good　terms；　at　least　for　the　moment；　so　be　polite。　And　keep　me　updated。　I　don't　want　to　have　to　e　find　you　to　see　what　you've　learned。〃
　　　Aliisza　was　nodding　energetically　as　she　stood　up　and　headed　out　the　door。
　　　〃I　will；〃　she　promised；　already　contemplating　the　sort　of　disguise　she'd　like　to　use。
　　　
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　　　As　Khorrl　felt　the　wagon　finally　roll　to　a　stop；　he　almost　groaned　aloud。　His　legs　were　cramping　where　he'd　wedged　himself　into　the　hiding　spot　beneath　the　pile　of　supplies。　He　could　barely　stand　to　be　there　much　longer；　and　he　prayed　to　Laduguer　that　the　trip　was　actually　over。　He　couldn't　imagine　having　to　crouch　there　for　even　another　few　minutes。
　　　The　tarp　over　the　top　of　the　wagon　was　thrown　back；　and　dim　light　shone　down　on　the　goods　stacked　beneath　it。　Of　course；　to　anyone　not　properly　prepared；　that's　all　they　would　have　seen…a　wagon…load　of　supplies　for　the　city。　Khorrl　waited　as　he　listened；　not　daring　to　move；　in　case　it　was　merely　another　checkpoint。　He　didn't　even　want　to　breathe；　for　fear　of　being　heard　by　whomever…or　whatever…　might　be　inspecting　the　wagon。
　　　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　heard　a　drow　voice　say；　and　he　recognized　it　as　belonging　to　Zammzt。　The　dark　elf　was　near　enough　that　there　was　no　mistaking　who　he　was　talking　to。　〃You　can　show　yourselves；　now。　We're　inside　the　storehouse。〃
　　　With　a　thankful　groan；　Khorrl　rose　up；　feeling　his　knees　plaining。　Around　him；　fourteen　other　duergar　did　the　same；　winking　back　into　visibility　one　by　one。　They　looked　at　each　other；　as　if　to　confirm　that　everyone　was　all　right；　and　began　to　peer　around　at　their　surroundings。　Khorrl　himself　hopped　awkwardly　down　from　the　wagon；　grabbing　his　axe　as　he　did　so。　Nearby；　more　wagons　were　being　uncovered；　and　more　of　his　fighters　appeared；　clambering　out　from　between　crates；　barrels；　and　bales　of　foodstuffs。　He　knew　that　there　were　over　twenty　wagons；　so　he　had　about　three　hundred　troops。　More　would　arrive；　in　waves；　over　the　course　of　the　next　several　hours。
　　　As　Zammzt　had　promised；　they　were　set　up　inside　a　large；　open　room；　obviously　a　storehouse　of　some　sort；　though　there　were　no　goods　there　other　than　what　was　on　the　wagons。　Ostensibly；　the　contents　of　the　wagons　were　for　the　benefit　of　the　Houses；　but　in　reality；　it　was　his　army's　supplies。　They　were　going　to　be　camping　there　for　a　few　days；　resting　and　preparing　while　the　other　duergar　units　arrived；　all　of　them　waiting　until　it　was　time　to　do　their　job。　Khorrl　hoped　the　storehouses　would　be　left　undisturbed；　as　promised。
　　　A　handful　of　drow　moved　about；　uncovering　wagons　in　order　to　free　their　hidden　occupants　or　unloading　the　supplies　and　stacking　them　out　of　the　way。　Khorrl　could　see　Zammzt　looking　a　couple　of　wagons　over；　giving　some　young　drow　male　a　few　instructions。　When　the　dark　elf　was　finished；　he　turned　back　to　the　duergar　clan　leader。
　　　〃I　hope　you　find　everything　in　order　here；　Captain　Xornbane；〃　Zammzt　said；　smiling。　〃I　know　it's　not　quite　like　roughing　it　in　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark；　but　it　should　acmodate　you　well　enough。〃
　　　〃It's　fine；　as　long　as　no　one　conies　snooping　around　here　before　we're　ready　to　begin。　The　last　thing　we　need　is　the　city　catching　wind　of　us　before　your　mistress　is　ready　to　fly　her　true　colors。〃
　　　Khorrl　paced　about　as　he　spoke；　trying　to　get　the　feeling　back　in　his　legs　as　much　as　surveying　his　temporary　home。
　　　I　seriously　doubt　that's　going　to　be　a　problem；〃　Zammzt　said；　smiling。　Khorrl　wanted　to　tell　him　to　stop　it。　The　grin　reminded　the　duergar　of　a　pack　lizard's　visage。　〃I've　got　loyal　drow　troops　on　guard　duty　around　the　storehouse；　and　you're　sequestered　here　in　the　far　back　chamber。　No　one　will　bother　you。〃
　　　If　you　say　so；〃　Khorrl　answered　doubtfully。　He　had　seen　more　battles　take　a　turn　for　the　worse　through　the　most　simple；　straight…forward　aspect　of　the　plan　going　awry。　〃Just　remember；　all　that　beautiful　treasure　you　gave　me　is　already　long　gone；　shipped　off　to　safer　parts。　If　you're　thinking　of　turning　the　tables；　you　won't　be　seeing　it　again。　It'll　be　an　expensive　betrayal。〃
　　　Zammzt　looked　genuinely　hurt；　but　only　for　a　moment。
　　　〃I'm　not　sure　you　realize　the　risks　my　mistress　takes；　simply　harboring　an　army　here；〃　said　the　drow。　〃If　you're　discovered；　she　too　suffers　the　consequences。　It　really　isn't　in　her　best　interests　to　turn　on　you；　you　know。〃
　　　〃Hmm；〃　Khorrl　answered。　〃We'll　see。〃
　　　〃So；　I　presume　you　brought　everything　you　need；〃　the　drow　said；　changing　the　subject；　〃but　if　there's　anything　else　you　want　while　you　wait　here；　now　is　the　time　to　ask。　Though；　for　what　we're　paying　you　。。。〃
　　　Khorrl　barked　a　deep　laugh　despite　himself。　The　idea　that　he　would　bring　his　troops　into　such　an　uncertain　situation　without　arranging　for　every　provision；　every　possible　contingency；　was　funny。
　　　〃No；　we're　fine。　Now；　when　are　we　going　to　find　out　just　exactly　who　we're　supposed　to　be　killing？〃
　　　〃Soon；　my　gray　friend；〃　Zammzt　said；　that　toothy　smile　blossoming　again。　〃Very　soon。〃
　　　
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　　　In　the　end；　the　battle　with　the　tanarukks　wasn't　much　of　a　fight　at　all。　Pharaun　had　devastated　rank　upon　rank　of　the　slavering　humanoids　from　a　distance；　even　going　so　far　as　to　decimate　the　reserve　forces　lurking　in　the　back。　He　honestly　didn't　even　find　it　sporting；　especially　when　he　was　able　to　hover　overhead；　out　of　their　reach；　and　attack　them　at　his　leisure。
　　　The　Menzoberranyr　were　well　beyond　the　halls　of　Ammarindar；　and　after　a　night's　rest　they　were　closing　in　on　Ched　Nasad。
　　　〃We　should　be　running　into　patrols　by　now；〃　Faeryl　grumbled　as　they　hiked　along。　〃We're　within　a　quarter　mile　of　the　city。　Something's　wrong。〃
　　　〃I　think　we　knew　that　before　we　left　Menzoberranzan；〃　Quenthel　snapped。
　　　The　group　found　itself　on　the　main　thoroughfare　that　led　into　the　city　from　the　north；　wondering　when　they　would　actually　reach　the　surrounding　outskirts　of　the　city　proper；　the　area　protected　by　patrols。　Pharaun　couldn't　blame　Faeryl　for　being　apprehensive。　Even　after　several　tendays　of　concern　for　her　home　city；　he　imagined　that　she　might　have　held　out　some　hope　that　she　would　find　everything　in　order　upon　finally　arriving。　Still；　he　doubted　that　some　disaster　had　befallen　the　city。　Though　they　hadn't　yet　encountered　any　patrols；　they　were　no　longer　alone　on　the　road　to　the　city。
　　　Traffic　flowing　to　and　from　Ched　Nasad　was　a　trickle　of　its　normal　self；　at　least　according　to　the　ambassador。　Pharaun　didn't　doubt　it。　The　avenue　they　followed　was　broad；　wide　enough　for　numerous　caravans　to　pass　in　either　direction；　but　there　were　no　such　convoys　out　and　about　that　day。　Most　of　those　who　shared　the　road　with　the　Menzoberranyr　were　other　drow；　though　the　occasional　gray　dwarf；　kobold；　or　goblin　passed　them　as　well。　Those　lesser　beings　gave　the　drow　a　wide　berth。　Any　pedestrians　who　were　headed　toward　the　city　were　scattered　just　as　far　apart　as　those　leaving；　and　Pharaun　and　his　panions　neither　passed　nor　were　passed　by　anyone。
　　　The　mage　made　a　tactful　attempt　to　bring　up　the　suggestion　he　had　been　contemplating。　〃Quenthel；　if　something　has　happened　here；　similar　to　what　we've　been　experiencing　back　home；　it　might　be　prudent　to　consider　a　less　obvious　entrance　into　the　city。〃
　　　What　do　you　mean？〃　the　high　priestess　queried；　looking　sharply　at　Pharaun。
　　　Only　that　should　we　boldly　approach　and　announce　our　stature　and　intentions；　we　might　not　receive　the　warm　wele　we　should　under　more　ordinary　circumstances。〃
　　　Why　shouldn't　they　be　glad　to　see　us？　Even　relieved？〃
　　　It　sounded　as　though　Quenthel　was　growing　indignant；　and　Pharaun　struggled　to　find　a　way　to　explain　his　point　in　a　way　that　wouldn't　sound　insulting。
　　　Faeryl　saved　him　the　effort。　Because　they　might　think　we're　here　to　spy　on　them；〃　she　said。
　　　Pharaun　had　to　suppress　a　mild　chuckle。　It　was；　after　al