war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第3章

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　　　When　the　alu　nodded；　he　pursed　his　lips。
　　　〃Interesting。　This　just　gets　more　and　more　intriguing。　First；　we　haven't　seen　a　drow　caravan　of　any　sort　in　the　last　few　tendays。　Finally；　when　a　party　of　drow　do　venture　out；　they　e　straight　through　here；　something　they　would　normally　avoid　like　the　stink　on　a　dretch；　and　lastly；　they　have　a　draegloth　acpanying　them；　which　means　drow　noble　Houses　are　somehow　personally　involved。　What　in　the　Nine　Hells　are　they　up　to？〃
　　　Vhok　resumed　staring　off　into　the　dark　distance；　again　absently　caressing　his　consort；　this　time　letting　his　fingers　trail　gently　down　her　ribs；　which　were　exposed　through　the　lacing　of　her　shiny　black　leather　corset。　She　sighed　in　delight　but　forced　herself　to　stay　focused。
　　　〃There's　more。　I　listened　in　on　a　conversation　when　they　stopped　to　rest。　One　of　them；　definitely　a　mage　of　some　sort；　was　taunting　another；　who　looked　like　a　priestess。〃
　　　〃One　of　the　males　giving　lip　to　a　female？　That　can't　last　long。〃
　　　〃Not　just　any　female。　He　referred　to　her　as　'the　Mistress　of　the　Academy。'
　　　Kaanyr　sat　upright；　his　stare　deeply　penetrating　her　own。
　　　〃Oh；　really；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　so　intrigued；　he　never　noticed　that　his　move　nearly　made　Aliisza　fall　to　the　floor　at　his　feet。
　　　She　managed　to　maintain　her　balance；　but　she　was　forced　to　stand　to　avoid　looking　silly。　She　glared　at　the　cambion。
　　　He　went　on；　oblivious；　〃Oh；　this　is　just　too　good。　One　of　the　highest　drow　priestesses　in　all　of　Menzoberranzan　is　trying　to　sneak　incognito　through　my　tiny　little　domain。　And　she's　letting　a　wizard　run　his　mouth　at　her。　No　caravans　for　more　than　a　month；　and　now　this。　This　is　too　much　fun！〃
　　　Kaanyr　turned　to　face　Aliisza　once　more；　and　upon　seeing　her　glare；　he　cocked　his　head　in　confusion。
　　　〃What？　What's　wrong？〃
　　　The　alu　fumed；　〃You　have　no　idea；　do　you？〃
　　　Kaanyr　spread　his　hands　helplessly　and　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Well；　then　I'm　not　going　to　tell　you！〃　she　snapped；　and　turned　away　from　him。
　　　〃Aliisza。〃　Vhok's　voice　was　deep　and　manding；　and　it　sent　shivers　down　her　spine。　He　was　angry；　just　as　she'd　hoped。　〃Aliisza；　look　at　me。〃
　　　She　glanced　back　at　him　over　her　shoulder；　letting　one　arched　eyebrow　rise　questioningly　He　had　risen　from　the　throne　and　was　standing　with　his　hands　on　his　hips。
　　　〃Aliisza；　I　don't　have　time　for　this。　Look　at　me！〃
　　　She　shivered　in　spite　of　herself　and　turned　fully　around　to　face　her　lover。　His　eyes　smoldered　and　made　her　melt。　She　pouted　just　a　little；　to　let　him　know　that　she　didn't　like　being　chastised；　but　she　was　finished　playing　the　game。
　　　Vhok　nodded　slightly　in　satisfaction。
　　　His　visage　softened　a　bit；　and　he　said；　〃Whatever　I　did；　I'll　make　it　up　to　you　later。　Right　now；　though；　you　have　to　get　back　over　there　and　find　out　what's　going　on。　See　if　you　can　get　face　to　face　with　them　and　'invite'　them　to　pay　us　a　visit。　But　be　careful。　I　don't　want　this　to　explode　in　my　face。　If　a　high　priestess　and　a　draegloth　are　part　of　this　group；　then　the　rest　of　them　are　dangerous；　too。　Keep　the　Scourged　close；　to　hem　them　in；　but　don't　waste　too　many　bodies　on　an　all…out　attack。　But　also　don't　make　it　too　obvious　that　you're　holding　them　back。　Also；　don't…〃
　　　Aliisza　rolled　her　eyes；　feeling　a　little　insulted。
　　　I've　done　this　a　time　or　two　before；　you　know；〃　she　interrupted；　her　voice　thick　with　sarcasm。　〃I　think　I　know　what　to　do。　But　。　。　。〃
　　　She　stepped　closer　to　Kaanyr…Into　him；　really…rising　up　on　her　tiptoes　and　wrapping　her　arms　around　his　waist　and　curling　one　smooth；　bare　leg　around　the　back　of　his　calf。　She　drew　herself　close；　let　her　body　press　against　his；　and　continued。
　　　〃When　I'm　done　with　this　little　task；〃　she　said；　her　voice　smoky　with　desire；　〃you're　going　to　tend　to　my　needs　for　a　while。〃　She　leaned　up　and　nibbled　on　his　ear；　then　whispered；　〃Your　teasing　Is　working　too　well；　love。〃
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　Triel　didn't　like　brooding；　but　she　caught　herself　doing　it　frequently　of　late。　This　time；　when　she　realized　she　was　at　it　again；　she　was　suddenly　aware　of　the　faces　of　the　other　seven　matrons；　looking　at　her　expectantly。　She　blinked　and　stared　back　at　them　for　a　moment；　trying　to　recall　the　words　of　the　conversation　that　had　droned　m　the　background　of　her　thoughts。　She　could　remember　voices　but　nothing　more。
　　　〃I　asked；〃　Matron　Miz'ri　Mizzrym　said；　〃what　thoughts　have　you　given　to　other　courses　of　action；　should　your　sister　fail　to　return？〃
　　　When　Triel　still　did　not　respond；　the　hard…faced　matron　mother　added；　〃There　are　thoughts　floating　around　somewhere　in　there　today；　aren't　there；　Mother？〃
　　　Triel　blinked　again；　jolted　fully　back　to　the　conversation　at　hand　by　the　Mizzrym's　biting　words；　focusing　her　attention　where　it　ought　to　be　instead　of　on　the　empty　sensation　she　felt　where　the　goddess's　presence　should　have　been。　Other　courses　of　action　。　。　。
　　　〃Of　course；〃　she　replied　at　last。　〃I've　been　giving　that　considerable　thought；　but　before　we　delve　too　deeply　into　alternatives；　I　think　we　must　exercise　some　patience。〃
　　　Matron　Mez'Barris　Armgo　snorted。　〃Have　you　been　listening　to　a　word　we've　said　in　the　last　five　minutes；　Mother？　Patience　is　a　luxury　we　no　longer　have。　We　exhausted　so　much　of　our　reserves　of　magic　quelling　the　uprising　we　might…might；　I　say…be　able　to　withstand　another　major　insurrection；　should　one　occur。　As　much　as　I　love　a　good　battle；　putting　down　another　slave　rebellion　would　be　wasteful；　when　it's　only　a　matter　of　time　before　Gracklstugh　or　the　survivors　of　Blingdenstone　determine　that　we　are　powerless；　without。　。　。〃
　　　The　hulking；　brutish　matron　mother　faltered；　unwilling；　even　as　forward　and　tactless　as　she　usually　was；　to　put　words　to　the　crisis　they　all　faced。
　　　〃If　they　aren't　already　aware；〃　Zeerith　Q'Xorlarrin　interjected；　glossing　over　Mez'Barris's　unfinished　thought。　〃Even　now；　one　or　more　of　the　other　nations　could　be　amassing　an　army　to　drive　to　our　gates。　New　voices　could　be　whispering　poison　into　the　ears　of　the　lesser　creatures　down　in　the　Braeryn　or　the　Bazaar；　voices　belonging　to　those　clever　enough　to　mask　their　true　identities；　their　true　intent。　Its　something　we　must　consider　and　discuss。〃
　　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Yasraena　Dyrr　said　contemptuously。　〃Yes；　let's　sit　here　and　discuss；　not　act；　never　act。　We　are　afraid　to　venture　forth　into　our　own　city！〃
　　　〃Bite　your　tongue！〃　Triel　snapped；　growing　more　and　more　incensed。
　　　She　was　angry　not　only　at　the　direction　of　the　conversation…　suggestions　of　cowardice　from　the　High　Council！…but　also　at　the　ridicule；　the　unusually　open　vitriolic　nature；　of　the　other　matrons'　words。　Ridicule　directed　at　her。
　　　〃If　there　is　one　among　us　afraid　to　walk　our　own　streets；　she　need　no　longer　sit　on　this　Council。　Are　you　one　such；　Yasraena？〃
　　　The　matron　mother　from　House　Agrach　Dyrr　grimaced　at　the　chastisement　she　was　receiving；　and　Triel　realized　it　was　not　merely　because　Yasraena　knew　she　had　overstepped　herself。　It　was　the　matron　of　House　Baenre；　supposedly　an　ally　to　Yasraena's　house；　that　was　administering　this　stern　lecture。　Triel　intended　it　as　such。　It　was　time　to　send　a　message；　to　remind　the　other　matron　mothers　that　she　still　sat　at　the　top　of　the　power　structure　and　she　would　not　tolerate　such　insubordination　from　any　of　those　sitting　around　her；　ally　or　not。
　　　〃Perhaps　Matron　Q'Xorlarrin　is　right；〃　Miz'ri　Mizzrym　said　quietly；　in　an　obvious　attempt　to　steer　the　conversation　in　a　new　direction。　〃Perhaps　we　should　consider　not　just　who　knows；　not　just　who　moves　against　us…covertly　or　otherwise…but　who　might　be　allying　together　against　us。　If　even　two　or　three　of　the　other　nations　e　together　as　our　enemies　。。。〃
　　　She　let　the　thought　trail　off；　and　the　other　drow　in　the　chamber　looked　unfortable；　considering　its　obvious　conclusion。
　　　〃We　need　to　know　what's　going　on；〃　she　continued；　〃at　the　very　least。　Our　spy　network　among　the　duergar；　the　illithids；　and　other　deep　races　has　not　been　best　used　of　late　or　perhaps　isn't　as　strong　as　we　would　like。　But　what's　m　place　should　be　funneling　more　information　back　to　us　about　the　intentions　of　potential　threats。