war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第50章

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irly　certain　they'd　only　been　at　it　for　about　fifteen　minutes。　On　several　occasions；　the　group　was　forced　to　stop　while　a　member　of　the　House　guard　crossed　paths　with　them；　and　once；　Halisstra　actually　posed　as　a　member　of　House　Zauvirr；　issuing　orders　to　a　group　of　sentries　to　head　to　the　surface　to　help　in　the　defense　of　the　House。
　　　〃The　lower　levels　are　not　usually　very　heavily　occupied；〃　Halisstra　said　at　one　point。　〃I　suspect　most　of　Ssipriina's　servants　and　troops　are　above；　aiding　in　the　defense　of　the　House。　It's　not　much　farther；　now。〃
　　　　　　　The　mage　nodded　as　the　five　of　them　continued　on　their　way。　More　than　once；　Pharaun　caught　himself　gazing　in　infatuation　at　the　gorgeous　creature　beside　him。　She　seemed　to　be　considerably　unhappy　at　the　state　of　things；　especially　the　fact　that　she　was　helpless　to　defend　herself　with　her　arms　bound　as　they　were；　but　she　kept　her　gaze　cast　demurely　down；　and　the　wizard　only　found　this　to　be　even　more　endearing。
　　　The　group　took　one　last　stairwell　down　and　found　themselves　in　a　dismal　cell　block。　The　hall　was　undecorated；　unlike　the　posh　elegance　of　the　levels　above；　and　the　stale　stench　of　unwashed　bodies；　faint　though　it　was；　gave　a　certain　hint　of　what　was　to　be　found　there。　Halisstra　led　the　five　of　them　to　a　doorway　at　the　end　of　a　short　hall。　It　was　stout　and　obviously　designed　to　withstand　considerable　force。
　　　The　drow　priestess　stepped　up　to　the　portal　and　waved　her　House　Melarn　brooch　before　it。　There　was　an　audible　click　as　the　magic　of　the　insignia　operated　the　locks　set　into　the　door。　Halisstra　pushed　the　door　aside　and　moved　through　into　the　chamber　beyond；　which　appeared　to　be　a　guard　room；　currently　empty。　At　the　far　side　of　the　chamber；　a　hallway　stretched　off　into　darkness。
　　　Pharaun；　spotting　movement　in　the　corridor　there；　put　a　finger　to　his　lips　and　motioned　for　quiet。
　　　Someone　is　there。　Be　alert…and　no　noise；　he　signed；　pointing　to　both　Halisstra　and　Danifae。
　　　The　two　drow　females　nodded；　and　Pharaun　gestured　for　Halisstra　to　proceed。　As　she　entered　the　hallway；　the　others　followed　her　in。　The　majority　of　the　cells　were　empty；　their　doors　standing　open　and　the　chambers　within　dark　and　silent。　However；　about　halfway　down；　Pharaun　could　detect　the　low　voice　of　someone　speaking。　It　emanated　from　one　of　the　cells　on　his　right；　and　he　could　just　see　the　door　being　swung　shut　from　inside。
　　　Moving　as　quietly　as　they　could；　the　five　of　them　closed　the　gap　to　the　doorway。　The　portal　was　not　pletely　sealed；　and　Pharaun　was　able　to　peer　inside　the　cell。　Quenthel　was　there；　naked　and　crouched　against　the　far　wall。　A　heavy　steel　collar　was　around　her　neck；　with　a　thick　chain　running　from　it　to　a　bolt　set　into　the　stone　of　the　wall。　The　high　priestess　was　gagged　with　some　sort　of　thick　bit　that　was　wedged　tightly　in　her　mouth；　and　her　arms　were　obviously　incapacitated；　stuck　together　in　some　sort　of　thick；　viscous　black　blob　in　front　of　her。　She　had　been　very　effectively　immobilized；　and　Pharaun　understood　all　too　well；　pletely　prohibited　from　casting；　should　she　still　have　a　divine　enchantment　locked　away　after　all　this　time　without　contact　with　Lolth。
　　　To　one　side；　against　another　wall　of　the　cell；　Jeggred　stood　glowering。　He　too　was　chained　to　the　wall；　thick　bands　of　adamantine　encasing　his　neck；　arms；　and　legs。　Pharaun　could　see　that　the　restraints　were　magically　strengthened；　but　even　so；　the　draegloth　strained　against　them；　refusing　to　admit　even　for　a　moment　that　he　was　not　going　to　break　free。　Again　and　again；　Jeggred　jerked　on　the　chains；　causing　them　to　rattle　against　the　wall　as　he　tried　to　lunge　at　the　object　of　his　wrath。
　　　Faeryl　Zauvirr　stood　just　a　little　way　out　of　the　draegloths　reach；　her　back　to　Pharaun　and　Halisstra。　She　was　standing　over　Quenthel　in　the　middle　of　a　scathing　taunt。
　　　〃。　。　。　know　you　would　have　loved　to　tell　the　matron　mothers　the　truth；　but　it's　too　late　for　that　now。　I　only　regret　that　we　didn't　have　more　time　spend　together；　Quenthel。〃
　　　Her　voice　dripped　with　acid。
　　　〃e　a　little　closer；　Faeryl；〃　Jeggred　said；　his　deep　voice　flat　with　malice。　〃Let　me　caress　you　like　before；　in　the　underhalls　of　the　Great　Mound。　Don't　you　want　to　feel　my　kiss　again？〃
　　　Faeryl　shuddered　but　ignored　the　draegloth；　instead　pulling　a　dagger　from　her　belt。
　　　Halisstra　tapped　Pharaun　softly　on　the　arm。
　　　Let　me　lure　her　out　here；　the　Melarn　daughter　signed。
　　　Pharaun　nodded　and　stepped　back；　out　of　sight。　Ryld　pulled　Danifae　against　the　wall　next　to　the　wizard；　while　Valas　took　up　a　position　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　door。
　　　〃Still；　it's　going　to　be　fun　watching　you　both　die；〃　the　wizard　heard　Faeryl　say。
　　　〃I'm　afraid　we　have　other　plans　for　her；　Faeryl；〃　Halisstra　said；　pushing　the　door　open。
　　　The　ambassador　hissed　in　anger。
　　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　she　snarled。　〃You　should　be　dead！〃
　　　Then；　apparently　realizing　that　Halisstra　had　discovered　her　secret；　Faeryl's　tone　changed。
　　　〃You　don't　really　think　I'm　going　to　let　you　walk　out　of　here　alive；　do　you？　To　run　and　tell　the　others　what　you　found？　I　don't　think　so。〃
　　　Halisstra's　tone　was　equally　cold。
　　　〃On　the　contrary。　You　don't　think　I　came　down　here　alone；　did　you？　Danifae！〃　the　Melarn　daughter　called　out；　back　over　her　shoulder。　〃It's　true。　Run；　and　tell　them　what　we　found。〃
　　　〃I　think　not；〃　Faeryl　said；　appearing　in　the　hallway　as　though　she　had　leaped　past　the　priestess。　〃You're　not　going　to　tell　。　。　。〃
　　　The　words　died　in　Faeryl's　mouth　as　she　spotted　Pharaun；　Ryld；　and　Danifae　leaning　against　the　wall。
　　　〃You！〃　she　spat。　〃Halisstra；　you　cast　your　lot　with　them？You're　a　bigger　fool　than　I　thought。〃
　　　The　look　In　Faeryl's　eyes　was　decidedly　nervous；　and　her　fear　only　grew　as　she　felt　Valas　step　in　behind　her　and　take　hold　of　her　arm。　The　point　of　the　scout's　kukri　settled　against　the　hollow　of　her　throat。
　　　Pharaun　reached　out　and　held　out　his　hand；　waiting　for　Faeryl　to　relinquish　her　dagger　to　him。　Eyeing　any　possible　avenue　of　escape；　she　appeared　ready　to　bolt　but　realized　she　had　no　chance　against　so　many。　She　relinquished　the　dagger；　flipping　the　handle　around　and　laying　the　weapon　in　the　wizards　palm。
　　　〃Perhaps　I　am　a　fool；〃　Halisstra　said；　〃but　at　least　I　have　them　as　allies；　which　is　more　than　I　can　say　for　you。　Did　you　enjoy　your　little　game　of　lies？　I　hope　it　was　worth　it。　I　think　it　will　be　the　last　thing　you　enjoy。　Ever。〃
　　　〃Watch　her；〃　the　mage　said　to　Valas　as　he　stepped　into　the　cell；　Halisstra　close　behind。
　　　It　was　obvious　from　the　relieved　look　in　Quenthel's　eyes　that　she　was　glad　to　see　him。　Pharaun　only　smiled　as　he　uttered　a　magical　phrase。　The　collar　around　Quenthel's　neck　clicked　open。
　　　〃Help　her；〃　he　directed　to　Halisstra。
　　　Pharaun　then　moved　over　to　Jeggred；　whose　red；　feral　eyes　glittered　in　anticipation。
　　　〃Your　arrival　was　timely；　wizard；〃　the　draegloth　said；　spreading　his　arms　wide。　〃Free　me　so　that　I　may　rend　the　traitor　and　watch　the　life　fade　from　her　eyes。〃
　　　〃You　will　do　no　such　thing；〃　Quenthel　said。　Halisstra　had　helped　the　high　priestess　remove　the　gag。　〃Do　not　touch　her；　Jeggred。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　Jeggred　looked　at　Quenthel　for　a　moment；　but　then　the　demon　inclined　his　head　in　acquiescence。
　　　〃As　you　wish　and　mand；　Mistress。〃
　　　Pharaun　had　but　one　more　spell　with　which　to　unlock　the　restraints　that　held　Jeggred；　and　he　quickly　utilized　it　to　free　one　of　the　draegloth's　arms。　For　the　other　bindings；　the　mage　decided　to　cast　a　different　spell；　one　that　would　suppress　the　magic　that　strengthened　the　adamantine。　He　quickly　wove　the　dispelling　magic　and　watched　as　the　aura　surrounding　the　metal　faded　from　his　sight。
　　　〃Try　to　break　it；　now；〃　he　said　to　Jeggred。
　　　The　draegloth　jerked　experimentally　on　the　chains　holding　him　to　the　walls；　then　he　really　leaned　into　the　effort；　but　the　adamantine　links　still　would　not　yield。
　　　Pharaun　frowned。
　　　〃Perhaps　a　bit　of　cold；　to　make　them　brittle；〃　he　mused　aloud；　producing　a　small；　clear　crystal　from　his　piwafwi。　〃Gather　the　lengths　together　in　a　group；〃　he　directed　the　draegloth。　Jeggred　did　so；