war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第53章

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e　sightings　the　last　few　days。〃
　　　Triel　made　a　noise　in　her　throat；　and　at　first　Gromph　wondered　if　it　was　in　response　to　the　ministrations　of　the　attendant；　but　he　realized　it　was　derisive　when　his　sister　said；　〃Troglodytes？　They've　never　been　able　to　muster　any　sizable　threat　against　us。　You　came　all　the　way　over　here　and　harassed　my　guards　to　tell　me　that？　Please。〃
　　　Gromph　clicked　his　tongue　in　vexation　and　strode　across　the　tiled　floor　to　take　a　seat　on　a　long　bench　along　one　wall。
　　　〃No；　of　course　not；　but　don't　be　so　quick　to　dismiss　any　potential　threat。　More　than　enough　generals　saw　their　last　battle　from　underestimating　the　enemy。　We're　vulnerable　to　any　attack　right　now；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　　〃Fine；　I'll　take　it　under　advisement；〃　Triel　said。　〃So；　what　else　do　you　have　to　tell　me？　I'd　like　to　enjoy　the　rest　of　my　bath；　but　if　you　insist　on　giving　me　more　bad　news；　I　don't　think　I　shall　be　able　to。〃
　　　Gromph　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Yes；　there　is　more　bad　news；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Oh；　wonderful。〃
　　　〃I'm　hearing　bad　things　from　our　expedition　to　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　The　matron　mother　rolled　over　and　sat　up；　shooing　away　the　attendant。　She　seemed　unconcerned　that　her　upper　body　was　exposed　to　him；　though　Gromph　ignored　that　fact。
　　　〃What　kind　of　bad　things？〃　she　asked；　her　tone　grave。
　　　〃The　last　munication　I　received　reported　that　riots　were　beginning。　I　haven't　heard　anything　since；　and　the　next　reports　are　overdue。〃
　　　〃How　long？〃　〃Two　days。　I　already　relayed　that　information　to　you。〃
　　　〃Do　you　have　a　means　of　contacting　him？〃　Triel　asked。
　　　〃Yes；　but　not　for　a　while；　and　not　really　for　the　kind　of　conversation　I　suspect　you'd　like　for　me　to　have　with　him。　Even　with　what　I　can　do；　I'll　have　to　make　preparations　to　use　the　appropriate　magic。〃
　　　〃Fine；　do　that。　In　the　meantime；　what　are　your　thoughts？〃
　　　Gromph　considered　the　question　then　said；　〃Do　I　believe　they　are　alive？　Let's　give　them　some　credit。　They　are　an　enterprising　lot；　and　I　have　no　doubt　that　they　can　take　care　of　themselves。　That's　half　the　reason　you　sent　them　away；　isn't　it？〃
　　　Triel's　eyes　narrowed　slightly　as　she　stood　and　let　the　oil　cascade　from　her　body。
　　　〃I　do　want　them　to　succeed；〃　she　said。　〃It　aids　us　nothing　for　them　to　perish；　regardless　of　whatever　benefits　we　both　receive　for　having　a　few　specific　ones　out　of　the　way。〃
　　　She　motioned　for　the　attendant　to　bring　her　a　towel　and　had　it　wrapped　around　herself。
　　　Gromph's　stare　was　carefully　neutral。
　　　〃I　want　them　to　succeed；　too；〃　he　said。　〃My　issues　aside；　this　crisis　affects　every　aspect　of　my　studies　and　pursuits。　My　point　was；　if　they　were　ingenious　enough　to　be　considered　a　threat　here；　I　think　they　can　take　care　of　themselves　in　Ched　Nasad。〃
　　　〃Find　them；〃　the　matron　mother　manded；　〃and　let　me　know　when　you　do。〃
　　　〃Even　if　I　have　to　threaten　your　guards　again？〃
　　　〃Even　if　you　have　to　leave　them　as　piles　of　ash　on　my　doorstep。〃
　　　Gromph　nodded　and　turned　away　as　Triel　began　to　dress　with　help　from　the　two　attendants。　The　archmage　stopped　and　turned　back　to　face　his　sister。
　　　〃Oh；　and　one　more　thing。〃
　　　Triel　looked　over　at　her　brother　and　asked；　〃Yes？〃
　　　〃Will　you　please　remind　the　other　matron　mothers　of　the　importance　of　timely　response　to　threats　inside　the　city？　I　asked　for　reinforcements　for　several　specific　sections　three　hours　ago；　and　they　were　still　not　in　place　when　I　came　to　visit。〃
　　　〃Again？〃　Triel　sighed。　〃Yes；　of　course　I　will　speak　to　them　again。〃
　　　〃You　know；〃　Gromph　added；　almost　as　an　afterthought。　〃It　would　probably　help　if　House　Baenre　spared　some　extra　soldiers　for　the　cause。　A　show　of　good　faith　and　all　that。〃
　　　〃Really？　Do　you　think　we　can　afford　to　spare　them？〃
　　　〃I　know　of　two　right　outside　this　door　who　could　be　put　to　far　better　use；〃　the　archmage　replied；　giving　his　sister　a　last；　meaningful　stare。
　　　***
　　　
　　　〃Explain　to　me　again　what　you　think　I　have　to　gain　by　trusting　you；〃　Quenthel　said；　gnawing　at　a　strip　of　dried　rothé　meat。
　　　The　seven　of　them　were　hiding　in　a　mess　hall　in　an　unused　wing　of　House　Melarn。　Only　Jeggred　was　no　longer　hungry；　having　sated　himself　back　in　the　dungeon。
　　　It　certainly　took　Faeryl　a　long　time　to　die；　Pharaun　thought；　shuddering；　as　he　sat　watching　the　draegloth　lick　himself　clean。　The　wizard　was　having　a　hard　time　blocking　out　the　image　of　the　drow；　still　moving；　still　watching；　even　as　the　fiend　had　begun　to　feast。
　　　Ryld　and　Valas　stood　guard　near　the　door；　both　of　them　obviously　anxious　to　be　on　their　way。　The　rumbles　from　beyond　the　walls　had　ceased　for　the　moment；　and　Pharaun　wasn't　sure　whether　that　boded　well　or　ill　for　them。　If　the　fighting　had　been　quashed　that　quickly；　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　Ssipriina　began　searching　for　them　again。　He　was　eager　to　be　away；　too。
　　　As　Quenthel　continued　to　inhale　the　food；　Halisstra　pursed　her　lips　and　tried　again　to　defend　her　usefulness　to　the　Menzoberranyr。
　　　〃I　can　get　you　out　of　the　House　without　notice；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　the　best　routes　to　take。　If　we　encounter　any　of　Ssipriina's　guards　along　the　way；　I　might　be　able　to　dismiss　them　without　incident。　Until　you're　safely　out　of　the　city；　having　the　two　of　us　acpany　you　is　to　your　benefit。〃
　　　Quenthel　nodded　as　she　ate。
　　　〃Perhaps；〃　she　said；　pausing　to　sip　from　a　waterskin。　〃Or　perhaps　you　would　simply　like　to　lead　us　into　ruin　in　your　own　way；　maybe　by　lulling　us　into　trusting　you　so　that　you　can　betray　us　to　Ssipriina。　For　all　I　know；　you　still　hold　me　responsible　for　the　death　of　your　mother；　or　are　at　the　very　least　angry　about　my　intentions。〃
　　　Halisstra　rolled　her　eyes　where　Quenthel　could　not　see；　and　Pharaun　had　to　quell　a　bemused　smirk。
　　　At　least　I'm　not　the　only　one　who　finds　her　unbelievably　irrational　at　times；　he　thought。
　　　〃Yes；　all　of　that　could　be　true；　certainly；〃　Halisstra　said；　〃but　then　I　wouldn't　have　had　much　to　gain　by　helping　to　rescue　you　when　Ssipriina　already　had　you　in　her　clutches；　don't　you　think？〃
　　　〃Hmm；〃　Quenthel　said　doubtfully；　another　bite　of　food　in　her　mouth。　She　finished　chewing　and　looked　over　at　Pharaun。　〃What's　your　opinion？〃
　　　The　Master　of　Sorcere　sat　up　straighter；　surprised　that　she　was　seeking　his　counsel。
　　　I　suppose　that　when　you're　surrounded　by　the　bigger　enemy；　he　mused；　the　smaller　enemy　seems　a　friend。
　　　〃Well；　thus　far　they've　given　us　no　reason　to　doubt　them；〃　he　answered。　〃Except；　of　course；　their　heritage　itself。　Regardless　of　whether　you're　inclined　to　trust　a　dark　elf　you've　never　met…a　dark　elf　of　a　House　that　you　so　recently　intended　to　betray；　at　that…our　options　seem　severely　limited　without　their　pany。　I　don't　suppose　we'd　be　all　that　worse　off；　anyway；　should　they　decide　to　turn　on　us　at　an　inopportune　time。〃
　　　Quenthel　made　a　face　at　the　wizard。
　　　〃Are　you　thinking　with　the　right　part　of　your　body？〃　she　asked　sarcastically；　nodding　in　the　direction　of　Danifae；　who　sat　on　a　couch　off　to　one　side；　listening　to　the　discussion。
　　　When　she　became　a　part　of　it；　she　lowered　her　eyes　demurely　and　folded　her　hands　into　her　lap。
　　　Pharaun　smirked。
　　　〃Oh；　absolutely；　Mistress　Baenre；〃　he　said　dryly。　〃Nothing　would　please　me　more　than　to　have　additional　females　along　on　this　trip；　all　with　a　ready　suggestion　on　how　something　should　be　handled　or　a　friendly　ment　on　ways　I　might　improve　my　demeanor　for　the　benefit　of　everyone　around　me。〃
　　　Halisstra's　eyebrows　shot　up　in　surprise；　and　the　wizard　remembered　again　that　she　was　unaccustomed　to　his　manner　with　Quenthel。
　　　For　that　matter；　he　thought；　noting　the　high　priestess's　scowl；　Quenthel　herself　is　unaccustomed　to　my　manner。
　　　Taking　a　slightly　more　conciliatory　tone；　Pharaun　added；　〃With　all　due　respect；　regardless　of　which　part　of　my　body　I'm　currently　using　to　contemplate　this　matter；　it　seems　undeniable　that　we　stand　much　to　gain　and　little　to　lose　by　trusting　them；　at　least　for　the　moment。　Ask　me　again　in　half　an　hour；　and　my　answer　might　be　markedly　different。〃
　　　Quenthel　chewed　her　rothé　thoughtfully；　though　whether　she　was　mulling　his　point　or