war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第29节

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odeep　weapons　master's　eyes。　He　reeled　backward。
Ryld　could　tell　that　none　of　his　adversaries　had　any　fight　left　in　them。　He　turned　once　more；　surveying　the　room。　Whoever　had　shot　him；　the　fellow　had　prudently　put　his　hand　crossbow　away。
〃Nicely　done；〃　said　Pharaun；　lounging；　goblet　in　hand；　by　the　bar。
〃How　long　have　you　been　there？〃　Ryld　replied；　walking　to　retrieve　his　short　sword。　Its　victim　had　pulled　it　free　and　left　it　on　the　floor。　〃You　could　have　helped　me。〃
〃I　was　too　busy　wagering　on　you。〃　The　wizard　held　out　his　purse；　and　grumbling　losers　dropped　coins　into　it。　〃I　knew　you　wouldn't　need　help　against　a　couple　drunks。〃
Ryld　grunted；　wiped　his　weapons　on　a　handy　bar　rag；　and　asked；　〃Do　you　want　that　red　sword？　It's　a　good　weapon。　Maybe　a　Godeep　family　heirnotloom。〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃Which　would　mean　they　acquired　it　when；　last　tenday？　No；　thank　you　anyway；　but　what　would　a　spell　caster　do　with　it？　Besides；　I　wouldn't　want　the　weight　to　stretch　and　chafe　my　clothes。〃
〃Suit　yourself。〃
The　Master　of　Sorcere　sauntered　up　to　Ryld；　then　spoke　far　more　softly。　〃Are　you　about　ready　to　go？　I'd　just　as　soon　take　my　leave　before　Nym　wanders　downstairs。〃
Ryld　wondered　what　mischief　his　friend　had　mitted。　〃Almost；〃　he　said。　〃Give　Nym　something　to　pay　for　the　cleanup。〃
The　warrior　walked　to　the　sava　tables；　retrieved　Splitter's　scabbard　and　his　own　winnings；　then　looked　around　for　the　trader。　The　boy　had　made　a　hasty　withdrawal　from　the　table　the　instant　the　fight　began；　but　he　hadn't　gone　far。　Most　every　drow　had　a　taste　for　blood　sport。
Ryld　tossed　him　a　gold　coin　with　the　Baenre　emblem　stamped　on　it。　〃Here　are　your　winnings。〃
The　young　merchant　looked　puzzled。　Perhaps　the　drink　was　to　blame。
〃If　a　player　disturbs　the　arrangement　of　the　board；　he　loses；〃　Ryld　exnotplained。　〃It's　in　the　rules。〃

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〃It　was　gratifying　to　e　upstairs　and　observe　you　handling　our　confinotdential　inquiries　with　your　usual　light　touch；〃　Pharaun　said。
He　paused　to　let　a　float　chest；　attended　by　a　dark　elf　merchant　and　six　hulking　bugbear　slaves；　drift　across　the　lane。　The　stone　box　looked　like　a　sarcophagus。　Maybe　it　was。　In　the　Bazaar；　a　shopper　could　purchase　nearly　anything；　including　cadavers　and　mummies　once　embalmed　with　strange　spices　and　laid　to　rest　with　mystic　rites。　Indeed；　such　wares　were　available　either　whole　or　by　the　desiccated　piece。
〃It　wasn't　my　fault；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃I　did　nothing　to　provoke　that　fight。〃　He　hesitated。　〃Well；　perhaps　I　was　a　bit　brusque　when　the　Godeeps　first　stalked　up　to　the　table。〃
〃You？　Never！〃
〃Spare　me　your　japes。　Why　do　we　have　to　question　people　anyway？〃　The　Master　of　Melee…Magthere　ducked　beneath　the　corner　of　a　low…hangnoting　rothe…hide　awning　and　added；　〃You　ought　to　be　able　to　look　in　a　scrynoting　pool　and　find　the　runaways。〃
Pharaun　smiled。　〃Where　would　be　the　fun　in　that？　Now　seriously；　why　did　the　Godeeps　take　exception　to　your　no　doubt　impeccably　subtle　quesnottions　in　the　first　place？　Were　they　in　league　with　the　rogues？〃
〃I　don't　think　they　knew　anything。　I　think　they　were　merely　sympanotthetic　to　the　idea　of　eloping　and　generally　in　a　foul　mood。　It　looked　as　if　one　of　the　females　in　House　Godeep　had　disciplined　them　with　her　fists　or　a　cudgel；　and　they　only　needed　an　excuse　to　try　and　take　their　resentnotment　out　on　someone。〃
〃This　hypothetical　priestess　beat　the　House　weapons　master　as　if　he　were　a　thrall；　or　at　best；　the　least　useful　of　her　male　kin？　Doesn't　that　strike　you　as　odd？〃
〃Now　that　you　mention　it；　somewhat。〃
〃The　Jewel　Box　was　unusually　crowded　today　as　well。〃
Pharaun　noticed　a　blindfolded　orc　juggling　daggers　for　the　amusement　of　the　crowd　and　paused　for　a　moment　to　watch　the　show。　Ryld　heaved　a　sigh；　signaling　his　impatience　at　the　interruption　in　their　deliberations。
The　wizard　counted　five　sharp　knives；　which　the　slave's　scarred　hands　caught　and　tossed　with　flawless　accuracy。　A　laudable　performance；　even　if　it　lacked　a　certain　elan。　Pharaun　tossed　a　coin　to　the　orc's　owner；　then　strolled　on。　Ryld　tramped　along　beside　him。
〃So；〃　said　the　weapons　master；　〃Tathlyn　gets　a　thrashing；　the　brothel　enjoys　a　glut　of　patrons；　and　you　see　a　connection。　What？〃
〃What　if　all　those　boys　endured　a　beating；　or　at　least　some　sort　of　unnotpleasantness；　at　the　hands　of　their　female　relations？　What　if　that's　the　reason　they　flocked　to　their　sad　little　sanctuary；　to　lie　low；　lick　their　wounds；　and　kick　around　one　of　Nym's　captives　in　their　turn？〃
Ryld　frowned；　pondering　the　notion。　〃You're　guessing　that　priestesses　in　a　diversity　of　Houses　have　grown　more　harsh　and　unreasonable。　Obvinotously；　that　could　provoke　a