war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第87节

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r。　We'll　destroy　one；　repair　to　the　Braeryn；　boast　of　the　deed；　and　await　developments。　The　rogues　will　seek　us　out。　How　can　they　not？　Whatever　their　ultimate　obnotjective；　I'm　sure　they　can　use　the　services　of　two　such　talented　fellows。〃
〃No　doubt；　but　back　up。　You　want　to　murder　a　patrol？〃
〃In　as　showy　a　manner　as　possible。　With　a　bit　of　planning；　it　should　be　easy　enough。　They　won't　be　as　numerous　as　Greyanna's　hunters　and　they　won't　be　expecting　that　sort　of　trouble。〃
〃What　happened　to　not　killing　anybody；　especially　clerics；　unless　we　abnotsolutely　have　to？〃
〃We　do　absolutely　have　to。　We're　in　a　race　against　time；　remember；　and　this　is　the　speediest　route　to　our　objective。〃
〃Maybe；　but　what　happens　afterward？　Won't　any　number　of　folk　want　to　punish　us　for　our　impudence？〃
〃We　won't　confide　our　involvement　to　those　likely　to　prove　unsympanotthetic。〃
〃The　priestesses　will　figure　it　out。〃
〃Ah；　but　snug　and　safe　in　the　lair　of　our　friend　the　Prophet；　we　won't　care。　Besides；　the　Council　has　already　authorized　our　annihilation；　so　we　really　have　nothing　to　lose。〃
〃Perhaps　the　crime　can't　worsen　our　current　situation；　but　what　about　the　long　term？〃
〃In　the　long　term；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃it　wont　matter。　As　you　yourself　obnotserved　mere　moments　ago；　we　Menzoberranyr　are　a　pragmatic　lot。　People　fornotgive　whatever　outrages　I　mitted　yesterday　if　I　make　myself　useful　today。〃
〃Greyanna　didn't。〃
The　wizard　laughed　and　replied；　〃Well；　of　course；　we're　likewise　prone　to　grudges；　vendettas；　and　blood　feuds。　It's　one　of　the　paradoxes　central　to　our　natures。　With　luck；　though；　no　one　of　importance　will　take　our　little　massacre　personally。　I　doubt　we'll　be　murdering　any　princesses；　or　anyone　of　genuine　significance　to　her　family。
〃I　think　it's　crazy；〃　Ryld　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃You　don't　know　that　the　rogues　will　contact　us；　or　if　they'll　like　what　they　see　if　they　do。〃
〃Then　we'll　simply　hatch　another　scheme。〃
Ryld　scowled　and　shook　his　head　again。
〃You're　mad；〃　the　weapons　master　said；　〃but　I'm　with　you。〃
〃Splendid！　We　must　toast　our　homicidal　designs　with　something　stronger　than　juice。〃　Pharaun　looked　about　and　spotted　the　goblin。　〃May　we　see　the　wine　list；　please？〃
Ryld　said；　〃It's　the　very　beginning　of　the　morning。〃
〃Don't　be　misled　by　superficial　appearances；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃As　neinotther　of　us　has　enjoyed　a　moment　of　repose；　it　must　still　be　night。　Do　you　think　they　have　any　of　that　'53　Barrison　Del'Armgo　heartwine？〃


C　h　a　p　t　e　r

F　0　U　R　T　E　E　N
Until　someone　murdered　her；　Lirdnolu　s　had　taught　her　classes　in　a　sort　of　indoor　amphitheater；　one　of　many　architectural　oddities　scattered　through　Arach…Tinilith；　and　as　the　conspirators　slunk　in；　they　seated　themselves　on　the　C…shaped　tiers。
Drisinil　wondered　what　to　say　to　them；　how　to　stall　until　Quenthel　arnotrived　to　confront　them。　The　novice's　mind　was　a　blank；　but　she　knew　she'd　have　to　think　of　something。　Her　mouth　was　dry　and　tasted　of　metal。　Her　armpits　were　clammy　with　sweat；　and　her　accelerated　pulse　pounded　in　the　stumps　of　her　severed　fingers。　The　poison　was　obviously　well　on　its　way　to　killing　her；　and　she　had　to　please　Quenthel　Baenre　sufficiently　to　earn　the　antidote。
Wrinkled　old　Vlondril　Tuin'Tarl　leered　at　Drisinil　as　if　she　knew　of　the　student's　distress；　but　all　she　said　was；　〃I　believe　most　everyone's　here。　Let's　get　this　done　before　our　colleagues　start　missing　us。〃
〃Uh；　yes；〃　Drisinil　said；　gazing　up　at　the　rows　of　faces　staring　back　down　at　her。　〃Well；　mothers；　sisters；　we　all　know　what　happened　last　night。　The　vipers　in　the　mistress's　whip　detected　the　drugs…〃
〃So　they　did；〃　said　Quenthel。
Startled；　Drisinil　spun　around。　A　figure　shrouded　in　a　cowled　piwafwi　rose　from　the　first　row。　She　lifted　her　head；　pushed　the　hood　back；　and　stood　revealed　as　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith。　Somehow　she'd　entered　the　room　without　her　enemies　realizing　her　identity。
Quenthel　pushed　back　one　wing　of　her　cloak；　freeing　the　arm　that　held　her　whip。　She　sauntered　to　the　center　of　the　room。　It　occurred　to　Drisinil　that　at　that　moment　the　plotters　could　have　fallen　on　their　target　en　masse；　but　they　didn't。　The　mistress　cowed　them　with　her　unexpected　appearance；　her　contemptuous　demeanor；　and　the　simple　fact　that　she　was　a　Baenre　princess。
The　mistress　smiled　at　Drisinil　and　said；　〃You've　done　well；　novice；　except　for　one　detail。　It's　traditional　for　priestesses　to　conduct　their　affairs　by　candlelight。　That's　all　right；　I've　taken　care　of　it。〃　She　turned　toward　the　door。　〃e。〃
Two　teachers　marched　in　carrying　silver　candelabra。　After　a　moment；　Drisinil；　squinting；　saw　they　weren't　alone。　Many　of