war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第49节

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　did　you　bring　it？〃
　　　Ssipriina　kept　her　stare　steadily　on　ShriNeerune's　face　for　a　moment　longer；　her　eyes　narrow　in　anger；　but　then　she　turned　away。
　　　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　she　answered。　〃I　have　it　right　here。〃
　　　〃Then　let's　do　this；〃　the　thin　matron　mother　said；　motioning　for　the　five　of　them　to　gather　together。　〃Its　time　to　claim　our　legacy。〃
　　　Ssipriina　nodded　and　produced　a　small　bundle　wrapped　in　black　silk。　Undoing　the　covering；　she　revealed　a　crystalline　statue　of　a　spider；　as　black　as　darkness　itself；　broken　into　several　pieces。　The　head　and　the　abdomen　were　separated；　as　were　two　sets　of　four　legs；　one　for　each　side　of　the　figurine。　The　five　matron　mothers　gathered　around　as　Ssipriina　held　the　cloth　in　the　palms　of　her　hands；　the　collection　of　parts　sitting　atop　it；　stretching　her　arms　out　for　them　to　see。
　　　〃It　has　been　many　years；〃　Nedylene　said；　reaching　out　with　her　lacquered　nails　and　lifting　one　set　of　legs　to　examine　them。　〃The　city　will　tremble　before　our　might。　Let　us　begin。〃
　　　〃Hold　them　steady；　Ssipriina；〃　Umrae　warned。
　　　She　took　hold　of　the　abdomen　of　the　statue。　One　by　one；　the　other　three　matron　mothers　each　took　up　a　part。　They　looked　from　one　to　another；　and　finally；　when　Umrae　nodded；　they　fitted　the　pieces　together；　making　the　figurine　whole。
　　　〃Quickly；　now！〃　Umrae　hissed；　and　Ssipriina　wasted　no　time　re…wrapping　the　pleted　statue　in　the　cloth。
　　　Already；　the　matron　mothers　could　see　that　the　bundle　was　squirming；　growing　larger。
　　　〃Hurry！〃　ShriNeerune　hissed。　〃Throw　it！〃
　　　Ssipriina　did。　She　reached　back　and　hurled　the　bundle　out　into　the　void；　as　hard　as　she　could；　and　as　one　the　five　matron　mothers　watched　the　wiggling　cloth　tumble　away　from　House　Zauvirr。
　　　The　cloth　fell　away；　and　the　assembled　drow　gasped　as　one。　The　statue　had　transformed　into　a　living　thing；　a　spider　as　black　as　the　crystal　it　was　born　from；　and　it　was　growing　rapidly　in　size。　In　the　blink　of　an　eye；　it　was　the　size　of　a　rothé；　and　as　it　disappeared　past　the　side　of　the　web　street　it　was　still　growing。
　　　Ssipriina　watched；　awed；　as　the　creature　shot　forth　a　string　of　webbing　at　the　street；　attaching　a　line　to　anchor　itself　as　it　fell。　Then　it　was　gone；　vanished　from　their　vantage　point。
　　　The　five　dark　elves　waited　breathlessly；　hoping　to　catch　another　glimpse　of　the　thing　they　had　created。　The　strand　of　webbing　had　jerked　taut　and　visibly　vibrated　as　it　dropped　straight　down。　Obviously；　the　spider　was　still　attached　to　it。　For　a　moment；　there　was　nothing　to　see；　though　all　five　matron　mothers　strained　to　do　so；　anyway。
　　　When　the　first　black　leg　stabbed　into　view；　feeling　for　a　foothold　on　the　web　street；　Ssipriina　felt　her　heart　skip　a　beat。　The　appendage　was　longer　than　she　was　tall。　Slowly；　delicately；　the　spider　lifted　itself　into　view；　and　all　five　matron　mothers　took　an　involuntary　step　back　from　the　balustrade；　even　though　their　creation　was　dozens　of　yards　away　from　them。　It　was　as　large　as　the　street　was　wide。
　　　〃By　the　Dark　Mother；〃　someone　breathed。　〃It's　magnificent！〃
　　　The　giant　spider　righted　itself　atop　the　street；　and　Ssipriina　could　hear　the　screams　of　those　below；　screams　of　terror　as　the　spider　was　spotted。　It　began　to　scurry　in　the　other　direction；　toward　the　masses　of　soldiers　still　fighting　several　streets　away。
　　　〃By　the　Abyss；〃　Umrae　groaned。
　　　〃What？　What　is　it？〃　Nedylene　asked；　worry　in　her　voice。
　　　〃There　is　no　link；〃　Umrae　replied；　her　eyes　closed　in　concentration。　〃I　can't　control　It。〃
　　　***
　　　
　　　Halisstra　could　feel　her　sense　of　impending　dread　growing。　While　House　Melarn　had　not　collapsed　all　together；　as　she　had　so　direly　predicted　back　in　her　rooms；　it　had　certainly　shaken　violently　more　than　once；　and　to　her　senses；　familiar　with　every　hallway；　chamber；　and　nuance　of　the　dwelling；　it　seemed　to　lean　very　slightly　to　one　side。　As　impossible　to　fathom　as　the　idea　was；　Halisstra　wondered　if　the　place　was　still　stable。　She　wanted　desperately　to　get　outside　and　see　for　herself　just　what　was　happening　in　the　city。　The　drow　couldn't　imagine　violence　so　potent　as　to　be　able　to　physically　disturb　House　Melarn。
　　　The　dark　elf　priestess　was　leading　the　others　toward　her　mother's　chambers；　where　she　was　certain　Quenthel's　personal　belongings　had　been　taken　after　the　Mistress　of　the　Academy　had　been　imprisoned。　Though　she　would　have　some　petition　from　Aunrae　Nasadra；　Ssipriina　Zauvirr　would　certainly　claim　much　of　House　Melarn's　bounty　for　herself；　including　the　high　priestess's　personal　items；　to　keep　as　trophies　of　her　affront　to　the　city　of　Menzoberranzan；　if　nothing　else。　It　remained　to　be　seen　if　everything　Quenthel　Baenre　had　in　her　possession　upon　arrival　in　the　city　was　still　there。
　　　The　more　she　thought　about　the　actions　of　Ssipriina　and　the　other　matron　mothers；　the　more　incensed　Halisstra　grew。　Beyond　the　consequences　of　turning　on　House　Melarn；　they　were　potentially　offending　the　most　powerful　House　in　Menzoberranzan。　Plus；　the　course　of　action　they　had　taken　seemed　to　Halisstra　to　be　a　symbolic　thumbing　of　the　nose　at　the　very　idea　of　even　trying　to　discover　what　was　going　on　with　Lolth。
　　　At　least　Quenthel　and　the　others　are　trying　to　figure　something　out；　she'd　told　herself　more　than　once　since　her　entanglement　with　them。　Lolth　might　value　devotion；　but　Halisstra　didn't　believe　the　goddess　expected　her　servants　to　sit　back　and　wait　for　her　to　e　save　them；　even　if　they　showed　overzealous　dedication　or　sacrificed　a　thousand　gray　dwarves。
　　　Truthfully；　Halisstra　had　found　herself　wondering　just　what　Lolth　wanted。
　　　Halisstra　passed　through　a　large　intersection　and　turned　down　a　new　pathway；　one　even　more　lavishly　decorated；　if　that　were　possible；　with　plush　carpeting；　murals；　and　images　of　House　Melarn　triumphs。　They　were　entering　Drisinil's　personal　quarters；　and　Halisstra　was　fearful　that　a　large　contingent　of　House　Zauvirr　guards　would　be　posted　to　protect　the　chambers；　insurrection　outside　or　not。　The　dark　elf's　concerns　were　well　founded；　for　as　she　rounded　a　corner；　she　spotted　a　squadron　of　troops　milling　about；　blocking　access　to　the　door　beyond；　which　led　into　Drisinil's　private　residence。
　　　〃What　are　you　doing　down　here？〃　Halisstra　demanded；　hoping　to　throw　the　soldiers　off…balance　with　her　manding　tone。　〃You　are　needed　on　the　parapets　at　once！〃
　　　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　the　sergeant　said；　eyeing　the　motley　group　following　the　First　Daughter　as　he　raised　his　sword　and　pointed　it　at　her。　〃We　received　word　that　the　traitor　had　escaped；　and　now　you　appear　right　here；　conveniently　for　us。　I'm　afraid　we　have　orders　to　kill　you　and　anyone　aiding　you。〃
　　　The　soldiers　fanned　out；　brandishing　their　weapons　as　they　advanced。
　　　Halisstra's　first　instinct　was　to　bring　her　mace　up　to　defend　herself；　but　her　hand　was　empty；　for　Quenthel　had　not　yet　permitted　her　to　rearm　herself。　Danifae；　who　was　at　Halisstra's　side；　was　no　longer　bound；　but　she　had　no　weapon；　either。　Danifae　did；　however；　carry　a　small　knapsack　with　some　of　their　other　belongings。　Quenthel　had　agreed　to　let　them　stop　at　Halisstra's　chambers　and　pack　a　few　things　before　departing；　for　if　the　House　continued　to　thrash　about　like　it　had；　there　was　no　telling　when　they　might　have　to　evacuate；　and　there　would　be　no　better　chance　later。
　　　Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　Halisstra　saw　her　attendant　falter　a　step；　too；　but　before　the　soldiers　could　close　the　gap；　a　blur　of　yellowish…white　fur　flashed　between　the　two　drow；　slamming　into　the　front　rank　of　troops　with　a　deep；　unsettling　snarl　and　a　whirl　of　arms　and　claws。　There　was　a　sickening　sound　of　rending　flesh　before　Halisstra　realized　that　the　draegloth；　Quenthel's　personal　bodyguard；　was　the　source　of　the　carnage。
　　　Halisstra's　gasp　of　surprise　came　only　after　three　of　the　soldiers；　including　the　sergeant；　went　down　screaming　before　the　onslaught　of　the　creature；　their　bodies　horribly　mangled　and　their　blood　splattered　everywhere。　Several　other　soldiers　began　to　surround　the　draegloth；　trying　to　stay　clear　of　the　fiend's　savage　claws；　but　at　the　same　time　looking　for　ways　to　press　the　attack。　Jeggred　crouched；　watching　his　multiple　foes　as　they　swarmed　around　him；　lashing　out　with　their　swords　but　unwilling　to　get　in　close　enough　to　do　any　good。　A　handful　were　already　backing　out　of　the　fray；　producing　hand　crossbows。
　　　Another　figure　darted　past　Halisstra；　and　a　third；　and　she　settled　back　against　the　wall　as　Ryld　and　Valas　entered　the　fight。　The　larger　of　the　two；　whom　she　had　found　striking　when　they　first　came　face　to　face；　was　wielding　his　greatsword　in　a　manner　she　found　forting。　The　blade　seemed　light　and　easy　in　his　hands　as　he　carved　half　the　face　off　of　one　soldier　and　spun　to　swipe　through　the　midsection　of　a　second　enemy　in　the　same　motion。　The　diminutive　one；　on　the　other　hand；　seemed　content　to　slink　up　behind　one　of　the　drow　soldiers　still　trying　to　find　an　opening　inside　Jeggred's　deadly　reach。　The　guard　never　heard　or　felt　Valas　ing；　and　when　the　scout　planted　his　kukri　into　the　small　of　the　soldiers　back；　a　flash　of　energy　acpanied　the　stroke。　The　soldier　arched　his　back　in　agony　and　crumpled　to　the　ground　a