war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第32章

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　and　should　be　reserved　only　for　the　gravest　of　situations；　such　as　escaping　imminent　death　in　the　destruction　of　a　city。　And；　before　anyone　asks；　we　can　still　retrace　our　steps　if　we　wish。　The　portal　functions　in　both　directions。〃
　　　〃I　am　not　in　a　hurry　to　return　to　the　Labyrinth。　Better　the　sun…blasted　surface　than　that；〃　Halisstra　murmured。
　　　She　picked　her　way　across　the　floor　of　the　sinkhole；　studying　the　forest　overhead。　The　air　was　cool；　and　she　noted　that　the　trees　nearby　were　mostly　needleleafs　of　some　kind；　trees　that　did　not　lose　their　foliage　in　the　wintertime；　if　she　remembered　correctly。　A　number　of　barren　trees　of　a　different　sort　stood　in　and　among　the　evergreens；　trees　with　slender　white　trunks　and　only　a　handful　of　ragged　red　and　brown　leaves　clinging　in　an　odd　clump　near　the　crown。　Dead？　she　wondered。　Or　merely　bare　of　leaves　for　the　winter　months？　She'd　read　many　accounts　of　the　World　Above；　its　peoples；　its　green　plants　and　animals；　its　changing　seasons；　but　there　was　a　great　difference　between　reading　about　something　and　experiencing　it　firsthand。
　　　〃Where　on　the　surface　are　we？〃　Quenthel　asked。
　　　Valas　stared　hard　at　the　trees　for　a　long　time；　and　craned　his　head　up　to　squint　at　the　dimly　glowing　patch　of　clouds　that　hid　the　sun。　He　turned　in　a　slow　circle　to　examine　the　hillside　nearby。　Finally　he　knelt　and　ran　his　fingers　over　the　soft　green　mat　of　mosses　clinging　to　the　boulders　in　the　cavern　mouth。
　　　〃Northern　Faerun；〃　he　said。　〃It's　early　winter；　as　it　should　be。　You　can't　see　the　sun　too　well　to　judge　its　position　in　the　sky；　but　I　can　certainly　feel　it；　as　I　suspect　we　all　do。　We're　in　the　same　general　latitude　as　the　lands　above　Menzoberranzan…not　more　than　a　few　hundred　miles　either　north　or　south；　I　think。〃
　　　〃Somewhere　in　the　High　Forest；　then？〃　Danifae　asked。
　　　〃Possibly。　I'm　not　sure　the　trees　look　right。　I've　traveled　the　surface　lands　near　our　city；　and　the　foliage　looks　different　from　what　I　remember　of　the　High　Forest。　We　might　be　some　ways　distant　from　Menzoberranzan。〃
　　　〃Excellent；〃　muttered　Pharaun。　〃We　trek　through　the　Underdark　to　Ched　Nasad；　are　forced　through　a　portal　to　the　surface　hundreds　of　miles　from　home；　then　we　trek　back　down　into　the　Underdark　through　shadow　and　peril；　only　to　pass　through　another　portal　that　takes　us　back　to　the　surface；　perhaps　even　farther　from　home。　One　wonders　if　we　might　have　simply　marched　here　from　Hlaungadath　without　our　pleasant　detour　through　the　Plane　of　Shadow；　the　delightful　hospitality　of　Gracklstugh；　and　our　lovely　little　tour　of　the　minotaur…infested　Labyrinth。〃
　　　〃Your　spirits　must　be　rebounding；　Pharaun；〃　Ryld　observed。　〃You've　found　your　sarcasm　again。〃
　　　〃A　sharper　weapon　than　your　sword；　my　friend；　and　just　as　devastating　when　properly　employed；〃　the　wizard　said。　He　ran　his　hands　over　his　torso　and　winced。　〃I　feel　half　dead。　Every　time　I　turned　around；　some　hulking　bull…headed　brute　was　trying　to　cleave　me　in　two　with　an　axe　or　pin　me　to　the　floor　with　a　spear。　Might　I　trouble　you　for　one　of　your　healing　songs；　dear　lady？〃　he　asked　Halisstra。
　　　〃Do　not　repair　his　injuries；〃　Quenthel　snapped。　She　still　stood　with　one　hand　clamped　around　her　torso；　blood　trickling　between　her　fingers。　〃No　one　is　mortally　injured。　Conserve　your　magic。〃
　　　〃Now；　that　is　precisely…〃　Pharaun　began　again；　glaring　at　Quenthel　and　climbing　to　his　feet。
　　　〃Stop　it！〃　Halisstra　snapped。　〃I　have　exhausted　my　songs　of　power；　so　it　does　not　matter。　When　I　have　recovered　my　magical　strength　I　will　heal　all　who　need　it；　because　it　is　foolish　to　press　on　in　our　state。　Until　then；　we　will　have　to　rely　on　mundane　methods　to　address　your　injuries。　Danifae；　help　me　dress　these　wounds。〃
　　　The　battle　captive　turned　to　Jeggred；　who　stood　near；　and　motioned　for　him　to　sit　down；　shrugging　her　pack　from　her　shoulders　to　search　for　bandages　and　ointments。　The　draegloth　did　not　protest；　a　sign　of　how　exhausted　he　was。
　　　Halisstra　glanced　over　the　others　and　decided　that　the　wizard　was　most　in　need　of　attention。　After　pushing　him　back　down　onto　the　boulder；　she　took　out　her　own　supply　of　bandages。　She　studied　Pharaun's　upper　arm；　where　Jeggred's　talons　had　scored　the　flesh；　and　she　began　to　apply　an　ointment　from　among　the　supplies　they'd　purchased　in　Gracklstugh。
　　　〃This　will　sting；〃　she　said　pleasantly。
　　　Pharaun　mouthed　an　awful　curse　and　jumped　as　if　he　had　been　stabbed；　yelping　in　pain。
　　　〃You　did　that　on　purpose！〃　he　said。
　　　〃Of　course；〃　Halisstra　replied。
　　　While　she　and　Danifae　worked　on　the　others；　Valas　scrambled　up　a　narrow　path　hidden　along　the　wall　of　the　sinkhole。　He　studied　the　ground　carefully；　and　paused　to　stare　thoughtfully　into　the　forest　nearby。
　　　Halisstra　looked　up　at　him　and　asked；　〃Did　you　find　something　of　interest；　Master　Hune？〃
　　　〃There　is　a　path　here　that　climbs　up　out　of　the　cave　mouth；〃　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　answered；　〃but　I　couldn't　say　where　the　Jaelre　went。　Several　game　trails　converge　here；　but　none　seem　to　have　been　used　by　any　number　of　folk。〃
　　　〃In　the　Jaelre　palace　in　the　Labyrinth　you　said　you'd　found　clear　signs　that　they　had　used　the　portal。　How　could　there　be　no　signs　on　this　side？〃　Quenthel　demanded。
　　　〃Dust　and　grit　in　the　Underdark　can　hold　signs　of　passage　for　many　years；　Mistress。　On　the　surface；　it　is　not　so　easy。　It　rains；　it　snows；　the　small　plants　quickly　grow　over　disused　paths。　Had　the　Jaelre　passed　this　way　in　great　numbers　within　the　last　tenday　or　two；　I　would　probably　see　the　signs；　but　if　they　came　this　way　five　or　ten　years　ago；　I　would　be　left　with　nothing　to　read。〃
　　　〃They　would　not　have　marched　far　across　the　surface；〃　Quenthel　mused。　〃They　can't　be　far　away。〃
　　　〃You're　probably　correct；　Mistress；〃　Valas　replied。　〃The　Jaelre　would　doubtless　have　preferred　to　move　by　night；　staying　under　the　cover　of　the　trees　during　the　day。　If　this　is　a　very　large　forest…the　High　Forest；　or　perhaps　Cormanthor…they　might　be　hundreds　of　miles　away。〃
　　　〃There's　a　cheerful　thought；〃　Pharaun　muttered。　〃What　in　the　world　brought　the　Jaelre　up　here；　anyway？　Didn't　they　consider　the　possibility　that　the　surface　dwellers　would　slaughter　them　as　eagerly　as　the　minotaurs　did？〃
　　　〃When　I　knew　them　years　ago；　Tzirik　and　his　fellows　spoke　from　time　to　time　of　returning　to　the　surface；〃　Valas　said。　He　turned　away　from　the　forest　and　lightly　dropped　back　down　into　the　cave　mouth。　〃Reclaiming　the　World　Above　is　part　of　the　doctrine　of　the　Masked　Lord；　and　the　captains　and　rulers　of　House　Jaelre　wondered　if　the　so…called　Retreat　of　our　light…blinded　surface　kin　might　not　be　an　invitation　to　claim　the　lands　the　surface　elves　were　abandoning。〃
　　　〃Did　it　not　occur　to　you　back　in　Ched　Nasad　that　your　heretical　friends　might　have　decided　to　act　upon　their　wishful　thinking　and　abandon　that　black；　fiend…ravaged　warren　they　called　home？〃　Quenthel　asked。　〃Did　it　not　occur　to　you　that　you　might　have　been　leading　us　into　a　dead　end　in　the　Labyrinth？〃
　　　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　shifted　nervously　under　Quenthel's　gaze；　and　said；　〃I　didn't　see　any　better　alternatives；　Mistress。　Not　if　we　truly　want　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　things。〃
　　　〃You　were　so　eager　to　solve　the　mystery　of　the　Spider　Queen's　silence　that　you　chose　to　gamble　that　your　friend　Tzirik　was　still　in　the　Labyrinth；　even　though　you　knew　his　House　had　been　planning　to　flee　the　place　for　years？〃　Ryld　asked。　〃We　endured　a　great　deal　of　peril　in　the　city　of　the　duergar　and　the　domain　of　the　minotaurs　to　satisfy　your　curiosity。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　we　were　not　meant　to　find　this　Tzirik　at　all；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃Perhaps　Master　Hune　has　led　us　far　away　from　our　true　mission　over　the　last　few　tendays；　and　perhaps　it　was　no　accident　that　he　did　so。〃
　　　〃When　we　considered　the　question　of　whether　we　should　return　to　Menzoberranzan；〃　Jeggred　said；　〃it　was　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　who　urged　us　to　set　off　in　search　of　this　priest　Tzirik…a　heretic　priest　none　of　us　have　even　heard　of；　except　for　Valas。〃　His　eyes　narrowed；　and　the　draegloth　climbed　to　his　feet；　his　four　clawed　hands　balling　into　fists　as　he　shouldered　Danifae　aside。　〃Things　bee　clear；　now。　Our　guide　is　a　Vhaeraunite　heretic；　and　he　has　served　the　Masked　Lord　well　by　leading　us　through　useless　perils　for　days　on　end。〃
　　　〃This　is　ludicrous；〃　Valas　protested。　〃I　would　hardly　have　led　the　Bregan　D'aerthe　to　the　defense　of　Menzoberranzan　if　I　was　an　enemy　of　the　city。〃
　　　〃Ah；　but　it　is　the　classic　ruse；〃　Danifae　purred。　〃Introduce　your　victims　to　the　agent　you　have　chosen　for　their　destruction　by　giving　them　reason　to　trust　her。　In　your　case；　the　job　seems　to　have　been　expertly　done　indeed。〃
　　　〃Even　if　that　was　the　case；〃　Valas　said；　〃why　did　I　not　betray　you　to　the　duergar　in　Gracklstugh？　Or　leave　you　to　the　minotaurs　in　the　Labyrinth？　I　could　have　arranged　your　deaths；　not　a　mere　delay。　If　I　was　your　enemy；　you　can　be　certain　that　is　what　I　would　have　done。〃
　　　〃Perhaps　you　would　have　placed　yourself　in　peril　by　betraying　us　in　either　Gracklstugh　or　the　Labyrinth；〃　Pharaun　observed。　〃Still；　you　raise　a　cogent　point　in　your　own　defense。〃
　　　〃Nothing　more　than　the　glib　lies　of　a　traitor；〃　Jeggred　snarled。　He　glanced　at　Quenthel。　〃mand　me；　Mistress。　Shall　I　rend　him　limb　from　limb　for　you？〃
　　　Valas　lowered　his　hands　to　the　hilts　of　his　kukris；　and　licked　his　lips。　He　was　gray　with　fear；　but　his　eyes　sparked　with　anger。　Each　of　the　others　in　the　pany　turned　their　eyes　to　Quenthel；　who　still　leaned　against　a　boulder；　her　whips　quiescent　at　her　waist。　She　stayed　silent；　as　rain　splattered　down　in　the　forest　and　birds　chirped　and　called　in　the　distance。
　　　〃I　withhold　judgment　for　the　moment；〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　scout。　〃If　you　are　loyal；　we　shall　need　you　to　find　Tzirik…if　the　Vhaeraunite　priest　exists；　of　course…but　you　would　be　well　advised　to　produce　the　Jaelre　and　their　high　priest　quickly；　Master　Hune。〃
　　　〃I　have　no　idea　where　they　might　be；〃　Valas　said。　〃You　might　as　well　condemn　me　now；　and　prepare　yourself　for　Bregan　D'aerthe's　response。〃
　　　Quenthel　exchanged　a　long　look　with　Jeggred。　The　draegloth　smiled；　his　needle…like　fangs　gleaming　in　his　dark　face。
　　　Halisstra　wasn't　sure　what　to　think；　as　she　hadn't　known　the　scout　for　more　than　a　tenday；　and　couldn't　say　what　might　or　might　not　have　happened　in　Menzoberranzan　before　the　Menzoberranyr　came　to　Ched　Nasad。　She　was；　however；　certain　that　they　would　all　regret　it　if　Quenthel　had　Valas　killed　and　it　turned　out　that　the　guide's　services　were　still　required；　or　that　his　powerful　mercenary　guild　decided　to　seek　vengeance　for　the　death　of　their　scout。
　　　〃What　is　the　best　means　of　locating　the　Jaelre　from　here？〃　Halisstra　asked；　hoping　to　deflect　the　conversation　into　a　less　dangerous　course。
　　　Valas　hesitated；　then　said；　〃As　Mistress　Quenthel　pointed　out；　they　are　unlikely　to　have　moved　far。　We　can　search　in　an　expanding　spiral　until　we　e　across　better　information。〃
　　　〃A　plan　that　sounds　wearying　and　tedious；〃　Pharaun　mented。　〃Marching　aimlessly　through　this　blinding　woodland　does　not　appeal　to　me。〃
　　　〃Find　a　surface　dweller　and　pry　information　from　him；〃　Ryld　said。　〃Assuming；　of　course；　that　any　are　nearby；　an