war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第59章

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her　passage　to　our　east；　circling　around　us。　We　don't　dare　try　to　make　a　stand　in　this　tunnel；　or　the　tanarukks　will　get　by　us。〃
　　　〃It　would　only　take　a　hundred　soldiers　to　hold　this　tunnel　against　almost　any　force；　wouldn't　it？〃　Triel　asked。
　　　〃Yes；　but　the　duergar　have　enough　war　wizards　in　their　ranks；　and　siege　engines　in　their　train；　that　they　wouldn't　be　halted　for　long　by　a　rearguard　action。〃
　　　〃Try　it　anyway；〃　Triel　grated。　〃Use　slave　troops；　and　leave　enough　officers　behind　to　make　sure　they　don't　break　and　run。　We　need　time；　Weapons　Master；　and　that's　what　rear　guards　are　for。〃
　　　Andzrel　didn't　argue　the　point；　and　Triel　paced　away　to　gather　her　thoughts。　Drow　rebels；　slave　revolts；　duergar　armies；　dark　treachery；　a　missing　archmage；　and　tanarukk　hordes…it　was　hard　to　see　how　matters　could　get　much　worse。　Where　could　she　even　start　to　address　any　of　these　problems？　Assault　Agrach　Dyrr；　without　the　magical　might　of　the　city's　assembled　priestesses？　Pick　another　spot　to　meet　the　duergar；　and　allow　the　tanarukks　to　sweep　past？
　　　〃How　did　this　happen？〃　she　muttered　aloud。
　　　〃Agrach　Dyrr　was　in　league　with　our　city's　enemies；〃　Zal'therra　replied。　〃They　contrived　to　make　up　the　vanguard　of　our　army；　and　instead　of　holding　the　Pillars　of　Woe　against　the　gray　dwarves；　they　led　us　into　a　trap。　They　must　be　obliterated　for　their　treachery。〃
　　　〃I　was　not　speaking　to　you；〃　Triel　growled；　and　this　time　she　could　not　restrain　herself。
　　　Though　she　knew　Zal'therra　was　not　to　blame　for　the　disastrous　battle；　she　had　to　strike　out　at　something。　She　slapped　the　girl；　hard；　rocking　her　to　her　heels　despite　the　fact　that　Zal'therra　towered　almost　a　foot　taller　than　her；　and　outweighed　her　by　thirty　pounds。
　　　〃You　must　e　to　expect　treachery；　you　simpleminded　fool！〃　Triel　snarled。　〃Why　were　there　no　Baenre　officers　among　our　scouts？　Why　did　you　take　no　steps　to　verify　the　reports　the　Agrach　Dyrr　fed　to　you？　If　you　had　exercised　even　the　most　minimal　amount　of　caution；　our　army　would　not　be　in　tatters。〃
　　　Zal'therra　shrank　back；　saying；　〃Matron　Mother；　we　all　approved　of　Andzrel's　plans…〃
　　　〃Andzrel　is　a　weapon；　Zal'therra。　Our　House　army　is　a　weapon。　Yours　is　the　hand　that　must　wield　those　weapons　against　our　enemies。　I　sent　you　out　to　exercise　your　judgment　and　make　decisions；　to　use　your　head　and　think！〃
　　　Triel　whirled　away　to　keep　herself　from　striking　Zal'therra　again。　If　she　did；　she　didn't　think　she'd　be　able　to　stop；　and　like　it　or　not　Zal'therra　was　probably　the　most　promising　of　her　cousins。　Triel　wouldn't　be　around　forever；　and　she　needed　to　give　thought　to　leaving　House　Baenre　with　at　least　a　few　petent　priestesses　in　the　event　that　the　day　came　when　she　would　have　to　have　her　sisters　murdered。
　　　〃Matron　Mother；〃　the　girl　managed；　her　eyes　wide　with　fear；　〃I　apologize　for　my　failure。〃
　　　〃I　never　asked　for　an　apology；　girl；　and　a　Baenre　should　never　offer　one；〃　the　matron　mother　rumbled；　〃but　I　will　give　you　the　opportunity　to　demonstrate　that　you　have　some　redeeming　portion　of　merit　and　resourcefulness。　You　will　take　mand　of　the　rearguard。〃
　　　Triel　gestured　toward　the　south。　There　was　an　excellent　chance　that　she　was　sending　her　cousin　to　her　death；　but　she　needed　to　know　if　Zal'therra　had　the　wits　and　the　resolve　to　bee　a　leader　of　House　Baenre；　and　if　she　found　a　way　to　survive　the　assignment　and　obtain　any　degree　of　success　at　all；　Triel　might　consider　permitting　her　to　live。
　　　〃Make　the　duergar　fight　for　every　step　they　take　toward　Menzoberranzan；〃　Triel　added。　〃Your　survival　depends　on　your　success。　If　you　abandon　this　tunnel　before　three　days　pass；　I　will　have　you　crucified。〃
　　　Zal'therra　bowed；　and　hurried　off。　Triel　turned　back　to　the　weapons　master。
　　　〃Understand　that　I　do　not　hold　you　blameless；　either；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃You　were　the　author　of　our　grand　strategy；　and　I　mitted　the　full　weight　of　House　Baenre's　power　and　prestige　to　your　battle　plan；　which　has　led　us　to　a　disaster　the　likes　of　which　we　have　not　seen　since　Mithral　Hall。　In　any　other　circumstances；　I　would　have　you　dumped　into　a　pit　of　hungry　centipedes　with　your　tendons　slashed　for　your　failure；　but。　。　。　these　are　unusual　times；　and　there　exists　the　small　possibility　that　your　skill　and　grasp　of　strategy　may　prove　useful　in　the　days　to　e。　Do　not　fail　me　again。〃
　　　〃Yes；　Matron　Mother；〃　Andzrel　said；　bowing　low。
　　　〃So；〃　she　continued；　〃where　do　we　stop　the　duergar　and　their　allies？〃
　　　Without　hesitation；　the　weapons　master　replied；　〃We　do　not；　Matron　Mother。　Given　the　losses　we　have　already　suffered；　I　advise　withdrawing　back　to　Menzoberranzan　and　preparing　for　a　siege。〃
　　　〃I　do　not　like　that　option；〃　Triel　snapped。　〃It　reeks　of　defeat；　and　the　longer　an　army　sits　on　our　doorstep；　the　more　likely　it　is　that　they'll　be　reinforced　by　the　arrival　of　some　other　enemy；　such　as　the　beholders　or　the　mind　flayers。〃
　　　〃That　is　possible；　of　course；〃　Andzrel　said；　his　voice　carefully　neutral；　〃but　the　gray　dwarves　will　not　find　it　easy　to　maintain　a　siege　around　Menzoberranzan；　a　hundred　miles　from　their　own　city。　I　don't　think　the　duergar　can　wait　us　out　for　more　than　a　few　months；　and　I　doubt　they　have　the　numbers　to　take　the　city　by　storm。　Our　best　course　of　action　is　to　make　the　duergar　set　their　siege；　and　see　what　kind　of　a　threat　we're　really　facing。　It　would　provide　us　the　opportunity　to　crush　House　Agrach　Dyrr　in　the　meantime。〃
　　　〃You're　afraid　to　face　the　duergar　in　battle　again？〃　Triel　rasped。
　　　〃No；　Matron　Mother；　but　I　will　not　advise　a　course　of　action　that　hazards　the　city　on　a　battle　for　which　we　are　not　prepared；　not　unless　we　have　no　other　choice。　We　are　not　yet　at　that　point。〃　He　paused；　then　added；　〃We　can　always　gather　our　strength　within　the　city　and　sally　in　force　in　only　a　few　days；　if　we　see　the　need　or　the　opportunity。〃
　　　Triel　weighed　the　weapons　master's　advice。
　　　〃I　will　return　to　Menzoberranzan　and　set　the　matter　before　the　Council；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃but；　until　you're　ordered　otherwise；　continue　your　withdrawal。　I　will　have　our　captains　in　the　city　make　ready　to　withstand　a　siege。
　　　
　　　Halisstra　opened　her　eyes　and　found　herself　drifting　in　an　endless　silver　sea。　Soft　gray　clouds　moved　slowly　in　the　distance；　while　strange　dark　streaks　twisted　violently　through　the　sky；　anchored　in　ends　so　distant　she　couldn't　perceive　them；　their　middle　parts　revolving　angrily　like　pieces　of　string　rolled　between　a　child's　fingertips。　She　glanced　down；　wondering　what　supported　her；　and　saw　nothing　but　more　of　the　strange　pearly　sky　beneath　her　feet　and　all　around　her。
　　　She　drew　in　a　sudden　breath；　surprised　by　the　sight；　and　felt　her　lungs　fill　with　something　sweeter　and　perhaps　a　little　more　solid　than　air；　but　instead　of　gagging　or　drowning　on　the　stuff　she　seemed　perfectly　acclimated　to　it。　An　electric　thrill　raced　through　her　limbs　as　she　found　herself　mesmerized　by　the　simple　act　of　respiration。
　　　Halisstra　raised　her　hand　to　her　face　in　an　unconscious　desire　to　shield　her　eyes；　and　she　noticed　that　her　eyesight　was　preternaturally　keen。　Each　link　of　her　mailed　gauntlet　leaped　out　in　perfect　symmetry；　its　edges　boldly　defined；　the　leather　of　her　gloves　gleaming　with　discrete　layers　of　oils　and　stains。
　　　Words　failed　her。
　　　〃You　have　not　ventured　here　before；　Mistress　Melarn？〃　said　Tzirik　from　somewhere　behind　her。
　　　Halisstra　craned　her　neck　back　to　look　for　him；　but　in　response　the　entire　vista　seemed　to　revolve　and　spin　in　one　quick；　smooth　motion；　bringing　into　her　view　the　floating　forms　of　her　panions。　The　Vhaeraunite　priest　stood…no；　that　was　not　right；　floated　was　better…a　dozen　yards　from　her；　his　armor　as　sharp　as　the　edge　of　a　knife；　his　cloak　rippling　softly　in　a　breeze　Halisstra　could　not　feel。　He　spoke　softly；　yet　his　voice　carried　with　a　marvelous　clarity　and　precision　that　made　it　seem　that　he　stood　within　arm's　reach。
　　　〃I　would　have　expected　a　priestess　of　your　stature　to　be　familiar　with　the　astral　realm；〃　the　priest　added。
　　　〃I　know　something　of　what　to　expect；　but　I　have　never　had　the　occasion　to　journey　to　other　planes；〃　she　replied。　〃My　knowledge　of　this　place　is　only　。　。　。　theoretical。〃
　　　She　noted　that　each　of　her　rades　seemed　every　bit　as　sharply　defined；　as　tangible　and　real；　as　Tzirik　himself。　From　some　spot　she　could　not　easily　perceive…somewhere　in　the　middle　of　their　backs；　or　perhaps　the　napes　of　their　necks…sprang　a　slender；　gleaming　tendon　of　silver　light。
　　　Halisstra　reached　around　behind　her　head　and　felt　her　own　cord。　The　warm；　pulsing　artery　vibrated　with　energy；　and　when　her　fingers　brushed　it；　a　powerful　jolt　quivered　through　her　torso　as　if　she'd　just　plucked　the　heartstring　of　her　own　soul。　She　jerked　her　hand　back；　and　resolved　not　to　try　to　touch　her　cord　again。
　　　〃Your　silver　cord；〃　Tzirik　explained。　〃A　nigh　indestructible　bond　that　ties　your　soul　to　its　rightful　home：　your　body；　back　in　Minauthkeep。〃　The　priest　offered　a　cruel　smile。　〃You　will　want　to　be　careful　of　it。　There　are　few　things　that　can　part　an　astral　traveler's　cord；　but　if　something　did；　that　traveler　would　be　destroyed　in　an　instant。〃
　　　Halisstra　watched　as　Ryld　felt　for　his　own　cord　and　touched　it。　His　eyes　widened　and　he　snatched　his　hand　back　just　as　swiftly　as　she　had　withdrawn　her　own。
　　　〃How　long　do　these　things　get？〃　the　weapons　master　asked。
　　　〃They　are　infinite；　Master　Argith；〃　Tzirik　said。　〃Don't　worry；　they　fade　to　intangibility　within　a　foot　or　two　of　your　skin；　so　you　won't　be　tripping　over　your　own　cord。　In　fact；　it　has　the　habit　of　keeping　itself　out　of　your　way；　quite　without　a　thought　on　your　part。〃
　　　Halisstra　glanced　around　the　pany；　watching　as　the　Menzoberranyr　struggled　to　adjust　themselves　to　their　new　environment。　Ryld　and　Valas　flailed　their　limbs　slowly　as　if　trying　to　tread　water。　Quenthel　held　herself　as　stiff　as　a　blade；　her　limbs　locked　tight　to　her　sides；　while　Danifae　drifted　languidly；　her　long　white　hair　streaming　behind　her。　Pharaun　merely　waited；　his　eyes　sparkling　with　dark　amusement　as　he　watched　the　efforts　of　his　panions。　Tzirik　glanced　around；　studying　their　surroundings；　and　nodded。
　　　〃This　is　something　of　a　timeless　place；〃　he　said；　〃but　time　does　pass　here；　so　I　suppose　we　should　begin　our　journey。　Follow　me；　and　stay　close。　You　may　think　you　can　see　forever　from　here；　but　things　have　a　way　of　vanishing　in　the　mists。〃
　　　He　glided　off　without　moving；　arms　folded；　his　cloak　whipping　silently　behind　him。
　　　Follow　him　how？　Halisstra　wondered；　watching　the　priest　go；　but　somehow　in　conceiving　the　desire　to　keep　the　priest　close　by；　she　found　herself　leaping　forward　with　such　alacrity　that　her　next　impulse　was　to　yelp　out　loud；　if　only　to　herself；　〃Stop！〃
　　　And　she　did；　so　quickly　and　with　so　perfect　an　end　to　motion　that　her　mind　told　her　she　must　lurch　forward；　as　if　she　had　tried　to　stop　too　suddenly　from　a　run。　She　managed　to　throw　herself　into　a　violent　circle　before　she　stopped　pletely。　Fortunately；　she　was　not　the　only　one　having　trouble。
　　　Danifae　scowled　prettily　as　she　tried　to　make　herself　go　anywhere　at　all；　and　Ryld　and　Valas　had　somehow　collided　with　each　othe