精灵血脉四部曲-第131部分

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rough　to　your　side。　Together　we　will　teach　K'yorl　the　truth　of　power！〃

　　　A　bright　smile　erupted　on　Baenre's　face　with　the　realization　that　she　was　not　out　of　Lloth's　favor；　that　her　goddess　had　called　on　her　to　play　a　crucial　role　in　this　crucial　hour。　The　fact　that　Lloth　had　all　but　admitted　she　was　still　rather　impotent　did　not　matter。　The　Spider　Queen　would　return；　and　Baenre　would　shine　again　in　her　devious　eyes。

　　　By　the　time　Matron　Baenre　mustered　the　courage　to　e　off　the　floor；　the　beautiful　drow　had　already　exited　the　chapel。　She　crossed　the　pound　without　interference；　walked　through　the　fence　as　she　had　done　at　her　arrival；　and　disappeared　into　the　shadows　of　the　city。



　　　*****



　　　As　soon　as　she　heard　the　awful　rumor　that　House　Oblodra's　strange　psionic　powers　had　not　been　too　adversely　affected　by　whatever　was　happening　to　other　magic；　Ghenni'tiroth　Tlabbar；　the　matron　mother　of　Faen　Tlabbar；　Menzoberranzan's　Fourth　House；　knew　she　was　in　dire　trouble。　K'yorl　Odran　hated　the　tall；　slender　Ghenni'tiroth　above　all　others；　for　Ghenni'tiroth　had　made　no　secret　of　the　fact　that　she　believed　Faen　Tlabbar；　and　not　Oblodra；　should　rank　as　Menzoberranzan's　third　house。

　　　With　almost　eight　hundred　drow　soldiers；　Faen　Tlabbar's　number　nearly　doubled　that　of　House　Oblodra；　and　only　the　little　understood　powers　of　K'yorl　and　her　minions　had　kept　Faen　Tlabbar　back。

　　　How　much　greater　those　powers　loomed　now；　with　all　conventional　magic　rendered　unpredictable　at　best！

　　　Throughout　it　all；　Ghenni'tiroth　remained　in　the　house　chapel；　a　relatively　small　room　near　the　summit　of　her　pound's　central　stalagmite　mound。　A　single　candle　burned　upon　the　altar；　shedding　minimal　light　by　surface　standards；　but　serving　as　a　beacon　to　the　dark　elves　whose　eyes　were　more　accustomed　to　blackness。　A　second　source　of　illumination　came　from　the　room's　west…facing　window；　for　even　from　halfway　across　the　city；　the　wild　glow　of　Narbondel　could　be　clearly　seen。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　showed　little　concern　for　the　pillar　clock；　other　than　the　significance　it　now　held　as　an　indicator　of　their　troubles。　She　was　among　the　most　fanatical　of　Lloth's　priestesses；　a　drow　female　who　had　survived　more　than　six　centuries　in　unquestioning　servitude　to　the　Spider　Queen。　But　she　was　in　trouble　now；　and　Lloth；　for　some　reason　she　could　not　understand；　would　not　e　to　her　call。

　　　She　reminded　herself　constantly　to　keep　fast　her　faith　as　she　knelt　and　huddled　over　a　platinum　platter；　the　famed　Faen　Tlabbar　muning　Plate。　The　heart　of　the　latest　sacrifice；　a　not…so…insignificant　drow　male；　sat　atop　it；　an　offering　to　the　goddess　who　would　not　answer　Ghenni'tiroth's　desperate　prayers。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　straightened　suddenly　as　the　heart　rose　from　the　bloody　platter；　came　up　several　inches　and　hovered　in　midair。

　　　〃The　sacrifice　is　not　sufficient；〃　came　a　voice　behind　her；　a　voice　she　had　dreaded　hearing　since　the　advent　of　the　Time　of　Troubles。

　　　She　did　not　turn　to　face　K'yorl　Odran。

　　　〃There　is　war　in　the　pound；〃　Ghenni'tiroth　stated　more　than　asked。

　　　K'yorl　scoffed　at　the　notion。　A　wave　of　her　hand　sent　the　sacrificial　organ　flying　across　the　room。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　spun　about；　eyes　wide　with　outrage。　She　started　to　scream　out　the　drow　word　for　sacrilege；　but　stopped；　the　sound　caught　in　her　throat；　as　another　heart　floated　in　the　air；　from　K'yorl　toward　her。

　　　〃The　sacrifice　was　not　sufficient；〃　K'yorl　said　calmly。　〃Use　this　heart；　the　heart　of　Fini'they。〃

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　slumped　back　at　the　mention　of　the　obviously　dead　priestess；　her　second　in　the　house。　Ghenni'tiroth　had　taken　in　Fini'they　as　her　own　daughter　when　Fini'they's　family；　a　lower…ranking　and　insignificant　house；　had　been　destroyed　by　a　rival　house。　Insignificant　indeed　had　been　Fini'they's　house？Ghenni'tiroth　could　not　even　remember　its　proper　name梑ut　Fini'they　had　not　been　so。　She　was　a　powerful　priestess；　and　ultimately　loyal；　even　loving；　to　her　adopted　mother。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　leaned　back　further；　horrified；　as　her　daughter's　heart　floated　past　and　settled　with　a　sickening　wet　sound　on　the　platinum　platter。

　　　〃Pray　to　Lloth；〃　K'yorl　ordered。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　did　just　that。　Perhaps　K'yorl　had　erred；　she　thought。　Perhaps　in　death　Fini'they　would　prove　most　helpful；　would　prove　a　suitable　sacrifice　to　bring　the　Spider　Queen　to　the　aid　of　House　Faen　Tlabbar。

　　　After　a　long　and　uneventful　moment；　Ghenni'tiroth　became　aware　of　K'yorl's　laughter。

　　　〃Perhaps　we　are　in　need　of　a　greater　sacrifice；〃　the　wicked　matron　mother　of　House　Oblodra　said　slyly。

　　　It　wasn't　difficult　for　Ghenni'tiroth；　the　only　figure　in　House　Faen　Tlabbar　greater　than　Fini'they；　to　figure　out　who　K'yorl　was　talking　about。

　　　Secretly；　barely　moving　her　fingers；　Ghenni'tiroth　brought　her　deadly；　poisoned　dagger　out　of　its　sheath　under　the　concealing　folds　of　her　spider…emblazoned　robes。　〃Scrag…tooth；〃　the　dagger　was　called；　and　it　had　gotten　a　younger　Ghenni'tiroth　out　of　many　situations　much　like　this。

　　　Of　course；　on　those　occasions；　magic　had　been　predictable；　reliable；　and　those　opponents　had　not　been　as　formidable　as　K'yorl。　Even　as　Ghenni'tiroth　locked　gazes　with　the　Oblodran；　kept　K'yorl　distracted　while　she　subtly　shifted　her　hand；　K'yorl　read　her　thoughts　and　expected　the　attack。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　shouted　a　mand　word；　and　the　dagger's　magic　functioned；　sending　the　missile　shooting　out　from　under　her　robes　directly　at　the　heart　of　her　adversary。

　　　The　magic　functioned！　Ghenni'tiroth　silently　cheered。　But　her　elation　faded　quickly　when　the　blade　passed　right　through　the　specter　of　K'yorl　Odran　to　embed　itself　uselessly　in　the　fabric　of　a　tapestry　adorning　the　room's　opposite　wall。

　　　〃I　do　so　hope　the　poison　does　not　ruin　the　pattern；〃　K'yorl；　standing　far　to　the　left　of　her　image；　remarked。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　shifted　about　and　turned　a　steely…eyed　gaze　at　the　taunting　creature。

　　　〃You　cannot　outfight　me；　you　cannot　outthink　me；〃　K'yorl　said　evenly。　〃You　cannot　even　hide　your　thoughts　from　me。　The　war　is　ended　before　it　ever　began。〃

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　wanted　to　scream　out　a　denial；　but　found　herself　as　silent　as　Fini'they；　whose　heart　lay　on　the　platter　before　her。

　　　〃How　much　killing　need　there　be？〃　K'yorl　asked；　catching　Ghenni'tiroth　off　her　guard。　The　matron　of　Faen　Tlabbar　turned　a　suspicious；　but　ultimately　curious；　expression　toward　her　adversary。

　　　〃My　house　is　small；〃　K'yorl　remarked；　and　that　was　true　enough；　unless　one　counted　the　thousands　of　kobold　slaves　said　to　be　running　about　the　tunnels　along　the　edges　of　the　Clawrift；　just　below　House　Oblodra。　〃And　I　am　in　need　of　allies　if　I　wish　to　depose　that　wretch　Baenre　and　her　bloated　family。〃

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　wasn't　even　conscious　of　the　movement　as　her　tongue　came　out　and　licked　her　thin　lips。　There　was　a　flicker　of　hope。

　　　〃You　cannot　beat　me；〃　K'yorl　said　with　all　confidence。　〃Perhaps　I　will　accept　a　surrender。〃

　　　That　word　didn't　sit　well　with　the　proud　leader　of　the　third　house。

　　　〃An　alliance　then；　if　that　is　what　you　must　call　it；〃　K'yorl　clarified；　recognizing　the　look。　〃It　is　no　secret　that　I　am　not　on　the　best　of　terms　with　the　Spider　Queen。〃

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　rocked　back　on　her　legs；　considering　the　implications。　If　she　helped　K'yorl；　who　was　not　in　Lloth's　favor；　overe　Baenre；　then　what　would　be　the　implications　to　her　house　if　and　when　everything　was　sorted　out？

　　　〃All　of　this　is　Baenre's　fault；〃　K'yorl　remarked；　reading　Ghenni'tiroth's　every　thought。　〃Baenre　brought　about　the　Spider　Queen's　abandonment；〃　K'yorl　scoffed。　〃She　could　not　even　hold　a　single　prisoner；　could　not　even　conduct　a　proper　high　ritual。〃

　　　The　words　rang　true；　painfully　true；　to　Ghenni'tiroth；　who　vastly　preferred　Matron　Baenre　to　K'yorl　Odran。　She　wanted　to　deny　them；　and　yet；　that　surely　meant　her　death　and　the　death　of　her　house；　since　K'yorl　held　so　obvious　an　advantage。

　　　〃Perhaps　I　will　accept　a　surren？　K'yorl　chuckled　wickedly　and　caught　herself　in　midsentence。　〃Perhaps　an　alliance　would　benefit　us　both；〃　she　said　instead。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　licked　her　lips　again；　not　knowing　where　to　turn。　A　glance　at　Fini'they's　heart　did　much　to　convince　her；　though。　〃Perhaps　it　would；〃　she　said。

　　　K'yorl　nodded　and　smiled　again　that　devious　and　infamous　grin　that　was　known　throughout　Menzoberranzan　as　an　indication　that　K'yorl　was　lying。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　returned　the　grin梪ntil　she　remembered　who　it　was　she　was　dealing　with；　until　she　forced　herself；　through　the　temptation　of　the　teasing　bait　that　K'yorl　had　offered；　to　remember　the　reputation　of　this　most　wicked　drow。

　　　〃Perhaps　not；〃　K'yorl　said　calmly；　and　Ghenni'tiroth　was　knocked　backward　suddenly　by　an　unseen　force；　a　physical　though　invisible　manifestation　of　K'yorl's　powerful　will。

　　　The　matron　of　Faen　Tlabbar　jerked　and　twisted；　heard　the　crack　of　one　of　her　ribs。　She　tried　to　call　out　against　K'yorl；　to　cry　out　to　Lloth　in　one　final；　desperate　prayer；　but　found　her　words　garbled　as　an　invisible　hand　grasped　tightly　on　her　throat；　cutting　off　her　air。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth　jerked　again；　violently；　and　again；　and　more　cracking　sounds　came　from　her　chest；　from　intense　pressure　within　her　torso。　She　rocked　backward　and　would　have　fallen　to　the　floor　except　that　K'yorl's　will　held　her　slender　form　fast。

　　　〃I　am　sorry　Fini'they　was　not　enough　to　bring　in　your　impotent　Spider　Queen；〃　K'yorl　taunted；　brazenly　blasphemous。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth's　eyes　bulged　and　seemed　as　if　they　would　pop　from　their　sockets。　Her　back　arched　weirdly；　agonizingly；　and　gurgling　sounds　continued　to　stream　from　her　throat。　She　tore　at　the　flesh　of　her　own　neck；　trying　to　grasp　the　unseen　hand；　but　only　drew　lines　of　her　own　bright　blood。

　　　Then　there　came　a　final　crackle；　a　loud　snapping；　and　Ghenni'tiroth　resisted　no　more。　The　pressure　was　gone　from　her　throat；　for　what　good　that　did　her。　K'yorl's　unseen　hand　grabbed　her　hair　and　yanked　her　head　forward　so　that　she　looked　down　at　the　unusual　bulge　in　her　chest；　beside　her　left　breast。

　　　Ghenni'tiroth's　eyes　widened　in　horror　as　her　robes　parted　and　her　skin　erupted。　A　great　gout　of　blood　and　gore　poured　from　the　wound；　and　Ghenni'tiroth　fell　limply；　lying　sidel