精灵血脉四部曲-第163部分

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them；　according　to　Methil。

　　　Do　they　plot　against　me？　Baenre　wanted　to　know。

　　　No；　Methil　honestly　replied；　but　if　you　are　killed；　they　will　be　thrilled　to　turn　back　for　Menzoberranzan　without　you；　that　a　new　hierarchy　might　arise。

　　　In　truth；　Methil's　information　was　not　unexpected。　One　did　not　have　to　read　minds　to　see　the　disfort　and　quiet　rage　on　the　faces　of　the　matron　mothers　of　Menzoberranzan's　fourth　and　fifth　houses。　Besides；　Baenre　had　suffered　such　hatred　from　her　lessers；　even　from　supposed　allies　such　as　Mez'Barris　Armgo；　even　from　her　own　daughters；　for　all　her　long　life。　That　was　an　expected　cost　of　being　the　first　matron　mother　of　chaotic　and　jealous　Menzoberranzan；　a　city　continually　at　war　with　itself。

　　　Auro'pol's　thoughts　were　to　be　expected；　but　the　confirmation　from　the　illithid　outraged　the　already　nervous　Matron　Baenre。　In　her　twisted　mind；　this　was　no　ordinary　war；　after　all。　This　was　the　will　of　Lloth；　as　Baenre　was　the　Spider　Queen's　agent。　This　was　the　pinnacle　of　Matron　Baenre's　power；　the　height　of　Lloth…given　glory。　How　dare　Auro'pol　and　Zeerith　entertain　such　blasphemous　thoughts？　the　first　matron　mother　fumed。

　　　She　snapped　an　angry　glare　over　Auro'pol；　who　simply　snorted　and　looked　away梡ossibly　the　very　worst　thing　she　could　have　done。

　　　Baenre　issued　telepathic　orders　to　Methil；　who　in　turn　relayed　them　to　the　glabrezu。　The　driftdisks；　side　by　side；　were　just　following　Baenre's　daughters　around　a　bend　in　the　tunnel　when　great　pincers　closed　about　Auro'pol's　slender　waist　and　yanked　her　from　her　driftdisk；　the　powerful　glabrezu　easily　holding　her　in　midair。

　　　〃What　is　this？〃　Auro'pol　demanded；　squirming　to　no　avail。

　　　〃You　wish　me　dead；〃　Baenre　answered。

　　　Quenthel　and　Bladen'Kerst　rushed　back　to　their　mother's　side；　and　both　were　stunned　that　Baenre　had　openly　moved　against　Auro'pol。

　　　〃She　wishes　me　dead；〃　Baenre　informed　her　daughters。　〃She　and　Zeerith　believe　Menzoberranzan　would　be　a　better　place　without　Matron　Baenre。〃

　　　Auro'pol　looked　to　the　illithid；　obviously　the　one　who　had　betrayed　her。　Baenre's　daughters；　who　had　entertained　similar　treasonous　thoughts　on　more　than　one　occasion　during　this　long；　troublesome　march；　looked　to　Methil　as　well。

　　　〃Matron　Auro'pol　bears　witness　to　your　glory；〃　Quenthel　put　in。　〃She　will　witness　the　death　of　the　renegade　and　will　know　that　Lloth　is　with　us。〃

　　　Auro'pol's　features　calmed　at　that　statement；　and　she　squirmed　again；　trying　to　loosen　the　tanar'ri's　viselike　grip。

　　　Baenre　eyed　her　adversary　dangerously；　and　Auro'pol；　cocky　to　the　end；　matched　the　intensity　of　her　stare。　Quenthel　was　right；　Auro'pol　believed。　Baenre　needed　her　to　bear　witness。　Bringing　her　into　line　behind　the　war　would　solidify　Zeerith's　loyalty　as　well；　so　the　drow　army　would　be　much　stronger。　Baenre　was　a　wicked　old　thing；　but　she　had　always　been　a　calculating　one；　not　ready　to　sacrifice　an　inch　of　power　for　the　sake　of　emotional　satisfaction。　Witness　Gandalug　Battlehammer；　still　alive；　though　Baenre　certainly　would　have　enjoyed　tearing　the　heart　from　his　chest　many　times　during　the　long　centuries　of　his　imprisonment。

　　　〃Matron　Zeerith　will　be　glad　to　hear　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden's　death；〃　Auro'pol　said；　and　lowered　her　eyes　respectfully。　The　submissive　gesture　would　suffice；　she　believed。

　　　〃The　head　of　Drizzt　Do'Urden　will　be　all　the　proof　Matron　Zeerith　requires；〃　Baenre　replied。

　　　Auro'pol's　gaze　shot　up；　and　Baenre's　daughters；　too；　looked　upon　their　surprising　mother。

　　　Baenre　ignored　them　all。　She　sent　a　message　to　Methil；　who　again　relayed　it　to　the　glabrezu；　and　the　great　pincers　began　to　squeeze　about　Auro'pol's　waist。

　　　〃You　cannot　do　this！〃　Auro'pol　objected；　gasping　for　every　word。　〃Lloth　is　with　me！　You　weaken　your　own　campaign！〃

　　　Quenthel　wholeheartedly　agreed；　but　kept　silent；　realizing　the　glabrezu　still　had　an　empty　pincer。

　　　〃You　cannot　do　this！〃　Auro'pol　shrieked。　〃Zeerith　will　。。。〃　Her　words　were　lost　to　pain。

　　　〃Drizzt　Do'Urden　killed　you　before　I　killed　Drizzt　Do'Urden；〃　Matron　Baenre　explained　to　Auro'pol。　〃Perfectly　believable；　and　it　makes　the　renegade's　death　all　the　sweeter。〃　Baenre　nodded　to　the　glabrezu；　and　the　pincers　closed；　tearing　through　flesh　and　bone。

　　　Quenthel　looked　away；　wicked　Bladen'Kerst　watched　the　spectacle　with　a　wide　smile。

　　　Auro'pol　tried　to　call　out　once　more；　tried　to　hurl　a　dying　curse　Baenre's　way；　but　her　backbone　snapped　and　all　her　strength　washed　away。　The　pincers　snapped　shut；　and　Auro'pol　Dyrr's　body　fell　apart　to　the　floor。

　　　Bladen'Kerst　cried　out　in　glee；　thrilled　by　her　mother's　display　of　control　and　power。　Quenthel；　though；　was　outraged。　Baenre　had　stepped　over　a　dangerous　line。　She　had　killed　a　matron　mother；　and　had　done　so　to　the　detriment　of　the　march　to　Mithril　Hall；　purely　for　personal　gain。　Wholeheartedly　devoted　to　Lloth；　Quenthel　could　not　abide　such　stupidity；　and　her　thoughts　were　similar　indeed　to　those　that　had　gotten　Auro'pol　Dyrr　chopped　in　half。

　　　Quenthel　snapped　a　dangerous　glare　over　Methil；　realizing　the　illithid　was　reading　her　thoughts。　Would　Methil　betray　her　next？

　　　She　narrowed　her　thoughts　into　a　tight　focus。　It　is　not　Lloth's　will！　her　mind　screamed　at　Methil。　No　longer　is　the　Spider　Queen　behind　my　mother's　actions。

　　　That　notion　held　more　implications　for　Methil；　the　illithid　emissary　to　Menzoberranzan；　not　to　Matron　Baenre；　than　Quenthel　could　guess；　and　her　relief　was　great　indeed　when　Methil　did　not　betray　her。



　　　*****



　　　Guenhwyvar's　ears　flattened；　and　Drizzt；　too；　thought　he　heard　a　slight；　distant　scream。　They　had　seen　no　one；　enemies　or　friends；　for　several　hours；　and　the　ranger　believed　that　any　group　of　dark　elves　they　now　encountered　would　likely　include　the　high　priestess　leading　the　army。

　　　He　motioned　for　the　others　to　move　with　all　caution；　and　the　small　band　crept　along；　Guenhwyvar　leading　the　way。　Drizzt　fell　into　his　Underdark　instincts　now。　He　was　the　hunter　again；　the　survivor　who　had　lived　alone　for　a　decade　in　the　wilds　of　the　Under…dark。　He　looked　back　at　Bruenor；　Regis；　and　Catti…brie　often；　for；　though　they　were　moving　with　all　the　stealth　they　could　manage；　they　sounded　like　a　marching　army　of　armored　soldiers　to　Drizzt's　keen　ears。　That　worried　the　drow；　for　he　knew　their　enemies　would　be　far　quieter。　He　considered　going　a　long　way　ahead　with　Guenhwyvar；　taking　up　the　hunt　alone。

　　　It　was　a　passing　thought。　These　were　his　friends；　and　no　one　could　ever　ask　for　finer　allies。＇奇＋书＋网＇

　　　They　slipped　down　a　narrow；　unremarkable　tunnel　and　into　a　chamber　that　opened　wide　to　the　left　and　right；　though　the　smooth　wall　directly　opposite　the　tunnel　was　not　far　away。　The　ceiling　here　was　higher　than　in　the　tunnel；　but　stalactites　hung　down　in　several　areas；　nearly　to　the　floor　in　many　places。

　　　Guenhwyvar's　ears　flattened　again；　and　the　panther　paused　at　the　entrance。　Drizzt　came　beside　her　and　felt　the　same　tingling　sensation。

　　　The　enemy　was　near；　very　near。　That　warrior　instinct；　beyond　the　normal　senses；　told　the　drow　ranger　the　enemy　was　practically　upon　them。　He　signaled　back　to　the　three　trailing；　then　he　and　the　panther　moved　slowly　and　cautiously　into　the　chamber；　along　the　wall　to　the　right。

　　　Catti…brie　came　to　the　entrance　next　and　fell　to　one　knee；　bending　back　her　bow。　Her　eyes；　aided　by　the　Cat's　Eye　circlet；　which　made　even　the　darkest　tunnels　seem　bathed　in　bright　starlight；　scanned　the　chamber；　searching　among　the　stalactite　clusters。

　　　Bruenor　was　soon　beside　her；　and　Regis　came　past　her　on　the　left。　The　halfling　spotted　a　cubby　a　few　feet　along　the　wall。　He　pointed　to　himself；　then　to　the　cubby；　and　he　inched　off　toward　the　spot。

　　　A　green　light　appeared　on　the　wall　opposite　the　door；　stealing　the　darkness。　It　spiraled　out；　opening　a　hole　in　the　wall；　and　Matron　Baenre　floated　through；　her　daughters　and　their　prisoner　ing　in　behind　her；　along　with　the　illithid。

　　　Drizzt　recognized　the　withered　old　drow　and　realized　his　worst　fears；　knew　immediately　that　he　and　his　friends　were　badly　overmatched。　He　thought　to　go　straight　for　Baenre；　but　realized　that　he　and　Guenhwyvar　were　not　alone　on　this　side　of　the　chamber。　From　the　corner　of　his　wary　eye　Drizzt　caught　some　movement　up　among　the　stalactites。

　　　Catti…brie　fired　a　silver…streaking　arrow；　practically　point…blank。　The　arrow　exploded　into　a　shower　of　multicolored；　harmless　sparks；　unable　to　perate　the　first　matron　mother's　magical　shields。

　　　Regis　went　into　the　cubby　then　and　cried　out　in　sudden　pain　as　a　ward　exploded。　Electricity　sparked　about　the　halfling；　sending　him　jerking　this　way　and　that；　then　dropping　him　to　the　floor；　his　curly　brown　hair　standing　straight　on　end。

　　　Guenhwyvar　sprang　to　the　right；　burying　a　drow　soldier　as　she　floated　down　from　the　stalactites。　Drizzt　again　considered　going　straight　for　Baenre；　but　found　himself　suddenly　engaged　as　three　more　elite　Baenre　guards　rushed　out　of　hiding　to　surround　him。　Drizzt　shook　his　head　in　denial。　Surprise　now　worked　against　him　and　his　friends；　not　for　them。　The　enemy　had　expected　them；　he　knew；　had　hunted　them　even　as　they　had　hunted　the　enemy。　And　this　was　Matron　Baenre　herself！

　　　〃Run！〃　Drizzt　cried　to　his　friends。　〃Flee　this　place！〃



Chapter　29

KING　AGAINST　QUEEN



　　　The　long　night　drifted　into　morning；　with　the　dark　elves　once　again　claiming　the　upper　hand　in　the　battle　for　Keeper's　Dale。　Berg'inyon's　assessment　of　the　futility　of　the　defense；　even　with　the　dwarven　and　svirfneblin　reinforcements；　seemed　correct　as　the　drow　ranks　gradually　engulfed　the　svirfnebli；　then　pushed　the　line　in　the　east　back　toward　the　wall　once　more。

　　　But　then　it　happened。

　　　After　an　entire　night　of　fighting；　after　hours　of　shaping　the　battle；　holding　back　the　wizards；　using　the　lizard　riders　at　precise　moments　and　never　fully　mitting　them　to　the　conflict；　all　the　best　laid　plans　of　the　powerful　drow　force　fell　apart。

　　　The　rim　of　the　mountains　east　of　Keeper's　Dale　brightened；　a　silvery　edge　that　signaled　the　ing　dawn。　For　the　drow　and　the　other　monsters　of　the　Underdark；　that　was　no　small　event。

　　　One　drow　wizard；　intent　on　a　lightning　bolt　that　would　defeat