精灵血脉四部曲-第55部分

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Jarlaxle's　bracelets　tinkled　as　he　tapped　his　fingers　together；　thinking　that　now　they　were　finally　getting　somewhere。

〃The　rulership　of　Menzoberranzan　is　no　longer　sufficient　for　the　likes　of　Matron　Baenre；〃　Triel　continued；　more　calmly；　and　she　moved　back　in　her　seat。　〃She　must　expand　her　sphere。〃

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R。　A。　Salvatorc

〃I　had　thought　your　mother's　visions　Lloth…given；〃　Jar…laxle　remarked；　and　he　was　sincerely　confused　by　Triel's　obvious　disdain。

〃Perhaps；〃　Triel　admitted。　〃The　Spider　Queen　will　wele　the　conquest　of　Mithril　Hall；　particularly　if　it；　in　turn；　leads　to　the　capture　of　that　renegade　Do'Urden。　But　there　are　other　considerations。〃

〃Blingdenstone？〃　Jarlaxle　asked；　referring　to　the　city　of　the　svirfnebli；　the　deep　gnomes；　traditional　enemies　of　the　drow。

〃That　is　one；〃　Triel　replied。　〃Blingdenstone　is　not　far　off　the　path　to　the　tunnels　connecting　Mithril　Hall。〃

〃Your　mother　has　mentioned　that　the　svirfnebli　might　be　dealt　with　properly　on　the　return　trip；〃　Jarlaxle　offered；　figuring　that　he　had　to　throw　some　tidbit　out　if　he　wanted　Triel　to　continue　so　openly　with　him。　It　seemed　to　the　mercenary　that　Triel　must　be　deeply　upset　to　be　permitting　him　such　an　honest　view　of　her　most　private　emotions　and　fears。

Triel　nodded；　accepting　the　news　stoically　and　without　surprise。　〃There　are　other　considerations；〃　she　repeated。　〃The　task　Matron　Baenre　is　undertaking　is　enormous　and　will　require　allies　along　the　way；　perhaps　even　illithid　allies。〃

The　Baenre　daughter's　reasoning　struck　Jarlaxle　as　sound。　Matron　Baenre　had　long　kept　an　illithid　consort；　an　ugly　and　dangerous　beast　if　Jarlaxle　had　ever　seen　one。　He　was　never　fortable　around　the　octopus…headed　humanoids。　Jarlaxle　survived　by　understanding　and　outguessing　his　enemies；　but　his　skills　were　sorely　lacking　where　iliithids　were　concerned。　The　mind　flayers；　as　members　of　the　evil　race　were　called；　simply　didn't　think　the　same　way　as　other　races　and　acted　in　accord　with　principles　and　rules　that　no　one　other　than　an　illithid　seemed　to　know。

Still；　the　dark　elves　had　often　dealt　successfully　with　the　illithid　munity。　Menzoberranzan　housed　twenty　thousand　skilled　warriors；　while　the　iliithids　in　the　region　numbered　barely　a　hundred。　Triel's　fears　seemed　a　bit　overblown。

Jarlaxle　didn't　tell　her　that；　though。　Given　her　dark　and　volatile　mood；　the　mercenary　preferred　to　do　more　listening　than　speaking。

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Starless　Night

Triel　continued　to　shake　her　head；　her　expression　typically　sour。　She　leaped　up　from　the　chair；　her　black…and…purple；　spider…adorned　robes　swishing　as　she　paced　a　tight　circle。

〃It　will　not　be　House　Baenre　alone；〃　Jarlaxle　reminded　her；　hoping　to　fort　Triel。　〃Many　houses　show　lights　in　their　windows。〃

〃Mother　has　done　well　in　bringing　the　city　together；〃　Triel　admitted；　and　the　pace　of　her　nervous　stroll　slowed。

〃But　still　you　fear；〃　the　mercenary　reasoned。　〃And　you　need　information　so　that　you　might　be　ready　for　any　consequence。〃　Jarlaxle　couldn't　help　a　small；　ironic　chuckle。　He　and　Triel　had　been　enemies　for　a　long　time；　neither　trusting　the　other梐nd　with　good　reason！　Now　she　needed　him。　She　was　a　priestess　in　a　secluded　school；　away　from　much　of　the　city's　whispered　rumors。　Normally　her　prayers　to　the　Spider　Queen　would　have　provided　her　all　the　information　she　needed；　but　now；　if　Lloth　sanctioned　Matron　Baenre's　actions　（and　that　fact　seemed　obvious）；　Triel　would　be　left；　literally；　in　the　dark。　She　needed　a　spy；　and　in　Menzoberranzan；　Jarlaxle　and　his　spying　work；　Bregan　Eyaerthe；　had　no　equal。

〃We　need　each　other；〃　Triel　pointedly　replied；　turning　to　eye　the　mercenary　squarely。　〃Mother　treads　on　dangerous　ground；　that　much　is　obvious。　If　she　falters；　consider　who　will　assume　the　seat　of　the　ruling　house。〃

True　enough；　Jarlaxle　silently　conceded。　Triel；　as　the　eldest　daughter　of　the　house；　was　indisputably　next　in　line　behind　Matron　Baenre　and；　as　the　matron　mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith；　held　the　most　powerful　position　in　the　city　behind　the　matron　mothers　of　the　eight　ruling　houses。　Triel　already　had　established　an　impressive　base　of　power。　But　in　Menzoberranzan；　where　pretense　of　law　was　no　more　than　a　facade　against　an　underlying　chaos；　power　bases　tended　to　shift　as　readily　as　lava　pools。

〃I　will　learn　what　I　may；〃　Jarlaxle　answered；　and　he　rose　to　leave。　〃And　will　tell　you　what　I　learn。〃

Triel　understood　the　half…truth　in　the　sly　mercenary's　words；　but　she　had　to　accept　his　offer。

Jarlaxle　was　walking　freely　down　the　wide；　curving　avenues　of　Menzoberranzan　a　short　while　later；　passing　by

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the　watchful　eyes　and　readied　weapons　of　house　guards　posted　on　nearly　every　stalagmite　mound梐nd　on　the　ringed　balconies　of　many　low…hanging　stalactites　as　well。　The　mercenary　was　not　afraid；　for　his　wide…brimmed　hat　identified　him　clearly　to　all　in　the　city；　and　no　house　desired　conflict　with　Bregan　D'aerthe。　It　was　the　most　secretive　of　bands梖ew　in　the　city　could　even　guess　at　the　numbers　in　the　group梐nd　its　bases　were　tucked　away　in　the　many　nooks　and　crannies　of　the　wide　cavern。　The　pany's　reputation　was　widespread；　though；　tolerated　by　the　ruling　houses；　and　most　in　the　city　would　name　Jarlaxle　among　the　most　powerful　of　Menzoberranzan's　males。

So　fortable　was　he　that　Jarlaxle　hardly　noticed　the　lingering　stares　of　the　dangerous　guards。　His　thoughts　were　inward；　trying　to　decipher　the　subtle　messages　of　his　meeting　with　Triel。　The　assumed　plan　to　conquer　Mithril　Hall　seemed　very　promising。　Jarlaxle　had　been　to　the　dwarven　stronghold；　had　witnessed　its　defenses。　Although　formidable；　they　seemed　meager　against　the　strength　of　a　drow　army。　When　Menzoberranzan　conquered　Mithril　Hall；　with　Matron　Baenre　at　the　head　of　the　force；　Lloth　would　be　supremely　pleased；　and　House　Baenre　would　know　its　pinnacle　of　glory。

As　Triel　had　put　it。　Matron　Baenre　would　have　her　legacy。

The　pinnacle　of　power？　The　thought　hung　in　Jarlaxle's　mind。　He　paused　beside　Narbondel；　the　great　pillar　time　cloxrk　of　Menzoberranzan；　a　smile　widening　across　his　ebon…skinned　face。

〃Pinnacle　of　power？〃　he　whispered　aloud。

Suddenly　Jarlaxle　understood　Triel's　trepidations。　She　feared　that　her　mother　might　overstep　her　bounds；　might　be　gambling　an　already　impressive　empire　for　the　sake　of　yet　another　acquisition。　Even　as　he　considered　the　notion；　Jarlaxle　understood　a　deeper　significance　to　it　all。　Suppose　that　Matron　Baenre　was　successful；　that　Mithril　Hall　was　conquered　and　Blingdenstone　after　that？　he　mused。　What　enemies　would　then　be　left　to　threaten　the　drow　city；　to　hold　together　the　tentative　hierarchy　in　Menzoberranzan？

For　that　matter；　why　had　Blingdenstone；　a　place　of　enemies　so　near　Menzoberranzan；　been　allowed　to　survive　for　all　these

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Starless　Night

centuries？　Jarlaxle　knew　the　answer。　He　knew　that　the　gnomes　unintentionally　served　as　the　glue　that　kept　Menzoberranzan's　houses　in　line。　With　a　mon　enemy　so　near；　the　draw's　constant　infighting　had　to　be　kept　under　control。

But　now　Matron　Baenre　hinted　at　ungluing；　expanding　her　empire　to　include　not　only　Mithril　Hall；　but　the　troublesome　gnomes　as　well。　Triel　did　not　fear　that　the　drow　would　be　beaten；　neither　did　she　fear　any　alliance　with　the　small　colony　of　illithids。　She　was　afraid　that　her　mother　would　succeed；　would　gain　her　legacy。　Matron　Baenre　was　old；　ancient　even　by　drow　standards；　and　Triel　was　next　in　line　for　the　house　seat。　At　present；　that　would　be　a　fortable　place　indeed；　but　it　would　bee　far　more　tentative　and　dangerous　if　Mithril　Hall　and　Blingdenstone　were　taken。　The　binding　mon　enemy　that　kept　the　houses　in　line　would　be　no　more；　and　Triel　would　have　to　worry　about　a　tie　to　the　surface　world　a　long　way　from　Menzoberranzan；　where　reprisals　by　the　allies　of　Mithril　Hall　would　be　inevitable。

Jarlaxle　understood　what　Matron　Baenre　wanted；　but　now　he　wondered　what　Lloth；　backing　the　withered　female's　plans；　had　in　mind。

〃Chaos；〃　he　decided。　Menzoberranzan　had　been　quiet　for　a　long；　long　time。　Some　houses　fought梩hat　was　inevitable。　House　Do'Urden　and　House　DeVir；　both　ruling　houses；　had　been　obliterated；　but　the　general　structure　of　the　city　had　remained　solid　and　unthreatened。

〃Ah；　but　you　are　delightful；〃　Jarlaxle　said；　speaking　his　thoughts　of　Lloth　aloud。　He　suddenly　suspected　that　Lloth　desired　a　new　order；　a　refreshing　housecleaning　of　a　city　grown　boring。　No　wonder　that　Triel；　in　line　to　inherit　her　mother's　legacy；　was　not　amused。

The　bald　mercenary；　himself　a　lover　of　intrigue　and　chaos；　laughed　heartily　and　looked　to　Narbondel。　The　clock's　heat　was　greatly　diminished；　showing　it　to　be　late　in　the　Underdark　night。　Jarlaxle　clicked　his　heels　against　the　stone　and　set　out　for　the　Qu'ellarz'orl；　the　high　plateau　on　Menzoberranzan's　eastern　wall；　the　region　housing　the　city's　most　powerful　house。　He　didn't　want　to　be　late　for　his　meeting　with　Matron　Baenre；　to　whom　he　would　report　on　in　his　〃secret〃　meeting　with　her　eldest　daughter。

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R。　A。　Salvatore

Jarlaxle　pondered　how　much　he　would　tell　the　withered　matron　mother；　and　how　he　might　twist　his　words　to　his　best　advantage。

How　he　loved　the　intrigue。

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Chapter　2

FAREWELL　RIDDLES

leary…eyed　after　yet　another　long；　restless　night；　Catti…brie　pulled　on　a　robe　and　crossed　her　small　room；　hoping　to　find　fort　in　the　daylight。　Her　thick　auburn　hair　had　been　flattened　on　one　side　of　her　head；　forcing　an　angled　cowlick　on　the　other　side；　but　she　didn't　care。　Busy　rubbing　the　sleep　from　her　eyes；　she　nearly　stumbled　over　the　threshold　and　paused　there；　struck　suddenly　by　something　she　did　not　understand。

She　ran　her　fingers　over　the　wood　of　the　door　and　stood　confused；　nearly　overwhelmed　by　the　same　feeling　she　had　felt　the　night　before；　that　something　was　out　of　place；　that　something　was　wrong。　She　had　intended　to　go　straight　to　breakfast；　but　felt　pelled　to　get　Drizzt　instead。

The　young　woman　shuffled　swiftly　down　the　corridor　to　Drizzt's　room　and　knocked　on　the　door。　After　a　few　moments；　she　called；　〃Drizzt？〃　When　the　drow　didn't　answer；　she　gingerly　turned　the　handle　and　pushed　the　door　open。　Catti…brie　noticed　immediately　that　Drizzf　s　scimitars　and　traveling　cloak　were　gone；　but　before　she　could　begin　to

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R。　A。