精灵血脉四部曲-第91部分

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ed。

〃What　have　you　learned？〃　Matron　Baenre　demanded。

This　one　is　strong；　Methil　replied　telepathically。　It　will　take　more　sessions。

〃Continue！〃　snapped　Baenre。

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〃He　will　die；〃　Methil　somehow　said　in　a　gurgling；　watery…sounding　voice。　〃Tomorrow。〃

Matron　Baenre　thought　for　a　moment；　then　nodded　her　accord。　She　looked　to　Vendes；　her　vicious　Duk…Tak；　and　snapped　her　fingers；　sending　the　wild　drow　into　a　fierce　rush。

Drizzt's　world　fell　away　into　blackness。

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PERSONAL　AGENDA

he　female？〃　Triel　asked　impatiently；　pacing　Jar…laxle's　private　quarters　in　a　secret　cave　along　one　wall　of　the　Clawrift；　a　great　chasm　in　the　northeastern　section　of　Menzoberranzan。

〃Beheaded；〃　the　mercenary　answered　easily。　He　knew　that　Triel　was　employing　some　sort　of　lie　detection　magic；　but　was　confident　that　he　could　dance　around　any　such　spells。　〃She　was　a　youngest　daughter；　an　unimpressive　noble；　of　a　lower　house。〃

Triel　stopped　and　focused　her　glare　on　the　evasive　mercenary。　Jarlaxle　knew　well　that　the　angry　Baenre　was　not　asking　about　that　female；　that　Khareesa　H'kar　creature。　Kha…reesa；　like　all　the　slavers　on　the　Isle　of　Rothe；　had　been　killed；　as　ordered；　but　reports　filtering　back　to　Triel　had　suggested　another　female；　and　a　mysterious　great　cat　as　well。

Jarlaxle　played　the　staring　game　better　than　any。　He　sat　fortably　behind　his　great　desk；　even　relaxed　in　his　chair。　He　leaned　back　and　dropped　his　booted　feet　atop　the　desk。

Triel　swept　across　the　room　in　a　rush　and　slapped　his　feet　away。　She　leaned　over　the　desk　to　put　her　scowl　close　to

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the　cocky　mercenary。　The　priestess　heard　a　slight　shuffle　to　one　side；　then　another　from　the　floor；　and　suspected　that　Jarlaxle　had　many　allies　here；　concealed　behind　secret　doors；　ready　to　spring　out　and　protect　the　leader　of　Bregan　EXaerthe。

〃Not　that　female；〃　she　breathed；　trying　to　keep　things　somewhat　calm。　Triel　was　the　leader　of　the　highest　school　in　the　drow　Academy；　the　eldest　daughter　of　the　first　house　of　Menzoberranzan；　and　a　mighty　high　priestess　in　full　favor　（as　far　as　she　knew）　of　the　Spider　Queen。　She　did　not　fear　Jarlaxle　or　his　allies；　but　she　did　fear　her　mother's　wrath　if　she　was　forced　to　kill　the　often　helpful　mercenary；　if　she　precipitated　a　covert　war；　or　even　an　atmosphere　of　uncoopera…tion；　between　valuable　Bregan　D'aerthe　and　House　Baenre。

And　she　knew　that　Jarlaxle　understood　her　paralysis　against　him；　knew　that　Jarlaxle　grasped　it　better　than　anyone　and　would　exploit　it　every　step　of　the　way。

Pointedly　throwing　off　his　smile；　pretending　to　be　serious；　the　mercenary　lifted　his　gaudy　hat　and　ran　a　hand　slowly　over　the　side　of　his　bald　head。　〃Dear　Triel；〃　he　replied　calmly。　〃I　tell　you　in　all　honesty　that　there　was　no　other　drow　female　on　the　Isle　of　Rothe；　or　near　the　isle；　unless　she　was　a　soldier　of　House　Baenre。〃

Triel　backed　off　from　the　desk；　gnawed　at　her　lips；　and　wondered　where　to　turn　next。　As　far　as　she　could　tell；　the　mercenary　was　not　lying；　and　either　Jarlaxle　had　found　some　way　to　counter　her　magic；　or　he　was　speaking　the　truth。

〃If　there　was；　I　certainly　would　have　reported　it　to　you；〃　Jarlaxle　added；　and　the　obvious　lie　twanged　discordantly　in　Triel's　mind。

Jarlaxle　hid　his　smile　well。　He　had　thrown　out　that　last　lie　just　to　let　Triel　know　that　her　spell　was　in　place。　By　her　incredulous　expression；　Jarlaxle　knew　that　he　had　won　that　round。

〃I　heard　of　a　great　panther；〃　Triel　prompted。

〃Magnificent　cat；〃　Jarlaxle　agreed；　〃the　property　of　one　Drizzt　Do'Urden；　if　I　have　read　the　history　of　the　renegade　correctly。　Guenhwyvar；　by　name；　taken　from　the　corpse　of　Masoj　Hun'ett　after　Drizzt　slew　Masoj　in　battle。〃

〃1　heard　that　the　panther；　this　Guenhwyvar；　was　on　the

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Isle　of　Rothe；〃　Triel　clarified　impatiently。

〃Indeed；〃　replied　the　mercenary。　He　slid　a　metallic　whistle　out　from　under　his　cloak　and　held　it　before　his　eyes。　〃On　the　isle；　then　dissolved　into　an　insubstantial　mist。〃

〃And　the　summoning　device？〃

〃You　have　Drizzt；　my　dear　Triel；〃　Jarlaxle　replied　calmly。　〃Neither　I　nor　any　of　my　band　got　anywhere　near　the　renegade　except　in　battle。　And；　in　case　you've　never　witnessed　Drizzt　Do'Urden　in　battle；　let　me　assure　you　that　my　soldiers　had　more　on　their　minds　than　picking　that　one's　pockets！〃

Triel's　expression　grew　suspicious。

〃Oh；　one　lesser　soldier　did　go　to　the　fallen　renegade；〃　Jarlaxle　clarified；　as　though　he　had　forgotten　that　one　minor　detail。　〃But　he　took　no　figurine；　no　summoning　device　at　all；　from　Drizzt；　I　assure　you。〃

〃And　neither　you　nor　any　of　your　soldiers　happened　to　find　the　onyx　figurine？〃

〃No。〃

Again；　the　crafty　mercenary　had　spoken　nothing　but　the　truth；　for　Artemis　Entreri　was　not；　technically；　a　soldier　of　Bregan　D'aerthe。

Triel's　spell　told　her　that　Jarlaxle's　words　had　been　correct；　but　all　reports　claimed　that　the　panther　had　been　about　on　the　isle　and　House　Baenre's　soldiers　had　not　been　able　to　locate　the　valuable　figurine。　Some　thought　it　might　have　flown　from　Drizzt　when　he　had　gone　over　the　ledge；　landing　somewhere　in　the　murky　water。　Magical　detection　spells　hadn't　located　it；　but　that　could　be　readily　explained　by　the　nature　of　Donigarten。　Calm　on　the　surface；　the　dark　lake　was　well　known　for　strong　undercurrents；　and　for　darker　things　lurking　in　the　deep。

Still；　the　Baenre　daughter　was　not　convinced　about　either　the　female　or　the　panther。　Jarlaxle　had　beaten　her　this　time；　she　knew；　but　she　trusted　in　her　reports　as　much　as　she　didn't　trust　in　the　mercenary。

Her　ensuing　expression；　a　pout　so　unmon　to　the　proud　Baenre　daughter；　actually　caught　Jarlaxle　off　guard。

〃The　plans　proceed；〃　Triel　said　suddenly。　〃Matron　Baenre　has　brought　together　a　high　ritual；　a　ceremony　that

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will　be　heightened　now　that　she　has　secured　a　most　worthy　sacrifice。〃

Jarlaxle　considered　the　words　carefully；　and　the　weight　with　which　Triel　had　spoken　them。　Drizzt；　the　initial　link　to　Mithril　Hall；　had　been　delivered；　but　Matron　Baenre　still　planned　to　proceed；　with　all　speed；　to　the　conquest　of　Mithril　Hall。　What　would　Lloth　think　of　all　this？　the　mercenary　had　to　wonder。

〃Surely　your　matron　will　take　the　time　to　consider　all　options；〃　Jarlaxle　replied　calmly。

〃She　nears　her　death；〃　Triel　snapped　in　reply。　〃She　is　hungry　for　the　conquest　and　will　not　allow　herself　to　die　until　it　has　been　achieved。〃

Jarlaxle　nearly　laughed　at　that　phrase；　〃will　not　allow　herself　to　die；〃　then　he　considered　the　withered　matron　mother。　Baenre　should　have　died　centuries　ago；　and　yet　she　somehow　lived　on。　Perhaps　Triel　was　right；　the　mercenary　mused。　Perhaps　Matron　Baenre　understood　that　the　decades　were　finally　catching　up　with　her；　so　she　would　push　on　to　the　conquest　without　regard　for　consequences。　Jarlaxle　loved　chaos；　loved　war；　but　this　was　a　matter　that　required　careful　thinking。　The　mercenary　truly　enjoyed　his　life　in　Menzober…ranzan。　Might　Matron　Baenre　be　jeopardizing　that　existence？

〃She　thinks　Drizzf　s　capture　a　good　thing；〃　Triel　went　on；　〃and　it　is梚ndeed　it　is！　That　renegade　is　a　sacrifice　long　overdue　the　Spider　Queen。〃

〃But。。。〃　Jarlaxle　prompted。

〃But　how　will　the　alliance　hold　together　when　the　other　matron　mothers　learn　that　Drizzt　is　already　taken？〃　Triel　pointed　out。　〃It　is　a　tentative　thing；　at　best；　and　more　tentative　still　if　some　e　to　believe　that　Lloth's　sanction　of　the　raid　is　no　more；　that　the　main　goal　in　going　to　the　surface　has　already　been　achieved。〃

Jarlaxle　folded　his　fingers　in　front　of　him　and　paused　for　a　long　while。　She　was　wise；　this　Baenre　daughter；　wise　and　as　experienced　in　the　ways　of　the　drow　as　any　in　the　city？except　for　her　mother　and；　perhaps；　Jarlaxle。　But　now　she；　with　so　much　more　to　lose；　had　shown　the　mercenary　something　he　had　not　thought　of　on　his　own；　a　potentially　serious　problem。

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Trying　vainly　to　hide　her　fmstrahon；　Triel　spun　away　from　the　desk　and　marched　across　the　small　room；　hardly　slowing　as　she　plunged　straight　into　the　unconventional　portal；　almost　an　interplanar　goo　that　made　her　walk　along　a　watery　corridor　for　many　steps　（though　the　door　seemed　to　be　only　several　inches　thick）　before　exiting　between　two　smirking　Bregan　D'aerthe　guardsmen　in　a　corridor。

A　moment　later；　Jarlaxle　saw　the　heated　outline　of　a　drow　hand　against　his　almost　translucent　door；　the　signal　that　Triel　was　gone　from　the　plex。　A　lever　under　the　top　of　the　mercenary's　desk　opened　seven　different　secret　doors梖rom　the　floor　and　the　walls梐nd　out　stepped　or　climbed　several　dark　elves　and　one　human；　Artemis　Entreri。

'Trie！　heard　reports　of　the　female　on　the　isle；〃　Jarlaxle　said　to　the　drow　soldiers；　his　most　trusted　advisors。　〃Go　among　the　ranks　and　learn　who；　if　any；　betrayed　us　to　the　Baenre　daughter。〃

〃And　kill　him？〃　asked　one　eager　drow；　a　vicious　specimen　whose　skills　Jarlaxle　valued　when　conducting　interrogations。

The　mercenary　leader　put　a　condescending　look　over　the　impetuous　drow；　and　the　other　Bregan　D'aerthe　soldiers　followed　suit。　Tradition　in　the　underground　band　did　not　call　for　the　execution　of　spies；　but　rather　the　subtle　manipulation。　Jarlaxle　had　proven　many　times　that　he　could　get　as　much　done；　plant　as　much　disinformation；　with　an　enemy　informant　as　with　his　own　spies　and；　to　disciplined　Bregan　D'aerthe；　any　plant　that　Triel　had　in　place　among　the　ranks　would　be　a　benefit。

Without　needing　to　speak　another　word　to　his　well…trained　and　well…practiced　advisors；　Jarlaxle　waved　them　away。

〃This　adventure　grows　more　fun　by　the　hour；〃　the　mercenary　remarked　to　Entreri　when　they　were　gone。　He　looked　the　assassin　right　in　the　eye。　〃Despite　the　disappointments。〃

The　remark　caught　Entreri　off　guard。　He　tried　to　decipher　what　Jarlaxle　might　be　talking　about。

〃You　knew　that　Drizzt　was　in　the　Underdark；　knew　even　that　he　was　close　to　Menzoberranzan　and　soon　to　arrive；〃　the　mercenary　began；　though　that　statement　told

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Entreri　nothing　enlightening。

〃The　trap　was　perfectly　set　and　perfectly　executed；〃　the　assassin　argued；　and　Jarlaxle　couldn't　really　disagree；　though　several　soldiers　were　wounded　and　four　had　died。　Such　losses　had　to　be　expected