war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第3部分

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t　again；　she　was　suddenly　aware　of　the　faces　of　the　other　seven　matrons；　looking　at　her　expectantly。　She　blinked　and　stared　back　at　them　for　a　moment；　trying　to　recall　the　words　of　the　conversation　that　had　droned　m　the　background　of　her　thoughts。　She　could　remember　voices　but　nothing　more。
　　　〃I　asked；〃　Matron　Miz'ri　Mizzrym　said；　〃what　thoughts　have　you　given　to　other　courses　of　action；　should　your　sister　fail　to　return？〃
　　　When　Triel　still　did　not　respond；　the　hard…faced　matron　mother　added；　〃There　are　thoughts　floating　around　somewhere　in　there　today；　aren't　there；　Mother？〃
　　　Triel　blinked　again；　jolted　fully　back　to　the　conversation　at　hand　by　the　Mizzrym's　biting　words；　focusing　her　attention　where　it　ought　to　be　instead　of　on　the　empty　sensation　she　felt　where　the　goddess's　presence　should　have　been。　Other　courses　of　action　。　。　。
　　　〃Of　course；〃　she　replied　at　last。　〃I've　been　giving　that　considerable　thought；　but　before　we　delve　too　deeply　into　alternatives；　I　think　we　must　exercise　some　patience。〃
　　　Matron　Mez'Barris　Armgo　snorted。　〃Have　you　been　listening　to　a　word　we've　said　in　the　last　five　minutes；　Mother？　Patience　is　a　luxury　we　no　longer　have。　We　exhausted　so　much　of　our　reserves　of　magic　quelling　the　uprising　we　might…might；　I　say…be　able　to　withstand　another　major　insurrection；　should　one　occur。　As　much　as　I　love　a　good　battle；　putting　down　another　slave　rebellion　would　be　wasteful；　when　it's　only　a　matter　of　time　before　Gracklstugh　or　the　survivors　of　Blingdenstone　determine　that　we　are　powerless；　without。　。　。〃
　　　The　hulking；　brutish　matron　mother　faltered；　unwilling；　even　as　forward　and　tactless　as　she　usually　was；　to　put　words　to　the　crisis　they　all　faced。
　　　〃If　they　aren't　already　aware；〃　Zeerith　Q'Xorlarrin　interjected；　glossing　over　Mez'Barris's　unfinished　thought。　〃Even　now；　one　or　more　of　the　other　nations　could　be　amassing　an　army　to　drive　to　our　gates。　New　voices　could　be　whispering　poison　into　the　ears　of　the　lesser　creatures　down　in　the　Braeryn　or　the　Bazaar；　voices　belonging　to　those　clever　enough　to　mask　their　true　identities；　their　true　intent。　Its　something　we　must　consider　and　discuss。〃
　　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Yasraena　Dyrr　said　contemptuously。　〃Yes；　let's　sit　here　and　discuss；　not　act；　never　act。　We　are　afraid　to　venture　forth　into　our　own　city！〃
　　　〃Bite　your　tongue！〃　Triel　snapped；　growing　more　and　more　incensed。
　　　She　was　angry　not　only　at　the　direction　of　the　conversation…　suggestions　of　cowardice　from　the　High　Council！…but　also　at　the　ridicule；　the　unusually　open　vitriolic　nature；　of　the　other　matrons'　words。　Ridicule　directed　at　her。
　　　〃If　there　is　one　among　us　afraid　to　walk　our　own　streets；　she　need　no　longer　sit　on　this　Council。　Are　you　one　such；　Yasraena？〃
　　　The　matron　mother　from　House　Agrach　Dyrr　grimaced　at　the　chastisement　she　was　receiving；　and　Triel　realized　it　was　not　merely　because　Yasraena　knew　she　had　overstepped　herself。　It　was　the　matron　of　House　Baenre；　supposedly　an　ally　to　Yasraena's　house；　that　was　administering　this　stern　lecture。　Triel　intended　it　as　such。　It　was　time　to　send　a　message；　to　remind　the　other　matron　mothers　that　she　still　sat　at　the　top　of　the　power　structure　and　she　would　not　tolerate　such　insubordination　from　any　of　those　sitting　around　her；　ally　or　not。
　　　〃Perhaps　Matron　Q'Xorlarrin　is　right；〃　Miz'ri　Mizzrym　said　quietly；　in　an　obvious　attempt　to　steer　the　conversation　in　a　new　direction。　〃Perhaps　we　should　consider　not　just　who　knows；　not　just　who　moves　against　us…covertly　or　otherwise…but　who　might　be　allying　together　against　us。　If　even　two　or　three　of　the　other　nations　e　together　as　our　enemies　。。。〃
　　　She　let　the　thought　trail　off；　and　the　other　drow　in　the　chamber　looked　unfortable；　considering　its　obvious　conclusion。
　　　〃We　need　to　know　what's　going　on；〃　she　continued；　〃at　the　very　least。　Our　spy　network　among　the　duergar；　the　illithids；　and　other　deep　races　has　not　been　best　used　of　late　or　perhaps　isn't　as　strong　as　we　would　like。　But　what's　m　place　should　be　funneling　more　information　back　to　us　about　the　intentions　of　potential　threats。〃
　　　〃Oh；　it　should　be　doing　more　than　that；〃　Byrtyn　Fey　said。　Triel　raised　her　eyebrow　in　slight　surprise；　for　the　voluptuous　matron　mother　of　House　Fey…Branche　did　not　often　find　interest　in　discussions　so　far　removed　from　her　own　hedonistic　pleasures。
　　　〃It　should　be　looking　for　possible　weaknesses　among　our　enemies。　It　should　be　exploiting　those　weaknesses；　setting　potential　allies　against　one　another；　and　perhaps；　it　should　be　on　the　lookout　for　dissatisfied　elements　of　those　traditional　enemies；　elements　that　might　even　consider　a　new　alliance。〃
　　　〃What；　are　you　mad？〃　Mez'Barris　snapped。　〃Allying　with　outsiders？　Who　is　there　to　trust？　No　matter　how　we　approach　such　an　alliance；　the　moment　we　reveal　that　we　cannot　receive　blessings　from　our　own　goddess；　potential　allies　will　either　laugh　uproariously　or　trip　over　themselves　running　to　spread　the　news。〃
　　　〃Don't　be　dense；〃　Byrtyn　snapped　right　back。　〃I　know　how　fond　you　are　of　the　straightforward；　brutal…truth　method　for　everything；　but　there　are　better；　more　subtle　ways　of　luring　an　ally　into　your　bed。　Potential　suitors　need　not　know　about　your　shortings　until　after　you　have　partaken　of　their　charms。〃
　　　〃Not　being　able　to　defend　our　own　city　from　attack　would　be　too　obvious　a　shorting　to　try　to　hide；〃　Zeerith　said；　frowning。　〃Our　own　charms　will　have　to　be　most　convincing　to　blind　such　potential　suitors　from　the　truth。　Still；　the　idea　has　merit。〃
　　　〃It　is　impossible；〃　Matron　Mez'Barris　said；　folding　her　thick　arms　and　leaning　back　as　though　dismissing　the　discussion。　〃The　risk　of　discovery　by　our　enemies　would　only　be　magnified；　and　the　rewards　are　certainly　not　worth　it。〃
　　　〃Spoken　like　a　hag　with　few　to　share　her　bed；〃　Byrtyn　said　smugly；　stretching　languidly　to　make　certain　her　own　well…rounded　figure　was　plainly　visible　through　the　sheer　fabric　of　her　shimmering　dress。　〃And　one　who's　always　trying　to　convince　herself　that　she's　better　off　without　them；　anyway。〃
　　　　　　　Several　of　the　other　high　priestesses　gasped　at　the　insult；　but　Mez'Barris　only　narrowed　her　piercing　red　eyes；　staring　daggers　at　Byrtyn。
　　　〃Enough！〃　Triel　said　finally；　interrupting　the　glaring　contest　between　the　two　matron　mothers。　〃This　bickering　is　pointless；　and　it's　beneath　us　all。〃
　　　She　looked　pointedly　at　both　Mez'Barris　and　Byrtyn　until　both　of　them　ceased　their　glowering　and　turned　their　attention　back　to　her。
　　　If　only　Jeggred　were　here；　the　matron　mother　of　House　Baenre　thought。
　　　Triel　wondered　briefly　if　she　should　be　disturbed　that　she　was　once　again　wishing　for　the　draegloth's　soothing　presence　in　the　face　of　such　adversity。　It　was　something　else　she　had　caught　herself　doing　often　of　late；　and　she　feared　what　it　symbolized。　Perhaps　she　had　grown　to　rely　too　much　on　external　protection　rather　than　her　own　abilities。　She　feared　that　it　was　a　weakness；　and　weakness　was　definitely　something　she　could　ill　afford　in　the　current　climate。
　　　No；　she　corrected　herself；　not　just　now；　not　ever。
　　　But　the　need　for　allies；　however　brief　and　volatile　such　alliances　tended　to　be；　were　a　necessary　part　of　her　life。
　　　Maybe　Byrtyn　is　right；　she　thought。　Maybe　that's　what　Menzober…ranzan　needs：　an　ally。　Another　nation；　a　race　from　the　Underdark；　to　aid　the　noble　Houses　until　this　crisis　has　passed。
　　　Triel　tightened　her　jaw　and　shook　her　head　softly；　determined　to　banish　such　silly　notions　from　her　mind。
　　　Nonsense；　she　told　herself　firmly。　Menzoberranzan　is　the　strongest　city　in　the　Underdark。　We　need　no　one。　We　will　prevail　as　we　always　nave；　through　cunning；　and　guile；　and　the　favor　of　the　goddess。　Wherever　she　is。　。。。
　　　I　know　very　well　the　state　of　things　in　Menzoberranzan；〃　Triel　said；　looking　eye　to　eye　with　each　matron　mother　present。　〃The　crisis　we　face　tests　us…tests　us　more　severely　than　any　ever　confronted　by　the　ruling　Houses　in　all　the　city's　history…but　we　cannot　let　it　get　in　the　way　of　resolute　administration　of　the　city。　The　moment　we　begin　to　squabble；　the　moment　we　do　not　show　a　united　front　to　the　other　Houses；　to　Tier　Breche　or　Bregan　D'aerthe；　is　the　moment　we　show　it　to　the　rest　of　the　world；　and　by　then　all　is　already　lost。
　　　〃For　the　time　being；　we　continue　to　show　patience。　Discussion　of　ways　to　deal　with　the　crisis　is　wele…calm；　respectful　discussion…〃　and　Triel　once　again　inclined　her　head　toward　the　two　matron　mothers…〃or　suggestions　for　new　ways　to　explore　what　has　happened　to　Lolth；　but　there　is　to　be　no　more　of　this　talk　of　fear　or　cowardice；　and　no　more　of　these　Insults。　That　is　the　behavior　of　foolish　males　or　the　lesser　races。　We　conduct　the　business　of　our　Houses　and　our　council　as　we　have　always　done。〃
　　　Triel　made　certain　to　catch　each　and　every　matron　mother　with　her　own　gaze　this　time；　staring　intently　into　each　pair　of　red　eyes　in　turn；　wanting　to　ensure　that　everyone　present　got　her　message…that　and　to　ensure　that　she　was　showing　a　strong　face。
　　　Slowly；　one　by　one；　the　other　matron　mothers　nodded；　willing；　at　least　for　the　time　being；　to　acquiesce　to　the　Baenres　demands。
　　　Wielding　power　always　requires　such　a　delicate　touch　Triel　reminded　herself　as　the　group　broke　apart　and　the　other　high　priestesses　went　their　separate　ways；　returning　to　their　homes。　Like　a　supple　switch；　if　you　swing　it　about　too　vigorously；　you　just　end　up　breaking　it　on　the　slave　you　are　trying　to　goad。
　　　TWO
　　　〃I　told　you　ing　this　way　was　a　mistake；〃　Pharaun　panted　as　he　pulled　up　from　his　headlong　run。
　　　The　passage　before　the　drow　wizard　ended　abruptly；　blocked　by　a　great　gray　mass　of　spongy　material　that　pletely　filled　the　tunnel。　Turning　back　to　face　the　direction　from　which　he'd　e；　the　dark　elf　quickly　sloughed　off　his　finely　crafted　knapsack；　lowered　it　to　the　rocky　floor；　and　scooted　it　out　of　the　way　with　his　foot。
　　　〃Don't　gloat；　Mizzrym；〃　Quenthel　said；　her　scowl　heavy；　stumbling　up　beside　him。
　　　The　five　snake　heads　that　dangled；　writhing；　from　the　whip　at　the　Baenre　high　priestess's　hip　rose　up　and　hissed　their　own　displeasure　at　the　wizard；　duplicating　their　mistress's　mood；　as　usual。