war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Of course。 That was Aliisza； a charming and somewhat gregarious representative of Master Vhok's。 She was lurking in the shadows back when we ran into them…〃 he gestured into the distance at the tanarukks…〃in the previous tunnel。 They answer to her； and she answers to Vhok。〃
〃Well； how interesting；〃 Quenthel said； folding her arms。 〃And just what did you two have to talk about for so long？ You weren't； pet…haps； ing to some sort of an agreement with her； were you？〃
Pharaun looked genuinely pained and said； 〃High Priestess； I only listened politely while she extended her offer。 I could not； of course； give her any sort of proper answer without first conversing with you。 I suspected what your answer would be before I even mentioned the invitation； but I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't at least deliver the message。〃
〃Indeed。；〃 Quenthel said。 She knew good and well that the flamboyant wizard before her wouldn't have given a second thought to betraying her and the rest of them if it presented him with some worthwhile benefit。 〃Interesting that she chose you to be her messenger boy。〃
Pharaun grimaced； but only slightly。
〃We share a mon； uh 。。。 appreciation for the arcane arts；〃 he said at last。 〃We spent a few moments in idle conversation about the difficulties of traveling with those who don't share that appreciation。〃
Quenthel snorted。 〃I'm sure you were interested in more than her wizardly skills。〃
The mage's grin didn't change； but his eyes hardened the slightest bit。 Good； she thought。 Remind him that you see right through him。
〃Very well；〃 she said。 〃We're certainly not going to go back with the brutes to see Vhok； so the question is； how do we get through them and on our way？〃
〃There's no way to get around them；〃 Valas said； 〃unless the ambassador knows this area and has a notion of another route we can take；〃 he finished； looking at Faeryl。
The Zauvirr priestess shook her head。
〃We're still too far away from the proper outskirts of Ched Nasad for me to recognize any features with certainty；〃 she said。
〃Then we must slay them；〃 Jeggred announced。 〃Let me engage them and cut a path for you； Mistress。〃
〃No； Jeggred； there's no need； however much fun you might think it would be。 Pharaun； here； is going to get us through this。 Aren't you？〃
The mage grinned bemusedly and said； 〃I might have an incantation or two that will allow us to make our way through to the tunnel。 Aliisza has assured me that； in good sporting fashion； she will stay out of it。 Slaying these creatures should be minimal trouble。〃
〃I'm not concerned with that。 Just clear a path for us；〃 Quenthel manded。
〃Very well；〃 he said as he began to move forward； weaving the beginnings of a spell as he did so。
FOUR
Aliisza wasn't sure how Kaanyr would receive her latest news； but it didn't slow her steps。 Tarrying to deliver it served no purpose。 He would find out eventually； and she might as well pass it to him and get on to other； more interesting things。 Besides； she wasn't really troubled by the prospect of the cambion's anger。 He might fly off the handle from time to time； but he knew better than to direct it at her。 Whether or not he flew into a rage this time； she had an idea that might just soothe his ruffled feathers and give her a bit of fun； besides。
Passing through the great doorway and into the throne room； Aliisza expected to find Vhok sitting on his throne； but he was not。 He paced in front of it； which meant that he had serious things on his mind； serious in a bad way。 The alu…fiend had a pretty good idea what those things were。
Any more information on what that duergar horde is doing？〃 she asked as she approached him。
Vhok looked up from his contemplation； seemed to stare right through her for a moment； and at last said； 〃All I've been able to determine at the moment is that they don't seem to be headed in this direction； which is good。〃
〃Good？ Why？〃 Aliisza asked。 She moved to sit on the top step of the dais。 〃I thought you liked the idea of a little sport for the Legions。 You told me the other night that things were getting a bit staid around…〃
〃Because something big is definitely going on；〃 Kaanyr interrupted； 〃and because they were responsible for wiping out the patrol to the northeast。〃
Aliisza had been about to stretch out； hoping to distract Kaanyr from all of this serious discussion for a few moments of romance； but she sat straight。
〃That wasn't just a roving band of duergar；〃 Vhok continued； 〃they were professional mercenaries。 The Xornbane clan； if the evidence is correct。 They don't go anywhere without major coin changing hands and big battles in the works。〃
Aliisza pursed her lips in thought。
〃So if they aren't moving against us；〃 she said； 〃then where？〃
〃Though I already have an idea； I was hoping you could tell me；〃 Kaanyr said； looking down at the alu…fiend； 〃Where are my guests？〃
Aliisza avoided meeting Vhok's gaze。
〃I wasn't able to convince them to join us；〃 she said carefully； 〃and after they defeated my little patrol as easily as they did； I thought it wise not to pursue the matter so directly。〃
〃Defeated？ Wiped out is more like it。〃
Kaanyr's tone was measured； and Aliisza could tell he was displeased。
So he already knew； did he？ Is he spying on me； now？
She was glad she'd been up front with him on the subject。 It had been tempting to fudge the truth a bit； to tell him that the tanarukks had not followed her instructions； but in the end； something had convinced her that she was going to have to start being a little more careful with Vhok。
〃They are formidable；〃 she answered at last。 〃The wizard with them is 。。。 interesting。 He's the one I spoke with； and it was definitely he who plowed through the Legions。 Drow are formidable to begin with； and it was a tactical error on my part to engage them in such a large chamber。 They were able to easily evade the Scourged simply by getting up off the floor and out of range。 Pharaun laid waste to the troops without much of a thought。〃
〃I'm sure you did the best you could；〃 Kaanyr said； waving her explanation away。 Aliisza scowled at the insult but said nothing。 〃It's probably just as well。 It seems that the gray dwarves are bound and determined to reach Ched Nasad； which is where our little visitors are headed； as well； I think。 We weren't going to dissuade them from that without bringing the entire might of the Scourged Legions； as well as some of your sisters； to bear。〃
〃I did find out a couple more things；〃 Aliisza said； ready to spring her idea on Vhok。 〃They are all high…ranking nobles from Menzo…berranzan； not just the priestess。 The wizard is powerful enough to be a member； if not a master； of Sorcere； and some of the things he admitted to convinced me that most of the others are of similar rank。〃
〃Well； that's all very interesting； but I probably would have inferred that from the fact that the Mistress of the Academy was out with such a small group to begin with。 It still doesn't tell me what they're doing。 It may help to answer the questions of why the grays are on the move。〃
〃Well； I have an idea about that；〃 Aliisza said； reaching the moment of truth。 She wondered if Kaanyr would agree with her plan or choose to use someone else。 〃Whatever it is they're planning to do when they reach Ched Nasad； they all seem very concerned； very grim。 Whatever it is； it's serious； and I bet they aren't the only drow in the city who are in the know about it。 So why don't I sneak into Ched Nasad and snoop around a little？〃
Kaanyr looked at Aliisza； pursing his lips。 She wasn't sure if he was thinking about her idea or just studying her to see if she was up to something。 Of course she intended to do just what she said； so he had no reason not to trust her on it； but if she had a little fun on the side； well then； what would be the harm in that？ She needed a vacation from Ammarindar； from Vhok。 Maybe a little time apart would do him some good； too； she thought。
〃All right；〃 he said at last； and the alu…fiend grinned bro
