war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第38章

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　　　〃Sorry；　Mother；〃　the　younger　drow　answered；　chagrined。
　　　She　focused　her　attention　on　the　conversation　at　hand；　for　at　least　the　matron　mothers　were　no　longer　talking　as　one。
　　　〃I　said〃　Inidil　Mylyl　declared；　emphasizing　the　word　to　make　sure　everyone　in　the　room　understood　that　she　was　put　out　at　having　to　repeat　herself；　〃that　hearing　the　tale　in　its　entirety　once　more　would　go　a　long　way　toward　clarifying　just　exactly　how　this　managed　to　happen　right　under　our　noses。　Perhaps　Faeryl　can　indulge　us　for　a　few　moments　more　to　explain　this。〃
　　　Faeryl　groaned　inwardly。　She　had　already　explained　herself　three　times　to　the　first　matron　mothers　to　arrive。　They　had　not　been　happy　with　several　parts　of　her　story；　so　she　was　going　to　have　to　tell　the　whole　thing　once　more　for　those　matron　mothers　who　had　chosen；　for　whatever　reason；　to　arrive　late。　Of　course；　they　were　the　most　powerful　drow　in　Ched　Nasad；　used　to　keeping　others　waiting　and　daring　anyone　to　question　them　on　it。　She　felt　queasy　as　she　crossed　to　the　center　of　the　room。
　　　〃Yes；　of　course；　Matron　Mother　Mylyl；〃　she　said　as　politely　as　she　could。
　　　pared　to　the　collection　of　nobility　in　the　room；　House　Zauvirr　was　still　inconsequential　and　could　be　held　accountable　for　everything　Faeryl　had　done　and　said　up　to　that　point。　Embarrassing　one's　own　mother　in　front　of　her　superiors　was　no　way　to　climb　to　a　higher　position　within　a　House；　and　the　ambassador　knew　that　both　her　tone　and　her　explanation　had　to　be　handled　just　right。
　　　〃For　the　sake　of　understanding；〃　she　continued；　〃let　me　start　by　saying　that　House　Zauvirr　represents　House　Melarn　in　certain　business　interests；　and　I　represent　House　Zauvirr's　efforts　on　behalf　of　House　Melarn　in　Menzoberranzan。　I　serve…or　did　serve；　rather…as　the　ambassador　to　Triel　Baenre　herself。　When　the　difficulties　arose；　they　were；　as　you　now　know；　experienced　in　Menzoberranzan　as　well。　Concerned　about　this　and　the　lack　of　caravan　traffic　between　the　two　cities；　I　petitioned　Matron　Mother　Baenre　to　allow　me　to　return　here　in　the　hopes　of　finding　out　what　was　wrong。
　　　〃Triel　refused；　and　in　fact；　effectively　placed　me　under　house　arrest；　for　what　concerns　I　never　found　out。　She　eventually　imprisoned　me　when　I　tried　to　leave　on　my　own。　While　I　did　not　wish　to　damage　the　relationship　between　our　Houses　and　House　Baenre；　my　loyalty　and　concern　lay　solely　with　my　own　family　and　those　families　we　serve　here　in　Ched　Nasad。　I　was　ordered　put　to　death　for　treason；　but　thankfully；　the　execution　never　occurred。
　　　〃Triel　changed　her　mind　at　some　point；　choosing　instead　to　forgive　me　whatever　sins　I　supposedly　mitted。　She　assigned　me　to　journey　with　her　sister；　Quenthel　Baenre；　and　several　others　here　to　Ched　Nasad　to　reestablish　trading　and　to　determine　if　more　information　was　available　concerning　the；　uh　。　。　。〃
　　　〃Child；　we　all　know　that　Lolth　has　vanished。　You　don't　have　to　tread　around　the　subject。〃　It　was　Matron　Mother　Aunrae　Nasadra；　the　uncrowned　queen　of　Ched　Nasad；　leader　of　the　most　powerful　House　in　the　city。　Faeryl　swallowed　as　Aunrae　added；　〃Get　to　the　point。〃
　　　The　ambassador　nodded　and　continued。　〃Menzoberranzan　had　suffered　an　uprising；　a　slave　revolt　supported　by　outside　forces。　Containing　it　consumed　a　substantial　amount　of　the　sisterhood's　divine　resources。　Matron　Mother　Triel　sent　the　group　of　us　here　to　find　out　if　Lolth's　disappearance　was　limited　to　Menzoberranzan　or　felt　across　all　tribes　of　drow；　but　she　also　wanted　Quenthel　to　procure　any　divine　magic　she　could　lay　her　hands　on　here。　Quenthel　and　Triel　had　apparently　rationalized　that　since　House　Baenre　held　part　ownership　in　Black　Claw　Mercantile；　anything　the　storehouses　stocked　was　her　city's　by　right。　Once　I　was　able　to　covertly　relay　this　to　my　mother　via　my　brother　and　his　magical　contacts；　we　worked　together　to　set　a　trap　and　catch　the　Menzoberranyr　in　the　act。　It　was　only　when　we　all　arrived　at　the　storehouse　that　we　discovered　Matron　Mother　Melarn　was　actually　aiding　the　visitors。　My　mother　confronted　both　of　them　together；　and　Matron　Mother　Melarn　tried　to　escape。〃
　　　When　she　finished；　Faeryl　realized　she　was　out　of　breath　from　rushing　through　the　rest　of　her　explanation。　Matron　Mother　Aunrae　had　that　effect　on　everyone。
　　　〃Drisinil　was　killed；　cut　down　trying　to　flee；〃　Ssipriina　added；　drawing　attention　back　to　herself。　〃I　would　have　done　whatever　I　could　to　spare　her　if　I　could　have　reached　her　in　time；　but　it　was　too　late；　and　my　own　magic　is　too　weakened　to　stave　off　the　passing。〃
　　　〃So　you　conspired　to　allow　them　to　sneak　into　the　city；　going　so　far　as　to　mislead　a　city　patrol？〃
　　　The　matron　mother　who　asked　this　question　was　Jyslin　Aleanra…hel。　Her　features　were　sharp；　almost　fierce；　and　her　reputation　as　a　malicious；　greedy　drow　who　found　fault　in　every　action　was　legendary。　Faeryl　had　never　liked　her；　but　she　was　hardly　in　a　position　to　show　that　sentiment。
　　　〃They　have　no　doubt　been　sent　to　spy　on　us；〃　Jyslin　continued；　〃and　their　supposed　story　of　reestablishing　contact　here　was　simply　a　falsehood　meant　to　keep　you　off…balance。　I　daresay　the　males　still　loose　in　the　city　are　sending　sensitive　information　back　to　their　superiors　even　now；　especially　if　this　wizard　is　as　capable　as　you　alleged　before。　I　might　have　expected　you　to　be　a　more　clever　girl　and　keep　them　out　of　the　city；　but　I　suppose　that's　too　much　to　ask。〃
　　　〃This　is　foolish；〃　Umrae　D'Dgttu；　matron　mother　of　the　second　most　powerful　House　in　the　city　said。　〃We've　heard　the　story；　some　of　us　several　times　now。　It　is　clear　to　me　that　House　Zauvirr　acted　with　the　best　intentions　of　Ched　Nasad　in　mind。　I　move　that　we　dissolve　House　Melarn　forthwith。〃
　　　Umrae　was　one　of　Ssipriina's　secret　allies；　Faeryl　knew。　This　was　it。　They　were　beginning　the　process；　giving　her　mother　what　she　wanted。　Dissolution　of　House　Melarn　was　the　first　step　in　granting　Ssipriina　a　seat　on　the　Council。
　　　〃I　concur；〃　said　Ulviirala　Rilynt；　another　of　the　four　her　mother　had　bribed。　〃The　treason　of　House　Melarn　seems　clear　enough　to　me。〃
　　　Faeryl　stole　a　glance　at　Ssipriina　and　saw　that　she　was　trying　hard　not　to　smile　too　broadly。
　　　〃I'm　more　concerned　with　the　veracity　of　their　story；〃　Lirdnolu　Maerret　said。　〃So　far；　all　we've　had　to　go　on　is　this　fanciful　tale　Ssipriina　and　her　daughter　have　woven；　with　no　neutral　observer　able　to　substantiate　it。　House　Zauvirr　stands　to　gain　quite　a　lot　by　seeing　Drisinil　and　her　ilk　dead。　I　for　one　am　unwilling　to　so　quickly　assume　they're　telling　the　truth　simply　for　the　good　of　the　city。〃
　　　〃Quite　true；〃　Jyslin　Aleanrahel　agreed。　〃Let's　hear　Drisinil's　daughter　speak。〃
　　　Faeryl　opened　her　mouth　to　protest　then　snapped　it　shut　again。　The　matron　mothers　knew　well　the　propensity　drow　had　for　scheming；　and　this　was　the　challenge　Ssipriina　had　cautioned　her　would　e。　There　were　some　who　would　want　the　whole　truth　and　would　look　to　try　to　trap　House　Zauvirr　in　a　lie；　or　if　they　were　allies　of　House　Melarn；　try　to　pin　whatever　blame　they　could　on　Ssipriina。　Her　mother　had　cautioned　Faeryl　for　patience　during　this　time。　When　their　new　enemies　were　exposed；　or　if　the　decision　didn't　favor　Zauvirr；　their　secret　mercenary　army　would　step　forward。
　　　Halisstra　Melarn　was　brought　from　the　dungeons　below　to　answer　for　her　mother's　crimes。　She　was　almost　forcibly　led　into　the　chamber；　flanked　by　two　large　female　guards。　She　had　been　stripped　of　her　fine　clothing　and　was　dressed　in　only　a　thin　shift。　She　cast　her　eyes　about　the　room；　searching　faces；　perhaps　hoping　to　find　some　sympathy　or　support　among　those　present。
　　　It　was　rumored　that　Halisstra　had　a　soft　streak；　that　she　never　seemed　to　show　the　type　of　tenacious　ambition　her　mother　wanted　to　see　in　her　daughters。　She　was　more　interested；　those　rumors　suggested；　in　slumming　with　her　battle　captive；　Danifae；　using　the　other　drow's　good　looks　to　attract　males　to　carouse　with。　There　were　even　some　who　whispered　that　Matron　Mother　Melarn　would　have　cast　her　out　of　the　family；　given　the　right　circumstances。　Faeryl　knew　that　the　slumming　part　was　true；　and　that　gave　her　an　idea。
　　　She　spread　her　hands　helplessly；　as　if　acknowledging　th