war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第109章

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　turned　her　pany　aside。　If　they　actually　approached　the　place；　some　guard　peering　down　from　the　ramparts　was　bound　to　penetrate　their　disguises。
They　marched　south；　still　without　interference。　If　someone　was　chasing　them；　the　ambassador　was　sure　it　would　have　bee　apparent　by　then。　Faeryl　took　a　deep　breath；　told　herself　her　ruse　had　succeeded；　and　tried　to　relax。　She　couldn't；　quite。　Perhaps　when　she　reached　the　Bauthwaf；　or　better　still；　escaped　Menzoberranyr　territory　altogether　。　。　。
The　outlanders'　route　carried　them　to　the　west　of　the　elevation　that　was　Qu'ellarz'orl；　its　slopes　thick　with　enormous　mushrooms。　Then；　at　last；　they　reached　one　of　the　city's　hundred　gates　to　the　tunnels　beyond。　The　Menzoberranyr　defended　all　of　them；　but　this　one　at　least　was　a　minor　exit。　It　boasted　fewer　guards　than　most。
The　fugitives　approached　boldly；　as　if　they　had　every　legitimate　expecnottation　of　the　sentries　ushering　them　through。　The　guards　must　have　wonnotdered　why　a　high　priestess　would　wear　an　elegant　cloak　and　gown　and　ride　her　ceremonial　transport　for　an　excursion　into　the　dirty；　dangerous　caves　beyond　the　city；　but　a　matron's　whim　was　law　in　Menzoberranzan。　They　offered　her　obeisance；　then　set　about　the　cumbersome　process　of　unbarnotring　the　granite…and…adamantine　valves…or　most　of　them　did。
One　officer　eyed　Faeryl　thoughtfully。　He　had　a　foxy；　humorous　face　and　was　smaller　than　most　males；　which　apparently　didn't　hinder　him　when　wielding　the　heavy　broadsword　hanging　from　his　baldric。　Though　he　carnotried　the　blade　of　a　warrior；　he'd　eschewed　mail…which　could　disrupt　arcane　spells…for　a　cloak　and　jerkin　possessed　of　the　countless　telltale　pockets　of　a　wizard。　Evidently　he　was　fighter　and　wizard　both。　When　she　gazed　directly　at　him；　he　respectfully　lowered　his　head　but　resumed　his　scrutiny　as　soon　as　she　turned　her　head。
She　pivoted　around　to　face　him　and　asked；　〃Captain；　is　it？〃
The　small　male　gave　her　a　smart　salute。
〃Captain　Filifar；　my　lady；　at　your　service。〃
〃Please；　e　here。〃
Filifar　obeyed。　If　he　betrayed　any　wariness；　it　was　only　in　his　eyes。　The　two　gigantic　spiders　graven　in　the　leaves　of　the　gate　stirred　ever　so　slightly。　Faeryl　realized　they　would　emerge　from　the　carving　and　fight　for　him　if　manded。
〃You　have　the　look　of　an　intelligent　male；〃　she　said；　gazing　down　at　him　from　atop　the　driftdisc。
〃Thank　you；　my　lady。〃
〃Perhaps　you　received　orders；〃　she　continued；　〃to　refuse　passage　to　the　delegation　from　Ched　Nasad。〃
〃No；　my　lady。〃
Filifar's　hand　twitched　ever　so　slightly。　It　wanted　to　reach　for　either　the　hilt　of　his　sword　or　the　spell　ponents　in　one　of　his　pockets。
〃Your　subordinates　were　content　to　receive　their　instructions　and　let　it　go　at　that；　but　not　a　sharp　boy　like　you。　Somehow　you　contrived　to　find　out　what　the　ambassador　looks　like；　thus　making　sure　you'd　be　able　to　recnotognize　her　if　she　came　this　way。〃
Filifar's　mouth　tightened。　〃My　lady；〃　he　said；　〃my　pany　is　well　armed　and　well　trained。　You　may　also　have　observed　the　spiders　graven…〃
She　raised　her　hand。　〃Don't　agitate　yourself；　Captain。　I　mean　you　no　harm。　We're　just　two　Menzoberranyr　idly　chatting；　passing　the　time　it　takes　your　fellows　to　open　the　gate。〃
〃I　regret；　my　lady；　that　now　that　I've　seen　you　up　close；　I　can't　allow　them　to　do　that。〃
He　took　two　careful　steps　back；　retreating　beyond　her　reach；　then　pivnototed　to　shout　the　order。
Faeryl　stopped　him　dead　by　displaying　a　gaudy　ruby　brooch；　formerly　Talindra's　property。
〃I　said　you　were　an　intelligent　lad；　Captain　Filifar；　but　I　don't　believe　you're　a　prosperous　one。　You　wear　no　jewelry；　and　your　clothing　is　made　of　mon　stuff。〃
〃You're　right；　milady。　Fortune　hasn't　favored　me。〃
It　can。
Faeryl　brought　out　one　ornament　after　another；　the　jewels　her　retainers　had　stolen　from　the　Ousstyls　and　her　own　legitimate　treasure　as　well。　She　filled　her　lap　with　them　and　laid　the　surplus　on　the　pale；　luminous　rim　of　the　driftdisc。
〃Here's　enough　wealth　to　improve　your　luck　and　that　of　your　minions　as　well。〃
Filifar　hesitated　before　saying；　〃My　lady；　I　was　told　that　Matron　Triel　herself　wishes　you　detained。　It's　no　light　matt