war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第14章

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The　ophidian　lashes　crashed　through　the　demon's　charred　and　tattered　visage　and　bit　into　what　lay　beneath。　The　spider　jerked；　froze；　twitched　two　of　its　legs　in　a　purposeless　way；　and　the　burning　hulk　of　it　slowly　sank　to　the　floor；　just　as　Quenthel's　spell　elapsed　and　all　the　dark　fire　still　cracknotling　in　the　chamber　winked　out　of　existence。
She　shouted　in　exultation。　Equally　ecstatic；　only　a　little　singed；　the　vipers　danced　at　the　end　of　the　scourge。　Everyone's　good　mood　lasted　just　as　long　as　it　took　for　the　Baenre　priestess；　clad　primarily　in　smoke　and　ash；　to　turn　toward　the　door。　
Though　she'd　been　far　too　busy　to　notice　hitherto；　at　some　point　a　number　of　teachers　and　students　had　evidently　crowded　into　the　space　to　watch　the　battle。　They　were　watching　Quenthel　still；　eyes　wide；　faces　uncertain。
〃It　was　a　desecration；〃　said　Quenthel。　〃A　mockery。〃
She　stared　at　them　with　haughty　expectation。
They　peered　back　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　folded　their　hands　and　bowed　their　heads　in　obeisance。































C　h　a　p　t　e　r

T　H　R　E　E
Tall　and　lithe；　the　left　side　of　her　otherwise　handsome　face　creased　with　an　old　battle　scar　of　which；　she　recognized；　she　was　rather　foolishly　proud；　Greyanna　Mizzrym　entered　her　mother's　presence　dirty；　sweaty；　and　still　clad　in　her　mail　shirt。　Greyanna　knew　Mother　didn't　like　for　her　daughters　and　other　chattels　to　e　to　meet　with　her　fully　armed；　but　she　had　an　excuse。　She'd　just　returned　from　an　inspection　tour　of　Mizzrym　operations　in　Bauthwaf…〃around…cloak；〃　as　the　dangerous　network　of　tunnels　imnotmediately　surrounding　Menzoberranzan　was　called…only　to　hear　from　a　frantic　functionary　bearing　the　fresh　marks　of　a　whip　of　fangs　that　the　matron　mother　wished　to　see　her　as　soon　as　possible。
Actually；　even　knowing　the　articles　likely　wouldn't　save　her　if　things　went　horribly　wrong；　Greyanna　rather　liked　having　a　justification　to　walk　in　on　her　parent　with　her　mace　in　her　hand　and　her　shield　on　her　arm。　She　couldn't　think　of　any　reason　why　Mother　would　have　decided　to　kill　her　at　this　particular　point　in　time；　but　one　could　never　be　altogether　sure；　could　one？　
Certainly　not　with　Miz'ri　Mizzrym；　a　female　regarded　even　by　other　dark　elves　as　excessively　and　capriciously　cruel。　She　sat　enthroned　in　her　temple　with　all　of　her　weapons　and　protections　ready　to　hand；　the　six…headed　whip　and　the　purple　rod　of　tentacles；　the　enchanted　rings　gleamnoting　on　her　fingers。　She　might　have　been　considered　ely　even　by　the　exacting　standards　of　her　exquisite　race；　except　that　her　mouth　drew　down　in　an　ugly　and　all　but　perpetual　scowl。　She　regarded　her　daughter's　martial　appointments　coldly　but　without　ment。
Greyanna　lowered　her　head　and　spread　her　hands；　offering　the　proper　obeisance；　and　said；　〃Matron　Mother。　You　wished　to　see　me？〃
〃I　wished　to　see　you　yesterday。〃
〃I　was　off　conducting　family　business。〃　Of　course；　Mother　knew　that　as　well　as　she　did。　〃We　have　to　keep　up　with　our　duties　even　now。　Especially　now…as　you　yourself　have　observed　on　more　than　one　occasion。〃
〃Watch　your　insolent　tongue！〃
Greyanna　sighed。　〃Yes；　Mother。　I　apologize。　I　didn't　mean　to　speak　out　of　turn。〃
〃See　that　you　refrain　from　doing　so　again。〃
Miz'ri　fell　silent；　perhaps　to　gather　her　thoughts；　perhaps　simply　in　an　effort　to　rattle　her　daughter's　nerves。　Such　petty；　pointless　attempts　at　innottimidation　were　virtually　a　reflex　with　her。
Greyanna　wondered　if　a　servant　had　been　instructed　to　fetch　her　a　chair　for　the　remainder　of　the　interview。　It　didn't　look　like　it。　That　was　typical　of　her　mother　as　well。
〃Your　brother　Pharaun　。。。〃　Miz'ri　said　at　last。
Greyanna's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃Yes？〃
〃I　think　it　might　finally　be　time　for　the　two　of　you　to　get　reacquainted。〃
The　younger　female　held　her　scarred　features　calm　and　posed。　It　was　rarely　a　good　idea　to　show　strong　emotion　to　anyone；　particularly　Mother。　If　you　showed　her　that　something　mattered　to　you；　she　would　find　a　way　to　hurt　you　with　it。　Even　so；　Greyanna　couldn't　quite　suppress　a　shiver　of　anticipation。
She　and　her　twin　sister　Sabal　had　loathed　one　anothe