war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第27章

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　in　the　power　struggles　within　my　family　or　among　the　noble　Houses；　either。　I　no　longer　needed　intelligence　about　such　matters。　The　only　rivalry　that　concerned　me　was　the　one　among　wizards；　and　even　if　you　number　the　foremost　practitioners　of　my　art　among　your　guests；　I　doubt　they　whisper　the　esoterica　of　their　newly　invented　spells　in　your　ears。　When　it　es　to　our　discoveries；　we　wizards　are　a　closemouthed　breed。〃
〃You　don't　know　what　it　was　like　for　me　。　。　。　is　like　for　me；　abused　and　degraded　by　my　inferiors；　constrained　in　body；　mind；　and　soul；　unable　to　mune　with　Lolth。　。。。〃
Pharaun　raised　his　hand。　〃Please；　you're　embarrassing　yourself。　You　sound　like　a　whining　human；　or　one　of　our　foul　cousins　in　the　World　Above。　Cease　this　tirade；　take　a　breath；　and　think；　then　you　will　realize；　enemy　of　Menzoberranzan；　that　my　concern　for　your　well…being　has　always　been；　at　best；　limited。　How　could　it　be　otherwise？　Sentiment　cernottainly　wasn't　strong　enough　to　make　me　spend　a　fortune　buying　you　free　of　Nym；　or；　if　he　and　I　couldn't　strike　a　deal；　break　you　out　of　here。　Not　when　you　hadn't　fulfilled　the　terms　of　our　covenant。　As　you　no　doubt　recall；　you　were　supposed　to　provide　me　useful　information　over　the　full　course　of　twenty　years。　I　admit　it　wasn't　your　fault　that　you　couldn't；　but　still；　that's　just　the　way　things　fell　out。〃
〃Fine；〃　she　gritted。　〃You're　right；　I'm　being　ridiculous。　In　forsaking　me；　you　simply　behaved　as　any　sensible　drow　would。　Now　what　in　the　name　of　the　Demonweb　do　you　want？〃
He　nodded　at　the　other　end　of　the　room　and　said；　〃May　we　。。。　？〃
She　gave　a　curt　nod；　and　they　seated　themselves；　she　on　the　mattress　of　her　wide　octagonal　bed　and　he　on　a　cushioned　granite　chair。
〃This　is　much　nicer；〃　he　said。　〃Would　you　like　me　to　send　for　some　wine？〃
〃Just　get　on　with　it。〃
〃Very　well。　I　imagine　my　plight　will　amuse　you。　After　the　goddess　knows　how　many　years　breathing　the　rarefied　and　dispassionate　air　of　scholarship；　imparting　knowledge　to　eager　young　minds；　advancing　the　frontiers　of　the　mystic　arts…〃
〃Murdering　other　wizards　for　their　talismans　and　grimoires。〃
He　grinned。　〃Well；　that　was　implied；　of　course。　Anyway；　after　all　that；　I　find　myself　again　embroiled　in　the　more　mundane　aspects　of　life　in　our　noble　metropolis。　There's　a　puzzle　I　must　solve　on　pain　of　the　Archmage's　severe　displeasure；　and　I　will　be　grateful　unto　death　and　beyond　if　you　help　me　unravel　it。〃
〃How　would　I　do　that？〃
〃Don't　be　disingenuous。　It　doesn't　suit　you。　The　same　way　as　always。　I　assume　foolish　boys　still　sometimes　gossip　and　boast　to　their　hired　females；　even　though　if　they　stopped　to　think　about　it；　they'd　remember　you　loathe　them　and　wish　them　only　ill。　I　likewise　imagine　that　you　still　sometimes　find　yourself　obliged　to　entertain　at　gatherings　where　such　idiots；　unnotmindful　of　your　presence；　discuss　their　most　secret　affairs　with　one　annotother。〃
〃In　other　words；　you　wish　to　resume　our　old　arrangement。　Which　still　had　four　years　to　run。　If　I　assist　you　with　your　current　problem；　will　you　continue　to　concern　yourself　with　'mundane'　affairs；　or　will　you　lock　yournotself　away　in　your　tower　once　more？〃
He　considered　lying；　but　his　instincts　told　him　she'd　see　through　it。
〃I'm　not　entirely　sure　what　will　bee　of　me；〃　he　said。　〃As　far　as　I　know；　if　I'm　successful；　I　ought　to　wind　up　reestablished　in　Sorcere　with　all　my　transgressions　forgiven；　but　for　some　murky　reason；　I　wonder。　I'm　caught　up　in　something　I　don't　yet　understand；　and　only　the　dark　powers　know　where　it　will　lead。〃
〃Then　if　you　want　my　help；　you'll　have　to　set　me　free　。　。　。　today。〃
〃Impossible；　I　don't　have　the　requisite　funds　on　my　person；　nor　the　leisure　to　dicker　with　Nym；　for　that　matter。　You　know　he'd　stretch　any　nenotgotiation　out　for　days；　just　to　be　annoying。　Nor　do　I　have　time　to　arrange　an　escape。〃
She　only　stared　at　him；　and　he　understood。
〃Ah；〃　he　said。
〃Is　it　a　bargain？〃
〃It　is　if　you　actually　give　me　some　help。　My　problem　is　this：　An　unusual　number　of　males　have　run　away　from　home　of　late。〃
〃That's　your　errand？　To　find　some　rogues？　What　makes　it　important　enough　to　send　a　Master　of　S