war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第28章

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〃That's　your　errand？　To　find　some　rogues？　What　makes　it　important　enough　to　send　a　Master　of　Sorcere？〃
He　smiled。　〃I　have　no　idea。　Do　you　know　anything　about　it？〃
She　shook　her　head。　〃Not　much。〃
〃Frankly；　any　crumb　of　genuine　information　will　put　me　ahead　of　where　I　am　now。〃
〃Well；　I've　heard　only　the　vaguest　hints；　but　they　suggest　this　isn't　just　a　case　of　an　unusual　number　of　males　deciding　independently　to　elope。　They　all　ran　to　the　same　place　for　the　same　reason；　whatever　that　reason　may　be。〃
〃I　thought　as　much；〃　said　Pharaun。　〃Otherwise；　why　would　Gromph　be　interested？　But　it's　reassuring　to　hear　that　your　own　agile　mind　has　arrived　at　the　same　conclusion。〃
She　sneered。
Pharaun　absently　ran　his　fingertip　along　one　of　the　swirling　lines　woven　into　his　robe。
〃I　doubt　a　threat　would　suffice　to　draw　so　many　boys　away　from　home；〃　he　said。　〃Some　would　have　the　courage　to　defy　the　threatener　or　the　sense　to　appeal　to　their　kin　for　protection。　Nor　would　a　hypnotic　charm　do　the　trick。　Aside　from　the　natural　resistance　to　such　effects　that　all　we　dark　elves　possess；　some　of　the　males　would　have　carried　wards　in　the　form　of　amulets　and　such。　No；　I　think　we　have　to　assume　the　rogues　sneaked　away　of　their　own　volition　to　acplish　some　positive　end。　But　what？〃
〃They're　organizing　a　new　merchant　clan？〃
〃I　thought　of　that；　but　Gromph　says　no；　and　I'm　sure　he's　correct。　For　if　that　were　the　case；　then　why　the　secrecy？　Since　trade　is　important　to　all　Menzoberranzan；　people　don't　generally　object　when　a　male　bees　a　merchant。　It's　one　of　the　two　or　three　legitimate　ways　to　distance　oneself　from　Mother's　harsh　and　arbitrary　hand。〃　He　grinned。　〃No　offense。　I'm　sure　that　in　happier　times；　the　males　under　your　authority　had　no　reason　to　plain　of　you。〃
〃You　can　bet　I　would　give　them　reason　now。〃
〃Given　your　more　recent　experiences；　that's　understandable。　So；　if　the　rogues　aren't　putting　together　a　caravan；　what　are　they　doing？　Preparing　to　flee　Menzoberranzan　for　good　and　all？　Or；　goddess　forbid；　have　they　slipped　away　already？〃
〃I　don't　think　so。　I　can't　tell　you　precisely　where　they　are；　but　I　believe　they're　still　somewhere　in　the　city　proper；　the　Mantle；　or　conceivably　out　in　the　Bauthwaf。〃
〃Now　that　truly　is　good　news。　I　wasn't　keen　on　a　hunt　through　the　wilds　of　the　Underdark。　Not　only　is　there　a　general　lack　of　amenities；　the　wine…makers　are　uncorking　the　new　vintages　the　tenday　after　next。〃
Pellanistra　shook　her　head。　〃You　haven't　changed。〃
〃Thank　you；　I'll　take　that　as　a　pliment。　Now；　let's　get　down　to　the　crux　of　the　matter；　shall　we？　I　require　names。　Which　of　your　visitors　dropped　these　Vaguest　hints'　which　you　have　so　sagaciously　interpreted？〃
She　gave　him　a　smile　radiant　with　spite。　〃Alton　Vandree　and　Vuzlyn　Freth。〃
〃Who　themselves　subsequently　disappeared　and　are　thus　unavailable　for　questioning。　It　makes　sense；　I　suppose；　but　it's　unfortunate　all　the　same。〃
〃I've　given　you　everything　I　have；〃　she　said。　〃Now　fulfill　your　end　of　the　deal。〃
The　wizard　frowned　and　said；　〃My　dear　collaborator；　it　would　devastate　me　to　disappoint　you。　Yet　I　stipulated　that　you'd　have　to　offer　me　infornotmation　of　some　significance；　and　frankly；　I'm　not　sure　you've　delivered。　I　really　know　little　more　than　I　did　before。〃
〃Do　it；　or　I'll　tell　every　soul　who　es　into　this　cell　that　you're　looknoting　for　the　runaways。　Perhaps　that　will　have　some　'significance'　for　your　mission。　I　assume　it　is　supposed　to　be　a　secret。　Things　usually　are　where　you're　involved；　and　you　haven't　mentioned　a　legion　of　assistants　following　you　about。〃
Pharaun　laughed。　〃Well　played。　I　surrender。　How　shall　we　do　this？〃
〃I　don't　care。　Burn　me　with　your　magic。　Stick　a　dagger　in　me。　Break　my　neck　with　those　long；　clever　fingers。〃
〃Interesting　suggestions　all；　but　I'd　just　as　soon　that　Nym　didn't　bill　me　for　your　demise。　If　we　can　make　it　look　as　if　your　heart　just　stopped　of　its　own　accord　sometime　after　I　look　my　leave；　I'll　have　a　chance。〃
He　cast　about；　noticed　the　thick；　fluffy　pillow　on　the　bed；　picked　it　up；　and　experimentally　gripped　it　at　both　ends。　It　felt　good　in　his　hands。
〃This　ought　to　work；〃