war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第39章

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ing。　〃Don't　let　your　males　slack　off。　I　want　the　defenses　plete　before　you　leave　to　cast　your　spell　into　Narbondel。〃
〃Consider　it　done。〃
Quenthel　turned　and　walked　back　toward　Arach…Tinilith。　The　primary　entrance　to　the　imposing　spider…shaped　temple　had　bee　merely　an　odd…looking　hole。　The　artisans　hadn't　yet　finished　repairing　the　crumpled　adamantine　leaves　of　the　gate。　Gromph　smiled　to　think　how　that　must　annoy　his　sister。　Knowing　her　as　he　did；　he　was　fairly　certain　the　unfortunotnate　metalworkers　had　already　felt　the　weight　of　her　displeasure。
Well；　perhaps　they　wouldn't　have　to　bear　it　for　much　longer。　He　finnotgered　a　small　ornament；　a　black　stone　clasped　in　a　silver　claw　dangling　over　his　heart。
Quenthel　hadn't　asked　about　the　trinket；　nor　had　Gromph　expected　her　to。　He　always　wore　his　amulet　of　eternal　youth　and　the　brooch　that　helped　him　imbue　Narbondel　with　radiant　warmth。　Beyond　those　two　staples；　he　tended　to　adorn　the　Robes　of　the　Archmage　with　a　constantly　changing　array　of　charms　and　talismans；　depending　on　his　whim　and　the　particular　magical　tasks　he　expected　to　perform　that　day。　His　sister　had　had　no　reason　to　suspect　that　this　particular　trinket　was　of　any　particular　significance；　certainly　not　to　herself。
If　she　had　noticed　it　at　all；　she　probably　assumed　the　stone　was　onyx；　ebony；　or　jet。　In　actuality；　it　was　polished　ivory　cut　from　a　unicorn's　horn　after　Gromph　slew　the　magical　equine…sacred　to　the　despicable　elves　of　the　World　Above…in　a　necromantic　rite。　The　orb　was　only　black　because　of　the　entity　he　had　placed　inside　it　only　two　hours　before。
〃That　was　her；〃　he　murmured；　too　softly　for　any　of　the　spell　casters　bustling　about　him　to　overhear。　〃Did　you　take　her　scent？〃
Yes；　the　demon　answered；　its　silent　voice　like　a　nail　scratching　the　inside　of　Gromph's　head。　Though　it　was　unnecessary。　I　may　not　possess　the　power　of　sight；　but　that　has　never　hindered　me　as　I　sought　my　prey。
〃I　was　just　making　sure。　Now；　can　you　succeed　where　Beradax　failed？〃
Of　course。　No　one　of　your　world　has　ever　escaped　me。　Afterward；　I　will　feast　on　Quenthel's　soul；　one　tiny　morsel　at　a　time。
Most　likely　the　netherspirit　would　do　exactly　that；　and　if　it　failed；　Gromph　had　six　more　waiting　in　line　to　pick　up　where　it　left　off。　Perhaps　it　wouldn't　even　e　to　that。　He　had；　after　all；　manipulated　events　in　such　a　way　as　to　inspire　more　mundane　assassins。
A　third…year　student　came　scurrying　up　with　a　stubby　chalcedony　wand　in　his　hand。　Recalled　to　more　immediate　concerns；　Gromph　sighed　and　prepared　to　teach　the　youth　how　the　device　worked。





Pretending　to　take　an　interest　in　an　itinerant　vendor's　rack　of　cheaply　forged　and　poorly　balanced　daggers；　Ryld　turned　and　surreptitiously　surnotveyed　the　intersection。
A　fellow　with　what　the　weapons　master　suspected　were　self…inflicted　sores　on　his　legs　chanted　for　alms　and　shook　a　ceramic　bowl。　Since　it　was　a　rare　if　not　demented　dark　elf　who　ever　felt　the　tug　of　pity；　the　beggar　sat　near　the　entrance　to　a　shabby　boarding　house　catering　to　non…drow。
A　female　hurried　by　with　a　hooked　and　pointed　pole…virtually　a　pike；　when　one　really　looked　at　it…on　her　shoulder　and　a　giant　weasel　on　a　leash。　She　was　plainly　an　exterminator　headed　out　to　rid　a　household　of　some　substantial　infestation。
A　snarling　noble　from　House　Hunzrin　drew　his　rapier　and　lashed　a　moner　with　the　flat；　evidently　because　the　latter　had　been　a　trifle　slow　stepping　out　of　his　way。　The　Hunzrins　were　notorious　for　their　virulent　arnotrogance。　Perhaps　it　stemmed　from　the　fact　that　they　controlled　the　greater　part　of　Menzoberranzan's　agriculture。　Or　maybe　they　were　pensating　for　the　fact　that；　for　all　their　wealth；　they　were　stuck　living　in　〃mere　East。〃
Any　number　of　other　rather　drab　and　hungry…looking　souls　rushed　on　about　their　business。
〃Reliving　childhood　memories？〃　the　wizard　asked。
〃You　forget；〃　Ryld　replied；　〃I　was　born　in　the　Braeryn。　I　had　to　work　my　way　up　to　get　to　Eastmyr。〃
〃I　daresay　you　took　one　look　around；　then　kept　right　on　climbing。〃
〃You're　right。　Just　now；　I　was　checking　to　see　if　someone's　tailing　us。　No　one　is。〃
〃What　a　pity。　I　wa