war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第4部分

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　　　Ryld　glanced　at　the　forest　that　hemmed　them　in　on　every　side。　Unlike　the　solid；　silent　tunnels　he　was　used　to；　the　wall　of　trees　and　underbrush　was　porous；　filled　with　rustling　and　creaking；　and　the　quick；　tiny　movements　of　animals　flitting　from　branch　to　branch。　Ryld　couldn't　decide　which　was　worse：　the　shrinking　feeling　he'd　experienced　under　the　empty　expanse　of　the　sky；　or　the　feeling　he　had　then…as　though　the　woods　were　watching　them。
　　　〃You're　mad；〃　he　told　Halisstra。　〃You'd　never　survive　out　here　alone。　Especially　without　spells　to…〃
　　　As　anger　blazed　in　Halisstra's　eyes；　Ryld　suddenly　regretted　his　rash　words。　With　all　Halisstra's　talk　of　surface　gods；　he'd　forgotten；　for　a　moment；　that　she　was　also　a　priestess　of　Lolth　and　a　female　of　a　noble　House；　He　started　to　bow　deeply　and　beg　her　pardon；　but　she　surprised　him　by　laying　a　hand　on　his　arm。
　　　Then　she　said　something；　in　a　low　murmur　he　had　to　strain　to　hear：　〃Together　we'd　survive。〃
　　　He　stared　at　her；　wondering　if　his　ears　were　playing　tricks　on　him。　All　the　while；　he　was　overwhelmingly　aware　of　her　hand　upon　his　arm。　The　touch　of　her　fingers　was　light；　but　it　seemed　to　burn　his　skin；　flushing　him　with　warmth。
　　　〃We　might　survive　up　here；〃　he　admitted；　then　wished　he　hadn't　spoken　when　he　saw　the　gleam　in　Halisstra's　eyes。
　　　The　alliance　he'd　just　unintentionally　mitted　to　would　probably　be　no　more　solid　than　his　friendship　with　Pharaun。　Halisstra　would　maintain　it　as　long　as　it　furthered　her　goals；　then　would　drop　it　the　instant　it　became　inconvenient。　Just　as　Pharaun　had　abandoned　Ryld；　leaving　him　to　face　impossible　odds；　when　the　pair　of　them　were　trying　to　escape　from　Syrzan's　stalactite　fortress。
　　　Ryld's　meditative　skills　had　saved　his　life　then　and　allowed　him　to　fight　his　way　free。　Later；　when　he'd　met　up　with　Pharaun　again；　the　mage　had　clapped　him　on　the　back　and　pretended　that　he'd　fully　anticipated；　all　along；　that　Ryld　would　survive。　Why　else　would　he　have　abandoned　his　〃dearest　friend？〃
　　　Halisstra　gave　Ryld　a　smile　that　made　her　look　both　cunning　and　beautiful　in　one。　〃Here's　what　we'll　do　。　。　。〃　she　began。
　　　Inwardly；　Ryld　winced　at　the　word　〃we；〃　but　he　kept　his　face　neutral　as　he　listened。
　　　
　　　Danifae　watched　from　behind　a　tree　as　Halisstra　and　Ryld　stood　in　the　ruined　temple；　talking。　It　was　clear　they　were　plotting　something。　Their　voices　were　pitched　too　low　for　Danifae　to　hear；　and　they　leaned　in　toward　one　another　like　conspirators。　It　was　also　clear；　from　the　quick　kiss　Ryld　gave　Halisstra　as　the　conversation　ended；　that　they　had　bee；　or　would　soon　bee；　lovers。
　　　Watching　them；　Danifae　felt　a　cold；　still　anger。　Not　jealousy…she　cared　nothing　for　either　Ryld　or　Halisstra…but　frustration　born　of　the　fact　that　she　had　not　seduced　Ryld　first。
　　　Danifae　was　more　beautiful　than　her　former　mistress　by　far。　Where　Halisstra　was　lean；　with　small　breasts　and　slim　hips；　Danifae　was　sensuously　curvaceous。　Halisstra's　hair　was　merely　white；　whereas　Danifae's　had　lustrous　silver　tones。
　　　As　for　Halisstra's　face；　well；　it　was　pretty　enough；　with　its　slightly　snubbed　nose　and　mon；　coal…red　eyes；　but　Danifae　had　the　advantage　of　skin　softer　than　the　blackest　velvet；　lips　that　curled　in　a　perpetual　pout；　and　eyebrows　that　formed　a　perfect　white　arch　over　each　of　her　strikingly　colored；　pale　gray　eyes。　An　advantage　she　should　have　used　earlier；　judging　by　the　display　of　mawkish　sentimentality　Danifae　had　stumbled　upon。
　　　Quenthel　was　already　in　play；　though　the　older；　more　experienced　priestess　was　not　wholly　unaware　of　Danifae's　immediate　desires。　It　didn't　take　a　genius　to　see　why　Danifae　had　seduced　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith。　It　was　almost　to　be　expected。
　　　Danifae　anticipated　a　more　plicated　time　of　it　when　she'd　have　to　take　on　Pharaun　and　Valas。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　was　wily。　He　would　surely　be　difficult　to　fool　once　things　began　to　turn；　but　his　open　dislike　of　Quenthel　gave　her　something　to　use。　Valas　was　bought　and　paid　for　by　House　Baenre；　and　that　kind　of　gold　was　something　Danifae　wouldn't　likely　happen　upon　anytime　soon。　That　would　be　delicate。　And　Jeggred；　well。　。　。　。
　　　But　Ryld；　with　this　strange　infatuation　with　her　soon…to…be…former　mistress；　would　be　a　tougher　nut　to　crack。
　　　What　good　was　playing　sava；　she　thought；　if　you　don't　control　all　of　the　game　pieces？
　　　Valas　strode　into　the　ruins；　followed　by　Pharaun　and　Quenthel；　and；　a　moment　later；　by　the　loping　Jeggred。　The　false　smile　Halisstra　gave　Quenthel　and　the　way　Ryld　deliberately　met　Pharaun's　eyes；　confirmed　Danifae's　suspicions。　Halisstra　was　preparing　to　betray　her　fellow　priestess　and　Ryld　his　former　friend。
　　　Danifae　smiled。　She　didn't　know　what　they　were　up　to…yet…but　whatever　it　was；　she　was　certain　it　could　be　turned　to　her　advantage。　She　walked　out　into　the　clearing；　joining　them。
　　　With　a　quick　snap　of　her　whip；　Quenthel　motioned　for　the　others　to　gather　around　her。
　　　〃Valas　has　found　an　entrance　to　the　Underdark；〃　she　announced。　〃Once　we're　safely　below；　Pharaun　will　cast　a　spell。　We're　going　back　to　the　Demonweb　Pits。　But　not　all　of　us。　One　of　you　will　carry　a　message　back　to　Menzoberranzan；　to　the　matron　mother。〃
　　　As　Quenthel's　eyes　ranged　over　the　group；　Danifae　noted　the　indecision　they　held。　Quenthel　was　obviously　uncertain　whom　she　could　spare…or　trust。　Seizing　her　chance；　Danifae　prostrated　herself　before　the　high　priestess。
　　　〃Let　me　do　your　bidding；　Mistress；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　serve　you　as　faithfully　as　I　have　served　Lolth。〃
　　　As　she　spoke；　she　cast　a　baleful　eye　on　Halisstra；　hoping　Quenthel　would　take　her　point。　Halisstra　had　acted　blasphemously　during　their　recent　journey　to　the　Demonweb　Pits　and　was　not　to　be　trusted。
　　　Or　course；　neither　was　Danifae。　She　had　no　intention　or　going　to　Menzoberranzan　if　she　was　chosen。　Not　when　there　was　a　wizard　in　Sschindylryn　who　might　be　able　to　help　her　to　free　herself；　once　and　for　all；　from　the　odious　Binding　that　tied　her　to　Halisstra。
　　　Danifae　felt　Quenthel　touch　her　hair；　and　she　looked　up　expectantly。
　　　〃No；　Danifae；〃　Quenthel　said；　the　touch　turning　into　a　gentle　stroke。　〃You　will　stay　with　me。〃
　　　Danifae　ground　her　teeth。　Apparently；　she'd　done　too　good　a　job　of　seducing　Quenthel。
　　　Halisstra　stepped　forward…and；　to　Danifae's　astonishment；　also　fell　to　her　knees　in　front　of　Quenthel。
　　　〃Mistress；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃Let　me　carry　the　message　for　you。　I　know　that　I　failed　you　earlier；　in　the　shadow　of　the　goddess's　own　temple。　I　beg　of　you　now。　Please　let　me　。　。　。　redeem　myself。〃
　　　〃No！〃　Danifae　spat。　〃She's　up　to　something。　She　has　no　intention　of　going　to　Menzoberranzan。　She…〃
　　　Halisstra　laughed。
　　　〃And　just　where　would　I　go；　Danifae？〃　she　asked。　〃Ched　Nasad　lies　in　ruins。　I　no　longer　have　a　House　to　return　to。　I　need　to　make　a　new　home　for　myself…in　Menzoberranzan。　And　what　better　way　to　start　than　by　braving　the　dangers　of　the　World　Above　to　carry　a　vital　message　to　the　First　House？〃
　　　Danifae's　eyes　narrowed。　She　could　sense　that　Halisstra　was　up　to　something。
　　　〃You'd　travel　to　Menzoberranzan　on　the　surface？〃　she　asked；　spitti