war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第147部分

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ed　entirely　engrossed　in　his　snack；　but　Triel　was　confident　he　was　watching　her　sibling's　progress。　That　was　his　task；　after　all；　to　ward　her　from　all　potential　enemies；　innotcluding　her　own　kin。　Especially　her　own　kin。
Gromph　looked　out　at　the　city's　domes　and　spires。　Some　had　lost　their　luminescence；　as　if　his　rain　had　washed　it　away；　and　many　had　flowed　and　twisted　in　the　fire's　embrace；　warping　the　spider　carvings　into　crippled　shapes　or　effacing　them　entirely。　The　wizard's　mouth　twisted。
〃It　could　have　been　worse；〃　Triel　said。　〃The　stoneworkers　can　repair　the　damage。〃
〃They　have　their　work　cut　out　for　them；　especially　without　slaves　to　help。〃
〃We　have　some。　A　few　undercreatures　declined　to　revolt　or　were　capnottured　instead　of　slain。　We'll　drive　them　hard　and　buy　and　capture　more。〃
〃Still；　does　anyone　remember　precisely　how　every　rampart　and　sculpture　looked？　Can　anyone　recreate　Menzoberranzan　exactly　as　it　was？　No。　We're　changed；　scarred；　and…〃
He　winced　and　rubbed　his　chest。
〃Forgive　me；〃　the　archmage　continued。　〃I　didn't　e　to　lament　but　to　perform　my　function　as　your　advisor；　to　share　my　thoughts　on　how　to　meet　the　challenges　to　e。〃
Triel　rested　her　hand　atop　the　cool；　polished　stone　of　the　rail　and　asked；　〃How　do　you　see　those　challenges？〃
〃It's　obvious；　isn't　it？　We've　just　experienced　what　promises　to　be　the　first　in　a　series　of　calamities。　By　dint　of　observing　you　in　bat；　every　Menzoberranyr　with　half　a　brain　now　knows　you　priestesses　have　lost　your　power。　Rest　assured；　no　matter　what　measures　the　Council　takes；　the　word　will　spread　beyond　our　borders。　Perhaps　some　escaped　thrall　is　proclaiming　it　even　now。　Soon；　one　or　another　enemy　will　march　on　us；or；　if　our　luck　is　really　bad；　they　might　all　unite　in　a　grand　alliance。〃
Triel　swallowed。　〃None　of　our　foes　dares　even　to　dream　of　taking　Menzoberranzan。〃
〃This　Syrzan　did。　When　its　kin；　and　others；　find　out　we've　lost　our　divine　magic；　a　significant　fraction　of　our　drow　warriors；　and　virtually　all　our　slave　troops；　it　may　inspire　them　to　optimism。　And　they're　not　even　the　greatest　threat。〃
〃We　ourselves　are；〃　Triel　sighed。
〃Exactly。　We　always　have　our　share　of　feuds　and　assassinations。　Occanotsionally　one　House　exterminates　another　outright；　and　that's　as　it　should　be。　It's　our　way；　it　makes　us　strong。　But　we　can't　endure　constant；　flanotgrant　warfare。　That　would　be　too　much　。　。　。　chaos。　It　would　tear　Mennotzoberranzan　to　shreds。　Up　to　now；　fear　of　the　Spider　Queen　and　her　clergy　has　kept　the　lid　on；　but　it　won't　anymore。〃　He　spat。　〃It's　a　pity　our　new　heroes　didn't　die　heroic　deaths　in　their　homeland's　defense。〃
〃You　refer　to　Quenthel　and　the　outcast　Mizzrym？〃
〃Who　else？　Do　you　imagine　them　any　less　ambitious　than　the　rest　of　us？　They　championed　the　established　order　yesterday；　but；　inspired　by　the　knowledge　that　many　would　rally　to　their　banners；　may　themselves　seek　to　topple　it　tomorrow。　Quenthel　may　try　to　seize　your　throne；　not　in　a　hundred　years　but　now。　Pharaun　may　strike　for　the　Robes　of　the　Arch…mage…by　the　Six　Hundred　and　Sixty…six　Layers；　he　all　but　did；　having　spent　no　effort　in　finding　me　before　scurrying　to　your　side。　What　a　disnotaster　that　would　be！　Aside　from　any　personal　inconvenience　to　you　and　me；　the　city　in　its　weakened　state　can't　withstand　that　sort　of　disruption。〃
〃I　suppose　they　could　be　planning　just　that；〃　Triel　said；　frowning。　〃Pernothaps　we　should　have　followed　through　and　at　least　killed　Master　Pharaun。〃
〃If　we　execute　one　of　the　saviors　of　Menzoberranzan…damn　his　misernotable　little　hide…it　would　have　made　House　Baenre　look　frightened　and　weak。〃　The　archmage　smiled　a　crooked　smile。　〃Which　we　are；　at　the　moment；　but　we　don't　dare　give　the　appearance。〃
〃What；　then；　do　you　remend？〃
Below　the　balcony；　a　lizard　hissed　and　wheels　creaked　as　a　cart　rolled　by。
〃Use　them　in　a　way　that　simultaneously　benefits　us　and　neutralizes　the　threat　they　represent；〃　said　Gromph。　〃Surely　you　and　I　agree　that　the　present　situation　can't　continue。　We　must　find　a　way　to　restote　the　priesthood's　magic。〃
Triel　nodded；　looking　away　from　her　battered　city。
〃I　propose　that　as　a　first　step；〃　the　archmage　continued；　〃we　send　agents　to　another　city…likely　Ched　Nasad…to　find　out　if　their　divines　are　siminotlarly　afflicted；　and　if　so；　whether　they　know　why。　You　can　assign　Quenthel　to　lead　the　expedition。　After　all；　it　concerns　Arach…Tinilith　perhaps　most　of　all。　I'll　be　delighted　to　loan　you　the　services　of　Master　Pharaun。　If　the　story　I　heard　was　correct；　that　weapons　master　friend　of　his　should　go　as　well；　if　for　no　other　reason　than　it'll　make　Pharaun　squirm。〃
〃Ched　Nasad　。。。〃　Triel　whispe