war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第88部分

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isinil；　squinting；　saw　they　weren't　alone。　Many　of　the　residents　of　Arach…Tinilith　filed　in　after　them；　all　well　armed　and　wearing　mail。
Quenthel　beckoned　to　the　plotters。
〃Move　down　to　the　lower　seats；　why　don't　you？　The　lateers　won't　mind　climbing　to　the　top。〃　She　waited　a　beat；　then　said；　〃That　wasn't　a　suggestion。〃
The　conspirators　hesitated　a　moment　longer；　and　the　show　offered　connotvinced　them　to　obey。
〃Thank　you；〃　Quenthel　said；　then　waited　until　everyone　had　taken　a　seat　and　the　plotters　all　had　armed　loyalists　at　their　backs。　〃Now；　let's　disnotcuss　the　matter　that　concerns　you　so。〃
〃I　don't　know　what　my　niece　told　you　about　this　gathering；〃　said　Drisinil's　Aunt　Molvayas；　clad　in　a　gown　of　a　dark　and　shimmering　green　that　matched　her　eyes；　〃but　I　assure　you；　its　purpose　is　entirely　innocent。〃
〃Its　purpose　is　to　contrive　your　death；　Mistress；〃　Vlondril　called　out。　〃I　know。　I've　been　in　on　it　from　the　start。〃
Quenthel　nodded　to　the　mad　priestess。
〃Thank　you；　Holy　Mother。　Your　candor　helps　move　things　along。〃　The　Baenre　surveyed　her　enemies　and　said；　〃I　understand　that　your　excuse　for　seeking　to　depose　me　was　the　supposition　that　the　goddess　desires　it。　You　postulate　that　she　so　abhors　my　rule　of　Arach…Tinilith　that　she　renounces　all　Menzoberranzan。〃
Molvayas　drew　a　deep　breath；　evidently　screwing　up　her　courage。　〃We　do。　Do　you　deny　it's　possible？〃
〃Of　course；〃　Quenthel　replied。　〃It's　a　ludicrous　notion　unsupported　by　a　single　shred　of　evidence　。。　。　though　I'm　sure　it　seems　plausible　to　the　lieunottenant　who　covets　my　position。〃
Drisinil　noticed　that　while　the　Baenre　appeared　perfectly　at　ease；　the　twisting　whip　serpents　were　keeping　watch　in　all　directions。
〃What　of　the　demons？　They　reflect　the　attributes　of　Lolth…〃
〃And　they　e　for　me。　Because　one　of　my　mortal　enemies　sends　them　in　guises　intended　to　stimulate　your　imaginations。〃
〃What　enemy？〃　Molvayas　demanded。
〃That　has　yet　to　be　determined。〃
〃In　other　words；〃　said　Quenthel's　second…in…mand；　〃you　don't　know　what's　going　on　any　more　than　we　do。〃
〃At　least　I　know　what　isn't　happening。〃
〃Do　you？　What　makes　your　one　opinion　superior　to　all　of　ours？〃
〃The　answer　to　that　is　readily　apparent　to　those　with　some　smattering　of　intelligence。〃
〃Insults　won't　resolve　this　matter；　Mistress；　but　I　can　think　of　a　test　that　might。　Step　down　for　a　year；　and　we'll　see　what　happens。〃
Quenthel　laughed。
〃Meekly　surrender　the　Academy　to　you；　Barrison　Del'Armgo？　Not　likely。　As　it　happens；　I　too　have　conceived　a　test　to　determine　who　truly　enjoys　Lolth's　favor；　your　sad　little　cabal　or　me。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Molvayas　asked；　wariness　in　her　eyes。
〃My　test　is　simplicity　itself。　We　simply　ask　Lolth　whom　she　prefers；　and　await　her　answer。〃
〃That's　insane。　The　Spider　Queen　no　longer　speaks　to　us。〃
〃Perhaps　if　we　petition；　she　will　at　least　condescend　to　give　us　a　sign。　Are　you　willing　to　try？〃
〃Perhaps；〃　Molvayas　said；　no　doubt　aware　that　with　blades　at　her　back；　she　actually　had　little　choice。　〃Do　you　propose　to　perform　some　sort　of　ritual？〃
〃As　we've　lost　our　magic；　what　would　that　acplish？　My　idea　is　simnotpler。　We　all　bide　in　this　room；　engaged　in　silent　prayer　and　meditation；　until　the　Dark　Mother　reveals　her　will。〃
Vlondril　snorted。　〃What　if　she　chooses　to　ignore　us？〃
Quenthel　shrugged。　〃I　don't　believe　she's　truly　abandoned　her　chosen　people　or　her　chosen　ministers。　My　faith　is　too　strong　to　credit　such　a　calamity。　How　strong　is　yours；　Barrison　Del'Armgo？〃
〃Strong　enough　that　I　have　no　fear　of　the　goddess　preferring　you　to　me；〃　Molvayas　spat　back。　〃I　just　don't　see　the　point　of　your　scheme。　Lolth　will　speak　when　she　wishes；　not　when　we　desire　it。〃
〃It's　not　a　waste　of　time　if　it's　keeping　you　alive。　I　could　have　had　my　loyal　followers　kill　you　the　moment　they　entered　the　chamber。　Instead；　I'm　pronotposing　an　honest　inquiry　into　your　concerns；　for　the　sake　of　all　the　temple。　Under　the　circumstances；　what　could　be　more　magnanimous　than　that？〃
〃All　right；〃　Molvayas　said。　〃We'll　remain　for　a　time；　but　if　nothing　hapnotpens；　my　rades　and　I　go　free。　You　can't　chastise　us　if　the　results　of　the　test　are　inconclusive。　That　wouldn't　be　an　honest　inquiry。〃
〃Agreed；〃　the　mistress　said。
Drisinil　was　bewildered　and　appalled。　This　strange；　passive　procedure　sounded　as　if　it　could　take　hours。　She　needed　the　antidote　before　her　thunnotdering　heart　tore　itself　apart；　but　she　could　do　nothing　to　speed　things　along。
Though　plainly　just　as　puzzled　as　she；　the　pany　obediently　fell　quiet。　Meditation　was　a　familiar　practice　to　all　of　them；　though　frustrating　and　futile　since　Lolth　had　receded　beyond　their　ken。
For　what　s