war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第93部分

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ce。　She　was　on　foot；　not　mounted　on　a　lizard　or　enthroned　on　a　floating　stone　disk。　She　was　alone；　not　acpanied　by　a　column　of　guards　and　servants；　and　most　strangely　of　all；　no　one　paid　her　any　real　attention。　Oh；　slaves　scurried　out　of　her　path；　and　males　ofnotfered　her　a　cursory　show　of　respect；　but　no　one　feared　her　or　cringed　in　awe　of　her。　Indeed；　she　herself　had　to　offer　obeisance　to　the　noble　fenotmales　she　encountered　along　the　way；　lest　their　soldiers　chastise　her　for　insolence。
It　was　galling；　unsettling；　and　somehow　tempting　as　well。　In　her　most　private　thoughts；　she'd　imagined　herself　simply　running　away　from　the　imnotplacable　foe　who　worked　so　assiduously　to　kill　her。　It　might　be　the　only　way　she　could　survive。　If　she　opted　to　flee　this　minute；　she　was　already　off　to　a　good　start。　She'd　managed　to　slip　away　from　Tier　Breche　with　no　one；　she　hoped；　the　wiser。
Flight　was　a　cowardly　notion；　though；　unworthy　of　a　Baenre；　and　it　annotgered　her　when　she　entertained　it　even　for　a　moment。　Until　the　attacks　began；　she　never　had　before。　She　turned　a　corner；　and　Qu'ellarz'orl；　came　into　view。　Her　destination　was　nigh；　and　she　focused　her　thoughts　on　the　task　at　hand。
Sneaking　away　from　the　Academy　had　been　a　little　plicated。　First；　she'd　had　to　surreptitiously　lay　hands　on　nondescript　outerwear　that　would　allow　her　to　pass　for　a　moner。　Such　a　piwafwi　certainly　hadn't　existed　among　her　own　garments；　all　of　which　were　costly　and　bejeweled；　but　she'd　found　it　among　the　effects　of　one　of　the　kitchen　staff。　After　disposnoting　of　the　cook　lest　the　missing　garment　be　reported；　she　had　to　exit　Arach…Tinilith　without　anyone　realizing　it　was　her；　including　her　own　watchful　sentries。　Finally；　she　needed　to　skulk　to　the　edge　of　the　plateau　and　float　down　to　the　cavern　floor　below　without　the　guards　at　the　top　of　the　staircase　noticing。
She'd　managed　it；　though；　and　she　was　confident　of　her　ability　to　sneak　back　into　the　Academy；　even　after　the　plateau　had　been　put　on　a　state　of　heightened　security。
A　road　ran　up　the　eminence　that　was　Qu'ellarz'orl　to　the　castles　of　Men…zoberranzan's　greatest　families。　It　wasn't　off　limits　to　moners。　Mernotchants　and　supplicants　used　it　all　the　time；　but　they　were　subject　to　search　and　interrogation　by　House　Baenre　patrols。
Quenthel　started　up　the　twisting　road　and　made　it　better　than　halfway　to　the　top　before　she　heard　the　distinctive　grunt　and　hiss　of　a　riding　lizard。　She　scurried　off　the　path　into　the　forest　of　giant；　phosphorescent　mushnotrooms；　where　she　crouched　behind　a　particularly　massive　specimen。
The　patrol；　a　mounted　officer　and　a　dozen　foot　soldiers；　marched　by　without　so　much　as　glancing　her　way。　Hiding　from　her　own　troops　was　another　bizarre；　almost　surreal　experience。
When　the　warriors　passed；　she　hurried　on　up　the　slope。　In　another　minute；　she　reached　the　top　of　the　rise。　Before　her　rose　the　most　opulent　fortresses　in　the　city。　At　the　easternmost　end　of　the　expanse；　House　Baenre　towered　on　the　highest　ground　of　all；　dwarfing　every　other　structure。
She　turned　her　steps　toward　the　tall；　slender　spire　known　as　Spelltower　Xorlarrin；　residence　of　the　Fifth　House。　Bands　of　shimmering　faerie　fire　striped　the　iron　walls。
She　climbed　the　steep　steps　to　the　gate　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　the　sentries　on　the　battlements。　Had　she　not　already　known　it；　their　vigilance　would　have　shown　that　she　could　maintain　plete　anonymity　no　longer。
Still；　she'd　do　the　best　she　could。
When　a　sentry　armed　with　spear　and　long　sword　strode　over　to　ask　her　business；　she　said；　〃I'm　going　to　show　you　something　remarkable。　Don't　let　your　amazement　show。〃
He　looked　skeptical。　He　lived　in　the　Spelltower；　after　all；　and　had　seen　his　share　of　marvels。
〃All　right；　ma'am。　Show　me；　if　you　will。〃
She　twitched　open　her　piwafwi；　giving　him　a　glimpse　of　the　Baenre　House　insignia　hanging　at　her　throat。
His　eyes　widened；　but　otherwise；　he　did　a　fair　job　of　doing　as　she'd　bade　him。
〃How　may　I　serve　you？〃　he　asked　softly；　the　slightest　quaver　in　his　voice。
〃I　want　to　enter　the　tower　without　anyone　paying　the　least　attention　to　me；　and　I　want　to　talk　to　your　matron　alone。〃
〃Please；　e　with　me。〃
The　guard　led　her　through　the　gate　and　into　a　confusion　of　service　pasnotsages　such　as　every　castle　possessed。　The　corridors　eventually　brought　them　into　a　nicely　appointed　room　with　fortable…looking　sandstone　chairs；　a　carnelian…and…obsidian　sava　set　awaiting　a　pair　of　players；　and　frescos　of　some　of　Lolth's　attendant　demons　adorning　the　walls。
Her　escort　departed　in　search　of　his　mistress；　leaving　Quenthel　to　prowl　restlessly　about　the　room。　Finally　the　door　opened；　an