war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第94部分

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lessly　about　the　room。　Finally　the　door　opened；　and　Zeerith　Q'Zorlar…rin　slipped　through。　Her　features　were　plain　and　nondescript；　but　she　was　notable　for　a　dignified　bearing　and　posure　that　rarely　failed　her　even　in　the　most　extreme　situations。　For　a　matron；　her　costume　was　rather　plain　and　austere。
The　two　princesses　saluted　one　another；　then　Zeerith　ushered　her　guest　to　a　seat。
〃When　Antatlab　told　me　you'd　e　without　a　single　guard；　I　wonnotdered　if　he'd　gone　mad；〃　the　matron　remarked。
〃Can　I　trust　him　not　to　gossip　about　my　visit？〃
〃He's　discreet　enough。　Now；　may　I　ask　why　I'm　so　unexpectedly　enjoynoting　the　honor　of　your　pany？〃
Quenthel　related　the　events　of　the　past　three　nights。
〃If　I　still　possessed　my　magic；〃　she　concluded。　〃I　could　deal　with　this　matter　easily；　but　as　things　stand　。。。　I　need　help。〃
The　words　galled　her；　but　they　had　to　be　said。
〃Why　have　you　sought　it　here？〃　Zeerith　asked。
〃The　Xorlarrins　have　always　supported　the　Baenre　and　profited　thereby。　Try　as　I　might；　I　can't　think　of　a　pelling　reason　you'd　want　me　dead；　and　your　House　boasts　many　of　the　best　wizards　in　Menzoberranzan。　So；　if　I　must　trust　someone；　you're　a　good　chance。　Will　you　aid　me；　Matron？〃
Zeerith　took　her　time　replying。　Quenthel　knew　the　other　female　was　cold…bloodedly　pondering　whether　to　help；　deny；　or　betray　her。　Where　did　the　greatest　advantage　lie？
〃Your　plight　is　an　outrage；〃　the　Xorlarrin　said　at　last；　〃an　affront　to　all　priestesses。　Of　course　I'll　aid　you。　For　ten　thousand　talents　of　gold；　and　your　support　when　my　clan's　dispute　with　House　Agrach　Dyrr　bees　public　knowledge。〃
〃What　dispute？〃
〃The　one　I'll　be　stirring　up　in　a　tenday　or　two。　Do　we　have　a　bargain？〃
Quenthel's　mouth　tightened。　If　she'd　e　to　the　Spelltower　in　the　full　panoply　of　a　Baenre　princess；　Zeerith　would　have　thought　twice　about　making　conditions；　but　by　arriving　incognito　the　mistress　had　shown　her　desperation　and　in　so　doing；　shifted　the　transaction　to　another　level。
〃Yes；〃　she　growled；　〃I　agree。〃
〃I　thank　you　for　your　generosity。　What　do　you　require？〃
〃Every　night；〃　said　Quenthel；　〃a　new　demon　es　to　kill　me；　and　I　fend　it　off　as　best　I　can。　If　this　goes　on；　a　night　will　e　when　the　entity　kills　me　instead。　I　need　to　do　more。　I　need　to　end　the　siege；　and　it's　my　hope　your　mages　know　a　way。　I　confess　I　don't。　I've　ransacked　every　vault；　chest；　and　drawer　in　Arach…Tinilith　and　found　nothing　that　will　serve。〃
〃So　that's　why　you　came　in　secret。　You　want　a　weapon；　and　you　don't　want　your　foe　to　know　about　it。　Otherwise；　he　might　take　counter…measures。〃
〃Correct。〃
Zeerith　rose。　〃We'll　ask　Horroodissomoth。　He　can　do　it　if　anyone　can；　and　he'll　keep　his　mouth　shut　after。〃
She　opened　the　door　and　directed　Antatlab；　who'd　been　standing　watch　outside；　to　go　and　fetch　her　patron　and　House　wizard。
Horroodissomoth　arrived　shortly　thereafter。　Quenthel　felt　a　little　twinge　of　disgust；　for　the　mage　was　the　antithesis　of　the　typical　vital　dark　elf　male。　His　features　were　lined　and　wrinkled；　and　his　posture；　bent。　Rumor　had　it　that　his　appearance　of　decrepitude　had　resulted　not　from　extreme　age　but　rather　some　dangerous　magical　experimentation。
Moving　stiffly；　all　but　creaking　audibly；　Horroodissomoth　tendered　obeisance　then；　at　Zeerith's　invitation；　settled　in　a　chair　to　listen　to　a　reprise　of　Quenthel's　story。　At　first　the　wizard's　demeanor　was　impassive；　perhaps　even　utterly　disinterested；　but　a　light　came　into　his　rheumy　eyes　when　he　realized　she　was　asking　him　to　solve　a　magical　problem。
〃Hmm；〃　he　said；　〃hmm。　I　think　I　might　have　something　that　will　help。　In　a　way；　I　regret　giving　it　to　you；　because　as　far　as　I　know；　it's　unique。　Even　we　Xorlarrins　don't　know　how　to　make　another。　But　on　the　other　hand；　I've　always　been　curious　to　see　if　it　actually　works。〃
Gossip　whispered　that　at　some　point　in　the　distant　past；　the　females　of　House　Ousstyl　had　interbred　with　humans。　Naturally　the　contemporary　Ousstyls　denied　it　and　would　do　their　meager　best　to　punish　anyone　they　suspected　of　passing　the　rumor。　Still；　as　Faeryl　gazed　across　the　table　atTalin…dra　Ousstyl；　Matron　Mother　of　the　Fifty…second　House；　she　could　readily　believe　it。　Talindra　was　tall　and；　for　a　dark　elf；　extraordinarily　rawboned。　Her　jaw　was　too　square；　and　her　ears；　insufficiently　pointed。　Most　telling　of　all　was　the　scatter　of　empty　plates　before　her。　She'd　annihilated　every　morsel　of　her　seven…course　supper　with　a　lesser　being's　insatiable　voracity。
Talindra　finished　with　a　juicy　belch。
〃Excuse　me。〃
〃Of　course；〃　Faeryl　said。　She　thought　she　heard　a　thump　issuing　from　elsewhere　in　the　ambassadorial　residence。　Inwardly；　she　flinched