war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第95部分

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e　ambassadorial　residence。　Inwardly；　she　flinched　but　Talinnotdra　didn't　seem　to　notice　the　sound。
〃Well；〃　the　matron　said；　〃that　was　tasty；　but　I　believe　you　invited　my　brood　to　supper　and　spirited　me　away　to　this　private　room；　because　you　wanted　to　talk　of　something　more　important　than　cuisine。〃
Faeryl　smiled　and　said；　〃You've　found　me　out；　and　I　have　a　confession　to　make。　I　don't　always　devote　myself　to　the　interests　of　Ched　Nasad　as　a　whole。　Occasionally　I　work　solely　to　advance　the　fortunes　of　House　Zauvirr。〃
〃How　could　it　be　otherwise？〃　Talindra　said；　raising　her　golden　cup。　〃Family；　always。　Family　over　all。〃
Faeryl　joined　the　other　noble　in　the　toast。　She'd　always　enjoyed　the　sweet　dessert　wine；　but　this　time　it　tasted　too　sweet；　almost　sickeningly　so。　She　supposed　her　nerves　were　to　blame。
The　envoy　set　down　her　drink　and　said；　〃Let　us　discuss　how　our　two　families　might　be　of　service　to　one　another。　In　Ched　Nasad；　we　Zauvirr　are　allied　with　House　Mylyl。　For　the　immediate　future；　we　must　remain　so。　Yet　it's　also　time　for　the　Mylyls　to　begin　their　decline；　for　their　wealth　and　influence　to　start　passing　into　our　hands。　You　see　the　problem。〃
Talindra　grinned　and　said；　〃You　want　to　attack　the　Mylyls　without　them　realizing　who's　to　blame。〃
〃So　why　not　do　it　through　an　intermediary？〃
Elsewhere；　someone　let　out　a　thin；　little　wail。　Faeryl　tensed；　but　once　again；　her　guest　failed　to　react。　Fortunately；　the　sounds　of　pain　were　reanotsonably　mon　in　dark　elf　dwellings。
〃You　want　me　to　lend　you　some　of　my　males；〃　the　matron　said；　〃to　make　the　long；　dangerous　journey　to　Ched　Nasad　to　raid　and　kill　for　you。　It　makes　sense。　The　Mylyls　would　have　no　idea　who　they　are；　nor　that　they're　working　for　you。　But　what　do　I　get　out　of　it？　Why…？〃
A　warrior　threw　open　the　door；　strode　to　Talindra's　side；　and　raised　a　steel　baton。
The　matron　was　too　quick　for　him。　Surging　up　in　her　chair；　she　knocked　him　cold　with　a　punch　to　the　jaw；　drew　a　long　knife　from　her　belt；　and　pivoted　toward　Faeryl。
The　ambassador　snatched　up　Mother's　Kiss；　which　had　been　lying　under　the　table　all　the　while。　She　sprang　up；　swung　the　basalt…headed　war　hammer　in　an　arc　and　balked　the　oning　Talindra　for　an　instant。
For　the　next　few　seconds；　the　two　nobles　battled；　neither　able　to　score；　then　Talindra　used　her　free　hand　to　clasp　a　round　medallion　pinned　to　her　bodice。　Red　light　shone　from　between　her　fingers。　
If　the　matron　had　the　capacity　to　throw　a　spell；　that　changed　the　notplexion　of　the　fight　considerably。　Faeryl　needed　to　end　it　quickly；　perhaps　before　the　first　magical　effect　manifested。　She　charged　her　opponent；　striknoting　at　her　head　in　an　all…out　attack。
It　was　a　reckless　move；　and　she　suffered　the　consequences。　The　knife　point　jabbed　painfully　into　her　ribs。　Luckily；　it　failed　to　penetrate　the　mail　she　wore　beneath　her　silken　gown。　Mother's　Kiss　slammed　into　the　Men…zoberranyr's　head　and　dashed　her　to　the　ground。　Her　hand　slipped　away　from　the　amulet；　and　the　glow　faded。
An　instant　later；　a　second　guard　burst　into　the　room。
〃We've　secured　them　all；　my　lady。〃
The　warrior　was　a　rugged…looking　male　with　a　chipped　incisor　and　a　broken　nose；　whom　she　had　on　occasion　summoned　to　her　bed。
〃Good；〃　Faeryl　replied。　〃How　many　did　you　have　to　kill？〃
〃Only　one；　but　we　could　slaughter　the　rest。　If　I　may　say　so；　it　seems　more　sensible　and　less　bother　than　tying　them　up。〃
〃It　does；　but　I　came　here　to　promote　good　relations　between　Menzoberranzan　and　Ched　Nasad。　Even　though　some　schemer　has　rendered　my　efforts　futile；　I　won't　exacerbate　the　situation　by　mitting　any　more　outrages　than　necessary。　You　soldiers　will　do　as　I　bade　you。　Strip　the　Ousstyls；　gag　them；　and　tie　them　up。〃
Talindra　groaned　and　groped　feebly　for　her　knife。　Impressed　that　the　matron　was　still　conscious　to　any　degree　at　all　after　the　blow　she'd　suffered；　Faeryl　kicked　the　blade　out　of　her　reach。
〃You　can't　do　this；〃　Talindra　croaked；　〃not　to　House　Ousstyl。　We　are　mighty　and　never　forget　at　affront。〃
Tense　as　she　was；　Faeryl　smiled。　The　matron's　arrogance　was　woefully　misplaced。　The　Ousstyls　were　so　insignificant　they　hadn't　even　known　the　ambassador　had　lost　the　good　will　of　Triel　Baenre。　Otherwise；　they　would　never　have　accepted　an　invitation　to　feast　with　such　a　pariah。
Faeryl　bashed　Talindra　again；　this　time　rendering　her　entirely　insensible；　then　she　roamed　through　the　castle；　exhorting　her　minions　to　make　haste。　Soon　all　were　wearing　the　clothing　of　the　Ousstyls。　For　the　first　time；　Faeryl　was　grateful　that　her　household　was　relatively　small。　Otherwise；　they　wouldn't　have　had　enough　pilfered　garments　to　go　around。
She　and　he