按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She was about to spring something on the entire city。 Something very special。 Ssipriina grinned when she imagined it。
***
Faeryl stumbled and fell against the corridor wall when House Melarn first began to shake。
The servants were screaming； and from somewhere she heard； 〃Mistresses！ It's duergar！ Hundreds of them； surrounding us 。 。 。 they're attacking！〃
A second shock wave rumbled through the House。
〃They burn the stones themselves； Mothers。 The city is burning！〃
With a sinking feeling； Faeryl knew it for the truth。 She had lived through this experience before； though it had been in the bowels of House Baenre； chained to a column。 Even so； she remembered the rumbles from above； felt the vibrations in the ground。 When she had been freed by Triel Baenre and invited to join the mission to Ched Nasad； she had gotten all the details of the insurrection in the streets of Menzoberranzan from others。 Their descriptions of the jugs of fire； the fire that burned stone itself； were vivid。 She could only imagine what it would feel like on a web street of Ched Nasad。
Faeryl groaned。 Her mother's plan was falling apart。 The duergar weren't supposed to appear unless the negotiations with the other matron mothers went badly。 Despite that idiot Pharaun's asinine claim of her involvement in the conspiracy； the situation was far from out of hand。
Mother pulled the trigger too soon； the ambassador decided。 She must have gotten cold feet and didn't bother to tell me。 How typical。
Shaking her head； Faeryl scrambled up to her feet again as the room was enveloped in a thick； murky fog。 She knew who was most likely behind it。 As much as she wanted to slice Pharaun into a thousand tiny pieces； there was too much confusion。
Besides； the ambassador grudgingly admitted； he and his boys are not to be trifled with。 I'll let mothers wizards take care of them。 I've got to get rid of Quenthel and that loathsome beast。
Faeryl felt her way along the wall； stumbling as yet another blast rocked House Melarn。 The mist cleared； and she could hear the sounds of bat on the far side of the room。 She resisted the temptation to look； as much as she hoped to catch a glimpse of the wizard's demise。 Instead； she managed to make her way to a door just as several dozen House soldiers came in； jostling her aside in their efforts to defend the audience chamber。
〃Fools！〃 Faeryl hissed at them。
Almost shaking with rage； she departed the audience chamber and hurried toward the lower levels。 She passed few other drow in the corridors； all of them looking confused。 None of them seemed to know the origin of the disturbances； and at one point the ambassador overheard at least three priestesses discussing an earthquake as they passed her； going the opposite direction。
Faeryl didn't care to explain to them what was really happening。 It was not her House。 Turning a final corner； the ambassador hurried into the torture chamber where she had left Quenthel and Jeggred。 They were not there。 The room was not empty； however。 One of the House torturemasters was methodically straightening tools that had been upset with the booming thumps from outside。
〃Where are they？〃 Faeryl demanded； gesturing to the rack where Quenthel had been restrained。
The torturemaster turned and looked at her vacantly； not understanding。
Growling in exasperation； the ambassador repeated herself。
The other drow looked at her； then prehension lit his features。
〃Oh； they're not here；〃 he said。
Faeryl rolled her eyes and said； 〃I can see that； you foolish boy。 Where are they？〃
〃That ugly drow； Zammzt； ordered them taken to a cell；〃 the torturemaster replied。 〃I saw to it personally。〃
Another severe blast rocked the room； and tools were scattered everywhere。 Faeryl managed to grab hold of the column where Jeggred had been chained for support； but the other drow was not so lucky。 He went down in a pile…and even more unfortunately； one of the many braziers of hot coals tipped over onto him； showering him with burning cinders。 Screaming； the drow scrambled away from the embers； but he was already a conflagration； his clothes ignited and smoking as he flailed helplessly about。
Faeryl bit her lip in irritation。
Now； why do you suppose he would have moved them； and to where？ she thought； turning to leave。
She decided she'd have to ask someone to show her； and she departed。
***
Pharaun faltered for only a moment at the sight of the two drow priestesses before him。 One； quite simply； was beautiful。 The other； while lacking the graceful curves and fluid motion of the first； was obviously nobly born and not unpleasant to look at； either。 Then； getting a closer look； the wizard recognized her。 She was the drow who had been in chains in the audience chamber only moments before。 In fact； he realized； she still wore the manacles she'd been shackled with； though the connecting chain between them had been severed。 Neither of the females looked happy to see him； Ryld； or Valas。
〃Damn；〃 Pharaun muttered； returning to his senses。
He reached inside his piwafwi； fumbling quickly for the wand he'd used to dispatch the drow soldiers not too long before。 In front of him； Ryld went on guard； raising Splitter into an aggressive position as he advanced warily。 Valas slipped to the opposite side of the hallway； automatically fanning out with Ryld to e at the adversaries from either flank。
The lovely creature who'd first caught the mage's eye hissed in vexation and brought a morning star out in front of her。 She had a buckler on her other arm held to the side where Valas was closing。
〃It's them！〃 she snarled； taking up a position in front of the other drow as though to defend her。
Both dark elves seemed quite capable of taking care of themselves； and Pharaun noted the finely tooled chain mail each of them wore。 The one to the rear actually sported the House Melarn insignia on hers； and the wizard guessed she must be one of the dead matron mother's daughters。
Pharaun had his wand out； but before he could invok