war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第168章

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！


u　dead。〃
The　undercreatures　stared　back　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　lowered　their　eyes。　The　line　broke　in　the　middle；　making　an　exit。
Sneering；　head　held　high；　Waerva　started　for　the　opening。　For　a　moment；　all　was　silent；　then　the　reptiles　laughed；　screeched；　and　rushed　her。
Bellowing　a　battle　cry；　she　swung　her　mace；　and　every　stroke　smashed　the　life　from　a　thrall。　But　for　every　one　she　killed；　there　were　dozens　more　hacking　and　beating　at　her　legs。
Her　knee　screamed　with　pain；　and　she　fell。　The　kobolds　swarmed　over　her　and　pounded　her　until　she　just　couldn't　struggle　any　more。
With　some　difficulty；　they　divested　her　of　her　armor　and　clothing；　and　went　to　work　on　her。　Amazingly　for　such　a　bestial　race；　they　seemed　to　unnotderstand　anatomy　as　thoroughly　as　her　dear　Tluth；　but　their　ministrations　were　nothing　like　massage。
Faeryl　had　learned　to　court　unconsciousness。　It　brought　surcease　from　the　lingering　pains　of　past　tortures。　Unfortunately；　it　couldn't　avert　new　ones。　When　Jeggred　found　her　so；　he　simply　waved　a　bottle　of　pungent　smelling　salts　beneath　her　nose　until　it　jolted　her　awake。
She　could　hear　him　ing。　So　could　the　jailers；　who　scurried　to　the　back　of　the　dungeon　to　give　him　privacy。　Shivering；　she　struggled　to　notpose　herself。　Perhaps　she　could　deny　him　the　satisfaction　of　a　scream…at　least　for　a　while…or　even　provoke　him　into　killing　her。　That　would　be　wonderful。
The　draegloth　appeared　in　the　doorway；　stooping　to　pass　through。　Denotspite　herself；　Faeryl　flinched；　then　saw　he　was　not　alone。　Dainty　little　Triel　acpanied　him。　So　did　her　harsh…featured　brother；　clad　as　usual　in　the　Robes　of　the　Archmage。
〃My　。　。　。　salutations；　Matron；〃　the　Zauvirr　croaked。
〃Hush；〃　said　Gromph；　〃and　all　will　be　well。〃　He　looked　up　at　the　glownotering　half…demon。　〃Free　her；　and　be　gentle　about　it。〃
Jeggred　strode　to　Faeryl。　This　time；　she　managed　not　to　cringe。　The　draegloth　supported　her　weight　with　his　smaller　hands　while　cutting　her　bonds　with　the　claws　of　the　larger　ones；　then　scooped　her　up　in　his　arms。　She　passed　out。
Next　came　a　blur　of　hours　or　days；　during　which　she　would　wake　for　a　few　muddled　seconds；　then　lapse　into　unconsciousness　again。　She　lay　on　a　soft　divan；　where　servants　salved　and　bandaged　her　wounds　and　sometimes　spooned　broth　into　her　mouth。　Priestesses　read　scrolls　of　healing；　and　Gromph　appeared　periodically　to　cast　his　own　spells　over　her。　She　noticed　Mother's　Kiss　lying　on　a　little　table　beside　her；　and　when　she　felt　strong　enough；　stretched　out　her　trembling　arm　and　touched　it。
Finally　she　opened　her　eyes　to　find　her　thoughts　clear　and　vitality　tinnotgling　in　her　limbs。　The　servants　helped　her　don　new　raiment。　They　said　it　was　for　a　meeting　with　Triel。
Faeryl　considered　taking　her　war　hammer　along；　then　thought　better　of　it。　If　her　rehabilitation　was　an　elaborate　prank；　if　the　Baenre　was　sumnotmoning　her　to　further　torment；　the　weapon　wouldn't　save　her。
Her　legs　still　the　least　bit　unsteady；　she　followed　a　male　through　the　endnotless　corridors　of　the　Great　Mound。　Eventually　he　opened　the　door　to　a　small　but　lavishly　decorated　room。
Triel　sat　at　the　table　in　the　center　of　the　space；　with　two　bodyguards　standing　against　the　wall　behind　her。　Faeryl　inferred　that　this　was　a　chamnotber　the　matron　used　when　she　wished　to　palaver　away　from　the　formal　trappings　of　her　court。
The　Baenre　rose　and　took　her　prisoner's　hands。
〃My　child；〃　Triel　said；　〃I　rejoice　to　see　you。　Some　folk　said　you　wouldn't　recover；　but　I　never　doubted　it。　I　knew　you　were　strong；　a　true　drow　princess　favored　of　Lolth。〃
〃Thank　you；　Matron；〃　said　Faeryl；　thoroughly　perplexed。
Triel　conducted　her　a　chair。
〃You'll　be　glad　to　know　we　caught　them；〃　the　matron　said。
〃Them？〃
〃The　brigands　who　waylaid　you　and　murdered　your　followers；　who　left　you　for　dead　in　that　place　where　my　servant　Valas　found　you。　I　supervised　the　executions　myself。〃
Faeryl　was　beginning　to　prehend　her　situation。　For　some　reason；　Triel　had　forgiven　her　her　disobedience。　The　Zauvirr　could　go　free；　her　honor　and　rank　restored；　but　there　was　a　catch。　Henceforth；　she　would　have　to　endorse　the　fiction　that　Trie