war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第94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！


〃
〃Some　of　you　did；　I'm　sure。　Others　simply　liked　the　idea　of　eliminating　me。　I　imagine　your　Aunt　Molvayas　would　relish　seeing　me　dead。　She'd　have　an　excellent　chance　of　being　mistress　in　her　turn。　We　Baenre　don't　have　another　princess　seasoned　enough　to　assume　the　role。〃
〃It　was　my　aunt！〃　Drisinil　exclaimed。　〃She　came　up　with　the　idea　of　helping　the　demons　kill　you。　I　didn't　even　want　to　help。　I　thought　it　was　a　stupid　idea；　but　within　our　family；　she　holds　authority　over　me。〃
Quenthel　smiled。　〃It's　too　bad　you　weren't　more　impressed　with　my　aunotthority。〃
〃I'm　sorry。〃
〃No　doubt　that。　Now；　I　need　the　names　of　all　the　conspirators。〃
Drisinil　didn't　hesitate　an　instant。　〃My　aunt；　Vlondril　Tuin'Tarl　。　。　。〃
As　ever；　Quenthel　maintained　a　calm；　knowing　expression；　but　inwardly　she　was　surprised　at　the　number　of　conspirators。　An　eighth　of　the　temple！　It　was　unprecedented；　but　then　she　was　living　in　unprecedented　times。
When　Drisinil　finished；　the　Baenre　said；　〃Thank　you。　Where　did　you　gather　to　hatch　your　schemes？〃
〃One　of　the　unused　storerooms　in　the　fifth　leg；〃　Drisinil　said。
Quenthel　shook　her　head。　〃That　won't　do。　It's　not　big　enough。　Convene　the　group　in　Lirdnolu's　old　classroom。　Nobody's　used　it　since　she　had　her　throat　slit；　so　it　will　seem　a　safe　meeting　place。〃
Drisinil　blinked。　〃Convene？〃
〃Yes。　Last　night's　plot　failed；　so　obviously　you　must　hatch　a　new　one。　You've　chosen　a　new　chamber　for　the　conference　because　you　suspect　the　storeroom　is　no　longer　safe。　Say　whatever　you　need　to　say　to　assemble　your　cabal　in　four　hours'　time。〃
〃If　I　do；　will　you　spare　me？〃
〃Why　not？　As　you've　explained；　you　only　participated　reluctantly。　But　you　know；　it　suddenly　occurs　to　me　that　we　have　a　problem。　If　I　send　you　forth　to　perform　this　task；　how　do　I　know　you　won't　simply　flee　Tier　Breche　and　take　refuge　in　your　mother's　castle？〃
〃Mistress；　you　already　explained　that　such　a　course　could　only　lead　to　my　death。〃
〃But　did　you　believe　me？　Do　you　still？　How　can　I　be　sure？〃
〃Mistress　。。。　I　。。。〃
〃If　I　had　my　magic；　I　could　pel　you　to　do　as　you're　told；　but　in　its　absence；　I　must　take　other　measures。〃
Quenthel　raised　the　whip；　sweeping　the　vipers　off　Drisinil's　face　in　the　process；　and　slammed　the　metal　butt　of　the　weapon　down　in　the　middle　of　her　forehead。
The　mistress　then　took　out　the　silver　vial。　She　pinched　the　dazed；　feebly　struggling　girl's　nostrils　closed；　poured　the　stimulant　into　her　open　mouth；　and　forced　her　to　swallow。
The　effect　was　immediate。　The　younger　female　bucked　and　thrashed　until　her　eyes　flew　open。
The　high　priestess　hopped　back　down　to　the　floor。　〃How　does　it　feel？　I　imagine　your　heart　is　hammering。〃
Drisinil　trembled　like　the　string　of　a　viol。　Sweat　seeped　from　her　pores。
〃What　did　you　do　to　me？〃
〃That　should　be　obvious　to　an　acplished　poisoner　like　yourself。〃
〃You've　poisoned　me？〃
〃It's　a　slow　toxin。　Do　as　I　ordered；　and　I'll　give　you　the　antidote。〃
〃I　can't　cozen　the　others　like　this。　They'll　see　something's　wrong　with　me。〃
〃The　external　signs　should　ease　in　a　minute　or　two；　though　you'll　still　feel　the　poison　speeding　your　heart　and　gnawing　at　your　nerves。　You'll　just　have　to　put　up　with　that。〃
〃All　right；〃　Drisinil　said。　〃Just　bring　the　antidote　with　you　when　you　e　to　Lirdnolu's　room。〃
The　mistress　arched　an　eyebrow；　and　Drisinil　added；　〃Please。〃
Quenthel　smiled。　Catching　her　mood；　the　whip　vipers　sighed　with　pleasure。
〃How　did　you　know　your　darkness　would　madden　the　beast？〃　asked　Pharaun；　lathering　his　narrow　chest。
The　night　before；　after　he　made　way　back　to　Pharaun；　the　two　of　them　had　found　they　had　enough　healing　potions　to　cure　all　the　wounds　that　either　had　sustained。　Still；　despite　their　restoration　to　full　vitality；　the　next　few　hours　proved　exhausting；　as　they　struggled　to　survive　the　madness　of　the　hunt　and　watch　out　for　Greyanna　at　the　same　time。　At　last　they'd　esnotcaped　the　Braeryn。
Claiming　that　while　Greyanna　was　seeking　them　in　the　Stenchstreets；　they'd　be　safe　in　pleasant；　prosperous　Narbondellyn；　Pharaun　had　insisted　that　he　and　Ryld　dispense　with　disguises　and　celebrate　their　sundry　discovnoteries　and　esca