war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第96章

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n　of　a　fraction　of　the　creatures　jammed　into　every　nook　and　cranny　of　the　district…you　saw　the　interior　of　Smylla's　home。　Trust　me；　you　still　don't　really　understand。〃
〃I　understand　that　many　other　such　specimens　inhabit　the　rest　of　the　city　as　well。　Why；　then；　do　you　doubt　their　ability　to　do　some　appreciable　damage？　It　can't　be　for　want　of　spirit。　The　under　folk　are　in　an　excellent　humor；　enflamed　by　their　Prophet's　oratory；　painting　their　racial　emblems　hither　and　yon；　and　murdering　potential　informers　and　unbelievers。〃
〃They　still　lack　martial　training　and　proper　weapons。〃
〃Some　were　warriors　before　the　slavers　captured　them。　Some　are　thrall　soldiers　still。　As　for　the　arms；　well；　when　visiting　the　World　Above；　did　you　ever　see　a　city　burn？　I　did。　I　had　to　torch　one　myself　to　plete　a　misnotsion。　The　destruction　and　loss　of　life　were　impressive；　even　though　the　innothabitants　knew　their　buildings　could　catch　fire　and　had　procedures　for　dealing　with　it。〃
〃Whereas　we　don't？　Surely　you　wizards　。　。　。　？〃
Pharaun　shrugged。　〃Not　really。　Why　would　it　occur　to　us？　Perhaps　we　could　improvise　something；　but　if　we　didn't　catch　the　conflagration　early；　it　might　not　be　entirely　effective。〃
〃But　you　would　catch　it　early。　The　undercreatures　won't　rebel　all　at　once；　and　that　will　make　it　possible　to　quash　each　little　uprising　as　it　begins。〃
〃You're　assuming　'the　Call；'　whatever　it　is；　will　pass　by　word　of　mouth；　or　at　any　rate；　that　it　won't　be　disseminated　rapidly。　You　could　be　right。　The　noise　baffles　may　hinder　it；　but　what　if　the　Prophet　has　some　arcane　means　of　rousing　every　goblin　and　bugbear　at　the　exact　same　instant？〃
〃Do　you　know　of　such　a　magic？〃
〃No。〃
〃And　you're　a　Master　of　Sorcere。　So　it's　reasonable　to　assume　no　such　power　exists。〃
Pharaun　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃Indeed？　Thank　you　for　your　expert　opinion。〃
Ryld　made　a　spitting　sound　and　said；　〃Look。　You　think　a　rebellion　could　amount　to　something。　I　disagree；　but　say　you're　right。　Isn't　that　all　the　more　reason　to　report　to　Gromph　immediately？〃
The　wizard　waved　to　a　goblin　slave　who　was　sauntering　by。　〃The　diffinotculty　is　that　I　have　yet　to　succeed。〃
〃What？〃
〃My　assignment　is　to　find　the　runaways。　I　glimpsed　two　of　them　for　a　matter　of　minutes；　then　lost　them。　Do　you　think　the　Baenre　will　deem　that　satisfactory？〃
Frowning；　Ryld　said；　〃Considering　that　we　did　uncover　something　of　interest　。。。〃
〃Remember；　our　great　and　glorious　Archmage　doesn't　hold　me　in　high　esteem。　He　sent　me　out　as　a　decoy；　a　target　for　the　priestesses　to　harass。　Knowing　him　as　I　do；　I'm　sure　that　if　1　fulfill　the　letter　of　our　agreement；　he'll　swallow　his　dislike　and　keep　his　end；　but　should　I　fall　the　least　bit　short；　it　will　be　a　different　matter。〃
〃You　can　at　least　tell　him　the　rogues　are　in　the　Braeryn。〃
〃Can　I？　We　sifted　through　the　Stenchstreets　as　well　as　any　outsiders　could。　We　didn't　find　the　house　where　the　runaways　hang　their　cloaks；　and　we　actually　have　only　the　flimsiest　of　reasons　for　assuming　it's　in　the　Braeryn　at　all。〃
〃I　suppose　you're　right。〃
〃Of　course。　When　am　I　not？　Now；　here's　what　I　intend　to　do：　Find　the　rogues'　hiding　place。　Discover　who　the　Prophet　is　and　how　his　wizardry…　or　whatever　it　is…works。　Learn　where　the　firepots　came　from；　where　they're　cached　around　the　city；　and　the　master　plan　for　the　rebellion。　And　most　importantly　of　all；　determine　what　the　fugitives　know　about　the　clergy　losing　its　magic。〃
〃In　hopes　of　ing　out　of　this　affair　more　powerful　than　you　ever　were　before。〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃More　powerful　than　we　ever　were　before。　That　might　dispel　your　boredom　for　good　and　all。〃
〃And　those　are　the　real　reasons　you　aren't　ready　to　go　back　to　Tier　Breche。〃
〃All　my　motives　are　genuine；　including　my　wariness　of　Gromph。　I　take　it　you　are　in　a　frantic　hurry　to　return？〃
Ryld　sighed。　〃I'm　in　no　rush。　Our　excursion　has　been　interesting；　and　I　like　to　finish　what　I　start；　but　what　if　the　ores　rebel　before　we　get　around　to　warning　our　fellow　drow？〃
〃Then　we'll　make　sure　never　to　tell　anyone　we　knew　it　was　ing。〃　The　wizard　grinned　and　added；　〃Actually；　the　awareness　that　we　race　to　avert　a　calamity　will