war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第97章

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e　awareness　that　we　race　to　avert　a　calamity　will　make　our　exploits　all　the　more　stimulating。〃
〃And　should　we　lose　the　race；　maybe　the　rebellion　won't　kill　anyone　who　matters　to　the　two　of　us。　I　suppose　I　agree。　We'll　keep　on　searching。〃
〃Excellent！〃
Bearing　a　silver　tray；　the　goblin　bustled　to　the　side　of　the　pool。　Bending　the　knees　of　his　splayed；　bristly　legs；　he　brought　the　salver　low　enough　for　the　dark　elves　to　take　the　goblets　on　top　of　it。
Pharaun　gave　the　thrall　a　smile　and　a　wave；　dismissing　him；　then　lifted　his　cup。
〃To　mystery　and　glory！〃
Ryld　sipped　from　his　own　cup；　acknowledging　the　toast。　The　drink　was　red　morel　juice；　sweet　and　very　cold；　a　pleasant　contrast　to　the　heat　of　the　water。
〃So　I　guess　it's　back　to　looking　like　ores；〃　said　the　weapons　master。
〃I　grieve　to　disappoint　you；　but　the　time　for　that　sort　of　deception　has　passed。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？　If　we　don't　look　like　undercreatures；　how　are　we　going　to　get　into　another　one　of　those　secret　meetings？〃
〃We　don't　know　that　the　Prophet　will　hold　another　assembly。　He's　alnotready　explained　his　strategy　and　distributed　his　secret　weapon。　Even　if　he　does；　it　might　not　be　for　several　days；　during　which　we'll　have　Greyanna　seeking　us　relentlessly。　We've　evaded　her　so　far；　but　we　must　acknowledge　the　possibility　that　our　luck　could　sour　eventually。〃　〃You're　right　about　that。〃
〃Therefore；　we　need　to　find　the　rogues　quickly；　which　means　a　change　of　tactics　is　in　order。　Why　are　the　boys　trying　to　instigate　a　goblin　revolt？〃
〃I　don't　know。〃
〃Nor　do　I；　really。　It　doesn't　appear　to　make　sense。　Still；　would　you　agree　that　the　intent；　like　the　act　of　eloping　itself；　reflects　an　antipathy　to　the　established　order？〃
〃Possibly。〃
〃Then　let's　assume　the　Prophet　or　some　other　ringleader　lured　the　males　away　from　their　homes　because　he　knew　they　were　more　than　ordinarily　resentful　of　their　places　in　the　world。〃
〃It's　possible。　Where　does　the　notion　lead？〃
The　wizard　grinned　and　said；　〃If　we　demonstrate　that　we　share　their　disnottemper；　the　rogues　may　recruit　us　as　well。〃
〃How　can　we　do　that？　We　may　not　be　clerics；　but　we're　Masters　of　the　Academy。　We're　pillars　of　the　hierarchy；　and　more　to　the　point；　we　have　a　pleasanter　lot　and　thus　less　reason　for　discontent　than　most。〃
〃That　doesn't　seem　to　slow　you　down。〃
〃Even　so。〃
〃Here's　what　you're　overlooking。　Thanks　to　my　misadventure　with　the　Sarthos　demon；　I'm　a　disgraced　master；　likely　in　line　for　some　ghastly　punnotishment。　Whereas　you　with　your　dour　demeanor　and　dwarven　armor　are　clearly　an　iconoclast　and　malcontent。　Moreover；　we've　been　asking　everynotwhere　for　news　of　the　runaways。　They　must　know　of　it；　even　though　they　didn't　see　fit　to　make　contact。　During　that　same　time；　a　high　priestess　from　House　Mizzrym　has　tried　to　murder　us。　They　surely　have　some　cognizance　of　that　as　well。〃
〃Yet　they　still　didn't　approach　us。　Why　would　they　do　it　now？〃
Pharaun　smiled。　〃Because　we'll　provide　proof　that　we　do　in　fact　share　their　perspective。〃
〃How？〃
〃The　priestesses　lead　regular　patrols　through　the　Bazaar。　We'll　destroy　one；　repair　to　the　Braeryn；　boast　of　the　deed；　and　await　developments。　The　rogues　will　seek　us　out。　How　can　they　not？　Whatever　their　ultimate　obnotjective；　I'm　sure　they　can　use　the　services　of　two　such　talented　fellows。〃
〃No　doubt；　but　back　up。　You　want　to　murder　a　patrol？〃
〃In　as　showy　a　manner　as　possible。　With　a　bit　of　planning；　it　should　be　easy　enough。　They　won't　be　as　numerous　as　Greyanna's　hunters　and　they　won't　be　expecting　that　sort　of　trouble。〃
〃What　happened　to　not　killing　anybody；　especially　clerics；　unless　we　abnotsolutely　have　to？〃
〃We　do　absolutely　have　to。　We're　in　a　race　against　time；　remember；　and　this　is　the　speediest　route　to　our　objective。〃
〃Maybe；　but　what　happens　afterward？　Won't　any　number　of　folk　want　to　punish　us　for　our　impudence？〃
〃We　won't　confide　our　involvement　to　those　likely　to　prove　unsympanotthetic。〃
〃The　priestesses　will　figure　it　out。〃
〃Ah；　but　snug　and　safe　in　the　lair　of　our　friend　the　Prophet；　we　won't　care。　Besides；　the　Council　has　already　authorized　our　annihilation；　so　we　really　have　nothin