war of the spider queen 3 condemnation-第75章
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ears scoured by the sound of the Spider Queen's sibilant voice。 Perhaps it was effrontery to think that Lolth would erase her doubts； supply answers for her questions and a balm for her wounded heart； but Halisstra discovered that she did not care。 If Lolth chose to discard her； to punish her； then she would； but then why had she destroyed Ched Nasad and House Melarn if not to bring Halisstra before her and receive her plea？
〃I agree with Danifae；〃 she said at last。 〃I cannot see what the point of this has been； other than to summon us before the goddess's throne。 We will find our answers in her presence。〃
Quenthel nodded slowly and said； 〃I read her will in the same way； sisters。 We must go to the Demonweb Pits。〃
Ryld and Valas exchanged worried looks。
〃A sojourn to the sixty…sixth layer of the Abyss；〃 Pharaun observed。 〃Well； I have dreamed of the place。 It would be interesting to see if the reality matches my dream from years ago； though I have to say； I do not relish the thought of meeting Lolth in person。 She minced my soul to pieces when I had that vision。 It took me months to recover。〃
〃Perhaps we should return to Menzoberranzan and report what we have learned before we consider anything rash？〃 Ryld asked； clearly alarmed by the prospect of descending into the infernal realms。
〃Now that I understand the goddess's will； I do not wish to delay in obeying it；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Pharaun can use his sending spell to apprise Gromph of our intentions。〃
〃More to the point；〃 Valas said； 〃how exactly does one get to the Demonweb Pits？〃
〃Worship Lolth all your life；〃 Quenthel replied； a dark look clouding her eyes； 〃then die。〃
Halisstra glanced at the high priestess； then looked at the scout and said； 〃Were the goddess granting us our spells； we could do it easily enough。 Without them； it is not so easy。 Pharaun？〃
The wizard wrung his hands。
〃I will learn the proper spells at the first opportunity；〃 he said。 〃I suppose I will have to locate a wizard of some acplishment who happens to know the right spells； and persuade him to share one with me。〃
〃That will not be necessary； Master Pharaun；〃 Tzirik said。 He stood up from his seat and descended the dais； powerful and confident。 〃As it so happens； my god has not seen fit to deprive me of my spells。 I have an interest in seeing for myself what transpires in Lolth's domain。 We can leave as soon as tonight； if you like。〃
pany by pany； the Army of the Black Spider marched proudly into the open cavern behind the Pillars of Woe。 It was nothing pared to the vast cavern of Menzoberranzan； or the inprehensible gulf of the Darklake； but the plain at the head of the gorge was still impressive； an asymmetrical space perhaps half a mile across； its ceiling rising a couple of hundred feet overhead。 Innumerable columns supported its roof； and shelflike side caverns twisted away on all sides like highways beckoning in the dark。
Nimor surveyed the place from astride his war…lizard； watching as the great Houses of Menzoberranzan filed into the cavern； forming up in glittering squares beneath a dozen different banners。 He'd had more than two days to reconnoiter the various crevices； caves； and passages leading to the open spot。 The strategic value of the Pillars of Woe was obvious。 Only one road lead south through a torturous canyon； yet several tunnels met where he'd led the drow； each leading into Menzoberranzan's Dark Dominion。
〃A good place for a battle；〃 he said； nodding to himself with satisfaction。
His mount； vicious and stupid beast that it was； still seemed to dully sense the impending conflict。 It hissed and pawed at the pebble…strewn floor； its tail twitching in agitation。
Nimor waited near the center of the scout line holding the gap between the Pillars； at the head of a force of almost a hundred Agrach Dyrr riders。 Those among his scout force who had any other House allegiance lay sprawled among the rocks and crevices of the gorge below； where Nimor and his men had slaughtered them soon after reaching the Pillars of Woe。
Nimor ached to go riding up to greet Mez'Barris Armgo； Andzrel Baenre； and the rest of the army's priestesses and manders。 He could see their pavilion； already rising in the center of the cavern。
The difficulty with a betrayal spanning a whole battlefield； he thought； is that one simply can't be everywhere at once to savor the moment in its entirety。
He noted a lean runner…lizard pelting from the mand pavilion toward where his pany waited。
〃It seems I am wanted； lads；〃 he called to the Agrach Dyrr soldiers waiting behind him。 〃You know what to do。 Wait for the signal。 When it es； hold nothing back。〃
Nimor kicked his war…lizard into motion and rode back a short distance to meet the messenger。 The rider was a young fellow in the livery of House Baenre…no doubt a favored nephew or cousin； given a relatively safe task in order to gain a blooding without too much risk。 He wore no helmet； allowing his hair to stream out behind him like a mane。 A bright red banner fluttered from a harness secured to his saddle。
〃You are Captain Zhayemd？〃 he called； slowing his lizard to greet Nimor。
〃I am。〃
〃Your presence is requested at the mand pavilion immediately； sir。 Matron Del'Armgo wants to know where the gray dwarves are； and how best to dispose the troops。〃
〃I see；〃 Nimor replied。 〃Well； ride on back and tell her I'll be along presently。〃
〃With respect； sir； I am to…〃
Three great horn blasts； two short followed by one long； bellowed up from the space between the Pillars of Woe； echoing so loudly it seemed the rock itself had given voice to the cry。 The messenger broke off and twisted his mount around； padding past Nimor to peer back toward the Pillars。
〃Lolth's wrath； what was that？〃 he said。
〃That；〃 said Nimor； 〃would be the signal for the duergar attack。〃
From the depths of the gorge beneath the Pillars of Woe came the ground…shaking rumble of an army on the move。 Below Nimor's line of scouts； hundreds of duergar lizard riders suddenly rose from beneath carefully arranged blankets of camouflage and pelted up and into the gap Nimor's scouts were supposed to hold。 Behind the duergar cavalry； rank upon rank of duergar infantry ran forward； shouting their uncouth war cries； hammers and axes raised high。 The Agrach Dyrr riders scrambled to their saddles； taking position to bottle up the charge between the mammoth columns of rock…and； as arranged； they wheeled in unison and dashed to one side； leaving the line unguarded。
〃The Agrach Dyrr！ They betray us！〃 the messenger shouted； horror and shock on his face。
He wrenched his mount around； but Nimor leaned out from his saddle and ran the boy through。 The young Baenre clutched at his wound； swaying； and toppled from the saddle。 Nimor slapped his sword against the lizard's rump and sent the beast bolting off back into the main cavern； the dead messenger dragging behind it with his feet tangled in the stirrups。
Nimor spurred his mount up onto an uneven shelf of rock about fifteen feet above the cavern floor； overlooking the Pillars。 From that vantage he could see most of the cavern。
〃A good view of the fray； my prince！〃 he called。 〃What a magnificent day for your triumph； eh？〃
〃I'll tell you in a quarter…hour if we have a victory or not。〃
From the shadows at the back of the ledge； Horgar Steelshadow emerged。 He and his personal guards were warded by a well…crafted illusion； invisible to anyone below； unless one knew precisely where to find them。
〃Do not e closer； Nimor；〃 the crown prince said。 〃I do not wish someone below to notice you disappearing into a wall； and bee overly curious about what might be up here。〃
〃Surely you mean to join the battle； Prince Horgar？ I know you are a dwarf of no small valor。〃
〃I will venture into the fray when I'm certain I will not need to issue any more orders； Nimor。 In another few moments you won't be able to hear a fellow shouting in your ear。〃
Nimor turned his attention back to the battle。 The Agrach Dyrr riders； well clear of the
