war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第4部分

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　　　As　for　Halisstra's　face；　well；　it　was　pretty　enough；　with　its　slightly　snubbed　nose　and　mon；　coal…red　eyes；　but　Danifae　had　the　advantage　of　skin　softer　than　the　blackest　velvet；　lips　that　curled　in　a　perpetual　pout；　and　eyebrows　that　formed　a　perfect　white　arch　over　each　of　her　strikingly　colored；　pale　gray　eyes。　An　advantage　she　should　have　used　earlier；　judging　by　the　display　of　mawkish　sentimentality　Danifae　had　stumbled　upon。
　　　Quenthel　was　already　in　play；　though　the　older；　more　experienced　priestess　was　not　wholly　unaware　of　Danifae's　immediate　desires。　It　didn't　take　a　genius　to　see　why　Danifae　had　seduced　the　Mistress　of　Arach…Tinilith。　It　was　almost　to　be　expected。
　　　Danifae　anticipated　a　more　plicated　time　of　it　when　she'd　have　to　take　on　Pharaun　and　Valas。　The　Master　of　Sorcere　was　wily。　He　would　surely　be　difficult　to　fool　once　things　began　to　turn；　but　his　open　dislike　of　Quenthel　gave　her　something　to　use。　Valas　was　bought　and　paid　for　by　House　Baenre；　and　that　kind　of　gold　was　something　Danifae　wouldn't　likely　happen　upon　anytime　soon。　That　would　be　delicate。　And　Jeggred；　well。　。　。　。
　　　But　Ryld；　with　this　strange　infatuation　with　her　soon…to…be…former　mistress；　would　be　a　tougher　nut　to　crack。
　　　What　good　was　playing　sava；　she　thought；　if　you　don't　control　all　of　the　game　pieces？
　　　Valas　strode　into　the　ruins；　followed　by　Pharaun　and　Quenthel；　and；　a　moment　later；　by　the　loping　Jeggred。　The　false　smile　Halisstra　gave　Quenthel　and　the　way　Ryld　deliberately　met　Pharaun's　eyes；　confirmed　Danifae's　suspicions。　Halisstra　was　preparing　to　betray　her　fellow　priestess　and　Ryld　his　former　friend。
　　　Danifae　smiled。　She　didn't　know　what　they　were　up　to…yet…but　whatever　it　was；　she　was　certain　it　could　be　turned　to　her　advantage。　She　walked　out　into　the　clearing；　joining　them。
　　　With　a　quick　snap　of　her　whip；　Quenthel　motioned　for　the　others　to　gather　around　her。
　　　〃Valas　has　found　an　entrance　to　the　Underdark；〃　she　announced。　〃Once　we're　safely　below；　Pharaun　will　cast　a　spell。　We're　going　back　to　the　Demonweb　Pits。　But　not　all　of　us。　One　of　you　will　carry　a　message　back　to　Menzoberranzan；　to　the　matron　mother。〃
　　　As　Quenthel's　eyes　ranged　over　the　group；　Danifae　noted　the　indecision　they　held。　Quenthel　was　obviously　uncertain　whom　she　could　spare…or　trust。　Seizing　her　chance；　Danifae　prostrated　herself　before　the　high　priestess。
　　　〃Let　me　do　your　bidding；　Mistress；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　serve　you　as　faithfully　as　I　have　served　Lolth。〃
　　　As　she　spoke；　she　cast　a　baleful　eye　on　Halisstra；　hoping　Quenthel　would　take　her　point。　Halisstra　had　acted　blasphemously　during　their　recent　journey　to　the　Demonweb　Pits　and　was　not　to　be　trusted。
　　　Or　course；　neither　was　Danifae。　She　had　no　intention　or　going　to　Menzoberranzan　if　she　was　chosen。　Not　when　there　was　a　wizard　in　Sschindylryn　who　might　be　able　to　help　her　to　free　herself；　once　and　for　all；　from　the　odious　Binding　that　tied　her　to　Halisstra。
　　　Danifae　felt　Quenthel　touch　her　hair；　and　she　looked　up　expectantly。
　　　〃No；　Danifae；〃　Quenthel　said；　the　touch　turning　into　a　gentle　stroke。　〃You　will　stay　with　me。〃
　　　Danifae　ground　her　teeth。　Apparently；　she'd　done　too　good　a　job　of　seducing　Quenthel。
　　　Halisstra　stepped　forward…and；　to　Danifae's　astonishment；　also　fell　to　her　knees　in　front　of　Quenthel。
　　　〃Mistress；〃　Halisstra　said。　〃Let　me　carry　the　message　for　you。　I　know　that　I　failed　you　earlier；　in　the　shadow　of　the　goddess's　own　temple。　I　beg　of　you　now。　Please　let　me　。　。　。　redeem　myself。〃
　　　〃No！〃　Danifae　spat。　〃She's　up　to　something。　She　has　no　intention　of　going　to　Menzoberranzan。　She…〃
　　　Halisstra　laughed。
　　　〃And　just　where　would　I　go；　Danifae？〃　she　asked。　〃Ched　Nasad　lies　in　ruins。　I　no　longer　have　a　House　to　return　to。　I　need　to　make　a　new　home　for　myself…in　Menzoberranzan。　And　what　better　way　to　start　than　by　braving　the　dangers　of　the　World　Above　to　carry　a　vital　message　to　the　First　House？〃
　　　Danifae's　eyes　narrowed。　She　could　sense　that　Halisstra　was　up　to　something。
　　　〃You'd　travel　to　Menzoberranzan　on　the　surface？〃　she　asked；　spitting　out　the　word。　〃Alone？　Through　woods　crawling　with　House　Jaelre？　You'd　be　captured　again　before　night　fell。〃
　　　Danifae　was　pleased　to　see　Quenthel　nodding…she　was　obviously　about　to　reject　Halisstra's　foolish　notion　and　send　Danifae；　instead。　Then　Halisstra's　lips　quirked　into　a　smile…and　Danifae　realized　that；　somehow；　unwittingly；　she'd　just　played　right　into　Halisstra's　hands。
　　　〃This　will　see　me　through；〃　said　Halisstra；　patting　the　leather　case　that　held　her　lyre。　〃I　know　a　bae'qeshel　song　that　will　allow　me　to　walk　on　wind。　Using　it；　I　could　reach　Menzoberranzan　in　a　tenday；　at　most。〃
　　　Danifae's　eyes　narrowed　and　she　said；　〃I've　never　seen　you　use　a　spell　like　that。〃
　　　〃What　use　would　it　have　been　in　the　Underdark？〃　Halisstra　said　with　a　shrug。　〃There's　no　wind…and　if　there　were；　I'd　only　walk　straight　into　a　cavern　wall。　Regardless；　I　have　not　been；　nor　am　I　now；　in　the　habit　of　justifying　myself　to　a　battle…captive。　Our　situation　has　changed　some；　Danifae；　but　not　entirely。〃
　　　Not　yet；　Danifae　thought；　then　she　grasped　Quenthel's　knee　and　pleaded；　〃Don't　send　her。　Send　me。　If　Halisstra　dies；　I…〃
　　　〃You'd　be　very；　very　sorry；　wouldn't　you？〃　Quenthel　said　with　a　smirk。　She　was　well　aware　of　the　particulars　of　the　Binding。　〃Halisstra　will　go。　With　you　here；　we　will　be　able　to　trace　her；　and　at　least　know　that　she　still　lives。　And　the　two　of　you　Houseless　wretches　are　the　most　expendable。〃
　　　Danifae　lowered　her　eyes　in　acquiescence；　even　though　inwardly　she　burned　with　impotent　anger。　Halisstra；　on　her　own　in　the　World　Above；　would　almost　certainly　be　killed。　It　would　only　be　a　matter　of　time。
　　　And　when　she　died；　the　magic　of　the　Binding　would　see　to　it　that　Danifae　died；　too。
　　　
Chapter　Three
　　　Valas　felt　the　knot　of　tension　between　his　shoulders　relax…just　a　little…as　familiar　darkness　enveloped　him。　The　harsh　sunlight　had　been　left　behind　after　the　third　bend　in　the　tunnel。　He　could　still　smell　the　earthy　tang　of　wet　leaves　that　told　him　the　Surface　Realms　were　just　above　their　heads；　but　the　air　around　him　already　felt　cleaner。　As　they　descended　the　twisting　fissure　that　led　ever　downward　through　the　stone；　he　felt　his　eyes　adjusting　to　the　darkness。　Gone　was　the　itching　glare　of　sunlight；　allowing　him　to　fully　open　his　eyes　and　use　his　darkvision　for　the　first　time　in　too　many　days。
　　　Behind　Valas；　Quenthel　and　the　others　followed　in　a　line。　They'd　fallen　quiet　instinctively　as　soon　as　they'd　left　the　sunlight　behind。　Even　the　upper　Underdark　could　be　a　dangerous　place　for　the　unwary；　and　that　particular　tunnel　was　unknown　territory。　Yet　pared　to　Valas；　they　hardly　moved　in　silence。　He　could　hear　the　scrape　of　armor　against　stone　as　someone　behind　him　squeezed　through　a　spot　where　the　tunnel　had　narrowed；　forcing　them　to　turn　sideways　to　slip　through。　A　moment　later　he　heard　the　scuff　of　a　boot　and　a　faint　intake　of　breath　as　one　of　the　females　missed　her　footing。　He　turned　and　angrily　started　to　sign　Move　more　quietly　to　her；　but　dropped　his　hands　when　he　realized　it　was　Quenthel　and　not　Danifae　who　had　slipped。　Danifae　had　once　again　positioned　herself　near　the　back　of　the　group；　just　ahead　of　Ryld…not　because　of　the　potential　dangers　ahead；　Valas　was　sure；　but；　with　Halisstra　gone；　to　keep　a　wary　eye　on　her　panions。
　　　What　have　you　stopped　for？　Quenthel　signed　from　behind　Pharaun。　Keep　moving。
　　　One　of　the　vipers　in　the　whip　tucked　into　her　belt　gave　a　slight　hiss。
　　　Nodding　his　head；　Valas　led　the　way　through　the　tunnel　once　more。　As　before；　Pharaun　was　close　behind　him；　continually　peering　over　Valas's　shoulder　as　if　he　was　searching　for　something。　Ryld；　on　the　other　hand；　was　constantly　looking　back　the　way　they　had　e。　Whenever　Valas　caught　his　eye；　the　weapons　master　would　signal　that　he　thought　someone　was　following　them。　Valas　had　never　seen　him　so　jumpy　before。
　　　The　first　two　times　Ryld　had　done　that；　Valas　had　doubled　back　to　check　for　himself；　but　there　had　been　nothing：　no　sounds；　no　signs　of　pursuit。　Thereafter　he　ignored　Ryld's　anx