war of the spider queen 2 insurrection-第30部分

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　　　Ryld　stole　a　glance　down　at　Valas；　who　seemed　to　be　studying　the　sava　board。　The　scout　made　no　move　to　lure　a　serving　boy　over。
　　　〃Are　you　going　to　order　those　drinks；　or　should　I　do　it？〃　the　weapons　master　asked　his　panion。
　　　〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　Valas　answered；　looking　up。　〃When　the　wretch　returns；　I'll　tell　him　I　couldn't　get　anyone's　attention　in　so　crowded　a　place。〃
　　　Ryld　nodded　and　turned　back　to　wait。
　　　It　didn't　take　long　for　the　filthy　drow　to　return；　and　he　had　not　one；　but　four　big　half…ogres　in　tow。　Ryld's　eyes　narrowed　at　the　sight　of　them　clearing　a　path　through　the　crowd　none　too　gently。
　　　〃We　may　have　trouble；〃　he　muttered　at　Valas；　who　craned　his　neck　to　peer　past　the　warrior。
　　　〃Let　me　out；〃　Valas　insisted；　pushing　Ryld　forward　enough　to　slip　out　from　behind　the　table。
　　　The　scout　stood　next　to　the　warrior；　and　Ryld　noticed　that　Valas　had　his　kukris　in　his　hands；　though　he　kept　them　down　at　his　sides　where　they　weren't　easily　seen。
　　　〃These　are　the　fellows　I　was　telling　you　about；〃　the　drow　informant　said　to　the　biggest　of　the　half…ogres。　〃They're　the　ones　that's　got　lots　of　coin。〃
　　　Ryld　groaned　inwardly　as　the　half…ogre；　who　stood　a　good　head　taller　than　the　drow；　grinned　ominously。
　　　〃We　were　just　about　to　go　fetch　a　round　of　drinks；　as　you　suggested；〃　Valas　said；　making　as　if　to　step　past　the　half…ogre；　who　was　blocking　their　way。　〃I　guess　we'll　need　a　couple　extra。　Ryld；　why　don't　you　e　help　me　carry　them　all？　Then　we　can　talk　business　with　you　boys。〃
　　　〃I've　got　a　better　idea；〃　the　half…ogre　said；　his　voice　deep　and　rumbling。　〃Why　don't　you　sit　down　and　tell　us　just　how　much　gold　you　actually　have？　Then　we'll　decide　if　you　can　leave　or　not。〃
　　　〃I　don't　think　that's　such　a　good　idea；〃　Valas　said；　his　voice　steely　cold。　〃We'll　just　take　our　business　elsewhere。〃
　　　〃I　suppose　a　half…ogre　would　be　stupid　enough；〃　Ryld　said　to　the　scout；　〃to　think　that　just　because　Lolth　has　gone　quiet；　we've　forgotten　how　to　fight。〃
　　　The　half…ogre　smiled　and　said；　〃That's　a　pretty　good　joke；　dark　elf。〃
　　　Then　the　creature　lunged。
　　　
　　　***
　　　
　　　In　the　end；　it　was　the　most　straightforward　approach；　Pharaun　decided；　that　would　grant　him　entry　into　one　of　the　wizardly　institutes。　He　knew　all　too　well　from　his　working　knowledge　of　Sorcere's　defenses　that　most　forms　of　arcane　stealth　would　likely　be　detected；　however　careful　he　might　be。　It　was　the　nature　of　mages　to　be　distrustful　of　other　mages；　and　he　had　discovered　that　with　a　handful　of　different　academies；　schools；　and　research　organizations　to　choose　from　in　Ched　Nasad；　the　local　spellcasters　were　even　more　wary　of　one　another。
　　　Apparently；　petition　between　the　associations　for　luring　new　talent　inside　their　halls　was　fierce；　and　the　prestige　garnered　from　successful　recruiting　paramount。　True　to　drow　nature；　the　societies　weren't　above　using　any　method；　however　violent　and　underhanded；　to　shift　the　balance　of　power。　What　better　way　to　get　inside；　Pharaun　reasoned；　than　to　pose　as　a　prospective　new　member？　All　that　it　required　was　doffing　his　House　insignia　and　asking　at　the　front　gates　for　the　opportunity　to　speak　with　someone　who　could　give　him　a　tour；　expound　upon　the　amenities　and　responsibilities；　and　so　on。　He　could　easily　pass　himself　off　as　a　wayward　wizard　in　need　of　a　home　without　revealing　his　true　level　of　expertise　or　the　means　by　which　he　had　acquired　it。
　　　The　first　place　Pharaun　visited　was　the　imposing　halls　of　the　Disciples　of　Phelthong；　run　by　the　Archmage　of　Ched　Nasad　himself；　Ildibane　Nasadra。　Pharaun　figured　that　being　the　largest　and　best　endowed　of　the　various　schools；　it　would　have　what　he　sought。　However；　he　was　careful　to　explain　to　the　minor　official　who　was　sent　to　escort　him　that　his　interest；　his　area　of　specialty；　lay　in　the　study　of　creatures。　It　would　be　paramount　for　the　facility　to　have　a　vast　menagerie　on　hand　if　he　was　to　feel　truly　at　home。　When　he　discovered　that　the　Disciples　did　not　maintain　such　a　zoo；　he　politely　declined　to　take　a　tour。
　　　The　second　place　Pharaun　chose　to　investigate　was　known　as　the　Arcanist　Conservatory。　It　was　neither　the　most　impressive　nor　the　least；　but　he　picked　it　on　a　hunch。　The　drow　who　met　with　him　after　he'd　explained　himself　to　the　sentries　at　the　front　of　the　edifice　was　an　enchanter　by　the　name　of　Kraszmyl　Claddath　of　House　Claddath；　a　short；　surprisingly　stocky　fellow　with　slightly　yellowing　hair　and　bad　teeth。　Pharaun　feigned　skills　of　a　middling　nature　as　he　introduced　himself；　and　Kraszmyl　seemed　genuinely　delighted　to　escort　his　guest　through　the　premises。
　　　　　　　〃Tell　me；　Master　Claddath；　does　the　conservatory　maintain　a　collection　or　live　specimens　on　site？
　　　〃Well；　if　you　mean　the　best　menagerie　of　creatures　from　both　the　world　Above　and　the　Underdark；　properly　housed　and　cared　for；　then　yes。〃
　　　Oh；　how　delightful！〃　Pharaun　didn't　have　to　fake　his　excitement。　This　sounds　like　the　right　place　for　me。〃
　　　〃Tell　me；　Master　Pharaun；　what　is　your　particular　expertise　with　this　area　of　study？〃
　　　Well；　my　last　assignment　was　for　a　merchant　who　wanted　me　to　study　various　breeding　effects　on　rothé　herds；〃　the　mage　lied；　〃but　I　have　a　special　interest　in　a　new　field。　I　am　most　curious　to　learn　more　about　chitines　and　choldriths。〃
　　　〃Really？〃　Kraszmyl　seemed　nonplussed　at　the　idea　as　he　led　Pha…raun　deeper　into　the　confines　of　the　conservatory。　〃Why　in　the　world　would　you　find　such　base　creatures　of　interest？〃
　　　〃Oh；　they　are　tremendously　fascinating！〃　Pharaun　gushed。　〃While　we　find　them　to　be　nothing　more　than　simple　hunting　sport；　they　actually　have　a　unique　culture　and　religious　focus　that　in　several　ways　mirrors　our　own。〃
　　　〃Oh；　I　see；〃　Master　Claddath　said　woodenly。　〃I　hope　you're　not　one　of　those　odd　cretins　who　actually　thinks　we　should　cease　our　hunting。〃
　　　Pharaun　laughed。　〃Certainly　not；〃　he　said；　〃but　imagine　the　possibilities　if　I　could　make　them　more　of　a　challenge？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　could　see　the　value　in　that。　Well；　here　we　are；〃　the　guide　said；　ushering　Pharaun　into　a　wing　of　the　facilities　that　contained　countless　cages；　cells；　and　holding　pens。
　　　Pharaun　had　never　seen　such　a　collection　of　species　before；　and　he　was　more　than　impressed。
　　　〃It　is　spectacular！〃　he　said。
　　　〃Yes；　it　is；　Master　Pharaun；　but　I　have　concluded　by　your　reaction　that　you　have　seen　nothing　of　the　sort　before。　Now；　why　don't　you　tell　me　the　real　reason　for　your　visit　to　our　little　conservatory　today？〃
　　　Pharaun　carefully　reached　into　a　pocket　of　his　piwafwi；　extracted　a　fragment　of　glass；　and　turned　to　look　at　the　other　wizard；　who　was　shielded　by　a　number　of　protections。　He　held　a　wand　in　his　hand　that　he　pointed　at　the　visiting　wizard；　and　Pharaun　knew　that　the　drow　had　already　used　it。　Some　sort　of　enchantment　magic；　he　guessed。
　　　Trying　to　charm　me　into　explaining　myself。
　　　〃Is　this　the　way　you　greet　all　of　your　prospective　new　members？〃　Pharaun　asked；　smiling。
　　　Kraszmyl　looked　mildly　surprised；　then　tucked　the　wand　away。
　　　〃No；　just　those　wizards　who　show　up　out　of　nowhere；　claiming　to　want　to　join　our　ranks。〃