按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃I never heard of you；〃 said Ryld； 〃but within the district； your reputanottion seems to be considerable。 We've been asking questions all day； and more than one suggested we seek you out。〃
The door banged particularly loudly； and he glanced back to make sure the bugbears weren't breaching it。
〃That's all I know of your saga；〃 said Pharaun； 〃but I infer from the hosnottility of your cohabitants that a new stanza has begun。〃
〃I suppose I couldn't bluff them forever；〃 Smylla said。 〃My powers； sorcerous and psionic alike； are all but gone； devoured by my malady。 Once I acquired my stock in trade primarily through scrying； divinations； and such。 In recent years； I've cajoled my secrets from a web of informers； whom I betray one to the other。〃
The withered creature smirked。
〃Well；〃 said Ryld； 〃I hope you teased out the one we need。〃
She coughed。 No； it was a laugh。 〃Even if I did； why would I share it with you； dark elf？〃
〃I told you；〃 the warrior said； 〃we can protect you from the bugbears and goblins。〃
〃So can my little iron trinket。〃
〃But eventually； if you simply remain in here； you'll die of hunger and thirst。〃
〃I'm dying anyway。 Can't you tell？ I'm not an old woman…I'm a baby as you drow measure time！…but I look like an ancient hag。 I just don't want to perish at the hands of those miserable Undercreatures。 I've ruled here for fifteen years； and if I die beyond their reach； I win。 Do you see？〃
〃Well； then； my lady；〃 said Pharaun； 〃your wish suggests the terms of a bargain。 Oblige us； and we'll refrain from admitting the bugbears。〃
She made a spitting sound and said； 〃Admit them if you must。 I loathe the brutes； but I hate you dark elves more。 It was you who made me as I am。 I bartered information with you for as long as I had something to gain； but now that the disease is finally killing me； you can all go to the Abyss where your goddess lives； and burn。〃
Pharaun might have replied that as far as he could tell； Smylla had sealed her own fate on the day she decided to descend into the Underdark； but he doubted it would soften her resolve。
〃I don't blame you；〃 he said； making a show of sympathy。 It wouldn't have deceived any drow； but even though she'd trafficked with his race for decades； perhaps she still had human instincts。 〃Sometimes I hate other dark elves myself。 I'd certainly despise them if they served me as they've treated you。〃
She eyed him skeptically。 〃But you're the one who's different from all the others？〃
〃I doubt it。 I'm a child of the goddess。 I follow her ways。 But I've visnotited the Realms that See the Sun； where I learned that other races think and live differently。 I understand that by the standards of your own people； we've treated you abominably。〃
For a moment； she looked up at him as if no one had miserated with her about anything since that long…lost season when she was the belle； or at least the coveted curiosity； of the revels and balls。
She said； 〃Do you think a few gentle words will make me want to help you？〃
〃Of course not。 I just don't want your bitterness to get in the way of your good sense。 It would be a pity if you turned your back on your salvation。〃
〃What are you saying？〃
〃I can take away your sickness。〃
〃You're lying。 How could you do what the priestesses cannot？〃
〃Because I'm a wizard。〃 Pharaun snapped his fingers and dissolved his mask of illusion。 〃My name is Pharaun Mizzrym。 You may have heard of me。 If not； you've surely heard of the Masters of Sorcere。〃
She was impressed； though trying not to show it。
〃Who aren't healers；〃 she said。
〃Who are transmuters。 I can change you into a drow； or； if you pref