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！
〃Head more to your left；〃 Valas said； interrupting his own thoughts。 〃There's a bit of a ledge on the cavern wall that should run the way we want to go。〃
Ryld plied； and the two of them carefully leveled off and descended along the sloping roof of the cavern until they found the place where it dropped more or less straight down and became the wall。 There； an old weathered seam circled the cavern like the eaves of an old tavern。 The weapons master looked at it dubiously； but as they drew close Valas disentangled himself and leaped lightly down to crouch in the space like a skinny spider。
Ryld followed； somewhat more awkwardly。 He could manage it； barely； but he was lucky to have the magic of his insignia to fall back on if his footing or grip failed him。
Valas moved confidently forward； following the seam as it descended sharply and disappeared around a sharp bend overlooking a side cavern。
Ryld scrambled down after him； cursing silently as his foot dislodged some loose rock and sent it clattering down the clifflike wall。 The forges and hammers of Gracklstugh covered the sound fairly well； though； and they were still above Laduguer's Furrow。 The rock skittered into the abyss and vanished。
Valas glanced back from his perch at the bend。
Carefully； he signed。 e up here and see this。
Ryld worked his way up beside the scout； finally stretching out on his belly to stay on the ledge。 The seam ran down to a side cave and turned in sharply。 From their vantage a hundred feet or more above the floor； they could see a good…sized cavern； perhaps three or four hundred yards long and about half that wide。 The walls were hewn into barracks rooms； enough to house quite a large number of soldiers； but the floor of the place was level and open； a good drilling ground for bodies of troops。
From end to end； it was crowded with wagons and pack lizards。 Hundreds of duergar swarmed over the scene； securing great panniers to the ugly reptiles； loading wagons； and preparing siege engines for travel。 The noxious reek of the city's smelters didn't suffice to mask the heavy smell of animal dung in the large chamber； and the lizards' hisses and rasping croaks filled the air。
Valas began counting wagons and pack beasts； trying to estimate the size of the force that might be on the march。 After a few minutes； he finally tore his eyes away。
Somewhere between two and three thousand？ Ryld said。
The scout frowned and replied； I think somewhat more； maybe four thousand all together； but there may be more trains gathering in other caverns nearby。
Is there any reason to think they're not bound for Menzoberranzan？ Ryld asked。
We're not their only enemies。 Still； I don't like the timing。
〃I don't believe in coincidences； either；〃 Ryld whispered。 He carefully began to worm his way back from the edge； taking great pains to dislodge no more rocks。 〃I would suggest checking the other caves for more soldiers； but I think we've seen more than the duergar would want already； and I don't feel like pressing my luck。 We'd best get back and report this to the others。〃
〃We should just leave；〃 growled Jeggred。 His white fur was streaked with red wine； and hot grease from a roast of rothe meat stained his muzzle。 The draegloth didn't take well to long waits； and two days of confining himself to the Cold Foundry had been hard for him。 〃We could be out of the city before they knew we'd gone。〃
〃I fear it wouldn't be as simple as you make it sound；〃 Ryld said。 He knelt by his pack； stuffing sacks with the least perishable items from the buffet。 He dropped the sacks into a yawning black circle beside him…a magical hole that could be picked up and carried as if it was nothing but a piece of dark cloth。 It could hold hundreds of pounds of gear and supplies； but weighed nothing at all。 〃You may not have noticed； but I'm sure I'm not the only one who marked the spies watching this inn。 We wouldn't make a quarter mile before we were swarmed under duergar soldiers。〃
〃So？〃 the draegloth demanded。 〃I fear no dwarf！〃
〃Duergar aren't goblins or gnolls； too stupid to use their numbers well； too clumsy and crude to stand a chance in a one…on…one duel。 I've met duergar swordsmen nearly as good as I am。 I have no doubt that a number of such formidable fellows would be banded together against us； and the duergar count skilled wizards and clerics among their ranks； too。〃
〃We should have known better than to march into a duergar city；〃 Halisstra said。 〃What a miserable piece of timing。〃
She hurried to don her armor； a suit of highly enchanted chain mail that carried the arms of House Melarn on its breast。 She wondered if the best strategy would be to simply wait a few more days and allow the gray dwarves to relax their vigilant stance。 On the other hand； if they delayed too long； there was always the chance that the merchant she'd charmed to part with Danifae's new arms would recover his wits and report the incident to the authorities。 Had they simply murdered the merchants 。 。 。 but no； if they'd been caught at that； they would already have paid with their lives。
She tugged at the long hem of the mail hauberk and wriggled to settle it better on her shoulders。
〃Master Argith； how long will it take the duergar army to march？〃 Halisstra asked。
〃Soon；〃 Ryld said。 〃They can't keep that many pack lizards in harness for long。 The question is how long after the army sallies before they allow travel to resume。 If we wait them out； we might be delayed for days。〃
〃Delayed…or disposed of；〃 Danifae warned。
〃We will set out at once；〃 Quenthel said； putting a halt to the debate。
The Mistress of the Academy dressed for battle； her face set in a black scowl； her whips writhing in agitation。
〃That begs the question that was raised a moment ago…which way do we go？〃 asked Ryld。
The weapons master finished with his supplies and picked up the hole； rolling it tightly and slipping it into his pack。
〃I can retrace our steps back to Mantol…Derith；〃 Pharaun offered； 〃but it will be difficult to move forward from here。 I don't know the way to the Labyrinth； so any stroll we took on the Plane of Shadow would doubtless lead us to a strange and cheerless end。 There are too many of you for me to teleport us all together； so unless someone feels like answering to the gray dwarves for the rest of the pany's sudden departure； I suppose that's out as well。〃
〃What about a spell to conceal our identities？〃 Ryld asked。
〃Regrettably；〃 the wizard replied； 〃gray dwarves are notoriously resistant to illusions of any kind。〃
Halisstra added； 〃If only one saw through a disguise and saw a party of dark elves。 。。。〃
〃Better to simply render us all invisible；〃 the Master of Sorcere said。 〃Yes； that would be the most expedient solution to this little conundrum。 It quite reminds me of a time when…〃
〃Enough。〃 Quenthel shifted in her seat and asked Valas； 〃Do we need to set out for the Labyrinth from here； or could you find a way around Gracklstugh if we retraced our steps a bit？〃
〃It will take several m