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！
reyanna or any of the lesser priestesses worknoting magic； but didn't you yourself once tell me that in the turmoil of battle； it's often easier and more reliable to cast your effects from a wand or parchment？〃
〃I suppose I did。 Still； under normal circumstances； would you expect a pair of spell casters to conjure every single manifestation that way？ Just before our exit； I saw Greyanna groping in the ether for a weapon that was slow in ing to her hand。 The sister I remember would have said to the Hells with it and dumped some other magic on our heads。 That is； unless something had circumscribed her options。〃
〃I see what you mean；〃 Ryld conceded； 〃but when the clerics lost their powers in the Time of Troubles； it destabilized the balance of power among the noble Houses。 Those who believed the change made them stronger in relative terms struck hard to supplant their rivals。 As far as I can see； that isn't happening now； just the usual level of controlled enmity。〃
He laid the short sword aside and picked up Splitter。
Pharaun nodded and said； 〃You'll recall that none of the Houses atnottempting to exploit the Time of Troubles ultimately profited thereby。 To the contrary； the Baenre and others punished them for their temerity。 Pernothaps the matron mothers took the lesson to heart。〃
〃So instead of hatching schemes to topple one another； they 。 。 。 what？ Enlisted every single priestess in a grand conspiracy to conceal their fall from grace？ If your mad idea is right； that's what they must have done。〃
〃Why is that implausible？ Picture the day…a few tendays past？…when they lost the ability to draw power from their goddess。 Clerics of Lolth routinely collaborate in magical rituals； so they would have discovered fairly quickly that they were all similarly afflicted。 Apprised of the scope of the situation； Triel Baenre； possibly in hurried consultation with our esnotteemed Mistress Quenthel and the matrons of the Council； might well have decided to conceal the priesthood's debility and sent the word round in time to keep anyone from blabbing。〃
〃The word would have to pass pretty damn quickly；〃 said Ryld； examnotining Splitter's edge。 As he'd expected； despite all the bone it had just bitten through； it was as preternaturally keen and free of notches and chips as ever。
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 the wizard said。 〃If you lost the strength of your arms； would you be eager to announce it； knowing the news would find its way to everyone who'd ever taken a dislike to you？ Anyway； since this is the first we've learned of the problem； the deception obviously did ornotganize in time。〃
〃Or else everything is as it always was； and the plot exists only in your imagination。〃
〃Oh； it's real。 I'm sure Triel deemed the ruse necessary to make sure no visitor would discern Menzoberranzan's sudden weakness。〃 He grinned and added； 〃And to fix it so we poor males wouldn't swoon with terror upon learning that our betters had lost a measure of their ability to guide and protect us。〃
〃Well； it's an amusing fancy。〃
〃Fire and glare； you're a hard boy to convince； and I'll be cursed if I know why。 You've already lived through the Time of Troubles； the previnotous Matron Baenre's death； and the defeat of Menzoberranzan by a gaggle of wretched dwarves。 Why do you assume our world cannot have altered in some fundamental way when you've watched it change so many times before？ Open your mind； and you'll see my hypothesis makes sense of all that has puzzled us。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Whatever they're up to； how is it that for the past month an unusual number of males have dared to elope from their famil