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！
。 The lord of the City of Blades sat at a high table with his most important advisors and watched over the planning below。
〃Good news； my lord prince；〃 Nimor said； sweeping into the circle of captains and guards surrounding Horgar Steelshadow。 〃I have been advised that the Archmage of Menzoberranzan； old Gromph Baenre himself； has been removed from the sava board of our little game。 The matron mothers do not yet suspect our advance into their territory。〃
〃If you say so；〃 the duergar lord replied gruffly。 〃In dealing with the dark elves I have found it prudent not to rule out the presence of an archmage until I see him dead under my own hammer。〃
The assembled gray dwarves around Horgar nodded； and glared at Nimor with undisguised suspicion。 A drow turncoat might have been a useful ally in a war against Menzoberranzan； but that did not mean they considered Nimor a reliable partner。
Nimor spied a gold pitcher standing by the high table and poured himself a great goblet of dark wine。
〃Gromph Baenre is not the only skilled wizard in Menzoberranzan；〃 growled Borwald Firehand。 Short and stocky even for a gray dwarf； the marshal gripped the table with his huge； powerful hands and leaned forward to glare at the assassin。 〃That cursed wizard school of theirs is full of talented mages。 Your allies played their hand too quickly； drow。 We're still fifteen days from Menzoberranzan； and Gromph's death will provoke alarm。〃
〃A sensible notion； but not entirely correct；〃 Nimor said。 He drained off a large gulp from his goblet； savoring the moment。 〃Gromph will be missed soon； I'm sure； but instead of casting their arcane gaze out into the Underdark to search for approaching foes； every Master of Sorcere will be searching fruitlessly for the archmage and scheming against his colleagues。 While the crown prince's army approaches； the most powerful wizards in the city will have their eyes firmly fixed on each other； and more than a few will seek to murder their colleagues to win the archmage's vacant seat。〃
〃The Masters of Sorcere will surely set aside their ambitions once they e to realize their peril；〃 the crown prince said。 He cut off Nimor with a curt gesture and added； 〃Yes； I know you say they may not； but we would be wise to plan on meeting an organized and well…directed magical defense of the city。 Still； that was a well…struck blow； well…struck indeed。〃
He rose； and shouldered his way past the clan lairds and guards to approach the map table； beckoning Nimor to follow。 The assassin circled to the other side of the table to attend the duergar ruler's words。 Horgar traced their route with one thick finger。
〃If the wizards of Menzoberranzan do not note our approach；〃 Horgar said； 〃then the question bees； at what point will they perceive their danger？〃
The clan laird Borwald thrust his way to the tableside and indicated a cavern intersection。
〃Presuming we don't encounter any drow patrols； the first place we'll meet the enemy is here； at the cavern called Rhazzt's Dilemma。 The Menzoberranyr have long maintained a small outpost there to watch this road； as it's one of the few large enough for an army to use。 Our vanguard should reach it in five days' time。 After that； our path forks and we must make our first hard decision。 We can choose to go north； through the Pillars of Woe； or circle around to the west； which adds at least six days to our march。 The Pillars are likely to be held against us； and so could delay us indefinitely。〃
〃The Pillars of Woe 。。。〃 Horgar said。 The prince tugged at his iron…gray beard as he studied the map。 〃When the drow learn we're ing； they'll certainly move troops there and hold the pass against us。 That way is no good； then。 We'll want to follow the other branch to the west； and circle around to approach the city from that side。 The time it adds to our march cannot be helped。〃
〃On the contrary； I mean for you to take the straighter path；〃 Nimor said。 〃Passing through the Pillars of Woe will save you six days； and once you're on the other side； you will be on Menzoberranzan's doorstep。 If you go through the western passes； you'll find the terrain there much less favorable。〃
The duergar lord snorted and said； 〃Perhaps you have not traveled this way before； Nimor。 It is a difficult road you've chosen； if you plan to force the Pillars of Woe。 The canyon bees narrow there and climbs steeply。 Two mighty columns bar the upper end； with only a narrow way between them。 Even a small force of drow can hold it indefinitely。〃
〃You can beat the Menzoberranyr to the Pillars； Crown Prince；〃 the assassin said。 〃I will deliver the outpost of Rhazzt's Dilemma to you。 We shall allow the defenders of the post to report a duergar force on the march； but even as the message speeds back to the matron mothers； your forces will race ahead to lay a deadly trap at the Pillars of Woe。 There； you will destroy the army the rulers of the city send to hold the gap。〃
〃If you can give us the outpost； drow； why allow the soldiers there to send any warning at all？〃 growled Borwald。 〃Better to cling to our secrecy as long as possible。〃
〃The pinnacle of deceit；〃 said Nimor； 〃lies not in depriving your foe of information； but in showing your foe the thing that he expects to see。 Even with the stroke we have engineered against the city's wizards； they cannot help but note our approach soon。 Best for us to control the circumstances under which the crown prince's army is reported to Menzoberranzan's rulers； and perhaps anticipate their response。〃
〃This intrigues me。 Go on；〃 Horgar said。
〃The soldiers of Menzoberranzan expect that an army approaching along this road must be delayed by the effort to take Rhazzt's Dilemma； giving the city time to man the choke point at the Pillars of Woe in sufficient strength to defeat any further attack。 I suggest you allow the outpost to make its report and alert the rulers of Menzoberranzan to the presence of your army。 Before the matron mothers can muster an army to face you； we will take Rhazzt's Dilemma by storm。 We will be waiting to intercept the drow march at the Pillars of Woe。〃
〃Your plan has two fundamental flaws；〃 said Borwald； sneering in contempt。 〃First； you presume that the outpost can be taken whenever we wish。 Second； you seem to think that the matron mothers will choose to send out their army instead of standing fast to await a siege。 I would give much to know how you intend to engineer these two feats。〃
〃Easily done；〃 the assassin replied。 〃The outpost will fall because much of its garrison has been withdrawn to keep order in the city。 Of those soldiers that remain； many are Agrach Dyrr。 That is why I urged you to choose this road for your attack。 The outpost will be betrayed into your hands when the time is right。〃
〃You knew this before we set out；〃 Horgar said。 〃In the future； you will share such information in a more timely manner。 What would we have done if you'd met some accident of the march？ We must know exactly what kind of help you will lend us； and when you will be able to do so。〃
Nimor laughed coldly and said； 〃It would be good for our conti