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！
As It was； Kaanyr still pulled away after a moment's heated embrace and said； 〃Enough。 Tell me what you found out。〃
This time； Aliisza really did pout。 His caresses on her wings and elsewhere left her panting slightly； and important news or not； she was not ready to be cast aside so quickly。 She considered withholding the information for a time； sending a subtle message that she was not to be trifled with。 He might rule this place； but she was not his servant。 She was consort； she was advisor； and she was free to find another lover； should he cease to satisfy her。 Satisfying an alu…the daughter of a succubus and a human mate…was a challenge few were up to。 Kaanyr was one of those few。 She decided to tell him her news。
〃They haven't veered from their course； though it's apparent they know we're closing in。 Their scouts have spotted our skirmishers and have continued to avoid contact。 We will have them pinned against the Araumycos； soon。〃
You're certain they're not here to spy or to wage war？ No quick strikes before vanishing into the wilds？〃
Kaanyr was absently stroking one of her wings as he asked this； and the alu…fiend shivered in delight。 He seemed not to notice her reaction。
〃Fairly certain。 They are apparently headed southeast； toward Ched Nasad。 Each time we cut off their route； they seek out another。 They seem intent on keeping to that path。〃
〃Yet； they are not a caravan；〃 he said。 〃They don't have goods or pack animals。 In fact； they travel unreasonably lightly armed for drow。 They are definitely up to something。 The question is； what？〃
Aliisza shivered again； though this time it was as much from the anticipation of the next bit of news as from Kaanyr's absentminded petting。
〃Oh； definitely not a caravan；〃 she told him。 〃It's the strangest drow entourage I think I've seen wandering around the wilds。 They have a draegloth with them。〃
Kaanyr straightened； staring straight into Aliisza's eyes； and asked； 〃A draegloth？ Are you sure？〃
When the alu nodded； he pursed his lips。
〃Interesting。 This just gets more and more intriguing。 First； we haven't seen a drow caravan of any sort in the last few tendays。 Finally； when a party of drow do venture out； they e straight through here； something they would normally avoid like the stink on a dretch； and lastly； they have a draegloth acpanying them； which means drow noble Houses are somehow personally involved。 What in the Nine Hells are they up to？〃
Vhok resumed staring off into the dark distance； again absently caressing his consort； this time letting his fingers trail gently down her ribs； which were exposed through the lacing of her shiny black leather corset。 She sighed in delight but forced herself to stay focused。
〃There's more。 I listened in on a conversation when they stopped to rest。 One of them； definitely a mage of some sort； was taunting another； who looked like a priestess。〃
〃One of the males giving lip to a female？ That can't last long。〃
〃Not just any female。 He referred to her as 'the Mistress of the Academy。'
Kaanyr sat upright； his stare deeply penetrating her own。
〃Oh； really；〃 he said in a tone so intrigued； he never noticed that his move nearly made Aliisza fall to the floor at his feet。
She managed to maintain her balance； but she was forced to stand to avoid looking silly。 She glared at the cambion。
He went on； oblivious； 〃Oh； this is just too good。 One of the highest drow priestesses in all of Menzoberranzan is trying to sneak incognito through my tiny little domain。 And she's letting a wizard run his mouth at her。 No caravans for more than a month； and now this。 This is too much fun！〃
Kaanyr turned to face Aliisza once more； and upon seeing her glare； he cocked his head in confusion。
〃What？ What's wrong？〃
The alu fumed； 〃You have no idea； do you？〃
Kaanyr spread his hands helplessly and shook his head。
〃Well； then I'm not going to tell you！〃 she snapped； and turned away from him。
〃Aliisza。〃 Vhok's voice was deep and manding； and it sent shivers down her spine。 He was angry； just as she'd hoped。 〃Aliisza； look at me。〃
She glanced back at him over her shoulder； letting one arched eyebrow rise questioningly He had risen from the throne and was standing with his hands on his hips。
〃Aliisza； I don't have time for this。 Look at me！〃
She shivered in spite of herself and turned fully around to face her lover。 His eyes smoldered and made her melt。 She pouted just a little； to let him know that she didn't like being chastised； but she was finished playing the game。
Vhok nodded slightly in satisfaction。
His visage softened a bit； and he said； 〃Whatever I did； I'll make it up to you later。 Right now； though； you have to get back over there and find out what's going on。 See if you can get face to face with them and 'invite' them to pay us a visit。 But be careful。 I don't want this to explode in my face。 If a high priestess and a draegloth are part of this group； then the rest of them are dangerous； too。 Keep the Scourged close； to hem them in； but don't waste too many bodies on an all…out attack。 But also don't make it too obvious that you're holding them back。 Also； don't…〃
Aliisza rolled her eyes； feeling a little insulted。
I've done this a time or two before； you know；〃 she interrupted； her voice thick with sarcasm。 〃I think I know what to do。 But 。 。 。〃
She stepped closer to Kaanyr…Into him； really…rising up on her tiptoes and wrapping her arms around his waist and curling one smooth； bare leg around the back of his calf。 She drew herself close； let her body press against his； and continued。
〃When I'm done with this little task；〃 she said； her voice smoky with desire； 〃you're going to tend to my needs for a while。〃 She leaned up and nibbled on his ear； then whispered； 〃Your teasing Is working too well； love。〃
***
Triel didn't like brooding； but she caught herself doing it frequently of late。 This time； when she realized she was at it again； she was suddenly aware of the faces of the other seven matrons； looking at her expectantly。 She blinked and stared back at them for a moment； trying to recall the words of the conversation that had droned m the background of her thoughts。 She could remember voices but nothing more。
〃I asked；〃 Matron Miz'ri Mizzrym said； 〃what thoughts have you given to other courses of action； should your sister fail to return？〃
When Triel still did not respond； the hard…faced matron mother added； 〃There are thoughts floating around somewhere in there today； aren't there； Mother？〃
Triel blinked again； jolted fully back to the conversation at hand by the Mizzrym's biting words； focusing her attention where it ought to be instead of on the empty sensation she felt where the goddess's presence should have been。 Other courses of action 。 。 。
〃Of course；〃 she replied at last。 〃I've been giving that considerable thought； but before we delve too deeply into alternatives； I think we must exercise some patience。〃
Matron Mez'Barris Armgo snorted。 〃Have you been