"01 - Daughter of the Drow - Elaine Cunningham 1.0.palmdoc.pdb" - читать интересную книгу автора (Starlight And Shadows)

abreast. Countless eons past, trickling water had carved a series of furrows
into the rocky walls, leaving long, narrow stone ridges rising up on both sides
of the tunnel. The passage resembled the rib cage of some giant beast, and
Liriel's companions found it more than a little unnerving. They kept firm grip
on their weapons and silently cursed the impulse that had led them out of the
relative safety of Menzoberranzan. The Underdark was unpredictable and full of
danger. Few ventured out into it without considerable strength of arms and
magic. Yet when Liriel Baenre issued an invitation, how could they refuse?
Liriel was by far the most popular female in their set, a group of wealthy young
drow both noble and common who pursued pleasure and intrigue with typical drow
passion. She was younger than most of them—still short of her fortieth birthday,
which placed her in the midst of the long, tumultuous period of drow
adolescence—and she possessed the fresh beauty similar to that of a human girl
not yet seventeen. She also enjoyed the wealth and station of a House Baenre
noble. But many of the city's young drow possessed wealth, status, and beauty.
Liriel was exceptional for her ready laugh and a zest for life that was rare in
grim Menzoberranzan. Admittedly eccentric in her tastes, she preferred the
pursuit of adventure and magical knowledge to social intrigue. Still, few could
deny her quirky charm. Many young drow vied for the chance to share her
adventures. Those who survived could count on enhanced social standing, as well
as a few good stories to share at that evening's round of parties.
Even with this pleasing prospect before them, Liriel's companions grew more
uneasy with every step. The utter darkness of the passage did not inconvenience
them in the slightest, but the silence deeply unnerved them. In Menzoberranzan,
the noise of the city melted into a constant, spell-muffled murmur spiced by an
occasional scream. In these tunnels their quiet footsteps thudded in their ears
with a hollow, echoing sound, like stones falling into a deep well. Liriel, of
course, walked like a shadow, thanks to her enchanted elven boots and two dozen
years' experience with such exploration. Her gait was light and eager, her eyes
fixed on the adventure ahead.
Yet Liriel was not unaware of her companions' discomfort. She knew Bythnara
Shobalar well; the two of them had trained together from a young age. Gromph had
apparently tired of his precocious daughter soon after adopting her, and sent
her to House Shobalar to be fostered and trained by that clan's female wizards.
A childhood rivalry had sprung up between Liriel and Bythnara that had followed
them throughout the years. Liriel took this in stride, and in fact found it
rather enjoyable. It sharpened both their efforts and added a necessary spice to
their friendship. Despite their mutual interest in magic, the two had little in
common. Bythnara did not share Liriel's delight in adventure or her sense of
fun. The female wizard could be remote at times—and downright dull the rest of
the time—but Liriel was well accustomed to the limits of friendship.
"Are we almost there?" Bythnara complained behind her.
"Soon."
"But we've been walking for hours, and by now Lloth only knows where we could
be! We could die out here, and no one would know the difference!"
Liriel glanced back over her shoulder and winked at her friend. She did not,
however, slow her pace in the slightest. "Correction, Bythnara: you could die
out here and not know the difference."
The wizard's eyes narrowed. "Is that a threat?"
"Of course not," Liriel said mildly, turning back to the path ahead. "It's an