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ws。〃
〃No　doubt；　but　back　up。　You　want　to　murder　a　patrol？〃
〃In　as　showy　a　manner　as　possible。　With　a　bit　of　planning；　it　should　be　easy　enough。　They　won't　be　as　numerous　as　Greyanna's　hunters　and　they　won't　be　expecting　that　sort　of　trouble。〃
〃What　happened　to　not　killing　anybody；　especially　clerics；　unless　we　absolutely　have　to？〃
〃We　do　absolutely　have　to。　We're　in　a　race　against　time；　remember；　and　this　is　the　speediest　route　to　our　objective。〃
〃Maybe；　but　what　happens　afterward？　Won't　any　number　of　folk　want　to　punish　us　for　our　impudence？〃
〃We　won't　confide　our　involvement　to　those　likely　to　prove　unsympathetic。〃
〃The　priestesses　will　figure　it　out。〃
〃Ah；　but　snug　and　safe　in　the　lair　of　our　friend　the　Prophet；　we　won't　care。　Besides；　the　Council　has　already　authorized　our　annihilation；　so　we　really　have　nothing　to　lose。〃
〃Perhaps　the　crime　can't　worsen　our　current　situation；　but　what　about　the　long　term？〃
〃In　the　long　term；〃　Pharaun　said；　〃it　wont　matter。　As　you　yourself　observed　mere　moments　ago；　we　Menzoberranyr　are　a　pragmatic　lot。　People　five　whatever　outrages　I　mitted　yesterday　if　I　make　myself　useful　today。〃
〃Greyanna　didn't。〃
The　wizard　laughed　and　replied；　〃Well；　of　course；　we're　likewise　prone　to　grudges；　vendettas；　and　blood　feuds。　It's　one　of　the　paradoxes　central　to　our　natures。　With　luck；　though；　no　one　of　importance　will　take　our　little　massacre　personally。　I　doubt　we'll　be　murdering　any　princesses；　or　anyone　of　genuine　significance　to　her　family。
〃I　think　it's　crazy；〃　Ryld　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃You　don't　know　that　the　rogues　will　contact　us；　or　if　they'll　like　what　they　see　if　they　do。〃
〃Then　we'll　simply　hatch　another　scheme。〃
Ryld　scowled　and　shook　his　head　again。
〃You're　mad；〃　the　weapons　master　said；　〃but　I'm　with　you。〃
〃Splendid　We　must　toast　our　homicidal　designs　with　something　stronger　than　juice。〃　Pharaun　looked　about　and　spotted　the　goblin。　〃May　we　see　the　wine　list；　please？〃
Ryld　said；　〃It's　the　very　beginning　of　the　morning。〃
〃Don't　be　misled　by　superficial　appearances；〃　Pharaun　replied。　〃As　neither　of　us　has　enjoyed　a　moment　of　repose；　it　must　still　be　night。　Do　you　think　they　have　any　of　that　'53　Barrison　Del'Armgo　heartwine？〃
　
Chapter
F　　0　　U　　R　　T　　E　　E　　N
Until　someone　murdered　her；　Lirdnolu’s　had　taught　her　classes　in　a　sort　of　indoor　amphitheater；　one　of　many　architectural　oddities　scattered　through　ArachTinilith；　and　as　the　conspirators　slunk　in；　they　seated　themselves　on　the　Cshaped　tiers。
Drisinil　wondered　what　to　say　to　them；　how　to　stall　until　Quenthel　arrived　to　confront　them。　The　novice's　mind　was　a　blank；　but　she　knew　she'd　have　to　think　of　something。　Her　mouth　was　dry　and　tasted　of　metal。　Her　armpits　were　clammy　with　sweat；　and　her　accelerated　pulse　pounded　in　the　stumps　of　her　severed　fingers。　The　poison　was　obviously　well　on　its　way　to　killing　her；　and　she　had　to　please　Quenthel　Baenre　sufficiently　to　earn　the　antidote。
Wrinkled　old　Vlondril　Tuin'Tarl　leered　at　Drisinil　as　if　she　knew　of　the　student's　distress；　but　all　she　said　was；　〃I　believe　most　everyone's　here。　Let's　get　this　done　before　our　colleagues　start　missing　us。〃
〃Uh；　yes；〃　Drisinil　said；　gazing　up　at　the　rows　of　faces　staring　back　down　at　her。　〃Well；　mothers；　sisters；　we　all　know　what　happened　last　night。　The　vipers　in　the　mistress's　whip　detected　the　drugs—〃
〃So　they　did；〃　said　Quenthel。
Startled；　Drisinil　spun　around。　A　figure　shrouded　in　a　cowled　piwafwi　rose　from　the　first　row。　She　lifted　her　head；　pushed　the　hood　back；　and　stood　revealed　as　the　Mistress　of　ArachTinilith。　Somehow　she'd　entered　the　room　without　her　enemies　realizing　her　identity。
Quenthel　pushed　back　one　wing　of　her　cloak；　freeing　the　arm　that　held　her　whip。　She　sauntered　to　the　center　of　the　room。　It　occurred　to　Drisinil　that　at　that　moment　the　plotters　could　have　fallen　on　their　target　en　masse；　but　they　didn't。　The　mistress　cowed　them　with　her　unexpected　appearance；　her　contemptuous　demeanor；　and　the　simple　fact　that　she　was　a　Baenre　princess。
The　mistress　smiled　at　Drisinil　and　said；　〃You've　done　well；　novice；　except　for　one　detail。　It's　traditional　for　priestesses　to　conduct　their　affairs　by　candlelight。　That's　all　right；　I've　taken　care　of　it。〃　She　turned　toward　the　door。　〃e。〃
Two　teachers　marched　in　carrying　silver　candelabra。　After　a　moment；　Drisinil；　squinting；　saw　they　weren't　alone。　Many　of　the　residents　of　ArachTinilith　filed　in　after　them；　all　well　armed　and　wearing　mail。
Quenthel　beckoned　to　the　plotters。
〃Move　down　to　the　lower　seats；　why　don't　you？　The　lateers　won't　mind　climbing　to　the　top。〃　She　waited　a　beat；　then　said；　〃That　wasn't　a　suggestion。〃
The　conspirators　hesitated　a　moment　longer；　and　the　show　offered　convinced　them　to　obey。
〃Thank　you；〃　Quenthel　said；　then　waited　until　everyone　had　taken　a　seat　and　the　plotters　all　had　armed　loyalists　at　their　backs。　〃Now；　let's　discuss　the　matter　that　concerns　you　so。〃
〃I　don't　know　what　my　niece　told　you　about　this　gathering；〃　said　Drisinil's　Aunt　Molvayas；　clad　in　a　gown　of　a　dark　and　shimmering　green　that　matched　her　eyes；　〃but　I　assure　you；　its　purpose　is　entirely　innocent。〃
〃Its　purpose　is　to　contrive　your　death；　Mistress；〃　Vlondril　called　out。　〃I　know。　I've　been　in　on　it　from　the　start。〃
Quenthel　nodded　to　the　mad　priestess。
〃Thank　you；　Holy　Mother。　Your　candor　helps　move　things　along。〃　The　Baenre　surveyed　her　enemies　and　said；　〃I　understand　that　your　excuse　for　seeking　to　depose　me　was　the　supposition　that　the　goddess　desires　it。　You　postulate　that　she　so　abhors　my　rule　of　ArachTinilith　that　she　renounces　all　Menzoberranzan。〃
Molvayas　drew　a　deep　breath；　evidently　screwing　up　her　courage。　〃We　do。　Do　you　deny　it's　possible？〃
〃Of　course；〃　Quenthel　replied。　〃It's　a　ludicrous　notion　unsupported　by　a　single　shred　of　evidence　。。　。　though　I'm　sure　it　seems　plausible　to　the　lieutenant　who　covets　my　position。〃
Drisinil　noticed　that　while　the　Baenre　appeared　perfectly　at　ease；　the　twisting　whip　serpents　were　keeping　watch　in　all　directions。
〃What　of　the　demons？　They　reflect　the　attributes　of　Lolth—〃
〃And　they　e　for　me。　Because　one　of　my　mortal　enemies　sends　them　in　guises　intended　to　stimulate　your　imaginations。〃
〃What　enemy？〃　Molvayas　demanded。
〃That　has　yet　to　be　determined。〃
〃In　other　words；〃　said　Quenthel's　secondinmand；　〃you　don't　know　what's　going　on　any　more　than　we　do。〃
〃At　least　I　know　what　isn't　happening。〃
〃Do　you？　What　makes　your　one　opinion　superior　to　all　of　ours？〃
〃The　answer　to　that　is　readily　apparent　to　those　with　some　smattering　of　intelligence。〃
〃Insults　won't　resolve　this　matter；　Mistress；　but　I　can　think　of　a　test　that　might。　Step　down　for　a　year；　and　we'll　see　what　happens。〃
Quenthel　laughed。
〃Meekly　surrender　the　Academy　to　you；　Barrison　Del'Armgo？　Not　likely。　As　it　happens；　I　too　have　conceived　a　test　to　determine　who　truly　enjoys　Lolth's　favor；　your　sad　little　cabal　or　me。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Molvayas　asked；　wariness　in　her　eyes。
〃My　test　is　simplicity　itself。　We　simply　ask　Lolth　whom　she　prefers；　and　await　her　answer。〃
〃That's　insane。　The　Spider　Queen　no　longer　speaks　to　us。〃
〃Perhaps　if　we　petition；　she　will　at　least　condescend　to　give　us　a　sign。　Are　you　willing　to　try？〃
〃Perhaps；〃　Molvayas　said；　no　doubt　aware　that　with　blades　at　her　back；　she　actually　had　little　choice。　〃Do　you　propose　to　perform　some　sort　of　ritual？〃
〃As　we've　lost　our　magic；　what　would　that　acplish？　My　idea　is　simpler。　We　all　bide　in　this　room；　engaged　in　silent　prayer　and　meditation；　until　the　Dark　Mother　reveals　her　will。〃
Vlondril　snorted。　〃What　if　she　chooses　to　ignore　us？〃
Quenthel　shrugged。　〃I　don't　believe　she's　truly　abandoned　her　chosen　people　or　her　chosen　ministers。　My　faith　is　too　strong　to　credit　such　a　calamity。　How　strong　is　yours；　Barrison　Del'Armgo？〃
〃Strong　enough　that　I　have　no　fear　of　the　goddess　preferring　you　to　me；〃　Molvayas　spat　back。　〃I　just　don't　see　the　point　of　your　scheme。　Lolth　will　speak　when　she　wishes；　not　when　we　desire　it。〃
〃It's　not　a　waste　of　time　if　it's　keeping　you　alive。　I　could　have　had　my　loyal　followers　kill　you　the　moment　they　entered　the　chamber。　Instead；　I'm　proposing　an　honest　inquiry　into　your　concerns；　for　the　sake　of　all　the　temple。　Under　the　circumstances；　what　could　be　more　m