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ry　into　your　concerns；　for　the　sake　of　all　the　temple。　Under　the　circumstances；　what　could　be　more　magnanimous　than　that？〃
〃All　right；〃　Molvayas　said。　〃We'll　remain　for　a　time；　but　if　nothing　happens；　my　rades　and　I　go　free。　You　can't　chastise　us　if　the　results　of　the　test　are　inconclusive。　That　wouldn't　be　an　honest　inquiry。〃
〃Agreed；〃　the　mistress　said。
Drisinil　was　bewildered　and　appalled。　This　strange；　passive　procedure　sounded　as　if　it　could　take　hours。　She　needed　the　antidote　before　her　thundering　heart　tore　itself　apart；　but　she　could　do　nothing　to　speed　things　along。
Though　plainly　just　as　puzzled　as　she；　the　pany　obediently　fell　quiet。　Meditation　was　a　familiar　practice　to　all　of　them；　though　frustrating　and　futile　since　Lolth　had　receded　beyond　their　ken。
For　what　seemed　a　long　while；　nothing　happened；　except　that　a　muscle　under　Drisinil's　eye　twitched　uncontrollably；　and　some　of　those　whom　she'd　betrayed　surreptitiously　glared　at　her；　wordlessly　vowing　revenge。　A　tiny　something　scurried　across　the　floor。　Or　perhaps　it　did。　By　the　time　she　tried　to　focus　on　it；　it　was　gone。
More　minutes　crawled　by。　Cloth　whispered　as　someone　shifted　position。　Later；　somebody　else　smothered　a　little　sneeze。　Drisinil　realized　she　could　just　barely　smell　the　ghost　of　the　funereal　incense　Lirdnolu　had　burned　when　teaching　necromancy。
Another　mite　scuttled　along。　Drisinil　saw　that　this　one　was　a　spider。　Nothing　unusual　in　that。　ArachTinilith　was　full　of　the　sacred　creatures。　Still；　something　about　this　particular　specimen　tugged　at　her　despite　her　sickness　and　terror。　She　stared　until　she　discerned　that　it　had　a　blue　shell　with　red　markings。
That　was　a　little　odd。　This　particular　species　generally　spent　its　time　lurking　in　webs；　not　roaming　about。　Still；　she　didn't　see　why　the　anomaly　should　trigger　a　twinge　of　alarm。　It　must　be　the　poison　clawing　at　her　nerves。
Time　dragged　on。　A　priestess　on　the　lowest　tier　sang　a　hymn　under　her　breath。　She　was　flat。　Another　novice　with　mutilated　hands　surreptitiously　checked　the　knife　strapped　under　her　sleeve；　making　sure　the　weapon　was　loose　in　the　sheath。　And；　Drisinil　noticed；　more　black　dots　were　creeping　on　the　walls　and　floor。　More　than　were　normal　for　a　disused　part　of　the　temple？　She　thought　so；　and　she　glanced　over　at　Quenthel；　seeking　some　sign　to　confirm　her　formless　suspicions。　The　Baenre　stood　motionless　with　head　bowed；　the　very　picture　of　a　mystic　absorbed　in　her　devotions。
A　novice　with　a　gold　earring　cried　out　in　pain。　She　dragged　on　her　shirt；　baring　her　right　shoulder；　and　found　the　spider　that　was　biting　her。　Her　frantic　efforts　to　remove　the　arachnid　without　hurting　it　should　have　been　ical　but　Drisinil　couldn't　laugh。　Frazzled；　addled　by　the　poison；　she　could　only　stare　at　the　dark　flecks　swarming　thickly　on　every　side。　Some　of　the　other　conspirators　had　started　to　notice　as　well。　They　whispered　to　one　another；　and　their　eyes　grew　wide。
Something　brushed　Drismil's　arm。　She　cried　out　and　spun　around。　It　was　one　of　the　Quenthel's　vipers　that　had　touched　her。
〃Stay　close；〃　the　mistress　said。
Once　again；　the　spiders　increased　in　number。　Somehow　hordes　of　them　were　scuttling　over　the　bodies　of　the　conspirators；　biting；　crawling　under　their　clothing；　freckling　their　skins　like　the　sores　of　some　hideous　plague。　Shrieking；　no　longer　caring　that　the　creatures　were　sacrosanct；　their　victims　struggled　to　crush　them　and　brush　them　off；　but　they　couldn't　get　them　all。　A　few　of　the　traitors　retained　the　presence　of　mind　to　activate　protective　talismans；　only　to　discover　that　the　magic　didn't　help；　either。
The　one　place　free　of　spiders　was　the　upper　tiers。　Once　they　realized　the　creatures　weren't　going　climb　up　and　attack　them；　the　loyalists　mocked　and　jeered　at　the　plight　of　the　traitors。　Whenever　one　of　the　plotters　tried　to　grope　her　way　into　their　safe　space；　a　loyalist　would　knock　her　back　with　a　casual　swat　from　a　mace　or　whip。　Some　even　shot　down　with　hand　crossbows　any　conspirator　who　attempted　to　stagger　for　the　door。
Drisinil　did　remain　at　Quenthel's　side；　and　the　spiders　crawled　over　her　feet　but　otherwise　took　no　notice　of　her。　They　didn't　avoid　the　Baenre；　however。　They　climbed　all　over　her　body　without　biting；　and；　laughing；　she　stooped；　picked　up　more；　and　poured　them　over　her　head　until　the　creatures　virtually　encrusted　her。　Her　bright　red　eyes　shone　from　a　pebbled；　squirming　mask。
Finally　the　shrieking　stopped；　uncovering　the　sound　of　Vlondril　ecstatically　chanting　one　of　the　litanies　as　the　spiders　destroyed　her。　After　another　moment；　that　noise　ceased　as　well。　Drisinil　noticed　her　aunt's　corpse　slumped　among　the　carnage；　though　she　only　recognized　it　by　the　jade　gown。　Molvayas's　face　was　swollen　and　bloodied　beyond　recognition。
Quenthel　gazed　up　at　the　living　and　called；　〃We　asked　Lolth　for　a　sign；　and　she　gave　us　one。　My　foes　are　dead　and　I　remain；　robed　in　the　goddess's　sacred　spiders。　I　am　the　Mistress　of　ArachTinilith；　and　my　minions　will　question　my　leadership　no　more　or　else　die　in　agony　for　their　effrontery。〃
The　surviving　priestesses　and　novices　hastily　paid　her　obeisance。
〃Good；〃　the　Baenre　said。　〃You　are　wise；　and　so　I　make　you　a　vow。　We　will　put　an　end　to　these　nightly　attacks。　We　will　regain　our　magic。　We　will　hear　Lolth's　voice　again。　We　will　make　our　order　and　our　temple　greater　than　ever　before。　Now；　clear　away　this　mess。〃
The　spiders　began　to　disappear；　from　the　room　and　Quenthel's　person　as　well。　Drisinil　couldn't　quite　tell　if　they　were　simply　scuttling　away　or　teleporting　out。
〃I　did　it；〃　the　student　said。　〃I　brought　the　traitors　together　for　you。　Now；　please　give　me　the　antidote。〃
Quenthel　smiled　and　said；　〃There　is　none。〃
〃What？〃
〃I　didn't　poison　you。　The　liquid　was　simply　a　stimulant　to　bat　drowsiness。　I　gave　you　enough　to　make　the　effect　alarming；　but　it'll　wear　off。〃
〃You're　lying〃
〃I　would　have　administered　a　slow　poison　had　I　been　carrying　one；　but　as　I　was　not；　I　had　to　improvise。〃
Drisinil　felt　a　surge　of　bitter　humiliation　and　a　need　to　demonstrate　she　wasn't　entirely　a　fool。
〃Well；〃　she　blurted；　〃then；　you've　tricked　everyone　all　the　way　around。　I　know　Lolth　didn't　control　those　spiders。　You　did。　You　read　a　scroll　or　used　some　sort　of　charm　before　you　entered　the　room。〃
〃If　so；　does　it　matter？〃　A　yellow　arachnid　crawled　out　of　Quenthel's　snowy　hair　and　onto　her　shoulder。　She　paid　it　no　mind。　〃Lolth　teaches　that　the　cunning　and　strong　must　master　the　foolish　and　weak。　However　you　look　at　it；　this　oute　is　in　accordance　with　her　will。　Now；　let's　talk　about　your　future。〃
Drisinil　swallowed。　〃You　promised　to　spare　me。〃
〃I　did；　didn't　I？〃　a　smiling　Quenthel　replied。　〃Unlike　some；　we　Baenre　generally　keep　our　word。　A　reputation　for　fair　dealing　facilitates　certain　transactions。　However；　I　never　promised　not　to　punish　you。〃
〃I　understand。　Of　course　I'll　take　a　flogging　or　whatever　you　think　appropriate。〃
〃That's　quite　agreeable　of　you。　How　about　this；　then？　We'll　nip　off　the　other　eight　fingers　and　cut　out　your　tongue　as　well。〃
For　a　moment；　Drisinil　thought　she　hadn't　heard　correctly。
〃Now　you're　joking。〃
〃Oh；　no。　I　firmly　believe　you　engineered　the　plot　against　me；　and　I　intend　to　make　sure　you　don't　get　up　to　any　more　mischief。　Ever。　If　you　can't　municate；　work　magic；　or　grip　a　weapon；　that　should　take　care　of　it。　Obviously；　it　won't　be　possible　for　you　to　continue　at　ArachTinilith；　and　I　wouldn't　count　on　the　warmest　of　weles　when　you　return　home。　I　doubt　Mez'Barris　Armgo　will　have　much　interest　in　a　grotesquely　crippled　and　thoroughly　useless　daughter。　She　may　even　consider　you　an　embarrassment　to　be　killed　or　locked　away。〃
Enraged；　panicked；　Drisinil　lunged；　but　never　landed　a　blow。　Powerful　hands　grabbed　her　from　behind；　hauled　her　back；　and　something　hard　and　heavy　bashed　her　over　the　head。　Her　legs　folded　beneath　her。　She　would　have　fallen　if　not　for　her　captors　holding　her　up。
Quave's　voice　sounded　over　Drisinil's　shoulder。　〃We've　got　her；　Mistress。〃
〃Thank　you；〃　Quenthel　said。　〃Take　her　to　the　penance　chamber　and　secure　her。〃
〃Yes；　Mistress；〃　said　Quave。　〃1　assume　you'll　do　the　cutting　yourself。〃
〃I'd　like　to；〃　said　the　Baenre；　〃but　there's　another　matter　demanding　my　attention。　You　can　do　it。　Enjoy　yourself。　J