etly back to the chamber where the others waited for Pharaun to ready his spells； using all the stealth she could muster。 She could hear soft voices ahead； Quenthel and Danifae conversing quietly in the ruined gallery。
A dark shadow flitted across Halisstra's heart。 When she thought about it； there were few things she wished Danifae and Quenthel to speak about。
I should not have left them alone； she chided herself。 I let Quenthel order me about like a male！
Deliberately； she crept closer； a silent shadow in the darkness。 She could see Pharaun sitting wrapped in a blanket； deep in Reverie as he leaned against the wall； his eyes heavy and half…lidded。 Quenthel and Danifae sat close together； turned a little away from the wizard； which brought them close to the passage in which Halisstra stood。
〃What do you think you will do when we return to Menzoberranzan； girl？ Do you think some high station awaits your mistress there？〃 Quenthel said； her whispers scornful and acidic。
〃I do not know； Mistress；〃 Danifae said after a long time。 〃I have not thought that far ahead。〃
〃Orcswill。 You have been thinking hard from the moment I laid eyes on you in the audience hall of House Melarn。 In fact； I'll even hazard a guess as to what must occupy your thoughts。 You are wondering how you can bring about your return to House Yauntyrr in Eryndlyn； with Halisstra Melarn as your battle captive。〃
〃I dare not entertain such a thought…〃
Quenthel laughed cruelly and said； 〃Save your innocent protests for someone more gullible； girl。 You still have not answered my question。 Why should I take you and your mistress back to Menzoberranzan？〃
〃It would be my hope；〃 Danifae said in a faltering voice； 〃that I might have an opportunity to demonstrate my usefulness to you； so that you might choose to give me the opportunity to serve。〃
〃I see you do not presume to answer for your mistress this time；〃 Quenthel snorted。 〃So I should reward your faithless insolence by shielding you in House Baenre； when I know that you are nothing more than an opportunistic viper who will abandon her mistress as soon as the mood strikes her？〃
〃You misjudge me；〃 Danifae said。 〃The tradition of adopting the best and most useful nobles of a defeated house is a way of life among our people。 My mistress and I…〃
The vipers of Quenthel's whip hissed and cracked close by Danifae's face； silencing her。
〃I think；〃 said Quenthel； 〃that I misjudge nothing at all。 You are a simpering fawn of a girl who lacked the strength to keep herself from being taken as another's slave。 You are nothing more than a useless ornament to me…or you are a very patient and very clever little sycophant； in which case bringing you into my home is not very useful； either。〃 She sat back； sneering at Danifae。 〃Perhaps I should simply advise Halisstra of this conversation。 I doubt your mistress would be pleased to know how much you presume in her behalf。 It is most unbeing in a handmaiden； after all。〃
〃It is your prerogative； Mistress；〃 Danifae said； bowing her head。 〃You may do as you please with me。 I can only place myself at your convenience。〃 She looked up again from her submissive pose； and licked her lips。 〃In captivity I have e to understand something of the nature of power； what it means to hold absolute power over someone else。 If I am not to wield that kind of power myself； then all that remains is to place myself into the care of a female who understands these things； too。 Halisstra Melarn is my mistress； but only at your pleasure。 When the time es that you choose to consider the matter； I pray you will allow me to demonstrate my more useful qualities and earn the chance to live as your slave。 You； more so than my mistress； understand the exercise of power。〃
〃Cease your meaningless flattery； girl；〃 Quenthel said。 She stood smoothly and stepped close； looming menacingly above the kneeling girl with a smile on her lips。 〃I told you once that I can see past your pretty face。 Besides； an appreciation for the uses of silence is only one of the virtues I find endearing in those I take under my gentle guidance。〃
〃I beg you； Mistress；〃 Danifae murmured。 She leaned forward to nuzzle her face against Quenthel's thighs； eyes closed； entwining her arms around the Baenre's knees。 〃I would do anything to earn your favor。 I beg you。〃
Quenthel's snake…headed scourge curled and teased Danifae's silver hair。 The Mistress of the Academy stood in silence； the same cold smile on her face。 When she reached down and gently raised Danifae's chin with one hand； she bent down to look closely into her eyes。
〃Understand this；〃 Quenthel said in a low voice。 〃I know exactly what you're doing； and you will not win this game。 The women of House Baenre are made of sterner stuff than the weaklings of House Melarn。 Savor every heartbeat； foolish girl； because in the instant you no longer amuse me； your life ends。〃
Quenthel disentangled herself and walked away； resuming her restless pacing across the dusty chamber。 Danifae rose and moved to the same spot in which Halisstra had left her； kneeling gracefully and posing herself to wait。
Halisstra exhaled quietly in the shadowed passageway； forcing her knotted limbs to relax。 She had not realized how tense she had bee。
Now； what shall I make of that？ she thought。
More than once in the girl's long years as her servant she had used Danifae's beauty to secure favors。 If she called Danifae to account for presuming to address Quenthel in Halisstra's absence； she was certain that she knew how the girl would respond。 Danifae would claim that she was simply exploring Quenthel's regard for Halisstra by feigning the attenuation of her loyalty to House Melarn； a plausible excuse to approach Quenthel under the circumstances。 Under such a scenario； Danifae could claim that she was simply telling Quenthel what she wanted to hear； in order to measure whether there was a place for her and her mistress in the powerful priestess's House。 She would most likely finish with submissive apologies； and ask Halisstra to take her life if her actions had somehow displeased her noble mistress。
On the other hand； did it not seem equally likely that Danifae's approach to Quenthel was unfeigned？ If the maidservant found a way to escape the magical binding that held her captive； she would need Quenthel's approval； or else her freedom might e at the cost of her life。 It was quite possible that nothing more than the deadly capriciousness of a highborn priestess prevented Danifae from seeking release from her bondage。 After all； if Danifae claimed her freedom and looked to Quenthel to guarantee it； the Baenre might choose to destroy the girl for her presumption。 Any drow would delight in encouraging the dreams of a slave； only to dash them to pieces for nothing more than an instant's dark pleasure。
Only a day before； Halisstra would have described Danifae as one of her most prized possessions。 She was not only held to an unbreakable loyalty； but she served also as a confidante； perhaps even something of a friend…even if her faithfulness was magically pelled。 They had shared many diversions and plotted many intrigues together。 Danifae had been eager to follow her into her self…imposed exile； volunteering to share her trials and continue her servitude。 Of course she would have paid a terrible price had she remained in House Melarn after Halisstra's flight； but had she been too eager； perhaps？
〃Here I stand； afraid to confront or discipline my own handmaid；〃 Halisstra breathed。 〃Lolth has cast me low； indeed。〃
With her coldness locked away in her heart； Halisstra carefully retraced her steps。 She wasn't hungry anymore； but it was necessary to allay suspicions。 She turned around； and advanced more openly toward the party's hiding place； allowing a slight scuff of her boot soles against the sand…covered stones to whisper through the dead； still air of the chamber。 She would let Quenthel and Danifae believe she had heard nothing； but she would watch both of them closely from that point forward。
Nimor Imphraezl made his way among the grand palaces and jagge