sting¡¡his¡¡features¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok¡¡betrays¡¡you£»¡¡you¡¡still¡¡have¡¡Agrach¡¡Dyrr¡£¡¡If¡¡Agrach¡¡Dyrr¡¡betrays¡¡you£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the¡¡cambion¡£¡¡I¡¡presume¡¡that¡¡Dyrr¡¡and¡¡Vhok¡¡know¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡each¡¡other£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡best¡¡to¡¡reserve¡¡at¡¡least¡¡one¡¡surprise¡¡against¡¡each¡¡of¡¡my¡¡ostensible¡¡allies£»¡¡Revered¡¡Grandfather¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡wise¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡make¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡as¡¡many¡¡options¡¡as¡¡possible£»¡¡for¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡possible£»¡¡in¡¡developing¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡on¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Excellent¡£¡¡What¡¡assistance¡¡might¡¡we¡¡provide¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Anointed¡¡Blade¡¡considered¡¡the¡¡question¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡sorely¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡say¡¡none¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡claim¡¡all¡¡the¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡the¡¡victory¡¡to¡¡e£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡time¡¡was¡¡ing¡¡when¡¡his¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡move¡¡from¡¡place¡¡to¡¡place¡¡would¡¡be¡¡limited¡¡by¡¡the¡¡role¡¡he¡¡played¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡Menzoberranzan's¡¡army£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡needed¡¡help¡¡in¡¡handling¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok¡£¡¡Besides£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Sceptered¡¡One¡¡proved¡¡unfaithful£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡blame¡¡whomever¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡warlord¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡should¡¡gather¡¡our¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡be¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡when¡¡our¡¡allies¡¡play¡¡their¡¡part¡¡in¡¡reducing¡¡Menzoberranzan's¡¡defenses£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡do¡¡not¡¡have¡¡any¡¡great¡¡force¡¡at¡¡arms£»¡¡Anointed¡¡Blade£»¡¨¡¡Mauzzkyl¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡mit¡¡the¡¡Jaezred¡¡Chaulssin¡¡to¡¡a¡¡pitched¡¡battle¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡understand£»¡¡Revered¡¡Grandfather¡£¡¨¡¡If¡¡they¡¡gathered¡¡all¡¡their¡¡strength¡¡in¡¡one¡¡place£»¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡House¡¡would¡¡hardly¡¡amount¡¡to¡¡the¡¡numbers¡¡of¡¡a¡¡single¡¡minor¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Menzoberranzan¡though¡¡the¡¡Jaezred¡¡Chaulssin¡¡could¡¡have¡¡an¡¡impact¡¡out¡¡of¡¡all¡¡proportion¡¡to¡¡their¡¡numbers¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡need¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡brothers¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok's¡¡Scoured¡¡Legion¡¡and¡¡steer¡¡the¡¡warlord¡¡in¡¡the¡¡right¡¡direction¡£¡¡My¡¡responsibilities¡¡in¡¡Menzoberranzan's¡¡army¡¡and¡¡my¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡guide¡¡Horgar¡¡Steelshadow¡¡and¡¡the¡¡renegade¡¡Agrach¡¡Dyrr¡¡do¡¡not¡¡permit¡¡me¡¡sufficient¡¡time¡¡to¡¡look¡¡after¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡I¡¡would¡¡like¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Mauzzkyl¡¡nodded¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Very¡¡well¡£¡¡Zammzt£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡left¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡do¡¡at¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad¡£¡¡I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok¡¡and¡¡serve¡¡as¡¡our¡¡voice¡¡in¡¡his¡¡camp¡£¡¡Do¡¡whatever¡¡you¡¡must¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡his¡¡army¡¡aligned¡¡against¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡will¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡Nimor¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡plain¡faced¡¡assassin¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course£»¡¡Revered¡¡Grandfather¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡over¡¡at¡¡Nimor£»¡¡but¡¡did¡¡not¡¡allow¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡to¡¡show¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡warlord¡¡through¡¡his¡¡consort£»¡¡Aliisza£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡told¡¡Zammzt¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡is¡¡an¡¡alu¡fiend¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sorceress¡¡of¡¡no¡¡small¡¡skill¡£¡¡She¡¡knows¡¡that¡¡I¡¡represent¡¡a¡¡society¡¡or¡¡order¡¡of¡¡some¡¡kind£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡another¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Though¡¡I¡¡doubt¡¡she'll¡¡extend¡¡you¡¡the¡¡same¡¡wele¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡he¡¡told¡¡himself¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡do¡¡you¡¡expect¡¡the¡¡Menzoberranyr¡¡to¡¡first¡¡encounter¡¡Horgar's¡¡army£¿¡¨¡¡Mauzzkyl¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Four¡¡days£»¡¡I¡¡think¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡what¡¡you¡¡can¡¡to¡¡sow¡¡dissent¡¡and¡¡uncertainty£»¡¡Anointed¡¡Blade£»¡¨¡¡Mauzzkyl¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡time¡¡for¡¡subterfuge¡¡and¡¡stealth¡¡is¡¡ending¡£¡¡The¡¡Jaezred¡¡Chaulssin¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡and¡¡take¡¡the¡¡field¡£¡¡Destroy¡¡the¡¡matron¡¡mothers'¡¡army¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡your¡¡duergar¡¡allies¡¡to¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡as¡¡quickly¡¡as¡¡possible¡£¡¡We¡¡will¡¡meet¡¡you¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡will¡¡see¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Masked¡¡Lord¡¡favors¡¡us¡¡or¡¡not¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡bowed¡¡again£»¡¡then¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡strode¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡assembled¡¡patron¡¡fathers¡£¡¡Something¡¡would¡¡go¡¡amiss¡¡in¡¡his¡¡plan¡something¡¡had¡¡to¡£¡¡One¡¡could¡¡not¡¡create¡¡such¡¡an¡¡elaborate¡¡collision¡¡of¡¡so¡¡many¡¡disparate¡¡forces¡¡without¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ponents¡¡falling¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wayside¡£¡¡As¡¡best¡¡he¡¡could¡¡tell£»¡¡though£»¡¡the¡¡Jaezred¡¡Chaulssin¡¡were¡¡prepared¡£¡¡The¡¡longer¡¡he¡¡could¡¡keep¡¡secret¡¡the¡¡deadly¡¡maneuverings¡¡of¡¡his¡¡allies¡¡and¡¡his¡¡House£»¡¡the¡¡better¡¡his¡¡chances¡¡for¡¡success¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡I¡¡will¡¡encourage¡¡Andzrel¡¡to¡¡appoint¡¡me¡¡chief¡¡of¡¡the¡¡expedition's¡¡scouts£»¡¡Nimor¡¡thought¡£¡¡No¡¡need¡¡to¡¡trouble¡¡the¡¡Baenre¡¡with¡¡irrelevant¡¡reports¡¡of¡¡armies¡¡on¡¡the¡¡move£»¡¡after¡¡all¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡dark¡¡elves¡¡of¡¡House¡¡Jaelre¡¡proved¡¡to¡¡be¡¡suspicious¡¡and¡¡ungracious¡¡hosts¡£¡¡Ryld¡¡had¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡be¡¡shown¡¡into¡¡an¡¡audience¡¡room¡¡of¡¡some¡¡kind£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡would¡¡meet¡¡a¡¡clan¡¡matriarch¡¡and¡¡bribe£»¡¡threaten£»¡¡or¡¡persuade¡¡her¡¡into¡¡allowing¡¡them¡¡to¡¡consult¡¡with¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡Tzirik¡£¡¡However£»¡¡nothing¡¡like¡¡that¡¡occurred¡£¡¡Since¡¡they¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡surrender¡¡their¡¡weapons£»¡¡the¡¡Jaelre¡¡drow¡¡ushered¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡into¡¡a¡¡small£»¡¡disused¡¡guardroom¡¡that¡¡had¡¡once¡¡warded¡¡the¡¡ruined¡¡castle's¡¡main¡¡gate¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡will¡¡wait¡¡here¡¡until¡¡Tzirik¡¡chooses¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡female¡¡manding¡¡the¡¡watch¡¡told¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡room£»¡¡we¡¡will¡¡take¡¡that¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡hostile¡¡intent¡¡and¡¡fall¡¡on¡¡you¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡are¡¡a¡¡high¡¡embassy¡¡from¡¡a¡¡powerful¡¡city£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said¡¡in¡¡response¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡mistreat¡¡us¡¡at¡¡your¡¡peril¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡slaves¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spider¡¡Queen£»¡¡and¡¡most¡¡likely¡¡spies¡¡and¡¡saboteurs£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨Lolth¡¡holds¡¡no¡¡sway¡¡here£»¡¡spider¡kissing¡¡bitch¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡closed¡¡and¡¡locked¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡door¡¡before¡¡Quenthel¡¡could¡¡summon¡¡a¡¡suitable¡¡retort£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡fierce¡¡agitation¡¡of¡¡her¡¡snake¡headed¡¡whip¡¡certainly¡¡hinted¡¡at¡¡the¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡her¡¡anger¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡we¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡confined¡¡here£»¡¡like¡¡rabble¡¡locked¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡debtors'¡¡gaol£¿¡¨¡¡Jeggred¡¡snarled¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡half¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡yet£»¡¡Jeggred£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡countered¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡paced¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡angrily£»¡¡her¡¡mouth¡¡working¡¡in¡¡silent¡¡fury¡£¡¡Pure¡¡ire¡¡fueled¡¡Quenthel¡¡with¡¡relentless¡¡energy¡£¡¡Confinement¡¡in¡¡a¡¡small¡¡room¡¡with¡¡her¡¡pent¡up¡¡anger¡¡would¡¡be¡¡difficult¡¡for¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Danifae¡¡watched¡¡her£»¡¡then¡¡restrained¡¡Quenthel's¡¡agitated¡¡pacing¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gentle¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Baenre's¡¡arm¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡it£»¡¡slave£¿¡¨¡¡the¡¡priestess¡¡snapped¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Your¡¡zeal¡¡is¡¡admirable£»¡¡Mistress£»¡¨¡¡Danifae¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but£»¡¡please£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡be¡¡patient¡¡now¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡shielded¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡as¡¡best¡¡she¡¡could¡¡and¡¡added£»¡¡Remember£»¡¡we¡¡may¡¡be¡¡watched¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡has¡¡a¡¡point£»¡¡dear¡¡Quenthel£»¡¨¡¡Pharaun¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡start¡¡a¡¡fight¡¡against¡¡the¡¡very¡¡people¡¡we¡¡came¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡¡Your¡¡hard¡¡words¡¡and¡¡proud¡¡manner¡¡play¡¡better¡¡at¡¡Arach¡Tinilith¡¡than¡¡on¡¡another¡¡god's¡¡doorstep¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡turned¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡such¡¡icy¡¡hatred¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡that¡¡Danifae¡¡put¡¡up¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡steady¡¡her¡£¡¡Danifae¡¡herself¡¡shot¡¡Pharaun¡¡a¡¡venomous¡¡look£»¡¡contempt¡¡twisting¡¡her¡¡beautiful¡¡features¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Silence£»¡¡Pharaun£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡captive¡¡snapped¡£¡¡¡¨Your¡¡smug¡¡arrogance¡¡and¡¡endless¡¡baiting¡¡play¡¡better¡¡at¡¡Sorcere¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡the¡¡Mistress¡¡has¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡her¡¡convictions¡all¡¡you¡¡have¡¡is¡¡cynicism¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Danifae¡¡studied¡¡Quenthel's¡¡face¡¡and¡¡offered¡¡her¡¡a¡¡shy¡¡smile¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Save¡¡your¡¡anger¡¡for¡¡later£»¡¡Mistress£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡captive¡¡said¡¡softly¡£¡¡¡¨Surely¡¡the¡¡goddess¡¡will¡¡be¡¡more¡¡pleased¡¡if¡¡you¡¡exact¡¡an¡¡accounting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡faithless¡¡after¡¡you've¡¡wrung¡¡the¡¡usefulness¡¡from¡¡them¡¡than¡¡if¡¡you¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡tools¡¡required¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡her¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡allowed¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡relax¡£¡¡She¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡seat¡¡at¡¡a¡¡barren¡¡wood¡¡table¡¡on¡¡which¡¡a¡¡flagon¡¡of¡¡water¡¡stood¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Fine£»¡¡then£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡breathed¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡will¡¡see¡¡what¡¡happens¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡That£»¡¡Ryld¡¡guessed£»¡¡was¡¡about¡¡as¡¡close¡¡as¡¡Quenthel¡¡would¡¡ever¡¡e¡¡to¡¡admitting¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wrong¡¡about¡¡something¡£¡¡With¡¡little¡¡else¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡settled¡¡down¡¡to¡¡endure¡¡whatever¡¡wait¡¡the¡¡Jaelre¡¡chose¡¡to¡¡test¡¡them¡¡with¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Long¡¡hours¡¡passed¡£¡¡The¡¡night¡¡faded¡¡into¡¡an¡¡overcast¡¡morning£»¡¡which¡¡then¡¡gave¡¡way¡¡to¡¡a¡¡gray£»¡¡rain¡soaked¡¡afternoon¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Studying¡¡what¡¡portions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡castle¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡from¡¡the¡¡slitlike¡¡windows£»¡¡Ryld¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡conclusion¡¡that¡¡Minauthkeep¡¡was¡¡not¡¡half¡¡so¡¡ruined¡¡as¡¡it¡¡first¡¡appeared¡£¡¡The¡¡Jaelre¡¡had¡¡cleverly¡¡repaired¡¡much¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡structure¡¡while¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡outward¡¡appearance¡¡mostly¡¡unchanged¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Eventually£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡wait¡¡grew¡¡interminable£»¡¡the¡¡weapons¡¡master¡¡settled¡¡back¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡and¡¡allowed¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡drift¡¡off¡¡into¡¡a¡¡light¡¡trance£»¡¡Splitter¡¡bared¡¡across¡¡his¡¡lap¡¡in¡¡case¡¡he¡¡needed¡¡it¡¡quickly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡roused¡¡from¡¡Reverie¡¡near¡¡nightfall£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡abruptly¡¡boomed¡¡with¡¡three¡¡forceful¡¡knocks¡£¡¡The¡¡lock¡¡turned£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡watch¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡night¡¡entered£»¡¡with¡¡several¡¡more¡¡Jaelre¡¡guards¡¡behind¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡summoned¡¡before¡¡High¡¡Priest¡¡Tzirik£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡to¡¡disarm¡¡yourselves¡¡here¡£¡¡The¡¡wizard¡¡must¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡have¡¡his¡¡thumbs¡¡bound¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡draegloth¡¡will¡¡be¡¡manacled¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not£»¡¨¡¡Jeggred¡¡snapped¡£¡¡¡¨We're¡¡not¡¡your¡¡prisoners£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡dragged¡¡before¡¡your¡¡master¡¡in¡¡chains¡£¡¡Why¡¡should¡¡we¡¡do¡¡for¡¡you¡¡what¡¡you¡¡lack¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡to¡¡make¡¡u