Dark Maiden hold over her worshipers that they could die with a blessing for their enemies on their lips？
Seyll turned away from the Spider Queen； she told herself； and through me the Spider Queen exacted her vengeance。 Yet Seyll died with calm assurance； as if she had escaped Lolth finally and pletely with the ending of her life。
〃The Spider Queen take your soul；〃 she said to the dead priestess； but somehow she doubted that Lolth would。
〃A swift march is our surest path to victory；〃 Andzrel Baenre said； addressing the assembled priestesses。
Nimor stood to one side and watched the Baenre weapons master； one of only a handful of males invited to take counsel with the assembled females。 All of the great Houses； and no less than sixteen of the minor ones； were represented in the hastily mustered Army of the Black Spider； named for the banners under which they marched。 Nearly thirty high priestesses…at least one from almost every House； and in some cases； several high priestesses from the same House…filled the great mand pavilion provided by the Baenre contingent； watching Andzrel like predatory cats while reclining； sitting； or standing as rank and opportunity dictated。 Nimor and the other few males stood； of course。 No mere male would be seated while a high priestess remained standing。
〃We lead some four thousand drow soldiers and twenty…five hundred slave soldiers into battle。 By all reports it would seem that we are evenly matched with the duergar army that marches up from the south； but we do not intend to meet the duergar in a fair fight； of course。〃 The word 〃fair〃 sent a wave of chuckles echoing through the tent。 Andzrel used a slender baton to direct their attention to a large map inked on rothe…vellum。 〃We can stop a force significantly stronger than our own by picking the right ground to fight for。 The place we will halt the duergar advance is here； at the Pillars of Woe。〃
〃If I decide that your plan has merit； you mean；〃 drawled Mez'Barris Armgo of House Barrison Del'Armgo。 〃Triel Baenre may trust in your judgment； but I intend to think for myself； boy。〃
A tall； powerful female； the matron mother of the Second House was the ranking priestess present and nominally in mand of the entire expedition。 Each of the Houses had contributed some number of its priestesses to mand their contingents in battle； ranging from unblooded acolytes to first daughters and matron mothers。 Weapons masters such as Andzrel and males…including Nimor in his role as Zhayemd Dyrr…manded warbands； panies； and cavalry squadrons； attending to the endless details of organizing the army of Menzoberranzan。
〃My cousin presents House Baenre's views； Matron Mez'Barris；〃 Zal'therra Baenre rasped。 〃Matron Triel endorses the weapons master's battle plan。〃
Foremost of Triel Baenre's cousins； Zal'therra looked nothing like the petite Matron Mother of House Baenre。 She was tall and broadly built in the shoulders； a strapping female with a remarkable amount of physical fortitude and a coarse； intimidating manner。 She and Mez'Barris were two of a kind in physique； yet the Matron Mother of House Del'Armgo possessed a brilliant； vicious cunning that was nothing more than a sullen streak in the Baenre priestess。 Mez'Barris fixed her red eyes on the younger woman； but did not respond。
Andzrel knew better than to speak while the two females sparred。 He waited through a moment of silence before he continued the briefing。
〃Here is Rhazzt's Dilemma；〃 he said； 〃where Captain Zhayemd of Agrach Dyrr reported the duergar vanguard yesterday morning。 It lies about twenty…five miles south of the Pillars of Woe； at the lower end of the canyon。 Assuming the worst； we can expect the duergar to storm the outpost and force the entrance by sometime late today； perhaps tomorrow if we're lucky。 Duergar are hearty soldiers and can march all day long； but they're slow； and their army will be burdened with a long supply train and heavy siege engines。 Ascending the gorge will be difficult going。 It seems that； in the worst case again； they should reach the Pillars in five days…more likely seven or eight。〃
〃How do you know the gray dwarves haven't overrun the outpost already？〃 a priestess of Tuin'Tarl asked。
〃We do not； Mistress Tuin'Tarl。 The duergar wizards and clerics are preventing our efforts to scry the surroundings； a mon tactic in warfare of this sort。〃 Andzrel nodded to Nimor and added； 〃That is why it is essential to deploy a screen of capable scouts； to find out through mundane means what our wizards cannot see。 Zhayemd of Agrach Dyrr is charged with the mand of our reconnaissance。〃
Andzrel waited a moment to see if the priestess had any more questions； then went on； 〃In any event； our armies travel faster than the gray dwarves； and we have a much easier route。 I would expect our vanguard to reach the Pillars of Woe three to four days from now。 If we hold the upper exit from the gorge； the duergar will never break our defenses。 As you can see； it is something of a race； and therefore we should make all possible speed。〃
〃What plan do you have for battle； Zal'therra？〃 asked another priestess； the mistress of the House Xorlarrin contingent。
Nimor smiled at the remark。 Zal'therra had certainly been instructed by Triel to rely on her House weapons master's advice in planning the battle； but the high priestesses naturally talked past Andzrel as if he wasn't even there。
〃Andzrel will present it；〃 the Baenre priestess replied； as if she'd just finished explaining it all to him and choose to allow him to show off her genius。
If the weapons master took note of the slight； he did not show it。
〃We will build a strong； well…anchored line across the mouth of the gorge。 A few hundred troops should suffice for this； but we will mit a thousand。 The remainder of our soldiers will be held in reserve and secure various small passageways and flanking caverns in the vicinity。〃 Andzrel set down his baton and faced the assembled priestesses； his face expressionless except for the keen glitter of determination in his eyes。 〃I mean to allow the duergar to e to us； and break them between the Pillars of Woe。 When they have hurled their strength on us in vain； we will pursue them back down the gorge and slaughter them and their minions in heaps。〃
〃And what if the duergar choose not to force the Pillars？〃 Mez'Barris asked； addressing Andzrel directly。
〃The duergar are invading our lands； Matron Mother； so the burden of action is on them。 If they decide not to try the Pillars； we will wait them out…our supply lines are much shorter than theirs。 In a matter of days they will have to choose between going forward and going back。〃
Mez'Barris gazed at the map； considering Andzrel's answer。
〃Very well；〃 she said。 〃I want to see just how quickly we can reach the spot you have in mind。 Extend the march by two hours a day。 If we reach the Pillars of Woe in three days； we should have time to rest before battle is joined。 I want our fastest forces to make a dash for the Pillars； just in case。 There is no reason we couldn't have a couple of hundred scouts at the top of that gorge in a day and a half。 Now； if you will excuse us； I wish to discuss with my sister priestesses the best use of our talents in the uping conflict。〃
Andzrel offered a shallow bow； and withdrew from the room。 Nimor fell in beside the Baenre weapons master as they left the black pavilion； flanked by a handful of other officers。 The tent stood in a large； round tunnel crowded with soldiers and pack lizards； banner after banner of various Houses stretching out of sight up and down the passage。
〃Zhayemd；〃 said Andzrel； 〃I want you to assume mand of our vanguard； as Matron Mother Del'Armgo suggests。 Take your Agrach Dyrr cavalry and make speed tomorrow and the next day。 Our lack of information about the duergar army makes me nervous。 I'll have some of the other riders join you； so that you'll have a strong pany to hold the pass if worse es to worst。〃
〃I must consult with our high priestess；〃 Nimor said； though he had no intention of doing any such thing。 The weapons master； sti