Halisstra studied the faces of her former panions as she appeared。 Most showed some degree or another of surprise…a raised eyebrow； an exchange of glances。 Ryld offered her a warm smile before dropping his gaze and shifting his feet nervously； while Danifae actually came forward to clasp her hand。
〃Mistress Melarn；〃 she said。 〃We thought you lost。〃
〃I was；〃 Halisstra replied。
She was surprised to find how relieved she was to be back among her former panions…though they were interlopers from a rival city…and her scheming battle captive。 Danifae might not have been Halisstra's ornament anymore； but the binding spell was still there； making her the only ally Halisstra had left in the world。
〃Where have you been？〃 Quenthel asked。
〃I was subjected to several days worth of effort to convert me to the worship of Eilistraee； if you can believe such a thing；〃 Halisstra answered。 〃Lolth granted me an opportunity to slay two of the Eilistraeen clerics and escape。〃
Though her heart glowed with dark pride at her acplishment； Halisstra found herself feeling a bit disappointed by the results of her treachery。 She was no stranger to the traitor's dark art； but it seemed as if she had only managed to do what was expected of her。
〃Undoubtedly the surface folk set you free to see what you were up to；〃 Quenthel said。 〃It's an old trick。〃
〃So we thought； too；〃 Tzirik said。 〃However； we investigated Mistress Melarn's story and found it to be true。 It's almost ical； the naivete of our sisters in Eilistraee's worship。〃 He paused and rubbed his hands together。 〃Be that as it may； Jezz informs me that you helped him recover the tome we needed。〃
〃We helped him？〃 Jeggred growled。
〃His task was to bring back the book；〃 Tzirik replied； 〃not to battle the denizens of Myth Drannor。〃
〃You have your book；〃 Quenthel said。 Ignoring Jeggred's snarl； she folded her arms and fixed her eyes on Tzirik。 〃Are you ready to fulfill your end of the bargain？〃
〃I have already done so；〃 the priest replied。 He glanced up at the bronze image high on the wall； and made a small genuflection。 〃Whether or not you returned alive； I intended to consult with the Masked Lord and find out for myself what takes Lolth from you。 Your story made me quite curious。〃
Quenthel virtually ground her teeth in frustration。
〃What did you learn； then？〃 she managed。
Tzirik savored his knowledge； responding with a deliberate smirk as he paced away from the pany and took a seat on a small dais that stood to one side of the chapel。
He steepled his fingers together and said； 〃In all essentials your story is true。 Lolth does not grant her priestesses spells； nor does she reply to any entreaties。〃
〃We already knew as much；〃 Pharaun observed。
〃But I did not；〃 the priest answered。 〃In any event； it seems that Lolth has； in some manner； barricaded herself within her infernal domain。 She denies contact not only to her priestesses； but all other beings both mortal and divine； which would explain why the demons you conjured up to question about the Spider Queen's doings were unable to assist you。〃
The Menzoberranyr stood silent； considering Tzirik's answer。 Halisstra was puzzled； as well。
〃Why would the goddess do this？〃 she wondered aloud。
〃In the spirit of candor； I will admit that Vhaeraun either does not know or does not wish for me to know；〃 Tzirik said。 He fixed his cold gaze on Halisstra。 〃For the moment； divine capriciousness seems as good an explanation as any。〃
〃Is she 。 。 。 alive？〃 Ryld asked quietly。 Quenthel and the other priestesses turned angry glares on the weapons master； but he ignored them and went on。 〃What I mean to say is； would we know if she had been slain by another god； or sickened； or imprisoned against her will？〃
〃If only we were so lucky；〃 Tzirik said； laughing。 〃No； Lolth still lives； however you might define that for a goddess。 As to whether she has sealed herself into the Demonweb Pits； or been sealed in by another power； Vhaeraun did not say。〃
〃When will this condition end？〃 Halisstra asked。
〃Again； Vhaeraun either does not know or does not wish for me to know；〃 Tzirik said。 〃The better question might be； will it end？ The answer to that is yes； it will end in time； but before you take too much fort in that I must remind you that a goddess may have a very different sense of what we would consider to be a reasonable wait。 The Masked Lord might have been referring to something that would happen tomorrow； next month； next year； or perhaps a hundred years from now。〃
〃We can't wait that long；〃 Quenthel murmured。 Her expression was distant； fixed on events in faraway Menzoberranzan。 〃A resolution must be reached soon。〃
〃Take up the worship of a more caring deity； then；〃 Tzirik replied。 〃If you're interested； I would be happy to discourse at length on the virtues of the Masked Lord。〃
Quenthel bristled； but held her tongue…a feat of remarkable self…control for the Baenre priestess。
〃I decline；〃 she said。 〃Does the Masked Lord have any other advice for us； priest？〃
〃In fact； he does；〃 Tzirik replied。 He shifted in his seat； leaning forward to convey his point to Quenthel。 〃These were the exact words he spoke to me； so take note of them。 'The children of the Spider Queen should seek her for answers。' 〃
〃But we have；〃 Halisstra cried。 〃All of us； but she does not hear us。〃
〃I don't think that's what he meant；〃 Danifae said。 〃I think Vhaeraun is suggesting that we won't learn anything more unless we go to the Demonweb Pits ourselves； and beseech the goddess in person。〃
Tzirik remained silent and watched the Menzoberranyr。 Quenthel paced in a small circle； considering the idea。
〃The Spider Queen requires a certain amount of initiative and self…reliance in her priestesses；〃 the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith said； 〃but she also demands obedience。 To go before her in her divine abode in the expectation of answers 。 。 。 Lolth does not smile on such effrontery。〃
Halisstra fell silent； thinking furiously over what Tzirik suggested。 Ventures into other planes of existence were not unknown； of course。 Pharaun's spell had carried the pany across the Plane of Shadow； after all； and there were many more universes that mortals armed with the right magic could reach； a multitude of heavens and hells； wonders and terrors beyond the confines of the physical world； but the notion of attempting such a journey without Lolth's explicit invitation terrified Halisstra。
〃The penalties for failing to understand the goddess's will in this matter would be severe indeed；〃 Halisstra said。
〃Have we not just heard the goddess's will？〃 Danifae asked。 〃She led us to this place and this question through her silence； just as surely as if she had placed the mands directly in our hearts。 She might be angered if we fail to do this。〃
Halisstra was accustomed to a feeling of certainty when it came to interpreting the Spider Queen's wishes。 Before the divine silence had fallen over the priestesses of Lolth； she'd known the rare touch of the goddess's whispers in her mind。 It didn't happen often； of course…she was only one priestess； and Lolth was served by uncounted thousands…but she knew what it felt like to understand to the depths of her soul what the Spider Queen wished； and how she could acplish it。 Halisstra felt nothing。 Lolth's will； evidently； was that she should figure it out for herself。
Halisstra glanced up； where the bronze mask of Vhaeraun hung over a black altar。 The foreignness of the place seemed palpable； a tangible expression of everything she had lost。 Instead of standing before the ancient altar in the proud temple of House Melarn； Lolth's divine certitude thrumming in her very soul as she performed the rites of sacrifice and abasement the Spider Queen demanded； she stood alone； lost； an interloper in the temple of a pretender god； groping blindly for a hint of Lolth's intentions for her。
She imagined standing before Lolth； her soul naked to her goddess； her eyes blasted by the sight of Lolth's dark glory； her ears scoured by the sound of th