pected¡¡its¡¡blade¡¡would¡¡be¡¡unbearable¡¡to¡¡any¡¡fell¡¡creature¡¡who¡¡felt¡¡its¡¡bite¡£¡¡Considering¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡she¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡descend¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Abyss¡¡itself£»¡¡where¡¡such¡¡creatures¡¡would¡¡likely¡¡set¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡in¡¡numbers£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡endure¡¡the¡¡sword's¡¡distasteful¡¡enchantment¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Tzirik¡¡had¡¡donned¡¡a¡¡suit¡¡of¡¡black¡¡mithral¡¡plate¡¡armor¡¡decorated¡¡with¡¡grotesque¡¡demonic¡¡figures¡¡and¡¡chased¡¡with¡¡gold¡¡filigree¡£¡¡A¡¡wickedly¡¡spiked¡¡mace¡¡hung¡¡at¡¡his¡¡belt£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡great¡¡masked¡¡helm¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡a¡¡demon's¡¡skull¡£¡¡He¡¡radiated¡¡confidence¡¡and¡¡energy£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he'd¡¡waited¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡for¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡his¡¡god¡¡with¡¡worthwhile¡¡stakes¡¡at¡¡hand¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡priest£»¡¡¡¨there¡¡is¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one¡¡way¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡plane¡¡of¡¡existence¡¡and¡¡venture¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dimensions¡¡beyond¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡issue¡¡at¡¡length£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡travel¡¡in¡¡astral¡¡form¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡if¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡would¡¡require¡¡us¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡our¡¡bodies¡¡atose¡¡while¡¡our¡¡spirits¡¡journeyed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Abyss£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡interrupted¡£¡¡¡¨Why¡¡would¡¡you¡¡even¡¡hope¡¡I¡¡might¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡that£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Betrayal£»¡¨¡¡Jeggred¡¡rumbled¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡intends¡¡to¡¡have¡¡his¡¡rades¡¡slit¡¡our¡¡throats¡¡while¡¡our¡¡bodies¡¡lie¡¡uninhabited¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡draegloth¡¡took¡¡a¡¡step¡¡forward£»¡¡baring¡¡his¡¡fangs¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Vhaeraunite¡¡priest¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡choose¡¡to¡¡travel¡¡in¡¡astral¡¡form¡¡for¡¡two¡¡reasons£»¡¡Mistress¡¡Baenre£»¡¨¡¡Tzirik¡¡replied£»¡¡ignoring¡¡Jeggred¡£¡¡¡¨First£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡marginally¡¡safer£»¡¡in¡¡that¡¡if¡¡someone's¡¡roving¡¡spirit¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡killed¡¡while¡¡visiting¡¡the¡¡Demonweb¡¡Pits£»¡¡that¡¡person¡¡would¡¡not¡¡truly¡¡be¡¡dead¡he¡¡would¡¡awaken¡¡here£»¡¡unharmed¡£¡¡A¡¡spirit¡¡is¡¡a¡¡difficult¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡destroy£»¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¡Second£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡¡tell£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡no¡¡real¡¡alternative¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡already¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡plane¡¡shift¡¡bodily¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Demonweb¡¡Pits£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡spell¡¡failed¡¡outright¡£¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡the¡¡barrier¡¡or¡¡seal¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Masked¡¡Lord¡¡spoke¡¡prevented¡¡the¡¡direct¡¡transference¡¡of¡¡a¡¡physical¡¡body¡¡into¡¡Lolth's¡¡demesnes¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yet¡¡you¡¡believe¡¡you'll¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡our¡¡astral¡¡forms¡¡there£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡realm¡¡is¡¡still¡¡sealed£¿¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡of¡¡only¡¡two¡¡ways¡¡to¡¡take¡¡you¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Demonweb¡¡Pits£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡one¡¡doesn't¡¡work£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡must£»¡¨¡¡Tzirik¡¡said¡¡with¡¡a¡¡shrug¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡Masked¡¡Lord¡¡himself¡¡has¡¡instructed¡¡me¡¡to¡¡take¡¡you¡¡there£»¡¡so¡¡there¡¡must¡¡be¡¡a¡¡way¡£¡¡Still£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡know¡¡of¡¡any¡¡permanent¡¡gates¡¡or¡¡portals¡¡connecting¡¡our¡¡world¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Abyss£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Demonweb¡¡Pits¡¡itself£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡could¡¡make¡¡use¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡device¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Show¡¡me¡¡that¡¡physical¡¡travel¡¡will¡¡not¡¡work£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Step¡¡close£»¡¨¡¡Tzirik¡¡said¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡his¡¡mask£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡dry¡¡amusement£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡join¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡drow¡¡shuffled¡¡close¡¡and¡¡joined¡¡hands¡¡in¡¡a¡¡circle¡¡with¡¡Tzirik£»¡¡who¡¡took¡¡a¡¡place¡¡between¡¡Quenthel¡¡and¡¡Danifae£»¡¡laying¡¡his¡¡left¡¡hand¡¡over¡¡their¡¡joined¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡leaving¡¡his¡¡right¡¡free¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡gestures¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡the¡¡spell¡£¡¡He¡¡collected¡¡himself£»¡¡then¡¡chanted¡¡out¡¡a¡¡rolling£»¡¡powerful¡¡prayer¡¡whose¡¡unholy¡¡words¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡a¡¡nearly¡¡tangible¡¡darkness¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡watched¡¡carefully¡¡to¡¡make¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡cast¡¡the¡¡spell¡¡correctly£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡she¡¡could¡¡tell£»¡¡he¡¡did¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡would¡¡work£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Jaelre¡¡chapel¡¡grew¡¡misty¡¡and¡¡faint¡¡around¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡body¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡somehow¡¡drop¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡world¡¡without¡¡moving¡¡an¡¡inch¡but¡¡then¡¡she¡¡sensed¡¡through¡¡some¡¡preternatural¡¡perception¡¡an¡¡impediment£»¡¡a¡¡barrier¡¡that¡¡prevented¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡from¡¡materializing¡¡again¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new¡¡place¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡almost¡¡jolt¡¡them¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Minauthkeep¡£¡¡She¡¡reeled¡¡drunkenly¡¡as¡¡her¡¡senses¡¡whirled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡happened¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡Tzirik¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Thunder¡¡gathered¡¡in¡¡Quenthel's¡¡brow£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡calm¡¡as¡¡she¡¡detached¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡from¡¡Danifae's¡¡and¡¡steadied¡¡herself¡¡against¡¡Jeggred¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Pharaun£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priestess¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨what¡¡did¡¡you¡¡observe£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡wizard¡¡raised¡¡an¡¡eyebrow£»¡¡perhaps¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡be¡¡consulted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Baenre£»¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨It¡¡seems¡¡plausible¡¡enough¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡travel¡¡by¡¡projecting¡¡our¡¡spirits¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Astral¡¡Plane£»¡¡we¡¡won't¡¡be¡¡going¡¡directly¡¡from¡¡this¡¡plane¡¡of¡¡existence¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Abyss¡£¡¡We'd¡¡actually¡¡traverse¡¡the¡¡astral¡¡sea¡¡and¡¡approach¡¡Lolth's¡¡domain¡¡as¡¡spirits¡£¡¡It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡that¡¡the¡¡mysterious¡¡barrier¡¡we¡¡encountered¡¡does¡¡not¡¡bar¡¡such¡¡an¡¡approach¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡wizard¡¡smoothed¡¡his¡¡robes£»¡¡considering¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡that¡¡might¡¡explain¡¡why¡¡our¡¡conjured¡¡demons¡¡couldn't¡¡manage¡¡the¡¡trick¡¡either¡£¡¡They¡¡do¡¡not¡¡travel¡¡between¡¡planes¡¡by¡¡astral¡¡projection£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡have¡¡no¡¡souls¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡muttered¡¡something¡¡to¡¡herself£»¡¡folded¡¡her¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Tzirik¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Fine£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡convinced¡¡me¡£¡¡Where¡¡do¡¡you¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡our¡¡bodies£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Tzirik¡¡walked¡¡over¡¡to¡¡one¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chapel¡¡and¡¡depressed¡¡a¡¡hidden¡¡stud£»¡¡revealing¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡chamber¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡bronze¡¡mask¡¡of¡¡Vhaeraun¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡large£»¡¡but¡¡eight¡¡elegant¡¡old¡¡divans¡furnishings¡¡that¡¡might¡¡have¡¡dated¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡castle's¡¡days¡¡as¡¡a¡¡home¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡elves¡¡of¡¡Cormanthyr¡were¡¡arranged¡¡in¡¡a¡¡tight¡¡circle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡heads¡¡together£»¡¡feet¡¡outward¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Only¡¡a¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡my¡¡people¡¡know¡¡of¡¡this¡¡room's¡¡existence£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡priest£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡instructed¡¡them¡¡to¡¡make¡¡no¡¡intrusion¡¡for¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡may¡¡prove¡¡necessary¡£¡¡You¡¡need¡¡not¡¡fear¡¡any¡¡harm¡¡here¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Ryld£»¡¡who¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡little¡¡behind¡¡Jeggred£»¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡from¡¡Tzirik¡¡and¡¡gestured¡¡subtly¡¡to¡¡Pharaun¡¡and¡¡Halisstra£»¡¡So¡¡if¡¡our¡¡spirits¡¡are¡¡defeated¡¡while¡¡we¡¡are¡¡astral£»¡¡we¡¡return¡¡to¡¡our¡¡bodies¡£¡¡What¡¡happens¡¡to¡¡our¡¡spirits¡¡if¡¡someone¡¡sticks¡¡a¡¡knife¡¡in¡¡our¡¡bodies£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Death£»¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡replied¡£¡¡A¡¡cautious¡¡fellow¡¡would¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡his¡¡body¡¡was¡¡someplace¡¡safe¡¡and¡¡guarded¡¡by¡¡trustworthy¡¡sorts¡¡before¡¡sending¡¡his¡¡spirit¡¡off¡¡to¡¡some¡¡other¡¡plane¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Ryld¡¡grimaced£»¡¡but¡¡made¡¡no¡¡other¡¡reply¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡pany¡¡followed¡¡Tzirik¡¡into¡¡the¡¡small¡¡room¡£¡¡Halisstra¡¡stared¡¡with¡¡some¡¡trepidation¡¡at¡¡the¡¡old¡¡couch¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡so¡¡but¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡look¡¡away¡£¡¡She¡¡wasn't¡¡the¡¡only¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡regarding¡¡the¡¡divans¡¡like¡¡a¡¡collection¡¡of¡¡coffins£»¡¡Quenthel¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡having¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thoughts¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡couch¡¡to¡¡Tzirik¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨We¡¡will¡¡leave¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡guard¡£¡¡Someone¡¡I¡¡trust¡¡will¡¡be¡¡here¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡over¡¡our¡¡bodies¡¡until¡¡I¡¡return£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡someone¡¡you¡¡trust¡¡will¡¡be¡¡watching¡¡over¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¨¡¡Tzirik¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡elf¡¡indeed¡£¡¡Do¡¡as¡¡you¡¡will¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡might¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡have¡¡this¡¡whole¡¡castle¡¡descend¡¡upon¡¡whomever¡¡we¡¡leave¡¡behind£»¡¨¡¡Jeggred¡¡snarled¡£¡¡¡¨Best¡¡leave¡¡two£»¡¡maybe¡¡three¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Our¡¡sentry's¡¡only¡¡duty¡¡will¡¡be¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡Tzirik's¡¡throat¡¡before¡¡he's¡¡overwhelmed£»¡¨¡¡Pharaun¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡question¡¡is£»¡¡who¡¡stays£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡Ryld£»¡¡then¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡slid¡¡toward¡¡Halisstra¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡Halisstra¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡Quenthel¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡her¡¡behind¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡deny¡¡her¡¡the¡¡audience¡¡she¡¡sought¡¡with¡¡Lolth£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡as¡¡her¡¡heart¡¡thudded¡¡in¡¡apprehension¡¡she¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡last¡¡thing¡¡the¡¡Baenre¡¡would¡¡want¡if¡¡she¡¡truly¡¡viewed¡¡Halisstra¡¡as¡¡a¡¡threat£»¡¡anyway¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡Melarn¡¡conscious¡¡and¡¡alone¡¡with¡¡her¡¡own¡¡helpless¡¡body¡£¡¡Quenthel's¡¡eyes¡¡narrowed¡¡as¡¡she¡¡weighed¡¡the¡¡same¡¡considerations£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡Jeggred¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡must¡¡stay¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡draegloth¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Jeggred¡¡contorted¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡a¡¡spasm¡¡of¡¡anger¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡here¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡your¡¡living¡¡corpses¡¡while¡¡you¡¡face¡¡the¡¡perils¡¡of¡¡the¡¡goddess's¡¡realm£¡¡¡Mother¡¡told¡¡me¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡you¡£¡¡How¡¡can¡¡I¡¡do¡¡that¡¡when¡¡you¡¡leave¡¡me¡¡behind£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡will¡¡be¡¡guarding¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨No¡¡harm¡¡can¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡astral¡¡form¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡here¡¡that¡¡I¡¡will¡¡be¡¡vulnerable£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡trust¡¡no¡¡one¡¡else¡¡with¡¡the¡¡task¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡you£»¡¡Jeggred¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡draegloth¡¡waved¡¡all¡¡four¡¡arms¡¡in¡¡protest¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡of¡¡all¡¡people¡¡know¡¡what¡¡awaits¡¡you¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Demonweb¡¡Pits£»¡¡Mistress¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡need¡¡my¡¡strength¡¡there¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Cease¡¡this¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡Mistress¡¡of¡¡Arach¡Tinilith¡¡manded¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡flashed£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡whip¡¡rippled¡¡and¡¡spat¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡question¡¡me£»¡¡nephew¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡discharge¡¡your¡¡obligation¡¡in¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡I¡¡direct¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Jeggred¡¡subsided¡¡into¡¡a¡¡sulking¡¡silence¡£¡¡In¡¡disgust¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡himself¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡floor£»¡¡shucking¡¡his¡¡pack¡¡and¡¡bandoleer¡£¡¡Quenthel¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡nodded¡¡at¡¡the¡¡couches¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨e£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡goddess¡¡awaits¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Tzirik¡¡waited¡¡while¡¡the¡¡Menzoberranyr¡¡chose¡¡divans¡¡and¡¡str