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air and grinned at the alu…fiend。
〃I hope you'll forgive me； dear lady； but I recently found myself in an interview in which the other party could read my thoughts； and so I have taken steps to defend myself against such things this evening。 You won't pick your answers from my mind。〃
Aliisza frowned and said； 〃Now I wonder what thoughts you have to guard so well； Nimor。 Are you afraid that I wouldn't like what I found there？〃
〃We all have our secrets。〃 Nimor teased his wine and admired the bouquet again。 He would not give her the plete truth； of course； but what he would offer was truthful enough under the circumstances。 〃I belong to a minor House of Menzoberranzan with some unusual practices of which the matron mothers would not approve；〃 he began。 〃Among other things； we do not subject ourselves to the tyranny of our Lolth…worshiping female relations； and we possess old and strong ties to minor Houses with similar practices in several other cities。 We masquerade as low…ranking merchants； but we keep our true nature and capabilities quite secret。〃
〃Capabilities？〃
〃We are assassins； dear lady； and we are very good at what we do。〃
Aliisza leaned forward； resting her delicate chin on her fingertips as she studied Nimor with her dark； mischievous gaze。
〃So what is an assassin of Menzoberranzan doing in Gracklstugh； advising Horgar Steelshadow as he musters his army for war？〃 she asked。 〃Wouldn't that constitute the worst sort of treason？〃
Nimor shrugged and replied； 〃We wish to see the order of things upset。 We cannot defeat the great Houses of our city without an army； and Gracklstugh's is the strongest in this corner of the Underdark。 As soon as it became evident that Lolth had abandoned her priestesses； we realized that we had a golden opportunity to strike a mortal blow against the great Houses。 We have been doing all that we can to help Horgar see that our opportunity is his opportunity； too。〃
〃Aren't you concerned that the duergar might prove unwilling to relinquish the drow city to your care once they've conquered it？〃
〃Of course；〃 Nimor said； 〃but in all honesty； we view the fall of the Spider Queen's Houses as a goal desirable enough to outweigh the risks of duergar perfidy。 Even if Gracklstugh turned on my House and occupied Menzoberranzan for a hundred years； we would still survive； and we would reclaim the city in time。〃
Aliisza stood gracefully and paced over to a narrow； slitlike window overlooking the city。
〃Do you really think the Spider Queen will allow her city to fall？ What bees of the gray dwarves' assault if the priestesses of Lolth suddenly recover their powers？〃
〃We are a long…lived race； dear lady。 My grandfather saw with his own eyes the events of a thousand years past。 We do not forget the past the way other races do。 In all our legends； our lore； we have never encountered a silence so plete and long…lasting。 Even if it proves to be temporary； well； it represents a chance that es along only once every couple of thousand years； doesn't it？ How could we not choose this moment to strike？〃
〃Perhaps you're right。 I've spoken to other drow who seem to feel these are extraordinary and unprecedented times。〃 Aliisza glanced over her shoulder at him and added； 〃In fact； in Ched Nasad I encountered a mission of high…ranking Menzoberranyr who had e to the city in the hopes of discovering the causes of Lolth's silence。 Quenthel Baenre； the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith； led the pany。〃
〃I've heard of Mistress Quenthel's mission。 So they made it to Ched Nasad？〃
〃After passing through Kaanyr Vhok's territory； yes。 They arrived just in time to witness the city's destruction。〃
〃Did any of them survive？〃
Aliisza shrugged and said； 〃I could not say for certain。 They were a capable lot。 If anyone could escape the city's fall； they would have。〃
Nimor tapped his finger on the table； thinking。 Was Quenthel's mission of investigation significant； then？ He'd simply figured that the matron mothers had decided to shuffle the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith out of the city for a time in the event that she was entertaining dangerous aspirations。 Still； it represented a wild card； an unknown factor that the Jaezred Chaulssin might be wise to take note of。 A party of powerful dark elves roaming the Underdark might find the opportunity to cause all sorts of trouble。
〃Did they find any answers to their questions？〃 he asked。
〃None that I know of；〃 Aliisza said。 She turned back from the window and glided over to the table again； then changed the subject。 〃You seemed very anxious to argue my case with the crown prince。 Might I ask why？〃
The assassin shifted in his seat and leaned back； allowing his gaze to rest on her。
〃You touched on this already；〃 he said。 〃Either Gracklstugh is strong enough to defeat Menzoberranzan； or it isn't。 If it is not； then Kaanyr Vhok's Scoured Legion is likely to tip the scales in our favor。 If Gracklstugh is strong enough； then the Scoured Legion might serve as a useful check on Horgar's aspirations。 We wouldn't want the crown prince to forget the details of our arrangement。〃
〃And why should the Scoured Legion serve as your army in the field？〃
〃Because Horgar won't have you for an ally unless I persuade him that he'd be better served with Kaanyr Vhok's tanarukks at his side than attacking his flank；〃 Nimor answered。 〃Besides； your master doesn't want to sit at home while events unfold。 He sent you here to urge the duergar to attack Menzoberranzan； did he not？〃
Aliisza hid her smile with a sip of wine。
〃Well； there is that；〃 she admitted。 〃So； will you ask the duergar to accept our help； or not？〃
The assassin studied the alu…fiend while he considered the question。 Agrach Dyrr was a useful ally； but he doubted that the Fifth House of Menzoberranzan had the strength to counterbalance Horgar's army if push came to shove。 Another force on the field would increase the chances of success for the Jaezred Chaulssin； and with three factions to work with； it should be possible to align two against the third in whatever bination was necessary to advance his goals。 In extremis； the Jaezred Chaulssin could bring their own strength to bear； but they were not numerous； and it was always preferable to expend the resources of one's allies before tapping your own reserves。
〃I think；〃 he said at length； 〃that we won't give Horgar the chance to refuse your help。 Do you know of a place called the Pillars of Woe？〃
Aliisza frowned and shook her head。
〃It's a gorge between Gracklstugh and Menzoberranzan；〃 Nimor said； 〃a place I have great plans for。 I am certain that some of Kaanyr Vhok's scouts will know the spot； and I'll make sure you know where to find it。 Go back to Kaanyr Vhok and have him bring the Scoured Legion to the Pillars of Woe with all possible speed。 You will have your chance to assist in the destruction of Menzoberranzan。 If the crown prince proves pletely unreasonable； you will have other opportunities available to you； but I believe that Horgar will accept your stake in events once he encounters your force in the f