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eturn you were always talking about。 As far as how things go with me； well； that will take some explaining。〃
Tzirik studied the pany carefully。
〃A Master of Sorcere；〃 the priest said； 〃and another of Melee…Magthere。〃
〃Master Pharaun Mizzrym； an acplished wizard；〃 Valas replied； 〃and Master Ryld Argith； a weapons master of no small skill。〃
〃Gentlemen； if Valas vouches for you； you are wele guests in Minauthkeep；〃 the priest said。 When he looked at the others； his face hardened； geniality fading into sharp appraisal。
〃The draegloth is Jeggred；〃 Valas said； 〃a scion of House Baenre。 The lesser priestess is Danifae Yauntyrr； a highborn lady of Eryndlyn； late a battle captive。 The leader of our pany is…〃
〃High Priestess Quenthel Baenre；〃 Quenthel interrupted； 〃Mistress of Arach…Tinilith； Mistress of the Academy； Mistress of Tier Breche； First Sister of House Baenre of Menzoberranzan。〃
〃Ah；〃 Tzirik said。 〃We rarely have dealings with those of your persuasion； let alone a priestess possessed of so many impressive titles。〃
〃You will find me possessed of more than titles； priest；〃 Quenthel replied。
Tzirik's face went cold。
〃Lolth may rule in your buried cities；〃 he said； 〃but here in the night of the surface world； Vhaeraun is the master。〃 He turned and gestured to the crippled male behind him。 〃In the interest of mon courtesy； may I present my cousin； Jezz of House Jaelre。〃
The younger male limped forward。
〃You are a long way from home； Menzoberranyr；〃 he said in a rasping voice。 〃That； more than anything； spared you。 The spider…kissers we feud with e up from Maerimydra； a few miles south of here； but we have not met folk from Menzoberranzan in quite some time。〃
He laughed softly； finding humor in some private joke。 Tzirik smiled as well； but the smile did not reach his eyes。
〃Jezz refers to the ironic fact that we are Menzoberranyr ourselves； or at least were； once upon a time。 Almost five hundred years ago the wise and beneficent Matron Baenre ordered our House destroyed for the twin perversions of being governed by males and following the Masked Lord。 Many of my kin died screaming in the dungeons of Castle Baenre。 Of those who escaped； many more died in the long； hard years of exile in the lonely places of the Underdark。 You must understand how ironic it is for a Baenre daughter to place herself in our power。 If nothing else es of whatever business you bring before me； Valas； you will have my gratitude for this。〃 He moved closer and folded his powerful arms。 〃So； why do you seek me； Baenre？〃
Quenthel kept her face impassive。
〃We need you to mune with Vhaeraun；〃 she said； 〃and ask your god a few questions on our behalf。 We are willing to pay and pay well for your trouble。〃
Tzirik's eyebrows rose。
〃Really？ And why would Vhaeraun want me to do this for you？〃
〃You will； of course； discover what it is that brings us here； and what your god knows of it。〃
〃I could torture you for a few years and discover as much；〃 the priest said。 〃Or； for that matter； having agreed to ask the Masked Lord your questions； I might not see fit to share the answers。〃
〃True； perhaps；〃 Quenthel said； 〃though I think you might find that we are far from helpless； even with our weapons back in our chambers。 Before we make a trial of that； let us see if we can reach an agreement of sorts。〃
〃She's bluffing；〃 Jezz remarked。 〃Why deal with these venomous creatures？ Spare your friend if you like； but slay the priestesses at once。〃
〃Patience； young Jezz。 There is always time for that later；〃 Tzirik said。 He paced away； then looked back to Quenthel。 〃What is it you wish to learn？〃
Quenthel squared her shoulders and met the priest's gaze evenly。
〃We wish to know what has bee of Lolth；〃 she said。 〃The goddess refuses us our spells； and has done so for many months now。 Since we do not have access to the magic she normally grants us； we have no way to ask her ourselves。〃
〃Your fickle goddess is testing you；〃 Tzirik said with a laugh。 〃She's withholding your spells simply to see how long you remain loyal。〃
〃So we thought at first；〃 Quenthel said； 〃but it has been nearly four months now； and we can only conclude that it is her will that we should seek the answer for ourselves。〃
〃Why ask a priest of Vhaeraun？〃 Jezz asked。 〃Surely the priestesses of a neighboring city could be persuaded to intervene on your behalf。〃
〃They have lost contact with the goddess； too；〃 Danifae answered。 〃I came from Ched Nasad； where we had experienced the same silence as the priestesses of Menzoberranzan。 We have reason to believe that all the drow cities throughout the Underdark are in the same situation。 Lolth is speaking to no one； drow and lesser races alike。〃
〃That would explain the retreat of Maerimydra；〃 Jezz said quietly to Tzirik。 〃If their priestesses are powerless； they might be too busy with their own difficulties to cause any trouble for us。〃
〃The facts would seem to fit；〃 Tzirik replied。 He turned his attention to Pharaun。 〃What of your vaunted wizards？ Could they not summon up demons and devils aplenty and question them as to your goddess's mysterious silence； or use divination spells of their own？〃
〃We found that the infernal powers knew little more than we did；〃 Pharaun said。 〃It seems as if Lolth has barred contact with the neighboring layers of the Abyss； sealing the borders of her realm against other powers。〃 He raised his thumb…bound hands and made a small self…deprecatory gesture。 〃That is what I surmised from the reports of my colleagues investigating the matter； at any length。 I did not do so personally； as the archmage has instructed me not to conjure such beings on pain of a particularly grotesque death。〃
Tzirik studied the Menzoberranyr； then paced over to consult with Jezz。 The two Jaelre spoke together quietly； while the Menzoberranyr waited。 Ryld surreptitiously studied the guards nearby； calculating which of them he could disarm in order to provide himself with a weapon if it came to that。 He still wore his dwarven breastplate； and felt reasonably confident that he could wrest a halberd away from one of the guards before he was run through…though it might be a better move to use his belt knife to sever Pharaun's bonds as the first step in any kind of fight。
He was interrupted in his planning when Tzirik and Jezz returned to the pany。
〃I will intercede with Vhaeraun on your behalf；〃 the high priest of the Jaelre said； 〃not least because I； too； would like to know what Lolth is up to。 However； I think it is fair to expect a service for a service； and as you have approached me and not the other way around； I will seek Vhaeraun's guidance only after you have pleted your task。〃
〃Fine；〃 grated Quenthel。 〃What do you wish us to do？〃
〃Three days west of here lie the ruins of Myth Drannor； once the capital of the old surface elf realm of Cormanthyr；〃 Tzirik said。 〃During the course of our exploration of the ruins； we have e to suspect that a book containing secret and powerful lore…the Geildirion of Cimbar…is buried in the secre