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She laid Seyll's sword and crossbow on the ground； then yanked the chain mail tunic up and over her head。 Tossing it beside the weapons； she removed the final thing she'd taken from Seyll's body： the priestess's magic ring。
Avoiding the advancing barrier of blades； she placed the ring on the ground as well and addressed herself to Feliane。
〃As Seyll lay dying； she said she had hope for me still。 She knew that guilt would force me to redeem myself for the treachery I had mitted。 That's why I came back； instead of returning to the Underdark； to beg Eilistraee's forgiveness for what I've done。〃
The whirling blades had passed over Seyll's weapons and chain mail without harming them and had e close enough to force Halisstra back into Ryld； whose legs were pletely entangled in the bush that had grown up around him。 He twisted at the waist and gave Halisstra a sharp look。 She must have sounded very convincing。
Halisstra ignored him； concentrating instead on Feliane。 Could she use her voice to overe the priestess's resistance a second time？
The whirling blades paused in their advance。 They were so close Halisstra could feel the wind of them passing； one step forward and she would be cut to pieces。
〃Prove yourself；〃 Feliane said。 〃Swear to e up into the light； to serve Eilistraee and forsake Lolth。 Swear it…by the sword。〃
Halisstra considered…but only briefly； one eye on the barrier of blades。
What harm could it do？ she thought。 Lolth is dead…or so close to death that it makes little difference。
Even if she did rise again； the Queen of Spiders appreciated and rewarded treachery…especially if it was directed against the goddess who was her chief rival。 Halisstra could always turn her back on Eilistraee and be weled back into the fold。
Halisstra held out a hand to Ryld and said； 〃Loan me your sword。〃
Ryld gave her a quick； searching look； then plied。
Halisstra took the short sword from him and thrust its point into the ground。 Then； as she had seen Eilistraee's followers do； she circled it； holding the hilt with her left hand。 The barrier of blades didn't leave her much room； and so keen was Ryld's blade that when Halisstra brushed against it； the steel nicked her knee。 She ignored the tiny wound and pleted the circle。
〃I so swear；〃 she told Feliane。
Off in the distance； she heard the sound of a hunting horn。 Another priestess； belatedly ing to join the others？ The priestesses； also having heard it； exchanged nods。
The barrier of blades disappeared。 In the abrupt silence that followed； Halisstra heard the snap of a branch。 The first priestess negated her spell； loosening the branches that entwined Ryld。 Angrily yanking himself free； he pulled his shortsword out of the ground and assumed a ready stance as the priestesses approached。
What now？ he asked in sign language。
I surrender to them； Halisstra replied。
That's suicide； Ryld signed。 I can't let you do that。
Halisstra felt a flush of warmth and affection that； until recently； she would have described as weakness。 To hide it； she let her expression grow ice cold。
〃Let me？〃 she asked aloud。 〃You 。。。 a mere male？ You've not only overstepped your place； you've just proven you're of no further use to me。〃 She jerked her chin at the spot where his greatsword lay。 〃Go fetch your sword； Ryld； and go back to where you belong。 Go back to the Underdark。〃
Ryld stared at her； a stricken expression on his face。 For a moment； the rain he was blinking out of his eyes made him look as though he was crying…though of course； Halisstra knew that was something the hardened warrior would never do。 Then Ryld walked over to where Splitter lay； his shoulders tensing as he passed the priestesses。
〃You may go；〃 Feliane told him as he picked up the sword。 〃Leave； and do not follow us； or you will invoke the goddess's wrath。〃
Ryld grunted and shoved the greatsword into the sheath on his back。 Then； without a single glance back at Halisstra； he turned and strode away into the forest。
Halisstra； seeing that the priestesses were watching Ryld； briefly considered making a bolt for freedom； then she decided against it。 Instead she stared at the spot in the forest that Ryld had disappeared into as the priestesses gathered up Seyll's weapons and armor。
Ryld will be better off in the Underdark； she told herself。 He wouldn't have been happy up here。
Surrendering had been the only way to ensure his safety。
Feliane unfastened the silver chain at her waist and motioned for Halisstra to hold out her hands。 Halisstra did； and the chain came alive； wrapping itself tightly around her wrists。 Her strength seeped from her body and flowed out into the links of metal； leaving her as weak as sun…rotted adamantine。 She staggered； fighting down the panic that was threatening to rise within her。 What had she just done？ She told herself to stay calm； and that she still had one weapon left。 The time would e； when Ryld was far away and safe； that she could use the magic of the bae'qeshel。
Staring at Feliane's youthful； guileless face further reassured Halisstra。 In Feliane she saw softness…a weakness she could turn to her advantage。 Despite the way Halisstra had used her once before； Feliane actually believed Halisstra's pledge…that she had e back to redeem herself。 All it would take was a friendly smile and a few words。 Halisstra parted her lips…
…but the priestess who had slain the troll strode up to her and grabbed her chin； turning her head to the side。 Belatedly； Halisstra noticed the priestess was humming。 Halisstra tried to speak but found herself unable to make even the slightest noise。
〃I will take this one back to the temple myself；〃 the priestess said。 〃Eilistraee will decide her fate： the song 。。。 or the sword。〃
Ryld fumed as he strode away into the forest； wet ferns squelching under his boots。 He had done what Halisstra had wanted； he'd walked away。 Why then did he feel so impotent； so angry？
Because he'd saved himself and left her to die。
As a priestess of Lolth had ordered； he reminded himself。 And he； a good male； always obeyed。
A former priestess of Lolth； he corrected himself。
Perhaps that was why she was so willing to die； to join the goddess who had gone before her。
Shaking his head bitterly； he curled his fingers into the blasphemous gesture Halisstra had used。
〃Go ahead and let them kill you then； Halisstra； if that's what you。 。。〃
Was that what she wanted？ Halisstra's face had been as frozen and expressionless as the black stone face that sealed the temple…or was it the tomb？…of Lolth。 But Ryld had been able to sense the powerful emotions just beneath that cold surface。 She'd proven that she cared for him； earlier； when they were fighting the troll。 If all she'd been doing was using him； all that time； she could have saved her own life simply by fleeing； leaving him to die 。。。
Just as Pharaun had done。
A thought occurred to Ryld then…a notion that was almost inconceivable； so foreign was it to the drow creed。 Had Halisstra deliber