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〃Shortly enough；〃 Drisinil retorted。 〃Perhaps the goddess gave us time to rectify the error。 We failed to do so； so now she's punishing us。〃
〃She's afflicting all Menzoberranzan；〃 T'risstree said； 〃not just Tier Breche。〃
〃Surely；〃 said Drisinil； 〃you didn't expect her to be fair。 I hope a priestess knows Lolth's ways better than that。 Her wrath is as boundless as her might。 Besides which； ArachTinilith is the repository of the deepest mysteries and thus the mystic heart of Menzoberranzan。 It makes perfect sense that whatever befalls us here should touch the city as a whole。
〃In any case；〃 the novice continued； 〃Lolth has shown us her intent。 Despite our safeguards； two spirits invaded the temple； the first in the guise of a spider； the second a living darkness。 Spider and darkness； reflections of the essence of the goddess。 The demons injured those who got in their way。 They bruised them and broke their bones； but they didn't try to kill any of us； did they？ They were plainly seeking Quenthel； and they sought to kill her and her alone。〃
Some of the other priestesses frowned or nodded thoughtfully。
〃It did seem that way；〃 said Vlondril； 〃but what do you think is unacceptable about Quenthel？ Isn't she doing all the same things Triel did？〃
〃We don't know everything she does；〃 said Drisinil； 〃and we don't know what she thinks。 Lolth does。〃
〃But you don't know she sent the demons；〃 T'risstree said。 Born a moner but risen to a level of power and prestige； she had evidently shed the habit of deference to the aristocracy。 〃Perhaps one of Quenthel's mortal enemies sent them。〃
〃What mortal possesses a magic potent and cunning enough to penetrate the temple wards？〃 Drisinil replied。
〃The archmage？〃 Vlondril offered； picking at the skin on the back of her hand。 Her tone was light； as if she spoke in jest。
〃Even if he does；〃 Drisinil said； 〃Gromph is a Baenre； too； and Quenthel serving as mistress strengthens his House。 He has no reason to kill her； and if it isn't he； then who？ Who but the goddess？〃
〃Quenthel is still alive；〃 said a priestess from House Xorlarrin。 She'd worn a long veil to the conclave； apparently so anyone who noticed her walking the halls would assume she was engaged in a certain necromantic meditation。 〃Do we think Lolth tried to kill her and failed？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Drisinil said。 Some of her audience scowled or stiffened at what could be construed as blasphemy。 〃She is allpowerful； but her agents are not。 However； I think she intended the first two assassins to fail。 She's giving her priestesses a chance to ponder what's happening。 To prehend her will； perform our appointed task； and earn her favor once more。〃
Vlondril smiled。 〃And we do that by murdering Quenthel ourselves？ Oh； good； child； very good。〃
〃We kill her ourselves；〃 Drisinil agreed； 〃or； if that isn't feasible； we at least assist the next demonic assassin in whatever way we can。〃
T'risstree shook her head。 〃This is sheer speculation。 You don't know the mistress's death will bring Lolth back。〃
〃It's worth a chance；〃 Drisinil said。 〃At the very least； if we give the demons what they want； they'll stop invading ArachTinilith。 They haven't slain any of us yet； but if we don't help them； and Quenthel lives on； they may decide to eliminate us； too； for after all； it's a demon's nature to kill。〃
〃The demons may be less dangerous than House Baenre；〃 T'risstree said。
〃The Baenre won't know who facilitated Quenthel's demise；〃 Drisinil said。 〃So what will they do； wreak their vengeance on every priestess in ArachTinilith？ They can't。 They need us to educate their daughters and perform the secret rites。〃
〃If Quenthel dies；〃 said a priestess leaning against the wall； 〃Molvayas has a fair chance of being Mistress of ArachTinilith—but how do the rest of us stand to gain？〃
〃My niece has explained；〃 said Molvayas； 〃that we'll all renew our bond with the goddess and replenish our magic。 Beyond that； I promise that if I bee mistress； I'll remember those who lifted me up。 High priestesses； you will be my lieutenants； ranking higher than any other instructor。 Novices； your time at ArachTinilith will be spent far more pleasantly than is the rule。 You； too； will exercise authority over your peers。 You'll enjoy luxuries。 I'll excuse you from the more onerous ordeals and teach you secrets most pupils never learn。〃
〃We'll hold you to that；〃 said another voice from the back； 〃and expose you if you renege。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said Molvayas。 〃You'll always be in a position to inform House Baenre of my guilt。 Your numbers are too great for me to murder all of you； and so you know you can trust me to keep my pledge。 Even if it were otherwise； I'd be stupid to play you false； considering that I'll always need loyal supporters。〃
〃It's tempting；〃 the veiled Xorlarrin said。 〃I'd take almost any chance to win my magic back。 Still； we're talking about the Baenre。〃
〃Damn the Baenre〃 Drisinil spat。 〃Perhaps killing Quenthel is the first rumble of the cavein that will bury the entire clan。〃
〃What cavein？〃 T'risstree asked。
〃I don't know； exactly；〃 Drisinil admitted。 〃Still； consider this： Houses rise and fall。 It's the way of Menzoberranzan and the will of Lolth。 Thus far； House Baenre has been the exception； perching on the top of the heap for century after century。 Perhaps； with the old matron mother's death； the family has finally forfeited the goddess's regard。 Why not 。 。 。 everyone knows Triel is out of her depth。 Perhaps it's time at last for House Baenre to honor the universal law。 If so； wouldn't it be glorious to mence the decline in their fortunes here； now； this very minute in this very room？〃
〃Yes；〃 T'risstree declared。
Surprised； Drisinil turned to face her。 〃You agree？〃
Setting her razoredged falchion aside； T'risstree rose and said； 〃I was dubious； but you convinced me。〃 For an instant； she grinned。 〃I don't like Quenthel anyway。 So yes； we'll usher her into her tomb； regain the goddess's approval； and run the academy as we please。〃
She extended her hands。 Drisinil smiled and clasped them despite the twin shooting pains the pressure produced； then she turned to the other females and said； 〃What about the rest of you？ Are you with us？〃
They tendered a ragged chorus of assent。 She guessed that those who doubted she had hit on the way to propitiate Lolth were nonetheless eager to move up in the temple hierarchy； or at least disliked Quenthel。 Maybe they were simply indulging the innate dark elf taste for bloodshed and betrayal。
Drisinil herself truly did believe she'd contrived the proper metaphysical remedy for their woes but deep down； she was even more excited at the prospect of avenging herself on her torturer。 How could it be otherwise？ For the rest of her life； her selfmutilated hands would announce to any who looked that someone had once defeated and humiliated her。
〃I thank you；〃 she said to the other clerics。 〃Now； let's put our heads together。 We have much to plan and only a little time before others will start to miss us。〃
And plan they did； whispering； bickering； occasionally grinning at some particularly inventive and vicious suggestion。 Drisinil knew that some if not all of the scheming would e to nothing—it was too contingent on Quenthel's doing pr