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〃In the long term；〃 Pharaun said； 〃it wont matter。 As you yourself observed mere moments ago； we Menzoberranyr are a pragmatic lot。 People five whatever outrages I mitted yesterday if I make myself useful today。〃
〃Greyanna didn't。〃
The wizard laughed and replied； 〃Well； of course； we're likewise prone to grudges； vendettas； and blood feuds。 It's one of the paradoxes central to our natures。 With luck； though； no one of importance will take our little massacre personally。 I doubt we'll be murdering any princesses； or anyone of genuine significance to her family。
〃I think it's crazy；〃 Ryld said； shaking his head。 〃You don't know that the rogues will contact us； or if they'll like what they see if they do。〃
〃Then we'll simply hatch another scheme。〃
Ryld scowled and shook his head again。
〃You're mad；〃 the weapons master said； 〃but I'm with you。〃
〃Splendid We must toast our homicidal designs with something stronger than juice。〃 Pharaun looked about and spotted the goblin。 〃May we see the wine list； please？〃
Ryld said； 〃It's the very beginning of the morning。〃
〃Don't be misled by superficial appearances；〃 Pharaun replied。 〃As neither of us has enjoyed a moment of repose； it must still be night。 Do you think they have any of that '53 Barrison Del'Armgo heartwine？〃
Chapter
F 0 U R T E E N
Until someone murdered her； Lirdnolu’s had taught her classes in a sort of indoor amphitheater； one of many architectural oddities scattered through ArachTinilith； and as the conspirators slunk in； they seated themselves on the Cshaped tiers。
Drisinil wondered what to say to them； how to stall until Quenthel arrived to confront them。 The novice's mind was a blank； but she knew she'd have to think of something。 Her mouth was dry and tasted of metal。 Her armpits were clammy with sweat； and her accelerated pulse pounded in the stumps of her severed fingers。 The poison was obviously well on its way to killing her； and she had to please Quenthel Baenre sufficiently to earn the antidote。
Wrinkled old Vlondril Tuin'Tarl leered at Drisinil as if she knew of the student's distress； but all she said was； 〃I believe most everyone's here。 Let's get this done before our colleagues start missing us。〃
〃Uh； yes；〃 Drisinil said； gazing up at the rows of faces staring back down at her。 〃Well； mothers； sisters； we all know what happened last night。 The vipers in the mistress's whip detected the drugs—〃
〃So they did；〃 said Quenthel。
Startled； Drisinil spun around。 A figure shrouded in a cowled piwafwi rose from the first row。 She lifted her head； pushed the hood back； and stood revealed as the Mistress of ArachTinilith。 Somehow she'd entered the room without her enemies realizing her identity。
Quenthel pushed back one wing of her cloak； freeing the arm that held her whip。 She sauntered to the center of the room。 It occurred to Drisinil that at that moment the plotters could have fallen on their target en masse； but they didn't。 The mistress cowed them with her unexpected appearance； her contemptuous demeanor； and the simple fact that she was a Baenre princess。
The mistress smiled at Drisinil and said； 〃You've done well； novice； except for one detail。 It's traditional for priestesses to conduct their affairs by candlelight。 That's all right； I've taken care of it。〃 She turned toward the door。 〃e。〃
Two teachers marched in carrying silver candelabra。 After a moment； Drisinil； squinting； saw they weren't alone。 Many of the residents of ArachTinilith filed in after them； all well armed and wearing mail。
Quenthel beckoned to the plotters。
〃Move down to the lower seats； why don't you？ The lateers won't mind climbing to the top。〃 She waited a beat； then said； 〃That wasn't a suggestion。〃
The conspirators hesitated a moment longer； and the show offered convinced them to obey。
〃Thank you；〃 Quenthel said； then waited until everyone had taken a seat and the plotters all had armed loyalists at their backs。 〃Now； let's discuss the matter that concerns you so。〃
〃I don't know what my niece told you about this gathering；〃 said Drisinil's Aunt Molvayas； clad in a gown of a dark and shimmering green that matched her eyes； 〃but I assure you； its purpose is entirely innocent。〃
〃Its purpose is to contrive your death； Mistress；〃 Vlondril called out。 〃I know。 I've been in on it from the start。〃
Quenthel nodded to the mad priestess。
〃Thank you； Holy Mother。 Your candor helps move things along。〃 The Baenre surveyed her enemies and said； 〃I understand that your excuse for seeking to depose me was the supposition that the goddess desires it。 You postulate that she so abhors my rule of ArachTinilith that she renounces all Menzoberranzan。〃
Molvayas drew a deep breath； evidently screwing up her courage。 〃We do。 Do you deny it's possible？〃
〃Of course；〃 Quenthel replied。 〃It's a ludicrous notion unsupported by a single shred of evidence 。。 。 though I'm sure it seems plausible to the lieutenant who covets my position。〃
Drisinil noticed that while the Baenre appeared perfectly at ease； the twisting whip serpents were keeping watch in all directions。
〃What of the demons？ They reflect the attributes of Lolth—〃
〃And they e for me。 Because one of my mortal enemies sends them in guises intended to stimulate your imaginations。〃
〃What enemy？〃 Molvayas demanded。
〃That has yet to be determined。〃
〃In other words；〃 said Quenthel's secondinmand； 〃you don't know what's going on any more than we do。〃
〃At least I know what isn't happening。〃
〃Do you？ What makes your one opinion superior to all of ours？〃
〃The answer to that is readily apparent to those with some smattering of intelligence。〃
〃Insults won't resolve this matter； Mistress； but I can think of a test that might。 Step down for a year； and we'll see what happens。〃
Quenthel laughed。
〃Meekly surrender the Academy to you； Barrison Del'Armgo？ Not likely。 As it happens； I too have conceived a test to determine who truly enjoys Lolth's favor； your sad little cabal or me。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Molvayas asked； wariness in her eyes。
〃My test is simplicity itself。 We simply ask Lolth whom she prefers； and await her answer。〃
〃That's insane。 The Spider Queen no longer speaks to us。〃
〃Perhaps if we petition； she will at least condescend to give us a sign。 Are you willing to try？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Molvayas said； no doubt aware that with blades at her back； she actually had little choice。 〃Do you propose to perform some sort of ritual？〃
〃As we've lost our magic； what would that acplish？ My idea is simpler。 We all bide in this room； engaged in silent prayer and meditation； until the Dark Mother reveals her will。〃
Vlondril snorted。 〃What if she chooses to ignore us？〃
Quenthel shrugged。 〃I don't believe she's truly abandoned her chosen people or her chosen ministers。 My faith is too strong to credit such a calamity。 How strong is yours； Barrison Del'Armgo？〃
〃Strong enough that I have no fear of the goddess preferring you to me；〃 Molvayas spat back。 〃I just don't see the point of your scheme。 Lolth will speak when she wishes； not when we desire it。〃
〃It's not a waste of time if it's keeping you alive。 I could have had my loyal followers kill you the moment they entered the chamber。 Instead； I'm proposing an honest inquiry into yo