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off the path into the forest of giant； phosphorescent mushrooms； where she crouched behind a particularly massive specimen。
The patrol； a mounted officer and a dozen foot soldiers； marched by without so much as glancing her way。 Hiding from her own troops was another bizarre； almost surreal experience。
When the warriors passed； she hurried on up the slope。 In another minute； she reached the top of the rise。 Before her rose the most opulent fortresses in the city。 At the easternmost end of the expanse； House Baenre towered on the highest ground of all； dwarfing every other structure。
She turned her steps toward the tall； slender spire known as Spelltower Xorlarrin； residence of the Fifth House。 Bands of shimmering faerie fire striped the iron walls。
She climbed the steep steps to the gate under the watchful eyes of the sentries on the battlements。 Had she not already known it； their vigilance would have shown that she could maintain plete anonymity no longer。
Still； she'd do the best she could。
When a sentry armed with spear and long sword strode over to ask her business； she said； 〃I'm going to show you something remarkable。 Don't let your amazement show。〃
He looked skeptical。 He lived in the Spelltower； after all； and had seen his share of marvels。
〃All right； ma'am。 Show me； if you will。〃
She twitched open her piwafwi； giving him a glimpse of the Baenre House insignia hanging at her throat。
His eyes widened； but otherwise； he did a fair job of doing as she'd bade him。
〃How may I serve you？〃 he asked softly； the slightest quaver in his voice。
〃I want to enter the tower without anyone paying the least attention to me； and I want to talk to your matron alone。〃
〃Please； e with me。〃
The guard led her through the gate and into a confusion of service passages such as every castle possessed。 The corridors eventually brought them into a nicely appointed room with fortablelooking sandstone chairs； a carnelianandobsidian sava set awaiting a pair of players； and frescos of some of Lolth's attendant demons adorning the walls。
Her escort departed in search of his mistress； leaving Quenthel to prowl restlessly about the room。 Finally the door opened； and Zeerith Q'Zorlarrin slipped through。 Her features were plain and nondescript； but she was notable for a dignified bearing and posure that rarely failed her even in the most extreme situations。 For a matron； her costume was rather plain and austere。
The two princesses saluted one another； then Zeerith ushered her guest to a seat。
〃When Antatlab told me you'd e without a single guard； I wondered if he'd gone mad；〃 the matron remarked。
〃Can I trust him not to gossip about my visit？〃
〃He's discreet enough。 Now； may I ask why I'm so unexpectedly enjoying the honor of your pany？〃
Quenthel related the events of the past three nights。
〃If I still possessed my magic；〃 she concluded。 〃I could deal with this matter easily； but as things stand 。。。 I need help。〃
The words galled her； but they had to be said。
〃Why have you sought it here？〃 Zeerith asked。
〃The Xorlarrins have always supported the Baenre and profited thereby。 Try as I might； I can't think of a pelling reason you'd want me dead； and your House boasts many of the best wizards in Menzoberranzan。 So； if I must trust someone； you're a good chance。 Will you aid me； Matron？〃
Zeerith took her time replying。 Quenthel knew the other female was coldbloodedly pondering whether to help； deny； or betray her。 Where did the greatest advantage lie？
〃Your plight is an outrage；〃 the Xorlarrin said at last； 〃an affront to all priestesses。 Of course I'll aid you。 For ten thousand talents of gold； and your support when my clan's dispute with House Agrach Dyrr bees public knowledge。〃
〃What dispute？〃
〃The one I'll be stirring up in a tenday or two。 Do we have a bargain？〃
Quenthel's mouth tightened。 If she'd e to the Spelltower in the full panoply of a Baenre princess； Zeerith would have thought twice about making conditions； but by arriving incognito the mistress had shown her desperation and in so doing； shifted the transaction to another level。
〃Yes；〃 she growled； 〃I agree。〃
〃I thank you for your generosity。 What do you require？〃
〃Every night；〃 said Quenthel； 〃a new demon es to kill me； and I fend it off as best I can。 If this goes on； a night will e when the entity kills me instead。 I need to do more。 I need to end the siege； and it's my hope your mages know a way。 I confess I don't。 I've ransacked every vault； chest； and drawer in ArachTinilith and found nothing that will serve。〃
〃So that's why you came in secret。 You want a weapon； and you don't want your foe to know about it。 Otherwise； he might take countermeasures。〃
〃Correct。〃
Zeerith rose。 〃We'll ask Horroodissomoth。 He can do it if anyone can； and he'll keep his mouth shut after。〃
She opened the door and directed Antatlab； who'd been standing watch outside； to go and fetch her patron and House wizard。
Horroodissomoth arrived shortly thereafter。 Quenthel felt a little twinge of disgust； for the mage was the antithesis of the typical vital dark elf male。 His features were lined and wrinkled； and his posture； bent。 Rumor had it that his appearance of decrepitude had resulted not from extreme age but rather some dangerous magical experimentation。
Moving stiffly； all but creaking audibly； Horroodissomoth tendered obeisance then； at Zeerith's invitation； settled in a chair to listen to a reprise of Quenthel's story。 At first the wizard's demeanor was impassive； perhaps even utterly disinterested； but a light came into his rheumy eyes when he realized she was asking him to solve a magical problem。
〃Hmm；〃 he said； 〃hmm。 I think I might have something that will help。 In a way； I regret giving it to you； because as far as I know； it's unique。 Even we Xorlarrins don't know how to make another。 But on the other hand； I've always been curious to see if it actually works。〃
Gossip whispered that at some point in the distant past； the females of House Ousstyl had interbred with humans。 Naturally the contemporary Ousstyls denied it and would do their meager best to punish anyone they suspected of passing the rumor。 Still； as Faeryl gazed across the table atTalindra Ousstyl； Matron Mother of the Fiftysecond House； she could readily believe it。 Talindra was tall and； for a dark elf； extraordinarily rawboned。 Her jaw was too square； and her ears； insufficiently pointed。 Most telling of all was the scatter of empty plates before her。 She'd annihilated every morsel of her sevencourse supper with a lesser being's insatiable voracity。
Talindra finished with a juicy belch。
〃Excuse me。〃
〃Of course；〃 Faeryl said。 She thought she heard a thump issuing from elsewhere in the ambassadorial residence。 Inwardly； she flinched but Talindra didn't seem to notice the sound。
〃Well；〃 the matron said； 〃that was tasty； but I believe you invited my brood to supper and spirited me away to this private room； because you wanted to talk of something more important than cuisine。〃
Faeryl smiled and said； 〃You've found me out； and I have a confession to make。 I don't always devote myself to the interests of Ched Nasad as a whole。 Occasionally I work solely to advance the fortunes of House Zauvirr。〃
〃How coul