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They marched away from the luminous keep that had been their home for fourteen years； past the alleyway where Umrae had died； and onward。 Faeryl couldn't see Triel's watchers； but she could feel their eyes on her。 She felt all but certain they would recognize her。
But maybe not。 Most people saw what they expected to see。 The spies had watched the Ousstyls enter the residence； and just as anticipated； the petty nobles were departing。 Why would anyone bother to peer closely when he was sure he already knew what was going on？
That was the theory； anyway。 At the moment； it seemed a dubious notion on which to gamble her life。
Her pany left the immediate vicinity of the residence without anyone trying to hinder them； which proved nothing。 The watchers wouldn't pop out of hiding and confront the fugitives themselves； They'd scurry away to rouse a pany of warriors； who'd intercept the daughters and sons of Ched Nasad in the street。
Thus； while her expression conveyed the proper mix of serenity and haughtiness； her muscles were stiff； and her mouth dry as she floated down the avenues。 For the moment； she was heading for Narbondellyn； site of the Ousstyls' modest citadel。 It was where the spies would expect her to go。
Drow did their best to clear the way for the matron of even a minor House。 She was grateful for that。 Still； heavily laden carts and the like could only pull aside so quickly。 The impostors' progress was necessarily and nerverackingly sedate。
Finally； though； they passed Narbondel itself； where the magical glow had climbed three quarters of the way to the top of the great stone column。 Faeryl spotted Talindra's fortress and turned her pany aside。 If they actually approached the place； some guard peering down from the ramparts was bound to penetrate their disguises。
They marched south； still without interference。 If someone was chasing them； the ambassador was sure it would have bee apparent by then。 Faeryl took a deep breath； told herself her ruse had succeeded； and tried to relax。 She couldn't； quite。 Perhaps when she reached the Bauthwaf； or better still； escaped Menzoberranyr territory altogether 。 。 。
The outlanders' route carried them to the west of the elevation that was Qu'ellarz'orl； its slopes thick with enormous mushrooms。 Then； at last； they reached one of the city's hundred gates to the tunnels beyond。 The Menzoberranyr defended all of them； but this one at least was a minor exit。 It boasted fewer guards than most。
The fugitives approached boldly； as if they had every legitimate expectation of the sentries ushering them through。 The guards must have wondered why a high priestess would wear an elegant cloak and gown and ride her ceremonial transport for an excursion into the dirty； dangerous caves beyond the city； but a matron's whim was law in Menzoberranzan。 They offered her obeisance； then set about the cumbersome process of unbarring the graniteandadamantine valves—or most of them did。
One officer eyed Faeryl thoughtfully。 He had a foxy； humorous face and was smaller than most males； which apparently didn't hinder him when wielding the heavy broadsword hanging from his baldric。 Though he carried the blade of a warrior； he'd eschewed mail—which could disrupt arcane spells—for a cloak and jerkin possessed of the countless telltale pockets of a wizard。 Evidently he was fighter and wizard both。 When she gazed directly at him； he respectfully lowered his head but resumed his scrutiny as soon as she turned her head。
She pivoted around to face him and asked； 〃Captain； is it？〃
The small male gave her a smart salute。
〃Captain Filifar； my lady； at your service。〃
〃Please； e here。〃
Filifar obeyed。 If he betrayed any wariness； it was only in his eyes。 The two gigantic spiders graven in the leaves of the gate stirred ever so slightly。 Faeryl realized they would emerge from the carving and fight for him if manded。
〃You have the look of an intelligent male；〃 she said； gazing down at him from atop the driftdisc。
〃Thank you； my lady。〃
〃Perhaps you received orders；〃 she continued； 〃to refuse passage to the delegation from Ched Nasad。〃
〃No； my lady。〃
Filifar's hand twitched ever so slightly。 It wanted to reach for either the hilt of his sword or the spell ponents in one of his pockets。
〃Your subordinates were content to receive their instructions and let it go at that； but not a sharp boy like you。 Somehow you contrived to find out what the ambassador looks like； thus making sure you'd be able to recognize her if she came this way。〃
Filifar's mouth tightened。 〃My lady；〃 he said； 〃my pany is well armed and well trained。 You may also have observed the spiders graven—〃
She raised her hand。 〃Don't agitate yourself； Captain。 I mean you no harm。 We're just two Menzoberranyr idly chatting； passing the time it takes your fellows to open the gate。〃
〃I regret； my lady； that now that I've seen you up close； I can't allow them to do that。〃
He took two careful steps back； retreating beyond her reach； then pivoted to shout the order。
Faeryl stopped him dead by displaying a gaudy ruby brooch； formerly Talindra's property。
〃I said you were an intelligent lad； Captain Filifar； but I don't believe you're a prosperous one。 You wear no jewelry； and your clothing is made of mon stuff。〃
〃You're right； milady。 Fortune hasn't favored me。〃
It can。
Faeryl brought out one ornament after another； the jewels her retainers had stolen from the Ousstyls and her own legitimate treasure as well。 She filled her lap with them and laid the surplus on the pale； luminous rim of the driftdisc。
〃Here's enough wealth to improve your luck and that of your minions as well。〃
Filifar hesitated before saying； 〃My lady； I was told that Matron Triel herself wishes you detained。 It's no light matter to cross the Baenre。〃
〃Just say the Zauvirr didn't pass through this gate； or if they did； you didn't recognize them。 No one will know any different。〃
He jerked his head in a nod。 〃Right。 Why not； curse it？〃
He removed his piwafwi to use as a makeshift bag and swept the jewelry in。 Some of the soldiers noticed what their captain was doing and scurried over to investigate。
Once the gate was well behind her； Faeryl abandoned the driftdisc。 The stately conveyance was just too slow。 She and her part）〃 quickmarched on through the mostly unimproved passages at the fringe of Menzoberranyr territory； past hunters' outposts and adamantine mines； making for the genuine wilderness beyond。
Faeryl realized she was grinning。 It was absurd； really。 She'd just surrendered a queen's ransom in gems； Triel would send troops after her； and she was all but certain some dire peril lay ahead； but somehow； for the moment； none of it mattered。 Faeryl had outwitted her foes and finally； after fourteen years； she was going home。
The fugitives rounded a bend； and dark figures seemed to flow from the tunnel walls just ahead。 The Zauvirr turned to run。 Somehow； the shadows were behind them as well。
On the fringe of Menzoberranyr territory； Valas Hune could sense the genuine wilderness beyond。 He could feel its vast and labyrinthine spaces and hear its pregnant silences。 He could smell and taste its variations of rock and imagined himself simply slipping away into that limi