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ached with the tears she refused to shed。 Naturally； she didn't 〃love〃 her minions； but she was used to them； even fond of a few； and she knew that without a retinue she was nothing； just a fallen priestess in a land of enemies； bereft of goddess and home alike。
Then the small male confronted her and used his magic to confound her and knock her out。 She woke tied to the stone stake。
A door creaked； and voices murmured。 Faeryl's instincts warned her that Triel had e at last。 The ambassador closed her eyes； took a deep breath； and let it out slowly； posing herself。 She wouldn't show fear。 Dignity was all she had left—for a little while longer anyway； until her captors lashed and burned it out of her。
Sure enough； Triel and her draegloth son emerged from the doorway that apparently led to more salubrious precincts of the Great Mound。 The Baenre matron was smiling。 Fangs bared in a grin； Jeggred bounded along on his caprine legs。
The little male rose and offered obeisance。
〃Valas；〃 said Triel。 〃Well done。 Did the Zauvirr give you any trouble？〃
〃They tried to sneak away in disguise；〃 the male replied。 〃It almost fooled the lookout； but once he figured out what was what； everything went as planned。〃
The Baenre proffered a fat pouch that looked too big and heavy for her tiny hand。
〃I'll send word when I need Bregan D'aerthe again；〃 she said。
Valas took the pouch； then bowed low。 He withdrew； and Triel and her monstrous son turned toward the prisoner。
〃Good evening； Matron；〃 Faeryl said； 〃or is it morning now？〃
Fighting hands outstretched； talons at the ready； jaws agape； Jeggred lunged at the prisoner。 Despite herself； Faeryl flinched。 Both the claws and the pointed teeth stopped less than an inch from her flesh。 The draegloth loomed over her； pressing close； almost seeming to embrace her like a lover。 He ran a pointed nail across her cheek； then lifted it to his bestial muzzle。 He sucked； and a bit of warm； viscous drool； mixed； perhaps； with a trace of her blood； dripped onto her forehead。
〃Have a care；〃 the ambassador said with as much nonchalance as she could muster。 〃If your son kills me quickly； won't that spoil the fun？〃
Jeggred made a low； grinding sound。 Faeryl couldn't tell if he was growling or laughing。
Triel said； 〃You underestimate him。 True； I've watched him butcher eight prisoners in as many seconds； but I've also seen him spend days picking one little faerie child apart a mote of flesh at a time。 It depends on his humor； and； needless to say； my instructions。〃
〃Of course；〃 Faeryl said。 The shallow gash in her cheek began to sting。 Jeggred traced the edges of her lips with his claw； not quite cutting； not yet。 〃I hope the traitor whelp appreciated the honor。〃
〃It was hard to tell；〃 she said。 〃What about you？ Will you savor it？〃
〃Alas； Exalted Mother；〃 Faeryl said； 〃your daughter can take no pleasure in an honor she didn't earn。〃
Still stroking the prisoner's features with the claw； Jeggred lifted one of the smaller hands that； save for their dusting of fine hair； looked no different than those of an ordinary dark elf。 He caught hold of Faeryl's ear and twisted it； and she gasped at the brutal stab of pain。 When he finally let go； the an kept on throbbing and ringing。 She wondered if the draegloth had inflicted permanent damage； though it really didn't matter。 In the hours to e； deafness would be the least of her problems。
〃I wish you wouldn't deny your guilt；〃 sighed the dainty little Baenre matriarch。 〃I always find that dull。〃
〃Even when it's true？〃 Faeryl felt a fresh cut bleeding under her eye。 Apparently； when Jeggred had abused her ear； she'd bucked against his claw。
〃Don't be tiresome；〃 Triel said。 〃You were fleeing； and that confirms your guilt。〃
〃All it confirms is my certainty that someone has poisoned your mind against me；〃 Faeryl retorted。 Jeggred caught hold of a lock of her hair and gave it a vicious tug。 〃My aversion to being condemned unjustly。〃
〃Did you think to escape by running back to Ched Nasad？〃 Triel asked。 〃My word is law there； too。〃
〃How do you know？〃 Faeryl asked。
Jeggred slapped her with one of his enormous fighting hands； bashing her head sideways。 For a moment； the shock froze her mind。 When her senses returned； she tasted blood in her mouth。
The draegloth crouched； placing his bestial face directly in front of her own； and growled； 〃Respect the chosen of Lolth。〃
〃I mean no disrespect；〃 Faeryl said。 〃I'm just saying that for all we know； anything could be happening in Ched Nasad。 Cloakers could have overrun the city； or it may have drowned in tides of lava。 I doubt it； I pray not； but we don't know。 We need to find out； and that's why I was sneaking away。 Not to betray the weakness of Menzoberranzan's clergy to some enemy or other。 Mother of Lusts； it's my weakness too To gather intelligence； to reestablish munication—〃
〃I told you I have been in munication with Ched Nasad；〃 Triel said。
〃To reestablish trustworthy munication 。。。〃 Faeryl persisted； 〃to make myself useful and so demonstrate I'm your loyal vassal； never a traitor。〃
Triel made a spitting sound； then said； 〃My loyal servants obey me。〃
Faeryl wanted to weep； not from fear； though she was experiencing plenty of that； but from sheer frustration。 Jeggred ran his claw along her carotid artery。
〃Matron；〃 the Zauvirr said； 〃I beg you。 Let me confront the person who traduced me。 Give me that one chance to prove my fidelity。 Is it so hard to imagine someone telling you a lie？ Don't your courtiers slander one another all the time as a means of vying for your favor？ Is it impossible that someone or something in Ched Nasad is lying to you even now—telling you all is well while days； then tendays； then months go by without a single caravan？〃
Triel hesitated； and Faeryl felt a thrill of hope。 Then the ruler of Menzoberranzan said； 〃You're the liar； and it will do you no good。 If you want me to show any mercy at all； tell me whose creature you are。 The svirfneblin？ The aboleths？ Another drow city？〃
〃I serve only you； Sacred Mother。〃
Faeryl said the words without hope； for she saw that she would never convince the Baenre of her innocence。 It was too hard for Triel to measure up to her predecessor； too hard to rule in these desperate times； too hard to make decisions。 She wasn't about to rethink one of the few she'd managed to squeeze out； no matter how foolish it was。
Jeggred slapped Faeryl and kept on slapping until she lost count of the blows。 Finally time seemed to skip somehow； and he wasn't hitting her anymore。 Why should he bother？ He'd already battered all the strength out of her。 She would have fallen if not for the ropes holding her up。 A broken tooth had lodged under her tongue； and it was all she could do just to spit it out。
〃I told you；〃 the draegloth snarled； 〃respect”
〃I am respectful；〃 Faeryl wheezed。 〃That's why I give the truth even when it might be easier to lie。〃
Triel peered up at her son and said； 〃Princess Zauvirr will not distract you from your duties。〃
Jeggred inclined his head。 〃No； Mother。〃
〃But at such times as I do not require you；〃 the matron continued； 〃you may use the spy as you see fit。 If she tells you anything of interest； pass it along； but the point of your efforts