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Triel doubted the guards outside, flanking the doors, were going to hear a nore of Menzoberranzan through carelessness She inclined her head to listen
"Do tell," she said
"Quenthel and the others have reached Ched Nasad," the arche said "Pharaun Mizzrym reports that the city is in an uproar Apparently, Menzoberranzan is not the only city afflicted with Lolth&039;s disfavor"
"We don&039;t know that it is disfavor!" Triel snapped "There htly in apology
"Afflicted with her absence," he corrected himself "But thethe situation quiet"
"How bad is it?"
"I gathered that trouble could be brewinghed As much of a relief as it was to find out Menzoberranzan was not being singled out for soet the why the Dark Mother had chosen to disappear Triel was at a loss as tothe next step
"Did he say what they were planning to do?" she asked her brother
"Quenthel see back goods froical supplies lifted Triel&039;s spirits slightly, but only slightly
"Then I suppose they&039;ll be returning within a few tendays," she said "We are really no closer to an answer than hen they left It is only a matter of time before Menzoberranzan is in the same difficulties as her sister city"
"Unfortunately, you may be more correct than you understand"
"What other dire news do you have to report?"
If this was the way herin Reverie until theand dealing with the issues at hand
"I have received reports that our patrols are encountering a lot more activity around the perimeter of the city"
"What kind of activity?"
"Exactly what youhas actually happened, no skir out, our patrols have spotted what looks to be scouting parties surveying our situation Duergar, deep gnoreater-than-nors aren&039;t right"
"Perhaps Or, they could si to sorown more sensitive to their presence"
"I doubt it," she replied "This can&039;t last We&039;re going to have to confront the situation soon I will bring this up at the next council "
"Of course," Gromph said and made a move to withdraw
Triel motioned that her brother was diset on with her day, but she continued to brood atop her throne for sored along for the trip from the Flame and Serpent to the storehouse district The roorse since even the previous day, and the drow receivedlooks and jostles as they h the streets Fortunately, the trio didn&039;t have to travel far to get to where they needed to go, and much of the journey was made by way of levitation Faeryl was in a sullen er to aid the Menzoberranyr Perhaps she was still displeased with Quenthel&039;s lack of trust, or red&039;s presence The high priestess couldn&039;t bla Faeryl, Quenthel aler drow Almost
Quenthel had sent the males to procure transportation for the return trip to Menzoberranzan She wasn&039;t about to haul her own provisions on her back again, whether they oods or not, and if they did they would need sufficient pack lizards and guards to ensure the h priestess that anyone worth his salt wasgoing to command an exorbitant price, if he could be convinced to work at all, but Quenthel didn&039;t care and told the scout so
Why is it, Quenthel thought as they approached Black Claw&039;s storehouses fro about, that withdetail? Why can&039;t they just do as they&039;re told and be done with it?
Pharaun was the worst, she decided Quenthel had no doubt that the wizard was off doing his own little tasks, co her instructions to hinoring her wishes, and she would have to do soot back to Menzoberranzan, of course She needed his talents too much until then
"Now, remember," Quenthel warned Faeryl as they neared the office side of the storehouse "Tell them only what I instructed you If I&039;red will loth was strolling along behind the two priestesses, and Faeryl stole a quick glance over her shoulder at him Quenthel noticed her faint shudder and smiled to herself It turned out to be quite useful that Triel had set Jeggred upon the girl back in Menzoberranzan It had made her socompliant
"Yes, Mistress Quenthel," Faeryl replied "I understand"
The three of theent of six House Zauvirr guards barred the entrance Faeryl approached boldly, even as the loth behind her
"We ht was a surprisingly co voice "Stand aside and let us enter"
The aze away froh to look at her quizzically
"I don&039;t know you," he said "What is your business?"
Faeryl stepped closer, standing a little taller so that he was forced to peer up at her scowling face She grasped the House insignia that was pinned to herpii and thrust it into his view
"You know this, don&039;t you?" she snapped, shaking the insignia "You&039;re here to keep out the riffraff, stupid boy, not bother a personal envoy of Matron Mothers Zauvirr and Melarn"
Quenthel noted with satisfaction that the lad gulped, visibly shaken as heFaeryl access to the door The ared right behind her As Quenthel strolled past, she saped at the draegloth, his eyes wide
Inside the storehouse, which appeared to have been spun froh an office area, through a large door, and into a cavernous chae areas by loalls Her footsteps echoing in the vast storeroo past row after row of shelves and bins Quenthel followed her, figuring the aic
Quenthel supposed there was a secure section of the storehouse, and she began to worry Any ht that fop Mizzryoth hissed, rising up froer!"
Quenthel spun around, looking for signs of a threat, but she could see nothing
"What danger?" she demanded "Where?"
"A force is heredrow," Zinda answered, and all five of the snakes were agitating against her hip
"Drow and others," Zinda added
Soh priestess realized What have you done, insolent child?
A heartbeat later, a small host of drow appeared from behind a loall, soldiers with swords and hand crossbows at the ready, and a handful of House wizards, too They were all fronized two of the dark elves as matronOne bore the insignia of House Zauvirr, and she was s coldly The other, a rather plu and in fact looked quite distressed
"By the Dark Mother," one of thehis crossbow and sighting down it at the fiend
"He&039;s dangerous," Faeryl called out, but several of the House wizards were already in action, casting spells even as the draegloth sprang forward, his teeth bared and his claws out, ready to shred anyone and everyone to ribbons Faeryl took an involuntary step back, shuddering Jeggred reain, snarling in fury, but un otherwise
"That will hold hiasped in surprise, looking back and forth between Jeggred and Faeryl
"Yes, Quenthel," Faeryl called out "He has been rendered helpless He cannot extract you frolare to Faeryl as the soldiers fanned out,well back Many of the males aimed crossbows at her, and the wizards and priestesses all seemed ready to invoke various spells, should the Mistress of the Academy decide to bolt or attack The snakes of Quenthel&039;s rithed in agitation, snapping at anyone who steppedtoo close
"You insolent little whelp of a drow," Quenthel snarled, shaking in fury as she looked at Faeryl, who only sreeable, and it was a lie I knew you were being too accored have his ith you back in the wilds I will see you flayed for this"
"Thatas much sarcasm as possible into her tone when she caive this situation just a ht, you will see, I&039;m sure, that you are overmatched It really would be better if you surrendered this foolish standoff"
Quenthel blinked, weighing the ambassador&039;s words Finally, reluctantly, she realized that she was overmatched and nodded
"Excellent, Mistress," Faeryl said "Now, I think it would be a wise idea for you to lay down your arms and all of those wonderful trinkets I know you carry about yourself"
Quenthel&039;s glare deepened, but she carefully set the whip down at her feet
"Co with you for several tendays now I know about the ring and the rod and all the other things Don&039;t an to remove the various iteh priestess could no longer be a significant threat, she ordered her to step away froathered up Quenthel&039;s possessions, Faeryl stepped closer to Quenthel, sain
"I am sorry it had to be this way, Quenthel," she said, "but I&039;ained soht back
"Oh, I quite understand, Ahly disappointed when she learns what you have done, but I wouldn&039;t worry too hif there&039;s one thing Triel will miss more than her sister, it would have to be her beloved son"
Faeryl didn&039;t let her sht have sed just a little nervously at the thought of the Matron Mother of House Baenre hearing the news that her draegloth had been destroyed
Faeryl shrugged and said, "That&039;s a worry for another time, Mistress Now, if you will be so kind as to ith me, I&039;ll introduce Matron Mother Drisinil Melarn and my own mother, Mistress Ssipriina Zauvirr They aremore about how you planned to steal our provisions and take the in Menzoberranzan They are ours by right," Quenthel said, angry all over again
In the back of her mind, a part of her told herself that she really did need to learn to control her anger better, but she didn&039;t want to listen
Faeryl laughed cynically "You didn&039;t actually think I was going to let you steal from my House, did you?" she said "Fro breath, the a from her voice, "Look around you, Mistress Baenre This is what&039;s left of your precious stores of goods"
For the first time, Quenthel realized that the rows and rows of shelves and bins werein there to take She had been thoroughly tricked, fro of the journey, perhaps, played for the fool that she was The betrayal was not unexpected, and Quenthel knew that had the roles been reversed, House Baenre would have carried the situation to the saalled her was that whatever foolish Baenre whelp had been responsible for the logistics of the deal had never bothered to put enough troops loyal to the House in place to ensure that nothing like this ever happened Quenthel suspected that whatever loyal forces had been here had been surew The fact that no one was there noas a testament to that
"What have you done with it?" Quenthel de for tih there were a number of drow troops there, there was still a chance she could escape - though it would require leaving Jeggred behind
Faeryl laughed, "Oh, don&039;t worry Black Claw made a tidy profit recently The stock has been put to a far better use than what you intended, Mistress"
The irl&039;s tone was unh, Faeryl," Ssipriina Zauvirr said, takinga couple of steps forward "There&039;s no need to ruin the surprise we have in store for our guests"
As Faeryl lowered her head slightly in deference to her mother, she made her face stony smooth, but Quenthel knew that behind that facade, the Zauvirr daughter was delighted to have thwarted her
Matron Mother Melarn also stepped forward - or rather, two heavily ar her between the
Ssipriina Zauvirr strolled halfway toward Quenthel and stopped
"When et into private contact with Faeryl and she was able to tell us what you were planning, we of course wasted no ti for your arrival I have to say, I am more than a little surprised that you actually expected to slip a storehouse full of goods out of the city, out fro, but that&039;s really of no consequence As hter indicated, House Zauvirr has put the profits to a far better use"
Quenthel blinked in confusion
"House Zauvirr?" she asked "You are s to Houses Melarn and Baenre" The high priestess turned to the otherthis? Are you content to let these deceitful, low-classmerchants make the decisions for your invest than I"
Drisinil Melarn didn&039;t say a word, though she grihtly when Quenthel spoke to her, Ssipriina Zauvirr laughed, a quick, bitter sound
"Oh, she is far from content, Quenthel Baenre, but she has little choice in the matter"
Quenthel realized just why Matron Mother Melarn see her were not escorts but guards
"You would dare?" Quenthel asked "You have laid hands on the et aith it? How can you expect to survive, whenwhen - "
The high priestess claht
When Lolth will not grant you spells
"Oh, not to worry," Ssipriina said, s even more deeply than before "With the funds I&039;veoff your valuables, I have ensured that House Zauvirr will never again kneel before the likes of you two"
Her eyes glittered red as she finished, and Quenthel saw pure hatred burning in them
"Captain Xornbane, if you please?" Ssipriina called All around the drow gathering, appearing froe circle, brandishing wicked-looking axes and heavy crossbows Clearly, they had been standing there for a few ar looked confident, ready for anything
Quenthel felt the pit of her stomach leap into her throat, but before she could take any action she felt an invisible force seize her and hold her motionless She couldn&039;t move a muscle and saw that Drisinil Melarn was in a siar asked, stepping forward