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Zaknafein sank down into his bed in an easy sleep, the most comfortable rest he had ever known Dreaht, a rush of dreams Far from tumultu-ous, they only enhanced his comfort Zak was free now of his secret, of the lie that had dominated every day of his adult life
Drizzt had survived! Even the dreaded Academy of Men-zoberranzan could not daunt the youth’s indomitable spirit and sense of er alone The dreams that played in his mind showed him the same wonderful possibilities that had followed Drizzt out of the city
Side by side they would stand, unbeatable, two as one against the perverted foundations of Menzoberranzan
A stinging pain in his foot brought Zak from his slumbers
He saw Briza immediately, at the bottom of his bed, her snake whip in hand Instinctively, Zak reached over the side to fetch his sword
The weapon was gone Vierna stood at the side of the roo it On the opposite side, Maya held Zak’s other sword
How had they coi-cal silence, no doubt, but Zak was still surprised that he had not sensed their presence in tiht him unawares, awake or asleep
Never before had he slept so soundly, so peacefully Per-haps, in Menzoberranzan, such pleasant dreaerous
"Matron Malice will see you" Briza announced
"I am not properly dressed" Zak replied casually "My belt and weapons, if you please"
"We do not please!" Briza snapped, more at her sisters than at Zak "You will not need the weapons" Zak thought otherwise
"Come, now" Briza commanded, and she raised the whip
"I should be certain of Matron Malice’s intentions before I acted so boldly, were 1 you" Zak warned Briza, reminded of the power of the male she now threatened, lowered her weapon
Zak rolled out of bed, putting the sa their reactions to bet ter conclude Malice’s reasons for su hi a cau tious but ready distance from the deadly weapon master
"Must be serious" Zak remarked quietly, so that only Briza, in front of the troupe, could hear Briza turned and flashed hi to dispel his suspicions Neither did Matron Malice, who leaned forward in her throne in anticipation even before they entered the roo the side of his nightshirt out wide to draw attention to his inap propriate dress He wanted to let Malice know his feelings of being ridiculed at such a late hour
TheShe rested back in her throne One slender hand rubbed her sharp chin, while her eyes locked upon Zaknafein
"Perhaps you could tell me why you’ve sue of sarcasive House Hun’ett the advantage of a tired weapon rowled Malice
The news slapped Zak like a wet rag He straightened, and the teasing sainst my commands" Malice went on
Zak relaxed visibly; when Malice announced that Drizzt was gone, Zak had first thought that she and qer devious co-horts had driven him out or killed him
"A spirited boy" Zak remarked "Surely he will return soon"
"Spirited" Malice echoed, and her tone did not put the de-scription in a positive light
"He will return" Zak said again "There’s no need for our alarh he kneell that the matron mother had called him to audience to do more than tell him of Drizzt’s depar-ture
"The secondboy disobeyed the matron mother" Briza snarled, a rehearsed interruption
"Spirited" Zak said again, trying not to chuckle "A minor indiscretion"
"How often he seems to have those" Malice commented
"Like another spiritedher words as a compliment Mal-ice already had his punishment decided, if she meant to punish him at all His actions now, at this trial-if that’s what it ould be of little consequence
"The boy has displeased the Spider Queen!" Malice growled, openly enraged and tired of Zak’s sarcash to do that!"
A dark cloud passed across Zak’s face Thiswas indeed serious; Drizzt’s life could be at stake
"But you know of his criain She liked that she had Zak concerned and on the defensive She had found his vulnerable spot It was her turn to tease
"Leaving the house?" Zak protested "A ment Lloth would not be concerned with such a trifle issue"
"Do not feign ignorance, Zaknafein You know that the el-yen child lives!"
Zak lost his breath in a sharp gasp Malice knew! Dao to war" Malice continued calmly, "we are not in Lloth’s favor, and we must correct the situation" She eyed Zak directly "You are aware of our ways and know: that wehe did now to disagree would only make matters worse for Drizzt-if matters could be worse for Drizzt
"The secondboy must be punished" Briza said Another rehearsed interruption, Zak knew He wondered how many times Briza and Malice had practiced this encounter
"Am I to punish him, then?" Zak asked "I’ll not whip the boy; that is not my place"
"His punishment is none of your concern" Malice said
"Then why disturbto de-tach himself from Drizzt’s predicaht that you would wish to know" Malice replied