F O U R (81 page)

"I suppose they could be planning just that," Trshould have followed through and at least killed Master Pharaun."iel said, frowning. "Perhaps we

"I f we execute one of the saviors of Menzoberranzan—damn  his miserable

little hide—it would have made House

archm               Baenre look frightened and weak." The age smiled a crooked smile. "Which  we are, at the moment, but we don't

dare give the appearance.""What, then, do you recom

mend?"

Below the balcony, a lizard hissed and wheels creaked as a cart rolled by."Use them  in a way that sim

ultaneously benefits us and neutralizes the threat

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they represent," said Gromcan't  continue. W

e  must find a way to restote the priesthood'

ph. "Surely you and I agree that the present situation

s magic ".

Triel nodded, looking away from  her battered city.

"I propose that as a first step," the archmaanother city—likely Ched Nasad—to find  out if their divines are simge continued, "we send agents to il

arl

afflicted, and if so, whether they know wh                 y y.  You can assign Quenthel to lead the

expedition. After all, it concerns Arach-Tinilith perhaps most of  all. I'll bedelighted to loan you the services of Master Pharaun. If the st

ory I heard  was

correct, that weapons master friend of  his should go as well, if for no other reason than it'll m

ake Pharaun squirm."

"Ched  Nasad  ..."  Triel  whispered

.

"The three of them  ought to be more than capable of surviving a trek as far

as Ched Nasad," continued Gromph, "and they can't  very well try to overthrowus while they'

re leagues away from  th

Lolth will return before they do, and in any case, with te city, can they? Who knows, perhaps ime, their notoriety will fade."

His suggestion left Triel feeling a little  sheepish. She hid it as best she could by pretending to consider his plan.

"Faeryl Zauvirr proposed an expedition to Ched Nasad. She claimed to be concerned because the caravans have stopped."

Gromph cocked his head. "Really? We    representatives can sort that  out

as well. You know, it's good that the amll, ourbassador is already keen to  go.  She'll

make a valuable addition and a mo

enterprise."             re than adequate cover for the whole "Waerva told m

e  Faeryl was a spy," said  Triel, "and sought to  depart the city in

order to report our weakness to her confederates. So I forbade her to leave "."What proof did Waerva offer?"

"She told me  she learned of Faeryl's  treachery from  one of her informants ".

Gromph waited a moment as if expecting something more.

"And that's  it?" he asked at length. "With  respect, Matron, ma

if you haven't spoken with the informer yourself, if you haven'y I point out that t probed the

matter  any further,  then  you really  only have  Waerva's  word  for  it  that the envoy

is a traitor ".

"I can't  handle everything personally," Triel scowled. "That's why we have

retainers in the first place. I have not entirely lost touch with my—
 
our
 
interests in Ched Nasad, though their explanations and excuses do wear thin. "

"Of course, Matron," Gromph said quickly. "I quite understand. I have the

same  problem  with my  own retainers, and I only have Menzoberran-zan's

wizards to oversee, not an entire city.""Why would Waerva lie?"

"I don't know, but I've had some  dealings  with Faeryl Zauvirr. She never struck

me  as stupid enough to cross the Baenre.  W

and discontented enough for any gam  aerva, on the other hand, is reckless e. Accordingly,  I think it miworthwhile to inquire into this m                  ght be

atter ourselves."

Triel hesitated before saying, "That could prove diff

the Zauvirr tried to flee Menzoberranzan. I hired somicult. Despite my  orders, e  agents of Bregan

D'aerthe, led by Valas Hune—do you know him?"

"I've heard the name  mentioned," Grom

"He would m            ph replied.ake a fair addition to your  little band of explorers," Triel said.

"He's known to be more than passingly familiar with the wilds of the

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Underdark—a guide of some  accomGromph bowed his agreement.  plishment, in fact."

"Be that as it may,  it was Valas Hune I hired to fetch Faeryl back. He com

The wizard rounded on the draegloth.pleted his task well, and I gave the ambassador to Jeggred.""What's the prisoner's condition?" he asked the creature. "Is she alive?"

"Yes," said Jeggred through a mouthful of bloody meat. "I was taking mtime, to prove I can. But you can't  have  her               y.  Mother gave her to me. She justtold you."Gromph stared up into the half-demon's eyes."Nephew

," he said, "I'm  sore, frustrated, and in a foul mood generally. Rightnow I don't give a leaky sack of rat droppings whether you're a sacred being or not. Show some  respect, lead mewhere you sit."           to this prisoner forthwith, or I'll blight you Clutching the rothe bone like a club, Jeggred sprang upward from  his seat.

Triel said, "Do as the archma

The draegloth lowered his mge bade you. I wish it as well."a"Yes, Mother       keshift weapon.

," he sighed.

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C  h a p t  e r

T   W   E   N   T   Y

F   I   V   E

peered about. The cave streHer pack weighting her shoulders, hetched out before her and r heart pounding, W

aerva turned and

stabbing down from the ceiling and stalagmites jutting up from the uneven floorbehind, with stalactites . Nothing moved.

of falling water plopped somewhere in the What, then, had she heard? As if in  response to her unspoken question, a drop common sounds of the Underdark, and scarcely a harbipassages ahead. It was one of the most

nger  of  peril.Waerva wiped sweat from her brow and  scowled at her own  jumpiness. She had

good reason to be edgy, though. Everyone  said it was suicide to travel thesubterranean wilderness alone.

Sadly,  thanks to the cursed goblin rebellion, she had little choice. Because ofthe desperate fighting all across the city

,  the clergy's incapacity was no great secretanymore. Certainly Gromph  had discerned it, which  meant T

r

anything to hide from him. Surely, then, she would s      iel no longer had eek  his  counsel  once  more.Waerva had been confident she could

manipulate the frazzled matron mother

but she very m                            , uch doubted she could fool the canny archmashe'd cleared out of the Great Mound and Menzoberranzan itself before her ge. Accordingly,

kinsman  could  start  asking  questions,  and  there  she  was,  a

hiking through a perilous wilderness.             solitary  wayfarer But she was strong and cunning, and she'd survive. She'd m

ake her way to her

secret allies, and everything would be all right.She took four m

ore strides, then heard  another little sound, and this one wasn't

falling water.  It sounded more like a stealthy footstep brushing stone, and it

came from  behind her.

She whirled and saw no one, then something stung her arm.  She pivoted.  Ather feet lay the pebble som

eone had th

through the air             rown. Soft, sibilant laughter rippled .  From  the sound of it, the merrymakers were all around her.Why

,  then, couldn't she see them?Adamantine mace at the ready