Unless； of course； the spider wasn't really on the ceiling； which was a real possibility。 Maybe it was actually hiding elsewhere。 It might even be creepnoting up on her while she stared at the burning painting and the nervous vipers worried more about their proximity to a dark fire than about keepnoting watch。
No； her intuition had pointed her in the right direction。 She spotted the spider as it gathered itself to spring down at her； and having flushed it out； she need only survive its renewed attack。
She dived from beneath its plummeting form and rolled； leaving a trail of black； burning scraps of cloth behind on the floor。 The creature with its tattered； oozing eyes landed with a thump； its eight legs flexing to absorb the impact。
Quenthel scrambled up and backed away from it。 Her whole gown was aflame； nearly her entire body shrouded in dark fire。 She threw another ball of the stuff； which spattered on the demon's back and streamed down its flanks。 To her delight； her magic affected it again。 The spider too wore a mantle of shadowy flame； the heat rippling the air above it。
That meant it ought to drop； didn't it； or at least flounder about in helpnotless agony？ The fire was surely damaging it； for Quenthel could smell its flesh charring even through the omnipresent reek of burning paint； but the demon turned and scuttled after her。
She aimed the next burning missile at the cluster of eyes that seemed in some indefinable way to constitute the very core of the thing。 The spider did lurch and falter when the burning darkness splashed over the orbs； but only for a second； and it kept ing。
Unable to outrun it； hoping she'd at least softened it up a little； Quennotthel shouted her goddess's name and lunged to meet it。 Sheathed in dark…fire； her whole body was a weapon and would burn the spider wherever it touched。 Where the black flame on the monster's limbs was giving way to yellow； it could burn her； too； but not if she didn't let it。 Their natural savnotagery overing their fear of fire； the whip vipers lashed and struck in a frenzy of bloodlust。
At first； swinging the whip； ducking and dodging； she kept hernotself clear of the spider's mandibles。 She shifted left when she should have jumped right； and the razor…sharp pincers snapped shut around her。
They stopped short of piercing her flesh。 Loath to clasp her blazing body and be seared thereby； the spider faltered for just an instant。 Before it could muster the will to proceed； Quenthel struck a final blow。
The ophidian lashes crashed through the demon's charred and tattered visage and bit into what lay beneath。 The spider jerked； froze； twitched two of its legs in a purposeless way； and the burning hulk of it slowly sank to the floor； just as Quenthel's spell elapsed and all the dark fire still cracknotling in the chamber winked out of existence。
She shouted in exultation。 Equally ecstatic； only a little singed； the vipers danced at the end of the scourge。 Everyone's good mood lasted just as long as it took for the Baenre priestess； clad primarily in smoke and ash； to turn toward the door。
Though she'd been far too busy to notice hitherto； at some point a number of teachers and students had evidently crowded into the space to watch the battle。 They were watching Quenthel still； eyes wide； faces uncertain。
〃It was a desecration；〃 said Quenthel。 〃A mockery。〃
She stared at them with haughty expectation。
They peered back at her for a moment； then folded their hands and bowed their heads in obeisance。
C h a p t e r
T H R E E
Tall and lithe； the left side of her otherwise handsome face creased with an old battle scar of which； she recognized； she was rather foolishly proud； Greyanna Mizzrym entered her mother's presence dirty； sweaty； and still clad in her mail shirt。 Greyanna knew Mother didn't like for her daughters and other chattels to e to meet with her fully armed； but she had an excuse。 She'd just returned from an inspection tour of Mizzrym operations in Bauthwaf…〃around…cloak；〃 as the dangerous network of tunnels imnotmediately surrounding Menzoberranzan was called…only to hear from a frantic functionary bearing the fresh marks of a whip of fangs that the matron mother wished to see her as soon as possible。
Actually； even knowing the articles likely wouldn't save her if things went horribly wrong； Greyanna rather liked having a justification to walk in on her parent with her mace in her hand and her shield on her arm。 She couldn't think of any reason why Mother would have decided to kill her at this particular point in time； but one could never be altogether sure； could one？
Certainly not with Miz'ri Mizzrym； a female regarded even by other dark elves as excessively and capriciously cruel。 She sat enthroned in her temple with all of her weapons and protections ready to hand； the six…headed whip and the purple rod of tentacles； the enchanted rings gleamnoting on her fingers。 She might have been considered ely even by the exacting standards of her exquisite race； except that her mouth drew down in an ugly and all but perpetual scowl。 She regarded her daughter's martial appointments coldly but without ment。
Greyanna lowered her head and spread her hands； offering the proper obeisance； and said； 〃Matron Mother。 You wished to see me？〃
〃I wished to see you yesterday。〃
〃I was off conducting family business。〃 Of course； Mother knew that as well as she did。 〃We have to keep up with our duties even now。 Especially now…as you yourself have observed on more than one occasion。〃
〃Watch your insolent tongue！〃
Greyanna sighed。 〃Yes； Mother。 I apolog