rlooking the largest audience chamber in House Baenre。 A pair of sentries guarded the entry to ensure that no one would sneak through to stab the matron mother in the back。 They snapped to attention when they saw her ing。
Triel swept on through the entry with Jeggred and the clerk in tow。 The hall on the other side glowed with soft magical light to facilitate the exnotamination of documents。 A sweet perfume scented the air； and a fresco of Lolth adorned the ceiling。 The guards along the walls…dark elves near the dais； ogre and minotaur slaves farther down…saluted； while the supplinotcants and petitioners made the obeisance proper to their stations； anything from a dignified inclination of the head and spreading of the hands to an abject grovel flat on the floor。
Looking down on them from the elevated platform； Triel reflected that it was astonishing just how many such folk turned up each and every tenday。 She'd thought people were always demanding her attention when she ruled the Academy； but she'd had no conception of the hordes of idiots who constantly sought Matron Baenre's ear； often to resolve trivial if not nonsensical concerns。
She sat down on her mother's throne； an empress's ransom in gold with a flaring back shaped to resemble an arc of spider web。 Her predecessor had been a relatively large female； and her successor always felt a bit childlike and lost in the chair。 She had enough of a sense of irony to prehend the accidental symbolism。
She surveyed the waiting throng and discovered Faeryl Zauvirr at the very front with some long； bulky rolled papers tucked under her arm。 The matron mother smiled； for at least she knew how to deal with this one particular petitioner。 For a blessed change； Waerva； one of the lesser fenotmales of her House； had made herself useful。 She'd e up with some significant information and a sensible idea of what to do about it。
Triel decided she might as well start out feeling dominant and shrewd。 Perhaps it would set the tone for the rest of the session。 She waited for the herald to conclude the ceremonials and the crowd to rise。 Then； still spatnottered with blood； and with Jeggred looming reassuringly behind her throne； she motioned for Faeryl to step forward。
C h a p t e r
S I X
Faeryl was pleased to be chosen first。 In retrospect； she thought the same thing would have occurred even if she hadn't made sure of a position imnotmediately in front of the dais。 The haughty Menzoberranyr often feigned disinterest in their client city； but she knew they understood the impornottance of Ched Nasad。
It was hard not to hurry； but she forced herself to approach the throne with a stately tread consonant with the dignity of her position； the stature of her House； and the grandeur of her homeland。 It was also difficult to offer a second graceful obeisance without dropping her roll of maps； but she acplished that as well。
〃Ambassador；〃 said Triel without any extraordinary warmth。 Perhaps she considered Faeryl's presence inappropriate。
〃Matron Mother；〃 Faeryl replied。 Tall； broad…shouldered and thick waisted by the standards of her slender race； she would have dwarfed the Baenre had the two of them been standing side by side。 〃I know we sometimes meet in private； but after tendays of deliberation I arrived at a conclusion； one that pelled me to confer with you at the earliest opportunity。〃
〃What conclusion？〃 Triel asked。
She still seemed unconcerned if not downright cold。 Perhaps she was preoccupied with her affliction。
Faeryl had of course fallen prey to the same malaise； but to her own surnotprise； she'd discovered she was at least as worried about something else： the well…being of House Zauvirr and the magnificent city in which it amassed its wealth； fought its covert battles； and worked its magic。
〃I keep track of the caravans arriving from Ched Nasad；〃 the ambassanotdor said。 〃For the past six tendays； none has。 None。 As the Matron Mother is undoubtedly aware； several major trade routes converge in the City of Shimmering Webs； which then funnels the merchants on to Menzoberranzan。 At least half the goods that reach your cavern e through us。 Exnotcept that now； they aren't reaching you。 The steady flow has dried up。 Except in time of war； that's unprecedented。〃
〃It's an odd coincidence； certainly； all the merchant clansmen choosing other destinations； but I'm sure they'll decide to head for Menzoberranzan next trip； or the trip after that。〃
Faeryl had to make a conscious effort to pose her features。 Othernotwise she would have scowled。 If she hadn't known better； she would have thought Triel was being deliberately obtuse。
〃1 suspect it may be more than a coincidence；〃 the ambassador said。 〃A thousand thousand dangers haunt the Underdark； and the philosophers tell us new ones are spawning all the time。 What if something has cut the route between Menzoberranzan and Ched Nasad？ What if it's killing everyone who tries to pass through？〃
〃More than one tunnel connects the cities；〃 rumbled the draegloth unnotexpectedly； and despite the perfume wafting through the air； Faeryl caught a whiff of the creature's putrid breath。 〃Is that not so？〃
〃Exactly！〃 Triel reached back around the edge of her golden chair and gave the half…fiend an approving pat on the leg。 〃Your theory doesn't stand up； Ambassador。〃
Not for the first time； Faeryl wished that Triel's mother was still leading House Baenre。 The greedy； vicious old autocrat could be hard to contend with； but though she would have cherished a draegloth as a mark of Lolth's
approval and delighted in the demidemon's gift for slaughter； she wouldn't have tolerated it spea