uffy cellar provided； and she thought she knew why。 Some messenger had instructed the torturers to wait for Triel to arrive before mencing the festivities。
Faeryl had already attempted to converse with the little male and her jailers and failed to elicit a response from either。 She had nothing else to do but struggle to govern her thoughts。 She didn't want to imagine all the things the Baenre might do to her； but she herself had presided over enough excruciations that it was difficult not to envision the possibilities。 She didn't want to dwell on the massacre of her followers； either； but the memories kept welling up inside her。
Surrounded and outnumbered； the daughters and sons of Ched Nasad had perished one by one。 As Faeryl watched the slaughter； her eyes ached with the tears she refused to shed。 Naturally； she didn't 〃love〃 her minions； but she was used to them； even fond of a few； and she knew that without a retinue she was nothing； just a fallen priestess in a land of enemies； bereft of goddess and home alike。
Then the small male confronted her and used his magic to confound her and knock her out。 She woke tied to the stone stake。
A door creaked； and voices murmured。 Faeryl's instincts warned her that Triel had e at last。 The ambassador closed her eyes； took a deep breath； and let it out slowly； posing herself。 She wouldn't show fear。 Dignity was all she had left…for a little while longer anyway； until her captors lashed and burned it out of her。
Sure enough； Triel and her draegloth son emerged from the doorway that apparently led to more salubrious precincts of the Great Mound。 The Baenre matron was smiling。 Fangs bared in a grin； Jeggred bounded along on his caprine legs。
The little male rose and offered obeisance。
〃Valas；〃 said Triel。 〃Well done。 Did the Zauvirr give you any trouble？〃
〃They tried to sneak away in disguise；〃 the male replied。 〃It almost fooled the lookout； but once he figured out what was what； everything went as planned。〃
The Baenre proffered a fat pouch that looked too big and heavy for her tiny hand。
〃I'll send word when I need Bregan D'aerthe again；〃 she said。
Valas took the pouch； then bowed low。 He withdrew； and Triel and her monstrous son turned toward the prisoner。
〃Good evening； Matron；〃 Faeryl said； 〃or is it morning now？〃
Fighting hands outstretched； talons at the ready； jaws agape； Jeggred lunged at the prisoner。 Despite herself； Faeryl flinched。 Both the claws and the pointed teeth stopped less than an inch from her flesh。 The draegloth loomed over her； pressing close； almost seeming to embrace her like a lover。 He ran a pointed nail across her cheek； then lifted it to his bestial muzzle。 He sucked； and a bit of warm； viscous drool； mixed； perhaps； with a trace of her blood； dripped onto her forehead。
〃Have a care；〃 the ambassador said with as much nonchalance as she could muster。 〃If your son kills me quickly； won't that spoil the fun？〃
Jeggred made a low； grinding sound。 Faeryl couldn't tell if he was growlnoting or laughing。
Triel said； 〃You underestimate him。 True； I've watched him butcher eight prisoners in as many seconds； but I've also seen him spend days picknoting one little faerie child apart a mote of flesh at a time。 It depends on his humor； and； needless to say； my instructions。〃
〃Of course；〃 Faeryl said。 The shallow gash in her cheek began to sting。 Jeggred traced the edges of her lips with his claw； not quite cutting； not yet。 〃I hope the traitor whelp appreciated the honor。〃
〃It was hard to tell；〃 she said。 〃What about you？ Will you savor it？〃
〃Alas； Exalted Mother；〃 Faeryl said； 〃your daughter can take no pleasnoture in an honor she didn't earn。〃
Still stroking the prisoner's features with the claw； Jeggred lifted one of the smaller hands that； save for their dusting of fine hair； looked no difnotferent than those of an ordinary dark elf。 He caught hold of Faeryl's ear and twisted it； and she gasped at the brutal stab of pain。 When he finally let go； the organ kept on throbbing and ringing。 She wondered if the draenotgloth had inflicted permanent damage； though it really didn't matter。 In the hours to e； deafness would be the least of her problems。
〃I wish you wouldn't deny your guilt；〃 sighed the dainty little Baenre matriarch。 〃I always find that dull。〃
〃Even when it's true？〃 Faeryl felt a fresh cut bleeding under her eye。 Apnotparently； when Jeggred had abused her ear； she'd bucked against his claw。
〃Don't be tiresome；〃 Triel said。 〃You were fleeing； and that confirms your guilt。〃
〃All it confirms is my certainty that someone has poisoned your mind against me；〃 Faeryl retorted。 Jeggred caught hold of a lock of her hair and gave it a vicious tug。 〃My aversion to being condemned unjustly。〃
〃Did you think to escape by running back to Ched Nasad？〃 Triel asked。 〃My word is law there； too。〃
〃How do you know？〃 Faeryl asked。
Jeggred slapped her with one of his enormous fighting hands； bashing her head sideways。 For a moment； the shock froze her mind。 When her senses returned； she tasted blood in her mouth。
The draegloth crouched； placing his bestial face directly in front of her own； and growled； 〃Respect the chosen of Lolth。〃
〃I mean no disrespect；〃 Faeryl said。 〃I'm just saying that for all we know； anything could be happening in Ched Nasad。 Cloakers could have overnotrun the city； or it may have drowned in tides of lava。 I doubt it； I pray not； but we don't know。 We need to find out； and that's why I was sneaking away。 Not to betray the weakness of Menzoberranzan's clergy to some enemy or other。 Mother of Lusts； it's my weakness too！ To gather intellinotgence； to reestablish munication…〃
〃I tol