〃I'll wager with you for who has to tell her；〃 Ryld said to Valas。 〃Rock； knife； and parchment？〃
The scout shook his head。
〃Let's just make the wizard tell her；〃 he said； pointing to Pharaun。 〃He seems to delight so in tormenting her； anyway； so what's one more bit of bad news out of his mouth？〃
Ryld nodded； and Pharaun found himself smiling。
〃Well； we all have a reprieve； at least for the moment；〃 the mage said。 〃She and the other two haven't returned from the storehouse。〃
〃Really？〃 Valas asked； sitting up。 〃I would have thought they'd return before us for sure。〃
Pharaun shrugged and said； 〃As would I； but none of them are here。〃
〃That's fine by me；〃 Ryld said； leaning back against the wall and dosing his eyes。 〃The less I have to see of that damned draegloth； the better off I am。〃
Pharaun pursed his lips； realizing that what he was going to suggest next might not set well with either the weapons master or the scout。
〃I found out something today； too；〃 he said quietly。
Ryld opened one eye and looked at the wizard。
〃Oh？〃
Valas leaned forward on the edge of the bed。
〃Have you determined what has happened to the Dark Mother？〃
Pharaun chuckled and said； 〃Not exactly； but I did learn that her disappearance has not been limited to our own race。 Other species feel her loss； as well。〃
〃I don't know whether to consider that good news or not；〃 the scout said； sitting back again。
Nor do I；〃 Pharaun agreed； 〃but I have also learned that something is sealing us out from the Demonweb Pits。 I have attempted to scry there in hopes of learning something of the goddess's condition…indeed； if she yet exists…and I could not penetrate inside。 A barrier protects it and keeps me； and others； outside。〃
〃A barrier？ You're speaking now of things I have no experience with；〃 Ryld said。 〃What kind of barrier？〃
〃A potent one。 I was nearly blasted into powder for my troubles；〃 Pharaun said； a wry smile on his face； 〃I have tried it before； even spoke with Archmage Gromph before we left Menzoberranzan。 He has experienced similar problems。〃
〃It sounds as though whatever the Spider Queen is doing； she does not wish to be disturbed；〃 Valas said。
〃If it's her who's doing it；〃 Ryld countered。 〃Perhaps another god has erected the barrier to prevent us from seeing her。〃
〃Exactly！〃 Pharaun said eagerly。 〃Surely someone knows…or can find out…what we cannot discover。〃
〃I thought that's what our mission was 。。。 to discover Lolth's fate；〃 Valas said。 〃That's why we've e here。〃
〃Yes； you are correct；〃 Pharaun said； nodding； 〃though this business with storehouses of magic items seems to have bee a higher priority。 In the interest of bringing us back to the more fascinating part of our little expedition； I have an idea。 I want to enlist help from the outside。〃
〃Help？ From whom？〃 Ryld was sitting up； too。
The wizard began to pace again as he explained his plan to his panions。
〃A mere mortal； even someone with my acumen； can't penetrate the veil that has settled over the Demonweb Pits。 Something is obviously intent on keeping us out。 We need to enlist someone else's help in finding out what's going on there。 Someone not of our own ilk。〃
Both of the other drow were watching the wizard intently； doubt plain on their faces。
〃You can't mean 。 。 。〃 Ryld said。
〃Another god。〃
The weapons master seemed aghast。 Valas said nothing but might have been contemplating the possibilities of such an act…and the ramifications。
〃Perhaps a higher being；〃 Pharaun continued； 〃especially one m close proximity to the Demonweb Pits…from one of the other layers of the Abyss…could； or possibly even already has； discovered more than we can possibly hope to on our own。 Maybe we can convince one of them to tell us what has transpired or is transpiring inside。
〃Not directly； of course；〃 Pharaun added hastily； 〃but through an intermediary 。。。 a follower。〃
〃You play a dangerous and foolish game； Pharaun Mizzrym；〃 Ryld said； shaking his head。 〃The Dark Mother may find such a course blasphemous； a betrayal to the faith。〃
〃Or she may congratulate me on being so innovative； so willing to examine and explore； whatever the risk。 The other choice is to admit defeat； return to Menzoberranzan； and sit on our hands as our way of life ends。〃
〃Quenthel will not be happy with this plan；〃 Valas cautioned。 〃She will most likely consider it a personal affront to her。〃
〃Yes； well； Quenthel is too focused on lining House Baenre's coffers to appreciate the larger picture before us。 I'm beginning to wonder how wise a choice she was to lead this expedition。 Don't stare at me like that； Ryld。 。 。 。 You've questioned more than a few of her decisions since we departed。〃
〃Never openly。 Not to her face。〃
〃She's not here now； is she？ My friend； I play with fire； I know that； but if I don't act where my heart lies then I've failed our race far worse than she。 I'm content to steer things from behind the scenes； letting her believe she controls our tempo； our course； but such a method requires patience； more than a little frustration； at times； and the possibility of being thwarted or exposed。 It would stand a much greater chance of success if the three of us worked together to maneuver her。 I could use your help。〃
Valas had his chin in his hand； thinking。 Ryld shook his head； lines of worry creasing his brow。
'You fight against millennia of tradition and habit； Pharaun；〃 the weapons master said。 〃I can't say that I wele the idea of returning to Menzoberranzan no better off than when we left； but usurping the high priestess's authority might very well see our heads on the parapets of House Baenre。〃
〃The wizard has already been at it for a couple of tendays。 。 。 。〃 Valas said。
〃Perhaps； but until now； it was simply him against her； he hadn't brought us into it。〃
Pharaun clicked his tongue in exasperation。
〃Do you honestly think that she won't hold us all responsible； regardless of the relative levels of involvement？〃 the Master of Sor…cere asked； 〃She will blame you simply because you are a male； Master Argith。〃
Slowly； Ryld nodded。
〃I suppose you're right；〃 he said。 〃It still doesn't make me feel any better。〃
〃I'm not suggesting we bind her with cord and throw her in a box； Weapons Master。 All I'm asking is that you support me when I make a suggestion； that you back me； however subtly； when she and I disagree。 Help me convince her that moving forward； rather than back to Menzoberranzan； is the wiser course of action。〃
〃You make sense；〃 Ryld replied； 〃but right now； your idea is just that。 We must find someone willing to serve as the conduit。 Do you know of any such creature？〃
〃I do；〃 Valas said quietly。
Pharaun crouched down in front of the scout and asked； 〃You do？ Who？〃
〃There's a priest I know； a follower of Vhaeraun。〃
〃Vhaeraun；〃 Ryld said in a clipped tone。 〃I doubt we'll receive any aid from him。〃
〃Perhaps； but Tzirik is actually an old associate of mine；〃 Valas replied。
At Ryld's surprised look； the scout added； 〃When you wander the wilds of the Underdark as much as I have； you have to be decidedly more pragmatic than in the cozy confines of Menzoberranzan。 Tzirik Jaelre owes me a favor。 If we can get to him； I think he might help us。〃
Valas turned to Pharaun and added； 〃Assuming； of course； that you have a notion of what he should do once we get there。〃
Pharaun replied； 〃I will when we find this priest。 In the meantime； you keep this Tzirik Jaelre to yourself until I have words with Quenthel。 At the right moment； mention that you know him； and we'll show her the wisdom of seeing this through to the end。〃
〃I only hope the end es later； rather than sooner；〃 Ryld said grimly。
NINE
Halisstra couldn't breathe。 The blood pounded in her ears； making it difficult to hear what Matron Mother Zauvirr was saying。 She didn't want to listen； anyway。
〃I wish it wasn't true； Halisstra； I really do； but there's no getting around it。 We caught her in the act； and when we confronted her； she wouldn't surrender。 Your mother tried to flee； and the soldiers just did their jobs。 By the time I got to her； I couldn't help her。〃
Halisstra shook her head； trying to rid her thoughts of the hated words。 Her mother； dead。 It wasn't true。 It couldn't be！
〃No！〃 Halisstra cried out； pushing Danifae away。 Her battle captive； all flimsy silks； was reaching out to her； trying to fort her。 〃You're lying！〃
She struggled to spin free； to get out of the room； but she found all avenues of escape cut off。 Matron Mother Zauvirr's troops seemed to be standing idly by； as though they were merely guests in someone else's home； but they were strategically placed about the room to guard the doors。 She looked around for some of her own family's soldiers； but there were none to be found。 Matron Mother Zauvirr had planned well； delivering her devastating news from a position of strength。
Wilting； Halisstra sank down to the floor； unsure what to do。 Only Danifae settled down next to her； making soothing noises and trying to reach out to calm her。 She didn't want to be calmed。 She wanted to slap the other drow； smack her across the room； but she knew better。 If she had any hope at all of surviving this horrid situation； she would need the battle captive's aid。 She had to think。
It wasn't so much that her mother was dead。 Of course that didn't bother her。 In other circumstances； she would have delighted in it； but there weren't any other circumstances。 Her mother had been caught in an act of open treason against the city； or so Ssipriina claimed； and Halisstra had no way to refute it； despite the fact that it was a ludicrous notion。 Her mother would never risk herself so openly； especially not aiding foreigners； regardless of how good the relationship was between their Houses。 Not to mention the fact that smuggling the goods from Black Claw Mercantile out of the city would ruin House Melarn。 There was nothing to gain from it and so much to lose。
Of course； when Ssipriina arrived in House Melarn's audience chamber； sat right down in Drisinil's throne and made her revelation； the unspoken implication was there。 Drisinil was not acting alone。 When the rest of the council learned of it； they would likely find。 Halisstra just as guilty of the crimes as her mother。 They would imprison or execute everyone in the family； dissolve House Melarn； and divvy up its assets。 Unless she found a way to counter it。
She had no doubt that Ssipriina was behind it all； was somehow benefiting from the destruction of House Melarn； but in order to make it work； she would have to eliminate Halisstra； too。 Halisstra had to move fast； but she knew that the other drow wasn't about to let the First Daughter of House Melarn out of her sight。 Her only chance to get help was to send Danifae； and that would only happen if Ssipriina Zauvirr believed the battle captive was more interested in saving her own skin than in supporting her mistress。
Halisstra glanced o