¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Aren't¡¡you¡¡concerned¡¡that¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡might¡¡prove¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡relinquish¡¡the¡¡drow¡¡city¡¡to¡¡your¡¡care¡¡once¡¡they've¡¡conquered¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡in¡¡all¡¡honesty£»¡¡we¡¡view¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spider¡¡Queen's¡¡Houses¡¡as¡¡a¡¡goal¡¡desirable¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡outweigh¡¡the¡¡risks¡¡of¡¡duergar¡¡perfidy¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡Gracklstugh¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡my¡¡House¡¡and¡¡occupied¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡for¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡years£»¡¡we¡¡would¡¡still¡¡survive£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡would¡¡reclaim¡¡the¡¡city¡¡in¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Aliisza¡¡stood¡¡gracefully¡¡and¡¡paced¡¡over¡¡to¡¡a¡¡narrow£»¡¡slitlike¡¡window¡¡overlooking¡¡the¡¡city¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡really¡¡think¡¡the¡¡Spider¡¡Queen¡¡will¡¡allow¡¡her¡¡city¡¡to¡¡fall£¿¡¡What¡¡bees¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gray¡¡dwarves'¡¡assault¡¡if¡¡the¡¡priestesses¡¡of¡¡Lolth¡¡suddenly¡¡recover¡¡their¡¡powers£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡are¡¡a¡¡long¡lived¡¡race£»¡¡dear¡¡lady¡£¡¡My¡¡grandfather¡¡saw¡¡with¡¡his¡¡own¡¡eyes¡¡the¡¡events¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡years¡¡past¡£¡¡We¡¡do¡¡not¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡past¡¡the¡¡way¡¡other¡¡races¡¡do¡£¡¡In¡¡all¡¡our¡¡legends£»¡¡our¡¡lore£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡never¡¡encountered¡¡a¡¡silence¡¡so¡¡plete¡¡and¡¡long¡lasting¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡it¡¡proves¡¡to¡¡be¡¡temporary£»¡¡well£»¡¡it¡¡represents¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡that¡¡es¡¡along¡¡only¡¡once¡¡every¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡thousand¡¡years£»¡¡doesn't¡¡it£¿¡¡How¡¡could¡¡we¡¡not¡¡choose¡¡this¡¡moment¡¡to¡¡strike£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Perhaps¡¡you're¡¡right¡£¡¡I've¡¡spoken¡¡to¡¡other¡¡drow¡¡who¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡these¡¡are¡¡extraordinary¡¡and¡¡unprecedented¡¡times¡£¡¨¡¡Aliisza¡¡glanced¡¡over¡¡her¡¡shoulder¡¡at¡¡him¡¡and¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨In¡¡fact£»¡¡in¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad¡¡I¡¡encountered¡¡a¡¡mission¡¡of¡¡high¡ranking¡¡Menzoberranyr¡¡who¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hopes¡¡of¡¡discovering¡¡the¡¡causes¡¡of¡¡Lolth's¡¡silence¡£¡¡Quenthel¡¡Baenre£»¡¡the¡¡Mistress¡¡of¡¡Arach¡Tinilith£»¡¡led¡¡the¡¡pany¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I've¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡Mistress¡¡Quenthel's¡¡mission¡£¡¡So¡¡they¡¡made¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Ched¡¡Nasad£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨After¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok's¡¡territory£»¡¡yes¡£¡¡They¡¡arrived¡¡just¡¡in¡¡time¡¡to¡¡witness¡¡the¡¡city's¡¡destruction¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Did¡¡any¡¡of¡¡them¡¡survive£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Aliisza¡¡shrugged¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡say¡¡for¡¡certain¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡a¡¡capable¡¡lot¡£¡¡If¡¡anyone¡¡could¡¡escape¡¡the¡¡city's¡¡fall£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡tapped¡¡his¡¡finger¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡thinking¡£¡¡Was¡¡Quenthel's¡¡mission¡¡of¡¡investigation¡¡significant£»¡¡then£¿¡¡He'd¡¡simply¡¡figured¡¡that¡¡the¡¡matron¡¡mothers¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡shuffle¡¡the¡¡Mistress¡¡of¡¡Arach¡Tinilith¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡¡in¡¡the¡¡event¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡entertaining¡¡dangerous¡¡aspirations¡£¡¡Still£»¡¡it¡¡represented¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡card£»¡¡an¡¡unknown¡¡factor¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Jaezred¡¡Chaulssin¡¡might¡¡be¡¡wise¡¡to¡¡take¡¡note¡¡of¡£¡¡A¡¡party¡¡of¡¡powerful¡¡dark¡¡elves¡¡roaming¡¡the¡¡Underdark¡¡might¡¡find¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡cause¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡of¡¡trouble¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Did¡¡they¡¡find¡¡any¡¡answers¡¡to¡¡their¡¡questions£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨None¡¡that¡¡I¡¡know¡¡of£»¡¨¡¡Aliisza¡¡said¡£¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡window¡¡and¡¡glided¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡table¡¡again£»¡¡then¡¡changed¡¡the¡¡subject¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡seemed¡¡very¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡argue¡¡my¡¡case¡¡with¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince¡£¡¡Might¡¡I¡¡ask¡¡why£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡assassin¡¡shifted¡¡in¡¡his¡¡seat¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡back£»¡¡allowing¡¡his¡¡gaze¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡on¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡touched¡¡on¡¡this¡¡already£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Either¡¡Gracklstugh¡¡is¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡defeat¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡or¡¡it¡¡isn't¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not£»¡¡then¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok's¡¡Scoured¡¡Legion¡¡is¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡tip¡¡the¡¡scales¡¡in¡¡our¡¡favor¡£¡¡If¡¡Gracklstugh¡¡is¡¡strong¡¡enough£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡Scoured¡¡Legion¡¡might¡¡serve¡¡as¡¡a¡¡useful¡¡check¡¡on¡¡Horgar's¡¡aspirations¡£¡¡We¡¡wouldn't¡¡want¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince¡¡to¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡details¡¡of¡¡our¡¡arrangement¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡why¡¡should¡¡the¡¡Scoured¡¡Legion¡¡serve¡¡as¡¡your¡¡army¡¡in¡¡the¡¡field£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Because¡¡Horgar¡¡won't¡¡have¡¡you¡¡for¡¡an¡¡ally¡¡unless¡¡I¡¡persuade¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he'd¡¡be¡¡better¡¡served¡¡with¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok's¡¡tanarukks¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side¡¡than¡¡attacking¡¡his¡¡flank£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¨Besides£»¡¡your¡¡master¡¡doesn't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡at¡¡home¡¡while¡¡events¡¡unfold¡£¡¡He¡¡sent¡¡you¡¡here¡¡to¡¡urge¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡did¡¡he¡¡not£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Aliisza¡¡hid¡¡her¡¡smile¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sip¡¡of¡¡wine¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡admitted¡£¡¡¡¨So£»¡¡will¡¡you¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡our¡¡help£»¡¡or¡¡not£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡assassin¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡alu¡fiend¡¡while¡¡he¡¡considered¡¡the¡¡question¡£¡¡Agrach¡¡Dyrr¡¡was¡¡a¡¡useful¡¡ally£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡doubted¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Fifth¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡had¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡to¡¡counterbalance¡¡Horgar's¡¡army¡¡if¡¡push¡¡came¡¡to¡¡shove¡£¡¡Another¡¡force¡¡on¡¡the¡¡field¡¡would¡¡increase¡¡the¡¡chances¡¡of¡¡success¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Jaezred¡¡Chaulssin£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡three¡¡factions¡¡to¡¡work¡¡with£»¡¡it¡¡should¡¡be¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡align¡¡two¡¡against¡¡the¡¡third¡¡in¡¡whatever¡¡bination¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡advance¡¡his¡¡goals¡£¡¡In¡¡extremis£»¡¡the¡¡Jaezred¡¡Chaulssin¡¡could¡¡bring¡¡their¡¡own¡¡strength¡¡to¡¡bear£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡numerous£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡always¡¡preferable¡¡to¡¡expend¡¡the¡¡resources¡¡of¡¡one's¡¡allies¡¡before¡¡tapping¡¡your¡¡own¡¡reserves¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡think£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡at¡¡length£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡we¡¡won't¡¡give¡¡Horgar¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡refuse¡¡your¡¡help¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡of¡¡a¡¡place¡¡called¡¡the¡¡Pillars¡¡of¡¡Woe£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Aliisza¡¡frowned¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡a¡¡gorge¡¡between¡¡Gracklstugh¡¡and¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨a¡¡place¡¡I¡¡have¡¡great¡¡plans¡¡for¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡some¡¡of¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok's¡¡scouts¡¡will¡¡know¡¡the¡¡spot£»¡¡and¡¡I'll¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡know¡¡where¡¡to¡¡find¡¡it¡£¡¡Go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Kaanyr¡¡Vhok¡¡and¡¡have¡¡him¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡Scoured¡¡Legion¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Pillars¡¡of¡¡Woe¡¡with¡¡all¡¡possible¡¡speed¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡have¡¡your¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡in¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡Menzoberranzan¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince¡¡proves¡¡pletely¡¡unreasonable£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡have¡¡other¡¡opportunities¡¡available¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡Horgar¡¡will¡¡accept¡¡your¡¡stake¡¡in¡¡events¡¡once¡¡he¡¡encounters¡¡your¡¡force¡¡in¡¡the¡¡field¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡sounds¡¡risky¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Risk¡¡is¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡opportunity£»¡¡dear¡¡lady¡£¡¡It¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡avoided¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Aliisza¡¡measured¡¡him¡¡with¡¡her¡¡smoky¡¡gaze¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡I'll¡¡warn¡¡you¡¡that¡¡Kaanyr¡¡will¡¡be¡¡quite¡¡put¡¡out¡¡with¡¡me¡¡if¡¡he¡¡marches¡¡his¡¡army¡¡off¡¡into¡¡the¡¡wilds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Underdark¡¡and¡¡misses¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fun¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡disappoint¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡promised¡£¡¡He¡¡allowed¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡draught¡¡of¡¡wine£»¡¡and¡¡pushed¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡table¡£¡¡¡¨That¡¡would¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡conclude¡¡our¡¡business£»¡¡Lady¡¡Aliisza¡£¡¡I¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fine¡¡supper¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pleasant¡¡pany¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Leaving¡¡so¡¡soon£¿¡¨¡¡Aliisza¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡just¡¡a¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pout¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡drifted¡¡closer£»¡¡a¡¡mischievous¡¡fire¡¡springing¡¡up¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡Nimor¡¡found¡¡his¡¡gaze¡¡roving¡¡over¡¡the¡¡voluptuous¡¡curves¡¡of¡¡her¡¡body¡£¡¡She¡¡leaned¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡put¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chair£»¡¡and¡¡enfolded¡¡her¡¡wings¡¡around¡¡him¡£¡¡With¡¡sinuous¡¡grace¡¡she¡¡lowered¡¡herself¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡nibble¡¡at¡¡his¡¡ear£»¡¡pressing¡¡her¡¡soft£»¡¡hot¡¡flesh¡¡against¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡we've¡¡finished¡¡our¡¡business¡¡already£»¡¡Nimor¡¡Imphraezl£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡time¡¡for¡¡pleasure£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡whispered¡¡into¡¡his¡¡ear¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡inhaled¡¡the¡¡delicious¡¡odor¡¡of¡¡her¡¡perfume¡¡and¡¡found¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡roving¡¡to¡¡stroke¡¡her¡¡hips¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡her¡¡closer¡¡still¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡insist£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡murmured£»¡¡kissing¡¡the¡¡hollow¡¡of¡¡her¡¡neck¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡shivered¡¡in¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡as¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡up¡¡to¡¡unlace¡¡her¡¡corselet¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡crude¡¡paddlewheels¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡Coalhewer's¡¡boat¡¡clattered¡¡loudly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡churning¡¡the¡¡black¡¡water¡¡into¡¡furious£»¡¡white£»¡¡rushing¡¡foam¡£¡¡The¡¡hulking¡¡skeletons¡¡in¡¡their¡¡well¡like¡¡space¡¡at¡¡the¡¡boat's¡¡center¡¡stooped¡¡and¡¡rose£»¡¡stooped¡¡and¡¡rose£»¡¡their¡¡bony¡¡hands¡¡clamped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡crankshafts¡¡driving¡¡the¡¡wheels¡£¡¡Relentlessly£»¡¡tirelessly£»¡¡they¡¡continued¡¡their¡¡mindless¡¡work£»¡¡held¡¡to¡¡their¡¡labors¡¡by¡¡the¡¡necromantic¡¡magic¡¡that¡¡had¡¡animated¡¡them¡¡years£»¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡decades¡¡past¡£¡¡Halisstra¡¡was¡¡no¡¡judge¡¡of¡¡waterborne¡¡travel£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡her¡¡that¡¡Coalhewer's¡¡boat¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡to¡¡a¡¡pace¡¡that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡match¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡risked¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡back¡¡over¡¡her¡¡shoulder¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡her¡¡panions¡¡had¡¡marked¡¡any¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡pursuit¡£¡¡Ryld£»¡¡Jeggred£»¡¡and¡¡Pharaun¡¡all¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat£»¡¡watching¡¡its¡¡wake¡£¡¡Quenthel¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡a¡¡large¡¡trunk¡¡just¡¡under¡¡the¡¡boat's¡¡scaffoldlike¡¡bridge£»¡¡also¡¡gazing¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡Gracklstugh¡£¡¡Valas¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡alongside¡¡Coalhewer£»¡¡making¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡captain¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡ungainly¡¡vehicle¡¡to¡¡the¡¡course¡¡he¡¡desired¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡and¡¡Danifae¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡up¡¡the¡¡posts¡¡of¡¡lookouts£»¡¡peering¡¡ahead¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡they¡¡didn't¡¡run¡¡headlong¡¡into¡¡trouble¡£¡¡Halisstra¡¡hadn't¡¡bothered¡¡to¡¡debate¡¡the¡¡arrangement¡£¡¡The¡¡males¡¡were¡¡best¡¡placed¡¡between¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡and¡¡the¡¡most¡¡likely¡¡threats£»¡¡and¡¡Pharaun¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡their¡¡best¡¡weapon¡¡against¡¡any¡¡pursuit¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Gracklstugh¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡city¡¡itself¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡visible£»¡¡except¡¡as¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡low¡¡red¡¡smudge¡£¡¡The¡¡firelight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dwarves'¡¡forges¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡for¡¡several¡¡miles¡¡across¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡black¡¡space¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dark¡¡Lake's¡¡open¡¡waters£»¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡distance¡¡that¡¡reminded¡¡Halisstra¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unnatural¡¡vistas¡¡of¡¡the¡¡World¡¡Above¡£¡¡They'd¡¡churned¡¡their¡¡way¡¡east¡¡and¡¡south¡¡from¡¡Gracklstugh's¡¡waterfront¡¡for¡¡several¡¡hours£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡anyone¡¡following£»¡¡but¡¡Halisstra¡¡couldn't¡¡shake¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡yet¡£¡¡Reluctantly¡¡she¡¡shifted¡¡her¡¡gaze¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡boundless¡¡dark¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat£»¡¡and¡¡checked¡¡her¡¡crossbow¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡it¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡fire¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡carefully¡¡scanned¡¡her¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bow£»¡¡starting¡¡with¡¡the¡¡water¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡and¡¡working¡¡her¡¡way¡¡farther¡¡out¡¡until¡¡even¡¡her¡¡drow¡¡sight¡¡could¡¡make¡¡out¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡through¡¡the¡¡blackness£»¡¡then¡¡she¡¡returned¡¡her¡¡gaze¡¡to¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡and¡¡started¡¡again¡£¡¡Great¡¡stalactites¡¡or¡¡columns¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡tell¡descended¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ceiling¡¡and¡¡vanished¡¡into¡¡the¡¡inky¡¡water¡¡at¡¡odd¡¡intervals£»¡¡creating¡¡titanic¡¡pillars¡¡of¡¡stone¡¡for¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡to¡¡navigate¡¡around¡£¡¡In¡¡other¡¡spots¡¡the¡¡jagged¡¡points¡¡of¡¡stalagmites¡¡jutted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡like¡¡spears¡£¡¡Coalhewer¡¡steered¡¡well¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡those£»¡¡pointing¡¡out¡¡that¡¡there¡¡might¡¡be¡¡two¡¡submerged¡¡rocks¡¡for¡¡every¡¡one¡¡that¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡surface¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡believe¡¡I'm¡¡crouching¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡of¡¡a¡¡duergar¡¡boat£»¡¡fleeing¡¡for¡¡my¡¡life¡¡from¡¡a¡¡city¡¡I'd¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡before¡¡three¡¡days¡¡ago£»¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡murmured£»¡¡breaking¡¡the¡¡long¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡¨Two¡¡tendays¡¡ago¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡heir¡¡apparent¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡House¡¡in¡¡a¡¡noble¡¡city¡£¡¡One¡¡tenday¡¡ago¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡prisoner£»¡¡betrayed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡petty¡¡malice¡¡of¡¡Faeryl¡¡Zauvirr£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡here¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¡a¡¡rootless¡¡wanderer¡¡with¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡to¡¡my¡¡name¡¡than¡¡the¡¡armor¡¡on¡¡my¡¡back¡¡and¡¡whatever¡¡odds¡¡and¡¡ends¡¡are¡¡stowed¡¡in¡¡my¡¡pack¡£¡¡I¡¡just¡¡cannot¡¡fathom¡¡why¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡unfamiliar¡¡with¡¡changes¡¡in¡¡one's¡¡circumstances¡¡and¡¡fortunes£»¡¨¡¡Danifae¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡asking¡¡why£¿¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spider¡¡Queen¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Is¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨House¡¡Melarn¡¡stood¡¡for¡¡twenty¡¡centuries¡¡or¡¡more£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡when¡¡Lolth¡¡withdrew¡¡her¡¡favor¡¡from¡¡our¡¡entire¡¡race¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡in¡¡her¡¡absence¡¡that¡¡our¡¡enemies¡¡could¡¡overthrow¡¡us¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Danifae¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reply£»¡¡nor¡¡did¡¡Halisstra¡¡expect¡¡her¡¡to¡£¡¡That¡¡thought¡¡was¡¡perilously¡¡close¡¡to¡¡heresy£»¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¡To¡¡suggest¡¡that¡¡something¡¡had¡¡occurred¡¡against¡¡Lolth's¡¡will¡¡was¡¡to¡¡doubt¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spider¡¡Queen£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡question¡¡Lolth's¡¡power¡¡was¡¡to¡¡invite¡¡death¡¡and¡¡condemnation¡¡as¡¡a¡¡faithless¡¡weakling¡£¡¡The¡¡fate¡¡that¡¡awaited¡¡the¡¡faithless¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afterlife¡¡was¡¡too¡¡terrible¡¡to¡¡contemplate¡£¡¡Unless¡¡Lolth¡¡chose¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡a¡¡follower¡¡to¡¡her¡¡divine¡¡abode¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Demonweb¡¡Pits£»¡¡a¡¡drow's¡¡spirit¡¡would¡¡be¡¡condemned¡¡to¡¡anguish¡¡and¡¡oblivion¡¡in¡¡the¡¡barren¡¡wastelands¡¡where¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡of¡¡all¡¡kinds¡¡were¡¡judged¡£¡¡Only¡¡abject¡¡worship¡¡and¡¡perfect¡¡service¡¡could¡¡sway¡¡the¡¡Dark¡¡Queen¡¡to¡¡intercede¡¡on¡¡one's¡¡behalf¡¡and¡¡grant¡¡life¡¡beyond¡¡life£»¡¡eternal¡¡existence¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡Lolth's¡¡divine¡¡host¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course£»¡¡thought¡¡Halisstra£»¡¡if¡¡Lolth¡¡is¡¡dead£»¡¡then¡¡damnation¡¡and¡¡oblivion¡¡bee¡¡unavoidable£»¡¡don't¡¡they£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡blanched¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡and¡¡shivered¡¡in¡¡horror£»¡¡standing¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡pacing¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡to¡¡hide¡¡her¡¡face