rd thoughtfully。
〃So； Seyll；〃 he said； 〃What do you make of this？〃
From behind a hidden screen a slender form in a skirt and jacket of embroidered green glided forward。 She was a full…blooded elf； thin and graceful…and she was also a drow； her skin black as ink； the irises of her eyes a startling red。 She moved close to Dessaer and gazed after the departing soldiers with their hooded captive。
〃I think she's telling the truth；〃 she said。 〃At least； she's not a Jaelre or an Auzkovyn。〃
〃What shall I do with her？〃 the lord asked。 〃She killed Harvaldor； and she damned near killed Fandar as well。〃
〃With Eilistraee's grace； I will restore Harvaldor to life and heal Fandar；〃 the drow woman said。 〃Besides； is it not the case that Curnil's patrol attacked her and her panions on sight？ She was simply defending herself。〃
Dessaer raised an eyebrow in surprise and glanced at Seyll。
〃You intend to give her your goddess's message？〃
〃It is my sacred duty；〃 Seyll replied。 〃After all； until it was given to me； I was very much like her。〃
She inclined her head to indicate the absent prisoner。
〃She's a proud one from a high House；〃 Dessaer said。 〃I doubt she'll care to hear Eilistraee's words。〃 He rested a hand on the drow priestess's shoulder。 〃Be careful； Seyll。 She'll say or do anything to get you to lower your guard； and if you do； she'll kill you if you stand between her and freedom。〃
〃Be that as it may； my duty is clear；〃 Seyll replied。
〃I will delay my judgment for a tenday；〃 the Lord of Elventree said； 〃but if she refuses to hear your message I must act to protect my people。〃
〃I know；〃 said Seyll。 〃I do not intend to fail。〃
The Houses of Menzoberranzan mustered for battle。 From a dozen castles and palaces； caverns and strongholds； slender males in elegant black chain mail marched in proud columns or pranced along in the high saddles of riding lizards； pennons flying from their lances。 Under normal circumstances each House might have sent hundreds more slave warriors； a rabble of kobolds； orcs； goblins； and ogres to drive into their foes before valuable drow troops were mitted to battle； but armed slaves were something of a scarcity after the alhoon's uprising。 Thousands of lesser humanoids had survived the revolt and its failure； as well as the dreadful reprisals that ensued； but the warriors among the slave races had naturally suffered the greatest losses。 Even those who'd been allowed to surrender were certainly not to be trusted with weapons again。
Nimor sat in the saddle of an Agrach Dyrr war…lizard； and smiled in satisfaction as the forces of House Dyrr marched past before him。 The panies gathered in a small； somewhat cramped plaza near the border between West Wall and Narbondellyn； ironically enough not very far at all from the pound of House Faen Tlabbar。 Each drow swordsman carried a light kit in addition to his arms and armor； and a supply train of sorts was taking shape as each pany brought its own pack lizards and attendants。 Many of the mon folk of the city had turned out to watch the mustering of the army； as it was easily the largest assemblage of soldiers the matron mothers had manded since the ill…fated assault on Mithral Hall years before。
〃I surmise that the Council meeting went well；〃 said Dyrr； standing at Nimor's stirrup。
The undead sorcerer did not appear in his own shape； of course； nor even that of the aged male he affected within his own house。 His current guise was that of a nondescript Agrach Dyrr wizard； young and hale； draped with the fine vestments of his House。
〃Your matron mother was well coached；〃 Nimor replied。 He kept his voice low； even though no one stood close enough to eavesdrop。 〃We've got half the soldiers in the city mustering for battle。〃
〃Yasraena has proven a useful front；〃 the lich observed。 〃I have known a dozen or more Matron Mother Dyrrs； and from time to time I find that my female relations object to my 。 。 。 unique position within the House。 Yasraena would kill me if she could； of course； but she knows that Agrach Dyrr would of necessity be destroyed should something unfortunate befall me。 I have made her aware of certain long…standing arrangements in order to discourage her from surprising me。〃
Nimor chuckled dryly and said； 〃I suspect that you are rarely surprised； Lord Dyrr。〃
〃Success follows preparation in equal measure； young Nimor。 Consider that your lesson for the day。〃 The lich affected a smile across his illusory features； and stepped away from Nimor's mount。 〃Good luck in your venture； Captain。〃
Nimor wheeled the war…lizard around as the last of the column passed by。
He turned back to the lich and said； 〃One more word。 Narbondel was illuminated hours late a tenday ago； but every day ××？？since it has been illuminated on time； and it is whispered throughout the city that the Masters of Sorcere have misplaced their archmage。〃
Dyrr smiled and spread his hands。
〃As Archmage Baenre may be unavailable for quite some time；〃 the lich said； 〃it would please me to find the Masters of Sorcere determine on their own who among them should take Gromph's seat。〃
〃Won't Matron Mother Baenre and the Council have something to say about that？〃
〃Not if the assembled masters realize the power they truly hold now；〃 Dyrr said。 〃I am not a member of the Academy； of course； but a couple of young pups of my House are； and they keep me well…informed。 The masters debate whether this is the time to break with tradition and name their own archmage； but half of them scheme to eliminate any fellow clever and bold enough to take the job； while the other half contemplate whether they might return to their own Houses and rule there。 Breaking from the Council in such a way would mean civil war； and those few masters who don't realize the civil war is raging already are arguing to adhere to the status quo in fear of Lolth's return。 Regardless； Sorcere is well and truly paralyzed by Gromph's absence。〃
The lich turned； leaning heavily on his tall staff； and ambled off with a dry； crackling laugh。
Nimor raised an eyebrow and watched the lich depart； considering his ally's words； then he trotted off after the column。
〃Lieutenant Jazzt！〃 he called。
From alongside the marching column of House Agrach Dyrr's warriors； a small； scarred male detached himself and came trotting to Nimor's side。 The soldiers marching in the expedition knew very well that 〃Captain Zhayemd〃 was no scion of their House； but it had been explained to them that the detachment's mander enjoyed Matron Mother Yasraena's plete confidence and had； in fact； been adopted into the leadership of their ancient clan…a mon enough practice among the high Houses of the city。 Nimor didn't doubt that Jazzt Dyrr； second cousin to the matron mother herself； had received some additional and specific orders concerning the circumstances under which he was to ignore Nimor's mands； but as Nimor intended to scrupulously honor his bargain with Agrach Dyrr； he was reasonably certain that the Dyrr officer would offer no trouble。
〃Yes； Captain？〃 Jazzt said。
He was careful not to show any expression at all； simply regarding Nimor with the bland curiosity of a seasoned veteran。
〃Form up the pany there； beside the Baenre contingent。 Tell the men to make ready for a long march。 I hope to set out within the hour。〃
〃Yes； Captain；〃 Jazzt replied。
The lieutenant stepped back and saluted sharply； then turned and began to bark orders to the Agrach Dyrr soldiers。 Nimor turned his mount aside and trotted across the plaza to a small tent bustling with activity。 There； the highborn officers and manders of each of the various House contingents had gathered； most with some number of sergeants and messengers in train。 Several arguments on all manner of different topics…the order of march； the best place to halt at the end of the day； the fastest route to the Pillars of Woe…proceeded at the same time。
He dismounted； handed the reins of his war…lizard to a nearby slave； and strode into the midst of the confusion； pushing through to the partitioned area。 He had to flash his insignia of House and rank to gain admittance。 Inside； a knot of captains and officers from various Houses stood engaged in several different conversations at the same time。 The occasion of raising an army and marching to war seemed to displace the normal rivalries and vendettas； at least for a time。 Instead of dueling each other in the streets； the rakish fellows sought to outshine each other with deeds of valor and ruthlessness on the battlefield。
Nimor surveyed the manders； noting the insignias of six out of eight great Houses； and another half dozen of the largest and strongest minor Houses。 His eye fell on a male wearing the insignia of House Baenre； as the fellow held up his hands and raised his voice to capture the attention of the other officers。
〃Go back to your panies and look to your supply trains；〃 Andzrel Baenre； Weapons Master of House Baenre； said。 〃I want a list from each of you of the number of pack beasts and wagons in your train； and a general inventory of your stores。 Return within the hour。 Our female relations will doubtless debate many issues of high strategy； but it will fall to us to work out the details of supply trains and battle signals； and we still have much to discuss。〃
Andzrel was a tall； slender fellow who wore armor of blacked mithral plate and a dark cloak。 His tabard proudly displayed the emblem of House Baenre； and his eyes held iron discipline； an expression of directness and purpose that was unusual in a drow of high birth； whether male or female。
The manders broke up and strode from the tent； heading back to their detachments。 Nimor allowed them to pass by。 As he moved up to speak with the Baenre weapons master； the assassin muttered a spell。
〃Master Baenre；〃 Nimor asked； covering the last syllables of the enchantment。
〃Yes；〃 the weapons master said； blinking at Nimor。 〃I 。 。 。 uh 。 。 。〃
Nimor smiled； seeing the effect the enchantment had on the drow； and knowing that for quite some time； Andzrel Baenre and he would be very close friends。
〃You are familiar to me； but I do not believe I know you；〃 said Andzrel。 〃You wear the arms of Agrach Dyrr。〃
〃I am Zhayemd Dyrr； and I mand my House's pany；〃 Nimor replied。 〃Do you have any idea when the priestesses will deign to join us； or at least allow us to start on our way？〃
〃I believe the matron mothers are still deciding which of them will lead the expedition；〃 Andzrel replied； seemingly recovered。 〃None of them trusts any of the others enough to voluntarily leave the city now； but they all think it's clear that someone had better be put in charge of the males。〃
Nimor laughed at that。
〃You have a talent for plain speaking； sir。〃 Nimor glanced around at the other captains and officers in the pavilion and added； 〃I assume you've tallied which Houses are here； and how many troops…and of what type…each has brought？ The priestesses will want to know that； and it will be helpful for us all to have an idea of who's marching next t