〃We should gather our strength and be ready to strike when our allies play their part in reducing Menzoberranzan's defenses；〃 he said。
〃We do not have any great force at arms； Anointed Blade；〃 Mauzzkyl said。 〃I will not mit the Jaezred Chaulssin to a pitched battle。〃
〃I understand； Revered Grandfather。〃 If they gathered all their strength in one place； the secret House would hardly amount to the numbers of a single minor House of Menzoberranzan…though the Jaezred Chaulssin could have an impact out of all proportion to their numbers。 〃I need one of my brothers to go to Kaanyr Vhok's Scoured Legion and steer the warlord in the right direction。 My responsibilities in Menzoberranzan's army and my efforts to guide Horgar Steelshadow and the renegade Agrach Dyrr do not permit me sufficient time to look after Kaanyr Vhok as well as I would like。〃
Mauzzkyl nodded and said； 〃Very well。 Zammzt； there is nothing left for you to do at Ched Nasad。 I want you to go to Kaanyr Vhok and serve as our voice in his camp。 Do whatever you must in order to keep his army aligned against Menzoberranzan； but you will answer to Nimor。〃
The plain…faced assassin replied； 〃Of course； Revered Grandfather。〃
He glanced over at Nimor； but did not allow his thoughts to show on his face。
〃I approached the warlord through his consort； Aliisza；〃 Nimor told Zammzt。 〃She is an alu…fiend and a sorceress of no small skill。 She knows that I represent a society or order of some kind； so she should not be surprised to receive another of us。〃
Though I doubt she'll extend you the same wele she gave to me； he told himself。
〃When do you expect the Menzoberranyr to first encounter Horgar's army？〃 Mauzzkyl asked。
〃Four days； I think。〃
〃Do what you can to sow dissent and uncertainty； Anointed Blade；〃 Mauzzkyl said。 〃The time for subterfuge and stealth is ending。 The Jaezred Chaulssin leave the shadows and take the field。 Destroy the matron mothers' army and bring your duergar allies to Menzoberranzan as quickly as possible。 We will meet you there； and we will see if the Masked Lord favors us or not。〃
Nimor bowed again； then turned and strode away from the assembled patron fathers。 Something would go amiss in his plan…something had to。 One could not create such an elaborate collision of so many disparate forces without some of the ponents falling by the wayside。 As best he could tell； though； the Jaezred Chaulssin were prepared。 The longer he could keep secret the deadly maneuverings of his allies and his House； the better his chances for success。
Perhaps I will encourage Andzrel to appoint me chief of the expedition's scouts； Nimor thought。 No need to trouble the Baenre with irrelevant reports of armies on the move； after all。
The dark elves of House Jaelre proved to be suspicious and ungracious hosts。 Ryld had expected to be shown into an audience room of some kind； where they would meet a clan matriarch and bribe； threaten； or persuade her into allowing them to consult with the priest Tzirik。 However； nothing like that occurred。 Since they refused to surrender their weapons； the Jaelre drow ushered the pany into a small； disused guardroom that had once warded the ruined castle's main gate。
〃You will wait here until Tzirik chooses to receive you；〃 the female manding the watch told them。 〃If you attempt to leave this room； we will take that as a sign of hostile intent and fall on you at once。〃
〃We are a high embassy from a powerful city；〃 Quenthel said in response。 〃You mistreat us at your peril。〃
〃You are slaves of the Spider Queen； and most likely spies and saboteurs；〃 the captain replied。 〃Lolth holds no sway here； spider…kissing bitch。〃
She closed and locked the iron door before Quenthel could summon a suitable retort； though the fierce agitation of her snake…headed whip certainly hinted at the depths of her anger。
〃Do we intend to remain confined here； like rabble locked up in a debtors' gaol？〃 Jeggred snarled。 〃I have half a mind to…〃
〃Not yet； Jeggred；〃 Quenthel countered。
She paced back and forth angrily； her mouth working in silent fury。 Pure ire fueled Quenthel with relentless energy。 Confinement in a small room with her pent…up anger would be difficult for all of them。
Danifae watched her； then restrained Quenthel's agitated pacing with a gentle hand on the Baenre's arm。
〃What is it； slave？〃 the priestess snapped。
〃Your zeal is admirable； Mistress；〃 Danifae said； 〃but； please； we must be patient now。〃 She shielded her hands as best she could and added； Remember； we may be watched。
〃She has a point； dear Quenthel；〃 Pharaun said。 〃You don't want to start a fight against the very people we came to see。 Your hard words and proud manner play better at Arach…Tinilith than on another god's doorstep。〃
Quenthel turned a look of such icy hatred on the wizard that Danifae put up a hand to steady her。 Danifae herself shot Pharaun a venomous look； contempt twisting her beautiful features。
〃Silence； Pharaun；〃 the battle captive snapped。 〃Your smug arrogance and endless baiting play better at Sorcere。 At least the Mistress has the strength of her convictions…all you have is cynicism。〃
Danifae studied Quenthel's face and offered her a shy smile。
〃Save your anger for later； Mistress；〃 the battle captive said softly。 〃Surely the goddess will be more pleased if you exact an accounting of the faithless after you've wrung the usefulness from them than if you destroy the tools required to serve her。〃
Quenthel allowed herself to relax。 She drew a deep breath； and took a seat at a barren wood table on which a flagon of water stood。
〃Fine； then；〃 Quenthel breathed。 〃We will see what happens。〃
That； Ryld guessed； was about as close as Quenthel would ever e to admitting that she had been wrong about something。 With little else to do； the pany settled down to endure whatever wait the Jaelre chose to test them with。
Long hours passed。 The night faded into an overcast morning； which then gave way to a gray； rain…soaked afternoon。
Studying what portions of the old castle he could see from the slitlike windows； Ryld came to the conclusion that Minauthkeep was not half so ruined as it first appeared。 The Jaelre had cleverly repaired much of the ancient structure while leaving the outward appearance mostly unchanged。
Eventually； as the wait grew interminable； the weapons master settled back against the wall of the chamber and allowed himself to drift off into a light trance； Splitter bared across his lap in case he needed it quickly。
He was roused from Reverie near nightfall； when the iron door of the chamber abruptly boomed with three forceful knocks。 The lock turned； and the watch captain of the previous night entered； with several more Jaelre guards behind her。
〃You are summoned before High Priest Tzirik；〃 she said。 〃You are to disarm yourselves here。 The wizard must consent to have his thumbs bound together； and the draegloth will be manacled。〃
〃I will not；〃 Jeggred snapped。 〃We're not your prisoners； to be dragged before your master in chains。 Why should we do for you what you lack the strength to make us do？〃
〃You came to us； half…breed；〃 the captain said。
〃Mistress？〃 Danifae whispered。
Without taking her eyes from the captain's face； Quenthel drew out her whip。 Weighing it in one hand； she seemed to struggle with herself； then she tossed it to the corner of the chamber。
〃Yngoth； watch over our arms；〃 she said to one of the hissing vipers。 〃Strike dead any who would tamper with our belongings in our absence。 Jeggred； you will permit yourself to be bound。 Pharaun； you as well。〃
Ryld sighed and set Splitter on the floor； kicking the blade to within striking distance of Quenthel's vipers。 Valas discarded his kukris as well。 With a grimace of distaste； Pharaun stepped up and held out his hands。 A Jaelre drow tied his thumbs together with stout cord； a measure that would make it very difficult for the mage to make the plex gestures and passes needed for many of his spells。 Jeggred's large upper arms； the long ones with the wicked claws； were chained together； but his smaller humanoid arms were left free。
The draegloth rumbled。
〃Be still； nephew；〃 Quenthel said； then she turned to the Jaelre captain。 〃Take us to the priest。〃
The watch captain nodded to her soldiers； who formed up in a tight phalanx around the Menzoberranyr； swords drawn。 They marched the pany out of the guardroom and into the depths of the keep。 The pany was shown into a large hall or gallery appointed as a shrine to Vhaeraun； the Masked Lord。 Ryld studied the temple with some interest。 He'd never set foot in a place dedicated to any deity but Lolth。 At the upper end of the hall； across from the entrance； a great half…mask the size of a tower shield hung from the wall； overlooking the shrine。 The symbol was made of beaten copper； with two black disks to mark the eyes。
Two males waited for them。 The first was young； dressed in black leather armor that showed off a well…muscled chest。 A curved kukri was thrust through his belt； and a small green asp was coiled around his arm。 His left leg was encased in an awkward harness of iron and leather； and he moved stiffly。 The second was unusually short and stocky； with brawny shoulders and a bald pate； dressed in a breastplate of black mithral and masked with a ceremonial veil of black silk。
〃The visitors； my lords；〃 the watch captain said。
The veiled priest studied them。 His expression was virtually unreadable behind the veil。
〃Valas Hune； as I live and breathe；〃 he said at last。 〃Well； this is a surprise。 I haven't seen you in more than fifty years。〃 He hesitated a moment longer； then strode forward boldly and clapped the Bregan D'aerthe scout on the shoulders。 〃It has been too long； old friend。 How are things with you？〃
〃Tzirik；〃 Valas said。 He smiled back； his dour face stretching with unaccustomed enjoyment； and he took the priest's hand in a firm grip。 He glanced around the chamber。 〃I see you have finally achieved the Return you were always talking about。 As far as how things go with me； well； that will take some explaining。〃
Tzirik studied the pany carefully。
〃A Master of Sorcere；〃 the priest said； 〃and another of Melee…Magthere。〃
〃Master Pharaun Mizzrym； an acplished wizard；〃 Valas replied； 〃and Master Ryld Argith； a weapons master of no small skill。〃
〃Gentlemen； if Valas vouches for you； you are wele guests in Minauthkeep；〃 the priest said。 When he looked at the others； his face hardened； geniality fading into sharp appraisal。
〃The draegloth is Jeggred；〃 Valas said； 〃a scion of House Baenre。 The lesser priestess is Danifae Yauntyrr； a highborn lady of Eryndlyn； late a battle captive。 The leader of our pany is…〃
〃High Priestess Quenthel Baenre；〃 Quenthel interrupted； 〃Mistress of Arach…Tinilith； Mistress of the Academy； Mistress of Tier Breche； First Sister of House Baenre of Menzoberranzan。〃
〃Ah；〃 Tzirik said。 〃We rarely have dealings with those of your persuasion； let alone a priestess possessed o