Ryld cut down another of the barbed devils； while Danifae splattered the brains of a second across the chamber wall with a two…handed blow of her morningstar。 In the space of a few moments； the dark elves cleared the room of devils。 Jezz produced another scroll and quickly read off a spell； sealing the doorway behind Quenthel and Valas with a crackling sheet of sparking yellow energy。
〃That will only hold the creature for a moment；〃 he cautioned。
The Baenre looked around the chamber。 The fall in the shaft must have hurt her badly。 Blood caked the side of her head； and her eyes didn't seem to want to focus。 One arm hung limp at her side； but she held herself upright。
〃Where's the beholder；〃 she asked； 〃Pharaun； and Jeggred？〃
Ryld jerked his head at the archway behind him。 Another spell rumbled through the air。
〃Back there somewhere；〃 he said。 〃The beholder…〃
He was interrupted by the sudden； sickening awareness of an overwhelming presence approaching Jezz's barrier； something unseen that seemed to shake the very stones of the tower with its footfalls。
〃The pit fiend es；〃 Danifae reported； panting for breath； her eyes wide with alarm。
〃Go；〃 Quenthel said； waving them forward with her good arm。
Without another word； the dark elves scrambled for the other exit； plunging into the next room heedless of the spells that thundered and crawled in the space beyond。
Triel Baenre stood on a high bridge of House Baenre； gazing toward Narbondel。 The creeping ring of radiance that slowly climbed the mighty stone column marked the passage of time in Menzoberranzan。 The glow stood near the pillar's upper end； which meant that the day would soon be done。 Not for the first time it struck her as ironic that a race that had been driven from the world of light almost ten thousand years in the past would have the slightest use for marking the passage of days and nights in the manner of the surface folk； when the night was eternal and changeless in the Underdark； but it had proven somewhat useful over the years to remember the endless march of unseen days in the world above。 It helped in dealing with those who had more use for the custom； such as merchants who brought a few of the surface's more exotic and desirable goods down to the City of the Spider Queen。
Not that many of those had visited Menzoberranzan of late。 War was hard on merce。
The other question that came to Triel's mind as she looked out over Narbondel and the city below was somewhat less abstract： Who would be ing in an hour or two to cast the spells that renewed Narbondel's fiery ring？ The office of archmage still belonged to her brother Gromph； missing for more than a tenday； but the Masters of Sorcere would not permit the high seat to remain empty for much longer。 She'd learned that several of the more ambitious masters already maneuvered for the post。 Doubtless Pharaun Mizzrym would have been among them if he had remained in the city； but the errand to Ched Nasad had fortunately removed the hero of the hour from Menzoberranzan at the very moment that he might have put his fame to its best use。 She turned her head slightly and spoke over her shoulder to the loyal Baenre guards who stood a respectful distance behind her。
〃Send for Nauzhror；〃 she said。 〃Tell him I desire his counsel on a matter of some importance。 He may attend me in the chapel。〃
Triel made her way to the great temple of Lolth that lay in the center of House Baenre's Great Mound； her attention far from her surroundings as she contemplated the multiplicity of troubles that had descended over the city in the past few months。 She was almost grateful to the duergar for providing her with a cause to which she could rally the Council； and through them the dozens of lesser Houses that prised Menzoberranzan's strength。 A victory in the tunnels south of the city would do much to restore House Baenre's preeminence。
On the other hand； another setback could be disastrous。 Even if Baenre remained the wealthiest and most powerful House； the Council might see fit to remove House Baenre as the First House。 None of them alone； perhaps not even any two of them together； could hope to defeat House Baenre； but what if all seven of the other Houses on the Council agreed that it was time to pull down the strongest among them？
〃Lolth preserve us；〃 Triel muttered； and shivered with true fear。
In terms of numbers of troops； magical might； and sheer wealth； the other Houses had always possessed the wherewithal to destroy House Baenre if they chose to unite against the First House。 What they had never possessed was the blessing of the goddess for an act of such impropriety。 If the Spider Queen returned her attention to Menzoberranzan and destroyed the Second through the Eighth Houses for their presumption the day after they obliterated House Baenre； well； Baenre would hardly be helped by it。 Without Lolth's wrath to deter the ambitions of the other great Houses； a unified attack against Baenre seemed more like an inevitability than a possibility。
The trick； mused Triel； is to keep the other Houses from settling thorny issues such as who would be First House after Baenre's fall； and tempt some of the smaller Houses with the places of the larger ones。
If Houses such as Xorlarrin or Agrach Dyrr could be convinced that they would advance with more certainty by supporting Baenre against a conspiracy of Barrison Del'Armgo and Faen Tlabbar than they would by turning against the First House； then House Baenre could withstand almost any threat from its lesser neighbors。
She paused at the door to the chapel； examining the notion with acute distaste。 Could she really feel that House Baenre needed allies？ The old Matron Baenre had not governed with anyone's consent。 She had ruled the city because she was so strong no one could contemplate resisting her will。
Triel scowled and gestured at the chapel guards； who pulled open the doors and bowed before her。
Her sister Sos'Umptu awaited her in the chapel。 Sos'Umptu had Quenthel's height； but took after Triel's thoughtful reserve as opposed to the willfulness of Quenthel or her unlamented sister Bladen'Kerst。 Sos'Umptu possessed a calculated； deliberate maliciousness that she kept in careful check； never picking a feud she could not win。 She briefly lowered her eyes； the minimal gesture of respect Triel's position demanded； then straightened。
〃Any news from the army； eldest sister？〃 she asked in a soft voice。
〃Not as yet。 Zal'therra tells me that Mez'Barris has dispatched a small force to go ahead and seize a strategic pass in the path of the duergar army； which seems sensible enough。 The rest of the Army of the Black Spider follows as fast as it may。〃
〃It is a difficult situation。 I wonder if perhaps you should have led the army in person。〃
Triel frowned。 She was not accustomed to having her actions openly scrutinized by anyone； but if she couldn't survive the criticism of her family； how could she hope to cow the other matrons？
〃Given the unusual situation；〃 Triel replied； 〃I felt it wisest to remain close to the city。〃
〃Perhaps。 The problem is simple； of course…if the army is defeated； the blame will naturally attach to you。 If the army triumphs； you have made a hero of Mez'Barris Del'Armgo。〃
〃As well as Zal'therra and Andzrel；〃 Triel pointed out。 〃I admit I have more to lose than to gain； but I will not second…guess myself now。〃
She studied the chapel； gazing up at the great magical image depicting the Queen of Spiders。 While Sos'Umptu watched； Triel performed a perfunctory obeisance。
〃You have not observed the goddess's rites as closely as you might over the last few tendays；〃 Sos'Umptu said。
The goddess has not observed us for far longer； Triel found herself thinking。
She hurriedly thrust the blasphemous thought from her mind； horrified that something so irreverent could ferment in her head。 She maintained her outward calm with the ease of long practice； returning her attention to her sister。
〃We are confronted by yet another challenge；〃 Triel said。 〃The Masters of Sorcere clamor for Gromph's replacement。 House Baenre has placed archmages on Sorcere's throne as we liked for many hundreds of years； but this time； I am weighing the value of supporting the candidate of another House for the position。 It might be 。。。 expedient。〃
Sos'Umptu's eyes widened by the thickness of a blade； and she said； 〃You seek my counsel？〃
〃As Gromph has absented himself； and Quenthel is far away； I find that the children of my formidable mother are in short supply。 Very few females…and even fewer males…understand the lessons Mother taught us。〃 Triel snorted in irritation。 〃Not even all our siblings； for that matter。 Bladen'Kerst understood nothing but strength and cruelty； and Vendes was simply murderous。 I have need of a sharp mind； a subtle mind； trained by my mother； and it occurs to me that I have allowed you to lurk in this chapel far too long。〃 Triel moved a half…step closer and hardened her expression。 〃Understand that you advise me at my pleasure； and do not mistake consideration for indecision。 I will brook no questioning of my right to rule。〃
Sos'Umptu nodded and said； 〃Very well。 I think we should presume that Gromph has been killed。 He would not have lightly abandoned his duties； and there are at least two reasons someone might have killed him。 Either someone wanted to strike against the archmage himself； or someone wanted to strike against the leading wizard of House Baenre。 If the former； well； whomever bees archmage next will either be the culprit； or the next target。 Why should we hurry to place a Baenre wizard weaker than Gromph into that position； when there is at least some chance we might lose whomever we promote？〃
〃I don't like the idea of surrendering such an important post to another family； but I like the idea of losing another skilled wizard even less；〃 Triel mused。 〃Especially when we might forge a stronger tie with another House by allowing them to advance their candidate； who would then bee the target of whatever power was strong enough to destroy Gromph。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 Sos'Umptu replied。 〃You seek allies？〃
〃It occurs to me that we might do well to ally ourselves with a great House of middle rank； perhaps two；〃 said Triel。 〃It seems a sound precaution against any effort by the Second or Third Houses to rally the rest in mon cause against us。〃
Sos'Umptu stroked her chin and said； 〃You believe matters have bee as dangerous as that？ Mother would never have agreed to such a thing。〃
〃Mother lived in a different time；〃 Triel said。 〃Do not pare me to her again。〃
Triel fixed her eyes on her sister until the priestess dropped her gaze。 Sos'Umptu was clever； but not strong。 If she joined forces with Quenthel； or maybe a cabal of the more capable cousins such as Zal'therra； she would be a threat to Triel； but until then she could be trusted…within reason。
〃What if Gromph's assassination was an attack on House Baenre；〃 Triel asked； 〃and not simply a means to open the post of archmage？〃
〃In that case； we w