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The wizard stood silently as Quenthel closed the door； then he cocked an eyebrow at her when she asked him if his detection spells were still in place。
〃Yes； as a matter of fact； they are；〃 the mage responded。 〃The divination should remain in place for a full day〃
〃Good；〃 the high priestess said； nodding in satisfaction。 〃You're pretty talented with divining information； are you not？〃
Pharaun could not help but grin but sat on the couch as he Spread his hands ingenuously； wondering why she； of all drow； would pay him a pliment。
〃I manage to get by；〃 he said。
〃I want you to do something for me；〃 Quenthel said； biting her lip。
Pharaun tipped his head to one side； surprised； for it was not at all like her； especially in recent tendays； to pay him a pliment； much less ask a favor of him。
We are indeed a long way from Menzoberranzan； he thought wryly。
It would give the wizard leverage if he could perform a genuine task for her； but of course the first notion that popped into his head was the prospect of being played。 Shrugging； he motioned for her to speak further。
After a lengthy pause； the high priestess said； 〃I want you to determine the identity of someone。〃
〃 'Someone？' 〃 Pharaun asked。 〃Surely you have more for me to work with？〃
〃Yes 。。。〃 Quenthel answered； biting her lip again； 〃someone who was trying to kill me。〃
Pharaun sat upright on the couch； looking directly at the female in front of him。
〃Kill you？〃
He was surprised； not because it was so inconceivable that Quenthel was the target of an attack…merely being the Mistress of Arach…Tlnilith brought with it a host of enemies…but because she had decided to trust him enough with this confidence and the task。 If that was indeed what she really wanted。 Maybe she was just trying to occupy his time； keep him from something else。 A hundred possibilities swirled in his head。
〃Someone back in Menzoberranzan sent several demons after me；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Sent them right into the Academy。 Fortunately； my prowess was sufficient to fend off the attacks； but I would like to put a stop to them before we return。 It is a waste of both the lives of my charges and the magic I have been forced to consume in the effort。〃
Pharaun nodded； thinking。 Someone powerful enough to bend demons to his will had to e from Sorcere； he reasoned。 Certainly； plenty of mages in the school of magic had the wherewithal； but how many of them were so interested in eliminating Quenthel Baenre？
〃I will look into it；〃 the Master of Sorcere said。 〃If I can determine who sent the fiends in your direction； you will be the first to know it。〃
〃Good；〃 Quenthel said。 〃You will tell no one of this； not even the other members of our expedition。〃
〃Of course not； Mistress；〃 Pharaun replied。 〃This issue is between the two of us； and the two of us only。〃
〃Very well；〃 the high priestess said； indicating that the meeting was at an end。 〃Ferret out my enemy； and when we return to Menzoberranzan in triumph； I will make certain you are duly honored for your part。 Your future at Tier Breche will be as bright as Narbondel。〃
Pharaun bowed low as a gesture of thanks。
If by that you mean I will glow with the flame of a thousand of your killing spells； he thought； then we shall see。
〃I look forward to the accolades； Mistress Quenthel；〃 the mage said aloud； and with that he pulled the door open for her and followed her out to attend to the evening meal with the others。
***
Gromph sat at his bone desk； mulling over his inability to peer into the Demonweb where Lolth resided。 None of his usual scrying spells had been successful； and he was growing irritated。 He was considering ways to get around this dilemma when the message arrived。 It was a mere whisper； but Gromph nonetheless recognized Pharaun Mizzrym's magically transmitted voice。
Reached Ched Nasad。 City in chaos； matron mothers ruling in name only。 Investigating new possibility； more information next munication。 Quenthel to visit Black Claw tomorrow。
Gromph's mouth tightened at the mention of his sister。
Hopefully； she will not e back； he thought。
The archmage knew of the spell the other wizard was using to municate； and he was aware that he could whisper an answer to his counterpart。 Unfortunately； he had not prepared for this。 Thinking quickly； he whispered a few instructions。
〃Focus attention on gathering information to aid our own situation。 Keep me apprised of all new possibilities。 Report on success at Black Claw with next…
〃…contact；〃 Gromph finished； but he knew that the spell had winked out before he'd managed to utter the last word。 He shook his head； disgruntled； but he knew the Mizzrym was clever enough to figure out what he meant； regardless。 Whether he would follow those instructions or not was an entirely different matter。
The Baenre wizard sat back in his chair； contemplating for a moment； pondering what condition the expedition team was likely to be in。 He especially wondered how his sister fared and if the strain of his own attacks； coupled with the journey； had taken their toll。 He certainly hoped so。
He suspected that she and Pharaun were clashing on a regular basis。 The wizard was too independent； too full of himself to know when to placate the high priestess； and she had been too long inside the Academy； too used to getting her own way； unwilling to listen to advice； no matter how reasonable。
That's my sister； the archmage thought； frowning。
It often seemed to Gromph as if both of his sisters made poor decisions for no other purpose than to spite others。 Even if Quenthel did survive her journey； Gromph thought she might very well be ripe for the slaughter when she returned。 If she returned。 If Quenthel were to lead the expedition into disaster in Ched Nasad； it would certainly be to Gromph's advantage。 He could be rid of both her and the Mizzrym fop in one very charming blow。 Yet； the fate of Menzoberranzan might very well rest on their shoulders。 Was sending them off together the wisest choice？
Still uncertain what his next step would be regarding his own investigations of Lolth's domain； but with a whole new set of issues to deal with； Gromph arose from behind his bone desk and hurried to find his sister。
***
Triel scowled slightly when she saw Gromph enter the audience chamber。 It was not a time for public petitioning； and though her brother was hardly some mon supplicant； she had hoped to avoid any visitations for a while。 The matron mother straightened herself in the overly large throne as her brother approached。 The archmage bowed low and stepped close； further irritating the matron mother。 She liked everyone to keep a little distance。
Gromph kept his voice low； leaning in so as to nearly whisper； 〃Triel； I have news。〃
Triel doubted the guards outside； flanking the doors； were going to heat a normal conversation； but her brother had not bee Archmage of Menzoberranzan through carelessness。 She inclined her head to listen。
〃Do tell；〃 she said。
〃Quenthe