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As Faeryl lowered her head slightly in deference to her mother； she made her face stony smooth； but Quenthel knew that behind that facade； the Zauvirr daughter was delighted to have thwarted her。
Matron Mother Melarn also stepped forward…or rather； two heavily armed drow stepped forward； escorting her between them。 She still frowned deeply； but she said nothing。
Ssipriina Zauvirr strolled halfway toward Quenthel and stopped。
〃When my son managed to get into private contact with Faeryl and she was able to tell us what you were planning； we of course wasted no time in preparing for your arrival。 I have to say； I am more than a little surprised that you actually expected to slip a storehouse full of goods out of the city； out from under our noses； without us noticing； but that's really of no consequence。 As my daughter indicated； House Zauvirr has put the profits to a far better use。〃
Quenthel blinked in confusion。
〃House Zauvirr？〃 she asked。 〃You are merely the caretakers。 This pany belongs to Houses Melarn and Baenre。〃 The high priestess turned to the other matron mother and said； 〃Are you permitting this？ Are you content to let these deceitful； low…class merchants make the decisions for your investments？ You are far more trusting than I。〃
Drisinil Melarn didn't say a word； though she grimaced slightly when Quenthel spoke to her； Ssipriina Zauvirr laughed； a quick； bitter sound。
〃Oh； she is far from content； Quenthel Baenre； but she has little choice in the matter。〃
Quenthel realized just why Matron Mother Melarn seemed so unhappy。 The two drow flanking her were not escorts but guards。
〃You would dare？〃 Quenthel asked。 〃You have laid hands on the matron mother of a high House of your own city and hope to get away with it？ How can you expect to survive； when 。 。 。 when…〃
The high priestess clamped her mouth shut； unwilling to finish the thought。
When Lolth will not grant you spells。
〃Oh； not to worry；〃 Ssipriina said； smiling even more deeply than before。 〃With the funds I've made selling off your valuables； I have ensured that House Zauvirr will never again kneel before the likes of you two。〃
Her eyes glittered red as she finished； and Quenthel saw pure hatred burning in them。
〃Captain Xornbane； if you please？〃 Ssipriina called。 All around the drow gathering； appearing from nowhere； a horde of gray dwarves stood in a large circle； brandishing wicked…looking axes and heavy crossbows。 Clearly； they had been standing there for a few moments but had simply been invisible。 The duergar looked confident； ready for anything。
Quenthel felt the pit of her stomach leap into her throat； but before she could take any action she felt an invisible force seize her and hold her motionless。 She couldn't move a muscle and saw that Drisinil Melarn was in a similar condition。
〃Shall we kill them now？〃 one of the duergar asked； stepping forward。
SEVEN
Its fortunate that Valas has been here before and knows the lay of the land； Ryld thought as he pushed his way through the throngs behind his panion。
The streets were more crowded than the previous day； if that was possible； and the warrior was sure that they would have made even slower progress if they'd been negotiating the web streets without a clue as to where to go for the right kind of information or the right kind of folk。
Ryld and Valas had set off shortly after the morning meal； the scout leading the larger drow into the lower quarters of the City of Shimmering Webs。 At Quenthel's instructions； they were trying to find someone； anyone； who had supplies； equipment； and bodies available to serve them on the return trip to Menzoberranzan。 Ryld still doubted the likelihood of the priestess acquiring anything worthwhile in the Black Claw storehouses； but he wasn't one to quibble the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith。 He had seen the folly of that with Pharaun。 Or rather； he had seen the difficulties。 Pharaun seemed to be getting away with his insidious little remarks more and more frequently； and the warrior realized； too； that the mage had begun following his own agenda more consistently。
Ryld pushed past a cluster of illithids…illithids！ Five of them standing on a street corner； and no one paying them any mind…and he followed the scout into a particularly squalid…looking taproom。
Ryld couldn't get Pharaun off his mind。 The mage seemed to be able to talk anyone around to his way of thinking； and when that didn't work； he'd figure out a way to do what he wanted anyway and explain it all away later。
The warrior wondered how often his old friend had done the very same thing to him m order to get what he wanted。
Valas shouldered his way through the crowded bar； heading for the back of the place。 It always seemed to be at the rear tables where information was brokered； and in this tavern it was no exception。 Ryld took up a position to watch his panion's back while Valas sat down across from a surly looking drow whose piwafwi was tattered and stained。 The drow was definitely no noble； though Ryld would never hold that against him。 Growing up on the streets of Menzober…ranzan； the weapons master knew as well as anyone what it was like to be born a moner。
A sava board rested on the table； and a game was in progress。 Ryld could see that whoever had been across from this drow had played himself into a bad position and left before the inevitable conclusion。 He found himself wanting to sit down and push a piece or two about； trying to stave off the endgame； but he forced himself to turn away； watching the crowded room for signs of trouble。
〃We're looking for pack lizards；〃 Valas began； setting a few gold coins on the table as he reached out and made a play on the sava board； 〃some supplies； and a few sellswords who can guard all of the above。'
The drow snaked a hand out from under his shredded piwafwi and scooped up the gold before Valas had even pleted his move； one that was not really of much help to his position； Ryld noted。
Better to let the fellow continue winning； the weapons master surmised。
〃You and just about everyone else in the city；〃 the drow chuckled； flashing a crooked smile that revealed several missing teeth。 〃Those kinds of things require more gold than the two of you are bound to have；〃 he added； giving Valas and Ryld an appraising look。
〃Don't worry about the coin；〃 the scout replied while Ryld returned his attention to the room。 〃Just point us in the right direction。〃
〃Weil； then；〃 the informant said； 〃I know a gray dwarf who might still have a few lizards available…for the right price； mind you…that would serve you well enough。 How about buying a round of drinks while I get someone who can take you to him？〃
Ryld pursed his lips in consternation。 He had hoped this would be a quick affair； but of course it was not to be。
The drow slid out from the table； clapped Ryld on the shoulder； and said； 〃My； you're a healthy one； aren't you？〃 before pushing through the crowd。
Ryld stole a glance down at Valas； who seemed to be studying the sava board。 The scout made no mo