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〃Do you honestly think that she won't hold us all responsible； regardless of the relative levels of involvement？〃 the Master of Sor…cere asked； 〃She will blame you simply because you are a male； Master Argith。〃
Slowly； Ryld nodded。
〃I suppose you're right；〃 he said。 〃It still doesn't make me feel any better。〃
〃I'm not suggesting we bind her with cord and throw her in a box； Weapons Master。 All I'm asking is that you support me when I make a suggestion； that you back me； however subtly； when she and I disagree。 Help me convince her that moving forward； rather than back to Menzoberranzan； is the wiser course of action。〃
〃You make sense；〃 Ryld replied； 〃but right now； your idea is just that。 We must find someone willing to serve as the conduit。 Do you know of any such creature？〃
〃I do；〃 Valas said quietly。
Pharaun crouched down in front of the scout and asked； 〃You do？ Who？〃
〃There's a priest I know； a follower of Vhaeraun。〃
〃Vhaeraun；〃 Ryld said in a clipped tone。 〃I doubt we'll receive any aid from him。〃
〃Perhaps； but Tzirik is actually an old associate of mine；〃 Valas replied。
At Ryld's surprised look； the scout added； 〃When you wander the wilds of the Underdark as much as I have； you have to be decidedly more pragmatic than in the cozy confines of Menzoberranzan。 Tzirik Jaelre owes me a favor。 If we can get to him； I think he might help us。〃
Valas turned to Pharaun and added； 〃Assuming； of course； that you have a notion of what he should do once we get there。〃
Pharaun replied； 〃I will when we find this priest。 In the meantime； you keep this Tzirik Jaelre to yourself until I have words with Quenthel。 At the right moment； mention that you know him； and we'll show her the wisdom of seeing this through to the end。〃
〃I only hope the end es later； rather than sooner；〃 Ryld said grimly。
NINE
Halisstra couldn't breathe。 The blood pounded in her ears； making it difficult to hear what Matron Mother Zauvirr was saying。 She didn't want to listen； anyway。
〃I wish it wasn't true； Halisstra； I really do； but there's no getting around it。 We caught her in the act； and when we confronted her； she wouldn't surrender。 Your mother tried to flee； and the soldiers just did their jobs。 By the time I got to her； I couldn't help her。〃
Halisstra shook her head； trying to rid her thoughts of the hated words。 Her mother； dead。 It wasn't true。 It couldn't be！
〃No！〃 Halisstra cried out； pushing Danifae away。 Her battle captive； all flimsy silks； was reaching out to her； trying to fort her。 〃You're lying！〃
She struggled to spin free； to get out of the room； but she found all avenues of escape cut off。 Matron Mother Zauvirr's troops seemed to be standing idly by； as though they were merely guests in someone else's home； but they were strategically placed about the room to guard the doors。 She looked around for some of her own family's soldiers； but there were none to be found。 Matron Mother Zauvirr had planned well； delivering her devastating news from a position of strength。
Wilting； Halisstra sank down to the floor； unsure what to do。 Only Danifae settled down next to her； making soothing noises and trying to reach out to calm her。 She didn't want to be calmed。 She wanted to slap the other drow； smack her across the room； but she knew better。 If she had any hope at all of surviving this horrid situation； she would need the battle captive's aid。 She had to think。
It wasn't so much that her mother was dead。 Of course that didn't bother her。 In other circumstances； she would have delighted in it； but there weren't any other circumstances。 Her mother had been caught in an act of open treason against the city； or so Ssipriina claimed； and Halisstra had no way to refute it； despite the fact that it was a ludicrous notion。 Her mother would never risk herself so openly； especially not aiding foreigners； regardless of how good the relationship was between their Houses。 Not to mention the fact that smuggling the goods from Black Claw Mercantile out of the city would ruin House Melarn。 There was nothing to gain from it and so much to lose。
Of course； when Ssipriina arrived in House Melarn's audience chamber； sat right down in Drisinil's throne and made her revelation； the unspoken implication was there。 Drisinil was not acting alone。 When the rest of the council learned of it； they would likely find。 Halisstra just as guilty of the crimes as her mother。 They would imprison or execute everyone in the family； dissolve House Melarn； and divvy up its assets。 Unless she found a way to counter it。
She had no doubt that Ssipriina was behind it all； was somehow benefiting from the destruction of House Melarn； but in order to make it work； she would have to eliminate Halisstra； too。 Halisstra had to move fast； but she knew that the other drow wasn't about to let the First Daughter of House Melarn out of her sight。 Her only chance to get help was to send Danifae； and that would only happen if Ssipriina Zauvirr believed the battle captive was more interested in saving her own skin than in supporting her mistress。
Halisstra glanced over at Danifae； taking a deep breath to calm herself； then began to flash signs at her servant； working secretively so that only her panion could see。
You have to turn on me； she signaled。 Convince them that you'd just as soon see me dead。 Then get help。 Go to House Maerret。
When Danifae gave an almost imperceptible nod； Halisstra reached out and slapped her。 Hard。 The blow sent the battle captive falling backward； skidding across the floor。 Danifae's eyes widened as her hand flew up to her cheek； but before she could open her mouth to spoil the effect； Halisstra screamed at her。
〃How dare you suggest such a thing！ I would never consider it！〃
Danifae's red eyes narrowed； and whether the venomous look was genuine or part of the ploy； Halisstra wasn't sure。
〃Then rot in a cell until they put your head on a pike； Mistress。〃 She stood； deliberately brushing her backside； straightening the flimsy silks that did little to conceal her curvaceous body。 〃If you won't； then I'll do it and save myself。〃
Danifae turned to Ssipriina and said； 〃Mistress Zauvirr； I humbly beg you to help me procure my release from her〃 She sneered this last as she jerked a thumb down at Halisstra； who was still sitting on the floor。 〃I'm sure we can e to some sort of arrangement that you would find gratifying enough to release me from my servitude。〃
Ssipriina alternated between looking at the battle captive before her and the noble daughter on the floor； blinking in surprise at the outburst。 She opened her mouth as if to say something； then snapped it shut again。
Danifae； taking advantage of the silence； continued； 〃I'm just now starting to recall conversations with Mistress Halisstra that I think might implicate her。 Given a few moments alone in her chambers； I could recall even more evidence that proves her foreknowledge in these disgraceful； treasonous acts。〃
She looked down at Halisstra； a knowing smirk on her face。
Despite the fact that she