Quickly as few folk save a master of MeleeMagthere could manage； he loosed two shafts of his own。
The first took Relonor in the chest； and the second stabbed into the warrior's belly。 They both dropped down out of sight。
Ryld looked at the twin with the sword cut in his flank。 The male appeared to be unconscious； which would facilitate searching him。 Ryld hobbled over to him to rifle his pockets and the leather satchel he wore on his belt。
Blessedly； he found four silver vials； each marked with the rune for healing。 Greyanna had indeed outfitted her agents properly for a martial expedition。 It was the twin's misfortune that he hadn't had time to drink of her bounty before going into shock。
His brother and Relonor no doubt carried healing draughts as well； and Ryld had no guarantee that they'd be unable to use them。 They might e after him again any second； and he'd just as soon avoid a second round。 He needed to beat a hasty—
Enormous wings beat the air。 A longnecked； legless beast passed overhead with Greyanna and the other priestess； the skinny one； astride its back。 Glaring down at Ryld； Pharaun's sister pulled at the laces securing the mouth of her bag of monsters。
Ryld dumped the remaining arrows out of the quiver； the better to examine them。 One was fletched with red feathers while the rest had black。
He'd already seen his first foe shoot one fire arrow。 Praying that the redfletched arrow was another； he drew back his bowstring and sent it hurtling into the air。
The arrow plunged into the sack； and burst into flame。 The scarred high priestess reflexively dropped the bag； and it fell； burning as it went。 The magic spores busting inside turned the fire green； then blue； then violet。
Greyanna screamed in fury and sent the foulwing swooping lower。 Ryld looked for another magic arrow and found that none were left。 He nocked an ordinary one； and his hands began to shake； no doubt an aftereffect of the punishment he'd taken。
For a moment； it seemed to him that he was finished。 If he couldn't shoot accurately； he couldn't hit one of the foulwing's vital spots； or the riders on its back； for that matter。 Nor was he in any shape to fight them hand to hand。
Then he realized he still had a chance。 He surrounded his arrow with a cloud of murky darkness； then shot it upward。
The descending beast was a huge target。 Even shooting blind with trembling hands； he had a fair chance of hitting in somewhere； and the foulwing gave a double shriek that told him he'd succeeded。
He watched the mass of darkness he'd created tumble and zigzag drunkenly through the air。 Stung； suddenly and inexplicably sightless； the winged mount inside had panicked； and Greyanna was evidently unable to control it。 She quite possibly could have dissolved the darkness with some scroll or talisman； but she couldn't see either or lay hands on her equipment easily with the foulwing lurching and swooping about beneath her。
Ryld snapped the head off the arrow in his leg and pulled the offending object out。 He gathered up the healing potions； and quickly as he was able； activated the magic in his talisman； floated down off the roof； and limped away。
C h a p t e r
T H I R T E EN
As Quenthel skulked down the corridor； it occurred to her that at the same time； Gromph was casting his radiant heat into the base of Narbondel。 Even revelers and necromancers were settling in for a rest。 She； however； was too busy to do the same。 She wouldn't have a chance to relax until late the next night； unless； of course； she wound up resting forever。
Fortunately； one of the Baenre alchemists brewed a stimulant to delay the onset of the aching eyes； fuzzy head； and leaden limbs that lack of rest produced。 Quenthel extracted a silver vial of the stuff from one of the pouches on her belt and took a sip of it。 She gasped； and her shoulder muscles jumped。 Jolted back to alertness； she continued on her way。
In another minute； she reached the door to Drisinil's quarters。 In deference to the status of her family； the novice resided in one of ArachTinilith's most fortable student habitations。 Quenthel regretted not sticking her in a dank little hole。 Perhaps then the girl would have learned her place。
The high priestess inspected the arched limestone panel that was the door。 She couldn't see any magical wards。
〃Is it safe？〃 she whispered to the vipers。
〃We believe so；〃 Yngoth replied。
How reassuring； Quenthel thought； but it was either trust them or use another precious； irreplaceable scroll to wipe away protections that probably didn't exist。
She activated the power of her brooch。 When a novice came to ArachTinilith； the enchantments on certain doors were keyed to allow her to enter； based on the unique magical signature of her House insignia； rooms the high priestesses deemed it necessary for her to pass into。 Only Quenthel's brooch could unlock them all。
She unlocked Drisinil's door and warily cracked it open。 No magic sparked； nor did any mechanical trap jab a blade at her。 As quietly as she could； Quenthel crept on into the suite。 Sensing her desire for quiet； the snakes hung mute and limp。
She found Drisinil sitting motionless in a chair； her bandaged； mutilated hands in her lap。 For a moment； Quenthel； thinking the other female must have a dauntless spirit to enter the Reverie at such a perilous time； rather admired her—then she caught the smell of brandy； and noticed the bottle lying in a puddle of liquor on the floor。
Quenthel stalked toward the novice。 It occurred to her that she was doing to Drisinil as the living darkness had done to her。 The thought vaguely amused her； perhaps simply because she was finally the predator； not the prey。 Smiling； she gently laid the vipers across the other drow's face and upper torso。 The snakes hissed and writhed。
Drisinil roused with a cry and a start。 She started to rear up； and Quenthel pushed her back down in her chair。
〃Sit〃 the Baenre snapped； 〃or the serpents will bite。〃
Her wide eyes framed by the cool； scaly loops of the vipers； Drisinil stopped struggling。
〃Mistress； what's wrong？〃
Quenthel smiled and said； 〃Very good； child； you sound sincere。 After your first ploy failed； you should at the very least have rested elsewhere。〃
〃I don't know what you mean。〃
Drisinil's hand shifted stealthily； no doubt toward a hidden weapon or charm。 The vipers struck at the student's face； their fangs missing her sharpnosed features by a fraction of an inch。 She froze。
〃Please；〃 Quenthel said。 〃This will go easier if you don't insult my intelligence。 You have spirit； you believe I punished you too harshly； and you're Barrison De Armgo； eager to bring down the one House standing between your family and supremacy。 Of course you're involved in the plot against me。 You're also an idiot if you didn't think I'd realize it。〃
〃Plot？〃
Quenthel sighed。 〃Halavin tried to kill me last night； and she didn't act alone。 A single traitor couldn't have drugged all the food and drink set out at various points around the temple。 It would have required abandoning her station for long enough that someone would have marked her absence。〃
〃Halavin could have tainted the meal while it was still in the kitchen。〃
〃She was never there。〃
〃Then perhaps the demon poisoned the viands with its magic。〃
〃No。 As I'm sure you noted； each spirit represents one of the facets of reality over which the goddess holds special dominion。 Poison is the weapon of an assassin； while with its continually fluctuating form； last night's assailant was plainly a manifestation of chaos。
〃The conspirators；〃 Quenthel continued； 〃had to contaminate each and every table because they didn't know where I would stop and eat。 Many fell unconscious； but you and the other plotters knew not to sample the repast。〃
Drisinil said； 〃I had no part in it。〃
〃Novice； you're beginning to irritate me。 Admit your guilt； or I'll give you to the vipers and interrogate someone else。〃 The serpents hissed and flicked their tongues。
〃All right；〃 said Drisinil； 〃I was involved。 A little。 The others talked me into it。 Don't kill me。〃
〃I know what your little cabal has done； but I want to understand how you dared。〃
Drisinil swallowed and said； 〃You 。 。 。 you said it yourself。 Each demon seeks to kill only you； and each in its own particular way reflects the divine majesty of Lolth。 We thought she sent them。 We thought we were doing what the goddess wanted。〃
〃Because you're imbeciles。 Has no one taught you to look beyond appearances？ If Lolth wanted me dead； I couldn't survive her displeasure for a heartbeat； let alone three nights。 The attacks resemble her doing because some blasphemous mortal arranged it so； to manipulate you into doing her killing for her。 I'd hoped you conspirators knew the trickster's identity； but 1 see it isn't so。〃
〃No。〃
〃Curse you all〃
〃I know 。 。 。〃 The novice hesitated； then said； 〃The Mother of Lusts must have some reason for distancing herself from the city； and we 。 。 。 speculated。〃
〃Some of you did； I'm sure。 Others simply liked the idea of eliminating me。 I imagine your Aunt Molvayas would relish seeing me dead。 She'd have an excellent chance of being mistress in her turn。 We Baenre don't have another princess seasoned enough to assume the role。〃
〃It was my aunt〃 Drisinil exclaimed。 〃She came up with the idea of helping the demons kill you。 I didn't even want to help。 I thought it was a stupid idea； but within our family； she holds authority over me。〃
Quenthel smiled。 〃It's too bad you weren't more impressed with my authority。〃
〃I'm sorry。〃
〃No doubt that。 Now； I need the names of all the conspirators。〃
Drisinil didn't hesitate an instant。 〃My aunt； Vlondril Tuin'Tarl 。 。 。〃
As ever； Quenthel maintained a calm； knowing expression； but inwardly she was surprised at the number of conspirators。 An eighth of the temple It was unprecedented； but then she was living in unprecedented times。
When Drisinil finished； the Baenre said； 〃Thank you。 Where did you gather to hatch your schemes？〃
〃One of the unused storerooms in the fifth leg；〃 Drisinil said。
Quenthel shook her head。 〃That won't do。 It's not big enough。 Convene the group in Lirdnolu's old classroom。 Nobody's used it since she had her throat slit； so it will seem a safe meeting place。〃
Drisinil bli