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〃If they've already decamped；〃 Ryld said； 〃you might at least find a witness who can at tell you what tunnel they took。 It's a sensible plan； but I can think of another。 It's reckless to gamble your life when you don't even understand the game。 You could flee Menzoberranzan yourself。 With your wizardry； you're one of the few people capable of undertaking such a dangerous trek alone。〃
〃I could try；〃 Pharaun said； 〃but I suspect Gromph would track me down。 Even if he didn't； I would have lost my home and forfeited the rank I worked my whole life to earn。 Would you give up being a master just to avoid a spot of danger？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then you understand my predicament。 I imagine you've also figured out why I called on you today。〃
〃I think so。〃
〃Of course you have。 Whatever it is that's truly transpiring； my chances of survival improve if I have a rade to watch my back。〃
Ryld scowled。 〃You mean； a rade willing to defy the express will of Matron Mother Baenre and risk running afoul of the Archmage of Menzoberranzan as well。〃
〃Quite； and by a happy coincidence you have the look of a drow in need of a break from his daily routine。 You know you're bored to death。 It's painful to watch you grouch your way through the day。〃
Ryld pondered for a moment； then said； 〃All right。 Maybe we'll find out something we can turn to our advantage。〃
〃Thank you； my friend。 I owe you。〃 Pharaun took a drink and held out the flask again。 〃Have the rest。 There's only a swallow left。 We seem to have guzzled the whole pint in just a few minutes； though that scarcely seems possible； refined； genteel fellows that we—〃
Something crackled and sizzled above their heads。 Waves of pressure beat down on them。 Ryld looked up； cursed； scrambled to his feet； and drew a dagger； meanwhile wishing he'd strapped on his weapons before stepping outside MeleeMagthere。
Pharaun rose in a more leisurely fashion。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃this is interesting。〃
C h a p t e r
TWO
Scourge of vipers writhing in her hand soft； thin gown whispering； Quenthel Baenre； Mistress of ArachTinilith； prowled about； glaring at the younger females standing huddled in the center of the candlelit； marblepaneled room。 She always had a knack for striking fear into the hearts of those who displeased her； and these students were no exception。 Some trembled or appeared to be biting back tears； and even the sullen； fractious ones refused to look her in the eye。
Enjoying their apprehension； Quenthel prolonged her silent inspection until it was surely on the verge of being unbearable； then she cracked the whip。 Some of her startled pupils gasped and jumped。
As the five long black and crimsonbanded vipers that prised the lashes of the whip rose twisting and probing from the adamantine handle； Quenthel said； 〃All your lives； your mothers have told you that when a student ascends to Tier Breche； she remains here； sequestered from the city below； for ten years。 On the day you entered the Academy； I told you the same thing。〃
She stalked up to one of the students trapped at the front of the group； Gaussra Kenafm； slightly plump and roundfaced； with teeth as black as her skin。 Responding to Quenthel's unspoken will； the whip snakes explored the novice's body； gliding over its contours； tongues flickering。 The Mistress of ArachTinilith could see Gaussra straining mightily not to recoil for fear that it would provoke the reptiles into striking。
〃So you did know；〃 Quenthel purred； 〃didn't you？〃
〃Yes；〃 Gaussra gasped。 〃I'm sorry。 Please； take the snakes away〃
〃How impertinent of you。 You and these others have forfeited the right to ask me for anything。 You may kiss her。〃
The last statement was addressed to the serpents； and they responded instantly； driving their long fangs into cheek； throat； shoulder； and breast。 Gaussra collapsed—fully expecting to fall into a seizure； mouth foaming； her own blackened incisors chewing her purple tongue。
Shaking from the sting of the bites； Gaussra sat on the floor； very much alive； her terror was apparent； her humiliation plete。
〃You will return to your House；〃 Quenthel said； relishing the look on Gaussra's face as the true meaning of that statement sank in。 〃If you e that close to my scourge again； the vipers will allow their venom to flow。〃
Quenthel stepped away from Gaussra； who scrambled to her feet and ran from the chamber。
〃You all knew what was expected of you；' she said to the rest of the novices； 〃but you tried to sneak home anyway。 In so doing； you have offered an affront to the Academy； to your own families； to Menzoberranzan； and to Lolth herself〃
〃We just wanted to go for a little while；〃 said Halavin Symrywin； who seemed to carry half of her insignificant House's paltry wealth in the form of the gaudy； gold ornaments hanging about her person。 〃We would have e back。〃
〃Liar〃 shouted Quenthel； eliciting a flinch。
Rearing； the whip vipers echoed the cry。
〃Liar〃
〃Liar〃
〃Liar〃
In other circumstances； Quenthel might have smiled； for she was proud of her weapon。 Many priestesses possessed a whip of fangs； but hers was something special。 The snakes were venomous and likewise possessed a demonic intelligence and the power of speech。 It was the last magical tool she'd crafted before everything turned to dung。
〃Oh； you would have returned；〃 she continued； 〃but only because your mothers would have sent you back or else killed you for shaming them。 They have sense enough to cleave to the sacred traditions of Menzoberranzan even if their degenerate offspring do not。
〃Your mothers wouldn't mind if I slaughtered you； either。 They'd thank me for wiping clean the honor of their Houses。 But Lolth desires new priestesses； and； despite all appearances to the contrary； it is remotely possible that one or two of you are worthy to serve。 Therefore I will give you one more chance。 You won't die today。 Instead you will sever a finger from each of your hands and burn them before the altar of the goddess to beg her fiveness。 I'll ring for a cleaver and a chopping block。〃
Quenthel surveyed their stricken faces； enjoying the sickly； shrinking fear。 She would enjoy watching the actual mutilations as well。 The most amusing part might be when a novice had already cut one hand； and had to employ it； throbbing and streaming blood； to maim the other 。 。 。。
〃No〃
Surprised by the outburst； Quenthel peered to see who had spoken。 The mass of wouldbe truants obliged her by dividing in the center； opening a lane to the willowy female standing in the back。 It was Drisinil Barrison Del'Armgo； she of the sharp nose and green eyes； whom Quenthel had from the first suspected of instigating the mass elopement。 Somehow the longlegged novice had smuggled a sizable dagger； more of a short sword really； into the disciplinary session。 She held it ready in a low guard。
Quenthel reacted as would any dark elf in the same situation。 She yearned to accept the challenge and kill the other female； felt the need like a sensual tension pressing for an explosive release。 Either responding to her surge of emotion or else themselves vexed by Drisinil's temerity； the whip vipers reared and hissed。
The problem was that； despite Quenthel's assertions to the contrary； the students were not altogether devoid of importance。 They were the raw but valuable ore sent to the Academy to be refined and hammered into useful implements。 No one would fret over a few amputated pinkies； but the matron mothers did expect that； for the most part； their children would survive their education； an assumption the idiot Mizzrym renegade had already called into question。 True； Pharaun had only lost males； but still； by any sensible reckoning； he had used up the school's quota of allowable deaths for several years to e。
At this juncture it would be a poor idea for Quenthel to kill any student； certainly a scion of the powerful Barrison Del'Armgo。 Quenthel didn't want to stir up discord between the Academy and the noble Houses when Menzoberranzan already perched on the brink of dissolution。
Besides； she was a bit concerned that the other failed runaways might take it into their heads to jump into the fight on their ringleader's side。
Quenthel quieted the vipers with a thought； fixed Drisinil with her steeliest stare； and said； 〃Think。〃
〃I have thought；〃 Drisinil retorted。 〃I've thought； why should we spend ten years of our lives cooped up on Tier Breche when there's nothing for us here？〃
〃There is everything for you here；〃 said Quenthel； maintaining the pressure of her gaze。 〃This is where you learn to be all that a lady of Menzoberranzan must be。〃
〃What？ What am I learning？〃
〃At the moment； patience and submission。〃
〃That's not what I came for。〃
〃Evidently not。 Consider this； then。 All the priestesses of Menzoberranzan are currently playing a game； and the object of the game is to convince others that nothing is amiss。 If a student leaves ArachTinilith prematurely； as none has ever done since the founding of the city； that will seem peculiar； a hint that all is not as it ought to be。〃
〃Perhaps I don't care about the game。〃
〃Your mother does。 She plays as diligently as the rest of us。 Do you think she will wele you home if you jeopardize her efforts？〃
Drisinil's emerald eyes blinked； the first sign that Quenthel's s