F O U R (48 page)

s—works .  Learn  where  the  firepots  came  from,  where  they're  cached

around the city, and the master plan for the rebellion. And most importantly ofall, determine what the fugitives know about the cl

ergy losing its magic ".

before.""In hopes of coming out of this affair more powerful than you ever were

Pharaun grinned. "More powerful than
 
we
your boredom for good and all."      ever were before. That might dispel

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War Of The Spider Queen

Book 1

Dissolution

"And those are the real reasons you aren't  ready to go back to Tier Breche."
"All m

are
 
in a frantic hurry to return?"

y  motives are genuine, including  my  wariness of Gromph. I take it you

Ryld sighed. "I'm  in no rush. Our excursion has been interes

finish what I start, but what if the ores           ting, and I like to fellow drow?"            rebel before we get around to warning our

"Then we'll make sure never to tell  anyone we knew it was comi

grinned and added, "Actually, the awareness that we race to  avert a calamity will ng." The wizard

make our exploits all the more stimulating."

e rebellion won't kill anyone who matters

to the two of us. I suppose I agree. W"And should we lose the race, maybe the'"Excellent!"           ll keep on searching."

knees of his splayed, bristly legs, he Bearing a silver tray, the goblin bustled to the side of the pool. Bending the elves to take the goblets on top of it.  brought the salver low enough for the dark

Pharaun gave the thrall a smile and a wave, dismissing him,  then lifted his  c"T                               up.

o m

R  ystery and glory!"

juice, sweet and very cold, a pleasant yld sipped from  his own cup, acknowledgicontrast to the heat of the waterng the toast. The drink was red morel ."So I guess it's back to looking like ores," said the weapons m

aster.

"I grieve to disappoint you, but the time for that sort of deception has passed "."What do you mean? If we don't look like

get into another one of those secret m    undercreatures, how are we going to "We don't know that the Prophet will holeetings?" d another assembly. He'

s

explained his strategy                         already inot be for several days, during which we'and distributed his secret weapon. Even if he does, it mll  have Greyanna s        ght

eeking  us relentlessly.

We've  evaded  her so far,  but we  must  acknowle

could sour eventually." "You're right about that." dge  the possibility that our luck

is in order"Therefore, we need to find the rogues quickly, which means a change of tactics .

"I don't know Why are the boys trying to instigate a goblin revolt?"."

"Nor do I, really. It doesn't  appear to  maintent, like the act of eloping itself, reflects an antipathy to the ke sense. Still, would you agree that the established order?"

"Possibly "."Then let'

s assume  the Prophet or some other ringleader lured the males awa

from  their homes because he knew they were               y more than ordinarily resentful of

their places in the world.""It's possible. Where does the notion lead?"

The wizard grinned and said, " If we demonstrate that we share their distemthe rogues m                            per,

a

"How can we do that? Wy recruit us as well."e  may not be clerics, but we're Masters of the

Academy.  We're pillars of the hierarchy,  and mo

pleasanter lot and thus less reason for discontent than mre to the point, we have a ost.""That doesn't

seem  to slow you down."

"Even so."

"Here's  what you're overlooking. Thanks to my  misadventure with the Sarthos

demon, I'm  a
 
disgraced
 
master, likely in line for some  ghastly punishment.

Whereas you with your dour demeanor and dwarven armor are clearly aniconoclast and m

alcontent. Moreover,  we'v

the runaways. They m         e been asking everywhere for news of ust know of it, even though they didn't  see  fit  to  make

Richard Lee Byers

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War Of The Spider Queen

Book 1

Dissolution

contact. During that same  time, a high priestess from  House Mizzrym  has tried to

murder us. They surely have some  cognizance of that as well."

"Y

Pharaun smet they still didn'iled. "Because we't approach us. Why would they do it now?"ll provide proof that we do in fact share their

perspective.""How?"

"The priestesses lead regular patrols through the Bazaar. We'll destroy one,

repair  to  the  Braeryn,  boast  of  the  deed,  and  await  developments.  The

will seek us out. How can they not? Whatever their ultimate obj     rogues ective, I'm surethey can use the services of two such talented fellows."

"No doubt, but back up. You want to mu"In as showy a m          rder a patrol?"

anner as possible. With

enough. They won't be as num       a bit of planning, it should be easy erous as  Greyanna's  hunters and they won't  beexpecting that sort of trouble."

have to?""What happened to not killing anybody, especially clerics, unless we absolutely

"We do absolutely have to. We're in a race against time, remember, and this  is

the speediest route to our objective.""Maybe, but what happens afterward?  Won't any number of folk want t

o

punish us for our im"We won't confide our involvempudence?"

ent to those likely to prove unsympathetic ".

"Ah, but snug and safe in the lair of our friend the Prophet, we won'"The priestesses will figure it out."                 t care.Besides, the Council has already authorized our annihilation, so we r

eally have

nothing to lose."  e can't

worsen our current situation, but what about the l

term"Perhaps the crim?"                               ong

"In the long term," Pharaun said, "it  wont matter.  As you yourself observed

mere moments ago, we Menzoberranyr are a pragmatic lot. People forgive whatever

outrages I committed yesterday if I make myself useful today "."Greyanna didn't."

The wizard laughed and replied, "Well, of course, we're likewise prone togrudges, vendettas, and blood feuds. It'

s one of the paradoxes central to our

natures. With luck, though, no one of  importance will take our little massacre

personally. I doubt we'll be musignificance to her family    rdering any princesses, or anyone of genuine

.

"I think it's crazy," Ryld said, shaking his head. "You don't know that the

rogues will contact us, or if they'"Then we'll sim       ll like what they see if they do."

ply hatch another scheme."R

"Yyou'ld scowled and shook his head again.re mad," the weapons master said, "but I'm  with you."

"Splendid! We  must toast our homicidal designs with something stronger than juice." Pharaun looked about and spotted the goblin. "May w

e see the wine

list, please?"R

yld said, "It's the very beginning of the mo"Don't be misled by superficial appearances," Pharaun replied. "As neitrning."          h

er of

us has enjoyed a moment of repose, it  must still be night. Do you think thehave any of that '53 Barrison Del'Armgo heartwine?"            y

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War Of The Spider Queen

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Dissolution

C   h  a  p  t   e   r

F   0   U   R   T   E   E   N

Until someone murdered her,  Lirdnolu’s had taught her classes in a sort of

Arach-Tindoor amphitheater, one of many architectural oddities scattered through shaped tiers.inilith, and as the conspirators slunk in, they seated themselves on the C-Drisinil wondered what to say to them, how to stall until Quenthel arrived  to confront them. The novice's mind was a blank, but she knew she'd have  to  thinkof something. Her mouth was dry and tasted of metal. Her armpits wereclammy with sweat, and her accelerated pulse pounded in the stumps of her severed fingers. The poison was obviously  well on its way to killing  her, and she had to please Quenthel Baenre suff

W              iciently to earn the antidote.rinkled old Vlondril Tuin'Tarl leered  at Drisinil as if she knew of the student's  distress, but all she said was, "I believe most everyone's  here. Let's getthis done before our colleagues start missing us."her"Uh, yes," Drisinil said, gazing up at the rows of faces staring back down at .  "Win the mistress'ell, mothers, sisters, we all know what happened lasts whip detected the drugs—"         night. The vipers

Startled, Drisinil spun around. A figure shrouded in a cowled "So they did," said Quenthel.
                
piwafwi
 
rose from the first row