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to Arach…Tinilith； 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； mutinotlated 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 Quennotthel 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 sharp…nosed features by a fraction of an inch。 She froze。
〃Please；〃 Quenthel said。 〃This will go easier if you don't insult my innottelligence。 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 renotality over which the goddess holds special dominion。 Poison is the weapon of an assassin； while with its continually fluctuating form； last night's asnotsailant 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 you