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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 murdering any princesses； or anyone of genuine significance to her family。
〃I think it's crazy；〃 Ryld said； shaking his head。 〃You don't know that the rogues will contact us； or if they'll like what they see if they do。〃
〃Then we'll simply hatch another scheme。〃
Ryld scowled and shook his head again。
〃You'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 we see the wine list； please？〃
Ryld said； 〃It's the very beginning of the morning。〃
〃Don't be misled by superficial appearances；〃 Pharaun replied。 〃As neinotther of us has enjoyed a moment of repose； it must still be night。 Do you think they have any of that '53 Barrison Del'Armgo heartwine？〃
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 indoor amphitheater； one of many architectural oddities scattered through Arach…Tinilith； and as the conspirators slunk in； they seated themselves on the C…shaped tiers。
Drisinil wondered what to say to them； how to stall until Quenthel arnotrived to confront them。 The novice's mind was a blank； but she knew she'd have to think of something。 Her mouth was dry and tasted of metal。 Her armpits were clammy 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 sufficiently to earn the antidote。
Wrinkled 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 get this done before our colleagues start missing us。〃
〃Uh； yes；〃 Drisinil said； gazing up at the rows of faces staring back down at her。 〃Well； mothers； sisters； we all know what happened last night。 The vipers in the mistress's whip detected the drugs…〃
〃So they did；〃 said Quenthel。
Startled； Drisinil spun around。 A figure shrouded in a cowled piwafwi rose from the first row。 She lifted her head； pushed the hood back； and stood revealed as the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith。 Somehow she'd entered the room without her enemies realizing her identity。
Quenthel pushed back one wing of her cloak； freeing the arm that held her whip。 She sauntered to the center of the room。 It occurred to Drisinil that at that moment the plotters could have fallen on their target en masse； but they didn't。 The mistress cowed them with her unexpected appearance； her contemptuous demeanor； and the simple fact that she was a Baenre princess。
The mistress smiled at Drisinil and said； 〃You've done well； novice； except for one detail。 It's traditional for priestesses to conduct their affairs by candlelight。 That's all right； I've taken care of it。〃 She turned toward the door。 〃e。〃
Two teachers marched in carrying silver candelabra。 After a moment； Drisinil； squinting； saw they weren't alone。 Many of the residents of Arach…Tinilith filed in after them； all well armed and wearing mail。
Quenthel beckoned to the plotters。
〃Move down to the lower seats； why don't you？ The lateers won't mind climbing to the top。〃 She waited a beat； then said； 〃That wasn't a suggestion。〃
The conspirators hesitated a moment longer； and the show offered connotvinced them to obey。
〃Thank you；〃 Quenthel said； then waited until everyone had taken a seat and the plotters all had armed loyalists at their backs。 〃Now； let's disn