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swarmed over her and pounded her until she just couldn't struggle any more。
With some difficulty； they divested her of her armor and clothing； and went to work on her。 Amazingly for such a bestial race； they seemed to unnotderstand anatomy as thoroughly as her dear Tluth； but their ministrations were nothing like massage。
Faeryl had learned to court unconsciousness。 It brought surcease from the lingering pains of past tortures。 Unfortunately； it couldn't avert new ones。 When Jeggred found her so； he simply waved a bottle of pungent smelling salts beneath her nose until it jolted her awake。
She could hear him ing。 So could the jailers； who scurried to the back of the dungeon to give him privacy。 Shivering； she struggled to notpose herself。 Perhaps she could deny him the satisfaction of a scream…at least for a while…or even provoke him into killing her。 That would be wonderful。
The draegloth appeared in the doorway； stooping to pass through。 Denotspite herself； Faeryl flinched； then saw he was not alone。 Dainty little Triel acpanied him。 So did her harsh…featured brother； clad as usual in the Robes of the Archmage。
〃My 。 。 。 salutations； Matron；〃 the Zauvirr croaked。
〃Hush；〃 said Gromph； 〃and all will be well。〃 He looked up at the glownotering half…demon。 〃Free her； and be gentle about it。〃
Jeggred strode to Faeryl。 This time； she managed not to cringe。 The draegloth supported her weight with his smaller hands while cutting her bonds with the claws of the larger ones； then scooped her up in his arms。 She passed out。
Next came a blur of hours or days； during which she would wake for a few muddled seconds； then lapse into unconsciousness again。 She lay on a soft divan； where servants salved and bandaged her wounds and sometimes spooned broth into her mouth。 Priestesses read scrolls of healing； and Gromph appeared periodically to cast his own spells over her。 She noticed Mother's Kiss lying on a little table beside her； and when she felt strong enough； stretched out her trembling arm and touched it。
Finally she opened her eyes to find her thoughts clear and vitality tinnotgling in her limbs。 The servants helped her don new raiment。 They said it was for a meeting with Triel。
Faeryl considered taking her war hammer along； then thought better of it。 If her rehabilitation was an elaborate prank； if the Baenre was sumnotmoning her to further torment； the weapon wouldn't save her。
Her legs still the least bit unsteady； she followed a male through the endnotless corridors of the Great Mound。 Eventually he opened the door to a small but lavishly decorated room。
Triel sat at the table in the center of the space； with two bodyguards standing against the wall behind her。 Faeryl inferred that this was a chamnotber the matron used when she wished to palaver away from the formal trappings of her court。
The Baenre rose and took her prisoner's hands。
〃My child；〃 Triel said； 〃I rejoice to see you。 Some folk said you wouldn't recover； but I never doubted it。 I knew you were strong； a true drow princess favored of Lolth。〃
〃Thank you； Matron；〃 said Faeryl； thoroughly perplexed。
Triel conducted her a chair。
〃You'll be glad to know we caught them；〃 the matron said。
〃Them？〃
〃The brigands who waylaid you and murdered your followers； who left you for dead in that place where my servant Valas found you。 I supervised the executions myself。〃
Faeryl was beginning to prehend her situation。 For some reason； Triel had forgiven her her disobedience。 The Zauvirr could go free； her honor and rank restored； but there was a catch。 Henceforth； she would have to endorse the fiction that Trie