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mber of males have dared to elope from their families？ Because they somehow tumbled to the fact that a priestess's wrath now constitutes less of a threat。〃
〃While the clerics；〃 said Ryld； catching the thread of the argument； 〃are eager to catch them because they want to know how the males know about the Silence； if we're going to call it that。 Hells； if all those males had the nerve to run away； maybe they even know more about the problem than the females do。〃
〃Conceivably；〃 said Pharaun。 〃The priestesses can't rule it out until they strap a few of them to torture racks； can they？ But they don't want Gromph involved with capturing the rogues because 。 。 。 ？〃
〃They don't want him to find out what the runaways know。〃
〃Very good； apprentice。 We'll make a logician of you yet。〃
〃Do you think the archmage already knows the divines have lost their magic？〃
〃I'd bet your left eye on it； but he's in the same cart as the high priestnotesses。 He posits that the fugitives might know even more。〃
Ryld nodded。 〃In a war； or any crisis； you have to cover every possibility。〃
〃The notion of the Silence even explains why the Jewel Box was so crowded； and why some of the patrons were in a belligerent humor or even bruised and battered。 Females divested of their magic might well feel weak and vulnerable。 Consciously or otherwise； they'd worry about losing connottrol of the folk in their household and pensate by instituting a harsher discipline than usual。〃 〃I see that；〃 said Ryld。
〃Of course you do。 As I said； the one hypothesis accounts for every anomaly。 That's why we can be confident the idea is valid。〃
〃How does it account for the relative paucity of goods in the Bazaar？〃
Pharaun blinked； narrowed his eyes in thought； and finally laughed。 〃You know； it's difficult for genius to soar in the face of these carping little irrelevancies。 Actually； you're right。 At first glance； the Silence doesn't exnotplain the marketplace； but it explains so much else that I still believe the idea correct。 Have I persuaded you？〃
〃I。。。 maybe。 You do make a kind of twisted sense。 It's just that it's a hard idea to take in。 The one truth our people have never questioned is that Menzoberranzan belongs to Lolth。 Everything in the cavern is as it is benotcause she willed it so； and the might of her priestesses is the primary force maintaining all that we have and are。 If she's turned her face from the entire city； or is lost to us in some other way。 。 。 。〃 Ryld spread his hands。
〃It is unsettling； but perhaps； just perhaps； it affords us an opportunity as well。〃
Ryld extended a telescoping metal probe； attached a cloth to the hook on the end； and started swamping out the blood…clogged scabbard。
The warrior asked； 〃What do you mean？〃
〃Just for fun； let's make the same leap of faith…or fear…that Gromph and the Council did。 Assume the rogue males can explain the cessation of Lolth's beneficence。 Assume you and I will find them and extract the innotformation。 Finally； assume we can somehow employ it to restore the status quo。〃
〃That's a lot of assuming。〃
〃It is。 Obviously； I'm letting my imagination run amok。 Yet I have a hunch…only a hunch； but still…that if two masters of the Academy could acplish such a triumph； they might thereby win enough power to make my friend the Sarthos demon look like small beer。 You wanted to find something to our advantage； as I recall。〃
〃Your sister may find us first。 She tracked us once。 Do you still think we shouldn't kill her； or her vassals either？〃
〃That's a good question；〃 Pharaun sighed。 〃They're attacking us with potent magic。 I suspect that leather bag hol