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r； had opted to sit in her immediate vicinity。
〃With respect； Holy Mother；〃 Drisinil said； 〃isn't that self…evident？ The goddess； who nurtured and exalted our city since its founding； has turned her back on us。〃
Once again； Drisinil couldn't help thinking of other possibilities； but even if she'd seen a point to it； she wouldn't have dared to mention them。 No one would； not in her present pany。
〃And Quenthel is to blame；〃 added Molvayas Barrison Del'Armgo。
Though stockier and shorter than Drisinil； her aunt had the same sort of sharp nose and unmon green eyes。 Richly clad； the elder scion of the House carried an enemy's soul imprisoned in a jade ring； and at quiet moments one could occasionally hear the spirit weeping and pleading for release。 Second to Quenthel as Barrison Del'Armgo was ever second to Baenre； Molvayas had helped her niece pass word of the meeting； and her support lent it a certain credibility。
〃How do you know that？〃 asked T'risstree T'orgh。
Deceptively slender； a fully trained warrior as well as a priestess； she was notorious for carrying a naked falchion about in preference to the usual mace or whip of fangs； and gashing the exposed flesh of any student who displeased her with a fast but precisely controlled cut to the face。 The short； curved blade lay across her knees。
Drisinil waited a beat to make sure Molvayas intended her to answer the question。 Apparently she did； and rightly so； since it was the younger female who had actually conceived the argument。
〃When Triel was mistress here；〃 said the novice； 〃all was well。 Shortly after Quenthel assumed the office； Lolth rejected us。〃
〃 'Shortly' being a relative term；〃 said a sardonic voice from somewhere in the back of the room。
〃Shortly enough；〃 Drisinil retorted。 〃Perhaps the goddess gave us time to rectify the error。 We failed to do so； so now she's punishing us。〃
〃She's afflicting all Menzoberranzan；〃 T'risstree said； 〃not just Tier Breche。〃
〃Surely；〃 said Drisinil； 〃you didn't expect her to be fair。 I hope a priestnotess knows Lolth's ways better than that。 Her wrath is as boundless as her might。 Besides which； Arach…Tinilith is the repository of the deepest mysnotteries and thus the mystic heart of Menzoberranzan。 It makes perfect sense that whatever befalls us here should touch the city as a whole。
〃In any case；〃 the novice continued； 〃Lolth has shown us her intent。 Despite our safeguards； two spirits invaded the temple； the first in the guise of a spider； the second a living darkness。 Spider and darkness； reflecnottions of the essence of the goddess。 The demons injured those who got in their way。 They bruised them and broke their bones； but they didn't try to kill any of us； did they？ They were plainly seeking Quenthel； and they sought to kill her and her alone。〃
Some of the other priestesses frowned or nodded thoughtfully。
〃It did seem that way；〃 said Vlondril； 〃but what do you think is unacnotceptable about Quenthel？ Isn't she doing all the same things Triel did？〃
〃We don't know everything she does；〃 said Drisinil； 〃and we don't know what she thinks。 Lolth does。〃
〃But you don't know she sent the demons；〃 T'risstree said。 Born a notmoner but risen to a level of power and prestige； she had evidently shed the habit of deference to the aristocracy。 〃Perhaps one of Quenthel's mortal enemies sent them。〃
〃What mortal possesses a magic potent and cunning enough to penenottrate the temple wards？〃 Drisinil replied。
〃The archmage？〃 Vlondril offered； picking at the skin on the back of her hand。 Her tone was light； as if she spoke in jest。
〃Even if he does；〃 Drisinil said； 〃Gromph i