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tion to go home had been discerned and countered with a word in Triel's ear。
Seething with the need to outwit those who had made a fool of her； Faeryl devised a ruse to unmask the spy。 She surprised her retainers with the order to pack。 They were slipping out of Menzoberranzan that very night。 She thought her loyal vassals would obey； but the traitor would try to sneak away to report the household's imminent flight。 Crouched on the roof； Faeryl would spot her when she did。
That was the plan； anyway。 The ambassador could think of several reanotsons why it might fail。 The residence had means of egress on all four sides； but she couldn't survey all four at once； not unless she floated well above the roof； and that option presented problems of its own。 Most dark elf boots possessed a virtue of silence； and their mantles； one of obnotscuration。 The traitor might even have some more potent means of esnotcaping notice； such as a talisman of invisibility。 Were she any higher above the ground； Faeryl might have no hope at all of detecting the spy's surreptitious exit。
Of course； the traitor might also have a means of municating with her confederates via clairaudience； or a charm of instantaneous transit； in which case the envoy's scheme was doomed no matter what。 She'd cling to the roof until someone in authority； a pany of Baenre guards； perhaps； showed up to take her and her entourage into custody； but she'd had to try something。
She crawled on。 Below and behind her； one of the duelists groaned as his foe's blade plunged through his torso。 Magic flickered and sizzled； and the victor dropped as well。 The wizard who'd been watching from a disnottance strolled forward to inspect the steaming corpses。
Faeryl wondered if the three had been siblings； and the wizard was the clever one。 She'd had a brother like that once； until an even trickier male turned him to dust and absconded with his wands and grimoires。 A minor setback for her House； but interesting to watch。
Overhead； something snapped。 She glanced up。 Four or five riders on wyvern…back were winging their way east。 Above them； projecting from the cavern ceiling； the stalactite castles shone with their own enchantnotments； a far lovelier sight； in her opinion； than the miniscule monochronotmatic stars that speckled the night sky of the so…called Lands of Light。
Then； so faintly that she wondered if she'd imagined it； something brushed against something else。 The sound had issued from the southwest。
Faeryl scurried over to that part of the roof and peered down。 At first glance； nothing appeared changed since the last time she'd checked that way。 Perhaps her nerves were playing tricks on her； but she kept on looknoting anyway。
Octagonal steel grilles protected the round windows cut in the wall below her； but if a drow knew the trick； she could unlatch one and swing it aside for an entrance or exit via levitation。 Apparently； someone had； for after a few more moments； Faeryl noticed that one of the web…pattern shields hung ever so slightly ajar。 With that sign to guide her； she spotted the shrouded figure skulking toward the mouth of an alleyway。
The noble of Ched Nasad was a fair hand with a crossbow。 She might have been able to shoot down the traitor from behind； but that would gain her few answers。 She didn't happen to possess a scroll with the spell for innotterrogating the dead。 She needed to catch up with the spy and take the wretch alive。
She read from a scroll she did have； then she stepped away from the top of the tower into empty space。
Except that it wasn't empty for her。 The air was as firm as stone bene