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d clairvoyant acpanied them； not as a newly captured slave but as their guest。
〃Why did you want to e？ Perhaps you were fleeing some implacable enemy； or were fascinated by the grace and sophistication of my people and the idea of living in the exotic Underdark。 My hunch is that you wanted to learn drow magic； but it's pure speculation。 No outsider ever knew。
〃For that matter； why did the Faen Tlabbar oblige you？ That's an even greater mystery。 Conceivably someone harbored amorous feelings for you； or you； too； had secrets to teach。〃
〃I had a way of persuading them；〃 Smylla said。
〃Obviously。 Once you reached Menzoberranzan； you made yourself useful to House Faen Tlabbar as countless minions from the lesser races had done before you。 The difference being that you were accorded a cernottain status； even a degree of familiarity。 Matron Ghenni let you dine with the family and attend social functions； where you reportedly acquitted yourself with a drowlike poise and charm。〃
〃I was their pet；〃 said Smylla； sneering at the memory； 〃a dog dressed in a gown and trained to dance on its hind legs。 I just didn't know it at the time。〃
〃I'm sure many saw you that way。 Perhaps some saw something else。 From all accounts； Matron Ghenni behaved as if she regarded you as a ward； just one notch down from a daughter； and with the mistress of the Fourth House indulging you； few would dare challenge your right to notport yourself like a Menzoberranyr noble。 Indeed； no one did； until she turned against you。〃
〃Until I fell ill；〃 said the sorceress。
〃Quite。 Was it a natural disease； bred； perhaps； by the lack of the searnoting sunlight that is a natural condition for your kind？ Or did an enemy infect you with poison or magic？ If so； was the culprit someone inside House Faen Tlabbar； who saw you as a rival for Ghenni's favor； or the agent of an enemy family； depriving their foes of a resource？〃
〃I was never able to find out。 That's funny ing from me； isn't it？〃
〃Ironic； perhaps。 At any rate； several priestesses tried to cure you； but for some reason； the magic failed； whereupon Ghenni summarily expelled you from her citadel。〃
〃Actually；〃 Smylla said； 〃she sent a couple trolls； slave soldiers； to murder me。 I escaped them and the castle； too。 Afterward； I tried to offer my services to other Houses； noble and merchant alike； but no door would open to a human who'd lost the favor of Faen Tlabbar。〃
〃My lady；〃 said Pharaun； 〃if it's any consolation； you were still receivnoting precisely the same treatment we would have given a member of our own race。 No dark elf would abide the presence of anyone afflicted with an incurable malady。 The Spider Queen taught us the weak must die； and in any case； what if the sickness was contagious？〃
〃It's not a consolation。〃
〃Fair enough。 To continue the tale： Unwele anywhere else； you made your way to the Braeryn。 Despite your infirmity； some magic renotmained within your grasp； and you employed it to cow the residents of this particular warren into providing you with a private space in which to live。 I daresay that wasn't easy。 Then； using divinatory rituals； your natural psionic gifts； and whatever secrets you'd discovered during your time with House Faen Tlabbar； you set up shop as a broker of knowlnotedge。 At first； only the lower orders availed themselves of your services； then gradually； as your reputation grew； even a few of my people started consulting you。 We wouldn't let you dwell among us； but some were willing to risk a brief contact if they anticipated sufficient advantage from it。〃
〃I never heard of you；〃 said Ryld； 〃but within the distri