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t below。
House Faen Tlabbar； Third House of Menzoberranzan； lay below him and a short distance to his left。 The castle sprawled over several towering stalagmites and columns； its elegant balustrades and soaring buttresses belying the underlying strength of the rambling towers and mighty bulwarks of dark stone。 Faen Tlabbar's pound was one of the largest and proudest of any in Menzoberranzan that did not sit on the high plateau of Qu'ellarz'orl； the most prestigious of the underground city's noble districts。 Instead House Tlabbar's palace clambered up along the southern wall of Menzoberranzan's great cavern； until its highest spires surmounted the plateau in whose shadow it sat； as if the matrons of the Third House wished to be able to peer over the plateau's edge and gaze enviously upon the manors fortunate enough to be located alongside the exalted House Baenre。
It was an apt analogy for Faen Tlabbar's political maneuverings。 Only two Houses stood ahead of them in Menzoberranzan's dark hierarchy： Baenre； the First； and Barrison Del'Armgo； the Second。 Nimor thought it likely that Matron Mother Tlabbar harbored great aspirations for her House。 Del'Armgo； the Second House； was strong but with few allies。 Baenre； the strongest； was as weak as it had been in centuries。 Houses such as Faen Tlabbar gazed on the Baenre and remembered centuries of absolute arrogance； humiliating condescension； and they wondered whether the time had e for several lesser Houses to band together and end Baenre's dominance once and for all。
〃That would be a merry game to watch；〃 Nimor mused。
He suspected that in such a scenario Baenre might prove stronger than their resentful rivals guessed； but the bloodletting would be spectacular。 Several great Houses would fall； for Baenre would not go alone into the gentle night。 Of course； that would go a long way toward advancing the schemes of the Anointed Blade of the Jaezred Chaulssin。
That would be a play for another day； though。 Nimor meant to strike a deep and grievous blow at Faen Tlabbar； not incite them against House Baenre。 Ghenni Tlabbar； Matron of the Third House； would die beneath his blade。 Her blood would purchase treason on a grand scale； and place into the assassin's hand the stiletto Nimor meant to drive into Menzoberranzan's heart。
A scrabbling sound and the clink of mail caught Nimor's notice。 He withdrew softly into the shadows and waited patiently as a squad of Tlabbar warriors mounted on great riding lizards climbed along a small； unworked stalactite nearby。 The pallid reptiles possessed large； sticky pads on their clawed feet that allowed them to cling to the sheerest of surfaces； and many of Menzoberranzan's noble Houses used the creatures for patrolling the high places of the city's vast cavern。 Faen Tlabbar was renowned for its squadrons of lizard cavalry。 The assassin had studied the Tlabbar patrols from his precarious perch for more than an hour； carefully timing their sweeps。
Right on time； Nimor observed。 You've allowed yourselves to bee predictable； lads。
The riders carried crossbows and lances at the ready； scurrying along in single file as they looped around the smaller stalactite and scanned the cavern ceiling。 As Nimor expected； the leader turned to the left and followed the curve of the stone pinnacle down and out of sight。
〃You would do well to vary your routine； Captain；〃 Nimor whispered to the departing squad。 〃An intrepid fellow such as myself might be deterred by the possibility of your unexpected return。〃
With a single silent spring； Nimor launched himself out into the vast darkness； plunging through the eternal night。
By an accident of cavern formation； House Tlabbar held little of the city's roof and overcaverns。 One large column and a pair of small stalactites linked Tlabbar to the ceiling； which meant that Tlabbar had something of a blind spot directly over its palace roof。 This was the weakness Nimor intended to exploit。 His black cloak streamed behind him； and cold air rushed past his face。 Nimor bared his teeth in a savage grin； delighting in the long seconds of his great leap。 His body burned with the dark fires of his heritage； and he longed to shed his rakish guise； but this was not the time。
While he fell； he mouthed the words to a spell that made him invisible； and as the spearlike pinnacle of Faen Tlabbar's central palace rushed up at him； he quickly halted his fall by employing his power of levitation。 Less than six heartbeats from the moment he'd leaped from the abandoned stalactite overhead； Nimor alighted on the knifelike ridge of a steep hall； invisible and undetected。 He listened for any sign that he had been detected； then he glided toward the hall's juncture with the castle proper； his steps as silent as death。
The dark elves of Faen Tlabbar were not unaware of their vulnerability to assault from above； and vigilant sentries manned battlements and cupolas atop the palace； watching for intruders。 Nimor avoided them carefully。 Those who were able to see invisible foes…and there were more than a few…were not in the habit of watching for an invisible foe who also glided from shadow to shadow with the stealth of a master assassin。 Nimor was more concerned with the various magical barriers shielding the house。 He habitually protected himself with spells designed to counter and confuse various forms of magical detection； but they were not foolproof。
Green and gold radiance glimmered around him as he crept along the steep； tiled roof of a square tower。 The Faen Tlabbar； like many other Houses； used magic to illuminate and decorate the baroque spires and balconies of their home。 Nimor lowered himself to his belly and edged down even farther； headfirst； listening carefully。 Below him he expected to find a guard post； and an entrance leading into the manor itself。 Over the decades the Jaezred Chaulssin had used magic to scry what they could of the layout and defenses of many great Houses in more than one drow city； and the slender assassin had carefully studied his brotherhood's notes and drawings on House Tlabbar。 The information was； of course； inplete and out of date； as parts of the castle were blocked from all scrying； and the Jaezred Chaulssin had not studied the Houses of Menzoberranzan in a very long time。 Nimor would have preferred to update his information through the bribery or capture of a Tlabbar guard； but he simply did not have the time to arrange such a thing and keep the rest of his timetable intact。
He heard the soft sounds of movement on the balcony below the eave of the roof he lay on。 Two； he guessed； at least one wearing chain mail。 He would have to be swift…a single outcry could spell the end of his single…handed assault on the castle。 With calculating patience； Nimor edged out even more and found himself looking down on a curving gallery beneath the overhanging eave。 To his left； the walkway became a walled stair leading down to the lower battlements； while to his right it simply ended at a black doorway。 The door itself stood open。 Directly beneath him stood a drow male in armor； gazing out over a lower courtyard。
Nimor studied the