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〃The spider we hope to slay has two heads；〃 the drow told the five others…three duergar and two demons…that had gathered around the map。 〃Cut off either； and the body dies。〃 The point of his blade pricked the southern edge of the city。 〃One head is here： Qu'ellarz'orl； the plateau where the First House stands。〃 He moved the rapier； pointing to a spot on the northern edge of the city where a smaller cavern bulged off the main one。 〃The other is Tier Breche； the cavern that houses three of the most important institutions in Menzoberranzan： Sorcere； Melee…Magthere； and； most importantly of all； the great temple of Lolth； Arach…Tinilith。〃
〃Tough stones to crack； both one of them；〃 said Horgar； who stood immediately to Nimor's left。
The gray dwarf prince came barely to the draw's waist but had wider shoulders than the slender Nimor。 He scowled down at the map； absently rubbing his bald head with stubby fingers。 His two guards…duergar like himself； one of them with a scar that stretched from chin to ear along the cheekbone…kept a wary eye on the pair of half…demons that stood on the opposite side of the map。
〃Quite so； Crown Prince；〃 replied Nimor。 〃Which is why I want the duergar to lead the assault on Tier Breche。 A frontal assault down the tunnel from the north。 Your troops will establish a siege wall； then； from behind it； use catapults to lob stonefire bombs into Sorcere and Arach…Tinilith； reducing them to a smoking ruin。
〃Easily said；〃 Horgar challenged； 〃but not easily done。 That tunnel will be thick with jade spiders。 We may be able to smash our way through one or two of them but not all。〃
Chuckling； Nimor reached into a pocket and pulled out half a dozen flat ovals of green jade； each pierced by a hole through which a silver chain had been threaded and inscribed with a name。 Holding them by their chains； Nimor jiggled them so they tinkled together。
〃Thanks to an associate who's managed to penetrate deep into Menzoberranzan； I'm able to guarantee you they won't be a problem；〃 he told the duergar。
The scarred prince snorted and said； 〃And where will the tanarukks be while we're making our attack？ Bravely bringing up the rear？〃
This elicited a growl from Kaanyr Vhok； who bared perfect teeth and thumped the hilt of the rune…inscribed sword he held against his golden breastplate。
〃My Scoured Legion could outfight your mushroom…men any day；〃 he growled； glaring angrily across the map at the scarred duergar。 〃Why； even our orcs would be a match for…〃
A tug on his arm from Aliisza stopped him in mid bluster。 He glared at her but listened as she whispered in his ear； then slowly lowered his sword。
〃Gentlemen； please；〃 Nimor said。 〃Hear me out。〃 He turned to Vhok。 〃The Scoured Legion will indeed be involved in the fight。 You will rake Donigarten； the city's food and water supply； then fall upon Qu'ellarz'orl from the east。 That will cause the matron mothers to withdraw their defenders south； allowing the duergar to take up positions in the north。 But not all of the duergar。 One pany； at least； must march together with the tanarukks； spread amongst their ranks to give the impression that our force as a whole is mitted to an attack on Menzoberranzan's First House。〃
Vhok narrowed his eyes and asked； 〃We are to be a mere distraction？〃
〃Not at all；〃 Nimor assured him； a twinkle in his eye。 〃You also have a chance at victory…an excellent chance。 I've taken steps to take House Baenre out of the fight with a little surprise that I've got planned for its matron mother。 Once Triel is eliminated； the other females of House Baenre will begin vying for her throne。 The panies each mands will begin fighting each other…which will keep them too busy to bother about something so insignificant as defending their city。
〃When the other noble Houses see Baenre in disarray； they'll sense its weakness and strike。 One or more of them will try to usurp Baenre's position as First House。 While they're busy fighting each other； Lord Vhok's troops can swoop in and seize Qu'ellarz'orl。〃
Vhok scowled and said； 〃An interesting theory。〃
〃It's not just theory；〃 Nimor countered。 He paused to brushed rock dust off the sleeve of his immaculately tailored gray shirt。 〃It's drow nature。 We're like spiders reacting to the twitching of a web。 When we think we have our prey at our mercy； we strike。
〃Only this time；〃 Nimor said； 〃the prey will be the drow themselves。 Menzoberranzan will fall。 I guarantee it。〃
Triel coldly regarded the prisoner who had been brought before her： a young male drow。 He lay on his back on the floor of her audience chamber； wrists bound tightly behind him and ankles likewise tied above his bare feet。 His black pants and shirt hung in tatters； the slashes revealing a myriad of lacerations that dribbled blood onto the floor。 The hair on one side of his head had been burned down to stubble； and his face was covered in blisters。 One eye was fused shut； its eyelid blistered and weeping； but the other glared up at Triel with undiminished defiance。
Triel crinkled her nose at the stench of burned hair and flesh and toyed with a perfectly balanced throwing dagger…the only one still in the fellow's bandoleer when he was captured。 She could tell by the tingle it sent through her fingers that it was magic…as had been the blades that had killed four of her elite guard。
〃This is an assassin's weapon；〃 she observed； handing it to one of the females who stood on either side of her： two of the House guard who attended her at all times； magical shields and maces at the ready。
A third member of the guard…an officer…stepped forward to conclude her report。
〃The intruder was captured on the fifth level； Matron Baenre；〃 she said。 〃We believe he was trying to reach your private quarters。〃
Triel stared at the officer； who； despite all that was happening； looked as if she was freshly turned out for inspection。 Her adamantine chain mail was a glossy black； her long white hair neatly braided。 She stood at rigid attention； a polished mace hanging from her belt and a hand crossbow strapped to the back of each wrist。 Five black spiders； embroidered into the shoulder of her silver tunic； proclaimed her rank。
〃How did he get inside； Captain 。 。 。 ？〃 Triel let the sentence trail off； an obvious invitation for a name。
〃Captain Maignith；〃 the woman answered； meeting Triel's eyes for precisely the amount of time that was appropriate。 〃He didn't get in through any of the lower doors。 I questioned the guards…thoroughly。 All were at their posts； and the wards are still in place。 He didn't slip past us。 He must have gotten in from above。〃
That said； Captain Maignith glanced at a second officer…a lieutenant of the lizard riders…who stood several paces farther back； as befitted a male。 He wore tight…fitting； padded leather breeches and a piwafwi trimmed in silver。 He held his plumed silver helmet in the crook of one arm and seemed to be having trouble looking Triel in the eye。
〃Matron Mother； I 。。。 My riders saw nothing on the outer wall；〃 he stammered。
Triel noted the shift of words with