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Ryld glanced at the forest that hemmed them in on every side。 Unlike the solid； silent tunnels he was used to； the wall of trees and underbrush was porous； filled with rustling and creaking； and the quick； tiny movements of animals flitting from branch to branch。 Ryld couldn't decide which was worse： the shrinking feeling he'd experienced under the empty expanse of the sky； or the feeling he had then…as though the woods were watching them。
〃You're mad；〃 he told Halisstra。 〃You'd never survive out here alone。 Especially without spells to…〃
As anger blazed in Halisstra's eyes； Ryld suddenly regretted his rash words。 With all Halisstra's talk of surface gods； he'd forgotten； for a moment； that she was also a priestess of Lolth and a female of a noble House； He started to bow deeply and beg her pardon； but she surprised him by laying a hand on his arm。
Then she said something； in a low murmur he had to strain to hear： 〃Together we'd survive。〃
He stared at her； wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him。 All the while； he was overwhelmingly aware of her hand upon his arm。 The touch of her fingers was light； but it seemed to burn his skin； flushing him with warmth。
〃We might survive up here；〃 he admitted； then wished he hadn't spoken when he saw the gleam in Halisstra's eyes。
The alliance he'd just unintentionally mitted to would probably be no more solid than his friendship with Pharaun。 Halisstra would maintain it as long as it furthered her goals； then would drop it the instant it became inconvenient。 Just as Pharaun had abandoned Ryld； leaving him to face impossible odds； when the pair of them were trying to escape from Syrzan's stalactite fortress。
Ryld's meditative skills had saved his life then and allowed him to fight his way free。 Later； when he'd met up with Pharaun again； the mage had clapped him on the back and pretended that he'd fully anticipated； all along； that Ryld would survive。 Why else would he have abandoned his 〃dearest friend？〃
Halisstra gave Ryld a smile that made her look both cunning and beautiful in one。 〃Here's what we'll do 。 。 。〃 she began。
Inwardly； Ryld winced at the word 〃we；〃 but he kept his face neutral as he listened。
Danifae watched from behind a tree as Halisstra and Ryld stood in the ruined temple； talking。 It was clear they were plotting something。 Their voices were pitched too low for Danifae to hear； and they leaned in toward one another like conspirators。 It was also clear； from the quick kiss Ryld gave Halisstra as the conversation ended； that they had bee； or would soon bee； lovers。
Watching them； Danifae felt a cold； still anger。 Not jealousy…she cared nothing for either Ryld or Halisstra…but frustration born of the fact that she had not seduced Ryld first。
Danifae was more beautiful than her former mistress by far。 Where Halisstra was lean； with small breasts and slim hips； Danifae was sensuously curvaceous。 Halisstra's hair was merely white； whereas Danifae's had lustrous silver tones。
As for Halisstra's face； well； it was pretty enough； with its slightly snubbed nose and mon； coal…red eyes； but Danifae had the advantage of skin softer than the blackest velvet； lips that curled in a perpetual pout； and eyebrows that formed a perfect white arch over each of her strikingly colored； pale gray eyes。 An advantage she should have used earlier； judging by the display of mawkish sentimentality Danifae had stumbled upon。
Quenthel was already in play； though the older； more experienced priestess was not wholly unaware of Danifae's immediate desires。 It didn't take a genius to see why Danifae had seduced the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith。 It was almost to be expected。
Danifae anticipated a more plicated time of it when she'd have to take on Pharaun and Valas。 The Master of Sorcere was wily。 He would surely be difficult to fool once things began to turn； but his open dislike of Quenthel gave her something to use。 Valas was bought and paid for by House Baenre； and that kind of gold was something Danifae wouldn't likely happen upon anytime soon。 That would be delicate。 And Jeggred； well。 。 。 。
But Ryld； with this strange infatuation with her soon…to…be…former mistress； would be a tougher nut to crack。
What good was playing sava； she thought； if you don't control all of the game pieces？
Valas strode into the ruins； followed by Pharaun and Quenthel； and； a moment later； by the loping Jeggred。 The false smile Halisstra gave Quenthel and the way Ryld deliberately met Pharaun's eyes； confirmed Danifae's suspicions。 Halisstra was preparing to betray her fellow priestess and Ryld his former friend。
Danifae smiled。 She didn't know what they were up to…yet…but whatever it was； she was certain it could be turned to her advantage。 She walked out into the clearing； joining them。
With a quick snap of her whip； Quenthel motioned for the others to gather around her。
〃Valas has found an entrance to the Underdark；〃 she announced。 〃Once we're safely below； Pharaun will cast a spell。 We're going back to the Demonweb Pits。 But not all of us。 One of you will carry a message back to Menzoberranzan； to the matron mother。〃
As Quenthel's eyes ranged over the group； Danifae noted the indecision they held。 Quenthel was obviously uncertain whom she could spare…or trust。 Seizing her chance； Danifae prostrated herself before the high priestess。
〃Let me do your bidding； Mistress；〃 she said。 〃I will serve you as faithfully as I have served Lolth。〃
As she spoke； she cast a baleful eye on Halisstra； hoping Quenthel would take her point。 Halisstra had acted blasphemously during their recent journey to the Demonweb Pits and was not to be trusted。
Or course； neither was Danifae。 She had no intention or going to Menzoberranzan if she was chosen。 Not when there was a wizard in Sschindylryn who might be able to help her to free herself； once and for all； from the odious Binding that tied her to Halisstra。
Danifae felt Quenthel touch her hair； and she looked up expectantly。
〃No； Danifae；〃 Quenthel said； the touch turning into a gentle stroke。 〃You will stay with me。〃
Danifae ground her teeth。 Apparently； she'd done too good a job of seducing Quenthel。
Halisstra stepped forward…and； to Danifae's astonishment； also fell to her knees in front of Quenthel。
〃Mistress；〃 Halisstra said。 〃Let me carry the message for you。 I know that I failed you earlier； in the shadow of the goddess's own temple。 I beg of you now。 Please let me 。 。 。 redeem myself。〃
〃No！〃 Danifae spat。 〃She's up to something。 She has no intention of going to Menzoberranzan。 She…〃
Halisstra laughed。
〃And just where would I go； Danifae？〃 she asked。 〃Ched Nasad lies in ruins。 I no longer have a House to return to。 I need to make a new home for myself…in Menzoberranzan。 And what better way to start than by braving the dangers of the World Above to carry a vital message to the First House？〃
Danifae's eyes narrowed。 She could sense that Halisstra was up to something。
〃You'd travel to Menzoberranzan on the surface？〃 she asked； spitti