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d bins。 Quenthel followed her； figuring the ambassador knew the way to the most valuable hoards of magic。
Quenthel supposed there was a secure section of the storehouse； and she began to worry。 Any magic of value would likely be warded。
I should have brought that fop Mizzrym along； after all； she chided herself。 〃Mistress！〃 Yngoth hissed； rising up from the whip。 〃We are in danger！〃
Quenthel spun around； looking for signs of a threat； but she could see nothing。
〃What danger？〃 she demanded。 〃Where？〃
〃A force is here 。 。 。 drow；〃 Zinda answered； and all five of the snakes were agitating against her hip。
〃Drow and others；〃 Zinda added。
Someone's hiding； the high priestess realized。 What have you done； insolent child？
A heartbeat later； a small host of drow appeared from behind a low wall； soldiers with swords and hand crossbows at the ready； and a handful of House wizards； too。 They were all from House Zauvirr。 Quenthel recognized two of the dark elves as matron mothers。 It was obvious simply by their demeanor and bearing。 One bore the insignia of House Zauvirr； and she was smiling coldly。 The other； a rather plump drow； was most definitely not smiling and in fact looked quite distressed。
〃By the Dark Mother；〃 one of the males standing near Faeryl breathed； raising his crossbow and sighting down it at the fiend。
〃He's dangerous；〃 Faeryl called out； but several of the House wizards were already in action； casting spells even as the draegloth sprang forward； his teeth bared and his claws out； ready to shred anyone and everyone to ribbons。 Faeryl took an involuntary step back； shuddering。 Jeggred remained still； crouching as though he would spring again； snarling in fury； but unmoving otherwise。
〃That will hold him；〃 one of the wizards claimed。
Quenthel gasped in surprise； looking back and forth between Jeggred and Faeryl。
〃Yes； Quenthel；〃 Faeryl called out。 〃He has been rendered helpless。 He cannot extract you from this。〃
Quenthel returned her glare to Faeryl as the soldiers fanned out； moving to surround her but staying well back。 Many of the males aimed crossbows at her； and the wizards and priestesses all seemed ready to invoke various spells； should the Mistress of the Academy decide to bolt or attack。 The snakes of Quenthel's whip writhed in agitation； snapping at anyone who stepped too close。
〃You insolent little whelp of a drow；〃 Quenthel snarled； shaking in fury as she looked at Faeryl； who only smiled sweetly in return。 〃All that time being so agreeable； and it was a lie。 I knew you were being too acmodating。 I should have let Jeggred have his way with you back in the wilds。 I will see you flayed for this。〃
〃That might prove difficult； Mistress Quenthel；〃 Faeryl said； putting as much sarcasm as possible into her tone when she came to the honorific。 〃If you give this situation just a moment's thought； you will see； I'm sure； that you are overmatched。 It really would be better if you surrendered this foolish standoff。〃
Quenthel blinked； weighing the ambassador's words。 Finally； reluctantly； she realized that she was overmatched and nodded。
〃Excellent； Mistress；〃 Faeryl said。 〃Now； I think it would be a wise idea for you to lay down your arms and all of those wonderful trinkets I know you carry about yourself。〃
Quenthel's glare deepened； but she carefully set the whip down at her feet。
〃e on； Quenthel；〃 Faeryl admonished。 〃I've been traveling with you for several tendays now。 I know about the ring and the rod and all the other things。 Don't make this more difficult。〃
Sighing； Quenthel began to remove the various items； and when Faeryl seemed satisfied that the high priestess could no longer be a significant threat； she ordered her to step away from the pile of goods。
As others swooped in and gathered up Quenthel's possessions； Faeryl stepped closer to Quenthel； smiling again。
〃I am sorry it had to be this way； Quenthel；〃 she said； 〃but I'm sure you understand。〃
Quenthel； who had regained some of her posure； smiled right back。
〃Oh； I quite understand； Ambassador。 My sister will be highly disappointed when she learns what you have done； but I wouldn't worry too much about that。 It's a shame though 。。。 if there's one thing Triel will miss more than her sister； it would have to be her beloved son。〃
Faeryl didn't let her smile falter； but Quenthel thought the ambassador might have swallowed just a little nervously at the thought of the Matron Mother of House Baenre hearing the news that her draegloth had been destroyed。
Faeryl shrugged and said； 〃That's a worry for another time； Mistress。 Now； if you will be so kind as to walk with me； I'll introduce Matron Mother Drisinil Melarn and my own mother； Mistress Ssipriina Zauvirr。 They are most interested in hearing more about how you planned to steal our provisions and take them back to Men…zoberranzan with you。〃
〃Those goods belong in Menzoberranzan。 They are ours by right；〃 Quenthel said； angry all over again。
In the back of her mind； a part of her told herself that she really did need to learn to control her anger better； but she didn't want to listen。
Faeryl laughed cynically。 〃You didn't actually think I was going to let you steal from my House； did you？〃 she said。 〃From my city？ You are mad！〃 Taking a calming breath； the ambassador continued； ice dripping from her voice； 〃Look around you； Mistress Baenre。 This is what's left of your precious stores of goods。〃
For the first time； Quenthel realized that the rows and rows of shelves and bins were mostly empty。 There was nothing in there to take。 She had been thoroughly tricked； from the beginning of the journey； perhaps； played for the fool that she was。 The betrayal was not unexpected； and Quenthel knew that had the roles been reversed； House Baenre would have carried the situation to the same conclusion。 What galled her was that whatever foolish Baenre whelp had been responsible for the logistics of the deal had never bothered to put enough troops loyal to the House in place to ensure that nothing like this ever happened。 Quenthel suspected that whatever loyal forces had been here had been summarily rounded up and executed when the crisis grew。 The fact that no one was there now was a testament to that。
〃What have you done with it？〃 Quenthel demanded； half interested in the answer and half stalling for time so she could assess the situation better。
Though there were a number of drow troops there； there was still a chance she could escape…though it would require leaving Jeggred behind。
Faeryl laughed； 〃Oh； don't worry。 Black Claw made a tidy profit recently。 The stock has been put to a far better use than what you intended； Mistress。〃
The mockery in the girl's tone was unmistakable。
〃That's enough； Faeryl；〃 Ssipriina Zauvirr said； taking a couple of steps forward。 〃There's no need to ruin the surprise we have in store for our guests。〃
As Faeryl lowered her head slightly in deference to her mother； she made her face stony smooth； but Quenthel knew that behind that facade； the Zauv