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ean rock walls of the caverns； empty of the smells of wet loam and leaf that choked his nose。 He scuffed at the snow with his boot； uncovering a cracked marble floor。
〃How can you tell？〃 he asked。
〃The crescent moon…it's the symbol of Corellon Larethian。 The elves who once lived in these woods must have worshiped here。 Their priests probably climbed these stairs to work their magic under the moon。〃
Ryld squinted up at the ball of fire that hung in the sky。
〃The moon's not as bright as the sun；〃 he said； 〃at least。〃
〃It casts a softer light；〃 Halisstra replied。 〃I've heard that this is because the gods who claim it as their symbol are kinder to those who worship them…but I don't know if that's true。〃
Ryld stared for a while at the ruined masonry then said； 〃The gods of the surface elves can't be very strong。 Corellon let this temple fall into disrepair； and Seyll's goddess was powerless to save her from you。〃
Halisstra nodded and replied； 〃That's true。 Yet when Lolth tried to overthrow Corellon and establish a new coronal in his place all those millennia ago； she was defeated and forced to flee to the Abyss。〃
〃The Academy teaches that the goddess left Arvandor willingly；〃 Ryld said。 Then he shrugged。 〃More of a strategic retreat。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Halisstra mused。 〃Still； I can't help but think that what we saw in the Demonweb Pits…that black stone in the frozen image of Lolth's face…was a lock； a seal that made Lolth's own temple a prison。 A prison fashioned by some other god's hand。 Will Lolth eventually emerge from behind it…or will she remain trapped for eternity； her magic forever stilled？〃
〃That's what Quenthel means to discover；〃 Ryld said。
〃As do I；〃 Halisstra answered。 〃But for different reasons。 If Lolth is dead； or trapped in eternal Reverie； what point is there in following Quenthel's orders？〃
〃What point？〃 Ryld exclaimed。 He was beginning to see the dangerous fork in the road down which Halisstra's musings had taken her。 〃Only this： spells or no spells； Quenthel Baenre is both Mistress of Arach…Tinilith and First Sister to the Matron Mother of House Baenre。 Were I to defy Quenthel； I'd lose my position as Master of Melee…Magthere。 The moment Menzoberranzan learned of my treachery； everyone in the Academy would have their daggers out and be thirsting for my blood。〃
Halisstra sighed and said； 〃That's true。 But perhaps in another city…〃
〃I have no desire to beg for scraps at someone else's table；〃 Ryld said bluntly。 〃And the only city in which I might have made a home for myself…with the sponsorship of your House…has been destroyed。 With Ched Nasad gone； you have no home to return to。 All the more reason to get in Quenthel's good favor； so that when we return to the Underdark you can find a new home in Menzoberranzan。〃
After a long moment of silence； Halisstra said； 〃What if I don't？〃
〃What？〃 Ryld said。
〃What if I don't return to the Underdark？〃
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 groun