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Damn her！ the battle captive silently screamed as she sat on her mistress's Reverie couch； pounding a pillow for good measure。 She wanted to rip the stuffing out； but long years of the fear of punishment had trained her to resist letting her emotions get the better of her； and she stayed her hand。 Taking a deep breath to calm herself； she considered the situation。
The next problem； she realized； was that even if she somehow managed to extricate Halisstra…and by extension； herself…from this mess； life as they both knew it might very well be over。 They might survive the coup； but even then； where would they go？ Without Lolth's blessings to aid them； it was an especially bleak outlook。
Making up her mind； Danifae decided the next thing to do was to figure out who in House Melarn was still Halisstra's ally。 The first thing she considered were the House guards。 They had disappeared； and she had a pretty good idea why。 Ssipriina had likely already gotten to them and given them the standard offer： change allegiance to House Zauvirr； or find themselves unemployed or dead。 She doubted there were any who would still rally to Halisstra； but she had to at least look。
Danifae opened the door to the hallway and was slightly surprised to find the two guards who had followed her no longer present。 She supposed that they assumed she wouldn't try anything as long as the House was locked down and had decided to go find something more interesting to do。
Just makes it easier for me； she thought； smiling as she slipped out。
She hurried on her way。
***
The audience chamber of House Melarn was pretty much as Faeryl expected to find it。 Her mother was seated on the lofty oversized chair atop the dais at the front of the room； surrounded by her advisors； while House Zauvirr soldiers were spread inconspicuously but generously throughout the chamber。 Faeryl absently wondered how her mother had managed to usurp control of the audience chamber without an argument from the House Melarn guards。 Whatever lies she told them must have worked。
〃There you are；〃 Ssipriina said impatiently。 〃e here。 I want to go over your story once more before the others get here。〃
Faeryl sighed but dutifully approached the throne。
〃Mother； I have the details memorized。 I think I can…〃
〃You will go over them with me and continue doing it until Jam convinced； you ungrateful brat！ You will not stop until then。〃
Her mother looked entirely too fortable in the throne； which was certainly grander than anything they had in their own manor。 That was the difference between a merchant House and a truly noble House。
Faeryl longed to return to the dungeons； where she could rule over her charges in peace。 She hated having to attend to her mother's demands。 Where Quenthel was concerned； even if it was a little pond； at least she was the big fish。 It was always that way。 At the storehouse； when she'd orchestrated the transport of the prisoners； she had been in charge； however briefly。 Under the scrutiny of her mother； she was the petulant child once more。
Faeryl dreamed of holding the reins of power someday； but being the fourth daughter in her House； and having been sent to Menzoberranzan to represent House Zauvirr and House Melarn； to boot； she recognized the limitations to her chance to rise to the top。 Even were she to someday sit upon the throne Ssipriina Zauvirr was hoping to claim through her orchestration of the day's events； Faeryl would still answer to others。
〃Now；〃 Ssipriina said； ticking off points one by one on her hand； 〃you were forced to e with Quenthel and the others。 You notified me at the earliest opportunity what House Baenre was planning。 We set up an ambush to catch them； and only then did we discover that Drisinil was in on it。 Do you understand？〃
〃Yes； Mother；〃 Faeryl responded sullenly。
〃Good。 When the matron mothers get here； stay out of sight until I call for you。 Do you understand？〃
〃Yes； Mother。〃
〃And stop that。 It's childish and petulant。〃
Faeryl frowned； but she clamped her mouth shut。
〃That's better；〃 Ssipriina said。 〃Now I think we need to get those males summoned here as quickly as possible。 Zammzt； I think that's a job for you。〃
***
When a knock sounded at the door to their room； Pharaun expected to see Quenthel standing there。 It was late； and the Master of Sorcere was beginning to wonder if something untoward had befallen the high priestess and her two panions。 As he opened the portal； though； the wizard was instead surprised to discover a strange and rather plain…looking drow in the livery of a noble House。
〃I beg forgiveness for disturbing you；〃 the male said； 〃but I am seeking the wizard Pharaun Mizzrym and the warriors Ryld Argith and Valas Hune。〃
Pharaun kept his body planted firmly between the visitor and the interior of the room； shielding the other dark elf's view of it。 Behind him； he could hear Valas and Ryld unsheathing weapons。
〃Who are you？〃 the wizard asked； considering which spells remaining in his repertoire would suffice to defend himself against an attack。
〃My name is Zammzt。 I e at the behest of Matron Mother Ssipriina Zauvirr of House Zauvirr； Matron Mother Melarn of House Melarn； and Quenthel Baenre of House Baenre。 Are you one of the three？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Pharaun answered； gauging the fellow's potential as a threat。 The drow was； at the very least； radiating a number of magical auras。 〃It would depend on why you're looking for them。〃
〃Mistress Quenthel is a guest of Mistress Drisinil Melarn of House Melarn。 I am here to extend an invitation to you to join them for a banquet in your honor。〃
〃Oh； how delightful；〃 Pharaun said。 〃I assume that you can escort us there； as well？〃
〃Indeed； Master； uh 。 。 。”
The mage rolled his eyes and said； 〃Pharaun。 I'm the wizard。〃
〃Certainly； Master Mizzrym。 I have been instructed to escort you to House Melarn。〃
〃I see。 Well； then can you give me a moment to clean up？ I'd hate to attend a dinner in my honor looking like this；〃 the wizard said； gestur