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Faeryl smiled to herself。 Halisstra had specifically avoided denying that she had been there。 It had been a gamble； supposing that the two of them might have been in the vicinity in the last couple of days； but it had paid off。 The unwanted attention was being focused on Halisstra。
〃Perhaps I am mistaken；〃 Faeryl quickly interjected。 She smiled at Halisstra； who was staring daggers at her in return。 〃It was crowded there； with all of the refugees and the base…born males in their revelry； so its easy to understand how I only thought Danifae had caught the eye of someone in my party。 The two of you were obviously seeking someone else。〃
Faeryl wanted to grin at her own cleverness。 By pulling back； admitting she had made a mistake； she doubly damned Halisstra。 The seed of doubt had been planted in everyone's mind； and the less she tried to force them to accept her theory； the more likely they all would be to believe it； such was drow nature。 For those who chose to believe Halisstras innocence； that left only one other reason for her to be in such an improper part of the city。 Either way； it shed an unpleasant light on the daughter of a traitor。
Ssipriina turned to Jyslin Aleanrahel and said； 〃Matron Mother； I am only a trader； unused to the machinations of the higher nobility。 If I had foreseen how greatly this would have displeased you； I would have conceived of a better way to deal with the crisis at hand。 As it was； I still hope you will consider that I was keeping only the best interests of Ched Nasad in mind； acting in all ways on its behalf。〃
There was a general murmur from the matron mothers as they put their heads together； no doubt discussing the additional implications of guilt Faeryl's little tale had just heaped upon House Melarn。 At the very least； the suggestion that Halisstra had been carousing with the moners of the city meant that her disgraceful behavior was of the worst sort and she was unfit to rule a noble House。 That half of it happened to be true only made the whole incident sweeter to Faeryl； who was simply glad she was no longer the drow everyone else was looking down their noses at。
〃Enough！〃 Aunrae Nasadra shouted； rapping her rune…covered staff upon the floor。 Even in such an impromptu meeting； the eldest and most powerful matron mother manded absolute respect； and the room fell silent。 〃This nonsense is the reason we face the bleak loss of our goddess's favor。 How can we expect Lolth to grant us her attention when we waste so much time and energy on such ridiculous discussions as who's stepped in the most rothé muck？〃 The matriarch walked among the others； peering at them all。 〃Whether or not House Melarn's progeny chooses to whore around with low…born males in the seamiest underbelly of Ched Nasad is of no concern to me。〃
Faeryl stole a glance at Halisstra； whose face was down in humiliation。
Matron Mother Nasadra paid neither of them any heed。
〃The streets are not safe for most drow；〃 she said。 〃We all know the extra precautions we had to take even to e here。 Our city is on the verge of disaster； mothers； and yet we must stand here and discuss the fate of a noble House； one high enough to have a seat on the Council。
〃Ssipriina has suggested that we dissolve House Melarn and offer up Halisstra and these remaining outsiders as sacrifices to appease the masses as much as the Dark Mother。 While we know nothing about why our beloved Lolth is angry with us； that she is angry with us； we are certain。 Will this help？ Will it bring her blessings back to us？
〃If we make an example of the traitors and let the whole city see us do it will it quiet the citizens for a time？ Perhaps； but more importantly； will it satisfy all of you？ Will you return to your Houses satisfied that a House has fallen and that the hierarchy has shuffled sufficiently？ There are things more fragile than the peace of our city； but they are few in number。 This backstabbing； while inherent in our nature； is misplaced during this time of difficulties。〃
〃What if this Baenre priestess's panions know something？〃 Halisstra asked。 〃What if they have an inkling of what troubles the Dark Mother？ If you simply kill me； then you get what you want… one less House to stand in your way…but if you kill them； whether as spies or as sacrifices； you might lose valuable information。〃
〃Shut your mouth； child！〃 Ssipriina hissed。 〃You've shamed us enough for one lifetime。 Do not think that you can escape justice merely by pretending to be loyal now。 Its too late for that。〃
Halisstra would not be deterred。 She proceeded； ignoring the dark stares the matron mothers gave her。
〃What if this wizard has discovered something？〃 she asked。 〃Faeryl has already told us he is clever and was not above antagonizing Quenthel。 I would not put it past him to know more than he's letting on。 Why kill him； when he might be so inclined to parlay with us？ Could he be willing to reveal his own secrets？ Perhaps even for a price？ There are those among you who do not wish to hear what he has to say。 He might expose the lies you have told concerning my mother and me。〃
Aunrae smiled and said； 〃Tell me； child； do you think Lolth would grant such a vision to a male？ Do you think she would allow a boy； however clever； to unlock the secrets of her silence？〃
〃These are desperate times； Matron Mother； you said so yourself。 I would not close any possible avenue of redemption； however thickly cloaked in folly it may seem。 Of course； I have few avenues of redemption for my life left。 I have my own desperate times。 Whether you wish to question him or not； I merely ask that you bring him as a witness into these proceedings。 His words could prove my own innocence。〃
Faeryl frowned； not liking where this was leading。 She was beginning to think it had been a mistake to put the full plan into motion until Pharaun and the others had also been brought into custody； or better yet； killed。 Maybe she could get to him before the rest of them had a chance to speak with him； take care of it herself； one way or another。 Perhaps then her mother would stop treating her like a child。
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