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summoned。 The tentacles continued to squeeze and contract around the bodies of those unfortunate soldiers or flailed about blindly if they had nothing to grip。
Turning back； Ryld followed the other two past the dead drow and into the stairwell。
***
Halisstra stumbled and lost her balance as the deep rumble shook House Melarn。 To either side of her； the guards who were 〃escorting〃 her into the audience chamber stumbled as well； losing their grips on the drow noble's arms as they flailed about； trying to regain their collective balance。 All around Halisstra； shouts rose as drow began to mill about uncertainly in the confusion caused by the vibration； whatever it was。 Stunned as much by the proceedings that had been taking place in her mother's House…her House now； Halisstra realized…as by the shock wave that tore through the place； Halisstra merely stood in place； dressed in only her underclothes and with her arms securely manacled behind her back； staring at the chaos around her。
When the liveried servant from House Nasadra ran into the room； announcing the fighting outside； Halisstra blinked in astonishment。
Duergar？ Attacking House Melarn？ Why in the Abyss would they…
A second blast rocked House Melarn and knocked Halisstra off her feet。 Or rather； it would have if someone hadn't caught her from behind。
〃On your feet。 。 。 I've got to get you out of here。〃
It was Danifae； dressed for battle and looking remarkably like just another guard in a House Zauvirr piwafwi。
Halisstra struggled to right herself with Danifae's help； then turned to look at her battle captive。 The servant was not normally permitted to arm and armor herself； but she was currently wearing her old chain shirt and buckler and had her morning star at her side。 Halisstra wondered how Danifae had managed to get to her accoutrements； which had been locked away in Halisstra's rooms； but she wasn't going to take the time to plain just then。
Halisstra heard a shout from behind them； and she turned； expecting to see her original guards realizing she was free。 Instead； she discovered that a thick mist had filled the room； and she could see very little beyond a couple of paces away。
〃e on；〃 Halisstra hissed； scrambling through the mist toward the back of the room； to a doorway leading deeper into the House where her own chambers were located。 〃Back to my rooms； and you can get these…〃she held her arms out away from her back to indicate the manacles…〃off me。〃
〃Of course； Mistress；〃 Danifae said； steering her superior by one arm through the thick； obscuring mist； along the wall and toward the door。 〃We'll thank someone later for hiding our escape with this fog。〃
〃You mean； that's not something you and Lirdnolu Maerret planned to help extricate me from Ssipriina Zauvirr？〃
Danifae laughed once； a bitter chuckle。
〃Hardly；〃 she said； 〃Despite my convincing performance before Matron Mother Zauvirr； you didn't really expect her to let me wander free did you？ I had no way to reach House Maerret。 No； that motion back there was someone else's doing；〃
Once the two of them were out of the audience chamber and into the hall； Halisstra could see better； and she set off regally toward her own chambers； despite the fact that she was half…naked and bound。 She hadn't managed more than three or four steps before a third rumble staggered her。 She gasped as she lost her balance and stumbled against one wall of the hallway； but Danifae was there； catching hold of her mistress and steadying her as the tremor quieted。
〃What the blazes is going on？〃 Halisstra demanded as they righted themselves and hurried on their way。
〃I don't know for sure； but I can hazard a guess；〃 her subordinate replied as they turned a corner。 〃There are riots welling up in the streets。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Halisstra said； 〃but why would duergar target House Melarn？〃
〃That； I can't say；〃 Danifae replied； 〃but my guess is it has more to do with Ssipriina Zauvirr's attempt to overthrow House Melarn than anything else。 Regardless； it served my purposes well enough。 Perhaps we can find out more in a little bit； after we get you out of those restraints。〃
〃Yes；〃 Halisstra answered； thinking。 〃Let's start with finding out where in the Nine Hells all of our House guards are。〃
〃I can tell you that right now；〃 Danifae offered as the duo turned another corner and entered Halisstra's chambers。 〃They accepted an offer they couldn't refuse： serve House Zauvirr or die。〃
Halisstra sighed。
〃Is there anyone still loyal to me？〃 she asked； though she feared she already knew the answer。
〃Possibly your brother； if he's still alive； but he's at the Dangling Tower and can't do us much good here；〃 Danifae said； turning Halisstra around so that she could take a look at the locking mechanism on the restraints。 〃As for inside the House right now？ I doubt anyone would be willing to aid you； except maybe those three males in the audience chamber； the ones from Menzoberranzan； and only if you win their trust。〃 The battle captive shook her head。 〃I can't get these off right now。 Better to break the chain and worry about them later。〃
〃Fine 。 。 。 but what do you mean； 'win their trust？' How could I do that？〃
Halisstra began to pace； pondering her options。 Though she had managed to escape the matron mothers for the moment； she was still trapped…inside her own House； of all places…and doubted it would take long for Ssipriina's guards to close in on the two of them。
Danifae didn't answer right away。 Halisstra turned to repeat her question and saw the other dark elf grab the noble's mace from where it stood in the corner by her bed。 She was momentarily startled when Danifae returned to her side and pushed her to her knees； but she quickly understood the battle captive's intent； and positioned her hands near the floor where Danifae could strike the chain while it was against the stone。
〃You could start by telling them that their high priestess is still alive；〃 Danifae finally answered； drawing the mace back for a hard blow against the chain joining the manacles