"Our sister is less brilliant than some, but she is loyal. . . when it suits her," Triel conceded. "Especially in matters concerning Lolth."
Gromph swore silently as Kyorli's attention wandered to one of the spiders that had descended, suddenly, just in front of them. Triel's face was a blur, and he couldn't read it - but causing Kyorli to whip her head around suddenly could reveal his weakness.
The archmage nodded thoughtfully and said, "I see."
"Do you indeed?" Triel asked, and her tone was slightly mocking.
Thankfully, the spider Kyorli was watching swung behind Triel, bringing her into the rat's field of view. Staring out through Kyorli's eyes, Gromph saw Triel's fingers moving.
Then you know that Quenthel has been to the Abyss more than once,she signed.
"Of course I do," Gromph answered smoothly. "You covered up her death quite carefully, but I have my methods of learning our House's darkest secrets. Where else would Quenthel's soul have gone, during those four years that elapsed between her death and eventual resurrection, but to serve her goddess in the Abyss? I can see why you chose her. I only wonder . . ."
"What?" Triel snapped.
"Why the goddess sent her back," Gromph continued. "Quen-thel certainly was a loyal servant. Wouldn't Lolthhave wanted to keep her close to hand?"
"Perhaps she had other plans for Quenthel," Triel answered. "As-suming the leadership of Arach-Tinilith, for example, which is pre-cisely what happened."
"Or carrying out her current mission," Gromph added. "It's cer-tainly within the powers of the goddess to have seen this crisis com-ing and have prepared years ago to meet it."
"Indeed," Triel answered. "Who better than someone who knows the terrain to lead an expedition to the Abyss?" She paused. "Is that all you have to report?"
Gromph bowed and said, "For the moment, Matron Mother. I'll let you know as soon as I receive another report."
Dismissing him, Triel strode away.
Sighing his relief, Gromph shook his head. If Triel knew he was still blind, she was letting it pass. If Lolth had been granting her spells, Triel herself and any number of other priestesses could have restored his eyesight in a heartbeat. The fact that none of them could do it was just another reminder of the powers they no longer com-manded. Leaving him his pretense of sight would only help Triel maintain her own pretense of power.
As he made his way out of the temple, Gromph wondered what Quenthel would find in the Demonweb Pits and why she had been returned to Menzoberranzan all those years before, only to lead an expedition to her own afterlife. Perhaps his sister had indeed been tapped by the Spider Queen for some higher purpose. If so, upon her return to the City of Spiders the balance of power could shift in her favor - certainly would if she was successful in her quest. He would have to keep an eye on Quenthel. So to speak.
Aliisza crouched on the ledge overlooking the lake and stared down at the ship below. It was of demonic manufacture - that much was clear from the bone and living tissue that had gone into its con-struction. On the deck stood four drow and a draegloth - Pharaun and his companions.
The wizard and the priestess Quenthel were arguing - just as they had been when Aliisza had first encountered them near Ammarindar. Behind them, the draegloth taunted an uridezu demon that appeared to be bound in place to the deck. The uridezu strained forward, teeth gnashing, as the draegloth held a rat out by the tail - then bit its head off. The other two drow - the mercenary and the pretty little female that irritated Aliisza so - seemed to be keeping out of the argument, waiting patiently for it to end.
Aliisza's eyes lingered on Pharaun who was dressed elegantly, as always, and with that lovely long white hair. She was glad to have found him again, but her timing seemed to have been off. From the snatches of argument that drifted up to Aliisza's perch on the cliff it seemed the group of drow would soon be departing - though there was apparently some question about how many of them would make the journey. Someone - or something - had to be fed first. . . Ah. That was it.
"That's a ship of chaos," Aliisza said, proud of herself, then thought, Nowthat is a detail Kaanyr will want to know.
"Where do you plan to sail it to, my dear Pharaun?" Aliisza mused. "The Abyss?" She laughed and tossed her curly black hair.
"Surely you'd rather stay here and spend some time with me than visit that nasty goddess of yours.I, at least, am alive .. . and responsive to your prayers."
Chuckling, she decided to delay her report to Kaanyr Vhok - who was all too busy with that dreary siege of his, anyway. Instead she'd stay in theLake of Shadows and have some fun.