and smiled when a cloud temporarilyblotted out Lolth's eight stars.
She lay there for a time, doing nothing more than reveling in her freedom.
Sometime later she rose, walked back near the edge of the tor, and re-donned her armor. As she was strapping Seyll's blade to her back, a hand closed on her shoulder, momentarily giving her a start.
"Feliane," she said, turning to face the kind, almond eyes of the surface elf.
Feliane smiled warmly. "You did not wake me for a watch. I slept through the day. How late into the night is it?"
"The night is several hours old," Halisstra said, securing Seyll's blade in its scabbard. "We should awaken Uluyara."
Feliane nodded. She said, "It was your laughter that awakened me."
"I'm sorry," Halisstra replied. She was not aware that she had been laughing aloud.
"Don't be," Feliane replied. "It allowed me to watch you dance."
To her surprise, Halisstra felt no embarrassment.
"It was beautiful," Feliane said with a smile. "I saw the Lady in it, as clearly as I've ever seen her in anything."
Halisstra didn't know how to reply, so she dropped her eyes and said only, "Thank you."
"You have come far in only a short while," Feliane said, stepping past her to look down on the tor.
Halisstra nodded. She had indeed.
"May I ask you something?" Feliane asked.
"Of course," Halisstra said, and something in Feliane's tone caused Halisstra's heart to race.
Feliane asked, "What drew you to the worship of Lolth in the first place? The faith is ... hateful, ugly. But I can see that you are none of those things."
Halisstra's heart thumped in her chest. She wasn't sure why the question affected her so. A tiny seed in the center of her being stirred, but no immediate answer came to her.
She thought for a moment and finally answered, "You give me too much credit, Feliane. I was hateful. And ugly. Nothing drew me to Lolth. Nothing had to. I was raised to worship her, and I enjoyed the benefits associated with my station. I was petty and small, so awash in spite that it never occurred to me that there might be another way. Until I met you and Uluyara and saw the sun. I owe you both much for that. I owe the Lady much for that."
Feliane nodded, took her hand, and squeezed it. The elf said, "May I ask something else?"
Halisstra nodded. She would hold nothing back from her sister in faith.
Feliane took a breath before asking, "Did you ever think that what you did in her name was... evil?" Halisstra consciously decided not to hear an accusation in the question. Feliane's face held no judgment, merely curiosity. Halisstra struggled to articulate a response.
"No," she answered at last. " I'm ashamed now to say it, but no. Faith in theSpider Queen brought power, Feliane. In Ched Nasad, power was the difference between those who ruled and those who served, those who lived and those whodied. It's not an excuse," she said, seeing Feliane's expression grow clouded, "just an explanation. What I did then, what I was, it shames me now."
Staring thoughtfully into the darkness, Feliane nodded. The silence stretched.
Finally, the elf said, "Thank you for sharing yourself with me, Halisstra. And do not be ashamed of what you were. We are made anew each moment. It is never too late to change."
Halisstra smiled. "I like that very much, Feliane. It gives me hope that someone else I know might be redeemed."
Feliane smiled back.
They stood quietly for a moment, listening to the wind.
"We should awaken Uluyara and start moving," Halisstra said.
Feliane nodded but did not turn to go. Instead, she said, "I'm afraid."
The words surprised Halisstra. She had never before heard such an admission from another female.
After a moment, she put her arm around Feliane, drew her close, and said, "I am too. But we'll find strength in our fear. All right?"
"All right," Feliane replied.
Halisstra turned to her, held her at arms length, and said, "The Lady is with us. And I have a plan." Feliane raised her thin eyebrows. "A plan?"
"Let's awaken Uluyara," Halisstra said.
Feliane nodded, and they walked back toward the temple. Before they reached it, Uluyara emerged.
"There you are," said the high priestess. "Is everything well?"
"It is," Feliane said with a smile. "Halisstra has a plan."
Uluyara frowned. "A plan?"
Halisstra wasted no words. "I believe I know why Eilistraee put the Crescent Blade into my hands."
Uluyara's brow furrowed, and she said, "We already know why, Halisstra. You are to use the blade to kill the Queen of the Demonweb