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〃When will this condition end？〃 Halisstra asked。
〃Again； Vhaeraun either does not know or does not wish for me to know；〃 Tzirik said。 〃The better question might be； will it end？ The answer to that is yes； it will end in time； but before you take too much fort in that I must remind you that a goddess may have a very different sense of what we would consider to be a reasonable wait。 The Masked Lord might have been referring to something that would happen tomorrow； next month； next year； or perhaps a hundred years from now。〃
〃We can't wait that long；〃 Quenthel murmured。 Her expression was distant； fixed on events in faraway Menzoberranzan。 〃A resolution must be reached soon。〃
〃Take up the worship of a more caring deity； then；〃 Tzirik replied。 〃If you're interested； I would be happy to discourse at length on the virtues of the Masked Lord。〃
Quenthel bristled； but held her tongue…a feat of remarkable self…control for the Baenre priestess。
〃I decline；〃 she said。 〃Does the Masked Lord have any other advice for us； priest？〃
〃In fact； he does；〃 Tzirik replied。 He shifted in his seat； leaning forward to convey his point to Quenthel。 〃These were the exact words he spoke to me； so take note of them。 'The children of the Spider Queen should seek her for answers。' 〃
〃But we have；〃 Halisstra cried。 〃All of us； but she does not hear us。〃
〃I don't think that's what he meant；〃 Danifae said。 〃I think Vhaeraun is suggesting that we won't learn anything more unless we go to the Demonweb Pits ourselves； and beseech the goddess in person。〃
Tzirik remained silent and watched the Menzoberranyr。 Quenthel paced in a small circle； considering the idea。
〃The Spider Queen requires a certain amount of initiative and self…reliance in her priestesses；〃 the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith said； 〃but she also demands obedience。 To go before her in her divine abode in the expectation of answers 。 。 。 Lolth does not smile on such effrontery。〃
Halisstra fell silent； thinking furiously over what Tzirik suggested。 Ventures into other planes of existence were not unknown； of course。 Pharaun's spell had carried the pany across the Plane of Shadow； after all； and there were many more universes that mortals armed with the right magic could reach； a multitude of heavens and hells； wonders and terrors beyond the confines of the physical world； but the notion of attempting such a journey without Lolth's explicit invitation terrified Halisstra。
〃The penalties for failing to understand the goddess's will in this matter would be severe indeed；〃 Halisstra said。
〃Have we not just heard the goddess's will？〃 Danifae asked。 〃She led us to this place and this question through her silence； just as surely as if she had placed the mands directly in our hearts。 She might be angered if we fail to do this。〃
Halisstra was accustomed to a feeling of certainty when it came to interpreting the Spider Queen's wishes。 Before the divine silence had fallen over the priestesses of Lolth； she'd known the rare touch of the goddess's whispers in her mind。 It didn't happen often； of course…she was only one priestess； and Lolth was served by uncounted thousands…but she knew what it felt like to understand to the depths of her soul what the Spider Queen wished； and how she could acplish it。 Halisstra felt nothing。 Lolth's will； evidently； was that she should figure it out for herself。
Halisstra glanced up； where the bronze mask of Vhaeraun hung over a black altar。 The foreignness of the place seemed palpable； a tangible expression of everything she had lost。 Instead of standing before the ancient altar in the proud temple of House Melarn； Lolth's divine certitude thrumming in her very soul as she performed the rites of sacrifice and abasement the Spider Queen demanded； she stood alone； lost； an interloper in the temple of a pretender god； groping blindly for a hint of Lolth's intentions for her。
She imagined standing before Lolth； her soul naked to her goddess； her eyes blasted by the sight of Lolth's dark glory； her ears scoured by the sound of the Spider Queen's sibilant voice。 Perhaps it was effrontery to think that Lolth would erase her doubts； supply answers for her questions and a balm for her wounded heart； but Halisstra discovered that she did not care。 If Lolth chose to discard her； to punish her； then she would； but then why had she destroyed Ched Nasad and House Melarn if not to bring Halisstra before her and receive her plea？
〃I agree with Danifae；〃 she said at last。 〃I cannot see what the point of this has been； other than to summon us before the goddess's throne。 We will find our answers in her presence。〃
Quenthel nodded slowly and said； 〃I read her will in the same way； sisters。 We must go to the Demonweb Pits。〃
Ryld and Valas exchanged worried looks。
〃A sojourn to the sixty…sixth layer of the Abyss；〃 Pharaun observed。 〃Well； I have dreamed of the place。 It would be interesting to see if the reality matches my dream from years ago； though I have to say； I do not relish the thought of meeting Lolth in person。 She minced my soul to pieces when I had that vision。 It took me months to recover。〃
〃Perhaps we should return to Menzoberranzan and report what we have learned before we consider anything rash？〃 Ryld asked； clearly alarmed by the prospect of descending into the infernal realms。
〃Now that I understand the goddess's will； I do not wish to delay in obeying it；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Pharaun can use his sending spell to apprise Gromph of our intentions。〃
〃More to the point；〃 Valas said； 〃how exactly does one get to the Demonweb Pits？〃
〃Worship Lolth all your life；〃 Quenthel replied； a dark look clouding her eyes； 〃then die。〃
Halisstra glanced at the high priestess； then looked at the scout and said； 〃Were the goddess granting us our spells； we could do it easily enough。 Without them； it is not so easy。 Pharaun？〃
The wizard wrung his hands。
〃I will learn the proper spells at the first opportunity；〃 he said。 〃I suppose I will have to locate a wizard of some acplishment who happens to know the right spells； and persuade him to share one with me。〃
〃That will not be necessary； Master Pharaun；〃 Tzirik said。 He stood up from his seat and descended the dais； powerful and confident。 〃As it so happens； my god has not seen fit to deprive me of my spells。 I have an interest in seeing for myself what transpires in Lolth's domain。 We can leave as soon as tonight； if you like。〃
pany by pany； the Army of the Black Spider marched proudly into the open cavern behind the Pillars of Woe。 It was nothing pared to the vast cavern of Menzoberranzan； or the inprehensible gulf of the Darklake； but the plain at the head of the gorge was still impressive； an asymmetrical space perhaps half a mile across； its ceiling rising a couple of hundred feet overhead。 Innumerable columns supported its roof； and shelflike side caverns twisted away on all sides like highways beckoning in the dark。
Nimor surveyed the place from astride his war…lizard； watching as the great Houses of Menzoberranzan filed into the cavern； for