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t sword。
The boatman put up a hand； shaking； and said； 〃I mean no disrespect or anything。 I was just saying 。 。 。〃
〃You've seen drow before？〃 Halisstra asked then flashed a quick sentence in sign language： An extra hundred gold pieces if you forget all about us。
The half…orc had no reaction to the signed question。 He didn't even seem to notice that she'd been trying to municate。
〃Sure；〃 the boatman replied； 〃I've seen a drow or two。 Not recently； but 。 。 。〃
Halisstra shrugged off the boatman's answer and signed to Ryld； I think he wanted us to know he understood us； so we wouldn't say something that would make us want to kill him for hearing it。
That drew a smile from Ryld。
You can put your sword away； she added。
The weapons master sheathed his blade and said； 〃If he understands the sign； he should say so now or I will kill him。〃
The half…orc waved a hand and said； 〃No； no； sir。 I swear to you。 I didn't even know what you were doing。 I just paddle； yes？ Paddle？ You don't even have to pay me。〃
〃Pay you？〃 Ryld asked。
The half…orc looked away。
He heard us mention the temple； Ryld signed。 It goes without saying that he can't be trusted。
Who can？ Halisstra answered。
Not Danifae； the weapons master signed。
Eilistraee will guide us； she replied。 Danifae has no goddess to guide her。
Ryld nodded； though he made his continued skepticism plain。
They rode the rest of the way in silence； and soon they were at the other side of the river。 Halisstra stepped off the boat； wading in inches deep water to the rocky riverbank。 She looked back for Ryld； who was stepping toward the half…orc。 The weapons master reached behind the ferryman； unsheathed Splitter； took off the half…orc's head； and resheathed his weapon in precisely the space of one of Halisstra's heartbeats。 The head splashed into the water； and the weapons master kicked the body in after it。
Ryld turned to wade ashore； and Halisstra looked away into the blue…gray light of the dawn。 She could hear his footsteps in the water then on the rocks behind her； but she didn't want to look at his face just then。
Danifae materialized on the deck of the ship of chaos and was instantly struck by how much had changed。 Valas appeared next to her； and she watched his expression change from his normal stoic； blank pragmatism to an uneasy curiosity…he'd noticed it too。
Pharaun and Quenthel both looked bad and smelled bad。 The ship itself looked different。 The deck； which had been a dull white expanse of stark bone； was covered in spots with pink tissue and crossed with gently throbbing arteries。 Sinew and what might have been ligaments stretched between gaps in the bone。 The ship felt alive。
Pharaun and Jeggred both looked up at them when they appeared； but only Pharaun stood。 The draegloth looked to one side； and Danifae followed his gaze to Quenthel。 Jeggred's eyes burned when he looked at the high priestess； who sat on the deck with her back to the others； one hand absently caressing one of the vipers that made up her whip。
〃Wele back to the Underdark's dull wet arse；〃 the Master of Sorcere said。 He only glanced at Danifae but approached Valas with his hand out。 〃You have what we need？〃
The Bregan D'aerthe scout nodded and handed the wizard one of the magical sacks that held their supplies。
Danifae kept her attention on Jeggred； who made eye contact with her finally and nodded。 The former battle…captive gave the draegloth a smile and a slight bow…then she noticed that the bound uridezu was missing。
〃What happened here？〃 she asked Pharaun。
The wizard began to laugh； and at first it seemed as if he would be laughing for a long time。 When no one joined him； he calmed himself and took a deep breath。
〃Mistress？〃 Danifae called to Quenthel。
Nothing。
Jeggred stared at the high priestess's back； saying nothing as well。
〃Are we 。。。 ？〃 the scout asked Pharaun。
〃Oh； yes；〃 the wizard replied； 〃we'll be setting sail as planned。 It turns out that we didn't need the captain's services after all。 Jeggred was kind enough to retire his mission for us。 I will be piloting the ship to the Abyss and back；〃
Valas nodded； sat； and began to sort through their supplies。 Pharaun stood over him； occasionally menting on what the scout had purchased。 Quenthel continued to sit with her back to the rest of them； saying nothing。 Danifae approached Jeggred； gauging his mood as she moved closer。 He seemed to want to speak to her； so she sat down next to him。
〃Reverie？〃 she asked； nodding at Quenthel。
〃No；〃 said the draegloth； making no effort to lower his voice。 〃She has been unable to take the Reverie。 The mistress is weakening。〃
Danifae took a deep breath； searching the draegloth's eyes for some hint that he was anything but genuinely angry with Quenthel。 It didn't seem possible that Jeggred had e that far in the relatively short time that she and Valas had been gone； but obviously things had progressed much more swiftly than she'd hoped。
〃The 'captain'；〃 Jeggred grumbled； 〃gated in some of his kind。 They attacked us； and we prevailed。〃
〃Quenthel didn't fight？〃 Danifae guessed。
Jeggred looked at the silent high priestess and thought about that for a while。
〃She fought；〃 the draegloth said finally； 〃but she 。 。 。〃
Danifae waited a few heartbeats for him to finish then prodded； 〃We all serve greater mistresses； Jeggred。 The Matron Mother of House Baenre； in your case； and in mine； Lolth herself…both greater mistresses than Quenthel。 If you have something that either your matron mother or your goddess need to know； you must speak。 Duty demands it。〃
Jeggred looked deep into her eyes； and she let him。 She held the half…demon's gaze for a long time； never permitting herself the slightest twitch； the most minuscule sign of weakness or indecision。
〃She's 。 。 。 sensitive；〃 the draegloth said。
〃Sensitive？〃 Danifae pressed。
〃The Mistress of Arach…Tinilith has a sensitivity to beings from the outer planes；〃 he said。 〃She can sense the presence of demons and municate with them。 It's not something that everyone knows about her； but I do。〃
〃Then why didn't she know that Raashub was gating in 。 。 。 ？〃 She let the question fade away。
The look in Jeggred's eyes as he stared at Quenthel's still back told her all she needed to know。
〃I am a priestess of Lolth；〃 she told the draegloth。 〃I serve the Queen of the Demonweb Pits； and on this ship that means I serve Quenthel Baenre。〃
Jeggred tipped his huge head to one side； his wild mane of white hair spilling over his muscular； gray…furred shoulders。
〃I serve her；〃 Danifae went on； 〃whether she knows it or not； whether she appreciates it or not； and whether she desires it or not。 Something is 。。。〃
Danifae wasn't sure how to finish that thought。
〃She has succumbed；〃 the draegloth said。
〃Succumbed？〃 asked Danifae。
〃To fear。〃
Danifae let that settle in then said； 〃She requires our services more than ever now。 Lolth's servant demands o