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but this was the first time such entities had posed a threat to them； and they'd realized they hadn't truly known the ferocious beings at all。
No doubt some of the females had also been perceptive enough to recognize that they themselves had been in paratively little danger until Quenthel mustered them in what was more or less her personal defense。 If so； their resentment； like their uneasiness； was irrelevant。 They were her underlings； and it was their duty to serve her。
〃It's the wrath of Lolth herself；〃 whispered Minolin FeyBranche； a fifthyear student who wore her hair in three long braids。 Obviously； she didn't intend for her voice to carry to the front of the procession。 〃First she strips us of our magic； then sends her fiends to kill us。〃
Quenthel whirled。 Sensing her anger； her whip vipers rose； weaving and hissing。
〃Shut up〃 she snapped。 〃The Spider Queen may be testing us； eliminating the unfit； but she has not condemned her entire temple。 She would not。〃
Minolin lowered her eyes。 〃Yes； Mistress；〃 she said tonelessly。
Quenthel noticed that no one else looked reassured； either。
〃You disgust me；〃 the Baenre said。 〃All of you。〃
〃We apologize； Mistress；〃 said Jyslin。
〃I remember my training；〃 Quenthel said。 〃If a novice showed a hint of cowardice or disobedience； my sister Triel would make her fast for a tenday； and eat rancid filth for another after that。 I should do the same； but unfortunately； with ArachTinilith under siege； I need my people strong。 So all right； though it should shame you take it； you can have another rest。 You'll fill your bellies； and it had better stiffen your spines。 Otherwise； we'll see how many of you I have to flog before the rest cease their cringing and whining。 e。〃
She led them on to a classroom where the kitchen staff had set a table。 She'd ordered them to prepare a cold supper and leave it at various points around the temple； so that the weary sentinels could at least refresh themselves with food； and the cooks had done a decent job of it。 On a silver salver lay pink and brown slices of rothe steak steeped in a tawny marinade； their aroma peting with ArachTinilith's omnipresent scent of incense。 Other trays and bowls held raw mushroom pieces with a creamy dipping sauce and a salad of black； white； and red diced fungus； while the pitchers presumably contained wine； watered as per her mand。 Quenthel hoped the alcohol would hearten those residents whom Lolth's absence and the incursions of the past two nights had terrified； but she didn't want any of the temple's defenders sloppy drunk and incapacitated。
Some of Quenthel's minions fell to as if they expected this to be their last meal。 Others； likely as certain of their fate； seemed too tense to do more than pick at the viands。
The mistress of the Academy supposed that； though she intended to survive the night； in a sense； she belonged to the latter party。 Her stomach was somewhat queasy； and the long hours of edgy anticipation had killed her appetite。
e on； demon； she thought； let's get this over with。 。 。 。
The entity failed to respond to her silent plea。
She decided her throat was a little parched； caught Jyslin's eye； and said； 〃Pour me a cup。〃
〃Yes； Mistress。〃
The secondyear novice performed the service with mendable alacrity。 She filled the silver goblet too high for gentility's sake； but Quenthel expected no better from a moner。 The Baenre accepted the cup with a nod and raised it to her lips。
Her whip of fangs hung from her wrist by the wyvernhide loop that pierced its handle。 She felt a thrill of alarm surge across the psionic link she shared with the vipers。 At the same instant； the snakes reared and dashed the goblet from her grasp。 She stared at them in amazement。
〃Poison；〃 Yngoth said； his slitpupiled eyes glinting in their scaly sockets。 〃We smelled it。〃
Quenthel looked around。 Her followers had heard the serpent's declaration and were gawking at her and the reptiles in consternation。 They appeared to be in perfectly good health； but she trusted the vipers and knew it wouldn't last。
〃Purge yourselves；〃 she said。 〃Now〃
They never got the chance。 Almost as one； they succumbed to the toxin； swaying； staggering； and collapsing。 Some retched involuntarily as the sickness hit them； but it didn't help。 They passed out like the rest。
Quenthel shifted the whip back to her hand； peered in all directions； and bade the vipers do the same。 She'd realized her demonic assailants were supposed to suggest the several dominions of the goddess； and therefore an 〃assassin〃 of some sort would turn up sooner or later。 Still； she foolishly assumed that being would attack in some obvious way just as the 〃spider〃 and 〃darkness〃 had。 She hadn't expected it to employ stealth and attempt to poison her； though in retrospect； that tactic made perfect sense。
The question was； had the demon done all it planned to do； or； since its first ploy had failed； would it strike at her in some other way？
Off to the west； someone screamed； the sound echoing down the stone halls。 Quenthel had her answer； and it was the one she'd expected。
Her heart beat faster； her mouth felt drier still； and she realized she wasn't eager to confront this new intruder； certainly not without the support of her personal guards。 Yet she was mistress in these halls； and it was unthinkable to turn tail and let an invader make free with her domain。
Besides； if she fled； the cursed thing would probably track her anyway。
Leaving her fallen patrol with their useless magical treasures strewn about them on the floor； she strode toward the noise。 She shouted for other underlings to attend her； but no one responded。
In a minute or so； she entered a long gallery； where wall carvings told the history of Lolth as it had occurred and as it was prophesied： her seduction of Corellon Larethian； chief deity of the contemptible elves of the World Above； their union and her first attempt to overthrow him； her discovery of her spider form and her descent into the Abyss； her conquest of the Demonweb and her adoption of the drow as her chosen people； and her future triumph over all other gods and ascendancy over all creation。
A silhouette appeared in the arched entry at the far end of the hall。 It changed color and shape—humanoid； quadruped； blob； worm； cluster of spikes—from one instant to the next。 Somehow perceiving Quenthel； it let out a cry。 Its voice sounded like a wavering； cacophonous jumble of every noise she'd ever heard and some she hadn't。 Within the first discordant howl she caught the shrill note of a flute； the grunt of a rothe； a baby crying； water splashing； and fire crackling。
Quenthel recognized the demon for the profound threat it was； but for a moment； she was less concerned for her safety or fired with a fighter's rage than she was surprised。 Poison surely suggested an assassin； yet the demon before her was plainly an embodiment of chaos。
The spirit started down the gallery； and the walls bulged； flowed； and changed color around it。 Quenthel reached into the leather bag hanging from her belt and brought out a scroll； then something hit her hard in the back of the neck。
* * *
Ryld peered about the room。 Judging from the sunken arena in the center of the flo