F O U R (61 page)

mislaid their ma

Houndaer blinked. "Ygic."  ou know about that?"

"I've inferred it. You obviously know as well. Otherwise, you wouldn't run

about breaking spiderwebs simply for the fun of it, to say nothing of putting

your master plan into motion. I'd be  curious to hear how  you found  out  and ifyou know why "

.

"We don'

out after a couple of us saw priestesses die fighting gricks out in tt know why, " Houndaer said, shaking his head. "We started to figure it he  Bauthwaf.

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The bitches should'guessed it was because they couldn've used spells to save themselves, but they didn't, and we waylaid a few clerics to see what they't. After that, we kept our eyes open and d  do to defend themselves. Everythinwe learned supported our theory."                     gPharaun sighed and said, "Then you aren't  in touch with someinformant in the realm                       chatty s  of the divine. Like me, you mededuced. What a pity. Aren't  you, in your ignorance, apprehensive that Lrely observed and olthwill rekindle the priestesses'

magic just when it's least convenient?"

"Maybe the goddess turned against the clergy because it's our turn to rule, "said the commoner.  "Who's to say? In any case, this is our chance, and we'retaking it.""Your chance to do what?" asked Ryld.  "You talk as if you intend to revoltbut instead you're inciting the slaves into an uprising."            ,

Houndaer cursed. "Y

"W        ou know that, too?"e stumbled on it while looking for you," Pharaun explained. He brushed astray strand of his coiffure back into place. His white hair shone likein the soft light shining from  the carvi             ghost flesh inspection, whipping the undercreatures into a lngs. "As Master Argith noted, on first ather would seem irrelevant toyour objective."

"L     ,"  the noble said. "We're canny enough to know  we  can'tthe mook deeper                           topple atriarchy all at once. Even without their spells, our mothers and sisters are too powerful. They have too many talismans, fortresses, and, mostimportantly, troops and vassals serving out of fear."

"I begin to comprehend, and I apologize for not giving you sufficient credit "Pharaun said. "This is m                        ,erely the opening gambit in a
 
sava
 
game that will last a num

"When fighting engulfs Menzoberranzan," Houndaer said, "and the cber of years."                          lerics cast no spells to put down the revolt, their weakness will become  apparent  toeveryone. Meanwhile, our brotherhood will take advantage of the chaos  to assassinate those females who pose the  greatest obstacles to  our  ambitions.

With luck, the ores will account for a few more. At the end of the day,  our gender's position in the scheme  of things will be considerably stronger,  and every male in the city will start aspiring to supremacy.

"In the years to come, our cabal will do whatever we can to diminish the femalesand put ourselves in their place. One  day soon, we'll see a noble Housecommanded by a male and eventuallyHe smiled and added, "Needless to say, a master in every House."

, a master who belongs to this fraternity.I'll enjoy ruling over House Tuin'Tarl, and I imagine that you, Brother of Sorcere,wouldn't say no to primacy over your own family."

Pharaun nodded and said, "You're far too  canny to have forgotten we've all gone rogue.  ...""Our kin will welcome us back once we've weakened them to  the point wherethey're desperate for reinforcements. We'll concoct tales of  travels to the  far  endsof the Underdark, or something. It won't matter to them when they're  desperateenough."pitfall, Pharaun said. "What if "Indeed, you've plotted everything out so shrewdly thatthe goblins and gnolls should actually I only see one potential
succeed
 
in slaughtering us all, or at least inflicdevastation breaks our hearts?"    ting such damage on our city that the

Houndaer stared at the mage for a moment, then laughed. "For a moment, I

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almost thought you serious."

inappropriate moments, as Master ArPharaun grinned. "Forgive me. I have a perverse fondness for japes at Houndaer smiled at R

yld and said, "I'

gith will attest."d  just as soon hear him attest that I

mastered all those lessons on st

"You did," said R     rategy he pounded into my skull."yld, and perhaps it was true. His instincts told him that  this

scheme, outlandish as it seemed, might work, and he abruptly  realized he didn't know how he felt about the possibility

.

He and Pharaun had infiltrated the r

archmage, and because the Mizzrym wizarogues to betray them, to placate the dachieve greater status and  power and thus a permanent cure for Rd had some vague notion that they'

yld's formlessdissatisfaction, thereby

.  Yet now the conspirators  were  of

role in a grand adventure. Perhaps, then, the teachers should bfering high rank and a ecome in truth the rebels they were pretending to be.

The warrior glanced over at Pharaun. With no one else would notice, the wizard  signed one word in the sa flick of his fingers so subtle that il

ent la

Persever
                             
nguage:
e.

Ryld took it to mean that his friend, with his usual acuity

was thinking and was urging him  to hold to  their original intent. H, had divined what he e gave a tinnod of assent. He didn't know if Pharaun                  y

was making a wise choice, but he did

realize he wouldn't even be here listening to this apocalyptic  talk if his  friend

hadn't asked for his aid. When all was said and done, R ld had descended from

Melee-Magthere to help the wizard achi       yeve
 
his
going to do.                 ends, and that was what he was

Pharaun turned to Tsabrak and said, "I assume  the driders have allied

them

in the splendid Menzoberranzan to comselves with the conspiracy because the boys promised you a place of honor e. Perhaps they even pledged to find a way to transform  you back into a drow."

"Something like that," Tsabrak sneered

joined did it for the chance to kill lots and lots of priestesses.". "Mainly,  though, those of us who "I can'

t  say I blame you," Pharaun said. "Well, gentlemen, your plans are

inspiring to say the least. I'm  glad we sought you out.""So am  I," said R

yld."The only things I'

m  still hazy on," the  mage continued, "are Syrzan and the

Prophet. One and the same? I see by your  expressions that they are. Who is  ...
 
it
really, and what power does it use to so enthrall the g

oblins?"

An instant later"I think you're about to find out," Houndaer said.,  some              almo

Actually, the sensation existed solely thing droned through the airwithin the m,  ind. Pharaun turned, and st like a noise, but not. T

sabrak scuttled aside to reveal the robed figure in the doorway. Ryld felt a jolt

of dismay. Afraid it was already too late, he sprang up from  the bench

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C   h  a  p  t   e   r

E   I   G   H   T   E   E   N

Off to Faeryl's  left stood an iron maiden  cast in the form  of a tubby jester in cap and bells. The bells looked real, and would  evidently jingle while a victim  writhed inside. The device was open just a crack,  not enough to expose  the  spikes  inside.Straight ahead, a chain and hook dangled from  their pulleyto hoist, and a rack waited to stretch one.         ,T         fishing for a prisoner o  the left, a brazier  of coals threw off dazzling heat, and a collection of probes,  knives, pincers, and pears hung on their pegs.  Her  nemesis,  the  small  male  with  all  thevicinity in an iron chair with shackles attached to  the armrests. ugly baubles, lounged in that

That was about as much as the envoy could see while roped naked to a molded calcite post.She was hungry