d about something else： the wellbeing of House Zauvirr and the magnificent city in which it amassed its wealth； fought its covert battles； and worked its magic。
〃I keep track of the caravans arriving from Ched Nasad；〃 the ambassador said。 〃For the past six tendays； none has。 None。 As the Matron Mother is undoubtedly aware； several major trade routes converge in the City of Shimmering Webs； which then funnels the merchants on to Menzoberranzan。 At least half the goods that reach your cavern e through us。 Except that now； they aren't reaching you。 The steady flow has dried up。 Except in time of war； that's unprecedented。〃
〃It's an odd coincidence； certainly； all the merchant clansmen choosing other destinations； but I'm sure they'll decide to head for Menzoberranzan next trip； or the trip after that。〃
Faeryl had to make a conscious effort to pose her features。 Otherwise she would have scowled。 If she hadn't known better； she would have thought Triel was being deliberately obtuse。
〃1 suspect it may be more than a coincidence；〃 the ambassador said。 〃A thousand thousand dangers haunt the Underdark； and the philosophers tell us new ones are spawning all the time。 What if something has cut the route between Menzoberranzan and Ched Nasad？ What if it's killing everyone who tries to pass through？〃
〃More than one tunnel connects the cities；〃 rumbled the draegloth unexpectedly； and despite the perfume wafting through the air； Faeryl caught a whiff of the creature's putrid breath。 〃Is that not so？〃
〃Exactly〃 Triel reached back around the edge of her golden chair and gave the halffiend an approving pat on the leg。 〃Your theory doesn't stand up； Ambassador。〃
Not for the first time； Faeryl wished that Triel's mother was still leading House Baenre。 The greedy； vicious old autocrat could be hard to contend with； but though she would have cherished a draegloth as a mark of Lolth's
approval and delighted in the demidemon's gift for slaughter； she wouldn't have tolerated it speaking unbidden at a formal conference； any more than she would have borne such disrespect from anyone else。
〃If the threat consists of more than one beast；〃 the emissary said； 〃or more than one manifestation of a phenomenon； it could cut more than one passage。〃
Triel shrugged。 〃If you say so。〃
〃I hesitate to mention it；〃 said Faeryl； 〃lest I be thought an alarmist； but it's even possible that some misfortune has befallen Ched Nasad itself。〃
〃A misfortune so abrupt and allenpassing that your folk never even had a chance to dispatch a messenger to Menzoberranzan？〃 Triel replied。 〃Nonsense。 Even Golothaer； home of our ancestors； didn't perish in an hour。 Besides； I am personally aware of several muniqués having reached here from Ched Nasad in only the past few days。〃
〃I have received some of those sendings myself； Matron Mother； and find their excuses suspicious at best。 In any case； the dearth of traffic from Ched Nasad warrants investigation； and as my city's representative in Menzoberranzan； the task is my responsibility。〃
〃No one has charged you with it。〃
〃Then I take it upon myself。 Yet I'm reluctant to venture across the Underdark with merely my own little entourage for protection。 Traders guard their caravans very well。 Anything that could destroy all those merchant trains would likely put a quick end to me； too； in which case； Matron Mother； the priestesses of Menzoberranzan would know no more about the new menace beyond their borders than they do now。 Accordingly； I ask you to provide me with a sizable escort。 I'll march it to Ched Nasad and back again and see what befalls me along the way。〃
〃You have an enterprising nature；〃 said Triel 〃It does you credit。 Alas； Menzoberranzan can't spare any troops。 Not at this time。 Our forces are engaged in training exercises。〃
Faeryl fancied she knew the real reason the Baenre was at present reluctant to divest herself of any portion of her military strength。 Her caution made perfect sense on its own terms； but surely it must yield to the gravity of the envoy's concerns
〃Matron Mother； if trade with Ched Nasad does not resume； the people of Menzoberranzan will find themselves bereft of countless amenities。 Some of your craftsmen will lack the raw materials they need for their work。 Your own merchant clans will endeavor to send caravans to my city； and those expeditions will probably not return。〃
〃I imagine some clever male will import the same goods via a different route if he can reap a profit thereby。〃
Faeryl was beginning to feel as if she were mired in some lunatic dream。
〃Matron； you can't be serious。 Ched Nasad is the single greatest source of wealth your people possess。〃
Demons of the Web； it was in fact half again as populous as Menzoberranzan itself。 The two realms had long been equals； and it was only a paratively recent happenstance that had reduced the once independent City of Shimmering Webs to vassalage。
Triel spread her dainty； obsidian hands in a gesture of helpless resignation and said； 〃Wealth that is as much ours when stored in our trading costers in Ched Nasad as in our own vaults here。〃
Faeryl didn't know what else to say。 No argument； however cogent； seemed capable of piercing Triel's shield of bland； almost mocking placency。
〃Very well；〃 the ambassador said through gritted teeth； struggling to keep a grip on her temper。 〃If I must； I'll manage without your help。 It will exhaust my purse； but perhaps I can hire some of the sell swords of Bregan D'aerthe。〃
Triel smiled。 〃No； my dear； that won't be necessary。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃I cannot give you leave to depart so precipitously。 Who then would speak on behalf of your people？ Even more importantly； I believe you may be right。 Some new peril may be lurking in the Underdark and massacring drow left and right。 I don't want it to kill you as well。 I hold you in too high an esteem； and I certainly wouldn't want the other nobles of Ched Nasad to think that I blithely sent you to your doom。 They might infer that I have little regard for even the most exalted officers of your splendid city； when of course； nothing could be farther from the truth。〃
〃You honor me。 Yet considering what's at stake—〃
〃Nothing is more important than your safety。 Anything could happen if you attempt to traverse the tunnels at this unsettled time。 You might not even make it out of Bauthwaf。 Why； one of Menzoberranzan's own patrols； weary from too much duty； imagining a dwarf crouched behind every stalagmite； might mistake your band for a hostile force and loose a volley of poison darts at you。 You might die an agonizing death at the hands of your own friends； in which case I would never five myself。〃
A chill crept up Faeryl's spine； because she understood what Triel had really said。 The matron mother had just forbidden her to leave the city； on pain of death。
But why？ What accounted for Matron Baenre's sudden hostility？ Faeryl had no idea until she happened to glance up at the draegloth's face。 Somehow the halffiend's leer suggested an explanation。
Triel had decided Faeryl was less diplomat than spy； an agent for some power inimical to Menzoberranzan； who'd concocted this business of missing traders to provide herself with a good excuse to leave the city and report to her superiors。
Matron Baenre couldn't allow it； couldn't permit a spy to pass along the tale of Menzoberranzan's newfound weakness。 She didn't dare； because it was entirely possible that not all dark elf enclaves had suffered the same calamity； and even if they had； perhaps the dwarves； duergar； deep gnomes； and illithids had not。
What remained unclear was why Triel believed as she did。 Who had put the idea in her head； and what did that person have to gain by holding Faeryl in the city？
Jaw tight； the emissary stifled the impulse to confront Triel about the latter's true concerns。 She knew she wouldn't be able to draw the Baenre into an genuine consideration of the allegations against her。 Taking a malicious pleasure in the playacting； Triel would simply feign shock that Faeryl doubted her trust and good will。
Indeed； if Faeryl wanted to avoid further humiliation； all she could do was go along with the pretense。
She smiled and said； 〃As I said before； Matron Mother； your concern honors me； and I will of course obey you。 I'll remain in the City of Spiders and savor its many delights。〃
〃Good；〃 said Triel； and Faeryl imagined the words that remained unspoken： We'll know where to find you when it's time for your arrest。
〃May I have your permission to withdraw？ I see there are many others seeking the benefit of your wisdom。〃
〃Go； with my blessing。〃
Faeryl offered her obeisance； exited the hall； and walked through the great mound that was the Baenre citadel until she found herself alone and unobserved in a short connecting passageway。 She took the rolled maps of the Underdark； the charts she had imagined that she and Triel might consult together； from beneath her arm。 Teeth bared in a snarl； she smashed them repeatedly against the wall until the stiff parchment cylinder flopped limp and battered in her hands。
Gromph and Quenthel strolled about the plateau watching the apprentices and masters of Sorcere perform the rituals。 The sound of chanting and the pungent scent of incense filled the air； along with various conjured phenomena： flashes of light； dancing shadows； demonic faces appearing and disappearing； moaning and crackling。 All to lay a new set of wards about Tier Breche。
Gromph was mildly impressed。 By and large； his minions were doing a good job of it； though they weren't laying any enchantments he couldn't pierce。 In fact； since he was supervising them at their labors； getting past the wards would be easy。
〃I wonder if all this will actually protect us；〃 said Quenthel； scowling； her long skirt rippling in the stray breeze kicked up by someone's incantation。
Gromph was surprised that even after Beradax's attack； she hadn't donned a suit of mail。 Perhaps she thought her frightened novices and priestesses required a show of confidence。
〃It didn't protect us before；〃 hissed one of the annoyingly vocal snakes prising the whip on her belt。
Four of them were twisting this way and that； watching for danger。 The fifth kept its cold eyes staring at Gromph； not； the Archmage was convinced； because h