ed down its flanks。 To her delight； her magic affected it again。 The spider too wore a mantle of shadowy flame； the heat rippling the air above it。
That meant it ought to drop； didn't it； or at least flounder about in helpless agony？ The fire was surely damaging it； for Quenthel could smell its flesh charring even through the omnipresent reek of burning paint； but the demon turned and scuttled after her。
She aimed the next burning missile at the cluster of eyes that seemed in some indefinable way to constitute the very core of the thing。 The spider did lurch and falter when the burning darkness splashed over the orbs； but only for a second； and it kept ing。
Unable to outrun it； hoping she'd at least softened it up a little； Quenthel shouted her goddess's name and lunged to meet it。 Sheathed in darkfire； her whole body was a weapon and would burn the spider wherever it touched。 Where the black flame on the monster's limbs was giving way to yellow； it could burn her； too； but not if she didn't let it。 Their natural savagery overing their fear of fire； the whip vipers lashed and struck in a frenzy of bloodlust。
At first； swinging the whip； ducking and dodging； she kept herself clear of the spider's mandibles。 She shifted left when she should have jumped right； and the razorsharp pincers snapped shut around her。
They stopped short of piercing her flesh。 Loath to clasp her blazing body and be seared thereby； the spider faltered for just an instant。 Before it could muster the will to proceed； Quenthel struck a final blow。
The ophidian lashes crashed through the demon's charred and tattered visage and bit into what lay beneath。 The spider jerked； froze； twitched two of its legs in a purposeless way； and the burning hulk of it slowly sank to the floor； just as Quenthel's spell elapsed and all the dark fire still crackling in the chamber winked out of existence。
She shouted in exultation。 Equally ecstatic； only a little singed； the vipers danced at the end of the scourge。 Everyone's good mood lasted just as long as it took for the Baenre priestess； clad primarily in smoke and ash； to turn toward the door。
Though she'd been far too busy to notice hitherto； at some point a number of teachers and students had evidently crowded into the space to watch the battle。 They were watching Quenthel still； eyes wide； faces uncertain。
〃It was a desecration；〃 said Quenthel。 〃A mockery。〃
She stared at them with haughty expectation。
They peered back at her for a moment； then folded their hands and bowed their heads in obeisance。
Chapt e r
T H R E E
Tall and lithe； the left side of her otherwise handsome face creased with an old battle scar of which； she recognized； she was rather foolishly proud； Greyanna Mizzrym entered her mother's presence dirty； sweaty； and still clad in her mail shirt。 Greyanna knew Mother didn't like for her daughters and other chattels to e to meet with her fully armed； but she had an excuse。 She'd just returned from an inspection tour of Mizzrym operations in Bauthwaf—〃aroundcloak；〃 as the dangerous network of tunnels immediately surrounding Menzoberranzan was called—only to hear from a frantic functionary bearing the fresh marks of a whip of fangs that the matron mother wished to see her as soon as possible。
Actually； even knowing the articles likely wouldn't save her if things went horribly wrong； Greyanna rather liked having a justification to walk in on her parent with her mace in her hand and her shield on her arm。 She couldn't think of any reason why Mother would have decided to kill her at this particular point in time； but one could never be altogether sure； could one？
Certainly not with Miz'ri Mizzrym； a female regarded even by other dark elves as excessively and capriciously cruel。 She sat enthroned in her temple with all of her weapons and protections ready to hand； the sixheaded whip and the purple rod of tentacles； the enchanted rings gleaming on her fingers。 She might have been considered ely even by the exacting standards of her exquisite race； except that her mouth drew down in an ugly and all but perpetual scowl。 She regarded her daughter's martial appointments coldly but without ment。
Greyanna lowered her head and spread her hands； offering the proper obeisance； and said； 〃Matron Mother。 You wished to see me？〃
〃I wished to see you yesterday。〃
〃I was off conducting family business。〃 Of course； Mother knew that as well as she did。 〃We have to keep up with our duties even now。 Especially now—as you yourself have observed on more than one occasion。〃
〃Watch your insolent tongue〃
Greyanna sighed。 〃Yes； Mother。 I apologize。 I didn't mean to speak out of turn。〃
〃See that you refrain from doing so again。〃
Miz'ri fell silent； perhaps to gather her thoughts； perhaps simply in an effort to rattle her daughter's nerves。 Such petty； pointless attempts at intimidation were virtually a reflex with her。
Greyanna wondered if a servant had been instructed to fetch her a chair for the remainder of the interview。 It didn't look like it。 That was typical of her mother as well。
〃Your brother Pharaun 。。。〃 Miz'ri said at last。
Greyanna's eyes opened wide。 〃Yes？〃
〃I think it might finally be time for the two of you to get reacquainted。〃
The younger female held her scarred features calm and posed。 It was rarely a good idea to show strong emotion to anyone； particularly Mother。 If you showed her that something mattered to you； she would find a way to hurt you with it。 Even so； Greyanna couldn't quite suppress a shiver of anticipation。
She and her twin sister Sabal had loathed one another from the cradle onward。 Of course； in the noble Houses of Menzoberranzan； rivalry between sisters was expected and encouraged。 Certainly Miz'ri encouraged it； perhaps simply for her own amusement。 But for some reason—perhaps it had something to do with the fact that outwardly； they were identical— her daughters' enmity far transcended even her expectations。 It was more bitter and more personal。 Each yearned to injure and thwart the other for its own sake at least as much as to improve her own relative standing in the family。
All but choking on their loathing of one another； they fought a duel that lasted decades and enpassed every facet of their existence； and gradually； on every battlefield； Greyanna began to prevail。 She sabotaged many of Sabal's plans to enhance the fortunes of House Mizzrym and found ways to take credit for those that succeeded。 By secretly tainting some of the sacred articles in this very shrine； she ensured that her twin's public rituals would fail to produce even the feeblest sign that the Spider Queen found her worship acceptable。 She sowed doubt about Sabal's petence and loyalty in the ears of everyone who would listen。
Over time； Greyanna rose to bee her mother's most valued aide； while Sabal was seen as a dolt fit only for the simplest of tasks。 She was forbidden the use of her family's more powerful magical artifacts； lest she break them or turn them to some illconceived purpose。 From kin to slave warriors； any member of the household who might once have supported her aspirations shunned her as if she were diseased。 At that point； Greyanna could have killed her easily； and she expected she'd get around to it eventually； but Sabal's misery was so satisfying that she put it off。
Put if off until Pharaun came home from Sorcere。
Before her little brother departed to Tier Breche； Greyanna had barely noticed him。 Of course； you didn't pay attention to young males unless you were unlucky enough to be put in charge of them。 They were the silent little shadows creeping about the house； cleaning； ever cleaning； straining to master their inherent magical abilities； and learning their subordinate place in the world； all under the impatient eyes—and whips—of their minders。 As far as she could remember； Pharaun had been as cowed and pathetic as the rest。
The Academy transformed him into something considerably more interesting； though； to say nothing of dangerous。 Perhaps it was mastering the formidable powers of wizardry； or maybe it was immersion in an enclave prised entirely of males； but somehow he emerged from his schooling polished； clever； and bold； possessed of a sharp wit and glib tongue that frequently danced him up to the brink of chastisement and safely back again。
Amazingly； he threw in with Sabal； who had all but abandoned hope of ever climbing higher than her current degraded estate。 To this day； Greyanna could only explain his decision by positing a perverse and unnatural bond between them； but whatever his reasons； with the help of Pharaun's ideas； advocacy； and magic； Sabal essayed new ventures； succeeded brilliantly； and began to scale the ladder of status once more。 She did so more quickly than Greyanna could have imagined； and the family came once more to regard the twins as peers； equal in merit and promise。 Accordingly； their private war resumed； even more vicious and murderous than before； but this time Sabal—say Pharaun； rather—proved a match for her。
Greyanna tried to break the stalemate by convincing Pharaun to change sides。 She expected it to work； for after all； she and Sabal looked exactly alike and shared precisely the same prospects。 Why； then； should the wizard not throw in with the stronger； shrewder sister who had risen to the top of House Mizzrym without his help？ Think of the triumphs they could acplish together Though inwardly sickened by the prospect； she even smiled lasciviously and offered him the inducement she believed Sabal had given him。
Her brother laughed at her。 It was at that instant that Greyanna came to hate him just as savagely as she did her sister。
Perhaps she owed him a debt for his cutting mockery。 Conceivably； it goaded her to new heights of ingenuity； for it was shortly afterward that she hit on the stratagem that would destroy Sabal。
A band of gray dwarves had been raiding in the tunnels southeast of the city； and Sabal was leading the force endeavoring to hunt the bandits down。 Taking extraordinary measures； driving her agents； whether mortal； elemental； or demonic； relentlessly； Greyanna located the duergar in advance of her twin。 Then came the hard part。 She and her helpers had to abduct one of the slatecolored little males with