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 six…headed whip and the purple rod of tentacles； the enchanted rings gleamnoting 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 innottimidation 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 benottween 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 gradunotally； 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 ritnotuals 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 fornotbidden the use of her family's more powerful magical artifacts； lest she break them or turn them to some ill…conceived 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； Greynotanna 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 subnotordinate 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 innotteresting； though； to say nothing of dangerous。 Perhaps it was mastering the formidable powers of wizardry； or maybe it was immersion in an ennotclave prised entirely of males； but somehow he emerged from hi