gestured brusquely to the human； slightly smaller and less muscular than his patriot； whom the Baenre had left for her use。 Careful not to make eye contact； the slave began to undress her and hang her garments on the hooks set in the wall。
〃So what are we going to do？〃 the moner asked。 〃She's guarded。 Even with the resource you gave me； I'm not sure I could kill her and escape； but surely you have skilled assassins at your disposal。〃
〃Of course。〃 Waerva had to close her slanted ruby eyes as her body sernotvant squeezed and rubbed another clenched muscle into warm； limp subnotmission。 It was remarkable how she didn't even realize they were tight until the masseur got his hands on them。 〃Murder would have its advantages。 It would take her off the sava board for good and all。〃
〃Then we're agreed？〃 Umrae asked as she lay down on her couch。 Her body servant gently spread her mane of coarse white hair to expose the flesh beneath。
Waerva grinned。 〃You sound so eager。〃
〃I admit I'm not fond of her。〃 Umrae's human opened a white porcenotlain bottle of unguent； and a sweet scent tinged the air。 〃That's not the point。 The point is to shield us all for as long as we need it。〃
〃I quite agree；〃 said Waerva； 〃and my concern is that an assassination could prove counterproductive。 Might it not call attention to your misnottress's suspicions？ Might it not lend weight to them？ Does she not have a deputy of like mind ready to take over in the event of her demise？〃
Urnrae scowled； pondering the questions； plainly not enjoying it much。 Her slave spread a thin coat of amber oil onto her back。
From elsewhere in the building echoed the faint； distorted sounds of shouting； laughter； and splashing。 Waerva guessed it must be males amusnoting themselves in one of the bathing pools。 The females of the city were scarcely in the mood for boisterous horseplay。
At last Umrae said； 〃All right； what do you want to do？〃
〃Counter the threat in a subtler way。 She can't injure us if she's never afnotforded the chance to confirm her suspicions。〃
〃How will you ensure that？〃 Umrae's voice quavered as her thrall began to lightly pummel her gleaming back with the bottoms of his fists。
Good luck loosening up those petrified limbs； Waerva thought。 〃I am a priestess of the Baenre； am I not？〃
〃The least of them。〃
〃How insolent of you to say so。〃 Waerva tensed with annoyance until her masseur's hands rebuked her。
〃I only meant…〃
〃I know what you meant； and I don't deny it。 It's why I'm here； after all。 Yet consider this： My aunt Triel has always depended on the advice of two people； Gromph and Quenthel。 She can't really talk to Gromph anymore because she's keeping him in the dark with the rest of the males。 I doubt she'll see much of Quenthel for a while； either。 The tiny she…demon will stay busy contending with her own problems。 She's endured some sort of mishap up on Tier Breche。〃
Umrae twisted her head around to look at her sister conspirator and said； 〃I've heard rumors about that。 What actually happened？〃
〃I don't know…〃 Though I wish to the goddess I did； she thought… 〃but whatever it was； it works to our advantage。 We want Triel to suffer a dearth of counselors。〃
〃What about her magical new son？ They say he acpanies her everynotwhere。〃
Waerva smiled。 〃Jeggred's not a factor。 He's a magnificent specimen but scarcely a font of sage advice。 I assure you poor； uncertain Triel will be abnotsolutely frantic for plausible insights from other Baenre priestesses； even the lowlier ones like me。 I will buy our friends the time they need to work free of outside interference。〃
〃You will if Triel trusts you。〃
〃In this； she will。 We Baenre are proud。 It will be inconceivable to Triel that one of our females would wish to abandon the First House in favor of a new life elsewhere。 Of course； she wasn't born at the absolute bottom of the internal hierarchy； was she； with dozens of older sisters and cousins taking precedence over her and holding all the important offices。 Even if I started recklessly trying to pick them off whenever one lowers her guard even slightly； it could still take me centuries to ascend to a position of gennotuine power within the family。〃
〃All right； that makes sense。 What will you tell her？〃
〃The obvious。〃 Waerva sighed shakily as her human went to work on her sacroiliac。 〃For all we know； it may even be the truth。〃
〃I suppose。〃
Umrae lapsed into a sullen silence。 Her body servant's hands made slapnotping and sucking sounds as they played about her slick； moist； bony back。
〃By the six hundred and sixty…six layers of the Abyss；〃 said Waerva； 〃what ails you？ If you're having seconds