unreasonable。 Obvinotously； that could provoke a spate of runaway males； but what could make the dispositions of all those priestesses curdle in unison？〃
〃I have a hunch that when we figure that out； we'll be getting somenotwhere。〃
The two masters circled around a colossal snail pulling a dozen…wheeled cart。 The creature's mouth opened into an O and Pharaun…who had once only narrowly survived an encounter with such a giant mollusk in the wild…nearly sacrificed his dignity by flinching； even though he knew this particular specimen had undoubtedly been divested of its ability to spew a caustic sludge。 Sure enough； nothing flew from the draft creature's maw except a few clear； harmless droplets。 The Wagoner lashed the hostile snail with his long…handled whip。
〃What did you learn downstairs？〃 asked Ryld。
〃Nothing； really；〃 said Pharaun； 〃nothing we hadn't already inferred。 Still； I was able to oblige an old rade。 That was pleasant in its own way。〃
〃If neither of us discovered anything substantial； our visit to the Jewel Box was a waste of time。〃
〃Not a bit of it。 The bloodshed perked you up； didn't it？ You've pretty much been smiling ever since。〃
〃Don't be ridiculous。 I admit it was an interesting little scuffle 。 。 。〃
Ryld began to recount the battle one action at a time； with prehennotsive analysis of the alternative options and underlying strategy。 Pharaun nodded and did his best to look interested。
Triel； Matron Mother of House Baenre and a diminutive ebony doll of a dark elf； marched briskly down the corridor； covering ground rapidly denotspite her short stride。 Eight feet tall； his two goat like legs more nimble even than most drow's； Jeggred had no difficulty keeping up with his mother。 The scurrying； frazzled drow secretary； though； looked as if she was in imminent danger of dropping her armload of parchment。 When Triel heard voices conversing a few yards ahead； she wanted to move faster still。 Only a sense that a female in her august position ought not to promise her dignity by running held the impulse in check。
〃I think it's a test；〃 said one soft female voice。
〃I worry it's a sign of disfavor；〃 answered the other； a hair deeper and a bit nasal。 〃Perhaps we've done something to offend…〃
Triel and her panions rounded a corner。 There before them loitered a pair of her cousins。 Their mouths fell open when they saw her。
Triel looked up at her son's face； which； with its slightly elongated muzzle； mouthful of long； pointed fangs； slanted eyes； and pointed ears； seemed a blend of drow and wolf。 That wordless glance sufficed to convey her will。
Jeggred pounced； his long； coarse mane streaming out behind him。 With each of his huge； clawed fighting hands； he grabbed a cousin by the throat and hoisted her up against the calcite wall。 His two smaller； drow…like hands flexed as if they too wished to get in on the violence。
Perhaps they did。
Triel had conceived a child in a ritual coupling with the glabrezu demon Belshazu。 The result was Jeggred； a half…fiend known as a draegloth； a prenotcious gift of the Spider Queen。 His mother was quite prepared to believe that cruelty and bloodlust burned in every mote and particle of his being。 Only his reflexive subservience； tendered not because Triel had borne him but because she was first among the priestesses of Lolth； kept him from immediately slaughtering his prisoners； or； indeed； pretty much anyone else with whom he came in contact。
Occasionally Triel's lack of height was an advantage。 It didn't feel awknotward or claustrophobic to step inside the circle of Jeggred's two longer arms and stand before the cousins。 Up close； she could smell the sweat of their fear just as easily as she could hear the little choking sounds they were making or the thuds as their heels bumped against the carved surface behind them。
〃I forbade you to speak of the situation in public；〃 she snarled。
The cousin on the left started making more noise； a tortured gargling。 Perhaps she was trying to say that she and the other one had been alone。
〃This is a public part of the castle；〃 Triel said。 〃Anyone； any male might have e along and overheard you。〃 She swung her whip of fangs； aiming low to ensure she didn't accidennottally lash Jeggred's hands or arms。 The five writhing adders gashed their targets but not enough to satisfy their mistress。 She struck again and again。 Her anger rose and rose until it became a kind of rapture； a sweet simnotplicity in which nothing existed but the cousins' thrashing； the smell and feel of their blood spattering her face； and the pleasant exertion of her snapping arm。
She never knew what brought he