sincere。 After your first ploy failed； you should at the very least have rested elsewhere。〃
〃I don't know what you mean。〃
Drisinil's hand shifted stealthily； no doubt toward a hidden weapon or charm。 The vipers struck at the student's face； their fangs missing her sharp…nosed features by a fraction of an inch。 She froze。
〃Please；〃 Quenthel said。 〃This will go easier if you don't insult my innottelligence。 You have spirit； you believe I punished you too harshly； and you're Barrison De Armgo； eager to bring down the one House standing between your family and supremacy。 Of course you're involved in the plot against me。 You're also an idiot if you didn't think I'd realize it。〃
〃Plot？〃
Quenthel sighed。 〃Halavin tried to kill me last night； and she didn't act alone。 A single traitor couldn't have drugged all the food and drink set out at various points around the temple。 It would have required abandoning her station for long enough that someone would have marked her absence。〃
〃Halavin could have tainted the meal while it was still in the kitchen。〃
〃She was never there。〃
〃Then perhaps the demon poisoned the viands with its magic。〃
〃No。 As I'm sure you noted； each spirit represents one of the facets of renotality over which the goddess holds special dominion。 Poison is the weapon of an assassin； while with its continually fluctuating form； last night's asnotsailant was plainly a manifestation of chaos。
〃The conspirators；〃 Quenthel continued； 〃had to contaminate each and every table because they didn't know where I would stop and eat。 Many fell unconscious； but you and the other plotters knew not to sample the repast。〃
Drisinil said； 〃I had no part in it。〃
〃Novice； you're beginning to irritate me。 Admit your guilt； or I'll give you to the vipers and interrogate someone else。〃 The serpents hissed and flicked their tongues。
〃All right；〃 said Drisinil； 〃I was involved。 A little。 The others talked me into it。 Don't kill me。〃
〃I know what your little cabal has done； but I want to understand how you dared。〃
Drisinil swallowed and said； 〃You 。 。 。 you said it yourself。 Each demon seeks to kill only you； and each in its own particular way reflects the divine majesty of Lolth。 We thought she sent them。 We thought we were doing what the goddess wanted。〃
〃Because you're imbeciles。 Has no one taught you to look beyond apnotpearances？ If Lolth wanted me dead； I couldn't survive her displeasure for a heartbeat； let alone three nights。 The attacks resemble her doing because some blasphemous mortal arranged it so； to manipulate you into doing her killing for her。 I'd hoped you conspirators knew the trickster's identity； but 1 see it isn't so。〃
〃No。〃
〃Curse you all！〃 Quenthel exploded。 〃The goddess favors me。 How could you possibly doubt it？ I'm a Baenre； the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith； and I rose to the rank of high priestess more quickly that any Menzoberranyr ever has！〃
〃I know 。 。 。〃 The novice hesitated； then said； 〃The Mother of Lusts must have some reason for distancing herself from the city； and we 。 。 。 speculated。〃
〃Some of you did； I'm sure。 Others simply liked the idea of eliminating me。 I imagine your Aunt Molvayas would relish seeing me dead。 She'd have an excellent chance of being mistress in her turn。 We Baenre don't have another princess seasoned enough to assume the role。〃
〃It was my aunt！〃 Drisinil exclaimed。 〃She came up with the idea of helping the demons kill you。 I didn't even want to help。 I thought it was a stupid idea； but within our family； she holds authority over me。〃
Quenthel smiled。 〃It's too bad you weren't more impressed with my aunotthority。〃
〃I'm sorry。〃
〃No doubt that。 Now； I need the names of all the conspirators。〃
Drisinil didn't hesitate an instant。 〃My aunt； Vlondril Tuin'Tarl 。 。 。〃
As ever； Quenthel maintained a calm； knowing expression； but inwardly she was surprised at the number of conspirators。 An eighth of the temple！ It was unprecedented； but then she was living in unprecedented times。
When Drisinil finished； the Baenre said； 〃Thank you。 Where did you gather to hatch your schemes？〃
〃One of the unused storerooms in the fifth leg；〃 Drisinil said。
Quenthel shook her head。 〃That won't do。 It's not big enough。 Convene the group in Lirdnolu's old classroom。 Nobody's used it since she had her throat slit； so it will seem a safe meeting place。〃
Drisinil blinked。 〃Convene？〃
〃Yes。 Last night's plot failed； so obviously you must hatch a new one。 You've chosen a new chamber for the conference because you suspect the storeroom is no longer safe。 Say whatever you need to say to assemble your cabal in four hours' time。〃
〃If I do； wil