rder and our temple greater than ever before。 Now； clear away this mess。〃
The spiders began to disappear； from the room and Quenthel's person as well。 Drisinil couldn't quite tell if they were simply scuttling away or teleporting out。
〃I did it；〃 the student said。 〃I brought the traitors together for you。 Now； please give me the antidote。〃
Quenthel smiled and said； 〃There is none。〃
〃What？〃
〃I didn't poison you。 The liquid was simply a stimulant to bat drowsinotness。 I gave you enough to make the effect alarming； but it'll wear off。〃
〃You're lying！ Playing with me！〃
〃I would have administered a slow poison had I been carrying one； but as I was not； I had to improvise。〃
Drisinil felt a surge of bitter humiliation and a need to demonstrate she wasn't entirely a fool。
〃Well；〃 she blurted； 〃then； you've tricked everyone all the way around。 I know Lolth didn't control those spiders。 You did。 You read a scroll or used some sort of charm before you entered the room。〃
〃If so； does it matter？〃 A yellow arachnid crawled out of Quenthel's snowy hair and onto her shoulder。 She paid it no mind。 〃Lolth teaches that the cunning and strong must master the foolish and weak。 However you look at it； this oute is in accordance with her will。 Now； let's talk about your future。〃
Drisinil swallowed。 〃You promised to spare me。〃
〃I did； didn't I？〃 a smiling Quenthel replied。 〃Unlike some； we Baenre generally keep our word。 A reputation for fair dealing facilitates certain transactions。 However； I never promised not to punish you。〃
〃I understand。 Of course I'll take a flogging or whatever you think appropriate。〃
〃That's quite agreeable of you。 How about this； then？ We'll nip off the other eight fingers and cut out your tongue as well。〃
For a moment； Drisinil thought she hadn't heard correctly。
〃Now you're joking。〃
〃Oh； no。 I firmly believe you engineered the plot against me； and I intend to make sure you don't get up to any more mischief。 Ever。 If you can't municate； work magic； or grip a weapon； that should take care of it。 Obviously； it won't be possible for you to continue at Arach…Tinilith； and I wouldn't count on the warmest of weles when you return home。 I doubt Mez'Barris Armgo will have much interest in a grotesquely crippled and thoroughly useless daughter。 She may even consider you an embarrassment to be killed or locked away。〃
Enraged； panicked； Drisinil lunged； but never landed a blow。 Powerful hands grabbed her from behind； hauled her back； and something hard and heavy bashed her over the head。 Her legs folded beneath her。 She would have fallen if not for her captors holding her up。
Quave's voice sounded over Drisinil's shoulder。 〃We've got her； Mistress。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Take her to the penance chamber and secure her。〃
〃Yes； Mistress；〃 said Quave。 〃1 assume you'll do the cutting yourself。〃
〃I'd like to；〃 said the Baenre； 〃but there's another matter demanding my attention。 You can do it。 Enjoy yourself。 Just mind she doesn't die of it。 They can drown in their own blood when you take the tongue。〃
Pharaun relaxed in the chair； enjoying the feel of the barber's fingers kneading tonic into his scalp。 It wasn't as relaxing as a full…body massage； but soothing nonetheless。
The barber chattered away； and the wizard periodically responded with a nonmittal； 〃Indeed；〃 or a grunt。 Like； he suspected； tonsorial cusnottomers of all races in all ages of the world； he wasn't actually listening。
The barber's stall； a little box redolent of unguents and pomades； was open at the front； and it was more interesting to gaze out at the sights of the Bazaar。 A moner strode by carrying a clucking chicken； imported from the Lands of Light； in a box。 A merchant had probably promised the fellow the fowl would lay for years to e； though in reality； such birds rarely thrived in the Underdark。 A portrait painter rendered his subject； the enchantments in the brush enabling him to fill the canvas with astonnotishing speed。 An armorer drove a rapier through a bound； gagged kobold to demonstrate the sharpness of the point。
Cowl up； mantle drawn close around him； and Splitter hidden by the charm of concealment Pharaun had cast on it； Ryld loitered across the way in a tent with the sides folded up。 There； games of all sorts were on disnotplay。 The hulking swordsman stood pondering a sava board； where he'd set up a problem with the onyx and carnelian pieces。
A change came over the scene beyond the doorway； and people looked to the north。 Some started to squeeze up against the stalls； clearing the center of the lane。 A ragged； furtive…looking moner hurried away in the opposite direct