enough pilfered garments to go around。
She and her lieutenants sported the finery of the Ousstyl dignitaries； while the mon soldiers had donned piwafwi s and mail； and carried the arms of Talindra's bodyguards。
The outlanders stowed provisions beneath their mantles。 The quantity was insufficient； for they couldn't conceal all that much。 With luck； they'd be able to hunt and forage on the trail。 They headed for the mansion's ennotclosed stable； where Talindra had left her driftdisc。
Faeryl noticed that some of her retainers were sweaty and wide…eyed。 Though she was careful not to show it； she still felt just as apprehensive hernotself。 Was she mad to flout Triel Baenre's express mand； especially when she and her subordinate priestesses had virtually no magic implements left？
Well； no。 It would be lunacy to sit on her rump and do nothing； knownoting that Triel would eventually get around to ordering her arrest。 Even if Faeryl weren't concerned about her own fate； with every passing hour she grew more anxious to learn what had halted all traffic from Ched Nasad； and not just because the trade was important in its own right。 Absurd as it seemed； she couldn't shake the irrational fear that some misfortune had befallen the City of Shimmering Webs itself。
She had to know。 Any great event affecting Ched Nasad could conceivnotably injure House Zauvirr and diminish her own status。 Moreover； though she would never admit it to another； she cared about her homeland for its own sake。 Not； she assured herself； that she suffered from love； loyalty； or any other soft； un…drowlike emotion。 Yet Ched Nasad had shaped her into the person she was。 It was a part of her； and anything that harmed the city would trouble her as well。
In any case； having assaulted and robbed her dinner guests； the die was cast。
The pack and riding lizards hissed and grunted when the party entered the stable。 Faeryl dearly wished she could take some of the reptiles with her； but since Talindra hadn't brought any such beasts along with her； it was out of the question。
The matron's driftdisc was a round； flat stone with an ivory throne fasnottened on top； the whole floating about a foot above the floor。 The device glowed with a soft white light tinged ever so faintly with green。
Since it was Faeryl who'd appropriated Talindra's attire； she hopped up on the driftdisc； sat in the ornate cushioned chair； and mentally notmanded the apparatus to levitate up to the proper dignified height。 She endured a bad moment during which nothing happened； and she was sure the Ousstyl had rigged the vehicle in such a way as to keep anyone else from riding it； then the circular platform rose。 It was just sluggish； about what you'd expected of the equipment of the Fifty…second House。
Two of Faeryl's soldiers threw open the gates； and the party ventured out into the open； her retainers forming a proper column around her as soon as they had the room。
They marched away from the luminous keep that had been their home for fourteen years； past the alleyway where Umrae had died； and onward。 Faeryl couldn't see Triel's watchers； but she could feel their eyes on her。 She felt all but certain they would recognize her。
But maybe not。 Most people saw what they expected to see。 The spies had watched the Ousstyls enter the residence； and just as anticipated； the petty nobles were departing。 Why would anyone bother to peer closely when he was sure he already knew what was going on？
That was the theory； anyway。 At the moment； it seemed a dubious notion on which to gamble her life。
Her pany left the immediate vicinity of the residence without anyone trying to hinder them； which proved nothing。 The watchers wouldn't pop out of hiding and confront the fugitives themselves； They'd scurry away to rouse a pany of warriors； who'd intercept the daughters and sons of Ched Nasad in the street。
Thus； while her expression conveyed the proper mix of serenity and haughtiness； her muscles were stiff； and her mouth dry as she floated down the avenues。 For the moment； she was heading for Narbondellyn； site of the Ousstyls' modest citadel。 It was where the spies would expect her to go。
Drow did their best to clear the way for the matron of even a minor House。 She was grateful for that。 Still； heavily laden carts and the like could only pull aside so quickly。 The impostors' progress was necessarily and nerve…rackingly sedate。
Finally； though； they passed Narbondel itself； where the magical glow had climbed three quarters of the way to the top of the great stone column。 Faeryl spotted Talindra's fortress and turned her pany aside。 If they actually approache