oked away。
Jeggred； a low growl rumbling in his throat； started forward； stalking the bound uridezu with unveiled intent。
〃I don't know； nephew；〃 Quenthel said； her voice and breathing slowly returning to normal。 She was bleeding but paid her injuries no heed。 〃I have yet to make up my mind。〃
The vipers seethed at the end of her whip； and Quenthel glanced at one of them as if she'd heard it speak…and certainly she had； though Pharaun was still not privy to that munication。
〃Wait；〃 the wizard said； stepping closer but not foolish enough to move between Jeggred and the uridezu。 〃I'm afraid we still need him。〃
Jeggred growled； not looking at Pharaun； but he did hesitate。
〃It was to be expected；〃 Pharaun said。 〃You've both worked with demons before； haven't you？ So he tried to kill us and failed。〃
Quenthel's head snapped to look at him。 The abrupt motion caused the vipers in her whip to shudder and turn on the wizard as well。
〃You can't control him；〃 she said to Pharaun。 〃How can you stop him from doing that again？〃
〃It wasn't me； Mistress；〃 Raashub pleaded； his voice reedy and dripping with false humility。 〃The Lake of Shadows is home to many of my kind。〃
Pharaun lifted an eyebrow at that obvious lie then began to cast a spell。
〃Let me eat his kidneys；〃 Jeggred growled； his eyes still locked on the uridezu。 〃Maybe just one kidney。〃
Pharaun； ignoring the draegloth； finished his spell。
Raashub screamed。
The sound was so sudden and so loud that even Jeggred stepped back from it。 Wild horror passed through the captive uridezu in visible waves。 Raashub threw up his hands and clawed at the air in front of him； whimpering； sobbing； and shrieking in different binations as Pharaun； Quenthel； and Jeggred looked on。
〃What are you doing to him？〃 Jeggred asked； confused。
〃Showing him things；〃 Pharaun replied。
He looked at Quenthel； who obviously wanted a more detailed explanation。
〃Even demons have nightmares； Mistress；〃 the Master of Sorcere explained。 〃My spell is letting a few of those play out for him。 I assure you both； it is an experience our dear friend Raashub will not soon forget； and he knows I can do it again。〃
Jeggred sighed so heavily Pharaun could smell his rancid breath。 The draegloth moved toward Raashub。
〃Hold； Jeggred；〃 Quenthel ordered。
The draegloth hesitated before doing so； but he did stop。
〃Raashub still serves a purpose；〃 the high priestess said as she began to assess her injuries。
Jeggred turned to look at her； but she ignored him。
〃Who told you that？〃 the draegloth asked in a low growl。 〃The dandy？〃…he nodded at Pharaun…〃or the snakes？〃
Quenthel ignored the question； but Pharaun thought long and hard about it。
It took Danifae somewhat longer than she'd intended to remember Zinnirit's favorite mand words and determine which of them powered which of the rings。 Then she turned her attention to studying the finer points of the portals she had 〃inherited〃 from the late Yauntyrr House mage。 Not only had she lost all track of time as she studied Zinnirit's collection of scrolls and tomes on the subject； made a few exploratory scans through open portals； and ignored a summons from Valas； but she had exhausted the limits of her own familiarity with the arcane Art。 Danifae was no wizard； but fortunately she didn't have to be to use many of the features of Zinnirit's gatehouse。
The gates were used primarily for transportation…whisking someone or something hundreds； even thousands of miles in the blink of an eye…but they could also be used to find someone。 Though the strong psychic link that the Binding had provided was gone； Danifae still had some connection to her former mistress。 She knew Halisstra better than anyone ever had； even ranking members of House Melarn。 Halisstra's sister had tried to kill her； and her mother had always been the model of the aloof； controlling matron mother。 Danifae； though always seething with hate； had served Halisstra loyally and well every minute of every day。
Ultimately all Danifae really had to do was remember her。 All she had to do was imagine what Halisstra looked like； visualize her； and activate one of the portals in precisely the right way。 At least； she thought that was all she needed to do。
After several false starts and failed attempts； Danifae stepped away from the gate and began pacing。 As she did she fiddled with a ring on her finger； then another ring on her other hand； and…
She stopped and looked at her hands。 Danifae had taken three rings from the dead wizard。 Two of them were tucked safely in a pocket。 She wore the ring that Zinnirit had created for her mother； the one that would bring her back to the gatehouse from anywhere； but she wore another ring as well…one she'd almost forgotten about。 It belonged to Ryld Argith； the Menzoberranyr weapons master who； like Danifae's former mistress； had abandoned the expedition。
They had been spending some time with each other； Ryld and Halisstra。 Even in the cave where Pharaun had summoned the demon Belshazu； Danifae had suspected that Ryld was sneaking off to join Halisstra。 If he had； she could use his ring as a focus。
It was only after several more false starts that Danifae finally found her mistress。 The former battle…captive had been； like the Menzoberranyr； under the impression that Halisstra had gone to the City of Spiders to report on their progress （or lack thereof）； and much of Danifae's time had been spent searching for her there。 Hours later； Danifae realized that Halisstra wasn't even in the Underdark but in the bizarre landscape of the World Above。
Danifae had suspected that Halisstra was in the process of turning entirely from the worship of Lolth。 They had all seen her reaction to the chaotic； empty Demonweb Pits。
Even having seen that ruined plane herself； though； Danifae had been a priestess of Lolth when she was free and living in Eryndlyn； and she had served the goddess more faithfully and more sincerely than she served House Melarn ever since； so her faith remained strong。 Guarded； perhaps； more curious； but strong。 Danifae wouldn't presume to question the goddess's will； and Halisstra's mitment to the Spider Queen was none of Danifae's concern。 Danifae could easily enough set aside her religion if necessary； but she would never set aside her vengeance。 Halisstra Melarn had to die； and not on Lolth's behalf。 For Danifae it was a simple imperative。
As certain as she could be that the portal was properly tuned to the place on the World Above where Halisstra and Ryld were； Danifae stepped through。 She felt as if she were being turned upside down and inside out at the same time； though there was no pain…only a dull； throbbing vertigo…then she was there。
It was night； and Danifae thanked Lolth for that。 Her eyes still had to adjust to the bright glare of the starlight against the white snow； but she wasn't totally blinded。 She had appeared； apparently silently and without the sort of fanfare…flashing lights and thunderclaps…that often acpanied arcane magic； in front of a ruined building。 The structure was overgrown with vegetation。 No light or fire glowed from inside。
Danifae drew her piwafwi close around her shoulders against the biting cold in the air。 She stepped as quietly as she could to the entrance。 Her eyes adjusted little by little； and by the time Danifae reached the ruin； she could see fairly well。 Inside； Halisstra sat back to back with Ryld。 The two of them were deep in Reverie and in a position that told Danifae everything she needed to know about their relationship。
The former battle…captive felt a growing respect for Halisstra； as well as a growing contempt。 Halisstra had managed to outwit Quenthel and the others； seduce the steadfast weapons master…admirable； even for someone schooled her entire life in manipulation and deceit…and had set up a sweet little household for them in the freezing； animal…infested forest…a bizarre and unseemly act of betrayal against her essential nature as a dark elf。
Danifae took a deep breath and let it out in a thin； reedy whistle。 Halisstra came out of Reverie without a blink and looked at her。 The First Daughter of House Melarn had established that sound as their signal years before； and they had both had occasion to use it more than once。
Halisstra let one side of her mouth draw up into half a smile。 She indicated Ryld with a slow movement of her eyes； and Danifae shook her head。
Halisstra stood slowly and carefully； making sure not to disturb Ryld。
〃Are you all right？〃 the weapons master whispered； his eyes still closed。
Halisstra replied； also in a whisper； 〃I'm fine。 I'll be right back。〃
Ryld nodded and returned to his meditation as Halisstra slipped out of the ruined structure。 Certain that Ryld hadn't seen her； Danifae led her former mistress a good distance from the ruin； waiting for Halisstra to indicate they'd gone far enough。 They stopped and faced each other for the first time as two free drow。
The Binding？ Halisstra signed。
Danifae replied； Removed