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ngers。 The poison was obviously well on its way to killing her； and she had to please Quenthel Baenre sufficiently to earn the antidote。
Wrinkled old Vlondril Tuin'Tarl leered at Drisinil as if she knew of the student's distress； but all she said was； 〃I believe most everyone's here。 Let's get this done before our colleagues start missing us。〃
〃Uh； yes；〃 Drisinil said； gazing up at the rows of faces staring back down at her。 〃Well； mothers； sisters； we all know what happened last night。 The vipers in the mistress's whip detected the drugs…〃
〃So they did；〃 said Quenthel。
Startled； Drisinil spun around。 A figure shrouded in a cowled piwafwi rose from the first row。 She lifted her head； pushed the hood back； and stood revealed as the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith。 Somehow she'd entered the room without her enemies realizing her identity。
Quenthel pushed back one wing of her cloak； freeing the arm that held her whip。 She sauntered to the center of the room。 It occurred to Drisinil that at that moment the plotters could have fallen on their target en masse； but they didn't。 The mistress cowed them with her unexpected appearance； her contemptuous demeanor； and the simple fact that she was a Baenre princess。
The mistress smiled at Drisinil and said； 〃You've done well； novice； except for one detail。 It's traditional for priestesses to conduct their affairs by candlelight。 That's all right； I've taken care of it。〃 She turned toward the door。 〃e。〃
Two teachers marched in carrying silver candelabra。 After a moment； Drisinil； squinting； saw they weren't alone。 Many of the residents of Arach…Tinilith filed in after them； all well armed and wearing mail。
Quenthel beckoned to the plotters。
〃Move down to the lower seats； why don't you？ The lateers won't mind climbing to the top。〃 She waited a beat； then said； 〃That wasn't a suggestion。〃
The conspirators hesitated a moment longer； and the show offered connotvinced them to obey。
〃Thank you；〃 Quenthel said； then waited until everyone had taken a seat and the plotters all had armed loyalists at their backs。 〃Now； let's disnotcuss the matter that concerns you so。〃
〃I don't know what my niece told you about this gathering；〃 said Drisinil's Aunt Molvayas； clad in a gown of a dark and shimmering green that matched her eyes； 〃but I assure you； its purpose is entirely innocent。〃
〃Its purpose is to contrive your death； Mistress；〃 Vlondril called out。 〃I know。 I've been in on it from the start。〃
Quenthel nodded to the mad priestess。
〃Thank you； Holy Mother。 Your candor helps move things along。〃 The Baenre surveyed her enemies and said； 〃I understand that your excuse for seeking to depose me was the supposition that the goddess desires it。 You postulate that she so abhors my rule of Arach…Tinilith that she renounces all Menzoberranzan。〃
Molvayas drew a deep breath； evidently screwing up her courage。 〃We do。 Do you deny it's possible？〃
〃Of course；〃 Quenthel replied。 〃It's a ludicrous notion unsupported by a single shred of evidence 。。 。 though I'm sure it seems plausible to the lieunottenant who covets my position。〃
Drisinil notic