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〃We've secured them all； my lady。〃
The warrior was a rugged…looking male with a chipped incisor and a broken nose； whom she had on occasion summoned to her bed。
〃Good；〃 Faeryl replied。 〃How many did you have to kill？〃
〃Only one； but we could slaughter the rest。 If I may say so； it seems more sensible and less bother than tying them up。〃
〃It does； but I came here to promote good relations between Menzoberranzan and Ched Nasad。 Even though some schemer has rendered my efforts futile； I won't exacerbate the situation by mitting any more outrages than necessary。 You soldiers will do as I bade you。 Strip the Ousstyls； gag them； and tie them up。〃
Talindra groaned and groped feebly for her knife。 Impressed that the matron was still conscious to any degree at all after the blow she'd suffered； Faeryl kicked the blade out of her reach。
〃You can't do this；〃 Talindra croaked； 〃not to House Ousstyl。 We are mighty and never forget at affront。〃
Tense as she was； Faeryl smiled。 The matron's arrogance was woefully misplaced。 The Ousstyls were so insignificant they hadn't even known the ambassador had lost the good will of Triel Baenre。 Otherwise； they would never have accepted an invitation to feast with such a pariah。
Faeryl bashed Talindra again； this time rendering her entirely insensible； then she roamed through the castle； exhorting her minions to make haste。 Soon all were wearing the clothing of the Ousstyls。 For the first time； Faeryl was grateful that her household was relatively small。 Otherwise； they wouldn't have had 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