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ar the dais； ogre and minotaur slaves farther down…saluted； while the supplinotcants and petitioners made the obeisance proper to their stations； anything from a dignified inclination of the head and spreading of the hands to an abject grovel flat on the floor。
Looking down on them from the elevated platform； Triel reflected that it was astonishing just how many such folk turned up each and every tenday。 She'd thought people were always demanding her attention when she ruled the Academy； but she'd had no conception of the hordes of idiots who constantly sought Matron Baenre's ear； often to resolve trivial if not nonsensical concerns。
She sat down on her mother's throne； an empress's ransom in gold with a flaring back shaped to resemble an arc of spider web。 Her predecessor had been a relatively large female； and her successor always felt a bit childlike and lost in the chair。 She had enough of a sense of irony to prehend the accidental symbolism。
She surveyed the waiting throng and discovered Faeryl Zauvirr at the very front with some long； bulky rolled papers tucked under her arm。 The matron mother smiled； for at least she knew how to deal with this one particular petitioner。 For a blessed change； Waerva； one of the lesser fenotmales of her House； had made herself useful。 She'd e up with some significant information and a sensible idea of what to do about it。
Triel decided she might as well start out feeling dominant and shrewd。 Perhaps it would set the tone for the rest of the session。 She waited for the herald to conclude the ceremonials and the crowd to rise。 Then； still spatnottered with blood； and with Jeggred looming reassuringly behind her throne； she motioned for Faeryl to step forward。
C h a p t e r
S I X
Faeryl was pleased to be chosen first。 In retrospect； she thought the same thing would have occurred even if she hadn't made sure of a position imnotmediately in front of the dais。 The haughty Menzoberranyr often feigned disinterest in their client city； but she knew they understood the impornottance of Ched Nasad。
It was hard not to hurry； but she forced herself to approach the throne with a stately tread consonant with the dignity of her position； the stature of her House； and the grandeur of her homeland。 It was also difficult to offer a second graceful obeisance without dropping her roll of maps； but she acplished that as well。
〃Ambassador；〃 said Triel without any extraordinary warmth。 Perhaps she considered Faeryl's presence inappropriate。
〃Matron Mother；〃 Faeryl replied。 Tall； broad…shouldered and thick waisted by the standards of her slender race； she would have dwarfed the Baenre had the two of them been standing side by side。 〃I know we sometimes meet in private； but after tendays of deliberation I arrived at a conclusion； one that pelled me to confer with you at the earliest opportunity。〃
〃What conclusion？〃 Triel asked。
She still seemed unconcerned if not downright cold。 Perhaps she was preoccupied with her affliction。
Faeryl had of course fallen prey to the same malaise； but to her own surnotprise； she'd disco