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Faeryl had of course fallen prey to the same malaise； but to her own surnotprise； she'd discovered she was at least as worried about something else： the well…being of House Zauvirr and the magnificent city in which it amassed its wealth； fought its covert battles； and worked its magic。
〃I keep track of the caravans arriving from Ched Nasad；〃 the ambassanotdor said。 〃For the past six tendays； none has。 None。 As the Matron Mother is undoubtedly aware； several major trade routes converge in the City of Shimmering Webs； which then funnels the merchants on to Menzoberranzan。 At least half the goods that reach your cavern e through us。 Exnotcept that now； they aren't reaching you。 The steady flow has dried up。 Except in time of war； that's unprecedented。〃
〃It's an odd coincidence； certainly； all the merchant clansmen choosing other destinations； but I'm sure they'll decide to head for Menzoberranzan next trip； or the trip after that。〃
Faeryl had to make a conscious effort to pose her features。 Othernotwise she would have scowled。 If she hadn't known better； she would have thought Triel was being deliberately obtuse。
〃1 suspect it may be more than a coincidence；〃 the ambassador said。 〃A thousand thousand dangers haunt the Underdark； and the philosophers tell us new ones are spawning all the time。 What if something has cut the route between Menzoberranzan and Ched Nasad？ What if it's killing everyone who tries to pass through？〃
〃More than one tunnel connects the cities；〃 rumbled the draegloth unnotexpectedly； and despite the perfume wafting through the air； Faeryl caught a whiff of the creature's putrid breath。 〃Is that not so？〃
〃Exactly！〃 Triel reached back around the edge of her golden chair and gave the half…fiend an approving pat on the leg。 〃Your theory doesn't stand up； Ambassador。〃
Not for the first time； Faeryl wished that Triel's mother was still leading House Baenre。 The greedy； vicious old autocrat could be hard to contend with； but though she would have cherished a draegloth as a mark of Lolth's
approval and delighted in the demidemon's gift for slaughter； she wouldn't have tolerated it speaking unbidden at a formal conference； any more than she would have borne such disrespect from anyone else。
〃If the threat consists of more than one beast；〃 the emissary said； 〃or more than one manifestation of a phenomenon； it could cut more than one passage。〃
Triel shrugged。 〃If you say so。〃
〃I hesitate to mention it；〃 said Faeryl； 〃lest I be thought an alarmist； but it's even possible that some misfortune has befallen Ched Nasad itself。〃
〃A misfortune so abrupt and all…enpassing that your folk never even had a chance to dispatch a messenger to Menzoberranzan？〃 Triel replied。 〃Nonsense。 Even Golothaer； home of our ancestors； didn't perish in an hour。 Besides； I am personally aware of several muniqu閟 having reached here from Ched Nasad in only the past few days。〃
〃I have received some of those sendings myself； Matron Mother； and find their excuses suspicious at best。 In any case； the dearth of traffic from Ched Nasad warrants investigation； and as my city's rep