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e wondered how his canny friend could credit such a ludicrous idea。
〃I want you to think back over the confrontation from which we just emerged；〃 said the Master of Sorcere。 〃Did you even once see Greyanna or the other priestess cast divine magic from her own mind and inner strength as opposed to off a scroll or out of some device？〃
〃I was fighting the skeletons。〃
〃You keep track of every foe on the battleground。 I know you do。 So； did you see them casting spells out of their own innate power？〃
Ryld thought that of course he had 。 。 。 then realized he hadn't。
〃What does that suggest？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃They have no spells left in their heads； or only a few； which they're hoarding desperately because they can't solicit new ones from their goddess。 Lolth has withdrawn her favor from Menzoberranzan； or 。。。 something。〃
〃Why would she do that？〃
〃Would she need a reason…or at any rate； one her mortal children can prehend？ She is a deity of chaos。 Perhaps she's testing us somehow； or else she's angry and deems us unworthy of her patronage。
〃Or； as I suggested before； the cause of her silence； if in fact she is mute when her clerics pray to her'and not just uncooperative； may be something else altogether。 Perhaps even another happenstance involving all the gods。 Since we have only one faith and clergy in Menzoberranzan； it's difficult to judge。〃
〃Wait；〃 Ryld said。 He unstoppered his little bottle of oil。 The sharp smell provided a wele counterpoint to the moist stink of the dung fields。 〃I admit； I didn't see Greyanna or any of the lesser priestesses worknoting magic； but didn't you yourself once tell me that in the turmoil of battle； it's often easier and more reliable to cast your effects from a wand or parchment？〃
〃I suppose I did。 Still； under normal circumstances； would you expect a pair of spell casters to conjure every single manifestation that way？ Just before our exit； I saw Greyanna groping in the ether for a weapon that was slow in ing to her hand。 The sister I remember would have said to the Hells with it and dumped some other magic on our heads。 That is； unless something had circumscribed her options。〃
〃I see what you mean；〃 Ryld conceded； 〃but when the clerics lost their powers in the Time of Troubles； it destabilized the balance of power among the noble Houses。 Those who believed the change made them stronger in relative terms struck hard to supplant their rivals。 As far as I can see； that isn't happening now； just the usual level of controlled enmity。〃
He laid the short sword aside and picked up Splitter。
Pharaun nodded and said； 〃You'll recall that none of the Houses atnottempting to exploit the Time of Troubles ultimately profited thereby。 To the contrary； the Baenre and others punished them for their temerity。 Pernothaps the matron mothers took the lesson to heart。〃
〃So instead of hatching schemes to topple one another； they 。 。 。 what？ Enlisted every single priestess in a grand conspiracy to conceal their fall from grace？ If your mad idea is right； that's what they must have done。〃
〃Why is that implausible？ Picture the day…a few tendays pas