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reary centuries of his deathless existence？
The questions troubled Gromph； but he decided to put such speculation behind him for the moment。
〃Well； Lord Dyrr； you requested this meeting。 What shall we talk about？〃
〃You were always admirably direct； young Baenre；〃 the lich said。 〃It's a refreshing quality among our kind。 To get swiftly to the point； what do you think of the recent difficulties that have beset our fair city？ More specifically； what do you think should be done about the powerlessness that has descended upon our ruling caste of priestesses？〃
〃What should be done？〃 Gromph replied。 〃That's hard to say； when the question would seem to be what can be done？ It is hardly within my power to entreat the Queen of the Demonweb Pits to restore her favor to her priestesses。 Lolth will do as she will。〃
〃As ever。 I do not mean to imply that you could do otherwise。〃 The lich paused； the green fire of its gaze locked on the archmage。 〃What do you see when you look out over Menzoberranzan today； Gromph？〃
〃Disorder。 Peril。 Denial。〃
〃And； perhaps； opportunity？〃
Gromph hesitated a moment； then said； 〃Yes； of course。〃
〃You hesitated。 You do not agree with me？〃
〃No； it is not that。〃
The archmage frowned； and chose his words with care。 He did not wish to give offense to the powerful apparition。 Dyrr seemed civil enough； but the mind did not always stand up well to ages of undeath。 He had to assume that there was nothing the lich was not capable of。
〃Lord Dyrr；〃 he said； 〃surely you have observed that there is no end to the wiles of the Spider Queen。 The only certainty of our existence is that Lolth is a capricious and demanding deity； a goddess who delights in teaching very harsh lessons indeed。 What if her silence is a ruse to test her faithful？ Isn't it likely； even probable； that Lolth withholds her favor from her priestesses to see how they respond？ Or…worse yet…to see whether the enemies of her clerics might be emboldened to creep out from the shadows and assault her minions directly？ If that is the case； what then bees of anyone foolish enough to defy the Queen of Spiders when she tires of her test and restores her full favor to her priestesses； just as abruptly as she withdrew it？ I would not care to be caught out by such a ploy。 Not at all。〃
〃Your logic is sound enough； though I think you have perhaps allowed the habit of caution to hobble your thoughts；〃 Dyrr said。 〃I could almost agree with you； dear boy； except for this one fact。 In the more than two thousand years that I have walked this world； I have never seen this happen before。 Oh； I can recall several occasions when Lolth denied her clerics spells for a few days； and many instances in which she arbitrarily decided to stop favoring this priestess or that House all together； casting them down to their enemies； but never has she abandoned our entire race for month after month。〃 The lich glanced up in a reflective manner。 〃It seems a poor way to treat one's worshipers。 Should I ever attain godhood； I think I will try to do a better job of it。〃
〃What precisely do you propose； then； Lord Dyrr？〃
〃I propose nothing yet； but I do consider； young Baenre； whether powerless clerics should be trusted with the rule of this city for very much longer at all。 You and I； we still mand great and terrible powers； do we not？ The mystic secrets of our Art have not abandoned us； nor are they likely to at any point in the future。 Perhaps it is time to look to the security of our civilization； the defense of our city； by taking up the reins of governance the matron mothers are no longer strong enough to hold。 Our city's peril grows with every hour。 We have rivals outside the Dark Dominion； after all； other races and realms that threaten us。〃
〃And that is precisely why I am hesitant to turn drow wizards against drow priestesses；〃 Gromph replied。 〃The only thing that could possibly increase our current vulnerability would be to start a civil war。 To spare ourselves the fate of Ched Nasad； we must shore up the existing order until the crisis has passed。〃
〃And what thanks do you think you will earn； from the priestesses or from the Spider Queen herself； for that blind loyalty？〃 Dyrr turned back to Gromph and tapped one skeletal forefinger in the center of the archmage's chest。 Gromph could not restrain a shudder。 〃You have potential； young Gromph。 You are not without talent； and you see past House Baenre to Menzoberranzan itself。 Put those qualities to work and consider carefully the course you choose in the next few days。 Events are ing that will provide you with an opportunity for greatness； or failure。 Do not make the wrong choice。〃
Gromph took a cautious step backward； moving out over the vast gulf of the cavern and hovering in the air。
〃I am afraid I must tend Narbondel； Lord Dyrr。 I will take my leave now 。 。 。 and I will think carefully on your words。 You may have appreciated the situation more accurately than I。〃
The burning green gaze of the lichdrow followed Gromph down into the darkness as he fell softly toward the city below。 He would indeed think long and hard about the lich's words。 He might stall Dyrr once with civility and caution； but he would not be able to do so indefinitely。 Gromph didn't doubt the lich would expect a different answer when next they spoke。
The Darklake was a strange and terrible place。 A blackness greater than any Halisstra had ever known enveloped her and her panions； a space so vast that its unseen recesses gnawed at the mind。 The great caverns of the drow were often miles across； tremendous places harboring cities of many thousands； but…if Coalhewer did not exaggerate…the Darklake occupied a cavern well over one hundred miles from side to side； and thousands of feet in height。 Great island columns the size of mountains held up the mighty roof； creating fanglike archipelagos in the darkness。 The waters of the lake virtually filled the immense space。 As they sailed across its surface the ceiling was often less than a spearcast above them； leaving many hundreds； or even thousands of feet of black mystery below