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The Bregan D'aerthe scout shifted nervously under Quenthel's gaze； and said； 〃I didn't see any better alternatives； Mistress。 Not if we truly want to get to the bottom of things。〃
〃You were so eager to solve the mystery of the Spider Queen's silence that you chose to gamble that your friend Tzirik was still in the Labyrinth； even though you knew his House had been planning to flee the place for years？〃 Ryld asked。 〃We endured a great deal of peril in the city of the duergar and the domain of the minotaurs to satisfy your curiosity。〃
〃Perhaps we were not meant to find this Tzirik at all；〃 said Quenthel。 〃Perhaps Master Hune has led us far away from our true mission over the last few tendays； and perhaps it was no accident that he did so。〃
〃When we considered the question of whether we should return to Menzoberranzan；〃 Jeggred said； 〃it was the Bregan D'aerthe who urged us to set off in search of this priest Tzirik…a heretic priest none of us have even heard of； except for Valas。〃 His eyes narrowed； and the draegloth climbed to his feet； his four clawed hands balling into fists as he shouldered Danifae aside。 〃Things bee clear； now。 Our guide is a Vhaeraunite heretic； and he has served the Masked Lord well by leading us through useless perils for days on end。〃
〃This is ludicrous；〃 Valas protested。 〃I would hardly have led the Bregan D'aerthe to the defense of Menzoberranzan if I was an enemy of the city。〃
〃Ah； but it is the classic ruse；〃 Danifae purred。 〃Introduce your victims to the agent you have chosen for their destruction by giving them reason to trust her。 In your case； the job seems to have been expertly done indeed。〃
〃Even if that was the case；〃 Valas said； 〃why did I not betray you to the duergar in Gracklstugh？ Or leave you to the minotaurs in the Labyrinth？ I could have arranged your deaths； not a mere delay。 If I was your enemy； you can be certain that is what I would have done。〃
〃Perhaps you would have placed yourself in peril by betraying us in either Gracklstugh or the Labyrinth；〃 Pharaun observed。 〃Still； you raise a cogent point in your own defense。〃
〃Nothing more than the glib lies of a traitor；〃 Jeggred snarled。 He glanced at Quenthel。 〃mand me； Mistress。 Shall I rend him limb from limb for you？〃
Valas lowered his hands to the hilts of his kukris； and licked his lips。 He was gray with fear； but his eyes sparked with anger。 Each of the others in the pany turned their eyes to Quenthel； who still leaned against a boulder； her whips quiescent at her waist。 She stayed silent； as rain splattered down in the forest and birds chirped and called in the distance。
〃I withhold judgment for the moment；〃 she said； looking at the scout。 〃If you are loyal； we shall need you to find Tzirik…if the Vhaeraunite priest exists； of course…but you would be well advised to produce the Jaelre and their high priest quickly； Master Hune。〃
〃I have no idea where they might be；〃 Valas said。 〃You might as well condemn me now； and prepare yourself for Bregan D'aerthe's response。〃
Quenthel exchanged a long look with Jeggred。 The draegloth smiled； his needle…like fangs gleaming in his dark face。
Halisstra wasn't sure what to think； as she hadn't known the scout for more than a tenday； and couldn't say what might or might not have happened in Menzoberranzan before the Menzoberranyr came to Ched Nasad。 She was； however； certain that they would all regret it if Quenthel had Valas killed and it turned out that the guide's services were still required； or that his powerful mercenary guild decided to seek vengeance for the death of their scout。
〃What is the best means of locating the Jaelre from here？〃 Halisstra asked； hoping to deflect the conversation into a less dangerous course。
Valas hesitated； then said； 〃As Mistress Quenthel pointed out； they are unlikely to have moved far。 We can search in an expanding spiral until we e across better information。〃
〃A plan that sounds wearying and tedious；〃 Pharaun mented。 〃Marching aimlessly through this blinding woodland does not appeal to me。〃
〃Find a surface dweller and pry information from him；〃 Ryld said。 〃Assuming； of course； that any are nearby； and that they know anything of the whereabouts of House Jaelre。〃
〃Again； we would have to march off in order to locate a surface dweller； as none conveniently present themselves here；〃 Pharaun observed。 〃Your plan differs in no significant respects from Master Hune's。〃
〃Then what would you propose？〃 asked Quenthel； her voice icy。
〃Allow me to rest and study my spellbooks。 In the morning； I can prepare a spell that may reveal the location of our missing House of heretical outcasts。〃 He raised his hand to forestall the Baenre's protests and added； 〃I know； I know； you would like to continue this very moment； but if I can successfully divine the goal of our search； it is likely to save us many hours of marching in the wrong direction。 The delay will also give the lovely Lady Melarn a chance to regain her own magical strength； and perhaps heal us of the worst of our wounds。〃
〃You may learn nothing from your spells；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Magic of that sort is notoriously fickle。〃
Pharaun simply looked at her。
Quenthel looked up at the sky； blinking in the merciless gray light that permeated the clouds above。 She sighed and looked back down at the others； her eyes lingering overlong on Danifae。 The battle captive tilted her head down in a single； almost imperceptible nod that Halisstra wasn't even certain she saw。
〃Very well；〃 the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith said finally。 〃It would be wise for us to wait for the cover of darkness in any event； so we will set up camp in the cave below； where this accursed sunlight will not trouble us so much。 Master Hune； you will stay close by me until we find this Tzirik of yours。〃
Nimor Imphraezl made his way swiftly along the wide ledge； passing a long line of marching duergar on his right hand while skirting the edge of a black abyss on his left。 Moving an army of several thousand through the dark and lightless ways of the Underdark was a formidable