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ant a list from each of you of the number of pack beasts and wagons in your train； and a general inventory of your stores。 Return within the hour。 Our female relations will doubtless debate many issues of high strategy； but it will fall to us to work out the details of supply trains and battle signals； and we still have much to discuss。〃
Andzrel was a tall； slender fellow who wore armor of blacked mithral plate and a dark cloak。 His tabard proudly displayed the emblem of House Baenre； and his eyes held iron discipline； an expression of directness and purpose that was unusual in a drow of high birth； whether male or female。
The manders broke up and strode from the tent； heading back to their detachments。 Nimor allowed them to pass by。 As he moved up to speak with the Baenre weapons master； the assassin muttered a spell。
〃Master Baenre；〃 Nimor asked； covering the last syllables of the enchantment。
〃Yes；〃 the weapons master said； blinking at Nimor。 〃I 。 。 。 uh 。 。 。〃
Nimor smiled； seeing the effect the enchantment had on the drow； and knowing that for quite some time； Andzrel Baenre and he would be very close friends。
〃You are familiar to me； but I do not believe I know you；〃 said Andzrel。 〃You wear the arms of Agrach Dyrr。〃
〃I am Zhayemd Dyrr； and I mand my House's pany；〃 Nimor replied。 〃Do you have any idea when the priestesses will deign to join us； or at least allow us to start on our way？〃
〃I believe the matron mothers are still deciding which of them will lead the expedition；〃 Andzrel replied； seemingly recovered。 〃None of them trusts any of the others enough to voluntarily leave the city now； but they all think it's clear that someone had better be put in charge of the males。〃
Nimor laughed at that。
〃You have a talent for plain speaking； sir。〃 Nimor glanced around at the other captains and officers in the pavilion and added； 〃I assume you've tallied which Houses are here； and how many troops…and of what type…each has brought？ The priestesses will want to know that； and it will be helpful for us all to have an idea of who's marching next to whom。〃
He could think of other uses for the information； of course； but there was no need to mention that； was there？
〃Of course；〃 Andzrel replied。 He pointed at a table in the outer portion of the tent； where several Baenre officers studied maps and reports。 〃I'll need you to give those fellows the strength of your plement； the number of infantry and cavalry； and some information on your supply train； as well。 After which I would like to ask you some questions about the route of our march and the place we expect to meet the duergar army。 I understand you're familiar with the region； as well as the position and tactics of the duergar force。〃
Nimor straightened his cuirass and nodded earnestly。
〃Certainly；〃 he said。 〃I know them well。〃
Halisstra was roused from her dreams by the sound of her cell door opening。 She glanced up； wondering if perhaps the time had e when the surface folk would simply put her to the blade。
〃I have no more to say to your lord；〃 she said； though the thought crossed her mind that selling out her rades was preferable to death by torture； especially if she could gain her freedom in the exchange。
〃Fine；〃 a woman's voice replied。 〃I hope then that you will consent to speak with me。〃
A slender figure slipped through the open door； which was closed and locked behind her。 Veiled in a long； dark cloak； the visitor paused to study Halisstra then she reached up with hands as black as coal and slipped back her hood to reveal a face of gleaming ebony； and eyes as red as blood。
〃I am Seyll Auzkovyn；〃 the drow said； 〃and I have e to give you my lady's message： 'A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above； in the Land of the Great Light。 e in peace and live beneath the sun again； where trees and flowers grow。' 〃
〃A priestess of Eilistraee；〃 Halisstra murmured。 She had heard of the cult before； of course。 The Spider Queen held nothing but scorn for the weak； idealistic faith of the Dark Maiden； whose worshipers dreamed of redemption and acceptance in the World Above。 〃Well； I did e in peace； and I do seem to have found my rightful place in this tidy little cell。 I expect wonderful flowers bloom just beyond the bars of my window； and I am more than a little thankful that the thrice…cursed sun shines no deeper into my prison。〃 She laughed bitterly。 〃Somehow the holy message of your silly little dancing goddess rings a little false today。 Now go away； and let me get back to the important business of preparing myself for the inevitable tortures that await me when the so…called lord of this fetid dungheap of a village loses his patience with my intransigent ways。〃
〃You sound like me； when I first heard Eilistraee's message；〃 Seyll replied。 She moved closer and sat on the floor beside Halisstra。 〃Like yourself； I was a priestess of the Spider Queen who found herself a captive of the surface folk。 Though I've lived here for several years now； I still find the light of the sun overly harsh。〃
〃Don't flatter yourself； apostate；〃 snarled Halisstra。 〃I'm nothing like you。〃
〃You might be surprised；〃 Seyll continued calmly； her placid demeanor unchanged。 〃Have the Spider Queen's punishments ever struck you as needless or wasteful？ Have you ever failed to nurture a friendship because you feared betrayal？ Have you ever； perhaps； watched a child of your own body； your own heart； destroyed because she failed at a senseless test； only to tell yourself that she was too weak to live？ Did you ever wonder if there was a point to the deliberate and calculated cruelty that poisons our entire race？〃
〃Of course there's a point；〃 Halisstra replied。 〃We're surrounded on all sides by vicious enemies。 If we didn't take steps to hone our people to their finest edge； we would bee slaves…no； worse yet； we would bee rothe。〃
〃And have Lolth's judgments in fact made you stronger？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Prove it； then。 Offer an example。〃 Seyll watched her； then leaned forward and said； 〃You remember countless tests and battles；