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otherwise； I will keep you waiting when it is necessary to protect our plots against the Spider Queen's favored…〃
〃Enough； Nimor；〃 Mauzzkyl rumbled。 〃How do things proceed in Menzoberranzan？〃
〃Very well； Revered Grandfather。 Crown Prince Horgar Steelshadow of Gracklstugh marches an army of nearly five thousand duergar on Menzoberranzan。 The matron mothers have decided to meet the duergar in the field instead of awaiting a siege； since they fear the belligerence of other Underdark realms。 I have； however； arranged for the crown prince's army to steal a march on the Menzoberranyr； and I also have mand of a contingent of troops who can be turned at the right moment to help assure the oute we desire。 Finally； I have convinced the cambion warlord Kaanyr Vhok to bring his army of tanarukks against Menzoberranzan as well； though I am less certain of the Scoured Legion。 Vhok may or may not show； and if he does； he has little allegiance to our cause。〃
〃You intend to destroy the forces of Menzoberranzan in detail； then；〃 Patron Xorthaul observed。 The black…armored priest stroked his chin。 〃What if the Menzoberranyr prove more resilient than you expect； and defeat the duergar instead？ Or Kaanyr Vhok proves unfaithful？ It might have been better to lure a smaller force into your trap； Anointed Blade。 Your first play is too risky。〃
〃If I had presented the duergar as less of a threat； the matron mothers would have been sorely tempted to ignore them altogether。 As matters stand； one of three results may e of the battle between Gracklstugh and Menzoberranzan。 The duergar might win； it could be in effect a draw； or the drow could prevail。 We're doing what we can to deliver Menzoberranzan's army into the crown prince's hands； but even if he fails to destroy the Lolthites outright； there is an excellent chance the duergar will badly maul the Menzoberranyr…in which case； the duergar may weaken our enemies so badly we can overthrow them ourselves。 At the worst； if Gracklstugh is routed； well。 。 。 other than the failure of our plan； we lose little。〃
〃Remember； Patron Xorthaul； our strategy against Menzoberranzan is a strategy of attrition；〃 Mauzzkyl said。 〃The city is too strong to take in one stroke； so we must bleed it to death with a dozen cuts。〃
〃Menzoberranzan's wizards will certainly divine the existence of such a great army so close to their city；〃 Patron Tomphael； himself a wizard； observed。 〃The matron mothers will recall their force； or reverse your ambush on the duergar instead。〃
〃Our allies in Agrach Dyrr have helped us with this；〃 said Nimor。 〃Gromph Baenre has vanished。 The Masters of Sorcere are quite naturally testing each other's resolve and resources to determine who shall be the next archmage。〃
〃There are many powerful wizards serving the city's Houses； Nimor；〃 Tomphael replied。 〃They will not be distracted by an opportunity at Sorcere。〃
Nimor permitted himself a rueful nod and said； 〃True； but as we well know； House wizards tend to spend a lot of their time spying out the weaknesses of other Houses。 So far； no one seems to have e forward to dispute the version of events I advanced to the Council。〃
〃It would be no more than the better part of wisdom to set your plans with the assumption that your plots will be unmasked at the most inconvenient time possible；〃 Patron Xorthaul said。 〃What will you do if some raw apprentice in some second…rate House happens to scry the approach of the crown prince's army； and the matron mothers recall theirs？ They might stand a siege forever。〃
〃Now you understand；〃 Nimor said patiently； 〃why I went so far as to approach Agrach Dyrr with an open offer of alliance； and decided to risk bringing Kaanyr Vhok into the equation。 We need the Fifth House against that very possibility； to admit Horgar's army…or the Scoured Legion…into the city； if it es to that。〃
Mauzzkyl folded his arms and lowered his fiery gaze。
〃In either case； we shall have them；〃 the revered grandfather said； a smile of dark satisfaction twisting his features。 〃If Kaanyr Vhok betrays you； you still have Agrach Dyrr。 If Agrach Dyrr betrays you； you have the cambion。 I presume that Dyrr and Vhok know nothing of each other？〃
Nimor said； 〃I thought it best to reserve at least one surprise against each of my ostensible allies； Revered Grandfather。 It seemed wise to me to make certain that I would have as many options as possible； for as long as possible； in developing the attack on the city。〃
〃Excellent。 What assistance might we provide you？〃
The Anointed Blade considered the question。 He was sorely tempted to say none at all； and claim all the glory of the victory to e； but the time was ing when his ability to move from place to place would be limited by the role he played at the head of Menzoberranzan's army； and he needed help in handling Kaanyr Vhok。 Besides； if the Sceptered One proved unfaithful； he could blame whomever had been sent to the warlord。
〃We should gather our strength and be ready to strike when our allies play their part in reducing Menzoberranzan's defenses；〃 he said。
〃We do not have any great force at arms； Anointed Blade；〃 Mauzzkyl said。 〃I will not mit the Jaezred Chaulssin to a pitched battle。〃
〃I understand； Revered Grandfather。〃 If they gathered all their strength in one place； the secret House would hardly amount to the numbers of a single minor House of Menzoberranzan…though the Jaezred Chaulssin could have an impact out of all proportion to their numbers。 〃I need one of my brothers to go to Kaanyr Vhok's Scoured Legion and steer the warlord in the right direction。 My responsibilities in Menzoberranzan's army and my efforts to guide Horgar Steelshadow and the renegade Agrach Dyrr do not permit me sufficient time to look after Kaanyr Vhok as well as I would like。〃
Mauzzkyl nodded and said； 〃Very well。 Zammzt； there is nothing left for you to do at Ched Nasad。 I want you to go to Kaanyr Vhok and serve as our voice in his camp。 Do whatever you must in order to keep his army aligned against Menzoberranzan； but you will answer to Nimor。〃
The plain…faced assassin replied； 〃Of