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 course； Revered Grandfather。〃
He glanced over at Nimor； but did not allow his thoughts to show on his face。
〃I approached the warlord through his consort； Aliisza；〃 Nimor told Zammzt。 〃She is an alu…fiend and a sorceress of no small skill。 She knows that I represent a society or order of some kind； so she should not be surprised to receive another of us。〃
Though I doubt she'll extend you the same wele she gave to me； he told himself。
〃When do you expect the Menzoberranyr to first encounter Horgar's army？〃 Mauzzkyl asked。
〃Four days； I think。〃
〃Do what you can to sow dissent and uncertainty； Anointed Blade；〃 Mauzzkyl said。 〃The time for subterfuge and stealth is ending。 The Jaezred Chaulssin leave the shadows and take the field。 Destroy the matron mothers' army and bring your duergar allies to Menzoberranzan as quickly as possible。 We will meet you there； and we will see if the Masked Lord favors us or not。〃
Nimor bowed again； then turned and strode away from the assembled patron fathers。 Something would go amiss in his plan…something had to。 One could not create such an elaborate collision of so many disparate forces without some of the ponents falling by the wayside。 As best he could tell； though； the Jaezred Chaulssin were prepared。 The longer he could keep secret the deadly maneuverings of his allies and his House； the better his chances for success。
Perhaps I will encourage Andzrel to appoint me chief of the expedition's scouts； Nimor thought。 No need to trouble the Baenre with irrelevant reports of armies on the move； after all。
The dark elves of House Jaelre proved to be suspicious and ungracious hosts。 Ryld had expected to be shown into an audience room of some kind； where they would meet a clan matriarch and bribe； threaten； or persuade her into allowing them to consult with the priest Tzirik。 However； nothing like that occurred。 Since they refused to surrender their weapons； the Jaelre drow ushered the pany into a small； disused guardroom that had once warded the ruined castle's main gate。
〃You will wait here until Tzirik chooses to receive you；〃 the female manding the watch told them。 〃If you attempt to leave this room； we will take that as a sign of hostile intent and fall on you at once。〃
〃We are a high embassy from a powerful city；〃 Quenthel said in response。 〃You mistreat us at your peril。〃
〃You are slaves of the Spider Queen； and most likely spies and saboteurs；〃 the captain replied。 〃Lolth holds no sway here； spider…kissing bitch。〃
She closed and locked the iron door before Quenthel could summon a suitable retort； though the fierce agitation of her snake…headed whip certainly hinted at the depths of her anger。
〃Do we intend to remain confined here； like rabble locked up in a debtors' gaol？〃 Jeggred snarled。 〃I have half a mind to…〃
〃Not yet； Jeggred；〃 Quenthel countered。
She paced back and forth angrily； her mouth working in silent fury。 Pure ire fueled Quenthel with relentless ener