war of the spider queen 5 annihilation-µÚ1ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
Book¡¡5¡¡of¡¡the¡¡War¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spider¡¡Queen¡¡series
A¡¡Forgotten¡¡Realms¡¡novel
By¡¡Philip¡¡Athans
For¡¡Deanne
Acknowledgements
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡people¡¡who¡¡made¡¡this¡¡book¡¡and¡¡the¡¡others¡¡in¡¡this¡¡series¡¡possible¡¡are£º¡¡Peter¡¡Archer£»¡¡Mary¡¡Kirchoff£»¡¡Matt¡¡Adelsperger£»¡¡Liz¡¡Schuh£»¡¡Mary¡Elizabeth¡¡Allen£»¡¡Rachel¡¡Kirkman£»¡¡Angle¡¡Lokotz¡¡and¡¡her¡¡outstanding¡¡team£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡workflow¡¡masters¡¡Marty¡¡Durham¡¡and¡¡Josh¡¡Fischer¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡Needless¡¡to¡¡say¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡no¡¡Book¡¡V¡¡without¡¡Books¡¡I£»¡¡II£»¡¡III£»¡¡IV£»¡¡and¡¡VI¡¡¡¡so¡¡I¡¡owe¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡debt¡¡of¡¡gratitude¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡Spider¡¡Queen¡¡authors£º¡¡Richard¡¡Lee¡¡Byers£»¡¡Thomas¡¡M¡£¡¡Reid£»¡¡Richard¡¡Baker£»¡¡Lisa¡¡Smedman£»¡¡and¡¡Paul¡¡S¡£¡¡Kemp¡£¡¡Thanks¡¡to¡¡Elaine¡¡Cunningham¡¡for¡¡helping¡¡us¡¡with¡¡a¡¡particular¡¡continuity¡¡problem¡¡and¡¡Ed¡¡Greenwood¡¡for¡¡Creating¡¡the¡¡World¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place¡£¡¡Brom£»¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡paintings£»¡¡masterpieces¡¡all¡£¡¡Thanks¡¡also¡¡to¡¡game¡¡designers¡¡Eric¡¡L¡£¡¡Boyd£»¡¡Bruce¡¡R¡£¡£¡¡Cordell£»¡¡Gwendolyn¡¡EM¡£¡¡Kestrel£»¡¡and¡¡Jeff¡¡Quick¡¡for¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡fun¡¡new¡¡Underdark¡¡toys¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡most¡¡of¡¡all¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡thank¡¡R¡£A¡£¡¡Salvatore£»¡¡who¡¡gave¡¡so¡¡much¡¡more¡¡than¡¡just¡¡his¡¡name¡¡to¡¡this¡¡series¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡his¡¡limitless¡¡creativity£»¡¡energy£»¡¡and¡¡generosity¡¡of¡¡spirit¡¡in¡¡portions¡¡larger¡¡than¡¡any¡¡of¡¡us¡¡had¡¡a¡¡right¡¡to¡¡expect¡£¡¡If¡¡any¡¡of¡¡these¡¡six¡¡books¡¡are¡¡good¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡it's¡¡because¡¡of¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strongest¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡feasted¡¡on¡¡more¡¡than¡¡any¡¡still¡¡alive¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡killed¡¡more¡¡than¡¡any¡¡still¡¡alive¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡killed¡¡all¡¡those¡¡around¡¡her¡¡and¡¡hadn't¡¡even¡¡bothered¡¡to¡¡devour¡¡their¡¡carcasses¡¡before¡¡moving¡¡on¡¡to¡¡those¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡zone¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strongest¡£¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡she¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strongest¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡another¡¡fell¡¡before¡¡her¡¡snapping¡¡mandibles¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡who¡¡would¡¡rise¡¡through¡¡the¡¡carnage¡¡and¡¡rule¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strongest¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡others¡¡soon¡¡knew¡¡this¡¡as¡¡well¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡she¡¡was¡¡dead¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Within¡¡the¡¡chaos£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡intelligence¡¡and¡¡purpose¡£¡¡Within¡¡the¡¡hunger¡¡and¡¡the¡¡slaughter£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡mon¡¡cause¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strongest¡¡and¡¡would¡¡kill¡¡them¡¡all¡¡or¡¡rule¡¡them¡¡all£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡bonded¡¡together¡¡and¡¡tore¡¡her¡¡eight¡¡legs¡¡from¡¡her£»¡¡devouring¡¡her¡¡fully¡¡before¡¡turning¡¡again¡¡upon¡¡each¡¡other¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Another¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡prominence¡¡through¡¡deed¡¡and¡¡fearsome¡¡assault¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡one£»¡¡too£»¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mon¡¡cause¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡mortal¡¡test¡¡continued¡£¡¡The¡¡strongest¡¡died£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡smartest¡¡remained¡£¡¡The¡¡manipulative¡¡remained¡those¡¡who¡¡hid¡¡their¡¡strengths¡¡beyond¡¡what¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡the¡¡present¡¡opponent¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡stepped¡¡forward£»¡¡who¡¡rose¡¡above¡¡the¡¡tumult£»¡¡died¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Through¡¡all¡¡the¡¡millennia£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡recognized¡¡those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡stronger¡¡than¡¡she£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡persuaded¡¡them¡¡to¡¡do¡¡her¡¡bidding¡¡or¡¡be¡¡killed¡£¡¡Strength¡¡came¡¡not¡¡from¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡her¡¡muscles¡¡but¡¡from¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡her¡¡cunning¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡frenzy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡birthing£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡contest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slaughter£»¡¡these¡¡traits¡¡paved¡¡the¡¡road¡¡to¡¡victory¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡find¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡individual¡¡strength¡¡was¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡collective¡¡power¡¡to¡¡defeat¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡intrigue¡¡amidst¡¡battle¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡any¡¡who¡¡were¡¡stronger¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡for¡¡some£»¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡defeat¡¡before¡¡oblivion's¡¡descent£»¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡and¡¡survive£»¡¡new¡¡demons¡¡of¡¡chaos¡¡to¡¡run¡¡wild¡¡about¡¡the¡¡planes¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡the¡¡winner¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡numbers¡¡dwindled¡£¡¡Those¡¡left¡¡grew¡¡in¡¡power¡¡and¡¡size¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Each¡¡waited¡¡and¡¡watched£»¡¡deciding¡¡who¡¡must¡¡die¡¡before¡¡she¡¡could¡¡reign¡¡supreme£»¡¡sorting¡¡through¡¡the¡¡tumult¡¡to¡¡facilitate¡¡that¡¡desired¡¡end¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Those¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡uncontrollable¡¡hunger¡¡were¡¡dead¡¡now¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Those¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡simple¡¡self¡defense¡¡were¡¡dead¡¡now¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Those¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡foolish¡¡pride¡¡were¡¡dead¡¡now¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Those¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡instinctual¡¡survival¡¡were¡¡dead¡¡or¡¡were¡¡fleeing¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Those¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡cunning¡¡remained£»¡¡knowing¡¡only¡¡one¡¡could¡¡emerge¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡all¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡servitude¡¡or¡¡oblivion¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡other¡¡choices¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡she¡¡had¡¡manipulated¡¡the¡¡mortals¡¡who¡¡served¡¡her¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mortals¡¡who¡¡feared¡¡her£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡had¡¡maneuvered¡¡even¡¡other¡¡gods¡¡through¡¡the¡¡centuries£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡controlled¡¡her¡¡offspring¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡test¡¡of¡¡her¡¡decree¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡other¡¡choices¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
Chapter¡¡One
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡growing¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡world¡¡through¡¡his¡¡familiar's¡¡eyes¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡that¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡prompted¡¡him¡¡to¡¡do¡¡something¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡Baenre£»¡¡brother¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Matron¡¡Mother¡¡of¡¡the¡¡First¡¡House¡¡of¡¡the¡¡City¡¡of¡¡Spiders£»¡¡Archmage¡¡of¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡would¡¡not¡¡look¡¡through¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡a¡¡rat¡¡any¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Kyorli's¡¡head¡¡bobbed¡¡from¡¡side¡¡to¡¡side¡¡and¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡as¡¡she¡¡sniffed¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡The¡¡rat¡¡was¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡look¡¡where¡¡Gromph¡¡willed¡¡her¡¡to£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡easily¡¡distracted¡£¡¡She¡¡didn't¡¡see¡¡as¡¡well¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark£»¡¡either£»¡¡which¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Underdark¡¡meant¡¡she¡¡didn't¡¡ever¡¡see¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡colors¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡perceived¡¡the¡¡casting¡¡chamber£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡in¡¡dull¡¡hues¡¡of¡¡gray¡¡and¡¡black¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡well¡¡enough£»¡¡though£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡need¡¡the¡¡rat's¡¡vision¡¡to¡¡reveal¡¡its¡¡limits¡£¡¡The¡¡fuzzy¡¡blurs¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡Kyorli's¡¡vision¡¡were¡¡the¡¡great¡¡columns¡¡that¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡flying¡¡buttresses£»¡¡eighty¡¡feet¡¡into¡¡the¡¡gloom¡¡overhead¡£¡¡The¡¡carvings¡¡on¡¡the¡¡columns¡¡were¡¡sparse£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡they¡¡lacked¡¡in¡¡beauty¡¡they¡¡made¡¡up¡¡for¡¡in¡¡magical¡¡utility¡£¡¡The¡¡chamber£»¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡maze¡¡of¡¡Sorcere£»¡¡was¡¡there¡¡for¡¡a¡¡purpose¡¡and¡¡not¡¡to¡¡impress¡£¡¡Spells¡¡were¡¡cast¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡training¡¡the¡¡students£»¡¡testing¡¡the¡¡masters£»¡¡in¡¡researching¡¡new¡¡spells£»¡¡straining¡¡the¡¡limits¡¡of¡¡their¡¡powers£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡odd¡¡summoning¡¡or¡¡scrying¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡stepped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡Kyorli's¡¡eyes¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡two¡¡drow¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡They¡¡bowed¡£¡¡The¡¡rat¡¡was¡¡sniffing¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡her¡¡nose¡¡angled¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡giant¡¡mushroom¡¡stems¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡secured¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cavernous¡¡chamber¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡ten¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡each¡¡was¡¡bound¡¡a¡¡single¡¡drow¡¡male¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Archmage£»¡¨¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡wizards¡¡in¡¡attendance¡¡whispered¡¡reverently£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡hissing¡¡off¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡walls¡¡in¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡echoes¡¡that¡¡Gromph¡¡doubted¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡if¡¡he¡¡still¡¡had¡¡his¡¡eyesight¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡archmage¡¡willed¡¡Kyorli¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡her¡¡head¡¡to¡¡face¡¡the¡¡wizards£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡satisfied¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡dressed¡¡and¡¡equipped¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡manded¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡During¡¡his¡¡time¡¡away¡¡from¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡thanks¡¡to¡¡the¡¡traitorous¡¡lichdrow¡¡Dyrr£»¡¡certain¡¡elements¡¡within¡¡the¡¡Academy¡¡had¡¡revealed¡¡themselves¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡Gromph¡¡less¡¡time¡¡that¡¡he¡¡feared¡¡but¡¡more¡¡time¡¡than¡¡he'd¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡reassert¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡Sorcere¡£¡¡Triel¡¡had£»¡¡to¡¡Gromph's¡¡surprise£»¡¡actually¡¡done¡¡well¡¡in¡¡maintaining¡¡the¡¡House's¡¡hold¡¡over¡¡the¡¡school¡¡of¡¡wizards£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡there¡¡were¡¡traitors¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡and¡¡conspirators¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fold¡£¡¡All¡¡that¡¡had¡¡delayed¡¡his¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡regain¡¡his¡¡eyesight¡£¡¡No¡¡more¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡is¡¡prepared£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡whispering¡¡mage¡his¡¡own¡¡distant¡¡nephew£»¡¡Prath¡¡Baenre¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Prath¡¡was¡¡young£»¡¡still¡¡barely¡¡an¡¡apprentice£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡Gromph¡¡couldn't¡¡see¡¡the¡¡two¡¡dark¡¡elves'¡¡faces¡¡since¡¡Kyorli¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡occasionally¡¡scratching¡¡her¡¡own¡¡hindquarters¡¡with¡¡her¡¡sharp¡¡front¡¡teeth£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡the¡¡other¡a¡¡Master¡¡of¡¡Sorcere¡¡named¡¡Jaemas¡¡Xorlarrin¡was¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡drow¡¡with¡¡impatience¡£¡¡Baenre¡¡or¡¡no£»¡¡Sorcere¡¡had¡¡its¡¡hierarchies¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Master¡¡Xorlarrin£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡said£»¡¡making¡¡his¡¡own¡¡feelings¡¡on¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡that¡¡hierarchy¡¡clear£»¡¡¡¨as¡¡is¡¡obvious£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡some¡¡trouble¡¡seeing¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡require¡¡simple¡¡answers¡¡to¡¡some¡¡simple¡¡questions¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡stand¡¡at¡¡my¡¡left¡£¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡will¡¡step¡¡aside¡¡until¡¡called¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡you¡¡wish£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡Xorlarrin¡¡mage¡¡replied¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡rat¡¡left¡¡off¡¡her¡¡scratching¡¡when¡¡Gromph¡¡snapped¡¡his¡¡fingers¡£¡¡He¡¡watched¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rat's¡¡eyes¡¡as¡¡Kyorli¡¡scampered¡¡up¡¡his¡¡leg£»¡¡to¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡up¡¡his¡¡arm£»¡¡and¡¡sat£»¡¡twitching¡¡and¡¡sniffing£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡archmage's¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡Seeing¡¡himself¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rat's¡¡eyes¡¡unsettled¡¡Gromph£»¡¡and¡¡feeling¡¡the¡¡rat's¡¡feet¡¡on¡¡him¡both¡¡senses¡¡detached¡¡from¡¡each¡¡other¡was¡¡something¡¡the¡¡archmage¡¡was¡¡determined¡¡not¡¡to¡¡experience¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡stepped¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡bound¡¡dark¡¡elves£»¡¡sharply¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Xorlarrin¡¡mage¡¡following¡¡close¡¡behind¡¡him¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡came¡¡closer£»¡¡a¡¡shadowy¡¡form¡¡revealed¡¡itself¡another¡¡drow¡¡standing¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡captives¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Zillak£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡archmage's¡¡most¡¡trusted¡¡assassins¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Is¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡prepared¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sigils£¿¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡answered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡clang¡¡of¡¡metal¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡scurrying¡¡steps¡¡that¡¡finally¡¡slid¡¡to¡¡a¡¡halt¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡Archmage£»¡¨¡¡Jaemas¡¡Xorlarrin¡¡replied¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡stepped¡¡close¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bound¡¡dark¡¡elves¡£¡¡All¡¡ten¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡cousins¡the¡¡wicked¡¡sons¡¡of¡¡House¡¡Agrach¡¡Dyrr¡¡and¡¡traitors¡¡to¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡every¡¡last¡¡one¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡had¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡the¡¡youngest£»¡¡the¡¡strongest£»¡¡the¡¡ablest¡¡of¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡spared¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Dyrr£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡archmage¡¡said£»¡¡doing¡¡his¡¡best¡¡to¡¡fix¡¡his¡¡sightless¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡the¡¡captive's¡¡face¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡prisoner¡¡squirmed¡¡a¡¡little¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family's¡¡name¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡shame¡¡his¡¡traitorous¡¡House¡¡had¡¡inflicted¡¡on¡¡every¡¡last¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡kin¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¨¡¡the¡¡prisoner¡¡muttered¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡why¡¡I'm¡¡here£»¡¡Baenre¡£¡¡You¡¡can¡¡do¡¡your¡¡worst¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡betray¡¡my¡¡House¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡laughed¡£¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡good¡£¡¡He¡¡hadn't¡¡had¡¡a¡¡good¡¡laugh¡¡in¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡the¡¡siege¡¡of¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡only¡¡digging¡¡in£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡word¡¡of¡¡Lolth¡¡or¡¡break¡¡in¡¡her¡¡Silence£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡think¡¡he'd¡¡be¡¡laughing¡¡much¡¡in¡¡the¡¡days£»¡¡tendays£»¡¡months£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡years¡¡ahead¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡archmage¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡boy¡£¡¡He¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡captive's¡¡confused£»¡¡surprised¡¡expression¡¡as¡¡Kyorli¡¡began¡¡again¡¡to¡¡worry¡¡at¡¡her¡¡itchy¡¡hip¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡care¡¡what¡¡you¡¡might¡¡have¡¡to¡¡say¡¡about¡¡your¡¡doomed¡¡House¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡answer¡¡only¡¡one¡¡question¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡what¡¡is¡¡that¡¡sigil£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡silence¡¡Gromph¡¡took¡¡as¡¡confusion¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡sign£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡archmage¡¡said£»¡¡letting¡¡impatience¡¡sound¡¡in¡¡his¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡sigil¡¡my¡¡young¡¡nephew¡¡is¡¡holding¡¡up¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡ordered£»¡¡Prath¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡up¡¡a¡¡position¡¡some¡¡yards¡¡away£»¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡giant¡¡chamber£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡up¡¡a¡¡small¡¡placard¡¡maybe¡¡six¡¡inches¡¡on¡¡each¡¡side¡£¡¡Painted¡¡onto¡¡its¡¡surface¡¡was¡¡a¡¡simple£»¡¡easily¡¡recognizable¡¡rune¡one¡¡any¡¡drow¡¡would¡¡recognize¡¡as¡¡marking¡¡a¡¡way¡¡to¡¡shelter£»¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡safety¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wilds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Underdark¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡could¡¡pel¡¡you¡¡to¡¡read¡¡it£»¡¡fool£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡archmage¡¡drawled¡¡into¡¡the¡¡prisoner's¡¡hesitation¡£¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡us¡¡move¡¡on¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¨¡¡the¡¡captive¡¡said£»¡¡squinting¡£¡¡¡¨Is¡¡it¡¡the¡¡symbol¡¡of¡¡Lolth£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡sighed¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Almost¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡archmage¡¡mentally¡¡nudged¡¡the¡¡rat¡¡on¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡her¡¡head¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Zillak¡¡wrap¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡wire¡¡garrote¡¡around¡¡the¡¡prisoner's¡¡neck¡£¡¡When¡¡blood¡¡began¡¡to¡¡ooze¡¡from¡¡under¡¡the¡¡wire¡¡and¡¡spittle¡¡sprinkled¡¡from¡¡his¡¡mouth£»¡¡Kyorli¡¡paid¡¡closer¡¡attention¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡the¡¡prisoner¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡struggling£»¡¡then¡¡die£»¡¡before¡¡he¡¡stepped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡next¡¡traitor¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡won't¡¡read¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡that¡¡one¡¡barked£»¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡ing¡¡off¡¡him¡¡in¡¡waves¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡this£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph£»¡¡aggravated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡waste¡¡of¡¡time¡¡a¡¡spell¡¡of¡¡pulsion¡¡would¡¡take£»¡¡tipped¡¡his¡¡head¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Xorlarrin¡¡mage¡¡who¡¡still¡¡stood¡¡right¡¡behind¡¡him¡¡and¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¨What¡¡color£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡garish¡¡magenta£»¡¡Archmage£»¡¨¡¡Jaemas¡¡answered¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡won't¡¡do¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡will¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡Zillak£»¡¡who¡¡slipped¡¡the¡¡garrote£»¡¡still¡¡dripping¡¡with¡¡the¡¡first¡¡Dyrr¡¡cousins¡¡blood£»¡¡around¡¡the¡¡second's¡¡neck¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡didn't¡¡bother¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡prisoner¡¡to¡¡die