Daughter of the Drow - Elaine Cunningham [88]
It could also be deadly, and knowing this, Shakti chose her next words with care. "Arach-Tinilith is the strength of our city, the glory of Lloth. For centuries untold, the students were not allowed to leave the Academy until their training was completed. Now, in these troubled times, individual houses need all the talents at their command, including those of their youngest members. Even so, permission to leave the Academy is not granted lightly, and not without some greater gain in sight."
Mistress Zeld listened carefully, hearing the words that Shakti left unspoken. "And you are saying your need is great enough to justify your release."
The Hunzrin priestess dipped her head in a respectful bow. "Not as great, perhaps, as the plans and designs of some of the greater houses."
"I see." Zeld leaned back in her chair and considered the younger female. Finally, the young priestess had stated her intent, and done so with impressive subtlety. Of course, Mistress Zeld had understood Shakti's motivation from the start, and she stalled merely to force the Hunzrin female to lay some inducements on the bargaining table. Shakti was not alone in wondering what plot House Baenre had in mind that would require the involvement of Gromph's wizard daughter. Many had tried to discover this-without drawing fire from the powerful first house-and so far all had failed. Perhaps the singleminded, hate-filled young priestess could do better. If Shakti failed, it would be no great loss. But if she succeeded, Zeld's own clan would be pleased to receive this information, and she herself would surely be rewarded for Shakti's efforts.
"You have my permission to leave, provided you return in time for chapel. There are other conditions, of course."
"Naturally."
"You will give me a full report upon your return. Leave out nothing."
Shakti nodded respectfully and rose to leave. "The Hunzrins have purchased new breeding stock to revitalize the herd. We plan to introduce both wild rothe and the larger, surface rothe into the line. We expect good results from this mix. I will be happy to bring you a copy of the breeding records. This might be useful, if ever you should be questioned about your decision to grant me a leave of absence."
"Your attention to detail is commendable," Zeld said dryly. "There is one more condition. If you fail, we did not have this conversation."
A grim smile firmed Shakti's lips. They understood each other perfectly, without a direct word being spoken. "I
understand your reticence," she said softly. "Rothe breeding is hardly a popular topic of conversation. I have noticed no one has quite the same enthusiasm for this subject as I do."
"Not even the rothe, most likely."
But Shakti, in her hurry to leave, did not hear the mistress's arch comment. It would have been lost on the serious young priestess, anyway.
And this, Zeld concluded, was just as well. Shakti was talented, devious, hardworking, and utterly vicious. Young though she was, the Hunzrin priestess didn't miss much, and she was proving herself to be a formidable enemy. Had she been blessed with a bit more perspective, which often manifested itself in dark humor, she would have been far more dangerous. Even without it, she was definitely a female to watch.
Every draw, even the powerful mistresses of Arach-Tinilith, kept an eye open for potential rivals.
Trust Liriel Baenre to have a house right across from Narbondellyn's most infamous festhall, Shakti thought with bitter scorn. Seated in a plushly cushioned alcove and shielded from view by the curtains that draped it on all sides, she shifted the heavy velvet and peered out across the street at her enemy's miniature castle.
In her hand she gripped the moonstone she'd had enspelled to seek out her rival, the same stone that had inexplicably ended up in Mistress ModVensis Tlabbar's bedchamber. Retrieving it had been no little matter, and at the moment Shakti regretted the effort. The stone's magic could not penetrate the veil of spells hiding Liriel from view. Shakti had tried clerical spells, as well, but Lloth