Extinction - Lisa Smedman [28]
Triel raised an eyebrow and asked, "Oh, did he?" She could guess who the assassin was referring to but needed confirmation. "Then no doubt he'd like me to know his name-to know which male dared attack Matron Mother Baenre in her own home. Or is he afraid of me, as all good little drow males should be?"
That goad, combined with Triel's magical suggestion, tipped the balance.
"My master is no mere drow,he said."Nimor is-"
He bit off the rest, aware that he had already revealed too much.
Nimor? Triel growled. The name was unfamiliar. Then she realized who it must be. "You mean Captain Zhayemd of Agrach Dyrr, don't you? The traitor who led the army of duergar to our very doorstep?"
The prisoner nodded defiantly and said, "Your master, soon enough."
Triel thought about that for a moment. Zhayemd was clearly an assumed name-had the assassin's leader also assumed the name of the Sixth House? She wondered how deeply Agrach Dyrr's treachery truly lay. Had Nimor persuaded the soldiers to attack their allies on his own, or had he the backing of the House itself? An important question, since Agrach Dyrr's household was under siege by forces of Menzoberranzan that could better be used to battle the duergar and tanarukks.
Triel decided to bluff.
"I knew your master was not an Agrach Dyrr," she told the assassin. "I had never seen him before-and I know all of the senior officers of that House. Matron Mother Yasraena and I are… allies. As much as any two matron mothers can be."
"Yasraena Dyrr is of no consequence."
Triel stiffened and asked, "What do you mean?"
"A male rules House Agrach Dyrr-the lichdrow. Vhaeraun has re-established the natural order of things, just as he will in all of Menzoberranzan, once this war is won."
Triel heard a slight intake of breath beside her, and remembered her lieutenant. Quick as a striking snake, she cracked her whip in his direction. Gleefully hissing, the five vipers sank their fangs into his dark flesh. The male officer stiffened, then gurgled faintly as his eyes rolled back. He crashed to the floor like a broken stalactite.
His lizard sniffed him once, then immediately began to feed, chewing on the head with loud crunching noises.
Triel glanced at Maignith.
"Not a word of this to anyone," she hissed.
Maignith bowed, then stared meaningfully at each of the guards on either side of Triel and said, "You can count on our silence, Matron Mother."
Triel returned her attention to the captive. She was delighted that he had at last succumbed to her magical suggestion-he was giving her even more information than she'd dared hope for. Wetting her lips like a lizard scenting blood, she probed further.
"Was it the lichdrow who sent you here? Was it his magic that got you inside?"
"No… and no."
"Who got you inside, then?"
"Nimor himself. And though I have failed, he will not. Your defenses are as weak as cobwebs against him. He escorted me through the shadows and into your 'stronghold' with ease."
"Nimor is within these walls?" Maignith gasped.
The assassin smirked and answered, "He was."
Triel's eyes narrowed. Not at the fact that Nimor had been able to creep into the heart of House Baenre-the massive stalagmite that had been hollowed out to form the Great Mound-but that, having accomplished such a feat, he would have left it again. Why hadn't he stayed to attack her himself? Why leave a weaker vassal behind to do his bidding? Certainly he would have known that this man would be caught.
The assassin interrupted her musings with a pained laugh.
"You will see Nimor's power and majesty yourself soon enough, when he leads the final assault against this House. That is, if you live to-"
Triel realized that the glare of defiance-and self-will-had never left the assassin's eye, the entire time he was speaking. And his gaze had slid down to her chair more than once-but only when he thought she wasn't looking at him.
"Guards!" she shouted. "Shields!"
Instantly, the women on either