• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 1527 0

of Vhaeraun, the drow god of thievery, to snatch the needed knowledge from her. And in return, you will show me how this is done," Shakti demanded, one finger thumping a sea-elf child imprisoned on the tapestry. Vestress inclined her purple head in a nod of agreement, then sent out a silent mental summons that brought a pair of merrow slaves scurrying to the chamber. She sent the sea ogres to fetch refreshment-raw fish and spiced green wine for the drow, a cringing sea-elven slave for herself. Upon reflection, Vestress decided this might be a pleasant way to spend the afternoon: dining on an elven brain, tormenting the spirits of the sea elves entrapped on the tapestry, and conspiring with this deliciously evil drow. This interview had already yielded one delightful idea. Despite her assurances to Shakti, Vestress had never faltered in her decision to slay the drow wizard, but it occurred to the illithid that she might add Liriel Baenre's spirit to those captured on the tapestry. As a captive lich, the drow wizard's magic would be there for the taking. And when she had no further need of Liriel and her magic, Vestress might well give the finished weaving to Shakti. The drow priestess would no doubt consider this to be base treachery, but certainly she was accustomed to such treatment.

Until such a time, they might as well enjoy each other's company. Even a Regent was entitled to moments of leisure.

Rethnor, meanwhile, was busy with his own preparations. He had left tbe undersea stronghold and was now a guest in King Selger's palace. From tbere he dispatched messages to Luskan ships patrolling the northem seas, gathering the forces needed to mount a surprise attack against Ruathym.

The time was near for conquest. One thing yet remained-tbe decimation of the Ruathen berserkers. Once the mighty warriors of Holgerstead were out of tbe way, the rest of the island would fall easily enough. Rethnor, despite his passion for battle, had no desire to face a tribe of berserkers defending tbeir homeland. Let them fall to one of tbeir own-iet their deaths be dealt by a treacherous and familiar hand. And if the dark-haired youtb who'd taken Rethnor's hand died along with the rest of tbem, so much the better.

Exhausted by her sleepless days, the rigors of battle, and the long walk back to Ruathym village, Liriel made her way to Hrolf's cottage and stumbled straight for her bed. She stripped down to her tunic and took hold of the rumpled covers. Her fingers touched something small, furry-and familiar. Instinctively she jerked her hand back, then snatched up her dagger and used the tip of the weapon to throw back the blankets.

Hidden beneath the layers was a small black spider, of a sort Liriel knew quite well. The tiny red hourglass on its back marked it as a widow, a spider whose poisonous bite could kill a large man. The Underdark variety was much bigger and more canny; this one looked confused and ratber forlom.

"You poor little thing," Liriel murmured. This spider was no real danger to her-dark elves had an affinity for arachnids and a natural immunity to many spider poisons.

But whoever had put the spider in her bed could not have known this.

Absently the drow began to stroke tbe widow's black-andred back with the tip of one finger, much as a Ruathen child might caress a hound puppy; The spider seemed strangely listless, so Liriel gently picked up the fragile creature and slipped from the cottage. First she would take it into the forest, so it could spin its traps and feed. Then, she would seek out the one who wanted her dead and repay him in kind. The drow searched her room for nearly an hour before her efforts yielded two clues: a stray flake of ash on the floorboards and a single thread of wiry, flame-colored hair, nearly hidden in the bright weave of the blankets. As she suspected, her attacker was Hrolf's red-bearded, pipesmoking first mate.

The drow sank down on the edge ofher bed and considered her options. She could accuse ibn outright, but who would listen? She could attack him, but this would hardly endear her to