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ched dwarves。 Why do you assume our world cannot have altered in some fundamental way when you've watched it change so many times before？ Open your mind； and you'll see my hypothesis makes sense of all that has puzzled us。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Whatever they're up to； how is it that for the past month an unusual number of males have dared to elope from their families？ Because they somehow tumbled to the fact that a priestess's wrath now constitutes less of a threat。〃
〃While the clerics；〃 said Ryld； catching the thread of the argument； 〃are eager to catch them because they want to know how the males know about the Silence； if we're going to call it that。 Hells； if all those males had the nerve to run away； maybe they even know more about the problem than the females do。〃
〃Conceivably；〃 said Pharaun。 〃The priestesses can't rule it out until they strap a few of them to torture racks； can they？ But they don't want Gromph involved with capturing the rogues because 。 。 。 ？〃
〃They don't want him to find out what the runaways know。〃
〃Very good； apprentice。 We'll make a logician of you yet。〃
〃Do you think the archmage already knows the divines have lost their magic？〃
〃I'd bet your left eye on it； but he's in the same cart as the high priestesses。 He posits that the fugitives might know even more。〃
Ryld nodded。 〃In a war； or any crisis； you have to cover every possibility。〃
〃The notion of the Silence even explains why the Jewel Box was so crowded； and why some of the patrons were in a belligerent humor or even bruised and battered。 Females divested of their magic might well feel weak and vulnerable。 Consciously or otherwise； they'd worry about losing control of the folk in their household and pensate by instituting a harsher discipline than usual。〃 〃I see that；〃 said Ryld。
〃Of course you do。 As I said； the one hypothesis accounts for every anomaly。 That's why we can be confident the idea is valid。〃
〃How does it account for the relative paucity of goods in the Bazaar？〃
Pharaun blinked； narrowed his eyes in thought； and finally laughed。 〃You know； it's difficult for genius to soar in the face of these carping little irrelevancies。 Actually； you're right。 At first glance； the Silence doesn't explain the marketplace； but it explains so much else that I still believe the idea correct。 Have I persuaded you？〃
〃I。。。 maybe。 You do make a kind of twisted sense。 It's just that it's a hard idea to take in。 The one truth our people have never questioned is that Menzoberranzan belongs to Lolth。 Everything in the cavern is as it is because she willed it so； and the might of her priestesses is the primary force maintaining all that we have and are。 If she's turned her face from the entire city； or is lost to us in some other way。 。 。 。〃 Ryld spread his hands。
〃It is unsettling； but perhaps； just perhaps； it affords us an opportunity as well。〃
Ryld extended a telescoping metal probe； attached a cloth to the hook on the end； and started swamping out the bloodclogged scabbard。
The warrior asked； 〃What do you mean？〃
〃Just for fun； let's make the same leap of faith—or fear—that Gromph and the Council did。 Assume the rogue males can explain the cessation of Lolth's beneficence。 Assume you and I will find them and extract the information。 Finally； assume we can somehow employ it to restore the status quo。〃
〃That's a lot of assuming。〃
〃It is。 Obviously； I'm letting my imagination run amok。 Yet I have a hunch—only a hunch； but still—that if two masters of the Academy could acplish such a triumph； they might thereby win enough power to make my friend the Sarthos demon look like small beer。 You wanted to find something to our advantage； as I recall。〃
〃Your sister may find us first。 She tracked us once。 Do you still think we shouldn't kill her； or her vassals either？〃
〃That's a good question；〃 Pharaun sighed。 〃They're attacking us with potent magic。 I suspect that leather bag holds nine sets of servant creatures； each deadlier than the one before。〃
〃In that case； why didn't she chuck them all at us？〃
〃Perhaps； in the absence of her innate powers； she was trying to conserve her other resources。 Alas； she may not be so parsimonious next time。〃
〃So what do we do？〃
〃Well； you know； I truly do want to kill Greyanna。 I always have； but I suppose the prudent course is to avoid our hunters if possible。 If not； we'll do what we must to survive。 I may at least make a point of disposing of Relonor。 I suspect he located us with divinatory magic。 He was always good at that。〃
〃Can you shield us？〃
〃Perhaps。 I intend to try。 Stay right where you are； and don't speak。〃
Pharaun rose and reached into one of his pockets。 Out in the lake； something big jumped。 Noticing the splash； an ore on a raft grunted to his fellows； and they readied their barbheaded lances。
Ch a p t e r
NINE
As Drisinil took hold of the door handle； the stump of her little finger throbbed beneath its dressing。 The novice still found it difficult to believe that； after fighting for her life against the demon spider； Mistress Quenthel had immediately returned to the matter of the wouldbe truants and their selfinflicted punishment。 It bespoke a calm and meticulous nature。 Drisinil admired those qualities； but it didn't make her hate their exemplar any less。
She took a final glance around the deserted corridor。 No one was about； and no one was supposed to be； not in that length of that particular wing of ArachTinilith at that hour of the night。
She slipped through the sandstone door and pulled it shut behind her。 Unlike much of the temple； no lamps； torches； or candles burned in the room beyond the threshold。 That was by design； to keep a telltale gleam from leaking out under the door。
Drisinil's sister conspirators awaited her。 Some were novices with bandaged hands； just like herself。 Others were instructors。 Those high priestesses； hampered by their dignity； were having some difficulty making themselves fortable among the haphazardly stacked boxes and tangles of furniture littering the halffotten storeroom。 Of course； it didn't help that they hesitated to clear away the shrouds of filthy cobwebs dangling everywhere for fear a living spider remained within。
Drisin