*
Faeryl prowled the rounded； treacherous surfaces at the apex of the ambassadorial residence。 She was trying to monitor all four sides of her home； which entailed clambering about with a certain celerity。 Yet she was also trying to hide from anyone who might be peering from the window of a neighboring mansion or up from one of the quiet residential boulevards of prosperous West Wall； and the faster she moved； the more problematic stealth became。 She'd sneaked up there two hours ago； when everyone else thought she was bundling or burning documents； and she still wasn't sure she'd struck the proper balance between the two necessities。
She wished she could have ordered a retainer or two up there to help her keep her vigil； but it would have been illadvised； considering that any of her minions might be the object of her hunt。
She also wished she had more cover。 Except for a few token walkways and crenellations so small as to be essentially ornamental； the apex of the stalagmite keep was bare of fortifications or even level places to stand。 If Faeryl looked closely； she could see subtle signs that at one time； when the keep had served another purpose； such defenses had existed in abundance； but subsequently； a wizard had melted the ramparts back into the rest of the calcite。 It made sense。 The Menzoberranyr would see no reason to gift an outsider with any notable capacity to resist a siege。
Faeryl perched on the northeast side of the roof。 Outlined in blue； green； or violent phosphorescence； the homes of her wealthier neighbors glowed all around her。 Had she looked from a distance； she would have observed her own residence shining in the same way。 Fortunately； the luminescence only defined the silhouette of the tower and picked out several spiders sculpted in basrelief。 As long as she stayed away from the images； kept silent； and enjoyed a measure of luck； it shouldn't reveal her presence。
A soft； indefinable sound rose from the northwest。 Grateful that she at least still had the brooch that would make her weightless； she scuttled quickly along the sloping pitch of the roof； fearless in the knowledge that even if she lost her footing； she needn't fall。
In a few seconds； she reached the northwest aspect。 She peered over the drop and discovered the source of the sound in the plaza below。
Bare to the waist； rapiers in one hand and parrying daggers in the other； two males circled one another。 They stood straight and stepped lightly in the manner of welltrained fencers。 Their discarded piwafwi’s； mail； and shirts lay where they'd tossed them on the ground along with a pair of empty wineskins。 A third male looked on from beneath an overhanging balcony some distance away； where the batants quite possibly hadn't noticed him。
Faeryl sighed。 This little tableau was mildly intriguing； but it clearly had nothing to do with her own situation。
After her frustrating interview with Matron Mother Baenre； she'd realized she had an opponent。 Someone who'd traduced her； possibly to keep her from departing Menzoberranzan； though she couldn't imagine why。 From that inference； it was a small step to the suspicion that the enemy had an agent inside her household。 It was what any intelligent foe would try to arrange； and it arguably explained how Faeryl's intention to go home had been discerned and countered with a word in Triel's ear。
Seething with the need to outwit those who had made a fool of her； Faeryl devised a ruse to unmask the spy。 She surprised her retainers with the order to pack。 They were slipping out of Menzoberranzan that very night。 She thought her loyal vassals would obey； but the traitor would try to sneak away to report the household's imminent flight。 Crouched on the roof； Faeryl would spot her when she did。
That was the plan； anyway。 The ambassador could think of several reasons why it might fail。 The residence had means of egress on all four sides； but she couldn't survey all four at once； not unless she floated well above the roof； and that option presented problems of its own。 Most dark elf boots possessed a virtue of silence； and their mantles； one of obscuration。 The traitor might even have some more potent means of escaping notice； such as a talisman of invisibility。 Were she any higher above the ground； Faeryl might have no hope at all of detecting the spy's surreptitious exit。
Of course； the traitor might also have a means of municating with her confederates via clairaudience； or a charm of instantaneous transit； in which case the envoy's scheme was doomed no matter what。 She'd cling to the roof until someone in authority； a pany of Baenre guards； perhaps； showed up to take her and her entourage into custody； but she'd had to try something。
She crawled on。 Below and behind her； one of the duelists groaned as his foe's blade plunged through his torso。 Magic flickered and sizzled； and the victor dropped as well。 The wizard who'd been watching from a distance strolled forward to inspect the steaming corpses。
Faeryl wondered if the three had been siblings； and the wizard was the clever one。 She'd had a brother like that once； until an even trickier male turned him to dust and absconded with his wands and grimoires。 A minor setback for her House； but interesting to watch。
Overhead； something snapped。 She glanced up。 Four or five riders on wyvernback were winging their way east。 Above them； projecting from the cavern ceiling； the stalactite castles shone with their own enchantments； a far lovelier sight； in her opinion； than the miniscule monochromatic stars that speckled the night sky of the socalled Lands of Light。
Then； so faintly that she wondered if she'd imagined it； something brushed against something else。 The sound had issued from the southwest。
Faeryl scurried over to that part of the roof and peered down。 At first glance； nothing appeared changed since the last time she'd checked that way。 Perhaps her nerves were playing tricks on her； but she kept on looking anyway。
Octagonal steel grilles protected the round windows cut in the wall below her； but if a drow knew the trick； she could unlatch one and swing it aside for an entrance or exit via levitation。 Apparently； someone had； for after a few more moments； Faeryl noticed that one of the webpattern shields hung ever so slightly ajar。 With that sign to guide her； she spotted the shrouded figure skulking toward the mouth of an alleyway。
The noble of Ched Nasad was a fair hand with a crossbow。 She might have been able to shoot down the traitor from behind； but that would gain her few answers。 She didn't happen to possess a scroll with the spell for interrogating the dead。 She needed to catch up with the spy and take the wretch alive。
She read from a scroll she did have； then she stepped away from the top of the tower into empty space。
Except that it wasn't empty for her。 The air was as firm as stone beneath her soles。 For two paces； she strode on a level surface； and； because she willed it so； the unseen platform dipped into an equally invisible ramp。 She sprinted down with no fear of blundering off the edge。 Wherever she set her foot； the incline would be there to meet it。 That was how the magic worked。
Her progress entirely silent； she dashed unnoticed above the traitor's head； then with a thought dissolved the support beneath her boots。 Her crossbow ready； she dropped the last few feet to the ground and landed in front of the spy。
Started； the traitor jumped。 Faeryl felt her own pang of surprise； for though she liked to think she maintained a proper suspicion of everyone； in truth； she never could have guessed the pinched； sour face she saw half hidden inside the closedrawn cowl could be the spy's。
〃Umrae；〃 the ambassador said； aiming her hand crossbow。
〃My lady；〃 the secretary answered； bending with her usual stiffness into an obeisance。
〃I know all about it； traitor。 I'm not actually planning to leave tonight。 My pretending so was a trick to see who would slip away to play informer。〃
〃I don't know what you mean。 I just wanted to buy some items for the journey。 I thought that if I hurried over to the Bazaar； I could find one of those merchants who stays open late and be back before anyone missed me。〃
〃Do you think I haven't realized I have an enemy here in Menzoberranzan； someone with access to Matron Baenre？ Two tendays ago； Triel considered me loyal。 She approved of me。 She granted a good deal of what I asked on behalf of our people。 Now； she doubts me； because someone has persuaded her to question my true intentions。 What did my foe offer to lure you to her side？ Don't you realize that in betraying me； you betray Ched Nasad itself？〃
The scribe hesitated； then said； 〃Matron Baenre has people watching the residence。 Someone is watching us right now。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Faeryl replied。
Umrae swallowed。 〃So you can't harm me。 Or they'll harm you。〃
Faeryl laughed。 〃Rubbish。 Triel's agents won't reveal their presence just to keep me from disciplining one of my own retainers。 They won't see anything odd or detrimental to Menzoberranzan's interests in that。 Now； be sensible and surrender。〃
After another pause； Umrae said； 〃Give me your word you won't hurt me。 That you'll set me free and help me flee the city。〃
〃I promise you nothing except that your insolence is making me angrier by the second； and a quick capitulation is your only hope。 Tell me； who turned you； and why？ What does anyone hereabouts have to gain by persecuting an envoy； one who stands apart from the feuds and rivalries among the Menzoberranyr Houses？〃
〃You must understand； I fear to betray them and remain。 They'll kill me if I do。〃
〃They won't get the chance。 I'm the one pointing a poisoned dart at you。 Who are your employers？〃
〃I won't say； not without your pledge。〃
〃Your friend didn't slander me to Triel until after I started contemplating a return to Ched Nasad。 Was that the point of the lie？ To keep me from venturing out into the Underdark？ Why？〃
Umrae shook her head。
〃You're mad；〃 Faeryl said。 〃Why would you condemn yourself to perpetuate someone else's existence？ Ah well； you're plainly unfit to live； so I suppose it's for the best。〃
She made a show of sighting down the length of the crossbow。
〃No You're right； why should I die？〃
〃If you answer my questions； perhaps you won't。〃
〃Yes