〃And they e for me。 Because one of my mortal enemies sends them in guises intended to stimulate your imaginations。〃
〃What enemy？〃 Molvayas demanded。
〃That has yet to be determined。〃
〃In other words；〃 said Quenthel's secondinmand； 〃you don't know what's going on any more than we do。〃
〃At least I know what isn't happening。〃
〃Do you？ What makes your one opinion superior to all of ours？〃
〃The answer to that is readily apparent to those with some smattering of intelligence。〃
〃Insults won't resolve this matter； Mistress； but I can think of a test that might。 Step down for a year； and we'll see what happens。〃
Quenthel laughed。
〃Meekly surrender the Academy to you； Barrison Del'Armgo？ Not likely。 As it happens； I too have conceived a test to determine who truly enjoys Lolth's favor； your sad little cabal or me。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Molvayas asked； wariness in her eyes。
〃My test is simplicity itself。 We simply ask Lolth whom she prefers； and await her answer。〃
〃That's insane。 The Spider Queen no longer speaks to us。〃
〃Perhaps if we petition； she will at least condescend to give us a sign。 Are you willing to try？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Molvayas said； no doubt aware that with blades at her back； she actually had little choice。 〃Do you propose to perform some sort of ritual？〃
〃As we've lost our magic； what would that acplish？ My idea is simpler。 We all bide in this room； engaged in silent prayer and meditation； until the Dark Mother reveals her will。〃
Vlondril snorted。 〃What if she chooses to ignore us？〃
Quenthel shrugged。 〃I don't believe she's truly abandoned her chosen people or her chosen ministers。 My faith is too strong to credit such a calamity。 How strong is yours； Barrison Del'Armgo？〃
〃Strong enough that I have no fear of the goddess preferring you to me；〃 Molvayas spat back。 〃I just don't see the point of your scheme。 Lolth will speak when she wishes； not when we desire it。〃
〃It's not a waste of time if it's keeping you alive。 I could have had my loyal followers kill you the moment they entered the chamber。 Instead； I'm proposing an honest inquiry into your concerns； for the sake of all the temple。 Under the circumstances； what could be more magnanimous than that？〃
〃All right；〃 Molvayas said。 〃We'll remain for a time； but if nothing happens； my rades and I go free。 You can't chastise us if the results of the test are inconclusive。 That wouldn't be an honest inquiry。〃
〃Agreed；〃 the mistress said。
Drisinil was bewildered and appalled。 This strange； passive procedure sounded as if it could take hours。 She needed the antidote before her thundering heart tore itself apart； but she could do nothing to speed things along。
Though plainly just as puzzled as she； the pany obediently fell quiet。 Meditation was a familiar practice to all of them； though frustrating and futile since Lolth had receded beyond their ken。
For what seemed a long while； nothing happened； except that a muscle under Drisinil's eye twitched uncontrollably； and some of those whom she'd betrayed surreptitiously glared at her； wordlessly vowing revenge。 A tiny something scurried across the floor。 Or perhaps it did。 By the time she tried to focus on it； it was gone。
More minutes crawled by。 Cloth whispered as someone shifted position。 Later； somebody else smothered a little sneeze。 Drisinil realized she could just barely smell the ghost of the funereal incense Lirdnolu had burned when teaching necromancy。
Another mite scuttled along。 Drisinil saw that this one was a spider。 Nothing unusual in that。 ArachTinilith was full of the sacred creatures。 Still； something about this particular specimen tugged at her despite her sickness and terror。 She stared until she discerned that it had a blue shell with red markings。
That was a little odd。 This particular species generally spent its time lurking in webs； not roaming about。 Still； she didn't see why the anomaly should trigger a twinge of alarm。 It must be the poison clawing at her nerves。
Time dragged on。 A priestess on the lowest tier sang a hymn under her breath。 She was flat。 Another novice with mutilated hands surreptitiously checked the knife strapped under her sleeve； making sure the weapon was loose in the sheath。 And； Drisinil noticed； more black dots were creeping on the walls and floor。 More than were normal for a disused part of the temple？ She thought so； and she glanced over at Quenthel； seeking some sign to confirm her formless suspicions。 The Baenre stood motionless with head bowed； the very picture of a mystic absorbed in her devotions。
A novice with a gold earring cried out in pain。 She dragged on her shirt； baring her right shoulder； and found the spider that was biting her。 Her frantic efforts to remove the arachnid without hurting it should have been ical but Drisinil couldn't laugh。 Frazzled； addled by the poison； she could only stare at the dark flecks swarming thickly on every side。 Some of the other conspirators had started to notice as well。 They whispered to one another； and their eyes grew wide。
Something brushed Drismil's arm。 She cried out and spun around。 It was one of the Quenthel's vipers that had touched her。
〃Stay close；〃 the mistress said。
Once again； the spiders increased in number。 Somehow hordes of them were scuttling over the bodies of the conspirators； biting； crawling under their clothing； freckling their skins like the sores of some hideous plague。 Shrieking； no longer caring that the creatures were sacrosanct； their victims struggled to crush them and brush them off； but they couldn't get them all。 A few of the traitors retained the presence of mind to activate protective talismans； only to discover that the magic didn't help； either。
The one place free of spiders was the upper tiers。 Once they realized the creatures weren't going climb up and attack them； the loyalists mocked and jeered at the plight of the traitors。 Whenever one of the plotters tried to grope her way into their safe space； a loyalist would knock her back with a casual swat from a mace or whip。 Some even shot down with hand crossbows any conspirator who attempted to stagger for the door。
Drisinil did remain at Quenthel's side； and the spiders crawled over her feet but otherwise took no notice of her。 They didn't avoid the Baenre； however。 They climbed all over her body without biting； and； laughing； she stooped； picked up more； and poured them over her head until the creatures virtually encrusted her。 Her bright red eyes shone from a pebbled； squirming mask。
Finally the shrieking stopped； uncovering the sound of Vlondril ecstatically chanting one of the litanies as the spiders destroyed her。 After another moment； that noise ceased as well。 Drisinil noticed her aunt's corpse slumped among the carnage； though she only recognized it by the jade gown。 Molvayas's face was swollen and bloodied beyond recognition。
Quenthel gazed up at the living and called； 〃We asked Lolth for a sign； and she gave us one。 My foes are dead and I remain； robed in the goddess's sacred spiders。 I am the Mistress of ArachTinilith； and my minions will question my leadership no more or else die in agony for their effrontery。〃
The surviving priestesses and novices hastily paid her obeisance。
〃Good；〃 the Baenre said。 〃You are wise； and so I make you a vow。 We will put an end to these nightly attacks。 We will regain our magic。 We will hear Lolth's voice again。 We will make our order and our temple greater than ever before。 Now； clear away this mess。〃
The spiders began to disappear； from the room and Quenthel's person as well。 Drisinil couldn't quite tell if they were simply scuttling away or teleporting out。
〃I did it；〃 the student said。 〃I brought the traitors together for you。 Now； please give me the antidote。〃
Quenthel smiled and said； 〃There is none。〃
〃What？〃
〃I didn't poison you。 The liquid was simply a stimulant to bat drowsiness。 I gave you enough to make the effect alarming； but it'll wear off。〃
〃You're lying〃
〃I would have administered a slow poison had I been carrying one； but as I was not； I had to improvise。〃
Drisinil felt a surge of bitter humiliation and a need to demonstrate she wasn't entirely a fool。
〃Well；〃 she blurted； 〃then； you've tricked everyone all the way around。 I know Lolth didn't control those spiders。 You did。 You read a scroll or used some sort of charm before you entered the room。〃
〃If so； does it matter？〃 A yellow arachnid crawled out of Quenthel's snowy hair and onto her shoulder。 She paid it no mind。 〃Lolth teaches that the cunning and strong must master the foolish and weak。 However you look at it； this oute is in accordance with her will。 Now； let's talk about your future。〃
Drisinil swallowed。 〃You promised to spare me。〃
〃I did； didn't I？〃 a smiling Quenthel replied。 〃Unlike some； we Baenre generally keep our word。 A reputation for fair dealing facilitates certain transactions。 However； I never promised not to punish you。〃
〃I understand。 Of course I'll take a flogging or whatever you think appropriate。〃
〃That's quite agreeable of you。 How about this； then？ We'll nip off the other eight fingers and cut out your tongue as well。〃
For a moment； Drisinil thought she hadn't heard correctly。
〃Now you're joking。〃
〃Oh； no。 I firmly believe you engineered the plot against me； and I intend to make sure you don't get up to any more mischief。 Ever。 If you can't municate； work magic； or grip a weapon； that should take care of it。 Obviously； it won't be possible for you to continue at ArachTinilith； and I wouldn't count on the warmest of weles when you return home。 I doubt Mez'Barris Armgo will have much interest in a grotesquely crippled and thoroughly useless daughter。 She may even consider you an embarrassment to be killed or locked away。〃
Enraged； panicked； Drisinil lunged； but never landed a blow。 Powerful hands grabbed her from behind； hauled her back； and something hard and heavy bashed her over the head。 Her legs folded beneath her。 She would have fallen if not for her captors holding her up。
Quave's voice sounded over Drisinil's shoulder。 〃We've got her； Mistress。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Take her to the penance chamber and secure her。〃
〃Yes； Mistress；〃 said Quave。 〃1 assume you'll do the cutting yourself。〃
〃I'd like to；〃 said the Baenre； 〃but there's another matter demanding my atte