The other battles had died away as well, Drizzt noted, and he saw the flames of torches springing up all across the bank of the lake. He wondered if all of his twelve drow companions had survived, though he also wondered if he truly cared. Others were more than ready to take their places. Drizzt knew that the only companion who really mattered―Guenhwyvar―was safely back in its home on the Astral Plane.
"Form a guard!" came Dinin’s echoing command as the slaves, goblins, and orcs moved in to search for troll treasure, and to salvage whatever they might of the scrags.
When the fires had consumed the scrag he’d set ablaze, Drizzt dipped his torch in the black water, then paused for a moment to let his eyes readjust to the darkness. "Another day." he said softly, "another enemy defeated."
He liked the excitement of patrolling, the thrill of the edge of danger, and the knowledge that he was now putting his weapons to use against vile monsters.
Even here, though, Drizzt could not escape the lethargy that had come to pervade his life, the general resignation that marked his every step. For, though his battles these days were fought against the horrors of the Underdark, monsters killed of necessity, Drizzt had not forgotten the meeting in the chapel of House Do’Urden.
He knew that his scimitars soon would be put to use against the flesh of drow elves.
Zaknafein looked out over Menzoberranzan, as he so often did when Drizzt’s patrol group was out of the city. Zak was torn between wanting to sneak out of the house to fight at Drizzt’s side, and hoping that the patrol would return with the news that Drizzt had been slain.
Would Zak ever find the answer to the dilemma of the youngest Do’Urden? he wondered. Zak knew that he could not leave the house Matron Malice was keeping a very close eye on him. She sensed his anguish over Drizzt, Zak knew, and she most definitely did not approve. Zak was often her lover, but they shared little other than that.
Zak thought back to the battles he and Malice had fought over Vierna, another child of common concern, centuries before. Vierna was a female, her fate sealed from the moment of her birth, and Zak could do nothing to halt the assault of the Spider Queen’s overwhelming religion.
Did Malice fear that he might have better luck influencing the actions of a male child? Apparently the matron did, but even Zak was not so certain if her fears were justified even he couldn’t measure his influence over Drizzt.
He peered out over the city now, silently watching for the patrol group’s return, waiting, as always, for Drizzt’s safe return, but secretly hoping, that his dilemma would be ended by the claws and fangs of a lurking monster.
Chapter 18
The Black Room
"My greetings, Faceless One." the high priestess said, pushing past Alton into his private chambers in Sorcere.
"And mine to you, Mistress Vierna." Alton replied, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. Vierna Do’Urden coming to see him at this time had to be more than coincidence. "What act has brought me the honor of a visit from a mistress of Arach-Tinilith?"
"No longer a mistress." said Vierna. "I have returned to my home."
Alton paused to consider the news. He knew that Dinin Do’Urden had also resigned his position at the Academy.
"Matron Malice has brought her family back together." Vierna continued. "There are stirrings of war. You have heard them, no doubt?"
"Just rumors." Alton stuttered, now beginning to understand why Vierna had come to call on him. House Do’Urden had used the Faceless One before in its plotting in its attempt to assassinate Alton! Now, with rumors of war whispered throughout Menzoberranzan, Matron Malice was reestablishing her network of spies and assassins.
"You know of them?" Vierna asked sharply.
"I have heard little." Alton breathed, careful now not to anger the powerful female. "Not enough to report to your house. I did not even suspect that House Do’Urden was involved until now, when you informed me." Alton could only hope that Vierna had no detection spell aimed at his words. Vierna relaxed, apparently appeased by the explanation.
"Listen more carefully to the rumors, Faceless One." she said. "My brother and I have left the Academy, you are to be the eyes and ears of House Do’Urden in this place."
"But…" Alton stuttered.
Vierna held up a hand to stop him. "We know of our failure in our last transaction." she said. She bowed low, something a high priestess rarely did to a male. "Matron Malice sends her deepest apologies that the unguent you received for the assassination of Alton DeVirdid not restore the features to your face."
Alton nearly choked on the words, now understanding why an unknown messenger had delivered the jar of healing salve some thirty years before. The cloaked figure was an agent of House Do’Urden, come to repay the Faceless One for his assassination of Alton! Of course, Alton had never even tried the unguent. With his luck, it would have worked, and would have restored the features of Alton DeVir.
"This time, your payment cannot fail." Vierna went on, though Alton, too caught up in the irony of it all, hardly listened. "House Do’Urden possesses a wizard’s staff but no wizard worthy to wield it. It belonged to Nalfein, my brother, who died in the victory over DeVir."
Alton wanted to strike out at her. Even he wasn’t that stupid, though.
"If you can discern which house plots against House Do’Urden." Vierna promised, "the staff will be yours! A treasure indeed for such a small act."
"I will do what I can." Alton replied, having no other response to the incredible offer.
"That is all Matron Malice asks of you." said Vierna, and she left the wizard, quite certain that House Do’Urden had secured a capable agent within the Academy.
"Dinin and Vierna Do’Urden have resigned their positions." said Alton excitedly as the diminutive matron mother came to him later that same evening.
"This is already known to me." replied SiNafay Hun’ett.
She looked around disdainfully at the littered and scorched room, then took a seat at the small table.
"There is more." Alton said quickly, not wanting SiNafay to get upset about being disturbed over old news. "I have had a visitor this day, Mistress Vierna Do’Urden’"
"She suspects?" Matron SiNafay growled.
"No, no!" Alton replied. "Quite the opposite. House Do’Urden wishes to employ me as a spy, as it once employed the Faceless One to assassinate me’"
SiNafay paused for a moment, stunned, then issued a laugh straight from her belly. "Ah, the ironies of our lives!" she roared.
"I had heard that Dinin and Vierna were sent to the Academy only to oversee the education of their younger brother." remarked Alton.
"An excellent cover." SiNafay replied. "Vierna and Dinin were sent as spies for the ambitious Matron Malice. My compliments to her."
"Now they suspect trouble." Alton stated, sitting opposite his matron mother.
"They do." agreed SiNafay. "Masoj patrols with Drizzt, but House Do’Urden has also managed to plant Dinin in the group."
"Then Masoj is in danger." reasoned Alton.
"No." said SiNafay. "House Do’Urden does not know that House Hun’ett perpetrates the threat against it, else it would not have come to you for information. Matron Malice knows your identity."
A look of terror crossed Alton’s face.
"Not your true identity." SiNafay laughed at him. "She knows the Faceless One as Gelroos Hun’ett, and she would not have come to a Hun’ett if she suspected our house."
"Then we have an excellent opportunity to throw House Do’Urden into chaos!" Alton cried. "If I implicate another house, even Baenre, perhaps, our position will be strengthened." He chuckled at the possibilities. "Malice will reward me with a staff of great power, a weapon I will turn against her at the proper moment!"