〃We will do what we have to do；〃 she said。 〃If we have to spend the next two months creeping across the surface realms under cover of night； we will do exactly that。〃
She turned gracefully and paced away； gazing thoughtfully at the ruined court around them。
The party fell silent as each of the dark elves watched Quenthel's back。 Pharaun pushed himself erect and wrapped his piwafwi closer around his lean torso。 The black cloak flapped in the bitter wind。
〃The question that vexes me；〃 the mage said to no one in particular； 〃is whether we have acplished what we set out to do。 I do not relish the idea of crawling back to Menzoberranzan with nothing more to show for months of effort than news of Ched Nasad's fall。〃
〃No priestess of the Spider Queen holds the answers we seek；〃 said Quenthel。 〃We will return to Menzoberranzan。 I can only trust that the goddess will make clear the meaning of her silence when it suits her。〃
Pharaun grimaced and said； 〃Blind faith is a poor substitute for a plan by which you might win the answers you seek。〃
〃Faith in the goddess is the only thing we have；〃 Halisstra snapped。 She shifted half a step closer to the master of Sorcere。 〃You have forgotten your place if you address a high priestess of Lolth in such a manner。 Do not forget it again。〃
Pharaun opened his mouth to frame what would no doubt have been an even more inflammatory retort； but Ryld； sitting next to him； simply cleared his throat and scratched at his chin。 The wizard paused a moment under the eyes of his panions； and shrugged。
〃All I meant was that it seems clear to me that the Spider Queen means for us to puzzle out her silence for ourselves。〃
〃How do you suggest we should do that？〃 Quenthel asked。 She folded her arms and pivoted to glare at Pharaun。 〃In case you have forgotten； we've toiled for months to discern the cause of the Silence。〃
〃But we have not exhausted all avenues of investigation； have we？〃 Pharaun said。 〃In Ched Nasad； we spoke of seeking the assistance of a priest of Vhaeraun； possibly Master Hune's acquaintance Tzirik。 We drow have other deities beside Lolth； after all。 Is it so unreasonable to speculate that another god might be able to explain Lolth's unusual silence？〃
The circle fell still。 The wizard's words were not ones monly heard in Menzoberranzan。 Few dared utter such thoughts in the presence of the Spider Queen's clergy。
〃I see no need to go begging favors of a male heretic worshiping a miserable whelp of a god；〃 Quenthel said。 〃I doubt that Lolth has deigned to confide her purposes in any lesser powers。〃
〃You are probably correct；〃 said Pharaun。 〃She certainly hasn't confided them in you； after all。〃
Jeggred snarled at the wizard； and Pharaun raised his hands in a placating gesture； rolling his eyes。
Valas licked his lips nervously and offered； 〃Most of you have spent the great majority of your lives in Menzoberranzan； as is fit and proper for drow of your respective stations。 I have traveled more widely； and I have visited places that secretly…even openly； in some cases…permit the worship of gods other than Lolth。〃 He noticed the gathering thunder in Quenthel's face； mirrored in Halisstra's。 The scout winced but pressed on。 〃Under the wise rule of the matron mothers； the worship of drow gods other than Lolth has hardly flourished in Menzoberranzan； and so you may not hold a high opinion of the practice； but I can attest to the fact that the priests of the lesser gods of our race can call upon spells and guidance from their deities； too。〃
〃Where might we find Tzirik？〃 Ryld asked Valas。
〃When last I met him； he lived among outcasts in a remote region known as the Labyrinth； south and west of the Darklake by perhaps a hundred miles。 This was some time ago； of course。〃
〃Outcasts；〃 snorted Halisstra。
She was not the only one to express disgust。 In the endless game played between the great Houses of the drow； of course there were losers。 Most died； but some chose flight over death； taking up a hardscrabble and ignominious existence in the remote stretches of the Underdark。 Others abandoned their home cities for different reasons…including； Halisstra supposed； the veneration of gods other than Lolth。 She found it hard to believe that anyone so weak as to have been run out of her home city could offer much help at all。
〃We'll solve our own problems；〃 she said。
Pharaun glanced up at Halisstra； cold humor dancing in his eyes。
〃I forgot that you now have some experience with the peculiar misfortune of being deprived of a home city；〃 he remarked。 〃And I applaud your celerity in including yourself in 'our' discussions and 'our' problems。 Your selflessness is laudable。〃
Halisstra shut her mouth； stung by the words。 There would be many hundreds； even thousands of survivors from Ched Nasad scattered in as many tunnels and bolt…holes in the black caverns and passages around the city。 Most of those would end their lives in the jaws of mindless monsters； or perhaps fall into wretched slavery as captives of drow from other cities； duergar； or even more horrible Underdark races like the mind flayers or the aboleths。 And a few might hope to find some kind of life for themselves through their own wits and resourcefulness。 It was not unknown for a House to take into its ranks a defeated enemy who had demonstrated her usefulness。 House Melarn was dead。 Wherever Halisstra journeyed next； she would be starting from square one。 The advantages of her birth； the wealth and power of her city； all that meant nothing anymore。
She considered her reply carefully； conscious of the acute interest of the other drow around her； and said； 〃Spare me your pity。〃 She spoke in a murderous hiss； putting iron in her voice that she did not feel。 〃Unless I miss my guess； Menzoberranzan doesn't stand so very far from Ched Nasad's fate； else you never would have e to seek our aid。 Our difficulties are your difficulties； are they not？〃
Her words had the desired effect。 The wizard looked away； while the other Menzoberranyr shifted nervously； studying each other's reactions。 Quenthel visibly flinched； her mouth tightening into a fierce scowl。
〃Enough； both of you；〃 she said； turning to Valas。 〃This outcast priest of Vhaeraun…why would he aid us in any way？ He is not likely to entertain an especially charitable attitude toward our cause。〃
Valas replied； 〃I couldn't say； Mistress。 All I can do is bring you to him。 What happens after that depends on you。〃
The ruined courtyard fell silent。 The sun was a double handspan into the sky； and blinding shafts of pure light sliced through the darkness of the ruined court from crumbling embrasures in the high walls。 The ruins were apparently not as desolate as Halisstra had thought。 She could hear the furtive sounds of small creatures scrabbling across sand and rubble； faint and small in the distance。
〃The Labyrinth lies only a hundred miles from the Darklake？〃 Quenthel asked。 The scout nodded once。 The priestess folded her arms and thought。 〃Then it's not very far from our homeward course； in any event。 Pharaun； do you mand any magic that might speed our travel？ Fighting our way home across the surface realms appeals to me no more than it does the weapons master。〃
The wizard leered and rose to his feet； preening under Quenthel's request for help。
〃Teleportation is risky；〃 he said。 〃First； the faerzress of the Underdark makes it dangerous to attempt transport spells。 More to the point； I have never visited the Labyrinth； and so have no idea where I would be going。 I would almost certainly fail。 I know a spell to transform myself or others into different shapes more suited for travel； though。 Perhaps if we were dragons or giant bats or something that would fly well by night。 。。。〃 The wizard tapped his chin； considering the problem。 〃Whomever we press into service as a mount would have to stay in that shape until I changed him back； of course； and we'd still be looking at a couple of tendays of travel。 Or 。。。 I know a spell of walking through shadows。 It's dangerous； and I couldn't take us straight to the Labyrin