Zeerith?”
“Yes, and the present disposition of Matron Mother Zeerith and her family?”
“Her powerful family,” Shakti remarked.
“Her heretical family,” Kyrnill corrected with a sneer.
The remark surprised the Hunzrin guests. By all estimates, House Melarn was in no position to engage powerful House Xorlarrin, even if Matron Mother Zeerith’s family had been wounded by the advance of the dwarves.
“You are pleased by this development, no doubt,” Matron Mother Zhindia said bluntly.
Matron Mother Shakti stared at her counterpart curiously, with more than a little trepidation. She wasn’t about to admit to any such thing, particularly given House Xorlarrin’s close alliance with House Baenre. “It is no secret that House Hunzrin feared the creation of the city of Q’Xorlarrin,” the always blunt and brutal Zhindia stated. “City,” she said again, and she spat upon the floor. “It was a servile satellite of House Baenre, of course, created so that House Baenre could take from you the most profitable trade to be found.”
“The point is moot. Q’Xorlarrin is no more,” said Matron Mother Shakti, and she nudged her daughter under the table, warning the volatile Charri against saying something they might both regret.
“But did Matron Mother Baenre lose?” Zhindia Melarn asked slyly. “She sent the demons forth, and the demons were defeated by the dwarves, so say the reports.”
“And so the dwarves reclaim Gauntlgrym, and fire anew the Great Forge,” Zhindia agreed. “But these particular dwarves are known associates of Jarlaxle and Bregan D’aerthe.”
Despite her great and practiced discipline, Shakti Hunzrin couldn’t help but fidget at the mention of Jarlaxle. Bregan D’aerthe had long been a thorn in the side of ide of House Hunzrin and a threat to Shakti’s plans for trade dominance beyond Menzoberranzan. Bregan D’aerthe’s loyalty to House Baenre could not be doubted.
“Your easiest route to the World Above is no more,” Zhindia said. “Your caravans will not get past the armies of the dwarves. But if Jarlaxle is able to secure an agreement between House Baenre and the new kingdom of Gauntlgrym . . .”
She let it hang there, tantalizingly.
“The Spider Queen would abandon her,” Shakti said, because she really had no other retort.
“Are you going to tell her that?” Zhindia asked with a laugh. Shakti stared at her hard. “Among all the Matron Mothers of Menzoberranzan, are you not the one who claims closest communion with the Spider Queen?” she asked very seriously. “Would Lolth accept such a move by Matron Mother Baenre?”
“The same Matron Mother Baenre who instituted a darthiir , a wretched elf, as a matron mother with a seat on the Ruling Council?” Zhindia countered. “Who put Matron Mother Do’Urden ahead of you on the ladder of Menzoberranzan’s hierarchy?”
“Your insults are uncalled for,” Charri Hunzrin remarked. “No insult,” said Zhindia. “Simple truth, and unpleasant to both of us.
Perhaps, though, this abomination Matron Mother Do’Urden is a test, not for Quenthel Baenre but for the rest of us. Do we allow the darthiir
to continue as a voice on the Ruling Council?”
“Or do we tear her down?” asked Shakti. “We are back to this, then.
Did we not just see this play with the demon assault on House Do’Urden?
That failure strengthened Matron Mother Do’Urden’s reputation and strengthened Matron Mother Baenre’s hand.”
“So you are accepting of an agreement between Matron Mother Baenre and Bregan D’aerthe to move goods through the dwarven city?” “I do not believe that such an agreement exists.”
“Oh, it exists,” Matron Mother Zhindia said confidently. “Jarlaxle’s influence is clear to see, and who would benefit more from such an agreement than that opportunist heretic mercenary and his filthy band of male rogues?”
The leader of House Melarn turned to the side and motioned to a drider guard, who
“Yes, and the present disposition of Matron Mother Zeerith and her family?”
“Her powerful family,” Shakti remarked.
“Her heretical family,” Kyrnill corrected with a sneer.
The remark surprised the Hunzrin guests. By all estimates, House Melarn was in no position to engage powerful House Xorlarrin, even if Matron Mother Zeerith’s family had been wounded by the advance of the dwarves.
“You are pleased by this development, no doubt,” Matron Mother Zhindia said bluntly.
Matron Mother Shakti stared at her counterpart curiously, with more than a little trepidation. She wasn’t about to admit to any such thing, particularly given House Xorlarrin’s close alliance with House Baenre. “It is no secret that House Hunzrin feared the creation of the city of Q’Xorlarrin,” the always blunt and brutal Zhindia stated. “City,” she said again, and she spat upon the floor. “It was a servile satellite of House Baenre, of course, created so that House Baenre could take from you the most profitable trade to be found.”
“The point is moot. Q’Xorlarrin is no more,” said Matron Mother Shakti, and she nudged her daughter under the table, warning the volatile Charri against saying something they might both regret.
“But did Matron Mother Baenre lose?” Zhindia Melarn asked slyly. “She sent the demons forth, and the demons were defeated by the dwarves, so say the reports.”
“And so the dwarves reclaim Gauntlgrym, and fire anew the Great Forge,” Zhindia agreed. “But these particular dwarves are known associates of Jarlaxle and Bregan D’aerthe.”
Despite her great and practiced discipline, Shakti Hunzrin couldn’t help but fidget at the mention of Jarlaxle. Bregan D’aerthe had long been a thorn in the side of ide of House Hunzrin and a threat to Shakti’s plans for trade dominance beyond Menzoberranzan. Bregan D’aerthe’s loyalty to House Baenre could not be doubted.
“Your easiest route to the World Above is no more,” Zhindia said. “Your caravans will not get past the armies of the dwarves. But if Jarlaxle is able to secure an agreement between House Baenre and the new kingdom of Gauntlgrym . . .”
She let it hang there, tantalizingly.
“The Spider Queen would abandon her,” Shakti said, because she really had no other retort.
“Are you going to tell her that?” Zhindia asked with a laugh. Shakti stared at her hard. “Among all the Matron Mothers of Menzoberranzan, are you not the one who claims closest communion with the Spider Queen?” she asked very seriously. “Would Lolth accept such a move by Matron Mother Baenre?”
“The same Matron Mother Baenre who instituted a darthiir , a wretched elf, as a matron mother with a seat on the Ruling Council?” Zhindia countered. “Who put Matron Mother Do’Urden ahead of you on the ladder of Menzoberranzan’s hierarchy?”
“Your insults are uncalled for,” Charri Hunzrin remarked. “No insult,” said Zhindia. “Simple truth, and unpleasant to both of us.
Perhaps, though, this abomination Matron Mother Do’Urden is a test, not for Quenthel Baenre but for the rest of us. Do we allow the darthiir
to continue as a voice on the Ruling Council?”
“Or do we tear her down?” asked Shakti. “We are back to this, then.
Did we not just see this play with the demon assault on House Do’Urden?
That failure strengthened Matron Mother Do’Urden’s reputation and strengthened Matron Mother Baenre’s hand.”
“So you are accepting of an agreement between Matron Mother Baenre and Bregan D’aerthe to move goods through the dwarven city?” “I do not believe that such an agreement exists.”
“Oh, it exists,” Matron Mother Zhindia said confidently. “Jarlaxle’s influence is clear to see, and who would benefit more from such an agreement than that opportunist heretic mercenary and his filthy band of male rogues?”
The leader of House Melarn turned to the side and motioned to a drider guard, who
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