Extinction

Triel thought about that for a moment. Zhayemd was clearly an assumed name?had the assassin's leader also assumed the name of the Sixth House? She wondered how deeply Agrach Dyrr's treachery truly lay. Had Nimor persuaded the soldiers to attack their allies on his own, or had he the backing of the House itself? An important question, since Agrach Dyrr's household was under siege by forces of Menzoberranzan that could better be used to battle the duergar and tanarukks.

Triel decided to bluff.

"I knew your master was not an Agrach Dyrr," she told the assassin. "I had never seen him before?and I know all of the senior officers of that House. Matron Mother Yasraena and I are … allies. As much as any two matron mothers can be."

"Yasraena Dyrr is of no consequence."

Triel stiffened and asked, "What do you mean?"

"A male rules House Agrach Dyrr?the lichdrow. Vhaeraun has re-established the natural order of things, just as he will in all of Menzoberranzan, once this war is won."

Triel heard a slight intake of breath beside her, and remembered her lieutenant. Quick as a striking snake, she cracked her whip in his direction. Gleefully hissing, the five vipers sank their fangs into his dark flesh. The male officer stiffened, then gurgled faintly as his eyes rolled back. He crashed to the floor like a broken stalactite.

His lizard sniffed him once, then immediately began to feed, chewing on the head with loud crunching noises.

Triel glanced at Maignith.

"Not a word of this to anyone," she hissed.

Maignith bowed, then stared meaningfully at each of the guards on either side of Triel and said, "You can count on our silence, Matron Mother."

Triel returned her attention to the captive. She was delighted that he had at last succumbed to her magical suggestion?he was giving her even more information than she'd dared hope for. Wetting her lips like a lizard scenting blood, she probed further.

"Was it the lichdrow who sent you here? Was it his magic that got you inside?"

"No. . and no."

"Who got you inside, then?"

"Nimor himself. And though I have failed, he will not. Your defenses are as weak as cobwebs against him. He escorted me through the shadows and into your 'stronghold' with ease."

"Nimor is within these walls?" Maignith gasped.

The assassin smirked and answered, "He was."

Triel's eyes narrowed. Not at the fact that Nimor had been able to creep into the heart of House Baenre?the massive stalagmite that had been hollowed out to form the Great Mound?but that, having accomplished such a feat, he would have left it again. Why hadn't he stayed to attack her himself? Why leave a weaker vassal behind to do his bidding? Certainly he would have known that this man would be caught.

The assassin interrupted her musings with a pained laugh.

"You will see Nimor's power and majesty yourself soon enough, when he leads the final assault against this House. That is, if you live to?"

Triel realized that the glare of defiance?and self-will?had never left the assassin's eye, the entire time he was speaking. And his gaze had slid down to her chair more than once?but only when he thought she wasn't looking at him.

"Guards!" she shouted. "Shields!"

Instantly, the women on either side of her sprang into motion, thrusting their shields between Triel and the only visible threat: the assassin.

Even as the two shields clanged together, the audience chamber filled with a blast of magical energy. Searingly hot flame exploded outward from where the assassin lay, the roar of it slamming against Triel's eardrums with such volume that it nearly blotted out the screams of the guards whose bodies were blackening like overcooked meat.

The magic of their shields held fast, and the blast was deflected over, under, and around the chair on which Triel cringed. She felt the wash of its heat as little more than a flush of warmth; felt nothing of its blast save for the shields that were forced back against her chair. The throne itself had not reacted to the blast of the fireball the assassin had carried within himself. Triel could guess the reason. The attack was directed at the assassin who'd carried it into the room, not at the matron mother herself. Nimor's information?and his guess as to where Triel would question the failed assassin?had been flawless.

All this Triel realized in the instant of ear-ringing silence that followed the blast.

Maignith and the other two guards crumpled to the floor, burned beyond recognition. The lizard, too, was dead, curled and immobile in one corner of the room, its skin no longer glowing.

Of the assassin's body, nothing remained but bones, glowing red like coats and sending up wisps of oily black smoke.

Triel shivered, aware that she had come within a heartbeat of death. For a moment, she knew fear. No wonder the assassin had been so willing to talk. He had needed to keep her within range until the spell went off.