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〃Please； e here。〃
Filifar obeyed。 If he betrayed any wariness； it was only in his eyes。 The two gigantic spiders graven in the leaves of the gate stirred ever so slightly。 Faeryl realized they would emerge from the carving and fight for him if manded。
〃You have the look of an intelligent male；〃 she said； gazing down at him from atop the driftdisc。
〃Thank you； my lady。〃
〃Perhaps you received orders；〃 she continued； 〃to refuse passage to the delegation from Ched Nasad。〃
〃No； my lady。〃
Filifar's hand twitched ever so slightly。 It wanted to reach for either the hilt of his sword or the spell ponents in one of his pockets。
〃Your subordinates were content to receive their instructions and let it go at that； but not a sharp boy like you。 Somehow you contrived to find out what the ambassador looks like； thus making sure you'd be able to recnotognize her if she came this way。〃
Filifar's mouth tightened。 〃My lady；〃 he said； 〃my pany is well armed and well trained。 You may also have observed the spiders graven…〃
She raised her hand。 〃Don't agitate yourself； Captain。 I mean you no harm。 We're just two Menzoberranyr idly chatting； passing the time it takes your fellows to open the gate。〃
〃I regret； my lady； that now that I've seen you up close； I can't allow them to do that。〃
He took two careful steps back； retreating beyond her reach； then pivnototed to shout the order。
Faeryl stopped him dead by displaying a gaudy ruby brooch； formerly Talindra's property。
〃I said you were an intelligent lad； Captain Filifar； but I don't believe you're a prosperous one。 You wear no jewelry； and your clothing is made of mon stuff。〃
〃You're right； milady。 Fortune hasn't favored me。〃
It can。
Faeryl brought out one ornament after another； the jewels her retainers had stolen from the Ousstyls and her own legitimate treasure as well。 She filled her lap with them and laid the surplus on the pale； luminous rim of the driftdisc。
〃Here's enough wealth to improve your luck and that of your minions as well。〃
Filifar hesitated before saying； 〃My lady； I was told that Matron Triel herself wishes you detained。 It's no light matter to cross the Baenre。〃
〃Just say the Zauvirr didn't pass through this gate； or if they did； you didn't recognize them。 No one will know any different。〃
He jerked his head in a nod。 〃Right。 Why not； curse it？〃
He removed his piwafwi to use as a makeshift bag and swept the jewnotelry in。 Some of the soldiers noticed what their captain was doing and scurried over to investigate。
Once the gate was well behind her； Faeryl abandoned the driftdisc。 The stately conveyance was just too slow。 She and her part）〃 quick…marched on through the mostly unimproved passages at the fringe of Menzoberranyr territory； past hunters' outposts and adamantine mines； making for the genuine wilderness beyond。
Faeryl realized she was grinning。 It was absurd； really。 She'd just surrennotdered a queen's ransom in gems； Triel would send troops after her； and she was all but certain some dire peril lay ahead； but somehow； for the moment； none of it mattered。 Faeryl had outwitted her foes and finally； after fourteen years； she was going home。
The fugitives rounded a bend； and dark figures seemed to flow from the tunnel walls just ahead。 The Zauvirr turned to run。 Somehow； the shadnotows were behind them as well。
On the fringe of Menzoberranyr territory； Valas Hune could sense the genuine wilderness beyond。 He could feel its vast and labyrinthine spaces and hear its pregnant silences。 He could smell and taste its varianottions of rock and imagined himself simply slipping away into that limitno