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rds。 The Baenre recognized the trigger phrase of a spell intended to summon a certain type of plague demon。
She snatched out her hand crossbow and pulled the trigger。 Others did the same。 The flurry of poisoned darts punctured the scroll and the novice as well。 She fell onto her back； cracking her head against the calcite floor。 The spell； still a syllable or two from activation； dissipated its power in a harmless sizzle of red light。
Quenthel reflected that a pattern was being clear。 Some power struck a female and more or less drove her mad。 She then separated herself from her panions； either making an excuse or just running off； the better to manifest her lunacy in one bizarre behavior or another。
It was odd that the girls' panions never even noticed the attack ocnotcurring； odd； too； that the demon assaulted only one member of a group and not all…or that it attacked any； given that the previous intruders had only attacked those lesser priestesses who attempted to hinder them。
The unseen demon's search pattern was equally peculiar。 The location and sequences of its attacks seemed to indicate that the being was bouncnoting erratically around from one end of the temple to the other。
〃Mistress；〃 said Yngoth； 〃I know what's happening。〃
〃As do I；〃 Quenthel said。 〃I've merely been confirming it。〃 She turned to Minolin。 〃Fey…Branche。〃
〃Yes？〃 Minolin asked。
〃You're in mand of these others。 You will all evacuate the temple。 Get the sane people out； and the mad ones； too； but only if you can do it quickly。〃
The Fey…Branche princess blinked。 〃Mistress； we believe in your aunotthority；〃 she said。 〃We're not afraid to stand with you。〃
〃I'm touched；〃 Quenthel sneered； 〃but this isn't a test。 I want you to
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〃Exalted Mother；〃 Jyslin said； 〃what's happening？ Which demon innotvaded the temple tonight？ The assassin？ Did it poison our sisters to make them go insane？〃
〃No；〃 the Baenre said； 〃not in the way you mean。〃
〃Then…〃
〃Go！〃 Quenthel raged。 〃Minolin； I told you to take them out of here。〃
〃Yes； Mistress！〃
The Fey…Branche hastily formed them up and led them away。 The cornotridor seemed very quiet once they'd disappeared。
〃Mistress；〃 said Hsiv； 〃was it wise to send them away？〃
〃You question my judgment？〃 Quenthel asked。
The viper flinched。 〃No！〃
〃You sought to protect me； so I'll let it go。 This time。 I dismissed the girls because they can't help me； and I'd like to have some underlings left when this nonsense is over。〃
〃They might have guarded you from another would…be mortal killer。〃
〃We can hope that if Minolin gets everyone out； there won't be any more。 Besides； why in the name of the Demonweb did I create you？〃
Greenish candlelight rippling on black scales； Yngoth reared and twisted around to look Quenthel in the face。
〃Mistress；〃 the viper hissed； 〃we are rebuked。 We'll keep watch。 What will you do？〃
〃Wait； and prepare myself。〃
She found a classroom possessed of a reasonably fortable instrucnottor's chair； the high limestone back carved into the stylized shape of a stubby…legged spider。 She sat down； laid the whip at her feet； removed a thin shaft of polished white bone from her pouch； and set it in her lap； holding it at either end。
Closing her eyes； she menced a breathing exercise。 Within a heartnotbeat or two； she slipped into a meditative trance。 She thought she would need the utmost clarity to contend with the night's demon； because Jyslin had guessed wrong。 The intruder didn't encapsulate the art of the assassin； nor the spirit of the drow race； for that matter。 It embodied the concept of evil。
The traitor elves of the World Above professe