按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
roughout his training； Gromph had seen fit to take him in。
The news came as a considerable relief。 She'd feared her brother had fled Menzoberranzan and placed himself permanently beyond her reach。 Innotstead； he'd simply hopped up on a shelf above the city。 He was bound to hop down again eventually； and she would have him。
Or so she thought； until her mother sent for her。 Possessed of the same intelligence concerning her fugitive son's whereabouts； Miz'ri had formed a very different idea of what ought to be done about it： Nothing。
Even though they were only males； the Masters of Sorcere possessed both a degree of practical autonomy and an abundance of mystical power； and； always weaving her labyrinthine schemes to elevate the status of House Mizzrym； Mother had decided not to unnecessarily provoke the wizards。 Which was to say； as Pharaun had obtained a place in that cloisnottered； many…spired tower； he was more significant in exile than he had ever been at home； and Greyanna would have to let him live。 She had achieved what ought to have been her primary goal； preeminence among her sisters and cousins； but her vengeance would remain unfinished。
Through all the decades that followed； it galled her。 A hundred times she planned to defy her mother's mand and kill Pharaun anyway； only to abandon her stratagems just short of implementation。 As fiercely as she hated him； she feared Miz'ri's displeasure even more。
Was it possible that at long last the matron mother had changed her mind？ Or was this some new cruelty； was Miz'ri perhaps going to somenothow force Greyanna into an odious proximity with a brother who was still untouchable？
〃It might be nice to see Pharaun again；〃 the younger female said in the blandest tone she could muster。
Miz'ri laughed。 〃Oh； I daresay it would； to see him and kill him； isn't that the way of it？〃
〃If you say so。 You know our history。 We played out the whole sava game under your nose。〃 I imagine you relished every minute of it； she thought。
〃Yes； you did； and so I know this will interest you。 Sadly； a problem has arisen that even supercedes my desire to get along with the mages of the Academy。 While you were away； males continued to desert…〃
〃Pharaun ran off from Sorcere？〃 Greyanna interrupted； her eyes narrowed。 〃Were they finally going to punish him for getting those novices killed？〃
〃No； and no！ Shut your mouth； let me tell the tale； and we'll e to your little obsession in a moment。〃
〃Yes； Mother。〃
〃Males continue to elope； and despite our warning him off； Gromph still intends to investigate the matter。 Hoping to escape our notice and disnotpleasure； he decided to do so by proxy； and summoned a suitable agent to his office to discuss the matter。 Happily； we members of the Council posnotsess a scrying crystal with which we recently managed to pierce the obnotscuring enchantments shrouding the room。 Some of them； anyway。 We still can't see in； but we can hear what goes on； and that sufficed to reveal the arch mage s plan as well as the identity of his minion。 Now； if you must； you may excitedly babble your brother's name。〃
〃I imagine Gromph told him this is his one big chance to redeem himself。〃
〃Exactly。 The question is； how shall we priestesses respond？〃
〃I gather there's a reason you don't just tell Gromph you're on to his plan。〃 Of course； several。 For one； our first confrontation with him was cournotteous and mild； but who knows； a second might be less so。 As things stand； we hesitate to push him very hard。 For another； we don't want him to know we can eavesdrop on him。 He'd either block us out or hatch his plots elsewhere