The Legend of Drizzt

17ARCHMAGEnot wish to speak aloud. As she looked from Miz’ri to the matronmothers Vadalma Tlabbar and Byrtyn Fey, she was reminded ofthe tightening and dangerous alliance between House Baenreand the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Houses of Menzoberranzan.Mez’Barris had to unwind that alliance if she was ever to beout from under the squirming shadow of the wretched QuenthelBaenre. She turned her stare over Miz’ri once more and addeda sly and knowing grin, pointedly letting her gaze drop to theornate necklace of gemstones Miz’ri had worn to council thisday. Rumors about the city claimed that House Mizzrym wasdealing with enemies of Menzoberranzan, including the deepgnomes of Blingdenstone, and that, of course, would explainthe precious gemstones around Miz’ri’s neck.Perhaps that was Baenre’s hold over Matron Mother Miz’ri,Mez’Barris mused. It was no secret that House Mizzrym wastrying to build a trade market beyond Menzoberranzan to rivalthat of the ever-dangerous House Hunzrin, and perhaps thematron mother was granting Miz’ri dispensation to bargain withenemies, even the hated deep gnomes, with impunity.It was just a hunch, but one worth investigating andperhaps exploiting.“It is curious, though, that with the discovery of a living Tiago,of the Do’Urden nobles who went to war, only two were killed,”Mez’Barris remarked. “And those two of the same family line.”“Are we to believe now that you ever truly claimed the darthiirhalf-breed daughter of Tos’un as a true member of House BarrisonDel’Armgo?” asked Dahlia—Matron Darthiir Do’Urden—andthe whole of the Ruling Council, with the exception of thetwo Baenres, gasped in unison, not so much at the bluntnessof the remark but that the wretched elf who all, even the alliesof House Baenre, knew to be no more than a second echo forMatron Mother Baenre’s votes, had spoken the open accusation.Seated beside Dahlia, High Priestess Sos’Umptu Baenresmiled unabashedly, as if she cared not at all that the puppetmaster’s strings were visible to the audience.