The Dark Elf Trilogy | Page 7

time the secondboy of House
Do'Urden was not alone. Nearly sixty soldiers of the house walked in tight lines
behind him. Behind these, in similar order though with far less enthusiasm for the
adventure, came a hundred armed slaves of lesser races, goblins, orcs, and
bugbears.
There could be no doubt for onlookers, a drow house was on a march to war.
This was not an everyday event in Menzoberranzan but neither was it
unexpected. At least once every decade a house decided that its position within
the city hierarchy could be improved by another house's elimination. It was a
risky proposition, for all of the nobles of the "victim" house had to be disposed of
quickly and quietly. If even one survived to lay an accusation upon the
perpetrator, the attacking house would be eradicated by Menzoberranzan's
merciless system of "justice��
If the raid was executed to devious perfection, though, no recourse would be
forthcoming. All of the city, even the ruling council of the top eight matron
mothers, would secretly applaud the attackers for their courage and intelligence
and no more would ever be said of the incident.
Dinin took a roundabout route, not wanting to lay a direct trail between House
Do'Urden and House DeVir. A half-hour later, for the second time that night, he
crept to the mushroom grove's southern end, to the cluster of stalagmites that
held House DeVir. His soldiers streamed out behind him eagerly, readying
weapons and taking full measure of the structure before them.
The slaves were slower in their movements. Many of them looked about for some
escape, for they knew in their hearts that they were doomed in this battle. They
feared the wrath of the dark elves more than death itself, though, and would not
attempt to flee. With every exit out of Menzoberranzan protected by devious drow
magic, where could they possibly go? Every one of them had witnessed the
brutal punishments the drow elves exacted on recaptured slaves. At Dinin's
command, they jumped into their positions around the mushroom fence.
Dinin reached into his large pouch and pulled out a heated sheet of metal. He
flashed the object, brightened in the infrared spectrum, three times behind him to
signal the approaching brigades of Nalfein and Rizzen. Then, with his usual
cockiness, Dinin spun it quickly into the air, caught it, and replaced it in the
secrecy of his heat shielding pouch. On cue with the twirling signal, Dinin's drow
brigade fitted enchanted darts to their tiny hand-held crossbows and took aim on
the appointed targets.
Every fifth mushroom was a shrieker, and every dart held a magical dweomer
that could silence the roar of a dragon." . . . two. . . three�� Dinin counted, his hand
signaling the tempo since no words could be heard within the sphere of magical
silence cast about his troops. He imagined the "click" as the drawn string on his
little weapon released, loosing the dart into the nearest shrieker. So it went all
around the cluster of House DeVir, the first line of alarm systematically silenced
by three-dozen enchanted darts.
Halfway across Menzoberranzan, Matron Malice, her daughters, and four of the
house's common clerics were gathered in Lloth's unholy circle of eight. They
ringed an idol of their wicked deity, a gemstone carving of a drow faced spider,
and called to Lloth for aid in their struggles. Malice sat at the head, propped in a
chair angled for birthing. Briza and Vierna flanked her, Briza clutching her hand.
The select group chanted in unison, combining their energies into a single
offensive. spell. A moment later, when Vierna, mentally linked to Dinin,
understood that the first attack group was in position, the Do'Urden circle of eight
sent the first insinuating waves of mental energy into the rival house.
Matron Ginafae, her two daughters, and the five principal clerics of the common
troops of House DeVir huddled together in the darkened anteroom of the fivestalagmite
house's main chapel. They had gathered there in solemn prayer every
night since Matron Ginafae had learned that she had fallen into Lloth's disfavor.
Ginafae understood how vulnerable her house remained until she could find a
way to appease the Spider Queen. There were sixty-six other houses in
Menzoberranzan, fully twenty of which might dare to attack House DeVir at such
an obvious disadvantage.
The eight clerics were anxious now, somehow suspecting that this night would be
eventful.
Ginafae felt it first, a chilling blast of confusing perceptions that caused her to
stutter over her prayer of forgiveness. The other clerics of House DeVir glanced
nervously at the matron's uncharacteristic slip of words, looking for confirmation.
"We are under attack�� Ginafae breathed to them, her head already pounding with
a dull ache under the growing assault of the formidable clerics of House
Do'Urden.
A second signal from Dinin put the slave troops into motion. Still using stealth as
their ally, they quietly rushed to the mushroom fence and cut through with widebladed
swords. The secondboy of House Do'Urden watched and enjoyed as the
courtyard of House DeVir was easily penetrated. "Not such a prepared guard�� he
whispered in silent sarcasm to the red-glowing gargoyles on the high walls. The
statues