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to illuminate darkened corridors…would rid them all of Nimor Imphraezl。
Without having to cast any spells on him。
Chapter Twenty…five
A chorus of nearly fifty voices filled the air as Eilistraee's priestesses； seated in a circle around a waist…high； rust…red boulder； gave worship to their goddess through evensong； Halisstra sat among them on one side of the crater that had been formed when a boulder fell from the heavens； centuries gone by。 The crater was bowl…shaped and dozens of paces wide； its sides smoothed by a dusting of snow。
The evensong was one of thanksgiving for the forest that sustained them； for the sun that even then was setting behind the trees； filling the sky with rosy pink light； for the moon that would illuminate the darkness； reminding the drow that even at night the goddess still watched her children； and for the ground beneath their feet； which gave up its iron needed to forge the Dark Ladies' swords。
〃Up from the earth； and into the flame；〃 Halisstra sang； together with the other priestesses； 〃I temper my heart； in Eilistraee's name。〃
Though the evensong was a joyful one； it had an undercurrent of rage that night。 Upon hearing of the death of a member of their faith at the hands of a yochlol； priestesses from all over the forest had gathered to pay tribute to the woman who had fallen。 More priestesses were still emerging from the forest to join in the circle。 Clad in chain mail and bearing shields they sank down beside the others； sat cross…legged with drawn swords placed across their knees； and joined in the song。
When it was done； Uluyara rose and walked down the slope to the boulder。 Placing her left hand on it； she raised the sword she held in her right hand to the heavens； invoking the goddess。
〃Eilistraee； hear me；〃 she cried。 〃Breena's death shall be avenged。 We shall hunt down the servants of the Spider Queen and put them to the sword！ Dark Maiden； give us strength。〃
As one； the seated priestesses raised their own swords and shouted； 〃By song and sword！〃
Belatedly； Halisstra joined them； thrusting her own sword at the heavens。 She glanced； nervously； at the priestesses on either side of her； worried that they might think her tardiness showed a lack of faith…or that they might cast a critical eye on the blade's missing tip。 But they were caught up in the moment； sighting along their own blades at the sky above。
〃Whether they try to run on the surface or hide in Lolth's dark depths； we shall hunt them down；〃 Uluyara continued； the fire in her red eyes matching that of the setting sun。 〃We will have our vengeance upon them and will dance in delight as they fall。 Lady of the Dance； give us strength！〃
Halisstra was ready。
〃By song and sword！〃 she shouted； thrusting her songsword into the air at the same time the others did。
〃We will tear through their web of lies and deceit and destroy all who prevent the dark children from claiming their rightful place in the light；〃 Uluyara continued。 〃Lady Silverhair； give us strength！〃
〃By song and sword！〃 the priestesses replied。
Then； all at once； they stood； and Halisstra scrambled to join them。
〃Lolth will be defeated！〃 Uluyara cried。 The blade of her sword was glowing with a cold； white light。 〃Eilistraee； give us strength！〃
〃By song and sword！〃 the priestesses shouted； raising their swords a fourth and final time。 Then； reversing their weapons； they drove them point…first into the ground and shouted； 〃Lolth must die！〃
Halisstra had shouted the first response together with the other priestesses but was taken by surprise when they thrust their swords down； instead of up。 A heartbeat behind the others； she thrust Seyll's songsword into the ground； forcing its blunted tip into the earth。
〃Lolth must die！〃 she shouted…suddenly realizing that her voice was all alone in the abrupt silence。
She glanced up and found that all of them were staring at her…especially Uluyara。 The high priestess had driven the point of her own sword not into the earth but into the boulder beside her。 For a moment； the boulder reminded Halisstra of a slain spider； the red streaks of rust emulating blood。 As Uluyara tossed back her hair； the silver radiance cast by the blade of her sword caught it； making it sparkle like moonlight。 She beckoned Halisstra forward。
Deciding after a moment's hesitation to leave the songsword in the ground where she'd thrust it； Halisstra approached the high priestess。 Uluyara reached our for her hand； and when Halisstra gave it to her； she placed it on the hilt of the sword in the stone。
〃This one holds a special place in Eilistraee's heart； though she has but recently renounced the Queen of Spiders；〃 Uluyara told the others。 〃May the Lady of the Dance bless her and guide her sword well。 Eilistraee give her strength。〃
Halisstra； her palm damp with nervous sweat； spoke the ritual response： 〃By song and sword。〃
As she said it； the sword she was holding quivered slightly。 Then； seemingly of its own accord； it slid deeper into the stone。 Halisstra； still holding its hilt； followed it down； pushing it into the boulder until its hilt struck the stone with a dull clank。
〃By song and sword！〃 the other priestesses cried。
Then； as one； they broke into song； whirling their swords above their heads。 A moment later； they were dancing in a circle around the stone。
Halisstra； still gripping the sword tightly； felt Uluyara place a hand on hers。
〃e；〃 the high priestess said。 〃Join the dance。 When it is done； there is something I'd like to discuss with you。〃
Halisstra nodded and allowed herself to be led into the swirl of dancers。 On the way she plucked the songsword from the ground and waved it over her head。 As she moved gracefully among the other priestesses； sword flashing； she could feel Eilistraee looking down from the heavens。 Not just at the dance； but at her； personally。 Filled with wonder； Halisstra realized the goddess had something in mind for her； something momentous。 Would she be able to rise to the challenge？ She who； like the yochlol； had so treacherously betrayed and slain one of Eilistraee's priestesses？
As she danced； Halisstra could sense another set of eyes； watching her。 Not those of a goddess but of a mortal。 She searched the trees that fringed the crater； looking for a familiar patch of too…deep shadow； for the tiny flash of white that would mark the eyes that were observing her。 At last she found it； high among the branches； and knew that it was the spot where Ryld was levitating。
Seeing him…or rather； seeing the subtle signs that he was there…Halisstra felt a chill course through her blood。 Males were forbidden from observing the evensong ritual。 Spying on one so emotionally charged was to court disaster。 Any moment； one of the priestesses might spot the weapons master and punish his transgression by striking him blind； deaf； and dumb。 For all Halisstra knew； Eilistraee herself might punish him； smiting him with the cold fire that had killed the phase spider。
Those grim thoughts filled Halisstra's mind as she followed the dancing women in their circle； for a few moments losing track of Ryld as her back was turned to him。 Then； as she came around to the other side of the circle once more； she snuck a glance at the spot where he was…carefully； so as not to attract attention to him。
Ryld was gone。
Lost in thought as he approached the tiny cabin in which he and Halisstra had been quartered； Ryld didn't react； at first； to the faint； musky odor that came to his nostrils as the wind shifted。 Instead his thoughts were on the dance he'd been spying on and Halisstra's conversion； heart and soul； to a goddess who would condemn her to forever live in the World Above。 Only at the last instant…as a patch of shadow in the bushes to his right suddenly shifted…did he jerk back。 By the time he drew Splitter from the sheath on his back； a black wolf had leaped onto the trail in front of him； blocking it。 Instead of attacking； however； it cocked its head and gave Ryld a sly grin； tongue lolling from its mouth。 A ripple passed through its body； causing the wolf to stagger； and Ryld heard the sound of cracking cartilage as the animal became a dirt…smudged boy。
〃If the wind hadn't shifted； I'd have had you；〃 Yarno said。
Ryld grinned in acknowledgement and sheathed his sword。 Then； hearing female voices in the forest behind him； he frowned down at Yarno。
〃You shouldn't be here；〃 he told the boy。 〃If the priestesses find you within their sacred grove。 。 。 。〃
The boy's eyes narrowed； and he asked； 〃How many have you killed？〃
It took Ryld a moment to realize what the boy was asking。 The question was one he was often asked by the students at Melee…Magthere…and one he always declined to answer。 〃The proud spider gets caught in Its own web；〃 he would quote； reminding them that hidden prowess with weapons was a weapon in and of itself。 But Yarno was talking about the priestesses…which reminded Ryld of his promise to the boy。
〃They didn't kill Halisstra；〃 he told Yarno。
The boy scratched his ear。