Daughter of the Drow Read Online Free PDF Page B

however, were his beautiful, tapered hands—so dexterous in weaving spells of death—and the brilliant mind that had brought him to the height of wizardly power
    and doomed him to a life of discontent. In many other cultures, one such as he would be a king. And of all Menzoberranzan’s wizards, only Gromph had the power to call such a meeting.
    “It is not customary for the wizards of this city to gather in one place,” Gromph began, speaking aloud the thoughts of all present. “Each of us serves the interests of his own House, according to the wisdom of his matron mother. This is as it should be,” he said emphatically. The archmage paused and lifted a single eyebrow, perhaps to spice his assertion with a dash of irony.
    “Yet, such alliances are not unknown. The city Sshamath is ruled by a coalition of drow wizards. We of Menzoberranzan could surely do as well if the need arises.”
    Murmurs, ranging from the excited to the appalled, filled the magical chamber. Gromph held up a hand, a simple gesture that commanded—and received—instant silence.
    “If the need arises,” he repeated sternly. “The Ruling Council will see to the troubles of the city. Our task is to wait and watch.”
    Again he paused, and all present heard the silent message. The Ruling Council—the matron mothers of the eight most powerful houses—was little more than a memory. Matron Baenre, the most powerful drow in .the city, was no more. Triel, her eldest surviving daughter, would assume the leadership of House Baenre, but she was young and would almost certainly face challengers. Recently, the third-ranked house had been utterly destroyed by creatures of the Abyss, but not before its renegade leader had slain the matron and the heir of the fourth house. Auro’pol Dyrr, the leader of the fifth-ranked house, had fallen during the war. Since orderly succession was a rarity, each of these houses might well be ravaged by internal strife before new matrons finally took power. These matrons would then face challenges on all sides. Seldom in the long history of Menzoberranzan had so many Council seats been open at one time, and at least a dozen houses could be counted on to go to war in an attempt to advance their status. Overall, the struggle to restore the Ruling Council could take years—years the faltering city could not spare.
    “You know the problems Menzoberranzan faces as well as I do,” Gromph continued softly. “If the city falls into anarchy, we wizards may well be her best chance of survival. We must stand ready to assume power.”
    Or to seize it.
    These words were also left unspoken, but every drow in the room heard them, and marked them well.

Chapter Two
DAUGHTERS OF BAENRE
    Baenre is dead. Reign long, Matron Triel.”
    These words had been spoken many times, with varying degrees of sincerity, throughout the day as one by one the nobles, soldiers, and commoners of House Baenre filed past the fearsome black throne—a sentient wonder in whose gleaming depths writhed the spirits of Baenre victims—to pledge fealty to their new matron.
    Triel Baenre herself was not an imposing sight. She was well under five feet tall, her body as slim and straight as a child’s. By the standards of drow elves, she was not particularly attractive. Her white hair was long and thin, braided tightly and wrapped around her small head like a crown. She was clad simply: a long hauberk of elven chain mail draped over the simple black robe of a priestess. Yet Triel did not require the conventional trappings of royalty. She was one of the highest-ranked priestesses of Lloth in the city, and in the full favor of her goddess. The young matron exuded power and confidence, and she greeted each of her subjects with a regal nod.
    In truth, Triel was not as comfortable with her new role as she appeared to be. Seated upon her mother’s throne, she felt aa if she were a child playacting. By the blood of Lloth, she swore silently, her feet did not even touch the floor! A