Lisa Smedman - Sacrifice of the Widow

Qilue suspected that Halisstra was, consciously or not, trying to play both sides of the sava board at once. Redemption lay on one side of the board. On the other was the possibility of a reward from the Spider Queen for delivering a priestess of Eilistraee into her hands, except that Lolth was capricious when it came to rewarding mortals for services rendered. The Spider Queen was just as likely to punish as to pardon, as Halisstra was doubtless well aware.

"We can do it, Lady Qilue," Halisstra whispered, "finish what we started. Use the Crescent Blade to kill Lolth." She spread her elongated fingers, looked down at the claws that protruded from their tips. "But she won't die by these hands. Someone else will have to wield the Crescent Blade this time."

Qilue nodded. Eilistraee's faithful would not make the same mistake twice. Three years before, Uluyara's decision to let Halisstra carry the Crescent Blade had proved a disaster, even though the choice had seemed sound at the time. Halisstra had been part of the group that had been seeking Lolth during her Silence. She stood the best chance of infiltrating Quenthel's band and traveling with them to the place where Lolth had secluded herself, but Halisstra had been a novice, not yet fully trusting in her newfound faith. It would be one of Eilistraee's Chosen-Qilue herself-who would carry the battle forward.

If, indeed, the Crescent Blade did still exist.

"Three years ago," Qilue said, "Uluyara came to me and told me what you planned to do. When you entered the Demonweb Pits, I was watching."

That got a reaction. "You were scrying?" Halisstra's spider legs drummed against her chest. Her breathing was fast and light.

Qilue nodded. Deliberately, she added details that Halisstra would recognize. "Could you not feel me, when I shattered the ice that Pharaun used to imprison you? I saw through your eyes when Danifae lifted you by the hair and made you watch as the draegloth tore into Feliane."

Halisstra's eyes narrowed, perhaps in pain at the memory. "You saw Feliane die?" Every muscle of her body was tense.

"Yes."

For several moments, there was strained silence. Qilue waited expectantly for Halisstra to reveal, through some ill chosen word, whatever secret had caused her to tense up. Something had happened after the draegloth killed Feliane-something Halisstra didn't want Qilue to know about-but what?

Halisstra laughed, a wild sound that rippled at the edge of insanity. Qilue thought she heard an undertone of relief in it, but couldn't be certain. "You think I could have done more to save Feliane, but I was weak, nearly dead myself. I could do nothing to stop the draegloth from killing her."

Qilue arched an eyebrow, waiting. Nothing more was forthcoming, however. Qilue at last nodded. "You could do nothing to save her," she agreed.

Halisstra's relief was clearly visible, and perhaps it really was as simple as that. Perhaps Halisstra felt guilty about the deaths of the two priestesses who had accompanied her to the Demonweb Pits, a guilt as painful as any penance Lolth had imposed.

Qilue suddenly wondered if she'd pushed Halisstra too far. She switched to a soothing tone. "A death like Feliane's is disturbing," she said. "It would make anyone question her faith. It's easy enough to think that Eilistraee had abandoned you, but she didn't. It was her magic that revived you, after Danifae's mace shattered your face."

Halisstra cocked her head. "Eilistraee was… with me?" she whispered in a dry, strangled voice. "Even when…"

Qilue nodded. "She was."

Halisstra's eyes hardened. "If Eilistraee was with me, why did she let Lolth claim me?"

"Strong as Eilistraee is, Lolth is more powerful within her own domain, especially within her fortress," Qilue spread her hands, "but Eilistraee-and I-did not just abandon you. My scrying ended when Danifae struck you down. I assumed you were dead, until Eilistraee hinted otherwise. Whatever happened in the Demonweb Pits after that, Eilistraee will forgive you."

Halisstra stared flatly back at Qilue. There was no conviction in her eyes.

"One last question," Qilue said. "It's been three years since Lolth broke her Silence. What have you been doing all this time?"

Halisstra shifted uncomfortably. "I only escaped the Demonweb Pits a year ago. Since then, I've been… busy."

"Doing Lolth's bidding," Qilue suggested.

Halisstra's eyes blazed. "I never attacked your priestesses."

Qilue noted the choice of words. "Your" priestesses. A bitter twist to the word.

"It was House Jaelre and House Auzkovyn that I hunted," Halisstra continued. "Vhaeraun's clerics. They're your enemies, as well."

"Those who worship Vhaeraun, yes," Qilue said softly, "but some from those Houses have sought redemption."

"Not all of them," Cavatina interrupted. She nodded at Halisstra. "The last one she killed died unrepentant. I gave him every opportunity to redeem himself before he died, but he refused."

Qilue frowned, not understanding. "You raised one of her victims from the dead?"

The Darksong Knight laughed. "Quite the contrary. He was very much alive, inside her cocoon, when I found him."

"You killed him?"

Cavatina stared back at Qilue, unrepentant. "He deserved to die."

Cavatina seemed disinclined to say more. Rather than pursue the discussion in front of Halisstra, who was listening a little too attentively, Qilue let the matter drop. There were more important matters at hand. The Crescent Blade. If it still existed, the quest that had begun three years ago might continue.

She glanced past Halisstra at Cavatina. The Darksong Knight stood ready, her eyes bright in the moonlight. Cavatina was skilled with a sword and experienced at fighting demons. Aside from Qilue herself, she was the most logical choice to recover the Crescent Blade. If it still existed.

"Priestess?" Qilue asked aloud. "Are you up to the challenge?" At the same time, she used her magic to send Cavatina a silent message. It will be a trap. In all likelihood the temple no longer exists, and the blade is still lost.

Cavatina's posture was tense. Eager. But if it is true? If the sword can be recovered?

"Then you will bring it to me," Qilue said, answering aloud. She kept an eye on Halisstra as she spoke, watching for a reaction. Halisstra gave no sign of disappointment. It didn't seem to matter to her that Qilue herself would not be lured into the Demonweb Pits.

Cavatina's lips parted then closed. Qilue could sense that she had been about to protest, to insist that it should be a Darksong Knight who made the attempt on Lolth, but instead she inclined her head.

"By the song and the sword, we will succeed," she said.

"The drow will be free of the Spider Queen at last."

"By the song and the sword," Qilue murmured. Then she took a deep breath. Halisstra, she thought, was a coin balanced on its edge. Which way would she fall-toward betrayal or aid? The prophecy of three years ago had said it could go either way.

No. The prophecy had said it would go both ways. In the goddess's own words, House Melarn would both aid-and betray. A single coin could only fall on one side or the other.

Was there a second "coin" out there somewhere, waiting to declare itself?

If so, where?

Q'arlynd approached the tree that housed the priestesses. It was still covered in leaves, despite the recent snowfall. Sustained by ancient magic, its branches sparkled against the night sky with a shimmer of green that reminded Q'arlynd of the faerie fire that had decorated the buildings and roads back home.

The trunk was massive, thick as any of the streets of Ched Nasad had been. Its bark bulged in several places, enormous knots of wood that were called burls. Hollowed into each of these was a room, its entrance a round wooden door. Leading up to the doors were ladders made of individual sticks that floated in mid air. These sticks appeared benign, but glyphs carved into them would activate if anyone of evil intent touched them, instantly making them as sharp as steel. Enemies of Eilistraee who were foolish enough to use a magical ladder would lose their fingers at the very least.