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on my sisters and their children to rebuild our strength. You keep the birth records; what can you tell me about our prospects? Any outstanding talents among the young females?”
    The keeper of the chapel cleared her throat. “Probably the most gifted among them would be Liriel. Gromph’s daughter?” she prompted, when Triel showed no sign of recognition.
    Memory fell suddenly into place, and Triel’s eyes widened in wonder as she considered the possibilities. Gromph’s pampered, wayward daughter, a high priestess of Lloth. How preposterous, and how delightful!
    From what Triel could recall, Gromph had fathered the child some four decades past and had inexplicably claimed her as his own. Liriel bore the name of her father’s house, which was almost unheard of in their matriarchal society. Her mother, a useless beauty from some minor house, had disappeared, and for many years little had been heard of the child, except disapproving whispers that Gromph allowed the girl to run wild. With the onset of adolescence, Liriel had forged a place for herself in the frenetic social life of certain wealthy circles. Triel had heard tales of Liriel’s exploits, which earned the girl notoriety and admiration in nearly equal parts. Although considered headstrong and capricious, Liriel reportedly had exceptional powers of mind and magic. What better use for such talents than the service of Lloth?
    Triel smiled wickedly. How that would enrage Gromph! By law and custom, noble females entered the clerical college with the onset of puberty or upon their twenty-fifth birthday, whichever came first. Gromph had not required his daughter to attend—perhaps he had even forbidden it! The archmage was hardly devout in the service of Lloth, and Triel had caught glimpses of Gromph’s bitter resentment toward the priestess rulers. Yet if Matron Triel commanded, Gromph would have little choice but to send his daughter to Arach-Tinilith.
    And Liriel Baenre, as a high priestess of Lloth, would become not only a bright jewel in the crown of House Baenre, but also a powerful reminder to ambitious Gromph as to where the true power in Menzoberranzan lay.
    Triel turned to regard her younger sister. “Why, SoslJmptu,” she said slyly, “you surprise me! I had not thought you capable of such devious subtlety.”
    Sos’Umptu flinched and said nothing, for she had learned through hard experience to be leery of compliments. Indeed, Triel’s eyes hardened dangerously as she continued to observe her younger sister.
    “It would seem,” the new matron continued, “the keeper of the chapel has talents that reach beyond her chosen sphere of influence. See that your ambitions do not do likewise!”
    Sos’Umptu sank into a deep reverence. “I desire only to serve Lloth, and my sister the matron mother,” she said fervently.
    Although it was almost beyond belief, Triel sensed the younger Baenre daughter spoke truth. The matron was not certain whether to regard Sos’Umptu’s unnatural lack of ambition with relief or scorn, but she smüed at her sister and bid her to rise. “Your devotion does you credit,” Triel said dryly, “and your idea has merit. Have someone find the girl and bring her here at once.”
    “Do you want Gromph to be present when you speak to his daughter?”
    Heat flooded Triel’s face until her countenance shone like an angry ruby. “I do not require my brother’s blessing, in this matter or any other,” she snapped.
    “Of course not, Matron Triel,” Sos’Umptu hastened to say, dipping into another respectful bow. “But I thought you might, perhaps, enjoy witnessing Gromph’s distress?”
    The dangerous glint in Triel’s eyes warmed to become a comrade’s gleam. “My dear sister, for the sake of House Baenre, you must venture out of your chapel more often!”
    Meanwhile, far from House Baenre’s audience hall, Gromph’s daughter skipped lightly through the tunnels of the Underdark. Her eyes gleamed red as they pierced the