Maestro by R. A. Salvatore Page B

come to its end,” he answered, to a few snickers.
    But Tiago wasn’t laughing. He strode defiantly up to Braelin, his eyes flaring threateningly. “What do you know?”
    Braelin matched his stare. “I just told you.”
    “Perhaps your corpse would tell my priestess wife differently.” “Surely such an event would tell much to Jarlaxle.”
    “You think I fear Jarlaxle?”
    “I had always assumed you to be intelligent.”
    A little snarl escaped Tiago’s lips and his hand went to the hilt of Vidrinath. But another hand, Ravel’s hand, settled on his forearm. When Tiago turned to the House wizard, he found Ravel shaking his head. Jaemas similarly warned Tiago away from this dangerous course. “I know what I saw, and what I saw was surely the rogue named Drizzt Do’Urden,” Jaemas said. “Faelas will confirm. Drizzt was there, very much alive, in the battle of the lower chambers. There is no reason to believe him dead, no reason at all, whatever you might have seen when you were removed from Gauntlgrym.”
    Saribel scrutinized her husband carefully now, watching his expression go from murderous rage to something else. Intrigue, perhaps. The high priestess shook her head, knowing where this new path would soon enough lead. She half expected Tiago to run from the House right then and charge off for Gauntlgrym in pursuit of the rogue. “You do understand that Demogorgon cut a swath of destruction across Menzoberranzan before departing to the open Underdark?” Ravel remarked, which told Saribel that he, too, had noted Tiago’s rather naked intentions. “And that the Prince of Demons is out there in the tunnels, likely not far?”
    “And so many other demons, as well,” Braelin Janquay added, “including other demon lords if the reports are to be believed.” “Do you purport to instruct me?” Tiago asked with a derisive snort of incredulity.
    “No, but now is not the time,” Ravel bluntly stated.
    Saribel did well not to sigh out loud with relief that her brother was taking the lead. Tiago would listen to him, and no one else in this room. “Matron Mother Baenre is vulnerable because of the disaster wrought by Archmage Gromph—or at least, one that is being attributed to him,” Ravel reminded them all. “And if she is vulnerable, then so are we.” “You think House Baenre vulnerable?” Tiago scoffed.
    “I think that they need to close up and concern themselves with their own situation right now,” Ravel argued, and from his tone it was clear that he, like so many others, was becoming quite weary of Tiago’s obsession. “Matron Mother Baenre did not construct House Do’Urden with such distinguished nobles as we see here in this very room in order for us to rely upon her for our own security. Our eyes must be turned nowhere but to the corridors and walls of House Do’Urden in this dangerous time. We have been graced by the matron mother in adding Jaemas Xorlarrin and Braelin Janquay to our ranks, one a Master of Sorcere and the other a senior member of Bregan D’aerthe and confidant of mighty Jarlaxle and Kimmuriel. Our foot soldiers here once knew loyalty to Bregan D’aerthe, and they are an ally that will serve us well now.
    “But only,” he continued, quite animatedly, “if we as the leaders of this House properly take and execute control of the situation and inspire confidence in our cobbled-together garrison.
    “Faelas Xorlarrin is not far afield of us,” Jaemas added before Tiago could angrily retort, as his expression showed him most certainly preparing to do. “And there are others at Sorcere who would quietly support us if the need arises. When House Xorlarrin set off to create Q’Xorlarrin, we did not cut ties to the Academy. And now that that House—my House—wanders unmoored, it is likely that more of our resources will flow House Do’Urden’s way.”
    Though his words were aimed at Tiago, Saribel did not like the sound of them, either. Any members of Xorlarrin that joined