Homeland (The Legend of Drizzt #1)(61)

That, too, Drizzt believed, had been only a lie. On his second day home, when Narbondel, the time clock of the city, had just begun its cycle of light, the door to Drizzt’s small chamber swung open and Briza walked in.

“An audience with Matron Malice,” she said grimly. A thousand thoughts rushed through Drizzt’s mind as he grabbed his boots and followed his oldest sister down the passageways to the house chapel. Had Malice and the thers discovered his true feelings toward their evil deity?

What punishments did they now have waiting for him? Unconsciously, Drizzt eyed the spider carvings on the chapel’s arched entrance.

“You should be more familiar and more at ease with this place,” Briza scolded, noting his discomfort. “It is the place of our people’s highest glories.”

Drizzt lowered his gaze and did not respond-and was careful not to even think of the many stinging retorts he felt in his heart.

His confusion doubled when they entered the chapel, for Rizzen, Maya, and Zaknafein stood before the matron mother, as expected. Beside them, though, stood Dinin and Vierna.

“We are all present,” Briza said, taking her place at her mother’s side.

“Kneel,” Malice commanded, and the whole family fell to its knees. The matron mother paced slowly around them all, each pointedly dropping his or her eyes in reverence, or just in common sense, as the great lady walked by.

Malice stopped beside Drizzt. “You are confused by the presence of Dinin and Vierna,” she said. Drizzt looked up at her. “Do you not yet understand the subtle methods of our survival?”

“I had thought that my brother and sister were to continue on at the Academy,” Drizzt explained.

“That would not be to our advantage,” Malice replied.

“Does it not bring a house strength to have mistresses and masters seated at the Academy?” Drizzt dared to ask.

“It does,” replied Malice, “but it separates the power. You have heard tidings of war?”

“I have heard hinting of trouble,” said Drizzt, looking over at Vierna, “though nothing more tangible.”

“Hinting?” Malice huffed, angered that her son could not understand the importance. “They are more than most houses ever hear before the blade falls!” She spun away from Drizzt and addressed the whole group.

“The rumors hold truth,” she declared.

“Who?” asked Briza. “What house conspires against House Do’Urden?”

“None behind us in rank,” Dinin replied, though the question had not been asked to him and it was not his place to speak unbidden.

“How do you know this?” Malice asked, letting the oversight pass. Malice understood Dinin’s value and knew that his contributions to this discussion would be important.

“We are the ninth house of the city,” Dinin reasoned, “but among our ranks we claim four high priestesses, two of them former mistresses of Arach-Tinilith,” He looked at Zak.

“We have, as well, two former masters of Melee-Magthere, and Drizzt was awarded the highest laurels from the school of fighters. Our soldiers number nearly four hundred, all skilled and battle-tested. Only a few houses claim more.”

“What is your point?” Briza asked sharply.

“We are the ninth house,” Dinin laughed, “but few above us could defeat us...”

“And none behind,” Matron Malice finished for him. “You show good judgment, Elderboy. I have come to the same conclusions.”

“One of the great houses fears House Do’Urden,” Vierna concluded. “It needs us gone to protect its own position.”

“That is my belief,” Malice answered. “An uncommon practice, for family wars usually are initiated by the lower-ranking house, desiring a better position within the city hierarchy.”

“Then we must take great care,” Briza said. Drizzt listened carefully to their words, trying to make sense of it all. His eyes never left Zaknafein, though, who knelt impassively at the side. What did the callous weapon master think of all this? Drizzt wondered. Did the thought of such a war thrill him, that he might be able to kill more dark elves?

Whatever his feelings, Zak gave no outward clue. He sat quietly and by all appearances was not even listening to the conversation.

“It would not be Baenre,” Briza said, her words sounding like a plea for confirmation. “Certainly we have not yet become a threat to them!”

“We must hope you are correct,” Malice replied grimly, remembering vividly her tour of the ruling house. “Likely, it is one of the weaker houses above us, fearing its own unsteady position. I have not yet been able to learn any incriminating information against any in particular, so we must prepare for the worst. Thus, I have called Vierna and Dinin back to my side.”

“If we learn of our enemies...” Drizzt began impulsively. All eyes snapped upon him. It was bad enough for the elderboy to speak without being addressed, but for the secondboy, just graduated from the Academy, the act could be considered blasphemous.

Wanting all perspectives, Matron Malice again let the oversight pass. “Continue,” she prompted.

“If we discover which house plots against us,” Drizzt said quietly, “could we not expose it?”

“To what end?” Briza snarled at him. “Conspiracy without action is no crime.”