Or course, neither was Danifae. She had no intention or going to Menzoberranzan if she was chosen. Not when there was a wizard in Sschindylryn who might be able to help her to free herself, once and for all, from the odious Binding that tied her to Halisstra.

Danifae felt Quenthel touch her hair, and she looked up expectantly.

"No, Danifae," Quenthel said, the touch turning into a gentle stroke. "You will stay with me."

Danifae ground her teeth. Apparently, she'd done too good a job of seducing Quenthel.

Halisstra stepped forward?and, to Danifae's astonishment, also fell to her knees in front of Quenthel.

"Mistress," Halisstra said. "Let me carry the message for you. I know that I failed you earlier, in the shadow of the goddess's own temple. I beg of you now. Please let me. . redeem myself."

"No!" Danifae spat. "She's up to something. She has no intention of going to Menzoberranzan. She?"

Halisstra laughed.

"And just where would I go, Danifae?" she asked. "Ched Nasad lies in ruins. I no longer have a House to return to. I need to make a new home for myself?in Menzoberranzan. And what better way to start than by braving the dangers of the World Above to carry a vital message to the First House?"

Danifae's eyes narrowed. She could sense that Halisstra was up to something.

"You'd travel to Menzoberranzan on the surface?" she asked, spitting out the word. "Alone? Through woods crawling with House Jaelre? You'd be captured again before night fell."

Danifae was pleased to see Quenthel nodding?she was obviously about to reject Halisstra's foolish notion and send Danifae, instead. Then Halisstra's lips quirked into a smile?and Danifae realized that, somehow, unwittingly, she'd just played right into Halisstra's hands.

"This will see me through," said Halisstra, patting the leather case that held her lyre. "I know a bae'qeshel song that will allow me to walk on wind. Using it, I could reach Menzoberranzan in a tenday, at most."