"Realms of the Underdark 2.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthologies)

finest weapons master in the city, but that gave her little advantage if she
could not control him. A servant-especially a male servant-did not make his
matron wait. Several years ago, she had revoked Zak's position as patron and had
taken Rizzen in his stead, thinking that would show him the consequences of
displeasing her. In the time since, though, he had become only more willful and
unmanageable. Malice was growing weary of being embarrassed by Zaknafein. Useful
as he was to her, she would not tolerate it much longer.
"Let me deal with Zaknafein when he returns, Matron Malice," offered Briza,
Malice's eldest daughter. Unlike her lithe mother, Briza was a big-boned and
round-shouldered elf. Recently anointed a high priestess of Lloth, she enjoyed
wielding her new authority. "Males are not as intelligent as the rest of us.
There is only one sort of instruction they understand." With fond fingers, she
touched the writhing, snake-headed whip at her belt. The half-dozen snake heads
hissed in anticipation.
"If I have wronged Matron Mother Malice, then punishment is hers to mete out,
not yours, Briza Do'Urden."
All turned to see a feral form step out of midair and float over the adamantite
railing. Zaknafein drifted to the floor before Malice, waving a hand to end the
levitation spell of which all highborn drow are capable-a fact that accounted
for the lack of stairs leading to the upper level of the house. Briza glared
daggers at the weapons master but held her tongue. All knew that his rebuke had
been correct, and that she had overstepped her bounds in her eagerness to punish
him.
Malice folded her arms over her breasts, her expression cold. "I do not like
waiting, Zaknafein. Tell me quickly why I should not give you to Briza and her
whip."
"There is no reason, Matron Mother," Zaknafein replied, bowing his head and
assuming a submissive posture before her. "But allow me to present you with
these before you do what you will."
He laid a grisly bundle at her feet-a dozen hairy kobold ears bound together
with twine. Malice raised a single eyebrow, impressed despite her anger. Kobolds
were wretched creatures, but they were vicious when cornered, and slaying a
dozen alone was no mean feat. Such an act could only please Lloth.
She felt her anger receding. The gift was a good one, and Zaknafein was now
acting suitably repentant. Perhaps his punishment should be to come to her
bedchamber and serve her there. She knew she should resist the temptation. Zak
needed to know how he had displeased her. And yet... She glanced at Rizzen. Her
current patron was handsome, yes, but so docile, so pliant, so utterly dull.
Maybe it was her lack of control over Zak that made him desirable. Danger could
be ever so alluring.
Whatever her decision would be, Malice decided to save it for later. Zaknafein's
offering had mollified her for the moment. Besides, there were more important
matters to attend.
Malice rested her pointed chin on the back of her hand, her dark eyes glinting.
"You and I will consider the matter of your punishment later, Zaknafein. Alone."
At that last word, an expression of surprise crossed Briza's broad face. Rizzen
shot Zaknafein an open look of hatred, then remembered himself and averted his
gaze, lest he attract his matron mother's wrath. Zaknafein only gave an
emotionless nod.
Satisfied the matter was resolved, Malice decided it was time to tell the others