13...Audition

"Excuse us," Matron Mother Myrune said to Haer'Dalis. Her words were polite but her gesture made her meaning clear. Shoo. Haer'Dalis stepped away, his mobile face quite expressionless, and the kobold skittered off behind him.

"Our general flees the field?" she asked Solaufein, with more than an edge of mockery in her voice.

Must I make face-saving excuses for that rude demon? Curses upon him, I believe I must. I cannot allow her to ridicule Valen Shadowbreath. She knows she can be overheard.

"His duties called him away," Solaufein said. "We will spar some other time."

"The demonspawn is a formidable warrior. Do you think you would have defeated him?"

"I do not know but it will be an interesting match," Solaufein said.

"One I look forward to seeing in the future." Again, that smile. There was a pause as her eyes made an appreciative trip across his exposed chest and belly. "You fought well today. Very well indeed. Come with me," she said. "I would have words in private."

His thoughts whirled. I cannot offend this matron. I must not offend this female. Our entire alliance stands upon her goodwill.

"It will take me a few moments to get cleaned up."

"Now," the matron mother said.

This was far too public. He gave Haer'Dalis a look he hoped wasn't openly imploring and scooped up his things. At her sign, her guards and attendants formed a protective ring around them. She didn't give him time to put his shirt on. Does she intend to parade me like a slave? Or is she simply unaware I might find this undignified? They walked in silence to the Maeviir compound.

There were high walls and visible sentries. Solaufein cast an experienced eye at the compound defenses but could only guess at what wards and invisible protections Myrune had in place. They were no doubt formidable. He had met her house wizard, Gulhyrs, who had certainly projected a confident air. Even Nathyrra spoke well of his competence.

The entry hall was rich and imposing. Tebimar had obviously been lying in wait and stepped forward when they entered. The matron mother cast him an irritated glance. He would have done better not to draw attention to himself, Solaufein thought. Tebimar saw her annoyance and yet, to Solaufein's bemusement, spoke without invitation.

"Matron Mother, I-"

"Silence!" Tebimar opened his mouth as if he would speak again. "Go," Myrune said. "I will deal with you later."

Tebimar bowed and left but not before he shot Solaufein a hostile glare.

Don't blame me for your beating, male. But Solaufein couldn't help but feel curiosity. Does she actually give her weapon master such latitude? In Ust Natha, he'd have been handed over to the priestesses immediately if he'd ever dared speak to the matron without permission.

But now, with Lolth's silence, the priestesses are not quite so frightening, are they? And he knew from Imloth's reports that House Maeviir had lost many priestesses in the early battles with the Valsharess, including all but one of the House daughters.

"Come," Myrune told him. Solaufein followed her up a wide elaborate stairway. The entry hall and what he could see of the house was an opulent display of the Maeviir wealth. He saw galleries above that probably could only be reached by levitation. Her quarters would be there, no doubt. Myrune turned down a smaller hallway. For a moment he thought he must have misinterpreted her intentions and she really meant to talk. But no. She led him to a bedchamber and shut the door behind him. The room was a guest room, he assumed, for although it was sumptuous, there was no clutter of personal items.

And here it comes.

"How may I serve you, matron mother?" he asked.

"There are many ways you could serve me." Again, the smile, and then she gestured for him to remove his remaining clothes. Her eyes devoured him. Without thought or volition, he dropped his gaze as he obeyed. She undressed slowly, with a care for her dress, that it not be crushed or wrinkled. She stood and moved in a way to best showcase her considerable beauty. This display is not for me. It is her pride in herself.

It had been long since he'd lain with a drow woman. The habits of obedience and servitude had not been eroded by his years on the surface, he realized with more than a touch of bitterness. He knew how to serve her, oh yes, he knew. In a flash of memory, he recalled Frond. She had been as lusty and as demanding as any drow and yet her playful sharing was as far from this cold selfish taking as the moon from the sun.

And yet, it could have been far, far worse. Myrune did not intentionally humiliate him, as many drow women did for their own amusement. In fact she was, for a noble, almost courteous. Once, to have caught the eye of such a matron mother would have been the culmination of my ambitions. Once I would have done anything to earn this woman's favor.

Afterward, Myrune had him fetch them both wine from the sideboard. He kept his eyes on the ground as he handed her the goblet. Is this how shame feels? Can my black skin blush? Under his chagrin, he felt a toxic bubble of anger form, anger he could not possibly allow expression. Am I angry at her...or at myself? She gestured him to join her at a round table near the back of the chamber. So now we are to talk, he thought. He waited for her to begin.

"You have pleased me, Solaufein. I would know more of you."

There was a trick all male drow learned-to flick the gaze so that one could read a female's expression without making eye contact. She seemed relaxed but he did not think her interest was idle curiosity.

"I am from Ust Natha," he said.

"And I understand you have been...unHoused."

This was delicately stated. His story was no secret and there seemed no reason not to tell her.

"When I was young, I was adopted into House Ulyr," he said.

"For your martial prowess?"

"Yes," he said simply. "The Ulyr Weapon Master was highly skilled. With his training and support, I rose to head the Male Fighter's Society for the city."

"This brought prestige to your House?"

"Yes," he said. "The matron was pleased."

"Did your matron mother intend to make you her Weapon Master?"

"Perhaps," he said. "In time. Meanwhile...I caught the eye of a daughter of House Despana."

"Did you?" she purred. "I certainly cannot fault her taste."

"Her matron mother did not like the connection. Phaere...was punished. Harshly."

He didn't say why and Myrune didn't ask. Perhaps it was obvious. Sexual pleasures were to be taken where one willed but no House daughter could be caught playing at love.

Other games were far more important.

"And were you punished as well?"

"Not for that," he said. And that was all he was going to say about Phaere to this cold eyed woman. "At that time my House and House Despana were roughly equal in power. But Despana's matron mother made an arrangement with a surfacer that promised to give her House great power in Ust Natha. That changed everything."

"How so?" Myrune asked.

"Are you familiar with the Bhaalspawn prophecy?"

"The surface war between the dead god's children? I have heard some tales. Ust Natha. Yes, I had heard that the Bhaalspawn, that famous one, had been in Ust Natha. But I do not know how that came to be."

"Disguised as a drow, she pursued her mortal enemy through the Underdark to Ust Natha. Her enemy was the darthiir that Matron Mother Ardulace had allied with."

"The matron allied with a darthiir?!" Her features twisted in distaste.

"He was a powerful mage and managed to conceal his race. She thought he was human." As if that wasn't bad enough. "He gave the matron the eggs of a silver dragon in exchange for her House's support in an attack on the darthiir city Suldanessellar. The matron planned to use the eggs to summon a demon lord to lead her House's attack. Had she been successful in sacking the darthiir city, it would have raised her House immeasurably."

"Of course."

"Phaere thought this was a good time to elevate herself to matron mother and she enlisted the Bhaalspawn to help her. She also asked the Bhaalspawn to assassinate me."

"Why assassinate you?"

"Phaere held a grudge from our prior relationship," Solaufein said reluctantly. "Instead of killing me, the Bhaalspawn tricked her and helped me escape Ust Natha. It seemed safer for my House to let them assume I was dead. When the Bhaalspawn left, there was...great chaos in the city."

"You were not actually cast off by your House then."

"I left."

"But you were not outcast. You left to protect your House."

"Of course."

He could tell she was pleased. He just wasn't quite sure why.

"And you went to the surface? With the Bhaalspawn?"

"I owed her a debt. And, unHoused, where else could I go?"

"And what happened to House Despana?"

He allowed himself a small smile. "The Bhaalspawn is a most powerful female. Allying with her enemy proved to be a fatal error for House Despana."

"This great chaos that you mentioned?" Solaufein nodded. "And now you are back home," she said. "So to speak."

"Yes," he said. "So to speak."

"It is said you are under a geas to kill Matron Mother Sinvyl."

"The Valsharess, yes."

"Sinvyl may call herself Valsharess but we know better. She is not our queen. She will never be our queen."

"I was called to the Underdark to stop her," he said.

"And it is said you are the Chosen of Eilistraee."

"I do not really know what that means," he admitted. "But yes, that is being said."

"You worship Eilistraee."

"Yes."

She gave him a thoughtful look and their eyes met for a second too long. She could have been angry but she was not.

"Solaufein," she said. "What do you think will happen when Lolth returns to us?"

His heart clenched. "I do not know."

"The Spider Queen is silent now and that silence tests us. But She will return and when She does, many things will be set right. This so-called Valsharess will be punished as she deserves. There will be great opportunities for the Houses that opposed her."

Little good that will do me if Halaster's geas kills me first, Solaufein thought.

"My House has been sorely tried by this war," she said. "I have lost much. My only surviving daughter is...a disappointment. I lost a patron I valued, a male of great valor. I lost a skilled weapon master. You see what I have to work with now. I am being frank."

"Yes," was all he knew to say.

"But I will rebuild my House to its rightful glory," she said. "You could be a part of that. There is no reason for you to return to exile on the surface when this is over. Lolth will understand why you left your House."

She gave him another look, to see if he understood the offer on the table. Her eyes flickered away but she smiled.

"I am glad to have one of your experience in command at last. The Seer's demonspawn bodyguard in charge of my troops-such a travesty! You are a worthy replacement. It is good that the Seer brought you here."

Replacement? Solaufein said nothing but his thoughts seethed. No one said I was here to replace Valen. But if that is what the tiefling believes, it would explain some of his attitude.

"I am glad you have come," Myrune continued. "This outsider is no true commander, as I feel sure you have noticed." She did not wait for him to agree. "He has no respect for our customs. He seems unaware of the enemies he has made in Lith My'athar. I feel certain you will perform in a much more satisfactory manner."

"So I hope," he murmured.

"Of course. Let the demonspawn take his place on the front lines, where he is most effective. For him to try to set policy? No, it is ludicrous. He listens only to the Seer and does not involve the rest of us. Tell me, Solaufein, is it true that the human mage of Undermountain joins our cause?"

Does she really not know? Or is she testing me?

"I do not believe Halaster Blackcloak will stand with us or against us"

"Truly? Then the rumors that he will allow soldiers from the surface cities passage to the Underdark are false?"

Solaufein gave a noncommittal answer. This was the first he had heard of this rumor. She had many more questions. What were the plans to strengthen the town's defenses? What was the current estimate of the size of the Valsharess' army and what was their current position? When and where were they next to engage her army? Is she really so ill-informed, he wondered. He had no trouble believing Valen did not trust her with information. Valen trusted no one but the Seer. But why does she not ask these questions of the Seer?

"I apologize, matron mother, but I have yet to finalize any plans against the Valsharess. I have not had time to fully assess the situation."

"Do so quickly. Naturally, you will keep me informed. I will see that you have the resources you need." She gave him a look and the message was clear. Yes, I can aid you. Or-I can withhold my aid and your position will be quite untenable.

"I am curious, I admit, at the rumor that there are artifacts of power to be sought," she continued. "I would like to see them when they are retrieved."

"We do not know what, if anything, will be found."

"Ah. But you will tell me when you know."


darthiir-surface elf

Author's Note: Baldur's Gate 2 never told us Solaufein's House so I made one up. I also decided he was likely a talented commoner adopted into a noble house, so he doesn't have a snazzy surname. (Unlike Drizzt Do'Urden.)

The patron of a drow noble House is the matron mother's current consort. Typically, not much job security there...