It had to be said that, from his dealings with Eilistraee, Aaron found the Dark Maiden several levels below Lolth in intelligence, strength, and political instincts alike. To put it rather rudely, he sensed a kind of "crystal-clear stupidity" in her.
Judging solely by Eilistraee's account, this beautiful Snow Mountain Black Pearl had not thought through how she intended to deal with Lolth at all.
She would seek Nastya's help and have Nastya cross House Baenre's defensive perimeter. Then what?
What did Eilistraee intend to do about Lolth after that?
One look at her told Aaron that Eilistraee probably had no idea herself.
Lady, you knew about Lolth's plan more than twenty years ago, and this was all you came up with in twenty years? After all that planning, you actually backed yourself into a corner, and now you're telling me none of it works without Nastya?
Aaron was beyond even complaining.
Compared with Lolth, Eilistraee fell far short. Remembering his decisive battle with Lolth in the grove, Aaron knew perfectly well that if Sister Shar had not given Nastya the Sun-Moon Blades beforehand-a pair of artifacts Shar herself had used-and sent an avatar to help at the crucial moment, even summoning the power of the Chaos Gods would only have won him a pyrrhic victory against Lolth. He might not even have been able to save Nastya's soul, because Lolth's influence over the Drow, and over Nastya, ran far too deep.
Eilistraee's influence over Nastya, on the other hand, was extremely superficial. There was no need to elaborate on that.
Moreover, Aaron had barely dangled an incentive before Eilistraee revealed her bottom line.
"As long as I can get rid of Mother, I'm willing to do anything."
*Oh, my Dark Maiden, did you come here to negotiate? Why does