At the gates of the blazing manor, Nastya had regained her usual gallant, seductive air. Dark Elf Sister folded her arms across her chest, holding the Sun-Moon Blades in the exact same pose as Shar's statue.
According to Nastya, the "Chosen" Lolth spoke of, the Yor'thae, represented a symbol, a change, a transformation that mirrored Lolth herself. Just as Lolth had transformed herself from the elven Goddess-Queen Araushnee into the Spider Queen, her ascension required such a Chosen to transform her into a new existence of a higher order.
Thus, in theory, there were many possible Chosen, but Nastya believed that every one of them, without exception, had to have experienced "betrayal."
"Quenthel could never become the Chosen, and neither could those Drow Matron Mothers!" Nastya said coldly. "They fight endlessly and scheme against one another, but their loyalty to Lolth has never wavered. The Chosen can only be someone who has truly betrayed Lolth, or at least suffered a serious crisis of faith. Someone like me!"
"Good." Aaron rubbed his chin. Though Nastya still could not identify the Chosen, they could at least rule out a few candidates.
After excusing herself, Nastya turned back and chanted a spell to destroy the manor. Aaron finally had time to speak to Drizzt. "Ranger, I haven't asked yet. Why are you here?"
"I came at the summons of the goddess Mielikki and Eilistraee." Drizzt kept his cool, stern expression, his twin blades in hand, and reached out to stroke the black panther Guenhwyvar beside him. "And my old friend Bruno received an oracle from Moradin saying you needed help."
"Whatever the case, thank you." Aaron glanced at the burning manor behind him. "I owe you one. She'd lost her mind back there. Nothing I said would probably have helped."
Drizzt did not