"Oh my, what a sharp-eyed, handsome young man."
Once she realized she had been discovered, she simply revealed herself.
She was a female Drow with an air of graceful opulence.
Her lavish scale mail shimmered with magical auras of every color, each dark gold plate engraved with an exquisite spider design.
An Adamantine Whip made up of nine serpent heads hung at her waist, gleaming with deep purple light.
Renato had heard Tristana explain that Serpent-Head Whips were weapons Lolth bestowed upon her favorites, and the number of heads represented their wielders' status.
Only Lolth's High Priestess was entitled to carry and use a nine-headed whip.
Tristana hurried forward a step and greeted the High-Rank Cleric:
"Esteemed Matron Mother Delina, I am Tristana Nightbreeze, the Fourth Daughter of the Nightwind Family..."
"I'm not blind yet, Quelyn's youngest daughter."
The High Priestess approached with slow, poised, elegant steps. She glanced at Renato's tight grip on his sword hilt, and an amused smile curled her lips.
"This little warrior you brought back certainly is a wild one."
She stopped in front of Renato and lifted her blood-red eyes to him. A tangle of desires seethed within them, impossible to distinguish.
"What is your name, handsome young man?"
"Renato." Tristana's voice was hurried and tense. "This is the Matron Mother of the Mizzrym Family. Hurry up and pay your respects! What did I teach you about manners..."
"I don't believe I gave you permission to speak, Tristana?" Delina glanced at the female Drow, who kept signaling Renato with her eyes. Her tone was casual, yet carried unquestionable authority. "Perhaps you graduated from Arachne too early. Do you need me to give you an extra lesson?"
Tristana immediately fell silent, lowered her head, and bit her lower lip.
This High-Rank Cleric had come for