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Chalthara arrived back at House Hun'Afin the same way she had left; with austere elegance...but significantly less fear, of course. She now knew what the leader of their city wanted from her and from her (well, Veldrin's) House. What Matron Ulvira wanted her to do was simple -- although Chalthara hadn't expected it, she was certainly relieved to hear it. Surely Lolth would support House Hun'Afin and therefore the current hierarchy in the war to come. She had raised Chalthara from obscurity to Matronhood, and she was currently waiting for the opportune moment to strike out against the one who had real control of the House. Her moment would come, she knew. Lolth had not let her die during the fall of the house of her birth, and Lolth would not let her fail now.

Would she?

Chalthara shook her head, chasing the thought from her head as she made her way towards the audience chamber, where she hoped to find Veldrin and inform him of the details of her conference with Matron Ulvira...and the untrustworthy (even by drow standards) Matron of House Tor'Afin.

Nearly recovered from his test of prowess and the physical damage of the dart, the slightly poisoned human easily took note of the flying disc returning the Matron of his house.

With all haste he finished donning his armor and nearly sprinted towards the throne room, causing several unaware servants to have a very bad day as he charged passed them in the usually spacious halls.

Upon entering the throne room he took his post without a word, standing firmly to the side of the chamber in a slight Vent in the wall, playing the part of an omnious statue to any unwary vistors.

Veldrin nodded his acknowledgment of Malag's concerns. "Yes, there are a few things you should know about, and this information is never to leave the walls of this House. Things work a bit differently here than in other Qu'ellars...well, quite a bit differently, really. Firstly, within the walls of the House, and while there are no visitors, the typical matriarchal system doesn't exist. Male and female are equals socially, and one's position in the hierarchy is determined by skill, not gender. Of course, when outsiders are among us, males must play a subservient role temporarily to maintain appearances."

He paused for a moment, giving Malag a chance to process the information before continuing the debriefing. "Another thing you should be aware of is where the true power of the House lies. When I had first introduced myself as Weapons Master and Patron, it was implied that I was the Matron's consort. You had guessed correctly in the fact that I am, in fact, the actual ruler of the Qu'ellar. Matron Chalthara is merely a figurehead who is my representative when dealing with other Houses and maintains the appearance of normality. She has about as much real authority here as any other member of the nobility."

"Remember," he continued, his voice picking up a stern tone, "this information does not leave this House. If any outsider learns this, and I find out that you leaked it, I will kill you myself. Now then," his tone returning to neutral, "was there anything else you needed?"

"It is not your place to question the way of things," Chalthara snapped, no longer in the ebuillent mood she had found herself in before. She knew that Veldrin was really in power, but she had never met this new member of the House, and Veldrin was disclosing important, very dangerous House secrets to him? Although she was only a figurehead, Chalthara still found herself quite angry. And obviously so.

"And since I retain the power of any member of the noble class -- say, a second daughter -- you are still obligated to show respect." She narrowed her eyes once more at Malag before turning towards Veldrin. "Who is this?"

She wanted to know if she could trust him (as far as drow can trust one another, that is) before disclosing the results of her meeting with Matron Ulvira.

Chalthara did not glare at Veldrin, but she still regarded him coldly. Perhaps she had been rude because she did not quite know what to make of him. He was not a Matron by any stretch of the imagination, so she could not treat him with all the obeisance and propriety required of a leader of one of the other houses. Nor could she treat him as any other male; as an inferior. Although she had never been as obtuse or needlessly cruel (the keyword being "needlessly") as some other followers of Lolth, she was still not quite used to having to answer to a male drow. She did not respond to his mention of her questioning his judgement. It would certainly keep up appearances if I did not respond favorably to everything you said, she thought with resentment. And my will is still perfectly unassailable, you fool of an assassin.

"You have my thanks for completing your task," Chalthara said to Malag. She wasn't apologizing, but she did not seem as hostile as before towards the new House assassin. Her eyes, however, urged (or perhaps ordered) him to leave as quickly as possible.

Once Malag had left the chamber, Veldrin flipped a small switch on the side of the throne which caused the doors to swing shut of their own accord and magically soundproof themselves.

"Now then," he said, crossing his legs and tenting his fingers beneath his chin, "how fared the meeting with Matron Ulvira?"

Veldrin remained silent for several moments, as he mentally picked apart the information Chalthara presented. "I see," he finally said. "From what I've heard, Tor'afin's Matron is an especially ambitious one, and she is likely to do anything to hinder our efforts and take our position as Second House. We must strike immediately, while Aleanduis is still unaware of the danger and before Tor'afin can inform them."

"Now then, it's time to assemble the nobles of the House to form battle plans, and I believe you still have something of mine," he said as he extended his hand, expecting the return of the runestone he slipped her as she departed.