Web Host

The corridor opened back into the grand chamber, the silk architecture catching the lava-glow in shifting amber and red. Eliette was waiting—and now adorned something that barely qualified as clothing, a sheer bodice woven from her own silk, intricate and deliberate and leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. She turned when she heard us, clearly pleased with herself.

“Darlings! How did you find your accommodations?”

“Fine,” I said carefully. “A little more... spiderwebby than expected.”

Eliette brightened entirely. “Oh wonderful! I am delighted that you are pleased.”

Right.

“Actually, we’re looking for something specific. An adamantine forge? I believe it should be down here somewhere.”

Eliette tilted her head, considering. “A forge? I don’t know that specifically, but there is this enormous contraption in the depths below. It’s close to where we started our nest, actually—no other inhabitants, so we had the peace to…” a delicate pink shade grew across her cheeks. “…to lay.”

“Care to show us the way?”

“Of course! Let me lead the way, darling.”

Before any of us could react, she was moving—flowing along the wall with liquid grace, crossing the lava stream that cut between this section of the Grymforge and the isolated platform beyond.

Karlach sized up the gap, squinting. “It looks doable, I need a Run-up though.”

Shadowheart looked at me, then back at Karlach. “Yeah. Not happening.”

I studied the gap for a moment before calling to the others. “We need to find way to get across. Isn’t there some other—”

Splat.

A thick strand of white silk struck the stone at my feet.

Splat. Splat. Splat.

More followed in rapid succession, webbing shooting across the gap from both sides as spiderlings descended from the walls and ceiling. Without a sound between them they set to work, anchoring strand after strand, pulling them taut before reinforcing them with fresh layers until a broad, woven bridge stretched over the lava.

The whole thing had taken less than half a minute.

I looked to Eliette.

She looked just as surprised as the rest of us. Then her expression softened into a warm, almost proud smile.

“They seem to like you, darling.”

Every spiderling within sight was watching me, perfectly still. “Good to know,”

Shadowheart examined the construction with professional skepticism, then glanced at Kagha. “Ladies first.”

Kagha crossed without hesitation, her movements confident and sure. On the other side, she turned back, her serene smile now devious at the edges. “Spider silk is among the strongest fibers in the world.” She ran her hands over her silk armor with obvious pride.

Eliette practically glowed at the compliment. “Mhmm yes. Very wise.”

The rest of us followed, Karlach bringing up the rear. Her natural heat singed some of the more decorative strands as she passed, leaving tiny wisps of smoke in her wake, but the main structure held firm.

“Follow me, darlings.” Eliette led us deeper into her inner palace.

The webbing here was chaotic rather than regal—spanning walls, stretching across the impossibly high ceiling, creating layers and levels of gossamer architecture. Spiderlings scuttled around to all sides, the bravest followed our procession with playful curiosity. Three cocoons hung from the ceiling near the center of the room, and by the walls massive clusters of eggs sat in carefully arranged groupings.

“Holy hells,” Karlach breathed.

Eliette actually looked bashful. “Ah, yes. With my darling’s blessing, I got rather… lost in the delights. So much so that I spend more time laying than raising, which is why my young are so…spirited.”

As if on cue, one of the spiderlings tumbled from an overhead web, landing in a tangle of legs before scuttling away in embarrassment.

Lae’zel scoffed, but I talked over her before she could voice whatever criticism was building. “Those cocoons look different from the others. Special somehow?”

The pink blush returned, deeper this time. “…Those are my… best ones.”

“What do you mean?” Karlach’s curiosity was obviously getting the better of her.

“Oh, you’re putting me on the spot.” Eliette fidgeted with her hands. “Very well. The drow has the most potent seed—consistent, reliable, never disappoints. The dwarf is remarkably productive, he never seems to run dry, trust me I’ve—” She caught herself with a delicate cough. “And the deep gnome.” The blush deepened considerably. “He has the most… suitable appendage.”

“For a giant spider?” Karlach’s voice climbed an octave.

Eliette nodded and giggled.

“Damn. Oh, wow.”

A stab of unwilling possessiveness tightened in my chest.

Eliette must have caught something in my expression, because she moved closer, voice dropping to reassurance. “Of course none of those would ever compare to my darling. Not even close.”

“Oh, most certainly not,” Kagha agreed with fervent conviction.

Shadowheart and Lae’zel nodded along in silent agreement.

Karlach’s engine gave a sudden skip, her flames flickering blue for just a moment. “Can we… maybe pick up the pace here?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

The suspended stairway down seemed to go on forever, winding through layers of webbing and stone until we finally emerged onto a platform that took my breath away.

The adamantine forge stretched out before us—a perfect circle of dark metal fifty meters in diameter, inscribed with intricate runes that still pulsed with residual magical energy. Ancient chains and pulleys hung from a ceiling lost in shadow, while channels carved into the floor suggested a complex system for directing molten metal. The sheer scale of it was overwhelming, clearly built for crafting items of legendary power.