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shadowstuff。
Ryld； wheeling and spinning； slashed at the monster with his gleaming greatsword。 The nightwalker reached out to wrest away his weapon； but the Master of Melee…Magthere danced back and sheared off half the creature's hand with one savage blow。 The nightwalker screamed soundlessly； its anguished cry stabbing through their very minds。 Ignoring the others； the creature fastened its baleful gaze on Ryld； and conjured up from the black soil underfoot a dreadful； dark vapor that blotted out all sight。
Halisstra groped her way into the black mist； seeking the monster。 The vapor seared her nose like vitriol and ate at her eyes； burning like fire。 She persevered； and felt the giant looming over her。 She raised her mace and struck again； hammering at the creature's legs。 From beside her she heard the hiss of Quenthel's whip； tearing into dark flesh。 Great black talons raked through the vapor； ripping at Halisstra's shield； driving her to the ground。
〃It's here！〃 she called； hoping to lead someone else to the battle； but the acidic mists burned like fire in her throat。
She narrowed her eyes to nothing more than bare slits； and flailed back at the monster。 The nightwalker's venomous will settled over her like a blanket of madness； seeking to rend away her reason； but she endured the new assault； lashing out again and again。
Ryld's sword lanced through the murk like a white razor； opening dreadful wounds in the shadow creature's body。 Black fluid splattered like droplets of poison； and the mind…whispers of the nightwalker rose into a hellish mental shriek that dragged Halisstra to the very edge of madness…and there was silence。
She felt the thing abruptly discorporate around her； its body exploding into black； stinking mist that dissipated into the shadows。
Still gagging on the poisonous black vapors the creature had raised； Halisstra stumbled out of the dark cloud and fell to all fours； gasping for breath。 Her chest burned as if she'd drunk molten sulfur。 When at last she could open her eyes and take notice of her surroundings again； she found that most of the rest of the party had fared little better than she。
Ryld slumped against a stone； his greatsword point down before him。 He was leaning on the blade； exhausted。 Quenthel stood close by； her hands on her knees； coughing wretchedly。
When at last she could draw breath； the high priestess looked up at Pharaun and said； 〃That is what you encountered before？〃
The wizard nodded and said； 〃Nightwalkers。 They roam the Fringe。 Creatures of undead darkness； evil personified。 As you saw； they can be 。 。 。 formidable。〃
The Mistress of the Academy drew herself up and returned her whip to her belt。
〃I think I understand why you hesitated to volunteer this method of travel until now；〃 she said。
Despite his exhaustion； the wizard preened。
〃Careful； Quenthel；〃 he said in a mocking voice； 〃you almost acknowledged my usefulness。〃
The high priestess's eyes narrowed； and she straightened proudly。 She obviously didn't care to be the subject of the wizard's humor。 Seemingly ignorant of the smoldering glare Quenthel fixed on him； Pharaun made a grand gesture indicating the formless dark ahead of them。
〃Our path leads now into the shadow of our own Underdark；〃 he said。 〃I suggest we redouble our efforts and finish our march quickly； as there may be more nightwalkers about。〃
〃That's a damned cheerful thought；〃 grumbled Ryld。 〃How much farther now？〃
〃Not more than an hour； perhaps two；〃 Pharaun answered。
The wizard waited while the dark elves stood and fell in behind him again。 Ryld and Valas； the two who had borne the virulence of the nightwalker's dread gaze； seemed gray with weariness； hardly able to keep their feet。
〃e；〃 said Pharaun。 〃Mantol…Derith is no Menzoberranzan； but it will be the most civilized place we've seen in days； and no one is likely to want to kill us。
〃Not right away； at least。〃
Nothing more troubled them for the rest of the shadow walk； and they emerged from the Fringe not long after the nightwalker's attack； returning to the mundane world on the floor of a narrow； subterranean gorge。 The walls were marked with various trail signs and messages from previous travelers who had stopped there。 It was obviously a monly used campsite near the trade cavern。 The pany rested there for hours； warming up from the insidious chill of the Shadow Fringe。 After resting； they left the gorge and found their way out into a long； smooth…sided tunnel that bored for miles through the dark； broken by occasional open caverns along the way。
Valas led the pany； as he was familiar with their arrival point and the route they found themselves traveling。 After the burning skies of the daylit surface and the miserable gloom of the Plane of Shadow； the routine perils of the Underdark felt like old friends。 This was their world； the place where they belonged； even those of their number who had rarely journeyed outside their home cities。
After a march of about two miles； Valas called a brief halt and knelt down to sketch a crude map in the dust of the passage floor。
〃Mantol…Derith lies not more than half a mile ahead。 Remember； this is a place of trade and association with other races。 We do not rule Mantol…Derith…no one does…and so it would be prudent to avoid giving offense to anyone you encounter there； unless you're looking for a fight that may waste our time and resources。
〃Also； I have been considering how best to find our way from the trade cavern to the holdings of House Jaelre in the Labyrinth。 From here our path must traverse the dominion of Gracklstugh； city of the gray dwarves。〃
〃Under no circumstances will we approach Gracklstugh；〃 Quenthel said at once。 〃The gray dwarves destroyed Ched Nasad。 I see no reason to present myself at their doorstep for slaughter。〃
〃We have few other options； Mistress；〃 Valas said。 〃We are northeast of the duergar realm； and the Labyrinth lies several days southwest of the city。 We cannot skirt the city to the south because the Darklake is in the way； and the duergar patrol its waters。 Skirting the city to the north would take us at least two tendays of difficult travel through tunnels I do not know well at all。〃
〃Why did we bother to e this way； then？〃 Jeggred muttered。 〃We might as well have returned to Menzoberranzan。〃
〃Well； for one thing； Gracklstugh still lies between us and House Jaelre； whether we're in Mantol…Derith or Menzoberranzan；〃 Pharaun replied。 He tapped three points on Valas's crudely sketched map。 〃The gray dwarves must be addressed in either scenario。 The question is simply whether we dare to pass through Gracklstugh； or not。〃
〃Could you shadow walk us past the city？〃 Danifae asked。
Pharaun grimaced and said； 〃I have never traveled past Mantol…Derith in this direction； and shadow walking is best employed to reach a familiar destination。 At any rate； it wouldn't surprise me to find that the duergar have defended their realm against the passage of travelers on nearby planes。〃
〃Are we certain that the gray dwarves would