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have in mind regarding Menzoberranzan？〃
Horgar shifted unfortably and asked； 〃What interest is this to Kaanyr Vhok？〃
〃Well； had we known that someone meant to attack Ched Nasad； we might have offered our assistance；〃 Aliisza replied。 〃My lord scents opportunity in the dark elves' difficulties。 If someone were considering a similar effort to lay low Menzoberranzan； we might be willing to take on partners in our business。〃
Borwald sneered； 〃I doubt the Deepkingdom would have any need of a few hundred rabble squatting in fungus…grown ruins。〃
Aliisza suppressed her annoyance。
They're duergar； she told herself； abrasive and crass。 This is how they are。
〃Your intelligence is somewhat out of date；〃 she said。 〃My lord mands over two thousand hardened tanarukk warriors； each of them as strong as an ogre and three times as smart。 We have built forges and armories； perhaps not as grand as those of Gracklstugh； but sufficient to arm and armor our soldiers。 We mand auxiliary troops as well…bugbears； ogres； giants； and such…more numerous than our tanarukk legion。〃 She leveled her gaze on Borwald and added； 〃We don't have the strength of the Deepkingdom； Firehand； but we could take on twice our number of gray dwarves and give them a fierce fight。 You denigrate Kaanyr Vhok's Scoured Legion at your peril。〃
〃I am not unaware of Kaanyr Vhok's growing strength；〃 Horgar muttered； tugging at his beard。 〃Speak plainly。 What does your lord want？〃
No subtlety at all； Aliisza lamented。 Kaanyr might as well have sent a dim…witted ogre to deliver this message。
〃Kaanyr Vhok wants to know if you intend to march on Menzoberranzan。 If you do； he wishes to join you。 As I have just said； I believe that the Scoured Legion could be a valuable ally。〃
〃We might not want you for an ally； if we were thinking of any such thing；〃 Horgar said。 〃We might think we have sufficient strength to get what we want without splitting the prize。〃
〃You might think that；〃 Aliisza conceded。 〃If you were correct； the dark elves of Menzoberranzan would be well…advised to seek allies against you。 I wonder to whom they could turn for help？〃
〃I would crush Kaanyr Vhok if he did anything so foolish；〃 Horgar growled。 〃Go back to your demonspawned master and tell him…〃
〃A moment； Prince Horgar；〃 Nimor said； stepping between the duergar and the alu…fiend。 〃Let us not be hasty。 We should give Lady Aliisza's message careful thought before we consider our reply。〃
Horgar snarled； 〃You do not tell me how to conduct my kingdom's affairs； drow！〃
〃Of course not； my lord prince； but I would very much like to confer with you at greater length on this question。〃 Nimor turned back to Aliisza and said； 〃I presume you would be willing to remain as a guest of the crown prince while we discuss your master's offer？〃
Aliisza merely smiled。 She let her eyes linger on the slim figure of the dark elf。 Given an opportunity； she felt sure that she could convince him to see the virtues of her proposal； though she also sensed that there was more to this Nimor than met the eye。 Unfortunately； Horgar and his Marshal Firehand were less likely to succumb to her special talents。 She could wait a day or two and see if Nimor succeeded in advancing her arguments for her。
The duergar prince measured her； mulling over Nimor's words。 Finally； he relented。
〃You may stay a short time； while I think about your offer。 I'll have the captain set aside quarters in the palace for you。 Your soldiers will have to stay in a barracks near my own guards。 They will not be permitted in the castle。〃
〃I will require some attendants。〃
〃Fine； you can retain two； if you wish。 The rest go。〃
Horgar looked toward the end of the hall and gestured。 His captain came trotting up。
〃We will speak again when I have made up my mind；〃 he told her。
〃In that event； I will be available at your convenience；〃 she said to Horgar； but she let her eyes linger on Nimor as she spoke。
〃It can't be done today；〃 Thummud of Clan Muzgardt told Ryld； Valas； and Coalhewer。 The fat duergar stood with a mallet in his hand； carefully sealing a fresh keg of mushroom ale。 〃Try again in a day or two； I guess。〃
Coalhewer swore under his breath； but the two drow exchanged wary looks。 It hardly escaped Ryld's notice that over a dozen duergar brewers happened to be hard at work very close by the spot where Thummud stood； and that many of them had the unmistakable glint of metal beneath their smocks。 The brewer wasn't in the habit of taking chances； it seemed。
〃That's what you said yesterday；〃 Ryld said。 〃Time is pressing。〃
〃Not my problem；〃 Thummud replied。 He finished tapping down the lid； and set the mallet on top of the cask。 〃Ye'll have t'wait； like it or not。〃
Valas sighed and reached for the purse at his belt。 He jingled it judiciously and set it down nearby。
〃You'll find gemstones in there worth better than twice what we agreed on；〃 the scout said。 〃They're yours if you get us that writ today。〃
Thummud's eyes narrowed。 〃Now I'm wondering what ye really be up to；〃 he said slowly。 〃No honest purpose； of that I'm sure。〃
〃Consider this a personal bonus；〃 Ryld said quietly。 〃Your laird expects two hundred pieces of gold per head； and you'll see to it he gets that。 What's left over； he doesn't need to know about； does he？〃
〃I can't say as ye wouldn't get what ye want some other time；〃 Thummud admitted with a shrug； 〃but the laird was certain of his words to me on this matter。 I'd be crossin' him to do this bit o' business with ye； and old Muzgardt would have me head for it。〃 The brewer thought about things for a moment； and added； 〃Better make it three or four days； I think。 The crown prince's lads are all over the city； and I don't need 'em to see ye ing here every damned day。〃
The stout dwarf heaved the keg up onto his shoulder and stomped off； leaving the two dark elves standing with Coalhewer in the middle of the sullen crowd of brewers。
〃Now what？〃 Ryld asked Valas。
〃Go back to the inn and wait； I'd say；〃 Coalhewer muttered。 〃Ye'll have no luck standing here。 e back in a couple of days。〃
〃Quenthel won't like that；〃 Ryld said； still addressing the drow scout。
All Valas could do was shrug。
The two drow and their guide left the Muzgardt brewery； wrapped in their own thoughts。 They marched along for a short distance； putting the brewery well behind them。
〃I'm beginning to wonder whether we shouldn't just write our own letter of passage；〃 Valas said softly。 〃We wouldn't need it for long； after all。〃
〃That's a bad idea；〃 Coalhewer said。 〃Ye might forge a letter that looks about right； but ye need Muzgardt's blessing。 If ye get stopped； ye'll be held while they check to be sure that ye've got the blessing of the laird。 That ye won't have until Muzgardt grants it to ye。〃
〃Damn；〃 Valas muttered。
Ryld examined the situation； trying to figure what to make of it。 Either Coalhewer had purposely led them to a dead end； or the difficulty in obtaining the passes was unfeigned。 For the first possibility