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While they waited for Pharaun； Halisstra studied the ruins in more detail。 She had something of a scholarly inclination； and deliberately taking an interest in the ancient city was as good a way as any of keeping her mind from dwelling on the last awful hours of her home city。 The others busied themselves with the small tasks of breaking camp； or waited patiently in the deepest shadows they could find。 Halisstra gathered the few things she had brought and set out from the ruined court。 Her eye fell on Danifae； who knelt quietly in the shade of a broken arch； calmly watching her leave。
Halisstra paused； and called； 〃e； Danifae。〃
She didn't like the idea of leaving her servant alone with the Menzoberranyr。 Danifae had served her well for years； but circumstances had changed。
The maidservant stood smoothly and followed。 Halisstra led her through the crumbling shell of the palace surrounding the courtyard； and they emerged onto a wide boulevard arrowing through the heart of the old city。 The air had warmed noticeably in the hour or more since sunrise； but it was still bitterly cold； and the brilliance of the day seemed almost enhanced by the crystal clarity of the skies。 Both women stood blinded for several long moments in the sunshine。
〃This is no good；〃 muttered Halisstra。 〃I'm squinting so hard I can't see my hand in front of my face。〃
Even when she managed to open her eyes； she could see little more than bright； painful spots。
〃Valas says it's possible to get used to daylight； with time；〃 Danifae offered。 〃I find that hard to believe； now that I have experienced it myself。 A good thing we mean to return to the Underdark soon。〃 Halisstra heard a small tearing sound from beside her； and Danifae pressed a strip of cloth into her hand。 〃Tie this over your eyes； Mistress。 Perhaps it will help。〃
Halisstra managed to arrange the dark cloth as a makeshift veil。 It did indeed help to abate the fierce glare of the sun。
〃That's better；〃 Halisstra said。
Danifae tore another small strip and bound it around her own eyes as her mistress examined the ruins。 It seemed to Halisstra that the palace they'd taken shelter in was one of the more prominent buildings； which only made sense。 Magical portals were not easy to make； and were often found in well…hidden or vigilantly guarded locations。 A colonnade stood along the front of the palace； and across the boulevard was another great building…a temple； or perhaps a court of some kind。 There was something familiar about the architecture of the buildings。
〃Netherese；〃 she said。 〃See the square column bases； and the pointed arches in the windows？〃
〃I thought Netherese cities floated in the air； and were pletely destroyed by some magical cataclysm；〃 Danifae replied。 〃How could anything like this still stand？〃
〃It could have been one of the successor states；〃 Halisstra said； 〃built after the great mythallars of the old Netherese cities failed。 They would share many of the same architectural features； but would have been more mundane； less magical。〃
〃There's writing up there；〃 Danifae said； pointing at the facade of a crumbled building。 〃There 。 。 。 above the columns。〃
Halisstra followed Danifae's gesture。 〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃That's Netherese。〃
〃You can read it？〃 Danifae asked。
〃I have studied several languages…the mon tongue of the surface； High Netherese； Illuskan； even some of the speech of dragons；〃 Halisstra replied。 〃Our libraries contain fascinating histories and potent lore recorded in languages other than drow。 I developed the habit of studying such things over a century ago； when I believed I might find some forgotten spell or secret that might prove useful against my rivals。 As it turned out； I found little of that sort of thing； but I did find that I enjoyed learning for its own sake。〃
〃What does it say； then？〃
〃I'm not sure of some of the words； but I think it reads； 'High Hall of Justice； Hlaungadath…In Truth's Light No Lies Abide。' 〃
〃What a simpleminded sentiment。〃
Halisstra indicated the ruins around them and said； 〃You can see how far it got them。 I know that name； though； Hlaungadath。 I have seen maps of the surface world。 Valas's estimate of our location was accurate。〃
〃Even a male can do something right from time to time；〃 Danifae said。
Halisstra smiled and turned away to scan the ruins for any other sites of interest。
Something tawny and quick ducked swiftly out of sight。 Halisstra froze on the instant； staring hard at the spot where she'd seen it； a gap in a masonry wall a short distance away。 Nothing moved there； but from another direction came the sound of rubble shifting。 Without looking away； she touched Danifae's arm。
We're not alone here； she signed。 Back to the others…quickly。
Together； they backed away from the court of justice and out into the street again。 As they turned to retrace their steps； something long and low； covered with sand…colored scales； slid out into the boulevard。 Its stubby wings clearly could never support it in flight； but its powerful talons and gaping jaws were much more developed。 The dragon paused and raised up its head for a better look at the two drow on the street before it； and it hissed in delight。 It was easily fifty feet from nose to tail； a hulking； powerful creature whose eyes gleamed with cunning and malice。
〃Lolth protect us！〃 Danifae gasped。
The two women backed away in a new direction； at a right angle to the palace where their panions waited。 The dragon followed leisurely； sinuously winding from side to side as it paced after them。
〃It's herding us away from the others；〃 Halisstra snarled。
She sensed hard stone behind her； and risked a quick glance backward。 They were pinned against a building； sliding alongside it as they tried to keep their distance from the monster。 A dark alleyway gaped just a few feet away。 Halisstra hesitated for a heartbeat； then grasped Danifae by the wrist and darted into the narrow opening at the best speed she could manage。
Something waited for them in the shadows of the alley。 Before Halisstra could skid to a stop； a tall golden creature reared up before her； half lion； half woman； beautiful and graceful。 With a cold； cruel smile； the lion…woman reached out her hand and caressed Halisstra's cheek。 Her touch was cool； soothing； and in an instant Halisstra felt her fear； her determination； her very willpower drain softly away。 Vaguely she reached up to push the creature's hand away from her face。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 the creature said in a lovely voice。 〃Lie down and rest here a while。 You are among friends； and no harm will e to you。〃
Halisstra stood paralyzed； recognizing that the creature's words made no sense； but empty of the willpower she needed to resist。 Danifae whirled her away by her arm and slapped her hard across the face。
〃It's a lamia！〃 she snapped。 〃It seeks to beguile you！〃
The lamia snarled in anger； its beautiful features suddenly hard and cruel。
〃Do not resist；〃 it said； its voice harsher。
Halisstra could feel the creature's spell drawing over h