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〃Where…？〃 she started； but Valas held up a hand to silence her。
Even after all her years as a battle…captive； a servant to the foolish and slow…witted Halisstra Melarn； Danifae hadn't grown accustomed to shutting up when told to。 She bristled at the scout's dismissive gesture but calmed herself quickly。 Valas was in his element； and if he wanted silence； both their lives might well depend on it。
He turned to her； and Danifae was surprised to see no hint of annoyance or irritation on his face； even as her one word still echoed faintly in the cool； still air of the cavern。
Another portal up ahead； he told her with his fingers。 It will take us far； almost to Sschindylryn's eastern gate； but it's not one I've used in a very long time。
But you've used it before； she replied silently。
Portals； especially portals like this one； Valas explained； are like waterholes。 They attract attention。
You sense something？ she asked。
Danifae's own sensitive hearing detected no noise； her equally sensitive nose no smell but her own and the scout's。 That didn't mean they were alone。
As if he'd read her mind； Valas replied； You're never alone in the Underdark。
So what is it？ she asked。 Can we avoid it？ Kill it？
Maybe nothing； he answered in turn； probably not； and I hope so。
Danifae smiled at him。 Valas tipped his head to one side； surprised and confused by the smile。
Stay here； he signed； and keep still。 I'll go on ahead。
Danifae looked back along the way they'd e then forward in the direction they were going。 The tunnel…twenty…five or thirty feet wide and about as tall…stretched into darkness in both directions。
If you leave me behind。 。 。 。 Danifae threatened with her fingers and with her cold； hard eyes。
Valas didn't react at all。 He seemed to be waiting for her to finish。
Danifae again glanced to the seemingly endless tunnel ahead； only for half a heartbeat。 When she turned back； Valas was gone。
Ryld drew the whetstone slowly along Splitter's razor edge。 The enchanted sword hardly needed sharpening； but Ryld found he was always better able to think when he was performing the simple tasks of a soldier。 The sword had no outward signs of an intelligence of its own； but Ryld had convinced himself some years before that Splitter enjoyed the attention he gave it。
He was alone in the crumbling； weed…choked hovel he shared with Halisstra。 The sounds and smells of the forest all around him managed to invade even that personal time with his sword and his thoughts。 He knew he was as relaxed as he would ever be on the surface in the daylight under the endless sky…at least； when Halisstra wasn't with him。
The Master of Melee…Magthere was alone because he hadn't been invited to the circle that Halisstra had gone to join。 The curious； heretical surface drow were planning something； and Halisstra and her newfound toy…the Crescent Blade…were obviously a big part of it。 He had killed the raging animal that attacked him； and as many times as Feliane had tried to explain it to him； he couldn't imagine why that made him an outcast。 Still； Ryld knew he had been left out for more than that one reason。
He sat alone also because； unlike Halisstra； he had not openly rejected the Spider Queen nor openly embraced her sun…ravaged rival； the Lady of the Dance。 Ryld didn't understand that frivolous goddess of theirs。 The Lady of the Dance？ Were they to set their lives along a path defined by dancing？ What sort of a bizarre goddess could draw； much less mete out； power from something so pointless as dancing？ Lolth was a cruel and capricious mistress； and her priestesses held her power close； but she was the Queen of Spiders。 Spiders were strong； resourceful predators…survivors。 Ryld could see himself as a spider。 Spiders knew no mercy and never asked for forgiveness。 They spun their webs； caught their prey； and lived。 Spiders made sense； spiders had power； and power was all any drow needed。
Apparently not every drow。
Still； Ryld knew that there was a third reason why he sat sharpening his sword while the females plotted and planned； and that was precisely because he wasn't a female。 In Menzoberranzan； Ryld Argith was a highly regarded and well…respected warrior； a soldier with powerful friends and much to remend him to his superiors。 He led a fortable life； wielded some items imbued with powerful magic…the greatsword not the least of them…and was even trusted to be a principal member of the vital expedition in search of their silent goddess。 Despite all that； Ryld Argith was a male。 As such he would never be anything but second； and he well knew likely not even that。 He would lead other males； other warriors； but would never mand a female。 He would be asked his opinion； and that opinion would occasionally even be considered； but he would never make decisions。 He would be a soldier…a tool； a weapon…but never a leader。 Not in Menzoberranzan among the daughters of Lolth and not in the sun…baked forest among the dancing priestesses。
Three reasons for being left out； Ryld thought； while at home there is only the third。 Three reasons to go home to Menzoberranzan。
One reason to stay。
In the past lingering hours of solitude Ryld had thought often of returning to the Underdark。 Pharaun and the others would have moved on； continued their quest。 Likely they'd all forgotten about the Master of Melee…Magthere who had left the City of Spiders with them。 Ryld held no illusions about his worth to the likes of Quenthel Baenre； and Pharaun had at least once proved that Ryld's life was less important than the wizard's convenience； let alone the Master of Sorcere's own well…being。
Pharaun； however； was predictable。 Ryld knew the mage and knew what to expect…even if that meant expecting betrayal。 Pharaun was a dark elf； not only well tuned to； but prone to revel in； his drow nature。 Quenthel Baenre was the same； which was why they so irritated one another。 Those two and the others…even the laconic Valas Hune…were like spiders too： predictable； efficient survivors。 Ryld saw himself in the same terms； and being in like pany had a pelling draw。
Until he thought of Halisstra。
In his years in Menzoberranzan； Ryld had enjoyed the pany of more than a handful of females； but like any male in the City of Spiders he knew well enough not to allow attachments to run too deep。 He had known from time to time that he was a plaything； a tool； a dalliance； a performer…but never one of those surface elf words； those oddities such as lover； panion； friend； husband。 Those words had no meaning until Halisstra。
Ryld tried and tried； but he couldn't understand the hold the First Daughter of House Melarn had on him。 He had even drawn upon the unique power of Splitter to dispel whatever magic she had cast on him to draw him along with her…but there was no magic。 She had cast no spell； sang no bae'qeshel ballad； slipped him no potion to wrap herself around him so tightly。 She hadn't； Ryld mused； even done or said anything too different than things he'd heard before； though in the past such things were said in tone