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They began slowly； both feeling each other out with minor divinations。 Gromph could feel himself being explored even as he explored the lich。 Nauzhror's voice； and Grendan and Prath's； whispered in his mind。 Defenses were noted； items and clothing assessed for enchantment； notes pared。 Gromph had brought a staff with him and was surprised to see that Dyrr had one too。 He hadn't expected Dyrr to bring a staff。
Fire； Nauzhror told him after a tense few minutes of study。 The most effective weapon against the undead wizard from the traitor House will be fire。
That's it； Gromph thought。 Dyrr had made his one mistake。
〃You're going to surprise me today；〃 the lich called to Gromph； 〃aren't you； my dear archmage？〃
〃The only two things I'm pletely sure of； Dyrr；〃 Gromph replied； 〃is that we will surprise each other today and I will destroy you。〃
They started casting at the same time。 Gromph was an experienced enough diviner to know that like himself； the lichdrow had cast his last defensive incantation。
The spells burst into being from the Weave at the same instant。 A freezing wind blew from the lichdrow； carrying with it thousands of razor…sharp splinters of ice。 That shredding storm met Gromph's fireball over the black depths of the Clawrift。 The fire blew out even as it melted the ice。 The two effects ate each other before either came close to touching their intended targets。
Well； Gromph told himself with a sigh； this is going to take a while。
Chapter Twelve
Things were quiet but tense on the ship of chaos。 Pharaun tried not to look at Quenthel。 He couldn't help but notice that she seemed unable to take Reverie。 Her shoulders were stiff； and her viper…headed scourge never left her hand。 The snakes writhed constantly； sliding the sides of their arrowlike heads against the priestess's warm black skin。 The uridezu was surreptitiously eyeing her。
Pharaun found that curious。 He was the one who had bound the demon； yet Raashub was more concerned with Quenthel。 True； the Baenre priestess was still nominally 〃in charge〃 of the expedition； but her leadership had always been more ceremonial…at least in Pharaun's mind。
The Master of Sorcere couldn't quite organize his thoughts on the matter…not just then anyway…but the demon was looking at her oddly。
He sighed and stared out across the black water of the Lake of Shadows again。 He placed his hand on the rail then removed it when he felt the warm pulse of blood running through it。 The ship barely moved in the dead calm of the black lake； but still Pharaun felt as if he needed to hold onto something。 His hand found the twisted gray…yellow rigging…looking for all the world like a length of intestine…but he couldn't hold that much longer either。
The demonic ship didn't quite figure into Pharaun's esthetic。 The wizard brushed the hair from his eyes and tried not to think about what he must look like。 He hadn't bathed in far too long…hygiene had bee secondary for them all； and they were rapidly beginning to stink。 Jeggred was the worst of them all on a good day； but the wizard found himself avoiding Quenthel as well。 Still； the thought of bathing in the cold； dark waters of the Lake of Shadows held no appeal。 Pharaun could well imagine what might be living in that lake's depths； and he didn't want to offer himself up like a worm on a hook。
The ship creaked and groaned but not too much。 Only rarely did there e the echo of a splash or drip or other small disturbance from the water。 Pharaun was beginning to think it was the silence itself that he found so unnerving。
Something hit him in the back of the head hard enough to drive him facefirst into the bonework deck。
Surprised as much by the fact that he'd been taken by surprise； Pharaun lay blinking for a few seconds…enough time for whatever had hit him to grab him by the ankle。 His foot instantly went numb； then whatever it was lifted him bodily off the deck。 Still not quite having regained his wits…Pharaun hadn't realized at first that he'd been hit that hard…the Master of Sorcere found himself being spun in the air by the ankle。 As he was whirled through the air； he caught glimpses of what was happening。
A party of uridezu were boarding the ship； crawling over the rail dripping with lake water and maggots。 Their gray skin glistening and their pink tails twitching； the rat demons attacked in force； though Pharaun couldn't get an accurate count of them while being spun around by the ankle by another uridezu。
The wizard knew that he'd been right； that the first uridezu Raashub had gated in was meant to test them。
The demon let go； and Pharaun was sent pinwheeling through the air。 He watched the rail pass beneath him； and when he was over open water he cast a spell while still in midair。 By the time he hit the surface in a sprawling； stinging splash； Pharaun could breathe water。
The wizard didn't waste any time。 Swimming and using the levitating powers of his brooch to help pull him downward； Pharaun dived deeper and deeper into the pitch…black water。 The lake was cold enough to make him tense and stiff； but he still swam as fast as he could。 All around him were the shadows of living things。 There were fish； he hoped； and snakes； he feared； and other things…things crawling on the bottom。
The lakebed was covered in a fine silt that felt oddly alluring to the touch。 Pharaun let himself sink into it up to his neck and closed his eyes to mere slits so that all anyone might be able to see would be his black face against the uniformly black silt。
Something brushed past his leg； but Pharaun didn't move。
The deep water and the stirred…up silt taxed Pharaun's darkvision to its limits； but he saw two uridezu dive into the water above him。 Secure in his hiding place； ignoring another 。 。 。 something 。 。 。 slipping past his side； Pharaun watched the rat…demons swim with surprising agility； their heads waving back and forth as they searched the lake bed for the drow wizard。 Pharaun waited for them to draw closer 。 。 。 closer 。 。 。 close enough。 He threw an aura of faerie fire around them both。
The demons reacted to the magic with twitching confusion。 The purple light not only outlined their silhouettes in the dark water； making them painfully obvious； it also picked out details of the folds of their skin； their whiskers； and the knitting of their worried brows。
Pharaun kicked once and rose slowly from the silt； already casting a spell。 The uridezu looked over at him and swished their tails in the water。 They swam quickly away from each other； smart enough not to both be caught in the same spell。 Pharaun picked one at random and froze the water around it。
The Master of Sorcere knew that the ice would have no wounding effect on the demon； but it was thick enough to stop it。 Pharaun smiled briefly at his handiwork。 The uridezu； frozen solid in a thick block of ice； slowly sank to the lakebed； leaving a trail of bubbles in its path。
The second uridezu swam in fast； a stream of glowing purple maggots fanning out behind it。 The tiny worms came from its ruined left eye； an old wound t