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ate air of scholarship； imparting knowledge to eager young minds； advancing the frontiers of the mystic arts—〃
〃Murdering other wizards for their talismans and grimoires。〃
He grinned。 〃Well； that was implied； of course。 Anyway； after all that； I find myself again embroiled in the more mundane aspects of life in our noble metropolis。 There's a puzzle I must solve on pain of the Archmage's severe displeasure； and I will be grateful unto death and beyond if you help me unravel it。〃
〃How would I do that？〃
〃Don't be disingenuous。 It doesn't suit you。 The same way as always。 I assume foolish boys still sometimes gossip and boast to their hired females； even though if they stopped to think about it； they'd remember you loathe them and wish them only ill。 I likewise imagine that you still sometimes find yourself obliged to entertain at gatherings where such idiots； unmindful of your presence； discuss their most secret affairs with one another。〃
〃In other words； you wish to resume our old arrangement。 Which still had four years to run。 If I assist you with your current problem； will you continue to concern yourself with 'mundane' affairs； or will you lock yourself away in your tower once more？〃
He considered lying； but his instincts told him she'd see through it。
〃I'm not entirely sure what will bee of me；〃 he said。 〃As far as I know； if I'm successful； I ought to wind up reestablished in Sorcere with all my transgressions fiven； but for some murky reason； I wonder。 I'm caught up in something I don't yet understand； and only the dark powers know where it will lead。〃
〃Then if you want my help； you'll have to set me free 。 。 。 today。〃
〃Impossible； I don't have the requisite funds on my person； nor the leisure to dicker with Nym； for that matter。 You know he'd stretch any negotiation out for days； just to be annoying。 Nor do I have time to arrange an escape。〃
She only stared at him； and he understood。
〃Ah；〃 he said。
〃Is it a bargain？〃
〃It is if you actually give me some help。 My problem is this： An unusual number of males have run away from home of late。〃
〃That's your errand？ To find some rogues？ What makes it important enough to send a Master of Sorcere？〃
He smiled。 〃I have no idea。 Do you know anything about it？〃
She shook her head。 〃Not much。〃
〃Frankly； any crumb of genuine information will put me ahead of where I am now。〃
〃Well； I've heard only the vaguest hints； but they suggest this isn't just a case of an unusual number of males deciding independently to elope。 They all ran to the same place for the same reason； whatever that reason may be。〃
〃I thought as much；〃 said Pharaun。 〃Otherwise； why would Gromph be interested？ But it's reassuring to hear that your own agile mind has arrived at the same conclusion。〃
She sneered。
Pharaun absently ran his fingertip along one of the swirling lines woven into his robe。
〃I doubt a threat would suffice to draw so many boys away from home；〃 he said。 〃Some would have the courage to defy the threatener or the sense to appeal to their kin for protection。 Nor would a hypnotic charm do the trick。 Aside from the natural resistance to such effects that all we dark elves possess； some of the males would have carried wards in the form of amulets and such。 No； I think we have to assume the rogues sneaked away of their own volition to acplish some positive end。 But what？〃
〃They're anizing a new merchant clan？〃
〃I thought of that； but Gromph says no； and I'm sure he's correct。 For if that were the case； then why the secrecy？ Since trade is important to all Menzoberranzan； people don't generally object when a male bees a merchant。 It's one of the two or three legitimate ways to distance oneself from Mother's harsh and arbitrary hand。〃 He grinned。 〃No offense。 I'm sure that in happier times； the males under your authority had no reason to plain of you。〃
〃You can bet I would give them reason now。〃
〃Given your more recent experiences； that's understandable。 So； if the rogues aren't putting together a caravan； what are they doing？ Preparing to flee Menzoberranzan for good and all？ Or； goddess forbid； have they slipped away already？〃
〃I don't think so。 I can't tell you precisely where they are； but I believe they're still somewhere in the city proper； the Mantle； or conceivably out in the Bauthwaf。〃
〃Now that truly is good news。 I wasn't keen on a hunt through the wilds of the Underdark。 Not only is there a general lack of amenities； the winemakers are uncorking the new vintages the tenday after next。〃
Pellanistra shook her head。 〃You haven't changed。〃
〃Thank you； I'll take that as a pliment。 Now； let's get down to the crux of the matter； shall we？ I require names。 Which of your visitors dropped these Vaguest hints' which you have so sagaciously interpreted？〃
She gave him a smile radiant with spite。 〃Alton Vandree and Vuzlyn Freth。〃
〃Who themselves subsequently disappeared and are thus unavailable for questioning。 It makes sense； I suppose； but it's unfortunate all the same。〃
〃I've given you everything I have；〃 she said。 〃Now fulfill your end of the deal。〃
The wizard frowned and said； 〃My dear collaborator； it would devastate me to disappoint you。 Yet I stipulated that you'd have to offer me information of some significance； and frankly； I'm not sure you've delivered。 I really know little more than I did before。〃
〃Do it； or I'll tell every soul who es into this cell that you're looking for the runaways。 Perhaps that will have some 'significance' for your mission。 I assume it is supposed to be a secret。 Things usually are where you're involved； and you haven't mentioned a legion of assistants following you about。〃
Pharaun laughed。 〃Well played。 I surrender。 How shall we do this？〃
〃I don't care。 Burn me with your magic。 Stick a dagger in me。 Break my neck with those long； clever fingers。〃
〃Interesting suggestions all； but I'd just as soon that Nym didn't bill me for your demise。 If we can make it look as if your heart just stopped of its own accord sometime after I look my leave； I'll have a chance。〃
He cast about； noticed the thick； fluffy pillow on the bed； picked it up； and experimentally gripped it at both ends。 It felt good in his hands。
〃This ought to work；〃 he said。 〃Perhaps you could oblige me by lying down？〃
C h a p t e r
F I V E
Ryld sipped his chilled； tart wine with a sense of satisfaction； secure in the knowledge that the game； though technically still in progress； was already won。 In three more moves； his onyx wizard and orc would trap and mate his opponent's carnelian mother。
As usual； he had acplished his victory without recourse to the dice。 Truth to tell； those clattering ivory cubes with the magically warmed images incised on the faces were the one aspect of SUVA he didn't like。 They interjected blind luck into what should be a contest of pure cunning。
Ryld's adversary； a scrawny young merchant clansman with an uncouth habit of letting drops of liquor slide from the corners of his mouth as he guzzled； had thrown the dice early on and gloated when chance allowed him to eliminate one of the older male's priestesses。
Shoulders hunched； brow sweaty； he stared at the board as if the fate of his soul were being decided thereupon。 A truly pet