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〃How is that different than normal？〃 asked the weapons master。
Smylla scowled at him and said； 〃All things are relative。 The creatures exhibited those qualities to a greater extent than before； and whenever I heard tidings from beyond these walls； they suggested the entire precinct shared the same truculent humor。〃
Pharaun nodded。 〃Did you hear about tribal emblems appearing in the streets？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃That bespeaks a kind of madness； don't you think？〃
〃Maybe in one or two thralls；〃 said Ryld。 〃What of it？ You promised my friend information。 Tell us something we don't already know； and I mean facts； not your impressions。〃
The clairvoyant smiled。 〃All right。 I was building up to it。 Every few nights a drum beats somewhere in the Braeryn； calling the lower orders to some sort of gathering。 Many of the occupants of this house clear out。 With what little remains of my clairvoyance； I've sensed many others skulking through the streets； all converging on a mon destination。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Ryld。 〃Why has no drow patrol heard the signal and e to investigate？〃
〃Because；〃 said Pharaun； 〃the city possesses enchantments to mute sound。〃
〃Well； maybe。〃 Ryld turned back to Smylla。 〃Where do the creatures go； and why？〃
〃I don't know；〃 she said； 〃but perhaps； with my health and occult talents restored； I could find out。〃 She beamed at Pharaun。 〃I'd be happy to try。 I fulfilled the letter of our bargain； but I do realize I haven't provided you with all that much in exchange for the priceless gift you gave me。〃
〃That remark touches on the question of your future；〃 the wizard said。 〃You'd have no difficulty reestablishing your dominion here in the Stenchstreets； but why live so meanly？ I could use an aide of your caliber。 Or； if you prefer； I can arrange your safe repatriation to the World Above。〃
As he spoke； he surreptitiously contorted the fingers of his left hand； expressing himself in the silent language of the dark elves； a system of gestures as efficient and prehensive as the spoken word。
〃I think—〃 Smylla began； then her eyes opened wide。
She whimpered。 Ryld pulled his short sword out of her back； and she collapsed。 Pharaun skipped back to keep her from toppling against him。
〃Despite her previous experiences；〃 the lanky wizard said； 〃she couldn't quite leave off trusting drow。 I suppose it shows you can take the human out of the sunshine； but not the sunshine out of the human。〃 He shook his head。 〃This is the second female I've slain or murdered by proxy in the brief time since our adventure began； and I didn't particularly want to kill either one of them。 Do you suspect an underlying metaphysical significance？〃
〃How would I know？ I take it you bade me kill the snitch because she was feeding us lies。〃
〃Oh； no。 I'm convinced she was telling the truth。 The problem was that I deceived her。 Her metamorphosis didn't really purge her disease。 It was a bit tricky just suppressing it for a few minutes。〃
Pharaun stepped back again to keep the spreading pool of blood from staining his boots； and Ryld cleaned the short sword on the dead human's bedding。
〃You didn't want to leave her alive and angry to carry tales to Greyanna；〃 the weapons master said。
〃It's unlikely they would have found one another； but why take the chance？〃
〃And you asked Smylla about the marks on the walls。 You're just too cursed curious to let the subject go。〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃Don't be silly。 I'm the very model of singleminded determination； and I was asking to further our mission。〃
Ryld glanced at the door and the iron bar。 They were still holding。
〃What does the strange behavior of goblins have to do with the rogue males？〃 he asked。
〃I don't know yet；〃 Pharaun answered； 〃but we have two oddities occurring at the same time and in the same precinct。 Doesn't it make sense to infer a relationship？〃
〃Not necessarily。 Menzoberranzan has scores of plots and conspiracies going on at any given time。 They aren't all connected。〃
〃Granted。 However； if these two situations are linked； then by inquiring into one； we likewise probe the other。 You and I have experienced a depressing lack of success picking up the trail of our runaways。 Therefore； we'll investigate the lower orders and see where that path takes us。〃
〃How will we do that？〃
〃Follow the drum； of course。〃
The door banged。
〃First；〃 said Ryld； 〃we have to get out of here。〃
〃Easily managed。 I'll remove the locking talisman from the door； then use illusion to make us blend with the walls。 In a minute or two； the residents will break the door down。 When they're busy abusing Smylla's corpse and ransacking her possessions； we'll put on goblin faces and slip out in the confusion。〃
Chapter
E L E V E N
Quenthel's patrol had stalked the shadowy； candlelit passages of ArachTinilith for hours； until spaces she knew intimately began to seem strange and subtly unreal； and her subordinates' nerves visibly frayed with the waiting。 She called a halt to let the underlings rest and collect themselves。 They stopped in a small chapel with the images of skulls； daggers； and spiders worked in basrelief on the walls and the bones of longdead priestesses interred beneath the floor。 Rumor whispered that a cleric had cut her own throat in this sanctuary and her ghost sometimes haunted it； but the Baenre had never seen the apparition； and it wasn't in evidence then。
The priestesses and novices settled on the pews。 For a while； no one spoke。
Eventually Jyslin； a secondyear student with a heartshaped face and silver studs in her earlobes； said； 〃Perhaps nothing will happen。〃
Quenthel stared coldly at the novice。 Like the rest of the party； the younger female cut a warlike figure with her mace； mail； and shield； but her dread showed in her troubled maroon eyes and shiny； sweaty brow。
〃We will face another demon tonight；〃 Quenthel said。 〃I feel it； so it's pointless to hope otherwise。 Instead I suggest you concentrate on staying alert and remembering what you've learned。〃
Jyslin lowered her eyes and whispered； 〃Yes； Mistress。〃
〃Wishful thinking is for cowards；〃 Quenthel said； 〃and if you fools are lapsing into it； we've lingered here too long。 Up with you。〃
Reluctantly； someone's links of supple black mail chiming ever so faintly； Quenthel's minions rose。 She led them onward。
In light of the two previous intrusions and the obvious uselessness of the wards the mages of Sorcere had created； Quenthel had placed ArachTinilith on alert and anized her staff and students into squads of eight。 Most of the units would stand watch at set locations； but several would patrol the entire building。 The Baenre princess had opted to lead one of the latter。
She'd also decided to throw open the storerooms and armories and dispense all the potent enchanted tools and weapons still deposited there。 Even the firstyear students bore enchanted arms and talismans worthy of a high priestess。
Not that the gear had done much to bolster Jyslin's morale； nor that of many another novice。 Had Quenthel not been suffering her own carefully masked anxieties； their glumness might have amused her。 The girls had seen demons throughout their childhoods。 They'd even achieved a certain intimacy with them in ArachTinilith； but this was the first ti