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mple　tavern　brawl。
Tathlyn　and　his　other　two　friends　saw　their　chance　and　rushed　in。　Ryld　knew　that　he　didn't　have　time　to　pull　the　embedded　short　sword　out　of　his　victim's　flesh。　If　he　tried；　his　other　enemies　would　have　him。　He　cloaked　the　wounded　Godeep　in　a　ragged　bulb　of　darkness　and　shoved　him　at　the　others。
Ryld　couldn't　see　through　the　obscuring　field　any　more　than　his　adversaries　could；　but；　peering　around　the　edges　of　it；　he　saw　the　wounded　Godeep　reel　into　his　fellows　and　stagger　them；　startle　them；　too；　with　the　sudden；　unexpected　impediment　to　their　sight。　That　gave　the　weapons　master　the　time　he　needed　to　whirl；　take　in　the　obstructive　clutter　of　furniture　and　gawking　sava　players　before　him；　and　leap　up　onto　the　table　where　his　own　game　sat　waiting。　His　racing　feet　annihilated　the　snare　he'd　so　cunningly　laid　for　the　merchant；　hurling　the　pieces　rattling　across　the　board　and　onto　the　floor。
He　jumped　down　on　the　other　side；　grabbed　Splitter；　and　spun　back　around　to　face　his　enemies。　In　one　smooth　blur　of　motion；　he　yanked　this　most　trusted　of　all　his　weapons　from　its　scabbard　and　came　on　guard。　Despite　its　hugeness；　the　great　sword　was　so　perfectly　balanced　that　it　felt　as　light　as　a　dagger　in　his　grasp。
He　noticed　that　the　nonbatants　in　the　taproom　had　begun　shouting　encouragement　and　insults　at　the　fighters。　A　couple　quickthinking　gamblers　were　giving　odds。
Ryld's　three　remaining　adversaries　manhandled　their　shadowshrouded　kinsman　out　of　their　way　and　stalked　forward；　manifestly　hoping　to　pin　the　fencing　teacher　against　the　wall。　The　one　on　the　left　hung　back　a　bit；　none　too　eager；　but　he　didn't　look　as　if　he'd　actually　turn　and　run　unless　Tathlyn　told　him　to；　or　else　he　saw　the　weapons　master　himself　go　down　under　Splitter's　razor　edge。
Ryld　had　no　intention　of　letting　himself　be　trapped。　He　moved　away　from　the　wall　the　same　way　he'd　moved　up　to　it；　springing　onto　the　table　and　charging　across。
When　he　reached　the　far　edge；　he　discovered　a　rapier　poised　to　skewer　him　in　the　vitals　when　he　plunged　off。　The　Godeep　on　the　other　end　of　the　blade—the　bolder　of　Tathlyn's　two　kinsmen—was　quick；　and　he'd　conceived　a　pretty　good　tactic。　Ryld's　impetus　was　such　that　he　probably　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　stop　himself　from　hurtling　right　onto　the　Godeep's　point。
But　he　could　whirl　Splitter　through　a　sweeping　lowline　parry。　The　great　sword　clanked　into　the　other　male's　lighter　blade　and　snapped　the　last　six　inches　off。
Ryld　jumped　down　almost　on　top　of　the　rapier　fighter；　so　close　it　would　require　a　moment　to　bring　Splitter's　blade　to　bear；　a　moment　that　the　other　Godeeps　might　turn　to　good　advantage。　Instead；　the　weapons　master　bashed　the　great　sword's　heavy　steel　ball　of　a　pommel　into　the　center　of　the　rapierwielder's　forehead。　The　impact　thudded；　and　the　male　fell　backward。
Something　clacked　hard　but　harmlessly　against　Ryld's　breastplate。　He　glanced　down　and　saw　that　one　of　the　spectators；　someone　who'd　bet　on　his　opponents；　perhaps；　had　shot　a　hand　crossbow　at　him—but　the　weapons　master　didn't　have　time　to　look　for　the　culprit。　He　had　to　pivot　to　fend　off　his　fellow　swordsmen。
Predictably；　Tathlyn　was　in　the　lead。　Ryld　cut　at　the　weapons　master's　head；　and　his　erstwhile　student　instantly　backpedaled；　retreating　just　far　enough　to　avoid　the　stroke。　He'd　learned　good　footwork　somewhere　along　the　way；　better　than　Ryld　remembered。
Slipping　in　and　out　of　the　distance；　Tathlyn　feinted　and　invited；　putting　on　a　show。　Meanwhile；　the　other　Godeep；　the　wary　one；　circled；　trying　to　get　behind　Ryld。
The　weapons　master　allowed　the　boy　to　creep　part　way　round　to　his　flank；　then　he　sprang　at　Tathlyn　and　cut　wildly；　seemingly　offbalance　and　over　mitted　to　the　attack。
The　other　Godeep　had　Ryld's　back；　at　a　moment　when　the　teacher　looked　entirely　incapable　of　turning　and　defending。　Reluctant　or　not；　the　boy　couldn't　pass　up　such　an　opportunity。　He　charged。
Ryld　whirled；　bringing　Splitter　around　in　a　sweeping　horizontal　stroke。　The　greatsword　with　its　superior　length　struck　one　step　before　the　Godeep　would　have　initiated　his　own　attack。　Thanks　to　Ryld's　deftness；　the　huge；　preternaturally　sharp　blade　merely　gashed　the　boy's　wrist　instead　of　lopping　off　his　hand。　The　petty　noble　dropped　his　broadsword；　then　had　the　bad　judgment　to　reach　for　his　dagger。　The　weapons　master　slashed　his　leg；　tumbling　him　to　the　floor。
Ryld　knew　that　by　spinning　to　attack　the　one　Godeep；　he　had　given　his　back　to　Tathlyn；　who　was　surely　driving　in　to　kill　him。　The　teacher　whirled　back　around。　Sure　enough；　Tathlyn　had　rushed　into　the　distance　and　was　cutting　at　his　head。　Ryld　parried　with　Splitter's　edge；　hoping　to　snap　the　Godeep　weapons　master's　long　sword　as　he　had　the　rapier。　The　crimson　blade　struck　the　great　sword　on　the　forte；　just　above　the　parrying　hook；　rang；　and　rebounded；　still　in　one　piece。　It　was　made　of　good　metal；　Ryld　thought；　well　fed；　with　strengthening　enchantments　woven　in。
But　its　virtues　alone　couldn't　save　its　master。　Ryld　feinted　low　to　draw　the　red　sword　down；　then　cut　high。　Splitter　sliced　Tathlyn's　brow；　and　blood　poured　into　the　Godeep　weapons　master's　eyes。　He　reeled　backward。
Ryld　could　tell　that　none　of　his　adversaries　had　any　fight　left　in　them。　He　turned　once　more；　surveying　the　room。　Whoever　had　shot　him；　the　fellow　had　prudently　put　his　hand　crossbow　away。
〃Nicely　done；〃　said　Pharaun；　lounging；　goblet　in　hand；　by　the　bar。
〃How　long　have　you　been　there？〃　Ryld　replied；　walking　to　retrieve　his　short　sword。　Its　victim　had　pulled　it　free　and　left　it　on　the　floor。　〃You　could　have　helped　me。〃
〃I　was　too　busy　wagering　on　you。〃　The　wizard　held　out　his　purse；　and　grumbling　losers　dropped　coins　into　it。　〃I　knew　you　wouldn't　need　help　against　a　couple　drunks。〃
Ryld　grunted；　wiped　his　weapons　on　a　handy　bar　rag；　and　asked；　〃Do　you　want　that　red　sword？　It's　a　good　weapon。　Maybe　a　Godeep　family　heirloom。〃
Pharaun　grinned。　〃Which　would　mean　they　acquired　it　when；　last　tenday？　No；　thank　you　anyway；　but　what　would　a　spell　caster　do　with　it？　Besides；　I　wouldn't　want　the　weight　to　stretch　and　chafe　my　clothes。〃
〃Suit　yourself。〃
The　Master　of　Sorcere　sauntered　up　to　Ryld；　then　spoke　far　more　softly。　〃Are　you　about　ready　to　go？　I'd　just　as　soon　take　my　leave　before　Nym　wanders　downstairs。〃
Ryld　wondered　what　mischief　his　friend　had　mitted。　〃Almost；〃　he　said。　〃Give　Nym　something　to　pay　for　the　cleanup。〃
The　warrior　walked　to　the　sava　tables；　retrieved　Splitter's　scabbard　and　his　own　winnings；　then　looked　around　for　the　trader。　The　boy　had　made　a　hasty　withdrawal　from　the　table　the　instant　the　fight　began；　but　he　hadn't　gone　far。　Most　every　drow　had　a　taste　for　blood　sport。
Ryld　tossed　him　a　gold　coin　with　the　Baenre　emblem　stamped　on　it。　〃Here　are　your　winnings。〃
The　young　merchant　looked　puzzled。　Perhaps　the　drink　was　to　blame。
〃If　a　player　disturbs　the　arrangement　of　the　board；　he　loses；〃　Ryld　explained。　〃It's　in　the　rules。〃
*　　　
〃It　was　gratifying　to　e　upstairs　and　observe　you　handling　our　confidential　inquiries　with　your　usual　light　touch；〃　Pharaun　said。
He　paused　to　let　a　float　chest；　attended　by　a　dark　elf　merchant　and　six　hulking　bugbear　slaves；　drift　across　the　lane。　The　stone　box　looked　like　a　sarcophagus。　Maybe　it　was。　In　the　Bazaar；　a　shopper　could　purchase　nearly　anything；　including　cadavers　and　mummies　once　embalmed　with　strange　spices　and　laid　to　rest　with　mystic　rites。　Indeed；　such　wares　were　available　either　whole　or　by　the　desiccated　piece。
〃It　wasn't　my　fault；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃I　did　nothing　to　provoke　that　fight。〃　He　hesitated。　〃Well；　perhaps　I　was　a　bit　brusque　when　the　Godeeps　first　stalked　up　to　the　table。〃
〃You？　Never〃
〃Spare　me　your　japes。　Why　do　we　have　to　question　people　anyway？〃　The　Master　of　MeleeMagthere　ducked　beneath　the　corner　of　a　lowhanging　rothehide　awning　and　added；　〃You　ought　to　be　able　to　look　in　a　scrying　pool　and　find　the　runaways。〃
Pharaun　smiled。　〃Where　would　be　the　fun　in　that？　Now　seriously；　why　did　the　Godeeps　take　exception　to　your　no　doubt　impeccably　subtle　questions　in　the　first　place？　Were　they　in　league　with　the　rogues？〃
〃I　don't　think　they　knew　anything。　I　think　they　were　merely　sympathetic　to　the　idea　of　eloping　and　generally　in　a　foul　mood。　It　looked　as　if　one　of　t