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s　of　any　particular　significance；　certainly　not　to　herself。
If　she　had　noticed　it　at　all；　she　probably　assumed　the　stone　was　onyx；　ebony；　or　jet。　In　actuality；　it　was　polished　ivory　cut　from　a　unicorn's　horn　after　Gromph　slew　the　magical　equine—sacred　to　the　despicable　elves　of　the　World　Above—in　a　necromantic　rite。　The　orb　was　only　black　because　of　the　entity　he　had　placed　inside　it　only　two　hours　before。
〃That　was　her；〃　he　murmured；　too　softly　for　any　of　the　spell　casters　bustling　about　him　to　overhear。　〃Did　you　take　her　scent？〃
Yes；　the　demon　answered；　its　silent　voice　like　a　nail　scratching　the　inside　of　Gromph's　head。　Though　it　was　unnecessary。　I　may　not　possess　the　power　of　sight；　but　that　has　never　hindered　me　as　I　sought　my　prey。
〃I　was　just　making　sure。　Now；　can　you　succeed　where　Beradax　failed？〃
Of　course。　No　one　of　your　world　has　ever　escaped　me。　Afterward；　I　will　feast　on　Quenthel's　soul；　one　tiny　morsel　at　a　time。
Most　likely　the　netherspirit　would　do　exactly　that；　and　if　it　failed；　Gromph　had　six　more　waiting　in　line　to　pick　up　where　it　left　off。　Perhaps　it　wouldn't　even　e　to　that。　He　had；　after　all；　manipulated　events　in　such　a　way　as　to　inspire　more　mundane　assassins。
A　thirdyear　student　came　scurrying　up　with　a　stubby　chalcedony　wand　in　his　hand。　Recalled　to　more　immediate　concerns；　Gromph　sighed　and　prepared　to　teach　the　youth　how　the　device　worked。
Pretending　to　take　an　interest　in　an　itinerant　vendor's　rack　of　cheaply　fed　and　poorly　balanced　daggers；　Ryld　turned　and　surreptitiously　surveyed　the　intersection。
A　fellow　with　what　the　weapons　master　suspected　were　selfinflicted　sores　on　his　legs　chanted　for　alms　and　shook　a　ceramic　bowl。　Since　it　was　a　rare　if　not　demented　dark　elf　who　ever　felt　the　tug　of　pity；　the　beggar　sat　near　the　entrance　to　a　shabby　boarding　house　catering　to　nondrow。
A　female　hurried　by　with　a　hooked　and　pointed　pole—virtually　a　pike；　when　one　really　looked　at　it—on　her　shoulder　and　a　giant　weasel　on　a　leash。　She　was　plainly　an　exterminator　headed　out　to　rid　a　household　of　some　substantial　infestation。
A　snarling　noble　from　House　Hunzrin　drew　his　rapier　and　lashed　a　moner　with　the　flat；　evidently　because　the　latter　had　been　a　trifle　slow　stepping　out　of　his　way。　The　Hunzrins　were　notorious　for　their　virulent　arrogance。　Perhaps　it　stemmed　from　the　fact　that　they　controlled　the　greater　part　of　Menzoberranzan's　agriculture。　Or　maybe　they　were　pensating　for　the　fact　that；　for　all　their　wealth；　they　were　stuck　living　in　〃mere　East。〃
Any　number　of　other　rather　drab　and　hungrylooking　souls　rushed　on　about　their　business。
〃Reliving　childhood　memories？〃　the　wizard　asked。
〃You　fet；〃　Ryld　replied；　〃I　was　born　in　the　Braeryn。　I　had　to　work　my　way　up　to　get　to　Eastmyr。〃
〃I　daresay　you　took　one　look　around；　then　kept　right　on　climbing。〃
〃You're　right。　Just　now；　I　was　checking　to　see　if　someone's　tailing　us。　No　one　is。〃
〃What　a　pity。　I　was　hoping　that　if　we　asked　enough　questions　in　diverse　male　gatherings；　some　more　friends　of　the　runaways　would　try　to　murder　us；　or　at　least　seek　to　learn　what　we're　about。　Perhaps　the　rogues　are　too　canny　for　that。〃
〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
〃Visit　the　next　vile　tavern；　I　suppose。〃
They　started　walking；　and　Pharaun　continued；　〃Say；　did　I　ever　tell　you　how；　two　days　into　my　first　mission　to　the　World　Above；　I　wound　up　having　to　tail　a　human　mage　while　the　sun　was　blazing　in　the　sky？　I　was　blind　with　the　glare；　my　eyes—〃
〃Enough；〃　Ryld　said。　〃You've　told　this　a　thousand　times。〃
〃Well；　it's　a　good　story。　I　know　you'll　enjoy　hearing　it　again。　There　I　was；　blind　with　the　glare　。。。〃
As　the　two　masters　strolled　on；　they　passed　a　doorway　sealed　with　a　curtain　of　spider　web。　Forbidden　by　sacred　law　to　disturb　the　silken　trap　until　such　time　as　its　builder　ceased　to　occupy　it；　the　luckless　occupant　of　the　house　had　placed　a　box　beneath　his　front　window　to　serve　as　a　makeshift　step。
Across　the　way；　a　ragged　halfbreed　child；　part　dark　elf；　part　human　by　the　look　of　her；　brushed　past　a　drunken　laborer；　then　quickened　her　pace　a　trifle。　Ryld　hadn't　actually　seen　her　lift　the　tosspot's　purse；　but　he　was　fairly　certain　she　had。
Pharaun　came　to　a　sudden　halt。　〃Look　at　this；〃　he　said。
Ryld　turned；　the　long；　fortable　weight　of　Splitter　shifting　ever　so　slightly　across　his　back。　On　a　wall　at　the　mouth　of　an　alley；　someone　had　clumsily　daubed　a　rudimentary　picture　of　a　clawed　hand　surrounded　by　flames。　Though　it　was　small　and　smeared　in　paint　that　barely　contrasted　with　the　stone　behind　it；　Ryld　was　slightly　chagrined　that　Pharaun　had　noticed　it　and　he　hadn't；　but　he　supposed　wizards　had　a　nose　for　glyphs。
〃Do　you　know　what　this　is？〃　asked　Pharaun。
〃An　emblem　of　the　Skortchclaw　horde；　one　of　the　larger　tribes　of　ores。　I've　been　to　the　Realms　that　See　the　Sun　a　time　or　two　myself；　remember？〃
〃Good；　I'm　glad　you　confirm　my　identification。　Now；　what　is　it　doing　here？〃
Ryld　took　a　reflexive　glance　around；　searching　for　potential　threats；　and　said；　〃I　assume　some　orc　painted　it。〃
〃That　would　be　my　supposition；　too；　but　have　you　ever　known　a　thrall　to　do　such　a　thing？〃
〃No。〃
〃Of　course　not。　What　slave　would　dare　deface　the　city；　knowing　that　each　and　every　drow　takes　pride　in　its　perfection？〃
〃A　crazy　one。　We've　all　seen　them　go　mad　under　the　lash。〃
〃Whereupon　they　attack　their　handlers。　They　don't　creep　about　scrawling　on　walls。　I'd　like　to　questions　the　people　in　these　houses　on　either　side。　Perhaps　someone　can　shed　some　light　on　this　occurrence。〃
〃You　get　curious　about　the　strangest　things；〃　Ryld　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃Sometimes　I　think　you're　a　little　mad　yourself。〃
〃Genius　is　so　often　misperceived。〃
〃Look；　I　know　this　puzzle　is　going　to　nag　at　you；　but　we're　right　in　the　middle　of　trying　to　find　the　runaways　and　so　save　your　life。　Let's　stick　to　that。〃
The　tall；　thin　wizard　smiled　and　said；　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
They　walked　on。
〃But　eventually；〃　Pharaun　said　after　a　moment；　〃when　we've　located　the　rogues　and　covered　ourselves　in　glory—or　at　least　convinced　Gromph　to　let　me　continue　breathing—I　am　going　to　inquire　into　this。〃
They　traveled　another　block；　then　a　column　of　roaring　yellow　fire　fell　from　the　sky；　engulfing　Pharaun's　body。　Wings　beat　the　air；　and　an　arrow　streaked　at　Ryld。　

The　netherspirit　couldn't　see　the　new　enchantments　surrounding　Tier　Breche；　but　as　the　uttermost　attenuated　projection　of　its　substance　washed　over　them；　it　could　feel　them。
Metaphorically　speaking；　the　wards　were　not　unlike　a　castle。　There　was　the　motte；　the　steep　slopes　of　which　would　slow　an　enemy's　approach　while　the　defenders　rained　missiles　down　on　him。　Atop　that　loomed　the　thick；　high　walls；　virtually　unbreachable　and　un　climbable。　Amid　those　was　the　recessed　gate；　defensible　by　spears　and　arrows　loosed　from　three　directions。　Within　the　passage　itself；　murder　holes　gaped　in　the　ceiling　to　rain　burning　oil　on　the　invaders'　heads；　while　beyond　it　rose　a　gatehouse　with　battlements　at　the　top；　another　barrier　to　enclose　the　first　section　of　the　courtyard　and　turn　it　into　a　killing　pit。
Gromph's　first　counter　magic；　the　one　that　had　admitted　the　late　and　unlamented　Beradax　to　the　temple；　had　stormed　the　fortress　like　a　rampaging　army　equipped　with　catapults；　rams；　and　siege　towers。　The　archmage's　second　effort　resembled　a　mine　sappers　had　excavated　to　pass　unobtrusively　beneath　the　walls。　Except　that　this　hole　ran　though　extra　dimensional　space。
As　the　netherspirit　understood　it；　this　method　of　egress　was　arranged　by　the　Baenre　elder　male　so　that　the　occupants　of　ArachTinilith　would　experience　another　kind　of　terror。　They　had　already　discovered　the　dread　of　a　screaming　alarm；　and　they　would　learn　the　fear　that　came　when　death　slipped　into　their　midst　without　any　warning　at　all。
Pulling　in　the　longer　tendrils　of　its　ectoplasmic　substance；　the　entity—　it　and　its　kind　had　no　names；　an　advantage　in　that　most　wizards　therefore　lacked　the　ability　to　summon　them—poured　its　formless　form　into　the　tunnel；　albeit　not　without　a　measure　of　trepidation。　If　Gromph's　magic　was　unable　to　neutralize　the　conjurations　of　his　minions；　this　was　where　the　spirit　would　discover　it　in　some　unpleasant　way。
As　it　crept　down　the　mine；　it　sensed　the　wards　poised　above　and　around　it；　enchan