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ll。
〃No；〃　Ryld　said；　tossing　the　bugbear　a　shaved　coin；　paying　the　toll　to　pass　in　and　out　of　the　house。　〃We　came　to　see　Smylla　Nathos。〃
The　hulking　goblinoids　just　looked　at　him；　as　did　several　others　creatures。　A　scaly；　naked　little　kobold　tittered　crazily。
Something　was　wrong；　and　the　Master　of　MeleeMagthere　didn't　know　what。　He　felt　a　sudden　tension　and　exhaled　it　away。　Looking　nervous　was　a　bad　idea。
〃Isn't　this　Smylla's　house？〃　he　asked。
The　shorter　bugbear；　who　still　loomed　nearly　as　huge　as　an　ogre；　laughed　and　said；　〃No；　not　no　more；　but　she　still　live　here　。　。　。　kind　of。〃
〃Can　we　see　her？〃　said　Ryld。
〃What　for？〃　asked　the　bugbear　with　the　severed　goblin　hand。
The　weapons　master　hesitated。　He'd　intended　to　say　that　he　and　Pharaun　wished　to　consult　Smylla　in　her　professional　capacity　as　a　trader　in　information。　It　was　essentially　the　truth；　though　that　didn't　matter。　What　did　was　that　he　hadn't　expected　it　to　provoke　a　hostile　response。
Pharaun　stepped　up　beside　him。
〃Smylla　sold　our　sister　Iggra　the　secret　of　how　to　break　into　a　merchant's　strong　room；〃　the　wizard　said　in　a　creditably　surly　Orcish　rasp。　〃How　to　get　around　all　the　traps。　。　。　。　Only　she　left　one　out；　see？　It　squirted　acid　on　Sis　and　burned　her　to　death。　Slow。　Almost　got　us　too。　It's　Smylla's　fault；　and　we　e　to　'talk'　to　her　about　it。〃
The　smaller　bugbear　nodded。　〃You　ain't　the　only　ones　wantin'　that　kind　of　talk。　Us；　too；　but　we　can't　get　at　the　bitch。〃
Pharaun　cocked　his　head。　〃How　e？〃　
〃A　couple　tendays　ago；〃　said　the　bugbear　with　the　severed　hand　necklace；　〃we　decided　we　was　tired　of　her　bossing　us　and　her　lamps　hurting　our　eyes。　We　jumped　her；　hit　her；　but　she　chucked　one　of　those　stones　that　makes　a　flash　of　light。　It　blinded　us；　and　she　run　up　to　her　room。〃　He　nodded　toward　the　head　of　a　twisting　staircase。　〃We　can't　get　through　the　door。　She　locked　it　with　magic　or　somethin'。〃
Pharaun　snorted。　〃Ain't　no　door　my　brother　and　me　can't　bust　through。〃
The　bugbears　exchanged　glances。　The　smaller　one；　who；　Ryld　noticed；　was　missing　several　of　his　lower　teeth；　shrugged。
〃You　can　try；〃　the　larger　one　said。　〃Only；　Smylla　belongs　to　us；　too。　Hit　her；　bleed　her；　slice　off　a　piece　of　her　and　eat　it；　but　you　can't　keep　her　all　to　yourself。〃
〃It's　a　deal；〃　Pharaun　said。
〃e　on；　then。〃
The　bugbears　led　them　through　the　crowded　room　and　onto　the　stairs；　where　they　still　had　to　pick　their　way　through　lounging　paupers。　Partway　up；　the　brute　wearing　the　decaying　hand　put　it　in　his　mouth　and　began　slurping　and　sucking　on　it。
At　the　top　of　the　steps　were　a　small　landing　and　a　limestone　door　with　a　rounded　top。　Two　sentries；　an　ore　and　a　caninefaced　gnoll　with　sores　on　his　muzzle；　sat　on　the　floor　looking　bored。
The　disguised　teachers　made　a　show　of　examining　the　door。
〃Can　you　knock　it　down？〃　Pharaun　whispered。
〃When　the　bugbears　couldn't？　Don't　count　on　it。　Can　you　open　it　with　magic？〃
〃Probably。　It's　magically　sealed；　so　a　counter　spell　should　suffice；　but　I　don't　want　our　friends　to　observe　me　casting　it。　That　really　would　promise　my　disguise。　Stand　where　you　obstruct　their　view　and　do　something　distracting。〃
〃Right。〃　Ryld　positioned　himself　in　the　appropriate　spot　and　glowered　up　at　the　two　bugbears。　〃We　can　open　it。　What　loot　is　inside？〃
The　larger　bugbear　scowled　and；　the　odious　object　in　his　mouth　garbling　his　speech　a　little；　said；　〃We　made　a　deal。　It　didn't　say　nothing　about　no　loot。〃
〃Smylla　took　Sis's　treasure；〃　Ryld　replied。　〃We　want　it　back；　and　extra　too；　for　wergild。〃
〃Hell　with　that。〃
The　bugbear　with　the　missing　teeth　reached　for　the　knife　tucked　through　his　belt。　Ryld　could　see　it　was　a　butcher's　tool；　not　a　proper　fighting　blade；　but　no　doubt　it　served　in　the　latter　capacity　well　enough。
Ryld　rested　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　short　sword；　the　weapon　of　choice　for　these　tight　quarters；　and　said；　〃You　want　to　fight；　we'll　fight。　I'll　slice　your　face　off　your　skull　and　wear　it　like　a　breechcloth；　but　my　brother　and　I　came　to　kill　Smylla；　not　you。　Let's　talk。　If　you　never　get　the　door—〃
〃Open；〃　Pharaun　said。
White　light　shone　at　Ryld's　back；　making　the　bugbears　wince。　Squinting；　the　warrior　whirled　and　scrambled　for　the　opening。
〃Hey〃　yelped　the　smaller　bugbear。
Ryld　felt　a　big　hand　fumble　at　his　shoulder；　trying　to　grab　him；　but　it　was　an　instant　too　slow。　He　followed　Pharaun　over　the　threshold　and　slammed　the　door。
〃You　need　to　hold　it　shut；〃　the　wizard　said。
〃I　can't　do　it　for　long。〃
Leaning　forward；　Ryld　planted　his　hands　on　the　limestone　slab　and　braced　himself。
The　door　bucked　inward。　For　a　split　second；　the　dark　elf's　feet　slid　on　the　calcite　floor；　then　they　caught；　and　he　held　the　barrier　in　place。　Barely。
Meanwhile；　Pharaun　was　peering　about。　He　gave　a　little　cry　of　satisfaction；　picked　up　a　small　iron　bar；　and　set　it　so　it　overlapped　the　edge　of　the　door　and　the　jamb　about　halfway　up。　When　he　took　his　hand　away；　the　charm　remained　in　place。
〃This　is　quite　a　clever　little　device；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃Oh；　and　you　can　let　go　now。〃　Pharaun　turned　the　mechanical　locks　his　spell　of　opening　had　disengaged；　snapping　each　shut　in　its　turn。　It　was　actually　the　enchanted　length　of　iron　that　had　up　to　then　kept　the　goblinoids　out；　but　he　thought　he　and　Ryld　might　as　well　be　as　secure　as　possible。　It　also　seemed　the　courteous　thing　to　do。
His　hostess；　however；　didn't　seem　to　appreciate　the　gesture。
〃Get　out〃
The　masters　turned。　Smylla　Nathos　had　lit　her　sparsely　furnished　room　with　a　pair　of　slender　brass　rods；　the　tips　of　which　emitted　a　steady　magical　glow。　They　protruded　from　the　necks　of　waxencrusted　wine　bottles　like　tapers　sitting　in　candelabra；　which　they　perhaps　were　meant　to　resemble。　Maybe　Smylla　missed　the　spell　caster's　traditional　mode　of　illumination　but　couldn't　obtain　it　anymore。
She　herself　lay　at　the　limit　of　the　light；　on　a　cot　in　the　shadows　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　Pharaun　could　just　barely　make　her　out。
〃Good　afternoon；　my　lady；〃　the　wizard　said；　bowing。　〃It　shames　me　beyond　measure　to　ignore　your　request。　Yet　should　this　gentleman　and　I　pass　through　your　door　a　second　time；　the　bugbears　and　their　ilk　will　rush　in；　and　that；　I　think；　is　the　very　eventuality　you　sought　to　forestall。〃
〃Who　are　you？　You　don't　talk　like　an　ore。〃
〃My　lady　is　a　marvel　of　perspicacity。　We　are　in　fact　drow　lords　e　to　consult　you　on　a　matter　of　some　importance。〃
〃Why　are　you　disguised？〃
〃The　usual　reason：　To　confound　our　enemies。　May　we　approach？　It's　tedious　trying　to　converse　across　the　length　of　the　room。〃
Smylla　hesitated；　then　said；　〃e。〃
Pharaun　and　Ryld　started　forward。　Behind　them；　the　bugbears　were　cursing；　shouting　threats　and　questions；　and　pounding　on　the　far　side　of　the　door。
After　four　paces；　the　wizard's　stomach　turned　at　yet　another　stench；　this　one　humid　and　gangrenous。　He'd　half　expected　something　of　the　sort；　but　that　didn't　make　it　any　easier　to　bear。　Even　the　phlegmatic　Ryld　looked　disfited　for　an　instant。
〃Close　enough；〃　Smylla　said；　and　Pharaun　supposed　it　was。
He　had　no　desire　to　e　any　nearer　to　that　wasted　form　with　its　boils　and　pustules；　even　though　the　enchantments　bound　into　his　mantle　and　Ryld's　cloak　and　dwarven　armor　would　probably　protect　them　from　infection。
〃Can　you　help　us？〃　asked　Ryld。
The　sick　woman　leered。　〃Will　you　pay　me　with　the　magnificent　greatsword　you　wear　across　your　back？〃
Pharaun　was　somewhat　impressed。　The　illusion　of　pigfaced　orcishness　shrouding　his　friend　made　Splitter　look　like　a　battleaxe；　but　Smylla's　rheumy；　sunken　eyes　had　pierced　that　aspect　of　the　deception。
When　he　recovered　from　his　surprise；　Ryld　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　won't　give　you　the　sword。　I　worked　too　hard　to　get　it；　and　I　need　it　to　stay　alive；　but　if　you　want　I　can　use　it　to　clear　away　the　goblinoids　outside。　My　rade　and　I　are　also　carrying　a　fair　amount　of　gold。〃
Her　dry　white　hair　spread　about　her　head；　Smylla　lay　propped　against　a　mound　of　stained；　musty　pillows。　She　struggled　to　hitch　herself　up　straighter；　then　abandoned　the　effort。　Apparently　it　was　beyond　her　strength。
〃Gold？〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　know　who　I　am；　swordsman？　Do　you　know　my　history？〃
〃I　do；〃　Pharaun　said。　〃The　gist　of　it；　anyway。　It　happened　after　I　more　or　less　withdrew　from　participation　in　the　affairs　of　the　great　H