mach as blood sprayed。 Several screams erupted from the crowd as some struggled to get out of the way and others pushed and shoved to get a better view…or a chance to scavenge the bodies。 The first ogre opened its mouth to scream； sinking down to one knee and holding its hands across its midsection； as Jeggred slashed again； ripping the humanoid's throat out。 The ogre gurgled and flailed； wide…eyed with fear。
The second ogre snarled and swung its club at Jeggred； slamming the spiked weapon into the draegloth's shoulder。 The fiend spun with the blow； his mane of white hair flowing behind him。 The twist avoided the worst of the damage and brought Jeggred back to face his enemy from a crouched position。
At that moment； Valas was knocked sideways by a lunging goblin； teeth bared and daggers drawn。 Before the scout could kick the wretch away from him； Quenthel lashed out with her whip。 Several pairs of fangs sank into the goblins flesh； and it fell to the ground； writhing and frothing at the mouth。 Valas lurched back to his feet before more of the throng could surge over him。 He put his back to Quenthel and openly brandished his kukris； holding back several shouting； cursing gray dwarves。
The entourage had formed a defensive circle； Valas realized。 Ryld had Splitter out； and the wizard's magical rapier danced in the air before him； while Pharaun himself held a small wand of some sort； eyeing the increasingly angry crowd。 Even Faeryl held her hammer in her hands； swinging it back and forth experimentally。 Only Jeggred wasn't a part of the defensive formation； having moved a few feet off； finishing his bloody work with the two ogres。 Out of the corner of his eye； Valas could see the fiend biting his foe； ripping chunks of the ogre's face off。
〃We've got to get higher！〃 Valas yelled at Quenthel over his shoulder。 When the high priestess didn't seem to hear him； he repeated himself。 〃Mistress Quenthel； we need to get to a higher section of the city。 This is not working！〃
Next to him； Pharaun jerked as a crossbow bolt snapped against his piwafwi； Someone was taking potshots from the crowd。
〃What do you suggest？〃 Quenthel called back； extending her whip and flailing at an unfortunate kobold that had squeezed to the front of the gathering and was shoved forward from behind。
〃Follow me！〃 Faeryl cried； and she began to lift from the ground； rising up into the air。 〃We must get to the mercantile district； and this is the fastest way。〃
No；〃 Valas groaned； eyes widening。 〃I can't…！ I have no way to stay with you！〃
But it was too late。 The other drow had began to follow the ambassador's example and were lifting from the ground。 Valas backed into the center of what had once been their circle； warily eyeing the crowd around him。
〃Ryld！〃 he shouted。 〃Wait！〃
Valas saw the warrior look down at him； but before the other 〃row could take action； Valas was grabbed from behind。 He tried to spin around and slash out with his kukri； but the grip on him was powerful； and he couldn't get a clean swing in。 A split…second later； he was glad； for Jeggred was the one who had a hold of him。 Coated in blood that matted the fiend's fur； the draegloth held tightly to the scout as he left the ground。 A couple of bold gray dwarves stormed forward； intent on getting in a parting swipe with their war axes at Valas's feet； but Jeggred still had a large； clawed hand free and slashed out at them； forcing the pair of duergar to leap back to safety。
Several more crossbow bolts whizzed by； and one sank into the draegloth's flank next to Valas； but Jeggred only grunted and spun away； levitating upward to where the other drow had gone。 Valas looked back down where they had been standing only moments before。 Even as the webbed street receded； the scout saw the mob swarm over the dead ogres； ripping items of value from the bodies。
Savages； he thought。
Above； Faeryl had stopped on a smaller side street several levels higher than where the drow had been previously； in a quiet space between rows of vendors。 In the main thoroughfare； the crowds were less dense than below； but only slightly。 Valas knew they were still relatively low in the city； for the glimmering glow of spectral light that emanated from the mesh of stone webs still dazzled his sight when he looked up； twinkling far into the distance overhead。 He knew that the higher they got； the better the neighborhoods would be。 Near the top of the cavern； where the trench…shaped chamber was at its widest； the nobles had constructed their sprawling Houses sufficiently beyond the stench and noise of the mon folk far below。 The Menzoberranyr had quite a ways to go before they would be in that vicinity。
〃Is it always that 。 。 。 revolting down there？〃 Quenthel asked as the group settled to the stone avenue； huddling together and keeping their voices low。 〃Why do the matron mothers tolerate that rabble？〃
Jeggred released Valas； who straightened and turned to look at the draegloth； wondering how much of the blood on the fiend was his enemies' and how much was his own。 Much of Jeggred's fur was matted with the hot； sticky fluid； but other than the crossbow bolt in his hip； the beast didn't seem to bear any wounds。 The scout examined his own clothing and noted sullenly that he was sticky with ogre blood； too。
〃The lesser races are not permitted to wander so freely in the higher sections of the city without special permission；〃 Faeryl explained。 〃It'll get better once we get a little higher。〃
〃I doubt it；〃 the high priestess said； sniffing。 〃I doubt the matron mothers would suffer such an embarrassment lightly。 Likely they're dealing with more urgent problems； and I think we all know what those urgent problems are。〃
Over Quenthel's shoulder； Valas could see a trio of female drow who had stopped and were staring at Jeggred as the fiend yanked the crossbow bolt free with a grunt of pain。 One of the dark elves whispered something to her panions； and the three of them scurried away。
Pharaun was making a point of dusting his piwafwi clean and straightening the garment so that he was looking stylish and well groomed again。
〃You are most likely correct；〃 the Master of Sorcere said； nodding in acquiescence。 〃Still； it would not hurt for us to find a place to stay for the night； gathering our wits and perhaps some more information； too。 I'm sure that between the six of us； we can find out a little more about why the city is in this condition。〃
〃Finding a place to stay may prove difficult；〃 Ryld mented。 〃I wonder if there's a vacant room to be had in all of Ched Nasad。〃
Valas frowned； imagining the looks they would receive as they inquired after acmodations。
If we can；〃 the scout said； 〃your bodyguard will attract substantial attention。 Even now； we are drawing looks。 We should not stay out in the open for much longer。〃
Quenthel dug in her pack of supplies and produced a wand。 Moving closer to Jeggred； she aimed the magical device at the drae…gloths bleeding puncture wound and uttered a few words。 The bleed…ing stopped； and the hole began to close。
Be more careful；〃 the high priestess admonished her nephew as she stored the wand once more。 〃Healing magic is limited。〃
Even as overcrowded as the city is；〃 Faeryl said； 〃the higher levels will not be that bad。 I know of a place where we may be able to get rooms。〃
〃Perhaps we need to rethink this；〃 Quenthel countered。 〃It seems obvious to me that there are troubles here。 I think it would be wiser to pay House Zauvirr and House Melarn a visit。 We would be assured of acmodations there。〃
〃No；〃 Pharaun said； and Quenthel's eyes widened in surprise。 The mage continued quickly； before the high priestess could lash out at him。 〃You may be right； but even so； you don't want to lose the opportunity to move about freely； do you？ If we have any hope of staking a claim to the stock of goods and coin for your House； we must be able to avoid the matron mothers' notice。〃
〃Well；〃 Quenthel said； seeming to waver； 〃I'm unfortable with the idea of living like moners in an inn； but your argument still makes sense。〃
Va