e some modity for a casting of a spell he himself did not know。 There were a number of lies he could tell her to keep her waiting。
For the time being； then； he decided he would stay mute on his findings and see which way the rothé herd roamed。 When the time was right； he would play it to his advantage。 Either oute； and he would improve his station within the Academy。
Pharaun rested a few moments longer on the floor； recovering from the exertions of the spell then began packing up his paraphernalia； stowing the strips of ivory away in a pocket of his piwafwi。
Next； Pharaun removed a small mirror from his haversack。 He briefly wondered if using the same spell he had just employed to find Quenthel's enemy would work better in these circumstances； but he couldn't cast it again without resting for a few hours then studying his spellbooks。 Firming his resolve； the wizard began chanting the words needed to activate the magical scrying。
The Master of Sorcere knew the spell was dangerous。 Attempting to look in on a deity without permission could have disastrous ramifications。 Still； he was intent on trying； if only to discern more of what was going on in the wake of the goddess's absence。 Drawing on the memories he had of his strange visit to the Demonweb Pits those decades past； he finished the spell and peered into the mirror； which was reflecting a cloudy image of elsewhere rather than his own dark…skinned face。
Pharaun gazed into the magical window for several minutes； waiting and hoping that he might recognize something in its murky depths。 There was nothing。 He willed the spectral eye that he knew was on the other end of his spell to glide forward； remotely peering this way and that； trying to catch a glimpse of something； anything solid in the formless fog。
The mage felt a tingle； a warning in the back of his mind。 He mentally scrambled to release the spell； to sever the connection with the eye at the far side of oblivion； and he almost succeeded； but not quite。 A backlash of energy slammed into him； hurtled outward through the mirror like a punch； while at the same time Pharaun sensed a wall offeree sliding down； cutting him off from his magical eye。
As his senses returned； Pharaun realized he was sprawled on his back； blinking as his eyes tried to focus on the ceiling。 He groaned and sat up； seeing that he had been hurtled backward from the mirror more than ten feet。 He rose onto wobbly legs and staggered back over to the mirror。 It was cracked； its glass surface spider…nebbed into hundreds of fissures。 He stared at the ruined mirror for a moment； wondering if the pattern was representative of something or merely a coincidence。
Well； that answers that question； Pharaun thought。 A mere mortal cannot penetrate the veil that has settled over the sixty…sixth layer of the Abyss； but perhaps a higher being can。
The Master of Sorcere shook his head and sighed as he gingerly gathered the fragmented remains of the mirror。
Why do I go through this trouble？ he thought as he tried to figure out where he should discard the ruined thing。 Everything I do for everyone； and all I get is grief in return。 I'll bet other folk don't go through this much trouble to track down their deities； he thought wryly。 I'm sure they just look them up anytime…
The wizard froze in the middle of the room； the beginnings of an idea forming。 He almost smacked himself in the head。
Of course！ he thought。 I've been going about this all wrong。 Why didn't I think of this before？ We're asking the wrong 。 。 。
Tossing the mirror down in a tinkle of glass； Pharaun began to pace； mulling his idea over more carefully。 A plan was beginning to form； one that was getting him excited。 The hardest part； he realized； would be figuring out how to convince Quenthel。
It was not long after that that Ryld and Valas returned from their own excursions。
The wizard took one look at the pair of them and quickly surmised that their endeavors had not only ended unsatisfactorily but violently。 Both drow were glum as well as bloodied and bruised。 Valas walked with a slight limp； and Ryld seemed unable to lift his left arm above his waist。 Almost as one； they dropped their gear on the floor and dropped down onto their Reverie couches。
〃I gather that things did not go well today；〃 Pharaun mented。 〃No chance to haul Quenthel's supplies out of here？〃
〃Three places；〃 Valas muttered。 〃We tried three places and got into two scuffles for our troubles。〃
〃There just isn't a pack lizard to be had； it seems；〃 Ryld added； rubbing his eyes with his good hand。 〃If there is； no one is ready to sell it to outsiders。〃
〃I don't find that hard to believe；〃 Pharaun replied； 〃considering that no caravans have entered or left the city in such a long while。 Everyone is holding tight to what they have； riding the crisis out。〃
Pharaun busied himself straightening his own things while the other two males sat still。
〃I'll wager with you for who has to tell her；〃 Ryld said to Valas。 〃Rock； knife； and parchment？〃
The scout shook his head。
〃Let's just make the wizard tell her；〃 he said； pointing to Pharaun。 〃He seems to delight so in tormenting her； anyway； so what's one more bit of bad news out of his mouth？〃
Ryld nodded； and Pharaun found himself smiling。
〃Well； we all have a reprieve； at least for the moment；〃 the mage said。 〃She and the other two haven't returned from the storehouse。〃
〃Really？〃 Valas asked； sitting up。 〃I would have thought they'd return before us for sure。〃
Pharaun shrugged and said； 〃As would I； but none of them are here。〃
〃That's fine by me；〃 Ryld said； leaning back against the wall and dosing his eyes。 〃The less I have to see of that damned draegloth； the better off I am。〃
Pharaun pursed his lips； realizing that what he was going to suggest next might not set well with either the weapons master or the scout。
〃I found out something today； too；〃 he said quietly。
Ryld opened one eye and looked at the wizard。
〃Oh？〃
Valas leaned forward on the edge of the bed。
〃Have you determined what has happened to the Dark Mother？〃
Pharaun chuckled and said； 〃Not exactly； but I did learn that her disappearance has not been limited to our own race。 Other species feel her loss； as well。〃
〃I don't know whether to consider that good news or not；〃 the scout said； sitting back again。
Nor do I；〃 Pharaun agreed； 〃but I have also learned that something is sealing us out from the Demonweb Pits。 I have attempted to scry there in hopes of learning something of the goddess's condition…indeed； if she yet exists…and I could not penetrate inside。 A barrier protects it and keeps me； and others； outside。〃
〃A barrier？ You're speaking now of things I have no experience with；〃 Ryld said。 〃What kind of barrier？〃
〃A potent one。 I was nearly blasted into powder for my troubles；〃 Pharaun said； a wry smile on his face； 〃I have tried it before； even spoke with Archmage Gromph before we left Menzoberranzan。 He has experienced similar problems。〃
〃It sounds as though whatever the Spider Queen is doing； she does not wish to be disturbed；〃 Valas said。
〃If it's her who's doing it；〃 Ryld countered。 〃Perhaps another god has erected the barrier to prevent us from seeing her。〃
〃Exactly！〃 Pharaun said eagerly。 〃Surely someone knows…or can find out…what we cannot discover。〃
〃I thought that's what our mission was 。。。 to discover Lolth's fate；〃 Valas said。 〃That's why we've e here。〃
〃Yes； you are correct；〃 Pharaun said； nodding； 〃though this business with storehouses of magic items seems to have bee a higher priority。 In the interest of bringing us back to the more fascinating part of our little expedition； I have an idea。 I want to enlist help from the outside。〃
〃Help？ From whom？〃 Ryld was sitting up； too。
The wizard began to pace again as he explained his plan to his panions。
〃A mere mortal； even someone with my acumen； can't penetrate the veil that has settled over the Demonweb Pits。 Something is obviously intent on keeping us out。 We need