〃Not today；〃 Ryld said； taking a step forward and reaching for Splitter。
As one； a multitude of soldiers brandished hand crossbows； and at least half a dozen wizards and priestesses appeared to ready spells。
〃Ryld； you fool； wait！〃 Pharaun growled； still trying to keep his voice low。 〃There are better ways 。。。〃
Valas reached a hand out and stopped the larger drow from finishing the act of unsheathing his greatsword。
〃Not yet；〃 the scout pleaded。 〃We've got no chance like this。〃
Ryld snarled； but he released the hilt of his weapon and stepped back again。
〃Good；〃 the third matron mother said。 〃You are not as foolhardy as Faeryl suggested。 Though the bravado is misplaced here； I'm sure it's served you well in the past；〃
〃Mistress 。 。 。 ？〃 Pharaun began。
〃Aunrae Nasadra； of First House Nasadra；〃 the drow finished for him。
Of course you are； the wizard thought。
〃Mistress Nasadra；〃 he said； 〃while I am shocked and saddened by the news of Quenthel's death； I implore you to hear me out。 I have absolutely no knowledge of any conspiracy between her and anyone here in the city。 There must have been a great misunderstanding。〃
〃I doubt it；〃 Aunrae replied； 〃but you may yet have a chance to prove it and spare your neck。 Simply tell us the truth。 Did you or did you not sneak into the city and meet in secret with Drisinil Melarn； matron mother of House Melarn； in order to steal goods out of Black Claw Mercantile's storehouses？〃
Pharaun looked around at the myriad faces staring expectantly at him…and at the scores of weapons leveled at him and his two panions…and he did the only thing he could； he lied。
〃Absolutely； Mistress Nasadra；〃 he deadpanned； and everyone including Ryld and Valas gasped。 Before the other two Menzoberranyr could refute his false admission； he continued； 〃Or rather； Quenthel must have。 It all makes sense； now。 You see； Mistress； she ordered my two panions and me to track down caravans that could help transport a large amount of goods； without telling us what they were for。 Mistress Baenre told us males very little； you must realize。
〃Right before we set out to follow her instructions； I overheard her speaking with Faeryl Zauvirr； the ambassador to Menzoberranzan who was acpanying us。 I recall that she said something about meeting with her mother and one other； though of course at the time； I didn't know to whom she was referring。 She asked Faeryl something to the effect of； 'and you're certain the meeting place is secure？ We can't afford to be seen； you know。' 〃
〃You pompous； smart…mouthed liar！〃 Faeryl screamed from across the room。 〃Kill them now and be done with it！〃
Pharaun did all he could to avoid smiling。 Around him； everyone began to talk at once； and though he heard more than a few snatches of conversation condemning him and his outlandish story； he knew that he had sown the seeds of doubt。 Already； though； the troops who had surrounded them…troops wearing the insignia of House Zauvirr… began to advance uncertainly upon the three of them。
〃All tight； wizard；〃 Ryld hissed； 〃we're out of time。 What are we going to do？〃
Pharaun opened his mouth to tell the warrior that he had absolutely no idea； when a sudden and violent shudder rocked the chamber； causing everyone to stumble and flail about； their center of balance disrupted。 A split second later； a monumental thundercrash penetrated the walls； deep and loud； and reverberated through the entire room。
〃By the Dark Mother；〃 someone cried as everyone looked at everyone else in confusion and panic。
A servant ran into the chamber； a wild look of fear in his eyes。
〃Mistresses！ It's duergar！ Hundreds of them； surrounding us 。。。 they're attacking！〃 Another sonic shock knocked the liveried boy to his knees； and he seemed to hug the floor in terror。 〃They burn the stones themselves； Mothers。 The city is burning！〃
ELEVEN
Aliisza was more than a little surprised to see the horde of duergar seemingly appear out of thin air around the great manor Pharaun and his panions had entered。 From the looks on their faces； though； she wasn't nearly as surprised as the drow who were guarding the place。 The gray dwarves； whom she estimated numbered between two and three thousand； had formed a line along one side of the manor house before making themselves visible by firing off a volley of crossbows。 They also lobbed several dozen small clay pots； which burst into orange balls of flame upon impacting the stonework wall that surrounded the manor。
The few drow who'd been lounging around near the palatial front gates scrambled for cover as the hail of bolts and incendiary bombs struck。 The blast from the initial attack shook the entire web street； and Aliisza had to improve her grip to avoid slipping and falling from her roost on the roof of the building on the opposite side of the open plaza。 When she could look again； she saw that few of the dark elves had survived the first attack。
An alarm was quickly sounded inside the courtyard of the cyst…like building； and more drow appeared from inside； a large contingent of them； in fact。 Aliisza watched as they formed a line across the protective wall and returned fire with their hand crossbows。 Several duergar dropped before the barrage； but the gray dwarves exhibited wise tactics； throwing up a shield wall with the front rank and firing a second volley from behind that protective barrier。 In several places； the stone itself seemed to burn from the duergar fire bombs； and the fire was spreading。
In the plaza； citizens of Ched Nasad scrambled for cover； and in the distance； Aliisza could see a large column of troops marching； one web street over； in her direction。 The duergar were about to have unwanted pany 。。。 or so she thought。
That's when the second mass of gray dwarves appeared inside the courtyard； flanking the drow who had formed up to defend the front gates。
Oh； how clever； the alu…fiend thought。 They look like they've done this a time or two。
***
Pharaun never hesitated。
〃Scatter；〃 he said sharply to the two drow with him。
He willed a spell into being。 Ordinarily he would have needed at least a few seconds to speak the phrase and perform the gestures to bring the effect about； but he had enhanced this particular magic； and this conjuration simply happened as he thought it； with no gestures； words； or delays。 A thick； roiling mist appeared； obscuring everything around the wizard。 He knew that Ryld would know how to take care of himself； and he hoped that Valas would understand； too。 He promptly dismissed them from his mind as he levitated upward。
Another concussive blast shook the House； though the wizard； hovering in the air； only heard it this time。 He floated all the way to the ceiling； casting a spell of invisibility on himself。 He knew it wouldn't pletely obscure him from the more clever wizards and matron mothers； but it would at least prevent the mon soldiery from spotting him。 From below； he could hear the turmoil and confusion as a host of drow reacted to both the messenger's words and the rumbles in the foundation。
When he reached the ceiling； Pharaun reached inside his piwafwi and extracted a small pinch of diamond dust。 He incanted once more； watching as the dust vanished in a sparkle of light。 It would further conceal him； he hoped； this time from detection magic。
By then； someone had had the presence of mind to magically dissipate Pharaun's mist； and the floor below was clear once more。 The Master of Sorcere surveyed the entire chamber； looking for signs of Ryld and Valas。 The scout was nowhere to be found； which didn't surprise the wizard in the least； and Ryld had maneuvered himself off to one side of the room。 The weapons master crouched behind some statuary； Splitter in hand； watching as the enemy ran here and there。
He won't stay hidden long； Pharaun reasoned； knowing the matron mothers still intended to mete out their own personal justice just as soon as they could restore some order。
Considering quickly； the wizard dug out a bit of fleece from one of his pockets