The fiend decided to move in for a closer look。 She stepped over the side of the roof and dropped down to another； two levels below； magically slowing her descent。 She crouched low as a half…giant passed； not wanting to distract the creature。
The half…giant strode along the wide street； its war axe held loosely in its hand。 The blade of the weapon was slick with blood； dripping a trail behind it as it moved。 The air was thick with smoke。
A gang of dark elves； soldiers led by priestesses and wizards； poured into the street in the distance； organized and grim； seeking to stop the half…giant。 Before they could take three steps in the direction of their quarry； a huge chunk of something crashed to the street between them。 The weight of it shook the street； and the sound it made was like a thousand blades striking a thousand shields。 It made the half…giant nearly fall； and it had to drop to one knee before it pletely lost its balance。
Aliisza peered through the smoke to see what had landed atop the web street。 It was nothing but a smoking pile of rock； but the fiend could tell that it had been a part of the street overhead。 Actually； it looked like part of the street and a couple of buildings。 The whole pile of rubble was ablaze； thick plumes of smoke pouring off it。 She looked up； wondering where the chunk of the city had e from。
Even through the smoky haze； Aliisza could see a thoroughfare above them； crossing at an angle； connecting to the besieged House。 A large chunk of the road was missing； as if a huge bite had been taken out of the immense spiderweb strand。 Flames still licked the stone of the causeway where it had broken off； bringing a small part of the House with it。 The rest of the immense structure still sat where it had； but Aliisza realized that more of it could go at any moment。 The alu saw how dangerous it was to be down there； below the burning stone。
The half…giant must have sensed this too； for it turned to move back along the street； retracing its steps。 That's when a second drow patrol came into view。 It was a small group； no more than five or six； but their leader was a wizard； and he had a wand in his hand。 The wizard gestured with the wand and a crackling bolt of electricity shot out of the end of it； catching the half…giant square in the chest。 The creature howled in pain as its hair burned away。 It nearly dropped its war axe； and even after the attack was over； Aliisza saw that the beast couldn't work its fingers right for a moment。 The dark elves swarmed toward it； crossbows and swords out and ready。
The half…giant wasn't so easily felled。 Aliisza watched； fascinated； as the towering humanoid fumbled in its hip pouch and pulled out a handful of clay jugs。 From one knee； it threw them in the direction of the charging drow。 Miraculously； its aim was very good； and almost all of the containers flew toward the dark elves； who shied away when they saw what was ing。 The jugs shattered on the street and burst into flame； sending a wall of fire and smoke skyward in a blast that Aliisza could feel on her face。
By the Abyss； Aliisza breathed； unable to tear her gaze away from this wonderful display of destruction。
Drow leaped clear of the attack and scrambled to get away from the conflagration； which charred the street in seconds。 A couple of the dark elves managed to escape to the half…giant's side of the fire。 Realizing they were pinned between the half…giant and the blaze； they looked for some avenue of escape； eyeing the huge beast warily。
Lumbering to its feet again； the half…giant began striding purposefully toward them； gripping its war axe with both hands。 Almost as one； the drow turned and fled to the side of the street； leaping over the edge and drifting downward into the smoky vastness below。
At almost the same moment； the street shifted； tilting sideways； and the half…giant stumbled toward the edge。 Aliisza watched as the massive humanoid looked around wildly； trying to find out why its footing had grown precarious so suddenly。 She saw； too； that the fire it had started with its incendiary pots had already burned through a significant portion of the calcified webbing that was the street； and it was ing apart。 The other end had already been weakened by the impact from the rubble； and a whole section of thoroughfare shifted and groaned。 The alu knew it wouldn't remain together for much longer。
Amazingly； the half…giant ran toward the fire； taking great； lumbering strides that shook the crumbling roadway and caused chunks of it to fall away from the fiery crack。 As the entire path shuddered and snapped free； tipping downward； hinged where the pile of slag had dropped on it earlier； the creature leaped； crossing the distance； passing through the roiling flames。 Aliisza's mouth dropped in amazement。 The half…giant cleared the flames； reaching the other side； landing with a mammoth thump that made the projecting end of the street that was still intact quiver and bounce。
Behind the half…giant； the falling piece of street went tumbling down into the darkness below； eventually landing somewhere with a thunderous boom。 Ahead of the towering humanoid； three drow stood staring at the hulking creature； mouths agape。 Even from her vantage point； Aliisza could see that the half…giant smiled as it advanced。 It raised its war axe and plodded forward。 The wizard panicked and turned to flee； leaving only two soldiers to face the creature。 Surprisingly； they turned as one to meet the advancing half…giant。 One of the two took a tentative step forward； measuring where and how he would attack； when he was shoved hard from behind by his panion； who turned and retreated。
The first drow stumbled； off…balance； right into the path of the half…giant。 Aliisza smirked。 The fleeing dark elf was sacrificing his partner so that he could escape。
Raising its war axe； the half…giant prepared to cleave the sprawled male in half。 Desperately； the dark elf raised his long sword and rammed it into the half…giant's stomach。
The creature roared； arching its back； and its downward swing went awry； biting through the drow's arm instead of his torso。 The dark elf screamed as the half…giant fell forward； collapsing on him and driving the sword deeper into itself。
The soldier had dealt the killing blow； Aliisza realized； as the half…giant lay on top of him； unmoving。 The boy cried out in pain。 He was trapped； pinned beneath the half…giant's weight and with only one good arm to try to free himself。
〃Ilphrim！ Ilphrim； help me！〃 the drow cried out； but Ilphrim was long gone； and the fire burned closer。
Aliisza sighed。 The battle had been particularly entertaining； but it appeared to be over； though the wounded drow pinned beneath the half…giant still squirmed occasionally。 She considered his panion's treachery； pushing him into the path of the rampaging half…giant； to be very clever。 She laughed quietly。
The trapped and dying drow moved his arm again； futilely trying to shift the weight of the half…giant off himself so he could wriggle free； but Aliisza knew he would never do it； not with only one arm。
In a sudden and very uncharacteristic act of passion； the alu…fiend leaped off her perch and floated down to where the dark elf lay feebly squirming。 The drow spotted her and tensed； eyeing her warily。 She only smiled and nudged a discarded dagger a bit closer to him； so that it was within reach of his free hand。 Stepping back； she waited and watched to see if he would do the right thing。
The drow contemplated her for a moment； then he seemed to nod in understanding。 He took hold of the dagger and saluted Aliisza with it before he started cutting pieces off the half…giants corpse。 It was going to take a while； and it was already messy； but he might just cut his way free before the web street collapsed。
Smiling in satisfaction； Aliisza turned away and headed back up to her original vantage point； worrying anew over Pharauns fate。
THIRTEEN
The five drow worked their way into the bowels of House Melarn for what seemed like hours； though Pharaun was fairly certain they'd only been at it for abou