Pharaun's shoulders sagged。
We're never going to get out of here； he thought； swinging his magical rapier around。
***
Thick black smoke from the burning stone was blinding Ryld； making it hard to see more than a few feet in any direction。 The battlefield had suddenly grown quiet。 There were no more explosions； no flashing bursts from the firepots。 Only the sound of steel on steel； but even that was greatly diminished。
He stepped forward to meet an onrushing contingent of gray dwarves。 To his left； Halisstra also entered the fray； her heavy mace and an impressive mithral shield held ready。 Quenthel took up a position on the warrior's other side； swinging her whip back and forth experimentally as she advanced。
The duergar； dozens of them； fanned out to meet the eclectic group； bloodlust plain in their eyes。 Two came directly at Ryld； battle…axes held high。 The weapons master parried the first swing at his shoulder and sidestepped a cut to the knees from his second foe。 He brought the greatsword down atop the axe； snapping the haft cleanly； but then had to shift his weight almost off…balance to avoid a punching dagger to the ribs。 Spinning； he kicked out with one booted foot； catching the gray dwarf square on the wrist and sending the dagger flying。
A third duergar loomed up behind Ryld； holding a length of chain that he spun in a circle over his head。 Ryld saw that the foe was eyeing his legs； so when the attack came； he managed to leap high enough that the metal links missed him and went skittering across the pavement。 In mid…leap； Ryld managed to turn pletely around； flicking his blade across the head of the first gray dwarf's axe； unable to knock it pletely loose； but nonetheless managing to force the batant off…balance。 As he landed； Ryld swung Splitter back around again； swiping at the chain…wielder's throat。 The duergar jerked back from the attack； reeling in his chain for another attempt then stiffened in pain as the head of Danifae's morning star came down squarely on his skull in an enchanted shower of sparks。 The creature slumped over as Danifae spun away to attack another foe。
Ryld maneuvered back around to face his original foe； who had regained his balance and had bis axe level again。 His panion； holding his injured wrist limply at his side； had fumbled a smaller hand axe free and was circling around Ryld； still trying to maneuver behind the weapons master。 Ryld stepped back as though he were trying to avoid being surrounded； even as he casually blocked a couple of strokes from the battle…axe。 Finally； when he saw the gray dwarf rear back for another； even more powerful cut； he planted his toe inside the coils of chain that the downed duergar had been swinging and flipped it up with his leg。 As the chain sprayed out； it caught the humanoid squarely in the face。 The duergar flinched； ruining his attack。
The Master of Melee…Magthere saw the hand axe ing toward his shoulder and twisted himself so that the blade just missed him then flicked Splitter back and up； slicing cleanly through the gray dwarf's arm at the elbow。 Howling in agony； the duergar stumbled away； letting the momentum of the blow bear him out of harm's way。 Ryld let the sword swing spin him pletely around so that he planted his feet facing once more in the direction of the original enemy； who had disentangled himself from the chain and had flung it away。
Ryld shifted his greatsword a couple times； circling with the gray dwarf； the two of them warily sizing one another up。 The weapons master stepped into a handful of slices and thrusts； flinging halfhearted attacks toward the dwarf that never really threatened it but allowed Ryld to see just how eager his opponent was to engage with him。 The gray dwarf shied away from every cut and parry； and the Master of Melee…Magthere knew the duergar would break off the fight soon； assuming its panions dwindled to sufficiently small numbers around it。
Ryld stepped into an attack again； keeping his blade low and squarely in front of him； and the duergar trod backward another step。 Then； as if out of nowhere； Valas appeared from the shadows； swinging one of his kukris low across the gray dwarf's hamstring。 The duer…gar's knee buckled； and the scout came over the top with his other blade； stabbing it into the creature's chest。 The duergar made a gurgling sound as he shivered and fell over。
The Master of Melee…Magthere shifted his attention elsewhere as soon as he saw the threat eliminated。 He spied Jeggred ripping a drow to shreds。 Only two others were visible； looking for a way to get inside the draegloth's reach； but Ryld doubted that would be the case for long。 Another dark elf was fighting to keep Pharaun's rapier away from him； but Quenthel was closing on his flank； and the high priestess lashed out with her scourge； allowing the snake heads to sink their teeth deeply into the creature's neck。 Jerking from the sudden sting of the bites； the drow was unable to maintain his attention on the rapier； which ran through his eye。
Another foe was squared off with Halisstra； who warded off a pair of stout blows with her mithral shield。 On the third stroke from the dark elf across from her； she used the shield to deflect the strike and throw her opponent off…balance； then swung the heavy mace in her other hand upward in a vicious stroke； right into his chin。 There was a loud； drumlike boom； a magical concussion that was obviously much louder than the simple impact of metal on bone； and the drow sank to the ground； his jaw shattered。
Breathing heavily； Ryld surveyed the battlefield。 In addition to his six panions and Halisstra's brother； the only ones still standing were a small circle of perhaps a dozen exhausted drow and duergar who had ceased fighting for the moment and were watching as the duergar mander squared off with Ssipriina Zauvirr。 The gray dwarf and the matron mother circled one another warily； as smoke wafted about； obscuring everything beyond the circle of Menzober…ranyr and the three remaining members of House Melarn。
〃Now is our chance；〃 Pharaun said from next to the weapons master。 〃Let's go。〃
〃No；〃 Quenthel and Halisstra said together。
〃Not until she goes down；〃 the daughter of Drisinil Mclarn added。
The Mistress of Arach…Tinilith nodded in agreement and said； 〃If she kills him； we're finishing her。〃
Pharaun groaned。 〃This is hardly the time for revenge； Mistresses。〃
Ssipriina feinted with her mace； and as the gray dwarf twisted out of the way of the attack； the drow palmed a wand and aimed it at her enemy。 A thin ray of grayish light shot forth from the tip of the magical device； striking the duergar squarely in the chest。 The gray dwarf clutched at his chest and cried out。 He dropped to one knee with a groan； and Ssipriina loomed over him。
The duergar disappeared。
Snarling in rage at this trickery； the matron mother slammed her mace down where her foe had been； but she struck nothing but the pavement。 Spinning； she swung back and forth wildly； trying to gain a lucky hit； but she found nothing。
The gray dwarf mander appeared again； leaping forward from one side as Ssipriina had turned her back to him。 His axe was high； but his war cry gave the drow time to roll away from the worst of the attack。 Instead of taking the blade of his weapon full on her skull； it raked across the back of her shoulder with a spurt of crimson。
The matron mother cried out； tumbling prone。 She rolled to one side as Khorrl lifted his axe for another stroke。 As she came around to face him； she fired off another beam with the wand。
〃With a grunt； Khorrl Xornbane dropped his axe and clutched his stomach； then crumpled to the ground； letting out a gurgling death sigh。
Quenthel and Halisstra both came at Ssipriina； who was trying to get to her feet； clutching her wounded shoulder with her good hand。 Quenthel stepped to one side of the matron mother and struck down with her whip。 The fangs of the snakes bit into the drow's flesh and she screeched in pain； then tried to spin around and aim the wand at the high priestess。 Halisstra was ready for that； though； and