Pharaun shouted； 〃If it exhales； don't breathe the vapors！〃
Jeggred snarled and leaped at the golem； slashing at it。 In response； the huge construct swung one massive fist around and caught the draegloth squarely in the ribs； sending him flying across the room with a painful grunt。 Jeggred was down on his hands and knees； shaking his head。
Ryld moved in again； wary of the huge sword in the golem's other hand。 When the weapons master found an opening； he lunged forward； swiping at the metallic hide of the construct。 Sparks flew as Splitter cut a deep furrow across the golems flank。 Ryld spun and ducked down； trying to stay behind the thing。
Another tremor rocked the chamber； and part of the ceiling collapsed behind the golem； sending bookshelves flying as shards of wood。 Pharaun went down on one knee from the shaking； then looked up to see that part of the room on the far side had not just collapsed but had pletely broken away and disappeared。 The Dangling Tower was ing apart around them； just as House Melarn had done。 Beyond the jagged edge of the room； Pharaun could see the smoky glow of the burning city。 They were indeed running out of time。
〃Forget the fight；〃 Quenthel said； grabbing the wizard by the collar of his piwafwi and spinning him to face her。 〃Just get that portal open。 Now？
Pharaun nodded and turned away as Jeggred leaped back in beside Ryld。 Valas； Halisstra； and Q'arlynd also circled the construct； each of them waiting until the thing turned its attention to another before sliding in to gain an attack。 Ignoring the fight behind him； Pharaun concentrated on studying the magical glows from the portal。 He needed a few moments to determine the key that would activate the thing。
〃Hurry！〃 Quenthel said； watching him over his shoulder。
Pharaun gave the high priestess a very deliberate look。
〃Don't rush me；〃 he said flatly； and continued studying。
Behind the mage came a deep grunt； and Ryld slid up against the wall in a heap。 The weapons master shook his head； apparently trying to clear the cobwebs； and regained his feet。
〃Hurry；〃 the weapons master hissed； 〃I don't know how long we can keep this thing off you。〃
Pharaun rolled his eyes and bent to his task once more。 He tumbled onto his side as the floor bucked with another foundation…crumbling shudder。
〃I've just about got it；〃 the Master of Sorcere said； when half the wall next to the portal exploded in a shower of rock and dust。
Fragments of debris smacked into the wizard； knocking the breath from him as he went sprawling。 He felt the floor shift； not just from buckling but because the whole building was tipping。 He knew it was going to break away soon； and their chances for escaping the city would disappear with it。
The mage struggled up into a sitting position and looked around。 What was left of the room was considerably smaller than before。 The iron golem teetered near the edge of the floor； then took a step toward its nearest foe； causing the stone beneath its feet to groan。 Everyone in the group lay sprawled； half buried in rubble and dust； and just beyond Valas； the floor was gone； replaced by the void of the city。 The rock groaned and shifted again as the golem took a step toward the scout； and Valas rolled toward the opening。
〃Jeggred；〃 Pharaun yelled； 〃grab Valas！〃
Even as the words left his mouth； Valas； who seemed considerably dazed； tumbled the rest of the way over and dropped over the edge； disappearing from sight。
The draegloth； who had been caught beneath a large section of collapsing rubble； let out a snarl of fury so unearthly that it chilled Pharauns blood。 Shoving his way out of the debris； the enraged fiend leaped across the distance and dived over the edge after the scout。
The golem swung its sword toward the demon； but it was too slow。 With Jeggred out of sight； the golem focused its attention on its next victim。 Q'arlynd Melarn lay facedown； unmoving； close to it。 Nearby； Danifae was sprawled across the shattered remains of a bookcase； the wound on her forehead bleeding freely。 The golem took another step； and Pharaun nearly fell as the stone floor popped and protested。
We're not going to make it； the mage thought； trying to figure out a way to distract the golem from killing the unconscious pair。
Out of the corner of his eye； Pharaun saw Ryld regain his feet。
〃Help them！〃 the wizard shouted to his friend； pointing to Danifae and Q'arlynd。
The weapons master had a deep gash across his forehead； but his red eyes seemed clear； and when he spotted the forms of the battle captive and the Melarn mage； and the golem moving toward them； he nodded。
The room tilted over some more； and Pharaun slid across the floor a few feet。 The blackness of the vast cavern of the city yawned before him。 He ignored it and looked to Ryld。
The weapons master measured his distance from the golem； who had gotten close enough to Danifae that it raised its sword high； preparing to deliver a killing blow。 Ryld sprang forward； charging as fast as he could； aided by the downhill slope of the floor。 When he was within a few feet of the construct； he leaped into the air； extended both feet； and hit the golem with a pile…driving kick to its midsection。 The force of the blow drove Ryld back up the slope of the floor； and the golem barely seemed to move。
But then Pharaun saw that it was teetering。 The construct took a step back to steady itself； and had the floor been level； it probably would have worked； but the weight of the golem； coupled with the slope of the floor； caused it to overbalance。 Another step backward brought the toppling construct near the edge of the floor； and the room shifted more； sinking and increasing the slope。 Then； with one final off…balance step； the golem shifted forward again； falling up the slope rather than down。 It dropped to one knee and reached out for Q'arlynd； who was shaking his head as he returned to consciousness。
The fractured stone could no longer hold the constructs weight； and it gave out beneath the golem。 Even then； the construct latched on to the wizard； gripping him tightly。 Q'arlynd screamed in agony。 Ryld took two steps forward to save the wizard； but both Q'arlynd and the golem slowly； ponderously went over； slipping from sight。
Halisstra cried out； 〃No！ from the other side of the room。
She ran to the edge； but the weapons master grabbed her and held her back； shaking his head。
Disheartened； Pharaun turned back to the portal。 He thought he'd it figured out and reached forward； ready to activate the magic of the portal； and stopped。 Something felt 。 。 。 wrong。 The room shifted over some more； and the wizard was forced to begin levitating to maintain his position。 Behind him； he heard one of the females give a startled scream； but he ignored it。 Peering at the magical emanations； he realized that he was seeing something illusory。 He hadn't noticed it before； but understanding what to look for； it was much clearer。
〃Pharaun；〃 Quenthel yelled as everyone gathered around him； 〃if you can make that thing work； do it！ The whole city is going down！〃
Shaking his head at what he'd been about to do； the mage began to cast a spell； one that he'd not expected to need that day but was thankful for。 He fished an ointment from one of his many pockets and dabbed a bit on each eyelid。 Suddenly； everything about the archway became plain to his vision。 He could see the runes that had been hidden from his view before； scribed into the stone around it。 He cast a second spell； one to decipher the script； and found what he was looking for。 The writing contained the trigger word。
〃I've got it！〃 he shouted。 〃Get ready！〃
Pharaun stepped back； uttered the triggering word aloud； and the portal shimmered to life； glowing with a deep purple hue。 The whole thing took on a sense of depth； of distance。 The stone in the center of the arch faded and was replaced by a shimmering curtain of light。
Pharaun turned back to his panions and shouted； 〃It's ready！ Step through！〃
Quenthel was the closest； but she hesitated。
〃Where d