Glancing up at the ceiling again； Valas saw a skull nested in one of the tangles of tree root that bulged down into the room。 The vault must have been built under a graveyard。 The surface elves were known for planting trees atop the graves of their dead。 With all of the moldering corpses that lay just above the ceiling； it was no wonder wraiths were drawn to the place。
Pharaun crept up behind Valas and stared down into the vault。
See anything？ the Master of Sorcere signed。
Transferring both daggers into one hand； Valas shook his head and replied； I see no sign of the wraiths…or of the portal。
If it's here； you soon will； Pharaun signed back。
The wizard began whispering the words to a spell。 He passed a hand through the air； palm toward the room。 After a moment； a circle at the center of the room began to glow a faint purple。
There； he signed； pointing。
Valas made a mental note of the spot； then continued watching and waiting。 Since magic had disturbed the air of the vault； the wraiths would likely appear that much sooner。 Assuming； that was； that the rogues story had been accurate。
The fellow had claimed the vault still held treasure…something Valas hadn't told his panions； since it might have distracted them from their mission…but the room was clearly empty。 Perhaps the rogue had been lying about the wraiths； as well。 Neither the sudden appearance of a magic…hewn tunnel in one wall of the vault nor the divination Pharaun had just cast had brought them out into the open。 If wraiths had once haunted that place where the gods frowned in stony silence； they seemed to have gone。
But that didn't mean Valas wouldn't take precautions。 Hanging around his neck on a delicate gold chain was an amulet crafted by the surface elves and shaped like a golden sun。 He pulled it out from under his armor and kissed it； then let it hang free against his chest； ignoring Pharaun's raised eyebrows。 If any wraiths did turn up； it would protect him。
For a while； at least。
You and the others should make a run for it； he signed。 With a running start and a leap； you should be able to levitate down onto the portal without touching anything in the room。 I'll use my amulet to make the jump。 With luck； the wraiths…if there are any…won't even know we're here。
You're forgetting that Danifae can't levitate； Pharaun signed。
Valas groaned…softly。 Was he the only one capable of tactical thinking？
Use one of your spells on her…the one that enables you to leap around like a flea。 She'll be able to make the portal in one or two jumps。 He paused； then added； Just make sure she goes last。 She'll be the clumsiest…if there are wraiths here； it will be her noise that attracts them。
Pharaun frowned at that but made no ment。 Instead he raised a hand to his lips and pointed back down the tunnel； where Quenthel； Danifae； and Jeggred waited。
〃We're through；〃 he breathed； his spell carrying his whispered words to Quenthel。 〃The portal looks clear…and active。 e quickly； but quietly。〃
Valas； still intently watching the room below； heard a faint clink of armor from the far end of the tunnel…Danifae and Quenthel moving along it…and the faint click…click of Jeggred's elongated toe…nails on the stone。 He gritted his teeth； praying that his panions would learn the value of moving silently…and learn it soon。 Then he heard the clicking pause and the sound of a low growl。
His patience at an end； Valas spun around； an oath on his lips。 He saw Quenthel moving toward him； leading the others down the corridor。 Danifae was just behind her； but Jeggred was lagging several paces to the rear and was looking back over his shoulder； still growling。
Mistress！ Valas signed angrily。 Tell Jeggred to keep…
Before he could finish； the relative silence was split by a fierce roar。 Jeggred launched himself back down the tunnel； bellowing his battle howl as his claws scrambled on the floor。 In another instant； Valas saw what had triggered the draegloth's attack。
Two twisted caricatures that had once been duergar； with claws as long as Jeggred's own and mouths filled with needle…sharp teeth； were stalking up behind them。 Rotted clothing hung from them in tatters； and their hair was a tangled mass； crusted with dirt。 Their eyes blazed with the malevolence with which all undead regarded the living。 Unlike the drow they'd been stalking； the two wights moved in utter silence。 Seeing they had been spotted； they ran forward to meet Jeggred's charge。
Jeggred crashed headlong into the first wight； smashing it against one wall with a powerful swipe of his fighting arm； then ripping its belly open with a rake of the claws on one foot as he stomped on it。 As the pungent odor of death and rot filled the air； the second wight darted under Jeggred's other arm and casually slapped Jeggred's chest。 The draegloth grunted and clutched one of his lesser hands against him…the first time Valas had heard him express pain aloud…and he staggered slightly。 An instant later； however； he recovered。 Roaring fiercely； the draegloth grasped the wight's face with a fighting hand and； wrenching violently； tore the head from its neck。
The first wight was still moving； crawling furiously after Jeggred with its rotted entrails dragging along behind it。 Before it could reach him； Danifae rushed forward； morningstar in hand。 There wasn't much room to swing the weapon in the low…ceilinged corridor； but she managed an abbreviated downward smash。 The spiked ball of the morningstar connected with the wight's head in a blaze of magical sparks； filling the air with a sharp ozone tang。 The wight dropped and laid still。
Pharaun stared at Danifae with a look of open admiration。 He held a tiny leather pouch in one hand； which he'd drawn from his pocket as the wights attacked。
〃Well done；〃 he said； tucking it back into a pocket of his piwafwi。
Quenthel looked past Danifae。
〃Are there more？〃 she asked Jeggred。
Jeggred stood panting； head turning from side to side as he searched for the scent of additional foes。 As his chest rose and fell； Valas noted the wound the wight had inflicted on the draegloth。 It was little deeper than a scratch； but it was causing Jeggred to wheeze as if each breath was painful。 After a moment； Jeggred shook his head。
〃No more；〃 he concluded； 〃just these two。〃
Valas cleared his throat。
〃Wights are the least of our worries；〃 he reminded the others。 〃We should get moving。 The portal is just ahead； at the center of the vault； about seventy…five paces into the room。 Pharaun's marked it with a spell。 Quickly now； and one at a time。 Take a run and leap out from the end of the tunnel； then levitate down。 Touch nothing in the room。 You first； Quenthel； then Jeggred； while Pharaun casts a spell on Danifae。 Then Pharaun； followed by Danifae。 I'll go last。〃
That said； he flattened against the wall and motioned the others forward。 As he did； he scanned the vault one last time； searching for signs of movement； in case any wights had entered it while his back was turned。
They hadn't。
Quenthel moved forward to glance down into the room； then； after muning silently with her whip vipers； she nodded。 She backed down the corridor； then sprinted past Valas and leaped into the air。 A heartbeat later Jeggred rushed after her； arms flailing。
As the pair drifted down through the empty room toward the portal； Valas glanced up at the ceiling。 Were the gods in the mural scowling a bit more fiercely？ He stared back at them a moment； then decided it must have been his imagination。 Meanwhile； Quenthel had ignored his instructions and was hovering above the portal。 Jeggred； floating in the air beside her； kept glancing back and forth between his mistress and the portal； a confused look on his face。
Valas turned to warn Pharaun that something was delaying the pair； but the mage was just pleting the spell he was casting on Danifae； tracing an invisible symbol on each of her knees with something he held pinched in his fingers。 Finishing； he gave Danifae a quick smile of encouragement； then he turned and sprinted down th