〃Is the boy prepared with the sigils？〃 Gromph asked。
He was answered by a faint clang of metal and the sound of scurrying steps that finally slid to a halt。
〃Yes； Archmage；〃 Jaemas Xorlarrin replied。
Gromph stepped close to one of the bound dark elves。 All ten of them were cousins…the wicked sons of House Agrach Dyrr and traitors to Menzoberranzan every last one。 Gromph had asked for the youngest； the strongest； the ablest of them to be spared。
〃Dyrr；〃 the archmage said； doing his best to fix his sightless eyes on the captive's face。
The prisoner squirmed a little at the sound of his family's name。 Gromph wondered if the boy felt the shame his traitorous House had inflicted on every last one of his kin。
〃I 。 。 。〃 the prisoner muttered。 〃I know why I'm here； Baenre。 You can do your worst to me； and I will not betray my House。〃
Gromph laughed。 It felt good。 He hadn't had a good laugh in a long time； and with the siege of Menzoberranzan only digging in； with no word of Lolth or break in her Silence； he didn't think he'd be laughing much in the days； tendays； months； or even years ahead。
〃Thank you；〃 the archmage said to the boy。 He caught the edge of the captive's confused； surprised expression as Kyorli began again to worry at her itchy hip。 〃I don't care what you might have to say about your doomed House。 You will answer only one question 。 。 。 what is that sigil？〃
There was a silence Gromph took as confusion。
〃The sign；〃 the archmage said； letting impatience sound in his voice。 〃The sigil my young nephew is holding up in front of you。〃
As ordered； Prath had taken up a position some yards away； against the wall of the giant chamber； and was holding up a small placard maybe six inches on each side。 Painted onto its surface was a simple； easily recognizable rune…one any drow would recognize as marking a way to shelter； a place of safety in the wilds of the Underdark。
〃I could pel you to read it； fool；〃 the archmage drawled into the prisoner's hesitation。 〃Tell me what it is； and let us move on。〃
〃It's 。 。 。〃 the captive said； squinting。 〃Is it the symbol of Lolth？〃
Gromph sighed and said； 〃Almost。〃
The archmage mentally nudged the rat on his shoulder and turned her head to see Zillak wrap a thin wire garrote around the prisoner's neck。 When blood began to ooze from under the wire and spittle sprinkled from his mouth； Kyorli paid closer attention。 Gromph waited for the prisoner to stop struggling； then die； before he stepped to the next traitor。
〃I won't read it！〃 that one barked； the fear ing off him in waves。 〃What is this？〃
Gromph； aggravated at the waste of time a spell of pulsion would take； tipped his head to the Xorlarrin mage who still stood right behind him and asked； 〃What color？〃
〃A garish magenta； Archmage；〃 Jaemas answered。
〃Well；〃 Gromph replied； 〃that won't do at all； will it？〃
That was enough for Zillak； who slipped the garrote； still dripping with the first Dyrr cousins blood； around the second's neck。 Gromph didn't bother waiting for the prisoner to die before stepping to the third in the circle。
There was a sharp stench of urine that almost made Gromph step back； and a spattering of droplets echoed on the hard stone floor。 The archmage blew air out his nostrils to clear the smell。
〃Read it；〃 he said to the terrified captive。
〃It's a way shelter rune；〃 the terrified Dyrr cousin almost barked。 〃A way shelter。〃
Gromph could tell by the feminine timbre in his voice that he was a younger cousin。 That was positive in itself。 Kyorli； perhaps sensing the boy's fear or drawn to the stench of piss； looked the prisoner in the face and Gromph did his best to keep the rat's gaze fixed on the boy's eyes。
Jaemas Xorlarrin leaned in from behind and said quietly； 〃A pleasing blood red； Archmage。〃
Gromph smiled； and the bound prisoner did his best to look away。
〃The smaller；〃 Gromph said then listened to the sounds of Prath's robes rustling behind him。 〃Read it；〃 he said to the prisoner。
The boy looked up； tears streaming down his cheeks； and blinked at the young Baenre； who Gromph knew was holding up the other side of the placard upon which was drawn； half again smaller than the way shelter rune； the number 。 。 。
〃Five；〃 the prisoner said； his voice squeaking in a most unseemly way。
Gromph smiled and stepped back； Jaemas moving smoothly to get out of his way。
〃Yes；〃 the archmage said； 〃this one。〃
Jaemas snapped his fingers and Prath came quickly back to attend his superiors。 The sound of a dark elf being strangled again echoed through the chamber； then again； and seven more times as Zillak executed the rest of the captives； save the one with the sensitive； blood…crimson eyes。
As Zillak went methodically about his bloody work； Gromph； Jaemas； and Prath stripped off their robes to stand barefoot； naked from the waist up； covered only by simple breeches。 Gromph concentrated on the sounds of the executions； keeping his mind as clear as he could。
In his rise through a demanding House； then through the ranks of Sorcere； Gromph had seen and done much。 He was no stranger to pain and sacrifice and was able to withstand much that would break even other noble drow。 He told himself that he would bear the proceedings that day as well； for his own good and for the sake of Menzoberranzan。
He kept mental note of the number of strangulations he heard； and when Zillak was squeezing the last of the life out of the last of the Dyrr captives； he said； 〃Bring in the table when you're through there； Zillak。 Then leave us。〃
〃Yes 。。。〃 the assassin grunted as he strained through the last execution； 〃Archmage。〃
When that last life was spent； Gromph caught a glimpse through Kyorli's eyes of Zillak walking quickly out of the circle of dead； wiping his hands dry on a rag。 The surviving Dyrr was crying； and by the sound of it Gromph thought the boy was more ashamed than afraid。 He had broken； after all。 He had behaved like some 。 。 。 goblin…certainly not a drow。 Dark elves didn't wet themselves at the prospect of death or torture。 Dark elves didn't cry in the face of their enemies…didn't cry at all。 If the boy hadn't proved his keen darkvision； Gromph might have thought him half human。
An example； he thought； for us all。
Zillak wheeled in a table upon which were secured four sturdy rothe leather straps。 At one end was a drain that emptied into a big glass bottle hanging from the bottom of the table。 Zillak left the table where Jaemas Xorlarrin indicated and quickly left the room。
Gromph took hold of Kyorli and cradled the rat in his arms as he sat on the table。 Holding the rat； he found he could turn the beast physically to keep her eyes focused where he wished。 Gromph chuckled at the odd timing of that revelation and turned the rat's face to Jaemas。 The Xorlarrin mage was making a point of not acknowledging Gromph's sign of humor。 Young Prath just looked nervous。
〃This is something；〃 Gromph said to his nephew； 〃that few masters have seen in a centuries…long lifetime； young nephew。 You will be able to tell your grandchildren that you were here to witness it。〃
The apprentice mage nodded； obviously unsure how to respond； and Gromph laughed at him even as he lay down on the table。 The steel was cold against his back； and Gromph broke out in gooseflesh。 He let out a long sigh to keep from shivering and held Kyorli to his bare chest。 The rat's claws pricked him； but Gromph didn't mind。 There would be greater pain soon； and not only for the archmage。
Reeling at first from the dizzying perspective； Gromph held the rat aloft and turned it to face the Master of Sorcere。 From the bowl that Prath was holding Jaemas had taken a polished silver spoon。 No ordinary eating utensil； the edges of the spoon were sharpened to a razor's keenness； Jaemas gestured for Prath to step closer to the prisoner； and Jaemas began to chant a spell。
The words of power were like music； and the sound of them sent a shiver through Gromph's already freezing spine。 It was a good spell； a hard spe