¡¡to¡¡shiver¡¡the¡¡very¡¡air¡¡of¡¡the¡¡quay£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡a¡¡ripple¡¡of¡¡light¡¡washed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡revealing¡¡the¡¡armored¡¡duergar¡¡where¡¡they¡¡stood¡£¡¡The¡¡wizard¡¡followed¡¡instantly¡¡with¡¡another¡¡spell£»¡¡being¡¡visible¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡he¡¡pointed¡¡a¡¡black¡¡ray¡¡at¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡among¡¡the¡¡gray¡¡dwarf¡¡soldiers¡£¡¡The¡¡purple¡¡lance¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡mage¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chest£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡wizard¡¡collapsed¡¡like¡¡a¡¡puppet¡¡with¡¡its¡¡strings¡¡cut¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Next¡¡time£»¡¡strike¡¡first¡¡and¡¡issue¡¡challenges¡¡later£»¡¨¡¡Pharaun¡¡remarked¡£¡¡He¡¡started¡¡to¡¡work¡¡another¡¡spell¡¡as¡¡the¡¡draegloth¡¡and¡¡the¡¡weapons¡¡master¡¡crashed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ranks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡patrol£»¡¡hewing¡¡and¡¡slashing¡¡with¡¡abandon¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡followed¡¡Quenthel¡¡as¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡and¡¡leaped¡¡onto¡¡Coalhewer's¡¡boat¡£¡¡The¡¡massive¡¡undead¡¡skeletons¡¡stood¡¡motionless¡¡in¡¡their¡¡well¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hull£»¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡inert¡¡machinery¡¡awaiting¡¡mand¡£¡¡Beneath¡¡the¡¡bridge£»¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡smuggler¡¡stirred¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡up¡¡from¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡bedroll£»¡¡snatching¡¡up¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡axe¡¡close¡¡by¡¡his¡¡sleeping¡¡place¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Who¡¡goes¡¡there£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡roared£»¡¡scrambling¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡ye¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡by¡¡the¡¡impact¡¡of¡¡Quenthel's¡¡boot¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chest£»¡¡slamming¡¡him¡¡back¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡deck¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Baenre¡¡raised¡¡her¡¡whip¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡the¡¡smuggler£»¡¡but¡¡Halisstra¡¡called£»¡¡¡¨Wait£¡¡¡We¡¡may¡¡need¡¡him¡¡to¡¡run¡¡this¡¡thing¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡story¡¡of¡¡his£¿¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡said£»¡¡not¡¡taking¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dwarf¡£¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡us¡¡to¡¡think¡¡we¡¡needed¡¡him¡¡to¡¡run¡¡the¡¡boat¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨True¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡now¡¡is¡¡not¡¡the¡¡time¡¡to¡¡gamble¡¡on¡¡our¡¡escape£»¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨We'd¡¡look¡¡damned¡¡foolish¡¡if¡¡we¡¡fought¡¡our¡¡way¡¡through¡¡a¡¡patrol¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prince's¡¡soldiers¡¡and¡¡couldn't¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡pier¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Fell¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince's¡¡favor£»¡¡did¡¡ye£¿¡¨¡¡Coalhewer¡¡said¡£¡¡He¡¡stood¡¡slowly¡¡and¡¡offered¡¡a¡¡fierce¡¡grin¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡bright¡¡glare¡¡of¡¡lightning¡¡and¡¡a¡¡booming¡¡thunderclap¡¡announced¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡duergar¡¡reinforcements¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡ye¡¡kill¡¡me£»¡¡ye'll¡¡never¡¡escape¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡what's¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡price¡¡fer¡¡taking¡¡you¡¡off¡¡this¡¡pier£»¡¡I¡¡wonder£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡bristled¡¡and¡¡doubtless¡¡would¡¡have¡¡struck¡¡him¡¡down¡¡then£»¡¡but¡¡Halisstra¡¡stepped¡¡between¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡we¡¡get¡¡caught¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡Melarn¡¡priestess¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨we'll¡¡implicate¡¡you¡¡in¡¡whatever¡¡charges¡¡are¡¡brought¡¡against¡¡us£»¡¡dwarf¡£¡¡Now¡¡get¡¡us¡¡underway¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Coalhewer¡¡stared¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡three¡¡dark¡¡elves£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡contorted¡¡with¡¡fury¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡dealt¡¡fairly¡¡with¡¡ye£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡be¡¡my¡¡thanks£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡snarled¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡should've¡¡known¡¡better¡¡than¡¡to¡¡traffic¡¡with¡¡yer¡¡kind£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡whirled¡¡to¡¡cast¡¡off¡¡the¡¡lines¡¡securing¡¡the¡¡macabre¡¡vessel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡quay£»¡¡barking¡¡orders¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hulking¡¡skeletons¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Quenthel¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Halisstra¡¡with¡¡narrowed¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¨Why¡¡spare¡¡the¡¡dwarf£¿¡¡You¡¡know¡¡he's¡¡lying¡¡about¡¡manding¡¡the¡¡boat¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡shrugged¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡can¡¡always¡¡kill¡¡him¡¡later£»¡¡if¡¡you're¡¡so¡¡inclined¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡wheels¡¡at¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡began¡¡to¡¡churn¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡Ryld¡¡and¡¡Jeggred¡¡sprinted¡¡up£»¡¡clambering¡¡aboard¡£¡¡Blood¡¡dripped¡¡from¡¡both¡¡the¡¡half¡demon's¡¡talons¡¡and¡¡Splitter¡£¡¡Pharaun¡¡bounded¡¡up¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡later£»¡¡after¡¡sealing¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡roaring¡¡flame¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡at¡¡bay¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡won't¡¡hold¡¡them¡¡for¡¡long£»¡¡I'm¡¡sure£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨There¡¡must¡¡be¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡mages¡¡back¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡they'll¡¡extinguish¡¡that¡¡wall¡¡quickly¡¡enough¡£¡¡Best¡¡we¡¡get¡¡well¡¡away¡¡from¡¡here¡¡before¡¡they¡¡can¡¡fling¡¡their¡¡spells¡¡against¡¡our¡¡humble¡¡conveyance¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Ryld¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡fire¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pier's¡¡end¡¡and¡¡scowled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡realize¡¡you've¡¡also¡¡blocked¡¡Valas's¡¡escape¡¡with¡¡that¡¡spell£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡grated¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡need¡¡him£»¡¡Pharaun¡£¡¡We¡¡can't¡¡leave¡¡him¡¡here¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡flattered£»¡¡Master¡¡Argith¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel's¡¡stern£»¡¡Valas¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡and¡¡adjusted¡¡his¡¡piwafwi¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Where¡¡in¡¡Lolth's¡¡dark¡¡hells¡¡did¡¡you¡¡e¡¡from£¿¡¨¡¡the¡¡weapons¡¡master¡¡said£»¡¡blinking¡¡and¡¡rubbing¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡boarded¡¡just¡¡a¡¡few¡¡steps¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡three¡¡ladies£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡scout¡¡said¡£¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡around£»¡¡savoring¡¡the¡¡open¡¡surprise¡¡on¡¡the¡¡faces¡¡of¡¡his¡¡panions£»¡¡then¡¡made¡¡a¡¡small¡¡bow¡¡and¡¡a¡¡gesture¡¡of¡¡self¡deprecation¡£¡¡¡¨As¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡easily¡¡followed¡¡or¡¡marked¡¡when¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡Besides£»¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡three¡¡of¡¡you¡¡had¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince's¡¡soldiers¡¡in¡¡hand¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Master¡¡of¡¡Melee¡Magthere¡¡snorted£»¡¡and¡¡returned¡¡Splitter¡¡to¡¡its¡¡sheath¡¡across¡¡his¡¡back¡£¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city's¡¡waterfront£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡receding¡¡quickly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡Fire¡¡still¡¡glowed¡¡along¡¡the¡¡piers£»¡¡illuminating¡¡the¡¡bizarre¡¡profiles¡¡of¡¡more¡¡duergar¡¡vessels¡¡whose¡¡crews¡¡swarmed¡¡the¡¡decks£»¡¡shouting¡¡orders¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡¡and¡¡scurrying¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince's¡¡soldiers¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡hope¡¡our¡¡vessel¡¡is¡¡faster¡¡than¡¡theirs£»¡¨¡¡Ryld¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡to¡¡worry£»¡¨¡¡Coalhewer¡¡called¡¡from¡¡his¡¡perch¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡be¡¡the¡¡fastest¡¡vessel¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Darklake¡£¡¡None¡¡of¡¡those¡¡scows¡¡can¡¡catch¡¡us¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡snapped¡¡out¡¡another¡¡order¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hulking¡¡skeletons¡¡driving¡¡the¡¡boat£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡undead¡¡monstrosities¡¡redoubled¡¡their¡¡efforts£»¡¡driving¡¡their¡¡crankshafts¡¡faster¡¡and¡¡faster£»¡¡until¡¡a¡¡froth¡¡of¡¡white¡¡foam¡¡boiled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡paddle¡wheels¡£¡¡The¡¡duergar¡¡city¡¡faded¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡marked¡¡by¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡red¡¡glare¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cavern¡¡ceiling¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡dire¡¡development¡¡all¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡Quenthel¡¡mused¡£¡¡¡¨Menzoberranzan¡¡hardly¡¡needs¡¡a¡¡war¡¡with¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡now¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡we¡¡alter¡¡our¡¡course£¿¡¨¡¡Ryld¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨Menzoberranzan¡¡must¡¡be¡¡warned¡¡of¡¡the¡¡duergar¡¡army¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Mistress¡¡of¡¡Arach¡Tinilith¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡thought¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡then¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡What¡¡we're¡¡doing¡¡is¡¡more¡¡important£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡mistaken¡¡Pharaun¡¡possesses¡¡the¡¡means¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡a¡¡warning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡archmage¡£¡¡Is¡¡that¡¡not¡¡so£»¡¡wizard£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Master¡¡of¡¡Sorcere¡¡simply¡¡smiled¡¡and¡¡spread¡¡his¡¡hands¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor's¡¡soft¡¡footfalls¡¡echoed¡¡in¡¡corridor¡¡after¡¡empty¡¡corridor¡¡as¡¡he¡¡made¡¡his¡¡way¡¡through¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince's¡¡fortress¡£¡¡At¡¡odd¡¡intervals¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡pairs¡¡of¡¡scowling¡¡guards¡¡in¡¡heavy¡¡armor£»¡¡halberds¡¡held¡¡upright£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡they¡¡ever¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡blank¡¡stone¡¡walls¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡their¡¡duties¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Most¡¡likely¡¡not£»¡¡he¡¡decided¡£¡¡Duergar¡¡were¡¡simply¡¡insensitive¡¡to¡¡that¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡thing¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡Nimor¡¡idly¡¡flipped¡¡a¡¡small¡¡envelope¡¡from¡¡finger¡¡to¡¡finger¡£¡¡The¡¡Lady¡¡Aliisza¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sceptered¡¡One's¡¡Court¡¡£¨an¡¡inventive¡¡title¡¡if¡¡Nimor¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡heard¡¡one£©¡¡had¡¡invited¡¡him¡¡to¡¡join¡¡her¡¡for¡¡dinner¡¡in¡¡her¡¡chambers£»¡¡observing¡¡that¡¡the¡¡gray¡¡dwarves¡¡had¡¡so¡¡far¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡invite¡¡her¡¡to¡¡any¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡banquet¡¡or¡¡dinner¡£¡¡Nimor¡¡didn't¡¡expect¡¡that¡¡panionship¡¡for¡¡dinner¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡thing¡¡on¡¡her¡¡agenda¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Arriving¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rooms¡¡assigned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Sceptered¡¡One's¡¡envoy£»¡¡he¡¡tucked¡¡his¡¡invitation¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡breast¡¡pocket£»¡¡and¡¡rapped¡¡twice¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Enter£»¡¨¡¡called¡¡a¡¡soft¡¡voice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡let¡¡himself¡¡in¡£¡¡Aliisza¡¡waited¡¡by¡¡a¡¡table¡¡spread¡¡with¡¡quite¡¡an¡¡impressive¡¡meal£»¡¡plete¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡wine¡¡from¡¡the¡¡World¡¡Above¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡glasses¡¡already¡¡poured¡£¡¡She¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡flowing¡¡skirt¡¡of¡¡red¡¡silk¡¡with¡¡a¡¡tight¡fitting¡¡corselet¡¡trimmed¡¡with¡¡black¡¡lace¡£¡¡The¡¡colors¡¡suited¡¡her£»¡¡he¡¡noted£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡went¡¡well¡¡with¡¡her¡¡soft¡¡black¡¡wings¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Lady¡¡Aliisza£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡offering¡¡a¡¡bow¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡flattered¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡certain¡¡the¡¡repast¡¡before¡¡me¡¡did¡¡not¡¡e¡¡from¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡prince's¡¡kitchens¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡limit¡¡to¡¡how¡¡much¡¡smoked¡¡rothe¡¡cheese¡¡and¡¡black¡¡spore¡flour¡¡bread¡¡one¡¡can¡¡stand£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡She¡¡took¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡glasses¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡moved¡¡close¡¡to¡¡extend¡¡him¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡admit£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡my¡¡entourage¡¡scour¡¡the¡¡city¡¡to¡¡find¡¡inns¡¡and¡¡taverns¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡meals¡¡suited¡¡to¡¡an¡¡elf's¡¡palate¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡took¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡and¡¡swirled¡¡it£»¡¡bringing¡¡it¡¡to¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡to¡¡inhale¡¡the¡¡aroma¡£¡¡Not¡¡only¡¡did¡¡it¡¡allow¡¡him¡¡to¡¡appreciate¡¡the¡¡wine's¡¡bouquet£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡sniff¡¡the¡¡vintage¡¡for¡¡any¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡various¡¡subtle¡¡poisons¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡familiar¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡proved¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡poison¡¡in¡¡any¡¡case£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡detect¡¡any¡¡strange¡¡scents¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡my¡¡thanks£»¡¡dear¡¡lady¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡traveling¡¡of¡¡late£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡been¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡live¡¡on¡¡very¡¡plain¡¡fare¡¡indeed¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Aliisza¡¡sipped¡¡at¡¡her¡¡own¡¡wine£»¡¡and¡¡nodded¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨In¡¡that¡¡case£»¡¡why¡¡don't¡¡we¡¡eat¡¡while¡¡we¡¡talk£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡took¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡opposite¡¡the¡¡half¡demon£»¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡his¡¡meal¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡consequences¡¡of¡¡his¡¡true¡¡nature¡¡was¡¡a¡¡surprising¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡far¡¡more¡¡than¡¡on